Recaps

The Third Hokage learned that Orochimaru had used Impure World Reincarnation and ordered Konoha's operation to begin after a patrol found terracotta soldiers nearby. Meanwhile, Hiruko and Ranmaru infiltrated Konoha and headed for the Forest of Death to target the Jinchuriki and Shinji Uchiha.

• The Third Hokage confirmed that Orochimaru had summoned the First and Second with Impure World Reincarnation, then questioned whether the Akatsuki Organization was involved.
• An Intelligence Squad ninja reported terracotta soldiers in the forest fifteen kilometers from Konoha, and the Third Hokage ordered the operation to begin.
• Hiruko questioned Suikazan Fuguki about the Jinchuriki and Shinji Uchiha, learned they were likely in the Forest of Death, and left.
• Hiruko met Ranmaru in Konoha after Ranmaru used Shadow Release to infiltrate the village undetected.
• Hiruko killed an unconscious Konoha ANBU, then prepared to go with Ranmaru to the Forest of Death to find Shinji Uchiha.

Hiruko and Ranmaru headed for Konoha’s Forest of Death to capture the One-Tail, Seven-Tails, and Nine-Tails Jinchuriki while Konoha mobilized against Moryo’s Immortal Army. Yakumo was ordered to support Naruto Uzumaki and Sasuke Uchiha, but Gaara attacked her group as the Chunin Ninja Exams were suspended.

• Hiruko and Ranmaru discussed how Konoha’s forces would be distracted by Moryo’s Immortal Army and hurried toward the Forest of Death.
• Hiruko killed the Konoha squad guarding the forest entrance after absorbing their Fire and Lightning Release attacks with Nether Release.
• Hiruko and Ranmaru revealed their Akatsuki cloaks and set out to capture the One-Tail, Seven-Tails, and Nine-Tails Jinchuriki.
• An ANBU told Yakumo Kurama that the exams had been suspended and ordered her to support Naruto Uzumaki and Sasuke Uchiha.
• Gaara sent a wave of sand at Yakumo’s group and the ANBU, while Temari and Kankuro urged him to stop and follow the Konoha ninja to safety.

Hiruko and Ranmaru ambushed the ANBU escorting Kaede and captured the Seven-Tails Jinchuriki despite her concealment technique. Shino, Kiba, and Hinata witnessed the attack from hiding, while a distant disturbance suggested the Akatsuki might find another target.

• Konoha ANBU told Kaede that the Chunin Ninja Exams had been suspended and escorted her toward a shelter while another team went to Naruto.
• Hiruko ambushed the escort, wounded the ANBU squad leader, and attacked Kaede as she covered them with her Scale Powder Concealment Technique.
• Ranmaru located Kaede through the concealment and captured her, while Hiruko killed the wounded ANBU squad leader.
• Shino, Kiba, and Hinata hid nearby, and Hinata used her Byakugan to identify Hiruko and Ranmaru attacking the ANBU and Kaede.
• Ranmaru noticed the hidden Konoha team but concealed their presence from Hiruko, who said that only the Nine-Tails and One-Tail Jinchuriki remained to be captured.
• A distant roar and ground-shaking tremors led Hiruko to suspect that the Akatsuki had found another target.

Yakumo and Miko sealed Gaara after he lost control, but his sand continued attacking from outside the coffin. Hiruko arrived to seize Gaara, and as Miko began releasing the seal so Temari could try to calm him, Yakumo and the others fought to hold Hiruko back.

• With Gaara rampaging, Yakumo used Wood Release to slow his sand while Miko sealed him inside a black coffin.
• Gaara’s sand kept protecting him and struck Miko, but the seal held despite its attacks.
• Hiruko appeared and ordered an unseen companion to find the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki while he dealt with the group.
• Yakumo attacked Hiruko as Miko moved to release Gaara, and Temari slowed Hiruko with Wind Release after Kankuro’s puppet was destroyed.
• Miko reached the coffin and began releasing the seal while Gaara’s sand rushed toward her.

Gaara lost control again when Hiruko used Umutada to amplify his rage, forcing Yakumo and the others to contain him. Meanwhile, Shinji realized he might awaken the Rinnegan and prepared to lead his group through the encroaching Wood Release while keeping Sasuke safe.

• Shion released Gaara from the Sealing Coffin, but Hiruko used Umutada to reignite Gaara's rage and trigger his partial transformation into Shukaku.
• Yakumo rescued Shion, Temari, Kankuro, and the others from Gaara's rampaging sand, and they prepared to keep him away from Konoha's residential district.
• Inside Haku's ice barrier, Shinji sensed Yin and Yang Release Chakra blending and recognized a chance to awaken the Rinnegan.
• Shinji explained that Impure World Reincarnation had summoned the First and Second Hokage, clearing Ryūsetsuna and Chiyo of suspicion.
• Shinji assigned roles to the group and prepared to break through the Wood Release, prioritizing Sasuke's safety and the extraction of Indra's Yin Release Chakra.

Shinji led his companions out of Haku’s failing ice barrier and fought through the First and Second’s ambush as they began their breakout. Outside the battlefield, Ranmaru discovered Shinji was inside and rushed into the forest, while Shizune and the others remained unaware of his arrival.

• Shinji charged out first, countered the First’s Wood Release, and evaded the Second’s Flying Thunder God ambush before the others emerged.
• Shinji explained the Second’s Flying Thunder God Technique and directed everyone to follow their assigned roles as they broke into the forest.
• Orochimaru refused to loosen his control over the First and Second, despite their warning that their sacrificial bodies were weakening.
• Ranmaru used Shadow Release to approach the battlefield perimeter, overheard that Shinji was inside, and rushed into the forest with killing intent.
• Shizune, Darui, and Ringo Ameyuri waited outside and worried about the battle, but none of them noticed Ranmaru passing by.

Ranmaru and the First Hokage’s forest trapped Kakashi’s team, while a mysterious Shadow Release user attacked them as they tried to escape. The Jonin reached the forest’s edge and launched a coordinated counterattack, but the hidden enemy vanished and stabbed Asuma through the chest.

• Ranmaru spotted Kakashi and resolved to kill him while the Jonin took shelter inside Yamato’s Wood Wall.
• Kakashi decided the team should retreat without the Sealing Team, and Yamato lowered the wall so they could flee through the forest.
• A hidden Shadow Release user wounded Kakashi, then ambushed Gekko Hayate and stabbed him with his own sword.
• Asuma carried the wounded Hayate toward the forest’s edge while Kakashi covered the team’s retreat.
• At the outskirts, the Jonin combined fire, water, and lightning attacks to reveal the attacker, but the figure vanished and stabbed Asuma through the chest.

Ranmaru attacked Kakashi’s group with several powerful abilities, critically injuring Asuma and Hayate and nearly killing Kurenai and Shizune. As Kakashi deduced that Ranmaru had multiple Kekkei Genkai, a rumbling drew Ranmaru away after he spotted Shinji through his Red Eye.

• Ranmaru struck Asuma with a bloodied arm, then seized Kurenai when she rushed to help Asuma.
• Kurenai trapped Ranmaru with Tree Binding Death, but he dispelled the genjutsu and broke her Kunai before Kakashi rescued her.
• Shizune arrived with ANBU, but Ranmaru kicked her into a tree and killed an ANBU member who was going to summon sensory reinforcements.
• Kakashi analyzed Ranmaru’s speed, strength, resistance to ninjutsu, and ability to counter genjutsu, suspecting he had undergone a Bloodline Fusion Ritual.
• Ranmaru heard a rumble, spotted Shinji through his Red Eye, and rushed toward him.

Kakashi’s team treated Asuma and Hayate after their attacker disappeared, while Shinji and his allies fought their way through the forest. Shinji’s group pressed on after repelling the First and Second, but Ranmaru launched another attack from his Shadow Release state.

• Pakkun reported that the enemy’s scent had vanished, and Shizune and an ANBU member treated Asuma and Hayate without being attacked.
• Kakashi ordered the injured taken to the hospital and the Barrier Squad notified, then suspected the enemy had gone toward the distant forest.
• Shinji led Ryūsetsuna, Chiyo, Naruto, Sasuke, Sakura, Haku, and Karin through the forest, while Chiyo used her Ketsuryūgan and Blood Blade to clear away Wood Release.
• Ryūsetsuna intercepted the Second as Shinji fought the First, and Shinji urged the group to keep moving instead of getting bogged down.
• An unseen attacker stabbed toward Shinji, but his Killing Intent Perception helped him dodge and punch the attacker into a crater.
• Ranmaru emerged from the crater in his Shadow Release state, decided Shinji’s counter had been a fluke, and attacked again.

Ranmaru attacked Shinji’s group with Swift Release and Steel Release, but Chiyo and Ryūsetsuna stopped his first assault, and Karin and Haku trapped him in ice. Ranmaru escaped with Nether Release, revealed his connection to Raiga Kurosuki, and challenged Shinji, who prepared to fight him.

• Ranmaru used Swift Release and Steel Release to attack Chiyo, but Chiyo sensed his strike and Ryūsetsuna knocked him into a trench.
• Ranmaru recovered and launched a rear attack on Karin, who seized his arm while Haku sealed him inside an ice crystal.
• The group recognized Ranmaru’s Akatsuki cloak, and Haku identified the Nether Release that Ranmaru used to dissolve the ice and escape.
• Ranmaru vowed to kill Shinji and avenge Raiga Kurosuki, and Shinji answered that he was looking for death.

Shinji’s group escaped Ranmaru’s ambush and regrouped with Kakashi’s Jonin, while Orochimaru chose to retreat after learning the Akatsuki had attacked Konoha. Neji and Kimimaro then headed into the Forest of Death under orders to capture Shinji alive.

• Shinji and his allies identified Ranmaru’s five Kekkei Genkai, but Ranmaru vanished with his enhanced Shadow Release and kept his distance.
• Shinji ordered the group to continue breaking through, and Orochimaru decided to retreat with First and Second after mentioning the Akatsuki’s attack on Konoha.
• Shinji’s group met Kakashi and the other Jonin, who had suffered serious injuries from Ranmaru, and Naruto and Sakura explained that they had driven him back.
• Sasuke told the Jonin that Ranmaru was targeting Shinji for revenge over Raiga Kurosuki and was likely still watching them.
• Neji met Kimimaro outside the Hyuga Clan Grounds, and the two set out for the Forest of Death to capture Shinji alive.

Shinji sent Naruto, Sasuke, and the other students toward shelter as the Akatsuki attacked the One-Tail Jinchuriki and Ranmaru continued hunting him. Shinji stayed behind with Kakashi and other Jonin, and Ranmaru's ambush was interrupted by two figures in Red Cloud outfits.

• An ANBU member reported that Hiruko had attacked the One-Tail Jinchuriki, and a distant explosion suggested the One-Tail had gone berserk.
• Shinji learned that the Akatsuki's attacks, Orochimaru's reanimated First and Second, and Gaara's rampage had made the situation dire, but he remained focused on awakening the Rinnegan.
• Shinji sent Naruto, Sasuke, Sakura, Haku, Karin, and the wounded toward shelter, while Kakashi and several Jonin stayed behind with him.
• Ranmaru watched Shinji from the shadows and attacked after the others had left, but a kunai stopped his ambush.
• Ranmaru looked up and saw two people in Red Cloud outfits standing on a nearby tree branch.

Shinji summoned Neji and Kimimaro to confront Ranmaru, whose Shadow Release and enhanced Red Eye overwhelmed them despite Neji’s Byakugan. As the pair prepared to merge and summon the Tenseigan, Shinji left to find a safe place to attempt awakening the Rinnegan.

• Neji and Kimimaro attacked Ranmaru, while Shinji and Kakashi led the Jonins to retreat from the battle.
• Neji used the Byakugan to see Ranmaru through Shadow Release, and Kimimaro relied on H’s help to share Neji’s vision.
• Ranmaru created shadow-state illusions that could use ninjutsu, confusing Neji and Kimimaro and sending both flying.
• Neji and Kimimaro agreed to merge and summon the Tenseigan after their attacks failed to overcome Ranmaru’s illusions.
• Kakashi took the Jonins to support Yakumo and rescue Gaara, while Shinji vanished to find a safe place to attempt the Rinnegan awakening.

Shinji prepared to awaken the Rinnegan in his secret laboratory, but his own Chakra could not supply enough Yin Release quality to cross the final threshold. He chose to extract Ōtsutsuki Indra's Chakra from Sasuke, who agreed in exchange for having his Dojutsu restored.

• Shinji evaded possible watchers and entered his secret laboratory by switching places with a Blood Clone using Red Dragon.
• Shinji recorded his physical data, then tested his limits and found that his Yang Release Chakra was sufficient but his Yin Release Chakra was lacking.
• Shinji rejected the risk of draining Chakra from his marked subordinates and contacted Sasuke through Naobi instead.
• Shinji promised to restore Sasuke's Dojutsu in exchange for his Chakra, and Sasuke agreed despite his weakened condition.
• Shinji activated Magatsu and began extracting Sasuke's Chakra from a distance.

Shinji awakened the Rinnegan while retaining his Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan techniques, but as Naobi began to fail, he discovered a mysterious Uchiha girl trapped in a seal. She promised to preserve his ocular techniques with Yachihoko before their connection broke, leaving Shinji asking where she was.

• Shinji drew in distant Chakra through Magatsu and awakened the Rinnegan, while Naobi and Magatsu remained active.
• Shinji expanded Naobi's range and heard a mysterious girl's voice through the technique, though no one was present in his laboratory.
• The girl said she had no name, was sealed, and did not know how she had entered Naobi; Shinji agreed to talk with her until the technique disappeared.
• Shinji and the girl learned they were both Uchiha, and he gave her the name Lamp while she accepted Nameless.
• As Naobi's connection flickered, Nameless said she would preserve Naobi, Magatsu, and Susanoo Lamp with Yachihoko, and Shinji asked where she was.

After Nanashi’s connection to Shinji’s Naobi ended, Shinji resolved to investigate her identity and rescue her if she was trapped. He recorded the improvements from awakening his Rinnegan, tested its abilities, and ended determined to find Nanashi.

• Shinji lost contact with Nanashi and realized she was likely an Uchiha in a dire situation, possibly sealed away.
• Shinji decided to search the Uchiha family records for clues, suspecting Nanashi was not from the present day.
• Shinji left the underground training ground and returned to the laboratory to record his physical data after awakening the Rinnegan.
• Shinji found that his Rinnegan had improved his physical condition and Chakra quality, and that his own Rinnegan wielded its abilities more efficiently than Karin's.
• Shinji tested Shinra Tensei and reviewed the Rinnegan techniques he had awakened, though his unique Space-Time Dojutsu remained undeveloped.
• Shinji vowed to find Nanashi.

Shinji discovered that the Akatsuki Organization was using Moryo’s Death Legion to draw Konoha’s forces away while Hiruko and Ranmaru targeted the Jinchuriki. In the Forest of Death, fused Neji and Kimimaro activated the Tenseigan and defeated Ranmaru’s attempt to escape.

• Shinji changed into the Akatsuki Organization’s Red Cloud outfit, hid his Rinnegan with contact lenses, and left his laboratory carrying his valuable eyes and supplies.
• Shinji found Konoha’s allied forces battling the regenerating Death Legion and realized the Akatsuki Organization was using it to tie down the defenders while Hiruko and Ranmaru infiltrated Konoha.
• Neji and Kimimaro completed their fusion under H’s guidance, and H warned them that they had to finish the fight within ten minutes of activating the Tenseigan.
• Neji and Kimimaro used their Tenseigan-enhanced perception and close-combat skills to match Ranmaru, whose illusions and speed no longer gave him an advantage.
• Ranmaru tried to flee with Swift Release, but Neji and Kimimaro pulled him back and struck his tenketsu with Gentle Fist.

Neji and Kimimaro fought Ranmaru with the Tenseigan but could not capture him before the Giant Tenseigan on the moon noticed them. Ranmaru fled into the Forest of Death, where a Konoha ANBU squad and his pursuers converged.

• Neji struck Ranmaru with Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms, but Ranmaru rose after his Nether Release neutralized the attack’s Chakra.
• Kimimaro took control of their body and wounded Ranmaru by exploiting gaps in his Steel Release, causing Ranmaru to flee with Swift Release.
• The Giant Tenseigan noticed Neji and Kimimaro, so they shut off the Tenseigan and ended their Fusion State before pursuing Ranmaru.
• Ranmaru ran into a Konoha ANBU squad, which blocked his escape as Neji and Kimimaro caught up.
• Fire Release and Wind Release erupted behind the ANBU squad and engulfed them in flames.

Ranmaru escaped after his Red Eye clones overwhelmed Neji and Kimimaro’s ANBU squad, while Shukaku broke free in the Forest of Death. Yakumo and Shion nearly reached Gaara, but Hiruko used his Mangekyo Dojutsu on Shukaku and made it rampage again.

• Ranmaru used his invisible Red Eye clones to defeat the ANBU squad, then fled as Neji and Kimimaro pursued him.
• Shukaku emerged in its full Tailed Beast form, and Kakashi told Yakumo to help the Sealing Team while he fought Hiruko.
• Shukaku attacked Hiruko with a Void Bullet, while Kakashi opened the Eight Gates and pressed Hiruko with lightning-enhanced attacks.
• Yakumo restrained Shukaku with Wood Release as Shion called for Gaara to wake up, and Shukaku briefly froze when Gaara began fighting for control.
• Hiruko reached Shukaku and used his Mangekyo Dojutsu, Umutada, causing the beast to go berserk again with Sharingan eyes.

Hiruko used his dōjutsu to drive Shukaku into a rampage, devastating the forest and leaving Konoha’s forces with heavy casualties. As Neji and Kimimaro arrived and Ranmaru warned Hiruko about their strength, Hiruko chose to seal Shukaku before retreating and began draining the One-Tail’s chakra.

• Shukaku went berserk under Hiruko’s dōjutsu and blasted the forest with Void Bullets, killing or severely injuring Konoha Ninja.
• Yakumo checked on Shion and vowed to stop Shukaku, while Ranmaru arrived wounded and told Hiruko that the Akatsuki Organization had attacked him.
• Neji and Kimimaro reached the battlefield and saw the destruction, and Yakumo recognized them as F and G.
• Ranmaru urged Hiruko to retreat because the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki had escaped and his pursuers were strong, but Hiruko ordered him to hold off the enemy while he sealed Shukaku.
• Hiruko leaped onto Shukaku’s head and used Nether Release: Demon Seed Annihilation, sending Demon Seeds into the One-Tail to drain its chakra.

Hiruko used Demon Seed Annihilation to drain Shukaku while Ranmaru’s Red Eye Clones attacked the Konoha Ninja. Yakumo, Kankuro, and Gaara tried to stop the extraction, but Hiruko escaped with Shukaku, leaving Gaara behind.

• Yakumo and the Konoha Ninja attacked Hiruko as he absorbed Shukaku’s Chakra, while Ranmaru used Shadow Release and created Red Eye Clones to fight them.
• Kakashi exposed Ranmaru’s clones with powder and a detection barrier, but the unusual clones passed through him and killed several Konoha Ninja.
• Hiruko drained most of Shukaku’s Chakra, and Gaara emerged from Shukaku and tried to hold on to him.
• Yakumo, the wounded Kankuro, and Gaara’s sand helped pull Gaara away from Hiruko’s Demon Seeds.
• Hiruko abandoned his attempt to absorb Gaara, tore Shukaku away from him, withdrew the Demon Seeds, and vanished.

Hiruko captured the One-Tail from Gaara and attacked Yakumo and Shion as he prepared to retreat. When Konoha reinforcements confronted him, he unleashed Storm Release: Storm Demon Dragon, leaving everyone on the battlefield stunned by its power.

• Gaara collapsed and died after Hiruko pulled the One-Tail from him, while Kankuro, Temari, and Yakumo reacted in grief.
• Hiruko realized Ranmaru had concealed how much the Bloodline Fusion Ritual had strengthened his Red Eye, then decided to attack Shion before retreating.
• Hiruko lunged at Shion, but Yakumo intercepted him; Kankuro and Temari joined the fight and were quickly knocked aside.
• Aoba Yamashiro, Namiashi Raidō, Yamato, and Kurenai attacked Hiruko together, but he escaped their assault with Swift Release.
• Hiruko summoned dark clouds and unleashed his ultimate technique, Storm Release: Storm Demon Dragon, halting the fighting as the battlefield looked up in alarm.

After Hiruko used the One-Tail’s Chakra to unleash a massive Storm Release attack, Shinji arrived and stopped the thunder dragon with one hand, then absorbed it. Hiruko was left staring at Shinji in dread.

• Shion realized Hiruko’s Storm Release had grown stronger because he had absorbed the One-Tail’s Chakra.
• Hiruko sent his thunder dragon toward Yakumo, Shion, and the Konoha Jonin, while Yakumo raised Wood Release barriers to defend them.
• The thunder dragon shattered Yakumo’s barriers, and Shion cried out for Shinji as the group faced the attack.
• Shinji appeared in front of them, stopped the thunder dragon with one hand, and absorbed it until it vanished.
• Shinji looked coldly at Hiruko, who felt an inexplicable dread.

Shinji arrived in time to stop Hiruko’s Storm Release and quickly overwhelmed him, while Kakashi worried that Konoha’s hidden reinforcements had not arrived. Hiruko prepared to flee as Orochimaru decided to act before the battle ended.

• Kakashi recognized Shinji as the suspected leader of the Akatsuki Organization and wondered why the alliance’s reinforcements had not returned to Konoha.
• Shinji reflected that his newly awakened Rinnegan’s Seal Absorption had absorbed Hiruko’s Storm Release despite its Natural Energy.
• Shinji used the Rinnegan to pull Hiruko toward him and punched him into a tree, leaving the gathered ninjas stunned.
• Hiruko climbed out of the crater and decided he had to escape before Shinji could stop him.
• Orochimaru saw the clouds clearing over the Forest of Death and decided to act before the battle ended.

Orochimaru summoned the First and Second Hokage with unusually powerful Impure World Bodies and sent them to attack the shelter while demanding Sasuke Uchiha. As the Hokage fought their way inside, the Third Hokage confronted Orochimaru outside and prepared to battle him with Enma.

• Orochimaru summoned the First and Second Hokage and took control of them after they questioned his pursuit of Sasuke Uchiha.
• The First and Second Hokage breached the shelter, prompting Sakura, Haku, Karin, Chiyo, Ryūsetsuna, Naruto, and Sasuke to prepare for the attack.
• Chiyo engaged the Second Hokage while Ryūsetsuna pushed Naruto toward the escape passage and shielded Sasuke and Sakura.
• The Third Hokage arrived with ANBU and confronted Orochimaru, then summoned Enma for their impending fight.