Recaps

The Third Hokage fought Orochimaru while the First and Second Hokage battled Haku, Karin, and Ryūsetsuna inside the shelter. The ANBU squad joined the shelter fight, where Karin still hesitated to reveal her sealing abilities.

• The Third Hokage clashed with Orochimaru and recognized his weapon as the Grass Cutter Sword.
• The Third Hokage ordered the ANBU squad to protect Naruto in the shelter, and Orochimaru let them leave.
• Ryūsetsuna blasted the Second Hokage with Fire Release, but his Impure World Body regenerated completely.
• Haku and Karin struggled against the First Hokage, who urged Karin to seal him, but she hesitated to reveal her abilities.
• The ANBU squad arrived in the shelter as the fight continued.

Haku and Karin left the First Hokage to an ANBU squad, but the squad was quickly defeated. They regrouped with Ryūsetsuna and Chiyo, who had been fighting the Second Hokage, before both Hokage abruptly raced toward the shelter entrance under apparent outside control.

• The ANBU squad arrived and took over the fight against the First Hokage, while Karin and Haku headed to help Ryūsetsuna and Chiyo.
• The First Hokage defeated the ANBU squad with Wood Release and Taijutsu, leaving the squad leader unconscious underground.
• Karin sensed that the ANBU had lost as she and Haku reached Ryūsetsuna and Chiyo, who were battered but still holding off the Second Hokage.
• Karin urged the group to retreat and find Naruto and Sasuke, but the Second and First Hokage suddenly headed for the shelter entrance with blank expressions.
• Karin, Haku, Ryūsetsuna, and Chiyo decided to look for Naruto and Sasuke in case they faced another danger.

The Third Hokage fought Orochimaru, who summoned the First and Second before leaving to pursue Sasuke. In the Forest of Death, Shinji confronted Hiruko and Ranmaru, and Shinra Tensei knocked Hiruko’s Susanoo backward.

• The Third used Earth Dragon Flame Stream and his Adamantine Staff to smash through Orochimaru’s defenses and hurl him into a crater.
• Orochimaru survived with little injury, revealed his true appearance, and summoned the First and Second to fight the Third.
• Orochimaru left the Third battling the First and Second and headed after Sasuke.
• Hiruko decided to retreat after Shinji appeared, but Ranmaru fled alone under Shadow Release.
• Hiruko attacked Shinji with his Susanoo, and Shinji used Shinra Tensei to topple it backward.

Shinji drove Hiruko into retreat with the Tenseigan’s repulsion, but chose not to pursue him and Ranmaru after they stole the One-Tail and abducted the Seven-Tails Jinchuriki. As the battered Konoha forces began evacuating, Orochimaru caught up with Naruto and Sasuke, only for Haku, Karin, Ryūsetsuna, and Chiyo to arrive.

• Shinji repelled Hiruko’s Susanoo, and Hiruko escaped while Ranmaru fled with him.
• Shinji refused Neji’s request to pursue the pair and ordered Neji and Kimimaro to withdraw.
• Shinji vanished, and Kakashi checked on Yakumo and Shion before setting out to find Naruto and Sasuke.
• Temari and Kankuro stood beside Gaara’s cooling body as Kakashi ordered the exhausted shinobi to evacuate the Forest of Death.
• Orochimaru caught up with Naruto and Sasuke near the shelter’s rear entrance, but Haku, Karin, Ryūsetsuna, and Chiyo arrived before he could attack.

Orochimaru revealed himself and attacked the group to seize Sasuke, whose Cursed Seal and exhausted condition left him unable to fight. Ryūsetsuna, Chiyo, and Haku intervened, but Orochimaru wounded Chiyo and Haku before unleashing a swarm of snakes across the battlefield.

• Sasuke confronted Orochimaru about giving him the Cursed Seal, and Orochimaru admitted he wanted Sasuke's Sharingan.
• Orochimaru struck Naruto, then restrained Sasuke with snakes and tried to pull him close.
• Chiyo cut the snakes with her Blood Blade while Ryūsetsuna attacked Orochimaru with Fire Release.
• Orochimaru broke Chiyo's Blood Blade and Haku's ice mirror, wounding both as Haku pulled Chiyo out of danger.
• Orochimaru unleashed the Array of Ten Thousand Serpents, and Karin dragged Sasuke and Sakura away from the spreading snakes.

Orochimaru overwhelmed the group with his serpents and poisoned Karin, but the wounded fighters recovered and rallied against him. As Shinji arrived from the other battlefield, the confrontation remained unresolved.

• Orochimaru used the Array of Ten Thousand Serpents to attack the group, poisoned Karin, and advanced on Sasuke.
• Naruto created hundreds of Shadow Clones and Rasengan, but Orochimaru swept them away and pinned Naruto to a tree with the Grass Cutter Sword.
• Karin resisted the venom long enough for Haku and Chiyo to heal through her Chakra, while Chiyo removed the poison and Haku activated his Curse Mark.
• Ryūsetsuna broke free of the snakes as the group prepared to fight Orochimaru again.
• Shinji arrived on the battlefield, surprising Orochimaru.

Shinji used his Rinnegan to drive Orochimaru away from the battlefield and pursued him, intending to eliminate him. After stopping Orochimaru’s attempted summoning, Shinji seized him, but Orochimaru tore off his pierced arm and unleashed the Eight Branches Technique.

• Shinji arrived on the battlefield, rejected Orochimaru’s offer to take Naruto, and blasted Orochimaru away with Shinra Tensei.
• Shinji pursued Orochimaru while Haku freed Naruto, Karin treated him, and the others withdrew with Naruto and Sasuke.
• Shinji confronted Orochimaru and used Banshō Ten'in to pull him close, striking his arm with a Black Rod to disrupt his Summoning Jutsu.
• Shinji grabbed Orochimaru by the neck and declared the fight over, but Orochimaru tore off his pierced arm and activated the Eight Branches Technique.

The Third fought the First and Second, whose Impure World Bodies kept regenerating, while waiting for reinforcements that did not arrive. After losing his left arm and being disarmed, he faced death until both opponents suddenly vanished in clouds of smoke, leaving him bewildered.

• The Third struggled against the First and Second and their Wood Release while Enma urged him to change tactics.
• The Third considered using the Reaper Death Seal but hesitated because it would cost him his soul.
• The Second's Water Severing Wave cut off the Third's left arm and destroyed his chance to use a sealing technique.
• The First and Second attacked the one-armed Third, and the First kicked the Adamantine Staff from his grasp.
• The Second froze before striking the Third, then vanished in a cloud of smoke along with the First.

Shinji defeated Orochimaru and left him pinned with Black Rods for Konoha to deal with, then departed after confirming his subordinates were safe and the Akatsuki had captured the One-Tail and Seven-Tails Jinchuriki. Kakashi and the Third Hokage arrived at the battlefield, where the Third Hokage confronted Orochimaru.

• Shinji defeated Orochimaru's Eight Branches Technique, restrained him with Black Rods, and decided to hand him over to Konoha.
• Orochimaru questioned Shinji's motives, while Shinji left after his Akatsuki subordinates were safe and the mission had secured the One-Tail and Seven-Tails Jinchuriki.
• Kakashi arrived after Shinji left, confirmed Orochimaru was subdued, and sent a distress signal for Konoha's forces.
• Kakashi and the arriving Konoha Ninja kept watch around Orochimaru and the Black Rods without approaching them.
• Kurenai learned that Akatsuki's A had subdued Orochimaru, and the Third Hokage arrived with ANBU, missing his left arm.
• The Third Hokage asked Orochimaru whether he regretted what he had done.

Hiruzen questioned Orochimaru’s rejection of Konoha’s values, then learned the village had lost Gaara and Kaede during the attack. He ordered Orochimaru detained and launched investigations into the Akatsuki factions and missing reinforcements.

• Orochimaru told Hiruzen that the village’s values were shackles, and Hiruzen concluded he had turned his back on the Will of Fire.
• Kakashi reported that Akatsuki’s “A” had subdued Orochimaru and left him on the battlefield, and Hiruzen ordered the Sealing Team to detain him.
• Kakashi told Hiruzen that Gaara had been killed and the One-Tail taken by Hiruko, while Kaede was missing and likely abducted.
• Kakashi reported that Ranmaru had gained Shadow Release through Hiruko’s Bloodline Fusion Ritual and had helped breach Konoha’s defenses.
• Hiruzen ordered the Intelligence Squad to investigate the Akatsuki factions’ motives and sent ANBU to find out why the Four Kage’s reinforcements had not arrived.

The ANBU found the Elite Shinobi Army routed after the Akatsuki Organization ambushed it as part of Nagato’s plan to eliminate the adult Jinchuriki and draw out the Five Great Shinobi Villages’ forces. The army eventually retreated after suffering heavy losses, though the Third Tsuchikage destroyed half of the Six Paths of Pain.

• The ANBU encountered the scattered, wounded Elite Shinobi Army and learned that the Akatsuki Organization had ambushed its camp with the Deva Path’s Super Almighty Push.
• Nagato’s forces attacked the Elite Shinobi Army while Hiruko and Ranmaru infiltrated Konoha to target its three underage Jinchuriki.
• Jiraiya fought the Deva Path as the Four Kage and other shinobi engaged Akatsuki members, but the Six Paths of Pain joined the battle and overwhelmed Jiraiya.
• Obito captured Yugito Nii with Kamui, Hidan killed the Fourth Kazekage with Blood-Death Possession, and Itachi’s Amaterasu gravely wounded the Fourth Mizukage.
• The Third Tsuchikage destroyed the Preta Path, Human Path, and Hell Path with Dust Release, but the Elite Shinobi Army retreated after its losses mounted.
• Kirigakure, Sunagakure, Konoha, Iwagakure, and Kumogakure withdrew in turn, and both sides disengaged after the Akatsuki Organization declined to pursue.

After the Akatsuki Organization devastated the elite shinobi forces, Chiyo used her Forbidden Jutsu to trade her life for Gaara’s. Gaara began breathing again, and Chiyo sent Temari and Kankuro to take him to Konoha Hospital.

• The Third Hokage, Utatane Koharu, and Mitokado Homura learned of the elite forces’ defeat and began dealing with the returning survivors.
• Mei Terumi and the Kirigakure shinobi brought the gravely injured Fourth Mizukage back to Konoha, while the Third Tsuchikage arrived last.
• Temari and Kankuro told Chiyo how Gaara had fought the Akatsuki Organization and died after the One-Tail was extracted from him.
• Chiyo ordered Temari and Kankuro to leave Gaara’s body behind, then performed Reanimation Jutsu and gave her life to revive him.
• Chiyo told Temari and Kankuro to take Gaara to Konoha Hospital, and Temari noticed that he was breathing.

Chiyo revived Gaara by sacrificing her life, and Sunagakure appointed Pakura as its Fifth Kazekage and Baki as an Elder. Meanwhile, the gravely injured Fourth Mizukage left Konoha Hospital, and Suikazan Fuguki was attacked at his quarters.

• Chiyo used a Forbidden Jutsu to trade her life for Gaara's, then named Pakura as the next Kazekage and Baki as an Elder.
• Tsunade confirmed Gaara had died after the One-Tail was extracted and agreed to treat him, while Temari explained Chiyo's sacrifice.
• A Medical Ninja told Tsunade that the Fourth Mizukage had woken and left the hospital despite his severe injuries.
• Suigetsu told Chojuro that the Fourth Kazekage had been killed and the Hokage had lost an arm, and Suikazan Fuguki said the Mizukage was back in Konoha.
• Suikazan Fuguki blamed the Akatsuki Organization for failing to kill the Fourth Mizukage, then someone thrust a long blade from beneath Chojuro's arm at him.

Suikazan Fuguki’s attempted power play ended with his execution, and the wounded Fourth Mizukage appointed Mei Terumi as Acting Mizukage. At the Hokage Building, the leaders discussed the heavy losses from the battle and began considering who might succeed the Third.

• Zabuza and Kisame Hoshigaki ambushed Suikazan Fuguki, while Mei Terumi confronted him and he tried to rally the Kirigakure Ninjas against them.
• The Fourth Mizukage appeared, heard Suikazan Fuguki admit he had betrayed him, and ordered him killed; Ringo Ameyuri beheaded him.
• The Fourth Mizukage named Kisame Hoshigaki as Samehada’s successor and appointed Mei Terumi Acting Mizukage while he recovered.
• At the Hokage Building, Mitokado Homura, Utatane Koharu, Jiraiya, and Tsunade discussed the losses caused by the Akatsuki Organization and Mei Terumi’s appointment.
• The Third said they needed to begin considering candidates for the next Hokage.

Third Hokage decided to step down and nominated Tsunade as Konoha's Fifth Hokage, with a Jonin vote of confidence set for three days later. As Konoha faced severe losses, the elders secured approval for Danzo to return without rebuilding Root, while Jiraiya's suggestion about Orochimaru was rejected.

• Third Hokage refused to reconsider stepping down despite Tsunade and Jiraiya offering to help replace his lost arm.
• Third Hokage nominated Jiraiya as his successor, but Jiraiya refused and suggested Tsunade instead.
• Tsunade hesitated over becoming Hokage, then Third Hokage nominated her for a Jonin vote of confidence in three days.
• Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura proposed bringing Danzo back, and Tsunade agreed only if Root was not rebuilt and Danzo could not command shinobi forces.
• Jiraiya suggested that Orochimaru might also earn merit through atonement, but Third Hokage insisted the village publicly try his crimes.

Danzo warned Orochimaru to conceal their cooperation and urged him to consider how to handle Tsunade before her confidence vote. Shinji learned Tsunade would become Hokage, then searched the Uchiha records for Nameless and speculated that her unusual Dojutsu, perhaps Yachihoko, explained why she had been sealed.

• Danzo visited Orochimaru in prison, warned him not to reveal their cooperation, and promised to release him when the time was right.
• Danzo told Orochimaru that Tsunade would face a Jonin confidence vote in three days and urged him to consider how to deal with her.
• Utatane Koharu praised Shinji's performance, offered him a place in ANBU and his own squad, and told him Tsunade would become the Fifth Hokage.
• Shinji decided to search for Nameless so he could reclaim Susanoo Lamp, Naobi, and Magatsu, which he had lost after awakening the Rinnegan.
• Shinji examined the Uchiha genealogy but found no record matching Nameless, so he suspected her existence or Dojutsu had been too dangerous to document.
• Shinji wondered whether Yachihoko was the reason Nameless had been sealed.

Shinji searched Uchiha records for Unnamed and realized the Senju Clan might have sealed her, giving him a new direction for his investigation. Tsunade appointed him an ANBU squad captain and offered him a place in her personal ANBU as she prepared to become Hokage.

• Shinji searched the Uchiha archives but found no record of Unnamed, and Tsunade interrupted him before the archives closed.
• Tsunade explained that clan members sometimes left their families and lived under assumed names, and she thought Shinji was searching for Akatsuki's 'A' and 'B.'
• After Tsunade said the Uchiha pursued deserters rather than sealing them, Shinji suspected the Senju Clan might have sealed Unnamed.
• Tsunade confirmed that Shinji would become an ANBU squad captain the next day, honoring Third's promise after Shinji's performance in the Chunin Ninja Exams.
• Tsunade offered Shinji a place in her personal ANBU as she prepared to take over the Hokage Position.

Shinji rejected Tsunade’s offer to join her ANBU and searched the Senju Clan’s ancient records for the nameless one’s possible sealing site. He opened the first of three likely sites, destroyed the decayed creature inside, and left to continue his search.

• Shinji declined Tsunade’s offer, choosing to become Utatane Koharu’s ANBU for greater independence.
• Shinji used genjutsu to enter the archives and found Senju records marking several places where enemies had been sealed.
• Shinji created Shadow Clones to search the records and promised them he would get her out.
• Shinji left the village and reached the first of three sealing sites near where 'Naobi' had been.
• Shinji dug up the site, opened its sealed jar, and destroyed the decayed creature that lunged out.

Shinji opened the second seal point and freed a Kage-level ninja, who died of old age moments later after being sealed for 120 years. Realizing the Nameless One might suffer the same fate, Shinji began to doubt whether breaking her seal would save her.

• Shinji found the second seal point hidden behind a stone door and used Seal Absorption and Banshō Ten'in to open it.
• A middle-aged ninja emerged from the coffin and asked Shinji where Senju Kamado was.
• Shinji learned the ninja had been sealed for 120 years, and the man rapidly aged and died.
• Shinji examined the body and concluded that sealing had not stopped the passage of time.
• Shinji worried that the Nameless One might also die soon after he freed her.

Shinji reached the Illusion Forest and found Nameless, who had been sealed there for at least a hundred years. After learning that two others died of old age when their seals were broken, Nameless asked Shinji to free her so she could see him and the world before she died.

• Shinji identified the Illusion Forest as the third sealing point and suspected Nameless's power caused the forest's dreamlike rumors.
• Nameless recognized Shinji as Akari, and Shinji promised he had come to save her.
• Shinji told Nameless how he had found the Sealing Scroll and explained that the Uchiha and Senju had founded Konoha together.
• Shinji revealed that the two people he freed from earlier seals had died of old age, and warned Nameless she might die too.
• Nameless asked Shinji to break her seal so she could see the world and remember what he looked like.

Shinji freed Nameless from her seal and found her in far better condition than he had expected. As they headed to his laboratory, Nameless explained how the Uchiha Clan had turned her into a weapon before the Senju Clan captured and sealed her.

• Shinji broke the sealing formulas, pulled Nameless from the stone slab, and helped her drink a nutrient solution.
• Shinji observed Nameless's unusually strong, active Chakra and watched her explore the moonlit Illusion Forest.
• Shinji carried Nameless toward his secret laboratory, and they discussed their ocular techniques.
• Nameless told Shinji that the Uchiha Clan had imprisoned her after she awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan and its technique, Yachihoko.
• Nameless explained that the Uchiha Clan planned to use her as a weapon against the Senju Clan, but the Senju attacked, captured her, and sealed her away.

Shinji learned that Nameless’s Yachihoko could link people, manipulate their Chakra and will, and preserve memories and dojutsu in Kiseki. He brought her to his lab for an examination and found her body was badly damaged, but promised treatment that could restore her completely.

• Nameless explained that Yachihoko could link to anyone marked by a Kiseki and extract or transmit Chakra, as well as control their will and Chakra.
• Shinji realized Kiseki had stored his Naobi, Magatsu, and Susanoo Lamp, and inferred that Nameless had survived her long sealing by drawing Chakra from people affected by her leaking power.
• Shinji brought Nameless to his lab after explaining what it was, and she explored it without fear because it was bright and clean unlike the Uchiha dungeon.
• Shinji examined Nameless and warned that her damaged body might leave her with only five years to live at most.
• Nameless happily asked whether she could visit Konoha, and Shinji promised he could restore her if she cooperated with treatment.

Shinji discovered that the Uchiha Clan had crudely implanted Amaterasu and Tsukuyomi into Nameless’s arms, damaging her body, and bandaged the patterns to limit further harm. He warned her not to use her Sharingan abilities until he had restored her health, and she agreed to follow his care.

• Nameless explained that her clan had implanted Amaterasu and Tsukuyomi into her body after she awakened Yachihoko.
• Shinji examined the patterns and concluded that the crude implantation had damaged Nameless and burdened her body rather than strengthening her dojutsu.
• Nameless told Shinji that she could use Amaterasu and Tsukuyomi, and Shinji said the clan might later have developed Transcription Seal as a safer method.
• Shinji wrapped Nameless’s arms in nutrient-soaked bandages and explained that Mangekyo Dojutsu could corrode her body and mind.
• Shinji told Nameless her chakra was unusually high because of Yachihoko and warned her not to use Sharingan abilities until he had nursed her back to health.

Shinji studied Nameless’s Yachihoko and placed her in hibernation while the villages prepared for war against the Akatsuki. Nagato decided to turn captured Jinchuriki into new Six Paths of Pain, leaving Obito reluctantly agreeing.

• Shinji placed Nameless in a nutrient pod for three days of hibernation and realized Yachihoko could potentially improve the quality of Chakra it transmitted.
• Tsunade became the Fifth Hokage, Pakura became the Fifth Kazekage, and the Five Great Shinobi Villages began mobilizing for war.
• Konan reported that the Akatsuki had reclaimed the One-Tail, Two-Tails, and Seven-Tails, leaving the Three-Tails, Eight-Tails, and Nine-Tails to capture.
• Obito admitted that the mysterious group led by “A” remained unidentified and that reports suggested its leader possessed a Rinnegan.
• Nagato proposed using the bodies of the Two-Tails, Four-Tails, Five-Tails, Six-Tails, and Seven-Tails Jinchuriki to create new Six Paths of Pain, and Obito reluctantly agreed.

Obito agreed to let Nagato control the Jinchuriki while the Akatsuki Organization faced the growing threat of the Allied Force and the mysterious group led by “A.” Itachi remained undercover despite doubts about his ability to restrain the Akatsuki Organization, while Obito ordered Zetsu to keep watching him.

• Obito agreed to bring Nagato the Two-Tails Jinchuriki, and Nagato told him to locate the Mizukage.
• Obito told Zetsu that Nagato wanted control of the Jinchuriki and ordered him to continue monitoring Itachi.
• Juzo Biwa repaired the damaged Kubikiribōchō with his blood and warned Itachi that someone had been watching them.
• Itachi reflected that the Akatsuki Organization had grown stronger and that returning to Konoha would cost him his chance to restrain it from within.
• Itachi remained undercover and recalled stopping Amaterasu before it could kill the Fourth Mizukage.