Recaps

Shinji watched as Demonized Tanjiro fought Yugito Nii at the Land of Lightning anchor point, while worrying that the suspected Demon King might be at the Land of Water. After Yugito overwhelmed Tanjiro, he launched a final attack at Shinji, who engulfed him in Black Flame.

• Shinji realized Orochimaru had not arrived and worried that the Lantern Bearer might be guarding the Land of Water anchor point, where Haku was.
• Yugito Nii fought Demonized Tanjiro in her Complete Tailed Beast Transformation, healing the wounds his sword inflicted.
• As Tanjiro's Chakra ran dry, Yugito struck him into the snow, and Kabuto Yakushi and Kimimaro thought he was doomed.
• Tanjiro cut through Yugito's claw, burst from the snow, and charged toward Shinji with a blazing final attack.
• Shinji remained motionless as Black Flame swallowed Tanjiro and extinguished the flame on his blade.

Shinji defeated Upper Moon One with Amaterasu, but Tanjiro triggered an avalanche and escaped. Shinji destroyed the fourth anchor, extending the destruction countdown to ten days, then headed for the Land of Water, where Giyu Tomioka and the others had finished their battle.

• Kabuto Yakushi and Kimimaro watched Shinji's Mangekyō Sharingan overwhelm Tanjiro, who survived Amaterasu through his powerful regeneration.
• Tanjiro slashed the mountainside repeatedly and triggered an avalanche, which swept away him, Kabuto Yakushi, and Kimimaro.
• Shinji destroyed the five stone slabs at the fourth anchor, and the Lantern extended the countdown to the world's destruction to ten days.
• Shinji rode on Yugito Nii in her Complete Tailed Beast Transformation and ordered her to take him to the Land of Water.
• On an island in the Land of Water, Haku, Mei Terumi, and Kisame emerged from the smoke after their prolonged fight with Giyu Tomioka, who stood badly injured and leaning on his sword.

Mei Terumi, Kisame, and Haku captured Giyu Tomioka by freezing him inside Kisame’s Water Prison Technique and planned to take him to Kirigakure. When dawn broke, sunlight set Giyu ablaze inside the ice, and he turned to ash.

• Mei Terumi and Kisame coordinated an attack, with Kisame trapping Giyu Tomioka in a Water Prison Technique while Mei drew his attention.
• Giyu used his Sixth Form, Twisting Whirlpool, to begin breaking free from the prison, but Haku froze the water and Giyu inside it.
• Mei decided to take the captured Giyu back to Kirigakure, while Haku worried that bringing a ghost to the village would spread contamination.
• Haku noticed the sun rising, and sunlight reached the island as Mei and Kisame stood beside the frozen Giyu.
• Giyu burst into flames inside the ice and turned to ash under the sunlight.

Haku destroyed the five stone tablets on the island, while the battered Joint Force escaped the primeval forest and Kakashi questioned whether the Upper Ranks belonged to the Akatsuki Organization. Shinji then received confirmation that all five anchor points had been severed and the countdown to the world's destruction had stopped, leaving him to wonder whether Haku had succeeded without facing the Lantern Bearer.

• Haku destroyed the five stone tablets beneath a boulder, and Mei Terumi and Kisame took him back to their fishing boat.
• Mei Terumi and Kisame speculated that the Akatsuki Organization had tested Haku against a humanoid weapon, and Mei wondered whether his survival meant he had passed.
• The Joint Force emerged from the primeval forest, and Kakashi reconsidered whether the Upper Ranks were actually allied with the Akatsuki Organization.
• Chiyo, Jiraiya, Kitsuchi, and Zabuza persuaded the Fourth Raikage to stop searching for Yugito Nii and lead the Joint Force home.
• Shinji heard the lamp confirm that all five anchor points had been severed and the world's destruction countdown had stopped, and he wondered if Haku had succeeded.

Shinji concluded that Rengoku Kyojuro had joined the invasion to save the Demon Slayer World, then learned that Tanjiro had survived their battle. After Shinji escaped the pursuing Kumogakure shinobi, the Demon Slayer World's Lantern Bearer met with his remaining demons and realized his plan to draw out the Shinobi World's Lantern Bearer had failed.

• Shinji reasoned that the Demon Slayer World's invasions and five anchors were attempts to evade the Overlord and save their world.
• The Lamp detected no loot, leading Shinji to conclude that Tanjiro had survived the avalanche.
• Shinji used his Dojutsu to make Yugito Nii leave her Tailed Beast transformation, and they concealed their Chakra and fled into a forest to avoid Kumogakure shinobi.
• Kokushibo, Narume, Giant Demon, Kaigaku, and the wounded Tanjiro gathered before the Demon Slayer World's Lantern Bearer on a cliff.
• The Lantern Bearer said Rengoku Kyojuro and Giyu Tomioka were not coming, and Kokushibo suspected they had died fighting formidable opponents.
• The Lantern Bearer lamented that his five-anchor plan had failed to reveal his counterpart, unaware that Shinji was the Shinobi World's Lantern Bearer and that his assumptions about Pain and Akatsuki were mistaken.

After returning to Konoha, Shinji chose to improve his Yin Release Chakra quality from the Shinobi World's blessings, hoping to bring himself closer to awakening the Rinnegan. The upgrade strengthened his Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan, and he felt the surge of power as his vision returned.

• Shinji returned to Konoha, replaced the Shadow Clone covering for him, and spent the evening enjoying the peaceful streets.
• Shinji reviewed his SS-rating rewards and ruled out immense Chakra and random S-rank ninjutsu as his choices.
• Shinji chose improved Yin Release Chakra quality over abundant Natural Energy Affinity because he believed the Rinnegan was essential to his goals.
• Shinji's mental energy briefly spread into his surroundings, and his eyes throbbed until his vision went black.
• Shinji's eyesight returned stronger than before, confirming that his Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan's Dojutsu had improved.

After Shinji upgraded his permissions to Lantern Bearer, he gained the ability to detect Space Rifts and travel between worlds, while discovering that contamination had spread across Konoha. He learned the Shinobi World had an estimated 78 years before colliding with another world and considered whom to recruit as his two new attendants.

• The Lamp awarded Shinji 100 Merit Points, and he spent 100 to become a Lantern Bearer, leaving him with 79 Merit Points and four attendant slots.
• Shinji summoned the Lamp and swept its Lantern Shadow over Konoha, revealing black mist contamination in areas across the village.
• The Lamp estimated that the Shinobi World would collide with another world in 78 years if contamination continued at its current rate.
• Shinji decided not to spend embers cleansing contamination yet, since it would keep spreading while the Demon Slayer World's Lantern Bearer remained alive.
• Shinji considered recruiting two more attendants and weighed Neji's uncertain potential, which depended on whether he could awaken the Tenseigan.

Naruto’s classmates questioned him about his kidnapping by the Akatsuki Organization, while Shion claimed they had targeted him for the Tailed Beast. The gathering also concealed the recent absences of Shinji, Sasuke, and the others, as ANBU secretly monitored them, and Sasuke left the conversation wanting to discuss the Sharingan with Shinji.

• Choji asked Naruto whether the Akatsuki Organization had kidnapped him, and Naruto admitted it while saying he did not know why.
• Shion claimed the Akatsuki Organization had wanted Naruto’s Tailed Beast, then failed to explain what a Tailed Beast was.
• Sasuke said he had helped rescue Naruto, and his classmates asked him about the mission.
• The returned classmates gathered to hide their recent departures from the village while two ANBU watched them from a nearby room.
• Sasuke told Shinji he wanted to discuss the Sharingan, stirring Kimimaro and Neji’s memories of powerful opponents they had faced.

After discussing the Akatsuki Organization’s danger, Shinji watched his classmates leave to train and later heard Sasuke describe his encounter with the Mangekyō Uchiha known as “A.” Sasuke threatened to kill Shinji if he could not keep up, while privately searching for another way to awaken his own Mangekyō Sharingan.

• Shinji decided Neji was the only current candidate for an attendant, but chose to wait until Neji’s cell fusion experiments progressed further.
• Kiba, Sasuke, and Neji recalled their encounters with Akatsuki members, and Kimimaro and Neji left the gathering to train.
• Shikamaru urged the others to train too, and Shinji later left the barbecue restaurant with Haku and Karin.
• Sasuke caught up with Shinji, revealed that the Mangekyō Uchiha “A” had taken Naruto, and said he needed to awaken his own Mangekyō Sharingan.
• Sasuke threatened to take Shinji out if he could not keep up, but Shinji realized Sasuke was trying to pressure him into awakening his Sharingan.
• Shinji hoped Sasuke would awaken his Mangekyō Sharingan so he could use Fugaku Uchiha’s eyes to help Sasuke obtain an Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan, while Sasuke privately wondered how to awaken it another way.

The Five Kage discussed the Joint Force’s disastrous encounter with Upper Moon Two and learned that the Akatsuki Organization was targeting the Tailed Beasts after its member A abducted Naruto. As the Kage considered the threat, Orochimaru wondered how A had traveled such a vast distance so quickly.

• Kakashi reported that Upper Moon Two would take four to eight Jonin to match, while the Joint Force had failed and suffered heavy casualties.
• The Third Hokage revealed that A had infiltrated Konoha and abducted Naruto, though Konoha had rescued him and A had escaped.
• The Fourth Mizukage concluded that the Akatsuki Organization was targeting the Tailed Beasts, leaving the Five Great Shinobi Villages unable to reconcile with it.
• The Fourth Mizukage privately considered whether Haku could have infiltrated the Akatsuki Organization, while the Kusagakure representative hoped Karin had passed its test.
• Orochimaru recalled that Upper Moon One had been defeated by A and wondered how A had traveled from the Wind Country to the Land of Lightning in only a few days.

Kakashi explained Upper Moon Two’s corpse-devouring and rapid regeneration at the Kage Summit, prompting a heated debate about the Akatsuki Organization’s power and forcing the villages to delay rescuing Yugito Nii. At the Hokage Office, Kakashi proposed that the Upper Ranks might be enemies of the Akatsuki Organization, based on their clashes with its members.

• Zabuza and Kakashi told the Kage Summit that Upper Moon Two devoured corpses to increase his Chakra and could regenerate severed limbs.
• Orochimaru raised the question of Upper Moon Two’s immortality, sparking an argument among the village representatives over whether it came from a secret technique.
• The Third Hokage ended the debate, and the Five Great Shinobi Villages agreed to act more cautiously and postpone rescuing Yugito Nii.
• The Third Hokage summoned Jiraiya, Tsunade, Kakashi, and other participants to the Hokage Office, where they discussed contacting Itachi Uchiha.
• Kakashi argued that the Upper Ranks might oppose the Akatsuki Organization because they had clashed with its members, including 'A'.

Shinji tested the Susanoo Lamp’s ability to travel between worlds, then focused on strengthening himself while his allies remained under surveillance. With his plans to restore the Mangekyō Sharingan and advance Karin, Kimimaro, and Neji’s abilities on hold, he considered using the lamp to control another pair of eyes and bring his Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan closer to the Rinnegan.

• Shinji learned that the Five Great Shinobi Villages feared the Akatsuki Organization, which gave them more time to prepare against the Ten-Tails’ resurrection.
• He tried using the Susanoo Lamp to travel between worlds but discovered it required a nearby Space Rift, which he could not find.
• Shinji found that Naruto, Sasuke, Karin, Haku, Kimimaro, Neji, and he himself were under investigation or surveillance, forcing him to suspend several plans.
• Shinji examined three pairs of eyes in nutrient tanks and considered using the Susanoo Lamp to control the Byakugan and help his Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan advance to the Rinnegan.
• Shinji recalled that controlling the high-purity Byakugan had revealed one of the Susanoo Lamp’s secrets.

Shinji discovered that the Susanoo Lamp strengthened his Dojutsu more when he controlled a different kind of Dōjutsu Kekkei Genkai than one resembling his own Sharingan. He decided to seek out other Dōjutsu, especially the Red Eye and Ketsuryūgan, to boost his power and discover what additional abilities they might grant.

• Shinji realized that controlling a Byakugan with the Susanoo Lamp boosted his Dojutsu more than controlling ordinary Mangekyō Sharingan.
• After further experiments, Shinji concluded that the Susanoo Lamp enhanced him most by adding traits from different Dōjutsu Kekkei Genkai.
• Shinji considered the Red Eye and Ketsuryūgan, noting their abilities and that both might be within his reach.
• Shinji also thought of the Jōgan and Isshiki's cross-shaped eye as potential sources of new traits.
• Shinji decided to collect different Dōjutsu Kekkei Genkai to strengthen his Dojutsu and pursue further abilities from the Susanoo Lamp.

A furtive figure paid a black-market proprietor for information about Red Eye and learned where Night Owl’s group had been seen. In Konoha, Shinji trained with Haku and then learned that the Five Great Shinobi Villages had placed a hundred-million bounty on him, prompting him to consider how valuable information about himself might be.

• A furtive figure paid the black-market proprietor five million for information about Night Owl and memorized the area where Red Eye had been operating.
• Haku defeated Shinji in a sparring match while distracted by memories of his battle with Water Hashira Giyu Tomioka.
• Shinji returned home and summoned Meiqiu, who showed off a miniature Akatsuki Organization outfit before taking it off.
• Meiqiu told Shinji that the Five Great Shinobi Villages had placed a hundred-million bounty on him, and Shinji wondered how much that was.

Shinji learned that Night Owl, a Red Eye clan member, was hiding near the border of the Land of Hot Water and the Land of Water, and decided to target him for his eyes. Short on money, Shinji also planned to sell carefully chosen Akatsuki information through Meiqiu and set out to find Night Owl himself.

• Meiqiu reported that he had bought information about Night Owl at the black market and showed Shinji a map marking Night Owl's hideout.
• Shinji learned that Night Owl led a group of Kirigakure missing-nin and Red Eye clan members, and felt relieved he would not need to target the disabled Ranmaru.
• Shinji and Meiqiu discussed selling Akatsuki information to earn money, and Shinji decided to start with information about Haku and Karin rather than himself.
• Shinji warned Meiqiu that buyers might be the Five Great Shinobi Villages and promised him a cut if the information business succeeded.
• Meiqiu offered to find Night Owl, but Shinji refused because Meiqiu's Shadow Release would not work against Red Eyes and said he would go himself.

Konoha discovered that a mysterious figure crossing its barrier carried Fugaku Uchiha’s chakra signature, while Shinji unknowingly continued searching for the elusive Night Owl. In the Land of Hot Water, Scorpion finally met Night Owl and learned that the Akatsuki Organization wanted him.

• Konoha ANBU searched a grove but failed to capture the mysterious figure who had crossed the village barrier.
• The Barrier Squad reported that the figure’s chakra matched the archived chakra information of the deceased Fugaku Uchiha, and the Third Hokage ordered the investigation expedited.
• Shinji sparred with Haku, then reflected on how the village investigation had exposed spies and how his allies had avoided suspicion.
• Shinji continued searching for Night Owl with Shadow Clones, unaware that Konoha was hunting him as the mysterious figure.
• In the Land of Hot Water, Scorpion met Night Owl, who warily asked why the Akatsuki Organization wanted him.

Scorpion coerced Night Owl into agreeing to kidnap an Uchiha student from Konoha, while plotting to use the child to awaken the Sharingan. Back at the Academy, Shinji reunited with his teammates and learned that their next entrance exam would take place in the Forest of Death.

• Scorpion threatened to turn Night Owl into a puppet unless he helped kidnap an eight-year-old Uchiha, and Night Owl agreed after Scorpion offered him a chance to join the Akatsuki Organization.
• Deidara questioned Scorpion about the mission, and Scorpion admitted he wanted to experiment on the Uchiha child to stimulate the Sharingan.
• Shinji returned to the reopened Academy and saw his classmates training and spending time together at the training field.
• Haku told Shinji that the Academy's entrance exam would be held in the Forest of Death, and Shinji confirmed that Haku and Karin were already on his team.
• Neji and Tenten joined Shinji's group, and Shion and Sakura warned them that Kimimaro and Sasuke had trained hard during vacation.

The Ninja Academy began an entrance exam in the Forest of Death, where teams had to reach the central tower while facing shinobi interception teams. After Sasuke asked whether teams could attack one another, Iruka confirmed that they could.

• Iruka prepared the students for the Forest of Death exam while the Jonin discussed its danger and the ANBU safeguards.
• Shizune noticed Sasuke, Kimimaro, and Neji among the standout students, and Kakashi reminded her not to overlook Shinji.
• Iruka announced that students would compete in teams of three to reach the central tower, with interception teams attacking them along the way.
• Shikamaru realized the exam was designed to test the strongest students and worried that ordinary teams could be caught in the crossfire.
• Sasuke asked whether student teams could attack one another, and Iruka confirmed they were allowed to do so.

Iruka opened the Forest of Death entrance exam by explaining that students could attack one another and would face an interception squad. Sasuke, Kimimaro, Neji, and Shinji each swiftly defeated a Chunin guarding the entrance, clearing the way for the students to enter the forest.

• Iruka announced the exam rules, and the students grew wary as they realized they could attack one another.
• Four masked ANBU members from the interception squad blocked the Forest of Death entrance, discouraging the students from rushing in.
• Sasuke defeated one Chunin with a few moves and entered the forest, followed by Kimimaro and Neji, who each took down another guard.
• Shinji knocked out the last interception squad member with a quick strike and beckoned the waiting students forward.

Students entered the Forest of Death for an exam that allowed teams to attack one another, while Jonin followed, impressed by Sasuke, Kimimaro, Neji, and Shinji. Sasuke and Neji began eliminating other student teams as they raced toward the central tower, and Neji explained that the four strongest teams were clearing the field before facing one another.

• Shikamaru mapped the Forest of Death and worked out where Chunin interception teams might be waiting, warning Ino and Choji to avoid both them and rival students.
• Sasuke defeated three students, took their rescue flares, and sent them out of the exam before leading Sakura and Naruto onward.
• Shino detected a fight ahead, and Hinata identified Neji's team, so Shino, Kiba, and Hinata chose to take a detour.
• Neji made three defeated students activate their rescue flares, then continued toward the central tower with his team.
• Neji told Tenten that the four leading teams were eliminating the other students before competing against one another.

Shinji, Haku, and Karin made their way through the Forest of Death while the exam’s interception teams eliminated students. After Kimimaro defeated four Chunin, Sasuke rushed toward the central tower and encountered Night Owl’s disguised team, whose members reacted to the three-tomoe Sharingan in his eyes.

• Shinji reassured Haku and Karin that reaching the central tower was enough, and a group of students fled when they recognized him.
• Shizune, Anko, Asuma, and Iruka discussed the teams being eliminated and the twenty Chunin still working as interception teams.
• Night Owl and three subordinates disguised themselves as an interception team and set out to capture an Uchiha academy student without killing anyone.
• Sasuke, Naruto, and Sakura found four defeated Chunin and learned that Kimimaro had beaten them by himself.
• Sasuke continued toward the central tower and confronted Night Owl’s disguised team, who saw his three-tomoe Sharingan.

Sasuke chased Night Owl’s interception squad into the Forest of Death and tried to defeat them with a planned combination of kunai, wire, and a Fire Release technique. Night Owl’s squad outmaneuvered him and surrounded him after wounding his shoulder, leaving Sasuke facing a fight he could not easily win.

• Night Owl recognized Sasuke’s Three-Tomoe Sharingan, but led his squad away after spotting Konoha reinforcements approaching.
• Sasuke ignored Naruto and Sakura and pursued Night Owl’s squad into the depths of the Forest of Death.
• Sasuke trapped what appeared to be Night Owl and his subordinates with wired kunai, but they escaped using the Substitution Technique.
• Night Owl’s squad struck Sasuke from behind, and Sasuke used a Shadow Clone to escape their attacks and reach cover.
• Night Owl found Sasuke behind a tree, pierced his shoulder with a blade, and surrounded him with his three subordinates.

Night Owl and his impostor team captured Sasuke and carried him toward the edge of the Forest of Death, while Naruto overcame his fear and pursued them. Their escape was interrupted when they encountered Shinji, Haku, and Karin.

• Sasuke fought Night Owl's three subordinates while Naruto froze and Sakura fainted.
• Night Owl's team knocked Sasuke unconscious, tied him up, and left with him as Naruto carried Sakura aside and followed.
• Night Owl led his team away from the central tower, avoiding student teams as they headed for the forest's edge.
• Sasuke woke while bound and realized the supposed interception team had abducted him.
• Night Owl's team encountered Shinji, Haku, and Karin, and both Shinji and Night Owl called the meeting interesting.

Shinji encountered Night Owl’s impostor interception team and rescued Sasuke with a swift technique that used an enemy’s hand to form hand seals. Night Owl recognized Shinji as a serious threat and retreated with his injured subordinate, leaving the confrontation unresolved.

• Shinji recognized Night Owl and his men as impostors after spotting their Red Eyes, while Sasuke tried to warn him that they were dangerous.
• Night Owl ordered two subordinates to attack Shinji, and Haku quickly gained the upper hand against them.
• Shinji used the hand of the man carrying Sasuke to form hand seals, rescued Sasuke, and struck the man with a Great Fireball Technique.
• Night Owl grew wary of Shinji’s skill, picked up his burned subordinate, and ordered his remaining men to retreat into the forest.

Shinji rescued Sasuke from Night Owl’s group, but the Jonin doubted Sasuke’s warning about how strong the impostors were. Shinji secretly followed them in disguise as an Akatsuki member and confronted Night Owl, asking to borrow something.

• Night Owl’s group retreated with their captive Sasuke, and Shinji pursued them before returning and claiming he could not catch up.
• Sasuke warned Haku and Karin that the kidnappers were impostors and powerful, but Shinji returned before Sasuke could join the chase.
• Kakashi and other Jonin arrived, heard what had happened, and dismissed Sasuke’s claims about the enemy’s strength despite Shinji confirming he had rescued him.
• Kakashi cautioned the group against acting recklessly and said search teams were already pursuing the kidnappers.
• Shinji’s Shadow Clone doubled back while his true self, disguised in Akatsuki attire, followed Night Owl and confronted him in the Forest of Death.
• Night Owl said the Akatsuki Organization had ordered the kidnapping, and Shinji asked if he could borrow something.