Recaps

Uchiha Ryobu fled the Leaf after developing an immortality technique, but Orochimaru and the Sannin intercepted him at Kannabi Bridge. As Ryobu revealed the motives and secrets behind his experiments, Leaf forces and rival factions converged, leaving him surrounded.

• Uchiha Ryobu escaped three pursuing Anbu and reached Kannabi Bridge, where Orochimaru blocked his way and demanded his Immortality Technique.
• Orochimaru offered Ryobu a place at his side, but Tsunade and Jiraiya arrived and confronted them.
• Ryobu revealed that his Plunder Regeneration technique combined stolen medical records from Tsunade's home with Hiruko's Chimera Technique, curing his frail body by stealing another person's life.
• Ryobu confessed that his ambition to become stronger had driven him, and he admitted to sabotaging Dan Katō's treatment because he feared losing Tsunade.
• Orochimaru, Jiraiya, Tsunade, and the Anbu blocked Ryobu's escape as Fugaku Uchiha and the Root arrived, while other figures watched from the forest.

Liao Wu was cornered by the Sannin, the Uchiha, and village forces at Kannabi Bridge while trying to protect his immortality technique. Minato killed him under the Third Hokage’s orders, and Liao Wu destroyed the technique with his final act, leaving the survivors to bury him beside the bridge.

• Fugaku and the Uchiha pursued Liao Wu, but at Kannabi Bridge they disowned him and turned away under his threats.
• Orochimaru attacked Liao Wu to seize his immortality technique, while Liao Wu held him off with an Explosive Tag threat and tried to bargain for safe passage.
• Liao Wu spotted White Zetsu and expected Madara Uchiha to rescue him, but White Zetsu vanished, leaving him to face the Sannin and other pursuers alone.
• Liao Wu threw a fake scroll to distract the pursuers, but Minato pierced his heart with a Kunai after receiving the Third Hokage’s order to kill him and destroy the technique.
• Liao Wu confronted Minato, then fell from the bridge and blew himself apart; Orochimaru pursued him, while the others watched.
• Minato, Jiraiya, and Tsunade raised a cenotaph for Liao Wu beside Kannabi Bridge, while the Third Hokage received a challenge over Minato’s recall.

Tsunade decided to leave the village after the war, while Jiraiya and Minato discussed the coming Hokage succession and Orochimaru’s suspicious research. Ryobu survived Minato’s attack and reached Madara’s underground base, where Madara demanded his Forbidden Technique and Ryobu began considering how to gain power and escape.

• Tsunade told Jiraiya she planned to resign and travel after returning to the village, recalling that Ryobu had supported her Medical Reform proposal when Jiraiya and Orochimaru stayed silent.
• Tsunade predicted Minato would become the Fourth Hokage and ordered Jiraiya to investigate Orochimaru’s possible Human Body Forbidden Technique research.
• Orochimaru recovered a strange fragment from the river and vowed to bring Ryobu back, while a White Zetsu reported that Orochimaru had found its spore fragment.
• Ryobu woke in Madara Uchiha’s underground base, where he reunited with Obito and pretended to submit to Madara after joking and arguing with them.
• Madara revealed that he had arranged Ryobu’s escape and demanded the Forbidden Technique so he could regain his prime; Ryobu claimed he could demonstrate it on a White Zetsu Clone.
• Ryobu realized his technique could not restore Madara’s youth and considered stealing White Zetsu powers through the Chimera Technique to strengthen himself and find a way out.

Liao Wu absorbed a White Zetsu Clone, gaining its abilities and regaining his youth, then escaped Madara’s base before being captured and brought back. Madara demanded that Liao Wu restore his youth, but when Liao Wu claimed his Forbidden Technique had a long cooldown, Madara used Hypnosis on him.

• Liao Wu used Chimera—Bloodline Plunder to absorb the White Zetsu Clone, gaining White Zetsu’s abilities and a youthful appearance.
• Madara mistook Liao Wu for Izuna and urged him to restore his youth, promising him Leaf Village and anything he wanted.
• Liao Wu tricked Madara, transformed into a White Zetsu, and escaped underground with the Mayfly Technique.
• Madara’s Illusion Technique trapped Liao Wu in a loop underground, and White Zetsu knocked him out and returned him to the base.
• Liao Wu claimed his Forbidden Technique needed a cooldown, but Madara refused to wait and used Hypnosis on him.

Madara tortured Liao Wu until he revealed that Kusagakure held a Forbidden Technique that might restore Madara’s youth, and Madara sent White Zetsu to capture its user. Meanwhile, the Third Hokage defended his decision to execute Uchiha Ryobu against Danzo and the other elders, leaving Danzo furious after they were forced to back down.

• Madara questioned and electrocuted Liao Wu, who revealed the Dragon Life Reincarnation Technique and its connection to Kusano Hana in Kusagakure.
• Madara ordered White Zetsu to capture the person who could use the technique, while Obito cursed Liao Wu and Liao Wu shocked him with Lightning Release.
• Liao Wu considered using Orochimaru’s Living Corpse Reincarnation as a fallback if Kusano Hana’s technique could not restore Madara’s youth.
• At the Hokage Building, Danzo, Utatane Koharu, and Mitokado Homura challenged the Third Hokage over Uchiha Ryobu’s execution and the village’s lost war funding.
• The Third Hokage refused to use villagers’ lives to restore old Ninjas’ youth, dismissed the elders, and said he would face the Daimyo’s pressure himself.
• Danzo left angry that the Third Hokage had intimidated him and prevented him from prevailing.

Minato returned to the front lines while the Third Hokage assigned Jiraiya to investigate Orochimaru. Tsunade revealed how Liao Wu died to Mikoto, Kushina, and Itachi, and ended by challenging Itachi to explain why Minato had done nothing wrong.

• Minato requested a posting to the front lines, and the Third Hokage approved it while comforting Kakashi and answering Rin’s questions about Liao Wu.
• The Third Hokage summoned Jiraiya and ordered him to secretly investigate Orochimaru, who had attacked Anbu and disappeared.
• Kushina, Mikoto, and Itachi visited Tsunade, who told them the truth about Liao Wu’s death.
• Mikoto struggled with grief and awakened her Three Tomoe Sharingan, while Itachi defended Minato and revealed his One-Tomoe Sharingan.
• Tsunade asked Itachi why Minato had done nothing wrong despite killing his family member.

Tsunade and Kushina investigated Liao Wu’s past and discovered that, despite his scams and counterfeit goods, he had helped struggling injured ninjas with money and medicine. Mikoto explained that the rest of his funds went to forbidden technique experiments and supporting former battlefield fighters, leaving Tsunade to consider how the village’s costly medical system trapped ninjas in poverty.

• Itachi told Tsunade that Liao Wu had become a rogue ninja after killing a fellow villager, and Tsunade warned Mikoto to protect him from people seeking to exploit his young Sharingan.
• Mikoto recalled Liao Wu’s past, while Kushina and Tsunade laughed at stories of his insurance fraud and other schemes at Leaf Hospital.
• Patients described how Liao Wu had sold them discounted homemade medicine and involved a disabled veteran in selling counterfeit Explosive Tags.
• Mikoto told Tsunade that Liao Wu had spent money on forbidden technique experiments and supported ninjas who could no longer earn a living after returning from battle.
• Tsunade reflected on how the village’s expensive medical care and equipment burdened ninjas without family backing.

Tsunade suspected that Ryobu’s apparent death might have been faked after she learned he had made Imitation Explosive Tags, while Danzo and Orochimaru discussed the coming Hokage selection and planned to undermine Tsunade. Orochimaru ended by admitting that Ryobu had destroyed himself to keep his forbidden technique from being captured.

• Tsunade told the people seeking Ryobu’s medicine that it only eased their symptoms, then promised to propose lowering special-medicine prices.
• Tsunade heard that Ryobu’s home contained Imitation Explosive Tags and urgently asked Mikoto to take her to see them.
• Danzo told Orochimaru that Hiruzen might resign and that Minato could compete with Tsunade and Orochimaru for Hokage.
• Orochimaru urged Danzo to smear Tsunade by linking her to Ryobu’s forbidden technique, and Danzo agreed the rumor might hurt her.
• Danzo asked about Ryobu’s forbidden technique, and Orochimaru said Ryobu had self-destructed to keep it from him.

Orochimaru tried to use Impure World Reincarnation to bring Ryobu back, but his first attempt failed because the tissue he used was not Ryobu’s. After confirming the jutsu worked by reanimating Hiruko, Orochimaru sought to control him and offered him a chance to take revenge on Liao Wu.

• Danzo agreed to send Orochimaru more refugees to use as experimental subjects, while warning him that Hiruzen was wary of him.
• Orochimaru’s first attempt to reanimate Ryobu failed, so he gathered more traces of Ryobu’s cells for another attempt.
• Tsunade recognized Ryobu’s imitation explosive tags and concluded that he was still alive.
• Orochimaru successfully reanimated Hiruko and explained that he intended to make him a puppet.
• Hiruko resisted Orochimaru, but Orochimaru invoked Hiruko’s hatred of Liao Wu to persuade him to cooperate.

Jiraiya found evidence of Orochimaru’s human experiments, while Mikoto warned Itachi to hide his eyes and keep Liao Wu’s survival secret. Tsunade decoded Liao Wu’s message, learned he had left her the Creation Rebirth technique, and became determined to claim leadership of the village.

• Orochimaru sensed Jiraiya entering his secret base and left with Hiruko, while Jiraiya discovered human organs and tissues inside.
• Tsunade took Liao Wu’s belongings from Mikoto, who later warned Itachi not to reveal his eyes and told him that his uncle had to remain dead.
• Mikoto remembered Fugaku’s treatment of Liao Wu and Itachi, while Itachi wondered what gave life and the Uchiha Clan meaning.
• Tsunade deciphered symbols on Liao Wu’s Imitation Explosive Tags and found the Forbidden Technique: Creation Rebirth, along with his teasing message to her.
• Tsunade realized Liao Wu was alive, destroyed a homeowner’s wall in anger, paid for the damage, and headed to the Hokage Building to become the village’s next leader.

Madara tried to use Ryūsetsu’s Dragon Life Reincarnation to restore his youth, but Liao Wu explained that the technique could not help him as he was not near death. Liao Wu promised to develop his own youth-restoration technique within a month, and Black Zetsu took him to Madara’s Ninjutsu collection.

• White Zetsu brought Ryūsetsu, a young Kusagakure ninja who knew Dragon Life Reincarnation, to Madara, who questioned Liao Wu about whether she could restore his youth.
• Madara learned that Ryūsetsu’s technique only saved people on the brink of death and put her under a Sharingan Illusion Technique so he could use it.
• Obito tried to stop Madara, but White Zetsu restrained him and Tobi beat him after Liao Wu gave the order.
• Liao Wu stopped Madara and explained that Dragon Life Reincarnation would not work on him unless he was near death.
• Liao Wu offered to develop a technique to restore Madara’s youth within a month, and Madara threatened to bury Liao Wu, Obito, and Ryūsetsu if he failed.
• Madara fell asleep after telling Liao Wu to ask Black Zetsu for help, and Black Zetsu led him to Madara’s Ninjutsu collection.

Liao Wu intimidated Ryūsetsu into explaining her Dragon Life Reincarnation Technique, then began planning a new version of Plunder Regeneration to restore Madara's youth. Meanwhile, Orochimaru traveled toward the Land of Grass with Edo Hiruko, intent on obtaining Liao Wu's immortality technique.

• Liao Wu tried to scare Ryūsetsu with boasts about being the SSS-rank rogue ninja Uchiha Ryobu, but she remained silent.
• Liao Wu tortured Obito with Lightning Release, frightening Ryūsetsu into explaining the principles of Dragon Life Reincarnation.
• Liao Wu concluded he could not use Ryūsetsu's Kekkei Genkai technique himself, but planned to study it and develop Plunder Regeneration 2.0.
• Orochimaru traveled toward the Land of Grass with Edo Hiruko after forcing Hiruko to reveal the Chimera Technique.
• Orochimaru dismissed the Chimera Technique's ability to take one Kekkei Genkai and focused on acquiring Liao Wu's Plunder Regeneration.

Orochimaru investigated Ryobu’s apparent death at Kannabi Bridge and began searching the canyon with Hiruko, while Jiraiya followed. At Leaf Hospital, Tsunade uncovered evidence of corruption but learned that the suspected Vice Director had killed himself before she could question him.

• Orochimaru told Hiruko that Ryobu had survived his supposed self-destruction and took him to Kannabi Bridge to investigate the escape.
• Orochimaru reasoned that someone had secretly influenced Ryobu’s defection, agreed to give Hiruko his White Snake Cells, and jumped into the canyon with him to search.
• Jiraiya arrived at Kannabi Bridge and wondered whether Orochimaru was still pursuing Ryobu’s forbidden technique.
• Tsunade dismissed Shizune’s concerns about rumors linking her to Liao Wu’s evil arts and suspected that political rivals were trying to damage her chances of becoming Hokage.
• Tsunade identified Leaf Hospital Vice Director Nagayama Minoru as the person behind its funding shortfall and ordered Shizune to summon him.
• Shizune reported that Nagayama Minoru had committed suicide, and Tsunade rushed out of her office.

Tsunade pursued her investigation into embezzled funds at Leaf Hospital as Danzo and the Third Hokage confronted the corruption implicating Root, Orochimaru, and the Sarutobi. After the Torture Department burned down, the Jonin Council accused Tsunade of aiding Liao Wu and ordered her to stay home, but she vowed to keep engaging in politics.

• Tsunade found that Nagayama Minoru had poisoned himself and discovered that his tongue was missing, then took his body to investigate further.
• Danzo showed the Third Hokage records tracing missing hospital funds to Root, Orochimaru, and Sarutobi, and warned him against letting Tsunade continue her investigation.
• Tsunade tried to get Yamanaka Inoichi to examine Nagayama Minoru, but he pretended to be injured, so she knocked him unconscious and headed to the Torture Department.
• Tsunade presented her findings to the Third Hokage and promised to punish any Senju involved, while he urged her to postpone a wider investigation until after the war.
• An Anbu reported that the Torture Department was on fire, and Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura delivered the Jonin Council's order for Tsunade to remain at home during an investigation into her alleged links to Liao Wu.
• Tsunade smashed the Third Hokage's desk and declared that she would keep getting involved in politics.

Orochimaru and Hiruko searched Kannabi Bridge for Liao Wu while Jiraiya secretly watched them. After questioning a Kusagakure search party and learning about the kidnapped Ryūsetsu and stolen Fire Release techniques, Orochimaru found a clue to the White Monster’s location and sent out snakes to search.

• Orochimaru told Hiruko that Jiraiya had mastered Senjutsu and ordered him to conceal his identity and keep searching for Liao Wu.
• Orochimaru and Hiruko intercepted four Kusagakure Ninjas, including Wu Wei and Hagi Chiho, who were searching for the kidnapped Ryūsetsu.
• Hagi Chiho explained that Ryūsetsu could revive someone near death by sacrificing her own life, leading Orochimaru to suspect the kidnapper wanted life-restoring techniques.
• Wu Wei revealed that a White Monster had stolen advanced Fire Release Ninjutsu and escaped after being struck by his Fire Style: Heavenly Prison.
• Orochimaru recognized the piece of skin bearing the Heavenly Prison seal as proof that the White Monster was nearby and summoned tens of thousands of snakes to find him.

Liao Wu demonstrated his mastery of Uchiha Fire Style and Grass Village techniques by defeating a group of White Zetsu Clones. Black Zetsu dismissed him as ordinary because he had not awakened the Sharingan.

• Liao Wu used Great Fire Annihilation to burn several White Zetsu Clones while Obito and Ryūsetsu watched.
• The remaining clones merged into a Giant Wooden Pitcher Plant, but Liao Wu bound it with Great Fire Heavenly Prison and destroyed it with a Big Ball Rasengan.
• Liao Wu claimed credit for inventing the Rasengan after Obito called it Minato’s technique.
• White Zetsu explained that Madara’s guidance and White Zetsu Cells had helped Liao Wu learn Fire Style, and that he had stolen Grass Village’s secret techniques for him.
• Black Zetsu dismissed Liao Wu as an ordinary Ninja and said he would need a Mangekyo Sharingan to be worthy of Madara’s company.

Liao Wu secretly created ten Life Spores while pretending to develop a youth-restoration technique for Madara, and he failed to awaken Obito’s third Sharingan Tomoe. Outside, Orochimaru found signs of Liao Wu’s hideout, but Jiraiya confronted him and demanded that he return to the village.

• Liao Wu shocked Obito and threatened Rin, causing Obito’s Sharingan to near a third Tomoe before he passed out.
• Liao Wu secretly used a White Zetsu Clone to cultivate Life Spores, giving himself ten hidden reserves of life.
• Liao Wu revealed that he had already completed Plunder Regeneration 2.0, based on Ryūsetsu’s Dragon Life Reincarnation.
• Orochimaru’s snakes died in large numbers north of the village, leading him to conclude that Liao Wu was nearby.
• Jiraiya blocked Orochimaru and ordered him to return, while Orochimaru insisted that Liao Wu was still alive and asked whether Jiraiya would kill him.

Orochimaru discovered that Madara Uchiha was alive beneath the mountain and decided to pursue his secrets despite the danger. He recruited Hiruko and coerced Grass Village into gathering forces, while Jiraiya was summoned to Mount Myōboku for a prophecy.

• Sage Fukasaku appeared to Jiraiya and told him that the Great Toad Sage had a new prophecy, so Jiraiya abandoned his pursuit of Orochimaru and headed to Mount Myōboku.
• Orochimaru sent a white snake into the hidden base, where he saw the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path and an aged man whose Sharingan drove him out with a single command.
• Orochimaru and Hiruko recognized the old man as Madara Uchiha and fled, but Orochimaru soon resolved to pursue Madara’s secrets and seize the life-extending technique he believed Madara wanted.
• Orochimaru sent Hiruko to find Jiraiya and dispatched a snake carrying a message to Tsunade, hoping to draw them into opposing Madara.
• Orochimaru told Hagi Chiho that Grass Village’s Kekkei Genkai lay beneath the mountain and threatened the Grass Village ninja until Wu Wei ordered Hagi Chiho to signal their village for reinforcements.

Tsunade learned that Madara Uchiha was still alive and set out for the Land of Grass, while the Great Toad Sage warned Jiraiya that an Uchiha would threaten the ninja world. Madara’s weakened hideout was discovered by Orochimaru, and Madara called for Liao Wu as his enemies closed in.

• Tsunade forced Senju Tamajun to confess that Nagayama Minoru had bribed him and ordered him to return the illicit funds and face punishment.
• Tsunade received Orochimaru’s message that Madara Uchiha was alive, sent Shizune to inform the Hokage, and prepared to travel to the Land of Grass.
• The Great Toad Sage told Jiraiya that an Uchiha Ghost had returned from the boundary between Yin and Yang and must be stopped, prompting the sages to identify him as Madara Uchiha.
• Orochimaru’s search uncovered Madara’s base, and Black Zetsu urged Madara to relocate before the Great Snake Swarm arrived.
• Madara asked Black and White Zetsu to bring Liao Wu to him while Liao Wu taught Tobi to draw a thesis defense and Obito recited the Will of Fire.

Ryobu escaped Madara’s underground base with Madara’s weapons when a disturbance interrupted his plan to restore Madara’s youth. While fleeing with Obito and Ryūsetsu, he ran into Hiruko, who accused him of betrayal.

• Ryobu told Obito that the Leaf Village was corrupt, then learned Madara had awakened and went to meet him.
• Madara threatened Ryobu over his unfinished jutsu, but Ryobu claimed it was ready and offered to transfer his life in exchange for awakening his Sharingan.
• A violent disturbance shook the base, allowing Ryobu to escape with the Flame Uchiha Gunbai and Moon Ring Sickle; he then collected Obito and Ryūsetsu.
• Ryobu fled through the underground passages as Obito urged him to surrender to Orochimaru, and a giant snake swallowed Tobi.
• A white serpent blocked Ryobu’s route and revealed itself as Hiruko, who accused Ryobu of helping develop the Chimera Technique before betraying him and throwing him into a toilet.

Liao Wu fought Hiruko, escaped with Obito and Ryūsetsu, and faced Madara’s forces while they fled through the underground base. When Madara’s Curse Mark tortured his companions and Black Zetsu offered a bargain, Obito’s dream of becoming Hokage made Liao Wu decide to stop running.

• Liao Wu used Fire Style and a Wood Style Pitcher Plant Technique to restrain and seal Hiruko, then escaped underground with Obito and Ryūsetsu.
• Tobi and Black Zetsu pursued Liao Wu, while Orochimaru entered Madara’s chamber and watched Madara regain strength.
• Liao Wu, Obito, and Ryūsetsu battled swarming snakes until Madara’s Curse Mark caused them severe pain.
• Black Zetsu demanded that Liao Wu help restore Madara in exchange for removing the Curse Marks, while Obito urged him not to comply.
• Obito declared that he would become Hokage, and Liao Wu resolved to stop running.

Orochimaru, Tsunade, and Jiraiya confronted Madara at his exposed base, while Nagato sensed a mysterious power calling to him. Liao Wu arrived with Fish Ball and declared he would face the Sannin, leaving Jiraiya determined to stop him from reaching Madara.

• The Demonic Statue of the Outer Path forced Orochimaru and Orochi out of the underground base, and Orochimaru used a Puppet Talisman to control Orochi when he tried to leave.
• Nagato's Rinnegan reacted to a power calling from the north, though he reassured Konan that nothing was wrong.
• Orochimaru confronted Madara and challenged him alongside Tsunade and Jiraiya, who summoned their Sage-region allies and beasts.
• Liao Wu arrived with the Flame Uchiha Gunbai, Moon Ring Sickle, and orange cat Fish Ball, then told Fish Ball to fight the Sannin's Summoning Beasts.
• Jiraiya recognized Liao Wu and said he would make up for Minato's mistake by stopping him, while Madara ordered Liao Wu to be dragged away.

Obito escaped with Ryūsetsu but was cornered by Grass Village ninja who wanted his Sharingan, so he accepted Tobi’s power to fight back. Meanwhile, the Third Hokage learned Madara Uchiha was alive and ordered Konoha’s forces to withdraw as Liao Wu faced the Sannin with the Flame Uchiha Gunbai.

• Ryūsetsu carried Obito away from the battlefield, but Grass Village ninja surrounded them and demanded that she hand him over for his Sharingan.
• Obito accepted Tobi’s power and used Wood Style to confront the Grass Village ninja.
• The Third Hokage learned from Tsunade’s message that Madara Uchiha was alive and ordered Shinnosuke, Minato, and Danzo to withdraw their forces and return to the village.
• Fish Ball fled from Liao Wu, who tried to leave the Sannin but was pursued by Orochimaru.
• Liao Wu used the Flame Uchiha Gunbai to reflect Orochimaru’s Wind Release back at him.

Tsunade fought Liao Wu while Jiraiya and Orochimaru confronted Madara Uchiha, who used the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path to repel their attack. The statue’s appearance drove Kusagakure’s forces to flee, while Obito collapsed from exhaustion.

• Tsunade activated her Hundred Healings Mode and attacked Liao Wu, who evaded her blows with the Mayfly Technique.
• Jiraiya and Orochimaru joined forces with the Toad Three Brothers to attack Madara Uchiha atop the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path.
• Madara used his remaining Rinnegan Pupil Power to make the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path rise and blast back the attackers with a powerful shockwave.
• The Grass Village Leader recognized Madara Uchiha and ordered Kusagakure’s forces to evacuate, while Hagi Chiho carried Ryūsetsu away.
• After the Grass Village forces fled, Obito collapsed from exhaustion, and Sage Fukasaku admitted he did not know the statue’s origin.

Jiraiya, Orochimaru, and Tsunade seemingly killed Madara after severing his connection to the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path, but Madara used Izanagi to survive. Liao Wu began reviving Madara to save himself from the Curse Mark tied to Madara’s life.

• Sage Fukasaku spotted the tubes sustaining Madara, while Liao Wu fought Tsunade in White Zetsu Biological Armor.
• Tsunade struck Liao Wu down, severing his meridians and destroying his internal organs.
• Sage Fukasaku and Sage Shima trapped Madara with Toad Song as Orochimaru severed the statue’s tubes and Jiraiya blasted Madara apart with a Super Big Ball Rasengan.
• The group believed Madara had died, but Liao Wu appeared beside the statue holding the weakened Madara and explained that Izanagi had made the death an illusion.
• Jiraiya, Orochimaru, and Tsunade attacked Liao Wu as he activated Chimera: Reverse Plunder Regeneration to revive Madara and escape the Curse Mark’s threat.