Recaps

Fish Ball and Cai Lai were sent to stop Minato, but their squabbling and summoned allies turned the encounter into a tense standoff. As the Third Hokage learned that the Second and Third Divisions had reached their positions, he prepared to put Plan B into action.

• Liao Wu punished Fish Ball and Cai Lai for arguing, then ordered them to fight Minato together or lose their places among the Cloud Five Warriors.
• Minato rescued Cai Lai from the river, while Asuma and Ebisu rushed forward to fight Fish Ball and Cai Lai.
• Fish Ball summoned Hanzō's giant salamander Ibuse, and Cai Lai summoned Sasori of the Red Sands as a red scorpion.
• The Third Hokage and Mifune discussed the dangers posed by Ibuse's poison and Sasori's Magnet Release, while Jiraiya noted Minato could use Sage Mode.
• Sakumo confirmed he had killed Sasori's parents during the war, and headquarters reported that the Second and Third Divisions had reached their positions.
• The Third Hokage decided that the army could now put Plan B into action.

Tobirama questioned Liao Wu about his forbidden immortality research, his defection, and his role in reviving Madara. Liao Wu explained that he had acted to survive and pursue his own desires, leaving Tobirama and Orochimaru stunned by his priorities.

• Tobirama recognized Liao Wu as a former student and asked why he had become a rogue ninja.
• Liao Wu explained that he had researched an immortality technique using other people's cells and fled after Madara exposed him.
• Liao Wu said he had come to Ryūchi Cave to learn Senjutsu and escape Madara's control.
• Liao Wu told Tobirama he had revived Madara because Madara's Curse Mark controlled him and he feared capture or death if he returned to the Leaf Village.
• Liao Wu admitted he wanted money and women, prompting Tobirama to call him vulgar and Orochimaru to criticize his ambitions.
• Orochimaru argued that Liao Wu was ruled by his genetic desires, and Liao Wu paused as he acknowledged the point.

Liao Wu rejected Tobirama and Orochimaru’s attempt to recruit him away from Madara, but named Triple Rashomon as the first thing he wanted from Orochimaru. Tobirama agreed to let Orochimaru teach him the technique, while Liao Wu’s unnerving Kitten Girl revealed a frightening gaze to Orochimaru.

• Liao Wu said he opposed Madara’s Moon Eye Plan, and Tobirama offered to spare him if he helped eliminate Madara.
• Orochimaru noticed the Kitten Girl absorbing the surrounding gloom, then froze in terror when he met her blood-red eyes.
• Liao Wu refused to betray Madara, citing Madara’s support and the lack of a worthwhile offer from Tobirama and Orochimaru.
• Orochimaru invited Liao Wu to name something he wanted, and Liao Wu requested Triple Rashomon.
• Tobirama told Orochimaru to give Liao Wu the technique, explaining that Rashomon required enormous chakra and could not stop attacks like a Tailed Beast Ball.

Liao Wu took Rashomon from Orochimaru but refused to join forces against Madara unless Orochimaru also gave him Impure World Reincarnation. When Orochimaru and Tobirama refused, Liao Wu attacked with Satoru, and the fight left Satoru wounded but still standing.

• Orochimaru gave Liao Wu the Rashomon Summoning Scroll, which Candy confirmed was genuine.
• Liao Wu demanded Impure World Reincarnation as a further bribe, but Orochimaru and Tobirama refused to hand over the jutsu.
• Liao Wu turned hostile and ordered Satoru to attack Orochimaru and Tobirama.
• Satoru transformed into the Black Winged Great Demon, and Orochi identified it as the ancient being Awakening from the Box of Paradise.
• Orochi explained that Satoru could read minds and evade attacks, while Satoru dodged Orochi's tail and Orochimaru's Kusanagi Sword.
• Tobirama struck Satoru's wing with Water Severing Wave, forcing Satoru to retreat despite its powerful body.

Satoru could not predict Tobirama’s attacks because the reanimated Hokage had no emotions for him to read, while Liao Wu healed Satoru and tried to make him draw out more techniques to copy. Tobirama confronted Orochimaru and Orochi over their conduct, then joined Orochimaru in deciding to kill Liao Wu.

• Satoru explained that Tobirama’s emotionless Reanimation Body made Malice Perception useless, and Liao Wu healed his injuries with Wood Style.
• Liao Wu revealed that he had copied Tobirama’s Water Severing Wave and ordered Satoru to provoke Tobirama into using more ninjutsu, but Satoru refused.
• Tobirama challenged Orochi over his demand for human sacrifices, threatened Orochimaru, and warned him not to sacrifice living people for experiments.
• Orochimaru apologized to Tobirama and promised to use white Zetsu bodies for future experiments, while Tobirama lectured him about protecting people.
• Tobirama and Orochimaru agreed that Liao Wu would not listen to reason and decided to kill him.

Ryobu used Shukaku and Susanoo to withstand Tobirama’s attacks in Ryūchi Cave. Tobirama suspected Madara planned to have Tsunade killed to make Ryobu awaken the Mangekyō Sharingan, and decided he needed to warn Hashirama and save her.

• Candy warned Ryobu that Tobirama and Orochimaru were preparing to attack, and Orochimaru demanded the Rashomon Summoning Scroll back.
• Ryobu argued with Orochimaru and Tobirama, provoking Tobirama to attack him with a Flying Thunder God Kunai.
• Shukaku deflected Tobirama’s kunai with Magnet Release, then used sand to repel a marked stone and protect Ryobu.
• Tobirama attacked Ryobu with Water Shockwave, but Ryobu summoned Susanoo and stopped the technique.
• Tobirama realized Ryobu could use Susanoo despite having only a Three Tomoe Sharingan and suspected Madara intended Tsunade’s death to trigger Ryobu’s Mangekyō awakening.
• Ryobu attacked Tobirama with Susanoo’s Level Eight Gale, and Tobirama returned to Orochi, deciding to warn Hashirama and save Tsunade.

Ryobu faced Orochimaru while Satoru fought Tobirama, and Ryobu defeated Orochimaru by trapping him in the Sharingan’s Demonic Illusion: Shackling Stakes Technique. The battle left Orochimaru and Orochi helpless inside separate illusion worlds.

• Ryobu released Satoru, who transformed into the Black Winged Great Demon and charged at Orochimaru.
• Orochimaru sent Tobirama to fight Satoru while he confronted Ryobu, and Tobirama attacked Satoru with Flying Thunder God Kunai.
• Ryobu warned Orochimaru not to look into a Sharingan, then caught his gaze and trapped him with Demonic Illusion: Shackling Stakes Technique.
• Liao Wu tortured Orochimaru inside the illusion, while also trapping Orochi in a separate illusion to keep him from interfering.
• Ryobu defeated Orochimaru with a single look.

Tobirama and Orochimaru fled after Ryobu overwhelmed them, leaving Orochi under Ryobu’s control in Ryūchi Cave. When Orochi demanded human sacrifices to serve as Ryobu’s Summoning Beast, Ryobu and his allies tortured him instead.

• Ryobu incapacitated Orochimaru with his Sharingan, and Tobirama teleported to him while Ryobu bound Orochi with Wood Style.
• Tobirama grabbed Orochimaru and escaped with Flying Thunder God, confirming that he and Orochimaru could not defeat Ryobu.
• Ryobu controlled Orochi and implanted a Life Spore in his head as he led him deeper into Ryūchi Cave.
• After regaining consciousness, Orochi learned that Orochimaru had left him behind and agreed to serve Ryobu, but demanded one hundred Living Persons each time he was summoned.
• Ryobu attacked Orochi with Chidori Stream, while Candy and Shukaku joined in and Satoru devoured the negative emotions Orochi produced.

Liao Wu tortured Orochi into submission in Ryūchi Cave, then set out to face the trials required to meet the White Snake Sage and learn sage mode. While he prepared to proceed, Candy relayed news that the Ninja Alliance had begun attacking the Land of Rain.

• Liao Wu tormented Orochi with lightning, pungent pollen, fire, and bright flashes while Ryūchi Cave’s watchers refused to intervene.
• After Orochi begged for mercy, Liao Wu stopped torturing him and ordered him to carry Liao Wu and Candy to the trial grounds.
• Orochi explained that Liao Wu had to pass the Three Great Snake Princesses’ trials before meeting the White Snake Sage, and secretly planned to avenge himself if Liao Wu transformed during the final trial.
• Satoru exposed Orochi’s vengeful thoughts, so Liao Wu electrocuted him again while Candy synchronized with the outside world.
• Candy told Liao Wu that the Ninja Alliance had begun attacking the Land of Rain, with its forces approaching from three directions as they prepared to launch Plan B.

Liao Wu guessed at the Ninja Alliance’s plan and sent Satoru to help his clone hold them off, while ordering the Takigakure Ancient Tree summoned if needed. After learning that the spore inside Tsunade had vanished, he realized Madara was trying to force Ryobu to awaken the Mangekyō through her death, but Ryobu had no clear way to do so.

• Liao Wu suspected the Ninja Alliance had brought back powerful Leaf ninja and planned to use Hashirama against Madara in Amegakure.
• Candy reported that Fish Ball and Cai Lai had encountered Minato, so Liao Wu sent Satoru to assist his clone and told it to protect Natsuhi Star.
• Liao Wu ordered the Spore Clone to summon the Takigakure Ancient Tree if Satoru could not stop the Ninja Alliance.
• Candy told Liao Wu that the spore inside Tsunade had disappeared, and Liao Wu concluded that Madara was trying to make Ryobu awaken the Mangekyō by witnessing Tsunade’s death.
• Ryobu considered whether he could deliberately awaken the Mangekyō but concluded that its emotional trigger could not be consciously controlled.

Liao Wu struggled with his role in the plan against Tsunade, then learned that Candy had obtained the Impure World Reincarnation Jutsu. Meanwhile, Snow Leopard infiltrated the Leaf Village with Heimaru and traced the missing Leaf Orphanage residents to Root, where he and Heimaru discovered evidence that children had been used in human experiments.

• Liao Wu considered killing Candy to awaken his Mangekyo, but Candy kicked him in the face and he set the thought aside.
• Candy told Liao Wu that they had obtained the Impure World Reincarnation Jutsu.
• Snow Leopard searched the empty Leaf Orphanage, suspected Root had taken its residents, and forced Heimaru to guide him into the Leaf Village.
• Heimaru used his Super Smell to lead Snow Leopard toward Root's hidden base, and Snow Leopard told him he had come for the orphanage's people.
• Snow Leopard used the Mayfly Technique to reach Root after the sewer passage ended, and Heimaru smelled the corpses of children and concluded Root had used them for human experiments.
• Heimaru offered to help Snow Leopard's master, but Snow Leopard reminded him that the spore inside his body gave them control over him.

Snow Leopard and Heimaru infiltrated Root to locate the children from Nonō's orphanage and discovered how Root had divided and exploited them. They watched ten selected orphans begin learning to refine Chakra while White Hannya taught them.

• Snow Leopard used the Mayfly Technique and Spore's ability to sneak Heimaru into Root, where Heimaru vomited from the stench.
• Heimaru detected ten orphanage children above them, and Snow Leopard led him toward their level.
• Snow Leopard and Heimaru learned that Root had sorted the orphans into trainee ninja, research workers, and experimental subjects, while the orphanage staff had been absorbed or killed.
• Snow Leopard and Heimaru listened as White Hannya instructed five pairs of children in refining Chakra.
• The children began gathering their physical and mental energy, while the chapter explained that all living beings possessed Chakra and that Rock Lee could refine it for Taijutsu.

White Hannya trained the Orphanage children to refine chakra while Snow Leopard and Heimaru secretly watched and discussed Root’s plans for them. Urushi learned that Kabuto had become Danzo’s disciple, and Snow Leopard resolved to investigate why Danzo had taken such a gifted child.

• White Hannya taught the Orphanage children to refine chakra, and Urushi was the first to succeed.
• Snow Leopard told Heimaru that Root paired recruits for a final assessment in which comrades killed each other, while Snow Leopard planned to save the orphans and infiltrate Root.
• Urushi asked White Hannya where Kabuto had gone, and White Hannya warned him not to let his feelings interfere.
• White Hannya revealed that Danzo had taken Kabuto as his disciple, and Urushi laughed with relief that his younger brother was alive.
• Snow Leopard recalled Liao Wu’s instructions to watch Kabuto and wondered why Danzo had chosen Nonō’s gifted adopted son.

The Snow Leopard disguised itself as a Root Ninja and confronted Kabuto, who was studying Impure World Reincarnation under pressure to save the Orphanage children from becoming sacrifices. It revealed that Nonō was alive but controlled by its master, leaving Kabuto startled as Heimaru guarded the door.

• Kabuto studied Impure World Reincarnation while Danzo’s deadline to use the Orphanage children as sacrifices drew closer.
• The Snow Leopard sensed Kabuto’s snake-like aura, went to his room with Heimaru, and killed the Crow Tengu guarding him.
• Using the Crow Tengu’s appearance, the Snow Leopard entered and found Kabuto, whose White Snake Cells let him perceive the disguise and killing through scent.
• Kabuto asked whether Danzo had sent news, and the Snow Leopard tested him by asking about Yakushi Nonō.
• Kabuto revealed that he believed Uchiha Liao Wu had killed Nonō, and the Snow Leopard admitted that Nonō was alive but controlled by its master.
• The Snow Leopard pulled Heimaru from beneath the floorboards and ordered him to guard the door.

Snow Leopard convinced Kabuto that Nonō was alive and learned how Root was experimenting on children to uncover Orochimaru’s Impure World Reincarnation Jutsu. The chapter ended with Kabuto revealing that Danzo had made him memorize the jutsu’s magic circle, which remained in his mind.

• Snow Leopard showed Kabuto a photograph of the bound Nonō and explained that he had come to support her orphanage on Uchiha Ryobu’s orders.
• Snow Leopard played a song about mothers, moving Kabuto to tears and persuading him of his identity.
• Snow Leopard confirmed that Kabuto had no Root curse mark, and Kabuto described how Root had abducted orphanage children, subjected them to experiments, and paired them to fight to the death.
• Kabuto revealed that Root’s experiments fused children with Orochimaru’s cells in an effort to learn the Impure World Reincarnation Jutsu.
• Snow Leopard pressured Kabuto into revealing that Danzo had made him memorize the jutsu’s magic circle before taking away its scroll.

Snow Leopard forced Kabuto to reveal the Impure World Reincarnation and reported Root’s plans to Liao Wu, who ordered Snow Leopard to infiltrate Root and take it over. Meanwhile, Liao Wu reached Ryūchi Cave’s first trial, where alluring snake women immediately tempted him.

• Snow Leopard threatened Kabuto until Kabuto agreed to write down the Impure World Reincarnation in exchange for rescuing the orphanage children.
• Snow Leopard sent the technique’s magic circle to Candy and Liao Wu, who learned that Root planned to use Kabuto and Orochimaru’s cells to gain control of the technique.
• Liao Wu ordered Snow Leopard to establish himself in Root and replace its personnel with Ninja Cats carrying his Spore.
• Orochi brought Liao Wu to Ryūchi Cave’s first trial, where snake women invited him to come closer.
• Liao Wu eagerly answered the snake women’s teasing invitation.

Ryobu was deceived by Tagorihime’s illusion technique, while Tobirama and Orochimaru watched from inside the palace. Tagorihime then tried to poison Liao Wu with a lavish meal, but he used his Sharingan to cast an illusion technique on her.

• Ryobu jumped down despite Candy’s warning and was fooled by Tagorihime’s illusion technique.
• Tobirama and Orochimaru observed Ryobu’s trial, and Tobirama speculated that Ryobu had gained immense pupil power from Madara’s cells.
• Ryobu tore apart a snake-woman, prompting Tobirama to call him a genuine demon and ask Orochimaru to attack him, but Orochimaru refused because the trial’s rules forbade interference.
• Tagorihime appeared and tempted Liao Wu with luxurious food, intending to poison him and devour him if he failed the trial.
• Liao Wu rejected the food, pressed Tagorihime to be intimate with him, then cast an illusion technique on her with his Sharingan.

Ryobu exposed Tagorihime’s first trial as an illusion and passed, but Tagorihime tried to attack him when she coveted his chakra. Candy drove her off, and Ryobu continued toward Ryūchi Cave’s second trial.

• Tagorihime dispelled her genjutsu after Ryobu resisted the food and seductive illusions, revealing the barren Ryūchi Cave and confirming that he had passed the first trial.
• Tagorihime told Ryobu to seek Ichikishimahime for the second trial, which tested strength and endurance.
• Tagorihime prepared to strike Ryobu so she could take his chakra, but Candy blasted her away with the Flame Uchiha Gunbai.
• Tobirama recognized the Flame Uchiha Gunbai as Madara’s former weapon and was amused that it was in Candy’s paws.
• The narration revealed that Tagorihime had poisoned every dish with Sage Poison and intended to devour Ryobu if he ate.

Tagorihime betrayed the Grandmaster and attacked Ryobu, hoping to devour his powerful Uchiha and Senju body. Ryobu revealed his full Chakra and fought back with a flying, armored Susanoo as Tagorihime began using Sage Art: Inorganic Reincarnation.

• Tagorihime declared Ryobu had failed her trial and revealed she planned to devour him to ascend to Dragon.
• Ryobu unleashed his immense Chakra and attacked Tagorihime with Wood Style vines, but she vanished using a Sage Art that concealed her Chakra.
• Tagorihime ambushed Ryobu, but he summoned Susanoo and reinforced it with Wood Style, Magnet Release, and the Seven-Tails' wings so it could fly.
• Orochi fled while Ryobu was occupied, and Candy warned Ryobu that Orochi still carried his Spore.
• Tagorihime used her terrain advantage in Ryūchi Cave and secretly began Sage Art: Inorganic Reincarnation.

Liao Wu merged Candy’s Flame Uchiha Gunbai with his Susanoo and used its newfound power to defeat Tagorihime’s stone-snake assault. After restraining the injured sage, he was interrupted by Orochimaru, and Tagorihime joined forces with him to attack.

• Candy handed the Flame Uchiha Gunbai to Liao Wu, whose Wood Style chakra gave the weapon life and made it tangible within his Susanoo.
• Liao Wu unleashed Level Eight Gale, shattering Tagorihime’s stone snakes and blasting her into rubble while Tobirama and Orochimaru sheltered from the storm.
• The White Snake Sage heard the attack and remarked that Liao Wu was especially suited to Indra’s weapon, though he lacked Indra’s fate and blessing.
• Liao Wu used Shukaku’s sand to pull Tagorihime from the rubble and restrain her, then mocked the sages and grabbed her by the hair.
• As Liao Wu moved to mount Tagorihime, Orochimaru attacked from underground with the Kusanagi Sword, forcing Liao Wu to jump away.
• Tagorihime turned invisible and asked Orochimaru to split Liao Wu’s body with her, while Orochimaru secretly planned to claim all of it.

Liao Wu endured Tobirama’s Bringer-of-Darkness Technique and repelled his Water Hard Vortex Blade with the Flame Uchiha Gunbai. With ordinary ninjutsu proving ineffective against Liao Wu, Orochimaru decided to summon Dan Katō to use his Spirit Transformation Technique.

• Tobirama cast the Bringer-of-Darkness Technique, blinding Liao Wu and the creatures around him while Tobirama attacked his Susanoo with Water Hard Vortex Blade.
• Liao Wu sensed Tobirama through his White Zetsu Cells, absorbed the water attack with the Flame Uchiha Gunbai, and sent it back toward Tobirama.
• Tobirama escaped with the Flying Thunder God Technique, and Liao Wu dispelled the lingering illusion from himself, Candy, Shukaku, and the Seven-Tails.
• Orochimaru asked Tagorihime whether her Sage Mode could defeat Liao Wu’s fan, but she explained that it had already countered her senjutsu attack.
• Orochimaru concluded that Dan Katō’s Spirit Transformation Technique could bypass Liao Wu’s defenses and used the Summoning Technique to call him from Hiruko’s side.

Orochimaru summoned Dan and Kagami Uchiha to Ryūchi Cave to help fight Liao Wu, but Kagami questioned why they should oppose him when he rejected Madara’s Moon Eye Plan. Tobirama reconsidered the conflict, while recognizing that Orochimaru’s ambition—and his own hostility toward the Uchiha—were driving their choices.

• Orochimaru summoned Dan and Kagami Uchiha and asked them to help defeat Liao Wu in his Steel Susanoo.
• Kagami recognized Liao Wu, learned that he had recovered from his illness, and forgave him for destroying Shisui’s eyes.
• Kagami and Dan greeted Tobirama, and Dan thanked Orochimaru for letting him see Shizune again.
• Orochimaru told Dan that Liao Wu had drugged him to prevent him from marrying Tsunade, but Dan said he understood Liao Wu’s feelings.
• Kagami challenged Tobirama’s plan to fight Liao Wu, pointing out that Liao Wu opposed Madara’s Moon Eye Plan, and Tobirama questioned why they should oppose him.
• Orochimaru argued that Liao Wu would become too dangerous if he learned Sage Mode, while Tobirama reflected that Orochimaru’s ambition and his own anti-Uchiha prejudice shaped their motives.

Orochimaru used Dan’s Spirit Transformation Technique to seize Ryobu’s body, but Ryobu resisted and escaped with Candy. Afterward, Kagami reported the Ninja Alliance’s situation to Tobirama and Orochimaru, including the appearance of Satoru, a mind-reading demon.

• Orochimaru controlled Dan and sent his Spirit Body to possess Ryobu, but Ryobu used his Sharingan to repel it.
• With Susanoo gone and Orochimaru’s forces closing in, Candy used the Mayfly Technique to take Ryobu underground and flee.
• Ryobu recognized that he needed stronger mechanics to face enemies like Dan and Tagorihime, while Liao Wu hoped for a useful future Mangekyo ability.
• Tagorihime urged Orochimaru to pursue the fugitives, but Tobirama stopped them and asked Kagami about the Ninja Alliance.
• Kagami reported that Minato was fighting two of Liao Wu’s Ninja Cats and that Satoru, a mind-reading demon, had appeared with Liao Wu’s forces.

Tobirama identified Satoru’s inability to fully read the dead as a weakness and sent Dan to warn the Ninja Alliance. After realizing his reanimated body removed the Spirit Transformation Technique’s usual limits, Dan traveled toward the Alliance while Tobirama considered whether the technique could help defeat Madara or enable resurrection.

• Tobirama told Dan to suppress all hostility toward Satoru and use his Spirit Transformation Technique to alert the Ninja Alliance to Satoru’s weakness.
• Dan explained that his technique normally limited his range and time away from his body, but Orochimaru pointed out that being dead removed those side effects.
• Dan asked where Hashirama was and learned that he was training in Shikkotsu Forest before departing in spirit form for the Ninja Alliance.
• Kagami suggested using Dan to assassinate Madara, but Tobirama warned that Madara’s Sharingan and Rinnegan could counter the technique.
• Tobirama realized Dan’s spirit might possess a soulless White Zetsu body and provide a way to achieve true resurrection.

Tobirama considered learning Dan Katō’s Spirit Transformation Technique so he could experiment with resurrection, while Orochimaru led the group toward Ichikishimahime’s trial grounds to stop Liao Wu from becoming a sage. Kagami asked Orochimaru to restore his son Zongyan’s leg, and agreed to help Orochimaru in exchange.

• Tobirama decided to seek Dan’s help learning the Spirit Transformation Technique so he could pursue his resurrection experiment without Orochimaru’s interference.
• Tagorihime appeared before Orochimaru, Tobirama, and Kagami, praised Dan’s ability, and offered to lead them to Ichikishimahime’s trial grounds to stop Liao Wu from becoming a sage.
• Kagami told Orochimaru that his son Zongyan was disabled and asked whether White Zetsu cells could restore his leg.
• Orochimaru confirmed that White Zetsu cells could make compatible artificial organs but said other village departments needed them, then persuaded Kagami to help protect the village.
• Tobirama watched Kagami agree and reflected that seeing loved ones suffer made resurrection a burden rather than a blessing.