Recaps

Aoba pursued the Jashin Cult, confronted Kumogakure, and built alliances and projects on Forgotten Island before returning to Konoha. As Kushina’s delivery approached, he prepared for a possible attack by Obito, but the expected danger did not appear.

• Minato became Fourth Hokage, appointed Aoba captain of the Shadow Guard, and gave him the Flying Thunder God Technique scroll.
• Aoba traded knowledge with Orochimaru for Hashirama’s blood, then tracked down the Jashin Cult and recovered its Death Controlling Possessed Blood scroll.
• Aoba found the silver-haired boy who would become Hidan, then fought Kumogakure forces and released Matatabi from Yugito Nii.
• Aoba reached Forgotten Island, partnered with Honoka, and helped evacuate researchers when the Ultimate Summoning Beast rampaged and destroyed the base.
• Aoba helped Honoka lead the island, brought in displaced Chinoike and rescued children, and assisted Ryoichi and Pakura in developing their abilities.
• Aoba created a Red Dragon Lizard for the Pale Swamp Lizard Clan, returned to Konoha, and agreed to protect Kushina during childbirth.
• Aoba reunited with Shizune and persuaded Tsunade to return to Konoha, while Hiruzen continued surveillance of Aoba.
• On October 10th, Aoba guarded Kushina during her delivery and waited for Obito, but no attack or trouble came through the night.

Aoba helped save Konoha from the Nine-Tails, secured Tsunade’s path to becoming Fifth Hokage, and reshaped the Uchiha’s place in the village. After reviving Dan Katō and taking command against Kumogakure, Aoba led Konoha’s forces into a successful campaign, but the arc ended with the Raikage and Killer B apparently decapitating him.

• Aoba confronted Obito and the Nine-Tails during the attack on Konoha, then helped Minato seal the beast into Naruto before Minato died.
• Aoba told Tsunade about the future and persuaded her to pursue the Hokage position, while Kushina chose the name Uzumaki Naruto for her son.
• Aoba challenged Danzo’s suspicion of the Uchiha, helped arrange their relocation, and began training Itachi as his disciple.
• Aoba discovered Kushina’s Wood Release, investigated its link to White Zetsu, and became director of Konoha Hospital as Tsunade mediated an agreement with Fugaku.
• Aoba revived Dan Katō, allowing him to reunite with Tsunade, and Tsunade later overcame her hemophobia and declared she would become Fifth Hokage.
• Aoba took command at the Land of Lightning front, formed mixed teams around the Uchiha, and sent them into battle against Kumogakure.
• The Daimyo delayed Konoha’s military funding after receiving allegations about Danzo, while the Raikage and Killer B confronted Aoba at the front.
• The Raikage and Killer B struck Aoba with their Double Lariat and sent his head flying, while Shisui stopped the Uchiha elites from charging them.

Aoba defeated Kumogakure’s forces, exposed Danzo’s crimes, and guided Orochimaru toward confronting the damage to his soul. He then clashed with Akatsuki and Obito, disrupted Obito’s control of Kirigakure’s Mizukage, and returned to Forgotten Island with new recruits and plans to restore Shisui’s eyes.

• Aoba regenerated from the Raikage and Killer B’s attacks, forced Kumogakure’s retreat, and later used Lava Release: Meteor Volcano to drive them from the battlefield.
• Tsunade uncovered Danzo’s crimes while Kakashi found evidence of Danzo’s role in Sakumo’s disgrace, and Hiruzen later dissolved Root and punished Danzo as Orochimaru defected.
• Aoba warned Shisui about the risks of his Mangekyō Sharingan, helped Orochimaru recognize how his techniques were damaging his soul, and took him to Forgotten Island.
• After rescuing Ryoichi from White Zetsu, Aoba fought Sasori and Kakuzu, defeated their attacks, and warned Konan that Obito was manipulating Akatsuki to collect the Tailed Beasts.
• Aoba brought Orochimaru, Shisui, and Itachi together on Forgotten Island, while Obito arranged to use Danzo against Aoba and Nagato prepared to verify Konan’s account of the original Akatsuki’s destruction.
• Aoba traveled to Kirigakure, rescued Sakai Sachiko and Haku, and confronted Obito as Kisame killed Fuguki and Yagura was revealed to be under Genjutsu.
• Aoba fought the transformed Yagura, extracted the Three-Tails’ chakra, and exposed Obito’s Kamui before Obito escaped using Izanagi.
• Aoba returned to Forgotten Island with Kisame, Sachiko, Haku, and Kimimaro, examined Orochimaru’s revised Cursed Seal, and set restoring Shisui’s eyes and repairing Orochimaru’s soul as their next goals.

Aoba confronted Kumogakure, gathered the Six Paths Treasured Tools, and helped expose Obito’s control over Nagato while Obito pursued the Tenseigan on the moon. The arc ended with Obito’s meteorite assault on Konoha thwarted by Aoba, Shisui, and Kushina, as rival villages reacted to Konoha’s growing power.

• Shisui awakened his Mangekyō Sharingan through Orochimaru’s improved Cursed Seal, then used its power with the seal to overcome Kisame and Pakura in battle.
• Obito abducted Kakashi and reclaimed his Sharingan, while Konoha faced the fallout from Kakashi’s injury and Enrui’s death as Aoba’s team captured Utakata and Hotaru.
• Aoba tested whether the Six-Tails could be separated safely from Utakata, then confronted Nagato and revealed that Obito was manipulating him and intended to resurrect Uchiha Madara.
• Aoba entered Kumogakure alone and defeated its forces at Thunderclap Valley with Radiance Release: Flame Demon, while his team and Orochimaru collected the Sage of Six Paths’ Treasured Tools.
• Orochimaru recovered his soul fragments after his health declined, while Obito and Danzō entered the moon’s hidden world in search of the Tenseigan and Black Zetsu targeted Toneri as a vessel for Kaguya’s resurrection.
• Obito and Aoba each awakened a Mangekyō Sharingan, and Obito developed a fourth-stage Susanoo before using the Tenseigan to attack Konoha with a meteorite.
• Aoba shattered the meteorite, Shisui destroyed most of its fragments with Susanoo, and Kushina revealed her Wood Release while protecting the village.
• Obito abandoned the failed assault and reconsidered his plans, while Ōnoki, the Raikage, and Sunagakure’s leaders responded to Konoha’s new displays of power and Pakura’s survival.