Recaps

The Third Raikage and Kumogakure’s leaders debated how to handle a nearly defeated Iwagakure while the Land of Lightning faced economic hardship. After learning that the Iwa shinobi had retreated, they considered moving into the Land of Earth to seize supplies before Iwagakure could reinforce its forces.

• The Third Raikage struggled to rein in his hotheaded subordinates as they argued over how to exploit their victory over Iwagakure.
• A Kumogakure shinobi reported that the Iwa shinobi had retreated, prompting calls to occupy the Land of Earth.
• The Third Raikage ordered Dodai to assess the retreat, and Dodai explained that Ōnoki had little choice after losing most of Iwagakure’s combat forces.
• Dodai concluded that Kumogakure could advance and seize spoils before Iwagakure gathered reinforcements, and the Cloud Shinobi welcomed the prospect.

Sarutobi Toru waited for the Land of Earth to seek Konoha’s help after provoking a renewed conflict between the Cloud Shinobi and Rock Shinobi. When he learned that Kitsuchi had arrived in Konoha and was meeting with the Hokage, he prepared to wait for a legitimate reason to enter the fight and gather Tailed Beast Chakra.

• The Third Raikage ordered the Cloud Shinobi not to divide their forces as they advanced toward the Land of Earth.
• Sarutobi Toru left the Rock Shinobi camp after driving the Four-Tails Jinchuriki berserk, and Ōnoki withdrew without discovering who had caused it.
• Sarutobi Toru returned to Konoha, managed Root, and watched for news from the Land of Earth.
• A Root ninja told Sarutobi Toru that Kitsuchi had arrived in Konoha and was meeting with the Hokage.
• Sarutobi Toru decided to wait until Kitsuchi left the Hokage's Office before acting on Konoha's potential involvement in the conflict.

Sarutobi Toru persuaded Konoha’s leaders to use Iwagakure’s desperate request for aid to secure a lasting military presence in the Land of Earth. Konoha began negotiating with both Kitsuchi and the Land of Earth Daimyo as Iwagakure’s fronts collapsed.

• Sarutobi Toru joined the Hokage’s meeting and argued that Konoha should seize the opportunity to support Iwagakure.
• Sarutobi Toru proposed stationing Konoha troops in the Land of Earth instead of accepting one-time payments or treaties.
• Sarutobi Toru urged Konoha to negotiate directly with the Land of Earth Daimyo, bypassing Ōnoki.
• The Third Hokage began negotiations with Kitsuchi and secretly sent ninja to negotiate with the Daimyo.
• The Land of Earth Daimyo faced Iwagakure’s defeat at Konoha’s hands, Sunagakure’s advance across the southern front, and Kumogakure’s invasion of the north.

Konoha secured the Land of Earth Daimyo’s permission to station shinobi in the Land of Earth while also agreeing to aid Iwagakure. Sarutobi Toru brought Kitsuchi and several Konoha shinobi to the battlefield with the Flying Thunder God Technique, and they set out to find an Iwagakure intelligence outpost.

• Namikaze Minato returned with the Land of Earth Daimyo’s contract allowing Konoha to station three thousand shinobi and accept missions in the Land of Earth.
• The Third Hokage agreed to Kitsuchi’s request for aid, unaware that Kitsuchi did not know Konoha had already made a separate deal with the Daimyo.
• Sarutobi Toru, Jiraiya, Orochimaru, Might Duy, Aburame Ryoma, and Kitsuchi’s group gathered at Konoha’s gates to depart for the battlefield.
• Sarutobi Toru used the Flying Thunder God Technique to transport the group across the Land of Fire and into the Land of Earth, startling Kitsuchi with Konoha’s strategic mobility.
• Kitsuchi studied a map, identified a nearby Iwagakure intelligence outpost, and suggested they go there to learn the battlefield situation.

Sarutobi Toru and Kitsuchi learned how the Cloud forces had devastated the northern Land of Earth and traveled to Iwagakure’s front lines at Sangguan City. Ōnoki heard that Konoha’s reinforcements had arrived and was surprised that its terms were far more generous than he had expected.

• Kitsuchi showed Sarutobi Toru intelligence detailing the Cloud forces’ looting and the destruction caused by their logistical soldiers in the northern Land of Earth.
• Sarutobi Toru reassured Kitsuchi that they could reach Iwagakure’s front lines quickly using the Flying Thunder God Technique.
• At Sangguan City, Iwagakure struggled to break through the Cloud forces, while Kumogakure held its positions and let the northern region continue to suffer.
• Ōnoki composed himself as Kitsuchi arrived at the main camp and announced that Konoha’s reinforcements had reached them.
• Kitsuchi reported Konoha’s aid terms to Ōnoki, who realized that the village had demanded far less than he had anticipated.

Sarutobi Toru and Orochimaru arrived at Iwagakure with three thousand Konoha ninja to negotiate aid against Kumogakure. Sarutobi Toru proposed attacking immediately and said he could secure victory alone, leaving Ōnoki to prepare for the departure.

• Ōnoki learned that Konoha had sent three thousand ninja led by Sarutobi Toru and Orochimaru, and he agreed to meet them despite suspecting Konoha's motives.
• Sarutobi Toru told Ōnoki that Iwagakure's defenses were failing and that waiting for Konoha's main force would leave the northern Land of Earth devastated.
• Ōnoki explained that Kumogakure might attack their camp before Konoha's main force arrived and hoped they could hold out until reinforcements came.
• Sarutobi Toru said they should attack Kumogakure immediately and guaranteed Iwagakure's victory with Konoha's support.
• Ōnoki recalled Sarutobi Toru's overwhelming strength and agreed to set out the next day, but Sarutobi Toru said he could go alone.

Sarutobi Toru announced Konoha’s intervention to Ōnoki, then attacked Kumogakure’s camp alone. He confronted the Third Raikage at the blasted-open gate and declared that he intended to overturn the entire Cloud Shinobi force.

• Sarutobi Toru told Ōnoki that he was sure of Konoha’s decision to act, then left the Command Center with Orochimaru, Might Duy, and Aburame Ryoma.
• The Third Raikage enjoyed Kumogakure’s gains in the northern Land of Earth and kept his forces defensive to avoid provoking Ōnoki into a desperate fight.
• Sarutobi Toru blasted open Kumogakure’s camp gate with a Sage Jutsu Great Ball Rasengan, drawing the Third Raikage and the Cloud Shinobi forces to meet him.
• The Third Raikage accused Sarutobi Toru of joining forces with Iwagakure, and Sarutobi Toru said Konoha was helping for its own benefit.
• The Third Raikage questioned whether Sarutobi Toru could challenge the whole Cloud Shinobi force alone, and Sarutobi Toru declared that he had come to overturn it.

Sarutobi Toru used Black Lightning Release Chakra Mode to devastate Kumogakure’s forces and overpower the Third Raikage. The Third Raikage realized Kumogakure could not defeat him, but lost consciousness before he could stop Fourth Raikage A from attacking.

• Sarutobi Toru wounded the Third Raikage and carved through the Cloud Shinobi ranks with Black Lightning Release Chakra Mode.
• The Third Raikage recognized the technique and realized Sarutobi Toru could kill him in only a few moves.
• Fourth Raikage A, Killer B, Blue B, Yugito, Dodai, and other Kumogakure experts arrived as Sarutobi Toru intensified his black lightning.
• Sarutobi Toru struck the Third Raikage, breaking his bones and sending him crashing through Kumogakure.
• The Third Raikage tried to stop Fourth Raikage A from charging Sarutobi Toru, but passed out after A was sent flying.

Sarutobi Toru crushed Kumogakure’s attacks and fought the fully transformed Eight-Tails Gyuki, overpowering it despite being driven underground. He left Gyuki badly injured with its spine shattered, while the Cloud Shinobi watched in terror.

• Sarutobi Toru knocked Fourth Raikage A unconscious, and Dodai ordered the Cloud Shinobi to attack together while Blue B and Yugito began transforming.
• Kumogakure’s combined Lightning Release attack failed to harm Sarutobi Toru, who then invited the shinobi to face his counterattack.
• The fully transformed Eight-Tails Gyuki struck Sarutobi Toru repeatedly and drove him underground.
• Sarutobi Toru escaped with a Chakra dragon, coiled it around Gyuki, and stomped along its body until its spine was crushed.

Sarutobi Toru defeated Gyuki and drove the Cloud Shinobi into surrender, then flew off with Blue B and Yugito. He told Ōnoki that the mission was complete and reminded him to pay Konoha Village the remaining balance.

• Gyuki shrank back into Blue B after Sarutobi Toru crushed it, while Matatabi hid inside Yugito rather than fight.
• Yugito charged Sarutobi Toru in anger, but he flicked her forehead and knocked her unconscious.
• The Cloud Shinobi fell silent and abandoned their weapons after seeing Sarutobi Toru's overwhelming strength.
• Sarutobi Toru told the Cloud Shinobi to withdraw the next day, then carried Blue B and Yugito away on Chakra wings.
• Killer B wept as the Cloud Shinobi's morale collapsed, while Dodai accepted that it could not be restored.
• Sarutobi Toru met Ōnoki in the air, declared the commission complete, and reminded him to pay Konoha Village the balance.

Sarutobi Toru forced Ōnoki to abandon plans to pursue the Cloud Shinobi and regrouped with Orochimaru and the others after defeating Kumogakure. In the Land of Water, Uchiha Shisui watched Uchiha Hitomi receive the Rinnegan, while secretly planning to use the souls of Hitomi’s wife and child against Black Zetsu.

• Ōnoki agreed to let Sarutobi Toru study the Five-Tails and returned to Iwagakure’s camp without pursuing the Cloud Shinobi.
• Sarutobi Toru joined Orochimaru, Might Duy, and Aburame Ryoma on a cliff, then sealed the two captured Jinchuriki again.
• Orochimaru acknowledged how much stronger Sarutobi Toru was than he had realized, and Sarutobi Toru said Konoha could still profit from its contract with Iwagakure.
• In the Land of Water, Black and White Zetsu told Uchiha Shisui that they had framed Konoha ninja for a village massacre to prepare Uchiha Hitomi as the Rinnegan’s host.
• Uchiha Shisui secretly kept the souls of Hitomi’s wife and child in a crystal, intending to use them to create Clone Bodies and eventually make Black Zetsu pay.
• Uchiha Shisui gave Uchiha Hitomi the sealed Rinnegan, and Hitomi replaced his eyes with it.

Mist Ninja forces attacked the transformed Wind Country coastline, overwhelming its defenses with a massive wave assault. After learning that four of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist were involved, the Third Kazekage decided to confront them himself and ordered Rasa back to defend Sunagakure.

• Okawa spotted Mist Ninja ships approaching the Wind Country coastline and warned that an invasion had begun.
• Juzo Biwa, Ringo Ameyuri, Utakata, and Jinin Akebino sensed they were being watched, and Jinin ordered Kisame Hoshigaki to lead a Combined Great Waterfall Technique.
• Kisame and the Water Release ninja sent towering waves crashing toward the Sand Shinobi gathered on the shore.
• The Third Kazekage reviewed the battle report and learned that four of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist had attacked.
• The Third Kazekage decided to go to the coastline himself and ordered Rasa to return to Sunagakure.

Ōnoki exploited Sunagakure’s weakened defenses to invade the Land of Wind, where Rasa’s return and Kinnara’s strength helped the Sand Shinobi hold the line. Back in Konoha, Sarutobi Toru prepared to create Chakra White Zetsu for all nine Tailed Beasts, bringing that goal close to completion.

• Ōnoki learned that Kirigakure had invaded the Land of Wind and attacked Sunagakure’s front after Iwagakure was freed from its northern battle.
• Ōnoki’s forces drove the Sand Shinobi out of their gains in the Land of Earth and seized border oases in the Land of Wind.
• Rasa returned to Sunagakure and led more than a thousand shinobi against Iwagakure, while Kinnara held back Kakuzu and Kitsuchi.
• The Sand and Stone forces reached a stalemate as Rasa, Chiyo, Ebizo, and Kinnara helped Sunagakure resist Iwagakure’s upper-echelon fighters.
• Sarutobi Toru returned to Konoha with captives and the sealed Five-Tails Muo after helping Iwagakure repel Kumogakure.
• Sarutobi Toru put two Jinchuriki into his sealing formation and gathered White Zetsu seeds to prepare Chakra White Zetsu for all nine Tailed Beasts.

Sarutobi Toru created Tailed Beast Chakra-infused White Zetsu, let the Five-Tails Muo roam under a Flying Thunder God mark, and used his Hormone Fruit ability to control Yugito. Two years later, the war continued to intensify, with Sasori’s puppet-making prowess helping Sunagakure gain the upper hand against Iwagakure.

• Sarutobi Toru created White Zetsu infused with the Two-Tails’ and Eight-Tails’ Chakra and extracted Chakra from the Five-Tails Muo to make another kind.
• Sarutobi Toru marked Muo with the Flying Thunder God Technique Formula and allowed it to wander near Konoha Village while warning it not to flee or frighten residents.
• Sarutobi Toru used Hormone Manipulation on Yugito several times to make her infatuated with him and strengthen his control over her.
• Two years passed, and the wars between Kirigakure and Sunagakure and between Sunagakure and Iwagakure continued to grow more intense.
• Sasori of the Red Sands surpassed Chiyo as a puppet master, made her new puppets, and strengthened Sunagakure’s Puppet Unit enough to help Sunagakure gain the advantage over Iwagakure.

Sasori of the Red Sands struggled to find a way past the limits of traditional puppets, so Kinnara offered him Shamon’s research materials in exchange for copies of Sasori’s future research. Meanwhile, Iwagakure’s leaders met as the village faced severe losses and shortages after being attacked by Sunagakure and Kumogakure.

• Sasori of the Red Sands finished two puppets for a pair of elite puppet masters, who tested them and were delighted by their smooth movement.
• Sasori of the Red Sands wondered how puppet masters could surpass the limits of traditional puppets, and Kinnara told him that Shamon had also studied the future of Puppet Technique.
• Kinnara offered Sasori of the Red Sands access to Shamon’s inherited research in exchange for copies of every research record Sasori produced, and Sasori agreed.
• Iwagakure held a meeting about the war after losing territory and elite ninja to Sunagakure and Kumogakure, and suffering severe supply shortages.

Facing the threat of Sunagakure recovering and attacking later, Ōnoki accepted Hanzo of the Salamander’s demand for the Five-Tails in exchange for Amegakure’s aid. Hanzo’s Rain Ninja joined Iwagakure, forcing Sunagakure to abandon the River of Rain and retreat into the desert.

• Ōnoki received Hanzo of the Salamander’s terms and agreed to give him the Five-Tails Muo in return for Hanzo’s personal intervention and at least three thousand Rain Ninja.
• Over the next two days, Hanzo led the Rain Ninja along the River of Rain and attacked the Land of Wind’s heartland.
• Hanzo poisoned a tributary supplying Sunagakure with water, but Chiyo and Sasori helped save the Sand Ninja from the poison.
• The Rain Ninja’s surprise attack caused at least a thousand Sunagakure casualties.
• Sunagakure retreated from the River of Rain into the desert, leaving Iwagakure and the Rain Ninja in control of the region.

Konan asked Sarutobi Toru to let her go on missions, but he promised she could do so only when she turned sixteen. Outside the training ground, Sarutobi Toru teased Tsunade, Uzumaki Kanao, and Uzumaki Kushina before leaving Tsunade with a promise to deal with her that night.

• Konan used her paper shuriken against Sarutobi Toru, who praised her strength and reminded her that her Explosive Tag production served Konoha.
• Konan asked to take missions, and Sarutobi Toru refused because the Shinobi World War made travel dangerous and Konoha needed her Explosive Tags.
• Konan admitted she wanted Sarutobi Toru to see her as grown up, and he promised to let her be like her older sisters and Tsunade when she turned sixteen.
• Sarutobi Toru found Tsunade, Uzumaki Kanao, and Uzumaki Kushina outside the training ground and teased them about Konan's behavior.
• Tsunade pleaded with Sarutobi Toru to spare them, and he kissed her after promising to deal with her that night.

Pakura returned to Sunagakure to help it fight the Rock Ninja and Rain Ninja alliance, prolonging the war to Konoha’s advantage. As the fighting remained deadlocked, Sunagakure decided to make a Jinchuriki with Shukaku to break it.

• Pakura showed Sarutobi Toru Sunagakure’s plea for help, and he advised her to return and support her former village.
• Sarutobi Toru reviewed his progress obtaining the Tailed Beasts’ Chakra and concluded that only Shukaku’s Chakra remained before his plan could succeed.
• Pakura’s arrival strengthened Sunagakure and forced the Rock Ninja and Rain Ninja alliance back into a stalemate.
• Konoha’s protection drew wealthy settlers to the northern Land of Earth, increasing the Daimyo’s dependence on Konoha Village.
• Sunagakure decided to activate Shukaku and create a Jinchuriki to break the stalemate.

Sasori of the Red Sands proposed using Wood Release-grown wood to build Autonomous Puppets powered by Shukaku instead of making a Jinchuriki. With Kinnara’s support, the group prepared to test the plan using Shukaku, sealed inside a teapot.

• Sunagakure found that only Rasa and the Third Kazekage met the requirements to become Shukaku’s Jinchuriki, but neither seemed like a practical choice for immediate gains.
• Sasori of the Red Sands proposed suppressing Shukaku with Kinnara’s Wood Release and using its Chakra to power an army of Autonomous Puppets made from Wood Release-grown wood.
• Kinnara questioned whether the Puppets could withstand Shukaku’s Chakra, and Sasori explained that his research showed the wood could bear it.
• After learning that Sasori had already discussed the plan with Chiyo and others, Kinnara agreed to help him try it.
• Three days later, Pakura, Chiyo, Kinnara, Rasa, and Sasori gathered around the teapot containing Shukaku, and Kinnara confirmed the Tailed Beast’s Chakra was inside.

Sasori broke the seal on the teapot, releasing Shukaku, who attacked the gathered Sunagakure ninja. After Shukaku tricked and injured Rasa, Kinnara bound him with Wood Release, leaving the Tailed Beast steadily losing chakra.

• Sasori used his chakra threads and sealing expertise to release Shukaku from the teapot.
• Shukaku emerged and attacked the humans, but Rasa stopped his sandstorm with Gold Dust.
• Shukaku feigned preparing a Tailed Beast Ball, then struck Rasa with his tail and sent him flying.
• Kinnara caught Shukaku off guard with Wood Release: Deep Forest Emergence and bound him in trees.
• Shukaku struggled as the trees drained his chakra and grew stronger around him.

Kinnara and Sasori used Shukaku to power an automated puppet assembly line, with Sasori’s Chakra Clones controlling the finished puppets. The new army threatened Iwagakure and Amegakure, whose alliance was already strained as they rushed to defeat Sunagakure before Kirigakure withdrew.

• Kinnara restrained Shukaku with a Wood Dragon and drained his Chakra, then handed him over to Sasori.
• Sasori activated an automated assembly line that extracted Shukaku’s Chakra and produced powerful puppets.
• Kinnara recognized the crystals in the puppets as Artificial Chakra Cores, and Sasori explained that sealed Clones would control them for about a year.
• Kinnara realized Sasori’s puppet army could pose a major threat to Iwagakure and Amegakure.
• Iwagakure and Amegakure continued their urgent attacks on Sunagakure despite their mistrust, anticipating Kirigakure’s withdrawal from the coastline.

Hanzo of the Salamander sent Yahiko away from the battlefield after a foreboding warning, then led the Rain Ninja into battle alongside Iwagakure. Sunagakure’s massive Puppet Army arrived, catching the allied forces off guard as the attack began.

• Hanzo of the Salamander ordered Yahiko to escort the wounded back to Amegakure instead of joining the battle.
• Yahiko agreed and left the camp, while Hanzo of the Salamander went out to lead the Rain Ninja.
• Hanzo of the Salamander noticed orderly footsteps approaching as Iwagakure’s forces detected Chakra and ground vibrations from Sunagakure.
• Ōnoki learned that the readings indicated over thirty thousand approaching shinobi and sent the Scout Squad captain to verify them.
• Sunagakure’s Puppet Army surged toward the positions held by Iwagakure and the Rain Ninja.

Sasori of the Red Sands’ vast Puppet Army overwhelmed the Iwagakure and Rain Ninja, whose attacks and attempts to locate its controllers failed. As Ōnoki’s forces joined the fight and Hanzo of the Salamander struggled against the puppets, Sunagakure’s leaders prepared to enter the battle.

• The Puppet Army charged the Iwagakure and Rain Ninja, shrugging off many attacks while its coordinated Kunai volleys killed and wounded them.
• The two villages failed to find the puppeteers because Sasori of the Red Sands had implanted clones in thousands of puppets, which controlled the rest and could replace one another.
• Chiyo praised the army as the future of puppeteering, while Kinnara realized it could make ordinary puppeteers obsolete.
• Rasa announced that Sunagakure’s leaders would take the field as Ōnoki, Kitsuchi, and Rōshi began attacking the Puppet Army.
• Hanzo of the Salamander struggled to counter the puppets because the desert weakened his Water Release and his poison could not harm their wooden frames.

Sunagakure’s Puppet Army overwhelmed Iwagakure and forced its forces to retreat, while Amegakure escaped at heavy cost. After three days of pursuit, both sides were too weakened to continue fighting, and peace negotiations began without reaching an agreement.

• Ebizo ordered Sunagakure’s fliers to attack Ōnoki, and Kinnara, Rasa, and Sasori cornered him in the air while Ebizo and the others overwhelmed Kitsuchi and Rōshi on the ground.
• Ōnoki ordered Iwagakure to retreat, and its remaining Jōnin raised an Earth Flow Wall to delay the Puppet Army as the village’s forces withdrew.
• Sasori observed the crude Puppets’ limitations, while Ōnoki used Dust Release attacks to cover Iwagakure’s retreat.
• The Puppet Army pursued Iwagakure and Amegakure for three days, reducing Iwagakure’s forces to fewer than a thousand and driving Hanzo of the Salamander into the River of Rain, where his fate became unknown.
• Iwagakure rebuilt its defenses behind a Great Wall, and Sunagakure halted its advance after losing most of its Puppet Army and exhausting its reserves.
• Ōnoki threatened to use his trump card, and Iwagakure and Sunagakure entered peace negotiations but failed to reach an agreement.

The Fourth Mizukage killed the Third Kazekage and led Kirigakure to plunder the Land of Wind, throwing Sunagakure into chaos and ending its negotiations with the Stone Ninja. Sarutobi Toru learned that Sasori planned to build a massive stealth airship to attack Kirigakure, while Konoha’s leadership began preparing for Tsunade to take on greater responsibilities.

• The Fourth Mizukage killed the Third Kazekage at sea, and Kirigakure raided the Land of Wind before withdrawing.
• Keiji died during the raid, and Sunagakure hastily ended its negotiations with the Stone Ninja after securing more than ten cities in the Land of Earth.
• Tsunade and Sarutobi Toru discussed the war’s outcome, while Toru expected Sasori to strike back at Kirigakure.
• Sasori showed Kinnara a stealth airship blueprint and said his Puppet Clones could build an airship for thousands of people in three months.
• Kinnara agreed to begin construction, and Sarutobi Toru considered introducing modern technology to Konoha as Tsunade took on more village affairs.