Recaps

Akaseki helped Jiraiya care for Yahiko, Nagato, and Konan, then backed a plan to expand Konoha’s medical forces and rescued the badly wounded Dan Katō. He and Orochimaru mastered Ryūchi Cave’s Sage Mode before new orders sent them toward the southeastern Land of Wind war zone.

• After the Stone Ninja withdrew from the Kannabi Bridge Outpost, Akaseki transferred to the Land of Rain and met Yahiko, Nagato, and Konan with the Sannin.
• Akaseki recognized Nagato as the orphan whose parents Konoha shinobi had killed by mistake, warned the children about anyone with ringed eyes, and left Jiraiya and Nonō to care for them.
• Akaseki supported Tsunade’s plan to train more medical ninja, and Orochimaru helped pressure the Hyuga Clan before Hiruzen Sarutobi approved a gradual program with the Yamanaka Clan.
• Akaseki and Tsunade rushed to the Land of Wind and rescued Dan Katō from Sunagakure’s attack, but his injuries ended his ability to return to battle.
• Akaseki and Orochimaru found the route to Ryūchi Cave, persuaded the White Snake Sage to teach them, and began the dangerous Sage Mode trial.
• As nature energy transformed Akaseki, he entered an Immersion scenario as Hong Yan and experienced Hong Yan saving Wang Nini, which helped him overcome the mental erosion and master Sage Mode.
• Akaseki learned to enter Sage Mode and use its heightened senses and regeneration, while Orochimaru stabilized his own transformation with the Heavenly Cloud Sword and completed his Sage Mode.
• After receiving early orders to reach the southeastern Land of Wind war zone, Akaseki revealed his Senjutsu discoveries to the White Snake Sage, who gave him a scale for summoning giant snakes.

Akaseki and his companions were drawn into a Kirigakure factional plot around the Six-Tails, and Akaseki fought the Third Mizukage and Sunagakure’s pursuers. He rescued Hikari from the Whirlpool Sea, but she rejected his offer to join the Uchiha and removed his transplanted eyes.

• Akaseki and Jiraiya used summoned snakes and swamp techniques to defeat Amegakure’s salamanders, drive Hanzō away, and demolish the village.
• Akaseki returned to Konoha, where Orochimaru took command of the campaign against Sunagakure and Akaseki later joined Ranwu and Shinnosuke on a mission to the Land of Water.
• The Third Mizukage sent the team to capture the Six-Tails, but Akaseki discovered that he had joined a plot against Karatachi Xuancang and Yagura.
• Akaseki fought the Third Mizukage while Ranwu and Shinnosuke aided the Karatachi faction, and the Six-Tails escaped as Sunagakure pursued Yagura.
• Akaseki held off Luo Yan, Chiyo, and Ebizo, then fled toward the Whirlpool Sea and freed a sealed girl he believed was Uchiha Nanashi.
• The girl revealed her Mangekyō Sharingan and black-flame Susanoo, killed Luo Yan, and Akaseki killed Ebizo while Chiyo escaped.
• Akaseki learned the girl was Hikari and told her about the Uchiha Clan’s history, but Hikari refused to join him and chose to explore the modern Shinobi World.
• Hikari removed Akaseki’s transplanted Towa and Forked Deity and sealed them in a scroll, leaving Akaseki to wake with his chakra still draining.