Recaps

Araki defeated Roshi, Han, and Kitsuchi with a single sword strike, then secured the Land of Artisans’ cooperation with Mist Village. After learning nothing useful from Seimei’s resurrection ritual, Araki considered how new mineral resources could expand the Blood Blade Unit before receiving Alucard’s message that he had found Jashin and needed support.

• Araki used Breathing of the Sage: Tide of the Sun to defeat Roshi, Han, and Kitsuchi with one sword strike, then ordered Iwagakure to stay away from the sea and Mist Village ninja.
• Araki spared the injured Iwagakure ninja and warned them to leave before he changed his mind.
• Araki persuaded the master artisans of the Land of Artisans to accept a Mist Village liaison station, bringing the country under Mist Village’s control.
• Oyashiro En told Araki that Seimei’s crude resurrection ritual relied on his soul being preserved in the legendary ninja tools.
• Araki considered how resources from the Land of Artisans and the Land of Rivers could help expand the Blood Blade Unit.
• Araki received Alucard’s message that he had located Jashin and needed support.

Alucard recruited Jashin to hold off the Mizukage’s guard while he confronted the Mizukage on a remote island. Jashin discovered that the guard was Araki, who overwhelmed him with sword aura and forced him to spend soul fragments protecting his body.

• Alucard found Jashin’s secret base in the Land of Wind and asked him to restrain the Mizukage’s guard in exchange for a benefit.
• Alucard and Jashin waited on an isolated island, where the Mizukage arrived with Araki as his only guard.
• Jashin attacked Araki with Dust Release, but his inexperience with the technique let Araki evade it and counter with sword aura.
• Jashin raised a Soul Barrier made from his soul fragments to protect his body, then unleashed Seeds of Curse at Araki in anger.

Araki countered Jashin’s Seed of Curse with soul energy and wounded him with Soul Severing, forcing Jashin to flee behind Alucard. Alucard’s handoff of the Mizukage gave Araki the opening to bind Jashin inside Ōnoki’s body and cut off a piece of his soul.

• Araki used his soul energy to deflect Jashin’s Seeds of Curse and struck him with an intangible Soul Severing slash.
• Jashin’s soul barrier broke, and the wound sent him fleeing from Araki in panic.
• Jashin called to Alucard for help, and Alucard asked him to watch over the Mizukage during the handoff.
• As Jashin reached for the Mizukage, Araki’s binding force trapped Jashin’s soul inside Ōnoki’s body.
• Araki slashed off a piece of Jashin’s soul, knocked the fragment back, and ate it.

Araki finished absorbing Jashin’s soul and decided to take over the Jashin Cult while he recovered from the unstable power. Meanwhile, Mihawk arranged swordsmanship exchanges for the Land of Iron, and Alucard departed with Ōnoki to pressure Sunagakure.

• Araki slowly sliced up and absorbed Jashin’s powerful, impurity-laden soul, aided by the refinement he had received from Sister Hana.
• Mihawk proposed swordsmanship exchanges for the Land of Iron, and after Tōshirō raised concerns about neutrality, Mihawk decided to send five teams to the Five Great Nations.
• Araki finished digesting Jashin’s soul and concluded that he should avoid acting until he could control the power.
• Araki decided to take over the Jashin Cult and told Alucard to use Ōnoki’s endless Dust Release to pressure Sunagakure.
• Alucard flew away with Ōnoki while Araki sailed back to Kirigakure to seek another round of pounding.

As the Ghost Army marched from the Land of Earth into the Land of Fire, Konoha debated whether to protect the Shrine Maiden or send her elsewhere. Orochimaru proposed transferring her to another nation, and the Hokage’s office began considering where to send her.

• Kitsuchi learned that the Ghost Army had turned southeast toward the Land of Grass, and Higashishini persuaded him to evacuate civilians rather than oppose its passage.
• The Ghost Army reached a fortress on the northwestern border of the Land of Fire, and Mimura Hamaki ordered the Konoha ninja there to prepare for its attack.
• At a meeting in Konoha, Shimura Danzō blamed Uzumaki Kushina for bringing the Ghost Army and Moryo to the Land of Fire.
• Tsunade argued that Konoha could not hand over the Shrine Maiden because Moryo would grow stronger, while Sarutobi Hiruzen weighed the risks of both choices.
• Orochimaru suggested sending the Shrine Maiden to another nation, and Sarutobi Hiruzen asked which nation would be the best choice.

Orochimaru and the Konoha elders decided to approach Rasa about taking responsibility for the Shrine Maiden, offering support for his bid to become Kazekage. In Sunagakure, Rasa faced a challenge from Sasori and received an ink message that made him look thoughtfully outside.

• Tsunade questioned Danzo about the Third Raikage’s death, but Danzo denied involvement.
• Danzo proposed backing either Rasa or Chiyo for Kazekage in exchange for taking the Shrine Maiden’s security, and Orochimaru assigned him the task.
• Rasa returned from failed negotiations with the puppet masters, who had proposed a duel between him and Sasori to decide the Fourth Kazekage.
• Rasa ordered Shaliu to spread a story that Sasori had made Human Puppets from the bodies of Sunagakure comrades.
• A black bird crashed into Rasa’s desk and turned into an ink message, prompting him to gaze outside thoughtfully.

Rasa drove Sasori of the Red Sands from Sunagakure, and Danzo’s Konoha squad captured the injured puppet master for interrogation. As Danzo’s team carried Sasori through the Land of Rivers, Araki confronted them and demanded that they hand Sasori over.

• Rasa launched a surprise attack on Sasori’s home, forcing him to flee and leaving Elder Chiyo furious at the destruction and her grandson’s disappearance.
• Sasori tried to return for his collection, but Danzo’s squad ambushed and defeated him with help from Uchiha and Hyuga jonin.
• Danzo ordered his squad to take Sasori to Konoha alive so they could interrogate him after Rasa became Kazekage.
• Danzo’s team traveled through the Land of Rivers, where Araki appeared ahead of them and asked them to hand Sasori over.

Araki intercepted Shimura Danzō’s group and took Sasori of the Red Sands, defeating Yashiro Uchiha’s genjutsu attempt with his overwhelming spiritual power. Araki left the others unharmed, while his plan relied on Sasori’s brief disappearance helping Rasa seize control in Sunagakure and driving Sasori to join the Mist Village.

• Shimura Danzō refused Araki’s demand to hand over Sasori of the Red Sands, so Araki snatched Sasori from Hyuga Ko and fled.
• Yashiro Uchiha pursued Araki and was knocked down when his genjutsu was reflected back at him.
• Shimura Danzō and Hyuga Ko watched Araki leave with Sasori and decided not to pursue them.
• Shimura Danzō dismissed Sasori as unimportant and prioritized returning to Konoha to prepare for Shrine Maiden Miroku’s transfer.
• Araki reflected that Konoha’s intervention had helped Rasa gain an opening in Sunagakure and would make Sasori feel betrayed enough to join the Mist Village.

Araki rescued Sasori and told him that Rasa had taken power in Sunagakure and branded him an S-rank rogue ninja. With Sasori left without a village or support for his research, Araki invited him to join Kirigakure.

• Sasori woke in a prison-like room and attacked the person entering with his Father and Mother puppets, only to discover it was Araki.
• Sasori explained that Rasa had attacked his home and forced him to flee Sunagakure, and he vowed to kill Rasa for betraying the village.
• Araki showed Sasori an intelligence report revealing that Rasa had become Kazekage and that Sasori was now an S-rank rogue ninja hunted by Sunagakure.
• Araki explained that Sasori’s Human Puppets had alienated Sunagakure’s residents and puppeteers, helping Rasa force him out.
• Sasori said he needed to recover his puppet materials and eventually planned to kill Rasa, while Araki invited him to come to Kirigakure.

Sasori returned to Kirigakure with Araki and accepted Karatachi Yagura’s offer to join the village. He vowed to return to Sunagakure for revenge, while the three leaders envisioned Sasori advancing Kirigakure’s technology.

• Araki brought Sasori back to his old puppet workshop in Kirigakure, where Sasori found his research materials untouched.
• Araki reassured Sasori that Karatachi Yagura would hear him out, and the two went to meet the Mizukage.
• Sasori told Karatachi Yagura he was willing to join Kirigakure but intended to take revenge on Sunagakure.
• Araki and Karatachi Yagura accepted Sasori’s plans and assured him that conflict with Sunagakure would not be a problem.
• Sasori formally joined Kirigakure, and the three agreed on roles for governing, campaigns, and technological development.

Araki hosted a swordsmanship exchange delegation from the Land of Iron and selected members of the Blood Blade Unit to spar with its samurai. He planned to arrange his own match with the delegation leader, Tōshirō, as the final contest.

• Sasori took up the post of Kirigakure's Minister of Technology, and his expanding Puppet Workshop became the foundation for a new Technical Research Institute.
• Araki met Tōshirō, leader of the Land of Iron exchange delegation, and agreed to arrange swordsmanship matches between samurai and sword-wielding ninja.
• Tōshirō asked Araki for a chance to challenge him, and Araki agreed to make their match the final part of the exchange.
• Araki went to Training Ground 7 to choose fighters and called out Zabuza Momochi, Ringo Ameyuri, Hua Bing, Guren, Kisame Hoshigaki, Rei Chiba, and Kaguya Mukotsu.

Araki oversaw a swordsmanship exchange between Kirigakure and the Land of Iron at Training Ground Fifteen, where Zabuza Momochi quickly defeated Yagyu Isshin. Zabuza then faced Nakajo Eita, and the match continued as his Ghost Sword Style Storm Form sent blades of energy toward the samurai.

• Araki escorted Tōshirō and the Land of Iron samurai to Training Ground Fifteen, where Kirigakure's ten exchange participants were waiting.
• Araki restated that the matches allowed only swordsmanship and the Body Flicker Technique, and Tōshirō chose Yagyu Isshin for the first bout.
• Zabuza Momochi blocked Yagyu Isshin's Draw Flash, overpowered him, and forced him to concede.
• Tōshirō sent Nakajo Eita to face Zabuza, who met Nakajo's Checkerboard Slash with Iron-Cutting Form.
• Zabuza followed with Storm Form, sending blades of Ghostly Aura toward Nakajo Eita.

Araki’s Kirigakure fighters overwhelmed the Land of Iron samurai during their exchange matches. Kisame Hoshigaki defeated the remaining high-level samurai, and Tōshirō’s attempt to salvage his group’s honor ended in defeat.

• Zabuza Momochi’s energy-blade attack overwhelmed Nakajo Eita, and Tōshirō stepped in to declare Eita defeated.
• Ringo Ameyuri replaced Zabuza and quickly killed a Land of Iron samurai with her Lightning Style Sword Technique before Araki switched her out.
• Hua Bing defeated opponents with her enchanted ice blade and Blizzard Barrage, leaving them suffering severe cold-related injuries.
• Tōshirō proposed that the high-level samurai face the jōnin, and Araki sent Kisame Hoshigaki into the matches.
• Kisame easily defeated two high-ranking samurai, after which Tōshirō entered the field and was defeated, leaving the Land of Iron exchange group wiped out.

Araki explained why he had humiliated the Land of Iron delegation and predicted that Tōshirō would support closer ties with Kirigakure. Elsewhere, Okisuke investigated an attack on his delegation in the Land of Lightning, but a strange man infused him with the Sha of Anger and awakened his bloodlust.

• Karatachi Yagura questioned Araki about driving the Land of Iron delegation away, and Araki said the display of strength would clarify their priorities and help establish relations.
• Araki reasoned that Tōshirō’s unconventional swordsmanship and history of exile made him likely to support closer ties with Kirigakure.
• In the Land of Lightning, enraged villagers attacked the Land of Iron delegation, and Okisuke fought through them to find a black-robed man at the village well.
• Okisuke struck down the man, who claimed that Okisuke’s anger had drawn them there and urged him to unleash it.
• The black-robed man exploded and sent crimson currents into Okisuke, who opened his eyes with intensified bloodlust and shouted, “Kill!”

Evil Spirit’s followers plunged the Land of Lightning into chaos, while Rasa secured Sunagakure’s reluctant agreement to take in Shrine Maiden Miroku and deal with Moryo. Meanwhile, Araki attempted to devour the Shinigami, which finally fought back by striking at him with its blade.

• Evil Spirit released the transformed people of Kusagakure, whose Emotion Guidance Technique threw the Land of Lightning into chaos as Evil Spirit gathered three spirits.
• Pakura and other Sunagakure leaders opposed Rasa’s agreement to take in Shrine Maiden Miroku because the Jashin Cult and Moryo threatened the Land of Wind.
• Rasa argued that the deal would bring Konoha’s help against the Jashin Cult, and the leaders agreed to prepare for Miroku’s arrival.
• Araki summoned the Shinigami with the Dead Demon Consuming Seal and began devouring its spirit body.
• The Shinigami questioned Araki’s intent, then drew its blade and slashed at him.

Araki continued devouring a Shinigami until the Shinigami chief offered him access to the Pure Land in exchange for teaching soul techniques. The chief revealed that Otsutsuki Hagoromo had defeated the Shinigami Clan, taken control of the Pure Land, and abolished reincarnation.

• Araki overwhelmed the Shinigami and began devouring his spirit body, but the Shinigami chief contacted him and asked him to stop.
• Araki said he needed to strengthen his soul, and the chief offered to summon him to the Pure Land, where he could devour wandering souls.
• The chief admitted he wanted Araki to teach the Shinigami Clan his soul-manipulation techniques, and Araki offered to share stronger techniques if the chief explained the Pure Land.
• The chief revealed that the Shinigami Clan once maintained the Pure Land and reincarnation, until Otsutsuki Hagoromo arrived and demanded that reincarnation stop.
• The Shinigami Clan fought Otsutsuki Hagoromo and was utterly defeated, leaving him in control of the Pure Land and ending the clan's original duties.

Araki learned that Otsutsuki Hagoromo had detained powerful souls in the Pure Land, and he suspected Hagoromo was gathering an army against a future Otsutsuki threat. Araki refused to enter the Pure Land but negotiated the Shinigami Clan Leader’s help against Otsutsuki Hamura’s descendants on the moon.

• Araki asked the Shinigami Clan Leader how Hagoromo had changed reincarnation in the Pure Land and learned that powerful souls had been detained there for more than a thousand years.
• Araki inferred that Hagoromo was collecting powerful souls to prepare for an Otsutsuki invasion and reconsidered the Sage’s past influence on the ninja world.
• Araki decided not to enter the Pure Land, where Hagoromo could trap him, but offered to stop devouring shinigami in exchange for the Shinigami Clan Leader’s help.
• Araki asked the Shinigami Clan Leader to assist him against Otsutsuki Hamura and his descendants on the moon, and the leader agreed.

Araki sent Kaguya Black Bone’s squad to search for the moon’s hidden passage while Kaguya Steel Bone arranged four Kaguya Clan guards for him. In the Land of Wind, Sunagakure and Konoha discovered an oasis with a tailed-beast-level chakra source, and Araki invited Sasori to help cause trouble for both villages.

• Araki sent Kaguya Black Bone and four others to search snowy regions for the glowing lake that led to the moon.
• Kaguya Steel Bone persuaded Araki to let four Kaguya Clan women accompany Black Bone as bodyguards, and Araki agreed on the condition that the mission came first.
• Rasa’s forces buried most of Moryo’s Ghost Army, but Moryo escaped into the desert and evaded capture.
• Sunagakure and Konoha discovered an oasis containing a massive chakra source and began confronting each other over access to it.
• The Jashin Cult intercepted news of the oasis, and Araki asked Sasori in Kirigakure to help stir up trouble for Sunagakure and Konoha.

Araki, Sasori, and Kana headed for Rōran to seize the Dragon Vein, hoping to exploit its chakra and industrial potential. At the city’s perimeter, Sasori revealed himself to Konoha and Sunagakure’s guards and launched an attack with Human Puppets.

• Sasori agreed to join Araki’s plan after learning Konoha and Sunagakure had discovered Rōran and its vast chakra source.
• Araki recognized the source as the Dragon Vein and considered its time-travel and industrial applications.
• Araki, Sasori, and Kana reached Rōran, where Konoha and Sunagakure’s elite teams guarded the site.
• Yamashiro Aoba sent a flock of crows against the intruders, and Sasori’s Human Puppet destroyed them with a wind technique.
• Shiranui Genma recognized the puppet as Shimura Tori, while a Sunagakure shinobi identified Sasori.
• Sasori revealed himself and attacked the guards with two more Human Puppets, combining fire and wind into a blazing assault.

Sasori and Araki fought the Konoha and Sunagakure forces guarding Rōran. Araki revealed his identity and slaughtered the gathered ninja, leaving the way clear to confront their commanders.

• Three Sunagakure ninja used Sandstorm to counter Sasori's Combined Fire-Wind Technique, and both attacks dissipated.
• Yamashiro Aoba, Shiranui Genma, and Namiashi Raidō attacked Sasori, but his puppet body burst with poisoned weapons, killing Raidō and Genma.
• More Konoha and Sunagakure ninja arrived, and Sasori questioned whether Araki could join the fight without exposing Kirigakure.
• Araki drew his chakra light sword, revealed himself to the gathered forces, and said he would kill everyone who witnessed them act.
• Araki flashed through the crowd, killing the gathered ninja and saying he would personally inform Lord Shaliu and Lord Shibi.

Araki and Sasori entered Rōran, where they discovered a lush city powered by a Dragon Vein and filled with chakra-controlled puppets. As Anrokuzan attacked Sunagakure ninja and declared his ambition to rule the world, Sasori appeared at the palace window to challenge him.

• Sasori marveled at Rōran’s greenery and learned from Kana that the earlier arrivals were in the central plaza.
• Hyuga Setsuna detected the Dragon Vein beneath the tower and discovered that chakra threads controlled many of the cheering crowd.
• Shaliu and two other Sunagakure ninja questioned Queen Sara about the Dragon Vein, but Minister Anrokuzan interrupted them.
• Anrokuzan sent five mechanical puppets to attack the Sunagakure ninja and claimed he would rule the world.
• Sasori appeared at the palace window and mocked Anrokuzan’s Puppetry Technique.

Sasori defeated Anrokuzan’s puppets and tracked him to the Dragon Vein, where Anrokuzan activated the Puppet Corps and challenged Araki with a giant puppet. The chapter ended with Sasori recognizing that the giant puppet resembled his own Crow.

• Sasori took control of two of Anrokuzan’s puppets and used them to defeat the others, forcing Anrokuzan to flee with Queen Sara.
• Shaliu and the other two Sunagakure ninja escaped through a window, while Sasori, Araki, and Kana pursued Anrokuzan toward the chakra source.
• Anrokuzan brought Sara to the Dragon Vein and persuaded her to release its power, increasing the Puppet Corps’ production.
• Anrokuzan deployed a thousand puppet soldiers, but Araki quickly destroyed dozens of them.
• Anrokuzan reassembled the scattered puppets into a giant puppet called Giant Crow, and Sasori said it resembled his own Crow.

Sasori easily dismantled Mukade’s Giant Crow puppet and used his secret technique to uncover Mukade’s memories, learning that he had come from a parallel world more than ten years in the future. Sasori took control of Rōran’s Dragon Vein, while Araki anticipated that a visitor from Mukade’s world might soon arrive.

• Sasori dismantled Mukade’s Giant Crow puppet by exploiting his knowledge of its design.
• Araki told Mukade that the puppet blueprints he had stolen were Sasori’s childhood work, and Sasori demanded that Mukade reveal how to control the Dragon Vein.
• When Mukade refused to cooperate, Sasori used the Memory-Concealing Sand Manipulation Technique to read his memories.
• Sasori discovered that Mukade had come from more than ten years in the future, and Araki concluded that his memories described a parallel world.
• Araki told Sasori to take control of the city, and Sasori used Queen Sara to obtain the Dragon Vein.
• Sasori realized that the Dragon Vein let him control puppets throughout the city and prepared to use them to investigate.

Shaliu and Shaqing reasoned that Konoha had helped drive Sasori of the Red Sands from Sunagakure, so Shaliu joined forces with Aburame Shibi against him. Sasori used Rōran’s puppet army to attack them, then Araki set out with Sasori and Kana to meet a powerful chakra source that had suddenly appeared outside the city.

• Shaqing persuaded Shaliu that Konoha had a reason to help defeat Sasori of the Red Sands, and Shaliu led his team to Aburame Shibi to propose an alliance.
• Shaliu accused Aburame Shibi of failing to deal with Sasori, and Shibi agreed to cooperate against their common enemy.
• Sasori announced himself and unleashed Rōran’s puppet soldiers, whose Dragon Vein attacks drove the Konoha and Sunagakure ninja into a desperate flight.
• Sasori watched the citywide pursuit from the underground Dragon Vein Control Room as the puppet army overwhelmed the fleeing ninja.
• Kana detected an enormous chakra source appearing at the edge of Rōran, and Araki went with Sasori and Kana to greet the newcomer.

Uzumaki Naruto appeared in Rōran and faced Sasori of the Red Sands and the Puppet Corps, who mistook his arrival for an attack and overwhelmed him. After Naruto summoned Gamabunta for help, the toad recognized Araki and fled, leaving Naruto alone as the puppets closed in.

• Uzumaki Naruto awoke in Rōran and found Sakura and Captain Yamato missing.
• Sasori of the Red Sands and Kana identified the Nine-Tails' chakra inside Naruto, and Sasori attacked him with puppets.
• Naruto explained that Konoha and Sunagakure were allies, prompting Sasori to laugh and send the Puppet Corps after him.
• Naruto used the Multi-Shadow Clone Technique to create an opening and summoned Gamabunta.
• Gamabunta spotted Araki, recognized him as the one who had severed his leg, and fled to Mount Myōboku.
• Sasori taunted the stranded Naruto as the Puppet Corps closed in again.