Recaps

As Naruto Uzumaki faced the puppet army, he tried and failed to summon aid from Mount Myōboku and entered an uncontrolled Four-Tails mode. Gamabunta warned the toad sages that an unknown contractor had summoned him, and the Great Toad Sage ordered them to bring Naruto back before uttering the name Ashura.

• Naruto Uzumaki failed to summon Mount Myōboku for help and activated his uncontrolled Four-Tails mode against the puppet army.
• Gamabunta escaped the battlefield and warned Fukasaku and Shima that an unknown contractor had summoned him.
• Fukasaku summoned Toad Tora, who opened the contract scroll and confirmed that every listed contractor was dead.
• Gamabunta identified the unknown contractor as Naruto Uzumaki, a blond shinobi wearing a Konoha forehead protector.
• The Great Toad Sage ordered the toads to bring Naruto Uzumaki back, then spoke the name Ashura.

In Rōran, Araki and his companions extracted the Nine-Tails from Uzumaki Naruto after discovering that chakra from Namikaze Minato and Uzumaki Kushina was maintaining his seal. Naruto collapsed, then vanished in a burst of smoke, leaving Araki uncertain whether the Dragon Vein had returned him to his own time or someone had reverse-summoned him.

• Araki ordered Kana to bind Uzumaki Naruto and remove the seal that was keeping the Nine-Tails inside him.
• Kana discovered that a third party’s chakra was rebuilding Naruto’s seal, so Araki pulled their consciousnesses into Naruto’s Mindscape.
• Araki, Kana, and Sasori of the Red Sands encountered Namikaze Minato and Uzumaki Kushina repairing the seal while restraining the Nine-Tails.
• Sasori attacked Minato and Kushina, but Araki corrected him and Kana bound the pair with her chains.
• Araki cut open the prison gate, allowing the Nine-Tails to escape Naruto’s body and take physical form.
• Naruto collapsed after losing the Nine-Tails, then vanished in a burst of white smoke.

Fukasaku and Shima discovered that Naruto had traveled from the future and was dying, so the Great Toad Sage saved him with Asura’s chakra. They told Naruto he had become the Child of Prophecy, leaving him unsure how he could return to his own time.

• Fukasaku used the Reverse Summoning Technique to bring an unconscious, dying Naruto to Mount Myōboku, where Fukasaku and Shima recognized him as Asura’s reincarnation.
• The Great Toad Sage sent Asura’s chakra into Naruto, restoring his life force, and declared that the Child of Prophecy had appeared.
• Naruto woke and asked Fukasaku why Gamabunta had denied knowing him and what had happened to the toad’s leg.
• Naruto and the toads realized together that he had traveled from the future to a world more than ten years in the past.
• Fukasaku and Shima explained that demons threatened the world and that Asura’s chakra had entered Naruto to save him, making Naruto the Child of Prophecy.

Rasa traced Shukaku’s violent reaction and Shaliu’s disappearance to the turmoil in Rōran, where Araki and his companions prepared to leave with the Nine-Tails and the Dragon Vein. Rasa confronted them and ordered an attack, but Araki repelled the Sunagakure Anbu and asked Rasa to let them go.

• Rasa helped Sunagakure’s sealing squad stabilize Shukaku, then learned that Shaliu had lost contact and led Anbu toward Rōran.
• Araki persuaded the Nine-Tails to accompany him to Kirigakure, agreeing not to seal it in a jinchūriki and promising to help it take revenge on Konoha.
• Araki, Sasori of the Red Sands, and Kana gathered after collecting the Dragon Vein and puppet parts, then set out to leave Rōran.
• Rasa confronted the group, accused Sasori of the Red Sands of attacking Shaliu with Konoha ninja, and ordered the Anbu to kill them.
• Araki drew his sword and blew back the charging Anbu and their ninjutsu, then asked Rasa to pretend he had not seen them.

Araki tried to persuade Rasa to let him leave with Sasori of the Red Sands, but Rasa refused and insisted Sasori stay in Sunagakure. Araki immobilized Rasa with a genjutsu-like display and walked away with Sasori, daring the Sand shinobi to stop him.

• Rasa recognized Araki and threatened him with the consequences of interfering in Sunagakure's affairs.
• Araki explained that he wanted to leave with Sasori of the Red Sands and hoped to avoid weakening Sunagakure further.
• Rasa refused to let Sasori go, believing that keeping him was in both villages' interests.
• Araki appeared behind Rasa, pinned him in place, and shattered his perception of the world.
• Araki announced that he was taking Sasori and strode away with him and a companion while Rasa remained frozen in wary silence.

After returning from Rōran, Araki proposed using the Dragon Vein to build a Sea Train that would connect the islands of the Land of Water. Karatachi Yagura approved the plan, and Sasori agreed to help construct and protect the routes.

• Rasa reflected on his fear of Araki and considered who might be able to use the faith and hopes gathered by the Kage’s office.
• Araki, Sasori, and Kana reported their discoveries from Rōran to Karatachi Yagura, who admired the sealed Dragon Vein and the miniature Nine-Tails.
• Sasori dismissed Mukade’s use of the Dragon Vein and boasted that he could expand Rōran tenfold.
• Araki explained that the Land of Water needed to connect its islands to move ordinary people and resources efficiently, and proposed building a Sea Train.
• Sasori said the Dragon Vein could power the Sea Train and puppets could protect its routes, while Araki promised him new Human Puppet materials.
• Karatachi Yagura approved the project and declared that they would connect the entire sea.

Araki traveled alone to the Land of Frost, found a hidden route to the moon, and reached the floating island where the Otsutsuki main and branch families were at war. He disguised himself as a wounded member of the main family and moved to take a patrol ninja’s identity.

• Araki secretly flew from Kirigakure to Silver Pine Forest after Kaguya Black Bone found a lake that blocked the Byakugan’s vision.
• Kaguya Black Bone led Araki to a cavern with a glowing lake, and Araki used a Byakugan monocle to confirm the strange interference.
• Araki swam through two lakes and a tunnel, killed a giant crab, and emerged beneath a floating island in the sky.
• Araki saw the Otsutsuki main family fighting the branch family, whose Byakugan had been taken to create a giant Tenseigan.
• Araki put a Byakugan from his monocle into his eye socket, crushed his other eye, and told a patrolling main-family ninja that the branch family had attacked him.
• Araki drew the patrol ninja close and said he would take the man’s identity.

Araki learned that the Otsutsuki main family planned to use the Great Tenseigan against the branch family, hoping to end their civil war. At the battle, the main family activated a relay device and devastated the branch family, while Araki watched and wondered how they would still lose.

• Araki overheard the clan leader decide to use the Great Tenseigan to wipe out the branch family rather than let the war continue.
• Three days later, the main family challenged the branch family to a large-scale battle, and the branch family accepted.
• The main family revealed a relay device and directed the Great Tenseigan's power through it.
• Golden blasts struck the branch family ranks, causing heavy casualties as Araki watched from near the relay device.

The Otsutsuki main family used the Great Tenseigan to devastate the branch family, but the branch leader urged his people to call upon the power of their ancestors’ eyes. The Great Tenseigan went out of control and attacked the main family as well, leaving Araki to approach the Artificial Sun after both sides were nearly wiped out.

• The Otsutsuki main family’s clan head attacked the branch family with the Great Tenseigan, devastating their ranks.
• The branch family’s leader realized the main family controlled the weapon and told his son they could try to seize control by calling to the eyes of their ancestors.
• Araki sensed the branch family’s soul power flowing toward the Great Tenseigan and anticipated that disaster was coming.
• The Great Tenseigan escaped the main family’s control and turned its bombardment on them, killing their clan head and devastating their ranks.
• Araki fought off incoming energy bullets, flew toward the Artificial Sun, and found its shattered barrier had revealed a second Floating Island inside.

Araki entered the Artificial Sun and found the Great Tenseigan, but his attempt to absorb it failed. With help from the Shinigami Clan Leader, he pulled Otsutsuki Hamura’s soul from the orb, and Hamura asked whether Araki had come to rescue his mother.

• Araki entered the Artificial Sun after the Great Tenseigan’s rampage subsided and sent Demon Eyes to search for the orb.
• Araki found the Great Tenseigan and tried to absorb it, but it countered by attempting to absorb his chakra.
• Araki summoned the Shinigami Clan Leader and asked him to extract the soul energy inside the Great Tenseigan.
• The Shinigami Clan Leader pulled Otsutsuki Hamura’s human-shaped soul out of the Great Tenseigan.
• Hamura told Araki he was neither of Hamura’s bloodline nor a member of the Otsutsuki main family, then asked if he had come to rescue Mother.

Araki negotiated with Otsutsuki Hamura to absorb the Tenseigan and promised to care for Hamura’s surviving descendant, Toneri. As Araki absorbed its immense spiritual energy, his head repeatedly burst and regenerated until he took in the last of the power, leaving the Great Tenseigan exposed as a grotesque mass of Byakugan.

• Araki asked Otsutsuki Hamura why he had settled on the moon and allowed the lunar Otsutsuki clans to destroy each other, and Hamura explained that he had also meant to guard against the Otsutsuki main family.
• Otsutsuki Hamura asked Araki to look after his surviving descendant, and Araki agreed to teach Toneri.
• Otsutsuki Hamura merged with Araki, allowing him to absorb the Tenseigan’s pure soul power.
• Araki’s head repeatedly exploded as his soul grew beyond what his body could bear, but his body regenerated each time.
• After his fifth rebirth, Araki absorbed the Tenseigan’s final spiritual energy and saw the monstrous mass of Byakugan beneath its golden exterior.

After absorbing the Great Tenseigan, Araki escaped the collapsing lunar Floating Islands with the infant Otsutsuki Toneri and returned to the Land of Frost. He passed Toneri off as Kaguya Black Bone’s eldest son, then prepared to take the clan home.

• The Shinigami returned to the Pure Land after reminding Araki of their agreement, and the Floating Island began collapsing after Araki absorbed the Great Tenseigan.
• Araki sensed that Toneri was on the lower Floating Island, found him as an infant, and carried him away from the collapsing structures.
• Araki returned through the Earth-Moon passage to the Land of Frost, where Kaguya Black Bone and the other Kaguya ninja mistook Toneri for Araki’s child.
• Araki told Black Bone to claim Toneri as his eldest son, and Black Bone supported the story before the clan.
• Araki reassured Black Bone that bringing Toneri to Kaguya Steel Bone would divert pressure for him to have children, then announced that they would return.

After half a year of training, Araki faced Unohana Retsu again in the Consciousness Space, having raised his spiritual pressure enough to withstand her attacks. He held his own against her Bankai but was wounded by a hidden sword, leaving the contest unresolved.

• During the half year, Sasori studied Otsutsuki materials, trained puppeteers, and planned the Sea Train with help from Kana and Sara.
• Araki devoted himself to training with Unohana Retsu and believed he had mastered the soul power he had gained.
• Araki entered the Consciousness Space and blocked Unohana Retsu's opening strike, briefly overpowering her in strength.
• Unohana activated Bankai, and Araki used Mind's Eye to perceive and parry her rapid attacks.
• When Araki tried to counterattack, Unohana used a hidden sword to pierce his arm and criticized him for leaving his other hand idle.

Araki confronted Unohana Retsu in their Consciousness Space, where her conviction in slaughter initially overwhelmed his swordsmanship. By embracing his desire to live, he turned the battle around and defeated her, and she vanished after accepting her death.

• Araki used Mumyo Jinpu-ryu's Yellow Dragon technique to clash with Unohana Retsu, whose sea of blood began to overpower his golden divine wind.
• Araki realized his sword-will was weaker because he had not faced his deepest desire, then shouted that he wanted to live.
• Araki resolved to kill anyone who would prevent him from living, and his renewed conviction drove his golden domain to reclaim ground from Unohana Retsu.
• Araki defeated Unohana Retsu by piercing her old collarbone wound with Yachiru.
• Unohana Retsu smiled as she accepted her death, and Araki told her he was practicing how to say goodbye before she dissolved into feathers of light.

After inheriting Unohana Retsu’s power, Araki awakened his Zanpakuto, Kenpachi, and reviewed the Dream Organization’s activities after six months of cultivation. He met with Rasa, who offered to help him obtain the faith of the Land of Wind in exchange for the method of gaining strength through faith.

• Araki’s soul called for a name, and he released his Zanpakuto by saying, “Slaughter to your heart’s content, Kenpachi!”
• After six months, Araki learned that Moryo had been driven back, Evil Spirit had established control across the Land of Lightning, and the Jashin Cult was expanding in the Land of Wind.
• Araki heard that Rasa wanted to speak with the Jashin and traveled to a Jashin Cult base using Ōnoki’s body.
• Rasa asked Araki whether ruling nations and gaining faith could increase the Dream Organization’s strength, citing Konoha’s report that they had been sealed by the Sage of Six Paths.
• Rasa offered Araki the faith of every region in the Land of Wind except Sunagakure in exchange for the method of gaining strength through faith.

Rasa proposed that Araki help Sunagakure replace the Daimyo of the Land of Wind, and Araki agreed to see whether the plan would work. In the Pure Land, Araki began organizing the Shinigami Clan’s training as the Spirit Arts Academy, leaving himself wondering what role he would take in its Thirteen Divisions.

• Rasa explained that Sunagakure could help Araki’s allies eliminate the Daimyo’s guards and replace him with a Transformation Technique.
• Araki agreed to try Rasa’s plan, intending to see how much chaos it might cause in the Land of Wind.
• Araki answered the Shinigami Clan Leader’s summons and learned that the clan wanted him to teach them advanced soul-power techniques.
• Araki proposed the Spirit Arts Academy, dividing Spirit Arts into Zanjutsu, Hoho, Kido, and Hakuda and organizing trained Shinigami into specialized Divisions.
• The Shinigami Clan Leader gathered twelve Shinigami, making thirteen with himself, and Araki joked that he might have to become the Soul King instead of the Captain-Commander.

After Kirigakure’s Exploration Fleet was attacked by mysterious armored figures and a steel warship, Araki assigned Sasori to investigate. Sasori examined the wreckage and concluded the attackers were likely combat puppets, leaving him eager to find the crew behind them.

• A Blood Blade Unit member reported the Exploration Fleet’s attack, and Araki ordered Sasori and the Puppet Corps to deal with the enemy.
• Mei Terumi and Hua Bing recounted how armored attackers overwhelmed their fellow chunin before a steel warship bombarded the island.
• Sasori arrived on a giant puppet bird and asked the two kunoichi to show him the blasted ruins.
• Sasori used his puppets to retrieve armor fragments from the craters and found no traces of flesh or blood.
• Sasori suspected the armored figures were self-aware combat puppets and grew more interested in the pirate crew.

Araki pieced together that Akatsuki had captured several tailed beasts and was preparing to target the Mist Village. In the Land of Rain, Nagato ordered Akatsuki to move toward the Land of Water.

• Araki reviewed reports of the Yomi Cult’s devastation in the Land of Earth and questioned why Iwagakure’s jinchuriki had not fought Moryo.
• Araki connected the absence of Roshi and Han to the abnormal activity around the One-Tail and suspected Nagato had begun capturing tailed beasts.
• Araki concluded Akatsuki would soon come to the Land of Water and declared he was ready to face Nagato.
• Konan confirmed that Akatsuki had sealed the Seven-Tails, while Obito Uchiha noted that the Three-Tails and Six-Tails were together.
• Nagato ordered Akatsuki to leave for the Land of Water.

Araki confronted Nagato and the Akatsuki on the Land of Water's coast, easily absorbing Kakuzu's attack before clashing with Nagato. Their collision cleared the fog and left the outcome uncertain.

• Araki met Nagato, Kakuzu, and Zetsu as their ship reached the Land of Water's coast.
• Kakuzu attacked Araki with a combined wind, fire, and lightning blast, but Araki absorbed it with Secret Sword: Rain Cutter.
• Araki mocked Kakuzu and challenged Nagato's claim to godhood, while Nagato remained calm.
• Nagato used gravity to pull Araki toward him, and Araki answered with Secret Sword: Divine Dragon.
• Nagato countered with Super: Shinra Tensei, and the two attacks collided in a massive explosion that drove down the sea and dispersed the fog.

Araki and Nagato fought above the Land of Water, trading attacks that cleared the fog before Araki countered Nagato’s Rinnegan abilities. Araki evaded Nagato’s final techniques in soul form and appeared behind him, reaching for his brow.

• Araki and Nagato’s clash opened a sunlit expanse in the fog over the Land of Water.
• Nagato attacked Araki with Shurado’s Gatling gun and summoned beasts, but Araki blocked the projectiles and summoned twelve Shinigami Captains to defeat the beasts.
• Nagato unleashed Ultra Chibaku Tensei, pulling Araki and the surrounding sea toward a black sphere.
• Araki left his body behind and became a soul, avoiding the technique’s pull before evading Nagato’s Soul Extraction with Shunpo.
• Araki appeared behind Nagato and touched his brow, telling him, “Little god of the Land of Rain, you did your best.”

Araki invaded Nagato’s consciousness and restrained his soul while considering whether Nagato’s approach to peace could be redirected. Outside, Nagato and Araki’s body remained motionless, and Black Zetsu decided to summon Obito as a precaution.

• Araki entered Nagato’s Consciousness Space and immobilized Nagato with Six Rods Light Prison.
• Araki judged Nagato’s coercive plan for peace to be incomplete but potentially salvageable, while criticizing the ideas of Naruto, Jiraiya, and Senju Hashirama.
• Araki asked Nagato what his dream was as Nagato struggled against the binding.
• Kakuzu found Nagato and Araki’s body motionless inside the water ball and wondered what had happened.
• Black Zetsu sensed danger in the clash of souls and decided to call Obito.

In Nagato’s mental world, Araki challenged his plan to bring peace by deterring nations with the tailed beasts, arguing it would only postpone war until Nagato died. Araki proposed uniting the world into one nation and asked Nagato to join him, leaving Nagato deep in thought.

• Araki asked Nagato about his dream and said Akatsuki’s goal of world peace was too limited.
• Araki argued that Nagato’s weapon of war depended on the Rinnegan and that no one would be able to control it after his death.
• Nagato was unable to refute Araki’s claim that the peace his plan created would last only as long as he lived.
• Araki agreed that violence could be a first step toward peace but argued that lasting peace required mutual understanding and eliminating hatred.
• Araki suggested creating a single nation and asked Nagato to become his left arm.

Araki persuaded Nagato to join the Land of Water and support its eventual unification of the Shinobi World, while agreeing that the effort would need ten years of preparation. Nagato accepted the plan to bring the Land of Rain and its people into the Land of Water, leaving Araki to arrange their safe passage.

• Araki offered Nagato a shared goal of unifying the Shinobi World under Kirigakure, and Nagato agreed that Kirigakure was the best choice among the great nations.
• Araki argued that the Land of Water and the world needed ten years to prepare for unification, and Nagato asked what he should do meanwhile.
• Araki offered Nagato the choice of continuing to run the Akatsuki or joining the Land of Water with the Land of Rain; Nagato chose to join.
• Nagato worried that Konoha and hostile groups in the Land of Fire would obstruct the migration, and Araki promised to arrange safe passage.
• Araki and Nagato clasped hands and agreed to work together.

After admitting defeat to Araki, Nagato abandoned the tailed-beast capture mission and began arranging to move the Land of Rain’s population to the Land of Water. Black Zetsu sought Alucard’s help and offered to lure Araki out of Kirigakure so they could eliminate him.

• Nagato told Kakuzu and Zetsu that he could not capture the Three-Tails or Six-Tails because he was no match for Araki, then returned to the Land of Rain.
• Black Zetsu regretted that Nagato’s defeat had disrupted his plan to collect the tailed beasts and revive Kaguya Otsutsuki.
• Nagato told Konan that he had decided to move the people of the Land of Rain to the Land of Water, and she began counting the population.
• Black Zetsu contacted Alucard, who teased him for neglecting the Dream Organization.
• Black Zetsu offered to lure Araki out of Kirigakure and help Alucard eliminate him.

Araki, disguised as Alucard, agreed to Black Zetsu’s plan to lure him out by exploiting Amegakure’s migration toward the Land of Water. He resolved to defeat Alucard and claim the title of God of Shinobi, while Black Zetsu left believing his scheme was underway.

• Araki feigned anger at Black Zetsu’s suggestion that Alucard needed help eliminating him, and Black Zetsu chose to persuade him rather than provoke him.
• Araki considered killing Black Zetsu but abandoned the idea because Black Zetsu’s strength and ability to escape were uncertain.
• Araki decided to pursue victory over Alucard and claim the title of God of Shinobi.
• Black Zetsu proposed luring Araki out by causing trouble along Amegakure’s migration route to the Land of Water, and Alucard agreed to the plan.
• After Black Zetsu left, Araki reflected that he had been pushed into becoming invincible under heaven.