Recaps

Araki and the Mist swordsmen prepared and launched an assault inside the Land of Fire, striking the Fire Temple and the Nara Clan while Konoha struggled to respond. As Araki faced a dangerous trap at the medicinal garden, Hiruzen mobilized Konoha’s forces and learned that the White Fang had infiltrated Kirigakure.

• The Third Hokage rejected Danzo’s plan to take Sakumo into Root, while Danzo spread rumors that Sakumo had abandoned his mission and Sakumo died after refusing to surrender his principles.
• Araki fought Kakuzu with Zabuza and Kaguya Black Bone, cut down Kakuzu’s masks, and took the Petrification Gauntlet after Kakuzu escaped.
• Karatachi Yagura sent Hozuki Mangetsu to summon the Giant Clam, whose Mirage Mist would help the Mist swordsmen evade Konoha’s pursuit.
• The Seven Ninja Swordsmen attacked the Nara Clan’s Deer Garden and Fire Temple, while Kuriarare Kushimaru captured Nara clanspeople and Munashi Jinpachi and Hozuki Sengetsu overwhelmed the temple’s defenders.
• Aburame Ryoma’s forces clashed with Suikazan Fuguki’s group, and Raiga Kurosuki killed at least ten Anbu by spreading lightning through flooded ground.
• Kuriarare Kushimaru killed Nara Kashin, then wounded Akimichi Choza and Nara clanspeople with his wire traps as Nara Shikaku and Yamanaka Inoichi fled with the injured.
• Araki and Hozuki Mangetsu met Hozuki Sengetsu and Munashi Jinpachi at the Nara medicinal garden, where Kushimaru and Jinpachi prepared an explosive wire trap beneath the Giant Clam’s mist.
• After a young monk reported the destruction of Fire Temple, Hiruzen sent Yuhi Shinku and Fugaku Uchiha toward Deer Garden, Jiraiya to the eastern front, and Minato, Hizashi, and Shibi to investigate the temple.

Araki and the Hozuki brothers infiltrated Konoha, stole powerful weapons and scrolls, and triggered an attack that devastated the village and left Sarutobi Hiruzen badly wounded. The story then shifted to Jiraiya’s pursuit of the Mist forces and his confrontation with Kakuzu.

• Namikaze Minato’s team rescued Nara Shikaku, Yamanaka Inoichi, and Akimichi Choza from the mist, but the Mist swordsmen lured their pursuers into an explosive trap that killed Hizashi Hyuga and cost Fugaku Uchiha an eye.
• Araki and Hozuki Mangetsu infiltrated Konoha, stole the Sword of the Thunder God, and joined Hozuki Sengetsu in planning an attack on the village.
• Hozuki Sengetsu abducted Hyuga children for their Byakugan, while Araki detonated more than a thousand Explosive Tags and brought Hokage Rock crashing into Konoha.
• Hozuki Sengetsu and Hozuki Mangetsu attacked Sarutobi Hiruzen amid the destruction, and Araki fought the Hokage after Hiruzen escaped the collapse.
• Araki and his allies found the Scroll of Seals, but Uzumaki Kushina and Sarutobi Hiruzen confronted them, and Araki killed Maruboshi Kosuke and badly injured Hiruzen and Kushina.
• Kushina’s Nine-Tails chakra erupted, and Araki escaped with the Mist group as they carried away the Scroll of Seals, the stolen Byakugan, and the Sword of the Thunder God.
• Jiraiya’s arrival forced the Mist swordsmen to retreat, but Kakuzu killed the Anbu Ito and blocked Konoha’s advance with a wall of flames.
• Jiraiya summoned Gamabunta and helped surround Kakuzu, then the Konoha force attacked as black threads slipped from Kakuzu’s trousers into the ground.

Araki fought alongside Kirigakure's forces as conflict with Konoha escalated, then explored the Uzumaki ruins and earned a new position in the Mist. The arc left him appointed as a Joint Chunin Exams examiner and tasked with choosing two genin teams.

• Jiraiya and the Konoha forces fought the Seven Ninja Swordsmen, while Hozuki Sengetsu's group reported its raid on Konoha to Karatachi Yagura.
• Yagura sent Araki and a squad to intercept the Tsuchigumo Clan, and they clashed with En no Gyōja, Orochimaru, and Shimura Danzō.
• Araki wounded Danzō, but Jiraiya and the Mist forces withdrew without a decisive battle after an urgent message from Hiruzen arrived.
• Araki visited the Uzumaki Clan's ruins with Zabuza, Mangetsu, and Kaguya Black Bone, found Amachi's Fishmen laboratory, and reached the Mask Storage Hall.
• Yagura captured Kekkei Genkai users from the Crystal Release and Steel Release Clans as the great villages began preparing for war.
• Hiruzen resigned as Hokage, Konoha blamed Kirigakure for its losses, and Araki received a 100-million-ryo bounty and was promoted to Kirigakure jonin.
• Araki chose to become a genin instructor, and Yagura appointed him a Joint Chunin Exams examiner with one week to select two teams.
• The Third Mizukage urged Araki to finish selecting the genin quickly because Kirigakure needed defenders against Konoha.

Araki selected Kirigakure’s representatives for the Joint Chunin Exams and trained them while sharpening Samehada and gathering bloodline talent. On Nameless Island, he entered the arena under the name Mihawk and accepted ten challengers after Ringo Ameyuri defeated Linglan.

• Araki arranged separate jōnin and genin tournaments for Samehada and Kabutowari, then selected Rei Chiba as Kabutowari’s new wielder.
• Zabuza Momochi awakened Ghostly Aura during his fight with Hua Bing, and Mei Terumi defeated Hua Bing in the tournament final.
• Araki chose Mei Terumi, Hua Bing, Kaguya Black Bone, Zabuza Momochi, and Ringo Ameyuri to represent Kirigakure, then recruited Hagane Koga and Guren after testing their abilities.
• Araki challenged Sasaki Kojiro repeatedly with Samehada and learned from his swordsmanship before forming two training teams for the exams.
• Araki trained the genin in Hell Valley and sent Zabuza and Hua Bing to hunt the Tiger Shark Pirates while taking Kaguya Black Bone and Ringo Ameyuri to Nameless Island.
• Araki registered at the Grand Arena as Mihawk and entered Kaguya Black Bone and Ringo Ameyuri under assumed names, telling them they could kill the captive ninja contestants.
• The Third Raikage learned that Araki had injured Hiruzen and Danzō, then ordered Darui to train with A and Killer B.
• Araki sent Ringo Ameyuri to fight Linglan, who she quickly defeated, and accepted ten challengers after Manager Suzuki brought him their files.