Recaps

Yang Xing met with Danzo, who tried to recruit him by offering power and influence, but Yang Xing drew out Danzo’s admission that he had helped Orochimaru evade Konoha’s lookouts. When hidden Anbu were discovered listening, Yang Xing helped one of them escape, while Danzo’s involvement was exposed to witnesses.

• Yang Xing met Danzo in a desolate village, where Danzo offered him a path to become Hokage or join the Council of Elders.
• Yang Xing secretly alerted hidden Anbu to the meeting as he spoke with Danzo.
• Yang Xing asked about Orochimaru, and Danzo admitted helping him evade Konoha’s lookouts.
• A hidden Anbu chunin reacted loudly, exposing the listeners, and Danzo sent Ta to stop them.
• Yang Xing used Fire Style: Great Fireball Technique to force Ta back, allowing the Anbu jonin to carry the chunin into the woods and escape.

Yang Xing escaped Danzo after framing him, while Fugaku Uchiha and Shibi Aburame staged the deaths of three Anbu to make Danzo appear responsible. Ibiki Morino blamed Danzo and decided to report the killings to the Third Hokage and seek revenge.

• Danzo attacked Yang Xing with Wood Release, but Yang Xing escaped using Water Clone Technique.
• Danzo stopped Ta from pursuing Yang Xing and wondered why Yang Xing had arranged for the Anbu to discover him.
• Fugaku Uchiha and Shibi Aburame left a secret base after killing three Anbu, intending the deaths to fuel panic and support Yang Xing's plan.
• Ibiki Morino found his three comrades dead and accused Danzo of killing them.
• Ibiki Morino refused to report the deaths to the Fourth Hokage, chose to inform the Third Hokage, and vowed to confront Danzo.

The Third Hokage learned that Danzo’s faction and the Hokage-aligned Anbu faction had begun fighting, with Ibiki Morino and several Anbu teams missing. Minato Namikaze suspected Yang Xing was involved and confronted him, taking him aside to ask questions.

• The Third Hokage told Minato Namikaze that rumors about Danzo and tensions between the Anbu factions had surfaced.
• A messenger reported that Ibiki Morino and more than ten Anbu ninja had disappeared, then another reported that two Anbu investigation teams had lost contact.
• The Third Hokage concluded that someone had sparked an internal Anbu war, and Minato Namikaze privately suspected Yang Xing.
• Minato Namikaze left the Hokage office and hurried to find Yang Xing the next morning.
• Yang Xing joked with Minato Namikaze about visiting Rin Nohara, but Minato invoked his authority as Fourth Hokage and insisted Yang come with him.

Minato Namikaze confronted Yang Xing at home about causing unrest in the Anbu, and Yang Xing admitted he had worked with the Uchiha Clan to pursue his goal of having two girlfriends. Kushina supported him, while Minato prepared to ask one last question.

• Minato Namikaze brought Yang Xing to his home, where Kushina Uzumaki greeted them and insisted that Yang Xing stay for dinner.
• Minato asked Yang Xing whether he had caused the Anbu incident, and Yang Xing openly admitted it and said he had contacted the Uchiha Clan.
• Minato demanded to know why Yang Xing was targeting the Anbu, and Yang Xing explained that he wanted society to accept his goal of having two girlfriends.
• Kushina appeared after overhearing them, praised Yang Xing, and said she supported his actions against the Anbu.
• Minato dismissed Kushina's defense and turned back to Yang Xing to ask one last question.

Yang Xing told Minato Namikaze that he intended to restructure the Anbu, while Danzo realized his forces were being blamed and ordered Ta to find Yang Xing. After leaving Rin Nohara and sensing pursuers, Yang Xing went to confront them, while Rin resolved to become a medical ninja capable of helping him.

• Yang Xing told Minato Namikaze that he planned to purge and restructure the Anbu, and Minato worried about the deaths and the timing.
• Ta reported that Danzo's planted Anbu forces were being killed, and Danzo concluded Yang Xing had manipulated events to make him lose control of the Anbu.
• Danzo ordered Ta to locate Yang Xing and attack him, while secretly preparing to disavow his men and blame any deaths on them.
• Yang Xing explained that Minato Namikaze had kept him for dinner, then reassured Rin Nohara that he had not visited Anko.
• Yang Xing sensed people following him, made an excuse to leave Rin, and departed after telling her to stay behind.
• Rin let Yang Xing go and resolved to become an outstanding medical ninja who could help him.

Yang Xing tried to turn Ta against the Uchiha Clan, but Danzo arrived and exposed the deception. Danzo ordered Ta to kill Yang Xing, and the two attacked him together in the forest outside Konoha.

• Rin Nohara held Yang Xing back, then let him leave to face his pursuer alone.
• Fugaku Uchiha and Shibi Aburame noticed Yang Xing racing out of Konoha, and Shibi headed toward him.
• Yang Xing stopped in the forest and fought Ta, an Anbu officer who used Wind Style.
• Yang Xing persuaded Ta that the Uchiha Clan was responsible for the upheaval, making Ta hesitate.
• Danzo emerged, told Ta not to believe Yang Xing, and ordered him to kill the boy.
• Ta charged Yang Xing while Danzo attacked with Fire Style, forcing Yang Xing to dodge their combined assault.

Yang Xing used his Sharingan and Earth Release to counter Danzo and Ta, but Danzo trapped him in a Wood Release prison. Cornered, Yang Xing secretly used his phone to evolve his one-tomoe Sharingan into a three-tomoe Sharingan, leaving Danzo stunned.

• Yang Xing activated his Sharingan and knocked Ta from a branch with Earth Dragon Bullet.
• Danzo threatened to expose Yang Xing's Sharingan to the Uchiha Clan, while Yang Xing pointed out Danzo's secret use of Wood Release.
• Danzo trapped Yang Xing, Danzo, and Ta inside Four-Pillar Prison and ordered Ta to kill Yang Xing.
• Ta attacked Yang Xing with a wind-enhanced kunai as Danzo's Wood Release forced him into a corner.
• Yang Xing secretly used his phone to evolve his one-tomoe Sharingan into three tomoe, shocking Danzo.

Yang Xing awakened a Three-Tomoe Sharingan and overwhelmed Danzo, who fled after Ta died in Yang Xing’s fire attack. Yang Xing abandoned the pursuit and discovered Shibi Aburame had witnessed the battle.

• Danzo refused to believe Yang Xing had gained three tomoe and attacked him with wooden vines, but Yang Xing vanished and appeared above him.
• Yang Xing’s Great Fireball Technique engulfed Danzo, but an unidentified person knocked Danzo clear; the blast killed Ta and destroyed the Four-Pillar Prison.
• Danzo grieved Ta’s death, then fled when Yang Xing began another ninjutsu, using Wood Release to escape through the woods.
• Yang Xing pursued Danzo but stopped when he could not catch him, concluding Danzo could no longer return to the village.
• Yang Xing sensed a hidden observer, identified him as Shibi Aburame, and confronted him after Shibi emerged from the shadows.

Yang Xing's plan led Fugaku Uchiha and Shibi Aburame to secure influence over Konoha's Anbu as Hiruzen Sarutobi accepted their help rebuilding it. Yang Xing then visited Minato Namikaze before dawn, leaving Minato irritated and waiting to hear what he wanted.

• Shibi Aburame promised to keep Yang Xing's Sharingan secret unless Yang Xing threatened his clan, and Yang Xing left after deactivating it.
• Fugaku Uchiha told Hiruzen Sarutobi that Danzo had disappeared and might have defected, while Shibi Aburame supported him.
• Fugaku Uchiha warned that Konoha's Anbu was in disarray, and Hiruzen Sarutobi asked him and Shibi Aburame to help rebuild it.
• Yang Xing woke Minato Namikaze before sunrise, and Minato complained before asking what he wanted to discuss.

Yang Xing told Minato Namikaze that the Uchiha and Aburame clans were seeking influence over the weakened Anbu and proposed renaming it the Starlight Group. He asked Minato to watch the Uchiha and said the group should be staffed with Aburame clan members, leaving Minato cautiously willing to follow his recommendation.

• Kushina gave Minato Namikaze the Third Hokage's letter, which revealed that the Uchiha and Aburame clans had been asked to help rebuild the Anbu.
• Minato objected that the clans could gain control of the Anbu, but Kushina reminded him how badly it had been weakened.
• Yang Xing teased Minato by pretending to forget his point, then admitted that representatives of both clans had approached him about reorganizing the Anbu.
• Yang Xing joked that he wanted Minato's help choosing between the names Starlight Group and Sunshine Group.
• Yang Xing asked Minato to monitor the Uchiha and recommended using only Aburame clan members, saying they could be trusted while Shibi Aburame led them.
• Minato accepted Yang Xing's judgment and said he would keep the recommendation in mind.

At Konoha's prominent-clan meeting, Hiruzen Sarutobi assigned the Uchiha Clan responsibility for the damaged Anbu premises, drawing protests and suspicion. Yang Xing's presence and composure bewildered the assembled clans, and Fugaku Uchiha protected him after a clan head attacked.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi told the clan leaders that the Anbu premises had been damaged and that he would leave its miscellaneous affairs to the Uchiha Clan.
• Hyuga Hiashi and other clan representatives protested the decision and accused the Uchiha Clan of causing the damage.
• Fugaku Uchiha warned the assembled clans not to accuse his clan without evidence and silenced them with his three-tomoe Sharingan.
• Yang Xing complained about the bitter tea and casually addressed the tense meeting, prompting a small-clan head to order him out.
• The small-clan head lunged at Yang Xing, but Fugaku Uchiha sent him flying and declared that anyone opposing Yang Xing made an enemy of the Uchiha Clan.
• Yang Xing calmly praised the replacement tea as the clan leaders watched in silence.

Yang Xing watched the Uchiha Clan secure control of the reorganized Anbu, renamed the Starlight Group, and told Minato Namikaze how to influence its staffing. The meeting continued as Minato grew irritated with Yang Xing’s teasing.

• Fugaku Uchiha stopped others from threatening Yang Xing, and the Third Hokage resumed the clan meeting.
• Minato Namikaze announced that the Anbu would be renamed the Starlight Group, prompting the clans to protest and some to connect the name to Yang Xing.
• Minato Namikaze quietly asked Yang Xing whether he would let the Uchiha Clan control the Starlight Group, and Yang Xing explained that Fugaku would consult him about Anbu officers.
• Yang Xing told Minato Namikaze to decide which officers to retain or dismiss after Fugaku sought his advice.
• Minato Namikaze clenched a fist at Yang Xing, who covered his head and warned him not to hit him.

Yang Xing avoided Minato Namikaze and declined Hyuga Hiashi’s invitation after the clan meeting, while Hiruzen Sarutobi and Minato discussed whether he could be trusted. On his way out, elders from the Haruno and Yamanaka clans argued over making him their future son-in-law, and Yang Xing hurried off to establish the Starlight Group.

• Minato Namikaze pretended to affectionately knead Yang Xing’s cheeks after realizing the Uchiha Clan supported him, and Yang Xing kept his distance for the rest of the meeting.
• Hyuga Hiashi invited Yang Xing to his home for tea, but Yang Xing declined and reflected that he had approached Shibi Aburame instead.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi asked Minato Namikaze what he thought of Yang Xing, and Minato vouched that Yang Xing would not harm Konoha.
• A Haruno Clan elder and Inoichi Yamanaka each claimed Yang Xing as a future son-in-law, then began arguing and challenging each other to a duel.
• Yang Xing left the feuding elders behind and headed for the Hokage office building to arrange the Starlight Group and keep Fugaku Uchiha from interfering.

Yang Xing was approached by Tenzo, who wanted to join the Anbu, before arriving at a meeting where Minato Namikaze discussed Anbu personnel with Fugaku Uchiha. Kakashi also asked Yang Xing to let him join, and Yang Xing agreed on the condition that Kakashi accept one requirement.

• Tenzo stopped Yang Xing on his way to the Hokage Building and asked to join the Anbu, but Yang Xing suspected Danzo had sent him.
• Yang Xing used his Sharingan to question Tenzo, who became confused and fled.
• Yang Xing arrived late at the Hokage conference room, where Minato Namikaze gave Fugaku Uchiha records of the Anbu's personnel and squads.
• Kakashi asked Yang Xing to help him join the new Anbu, and Yang Xing teased him into smiling.
• Yang Xing agreed to let Kakashi join the Anbu if he accepted one condition.

Yang Xing and Minato Namikaze argued over who would lead the Starlight Group’s squads, while Kakashi secured a place in the organization. The appointments were settled with Kakashi’s promotion delayed until he became a Jonin, and Fugaku Uchiha left with no say in the decision.

• Kakashi agreed to join the Anbu after Yang Xing made him promise not to have strange fantasies about Rin, and Minato Namikaze and Fugaku Uchiha discussed his qualifications for the Starlight Group.
• Minato Namikaze appointed Kakashi captain of the first squad, prompting Yang Xing to object and nominate Mitarashi Anko instead.
• Minato Namikaze named Mitarashi Anko captain and proposed keeping Kakashi’s appointment secret until he became a Jonin; Yang Xing agreed if Kakashi earned the rank within a month.
• Fugaku Uchiha tried to speak up about the squad appointments but backed down when Yang Xing turned a cold gaze on him.
• Minato Namikaze declared the appointments settled, while Yang Xing complained that someone else had stolen the credit for his hard work.

Yang Xing rejected Minato Namikaze’s effort to assign him a new position and sent Tenzo to seek Kakashi’s approval to join the Starlight Group. At Team Minato’s next gathering, Rin Nohara joyfully threw herself into Yang Xing’s arms.

• Minato Namikaze offered Yang Xing a better position, but Yang Xing refused and reminded him to save him the second division captain’s post.
• Tenzo asked to join the Anbu, admitted Danzo had sent him, and followed Yang Xing’s instructions to seek Kakashi’s approval.
• Yang Xing went to Team Minato’s meeting point, wondering why Rin Nohara had not contacted him during the past few days.
• Rin Nohara turned toward Yang Xing, delighted to see him, and threw herself into his arms.

Yang Xing reunited with Rin Nohara, Obito, and Kakashi before Minato Namikaze led them toward the front lines as fighting with the Stone ninja escalated. Their mission was to destroy Kannabi Bridge, the Land of Earth's route of advance.

• Rin Nohara reunited with Yang Xing and told him her father had asked her not to visit him, while Yang Xing urged her to ignore that instruction.
• Obito joined them, and Kakashi arrived exhausted after Tenzo had followed and watched him for two days and nights.
• Minato Namikaze gathered the team and explained that large numbers of ninja from the Land of Earth had crossed into the Land of Fire, prompting them to join the fighting on the front lines.
• Obito eagerly declared he would prove his strength, and Minato Namikaze assigned the team to destroy Kannabi Bridge near the Grass Ninja Village.

Ōnoki prepared the Land of Earth’s forces to attack and ordered his men to watch Minato Namikaze and Yang Xing. Minato arrived at the Fire Country border and proposed an ambush at Kannabi Bridge, while volunteering to stop the enemy’s advance himself.

• Ōnoki learned that Yang Xing had helped the Aburame Clan annihilate the Land of Earth’s advance force and ordered special attention paid to him.
• A burly man with a Mangekyō Sharingan left a secret base in Grass Ninja Village and headed toward Kannabi Bridge.
• Minato Namikaze arrived at the border village as its outnumbered defenders worried about the approaching Stone ninja army.
• Minato pointed out that the enemy had to cross Kannabi Bridge and proposed an ambush, then splitting the enemy force by intercepting its reinforcements.
• Minato told the two ninja that he would stop the thousand-strong Land of Earth force himself.

Minato Namikaze led Kakashi, Yang Xing, Rin Nohara, and Obito toward their mission to split the Land of Earth advance force from its reinforcements near Kannabi Bridge. As the ambush erupted, Team Minato slipped past the battle, and Yang Xing carried Rin when she fell behind in the rain.

• Kakashi, Yang Xing, Rin Nohara, and Obito joined Minato Namikaze's mission after he warned them not to let their emotions control them.
• A mysterious figure watched Kannabi Bridge and resolved to adjust his plan because Yang Xing had joined Team Minato.
• A Land of Earth force of nearly a hundred ninja advanced toward the Land of Fire, where Konoha ninja ambushed them from beneath Kannabi Bridge.
• The Land of Earth and Konoha ninja clashed, while Minato Namikaze led his team past the fighting toward Kusagakure.
• Rin Nohara fell behind on the slippery trail, so Yang Xing leaped back and carried her forward.

Yang Xing, Minato Namikaze, Kakashi, and Obito reached the Land of Earth forces, where Minato fought Ōnoki and his men while the younger ninja launched a surprise attack. The ambush began to turn the battle into a wider confrontation as the Stone ninja rushed at Yang Xing and his team.

• Obito noticed Kakashi looked exhausted, but Kakashi insisted he was fine as the group continued toward their destination.
• A hidden watcher followed the group and smiled at Kakashi's back.
• Ōnoki led his troops across rocky terrain after learning the force ahead had been ambushed, then encountered Minato Namikaze.
• Ōnoki attacked Minato with rocks, while Kitsuchi split the ground to block his landing; Minato evaded the attacks and fought back in midair.
• Yang Xing, Obito, and Kakashi emerged from behind a rock and killed more than five lower-ranked Stone ninja with their attacks.
• Enraged Stone ninja charged at Yang Xing and his team.

Yang Xing lured Ōnoki into the woods and unleashed a powerful Chidori Current, leaving the Third Tsuchikage badly injured and unable to move. Yang Xing approached the fallen Ōnoki, who remained conscious but feared what the boy would do next.

• Yang Xing killed several Rock Ninja with Earth Style, drawing Ōnoki’s attention while Minato was held back by Kitsuchi and a special Jonin.
• Ōnoki pursued Yang Xing into the woods, and Obito followed until Yang Xing ordered him to return and protect Rin with Kakashi.
• Obito left the woods, while Kakashi approached the rock where Rin was hiding.
• Yang Xing activated his Sharingan and tricked Ōnoki into hesitating before firing his Chidori Current.
• Yang Xing’s lightning attack devastated the surrounding area, burned Ōnoki’s beard, and left him paralyzed and unable to use ninjutsu.
• Yang Xing approached the injured Ōnoki and remarked on his resilience.

Yang Xing abandoned his chance to finish the wounded Tsuchikage when Obito reported that Rin Nohara and Kakashi had vanished, then tracked them to the Masked Man. The Masked Man had trapped Kakashi and Rin in Genjutsu, and as Kakashi attacked Yang Xing, Yang Xing searched for a way to counter the powerful enemy despite his depleted Chakra.

• Obito told Yang Xing that Rin Nohara and Kakashi had disappeared, so Yang Xing left the wounded Tsuchikage and followed their Chakra signatures.
• Rin Nohara followed Kakashi into the woods, where the Masked Man revealed that she had fallen under his Genjutsu and tried to make her his puppet.
• Yang Xing and Obito arrived, and Yang Xing recognized that Kakashi was under Genjutsu and warned Obito to stay back.
• Kakashi attacked Yang Xing with Kunai and Taijutsu, while Yang Xing dodged and searched for an opening against the motionless Masked Man.

Yang Xing fought Masked Madara while trying to protect Obito, Kakashi, and Rin Nohara from the Mangekyō genjutsu. After using Chidori to stop Kakashi, he rescued Rin and retreated to a tree branch, leaving the group safe for the moment.

• Yang Xing attacked Masked Madara while carrying Kakashi, but dodged his Fire Style: Fireball Technique and kept Obito from noticing his Sharingan.
• Masked Madara told Obito that Kakashi was acting on his own desires, then intensified Kakashi's jealousy and anger toward Yang Xing with genjutsu.
• Yang Xing used Lightning Release: Chidori to provoke Kakashi into a clash, weakening his attack so Kakashi would survive being sent flying.
• Yang Xing seized the opening to grab Rin Nohara and retreat to a nearby branch, evading Masked Madara's thrown kunai.

Kakashi stabbed Yang Xing while under the influence of genjutsu, then fought Obito and left him fatally wounded. Yang Xing reached Obito and learned that he wanted to give him his Sharingan, but Yang Xing asked him to give the eyes to Kakashi instead.

• Kakashi stabbed Yang Xing in the back, and Yang Xing fell into the Undying Body's weakened state.
• Obito attacked Kakashi in anger while Rin held Yang Xing and waited for him to recover.
• Yang Xing recovered, left Rin with a Water Clone, and hurried after Obito and Kakashi.
• Yang Xing found Obito gravely wounded and ordered Kakashi to help carry him back to Minato-sensei.
• Obito offered his eyes to Yang Xing, but Yang Xing revealed his own three-tomoe Sharingan and asked Obito to give them to Kakashi.
• Obito agreed to give Kakashi his eyes despite saying that he had not forgiven him.

Yang Xing returned with Rin Nohara and the unconscious Kakashi after Madara took Obito's body, then told Minato Namikaze what had happened. Minato ordered an investigation and told the team to rest while he continued to face the Land of Earth's offensive.

• Yang Xing asked Rin Nohara to help Kakashi perform Obito's final farewell, then comforted her and prepared to take Obito's body back.
• A masked man took Obito's body, and Yang Xing told Kakashi he could not catch or defeat the mysterious attacker.
• Kakashi fainted from exhaustion, and Yang Xing carried him back to the frontline with Rin Nohara.
• Minato Namikaze welcomed the team back and waited until Kakashi recovered before hearing Yang Xing's account of the attack and Obito's death.
• Minato Namikaze promised to investigate Obito's case, advised Kakashi not to blame himself, and left to attend to his duties as Hokage.