Recaps

Jiuming arrived at Konoha’s front-line command and learned that the Raikage and Killer B were attacking reconnaissance teams in the Land of Rivers. After hearing that Kamizuki An’s brother had died delivering intelligence, Jiuming told An to leave the meeting and rest.

• Shikaichi Nara welcomed Jiuming and led him, Kakashi, and Itachi to a meeting about trouble at the front.
• Jiuming assigned guards to Mei Terumi and Kisame before joining Konoha’s senior officials.
• Shikaichi Nara reported that the Raikage and Killer B had attacked ten reconnaissance units, causing seventy-four casualties and leaving Konoha unable to track the Cloud Ninja forces.
• Kamizuki An confirmed that his younger brother, Kamizuki Kan, had died sending word about the attackers.
• Kamizuki An pleaded with Jiuming to avenge his brother, and Jiuming told him to leave the meeting and rest.

Uzumaki Kuming expelled Kamizuki An from a meeting after An pleaded for help avenging his brother, prompting Uchiha Itachi to question the decision and the reasons behind war. Kuming explained that An’s grief made him unfit to command and revealed that he would not kill the Raikage or Killer B.

• Uzumaki Kuming ordered Kakashi to take the grieving Kamizuki An out of the meeting, despite An begging to stay.
• Kakashi and Uchiha Itachi heard Kamizuki An vow to avenge his brother, but Kakashi led Itachi away without comforting him.
• Uchiha Itachi abandoned the idea of eating and returned to his quarters, and Kakashi followed him.
• Uchiha Itachi asked Uzumaki Kuming why he had rejected Kamizuki An and why the Cloud Ninja would start a war.
• Uzumaki Kuming explained that Kamizuki An’s grief could cloud his judgment as a reconnaissance commander and said he would not kill the Raikage or Killer B.

Uzumaki Kuming explained to Itachi and Kakashi why he would not kill the Raikage and Killer B, then taught Itachi that lasting peace required generations of effort. Kuming left on a dangerous mission, which Itachi guessed was to find the Cloud leaders.

• Uzumaki Kuming said he would not kill the Raikage or Killer B, and Kakashi explained that their actions suggested they were testing Konoha rather than seeking a full invasion.
• Kuming praised Kakashi’s reasoning and warned Itachi that leaders had to weigh the lives of many people instead of pursuing revenge.
• Kuming told Itachi that conflict grew from human desires and that peace would require enough resources and generations of effort; Itachi vowed to fulfill his master’s wish.
• Kuming told Kakashi to have Rin and Obito return the captured Mist Ninja to the village, then announced he would leave for a few days.
• Itachi guessed Kuming was going after the Raikage and Killer B, and Kuming confirmed the mission was dangerous before leaving with his squad that night.

Uzumaki Kuming led a squad into the Land of Rivers and infiltrated the Cloud Ninja outpost, where he confronted A and took Mabui hostage. After overpowering A and throwing him from the tent, Kuming carried Mabui outside, where an attacker struck at his arm.

• Uzumaki Kuming used the Mind's Eye of the Kagura to locate the Cloud Ninja and led his squad toward their outpost.
• A reviewed reports while training and told Mabui to watch Killer B and keep the camp alert for Uzumaki Kuming.
• Uzumaki Kuming appeared in A's tent with a sword at Mabui's neck and greeted the newly appointed Fourth Raikage.
• A activated his Lightning Armor and attacked, but Uzumaki Kuming blocked his punch, seized him, and hurled him out of the tent.
• Uzumaki Kuming carried Mabui toward the tent entrance, where a flash of steel slashed toward the arm holding her.

Uzumaki Jiuming transformed into a gigantic golden Nine-Tails in the Cloud Ninja camp after Killer B and the Raikage attacked him. As Jiuming and Kurama prepared to overwhelm the Cloud Ninja with their power, a massive lightning bolt struck the camp.

• Killer B attacked Jiuming, and the Raikage punched Jiuming away while rescuing Mabui.
• Jiuming rose unharmed, then transformed into a giant golden Nine-Tails and destroyed tents as his roar swept through the camp.
• The Raikage ordered Mabui to evacuate the shinobi, but Killer B joined him to face Jiuming.
• Ten Konoha shinobi watched from a distant forest and sent intelligence about Jiuming's power back to their camp.
• Jiuming asked Kurama to gather Chakra and maintain the storm, then unleashed a bolt of lightning on the Cloud Ninja camp.

Uzumaki Kuming overwhelmed the Raikage and Killer B in his golden Nine-Tails form, defeating Killer B with a Tailed Beast Bomb. After assuring the Raikage that Killer B would survive, Kuming lowered his power and asked to discuss something calmly.

• The Raikage charged Uzumaki Kuming, but his attack failed to harm Kuming’s golden Nine-Tails body, and Killer B transformed into the Eight-Tails to restrain him.
• Uzumaki Kuming gathered a Tailed Beast Bomb while the Raikage warned Killer B, then struck the Eight-Tails with lightning and Golden Chains before blasting it with the bomb.
• The explosion buried the Raikage and forced Killer B to revert from Tailed Beast Mode, leaving him unconscious and unable to fight.
• Uzumaki Kuming approached Killer B, dodged the Raikage’s sudden kick, and told the Raikage that he had held back and that Killer B would be fine.
• Uzumaki Kuming sheathed the Heavenly Feather Blade, let his Chakra recede, and asked the Raikage to discuss matters calmly.

Uzumaki Kuming forced the Raikage to agree that Cloud Ninja would withdraw from the Land of Moon and stop taking missions from the Land of Rivers. As Cloud Ninja retreated, Nara Lukin learned that Kamizuki An had gone missing and feared he had attacked them.

• Uzumaki Kuming demanded that Cloud Ninja withdraw behind its borders and stop accepting missions from the Land of Rivers, and the Raikage reluctantly agreed under threat.
• Uzumaki Kuming promised to draw up an agreement and vanished, while the Raikage checked on the unconscious Killer B.
• A flytrap-like figure watched from the woods and worried that Uzumaki Kuming had grown too strong for Akatsuki to defeat.
• Nara Lukin received word that Cloud Ninja had begun retreating from the Land of Moon and praised the Fourth Hokage for preventing a major battle.
• An Anbu told Nara Lukin that Kamizuki An was missing, and Lukin ordered that Uzumaki Kuming be warned in case An had attacked Cloud Ninja.

Uzumaki Kuming refused to rescue Kamizuki An, who had left Konoha camp to seek revenge, and continued watching the retreating Cloud Ninja. His sensory team later spotted someone who appeared to be Kamizuki An as the Cloud Ninja convoy was struck by a sudden roar.

• A messenger hawk delivered an Anbu report that Kamizuki An had disappeared and that Nara Lukin wanted him brought back safely.
• Uzumaki Kuming ordered his squad not to interfere if Kamizuki An appeared, saying they could collect his body afterward; Nara Shikaichi pleaded unsuccessfully for his rescue.
• Uzumaki Kuming and his squad moved their observation posts while monitoring the Cloud Ninja withdrawal.
• The sensory team reported spotting someone who appeared to be Kamizuki An in the Land of Rivers.
• Killer B blamed himself for the defeat, and A urged him to train harder after they returned to Thundercloud Gorge.
• A deafening roar erupted ahead of the Cloud Ninja forces, putting the withdrawing troops on guard.

The Raikage’s Cloud Ninja were trapped on a mountain after an explosion destroyed their road, then came under attack from falling boulders and a sticky Water Style technique. Kamizuki An emerged to assassinate the Raikage, but his Kunai broke against the Raikage’s Lightning Armor, and the Raikage crushed his arm.

• A ordered the Cloud Ninja to investigate the explosion and learned that the mountain road had collapsed, trapping the force.
• A Cloud Ninja sensed a powerful Chakra nearby, and explosions sent boulders crashing down on the ranks.
• The Raikage and the Cloud Ninja used ninjutsu to fend off the rocks, but some were injured or killed before sticky liquid restricted their movements.
• Kamizuki An emerged from a puddle and charged at the Raikage, declaring his intent to kill him.
• The Raikage strengthened his Lightning Armor, snapped Kamizuki An’s Kunai, and broke his arm.

A retrieved Kamizuki An’s body after killing him, and Uzumaki Kuming returned to Konoha with his squad as the Cloud Ninja withdrew. At a secluded courtyard, Kuming began teaching Uchiha Itachi how to wield the Heavenly Feather Blade with two hands.

• A killed Kamizuki An after hearing his final wish for Konoha, and Uzumaki Kuming arrived to seal and retrieve the body.
• Several days later, the Cloud Ninja withdrew from the Land of Rivers, and Kuming returned to camp with his squad under a heavy atmosphere.
• Kuming handed Kamizuki An’s body to Shikaichi Nara, then left with Uchiha Itachi, Kakashi, Obito, and Rin.
• Minato Namikaze and Hiruzen Sarutobi discussed the deaths of Kamizuki An and Kamizuki Kan and the village’s fallen ninja.
• Kuming demonstrated two-handed sword techniques for Itachi, who watched with his Sharingan and quickly began copying his movements.

Uzumaki Kuming learned that Orochimaru had defected from Konoha after using refugees and orphans as subjects in his search for eternal life. Kuming withdrew for two days, then returned to training the others as they spent the winter in the Land of Flowers.

• Kakashi received a message from Minato Namikaze reporting Orochimaru's defection and brought it to Kuming.
• Kuming learned that Orochimaru's experiments had targeted refugees and orphans, and that Orochimaru had escaped Hiruzen Sarutobi's attempt to capture him.
• Kuming told Rin that Orochimaru's dream had conflicted with the village's ideals and warned everyone to be careful around him.
• Kuming shut himself in his room for two days, then emerged and was greeted by Itachi, who offered to make him food.
• Kuming resumed guiding the group as Itachi trained with the Heavenly Feather Blade, Kakashi studied Nintaijutsu, Obito strengthened his Sharingan, and Rin worked on mastering the Three-Tails' power.

Orochimaru and Sasori arrived at Kuming’s home while Kuming was away, and Orochimaru attacked Kakashi and the others. The young shinobi coordinated to resist him, hoping to hold out until Kuming returned.

• Rin opened the gate to find Orochimaru and Sasori waiting outside and was pulled back by Kakashi and Obito.
• Orochimaru sent white snakes at Kakashi, but Kakashi sliced them apart and retreated into the courtyard.
• Orochimaru attacked the group with the Kusanagi Sword, wounded Kakashi, and kicked him to the ground.
• Obito’s Great Fireball was cut apart by Orochimaru’s Wind Release, while Kakashi, Rin, Itachi, and Obito spread out to face him together.

Orochimaru overwhelmed Kakashi and Obito, but Uchiha Itachi caught him in a genjutsu and struck him with an Explosive Tag. Itachi regrouped with Kakashi as the others recovered, though they knew Orochimaru was still dangerous.

• Kakashi and Uchiha Itachi attacked Orochimaru together, but Orochimaru kicked Kakashi down and Itachi's shuriken only managed to pierce Orochimaru's back.
• Orochimaru turned his attention to Uchiha Itachi, while Obito Uchiha tried to intervene and was slashed into the courtyard wall.
• Rin treated Obito as Orochimaru advanced on Uchiha Itachi, who remained calm and trapped Orochimaru in a genjutsu.
• Uchiha Itachi stuck an Explosive Tag to Orochimaru and retreated before the blast engulfed him.
• Uchiha Itachi helped Kakashi up while Rin stopped Obito's bleeding, and Kakashi warned that Orochimaru would not be easy to defeat.

Uzumaki Kuming arrived during Orochimaru’s fight with Uchiha Itachi’s group and confronted Orochimaru and Sasori. When Orochimaru tried to leave, Kuming attacked Sasori, who escaped by abandoning his Hiruko Puppet.

• Orochimaru survived the Explosive Tags by using Human Molting, leaving Kakashi and the others wary as he prepared to fight again.
• Uzumaki Kuming appeared beside Orochimaru and overwhelmed the courtyard with his Chakra, while keeping Sasori in sight.
• Kuming questioned Orochimaru about joining Akatsuki and mentioned that Sarutobi would be glad to see him, but Orochimaru chose to retreat.
• Kuming told Orochimaru and Sasori to stay, then moved at Sasori and smashed the Hiruko Puppet with one blow.
• Sasori escaped by abandoning the destroyed Hiruko Puppet, and Kuming appeared where his real body had been.

Uzumaki Kuming let Sasori escape and spoke with Orochimaru, who revealed that Akatsuki had sent him to recruit Kuming. Kuming learned that Pain led the organization and confronted Orochimaru about his secret research into forbidden techniques.

• Uzumaki Kuming smashed the Hiruko puppet, sensed Sasori fleeing, and chose not to pursue him.
• Uzumaki Kuming invited Orochimaru inside for tea and learned that Akatsuki had sent Orochimaru to recruit him.
• Orochimaru told Uzumaki Kuming that Akatsuki’s leader, Pain, sought eternal peace in the shinobi world.
• Uzumaki Kuming recognized Pain’s Rinnegan and suspected that Pain was Nagato, then resolved to set things right himself.
• Uzumaki Kuming warned Orochimaru that he would never obtain the Rinnegan and revealed that he knew about Orochimaru’s research into Impure World Reincarnation and human modification.
• Orochimaru asked Uzumaki Kuming whether he had studied those techniques too.

Uzumaki Kuming and Orochimaru negotiated a secret partnership: Orochimaru would spy on Akatsuki in exchange for Kuming's help in seizing the Rinnegan. After Orochimaru left, Kuming concealed their agreement from Kakashi and the others.

• Kuming explained why Orochimaru's research could not continue in Konoha and offered to help him, while Orochimaru remained skeptical.
• Kuming asked Orochimaru to infiltrate Akatsuki as a spy, but Orochimaru agreed only if Kuming helped him seize the Rinnegan.
• Kuming accepted the deal, revealing to himself that he had already placed a Cursed Seal in Nagato's eyes but needed the Rinnegan to draw out Black Zetsu.
• Orochimaru promised to send Akatsuki information and left Kuming's courtyard as Kakashi and the others watched.
• Kuming dismissed the others and warned the wounded Obito that a fight with Orochimaru would have put them in danger, keeping their alliance secret.

Uzumaki Kuming tried to teach Kakashi Lightning Armor, but discovered Kakashi’s body could not withstand its power and changed his training plan. Kakashi and Uchiha Itachi continued training, inspiring Obito to work harder so he would not be left behind.

• Kakashi and Uchiha Itachi sparred while Kakashi tested Lightning Armor under Uzumaki Kuming’s supervision.
• Kakashi admitted he was frustrated that he could not use Lightning Armor effectively, and Uchiha Itachi tried to reassure him.
• Uzumaki Kuming learned that Kakashi’s muscles were too weak to bear Lightning Armor’s power and revised his training plan to focus on physical strength.
• Kakashi began training outside the compound from early morning until late, while Uchiha Itachi trained daily.
• Obito felt increasingly determined to train so he would not spend his life trailing behind Kakashi.

Kakashi defeated Obito in a spar, then Uzumaki Kuming gave Obito a scroll containing the Flying Thunder God technique. The chapter ended with Obito, Rin, and Kakashi staring at the scroll in surprise.

• Kakashi used Lightning Style and a Shadow Clone to outmaneuver Obito during their spar and trap him underground.
• Uzumaki Kuming had Kakashi pull Obito out, and Rin tried to brush the dirt from his clothes.
• Obito stopped Rin from dirtying her handkerchief further, and they froze awkwardly while looking at each other.
• Uzumaki Kuming gave Obito a scroll and told him he could become a better ninja than Kakashi.
• Obito unrolled the scroll in front of Rin and Kakashi, revealing the words Flying Thunder God.

Obito received the Flying Thunder God Technique scroll from Kuming and rushed to study it, while Kakashi doubted he could master it. Kuming insisted Obito was the one in their generation who could learn the technique and sent Kakashi to call him to lunch.

• Obito celebrated receiving the Flying Thunder God scroll and imagined mastering it, defeating Kakashi, and becoming Hokage.
• Kakashi warned Obito that few people had mastered the technique, but Rin encouraged him to work hard, and Obito hurried to study the scroll.
• Kuming returned to the estate with Itachi and ate lunch with Kakashi and Rin while Obito stayed in his room.
• Kakashi criticized Kuming for giving Obito a technique he could not learn, and Kuming said Obito had the best chance of mastering it.
• Kuming told Kakashi to call Obito to eat before he continued studying.

Uzumaki Kuming began teaching Obito the basics of the Flying Thunder God Technique and took Obito, Kakashi, Itachi, and Rin out for dinner. While Itachi picked sweets at a shop in the capital of the Land of Flowers, Kuming encountered Sarutobi Kotaro and his companions.

• Uzumaki Kuming found Obito studying the Flying Thunder God scroll and told him to eat before they began a lesson.
• Obito hurried to eat, then returned as Kuming taught him the fundamentals of Fuinjutsu and the Flying Thunder God Technique.
• Kuming ended the lesson that evening and took Obito, Kakashi, Itachi, and Rin into the bustling district for dinner.
• Itachi stopped to choose sweets, and Kuming told him he could buy whatever he wanted but should wait until after dinner to eat them.
• Sarutobi Kotaro and three Konoha shinobi approached Kuming, who recognized Kotaro and asked what he was doing there.

Uzumaki Kuming reunited with Sarutobi Kotaro in the Land of Flowers, gave a sealing technique to Kotaro for his newborn son, and learned about Kotaro’s classified pursuit mission. Kotaro set out to hunt an S-rank wanted criminal, while Kuming returned to his courtyard with Uchiha Itachi and the others.

• Uzumaki Kuming and Sarutobi Kotaro met at an izakaya and caught up about Hiruzen Sarutobi, the village, and Kotaro’s newborn son, Konohamaru.
• Kuming wrote out a rare Three-Way Seal for Konohamaru and advised Kotaro to pat defeated opponents on the head and comfort them.
• Kotaro revealed that Hiruzen had assigned him to pursue an S-rank wanted criminal who had killed a Chunin squad.
• Kuming wished Kotaro success and paid for dinner as an early celebration before they parted late that night.
• Kuming returned to his courtyard with Uchiha Itachi and the others.

Koizumi reached Kuming’s courtyard mortally wounded and died before Rin could save him. Kuming sensed the killers in the Land of Flowers and recognized Sarutobi Kotaro’s Chakra among them as Kakuzu carried Kotaro’s corpse through the woods.

• Koizumi collapsed at Kakashi’s gate and warned that Sarutobi Kotaro’s team was in danger before he died.
• Rin examined Koizumi and confirmed he was dead, while Kuming sensed the Chakra signature of his killers.
• Kuming gave Itachi the Heavenly Feather Blade and told him to prepare Koizumi for burial and take him back to Konoha.
• Kakuzu threatened and killed his companion, then left the man’s corpse behind as he walked away carrying Sarutobi Kotaro’s corpse.

Uzumaki Kuming tracked down Kakuzu after finding the bodies of fallen Konoha Ninja and recovered Sarutobi Kotaro's corpse. Kuming revealed his Nine-Tails power and overwhelmed Kakuzu with a giant Chakra beast.

• Uzumaki Kuming confronted Kakuzu and asked for Sarutobi Kotaro's body, fueled by anger at finding dead Konoha Ninja along the trail.
• Kuming drew the Heavenly Feather Blade, cut off Kakuzu's right arm, and took Kotaro's corpse.
• Kakuzu reattached his arm with black threads and attacked Kuming with his masks, detached creatures, and a combined fire-and-wind technique.
• Kuming sealed Kotaro's body in a scroll and blocked Kakuzu's attacks with a Chakra wall that expanded into the Nine-Tails.
• Kakuzu recognized Kuming as the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, and Kuming's giant Chakra beast struck him with a paw.

Uzumaki Kuming defeated Kakuzu and sealed him away to take back to Konoha for his role in killing Sarutobi Kotaro. In Konoha, Hiruzen Sarutobi felt a foreboding pain and learned that Kotaro had fallen in battle.

• Uzumaki Kuming used Tailed Beast Mode to crush Kakuzu and his masked creatures, keeping Kakuzu alive through the torture.
• Uzumaki Kuming sealed the nearly dead Kakuzu inside a hollowed tree trunk, stored the makeshift coffin in a scroll, and said he had avenged Kotaro.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi felt sudden chest pain while playing with Konohamaru, then asked Asuma to check for reports and news from his brother.
• Asuma returned with a Hokage Anbu, who told Hiruzen Sarutobi that Jonin Sarutobi Kotaro had fallen in battle.

After Sarutobi Kotaro died on a mission, Hiruzen and Asuma grieved, and Asuma learned that Uzumaki Kuming had captured Kotaro’s killer, Kakuzu. Two years later, Asuma asked to leave Konoha and join the Land of Fire Daimyo’s Guard Corps, but Hiruzen forbade him.

• An Anbu told Hiruzen and Asuma that Sarutobi Kotaro had been killed, and Hiruzen wept while holding Konohamaru.
• Asuma went to Minato’s office to learn who had killed Kotaro and where the killer was.
• Minato told Asuma that Kakuzu had killed Kotaro and that Uzumaki Kuming had already captured him.
• Two years later, Asuma asked Hiruzen for permission to leave Konoha and join the Daimyo’s personal Guard Corps.
• Hiruzen refused, telling Asuma that he was not allowed to go.