Recaps

Uzumaki Kuming forced the Cloud Ninja to withdraw, then faced Orochimaru’s defection and secretly recruited him as a spy. After Sarutobi Kotaro was killed by Kakuzu, Kuming captured the criminal and returned Kotaro’s body, while Hiruzen mourned and later refused Asuma’s request to leave Konoha.

• Uzumaki Kuming drove the Raikage and Killer B from the Land of Rivers, but Kamizuki An died attacking the withdrawing Cloud Ninja.
• Kakashi told Kuming that Orochimaru had defected after his experiments on refugees and orphans were exposed.
• Orochimaru and Sasori attacked Kuming’s group, but Kuming forced Sasori to flee and negotiated with Orochimaru to spy on Akatsuki in exchange for help pursuing the Rinnegan.
• Kuming trained Kakashi to strengthen his body and gave Obito a Flying Thunder God scroll, then taught him its fundamentals.
• Kuming met Sarutobi Kotaro, gave him a Three-Way Seal for Konohamaru, and wished him well before Kotaro left to pursue an S-rank criminal.
• After Koizumi warned Kuming that Kotaro’s team was in danger and died, Kuming confronted Kakuzu, recovered Kotaro’s body, and captured Kakuzu.
• Hiruzen learned Kotaro had fallen in battle, and Minato told Asuma that Kuming had captured Kakuzu.
• Two years later, Hiruzen refused Asuma’s request to leave Konoha and join the Daimyo’s personal Guard Corps.

Naruto and his classmates completed the Ninja Academy entrance exam while Uzumaki Kuming traveled through the Land of Tea and uncovered Akatsuki’s plans and the Uzumaki Clan’s hidden inheritance. The arc left Kuming heading into the Land of Water with a rescued Mist kunoichi after Kisame abandoned Kirigakure.

• Asuma Sarutobi left home to join the Daimyo’s Guard Corps, then learned Hiruzen Sarutobi had arranged a Special Jōnin appointment and a letter of support for him.
• Naruto Uzumaki, Sasuke Uchiha, Karin Senju, and their classmates took the Academy entrance exam, where Naruto placed first, Karin second, and Sasuke third.
• Kushina Uzumaki found hidden injuries on Hinata Hyuga and confronted Hiashi, who agreed that Kushina and Minato would care for Hinata on school days.
• Uzumaki Kuming’s caravan fought bandits in the Land of Tea, and Kuming discovered Cursed Seals before confronting Yahiko, Orochimaru, and the reincarnated Hashirama Senju and Tobirama Senju.
• Kuming and his companions visited the ruins of Uzushio Village, where Kuming opened a hidden chamber and found the Uzumaki Clan’s scrolls and Golden Plates.
• Kuming brought the inheritance to Mount Myoboku, then studied the Golden Plates with his companions and revealed that he had learned Chibaku Tensei from them.
• Kisame Hoshigaki killed his Mist companions during a mission near the Land of Fire, then leapt from a cliff as Ibiki Morino and Konoha Ninja arrived.
• Kuming reached Ibiki, secretly healed the surviving Mist kunoichi, promised not to harm her or demand Kirigakure information, and took her with him after she agreed to cook for his disciple.

Kuming helped Konoha confront the Ghosts in Wufang City while Orochimaru pursued the secret of their power, then continued guiding Yoriichi as the children grew toward graduation. The arc ended with Mizuki plotting to steal the Scroll of Sealing and promising Yakumo a way to pass her exams.

• Kisame killed Suikazan Fuguki, but Kuming intervened when the man claiming to be Madara tried to control the Mist Ninja girl, then recruited Kisame and the girl into his service.
• Kushina gave birth to Yoriichi, whom Kuming later taught about Chakra and a possible Kekkei Genkai, while Konoha learned of the Ghosts and sent Hiruzen to investigate Wufang City.
• Hiruzen's forces fought the Upper Moon Five Ghost and the Progenitor Demon, while Orochimaru and Guren faced the Colored-hair Girl until Kuming broke the canopy and sunlight destroyed her cocoon.
• Minato secured the Daimyo's support for Konoha's campaign against the Ghosts, and Kuming began training Yoriichi, whose swordsmanship impressed Naruto and won Guy as his Taijutsu teacher.
• Shisui and Kisame reported that Akatsuki backed Righteous Armies in several countries, and Kuming considered how to protect Konoha while holding to his changed priorities.
• Years later, Kuming revised the Academy graduation exams, and Yoriichi subdued Konohamaru after the boy challenged him over accusations of favoritism.
• Iruka announced the graduation requirements, the students began preparing, and Mizuki resolved to steal the Scroll of Sealing while telling Yakumo he had a way to help her pass.

Yakumo’s attempt to steal the Scroll of Sealing exposed Orochimaru’s schemes, while Naruto and his classmates graduated and Team 7 took on a mission to the Land of Waves. As Konoha prepared for the Chunin Exams, Kuming drew Haku and Zabuza into his circle and recruited Orochimaru to investigate a captive tied to the Sage of Six Paths.

• Kakashi rescued Yakumo Kurama from Mizuki, but Orochimaru took the Scroll of Sealing and summoned Hashirama and Tobirama, and Minato fought them until Kuming helped recover the scroll.
• Months later, Naruto failed the written graduation test but impressed the spectators with his stamina and powerful techniques in the practical assessment.
• Minato and Kuming formed the new teams, and Kakashi assigned Naruto, Sasuke, and Karin to Team 7, and an attack by Otsutsuki Jianshi interrupted their bell test, and Kuming sealed the enemy with Chibaku Tensei.
• Minato sent Team 7 to escort Tazuna to the Land of Waves, where Kakashi learned that Gato’s assassins had attacked them and agreed to help with Tazuna’s bridge project.
• Kisame fought Kimimaro while trying to take Haku, then delivered the unconscious Haku to Kuming, and Kuming brought Haku to Konoha, and Zabuza later agreed to follow Kisame there.
• After Team 7 completed the mission and defeated Gato, Minato awarded them points and recommended them for the Chunin Exams, and Naruto began training with Jiraiya while Sasuke sought help from Fugaku.
• Orochimaru entered Konoha in disguise, but Kuming confronted him and led him to a hidden chamber, where Kuming showed him an ancient Otsutsuki captive and asked him to investigate eternal life.