Recaps

Fugaku learned that Itachi had completed his Natural Energy sensing training, and Taiichi began teaching Itachi, Yami, and Jiangtai how to cultivate Senjutsu Chakra. Their first attempt ended in exhaustion after they lost control of the Natural Energy, and Taiichi revived them with his bitter Special Military Ration Pills.

• Fugaku praised Itachi for completing his Senjutsu training assignment and sent him to find Taiichi.
• Itachi joined Yami and Jiangtai at Taiichi's home, where all three demonstrated that they could sense the new milky-white Natural Energy.
• Taiichi taught them his safer method of combining Natural Energy with Chakra, while binding Jiangtai with an Adamantine Sealing Chain for interrupting him.
• The three children attempted to absorb Natural Energy, lost control, and collapsed from exhaustion, with Jiangtai lasting the longest.
• Taiichi warned them about the dangers of Senjutsu, then gave each a Special Military Ration Pill that restored their strength despite its terrible bitterness.

Taichi supervised Yami, Itachi, and Jiangtai through their first formal Senjutsu training and encouraged them to persist despite their difficulties. Meanwhile, Hyuga Yuto received his new Curse Mark, erupted in hatred toward Konoha and Taichi, and drew Black Zetsu’s attention.

• Taichi watched over Yami, Itachi, and Jiangtai as they practiced absorbing Natural Energy, disrupting their Senjutsu Chakra whenever they neared losing control.
• Taichi explained that the three could experiment with different training methods, then encouraged them by describing how rare Sage Mode was and how Jiraiya had needed twelve years to master it.
• The three continued practicing until late at night, and Taichi warned them not to train alone before sending them home to rest.
• Hyuga Yuto watched Taichi remove a Caged Bird Curse Mark from a branch-family ninja, then trembled when he recognized Taichi during his own Curse Mark ritual.
• Yuto fled to an abandoned training ground and cursed Hyuga, Konoha, Minato Namikaze, and Taichi, vowing revenge without noticing Black Zetsu hidden beneath the ground.
• Black Zetsu overheard Yuto’s outburst and recognized him as a remnant of the Lunar Otsutsuki clan.

Black Zetsu decided to target Hyuga Yuto as a potential tool, while Taiichi trained his disciples and agreed to help Minato improve the Flying Thunder God. Minato then assigned Taiichi to investigate two missing teams in the Land of Bears, and Taiichi proposed bringing his three young disciples along.

• Black Zetsu judged Hyuga Yuto’s hatred and knowledge of the moon made him useful to a backup plan, and chose to report to Akatsuki before approaching him.
• Taiichi ended Itachi, Jiangtai, and Yami’s Sage Mode training when Itachi lost control, then explained to Kakashi that he hoped to make human senjutsu inheritable beyond the Three Great Sage Regions.
• Minato showed Taiichi a sealing-based design for a multi-person version of the Flying Thunder God, and Taiichi agreed to help refine it.
• Minato told Taiichi that two Konoha teams had disappeared in the same town in the Land of Bears while returning from the Land of Snow, and Taiichi accepted the investigation.
• Taiichi asked Minato for permission to bring Itachi, Jiangtai, and Yami along to gain experience.

Taiichi took Jiangtai, Yami, and Itachi toward the Land of Bears for training, allowing the Nine-Tails to join under strict rules. Meanwhile, Hoshigakure learned that two Konoha squads had vanished, while Akahoshi discovered that passing Akatsuki’s test did not guarantee him membership.

• Minato reluctantly allowed Taiichi to take his three students out of the village, and Taiichi left before Minato could change his mind.
• Jiangtai sensed they were being followed, and the students attacked the Nine-Tails when it sprang from the bushes.
• The Nine-Tails persuaded Taiichi to take it along, agreeing to obey his orders, protect the students, and avoid causing trouble.
• Hotarubi told the Third Hoshikage that two Konoha squads had gone missing, so the Hoshikage sent him to cooperate with Konoha while avoiding conflict.
• Akahoshi confronted Kakuzu and Hiruko after completing their test, but Kakuzu told him that only Pain could approve his formal membership in Akatsuki.

Akahoshi hired Kakuzu and Hiruko to help him steal Hoshigakure's treasured star after they refused to assist him as comrades. Meanwhile, Taiichi's team investigated the vanished Konoha squads and uncovered clues pointing toward Hoshigakure's secret technique, leaving Fire Fly struggling to explain what he knew.

• Akahoshi agreed to pay Kakuzu and Hiruko to help seize Hoshigakure's star, with half the fee due after the mission.
• Taiichi, Itachi, Jiangtai, Yami, and the Nine-Tails reached the Land of Bears while searching for the missing Konoha squads.
• Fire Fly guided Taiichi's group from a nearby town to a forest clearing where the squads had apparently fought their attacker.
• Taiichi analyzed the footprints and damage for his students, deducing that one powerful opponent had used an unusual long-range physical attack.
• Fire Fly recognized similarities between the attack and Hoshigakure's Mysterious Peacock Method, then admitted that the secret technique might be involved.

Taiichi and his team crossed Death Canyon after discovering that Hoshigakure was under attack, arriving to find Akahoshi, Kakuzu, and Hiruko besieging the village’s survivors. As Hokuto turned on the wounded Third Hoshikage Yotaka, Taiichi’s group was still approaching the battlefield.

• Hotarubi agreed to lead Taiichi and the others toward Hoshigakure, but Taiichi sensed intense fighting there and warned him that the village was under attack.
• Hotarubi flew over Death Canyon, and Taiichi overtook him with the others before carrying him toward Hoshigakure as they spotted smoke and sensed death nearby.
• At Hoshigakure’s forbidden tower, Natsuhi and the wounded Third Hoshikage Yotaka faced Akahoshi, Kakuzu, and Hiruko after most of the village had been killed.
• Akahoshi blamed Yotaka for denying him the star and urged the surviving villagers to surrender and accept him as their leader.
• Hokuto, afraid to die, rushed toward Yotaka and stabbed at his heart while Natsuhi shouted for him to stop.

Akahoshi betrayed Hoshigakure and led a massacre with Kakuzu and Hiruko, who fled after sensing Taichi Matsushita approaching. As Taichi raced toward the village, Hotarubi formally commissioned Konoha to intervene, and Taichi accepted the S-rank mission.

• Hokuto and three Chunin betrayed Yotaka and joined Akahoshi, who ordered Kakuzu, Hiruko, and his Chakra beasts to kill the remaining Star Ninja.
• Kakuzu and Hiruko sensed Taichi Matsushita approaching, left clones behind, and fled toward the Land of Demons, abandoning Akahoshi.
• Pain told Kakuzu and Hiruko to forget Akahoshi and hurry to the Land of Demons to support Zetsu and Blood Crow.
• Taichi sensed the slaughter in Hoshigakure and told Hotarubi that he would not intervene without an official mission.
• Hotarubi offered Hoshigakure's savings and a commitment to follow Konoha's lead in exchange for aid, and Taichi accepted the S-rank mission.

Akatsuki decided to pursue Moryo in the Land of Demons while Miroku woke from a forgotten, frightening prophetic dream. At Hoshigakure, Taiichi killed Akahoshi and destroyed Hiruko’s Shadow Clone, then let Kakuzu’s remaining clones become a training challenge for his disciples.

• Black Zetsu told Pain, Konan, and Obito that Moryo was sealed in the Land of Demons and proposed recruiting it, so Pain sent Zetsu and Blood Crow to investigate.
• Miroku woke in fear after forgetting a dream that she believed had foretold a future event, then worried about what it meant for her daughter, Shion.
• Taiichi arrived at the Hoshigakure battlefield and killed Akahoshi after Akahoshi admitted to killing two Konoha squads.
• Hiruko attacked Taiichi with Storm Release: Laser Circus, but Taiichi countered with Wind Release: Great Breakthrough and destroyed Hiruko’s Shadow Clone.
• Kakuzu sent four elemental clones toward the Hoshigakure fighters and Taiichi’s group, and Taiichi assigned one clone each to himself, Hotarubi, the Nine-Tails, and the three little ones.

Taiichi defeated the remaining enemies with his team, awakened Itachi’s Sharingan through combat, and saved the Third Hoshikage, Yotaka. After Minato authorized him to negotiate, Yotaka confirmed Hoshigakure’s willingness to ally with Konoha and accept its leadership.

• Taiichi and the Nine-Tails finished off the enemy clones while Itachi, Jiangtai, and Yami defeated the Fire Style Mask Clone, and the children helped Hotarubi overcome his opponent.
• Itachi awakened his Sharingan during the battle, and Taiichi explained that steady training created a healthier foundation than emotional shortcuts.
• Taiichi treated Yotaka’s grave injuries, then sent Konoha a report about Akahoshi, Akatsuki, and Hoshigakure’s rebellion.
• Minato authorized Taiichi to negotiate with Hoshigakure, and Yotaka later woke and agreed that an alliance with Konoha might be necessary.
• Yotaka affirmed Hotarubi’s offer and told Taiichi that Hoshigakure was willing to ally with Konoha, accept its leadership, and follow its orders.

Taiichi finalized an alliance between Konoha and Hoshigakure, then received orders to investigate Moryo’s escape from the Land of Demons. Before setting out with his students, he discovered Jiangtai’s fear of ghosts and decided to train him to overcome it.

• Taiichi offered Yotaka and Hoshigakure’s leaders an alliance with Konoha involving defense, aid, training, intelligence sharing, and access to the Mysterious Peacock Method; Yotaka accepted the terms.
• Taiichi trained Jiangtai, Yami, and Itachi for a week while they sparred with the Nine-Tails, until a Konoha Communication Hawk brought news that Moryo had escaped.
• Taiichi told Hotarubi, Natsuhiboshi, and Yotaka that he had to leave for the Land of Demons, and they wished him success as they awaited Konoha’s handover team.
• The Nine-Tails frightened Jiangtai with stories about Moryo and ghosts, revealing that Jiangtai was afraid of them.
• Taiichi used the Spirit Transformation Technique to show Jiangtai a ghostlike soul, then promised special training to help him overcome his fear before they reached the Land of Demons.

As Moryo’s rampage spread through the Land of Demons and the Land of Swamps, Iwagakure, Sunagakure, and Konoha began mobilizing in response. Taiichi was identified as a nearby shinobi who could help buy time, while Zetsu sent Kakuzu, Hiruko, and Blood Crow to intensify the chaos and feed Moryo.

• Taiichi frightened Jiangtai with his spirit-body technique, then promised to train him against his fear during their journey to the Land of Demons.
• After the Kira Squad reported that Moryo had destroyed the Land of Swamps and killed its captain, Ōnoki ordered border troops into the Land of Demons and a thousand shinobi assembled as reinforcements.
• Rasa recalled Sunagakure’s border troops from the Land of Rivers and forwarded the intelligence to Konoha, which received the report before the Land of Demons’ plea for aid arrived.
• Minato and Hiruzen Sarutobi discussed Moryo’s threat, and Minato realized Taiichi was in the neighboring Land of Bears and could help delay the disaster.
• Kakuzu, Hiruko, and Blood Crow joined Zetsu in the Land of Swamps, where Black Zetsu ordered them to spread killing and panic to nourish Moryo and hinder incoming forces.
• The four left to create chaos as Moryo destroyed a village, grew larger, and spawned more Puppet Soldiers.

Jiangtai overcame his fear of the night by mastering stable Sage Mode, while Taiichi and his team reached the Land of Demons to reinforce the Shrine Maiden. Taiichi found Miroku badly injured after an assassination attempt and offered to treat her.

• During night travel, Taiichi used his spirit body to frighten Jiangtai, who repeatedly screamed while Yami and Itachi counted the outbursts.
• Jiangtai used Sage Mode to see Taiichi's spirit body, then stabilized the form and arrived with golden light shining in his eyes.
• Jiangtai told Yami and Itachi how fear had pushed him to master Sage Mode, and the four rested before continuing toward the Land of Demons.
• Taiichi reached the Shrine Maiden Palace with the Nine-Tails, met Kitsuchi, and learned that the Land of Demons' guards and Rock Ninja were under severe strain.
• Taiichi met Shrine Maiden Miroku, recognized that she was seriously injured, and offered to examine and heal her.

Taiichi examined the Shrine Maiden and discovered that the Evil God's power was worsening her injury, linking the crisis to Akatsuki and Blood Crow. After temporarily easing her pain, he left the Nine-Tails to guard her and departed with Kitsuchi for the front line.

• Taiichi questioned Miroku and Kitsuchi about Moryo's advances, and Miroku explained that the Ghost Legion could not be stopped by ordinary means and that ninja were sabotaging defenses.
• Taiichi warned Miroku and Kitsuchi that Kakuzu and Blood Crow of Akatsuki might have helped Moryo escape its seal, provoking a furious reaction from Kitsuchi.
• Taiichi examined Miroku and identified Evil God power in her wound, then used his chakra to suppress it and reduce her pain until his original body could arrive.
• Taiichi revealed that his companion was the Nine-Tails and left him with Miroku for protection; Miroku recognized the beast but accepted his help.
• Kitsuchi agreed to guide Taiichi to the front line, and the two left the palace while the Nine-Tails remained to guard Miroku.

Taiichi assessed the exhausted defenses at the canyon and promised Konoha reinforcements before flying into the Ghost Legion to locate Moryo. At the Shrine Maiden Palace, Miroku discovered her daughter playing with the Nine-Tailed Demon Fox, whose eyes suddenly turned savage.

• Taiichi saw the Rock Ninja and Land of Demons soldiers struggling to hold back the regenerating Ghost Legion, while Kitsuchi explained that Moryo had evaded their previous assault.
• Taiichi told the defenders that Konoha's reinforcements might arrive in five days, raising their spirits, and Kitsuchi reorganized the exhausted troops to keep the line intact.
• Taiichi formed Chakra wings and flew alone into the enemy ranks to find Moryo and investigate possible Akatsuki involvement.
• At the Shrine Maiden Palace, Miroku found her daughter playing atop the small Nine-Tailed Demon Fox.
• The Nine-Tailed Demon Fox opened his eyes with a savage expression as Miroku prepared to take her daughter away.

Yomi, a Land of Demons Jonin serving Moryo, infiltrated the Shrine Maiden Palace to kill Miroku, but Nine-Tails stopped his first attack. After Yomi drank Moryo’s chakra medicine and transformed into a powerful monster, he overwhelmed the exhausted Nine-Tails clone, leaving its fate uncertain.

• Nine-Tails sensed Yomi approaching Miroku and struck him through the palace hall before he could attack her.
• Yomi’s wounds rapidly healed, and he revealed his allegiance to Moryo and his mission to kill Miroku.
• Yomi drank a bottle of condensed chakra, transformed into a six-armed monster, and fought Nine-Tails as the palace collapsed.
• Miroku sent the Land of Demons ninjas to support Nine-Tails, but the clone weakened as its chakra ran low.
• Yomi knocked Nine-Tails through several trees and swung his claws toward its head as the clone struggled to recover.

Taiichi reached the Shrine Maiden Palace as Yomi attacked Miroku and Shion, defeated the transformed follower of Moryo, and healed Miroku. After learning the front line was in danger, he left a Shadow Clone to defend the palace and set out with his disciples for the battle.

• Taiichi and his disciples saw wealthy people and civilians fleeing the Land of Demons and hurried toward the Shrine Maiden Palace.
• Itachi spotted the main hall collapsing, so Taiichi teleported to Nine-Tails while his Shadow Clone stayed with his disciples.
• Taiichi arrived as Yomi attacked, then used the Chakra Light Blade, Flying Thunder God Technique, and Crumbling Fist to kill him.
• Miroku thanked Taiichi, who healed her wounds and asked her for the latest account of the fighting.
• Taiichi left a Shadow Clone to organize the palace defenses and departed with his disciples for the front line.

Taiichi’s Shadow Clone discovered that Moryo and its Ghost Legion threatened the Ninja World, then saved the Gorge Defense Line by unleashing a devastating Sage Art. After Taiichi briefed his disciples on the threat, Itachi asked to join the front line.

• Taiichi’s Shadow Clone found Moryo commanding Clay Puppets and Resentful Spirits, and learned that Akatsuki had promised to help Moryo escape its seal in exchange for restraining the Five Great Nations.
• The Ghost Legion and Resentful Spirits overwhelmed the Gorge Defense Line, and Kitsuchi struggled to hold the defenders together.
• Taiichi’s Shadow Clone entered Sage Mode and burned through the enemy army with a vast wave of Senjutsu flames, then dispersed after exhausting its chakra.
• Kitsuchi rallied the defenders to counterattack and destroy the remaining puppets as morale surged.
• Taiichi briefed his disciples on Moryo and the battle, and Itachi asked to fight on the front line.

Taiichi reported Moryo’s strength and the threat posed by Akatsuki to Kitsuchi and the Iwagakure Jonin, who decided to launch a strike against Moryo. The twenty-person team departed at night with Taiichi in command, leaving Kitsuchi to defend the line.

• Taiichi sent Itachi, Jiangtai, and Yami to the third defense zone with Akaiwa, then secretly followed them with a Shadow Clone for protection.
• Taiichi told Kitsuchi and the Iwagakure Jonin that Moryo was in the Land of Swamps, could create Ghost Legion creatures, and possessed power comparable to the complete Nine-Tails.
• Ishikawa urged the group to attack Moryo, and Taiichi agreed to lead an elite team while warning that killing or sealing Moryo would be far more difficult than reaching it.
• Kitsuchi ordered a twenty-person Strike Force to depart at midnight, with Taiichi as commander and Ishikawa as deputy commander.
• After preparing for the mission, Taiichi and the Strike Force left the camp at night while Kitsuchi remained to defend the line.

Taiichi led an assault squad into the Land of Demons but was caught in Moryo’s trap and forced to retreat to the frontline camp. After treating the wounded and supporting new scouting missions, he joined Kitsuchi and Ishikawa to study intelligence showing that the Ghost Legion operated within a defined boundary around Moryo.

• Taiichi’s squad infiltrated the Land of Swamps, fought through Ghost Legion patrols, and discovered a force of thousands waiting to ambush them near Moryo.
• Taiichi regrouped with Ishikawa’s survivors and used a Sage Art fire barrier and combined fire-and-wind techniques to lead the battered squad into retreat.
• Taiichi returned to the frontline Camp on the third day, where Kitsuchi learned that Moryo had anticipated the assault and prepared a trap.
• Taiichi treated wounded soldiers and civilians, helping lower the defense line’s mortality rate and improve morale.
• Ishikawa presented scouting reports showing that Ghost Legion activity diminished outward from Moryo and stopped at a clear boundary.

The Allied Shinobi Forces gathered at the Land of Demons frontline and debated how to defeat Moryo. They approved a second decapitation operation, leaving the Land of Demons official’s plea to use the Shrine Maiden’s sealing power unheeded for now.

• Taiichi and the commanders concluded that the Ghost Legion’s movements were limited to roughly 120 kilometers from Moryo, making the canyon pass vital to containing it.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi arrived with two thousand Konoha troops, followed by Chiyo and Sunagakure’s forces, Dodai and Kumogakure’s troops, Karatachi Yagura and Kirigakure’s forces, and reinforcements from smaller villages.
• The Five Great Nations’ representatives argued over command until they agreed that Hiruzen Sarutobi would lead the Allied Forces with a joint general staff overseeing major decisions.
• Taiichi argued that the Allies should attack Moryo to test whether it could truly be killed, and Hiruzen Sarutobi secured approval for a second decapitation operation with Taiichi as the main attacker.
• A Land of Demons official urged the Allies to have the injured Shrine Maiden seal Moryo, but Hiruzen Sarutobi kept the attack plan in place and told him the proposal would be considered.

Taiichi and the Allied Forces prepared a thousand-member Strike Force while Hiruzen Sarutobi rallied shinobi from across the Ninja World for a coordinated attack on Moryo. The battle began with a massive assault on the Ghost Legion, and Itachi, Jiangtai, and Yami fought together on the front lines.

• Taiichi told Itachi, Yami, and Jiangtai that they would join the Feinting Force, while their recent battles had helped Jiangtai master Sage Mode, Yami develop Chakra Enhanced Strength, and Itachi awaken his Sharingan.
• The Allied Forces spent three days preparing, gathering one thousand elite shinobi for the Strike Force and organizing a main-force feint.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi rallied the gathered shinobi and ordered the Strike Force to attack Moryo while the main force launched a frontal assault on the Ghost Legion.
• More than seven thousand Allied Forces shinobi attacked in formation with Fire Style, Lightning Style, and Earth Style techniques, damaging and slowing the Ghost Legion.
• Itachi, Jiangtai, and Yami fought together at the front, and Itachi used his Sharingan to evade a Rock Golem's blade and kick it back through several puppets.

The Allied Shinobi Forces drew Moryo’s attention with a frontal advance while Taiichi led a thousand-shinobi Assault Force through the Ghost Legion to reach it. The Assault Force held back the surrounding enemies as Taiichi activated his seal and Sage Mode, then vanished to begin the fight against Moryo.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi ordered the Allied Shinobi Forces to advance, and their coordinated assault seized the canyon and drew Moryo’s attention.
• Taiichi led the Assault Force toward the Land of Swamps, routing Ghost Legion units until the group reached Moryo’s territory.
• Taiichi ordered Chiyo, Kitsuchi, Dodai, and Kakashi to hold off the Ghost Legion while he charged Moryo, and the Assault Force followed in an Arrowhead Formation.
• Taiichi cleared a path through the Ghost Legion with his Chakra Light Sword and Wind Style: Vacuum Continuous Waves, allowing the Assault Force to break through to Moryo.
• Chiyo and the other leaders arranged the Assault Force into a defensive line behind Taiichi while he faced Moryo alone.
• Taiichi released the Rhombus Mark’s chakra, activated Sage Mode, and vanished toward Moryo.

Taiichi defeated Moryo’s physical body, but the demon’s Negative Energy continued to dissipate and the Ghost Legion kept attacking. With the Assault Force suffering casualties and Moryo poised to be reborn, Taiichi faced a decision about whether to hold their position or retreat.

• Taiichi fought Moryo, cutting down its dragon heads while the Assault Force held off the Ghost Legion.
• Moryo’s corpse began dissolving into Negative Energy, and its remaining heads warned that its defeat was not final.
• The Assault Force relaxed after Moryo fell, allowing the Ghost Legion to break through their defenses and kill three ninja.
• Taiichi joined the defensive line, cleared a swath of Ghost Legion with a powerful slash, and explained that Moryo’s essence would be reborn.
• Kitsuchi, Chiyo, Dodai, and Kakashi gathered with Taiichi to discuss sealing Moryo or locating its revival site as the Assault Force faced an endless attack.
• Taiichi weighed the risks of holding or retreating, then began giving his decision: “Stay—”

Taiichi led the exhausted Assault Force through Moryo’s rebirth and launched a second attack, cutting down four of its five heads so the Sealing Unit could begin binding it. As the sealing chains tightened, Moryo regained his senses and threatened to return.

• Taiichi ordered the force to hold the line for an hour while his Shadow Clones searched in four directions for Moryo after its rebirth.
• Moryo’s corpse vanished, and the Ghost Legion briefly stopped before resuming its attack; when Moryo began reforming, Taiichi led the Assault Force into a second charge.
• Taiichi overwhelmed Moryo with Sage Art fire and wind attacks, severed four of its five heads, and weakened its remaining body until it collapsed.
• Taiichi ordered the Sealing Unit to use the Separation Sealing Jutsu, binding Moryo in chains formed from twenty scrolls and preparing to divide it among them.
• Moryo regained his reason during the sealing and warned the humans that he would return.

Taiichi and the allied ninja forces held off the Ghost Legion while searching for Moryo, then fought to weaken him enough for the sealing unit to act. The separation seal bound Moryo in chains, but he regained his clarity and warned that he would return.

• Taiichi sent four shadow clones to search for Moryo while Kitsuchi organized the exhausted forces into rotating defensive groups.
• Moryo's corpse disappeared and the Ghost Legion briefly stopped, but Moryo soon re-formed at the horizon and Taiichi led the assault force toward him.
• Taiichi used Sage Art fire and wind techniques to burn Moryo, then cut off four of his five dragon heads and weakened his body.
• The sealing unit surrounded the fallen Moryo and used twenty scrolls to bind and divide him with the Separation Sealing Jutsu.
• Moryo regained his clarity during the sealing and warned the ninjas that he would return.