Recaps

After learning the Third Kazekage had vanished, Chiyo rallied Sunagakure’s elders to appoint Rasa as acting Fourth Kazekage. In Konoha, Hiruzen and the Advisors learned that Taiichi had recovered the Kazekage’s body and killed Sasori, and they considered how to exploit the news while keeping it secret.

• Chiyo returned to Sunagakure, learned the Kazekage had disappeared, and heard that Human Puppets had been found at the battlefield.
• Chiyo convened Sunagakure’s elders and persuaded them to appoint an acting Kazekage amid fears of threats from other villages.
• The elders selected Rasa as acting Fourth Kazekage because he had mastered Magnet Release: Gold Dust, which could help suppress Shukaku.
• Hiruzen received Jiraiya’s report that Taiichi had witnessed the Third Kazekage’s death, killed Sasori, and brought back both bodies.
• Hiruzen and the Advisors discussed keeping the Kazekage’s body secret, exploiting Sunagakure’s turmoil, and strengthening Konoha’s intelligence and defenses.

Taiichi reunited with Yohei's team, revealed that he had witnessed the Third Kazekage's death, and successfully used Yang Release Chakra to ease the strain on Yohei's eyes. The Third Kazekage's disappearance then reached the other villages, and Iwagakure prepared to exploit Sunagakure's weakness by declaring war.

• Taiichi told Minato, Yohei, Saori, Kakashi, Obito, and Rin that the Third Kazekage was dead and recounted how he had witnessed it.
• Taiichi treated Yohei's eyes with Yang Release Chakra, restoring their clarity temporarily and confirming that the treatment could reduce the Mangekyo's strain.
• News spread that the Third Kazekage had vanished, and Ōnoki recognized that Sunagakure's search was for its missing leader.
• Ōnoki ordered an emergency meeting, and Iwagakure's senior council approved declaring war on Sunagakure.
• Iwagakure mobilized its supplies and assembled a force of one thousand ninjas within a day.

Sunagakure declared war on Iwagakure after its invasion, and Konoha struggled to honor its alliance without disrupting its plans. At the Land of Rivers camp, Taiichi received his reward and chose the Flying Thunder God Technique, then set out to find Minato.

• Iwagakure invaded the Land of Wind, but Sunagakure held its defenses and accused Iwagakure of conspiring in the Third Kazekage's death before declaring war and requesting Konoha's aid.
• Third A considered attacking Sunagakure or Iwagakure, but Karui persuaded him to wait while the Cloud Village gathered intelligence.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi, Danzo, Utatane Koharu, and Mitokado Homura decided to send a thousand Konoha troops toward the Land of Grass as a pretext for supporting Sunagakure without changing Konoha's plans.
• Jiraiya and Shikaku told Taiichi that the village had awarded him an S-rank Mission and permission to choose a ninjutsu from the Scroll of Sealing.
• Taiichi chose the Flying Thunder God Technique, and Jiraiya arranged for Minato to teach him while allowing him to choose another technique if he could not learn it.
• Taiichi left the Central Army Tent to find Minato, then realized he had wasted time searching instead of using Sensory Ninjutsu.

Taiichi went to Minato to learn the Flying Thunder God and mastered its principles, but his progress stalled until he used a Skill Point to gain Space Perception. He then created his own Flying Thunder God Formula, leaving him ready to test his new ability.

• Taiichi used Chakra Perception to locate Minato, then went to him with Jiraiya's order to learn the Flying Thunder God.
• Minato explained the Flying Thunder God's mechanics and taught Taiichi its complex formula, while warning him that learning it required Space Perception.
• Taiichi's Flying Thunder God progress stopped at Lv0 (99/100), so he spent 1 Skill Point and advanced to Lv4, gaining Space Perception.
• Taiichi tested his ability to sense chakra through space and began designing a personal Flying Thunder God Formula.
• Taiichi finished his formula and named it "Invincible With Me."

Taiichi mastered the Flying Thunder God and strengthened his Chakra Shape Transformation, then defeated Yohei and Saori in a training battle. He and Minato accepted a secret mission to scout the war between Sunagakure and Stone Village and assassinate enemy fighters, leaving Yohei and Saori behind at camp.

• Taiichi tested the Flying Thunder God, endured teleportation dizziness, and discovered that his hastily made formula broke after two uses.
• Taiichi advanced his Chakra Shape Transformation, enlarged and compressed a Rasengan, and created chakra wings that were not yet strong enough to lift him.
• Taiichi fought Yohei and Saori in a training exercise, shattered Yohei's Susanoo, and defeated them in less than ten minutes.
• Jiraiya, Shikaku, and Minato briefed Taiichi and Minato on their secret mission to target Stone Village forces while keeping the conflict with Sunagakure deadlocked.
• Taiichi packed for the mission and told Yohei to train Obito while he and Minato were away.

Taiichi split from Minato to carry out a secret mission on the Stone Village–Sunagakure battlefield, then targeted a Stone Village resupply point in the Land of Birds. He launched a nighttime attack and, after being exposed, faced the surviving Rock Ninja.

• Taiichi and Minato divided their mission near the battlefield, exchanging supplies and marked weapons so they could find each other if needed.
• Taiichi killed three Stone Village ninja who had returned to a battlefield where Shaju were feeding on the dead.
• Taiichi traveled to the Land of Birds to disrupt Stone Village logistics and killed a lone Sunagakure Jonin who crossed his path.
• After locating a small Stone Village resupply point, Taiichi rested in a hidden cave and infiltrated the camp at night.
• Taiichi silently killed ninja in their tents until a patrol discovered the bodies and sounded the alarm.
• Taiichi killed his final target and used Wind Style: Vacuum Serial Waves against another squad, then mocked the surviving Rock Ninja as they gathered around him.

Taiichi destroyed a Stone Village resupply point, then discovered Sunagakure had launched a coordinated campaign against Stone Village’s logistics. Rasa prepared to lead Sunagakure’s counteroffensive, but Ebizo hinted that reports from the raids revealed a troubling issue.

• Taiichi used Flying Thunder God to kill an uninjured Stone Village jonin, then defeated the remaining Rock Ninjas and destroyed their resupply point.
• A Sunagakure squad found the ruined camp and continued toward another target, while its captain expected Sunagakure to counterattack under Shin.
• Rasa arrived at the frontline and, with Ebizo, planned a surprise strike on Stone Village’s logistics; dozens of elite Sunagakure squads infiltrated the enemy rear.
• Taiichi found that Sunagakure squads had already destroyed Stone Village’s resupply points across the Land of Birds and realized Sunagakure was preparing a larger counterattack.
• Rasa announced that Sunagakure would launch its counteroffensive the next morning, and Ebizo explained why he expected victory.
• Ebizo noted that Rasa had noticed an issue in the reports from the squads that attacked Sunagakure’s logistics.

Rasa led Sunagakure in a surprise assault that routed Stone Village across the Land of Birds, while Taiichi and Minato joined the battle to kill ninja from both sides. Sunagakure established a fortified camp in the Land of Birds, and Stone Village withdrew to seek another position.

• Rasa and Ebizo concluded that a third force was interfering in the war and discussed Sunagakure’s ambitions toward the Land of Fire.
• Rasa led Sunagakure’s sudden dawn attack, breaking through Stone Village’s defenses and inflicting heavy losses.
• Taiichi watched the battle with Minato, then the two decided to exploit the retreat by attacking both sides.
• Taiichi used his sword and Chakra Perception to hunt isolated Sunagakure and Stone Village ninja as the pursuit crossed the Land of Birds.
• Sunagakure halted its pursuit to avoid Stone Village reinforcements and built a frontline camp, forcing Stone Village to withdraw and find another site.

After Iwagakure’s defeat in the Land of Wind, Ōnoki ordered his forces to stop attacking Sunagakure and wait while he pursued a larger goal. Taiichi and Minato suspected the villages were preparing to target Konoha, and Sunagakure and Iwagakure’s commanders then agreed to an unwritten ceasefire so they could turn their attention elsewhere.

• Kitsuchi told Ōnoki that Sunagakure’s counterattack had driven Iwagakure from the Land of Wind and cost it at least eight hundred ninja, and Ōnoki ordered the Border Troops to camp in the Land of Birds rather than attack.
• Ōnoki told Kitsuchi that Sunagakure and Iwagakure were likely shifting their focus to the Land of Fire, and predicted that Sunagakure would approach Iwagakure soon.
• Taiichi and Minato noticed that both villages had stopped attacking and suspected they had reached a secret understanding against Konoha, so they left the Land of Birds to warn their camp.
• Ebizo and Mahiru met in the Land of Birds and agreed to an unwritten ceasefire, keeping their current territories and refraining from attacks while they waited for the right time to pursue their shared target.

After reporting signs of a possible Sunagakure and Iwagakure alliance, Taiichi and Minato received permission to take their squads back to Konoha before the fighting resumed. As the groups prepared to leave, Taiichi explained to Yohei and Saori why wars began and urged them to protect the people they cared about.

• Minato and Taiichi reported their observations from the Land of Birds, and Shikaku concluded that Sunagakure and Iwagakure might have reached an understanding while Jiraiya ordered tighter patrols.
• Jiraiya told Taiichi and Minato that their assignments were complete and sent both squads back to the village before war began.
• Taiichi reunited with Yohei, Saori, Kakashi, Rin, and Obito, then told his squad they would leave for Konoha the next morning.
• Yohei asked why countries went to war, and Taiichi explained that nations fought over resources and that they should protect the people who mattered to them.
• Obito woke Taiichi's squad early, and the two groups set out to return to the village together.

After returning to Konoha, Minato and Taiichi reported that Sunagakure and Iwagakure appeared to have turned their attention toward the Land of Fire. Hiruzen promoted Taiichi to Special Jonin, and Taiichi headed to Konoha Hospital, where he reunited with Nonō.

• A Communication Hawk delivered Jiraiya's warning to Hiruzen Sarutobi, who summoned Konoha's senior leaders to discuss the threat from Sunagakure and Iwagakure.
• After three days on the road, Minato and Taiichi returned to Konoha and reported their observations from the Land of Birds to Hiruzen Sarutobi and the Advisors.
• Hiruzen praised Minato and Taiichi, then promoted Taiichi to Special Jonin because of his Flying Thunder God Technique, Medical Ninjutsu, and service to the village.
• Minato helped Taiichi complete the promotion paperwork, then used Flying Thunder God to hurry home to Kushina.
• Taiichi sent Shadow Clones to buy groceries and visit the orphanage, then went to Konoha Hospital and found Nonō training four apprentices.
• Nonō noticed Taiichi watching her and cried out his name.

After returning from the front, Taiichi reunited with Nonō and the Orphanage children, then considered how to protect his loved ones as the war worsened. He began developing a stronger Multiple Lamp Array Sealing Jutsu and finished a version that could briefly restrain an ordinary Jonin, leaving its conversion into a Sealing Talisman for later.

• Taiichi returned to Konoha, visited Nonō at the hospital, and told her about his achievements on the front while hiding the dangers he had faced.
• Taiichi’s Shadow Clone visited the Orphanage, where the children and Grandma Keiko welcomed him; Taiichi brought them to his home for dinner with Nonō.
• Taiichi learned that fighting with Iwagakure and the Cloud Village was intensifying and worried about how to protect Nonō and others close to him.
• After seeing Nonō and the children home, Taiichi decided to develop protective techniques using Sealing Jutsu and Flying Thunder God.
• Taiichi spent the next day improving the Multiple Lamp Array until it could restrain an ordinary Jonin for about one second, then went out to eat before attempting to make it into a Sealing Talisman.

Taiichi met Guy, Ebisu, and Genma Shiranui at Ichiraku Ramen, then completed his first Multiple Lamp Array Sealing Talisman after exhausting himself and valuable materials. Meanwhile, Yohei’s spar with his father Shoyu began to reveal the unusual power of his Three-Tomoe Sharingan.

• Taiichi ran into Guy, Ebisu, and Genma Shiranui at Ichiraku Ramen, where he beat them in a ramen-eating contest.
• Ebisu told Taiichi that Mimura Hamaki commanded Konoha’s defensive line in the Land of Grass, where casualties were heavy.
• Taiichi used his Yin Seal to restore his Chakra and successfully created a Multiple Lamp Array Sealing Talisman, improving his Sealing Jutsu and Chakra Control.
• Taiichi decided to make more talismans for Nonō, Yohei, and Saori so they would have protection.
• Yohei sparred with his father, Shoyu, and his Three-Tomoe Sharingan’s ocular power proved far greater than an ordinary Sharingan’s.

Yohei discovered that his Mangekyo Sharingan had overwhelmed Shoyu during their spar, then learned from Taiichi why his father had sensed something unusual. Taiichi sent him home with advice to tell his parents the truth and gave him an improved Sealing Talisman, while Taiichi finished making two more talismans for Nonō and Saori.

• Yohei taunted Shoyu during their spar, so Shoyu beat him and remained cold toward him the next day.
• Shoyu and Meijia suspected Yohei possessed a Sharingan beyond Three-Tomoe, but decided to trust him and not pry.
• Yohei left home and told Taiichi how the spar had gone; Taiichi explained that Yohei's Mangekyo had suppressed Shoyu's Sharingan.
• Taiichi told Yohei to explain the Mangekyo to his parents and gave him an improved Sealing Talisman that could briefly trap an ordinary Jonin.
• Taiichi made two more Sealing Talismans, one for Nonō and one for Saori.

Taiichi sought Minato’s help developing a Flying Thunder God modification that would automatically rescue someone carrying his formula, then began intensive research. Meanwhile, Sunagakure’s stalled campaign and internal divisions worsened, and Acting Fourth Kazekage Rasa visited Chiyo for guidance.

• Taiichi studied Minato’s notes on Flying Thunder God but made little progress, so he decided to ask Minato for help.
• Taiichi explained his rescue-jutsu idea to Minato and Kushina, and the three worked out a plan combining a Sensory Barrier, an alert to Taiichi’s real body, and Reverse Summoning.
• Taiichi returned home and organized the plan, then assigned six Shadow Clones to handle his other duties while he focused on developing the jutsu.
• Sunagakure’s month-long pause in its campaign deepened factional disputes and dissatisfaction with Acting Fourth Kazekage Rasa.
• Rasa went to Chiyo’s home to seek her guidance.

Chiyo and Ebizo approved Sunagakure’s move toward war, and Sunagakure declared war on Konoha, forcing Taiichi to prepare for an urgent deployment to the front. Before departing, Taiichi gave Nonō a Special Flying Thunder God Kunai and watched Yohei confront Obito about his dangerous habit of being late.

• Chiyo and Ebizo told Rasa that Sunagakure had to act, and rumors blaming Konoha spread through the village.
• Taiichi completed a semi-automatic version of his Special Flying Thunder God Kunai, gave one to Nonō, and promised he could reach her if she was in danger.
• Sunagakure declared war on Konoha, and Jiraiya reported that Rasa had led 3,000 shinobi into the Land of Rivers.
• An Anbu shinobi ordered Taiichi to assemble his team for an immediate departure, and Taiichi packed supplies and went to the village gate.
• Yohei chastised Obito for arriving late after helping old grannies, warning him that delays could cost Rin or Kakashi their lives.

Minato led reinforcements to the Land of Rivers front, where Taiichi discovered that the Camp’s Sensory Barriers had been deliberately weakened and misrepresented on the map. Jiraiya ordered a secret investigation, then assigned Taiichi to the Medical Camp while Yohei and Saori joined Minato’s operation; the chapter ended with Taiichi giving them Flying Thunder God Kunai and warning Yohei not to take reckless risks.

• Minato led roughly a thousand Konoha ninja on a forced march to the frontline Camp in the Land of Rivers, where Shikaku received them and assigned teams to rest and report for missions.
• Taiichi inspected the Camp’s Sensory Barriers and found weak detection areas that did not match the classified map, suggesting that someone had deliberately mislabeled them.
• Jiraiya ordered Shikaku to secretly repair the Barriers and investigate the ninja responsible for establishing and maintaining them.
• Jiraiya told Taiichi that Konoha was on the defensive against Sunagakure and assigned him to support the wounded at the Medical Camp.
• Minato received an operation behind enemy lines, so Yohei and Saori’s squads temporarily merged under acting captain Yohei Uchiha.
• Taiichi gave Yohei and Saori improved Special Flying Thunder God Kunai and warned Yohei that the technique could not guarantee their safety.

Taiichi transformed Konoha's Medical Camp by treating critical patients and helping other Medical Ninja improve, boosting Konoha's morale and shifting the battlefield against Sunagakure. Sunagakure identified him as the reason for the change and planned a raid that included the Medical Camp, while Taiichi remained unaware and continued training.

• Taiichi treated a critically wounded ninja and explained the advanced Yang Release, Mystical Palm Technique, and Chakra Control required to stop bleeding as quickly as he did.
• Taiichi used Shadow Clones to help the Medical Ninja treat patients, and after a week without a critically wounded patient dying, Konoha's morale rose and its front line began pushing Sunagakure back.
• Rasa ordered Ebizo to investigate why Konoha's ninja had become so bold, and Ebizo's Secret Agents traced the change to Taichi Matsushita and his work at the Medical Camp.
• Taiichi's training improved his Strength and Agility, while he continued to treat patients and train Medical Ninja at the front.
• After learning about Taichi Matsushita, Rasa, Ebizo, and Chiyo decided to add the Medical Camp to their planned raid on Konoha.
• Taiichi continued dividing his time among medical training, ninjutsu research, swordsmanship, and physical training, unaware that Sunagakure was plotting to kill him.

Taiichi learned that Sunagakure planned to attack him and the Konoha camp, then waited at the Medical Camp as the raid began. When he discovered that Fourth Kazekage Rasa was leading the force targeting the Medical Camp, Taiichi rushed to warn Konoha’s defenders.

• Jiraiya and Shikaku learned that a captured Chunin from the Barrier Team had spied on Taiichi for Sunagakure, and Shikaku predicted an attack within days.
• Shikaku told Taiichi to stay at the Medical Camp for protection, but the Shadow Clone he spoke with eagerly offered to act as bait before vanishing.
• The real Taiichi received the clone’s memories, returned to the Medical Camp, and waited through the night for Sunagakure’s attack.
• An explosion marked the beginning of the raid, and Konoha’s prepared forces moved to ambush the infiltrators attacking the Central Army Tent and Medical Camp.
• Rasa protected more than fifty Sunagakure Ninja with a Gold Dust dome, then struck Konoha’s ambushers with Gold Dust Senbon.
• Taiichi recognized Rasa’s Magnet Release, left two Shadow Clones to guard the Medical Camp, and raced toward the fight to warn the Konoha Ninja.

Taichi fought Fourth Kazekage Rasa during Sunagakure’s failed ambush, protecting the Medical Camp and helping Konoha drive off the attackers. Rasa escaped with five surviving Jonin, while Taichi returned to treat Konoha’s wounded and earned the respect of the other Ninja.

• Rasa tried to cover his Sand Village Ninja’s retreat, but Taichi surprised him with Flame Blade Qi and then attacked with Fire Style and his Short Sword.
• Taichi engaged Rasa at close range, forcing him to abandon Gold Dust Imperial Funeral while two Jonin joined the fight to distract the Kazekage.
• Rasa redirected Gold Dust Rain toward the Medical Camp, and Taichi used three Water Formation Walls to shield it from the attack.
• Rasa broke away and rescued the five surviving Sand Village Jonin, carrying them off on a flying mound of gold dust.
• Taichi ordered the Konoha Ninja to clear the battlefield and bring the wounded to the Medical Camp, where he promised to treat them.
• Jiraiya and Shikaku arrived, and Taichi sent Gekko to brief them before going to treat the wounded.

After Taiichi helped Konoha repel Sunagakure’s raid, Jiraiya’s officers assessed the heavy losses and planned to intensify their attacks. Taiichi proposed using Shadow Clones and Flying Thunder God to serve the Medical Camp while taking missions, and Jiraiya assigned him a mission with maximum freedom.

• Gekko told Jiraiya and the other officers how Taiichi had kept Rasa occupied during the ambush, and Jiraiya ordered a battlefield cleanup and a meeting.
• Rasa led five surviving Jonin to a concealed cave, encouraged them after their defeat, and promised Masha support after he lost his right arm.
• Rasa abandoned the rendezvous when no other survivors arrived and led his group back to camp for treatment.
• At the command meeting, Shikaku reported that Konoha had wiped out Sunagakure’s two attack groups except for Rasa and five Jonin, while losing twenty-four Chunin.
• Jiraiya planned to intensify attacks on Sunagakure, while Taiichi was assigned to the Medical Camp again.
• Taiichi suggested using two Shadow Clones to cover routine medical care while Flying Thunder God let him take missions, and Jiraiya gave him a scroll for a mission with maximum freedom.

Rasa returned from a disastrous ambush, and Ebizo took responsibility to protect Rasa’s standing and prevent turmoil in Sunagakure. Taiichi received a free-ranging mission to disrupt Sunagakure and began by ambushing a reinforcement team as Konoha launched its renewed offensive.

• Rasa told Chiyo and Ebizo that Konoha had trapped his force, that only five Jonin survived, and that Taiichi had kept him occupied while Konoha suffered almost no losses.
• Ebizo claimed responsibility for the failed intelligence and accepted the blame, allowing Sunagakure to present a softened account of the defeat and preserve Rasa’s reputation.
• The Sunagakure Council of Elders stripped Ebizo of his positions and ordered him to remain at the front to atone through service.
• Jiraiya gave Taiichi a mission to cause Sunagakure trouble, and Shikaku questioned whether the young ninja had enough experience for such freedom.
• Taiichi left the Medical Camp with two Shadow Clones behind and headed toward the front to hunt isolated Sunagakure ninja and disrupt their supply lines.
• Taiichi tracked a four-person Sunagakure reinforcement team and killed all four before they could reach the battle they were heading to support.

Taiichi returned to the Konoha Camp and explained why his combination of Flying Thunder God and Shadow Clones let him work at the Medical Camp while going on missions. The next morning, he found and captured two White Zetsu, then covered his tracks before a half-black, half-white creature investigated the scene.

• Taiichi returned to camp and told Yohei, Obito, Kakashi, and the others that learning Flying Thunder God required merit, sealing knowledge, and spatial talent.
• Yohei reprimanded Obito for rushing into an ambush during the mission, and Obito agreed to work on changing his reckless habits.
• Taiichi confirmed that two Shadow Clones could handle the Medical Camp, then used Flying Thunder God to return to the large tree the next morning.
• Taiichi found two White Zetsu and killed one while sealing the other alive.
• Taiichi planted misleading traces at the capture site, and a half-black, half-white creature arrived an hour later to investigate.

Taiichi established a hidden laboratory near the Land of Rivers and raided Sunagakure forces across the desert, while Konoha's victory over Sunagakure prompted Ōnoki to bring Iwagakure into the war. The chapter ended with Iwagakure's army moving toward the front and Konoha sending reinforcements, including Nonō.

• Taiichi's Shadow Clone hid a captured White Zetsu in a concealed cave, and Taiichi returned to turn the cave into a secret laboratory.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi read Jiraiya's report of Konoha's victory over Sunagakure, while Danzo grew resentful of Taiichi's prominent role.
• Danzo warned Hiruzen that Iwagakure might act, and Ōnoki ordered a meeting to consider declaring war on Konoha.
• Iwagakure declared war, dispatched a thousand shinobi toward the Land of Grass, and Konoha sent five hundred reinforcements, including Nonō.
• Taiichi continued ambushing increasingly large Sunagakure units and escaped with Flying Thunder God, frustrating Sunagakure's attempts to capture him.

Taiichi ambushed a Sunagakure resupply convoy, killing a Jonin and burning nearly half its supplies before escaping. After failing to attack the convoy again because its Sensor Ninja detected him, Taiichi headed deeper into the Land of Wind, while Black Zetsu returned to Madara Uchiha at a concealed base in the Land of Earth.

• Taiichi used a Genjutsu-guided Sand Lizard carrying a Flying Thunder God Formula to approach a Sunagakure convoy, but a guard killed it before it reached the group.
• Taiichi attacked the convoy with Fire Style, burned much of its supplies, and killed a Jonin before escaping with Flying Thunder God.
• Taiichi rested in an underground cave, then returned to the battlefield and tracked the convoy, but its Sensor Ninja detected him and forced him to abandon another attack.
• Taiichi traveled deeper into the Land of Wind, hoping to encounter Sunagakure mission squads.
• Black Zetsu returned to the underground base and reported to Madara Uchiha.