Recaps

Kakashi brought Kuro and the Mist Village guests to watch Might Duy teach at the academy, where Duy nearly recognized Kuro before Kakashi pulled him aside. After Duy canceled the lesson, the children celebrated, and Sasuke walked off alone after ignoring Kakashi’s wave.

• Might Duy tried to approach Kuro, but Kisame stopped him, and Duy then recognized Kakashi instead of Kuro.
• Kakashi introduced Kuro’s group as visitors from the Mist Village, and Duy welcomed them while recalling his past battle with the Seven Ninja Swordsmen.
• Kakashi whispered something to Duy, who apologized to Kuro’s group and asked them to wait while he spoke with Kakashi.
• Duy canceled the children’s conditioning lesson, and the students cheered and sang the school song of the Will of Fire.
• Kakashi waved at Sasuke, but Sasuke turned away and walked toward the grove before Kakashi led Duy away.

Kuro revisited a secluded grove in Konoha and unearthed an iron box connected to his memories of Obito. As he held it, he remembered their Academy days, when they were close before Obito became the enemy he feared most.

• Kuro warned Kisame not to underestimate Konoha's genin and left him and Utakata to look around the training ground.
• Kisame approached Ino and Sakura, who stopped their conversation as he tried to smile at them.
• Kuro entered a secluded grove and remembered practicing shuriken throwing there, as well as Shisui and Itachi using the targets.
• A bird landed on Kuro's shoulder, and he recognized it as one that seemed to remember him.
• Kuro dug beneath the old tree and uncovered an iron box holding memories of his past with Obito.

At the Ninja Academy, Kuro practiced shuriken throwing with Rin while they waited for Obito, who led them to a bird’s nest he had found in an old tree. Obito revealed that he had brought paper and pens to leave a message for their future selves.

• Kuro practiced throwing shuriken and hit eight of ten targets, while Rin praised his accuracy.
• Obito appeared covered in mud and hurried Kuro and Rin into the woods to show them something.
• Obito showed them the bird they had once rescued nesting in an old pine tree.
• Kuro guessed that Obito had climbed the tree, fallen, and gotten muddy while playing with the bird, and Obito admitted it.
• Obito opened a metal box containing paper and pens and said he wanted to write a message for their future selves.

Kuro revisited the tree where he and Obito had once planned a time capsule, but left before opening it when he heard Uncle Dai arrive. In the Mist Village, Obito met a visitor in the shadows and reaffirmed his plan to create a world where Kuro and everyone else could find happiness.

• Obito proposed that he, Rin, and Kuro make a time capsule, and Kuro scolded him for revealing that he might graduate early.
• Sixteen years later, Kuro returned to the tree with the iron box but put it away and headed to the training grounds after hearing Uncle Dai call out.
• Obito sat with Yagura in the Mizukage's office and sensed a visitor concealed in the shadows.
• Obito told the visitor that his plan was proceeding steadily and that his goal had not changed.
• Obito read the old paper bearing Kuro's hopes for the future, then vowed to create a world where Kuro and everyone else could be happy.

Kuro finalized an alliance between the Mist Village and Konoha, then departed with Kisame and Utakata. As they traveled toward the border, Kisame reflected on Konoha’s young ninja, while Asuma returned to Konoha behind them.

• Kuro negotiated an alliance with Jiraiya and Konoha’s leaders, then secretly visited Anko before the agreement was finalized.
• Jiraiya, Hiruzen, and Kakashi saw Kuro, Kisame, and Utakata off at Konoha’s gates, and Kuro asked Konoha to look after Mist Village staff establishing an Odd Jobs Agency in the Land of Fire.
• On the road, Kisame criticized the character of Konoha’s young ninja, but Kuro said children raised in peace should be allowed to act like children.
• Kuro privately worried that the Mist Village might one day become his enemy, then sensed someone returning to Konoha.
• As the Mist Village delegation continued toward the border, a tall, muscular figure walked toward Konoha’s gates along their route.

After seeing off the Mist Village delegation, Konoha’s leaders were surprised by Asuma’s early return, and his reunion with Sarutobi Hiruzen exposed their estrangement. In the Hokage’s office, Asuma rejected Hiruzen as his father and insisted that someone else held that place in his life.

• Jiraiya tried to persuade Tsunade to remain in Konoha after the alliance negotiations, but she insisted on leaving.
• Sarutobi Hiruzen, Kakashi, Jiraiya, and Tsunade were surprised when Asuma arrived at Konoha’s gates ahead of schedule.
• Asuma warmly greeted Kakashi but ignored Hiruzen, then asked why everyone had gathered at the gates.
• Jiraiya and Tsunade made excuses to leave, and Kakashi followed, leaving Asuma alone with Hiruzen.
• Hiruzen stopped Asuma from leaving by telling him that Kuro had returned to Konoha.
• In the Hokage’s office, Asuma rebuked Hiruzen for trying to act as his father and said he had always acknowledged someone else as his father.

Asuma learned that Kuro had returned to Konoha on an Akatsuki mission and was secretly cooperating with the village. The Third Hokage urged Asuma to stay in Konoha and avoid endangering Kuro, and Asuma resolved to save him one day.

• Sarutobi Hiruzen told Asuma that Kuro had returned to check on the Nine-Tails jinchuriki for Akatsuki.
• Hiruzen explained that Kuro had not joined Akatsuki willingly and had reached a cooperative agreement with Konoha.
• Asuma became enraged at the thought of Kuro being coerced, but Hiruzen warned him that acting rashly could put Kuro in danger.
• Hiruzen urged Asuma to remain in Konoha for Kuro's sake and mentioned that Kurenai was still waiting for him.
• Asuma nodded and vowed to save Kuro from Akatsuki one day.

Overwhelmed by paperwork and the disappearance of his snacks, Kuro got help from Mei Terumi, whose excellent work impressed him. Mei reflected on how Mist Village had changed and invited Kuro to take a day off with her.

• Kuro discovered that his snack drawer was empty and blamed Kenji, but pretended to work when Mei Terumi entered.
• Mei Terumi brought Kuro documents she had processed, and he praised her work as flawless.
• Kuro teased Mei Terumi about losing the Reformist Faction leadership election to him and suggested she could take his position.
• Mei Terumi looked out over the renewed Mist Village and said her dream had come true.
• Mei Terumi offered her hand to Kuro and suggested they take a day off to appreciate their home.

Kuro and Mei Terumi walked through Mist Village and saw how warmly the villagers now welcomed them, prompting Mei to reflect on her past failures and Kuro to wonder whether his help had changed her growth. Their walk ended when they spotted Zabuza and Haku outside a doujinshi shop, leaving Kuro with a sudden sense of foreboding.

• Villagers enthusiastically greeted Kuro and Mei Terumi, pressed food and gifts on them, and thanked Mei for helping the community.
• Mei Terumi admitted that she had once failed to understand the villagers, while Kuro recalled how his planning had helped the Reformist Faction win their support.
• Kuro privately wondered whether his involvement had spared Mei Terumi hardships that might have helped her mature, then tried to hide his thoughts when she questioned him.
• Kuro and Mei Terumi spotted Zabuza holding a colorful magazine while Haku stood nervously beside him outside the Kumogakure Doujinshi Association Mist Village Branch.
• Kuro recognized Zabuza and Haku and felt a strong sense of foreboding.

Kuro and Mei Terumi found Zabuza furious because Haku had given him a doujinshi as a birthday gift, and Suigetsu admitted he had suggested it. Zabuza chased Suigetsu through the street while Kuro considered restricting minors’ access to the popular doujinshi.

• Zabuza confronted Haku over the doujinshi birthday gift, and Haku hid behind Kuro as Mei Terumi tried to calm them down.
• Haku explained that he had bought the gift because Zabuza’s birthday was approaching, while Zabuza insisted someone else had given him the idea.
• Kimimaro and Suigetsu arrived after completing a mission to collect names for Odd Jobs Agencies.
• Suigetsu revealed that he had recommended the doujinshi to Haku, prompting Zabuza to draw the Kubikiribōchō and chase him.
• Mei Terumi covered Haku’s eyes as Zabuza hacked Suigetsu into blobs of water, and Kuro resolved to consider an anti-addiction system for minors.

Kuro and Mei Terumi spent a peaceful day visiting Elder Genji and the orphanage before Kuro returned home to find Obito waiting with Akatsuki’s recruitment mission. As Kuro reviewed the list of potential recruits, Raiga Kurosuki’s name caught his attention.

• Zabuza beat Suigetsu and took him to the Mist Village hospital, while Haku went along to check on his injuries.
• Kimimaro said goodbye to Kuro and Mei Terumi before they visited Elder Genji at the orphanage and spent the afternoon talking with him and the children.
• Kuro escorted Mei Terumi home, and she spoke hopefully about their future as they parted.
• Kuro returned home and found Obito waiting in his living room with a list of potential Akatsuki recruits.
• Obito told Kuro that Nagato had approved the list and would soon hold a meeting to assign recruitment duties.
• Kuro read the names and paused at Raiga Kurosuki, a former Seven Ninja Swordsmen member from Mist Village.

Kuro learned that Obito had recruited Raiga Kurosuki and transplanted Ranmaru’s Red Eye into him to monitor Itachi. Obito’s visit made Kuro confront how temporary his life as Shiina Sora was, and he resolved to build a place of his own and make Obito regret manipulating him.

• Kuro questioned Raiga Kurosuki’s suitability for Akatsuki and learned Obito intended him to monitor Uchiha Itachi.
• Obito revealed that he had taken Ranmaru from Raiga and transplanted one of the boy’s Red Eyes into him to secure Raiga’s cooperation.
• After Obito left, Kuro realized the life he had built as Shiina Sora could end at any time.
• Kuro decided to create a place where he could belong and vowed that Obito would regret toyng with people’s fates.

Tayuya trained children at Kuro’s former Orochimaru base while Jirobo urged her to adapt to their new life under Kuro. Reviewing the weak forces at his disposal, Kuro planned to strengthen the Land of Rice Fields by targeting outside sources of power, including Impure World Reincarnation.

• Tayuya stopped a sparring match before her kunai could kill a defeated boy, then ordered the children back to training after a short break.
• Jirobo told Tayuya that serving Kuro was better than living under Orochimaru and warned her she would be left behind if she failed to adapt.
• Kuro reviewed Orochimaru’s personnel dossier and concluded that his available subordinates lacked the strength to support his plans.
• Kuro examined a development proposal that included recruiting the Fuma Clan and pursuing the Hidden Star Village’s Mysterious Peacock Method, the Tsuchigumo Clan’s Rage Hair Heaven, and the Seven-Tails jinchuriki Fu.
• Kuro fixed his attention on the Impure World Reincarnation scrolls as another strategic objective for building his force.

Kuro reviewed four strategic objectives in the base library and then left for an Akatsuki recruitment mission with Konan and Kakuzu. Orochimaru appeared to remain under Kuro’s genjutsu, but his eyes moved after Kuro disappeared.

• Kuro considered how to improve Impure World Reincarnation so he could use the dead in future conflicts.
• Kuro weighed the Starfall Meteorite’s potential to unlock the Mysterious Peacock Method and possibly remove its life-shortening side effects.
• Kuro judged the Tsuchigumo Clan’s Rage Hair Heaven highly compatible with his abilities and prioritized protecting the Seven-Tails Jinchuriki from Akatsuki.
• Orochimaru alerted Kuro that it was time to leave, and Kuro departed for the recruitment mission with Konan and Kakuzu in mind.
• After Kuro vanished, Orochimaru’s eyes shifted toward the research materials and documents on the desk.

In the Land of Hot Water, Kakuzu tried to recruit Kuro as his doujinshi teacher, while Konan considered using Kuro’s commercial value to fund Akatsuki and Amegakure. Elsewhere, Itachi completed a mission with Raiga Kurosuki and wondered whether he should return to Konoha amid its planned alliance with Mist Village.

• Kakuzu bowed to Kuro and begged him to teach him to draw doujinshi for profit, but Kuro repeatedly refused and the two nearly fought.
• Hidan interrupted their argument, threatened them, and charged at them, so Kuro and Kakuzu punched him and left him badly beaten.
• Kakuzu continued proposing a profit-sharing deal as he followed Kuro and Konan, while Konan resolved to pursue a plan to use Kuro’s economic value for Akatsuki and Amegakure.
• At an abandoned temple near Iwagakure, Itachi completed a mission alongside Raiga Kurosuki, who criticized him before leaving.
• Itachi reflected on Raiga’s arrival in Akatsuki as Konoha prepared to ally with Mist Village and considered returning to Konoha.

Ōnoki learned that Akatsuki had abducted Deidara, but chose not to confront them, deciding the troublesome disciple could be useful to Iwagakure as a rogue ninja. He remained preoccupied with the Notebook Association and the planned alliance between the Mist Village and Konoha, while imagining Deidara suffering outside the village.

• An Iwagakure jonin reported that two Akatsuki members had taken Deidara after one of them incapacitated him with genjutsu.
• Ōnoki identified the swordsman as Uchiha Kuro and reflected on the economic and political troubles facing Iwagakure.
• The jonin proposed publicly condemning Akatsuki, but Ōnoki rejected the idea because Iwagakure relied on them for missions.
• Ōnoki reasoned that Akatsuki would keep in contact with Iwagakure, allowing the village to meet Deidara again and benefit from his work as a rogue ninja.
• Ōnoki decided that life in Akatsuki would humble Deidara and laughed as he imagined the disciple regretting his departure.

In Amegakure, Kuro befriended Deidara by encouraging his resentment toward Itachi, while Obito accidentally won Deidara over by claiming to like bombs. Pain gathered Akatsuki’s members for the group’s first full assembly and began introductions with his declaration that he would lead the Ninja World to peace.

• Kuro sympathized with Deidara and fueled his anger at Itachi, whom Deidara vowed to surpass with his art.
• Obito startled Deidara, then introduced himself as Tobi and said he liked bombs, prompting Deidara to embrace him as a fellow artist.
• Pain called the Akatsuki members together for their first full assembly as Konan, Scorpion, Kakuzu, Hidan, and Raiga joined the gathering.
• Pain asked the three new members to introduce themselves, then declared himself Akatsuki’s leader and the only god who would guide the Ninja World toward peace.

Pain asserted his authority over Akatsuki’s new members, killing Hidan with Shinra Tensei after Hidan attacked him. Pain then announced the partner assignments, pairing Kuro with Konan and leaving Kuro wondering what Nagato intended.

• Hidan mocked Pain’s claim to godhood, broke free of his restraints, and charged at him in the name of Lord Jashin.
• Pain used Shinra Tensei to blast Hidan through the tower wall and into the abyss, shocking Deidara and the others.
• Pain announced Akatsuki’s partner assignments, including Kuro as Black Tortoise and Konan as White Tiger.
• Kuro met Pain’s gaze and wondered why Nagato had paired him with Konan.

Pain announced Akatsuki’s partner assignments and ended the meeting, after which Raiga Kurosuki asked Kuro to speak privately. Raiga begged Kuro to save Ranmaru, but Kuro refused.

• Pain assigned the Akatsuki members to teams of two, pairing Kakuzu with Hidan and Deidara with Scorpion, and told them the organization would not interfere with their free time.
• Deidara questioned Kuro about Scorpion and complained about their assignment, while Obito explained that Tobi was still an intern.
• After the meeting, Raiga Kurosuki approached Kuro and asked to speak with him alone.
• Obito led Deidara away, leaving Kuro and Raiga alone on the rain-soaked platform.
• Raiga Kurosuki knelt and begged Kuro to save Ranmaru, calling the child innocent.
• Kuro refused Raiga Kurosuki’s plea.

Raiga Kurosuki pleaded with Uchiha Kuro to protect Ranmaru from Madara, then revealed that Madara commanded a secret organization separate from Akatsuki. Kuro agreed to look after Ranmaru while Raiga disclosed what he knew about the group, named [Moon].

• Raiga Kurosuki begged Kuro to save Ranmaru, but Kuro rejected him and reminded him of the time he had sacrificed a subordinate to wound Kuro.
• Kuro explained that he had stayed behind during their past battle only because his subordinates would have hindered his escape, and said he would sacrifice them if necessary to survive.
• Raiga Kurosuki claimed Madara had another organization that answered only to him, and Kuro demanded to know how he had learned about it.
• Raiga Kurosuki explained that two rogue ninja from Iwagakure, Kaneki Eito and Kaneki Mitero, had captured him and Ranmaru and brought them before Madara.
• Kuro agreed to do his best to protect Ranmaru, and Raiga Kurosuki revealed that the secret organization was called [Moon].

Kuro realized the Kaneki twins and the vanished Kaneki Clan might be connected to Obito’s mysterious Moon organization, and feared Hiruko could be among its members. He agreed to protect Ranmaru and cooperate with Raiga Kurosuki, who stayed behind after Kuro left.

• Kuro connected the Kaneki Clan’s disappearance with the time Obito left Mist Village and suspected Hiruko might belong to Moon.
• Raiga Kurosuki warned Kuro not to act suspiciously around Madara and said Madara’s genjutsu could not pry information from him because of Ranmaru’s Red Eye.
• Kuro promised to do his best to keep Ranmaru safe and asked Raiga Kurosuki to report any new information about Moon.
• Raiga Kurosuki proposed telling Madara that he had met Kuro to discuss their old grievances, and Kuro accepted the explanation.
• Kuro left the room, while Raiga Kurosuki watched in silence toward the direction Obito had gone.

Kuro met Obito at a dango shop in Amegakure, where Obito warned him to watch Konan and report anything suspicious. Konan sent Kuro a letter that kept him from leaving, while Obito said he would not return to the Mist Village right away.

• Kuro complained about the rain as he left Amegakure’s meeting and encountered Obito at a dango shop.
• Obito explained that Deidara had gone to meet Scorpion and told Kuro to watch Konan closely during future missions.
• Kuro considered whether Obito knew about Raiga Kurosuki’s request concerning Ranmaru but could not determine what was happening.
• Konan’s paper crane delivered a letter to Kuro, and he read it before deciding not to leave yet.
• Kuro urged Obito to return to the Mist Village, but Obito said he had other matters to handle and would not go there first.

Obito took Raiga Kurosuki to meet Uchiha Kuro in Hozuki, while insisting Raiga follow his orders and contribute to the Infinite Tsukuyomi plan. In Amegakure, Konan asked Kuro to teach her how to draw manga, and he fled after seeing her tracing drafts.

• Obito told Raiga Kurosuki that Uchiha Kuro was safe in prison and promised Raiga could see him if he continued serving the plan.
• Raiga questioned whether Obito’s orders truly served the Infinite Tsukuyomi, and Obito subdued him with a display of chakra and ordered him to act as a tool.
• Obito kept his promise and set off with Raiga Kurosuki to visit Kuro and meet the organization’s companions, calling their destination Night City.
• Konan showed Kuro her crude manga tracing drafts and asked him to teach her how to draw manga.
• Kuro fled the room, while Konan wondered how to deal with her pile of drafts.

At Night City, Kaneki Eito killed a prisoner during a sparring match, prompting Mui to forbid him from choosing more opponents. Mui then announced that a feared figure had returned, and Eito and Kaneki Mitero followed him into the city.

• Kaneki Eito used Lava Release to kill a prisoner in the plaza while the other prisoners watched in terror.
• Mui reprimanded Eito for breaking his promise to spare the prisoner and barred him from choosing further sparring partners.
• Eito claimed that Night City belonged to Lord Madara and that Madara had ordered him and Kaneki Mitero to train against the prisoners.
• Mui and the Kaneki brothers nearly clashed, but Mui withdrew his chakra and said he had come to announce someone's return.
• Eito and Mitero followed Mui toward Night City after Eito reacted to the news.

Obito gathered his subordinates in Night City, welcomed the Kaneki twins and Mui, and warned Hiruko to continue his Chimera Technique research using prisoners supplied by the city. After dismissing the meeting, he sent Shennong to take Raiga to Ranmaru, then addressed someone hiding in the hall.

• Obito introduced Raiga Kurosuki to the Kaneki twins and Mui as a new member and ordered Kaneki Eito to treat him as a comrade.
• Obito asked Hiruko about the Chimera Technique, and Hiruko said it could be perfected within five years if he received enough experimental subjects.
• Obito used his power to punish Hiruko for eyeing the Kaneki twins and warned him not to pursue unauthorized subjects.
• Obito ordered Mui to send dungeon prisoners with Kekkei Genkai to Hiruko's laboratory to support the Chimera Technique.
• Obito dismissed the meeting and ordered Shennong to take Raiga to Ranmaru and care for him.
• After the others left, Obito called out to someone hiding in a shadowed corner of the hall.