Recaps

Ebisu and Genma captured the leader of a giant bat colony and coerced her into signing a summoning contract. Though Guy considered contracting with the bats for flight, he decided to wait until they returned to Konoha and look for a sturdier summon.

• Ebisu and Genma used Flying Thunder God senbon, steel wires, and a sealing technique to capture the largest bat.
• Guy, Ebisu, and Genma fled beneath Crab Fortress King as the enraged bat colony attacked its shell.
• Ebisu and Genma forced the captured bat to sign a summoning contract and discovered she was the colony’s queen.
• Genma offered Guy a chance to sign a contract with the bats, but Guy worried the Bat Queen would not withstand his strength.
• Guy declined and decided to search for a more suitable summoning beast after returning to Konoha.

Guy, Ebisu, and Genma secured the Bat Queen as Ebisu’s summoning beast and discussed their next team contract. They chose to seek a Giant Panda for specialized defense.

• Guy had Ebisu and Genma learn the Bat Queen’s summoning cost, and they found that she required about a thousand pounds of food per summon.
• Ebisu abandoned the idea of contracting a spider summoning beast because the Bat Queen liked eating spiders, and he persuaded her to stop her colony’s attack.
• Ebisu freed the Bat Queen, rode on her back as she flew with her colony, and told her to return to her nest until he summoned her again.
• Guy, Ebisu, and Genma reviewed their team’s abilities and agreed to focus next on finding a defensive summoning beast.
• Guy recommended the Giant Panda over a rhino or boar, and the three set out to find one.

Guy, Ebisu, and Genma searched the Giant Pandas’ habitat for a summon with unusual potential. After two days without finding a suitable candidate, they spotted a small panda beside a patch of strange, metallic-looking bamboo.

• Crab Fortress King carried Guy, Ebisu, and Genma to the edge of the Giant Pandas’ habitat.
• Guy convinced Ebisu and Genma to look for a distinctive panda with room to grow rather than an ordinary strong one.
• The three entered the bamboo grove and found giant, mostly lazy pandas that sometimes hurled bamboo when disturbed.
• Guy, Ebisu, and Genma searched for two days, dodging thrown bamboo but finding no suitable candidate.
• The three noticed a small panda at the edge of a clearing filled with dark yellow-brown bamboo.

Ebisu, Guy, and Genma found an unusual, intelligent panda and offered to form a summoning contract with it. The panda agreed, but demanded Hiramekarei, the twin blades carried by Ebisu and Genma.

• Ebisu, Guy, and Genma spotted a small panda with long arms and bamboo bracers as their search deadline approached.
• Genma offered the panda premium Soldier Pills, and it accepted them before hearing the trio's proposal.
• The Bamboo Tube Panda spoke and agreed to sign a summoning contract with the three Konoha ninjas.
• The Bamboo Tube Panda demanded Hiramekarei, making Ebisu and Genma frown.

Guy, Ebisu, and Genma learned that Bamboo Tube Panda had asked for Hiramekarei only because it wanted sturdier arm bracers, not the swords themselves. Guy suspected the cracked bamboo bracers were unusual and prepared to test them with Kubikiribōchō.

• Ebisu refused to give Bamboo Tube Panda Hiramekarei, and the panda calmly lay down as Guy and the others considered leaving.
• Guy asked why the panda wanted the swords, and it explained that it wanted to tie them to its arms and use them as shields.
• Genma asked whether the panda wanted weapons or merely a shield, and the panda clarified that it wanted neither, but wanted stronger bracers like its cracked bamboo tubes.
• The panda said it wanted bracers that were bigger and harder, and Ebisu welcomed the simple request.
• Guy noticed the cracks and chakra in the bracers, drew Kubikiribōchō, and asked the panda to let him take a swing at it.

Guy tested the Bamboo Tube Panda’s bamboo bracers and found they could withstand a powerful strike from his Kubikiribōchō. Though Ebisu and Genma objected to the likely cost, Guy agreed to spend at least 1,000 war merits on stronger arm guards so the panda would sign a summoning contract.

• The Bamboo Tube Panda offered to sign a contract if Guy gave it the Kubikiribōchō, but Guy refused and the panda presented its bamboo bracers instead.
• Guy struck the bracers with the Kubikiribōchō, and the panda blocked the blow while its bracers suffered only a shallow notch.
• Guy judged that forging stronger arm guards would cost at least 1,000 war merits, alarming Ebisu and Genma.
• Ebisu tried to pull Guy away and Genma turned to leave, but Guy confirmed the panda’s condition and agreed to pay for the arm guards.

Guy, Ebisu, and Genma contracted with Iron Arm after promising to make it a pair of armguards, then returned to camp and told Fugaku Uchiha about their new summon. Fugaku revealed that he had also encountered the panda, leaving the three surprised by his remark.

• Guy convinced Ebisu and Genma that spending 1,000 merit points on Iron Arm’s armguards would turn their points into useful defensive strength, and reserved four summoning-scroll slots for future allies.
• Guy promised Iron Arm that they would make its armguards after returning from the Land of Rivers, and Iron Arm signed the contract and chose its new name.
• Guy, Ebisu, and Genma left the fourth summoning scroll blank, said goodbye to Iron Arm and the Bat Queen, and rode the Crab Fortress King to the edge of the Giant Forest.
• The three returned to camp and reported to Fugaku Uchiha, who said their transfer orders should arrive the next day.
• Guy asked Fugaku to arrange for a forging master to make armguards for a summoning beast, and Fugaku revealed that he had also met the panda.

Fugaku Uchiha arranged for Guy, Ebisu, and Genma to commission the Iron-Arm Panda’s upgraded bracers, then gave them a new search-and-rescue mission in the Land of the Sea. Guy was determined to rescue the missing Mitarashi Anko, but grew wary when he learned Orochimaru had personally selected their team.

• Fugaku Uchiha explained the Iron-Arm Panda’s demanding contract conditions and offered two bracer designs, waiving the forging fee.
• Guy, Ebisu, and Genma chose the 1,500-battle-merit design, and Fugaku promised to deliver the finished bracers within ten days.
• Fugaku gave Team 9 orders to search for Mitarashi Anko in the Land of the Sea, where she had gone missing during a mission.
• Guy recognized that Anko’s disappearance might be connected to Orochimaru’s experiments and resolved to save her.
• Fugaku said Orochimaru had personally named Guy’s team for the mission, leaving Guy uneasy that Orochimaru was still interested in researching him.

Fugaku Uchiha sent Guy, Ebisu, and Genma on a search-and-rescue mission near the Land of the Sea, and Guy gave Chen a handwritten taijutsu booklet before leaving. Chen discovered that it contained the Shaolin Vajra Leg, a technique that could greatly enhance Konoha's leg-based taijutsu.

• Fugaku Uchiha confirmed the transfer order and told Guy, Ebisu, and Genma to depart for the Land of the Sea that day.
• Guy and his teammates visited Chen, and Guy gave him a handwritten booklet of taijutsu insights as a farewell gift.
• Guy, Ebisu, and Genma thanked Chen for his training and left for the coast.
• After they had gone, Chen examined the booklet and realized its Shaolin Vajra Leg technique could strengthen many Konoha taijutsu techniques.

Might Guy and his team sailed toward the Land of the Sea for a search-and-rescue mission while Guy worried Orochimaru might notice his changed body. After the Sobering Stone cured Ebisu’s seasickness, Guy suddenly became dizzy and fell overboard.

• Might Guy worried that Orochimaru would investigate the changes to his body, then focused on finding Anko in the Land of the Sea.
• Ebisu became severely seasick, and Tekka Uchiha offered him a scented leaf that eased his nausea.
• Guy realized the Yijin Jing might have cured his own seasickness and teased Ebisu about being unable to enjoy the voyage.
• Ebisu asked to borrow Guy’s Sobering Stone, and it quickly relieved his seasickness.
• Guy stood up to prepare for landing, became overwhelmed by dizziness, and fell into the sea.

Guy recovered from severe seasickness and resolved to focus on practicing the Marrow Cleansing Classic as his group sailed to the Land of the Sea. After meeting the Sixteenth Squad at their gathering point, he recognized Yamashiro Aoba and Namiashi Raidō and realized Anko’s rescue mission had less than eight days remaining.

• Guy fell into the sea after becoming severely seasick, and Tekka Uchiha pulled him back aboard.
• Ebisu put the Sobering Stone in Guy’s mouth, and the Marrow Cleansing Classic’s internal energy helped him recover.
• Guy decided to devote his Monk Points to the Marrow Cleansing Classic and resumed practicing it on the ship.
• Guy questioned whether Ebisu had washed the Sobering Stone, then rinsed it himself and returned to practicing.
• Guy, Ebisu, and Genma reached the Land of the Sea and met the Sixteenth Squad, including Yamashiro Aoba and Namiashi Raidō.
• Guy checked his mission status and realized they had less than eight days to rescue Anko.

Might Guy and his team met their reinforcements on Dock Island and reviewed the search for Anko. They chose Demon Realm Island as their first destination and prepared to depart.

• Tekka Uchiha left Guy, Ebisu, and Genma at Dock Island after ending his mission.
• Namiashi Raidō, Yamashiro Aoba, and Tatami Iwashi reported to Guy, and the group introduced themselves.
• Aoba showed Guy a map and explained that their initial search of Dock Island and nearby islands had revealed no trace of Anko.
• Guy concluded that Anko had likely been taken or lured to a remote island and ordered the team to investigate three outlying islands.
• Aoba recommended Demon Realm Island after describing reports of strange lights and inhuman sounds there, and Guy ordered the team to prepare to depart.

Guy’s team searched Demon Realm Island for Anko and found no trace of people or a hidden base on the surface. Bat Queen’s deeper sonar search detected something beneath the island, leaving Ebisu to announce that they had found it.

• Yamashiro Aoba, Namiashi Raidō, and Tatami Iwashi reported that their search of Demon Realm Island had found no signs of people or a landing.
• Guy urged the group to keep searching after Yamashiro Aoba mentioned feeling watched near the western forest.
• Guy ordered Ebisu to summon Bat Queen, who searched the island’s surface and shallow underground but found no hidden structures.
• Guy told Bat Queen to search beneath the island, and she used stronger sound waves to probe the seabed.
• Bat Queen detected something and relayed the discovery to Ebisu, who looked toward the western side and said they had found it.

Guy and his team tracked Anko’s disappearance to Amachi, an Orochimaru subordinate who had turned local fishermen into monstrous experiments. After the team fought through the creatures, Amachi summoned a colossal water creature, leaving them facing a new threat.

• The Bat Queen found signs of Anko west of the island, and Amachi emerged from the forest and admitted that he had her.
• Guy warned the team not to reveal their full strength and planned for Ebisu to search underwater, but Amachi led them to the shore and attacked with water arrows.
• Amachi surfaced and unleashed mutated fishermen, revealing that he intended to use Guy’s team as experimental materials.
• Guy ordered the team to fight without holding back, and they quickly defeated more than half of the mermaid monsters.
• Amachi slammed his hands onto the sea and summoned a colossal creature made of seawater.

Guy stalled Amachi and the Sea Monk while Ebisu searched for Anko, then unleashed the Eight Inner Gates after Anko was rescued. He opened the Fifth Gate as his power continued to rise, leaving the fight poised to escalate.

• Guy recognized the Sea Monk’s ability to regenerate from seawater and sent Ebisu to find Anko while the others engaged Amachi and the mermaid monsters.
• Guy struck the Sea Monk with the Konoha Dragon God, but its body quickly regenerated as Amachi mocked the attack.
• Guy deliberately kept the Sea Monk occupied and appeared to struggle while Ebisu searched for Anko.
• Ebisu returned on Bat Queen with the unconscious Anko and announced that she had been rescued.
• Guy stopped holding back and opened the Fourth Gate of Pain, then the Fifth Gate of Limit, as Amachi and the others reacted in shock.

Guy opened the Sixth Gate and used a precisely controlled Great Peacock King to overwhelm the Sea Monk and attack its core beneath the sea. As the dark blue life-form neared destruction, Guy sensed it begging for mercy.

• Guy opened the Sixth Gate, stunning the others with the power of his blue steam and shock wave.
• Guy found the Sea Monk’s living core and launched his Great Peacock King technique at it.
• Guy’s focused flame beams pierced the Sea Monk’s water defenses and melted away its enormous body.
• Guy continued attacking the core and the tentacle structures beneath the sea to stop the Sea Monk from regenerating.
• Guy sensed an emotion from the shrinking life-form and realized it might be begging for mercy.

Guy spared the Sea Monk’s core and had Ebisu seal it, while Genma captured Amachi with the Flying Thunder God Technique. The group then discovered an ominous black mark on the unconscious Mitaraishi Anko.

• Guy diverted his Great Peacock King attack, leaving the Sea Monk’s core intact, and kicked the core to Ebisu.
• Ebisu sealed the Sea Monk’s core in a scroll as Guy spotted Amachi fleeing.
• Genma used the Flying Thunder God Technique to intercept Amachi, wound him with senbon, and capture him alive.
• Yamashiro Aoba, Namiashi Raidō, and Tatami Iwashi recognized Genma’s technique and were shocked by Team 9’s growth.
• The group gathered around the unconscious Mitaraishi Anko and noticed a pulsing black mark near her collar.

Guy and his team rescued Anko from the underwater base, where Amachi had implanted a Curse Mark in her and experimented on living people. They headed back toward the Land of Waves with Anko and their prisoner, while Guy weighed the threats posed by Orochimaru and the mark.

• Guy confirmed that Anko had a Curse Mark on her neck, though she appeared stable and had no other obvious injuries.
• Amachi claimed the mark was experimental, and Ebisu revealed that the underwater base held living people transformed into monsters before attacking him.
• Guy stopped his comrades from staying behind to guard the base, insisting that they take Anko and Amachi back first.
• The team secured Anko and Amachi aboard their boat and departed for the Land of Waves.
• Guy considered how to handle Orochimaru and the Curse Mark, wondering if a woman he knew could examine Anko.

Guy's team sailed across the sea while Ebisu stored seawater to support Sea Monk, and Guy encouraged him and Genma to use their summoned beasts together. Yamashiro Aoba, Namiashi Raidō, and Tatami Iwashi asked Genma whether he had used the Flying Thunder God Technique, leaving Genma ready to explain it.

• Ebisu played with the tamed Sea Monk's life core while Guy told him to seal more seawater for future use.
• Ebisu stored seawater in scrolls and mused that Sea Monk could make an inexpensive alternative to summoning Crab Fortress King.
• Guy explained that Sea Monk and Crab Fortress King had different strengths and could be summoned together, exciting Ebisu and Genma.
• Namiashi Raidō took over steering, and Yamashiro Aoba asked Genma whether his technique from the previous day had been the Flying Thunder God Technique.
• Genma inwardly celebrated that the others had finally asked and prepared to share his insights.

Shiranui Genma showed his teammates a simplified Flying Thunder God mark and discovered that Namiashi Raidō and Tatami Iwashi had nearly traced it successfully. The team resumed its mission toward the Land of Waves, where Guy anticipated a confrontation with Orochimaru.

• Genma bragged about learning the Flying Thunder God Technique from Minato Namikaze and gave Aoba, Raidō, and Tatami papers to test their aptitude.
• Aoba's chakra disrupted the mark, ruining his paper, while Raidō and Tatami traced nearly half of theirs before making mistakes and collapsing the formulas.
• Genma recognized that Raidō and Tatami had talent comparable to his own and suggested they seek Minato's guidance in the Land of Grass, while refusing to teach them without Minato's permission.
• Guy reminded the team that their mission was unfinished, and they returned to their duties aboard the ship as they approached the Land of Waves.
• Guy looked toward the Land of Waves and warned that they would have to face Orochimaru.

Guy and his companions returned to the Land of Waves, where they reunited with Hyuga Yuma and discovered Orochimaru had transplanted Ao’s eye for him. After Yuma examined the unconscious Anko and found her cursed mark was keeping her asleep, he sent Guy, Ebisu, and Genma to take her to Orochimaru at the garrison.

• Guy received an Intermediate Random Gift Pack containing a Mind-Cleansing Wooden Fish and spent 150 Monk Points on the Marrow Cleansing Classic.
• Guy, Ebisu, and Genma arrived at the Land of Waves and reunited with Hyuga Yuma, who revealed that Orochimaru had transplanted Ao’s eye into him.
• Guy reported that they had rescued the unconscious Anko and captured Amachi, the scientist behind the human experiments in the Land of the Sea.
• Hyuga Yuma examined Anko and said the concealed energy from the mark on her neck was interfering with her mind and keeping her asleep.
• Hyuga Yuma took Amachi for interrogation and sent Guy, Ebisu, and Genma to bring Anko to Orochimaru at the Land of Waves garrison.

Guy, Ebisu, and Genma reported rescuing Anko to Orochimaru, who treated her Curse Mark and watched her wake with no memory of her ordeal. Guy requested leave to take Anko back to Konoha for treatment, and Orochimaru fell silent as Ebisu and Genma joined the request.

• Guy, Ebisu, and Genma reported that they had rescued Anko and captured Amachi, and Guy described the Curse Mark affecting her mind.
• Orochimaru treated Anko’s Curse Mark, which became less visible, and she woke in distress with no memory of what had happened.
• Orochimaru told the others that Anko had suffered psychological trauma and needed rest, while privately concluding that his memory erasure had worked.
• Guy requested leave to escort Anko to Konoha for specialized treatment, and Ebisu and Genma backed his request.
• Orochimaru stared at Guy in silence, wondering whether Guy had noticed something or was simply protecting a comrade.

Guy secured leave for himself and his squad to take the dazed Anko back to Konoha, while concealing his suspicions about Orochimaru. The four departed the Land of Waves less than three hours after arriving, and Guy left determined to face Orochimaru again when he was stronger.

• Guy asked Orochimaru for leave to escort Anko to Konoha and urged him to investigate Amachi’s human experiments.
• Orochimaru questioned the group about what they had seen at the experimental base, then agreed to their leave after Ebisu described the facility.
• Guy, Ebisu, and Genma completed the travel paperwork, and Hyuga Yuma supplied them with food and warned them to stay alert.
• Guy carried Anko onto a ship, and the four left the Land of Waves for Konoha less than three hours after arriving.
• As the shoreline receded, Guy thought that he would not fear Orochimaru when they met again.

Guy, Ebisu, and Genma returned to Konoha with the dazed Anko and sought medical care for her. At the hospital, Genma nervously reunited with Shizune, prompting Guy to suspect that Genma had a crush on her.

• Guy, Ebisu, and Genma reached Konoha carrying the unresponsive Anko, whose only reactions came when Ebisu mentioned food.
• A guard recognized Guy as Konoha's youngest Jonin and admitted the group after learning they needed treatment for Anko.
• The three went to Konoha Medical Hospital and spotted Shizune, Tsunade's disciple, in the busy corridors.
• Genma nervously called out to Shizune, who greeted him happily and asked whether he was hurt.
• Genma told Ebisu that Shizune was his neighbor, while Guy recalled their possible connection and suspected Genma had a secret crush on her.

Guy, Genma, and Ebisu sought Tsunade’s help for Anko, whose mind had been damaged by a cursed seal. Shizune sensed an unusual life force around Guy and agreed to ask Tsunade to see them; Tsunade accepted, and Shizune led the group to her.

• Shizune recognized a strange life force around Guy and questioned him about his surname, while Genma mistakenly thought she was attracted to him.
• Guy asked Shizune to help Anko, explaining that a cursed seal had caused her severe mental trauma.
• Shizune initially thought Tsunade might be too busy to treat Anko, but decided Guy’s presence might persuade her to meet them.
• Shizune returned and told Guy, Genma, and Ebisu that Tsunade would see them, then led them onward.