Recaps

Ueno Kei became the Third Hokage’s chosen Anbu successor and led a border mission that uncovered Orochimaru’s plot and cost Konoha four lives. Back in Konoha, Kei learned of a possible path to Sage Transformation and sensed Naruto and Jiraiya near the village on the eve of the Chunin Exams’ final stage.

• Ueno Kei intervened when Hyuga Neji nearly killed Hinata, then met Jiraiya and urged him to become the Fifth Hokage.
• The Third Hokage appointed Ueno Kei Anbu Commander and sent him to investigate Sunagakure’s movements and suspected ties to Orochimaru.
• Kei found what appeared to be the Kazekage’s corpse and led his Anbu toward a contact point, where Otogakure forces ambushed them.
• Kei and Lightning fought Guren, Suigetsu, and Jugo, and Kei used the Myriad Thunder Prison Pull formation to disable the Sound shinobi.
• Kaguya Kimimaro held Kei back while Guren and Suigetsu escaped with Jugo, and Kei returned to Konoha after four Anbu died.
• The Third Hokage learned that the supposed Kazekage corpse belonged to an ordinary person, while the real Rasa had already arrived in Konoha.
• The Lizard Clan’s Great Elder explained how Kei might use the Lingyu Blade to absorb natural energy and pursue Sage Transformation.
• While inspecting Konoha’s barriers before the final exam stage, Kei sensed a powerful chakra presence and learned Naruto and Jiraiya were ahead.

Ueno Kei returned to Konoha as Naruto fought Neji, then faced the invasion that killed Sarutobi Hiruzen and the grief and political struggle that followed. After confronting Itachi and Kisame, Kei saw Tsunade take the Hokage’s seat, while Sasuke continued toward revenge.

• Ueno Kei returned in time for Naruto’s Chunin Exams match, and Naruto defeated Hyuga Neji before the invasion of Konoha began.
• Orochimaru revealed himself, trapped Sarutobi Hiruzen in the Four Violet Flames Formation, and used Impure World Reincarnation to summon powerful fighters as the invasion spread through Konoha.
• Ueno Kei broke through the force sent to stall him, but arrived too late to save Sarutobi Hiruzen, who died fighting Orochimaru.
• Ueno Kei confronted Shimura Danzō over Hiruzen’s death but stood down at Jiraiya’s urging, while Jiraiya agreed to find Tsunade before accepting the Hokage position.
• Ueno Kei pursued Itachi Uchiha and Kisame Hoshigaki, resisted Itachi’s Tsukuyomi, and fought them until Jiraiya arrived and the pair escaped.
• Ueno Kei learned from Jiraiya about Itachi and the Uchiha clan massacre, then vowed to protect Konoha as Jiraiya left with Naruto to find Tsunade.
• Sasuke reaffirmed his determination to avenge his family, while the Great Elder promised to repair Kei’s Lingyu Blade after cleansing its Amaterasu flames.
• Tsunade returned to Konoha and took the Hokage’s chair, and Ueno Kei rebuked Shimura Danzō when he challenged her appointment.

Ueno Kei helped Tsunade take office, dealt with Sasuke’s defection, and secured the Land of Waves for the Land of Fire amid a conflict with Kirigakure. He then began escorting Princess Kazahana Koyuki to the Land of Snow, promising Sandayu that he would protect her.

• Tsunade became Konoha’s Fifth Hokage, and Ueno Kei left to address the Anbu’s personnel shortage.
• Sasuke defected to join Orochimaru, and Tsunade sent Shikamaru’s team after him while Kei declared Sasuke a rogue ninja.
• Kei reached the Valley of the End after Naruto’s fight with Sasuke, but sheathed his blade when Naruto pleaded for Sasuke to be allowed to leave.
• Kei helped negotiate the release of Sunagakure’s captured ninja, then joined the mission to the Land of Waves after its daimyo requested incorporation into the Land of Fire.
• Kei fought Kirigakure’s forces in Cold City, killed Mist Rain, rescued the daimyo, and took Ao’s Byakugan before the Mist and Land of Water troops withdrew.
• The Land of Waves joined the Land of Fire, and Kei received an escort mission for Fujikaze Yukie, whose true identity was Princess Kazahana Koyuki.
• Kei tracked down the reluctant Koyuki, brought her aboard the ship to the Land of Snow, and promised Sandayu he would ensure her safety.

Ueno Kei helped Kazahana Yuki reclaim the Land of Snow, then returned to Konoha and resumed missions that cemented his fearsome reputation. In Kyoto, he investigated Shimura Danzō’s movements and sensed a hidden figure with a trace of the Nine-Tails near the Daimyō.

• Ueno Kei defeated Nadare Rōga and the Snow Ninja, then challenged Sandayu to respect Kazahana Yuki’s choice about reclaiming her country.
• Kazahana Yuki returned to the rebel base, but her disclosure of its location let Kazahana Dōtō capture her and attack the rebels.
• Ueno Kei protected the rebels, pursued Kazahana Dōtō, killed him, and helped Kazahana Yuki take the throne and restore the Land of Snow.
• Kazahana Yuki confessed her feelings and asked Ueno Kei to stay as her Prince Consort, but he returned to Konoha because of his duties and promised future with the village.
• Ueno Kei returned the stolen Byakugan to Hyuga Hiashi and later gained the name Blood Asura through missions against major villages.
• Naruto and Sakura returned to Konoha, where Tsunade arranged for them to face Kakashi in a survival exercise.
• Ueno Kei learned that a Root member had apparently met Orochimaru and that Shimura Danzō had gone to Kyoto, so he traveled there with Zang.
• Ueno Kei met the Daimyō, sensed a concealed figure with a trace of the Nine-Tails, and told Hyuga Neji and Nara Shikamaru to monitor the residence.