Recaps

Shōji led Iwagakure’s assault on Sunagakure’s Northern Fortress and helped secure the village’s early advantage. Sunagakure’s Kazekage Rasa then gathered a much larger force to prepare a counterattack, leaving both armies poised for another battle.

• Ōnoki ordered Kitsuchi, Shōji, and Iwatetsu to lead Iwagakure’s campaign against Sunagakure, while Fugaku and the Uchiha elders agreed that Shōji should eventually succeed Fugaku as clan head.
• Kitsuchi put Shōji in command of a five-hundred-ninja advance force, and Sunagakure’s Rasa ordered the village to prepare for war and sent Baki to reinforce the Northern Fortress.
• Shōji led a surprise assault, shattered the fortress barrier with Susanoo, and helped his troops defeat the defenders and kill their commander, Gabriel.
• Iwagakure captured the Northern Fortress, and Ōnoki praised Shōji’s victory while ordering his forces to hold their gains and prepare for threats from other villages.
• Konoha considered intervening in the conflict, but Hiruzen and Shikaku approved a cautious plan before Kumogakure’s attack preparations forced Konoha to turn its advance force back.
• Kitsuchi and Iwatetsu arrived with reinforcements, and Shōji advised them to pressure Sunagakure gradually while Iwatetsu led troops to seize the Lanthanum Metal production site.
• After Chiyo and Ebizo refused to help, Rasa went to the front with the Kage Guard Squad and 1,500 mobile troops, then ordered more than five thousand Sunagakure ninja to prepare to assault the fortress.
• Iwagakure scouts reported Rasa’s mobilization, and Kitsuchi and Shōji learned that nearly three thousand Iwagakure ninja remained at the Northern Fortress.

Shōji led Iwagakure to victory over Sunagakure by defeating Rasa, then helped secure a harsh peace agreement. Back in Iwagakure, he took on temporary leadership duties while considering how to protect his vision from the Mangekyō Sharingan’s effects.

• Kitsuchi reinforced the Northern Fortress as Rasa brought more than four thousand Sunagakure Ninja to attack, and Shōji led two thousand Iwagakure Ninja out to meet them.
• Shōji fought Rasa, survived the Gold Dust Grand Burial Technique with his Susanoo, and wounded the Kazekage badly enough to force his retreat.
• Kitsuchi’s forces routed Sunagakure’s army, and Rasa sent Fugi to negotiate a ceasefire while Iwagakure limited its pursuit.
• Ido and Hoshino negotiated with Baki and Fugi, and Shōji’s ultimatum helped Iwagakure secure severe compensation and territorial terms that Rasa accepted.
• Sunagakure signed the agreement and withdrew most of its forces, while Iwagakure prepared new southern defenses and the other great villages reacted to the outcome.
• Shōji returned to Iwagakure, presented the agreement to Ōnoki, and accepted temporary responsibility for overseeing the Jōnin Squad.
• Shōji visited his clan and family, then reviewed his fight with Rasa and noticed his vision had blurred after using the Mangekyō Sharingan.
• Shōji considered seeking Orochimaru’s help to study Wood Release cells, but postwar duties kept him working around the clock and away from training with Yang and Saki.

Shōji helped secure the Uchiha Clan’s place in Iwagakure before Ōnoki appointed him to lead Itachi, Deidara, and Kurotsuchi. After their training and early missions, the young genin began confronting the realities of shinobi work.

• Shōji earned Ōnoki’s approval for managing village affairs, and Iwagakure welcomed its returning heroes after the conflict with Sunagakure ended.
• Shōji and Shisui discussed the Uchiha Clan’s future in Iwagakure and agreed that its members should build trust by taking part in village life.
• Ōnoki appointed Shōji to lead a squad with Uchiha Itachi, Deidara, and Kurotsuchi after the Ninja Academy graduation assessments.
• Shōji designed and oversaw the graduation assessments, where Itachi, Deidara, and Kurotsuchi excelled and earned their forehead protectors.
• Shōji introduced himself as Squad One’s supervising Jōnin and tested the trio by challenging them to touch the Tachi on his back.
• Itachi, Deidara, and Kurotsuchi coordinated attacks against Shōji, but he defeated them and explained that their plan had been too obvious.
• Shōji officially formed Squad One despite the trio failing his test, and Kurotsuchi led Itachi and Deidara off to celebrate.
• After several D-rank missions, Shōji let the squad take C-rank work, and Itachi, Deidara, and Kurotsuchi began struggling with the sight of blood and the need to stay calm.

Shōji guided his students through training and a mission to protect Hoshigakure, where Akahoshi’s rebellion exposed a conspiracy over the Star Stone. The arc left the Third Hoshikage fighting Akahoshi with Shōji’s team supporting him.

• Shōji explained to Itachi that conflict grew from competing interests and persuaded him to pursue a unified world, while Itachi recognized how fiercely he would protect Second Pillar.
• Shōji trained Itachi, Deidara, and Kurotsuchi, then spent time with his younger siblings and enrolled Yang and Saki in the Ninja Academy.
• Shōji refused Fugaku’s offer to become clan head, warned Shisui to conceal Kotoamatsukami, and began training to sense Natural Energy.
• Shōji led his squad to Hoshigakure on a mission to protect the Star Stone, where Akahoshi and Fire Fly challenged his team’s standing.
• After the Star Stone was stolen, the Third Hoshikage raised Shōji’s mission to A-rank and asked him to help recover it and stop Akahoshi.
• Itachi, Deidara, and Kurotsuchi investigated Hoshigakure and followed the Third Hoshikage, while Shōji secretly trailed them.
• The Third Hoshikage confronted Akahoshi, who defended his plans to make Hoshigakure powerful, and Kusa ninja joined the fight.
• Deidara, Itachi, and Kurotsuchi ambushed Akahoshi’s allies, and the Third Hoshikage charged at Akahoshi with their support.