Arc 17Shōji’s Rising Influence
Shōji defeated Shinnō and Obito, helped free Kirigakure from Obito’s control, and built an alliance between Kirigakure and Iwagakure. As he advanced his research and military plans, Ōnoki secretly named him Iwagakure’s next Tsuchikage, while the villages maneuvered around Kumogakure’s growing threat.
- Shōji destroyed Shinnō and the Zero-Tail, recovered the Land of the Sky’s research, and fought Obito, who escaped after using Izanagi.
- Shōji tracked down Orochimaru and Kimimaro, secured Kaguya Clan research and Orochimaru’s scrolls, then exposed Obito’s control over Karatachi Yagura and helped restore him.
- Shōji negotiated Kirigakure’s military support, returned to Iwagakure with Haku, and urged Ōnoki to exploit Akatsuki and rival villages as part of a plan to unite the shinobi world.
- Shōji told Fugaku, Shisui, and the Uchiha elders that Obito had caused the Nine-Tails attack, and proposed securing Kakashi’s Sharingan while preparing the clan and its younger members.
- Shōji resumed experiments with Wood Release and White Zetsu cells, helped enroll Neji, Karin, Haku, and Sasuke at the Ninja Academy, and advised Ōnoki to counter Kumogakure without starting a war.
- Ōnoki secretly recorded Shōji as Iwagakure’s Fourth Tsuchikage, while Kirigakure sent nearly three thousand ninja to support Iwagakure’s pressure on Kumogakure.
- The Fourth Raikage grew furious at Iwagakure and Kirigakure’s moves, but Dodai urged restraint, and the Raikage ordered Kumogakure’s forces in Snow Country to withdraw.