Recaps

Hinata returned from Loulan and moved to bring Sasuke into her plans, defeating his teammates before challenging him with her Tenseigan. As Sasuke's attacks failed to overcome her, a Dawn Organization member named Yushi arrived to watch the fight.

• Hinata returned to headquarters, recruited Kabuto Yakushi to help revive Orochimaru, and sent him with Wu Zhu to search for traces of Orochimaru.
• Hinata met Sasuke and Hawk Team, identified Karin as an Uzumaki, and attacked the team to demonstrate her strength.
• Hinata knocked out Karin, Hozuki Suigetsu, and Jugo, then revealed that Sasuke had not yet awakened the Rinnegan.
• Hinata and Hanabi returned to the Hyuga settlement after the attack, while Hinata later summoned Mizuki Rei, Kurama Mutsu, and Winter Rain to order them to destroy Hundred Slaughter Hunting Group branches.
• Hinata learned that the captured attackers had confessed, then told Sasuke about the Rinnegan and provoked him into fighting.
• Sasuke attacked Hinata with Amaterasu, but Hinata escaped the flames and revealed her Tenseigan.
• Hinata evaded Sasuke's Susanoo, then summoned Hamura's Statue to seize its hands and throw Sasuke away.
• Yushi introduced himself as Mask and suggested playing mahjong while Karin, Hozuki Suigetsu, and Jugo watched Sasuke struggle against Hinata.

Hinata defeated Sasuke and secured his cooperation, while the Akatsuki’s tailed-beast captures pushed the Five Great Nations toward a summit. As Tsunade prepared to leave Konoha and Danzo considered seizing power, Kakuzu and Hidan ambushed Asuma on his way home.

• Hinata overwhelmed Sasuke’s Susanoo with Dimensional Distortion, spared him from a fatal fall, and secured his agreement to work for her in pursuit of Danzo.
• Hinata’s team left the area as Obito learned of her meeting with Sasuke and decided to approach Sasuke himself.
• The other villages confirmed Akatsuki had captured the tailed beasts except the Eight-Tails and Nine-Tails, and the Five Great Nations arranged a summit in the Land of Iron.
• Tsunade prepared to attend the summit, asked Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura to oversee Konoha, and warned them that Danzo might cause trouble in her absence.
• Danzo planned to claim the Hokage’s authority, while Kabuto followed Orochimaru’s clues to Ryūchi Cave in search of sage arts.
• Tsunade and Shizune discussed Kurenai’s pregnancy and Asuma’s absence as Asuma escorted a caravan back toward Konoha.
• Kakuzu and Hidan ambushed Asuma, who recognized them as Akatsuki members and fought back against Hidan and Kakuzu’s Earth Grudge Fear creatures.
• Asuma used Fire Style, Wind Release, and Shadow Clones to fill the battlefield with smoke, where red sparks appeared around Kakuzu.

Asuma died after Hidan used his ritual, prompting Shikamaru and his friends to organize a mission to avenge him. The group slipped out of Konoha with Neji’s help as Tsunade and Kakashi arrived in the Land of Iron for the Five Kage Summit.

• Asuma fought Kakuzu and Hidan, but Hidan used Asuma’s blood in a ritual that killed him.
• Konoha confirmed Asuma’s death, and Shikamaru, Choji, and Ino vowed to avenge him despite Kurenai’s warning about the danger.
• Shikamaru recruited Sakura, Naruto, Sai, and their former classmates, then organized intelligence gathering and a midnight departure from Konoha.
• Neji told Hiashi about the plan, and Hiashi directed him to contact Hinata while keeping the matter secret.
• Shikamaru obtained intelligence on Hidan and Kakuzu, and Neji helped the group leave through the western side of the village.
• After Shikaku trusted the group to proceed, Neji departed and Elder Toyotomi disguised himself as Neji to mislead the reporting ninja.
• Tsunade and Kakashi reached the Land of Iron’s capital, where Mifune welcomed Tsunade ahead of the Five Kage Summit.

As Tsunade attended the Five Kage Summit, Hinata learned that Danzo was moving against Konoha’s Naruto faction and arranged support for Naruto and the village. Danzo drew the elders into Root’s headquarters while his plan reached the Hyuga Clan, where Hanabi fought Denkyo before a Root shinobi intervened.

• Tsunade arrived at the summit while Neji found Hinata’s underground base and asked her to help Shikamaru and the others.
• Hinata agreed to Neji’s request, sent Yuka and Winter Rain to support Naruto’s group, and focused her remaining forces on Konoha.
• Danzo urged Root to take control of the village as Shikamaru’s team prepared an ambush for Hidan and Kakuzu.
• Attacks struck shops connected to the Hyuga Clan, prompting Shizune and the Ino-Shika-Cho Clan Heads to investigate Danzo’s actions.
• Danzo revealed to Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura that he was targeting Naruto’s faction, then incapacitated them and had them detained.
• Hyuga Hiashi prepared for danger as Hanabi was lured to Courtyard Nineteen, where Hyuga Denkyo revealed his plan to use her against the Main Family.
• Hanabi fought Denkyo, mastered Eight Trigrams Palms Revolving Heaven, and collapsed after defeating him.
• A Root shinobi bound Hanabi and buried the unconscious Denkyo alive with Earth Release: Earth Burial Technique.