Recaps

The Dawn Organization wiped out branches of the Hundred Slaughter Hunting Group as the Akatsuki learned of its existence. When Sakura left Konoha to find Sasuke, Naruto and his friends organized a search, and Hinata and Tenten returned to the village carrying an unconscious man they had found in a lake.

• Konoha and the Hyuga Clan learned that the Hundred Slaughter Hunting Group’s branches had been destroyed by Dawn, which left black cloth marked with a silver crescent moon and its name.
• Kurama Mutsu, Winter Rain, and Mizuki Rei found the group’s hidden base and attacked its members.
• Tsunade learned that Mizuki had supplied a dangerous Nara Clan prescription and ordered Shizune to investigate and strengthen prison surveillance.
• Deva Path Pain ordered White Zetsu to investigate Dawn after learning that it had destroyed several branches of the Hundred Slaughter Hunting Group.
• Naruto learned that Sakura had left Konoha, and Tsunade warned that she and Sasuke Uchiha could be declared Rogue Ninja if they were not found.
• Naruto, Hinata, Shino Aburame, Kiba Inuzuka, Ino Yamanaka, Shikamaru Nara, Tenten, and Rock Lee formed a search party, and Shikamaru assigned them routes toward the Land of Rice.
• Sakura traveled through the mountains toward the Land of Rice while Hinata and Tenten searched the waterways and returned to Konoha without finding her.
• Tenten spotted a man floating in a lake, and she and Hinata rescued him and carried him to Konoha Hospital.

After Mizuki led a prison revolt and escaped, he sought power from Orochimaru and tried to draw Iruka into a confrontation. Konoha tracked Mizuki and the Wind God and Thunder God, and Tsunade went to intercept them as Mizuki prepared to face his pursuers.

• Hinata and Tenten brought the strangers to Konoha Hospital, where Sakura reunited with them and Naruto’s plea made her reconsider leaving Konoha.
• Tsunade sent Konoha ninjas to recapture the prisoners after Mizuki led a revolt, while Hinata tried to avoid getting drawn into the pursuit.
• Danzo ordered Root to undermine Tsunade’s standing and recruit selected escapees, while Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu agreed to support Tsunade’s reasonable proposals.
• Mizuki chose to pursue strength against Konoha, sought Orochimaru’s secret medicine, and recruited the Wind God and Thunder God as allies.
• Mizuki visited Chie Tsubaki and later summoned Iruka to meet him in the Forest of Death, while Chie was knocked unconscious and Iruka went to the meeting alone.
• Tsunade learned that Mizuki might be with the powerful brothers and decided to join the interception force herself.
• Mizuki spotted Konoha ninjas approaching, retreated with the Wind God and Thunder God, and eventually led them toward a hill to face their pursuers.

Mizuki’s attempt to gain power ended in his defeat, while Tsunade dealt with the fugitives and a rumor campaign that she traced to Danzo. The other two Hokage Advisors helped weaken the public outcry, and Hinata concluded Danzo’s plan had failed.

• Mizuki transformed after drinking Orochimaru’s medicine and fought the Anbu while Wind God and Thunder God overwhelmed Konoha’s pursuing ninja.
• Tsunade and Iruka reached the battlefield, where Tsunade told Mizuki to stop and his body soon collapsed from the drug’s side effects.
• Tsunade had Mizuki taken for treatment, defeated Wind God and Thunder God, and persuaded them to return to Konoha Prison.
• Tsunade reviewed the records of the remaining fugitives as Danzo’s Root recruited five of the listed talents.
• Rumors blaming Tsunade for Konoha’s troubles spread, and Tsunade concluded Danzo was likely behind them.
• Tsunade ordered Shizune to arrest the ringleaders and involve the Anbu, while Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu discussed how to stop Danzo.
• Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu helped weaken the public outcry against Tsunade, and Hinata concluded Danzo’s plan had failed.

Hinata, Tenten, and Rock Lee left Konoha with Rokosuke to investigate the Kurotsuchi Clan and the gold mine controlled by Raiga Kurosuki. As the team began reconnaissance, Ranmaru detected them and Raiga prepared to confront the young Konoha ninja.

• Danzo decided to secretly mend his ties with the two advisors, while Hyuga Hiashi ordered his clan to keep a low profile amid the political tensions.
• Tsunade assigned Hinata, Tenten, and Rock Lee to help Rokosuke and investigate the Kurotsuchi Clan because Neji remained injured.
• Rokosuke doubted the young team, but Tenten defended their assignment and the group set out for Wood Sorrel Gold Mine Mountain.
• Granny Sansho welcomed the group to Life Curry House and explained that Karashi had left with a group of bad people.
• Hinata, Tenten, and Rock Lee discussed their reconnaissance plan, and Rock Lee revealed that Master Kai suspected Raiga Kurosuki was behind the Kurotsuchi Clan.
• The team scouted the mountain, where Hinata considered how Ranmaru’s Red Eye could detect their approach and undermine her Byakugan’s reconnaissance.
• Ranmaru spotted the three Konoha ninja near the mine, and Raiga decided to face them personally without underestimating them.