Recaps

The aftermath of Danzo and Hiruzen’s deaths left the Hyuga Clan divided, while Natsuki and Orochimaru worked to end the Caged Bird system and save Neji and Hizashi. Team Seven completed its mission against Gato, and Natsuki recruited Tsunade into his alliance as the story turned toward the Otsutsuki threat.

• Jiraiya, Tsunade, Orochimaru, and Hiruzen fought Danzo and the Wood Human, but Danzo survived repeated fatal attacks with Izanagi and White Zetsu.
• Hiruzen sealed Danzo with the Reaper Death Seal and died, while Tobi escaped with Danzo’s corpse and Orochimaru took charge of the investigation.
• Hiashi faced the Branch Family’s anger over the deaths caused by Hyuga Kaito, and Orochimaru arrested him while investigating the clan.
• Natsuki and Orochimaru revived Hizashi, removed Neji’s Caged Bird seal, and restored Neji’s sight with a transplanted Byakugan.
• Hiashi agreed to end the Caged Bird system for future generations, while fifty-seven Branch Family members chose to leave Konoha for Natsuki’s Uchiha Clan.
• Minato’s Team Seven burned Gato’s headquarters, killed the gang’s fighters, and learned that Minato had wiped out Gato’s forces at the warehouse.
• Natsuki brought Tenten to Tsunade as a student, then revealed Hiruzen’s crimes and the Otsutsuki threat, persuading Tsunade to join his alliance.
• Natsuki impressed Tsunade with his Chakra control and received the Hundred Healings Jutsu scroll, while Hiashi told the surviving Main Family members that the crisis had been classified as an internal clan conflict.

After the Hyuga reforms and Hiruzen’s death reshaped Konoha, Natsuki led the Uchiha to establish Radiant Country and build its village. Meanwhile, Minato reunited with Jiraiya, and Team Seven and Natsuki set out on missions in the Land of Tea.

• Hiashi abolished the Hyuga Clan’s main-branch distinction and Caged Bird, while Orochimaru later killed Hyuga Kanade for using the seal and warned the clan against bringing it back.
• Orochimaru limited the Sarutobi Clan’s support, so Takashi Sarutobi and other leaders recalled five hundred clan members, who joined the Police Force under Hyuga leadership.
• Natsuki taught Naruto and Sasuke the Summoning Technique, then returned to Nagato with Hyuga Kaito’s Byakugan as the Uchiha and Hyuga refugees prepared to leave Konoha.
• Natsuki welcomed Yugito and Yōya, explained Obito’s threat and Konan’s refuge with the Uchiha, and helped the clan travel by ship to Great Chestnut Island.
• The Uchiha established Radiant Country and Radiant Hidden Village, with Natsuki as ruler, while Shisui, Fugaku, Itachi, and others took leadership roles and the islands were connected through reclamation work.
• Natsuki built up Radiant Country with settlement support, mission work, surveillance, and new institutions, while Obito struggled to restore the Rinnegan using Hashirama Cells.
• Minato revealed himself to Jiraiya and brought him to meet Natsuki, who challenged Jiraiya’s faith in prophecy and warned Minato against forcing Naruto into a savior’s role.
• Natsuki arranged combat training for Kimimaro and Haku, while Naruto, Sasuke, and Hinata accepted a B-rank escort mission in the Land of Tea and Natsuki set out to pursue Aoi Rokushō and the Waga Clan leader.

Natsuki secured the Kubisaki Lizard contract while Konoha and Radiant Country prepared for the Chunin Exams amid growing threats from Hidden Grass and the Sand Village. Jiraiya rejected the prophecy-driven path after Natsuki warned him what it would cost.

• Natsuki and Team Seven exposed the Waga Clan’s abuses, captured Morino Ida and Aoi Rokushō, and completed their mission after Natsuki ended the clan’s rule.
• Natsuki expanded Radiant Country’s refugee settlement and maritime defenses, then recovered the Kubisaki Lizard Contract Scroll from the ancient castle.
• Gamamaru warned Jiraiya that Natsuki had altered the future and that Naruto needed to become Jiraiya’s disciple to save the ninja world.
• Kusagakure spies identified Naruto as Konoha’s Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, while the village’s elders and Black Zetsu plotted to use the Box of Paradise to create chaos around the Chunin Exams.
• Rasa agreed to exploit Konoha’s weakened defenses during the exams, while Natsuki summoned Aokimaru and arranged supplies for the Kubisaki Lizard clan through Tenten.
• Natsuki learned that Kimimaro’s illness was worsening and confronted Jiraiya about the prophecy, warning that its foretold salvation would cost the lives of Jiraiya, Minato, Konan, Nagato, and Yahiko.
• Jiraiya chose to shape the future through his own choices rather than follow the prophecy.

As the Chunin Exams began, a Hidden Grass plot and Kazuma’s invasion plunged Konoha into crisis, while Naruto, Kimimaro, and Gaara were targeted. The arc left Minato revealed as the Fourth Hokage as he set out to rescue Gaara.

• Natsuki recruited Ajisai in Radiant Country, gave her the Kubisaki Lizard Contract Scroll, and began training with Kimimaro and Haku.
• Natsuki returned to Konoha for the Chunin Exams, suspected Hidden Grass and other factions were plotting against Naruto, and observed the villages gathering in the village.
• Naruto met Gaara and befriended him, while Natsuki explained Gaara’s past to Sasuke and warned Naruto that the exams would test his ability to survive a battlefield.
• Naruto and his companions passed the written exam and entered the Forest of Death, where injured teams withdrew and gave Naruto their scrolls.
• Mui’s group used Purple Blood Fruit and Binding Flower Poison to weaken the examinees, then abducted Naruto as Kimimaro fought to protect him.
• Kazuma’s forces infiltrated Konoha, shut down the Power Plant, and unleashed Corpse Puppets while the barrier sealed the village.
• Natsuki and Orochimaru treated Kimimaro as his illness worsened, while Mui escaped with Gaara and Natsuki ordered Orochimaru to notify Rasa.
• Obito fought Itachi during the invasion, Kakashi struggled to stop the Lightning Release Four-Man Squad, and Minato revealed himself as the Fourth Hokage before leaving to pursue Gaara.