Recaps

After emerging from three months of research, Tobirama learned that the Land of Fire had expanded across six countries and the Funato Clan had seized twelve island nations. He concluded that the Funato were backed by the Land of Fire and that the Uzumaki Clan might be the next target, then mobilized Anbu and headed for the Senju district.

• Tobirama finished his laboratory work and met Hiruzen, who reported the latest developments in the Shinobi World.
• Hiruzen told Tobirama that the Land of Fire had captured six countries and the Funato Clan had taken twelve island nations.
• Tobirama reviewed the intelligence and map, suspecting the Land of Fire was supporting the Funato and planning to target the Uzumaki Clan.
• Tobirama ordered Hiruzen to assemble the Anbu and then left the Hokage Building for the Senju residential district.

Tobirama visited Mito to seek her help protecting the Uzumaki Clan from an expected attack by the Land of Flame. Mito agreed to speak with Hashirama about Tobirama’s plan to save her clan without involving Konoha in a war.

• Tobirama visited Mito and warned that the Land of Flame was likely to attack the Uzumaki Clan next.
• Mito refused to persuade Hashirama to break the peace treaty and involve Konoha in a war.
• Tobirama proposed denying the Land of Flame access to the Whirlpool Country’s resources, even if the Uzumaki Clan had to abandon its territory.
• Tobirama explained that Hashirama’s consent was still needed, and Mito agreed to speak with him.

Enkō and Izuna relaxed in a hot spring while discussing their campaign and Enkō’s destruction of the clan tablet. They prepared to attack the Whirlpool Country, with Izuna tasked with blocking Konoha’s support routes as Enkō vowed to take the country within seven days.

• Enkō and Izuna discussed exchanging conquered small-country territory for useful resources rather than spreading their forces too thin.
• Izuna told Enkō that the clan elders criticized him for destroying the ancestral tablet, but Enkō chose not to explain his reasons.
• Izuna recalled teaching Enkō ninjutsu when Enkō was young, easing the tension between them.
• Enkō warned that Uzumaki Ashina was formidable and told Izuna to blockade Konoha’s support routes through the Land of Iron.
• Izuna promised to stop even Senju Hashirama from crossing the Land of Iron as Enkō set out to conquer the Whirlpool Country within seven days.

Enkō joined forces with Funato Tenzui’s fleet to encircle the Whirlpool Country and prepare an attack on the Uzumaki Clan. As the forces set out for the island, Enkō ordered them to prioritize seizing resources and prevent anyone from escaping with them.

• Enkō met Funato Tenzui and inspected the assembled fleet as it arrived to coordinate the assault.
• Enkō thanked Uchiha Hono for training Kagami and Akane, and urged him to teach them again in the future.
• Enkō learned that Hara was resting below deck with seasickness while Kagami and Akane described their first experience of war.
• Funato Tenzui proposed surrounding the Whirlpool Country and attacking its eastern port, and Enkō agreed with the plan.
• Enkō warned that the Uzumaki Clan were difficult to kill and ordered his forces to seize their resources and kill anyone who tried to take them away.
• Enkō and Funato Tenzui’s forces set out for the Whirlpool Country.

Uzumaki Ashina prepared Whirlpool Country for an attack by the Funato Clan, recognizing that the Uchiha Clan’s expansion had left his people trapped. As Enkō’s forces attacked the village’s barrier, Enkō summoned the Nine-Tails.

• Uzumaki Ashina reprimanded Ise for underestimating the Funato Clan and explained that the Uchiha Clan had taken the Land of Iron and Hot Springs Country, leaving Whirlpool Country surrounded.
• When the enemy fleet arrived, Ashina ordered Ise to evacuate the villagers to Konoha while he stayed behind to face the attackers.
• Funato Tenzui’s arrows and explosive tags failed to break the barrier protecting Whirlpool Country.
• Enkō and Huo He combined Fire Release and Wind Release against the barrier, but it remained intact.
• Enkō approached Ashina and summoned the Nine-Tails.

Enkō used the Nine-Tails and its Tailed Beast Ball to destroy the barrier and devastate the port, but Uzumaki Ashina survived and countered with Adamantine Sealing Chains. Enkō sent the Nine-Tails away to avoid Ashina severing their connection, then launched an invasion while keeping Ashina occupied.

• Enkō ordered the Nine-Tails to strike Ashina’s barrier, which withstood its claw attack.
• Enkō unleashed a Tailed Beast Ball that shattered the barrier and destroyed the port, while Ise learned that enemy ships surrounded the coast as he evacuated his clan.
• Uzumaki Ashina emerged from the ruins and bound the Nine-Tails with Adamantine Sealing Chains.
• Enkō dismissed the Nine-Tails to prevent Ashina from severing their connection, then ordered the Funato forces to charge into the Whirlpool Country.
• Enkō drew the Cold Edge and challenged Ashina to continue their fight as the invasion began.

Uzumaki Ashina entered Shikkotsu Forest Sage Mode and fought Enkō in a fierce sword battle on the coastline. Enkō struck with the Flying Thunder God Technique, but Ashina blocked the attack and countered, leaving Enkō battered in the sea as a pitch-black Susanoo appeared on the shore.

• Uzumaki Ashina activated Shikkotsu Forest Sage Mode, while Enkō received chakra from Mad Fang.
• Enkō and Uzumaki Ashina clashed with their blades, with Ashina's Sage Mode-enhanced perception and twin-sword technique forcing Enkō onto the defensive.
• Enkō leapt away and used Fire Release: Dragon Flame Song Technique, but Ashina began sealing the four fire dragons with runes.
• Enkō threw the Cold Edge and used the Flying Thunder God Technique to attack Ashina from behind, but Ashina blocked the blade with a golden chain.
• Uzumaki Ashina counterattacked and sent Enkō crashing through a boulder into the sea, where Enkō spotted a pitch-black Susanoo on the coastline.

Enkō battled Uzumaki Ashina across the sea and finally pinned him to a boulder, demanding the location of Shikkotsu Forest. Just as Enkō prepared to kill Ashina, Senju Hashirama appeared and stopped him.

• Enkō used Susanoo to attack Ashina, but Ashina evaded the barrage with Sage Mode and the Mind's Eye of the Kagura.
• Ashina ensnared Susanoo with Adamantine Sealing Chains and briefly suppressed Enkō, but Enkō seized the chains and smashed Ashina into the sea.
• Enkō and Ashina traded wounds underwater; Enkō's Heaven's Pobei healed his injury, and he drove his sword through Ashina's shoulder, pinning him to a boulder.
• Enkō demanded that Ashina reveal Shikkotsu Forest's location, but Ashina refused and said his memories of it were sealed.
• As Enkō raised a kunai to kill Ashina, Senju Hashirama told him to stop, leaving Enkō stunned.

After the Funato Clan attacked the Uzumaki, Ise led his people in a desperate attempt to escape, but Hashirama arrived and stopped the battle. Hashirama then led both sides toward the eastern docks, where Ise’s father was still fighting Uchiha Enkō.

• Ise ordered Xuan Shui and Fei Huo to hide the elderly and children while the rest of the Uzumaki drew the enemy away.
• The Funato forces overwhelmed the Uzumaki in battle as Ise fought Huo He and tried to lead his clansmen toward the coastline.
• Huo He wounded Ise and moved to kill him, but Hashirama used Wood Release to separate the forces and save Ise.
• Hashirama asked both sides to stop fighting, explaining that he had intervened personally because the Uzumaki were his wife’s clan.
• Ise told Hashirama that his father was fighting Uchiha Enkō at the eastern docks, and Hashirama led both forces there.

Enkō’s invasion of Whirlpool Country was interrupted when Hashirama arrived and rescued the wounded Ashina. Enkō refused to withdraw, challenged Hashirama in his personal capacity, and used his own blood to unleash Wood Release: Wood Human Technique.

• Enkō realized Hashirama had reached Whirlpool Country without Izuna detecting his arrival, and suspected Tobirama had found a route around the Land of Iron.
• Hashirama freed Ashina, gave him medicine, and told the Uzumaki Clan members he would take them away from Whirlpool Country.
• Enkō saw through Hashirama’s plan to intervene without involving Konoha, and the two argued over whether peace required cooperation or the unification of the Shinobi World.
• Hashirama refused to agree with Enkō but offered to remove the Uzumaki Clan, while Tenzui and Ise lamented the invasion’s failure and losses.
• Enkō declared that he would challenge Hashirama in his personal capacity, then revealed that Hashirama was bleeding as the earth began to tremble.
• Enkō lowered his bloodied hand and activated Wood Release: Wood Human Technique.

Enkō used stolen Wood Release and Fire Release to drive Hashirama into a massive battle along the shore and sea. Hashirama survived Enkō’s attacks, but Enkō ended the chapter unleashing five flaming Wood Dragons at him.

• Enkō summoned a towering Wood Human and admitted that copying Hashirama’s Wood Release had nearly drained his ocular power.
• Enkō attacked Hashirama with the Wood Human, but Hashirama blocked its punch with Earth Release.
• Enkō pursued Hashirama with Deep Forest Emergence and Great Fireball Technique, driving him toward the sea and blasting him into the air.
• Hashirama countered with Water Severing Wave, piercing the Wood Human’s arm, but Enkō’s Wood Dragon seized him and hurled him into the sea.
• Hashirama broke free and landed on the water as Enkō revealed five flaming Wood Dragons and sent them charging at him.

Enkō fought Hashirama with an adaptable sword style, wounded him to obtain his cells, and was nearly defeated by Hashirama’s counterattack. Enkō revealed that he had used a Wood Release Clone to escape, then launched a near-full-power slash at Hashirama.

• Enkō’s five Wood Dragons clashed with Hashirama’s Water Dragons, and Enkō scattered the remains into a barrage of wooden spikes.
• Hashirama blocked the spikes with a greatsword, but Enkō appeared behind him and used Cold Edge’s flexible blade to pressure him in close combat.
• Enkō cut Hashirama’s shoulder to obtain his cellular tissue, but Hashirama countered with a devastating sword strike and chakra-enhanced blow that left Enkō apparently unconscious.
• Hashirama grabbed Enkō’s body, only for it to turn into a Wood Release Clone that bound him with branches.
• Enkō burst from the sea with Cold Edge in hand and unleashed a near-full-power slash that passed through Hashirama’s side.

Madara received a letter from the Land of Earth and prepared the Uchiha Clan for a possible move toward the Land of Fire after sensing Hashirama’s chakra. Meanwhile, Enkō ended his fight with Hashirama, who healed his grave wound, but Enkō stopped him as he was about to leave with the Uzumaki Clan.

• Uchiha Rai delivered Madara a letter from the Land of Earth, whose demands Madara rejected.
• Madara explained that the Uchiha Clan’s strength had grown and ordered Rai to assemble the remaining men after sensing Hashirama’s chakra near Enkō.
• Enkō finished his exhausting fight with Hashirama after using most of his ocular power to seize Hashirama’s Wood Release.
• Hashirama’s wound healed rapidly, and he prepared to leave with the Uzumaki Clan once Enkō agreed to stop fighting.
• Enkō called out to Hashirama to wait as he was about to depart.

Enkō demanded that the Uzumaki Clan leave its valuables behind, threatening to attack the Land of Fire if Hashirama refused. Uzumaki Ashina agreed to surrender the clan’s resources to protect Konoha, and as the fleet departed he warned Hashirama that war was coming soon.

• Enkō told Hashirama that the Uzumaki Clan could leave, but its valuables had to remain behind.
• Enkō threatened to return to the Land of Flame and attack the Land of Fire, knowing Hashirama could not quickly return to Konoha.
• Uzumaki Ashina emerged and agreed that the clan would leave its belongings behind to avoid bringing trouble to Konoha.
• Hashirama led the Uzumaki Clan away while Enkō’s people inventoried and carried off the clan’s spoils.
• As the fleet sailed toward the Land of Fire, Uzumaki Ashina warned Hashirama to prepare for the war that was soon to come.

After the Uzumaki Clan abandoned its homeland, Funato Tenzui’s men ransacked the estate while Enkō assessed the spoils and warned that the Funato Clan would have to hold Water Country at sea. Enkō ordered an immediate return to the Land of Flame as the other great nations began to take notice.

• Funato Tenzui directed his men to strip the Uzumaki estate of valuables and secretly kept a risqué book he had confiscated from a subordinate.
• Enkō learned that the Uzumaki Clan’s wealth could help the Funato Clan challenge Water Country, but warned that their new strength only gave them a chance to fight.
• Enkō told Funato Tenzui to stall Water Country for one month once it entered the war, or the Land of Flame would abandon the maritime battlefield.
• Uchiha Hono arrived with Kagami and Akane and reported that he had secured the Uzumaki Clan’s Sealing Jutsu and Barrier Jutsu for the Land of Flame.
• Enkō identified Tobirama Senju as a greater strategic threat than Hashirama and ordered Huo He to return to the Land of Flame immediately.

Tobirama welcomed Hashirama and the Uzumaki Clan back to Konoha and urged Hashirama to avoid war with the Land of Flame. After ordering a spy to keep investigating its plans, Tobirama wondered which great nation the Land of Flame intended to attack.

• Tobirama met Hashirama and Uzumaki Ashina at Konoha's gate and arranged for the Uzumaki Clan to settle in the village.
• Tobirama told Hashirama that the Land of Flame had assembled troops at the border and that the daimyo had summoned him to discuss war.
• Tobirama advised Hashirama not to attack the Land of Flame and to strengthen Konoha's border defenses, and Hashirama agreed.
• Tobirama sent Hashirama to reunite with his family, then asked a masked spy about the Land of Flame's military movements.
• Tobirama ordered the spy to keep monitoring the Land of Flame and wondered which great nation it planned to target.

After returning from Whirlpool Country, Enkō was scolded by Madara and Izuna for risking his life against Hashirama. He showed them a piece of Hashirama’s flesh and asked Tian Yuan to extract its cells, hoping to pursue the legend of the Rinnegan, but Tian Yuan called the attempt a pity.

• Madara sparred with Enkō to reprimand him for challenging Hashirama alone, while Izuna watched and teased him.
• Madara called Izuna onto the training platform too, but Enkō used Tian Yuan’s arrival to end the sparring.
• Enkō brought Madara, Izuna, and Tian Yuan to the Flame Shadow’s office and revealed a fragment of Hashirama’s flesh.
• Enkō asked Tian Yuan whether he could extract cells from the fragment after explaining his interest in awakening the Rinnegan.
• Tian Yuan examined the flesh and said it was a pity.

Enkō and his allies abandoned plans to extract cells from Hashirama's decayed flesh and turned to negotiating with the Land of Earth, which demanded half their territory for an alliance. Madara decided to lead the negotiations himself, while Enkō and Izuna prepared the troops.

• Tian Yuan said Hashirama's decayed flesh would yield too few cells, then proposed testing it as medicine, and Enkō let him take it.
• Madara and Izuna warned Enkō against obsessing over the uncertain Rinnegan legend.
• Madara showed Enkō the Land of Earth's reply, which demanded half the territory in exchange for cooperation.
• Enkō rejected an invasion because of the Land of Earth's mountain defenses and proposed sending Kakuzu to negotiate with Madara providing a show of force.
• Izuna volunteered to go, but Madara overruled both brothers and chose to lead the negotiations himself.
• After Madara left to prepare, Enkō and Izuna began making marching preparations and anticipated deploying troops after he returned.

Madara and Kakuzu arrived in Iwagakure to discuss cooperation, but Ōnoki tried to make them wait and assert the village’s authority. Madara destroyed the gate and confronted Ōnoki, who challenged him to fight.

• Madara and Kakuzu approached Iwagakure, where guards questioned their unannounced visit.
• Kakuzu explained that they had come from the Land of Flame to discuss cooperation with the Tsuchikage.
• Ōnoki dismissed concerns about offending the Land of Flame and decided to delay the visitors to establish Iwagakure’s authority.
• Madara attacked the gate guards, sending one flying toward Ōnoki and his escort.
• Ōnoki and the guard reached the gate, found it wrecked, and saw Madara holding a shinobi by the throat.
• Madara flung the captive toward them, then dismissed Ōnoki as a child; Ōnoki erupted with chakra and challenged him.

Madara and Kakuzu arrived at Iwagakure to discuss cooperation, but Ōnoki challenged Madara and was quickly defeated. Ishikawa rescued Ōnoki from Madara’s final blow and escorted the visitors into the village to discuss the matter.

• Ōnoki attacked Madara with his Earth Release techniques, but Madara blocked his blows and crushed his rock fist.
• Madara broke Ōnoki’s wrist and his killing intent froze the guard, who recognized him as Uchiha Madara.
• Ishikawa arrived and intercepted Madara’s punch, saving Ōnoki while Madara deliberately gave him time to intervene.
• Ishikawa apologized and invited Madara and Kakuzu to his office to discuss cooperation, then sent Ōnoki for treatment.
• Kakuzu followed Madara into Iwagakure while considering the potential market for stone and how Enkō’s Flying Thunder God might help with transport.

Madara and Kakuzu negotiated with Iwagakure over the Lonely Mountain Wasteland, and Kakuzu secured a one-year lease deal for transit rights through Land of Grass territory. Later, the Land of Flame broke its peace agreement and marched on the Lightning Country.

• Madara threatened to seize the Land of Earth’s territory by force when Ishikawa objected to exchanging it for Land of Grass.
• Kakuzu proposed leasing transit rights instead, and the sides agreed to a one-year term at a costly price for the Land of Earth.
• After Madara and Kakuzu left, Ishikawa told Mu to wait for the best opportunity to make use of Land of Grass territory.
• In the fifth year of Flame Hidden Village, the Land of Flame raised an army of 150,000 soldiers and 20,000 shinobi and advanced on the Lightning Country.

The Second Raikage took command of Kumogakure’s ninja at Thunderlight City after the Land of Flame declared war and amassed a huge army outside its walls. After reinforcements brought the defenders to more than eighty thousand, Enkō led an army of one hundred thousand into an attack on the city.

• The Second Raikage completed his training, learned that the Land of Flame had declared war, and was ordered to lead Kumogakure ninja to Thunderlight City.
• The Second Raikage arrived with five thousand ninja and agreed with General He Wu to defend the city against the Land of Flame’s army.
• The Land of Flame’s camp swelled to nearly two hundred thousand troops while its forces delayed attacking, prompting He Wu and the Second Raikage to request reinforcements.
• After seven days, reinforcements raised Thunderlight City’s defenders to more than eighty thousand, and the Second Raikage grew suspicious of the enemy’s delay.
• Enkō arrived before Thunderlight City with an army of one hundred thousand and ordered his troops to siege the city.

Izuna and Enkō brought the Land of Flame’s army to Thundercloud City, catching its defenders off guard, and prepared to test the newly built Uchiha Cannons against the city’s barrier. The chapter left Funai Naoki uneasy as one cannon charged and Enkō ordered it to fire at the city wall.

• Funai Naoki spotted a 150,000-strong Land of Flame army approaching Thundercloud City, which had only 50,000 defenders after sending troops to Thunderlight City.
• Funai Naoki ordered the city put on full alert and sent word to the Daimyo Palace to recall reinforcements.
• Izuna and Enkō revealed four Uchiha Cannons, siege weapons powered by Dragon Vein Chakra, and prepared them beyond the city’s attack range.
• Enkō directed a cannon crew to charge the leftmost cannon and aim its first shot at Thundercloud City’s wall.
• Funai Naoki and his guard watched uneasily as purple patterns appeared on the cannon, and Enkō commanded it to fire.

Enkō tested the Uchiha Cannon and used its devastating chakra lasers to breach Thundercloud City's defenses. The Land of Flame army stormed the city, and after two hours of fighting, a soldier sounded the battlefield's final horn.

• Enkō fired the Uchiha Cannon at Thundercloud City, piercing its barrier and blasting a hole through the city wall.
• Enkō ordered the remaining three cannons to destroy the gate and further breach the walls, while Izuna stayed behind to command the main force.
• Enkō led the vanguard in a charge, and the Taketori Clan and Uzuki Clan fighters joined the assault on the walls.
• Funai Naoki rallied the defenders, but the Land of Flame troops poured through the ruined gate and fought their way into the city.
• After two hours of battle, a Land of Flame soldier sounded the final horn atop the blood-soaked wall.

After capturing Thundercloud City, Enkō planned to seize Thunderwind City and cut off reinforcements while Izuna led the advance. At Thunderlight City, news of the defeat reached He Wu and the Second Raikage, who discovered the Land of Flame’s camp had vanished.

• Enkō explained to Izuna that Thunderlight City’s forces would likely travel through Thunderwind City to reinforce Thunderstorm City, and asked him to capture it.
• Enkō warned Izuna that Kumogakure’s ninja might oppose him and set a one-month limit for holding Thunderwind City before regrouping.
• Enkō and Izuna agreed to hold a victory banquet before Izuna departed with troops.
• At Thunderlight City, He Wu refused the Second Raikage’s suggestion to attack the Land of Flame’s encampment, insisting they defend their city.
• A carrier hawk brought He Wu news that Thundercloud City had fallen, and the Second Raikage rushed to the enemy camp.
• The Second Raikage returned to report that the camp was empty and three hundred thousand people had disappeared overnight.