Recaps

Hiruzen Sarutobi rejected Danzo’s bid to help run the village and continued living in the Forest of Death. After Black Zetsu warned Obito Uchiha that Hiruzen had a technique capable of countering Izanagi, Obito left Amegakure to investigate Hiruzen himself.

• Danzo asked Hiruzen Sarutobi why he looked so young, but Hiruzen avoided explaining and asked him to help prepare a tiger.
• Danzo pressed Hiruzen about why he had handed village affairs to Orochimaru, but Hiruzen said Danzo had lost his way and ate the entire tiger before Danzo finished arguing.
• Black Zetsu reported to Obito Uchiha that Hiruzen had taken Danzo out and possessed a secret technique that could counter Izanagi and expel Hashirama Cells.
• Obito and Black Zetsu discussed the risks Hiruzen posed to their plans to destroy the Uchiha, while Obito insisted they had time to plan.
• Obito used Kamui to leave Amegakure and investigate Hiruzen, while Black Zetsu warned him to flee if anything felt wrong.

Konoha launched a sweeping border offensive under Orochimaru’s command, with Jiraiya, Fugaku Uchiha, Kakashi, and the Uchiha quickly overwhelming Rock and Cloud Shinobi forces. Killer B ignored Samui’s warnings and waited for Konoha’s forces, where he realized he was facing a far stronger group than expected.

• Orochimaru sent Jiraiya, Kakashi, Tenzō, and the Uchiha to clear Konoha’s borders after the village’s recent losses.
• Jiraiya and Fugaku led forces in two directions, eliminating Cloud and Rock Shinobi units as Shisui Uchiha distinguished himself in battle.
• Samui urged Killer B to return to Cloud Lightning Gorge after several Cloud squads went missing, but Killer B refused and sought a fight with Konoha.
• Jiraiya’s group regrouped and advanced toward the final border areas while Killer B prepared to confront them.
• Killer B spotted Jiraiya, Kakashi, and Uchiha with three-tomoe Sharingan and realized his group could not defeat them.

Konoha’s team attacked a Kumogakure supply point and discovered Killer B, the Eight-Tails’ Jinchūriki. Fugaku Uchiha revealed his Mangekyo Sharingan to control Killer B, and the team prepared to take him back to Konoha alive.

• Killer B tried to cover the Cloud Shinobi’s retreat, but Jiraiya and the Konoha team captured the other ninja at the supply point.
• Yamato used Wood Release against Killer B, and Jiraiya summoned Toad Bunta as the Eight-Tails’ Jinchūriki entered a half-Tailed Beast Transformation.
• Jiraiya offered to spare the captured Cloud Shinobi if Killer B surrendered, while Fugaku decided to reveal his Mangekyo Sharingan.
• Fugaku used his Mangekyo Sharingan to control Gyuki and Killer B, and Tenzō helped end Killer B’s transformation.
• Jiraiya sealed Killer B so he could not use chakra or transform, praised Fugaku, and ordered the team to retreat to Konoha.

After Konoha captured Killer B, the Fourth Raikage sent Darui and C to negotiate his return. In Konoha, Danzo revealed that the ninja behind the Nine-Tails Uprising had claimed to be Uchiha Madara, leaving Orochimaru and the others facing a grave new lead.

• Fourth Raikage A learned that Killer B had been captured and ordered Darui and C to take his personal letter to Konoha.
• Orochimaru and Shikaku Nara received Jiraiya’s report that Konoha had captured the Eight-Tails Jinchūriki and that Fugaku Uchiha possessed the Mangekyo Sharingan.
• Orochimaru and Shikaku Nara went to the Forest of Death to question Danzo about the ninja behind the Nine-Tails Uprising.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi ordered Danzo to answer, and Danzo revealed that the ninja had called himself Uchiha Madara.

Hiruzen Sarutobi revealed Obito Uchiha’s identity and warned the leaders about his abilities, while rejecting Danzo’s hostility toward the Uchiha. After Jiraiya and Fugaku Uchiha returned with the captured Eight-Tails, the Uchiha were celebrated as Konoha’s heroes, and Shisui Uchiha embraced the village’s new unity with the clan.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi told Orochimaru, Danzo, and Shikaku Nara that Obito Uchiha was Madara Uchiha’s pawn and described Obito’s Mangekyo Sharingan and Izanagi.
• Danzo demanded that Fugaku Uchiha be controlled, but Hiruzen Sarutobi defended the Uchiha and said he might soon leave Konoha to travel.
• Orochimaru and Shikaku Nara returned to Konoha and reported that Jiraiya and Fugaku Uchiha had defeated the enemy squads and captured the Eight-Tails alive, while concealing Fugaku’s Mangekyo Sharingan.
• Konoha celebrated the Uchiha as heroes, and civilians began welcoming and thanking them.
• Itachi Uchiha hoped the improved relationship between the village and the clan would let Sasuke grow up safely.
• Jiraiya and his group returned to Konoha the next day, and Shisui Uchiha resolved to protect the glory of both the Uchiha clan and the village.

Jiraiya’s group captured Killer B and brought him and three Cloud shinobi to Konoha, where Orochimaru arranged to study the Eight-Tails Jinchūriki. Shisui revealed his Mangekyo Sharingan and accepted Jiraiya’s offer to become his disciple, while Konoha’s leaders considered how to build trust with the Uchiha.

• Jiraiya’s group brought the restrained Killer B and three Cloud shinobi to Konoha, where Orochimaru ordered Killer B sent to the Science Research Division and the others imprisoned for ransom.
• Shisui asked Hiruzen Sarutobi how he viewed the Uchiha, then revealed his Mangekyo Sharingan and pledged to protect Konoha.
• Jiraiya offered to take Shisui as his disciple, and Hiruzen Sarutobi approved the decision as a sign of trust toward the Uchiha.
• Shisui accepted Jiraiya’s offer and left to discuss it with Fugaku and the Uchiha clan.

The Uchiha held a victory banquet after Fugaku captured the Eight-Tails, and Shisui announced that Jiraiya wanted to take him as a disciple. The gathering brought Konoha’s clans and leaders together, leaving Fugaku reassured about the village’s changing attitude toward the Uchiha.

• Shisui returned to the Uchiha Grounds and told Fugaku and the elders that Jiraiya wanted him as a disciple.
• Yashiro supported Shisui accepting, while Setsuna warned that the village’s offer was a scheme; Fugaku approved the apprenticeship.
• Fugaku expanded the family celebration into a village-wide banquet and invited Jiraiya, Hiruzen Sarutobi, Tsunade, and Konoha’s ninja.
• Jiraiya, Hiruzen Sarutobi, and the Legendary Sannin attended the crowded gathering at the Uchiha Grounds.
• Orochimaru confirmed that the banquet celebrated the capture of the Eight-Tails Jinchūriki and Jiraiya’s apprenticeship of Shisui, while Jiraiya led Hiruzen Sarutobi to the seat of honor.

Jiraiya took Shisui as his disciple at a banquet celebrating the capture of the Eight-Tails Jinchūriki, while Obito arrived in Konoha intent on destroying the Uchiha and pursuing his plan to revive Rin. Hiruzen Sarutobi confronted Obito at his cabin and identified him as Obito Uchiha, leaving Obito demanding to know who Hiruzen really was.

• Jiraiya declared that he would train Shisui to become the next Minato, and Shisui became his disciple at the Uchiha banquet.
• Tsunade got drunk and collapsed after trying to make Hiruzen Sarutobi drink, and the gathered ninja learned that the muscular man was the former Third Hokage.
• Obito Uchiha came to Konoha after hearing that the Eight-Tails Jinchūriki had been captured and that Fugaku Uchiha might possess a Mangekyo Sharingan.
• Obito sensed the Uchiha's joyful banquet, restrained his killing intent, and phased away after Fugaku and Shisui detected Mangekyo Sharingan fluctuations.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi left the banquet and returned to his cabin, where he found Obito rummaging through his belongings.
• Obito emerged from the void, and Hiruzen called him Obito Uchiha; Obito demanded to know who Hiruzen really was.

Hiruzen Sarutobi confronted Obito Uchiha and challenged him over his obsession with reviving Rin, while demonstrating unexpected physical strength. Fugaku Uchiha stripped Obito of his clan name, and the fight continued as Shisui and Orochimaru joined the attack.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi dodged Obito Uchiha's Fire Release and overpowered him with a chain pull and a barrage of punches.
• Obito Uchiha tried to draw Hiruzen Sarutobi into Kamui but found the golden light around him resisted the technique.
• Orochimaru, Fugaku Uchiha, and Shisui arrived, and Hiruzen Sarutobi identified Obito as the culprit behind the Nine-Tails Uprising.
• Fugaku Uchiha declared that Obito would be stripped of the Uchiha surname, and Obito insisted that he was Madara Uchiha.
• Obito Uchiha attacked with Great Fire Annihilation, but Fugaku Uchiha evaded it as Shisui charged and Orochimaru used Earth Release to restrict him.

Obito escaped a battle against Hiruzen Sarutobi, Fugaku Uchiha, Shisui Uchiha, and Orochimaru, and Konoha publicly named him an S-rank rogue ninja and stripped him of the Uchiha name. Kakashi learned that Obito was alive and responsible for the Nine-Tails Uprising, then Hiruzen ordered him to hand over his Sharingan.

• Obito used Wood Release and his intangibility to escape the four Konoha ninja, who could not stop him from fleeing.
• Fugaku announced that Obito would be stripped of the Uchiha surname, and Hiruzen declared him an S-rank rogue ninja while allowing Konoha ninja to abandon missions if they encountered him.
• News of Obito’s survival and crimes shocked Konoha, especially Kakashi, who hurried to the Hokage’s office for answers.
• Hiruzen told Kakashi that Obito had awakened the Mangekyo Sharingan and caused the Nine-Tails Uprising.
• Hiruzen ordered Kakashi to hand his Sharingan over to the village.

Kakashi chose to remove Obito’s Sharingan and received a new eye, while Orochimaru took the Mangekyo for study. News of Obito’s identity and expulsion spread across the Shinobi World, leaving Black Zetsu furious and Obito enraged.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi and Fugaku Uchiha told Kakashi that Obito was responsible for Minato Namikaze’s death and warned that Obito might return for his eye.
• Kakashi chose to remove the Sharingan so he could grow stronger and face Obito himself, and Orochimaru asked to study the eye.
• Tsunade and Orochimaru replaced Kakashi’s eye at the Medical Division, while Orochimaru took the Mangekyo Sharingan to his laboratory.
• Kakashi woke with smoother chakra flow and resolved to sever his bond with Obito by defeating him himself.
• News of Obito’s identity and expulsion spread, prompting Black Zetsu to condemn him and Obito to rage over losing his Uchiha surname.

Hiruzen Sarutobi planned to investigate the Shinobi World's hidden treasures and sought Enma's help learning what the world was like before the Otsutsuki arrived. Enma took him to the Monkey Demon Clan's territory, where Hiruzen could pursue the secrets behind his new path.

• Nagato confronted Obito about his exposed identity, but the two remained partners because their goals matched.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi planned to collect Hoshigakure's star and visit the Land of Whirlpools and the Land of Crafts before leaving Konoha.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi summoned Enma, who was startled by Hiruzen's youthful appearance and pure natural energy.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi asked Enma about the world before the Otsutsuki and revealed that a true immortal had passed a cultivation inheritance to him.
• Enma used the Reverse Summoning Technique to take Hiruzen Sarutobi to the Monkey Demon Clan's territory.

Hiruzen Sarutobi visited Flower Fruit Mountain and learned from the Monkey Demon Clan's ancestor how the Ōtsutsuki had changed the world’s ancient natural-energy cultivation. He promised to reclaim the Monkey Demon Clan’s mountain in the Shinobi World from Four-Tails and set out to explore the Summoning World.

• Enma led Hiruzen Sarutobi through Flower Fruit Mountain and Water-Curtain Cave, where young monkeys swarmed over their guest.
• The Monkey Demon Clan's ancestor explained that people and beasts once cultivated natural energy before a powerful human created the summoning-beast world and the Ōtsutsuki later introduced chakra.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi confirmed that he had found a way to cultivate without chakra, and the ancestor asked him to reclaim Flower Fruit Mountain from Four-Tails.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi promised to help the Monkey Demon Clan and received permission to search the mountain for herbs and ores.
• Enma offered to help Hiruzen Sarutobi fight Four-Tails, then vanished as Hiruzen Sarutobi began exploring alone.

Hiruzen Sarutobi gathered spiritual medicines around Flower Fruit Mountain, refined pills, and advanced to Seventh-Level Qi Refining before exploring the Summoning World for older herbs. Meanwhile, Orochimaru and Shikaku Nara handled Konoha as a Cloud Shinobi delegation approached to negotiate for Killer B, whom Orochimaru had released from his research division.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi settled at Flower Fruit Mountain, befriended its little monkeys, and refined pills with herbs gathered nearby, reaching Seventh-Level Qi Refining.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi ventured into the wild Summoning World, collected rare spiritual medicines and four Century Vermilion Fruits, and killed the summoned beasts guarding them.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi returned to Flower Fruit Mountain close to Eighth-Level Qi Refining and resumed cultivation instead of rushing toward Foundation Establishment.
• Orochimaru and Shikaku Nara managed Konoha while Hiruzen Sarutobi was away, and the Cloud Shinobi delegation entered the Land of Fire to seek the return of Killer B.
• Orochimaru released Killer B from his research division because conducting experiments on a hostage was unethical.

Killer B and Samui were released from captivity to move around Konoha under ANBU watch, while Cloud Hidden Village sent Darui and C to negotiate his return. Orochimaru demanded concrete concessions, and Shikaku Nara outmaneuvered C in the negotiations.

• Samui saw Killer B's condition after Orochimaru's experiments and mistakenly believed he had suffered inhuman torment, while Killer B recalled his fear of Orochimaru.
• Killer B and Samui walked through Konoha under Kakashi's surveillance and felt the villagers' hostility.
• Darui and C arrived with a personal letter from the Fourth Raikage and met with Orochimaru, Shikaku Nara, and Tsunade.
• Orochimaru dismissed the Raikage's threats and asked what bargaining chips Cloud Hidden Village could offer for Killer B.
• Shikaku Nara and C negotiated, and the Nara Clan came out on top.

After Konoha forced the Cloud Shinobi to give up Killer B, the villages reconsidered Konoha’s strength and a period of peace began. Hiruzen Sarutobi returned to Konoha and prepared to travel to Star Ninja Village in search of materials for a dharma artifact.

• Orochimaru, Jiraiya, and Tsunade watched the Cloud Shinobi depart after negotiations over Killer B, while Orochimaru reflected that war would eventually return.
• Killer B and Gyuki reunited after their seals were lifted, and Killer B’s group returned to Cloud Shinobi Village.
• A attacked Killer B in anger, cut off one of Gyuki’s horns, and ordered Killer B to remain in Cloud Lightning Gorge.
• The news that Konoha had captured the Eight-Tails alive changed the other villages’ view of Konoha, and the Rock Ninja withdrew from the Land of Fire’s borders.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi returned to Konoha, noticed Samui’s interest in him, and planned to visit Star Ninja Village to obtain the Star as potential artifact-forging material.

Hiruzen Sarutobi asked Orochimaru for the Kusanagi Sword so he could leave Konoha and travel, while the village’s leaders discussed rebuilding and becoming more self-sufficient. He left with the sword, and Tsunade was left unsettled by how much he had changed.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi entered Orochimaru’s office as Orochimaru, Tsunade, Jiraiya, and Shikaku Nara discussed Konoha’s recovery and future.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi asked Orochimaru for his Kusanagi Sword to protect himself while traveling without chakra, and Orochimaru agreed.
• Tsunade questioned Hiruzen Sarutobi about his plans, while he said he wanted to see the world before growing too old to walk.
• Orochimaru pulled the Kusanagi Sword from his throat, and Hiruzen Sarutobi took it before announcing he would leave Konoha in a few days.
• Jiraiya teased Tsunade about Hiruzen Sarutobi, and Tsunade punched him through a window and ordered that he be treated so she could punch him again.

At Konoha Hospital, Shisui visited the badly injured Jiraiya with Itachi, then discussed Itachi’s wish to graduate early and search for life’s meaning. Meanwhile, Hiruzen told Shinnosuke and Hinako to remain in Konoha before departing for Star Ninja Village.

• Shisui and Itachi visited Jiraiya in the hospital, where Tsunade warned she would hit him again after he recovered.
• Shisui advised Jiraiya to pursue Tsunade, but Tsunade denied having any chance with him and left angrily.
• While walking through Konoha, Itachi told Shisui he wanted to apply for early graduation and seek the meaning of life.
• Shisui told Itachi that Orochimaru would personally assess him if he applied to the Ninja Academy.
• Hiruzen instructed Shinnosuke and pregnant Hinako to stay in Konoha, then left for Star Ninja Village.

Hiruzen Sarutobi traveled south toward Seven Herbs Island to investigate its medicinal plants and agreed to take a young girl there so she could gather a cure for her sick father. He prepared to leave by ship with the girl, who returned to the tavern with supplies.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi left Konoha and traveled south, planning to visit Seven Herbs Island and Hongzhou Island before heading toward the Land of Bears.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi reached the coast, where merchant ship owners offered to hire him as a guard for their trips to Seven Herbs Island.
• A young girl asked Hiruzen Sarutobi to help her gather a Seven-Star Flower to treat her father's illness.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi agreed to take the girl on the ship leaving the next day and gave her money to buy supplies in exchange for cooking.
• The girl bought ingredients and daily necessities, then returned to the tavern to join Hiruzen Sarutobi.

Hiruzen Sarutobi and Miki Xiaoai searched Seven Herbs Island for the Seven-Star Flower, drawing the attention of the Merchant Ninjas who controlled the island. After agreeing to take Miki with him, Hiruzen reached the island’s core and encountered three Merchant Ninjas.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi and Miki Xiaoai arrived at Seven Herbs Island, where the dockside shops had none of the herbs they needed.
• Hiruzen and Miki ventured into the island’s forest, while a Merchant Ninja leader ordered his men to leave them alone unless they entered the core area.
• Hiruzen and Miki stopped to rest, and Miki offered to continue searching for the Seven-Star Flower on her own.
• Hiruzen agreed to carry Miki deeper into the island, and they soon reached its core area.
• Three Red Province Merchant Ninjas appeared in front of Hiruzen and Miki.

Hiruzen Sarutobi took Miki Xiaoai to Seven Herbs Island, where he found no spiritual herbs and learned that Merchant Ninja had exploited her desperation to traffic her. After rescuing her and sending her toward Konoha, he continued to the Land of Bears, while Miki Xiaoai arrived in Konoha and declared that she wanted to follow him for the rest of her life.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi defeated three Merchant Ninja who claimed Seven Herbs Island and took Miki Xiaoai to search for herbs.
• Miki Xiaoai found a Seven-Star Flower, but her father died before she could bring it to him.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi exposed the healer's arrangement with the Merchant Ninja, killed them, and found spiritual herbs at their headquarters.
• Miki Xiaoai asked to follow Hiruzen Sarutobi for life, and he sent her to Konoha with a caravan.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi traveled to the Land of Bears, while Miki Xiaoai reached Konoha and told Orochimaru and Tsunade she wanted to follow Hiruzen for the rest of her life.

Tsunade and Orochimaru discussed Miki Xiaoai’s decision to marry Hiruzen Sarutobi, while Orochimaru accepted the former Hokage’s freedom to live as he pleased. Orochimaru then approved Itachi Uchiha’s early graduation application and decided to assess him personally.

• Tsunade warned Miki Xiaoai that Hiruzen Sarutobi was nearly sixty, but Miki Xiaoai became excited to learn that he was the Hokage and said she had come willingly.
• Orochimaru sent Miki Xiaoai with ANBU to Hiruzen Sarutobi’s home and suggested she ask Shinnosuke Sarutobi for a job.
• Tsunade protested that Hiruzen Sarutobi was going too far, but Orochimaru argued that he should be left alone since he had given up his authority.
• Orochimaru reviewed Itachi Uchiha’s application to graduate early and told Shikaku Nara to approve it because he would assess Itachi himself.

Miki Xiaoai arrived at the Sarutobi compound hoping to follow Hiruzen Sarutobi, leaving Asuma shocked and spurred to take on missions. Meanwhile, Itachi Uchiha passed his early graduation examination and asked Orochimaru about the meaning of life.

• Asuma Sarutobi mistook Miki Xiaoai’s arrival at the Sarutobi compound for a chance at romance before learning she wanted to follow his father, Hiruzen Sarutobi.
• Hinako invited Miki Xiaoai inside and agreed to let her stay until Hiruzen returned, while Asuma left to accept a mission.
• Jiraiya learned from Tsunade that a beautiful girl wanted to follow Hiruzen and reacted with disbelief.
• Itachi Uchiha impressed the assembled clans and officials with his Great Fireball Technique and shuriken skills, then passed his early graduation examination.
• Itachi Uchiha asked Orochimaru what the meaning of life was, and Orochimaru eagerly thought of immortality.

Orochimaru discussed the meaning of life and the value of strength and immortality with Itachi Uchiha, then invited him to become his junior brother and Hiruzen Sarutobi’s disciple. The news delighted Uchiha, while Itachi remained focused on protecting his loved ones rather than becoming Hokage.

• Orochimaru asked Itachi Uchiha what he thought the meaning of life was, and Itachi answered that he wanted to protect what he cherished despite its eventual loss.
• Orochimaru argued that strength and a long lifespan were necessary for protection and declared that he pursued immortality.
• Orochimaru invited Itachi Uchiha to become his junior brother and said Hiruzen Sarutobi would accept him as a disciple; Itachi agreed.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi accepted Itachi Uchiha as his disciple, and the news spread through Konoha, exciting Uchiha and delighting Fugaku Uchiha.
• Fugaku Uchiha urged Itachi to learn from Hiruzen Sarutobi and become the next Hokage, but Itachi cared most about protecting Sasuke Uchiha.
• Miki Xiaoai moved into Hiruzen Sarutobi’s room, and Shinnosuke was shocked and a little envious when he heard about it.

Hiruzen Sarutobi infiltrated Star Ninja Village to see the Star and faced resistance from Natsuhi and the village’s ninjas. After identifying himself as the Third Hokage, he was invited by the Third Star Shadow to discuss the Star in the village.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi found a tunnel beneath the canyon’s miasma and blasted through the rubble blocking its exit.
• Natsuhi stopped Hiruzen Sarutobi at the village boundary, but flew back to raise the alarm after he said he had come for the Star.
• The Third Star Shadow and more than ten Star Ninja Village ninjas prepared to confront Hiruzen Sarutobi, while a mutated purple-haired man vowed not to surrender the Star.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi summoned Monkey Demon, and the Third Star Shadow recognized him as the Third Hokage and invited him into the village to discuss the Star.