Recaps

Hiruzen Sarutobi used an illusion to silence the daimyo’s envoy and told Orochimaru that his cultivation had broken through. He proposed accelerating their plan, and Orochimaru arranged for Hiruzen to spar with Jiraiya.

• Shikaku Nara told Orochimaru that the daimyo’s envoy had arrived to challenge Konoha’s expansion.
• The envoy accused Orochimaru of plotting a rebellion, and Hiruzen Sarutobi used a Bewitching Technique to make him believe the matter had been resolved.
• Hiruzen told Orochimaru that the daimyo could not afford to move against Konoha, so they could ignore him for now.
• Hiruzen revealed that his cultivation had broken through and said their plan could be accelerated.
• Orochimaru asked Hiruzen to spar with Jiraiya, and Hiruzen agreed to show him his strength.

Hiruzen Sarutobi and Jiraiya faced off at the Valley of the End, where Jiraiya entered Sage Mode and launched a series of attacks. Hiruzen answered with sword flight and storm-summoning techniques, then brought down black-purple lightning as Jiraiya charged with an Ultra-Big Ball Rasengan.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi and Jiraiya agreed to spar, and Konoha’s shinobi gathered at the Valley of the End to watch.
• Jiraiya summoned Fukasaku and Shima and entered Sage Mode, while Shisui Uchiha and Itachi Uchiha watched.
• Jiraiya attacked with Sage Art: Hair Needle Senbon, but Hiruzen Sarutobi flew clear on Star Severer and used Five Thunders Righteous Technique, Summon Wind and Rain to darken the sky.
• Jiraiya summoned Gamahiro to crush Hiruzen, but Hiruzen punched the toad back into the Summoning World.
• Jiraiya charged through the air with an Ultra-Big Ball Rasengan as Hiruzen called down Yang Thunder from the storm clouds.

Hiruzen Sarutobi defeated Jiraiya in a demonstration of his cultivation techniques, impressing Konoha’s ninja and changing their view of him. After returning to the village, Hiruzen warned Orochimaru against experimenting on him, while Jiraiya recovered in the hospital.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi struck Jiraiya’s Rasengan with heavenly lightning, forcing Jiraiya to flee and injuring his right arm.
• Hiruzen helped Jiraiya up and teased him that Sage Mode should be called Toad Mode, while Tsunade treated Jiraiya’s injuries.
• Orochimaru wondered whether Hiruzen’s bloodline had changed and considered taking a blood sample, but Hiruzen warned him not to use him as an experiment.
• Jiraiya went to the hospital, and Konoha’s ninja clans began to see Hiruzen’s strength as a chance for the village to grow more powerful.
• Shinnosuke, Asuma, and Miki Xiaoai reacted to Hiruzen’s strength, while Tsunade recognized Jiraiya’s progress during his recovery.

The Daimyo of the Land of Fire worried that Konoha’s growing independence would weaken his influence, so he decided to marry one of his daughters to Orochimaru. Meanwhile, Hiruzen Sarutobi offered to train Might Guy as a body cultivator if Guy gave up chakra and the Eight Gates, leaving Guy to consider the choice.

• The Daimyo heard the envoy’s genjutsu-influenced report that Hiruzen Sarutobi would correct Konoha’s course, but remained concerned about Konoha’s continued growth.
• The Daimyo decided to bind Konoha to the Land of Fire by marrying a daughter to Orochimaru and sent him a personal letter through the envoy.
• Might Guy begged Hiruzen Sarutobi to take him as a disciple so he could defeat Kakashi.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi offered to teach Guy body cultivation but required him to give up chakra and never use the Eight Gates again.
• Guy hesitated over abandoning his hard-won taijutsu and Eight Gates abilities, then left to think it over and talk with Kakashi.

Hiruzen Sarutobi taught Monkey Demon a cultivation method, while Obito learned that Konoha’s expansion threatened his plans in the Land of Water. As Obito prepared to vent his anger on the Hidden Mist Village, Mei Terumi and her allies surrounded the Mizukage Building.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi summoned Monkey Demon and taught him a beast cultivation method for the Qi Refinement Stage.
• Obito worried that Konoha’s growing influence near the Land of Water would disrupt his plans to capture the Nine-Tails.
• Obito prepared to vent his anger on the Hidden Mist Village, but discovered that the Mizukage Building was surrounded.
• Mei Terumi, Ao, and Genji led the Hidden Mist Village’s remaining forces in the siege of the Mizukage Building.

Obito released the Three-Tails in the Hidden Mist Village, killing Yagura and Genji and leaving Mei Terumi to lead the battered village. Konoha sent Jiraiya, Fugaku Uchiha, and Shisui Uchiha to assess the crisis, while a daimyo’s marriage proposal forced Orochimaru to consider Konoha’s political response.

• Obito controlled Yagura, released the Three-Tails in the Hidden Mist Village, and escaped as it destroyed the Mizukage Building.
• Yagura and Genji died during the upheaval, and Genji named Mei Terumi the Fifth Mizukage with Ao as her aide.
• Mei Terumi began guiding the Hidden Mist Village toward recovery and more open policies.
• Konoha sent Jiraiya, Fugaku Uchiha, and Shisui Uchiha to inspect the village and address the danger of the unsealed Three-Tails.
• A letter revealed that the daimyo wanted Orochimaru to marry his daughter, and Hiruzen Sarutobi suggested Orochimaru marry Yakushi Nonō first and make the princess a concubine if the daimyo persisted.
• Orochimaru considered refusing the proposal, but Nonō’s smile stirred something in him.

Orochimaru rejected the daimyo’s offer of marriage while Jiraiya’s force sailed to the Land of Water, where Konoha’s arrival put Kirigakure on alert. The two sides met in a tense confrontation, with Hizashi Hyuga focused on reclaiming the Byakugan Ao had taken.

• Orochimaru refused to marry the daimyo’s daughter, saying his official duties left no time for romance.
• Jiraiya, Fugaku Uchiha, Shisui Uchiha, Hizashi Hyuga, Kakashi, Might Guy, and other shinobi set sail for the Land of Water.
• An ANBU reported Konoha’s advance to Mei Terumi, who summoned Ao and Kirigakure’s shinobi to prepare for the approaching force.
• Mei Terumi’s forces met Jiraiya’s group, and Jiraiya demanded that the Mizukage come forward.
• Hizashi activated his Byakugan after spotting Ao, while Mei Terumi identified herself as the Mizukage.

Jiraiya’s Konoha squad confronted Mei Terumi and Kirigakure, claiming they had come to provide assistance and proposing a duel instead of a battle. Shisui faced Suikazan Fuguki, revealing his Flying Thunder God technique as the fight began.

• Mei Terumi attacked Jiraiya’s group with her Lava Release, but the Konoha ninja dodged and took their positions.
• Jiraiya warned Mei that Kirigakure risked war with Konoha, then offered to leave if one of her ninja defeated his disciple.
• Mei hesitated, and Suikazan Fuguki stepped forward as Kirigakure’s chosen fighter.
• Jiraiya sent Shisui to fight, and Fuguki unveiled Samehada while Shisui summoned formula-marked Ninja Crows.
• Shisui launched a Flying Thunder God kunai, and Fuguki realized he was facing an opponent far beyond his league.

Shisui defeated Suikazan Fuguki with the Flying Thunder God Technique, forcing Mei Terumi to accept Konoha’s intervention. Jiraiya revealed that Konoha wanted Mist Village to become an ally, host the Three-Tails in a Jinchūriki, and return Ao’s Byakugan.

• Shisui used the Flying Thunder God Technique and a Fire Release attack to defeat Suikazan Fuguki, leaving the Mist Village ninja too intimidated to fight.
• Mei Terumi agreed to accept Konoha’s aid after Fugaku revealed his Mangekyō Sharingan and Konoha’s forces demonstrated their advantage.
• Kisame secretly picked up Samehada while the Mist Village ninja treated Fuguki.
• Jiraiya led his group into Kirigakure and told Mei Terumi that Konoha would help seal the Three-Tails into a Mist Village Jinchūriki.
• Jiraiya demanded that Mist Village become allied with Konoha and that Ao return his Byakugan.

Jiraiya persuaded Mei Terumi to cooperate with Konoha by revealing the threat of the Otsutsuki Clan and offering aid, and Kirigakure chose Kisame Hoshigaki as the Three-Tails’ new Jinchūriki. The chapter left Jiraiya and the Uchiha heading out with Kisame to capture the Three-Tails while Kakashi, Might Guy, and Hizashi Hyuga remained in Kirigakure.

• Jiraiya rejected Mei Terumi’s refusal to admit Konoha shinobi into Kirigakure and revealed that Obito Uchiha had controlled the Fourth Mizukage.
• Jiraiya explained the Otsutsuki Clan, the organization with the Rinnegan, and the threat of Kaguya’s revival, arguing that Kirigakure had to help protect the Three-Tails.
• Jiraiya offered Kirigakure economic and cultural aid, including Chakra Armor at cost, and Mei agreed to consider an alliance after Konoha helped capture the Three-Tails.
• Kirigakure selected Kisame Hoshigaki as its new Three-Tails Jinchūriki because of his enormous chakra and ability to absorb it.
• Jiraiya and the Uchiha took Kisame to capture the Three-Tails, while Hizashi Hyuga, Kakashi, and Might Guy stayed in Kirigakure under surveillance.
• Jūzō Biwa and Raiga Kurosuki recognized Might Guy and remembered their fear of Might Duy.

Kakashi and Might Guy searched Hidden Mist Village for Kaguya Clan survivors while Jiraiya and the Uchiha captured the Three-Tails and made Kisame its Jinchūriki. In Konoha, Hiruzen advanced his cultivation and Orochimaru planned to investigate the Ōtsutsuki bloodline and the Mangekyo Sharingan.

• Kakashi and Might Guy searched Hidden Mist Village for the surviving Kaguya Clan member, whom they were ordered to bring to Konoha.
• Jiraiya, Mei Terumi, Ao, Kisame, and the Uchiha located the Three-Tails in a lake and used the Mangekyo Sharingan to control it.
• Jiraiya sealed the Three-Tails into Kisame, giving Hidden Mist Village a new Jinchūriki in exchange for accepting Konoha's help.
• Hiruzen studied talismans, taught Zisu the Foundation Establishment method, and recognized Konohamaru's talent for ninjutsu and cultivation.
• Orochimaru continued questioning Hiruzen about cultivation and planned to study the Ōtsutsuki bloodline and find a way to solve Itachi's Mangekyo Sharingan problem.

Jiraiya secured an alliance that allowed Konoha to station ninja in Kirigakure, while recruiting Kimimaro Kaguya and Haku on the journey home. Back in Konoha, both boys met Orochimaru, and Konoha faced protests from the other great villages over its growing influence.

• Mei Terumi and Ao agreed to Jiraiya's terms, establishing a Konoha-Kirigakure alliance and permitting Konoha ninja to be stationed in Kirigakure.
• Jiraiya found Kimimaro Kaguya, promised Konoha would treat him well and cure his illness, and brought him into the group.
• The group encountered Haku, who joined Konoha after Jiraiya reassured him that Konoha would accept his Ice Release.
• In Konoha, Kimimaro submitted to Orochimaru, who valued him as part of his Otsutsuki Bloodline Completion Plan.
• The other three great ninja villages protested Konoha's decision to station forces in Kirigakure, while Konoha dismissed the move as aid.

Orochimaru, Itachi, and Kabuto discovered that Kimimaro’s Shikotsumyaku was draining his vitality and making him ill, so Orochimaru forbade him from using it beyond defensive periosteum. Orochimaru continued planning experiments to restore the Ōtsutsuki Bloodline as Tsunade summoned him to discuss Hiruzen Sarutobi’s research into Healing Talismans.

• Orochimaru, Itachi, and Kabuto examined Kimimaro and found that creating bones consumed his vitality and exposed him to bacteria.
• Orochimaru warned Kimimaro not to let his bones leave his body again, while considering him for further Ōtsutsuki Bloodline experiments.
• Tsunade confronted Orochimaru about his laboratory work, then told him that Teacher had called them to discuss village matters.
• Orochimaru and Tsunade discussed Jiraiya’s mission to Mist Village and Konoha’s growing influence there.
• Orochimaru said Hiruzen Sarutobi might have made a discovery in his research on Healing Talismans.

Hiruzen Sarutobi gathered Orochimaru and Tsunade to develop medical talismans, and their early experiments showed promise. Tsunade’s attempt to summon Katsuyu failed, so Hiruzen summoned Zisu instead, leaving Tsunade furious at the sight of her.

• Orochimaru and Tsunade arrived at Hiruzen Sarutobi’s expanded residence, where Danzo was showing off his daughter.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi asked Tsunade to explore making medical talismans, and Orochimaru suggested creating different grades for different injuries.
• Tsunade and Orochimaru made simple Healing Talismans and confirmed that the method could work.
• Tsunade tried to summon Katsuyu, but the attempt failed and drained her chakra because the Slug Sage had severed the contracts with the slug clones.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi summoned Zisu, prompting Tsunade to clench her fists and accuse him of a crime.

Zisu helped Konoha produce Healing Talismans, which Konoha sold at high prices as one of its strategic resources. As Konoha’s influence and strength grew, other villages and the Land of Fire applied pressure, while Obito worried that the changes would make capturing the Tailed Beasts harder.

• Zisu told Tsunade that Hiruzen Sarutobi had helped her reach Foundation Establishment, and she agreed to help study the Healing Talismans.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi decided that Zisu would make Healing Talismans for Konoha to buy and sell, and Orochimaru considered their pricing.
• Konoha released three grades of Healing Talismans, offering them cheaply to its own ninja while charging other villages much more.
• The other ninja villages and the Land of Fire pressured Konoha, but Konoha remained unconcerned because it had growing income and formidable strength.
• Orochimaru considered whether Konoha should issue its own currency to reduce its reliance on the Land of Fire.
• Obito worried that Konoha’s cooperation with Kirigakure and Kisame becoming the Three-Tails’ Jinchūriki would hinder the Akatsuki’s plans, but he feared returning to Konoha to retrieve his other Mangekyo Sharingan.

Obito went to Kumogakure to enlist A in a plan against Konoha, while Black Zetsu worried that Konoha's growing strength threatened his plans to free Kaguya Otsutsuki. A recognized Obito despite his claim to be Madara Uchiha and considered involving him in Kumogakure's scheme to provoke Konoha.

• Black Zetsu worried that Konoha's development, Hiruzen Sarutobi's strength, and Obito's unreliability were putting his plan to free Kaguya Otsutsuki at risk.
• Obito decided to stir up trouble in Kumogakure and traveled there to oppose Konoha's growing influence.
• Obito appeared in A's office through a space-time technique and claimed to be Madara Uchiha.
• A called Obito by his real name and listened as Obito proposed that they cooperate against Konoha.
• A considered using Obito to support Kumogakure's plan to target the Hyuga Clan's eldest daughter and use the incident to pressure Konoha.

Obito tried to recruit Kumogakure and Iwagakure into opposing Konoha’s alliance with Kirigakure, but both villages rejected him and attacked. He fled toward Sunagakure instead, while A and Ōnoki remained wary of Konoha’s intentions toward Kirigakure.

• Obito urged A to unite the ninja villages against Konoha and Kirigakure, but A dismissed the idea and demanded a concrete plan.
• A attacked Obito with Lightning Release, but Obito used his intangibility to escape Kumogakure.
• Obito went to Iwagakure and proposed cooperation to Ōnoki, who rejected him and attacked with Dust Release.
• Obito escaped Iwagakure and ruled out seeking help from Sunagakure, while A and Ōnoki continued watching Konoha’s moves toward Kirigakure.

Hiruzen Sarutobi cultivated through the half-year as Sasuke and Naruto grew up happily together, while Konoha's influence over Kirigakure continued to deepen. When Mist shinobi attacked Might Guy, he killed Jūzō Biwa and Raiga Kurosuki, leaving Mei Terumi and Jiraiya to face the aftermath.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi entered the Foundation Establishment Stage and cultivated steadily as Sasuke and Naruto reached three years old and became close playmates in the Uchiha compound.
• Konoha's influence in Kirigakure and Hoshigakure expanded while internal resentment toward Konoha grew among the Mist shinobi.
• Several Kirigakure shinobi confronted Might Guy outside the village and attacked him with Water Release.
• Might Guy opened the Gate of View, unleashed the Morning Peacock, and killed Jūzō Biwa and Raiga Kurosuki after breaking Jūzō Biwa's Kubikiribōchō.
• Mei Terumi and Jiraiya arrived at the scene, and Might Guy claimed he had only retaliated against the Mist shinobi.

After Guy avenged his father by defeating the Seven Ninja Swordsmen, Jiraiya and Mei Terumi settled the incident without breaking the alliance, while Kirigakure struggled with its losses. Meanwhile, Kumogakure’s envoys paid their reparations and secretly approached the Hyuga Clan compound, where Konoha’s surveillance caught them.

• Jiraiya healed a surviving Mist Village ninja, who confirmed that Kirigakure had started the confrontation, and Jiraiya sent Guy back to Konoha.
• Guy returned satisfied after avenging his father, while Kirigakure mourned the loss of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen and Zabuza Momochi reclaimed the Kubikiribōchō.
• Mei Terumi allowed defected ninja to return to Kirigakure, and Jiraiya assured her that Konoha would not pursue the incident as long as the villages remained allies.
• Three Kumogakure Jonin delivered the final reparations installment, then took advantage of what they thought was lax security to carry out their plan.
• Konoha’s surveillance detected the Kumogakure ninja approaching the Hyuga Clan compound, and Konoha immediately mobilized.

Three Kumogakure ninja abducted Hinata from the Hyuga grounds, but Konoha captured them and recovered her. At a gathering of Konoha’s Jonin, Orochimaru proposed war against Kumogakure and hinted at using the Impure World Reincarnation Jutsu.

• Three Kumogakure ninja broke into the Hyuga residence and fled with Hinata, while Hizashi left Neji with his wife and joined the pursuit.
• Konoha’s ANBU and Hyuga Jonin surrounded the kidnappers, and Uchiha and other ninja techniques subdued them before they could escape.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi returned Hinata to Hiashi and ordered the captives taken to the Interrogation Division as Konoha’s Jonin assembled.
• Orochimaru criticized the Hyuga Clan’s lax security and proposed that Konoha declare war on Kumogakure.
• Orochimaru asked whether the gathered ninja knew of the Second Hokage’s Impure World Reincarnation Jutsu.

Orochimaru persuaded Konoha to use Impure World Reincarnation against Cloud Hidden Village and summoned the First, Second, and Fourth Hokage. The three Hokage emerged and learned that Konoha needed their strength in the coming war.

• Orochimaru proposed using three Cloud Hidden Village envoys as sacrifices to summon the First, Second, and Fourth Hokage, and Konoha agreed.
• Cloud Hidden Village learned that its three envoys had died and sent a threat demanding the Hyuga Clan hand over the culprits.
• Konoha prepared for war, and Orochimaru used the Death God Mask to release the Fourth Hokage's soul from the Reaper Death Seal.
• Orochimaru performed Impure World Reincarnation and summoned Hashirama Senju, Tobirama Senju, and Minato Namikaze.
• Tobirama Senju questioned Orochimaru, who explained that Cloud Hidden Village had started a war and Konoha needed their strength.

Orochimaru explained Konoha’s recent history to the resurrected Hokage, including the village’s conflict with Cloud Village. Tobirama and the other Hokage broke free of Orochimaru’s control, and Tobirama stayed behind to question Fugaku and Shisui about the Nine-Tails Uprising.

• Minato warned Hashirama and Tobirama that Konoha might have suffered a coup involving the Uchiha and Orochimaru, but Hiruzen revealed that he was present and denied it.
• Orochimaru recounted the Hokage’s deaths and Konoha’s tensions with Cloud Village, explaining that he had summoned them to help teach Cloud Village a lesson.
• Tobirama released himself from Orochimaru’s control, and Hashirama and Minato followed by learning how to release themselves as well.
• Orochimaru dismissed the gathered ninja, while Tobirama asked Fugaku and Shisui to stay and demanded to know what had happened during the Nine-Tails Uprising.

Orochimaru and Hiruzen Sarutobi brief the resurrected Hokage on the Shinobi World’s history and Konoha’s plan to annex the other villages, prompting Hashirama Senju and Tobirama Senju to question the cost of war. The First and Second agree to help confront the Otsutsuki Clan, while Orochimaru prepares to attack Kumogakure and they consider whether Konoha’s former restraint served it well.

• Orochimaru and Hiruzen Sarutobi told Hashirama Senju, Tobirama Senju, and Minato Namikaze about the history of the Shinobi World and the threats facing it.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi declared Konoha would gradually annex the other ninja villages and unify the Five Great Nations, but Hashirama Senju objected that this would bring widespread war.
• Tobirama Senju argued that overwhelming strength could secure relative peace, while Orochimaru declared his ambition to exist forever alongside Konoha.
• Minato Namikaze asked to see his son, and Fugaku told him that he and Mikoto had adopted Naruto and that Naruto was at the Uchiha Grounds.
• Hashirama Senju and Tobirama Senju agreed to lend their strength against the Otsutsuki Clan, and Orochimaru said the war would begin in a week with Kumogakure as the target.
• Tsunade told Hashirama Senju that Nawaki had died in battle, then argued that Konoha’s villagers and ninja were happier now than before.

Hashirama and Tobirama learned how Konoha had changed and agreed to help Orochimaru’s plan to unify the Shinobi World. Konoha declared war on Kumogakure, leaving the other villages and the Land of Fire’s daimyo to react.

• Tobirama learned from Shisui that Orochimaru had resolved the conflict between Konoha and the Uchiha, and accepted Shisui as Kagami’s descendant.
• Minato saw Naruto safe and happy with the Uchiha, thanked Fugaku, and resolved to help Konoha after the war.
• Konoha seized the Kumogakure envoys and prepared to use the resurrected Hokage in the coming conflict.
• Tobirama persuaded Hashirama that unifying the Shinobi World could help defend against the Otsutsuki Clan, and Hashirama agreed to fight Kumogakure.
• Konoha declared war on the Cloud Shinobi at dawn, shocking the Shinobi World as Sunagakure and Iwagakure watched from the sidelines.

Konoha declared war on the Cloud Hidden Village, and Orochimaru prepared to lead a decisive surprise attack rather than send its forces into a conventional battle. As Konoha’s shinobi waited, Minato Namikaze’s Flying Thunder God Technique was set to transport them directly to the enemy village.

• A was stunned when Konoha declared war on the Cloud Hidden Village and began preparing for battle.
• The Land of Fire’s envoy was detained, and Orochimaru rallied Konoha’s residents and shinobi for war.
• Danzo complained to Tobirama about the Uchiha, but Tobirama told him to trust Hiruzen Sarutobi’s choice and later resolved to develop a technique against the Mangekyo Sharingan.
• Minato Namikaze watched Naruto from afar at the Uchiha Grounds while Hashirama spent time with Tsunade and Tobirama advised Orochimaru and Shikaku.
• Konoha’s shinobi gathered in squads and waited for Minato Namikaze to use the Flying Thunder God Technique to transport them to the Cloud Hidden Village.