Recaps

Jingyi let Killer B continue training with Eight-Tails and approved Kushina’s plan to leave the village for revenge. Kushina headed for the Land of Fire’s coastline with a shadow clone at home and two scrolls of backup weapons, including a deadly poison puppet.

• Jingyi told Killer B to practice controlling his chakra and Eight-Tails’ chakra while limiting how freely he acted in the village.
• Killer B kept pestering Eight-Tails with his talking and singing, while Eight-Tails grew increasingly frustrated.
• After dinner, Kushina stayed behind to ask Jingyi’s permission to pursue her revenge, explaining that she and Nine-Tails planned to make their enemies fight each other.
• Kushina left the village after placing a shadow clone at home and took two scrolls from Jingyi, one containing hundreds of puppets and another containing a toxic puppet made from Hanzō.
• Tsunade worried about Kushina’s safety and the devastation the toxic puppet could cause, but Jingyi said Kushina would use it only if her life was in danger.

Kushina began her revenge against Kumogakure and Kirigakure by joining forces with Gold Fang to sink merchant ships and attack patrol vessels. After ten days of disappearances, the Third Raikage blamed Kirigakure and considered how Kumogakure should respond.

• Tsunade let Kushina proceed with her revenge, while Kushina left Konoha for the southeastern coastline to meet Gold Fang.
• Kushina and Gold Fang began their operation together at sea.
• Gold Fang created a whirlpool that pulled a Land of Lightning merchant ship under, then attacked the ninja who survived.
• Over the next ten days, merchant ships from the Land of Lightning and the Land of Water, along with Kirigakure patrol ships, were attacked and disappeared.
• Dodai reported the losses to the Third Raikage, who blamed Kirigakure and learned that Genji had supported Yagura in Kirigakure's internal conflict.

Kumogakure and Kirigakure blamed each other for attacks on ships, escalating their maritime tensions after Kumogakure mobilized its warships. At Konoha's Anbu base, Pakura delivered intelligence to Jingyi.

• The Third Raikage learned Kirigakure had attacked ships from the Land of Lightning and ordered Kumogakure to send a forceful response.
• Yagura learned Kirigakure patrol warships had gone missing and suspected Kumogakure after hearing its ships were gathering near Kirigakure's waters.
• The Third Raikage deployed Kumogakure's warships to protect sea routes, prompting repeated standoffs with Kirigakure.
• Pakura brought Anbu intelligence to Jingyi at Konoha's Anbu base.

Kushina’s attacks kept Kumogakure and Kirigakure suspicious of each other, but both villages remained restrained. While searching the sea for another chance to strike, she discovered Turtle Island, a giant turtle secretly used by Kumogakure, and fled underwater after Nine-Tails sensed shinobi nearby.

• Jingyi explained to Pakura how Kushina and Nine-Tails’ attacks were designed to make Kumogakure and Kirigakure blame each other.
• Kumogakure and Kirigakure exchanged attacks at sea but avoided escalating their conflict into a major war.
• Kushina asked Nine-Tails how to provoke the villages into fighting, but their targets’ increased precautions made attacks difficult.
• Kushina spotted what looked like a moving island, and Nine-Tails sensed that it was a giant turtle with Kumogakure shinobi aboard.
• Gold Fang swallowed Kushina and dove underwater as a Kumogakure shinobi searched for the presence that had unsettled Turtle Island.
• Nine-Tails told Kushina that the island was Turtle Island, Kumogakure’s hidden secret, leaving her astonished by the giant turtle’s size.

Kushina wanted to provoke Kumogakure and Kirigakure into fighting, so she ordered Nine-Tails to attack Turtle Island. After two Tailed Beast Balls destroyed the island and killed its giant turtle, Gold Fang feasted on the remains while patrol ships from both villages headed toward the explosions.

• Kushina asked Nine-Tails whether Kumogakure would be furious if Turtle Island's giant turtle disappeared, then proposed attacking it with a Tailed Beast Ball.
• Kushina enlisted Gold Fang to help Nine-Tails, and the three left the sealing space as Kushina formed a giant Nine-Tails head above the sea.
• Nine-Tails fired a Tailed Beast Ball that struck Turtle Island, shaking it and devastating its forests and wildlife.
• Kushina ordered another Tailed Beast Ball, and Nine-Tails destroyed the turtle and broke Turtle Island apart.
• Gold Fang tossed Kushina aside and dove into the sea to eat the turtle's remains as Kumogakure and Kirigakure patrol ships headed toward the explosions.

Kushina escaped with Gold Fang while Kumogakure and Kirigakure fought over access to the site where the giant turtle had been killed. The remains sent back to both villages alarmed Dodai and puzzled Yagura, leaving the cause of the creature’s death unknown.

• Kumogakure attacked Kirigakure’s warships, and both sides called for reinforcements as the battle escalated.
• Kushina and Gold Fang slipped away while the villages fought, and Kushina wondered what had triggered the conflict.
• Kumogakure reached the site first and found scarlet seawater, vegetation, scales, and flesh fragments left by a giant creature.
• Dodai recognized the scales as possibly connected to Turtle Island and ordered the remains sent to the Third Raikage.
• Yagura suspected the scales came from a giant turtle and ordered Kirigakure to ask the Third Raikage whether Kumogakure intended to go to war.

The Third Raikage discovered that Turtle Island had been destroyed and ordered Kumogakure to investigate, while Kirigakure’s efforts to question Kumogakure reignited tensions between the villages. He told Yagura that war had already begun and ordered a hostile reply, leaving his son Little A confused by his fury.

• Yagura sent Kumogakure a letter demanding an explanation for the clash with Kirigakure.
• The Third Raikage learned from Dodai’s message that Turtle Island had been destroyed and erupted in anger, wrecking much of his office.
• The Third Raikage ordered Kumogakure’s ships and ninja to seal off the waters and salvage the wreckage, while Kirigakure sent forces to the area.
• The Third Raikage received Yagura’s letter of inquiry and ordered a reply declaring that war had begun when Kirigakure ambushed Kumogakure’s merchant ships.
• Little A entered the Raikage Office, picked up the letter, and asked his father what had happened.

After the Third Raikage threatened Kirigakure, Yagura sent opposing clans to the Disputed Waters rather than answer with words. Meanwhile, Kumogakure investigated Turtle Island and found evidence that an enormous creature had torn it apart, leaving the Third Raikage dissatisfied with the sparse clues.

• The Third Raikage treated his threat to Kirigakure as routine intimidation and assumed Yagura would not risk war.
• Yagura consulted Genji, then ordered members of the Kaguya Clan, Snow Clan, and Hozuki Clan to the Disputed Waters.
• Genji accepted Yagura's decision and left the village's affairs to the new Mizukage.
• The Third Raikage focused on investigating what had happened to Turtle Island while Kumogakure sent more personnel to examine it.
• Dodai reported that teeth marks on Turtle Island's remains indicated an immense creature had torn it apart, but the Third Raikage questioned whether anything that large existed and asked for more information.

Third Raikage suspected Kushina might have destroyed Turtle Island with a Tailed Beast Ball and asked Konoha about B, while B's constant rapping began to win over the Eight-Tails. Meanwhile, Kumogakure and Kirigakure reinforced their forces in disputed waters, unaware that Yagura had sent Kirigakure's disaffected fighters there to provoke a wider conflict.

• Dodai speculated that a Tailed Beast Ball had torn apart Turtle Island, and Third Raikage ordered him to check on B and discreetly investigate Konoha's Nine-Tails Jinchūriki.
• B continued rapping and talking to the Eight-Tails until it began to adjust to his constant chatter.
• Jingyi visited B, confirmed he was well, and promised to reply to Third Raikage's inquiry before leaving to avoid hearing B's new song.
• Konoha sent Kumogakure a reassuring report about B, while Kumogakure and Kirigakure escalated their standoff by sending more personnel to the disputed waters.
• Yagura sent Kirigakure's disaffected elements to the disputed waters, where the presence of Kaguya Clan members threatened to turn friction into combat.

Kaguya Clan shinobi turned an exchange of insults in the Disputed Waters into a large battle between Kirigakure and Kumogakure. As Kumogakure prepared to retaliate and sought Konoha’s support against Iwagakure, Jingyi ordered Kushina to return to the village.

• Kaguya Clan shinobi attacked Kumogakure patrol ships after being insulted, drawing both villages into an expanding battle in the Disputed Waters.
• Yagura accepted the fighting, while the Third Raikage learned Kumogakure’s men had been attacked and called a high-level meeting.
• Kumogakure’s leaders unanimously decided to strike back, and the Third Raikage warned Konoha that war could break out while asking it to prepare to hold Iwagakure in check.
• The Third Hokage called Konoha’s leaders to a meeting after receiving Kumogakure’s warning.
• Jingyi contacted Kushina and ordered her to return to the village because the escalating conflict made it unsafe for her to remain outside.

Jingyi attended an emergency meeting after Kumogakure and Kirigakure clashed at sea, putting Konoha’s new alliance with Kumogakure at risk of pulling the village into war. As the Third Hokage considered Kumogakure’s request for Konoha to restrain Iwagakure, Jingyi reminded the assembled leaders that he had recommended an alliance with Iwagakure instead.

• Jingyi received an order to attend an emergency meeting at the Hokage Office Building.
• The Third Hokage told the assembled leaders that Kumogakure and Kirigakure had fought in a disputed sea region and were sending in more forces.
• The Third Hokage revealed that Kumogakure had warned Konoha and wanted it to keep Iwagakure tied down if war broke out.
• The senior officials looked to Jingyi over Konoha’s alliance choice, and Jingyi said the Third Hokage had chosen Kumogakure despite his recommendation to ally with Iwagakure.

Jingyi revealed that the Third Hokage and Utatane Koharu had chosen an alliance with Kumogakure despite his warnings, and the elders shifted the blame onto Koharu. The meeting then turned to how Konoha could keep Iwagakure out of the looming conflict between Kumogakure and Kirigakure.

• Jingyi said he had warned the Third Hokage that allying with Kumogakure was risky and that Iwagakure would be a more stable partner.
• Mitokado Homura blamed Utatane Koharu for persuading the Third Hokage to choose Kumogakure, and the Third Hokage also let Koharu take the blame.
• Utatane Koharu accepted responsibility for failing to see through Kumogakure's scheme and resolved to demand compensation from Hiruzen Sarutobi.
• The Third Hokage said Konoha could not join a sea war but had to consider how to delay Iwagakure from entering the conflict.
• Torifu Akimichi warned that Ōnoki was unlikely to pass up an opportunity to attack Kumogakure.

Jingyi proposed a limited response if Iwagakure attacked Kumogakure, arguing that Konoha only needed to send enough ninja to fulfill its alliance obligations rather than fight to the death. He suggested sending idle clan forces to the border, leaving the Third Hokage unhappy because those clans included his supporters.

• The Third Hokage asked Jingyi how Konoha should respond to the danger of Iwagakure entering Kumogakure's war with Kirigakure.
• Jingyi said Konoha could not avoid its alliance duties but did not need to risk a prolonged war for Kumogakure.
• Jingyi proposed sending a group of ninja to tie down some of Iwagakure's forces if they attacked Kumogakure.
• Jingyi suggested deploying idle ninja from village clans to the border to demonstrate Konoha's sincerity.
• The Third Hokage realized Jingyi's plan would send ninja from clans that supported him to face Iwagakure's forces.

Jingyi’s proposal to keep Konoha out of the conflict between Kumogakure and Kirigakure met with silence at an emergency meeting. Afterward, Hiruzen, Utatane Koharu, and Mitokado Homura argued over who was responsible for the alliance with Kumogakure, and Homura condemned Danzo’s repeated interference.

• Jingyi proposed that Konoha avoid the conflict between Kumogakure and Kirigakure and focus on guarding against Iwagakure.
• Torifu Akimichi supported Jingyi, and the Third Hokage invited the officials to share their suggestions, but the meeting ended in silence.
• The Third Hokage questioned Mitokado Homura after the other officials left, and Homura said he had stayed silent because Jingyi’s words made sense.
• Utatane Koharu accused the Third Hokage of making her take the blame for the Kumogakure alliance, and she demanded compensation for the damage to her reputation.
• Mitokado Homura rebuked the Third Hokage and Utatane Koharu, then blamed them and Danzo for pushing the alliance and repeatedly stirring up trouble.

Mitokado Homura blamed Utatane Koharu and warned the Third Hokage that Jingyi was waiting for a chance to target the Shimura Clan. Jingyi refused to take responsibility for preventing war, while Shikaku Nara explained that the risk depended on Iwagakure’s calculations and whether Konoha would bring Sunagakure into the conflict.

• Mitokado Homura berated Utatane Koharu for avoiding blame and warned the Third Hokage that Jingyi might target the Shimura Clan, forcing him to consider whether the Sarutobi Clan could be sent to the front lines.
• Jingyi told Torifu Akimichi that war could be avoided if Kumogakure and Kirigakure did not fight, then dismissed concerns that war would affect him or that he should help resolve it.
• Torifu Akimichi complained about Jingyi’s remarks, while Shikaku Nara told him that pressuring Jingyi would only alienate him and the Ino-Shika-Cho families.
• Shikaku Nara explained that Konoha’s alliance meant it would support Kumogakure, but Iwagakure might hesitate to attack because of the costs and the risk of Konoha involving Sunagakure.
• Torifu Akimichi realized that Sunagakure’s possible participation was the key factor in the war calculations.

The Third Raikage proposed financing Konoha and Sunagakure so they could deter Iwagakure while Kumogakure fought Kirigakure. The war began, fueling protests in Konoha, while the Third Kazekage and Chiyo considered Kumogakure’s offer to Sunagakure.

• The Third Raikage argued that Kumogakure could provide Konoha and Sunagakure with funds and resources to counter Iwagakure during a war with Kirigakure.
• Five days after Kumogakure notified Konoha, fighting between Kumogakure and Kirigakure broke out.
• Konoha villagers blamed Utatane Koharu for supporting the alliance and protested against the coming war outside the Hokage Office Building.
• The Third Hokage avoided dispersing the protesters, fearing that force would intensify their anger.
• The Third Kazekage asked Chiyo about Kumogakure’s offer, and she explained that Kumogakure would pay Sunagakure and cover its war costs in return for helping Konoha deter Iwagakure.

The Third Kazekage and Chiyo questioned why Kumogakure and Kirigakure were heading toward war, concluding that Yagura might be using the conflict to purge threats within Kirigakure. They anticipated that Ōnoki could also attack Kumogakure, leaving the Third Kazekage to consider how Sunagakure might benefit; meanwhile, Yagura and Ōnoki met, with Ōnoki deliberately arriving late.

• The Third Kazekage asked Chiyo what Kumogakure could gain from fighting Kirigakure, and they dismissed dried fish and trade routes as likely motives.
• Chiyo suggested Yagura might be starting a war to purge rivals and factions within Kirigakure, and the Third Kazekage agreed.
• The Third Kazekage reasoned that the ocean limited the scale of a Kumogakure–Kirigakure war and asked whether Ōnoki would attack Kumogakure.
• Chiyo predicted that Ōnoki would declare war on Kumogakure, and the Third Kazekage anticipated that Kumogakure would pay Konoha and Sunagakure to help restrain Iwagakure.
• The Third Kazekage rejected the idea that Ōnoki would try to recruit Sunagakure, while Yagura and Ōnoki met and Ōnoki deliberately kept Yagura waiting.

Yagura tried to persuade Ōnoki to attack Kumogakure alongside Kirigakure, arguing that Iwagakure had a rare chance to avenge Kumogakure’s past resource thefts. Ōnoki left tempted by the opportunity but worried about the risks to Iwagakure.

• Yagura dismissed the idea of an alliance and told Ōnoki that Kirigakure wanted Iwagakure to join its war against Kumogakure.
• Yagura argued that Iwagakure had suffered from Kumogakure’s resource thefts and could seize the chance to take revenge while Kirigakure drew Kumogakure’s attention.
• Ōnoki protested that Iwagakure would be used and warned that Konoha might support its ally, but Yagura replied that Konoha was still weakened by war and Kirigakure was protected by its remote location.
• Yagura left Ōnoki to decide whether Iwagakure would enter the war.
• Ōnoki considered joining the fight but worried that Kumogakure could focus its forces on Iwagakure, while Konoha and Sunagakure posed additional threats.

Ōnoki weighed Iwagakure’s chances of attacking Kumogakure and, after consulting Kitsuchi and the village’s leaders, declared war. Iwagakure’s sudden decision left Kumogakure and even the Third Raikage caught off guard.

• Kitsuchi argued that Kumogakure could not indefinitely fund Konoha and Sunagakure while fighting on two fronts, convincing Ōnoki that Iwagakure had an advantage.
• Ōnoki considered attacking Kumogakure and coordinating with Kirigakure, while weighing the village’s financial troubles, military ambitions, and longstanding grievances.
• Ōnoki called a high-level meeting, where at least two-thirds of the leaders, including the daimyo, supported war against Kumogakure.
• Iwagakure suddenly declared war on Kumogakure, surprising the Third Raikage despite his suspicion that Iwagakure might attack.

Iwagakure’s Earth Release Corps invaded the Land of Lightning, prompting Konoha to prepare for war despite divisions among its senior officials. After the Third Hokage called Jingyi to stay behind, Jingyi challenged his claim that the village needed to change by pointing out that senior officials had originally been entitled to speak.

• Iwagakure sent its Earth Release Corps into the Land of Lightning before formally declaring war on Kumogakure.
• The Third Hokage told Konoha’s senior officials that Kumogakure had asked its ally to attack the Land of Earth, and Mitokado Homura urged preparations for war.
• The Third Hokage ended the silent meeting and asked Jingyi to remain with him, Shikaku Nara, Mitokado Homura, and Utatane Koharu.
• The Third Hokage said Konoha’s senior officials’ meetings needed to change, and Jingyi laughed and argued that every qualified individual or clan holding a seat had the right to speak.

Jingyi challenged the Third Hokage over Konoha’s silenced leaders and refusal to take responsibility, then left the meeting and returned home. He found Kushina waiting for him and asked what she had done while away.

• Jingyi argued that the Third Hokage had concentrated decision-making power among his faction and made the other leaders afraid to speak freely.
• Jingyi criticized the Third Hokage for shifting blame and argued that reputation mattered less than protecting and benefiting the village.
• Jingyi recommended ending the high-level meetings, refused to help with the war effort, and suggested sending the Shimura Clan to the front lines.
• Jingyi left the Hokage Office Building and returned home, where he found Kushina sprawled on the sofa.
• Kushina leaped into Jingyi’s arms, and he set her down and asked her to recount what she had done while away.

Jingyi learned that Kushina had destroyed Kumogakure’s secret Turtle Island, helping trigger its war with Kirigakure, and explained how Yagura used the conflict to weaken Kirigakure’s rival clans. He told Kushina that Iwagakure had also declared war on Kumogakure, drawing all Five Great Shinobi Villages into the conflict.

• Kushina told Jingyi that she and Big Fox had destroyed Turtle Island with Tailed Beast Balls after she found Kumogakure ninja there.
• Jingyi concluded that the destruction of Turtle Island and Kirigakure’s investigation had helped provoke Kumogakure into war.
• Jingyi explained that Yagura had sent the Kaguya, Snow, and Hozuki clans to the Disputed Waters to weaken opposition to his rule.
• Jingyi predicted that the Third Raikage would take the fight to the Land of Water and make Yagura regret provoking him.
• Jingyi told Kushina that Iwagakure had declared war on Kumogakure and that Konoha and Sunagakure would join the fighting, involving all Five Great Shinobi Villages.

Jingyi warned Kushina to hide her role in destroying Turtle Island while Konoha’s Third Hokage struggled with opposition to joining the war. The daimyo seized the conflict as a chance to damage Hiruzen Sarutobi’s reputation, then secretly ordered his aide killed to conceal his involvement.

• Jingyi told Kushina that Kumogakure would investigate Turtle Island’s destruction and reminded her to claim she had stayed in the village.
• Kushina returned to her room to rest while the Third Hokage agonized over Konoha’s alliance with Kumogakure and the villagers’ opposition to war.
• An aide told the daimyo that the wars involving Kumogakure, Kirigakure, and Iwagakure offered a chance to expose Hiruzen Sarutobi’s incriminating information.
• The daimyo ordered the aide to arrange the information’s release through outsiders and then privately told a shadow to kill the aide afterward.

The Daimyo suspected the Third Hokage had ordered the assassination attempt against him, while anti-war protests continued to overwhelm Konoha. When Hatake Sakumo brought Jingyi intelligence alleging that the Third Hokage and Shimura Clan had misused village funds, Jingyi decided to let the news spread before acting.

• The Daimyo concluded that the Third Hokage had the strongest motive for the assassination attempt, though he lacked proof.
• Round-the-clock anti-war protests strained the Third Hokage and left the Police Force exhausted.
• Hatake Sakumo delivered Jingyi intelligence that enemy spies might be operating in the village, along with allegations of financial misconduct.
• Jingyi read the allegations that the Third Hokage and Shimura Clan had misappropriated village funds and laughed at the trouble they would cause.
• Jingyi told Hatake Sakumo to pretend he had not seen the intelligence and planned to let the allegations spread before handling them.

Jingyi delayed releasing intelligence about the Third Hokage's misappropriation of village funds while investigating who had spread it, and discovered the Daimyo's Court was behind the leak. He brought the evidence to Tsunade, who confronted the Third Hokage as the scandal reached the Hokage Office.

• Jingyi used puppets to investigate the source of the spreading intelligence and learned that the Daimyo's Court had gathered it to retaliate against the Third Hokage.
• After two days, Jingyi brought the intelligence scroll home and told Tsunade that her teacher's affairs had been exposed.
• Tsunade read the scroll, rushed to the Hokage Office, and told Jingyi that she needed to confront the Third Hokage.
• Jingyi explained to Kushina that the Third Hokage's misappropriation of village funds had become public while the Hokage Office was distracted by the war and village protests.
• Tsunade burst into the Hokage Office and told the Third Hokage to read the evidence; he scanned the scroll, froze, and dropped it.