Recaps

Tobitake Tonbo witnessed Qiang, a Konoha Security Defense Department ninja, try to kill ANBU elite Qi Jie and learned that Qiang was a spy. He stopped Qiang’s soul-sealing technique and left Qi Jie safe while Qiang was trapped in his genjutsu.

• Qiang killed Xiang, burned the house, and fled, while Qi Jie arrived too late and set out to investigate him.
• Tobitake Tonbo concealed himself as Qiang and Qi Jie fought beside the river.
• Qiang used a sealing technique to pull Qi Jie’s soul from his body and claimed he had obtained a personal medium from Qi Jie’s home.
• Tobitake Tonbo appeared, stopped the sealing technique, and trapped Qiang in genjutsu after revealing he knew Qiang was a spy.
• Qi Jie regained control of his body and addressed Tobitake Tonbo.

Tobitake Tonbo read Qiang’s mind, uncovered his ties to the Hannya Corps, and left Qi Jie to take revenge. Meanwhile, Konoha rebuilt under Tsunade as she operated on Rock Lee, while Tobitake Tonbo anticipated the coming battle to bring Sasuke back.

• Tobitake Tonbo used the Mind Reading Technique on Qiang and learned that he had killed Qi Jie’s wife to obtain a bodily medium and spy on Konoha.
• Tobitake Tonbo discovered Qiang was a former member of the Hannya Corps who sought revenge by selling Konoha’s defensive intelligence, and learned the Soul-Body Separation Technique from his memories.
• Tobitake Tonbo told Qi Jie that Qiang had no useful information left, and Qi Jie removed his mask and killed him.
• Shikaku told Shikamaru that advising Tsunade had left him exhausted, though Konoha’s steady recovery reassured him.
• Tsunade operated on Rock Lee using a Medical Ninjutsu she had developed, while Guy anxiously waited outside and Tobitake Tonbo considered the coming battle to bring Sasuke back.

Tobitake Tonbo secretly monitored the Sound Four and gathered data on their abilities while ensuring Sasuke’s departure could follow its original course. After Sasuke accepted the Sound Four’s offer, he left Konoha, knocking Sakura unconscious on the way out.

• Tobitake Tonbo secretly placed the Sound Four under Genjutsu and collected data on their bodies and Cursed Seal potential.
• Tobitake Tonbo decided not to interfere with Sasuke’s established path, citing his wish to protect his family from danger.
• The Sound Four persuaded Sasuke to leave Konoha by showing him their Cursed Seals.
• Sakura waited for Sasuke beneath the moonlight, but Sasuke struck her unconscious and carried her to a roadside bench before leaving.

After Sakura reported Sasuke Uchiha’s disappearance, Tsunade sent Shikamaru Nara to lead a retrieval team, while the advisors refused to let Tobitake Tonbo leave Konoha. Tobitake secretly followed the team with four clones, intending to protect them and ensure Sasuke still reached Orochimaru, whose ability to take Sasuke’s body he had secretly blocked for three years.

• Kidomaru and three others traveled through the forest carrying large barrels and mocked the person Orochimaru feared for not noticing them.
• Konoha security ninja woke Sakura, who realized Sasuke was gone, and Tsunade ordered a retrieval mission.
• Utatane Tsubaki and Mitokado Homura argued that Konoha could not spare its remaining Jōnin or Tobitake Tonbo, so Tsunade summoned Shikamaru Nara to lead the mission.
• Shikamaru gathered a team that included Kiba Inuzuka and led them out of Konoha to retrieve Sasuke Uchiha.
• Tobitake Tonbo followed the team using four clones and revealed that he had tampered with Sasuke’s body to prevent Orochimaru from taking it for three years.

Konoha’s pursuit of Sasuke continued as Tsunade sent a recovered Rock Lee on a mission to protect the village. Meanwhile, Orochimaru dispatched Kabuto and Kimimaro to support the Sound Four, leaving his reincarnation plans dependent on their success.

• Kiba led Naruto, Shikamaru, and the others through the Sound Four’s traps, while Tobitake Tonbo followed with four clones.
• Tsunade checked Rock Lee’s recovery and sent him on an urgent mission to defend Konoha.
• Orochimaru told Kabuto he feared the Sound Four’s operation would fail and ordered him to help retrieve Sasuke.
• Kabuto brought Kimimaro along, and the two prepared to leave while Orochimaru’s body continued to weaken.
• Kabuto ordered the test subjects to fight to the death so the survivor could serve as a backup reincarnation vessel, then warned Kimimaro they might face Konoha’s elite.

Choji fought Jirobo alone so Shikamaru and the others could pursue Sasuke, using the combat experience from Tonbo-sensei’s training and his clan’s secret medicine to survive Jirobo’s increasingly powerful transformations. After Jirobo trapped him, endured his attacks, and drained his chakra, Choji swallowed the Chili Pill and grew butterfly wings, leaving their battle unresolved.

• Choji blocked Jirobo’s shuriken and stayed behind so Shikamaru and the others could chase Sasuke.
• Choji escaped Jirobo’s Earth Prison Dome with a clone and struck him from behind with a powerful blow and an Explosive Tag.
• Jirobo survived the explosion by transforming with Cursed Seal Level Two, and Choji swallowed the yellow secret pill to face his increased strength.
• Choji used Super Multi-Size Technique, but Jirobo’s Mud Doll caught his hand and began absorbing his chakra.
• Choji canceled the technique, swallowed the Chili Pill, and grew butterfly wings as Jirobo watched in surprise.

Tobitake Tonbo observed Choji defeat Jirobo and preserved Choji after he collapsed. Meanwhile, Shikamaru’s team pursued Sasuke, split up to get past Kidomaru, and Kiba charged ahead as Neji confronted the enemy.

• Tobitake Tonbo analyzed Jirobo’s Cursed Seal and Choji’s pills, gaining information he hoped to use for Sage Mode and Taijutsu.
• Choji crushed Jirobo with a leg drop, then collapsed after releasing his transformation.
• Tobitake Tonbo preserved Choji’s condition with the Illusory Body Technique and left his injuries for Tsunade to treat.
• Kidomaru set traps and concealed himself as Shikamaru’s team caught up, while Kiba and Akamaru and Neji scouted ahead.
• Shikamaru assigned Neji to face the enemy blocking their path and sent Kiba onward to deal with the stronger opponent.
• Kiba used Fang Over Fang to tear through Kidomaru’s traps as Shikamaru and Naruto followed, while a figure above them attacked with Gentle Fist.

Neji fought Kidomaru in the Battlefield Simulation while Shikamaru’s team continued toward Sasuke. Neji struck Kidomaru with Eight Trigrams: Vacuum Palm, but Kidomaru’s arrow hit a Shadow Clone, leaving the outcome of their close battle unresolved.

• Kidomaru fired Spider Gold arrows at Shikamaru and the others, but a kunai carrying an Explosive Tag intercepted them and let the group escape.
• Neji attacked Kidomaru with shuriken and Gentle Fist, while Kidomaru used his metallic body and spiderwebs to counter him.
• Tobitake Tonbo’s clone watched their battle and collected their physical data, noting how much Neji had improved through illusion training.
• Shikamaru urged Naruto and Kiba to trust Neji and stay focused on bringing Sasuke back, and Kiba agreed to remain steady.
• Kidomaru transformed, battered the forest with arrows, and searched for Neji, who concealed his presence and appeared close to him.
• Neji used Eight Trigrams: Vacuum Palm to strike Kidomaru, but the arrow hit Neji’s Shadow Clone, which vanished in smoke.

Neji killed Kidomaru with the Gentle Fist, while Tobitake Tonbo studied the body and gathered more data on the Cursed Seal. As Kimimaro took Sasuke toward Orochimaru, Naruto pursued him while Shikamaru and Kiba stayed behind to fight Sakon and Tayuya.

• Neji struck Kidomaru with the Gentle Fist: Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms, killed him, and left to catch up with Shikamaru’s group.
• Tobitake Tonbo examined Kidomaru’s destroyed organs and chakra pathways, collected more Cursed Seal data, and joined his other clone to continue the pursuit.
• Kabuto sensed that something was wrong as he and Kimimaro hurried toward the others.
• Kimimaro met Sakon and Tayuya, took the barrel containing Sasuke, and left for Orochimaru.
• Naruto, Shikamaru, and Kiba caught up with Sakon and Tayuya; Naruto chased Kimimaro while Shikamaru and Kiba prepared to hold off the Sound ninja and Tayuya’s summoned Doki.

Tobitake Tonbo observed Kiba and Shikamaru fighting Sakon, Ukon, and Tayuya, then used the battle to study Sakon and Ukon’s body-splitting technique. He forced the brothers out of Kiba, but Shikamaru remained in danger against Tayuya.

• Kabuto hurried after Kimimaro while Rock Lee and Neji raced toward Naruto and Sasuke.
• Shikamaru used a Flash Tag to trap Sakon and Tayuya with his Shadow Imitation, while Kiba and Akamaru attacked alongside him.
• Sakon split his body into cellular-level particles and merged into Kiba, while Tayuya’s flute summoned illusory creatures to attack Shikamaru.
• Tobitake Tonbo spread his nerves through Kiba and the brothers, studying their technique before using Genjutsu to force Sakon and Ukon out of Kiba.
• Tobitake Tonbo restored the brothers’ bodies, but Shikamaru struggled to hold off Tayuya, whose Cursed Seal-enhanced strength countered his Shadow Neck Binding Technique.

Kiba and Shikamaru defeated Tayuya and Sakon and Ukon, then joined Neji to pursue Sasuke. Meanwhile, a masked man and Zetsu watched the chase and discussed Sasuke’s potential and Itachi’s plans before leaving.

• Kiba redirected Fang Wolf Fang to kill Tayuya, then worked with Shikamaru to defeat Sakon and Ukon.
• Tobitake Tonbo read what he could from Sakon and Tayuya and collected Sakon’s remains to study his Kekkei Genkai.
• Neji joined Shikamaru and Kiba, and the three followed Sasuke’s trail while Shikamaru worried about Choji.
• Gaara watched his siblings split up, a green-clad pursuer chose a direction through the forest, and Kabuto decided to stay behind and cover Kimimaro’s retreat.
• Zetsu and the spiral-masked man observed the pursuit and discussed Sasuke’s potential, Itachi’s watchfulness, and the danger of provoking Itachi before they left.

Kabuto stalled Shikamaru, Kiba, and Neji until Kankuro and Temari arrived, while Naruto’s pursuit of Sasuke continued after Rock Lee stepped in to fight Kimimaro. The reinforcements faced Kabuto as Lee opened the first three Gates against Kimimaro.

• Kabuto fought Shikamaru, Kiba, and Neji, injuring all three while deliberately holding back and buying time.
• Kankuro and Temari arrived and attacked Kabuto, but he evaded their ambush and regrouped near the battered Konoha team.
• Naruto fought Kimimaro while Sasuke headed toward Orochimaru’s lair, and Naruto used tactics and ninja tools to keep Kimimaro occupied.
• Rock Lee arrived, kicked Kimimaro away from Naruto, and told Naruto to pursue Sasuke while he took over the fight.
• Rock Lee opened the Gates of Opening, Healing, and Life as he faced Kimimaro, while Temari, Kankuro, Shikamaru, Kiba, and Neji confronted Kabuto.

After the Sasuke retrieval mission failed, Tobitake Tonbo confirmed Sasuke showed no signs of Orochimaru’s soul erosion and spent six months developing Nerve Displacement. The chapter left Tonbo able to travel between connected points in his neural network, while he planned to master displacement across severed connections.

• Kabuto escaped Shikamaru’s team using an earth clone, while Rock Lee overwhelmed Kimimaro until Kimimaro unleashed a field of bone spikes and sand lifted Lee to safety.
• Kakashi rescued Naruto, and the failed team returned to Konoha with Rock Lee and Choji injured; Tonbo sensed that Sasuke had likely avoided Orochimaru’s reincarnation timing.
• Six months later, Konohamaru boasted that he could defeat Tenyu and Maki and planned to challenge Tonbo, while Moegi and Udon warned him about Tonbo’s abilities.
• Tonbo completed Nerve Displacement, allowing him to transform down to the cellular level and move through his neural network between connected locations.
• Tonbo recognized that his improved technique had made the nerves created by Contact Evolution more concealed and delicate, and he understood why his crude nerves had once been repelled by Boruto’s Ōtsutsuki Kāma.

Tsunade discovered that Sakura and Ino had mastered the Mystical Palm Technique with exceptional ease, thanks to Tobitake Tonbo’s chakra-control training, and began teaching them advanced medical ninjutsu. At a class reunion, Tonbo teased his unmarried classmates while they spotted Asuma and Kurenai heading on a date, then hid from Kurenai’s keen senses.

• Tsunade watched Sakura and Ino heal fish with the Mystical Palm Technique and realized their chakra control was remarkably advanced.
• Sakura explained that Tobitake Tonbo had taught them chakra control, and Tsunade decided to train the girls in true medical techniques.
• At a barbecue gathering, Hayama Shirakumo revealed that he had a two-year-old child, and Tonbo teased his unmarried classmates about finding spouses.
• Kakashi and the others noticed Asuma and Kurenai heading toward the cinema and guessed that they were dating.
• Kurenai sensed someone watching her and Asuma, but Asuma found no enemies; after the couple left, Tonbo and the others emerged from an alley.

A year later, Tobitake Tonbo demonstrated his new Senjutsu movement technique while caring for his infant son, Tobitake Keigo, and reflected on his growing power and the looming uncertainty around Urashiki Ōtsutsuki. As Konoha recovered, Tonbo prepared to leave the village’s front lines, train Ino to succeed him, and search for Amado and Kara.

• Tobitake Tonbo showed Tobitake Keigo his speed, then explained that his Neural Transfer had developed into Disconnected-Line Transfer through Natural Energy.
• Tobitake Tonbo brought Tobitake Keigo home to Ayame and played with him while reflecting on his chakra, physical evolution, and concern that Urashiki Ōtsutsuki might appear during the Fourth War.
• Tobitake Tonbo noted that Konoha was recovering under Tsunade and that the new generation, including Ino, had begun leading teams on missions.
• Tobitake Tonbo trained Ino to take over as head of the Analysis Division and planned to withdraw from Konoha’s front lines before establishing a Technology Development Bureau after the Fourth War.
• Tobitake Tonbo considered recruiting Orochimaru and Kabuto for future research work, while wondering where Amado and Kara were hiding.

Orochimaru and Sasuke discovered that a secret technique had planted living nerves inside Sasuke, allowing its user to track him and potentially control his body, interfere with his chakra, and steal information. Orochimaru suspected the technique belonged to a Konoha shinobi, who might reach the base the next day.

• Orochimaru defeated Sasuke in a training bout and criticized his predictable fighting and underdeveloped Sharingan.
• Orochimaru told Sasuke that he had found something in his body that could bring Konoha’s people to the base.
• Orochimaru and Sasuke went to Kabuto, who examined a branch-like pattern extracted from Sasuke’s body.
• Kabuto identified the pattern as refined human nerves that could move through living beings and objects while absorbing energy.
• Kabuto reported that the nerves could disrupt a host’s control, make them unable to evade genjutsu, and potentially steal information, but likely only locate someone for now.

Sasuke learned that Tobitake Tonbo had secretly implanted a technique in him to gather information, and he became suspicious of Tonbo’s motives while focusing on growing stronger. Meanwhile, Konohamaru, Moegi, and Ise Udon tested their new abilities against Ebisu, who took them out for a celebratory meal after their first day as Genin.

• Kabuto explained that Tobitake Tonbo had implanted nerve samples in Sasuke to gather information and track him, making Sasuke suspect Tonbo wanted the Uchiha’s power.
• Orochimaru recognized the technique as a possible attempt to prevent his reincarnation, ordered Kabuto to seal the samples, and expressed interest in meeting Tonbo again.
• Sasuke dismissed the threat to Konoha and insisted that he wanted to grow stronger and kill Itachi, though he also worried about Tonbo’s intentions toward Naruto and Sakura.
• Konohamaru, Moegi, and Ise Udon used their techniques to overwhelm Ebisu during training, and Udon trapped him with his newly developed Snot Glue Coagulation.
• Ebisu claimed he had only been testing them and offered to treat the three newly graduated Genin to a meal.

Tobitake Tonbo’s former students became Genin and showed impressive combat abilities, while Sakura treated a badly injured patient and Ino handled analysis work in Konoha. Elsewhere, Tonbo demonstrated a new Senjutsu Chakra Mode that greatly reduced ninjutsu’s chakra cost, naming it Limitless Mode.

• At Ichiraku Ramen, Tenyu and Maki asked Hayama Shirakumo how they compared to their father, and Hayama recalled how their father had grown from an above-average student into a powerful leader.
• Hayama praised Tenyu, Maki, and Zhanbu Du’s combat skills, then assigned them a weed-pulling mission because he wanted to stay in the village with his young child.
• At Konoha Hospital, Sakura used Medical Ninjutsu to remove infection and save a patient who had been badly injured by an Explosive Tag, though she could not restore his missing leg.
• At the Konoha Analysis Team, Ino tried to recover information from a corpse but found little because a Kunai had destroyed its pituitary gland, then complained that Tonbo had left his duties to her.
• In an unnamed land, Tobitake Tonbo used Senjutsu: Earth Release: Earth Shore Return to raise a massive landscape-spanning structure while consuming less than one percent of his chakra.
• Tobitake Tonbo named his chakra-saving Senjutsu Chakra Mode Limitless Mode, explaining that it reduced ninjutsu chakra consumption to one-fiftieth.

Tobitake Tonbo reflected on his chakra reaching a bottleneck and his need to stay cautious around powerful Ōtsutsuki Shinjutsu. After destroying a gigantic structure with Forced Execution, he returned to the Analysis Division, where Ino confronted him for being late and smashed a wall.

• Tobitake Tonbo concluded that Hashirama Cells or Ōtsutsuki Cells might be needed to increase his chakra beyond its current limit, despite maintaining Perfect Sage Mode permanently.
• Tobitake Tonbo reminded himself that Shinjutsu and the Ōtsutsuki could still threaten him, so he decided to prioritize intelligence and protect his family.
• Tobitake Tonbo used Senjutsu: Forced Execution to fold away a structure fifty li across, leaving a pit that began filling with river water.
• Ino confronted Tobitake Tonbo at the Analysis Division, rejected his excuse for being late, and smashed a wall with Chakra Enhanced Strength.
• Tobitake Tonbo used Forced Execution to restore the damaged walls, leaving the Analysis Division shinobi amazed.

Tobitake Tonbo sent out over two hundred Shadow Clones to search for Kara and encountered Nadeshiko Shizuka on her way to Konoha to find a husband. After questioning her about unusual forces and places, he continued his search, leaving Kara's location unknown.

• Tobitake Tonbo dispatched more than two hundred Shadow Clones in different disguises and directions, while outside observers soon forgot the disturbance.
• Nadeshiko Shizuka told her guard she planned to capture Kakashi or Might Guy and bring one back to Nadeshiko Village to marry.
• Tobitake Tonbo met Nadeshiko Shizuka, warned her about Kakashi and Might Guy, and claimed they were among Konoha's last surviving thirty-year-old virgins.
• Tobitake Tonbo used his chakra pressure to make Nadeshiko Shizuka and her guard share information about unusual organizations, institutions, and ruins.
• Tobitake Tonbo learned about several places and forces from Nadeshiko Shizuka, then resumed searching for Kara because he knew too little about future threats.

Tobitake Tonbo investigated Hoshigakure for signs of Kara and found the village in turmoil after Natsuhi allegedly assassinated the Third Hoshikage and fled with the Star. He appeared before the acting Hoshikage and his companions, using Sage Art on them.

• Nadeshiko Shizuka and her companion registered in Konoha and headed out to find Kakashi and Might Guy.
• Might Guy and Kakashi both sneezed, while Kakashi reported to Tsunade about his mission in the Land of Frost and asked about Naruto's training.
• Tobitake Tonbo searched the Land of Bears for Kara and found no traces outside Hoshigakure.
• Tobitake Tonbo entered Hoshigakure unseen and learned that Natsuhi had allegedly assassinated the Third Hoshikage, taken the Star, and fled.
• Tobitake Tonbo appeared before Akahoshi and the others, then began using Sage Art: Hypnotic Eye and Sage Art: Historical Revision.

Tobitake Tonbo used History Correction to make Hoshigakure believe Natsuhi should lead the village, then sent her to gather intelligence on a possible organization in the Land of Bears. He left clones across the Shinobi World to search for Kara, while An suspected Hoshigakure was under a widespread jutsu or affected by the Star.

• Natsuhi watched Akahoshi gather Hoshigakure's people and saw Tobitake Tonbo use History Correction to change their memories.
• Natsuhi returned the sealed Star, and Tobitake Tonbo ordered Akahoshi to yield the Hoshikage position to her and assigned her to investigate a possible organization in the Land of Bears.
• An returned to Hoshigakure, found his mother serving as Hoshikage, and suspected the villagers were under a large-scale ninjutsu or affected by the Star.
• Tobitake Tonbo revealed that he had implanted fabricated memories in Hoshigakure's ninjas and planned to keep a clone stationed in the Land of Bears.
• Tobitake Tonbo sent Shadow Clones across the Shinobi World to investigate scientific research forces and search for Kara.

Naruto returned to Konoha with Jiraiya as Akatsuki prepared to capture the Tailed Beasts. Pain assigned the missions and claimed the Nine-Tails for himself, while Zetsu warned that Tobitake Tonbo could be a dangerous wildcard.

• Tobitake Keigo impressed Tobitake Tonbo with his advanced mathematical ability and told his father he would ask for help if needed.
• Naruto and Jiraiya headed back to Konoha after training, and Jiraiya wondered whether Naruto was the prophesied savior.
• Sasuke pierced Orochimaru with Chidori, while Kabuto reported that he had found counters to Tobitake Tonbo's nerves.
• Pain assigned Akatsuki's Tailed Beast capture missions, and Zetsu warned the group that Tobitake Tonbo might know Konoha's forbidden techniques.
• Pain took responsibility for capturing the Nine-Tails.

Naruto and Jiraiya watched Nadeshiko Shizuka challenge Kakashi and Might Guy in Konoha, hoping to choose a husband. Shizuka abandoned the match and returned to reform her village, while Guy and Kakashi were left trading jokes about being single.

• Naruto and Jiraiya reached Konoha and learned that Nadeshiko Shizuka had challenged Kakashi and Might Guy to marry into her family.
• Tsunade cheered for Shizuka as Kakashi defeated her, but Shizuka left after considering Guy and speaking with Tsunade.
• Tobitake Tonbo brought his son Keigo to watch, and Keigo argued that studying from books was a more efficient way to learn.
• Naruto and Jiraiya arrived during the match, and Jiraiya guessed that Guy had been rejected after Shizuka left.
• Shizuka told Tsunade she planned to abolish Nadeshiko Village's customs and reform the village.
• Guy lamented that Shizuka had left before their fight, and Kakashi teased him about being single.

Sakura and Naruto tested their improved abilities against Kakashi while Tobitake Tonbo discussed his son Keigo’s ambitions and considered future threats. Tonbo decided Keigo might one day study under Orochimaru and continued planning how to counter Shibai Ōtsutsuki’s Killing Intent Reflection.

• Sakura reflected Kakashi’s Great Fireball Technique with a chakra net, and Naruto clones restrained Kakashi before one used Thousand Years of Death.
• Tsunade had Kakashi test Naruto and Sakura’s strength after Naruto returned with Jiraiya.
• Tobitake Keigo told Tobitake Tonbo that he wanted to study chakra and ninjutsu, and Tonbo promised to find him a teacher.
• Tobitake Tonbo considered Orochimaru a suitable teacher and recalled that Orochimaru had sealed the neural seals he placed on Sasuke.
• Tobitake Tonbo planned ways to counter Shibai Ōtsutsuki’s Killing Intent Reflection, including suppressing emotions and controlling his body like a machine.