Recaps

Kakuzu dismissed Hidan’s faith in Jashin and said he planned to return to running his Assassination Classroom after the Akatsuki business ended. Back in Konoha, Boruto, Shikadai, and Sarada arranged a study session that left Haimā and Sumire alone, where Haimā asked why Konoha had accepted Orochimaru after his crimes.

• Kakuzu questioned Hidan about Jashin, but Hidan insisted their god took many forms and rebuked Kakuzu for doubting him.
• Kakuzu said he intended to return to his Assassination Classroom and warned Hidan not to involve him when the Five Great Nations came after him.
• Boruto recruited Shikadai and Sarada to help Haimā get closer to Sumire, and Sarada insisted that they respect Sumire’s wishes.
• Boruto invited Haimā to a study group with Sumire, and Haimā agreed after learning she would attend.
• At the Konoha Library, Boruto, Shikadai, and Sarada made excuses to leave Haimā alone with Sumire.
• Haimā asked Sumire why Konoha had pardoned Orochimaru and allowed him and his followers to remain in the village.

Sumire explained to Haimā how Orochimaru used Impure World Reincarnation to reunite the Allied Shinobi Forces and defeat Obito Uchiha and Nine Nether, changing Haimā’s view of Orochimaru. After the Canopy Screen revealed this future, Obito and Black Zetsu recognized the technique as a threat to their plans, while Amegakure Shinobi watched in shock.

• Sumire told Haimā that Orochimaru had revived historic Kage and heroes, who helped restore unity and defeat Obito Uchiha and Nine Nether.
• Haimā reconsidered Orochimaru’s role, and he and Sumire continued talking while Boruto and Shikadai watched from behind a bookshelf.
• The Canopy Screen broadcast ended, and the Shinobi World reacted with disbelief at Orochimaru’s future as a hero.
• Obito and Black Zetsu discussed the danger of Impure World Reincarnation, with Obito vowing to eliminate anyone who could use it.
• Amegakure Shinobi stood frozen as he watched the revelation about Orochimaru on the Canopy Screen.

Pain ordered Deidara and Sasori to stop hunting Orochimaru so he could see what surprises he would bring to the Shinobi World. During the Chunin Ninja Exams, Hiruzen spoke with Orochimaru, disguised as the Kazekage, about Orochimaru’s future and vowed to protect Konoha; meanwhile, Naraka offered to help Danzō become Hokage.

• Pain dismissed the Five Great Nations’ hypocrisy about Orochimaru and ordered Deidara and Sasori to stop hunting him.
• At the Chunin Ninja Exams, Hiruzen told Orochimaru, disguised as the Kazekage, that he had been a brilliant genius and would achieve great things in science.
• Hiruzen admitted his failures as Orochimaru’s teacher and vowed to stop him from destroying Konoha, even at the cost of his life.
• Danzō scoffed at Orochimaru being called a hero and complained that backroom dealing was the only reason he would not become Hokage.
• Naraka appeared in Root and offered to help Danzō truly become Hokage, prompting Danzō to ask him to continue.

Naraka persuaded Shimura Danzō to support a plan to remove Konoha’s leaders and seize power, while Naruto celebrated defeating Neji before Sasuke began his match against Gaara. Sasuke broke through Gaara’s sand and landed the first punch, leaving their battle underway.

• Naraka told Shimura Danzō that he, Orochimaru, and another collaborator planned to attack Konoha and offered to help eliminate its leaders so Danzō could become Hokage.
• Danzō questioned whether Naraka could defeat Hiruzen, Jiraiya, and Tsunade, then agreed to hear a secret contingency plan and praised its cruelty.
• Naruto returned from defeating Neji and bragged to Sasuke and Sakura, but Sasuke still called him a Dead Last.
• The examiner announced Sasuke’s match against Gaara, and Sasuke descended into the arena as Gaara vowed to kill him.
• Gaara attacked with fast sand pythons, but Sasuke used his Three-Tomoe Sharingan to dodge and close the distance.
• Sasuke bypassed Gaara’s sand shield and struck him in the face, making him stagger backward.

Sasuke pierced Gaara’s sand defense, causing Gaara’s fear and rage to unleash Shukaku’s chakra as Kabuto began the invasion of Konoha. Orochimaru revealed himself to Hiruzen and attacked alongside Naraka and Mahito, leaving the Hokage struck by all three.

• Sasuke pierced Gaara’s absolute defense with Chidori, and Gaara saw his own blood for the first time as Shukaku’s chakra surged within him.
• Temari and Kankuro realized Gaara was losing control, while Kabuto used the Temple of Nirvana Technique to put the spectators to sleep and signaled the forces waiting outside Konoha.
• Kabuto’s signal coincided with the Sound Four trapping Hiruzen Sarutobi inside the Four Violet Flames Formation, and the disguised Kazekage revealed himself as Orochimaru.
• Orochimaru demanded the Dog Talisman and revealed that Naraka and Mahito of Nine Nether were also there to destroy Konoha.
• Hiruzen prepared to fight Orochimaru, Naraka, and Mahito, but their simultaneous attack struck him without resistance.

Hiruzen Sarutobi used the Dog Talisman’s power and a barrage of combined Five Elements Ninjutsu to overwhelm Orochimaru, Mahito, and Naraka inside the Four Violet Flames Formation. When they rushed him to steal the Talisman, he summoned Enma and met them in close combat.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi’s Earth Clone exploded, then he attacked the three enemies with a rapid sequence of Five Elements Ninjutsu.
• Naraka realized that the Dog Talisman had restored Hiruzen’s youth and strength, so the three enemies coordinated a close-range assault to seize it.
• Hiruzen summoned Enma, who transformed into the Adamantine Staff.
• Hiruzen fought all three with Enma’s staff, deflecting Naraka’s Demon Claw, Mahito’s strike, and Orochimaru’s Sword of Kusanagi.

Hiruzen Sarutobi held off Orochimaru, Naraka, and Mahito inside the Four Violet Flames Formation while Kakashi Hatake and Might Guy left to protect Naruto. At Konoha’s outskirts, Kabuto Yakushi’s summoned demons and cursed spirits began attacking the village.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi used the Golden Cudgel to overwhelm Orochimaru, Naraka, and Mahito, while ANBU tried to break the barrier.
• Kakashi Hatake and Might Guy arrived, but Hiruzen ordered them to protect Naruto Uzumaki, so they hurried away.
• Orochimaru told Naraka and Mahito to hold Hiruzen off while he prepared Impure World Reincarnation.
• Kabuto Yakushi signaled Sound Ninja to activate a summoning array outside Konoha, bringing forth demons and cursed spirits.
• Konoha Ninja raised the alarm and organized the village’s defenses against the summoned creatures.

Konoha's defenses collapsed as demons and Cursed Spirits flooded into the village, forcing the ninjas to fight through the streets while civilians evacuated. At the Ninja Academy, Tsunade overcame her fear of blood long enough to summon the Slug Sage and send it to heal the wounded.

• Konoha's outer defenses fell under the demons' assault, and the invaders poured into the streets.
• Choji, Neji, Kiba, Hinata, Ino, Tenten, and other Konoha ninjas fought the invaders as casualties mounted.
• Neji took a Cursed Spirit's attack while saving Hinata, then collapsed after destroying it.
• Iruka and the Academy teachers organized the students' evacuation as Tsunade arrived and steadied herself despite her fear of blood.
• Tsunade summoned the Slug Sage and ordered it to spread across the battlefield and heal every wounded Konoha Ninja.

Tsunade sent healing slugs across Konoha while Jiraiya chose to defend the village’s main line instead of rescuing Hiruzen or Naruto. Outside the village, Naruto wanted to turn back, but Sasuke stayed behind to face Gaara and his siblings as Gaara neared losing control.

• Tsunade split her giant slug into thousands of healing offshoots that aided Konoha’s defenders, while Iruka led Konohamaru and the other children toward shelter.
• Jiraiya weighed the crises facing Hiruzen, Naruto, and Konoha’s defensive line, then chose to hold the line and summoned a giant toad to crush the invading forces.
• Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura fled through the forest with Pakkun, but Naruto stopped and insisted on returning to help Konoha.
• Gaara, Temari, and Kankuro caught up with the group as Gaara’s partial transformation and killing intent threatened to overwhelm him.
• Sasuke drew his Zanpakuto and told Naruto and Sakura to escape while he held off their pursuers.

Naruto and Sakura refused to abandon Sasuke as the battle against the monster loomed, while Orochimaru summoned the First and Second Hokage to confront Hiruzen Sarutobi. Empowered by the Dog Talisman, Hiruzen made four shadow clones and prepared to face the five enemies inside the barrier.

• Naruto and Sakura insisted on staying with Sasuke, who accepted their decision while warning them not to hold him back.
• Orochimaru summoned Hashirama Senju and Tobirama Senju, but his attempt to summon a third figure failed.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi told Orochimaru that Jiraiya and the others were protecting Konoha's future, then suspected Danzo had chosen a path against the village.
• Orochimaru used cursed kunai to strip Hashirama Senju and Tobirama Senju of their remaining individuality and control them as combat puppets.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi created four shadow clones and felt the Dog Talisman restore his chakra and stamina.
• The five Hiruzen Sarutobis faced Orochimaru, Naraka, Mahito, and the controlled Hashirama Senju and Tobirama Senju inside the barrier.

Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura coordinated attacks against Gaara’s rampaging partial Shukaku transformation. Naruto struck Gaara with a Rasengan, and the chapter ended with Naruto surrounding Gaara and his siblings with hundreds of shadow clones.

• Gaara attacked Team 7 with a barrage of sand bullets, and Sasuke, Naruto, and Sakura launched a coordinated assault.
• Sasuke’s Chidori clashed with Gaara’s Shukaku claw while Sakura attacked from above, but Gaara transformed his other arm and knocked Sasuke away.
• Naruto emerged from beneath Gaara and struck his exposed backside with a Rasengan, sending him flying and cracking his Sand Armor.
• Temari tried to hinder Naruto with a wind technique, and Kankuro caught Gaara with the Crow Puppet as Naruto and Sakura checked on the injured Sasuke.
• Naruto summoned hundreds of shadow clones, surrounding Gaara, Temari, and Kankuro.

Gaara used the Feigning Sleep Technique and released the One-Tail Shukaku, forcing Naruto to summon Gamabunta to stop him. Gamabunta proposed waking Gaara to pull Shukaku back inside, but Shukaku protected Gaara in a sphere of sand, and Naruto felt the Sheep Talisman in his pocket.

• Gaara completed the Feigning Sleep Technique and unleashed Shukaku, whose Chakra blast dispelled Naruto's Shadow Clones and drove Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura back.
• Naruto sent Sakura to help Sasuke escape, then borrowed Nine-Tails' Chakra and summoned Gamabunta.
• Gamabunta said he could distract Shukaku while Naruto woke Gaara to end the technique.
• Shukaku overheard their plan and encased the sleeping Gaara in a sphere of sand.
• Naruto panicked over how to reach Gaara, then felt the Sheep Talisman in his pocket.

Naruto used the Sheep Talisman’s Soul Departure to enter Gaara’s dream while Gamabunta kept Shukaku occupied. As Hiruzen fought Orochimaru’s group inside the Four Violet Flames Formation, Naraka changed the battlefield into a forest shrouded in corrosive miasma, and an attacker lunged at Hiruzen.

• Naruto sent his soul through Shukaku’s sand defenses to reach Gaara, while Gamabunta fought Shukaku to buy him time.
• Hiruzen and his four Shadow Clones held off Hashirama Senju, Tobirama Senju, Mahito, Naraka, and Orochimaru.
• Mahito complained that the resurrected Hokage were far weaker than Orochimaru had promised, and Naraka proposed changing the terrain.
• Orochimaru ordered Hashirama Senju to use Wood Release: Deep Forest Emergence, turning the rooftop into a dense forest.
• Naraka spread corrosive miasma through the forest and ordered the group to take Hiruzen’s Dog Talisman.
• A swift figure burst through the miasma and lunged at Hiruzen.

Hiruzen was blinded by Tobirama’s Bringer-of-Darkness Technique and struggled to fend off attacks from Mahito, Naraka, and Hashirama. In Gaara’s dream, Naruto comforted the lonely child by sharing his own past and invited him to play soccer.

• Tobirama used the Bringer-of-Darkness Technique, leaving Hiruzen blind as Mahito, Naraka, and Hashirama attacked him.
• Naruto found young Gaara alone on a swing in the dream and approached him.
• Naruto told Gaara that he had also been shunned as a child and had resolved to become Hokage so others would acknowledge him.
• Naruto suggested that Gaara could become Kazekage to gain acknowledgment, and Gaara wondered whether he wanted his family to accept him.
• Naruto pulled Gaara up to play soccer, and the dream shifted into a sunny scene with only the two of them.
• Naruto transformed into his younger self, set down the ball, and announced his Konoha Shot.

Naruto befriended Gaara in a dream and helped him wake before Shukaku could continue the attack. After Gaara rejected Shukaku and the beast vanished, Naruto and Gaara stopped the fighting and declared themselves friends.

• Naruto asked Gaara why he was attacking Konoha, and Gaara said he was following the Fourth Kazekage’s orders and apologized.
• Naruto and Gaara became friends, and Naruto used a gentle push to wake Gaara as his spirit began returning to his body.
• Naruto woke inside Gamabunta’s mouth and announced that Gaara was about to wake as Shukaku’s sand fortress fell away.
• Gaara refused Shukaku’s demand to use the Feigning Sleep Technique, ordered Shukaku to go back, and watched the beast disappear.
• Gamabunta left after inviting Naruto to Mount Myoboku, while Temari and Kankuro rushed to Gaara and Sakura helped Sasuke stand.
• Naruto and Gaara stopped their groups from fighting and told Sasuke that they were friends.

Gaara joined Sasuke and Sakura in protecting Naruto after Obito ambushed him, and Sasuke awakened Senbonzakura to stop the killing blow. Obito prepared to attack again, but Might Guy arrived and took a stance between him and Naruto.

• Gaara rejected Temari's concerns about the Kazekage's orders and agreed to explain his decision to his father.
• Obito appeared behind Naruto and slashed at his neck, but Sasuke awakened Senbonzakura and forced Obito to use Kamui, causing the attack to pass through Naruto.
• Gaara raised a sand wall to protect Naruto and ordered Temari and Kankuro to help, while Sakura shielded the exhausted Sasuke.
• Obito reacted in disbelief to Gaara and the others protecting Naruto, then vowed to kill Naruto before he could see the future shown in the Canopy Screen.
• Might Guy arrived with a Konoha Whirlwind that passed through Obito and positioned himself between Obito and Naruto.

Obito escaped after confronting Kakashi and Naruto, while Izumi Uchiha’s intervention exposed Orochimaru’s deception and turned the battle for Konoha. Sunagakure withdrew, and Konoha launched a counterattack as Hyuga Xiu continued operating in disguise as Izumi.

• Might Guy failed to recognize Obito, and Kakashi urged Obito to stop pursuing his plan, but Obito vanished after challenging Naruto to witness the Shinobi World’s future.
• Jiraiya and Tsunade’s forces struggled to hold Konoha’s defenses as demons and Sound Ninja pressed the attack.
• Izumi Uchiha arrived and purified demons with her arrows, then told Sunagakure that Orochimaru had killed the Fourth Kazekage and impersonated him.
• After confirming Izumi’s claim, Baki ordered Sunagakure to stop fighting and retreat, and he apologized to Jiraiya.
• Jiraiya announced the withdrawal and rallied Konoha to counterattack, while the village clans joined the fight against the Sound Ninja and demons.
• Hyuga Xiu was revealed to be disguised as Izumi Uchiha and to have taken a routine mission outside the village when the Chunin Ninja Exams began.

Shimura Danzō sent Root to support Konoha’s counterattack as Hiruzen Sarutobi used the Reaper Death Seal against Orochimaru, Hashirama Senju, Tobirama Senju, and Mahito. Orochimaru seized the Dog Talisman, and its power clashed with the Reaper’s, leaving both men’s souls trapped in a stalemate.

• Shimura Danzō ordered Root to join Konoha’s counterattack, helping rout the Sound Ninja, demons, and Cursed Spirits.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi endured attacks from Orochimaru, Hashirama Senju, Tobirama Senju, and Mahito before using the Reaper Death Seal to seize their souls.
• Naraka avoided Hiruzen Sarutobi’s attack and refused Mahito’s plea for help.
• The Reaper pulled Hashirama Senju’s, Tobirama Senju’s, and Mahito’s souls from their bodies and swallowed them.
• Orochimaru grabbed Hiruzen Sarutobi’s Dog Talisman, and its power stopped the Reaper from pulling either man’s soul free.

Hiruzen Sarutobi sacrificed his life to seal the Dog Talisman’s immortality power, leaving Orochimaru gravely weakened and mourning his former teacher’s final words. As Orochimaru escaped, Naraka took an old sheet of paper from Hiruzen’s body, but Kikyo drove him off and recovered it.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi redirected the Reaper to seize the Dog Talisman’s power, sealing it at the cost of his own soul, and gave Orochimaru a final lesson before dying.
• The ANBU shattered the Four Violet Flames Formation, and Sakon and Ukon, Tayuya, and Kidomaru helped carry the weakened Orochimaru away.
• Naraka searched Hiruzen Sarutobi’s body and found an old sheet of paper he claimed had returned to its rightful owner.
• Kikyo fired a Demon-Breaking Arrow at Naraka, forcing him to flee, then retrieved the paper and vowed to pursue him.
• Jiraiya and Tsunade arrived and grieved over Hiruzen Sarutobi’s body as Kikyo honored his sacrifice.

After destroying the Death Paper, Kikyo gave Tsunade the dormant Dog Talisman and asked to attend Hiruzen Sarutobi’s funeral, while proposing an alliance between Konoha and the Paradise Organization. At the funeral, Shimura Danzō arrived amid widespread hostility, and his actions before Hiruzen’s portrait left everyone stunned.

• Kikyo destroyed the Death Paper, gave Tsunade the dormant Dog Talisman, and proposed an alliance with Konoha.
• Tsunade accepted Kikyo’s request to attend Hiruzen Sarutobi’s funeral and postponed alliance talks until afterward.
• Konoha’s villagers, shinobi, clan leaders, and Sunagakure representatives gathered to mourn Hiruzen Sarutobi.
• Shimura Danzō arrived at the funeral, and Tsunade restrained Jiraiya from confronting him until the ceremony ended.
• Shimura Danzō approached Hiruzen Sarutobi’s portrait, then did something that shocked everyone.

At Hiruzen Sarutobi’s funeral, Shimura Danzō collapsed after a dramatic display of grief, and Tsunade discovered that Hashirama’s cells and transplanted Sharingan were transforming him into a tree. The funeral continued, while Danzō remained hospitalized in an irreversible state.

• Shimura Danzō wept at Hiruzen Sarutobi’s memorial and collapsed, prompting Tsunade to send him to Konoha Hospital.
• Tsunade continued the funeral, placed flowers at Hiruzen’s grave, and promised to protect Konoha as Hokage.
• Jiraiya placed a copy of Make-Out Paradise beside the flowers, and the ninjas honored Hiruzen as his coffin was buried.
• Naruto vowed to become an even greater Hokage than Hiruzen.
• Tsunade told Jiraiya that Danzō had fused Hashirama’s cells and Uchiha Sharingan into his body, and their powers had clashed after his emotional outburst.
• Tsunade explained that Danzō’s body was irreversibly turning into a tree despite the possibility that his consciousness remained intact.

Tsunade and Jiraiya agreed to drop the charges against Shimura Danzō in exchange for Root’s dissolution, while Danzō’s body continued turning into a tree. Naruto and Sasuke visited him, unaware that one of the Sharingan hidden on his arm was still watching them and that Danzō remained mentally aware.

• Tsunade told Jiraiya that Danzō’s transformation was genuine and that he might become a tree within five years.
• Tsunade agreed to end the investigation into Danzō’s past in exchange for disbanding Root and bringing its personnel and resources under the Hokage’s control.
• Naruto and Sasuke visited Danzō in the hospital, and Naruto stopped Sasuke from attacking him.
• Naruto promised to chop Danzō into firewood once he became Hokage, easing Sasuke’s anger slightly.
• After Naruto and Sasuke left, a Sharingan on Danzō’s arm watched them and carried his silent thoughts about them, Tsunade, and Naraka.

Naruto and Gaara parted as friends, while Kikyo gave Sasuke a Rabbit Talisman that could carry him through time and might let him change the Uchiha's fate. Sasuke resolved to use it despite the bonds he might have to sacrifice, and Jiraiya arrived at Tsunade's office.

• Naruto and Gaara hugged, promised to visit each other's villages, and vowed to compete to become Kage.
• Temari looked back at Shikamaru as the Sunagakure team left, while Shikamaru pretended not to notice and headed back into Konoha with Naruto.
• Sasuke practiced swordsmanship in the ruined Uchiha Compound and told Kikyo he would give up his bonds to change the Uchiha's fate.
• Kikyo gave Sasuke the Rabbit Talisman and warned him that the racing rabbit could carry him beyond time, but that fate could turn against those who toyed with it.
• Jiraiya entered Tsunade's office as she worked through the aftermath of the war.

Tsunade approved Jiraiya’s mission to hunt down Orochimaru after explaining Konoha’s decision to accept Sunagakure’s apology and compensation. The Canopy Screen then showed forces gathering outside Iwagakure, where Sasuke sensed an approaching disturbance in space.

• Jiraiya challenged Tsunade’s decision to accept Sunagakure’s apology and gold dust, but Tsunade defended it as necessary for Konoha’s recovery.
• Tsunade said she had increased Orochimaru’s bounty and arranged joint manhunt requests, and Jiraiya asked to pursue him himself.
• Tsunade approved Jiraiya’s mission and warned him to return if he could not safely capture Orochimaru.
• The Canopy Screen showed Kumogakure, Sunagakure, Konoha, and other forces gathered outside Iwagakure, with Naruto Uzumaki and Sasuke Uchiha at the front.
• Sasuke sensed a disturbance in space and announced that someone had arrived.

Naruto Uzumaki and the others destroyed four giant monsters, and Sasuke Uchiha traced their teleportation coordinates to the enemy’s base. The Kage debated a surprise strike, with Deidara volunteering while Darui committed Kumogakure to defending the rear.

• Naruto Uzumaki, Sasuke Uchiha, Gaara, and Kumogakure’s Chakra Cannons destroyed the four giant monsters.
• Sasori explained that Gaara had defeated one monster by cutting off its oxygen, while noting that an intelligent enemy could have escaped the technique.
• Sasuke Uchiha revealed that his Rinnegan had recorded the monsters’ teleportation coordinates, and Naruto Uzumaki agreed to plan before attacking.
• Sasuke Uchiha proposed sending an elite team through a limited Space-Time Passage for a surprise decapitation strike.
• Darui declined to join the strike team and promised to build the Shinobi World’s strongest defensive line.
• Deidara volunteered for the strike team, and Sasuke Uchiha warned him not to slow them down.