Recaps

Obito defeated Asuka Hyuga and joined Konoha’s newly formed Shichibukai, with Kakashi appointed as their captain. The next day, Kazan brought the unit to the Forest of Death to seek Summoning Contracts and demonstrated Thunder Bagua, which Yuzuki Kurama eagerly asked to learn.

• Obito used an underground attack to defeat Asuka Hyuga, then received the Exploding Blade Shibuki and celebrated earning the village’s recognition.
• Konoha introduced all seven wielders of the Ninja Blades as the Shichibukai, and Kazan appointed Kakashi their captain.
• Kazan took the Shichibukai to the Forest of Death and instructed them to earn recognition from powerful Summoning Beasts and sign Summoning Contracts.
• Kazan told Yuzuki Kurama that he could teach her swordsmanship, then demonstrated Thunder Bagua with Kubikiribōchō.
• Yuzuki Kurama asked Kazan to teach her Thunder Bagua, while Kakashi recognized it as another slash combining haki, strength, and the Added-Weight Rock Technique.

Kakashi and the others challenged the Forest of Death’s powerful beasts while Kazan trained to evolve his body and Haki. When an ANBU reported that Moryo had emerged in the Land of Demons, Kazan sent the Shichibukai and Hikari to deal with it.

• Kakashi and Obito found powerful beasts in the Forest of Death, but they and the others returned bruised after their challenges.
• Kazan taught Yuzuki Kurama the Added-Weight Rock Technique and Light-Weight Rock Technique, then continued training his cells through Life Return.
• Kazan trained beneath a waterfall for over a year as his aura and Haki grew stronger.
• An ANBU told Kazan that Moryo had emerged in the Land of Demons.
• Kazan ordered the Shichibukai to go with Hikari while he resumed his training.

Minato sent Uchiha Hikari to the Land of Demons after Moryo emerged, while Kazan explained the demon’s origins and the miko’s role to Kurenai. Kurenai wondered whether an ancient miko had deliberately created Moryo, and Kazan left her unsure how much danger Hikari or the Land of Demons truly faced.

• Minato decided to keep Kazan in Konoha and sent ANBU to summon Uchiha Hikari for the Land of Demons mission.
• After watching a movie with Hikari, Kurenai went to see Kazan while Hikari followed the ANBU to the Hokage Building.
• Kazan told Kurenai that Moryo had emerged and that he had sent Hikari to deal with the demon.
• Kurenai theorized that an ancient miko might have deliberately separated Moryo from herself to protect the Land of Demons, and Kazan said the possibility could not be ruled out.
• Kurenai worried that Hikari might be in danger, but Kazan questioned whether she should instead worry about Moryo and the Land of Demons.

The Shichibukai reinforced the Allied Shinobi Forces against Moryo’s Undead Army while Uchiha Hikari met Miko Miroku at the palace. Miroku asked for Kazan’s help to kill Moryo, but Hikari insisted they did not need to trouble him.

• Kakashi, Obito, and the other Shichibukai attacked the Terracotta Warriors, using explosions, giant weapons, and restraint to slow the seemingly endless army.
• The Allied Shinobi Forces recognized the Shichibukai as Kazan’s elite personal unit and fought with less pressure after their arrival.
• Uchiha Hikari met Miroku in the palace and introduced herself as a Konoha Ninja and Kazan’s future trusted aide.
• Miroku explained that she wanted Moryo killed after foreseeing her daughter’s death, and asked whether Kazan could come in person.
• Hikari replied that there was no need to trouble Kazan.

Uchiha Hikari defeated Moryo by using Miroku’s Priestess Power through Susanoo, destroying the palace and splitting distant mountains in the process. With Moryo gone and Shion’s life safe, Kakashi’s team saw the Terracotta Army crumble and prepared to reunite with Hikari.

• Moryo arrived at the palace and attacked Miroku, who clashed with it using Priestess Power while preparing to sacrifice herself to protect Shion.
• Uchiha Hikari summoned Susanoo, cut down Moryo’s black dragons, and accidentally demolished the palace with a strike.
• Hikari used Yachihoko to drain Miroku’s power, then infused Susanoo’s blade with it and destroyed Moryo, cleaving through the mountains.
• Hikari insisted Moryo had caused the destruction, and Miroku accepted the claim while realizing Shion was safe.
• Kakashi and the others watched the Terracotta Army crumble, saved Kazan’s Haki Scroll, and set off to meet Hikari.

After the Moryo mission, the Shinobi Villages rebuilt their forces while Rasa sought money through a dangerous bounty-hunting scheme. Two years later, Neji, Sasuke, and Naruto endured Kazan’s brutal training, and the chapter ended with Sasuke and Naruto fighting in the Forest of Death.

• Minato sent everyone home after the mission ended, while Kazan left future Shichibukai missions to Hikari and resumed his training.
• Konoha, the Cloud Shinobi, and the Rock Shinobi expanded their forces, but the Wind Daimyo refused Rasa’s request for funding.
• Rasa secretly began taking Black Market bounties to hunt ninja from other villages, and Jing Uchiha decided to contact him as a potential ally.
• Jing Uchiha learned that Hiruko had made progress on the Chimera Technique and went to meet him.
• Two years later, Neji mastered Hyuga secret techniques under Kazan’s harsh training, while Hinata showed little interest in fighting.
• Kazan sent Sasuke and Naruto into the Forest of Death, where the two boys charged at each other as Hinata watched nervously.

Kazan evolved his cells through training, greatly increasing his vitality and Chakra, then demonstrated his power by opening the Eighth Gate without suffering its usual damage. He told Minato he was leaving Konoha to beat up the Tailed Beasts in the major Shinobi Villages.

• Hikari stopped Naruto and Sasuke from fighting, while Kazan dismissed their argument and returned to training.
• Neji entered the Ninja Academy, quickly became the top student, and began developing Steel Fist from Gentle Fist.
• Sasuke and Naruto began training, awakening the Chakra fluctuations of Indra and Asura within them.
• Kazan used Chakra and Life Return to evolve every cell in his body, causing his aura to shake Konoha.
• Kazan opened the Eighth Gate, unleashed his full potential, and healed the damage immediately.
• Kazan crashed into the Hokage Building, warned Minato to prepare for trouble, and announced he would attack the Tailed Beasts in the major Shinobi Villages.

Kazan traveled to Sunagakure to beat up Shukaku, the One-Tail, while warning Rasa that he knew about the Sand Shinobi's secret bounty hunts. He confronted the One-Tail Jinchuriki and summoned a miniature Nine-Tails, leaving the fight about to begin.

• Kazan told his companions to remain in Konoha while he visited the Four Great Shinobi Villages to collect the Kusanagi Swords, and he placed Hikari in charge of the Forest of Death.
• Kazan flew toward Sunagakure as Minato and Hiruzen Sarutobi worried that his plan to confront the villages' Tailed Beasts would cause trouble.
• Rasa saw Kazan arrive and tried to stop him, but Kazan warned him about his secret bounty hunts and continued toward the One-Tail Jinchuriki.
• Kazan found Bunpuku, the One-Tail's Jinchuriki, and told Shukaku he intended to beat him up.
• Kazan formed a Miniature Nine-Tails from his chakra, and the nine-tailed fox faced Shukaku.

Kazan brought Kurama to the Sand Village, where Kurama challenged Shukaku and fought him after Bunpuku released the One-Tail. Kurama overwhelmed Shukaku, but their clash of Tailed Beast Bombs sent a destructive sandstorm toward the village, which Rasa tried to hold back.

• Kazan arrived at the One-Tail’s holding place and told Bunpuku to release Shukaku so Kurama could fight him.
• Bunpuku released Shukaku, who emerged in the desert and angrily challenged Kurama.
• Kazan agreed to let Kurama handle the fight, and Kurama manifested his golden Nine-Tails Chakra Mode as the Sand Shinobi watched in alarm.
• Kurama battered Shukaku with punches and tails, mocked his lesser strength, and knocked away his Wind Release attack.
• Shukaku and Kurama fired Tailed Beast Bombs at each other, and their collision sent a storm of sand surging toward Sunagakure.
• Rasa used his sand to hold back the storm while staying away from Kazan.

Kazan defeated Shukaku in the desert and then stormed Kumogakure, where he attacked Killer B and Gyuki. The Fourth Raikage confronted him, but Kazan knocked him into the Eight-Tails.

• The Nine-Tails battered Shukaku while Kazan watched, then Kazan formed a Haki spear and destroyed Shukaku, leaving Bunpuku behind.
• Kazan told Rasa to pass a warning to the daimyo before leaving Sunagakure.
• Kazan arrived at Kumogakure and used Conqueror's Haki to knock many Cloud Shinobi unconscious as he headed for Killer B's training ground.
• Kazan destroyed Killer B's training ground, awakening Gyuki, and kicked the Eight-Tails into the ground.
• The Fourth Raikage attacked Kazan, but Kazan endured the strike and punched him into Gyuki.

Kazan defeated the Fourth Raikage, Killer B, and Yugito Nii before leaving Kumogakure with the Eight-Tails. He reached Takigakure to fight its Seven-Tails, and the chapter ended with him shattering Chōmei’s horn.

• Kazan overwhelmed the Fourth Raikage, Killer B, and Yugito Nii, then took the Eight-Tails and left Kumogakure.
• Dodai arrived to find the three fighters unconscious and arranged for medical treatment.
• Kazan traveled to Takigakure and told its leader he had come to fight the Seven-Tails, not take it away.
• Kazan found Kaede and demanded that she bring out the Seven-Tails, Chōmei.
• Kazan struck Chōmei’s horn and shattered it, sending the Seven-Tails crashing to the ground.

Kazan left Takigakure after defeating Kaede, then pursued the Kusanagi Swords while the Shinobi World tried to understand his attacks on villages’ Tailed Beasts. Jing Uchiha moved to conceal his control of the Fourth Mizukage, and Kirigakure prepared to send Utakata away before Kazan arrived.

• Takigakure's chief recovered the unconscious Kaede and ordered the village to let Kazan's attack go, since they could not seek revenge on the Ghost of Konoha.
• Kazan tracked down a Wandering Samurai carrying the Heavenly Ten-Handed Sword, picked it up after the man fled, and set out to find food.
• News spread that Kazan had attacked Sunagakure, Kumogakure, and Takigakure's Tailed Beasts, leaving the villages unsure of his purpose.
• Jing Uchiha ordered the Six-Tails Jinchūriki sent away from Kirigakure and planned to leave before Kazan returned to Konoha, fearing his control of the Fourth Mizukage would be exposed.
• Mei Terumi and the Mist Ninja elders accepted the plan to send Utakata away, concluding that Kirigakure could not defeat Kazan and that the village should cooperate with the Fourth Mizukage.

Kazan confronted Utakata, freed the Six-Tails from its seal, and defeated them both after the beast tried to hide inside its Jinchūriki. Kazan urged Utakata to find somewhere he belonged, and Utakata decided to keep living, while Jing Uchiha remained committed to his ideals.

• Utakata accepted Kazan’s arrival with indifference, believing Kirigakure had abandoned him by sending him on a secret mission.
• Kazan broke the Sealing inside Utakata, but the Six-Tails refused to emerge because it feared Kazan’s punches.
• Kazan threatened to kill Utakata and the Six-Tails, forcing the beast to release its Chakra and fight.
• Kazan quickly defeated Utakata and the Six-Tails, then told Utakata to go home and find someone waiting for him.
• After Kazan left, Utakata chose to keep trying, while Jing Uchiha emerged from the shadows and reaffirmed his resolve to follow his ideals.

After completing the Tailed Beast Conqueror achievement, Kazan tracked Orochimaru to Otogakure and confronted him. Orochimaru tried to recruit Kazan to help him uncover the secret of his transformed body, but Kazan rejected him and attacked.

• Kazan learned he only needed the remaining two Kusanagi Swords and decided to find Orochimaru in Otogakure.
• Orochimaru heard that Kazan had fought all nine Tailed Beasts and ordered his subordinates to do nothing.
• Kazan broke into Otogakure’s underground facilities and confronted Orochimaru and Kabuto Yakushi.
• Orochimaru attacked Kazan with snakes, but Kazan destroyed them with Haki and cut apart a giant snake with the Totsuka Blade.
• Orochimaru recognized Kazan’s unusual body and invited him to join his research into immortality, but Kazan refused.

Kazan overwhelmed Orochimaru in Otogakure, destroying his defenses and severing his arm with the Heavenly Gathering of Clouds Sword. Orochimaru escaped a lethal strike with an Earth Substitution Technique and summoned two figures through Impure World Reincarnation to face Kazan.

• Kazan shattered Orochimaru's underground labyrinth and drove through his Triple Rashomon gates with his Haki-powered sword attacks.
• Kazan caught Orochimaru's Heavenly Gathering of Clouds Sword, pulled it from his mouth, and used it to sever Orochimaru's arm.
• Kazan pursued Orochimaru and struck him with Shinso, but Orochimaru escaped by substituting a puddle of mud.
• Orochimaru summoned two figures with Impure World Reincarnation and challenged Kazan to face the God of Shinobi.

Kazan confronted Orochimaru after he summoned Hashirama and Tobirama Senju with the Impure World Reincarnation Jutsu. The brothers tested Kazan’s strength, and the chapter ended as the Nine-Tails emerged to join the fight.

• Hashirama and Tobirama recognized the Impure World Reincarnation Jutsu, questioned Kazan about Konoha, and reacted angrily when he joked that the village had been destroyed.
• Kazan identified Orochimaru as a Konoha S-Rank Missing-nin and said he had come to kill him, so Orochimaru ordered the Senju brothers to attack.
• Tobirama used Flying Thunder God and powerful Water Release against Kazan, but Kazan blocked his attacks and forced him back.
• Hashirama attacked with Wood Release, and Kazan cut through the trees before telling Hashirama that Minato Namikaze had succeeded Hiruzen as Hokage.
• The Nine-Tails asked Kazan to let him fight, and Kazan permitted him to emerge in a complete Tailed Beast Transformation.

Hashirama Senju and Tobirama Senju learned how Konoha’s history unfolded and discussed the balance between peace and strength. After Kazan described Konoha’s victory in the Third Shinobi World War, he revealed that Madara Uchiha had survived his battle with Hashirama and was working from the shadows.

• Hashirama Senju fought the Nine-Tails while asking Kazan about the Shinobi World Wars and learning that Tobirama Senju had died in the First Shinobi World War.
• Hashirama Senju explained why he and Madara Uchiha founded Konoha, and Tobirama Senju told him that children had still been sent to war to protect the village.
• Tobirama Senju released Orochimaru from the Impure World Reincarnation and trapped him inside a water prison surrounded by Explosive Tags.
• Kazan told Tobirama Senju that Konoha had won the Third Shinobi World War decisively, and Tobirama warned Kazan that Konoha needed strength to defend itself.
• Kazan revealed that Madara Uchiha had survived by using Izanagi to rewrite his death and had worked from the shadows.

Kazan revealed Madara Uchiha’s plan and argued with Tobirama Senju over the Uchiha Clan’s place in Konoha. He declared that he would become the Fifth Hokage, restore the Uchiha to the village’s center, and show the reanimated Hokages a new Konoha.

• Kazan told Hashirama Senju and Tobirama Senju that Madara had survived by using a human proxy and was pursuing the Infinite Tsukuyomi Plan through Jing Uchiha.
• Hashirama remembered Madara’s words about the power of creation and realized Madara had bitten off a piece of his flesh to obtain it.
• Tobirama blamed the Uchiha’s cursed nature for their repeated rebellions, while Kazan accused him of driving the clan into a corner and letting fear of Madara shape his policies.
• Kazan described Uchiha Hikari’s return and argued that the Uchiha could live peacefully in Konoha, but Tobirama dismissed her as an exception.
• Kazan called Tobirama weak and announced that he would become the Fifth Hokage, treat Konoha’s clans equally, and restore the Uchiha to the village’s center.
• Hashirama welcomed Kazan as a worthy successor and reminded Tobirama that their era had passed.

Kazan told Hashirama Senju and Tobirama Senju how Konoha planned to oppose Jing Uchiha’s Infinite Tsukuyomi Plan, and the brothers visited Konoha before returning to the Underworld. They left Kazan with the task of protecting the village and surpassing them as Hokage.

• Tobirama Senju accepted that the villages would unite only after Jing Uchiha’s threat became clear, while Hashirama Senju worried that this would be too late.
• Kazan reassured the brothers that the Nine-Tails was inside him and promised to revive them with Impure World Reincarnation when needed.
• Kazan transformed himself and the brothers so they could secretly explore Konoha at night and see how the village had developed.
• The brothers declined to visit Tsunade, and Tobirama Senju went alone to the cemetery before his soul returned to the Underworld.
• Hashirama Senju thanked Kazan, urged him to become Hokage and surpass the founders, then returned to the Underworld.

Kazan completed his integration of Garp's Template, returned to Konoha, and gave Hiruzen Sarutobi Orochimaru's body. Hiruzen buried his former student, while Kazan returned to the Forest of Death and played a rough joke on Naruto.

• Kazan gained another 5% integration of Garp's Template and returned to Hikari with three divine swords.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi confronted Kazan over the destruction he caused on his mission, then received Orochimaru's body.
• Hiruzen remembered teaching Orochimaru and buried him in the woods, lamenting that he had not followed his advice.
• Kazan returned to the Forest of Death, where Naruto asked him to teach the rumored Big Bang technique.
• Kazan punched Naruto and called the move the Fist of Love, leaving Naruto furious.

After months of seclusion, Kazan completed a transformation that gave him a sage body and unleashed a terrifying aura across Konoha when he opened all Eight Gates. Meanwhile, the Sand Shinobi’s praise of Rasa as the strongest Kazekage helped preserve the daimyo’s support, though Rasa felt both resentful and pleased.

• After Kazan returned to Konoha, the shinobi villages strengthened security around their jinchūriki, and Itachi believed Kazan had provoked them to make them more vigilant.
• Kazan continued training in seclusion for several months while his reputation kept the other villages from acting recklessly.
• The Sand Shinobi called Rasa the strongest Kazekage in history because he had survived three encounters with Kazan, and the resulting rumors persuaded the Daimyo of the Land of Wind to continue funding Sunagakure.
• Kazan completed his transformation, gaining a sage body with immense vitality and the ability to heal injuries almost instantly.
• Kazan opened all Eight Gates, releasing an aura that spread across Konoha and left Kakashi and the others staring at him in awe.

Kazan mastered an indefinitely sustainable Eight Gates Released Formation and continued training as his body adapted. A year later, Naruto found Hinata being bullied and stepped in to defend her.

• Neji realized Kazan could keep all Eight Gates open because his injuries healed immediately, and Kazan continued training to adapt to the power.
• Jing Uchiha reacted to Kazan's growth by ordering White Zetsu to gather information on Shinobi with Kekkei Genkai, while Ōnoki worried about the Rock Shinobi's future.
• Neji mastered the Gentle Fist techniques, developed a Steel Fist style to counter them, and secretly planned a Branch Family revolt with his father.
• Might Guy found Rock Lee and considered taking him on as a student, then challenged Kakashi to a duel that devolved into a fight with household objects.
• Naruto found children mocking Hinata for her Byakugan and told them to stop making fun of her.

Naruto stood up for Hinata, and Kazan explained that Naruto grew stronger through his harsh training. When Naruto and Sasuke enrolled in the Ninja Academy, Sasuke drew praise for his talent, but their first sparring match revealed Naruto’s surprising speed and strength.

• Naruto knocked away the child bullying Hinata, then escorted her home and told her to train harder.
• Hinata brought Naruto lunch, and Naruto promised to protect her; Neji tried to rush off after hearing she had been bullied, but Hikari stopped him.
• Kazan told Hikari and Kurenai that Naruto grew stronger from being beaten because he carried Asura’s Chakra and had the potential for a Sage Body.
• Naruto and Sasuke enrolled in the Ninja Academy, where Sasuke impressed teachers and students with his exceptional skills.
• During their first sparring match, Naruto suddenly appeared in front of Sasuke and punched at him, while Sasuke blocked and taunted him.

Naruto and Sasuke repeatedly fought to surpass each other, pushing their skills far beyond their classmates’ level. After seeking stronger training from Kazan and Itachi, they clashed again in their second year, charging at each other with Rasengan and Chidori.

• Naruto and Sasuke traded blows and powerful techniques in a sparring match that ended without a winner, and they agreed to fight again after school.
• Naruto asked Kazan to train him, so Kazan struck him with Armament Haki to stir his Asura Chakra and told him to ask his father to teach him the Rasengan.
• Sasuke asked Itachi for a stronger technique so he could defeat Naruto, then admitted he wanted to become a respected Ninja like Kazan; Itachi took him to Kakashi.
• Naruto and Sasuke resumed their rivalry in their second year, and their sparring match escalated until they charged at each other with Rasengan and Chidori.

Kazan explained that Naruto and Sasuke were the reincarnations of Asura’s and Indra’s Chakra, then let their rivalry continue while assuring Minato and Fugaku that neither boy would lose himself. As their rivalry divided the Ninja Academy into two camps, Kazan dispersed the crowd with a display of power, leaving the children talking about his legend.

• Kazan told Minato Namikaze and Uchiha Fugaku that Naruto and Sasuke carried the reincarnated Chakra of Asura and Indra, and assured them the boys would remain themselves.
• Over the next year, Naruto and Sasuke continued their rivalry, drew followers into opposing camps, and attracted crowds to their practical training sessions.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi and Minato Namikaze asked Kazan to end the rivalry, but he said it would not divide the village and promised to handle it.
• As spectators gathered for another training session, Kazan sent dark clouds, red lightning, and a terrifying pressure over Konoha, ordering everyone to go home.
• After the sky cleared, the children discussed Kazan’s power and the legends surrounding him and the Fourth Sacred Land.