Recaps

Sasuke returned to the past and joined Orochimaru and Kabuto to rebuild his power, defeating Sasori in his first battle and surviving a deadly fight with Hidan and Kakuzu in his second. The arc ended with Orochimaru confronting the gravely wounded Kakuzu about two figures in red-cloud cloaks.

• Sasuke traveled back to his youthful body, transferred future Orochimaru’s memories to the past, and joined Orochimaru and Kabuto in a plan to restore Orochimaru’s arms and make Sasuke an Ōtsutsuki.
• Sasuke helped Orochimaru retrieve his arms from the Shinigami and received Hashirama Senju’s chakra in a White Cursed Seal, beginning the Ten Battles Plan to accelerate its absorption.
• Sasuke defeated Shin and his clones, while Orochimaru gave Kabuto Blade Reversal and Hashirama cells before the group moved to Blue Moon Island.
• Sasuke fought Sasori at Tenchi Bridge, destroyed his puppets and Shukaku Colossus, and fatally pierced his life core, and Sasori died after asking Orochimaru about eternity.
• Obito and Pain learned of Sasori’s death and sent Deidara and Tobi to destroy Orochimaru’s Northern Hideout, where Sasuke saved Karin and drove them off but could not find Suigetsu and Jugo.
• Sasuke chose Kakuzu and Hidan as his second opponents and fought Kakuzu without using the Sharingan, discovering that Kakuzu’s masks held separate hearts.
• Hidan used his ritual to fatally wound Sasuke, but Sasuke survived through the White Cursed Seal, severed Hidan’s connection with the Contract Seal, and defeated both Akatsuki members.
• Orochimaru approached the gravely wounded Kakuzu and pointed out two figures in red-cloud cloaks on the mountain, prompting Kakuzu to cry out about betrayal.

Sasuke and Orochimaru secured the Ketsuryūgan, uncovered Kakuzu’s fortune, and forged a Yang Seal as Akatsuki began hunting the Tailed Beasts. After Sasuke helped rescue Gaara, he began his Third Match against Kisame, whose water prison forced Sasuke to reveal the White Cursed Seal’s adaptive power.

• Kakuzu traded the location of his fortune to Orochimaru for the chance to reunite with his family, then died as Obito prepared replacements for him and Hidan.
• Orochimaru sacrificed Hidan to summon the Evil God and sealed it inside the Ketsuryūgan, which Karin chose to inherit after hearing Sasuke’s concerns about her.
• Obito recruited Suigetsu and Jugo into Akatsuki, and Pain accepted them after they fought together and assigned them to capture Gaara and Shukaku.
• Orochimaru found Kakuzu’s fortune and the Earth Grudge Fear Technique, then used Dragon Vein chakra to help Sasuke create a Yang Seal that restored his vision.
• Suigetsu and Jugo captured Gaara, but Granny Chiyo revived him with Life Reincarnation and died, and Sasuke’s group returned to Blue Moon Island with their captives and a White Zetsu Clone.
• Kisame captured Yugito Nii, and Akatsuki sealed the Two-Tails before Sasuke challenged Kisame as his Third Match opponent.
• Kisame trapped Sasuke in a vast water prison and fused with Samehada, forcing Sasuke to activate White Cursed Seal: State Two and adapt to underwater combat.
• Sasuke severed Kisame’s arm with Lightning Release, but Kisame regenerated and summoned a thousand sharks, so Sasuke countered with Crow Tengu Susanoo and Scorch Release: Blown-Glass Flame World.

Sasuke defeated Itachi and Danzo, reclaimed Shisui’s right eye, and faced Jiraiya in the Fifth Battle. After Sasuke won, Orochimaru revealed his future to Jiraiya, who learned that Naruto was nearby but not yet ready to meet Sasuke.

• Sasuke agreed to meet Itachi at the Uchiha Hideout, where the brothers fought through layered illusions and powerful techniques until Sasuke broke free and told Itachi he knew the truth about his past.
• Itachi admitted his regrets and thanked Sasuke, then Obito attacked, and Sasuke and his allies escaped with Itachi, and Sasuke vowed to find the White Snake Sage’s medicine to restore his brother.
• Orochimaru proposed treating Itachi and using Shisui’s eyes for an Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan transplant, while Sasuke and Itachi confronted Danzo and Sasuke took Shisui’s right eye.
• Sasuke defeated Danzo after surviving his Kotoamatsukami attempt, and Orochimaru named Jiraiya as Sasuke’s opponent in the Fifth Battle.
• Jiraiya found a scroll explaining how the Reaper Death Seal could be undone, then traveled to the Land of Whirlpools, where Sasuke challenged him and the two fought with Sage techniques, Susanoo, and Wood Release.
• Sasuke survived Jiraiya’s genjutsu and heart-stabbing attack, advanced to State Three, and used Fire-Wood Release: Fire Dragon Torch to defeat Jiraiya.
• Orochimaru, Kabuto, Karin, and Itachi arrived after Sasuke’s victory, and Fukasaku told Jiraiya that the Great Toad Sage had entered a long slumber.
• Sasuke returned to Blue Moon Island without meeting Naruto, while Orochimaru explained his future to Jiraiya and said Jiraiya’s novels had inspired his wish to have a child.

Sasuke defeated Pain, confronted Obito, and learned that Naruto had been abducted by Black Zetsu. As his allies searched for Naruto and pursued other plans, Black Zetsu used Madara’s remains to place a Black Cursed Seal on Naruto.

• Orochimaru kept the truth about the future from Naruto, while Black Zetsu killed Yamato, abducted Naruto, and stole Kabuto’s memories.
• Sasuke killed Deidara and defeated Pain’s Six Paths, then told Nagato that Obito had used him and convinced him to break with his past.
• Obito took Nagato and Kakashi’s left eye, but Sasuke confronted him at Konoha’s cemetery before Obito escaped with Izanagi.
• Orochimaru and Sasuke faced Danzo’s spirit on Blue Moon Island and learned that Kashyapa Senju had stolen Kagami Uchiha’s eyes.
• Obito sent Jugo to hunt the Eight-Tails, while Naruto awoke in Black Zetsu’s captivity after being trained under a false identity.
• Jiraiya, Itachi, Karin, and Kabuto found Naruto’s cave, but Black Zetsu escaped with him, and the group reunited with Orochimaru and Sasuke.
• Black Zetsu brought Naruto to an ancient temple, used Madara Uchiha’s remains to place a Black Cursed Seal on him, and Madara briefly took control of Naruto’s face.