Recaps

Jiraiya established the Union and announced a Shinobi War to prepare the world for Isshiki and the Ōtsutsuki threat. After Naruto defeated Isshiki, the story turned to the Hokages’ plans for Naruto and Konohamaru’s discovery that Hiruzen was alive.

• Jiraiya introduced the Equal Spirit Pact and a ten-round Shinobi War, while the Tailed Beasts agreed to judge the pacts and Kurama’s outburst frightened the gathering.
• Minato revealed that Konoha had identified Isshiki as an Ōtsutsuki threat, and Sasuke used genjutsu to show the leaders how powerful he was.
• Isshiki fought the reanimated Hashirama and Madara, while Tobirama and Minato trapped the Ten-Tails and the Reshape Organization agreed to work with Konoha.
• Naruto rescued Hashirama and Madara, then defeated Isshiki with Rasengan Galaxy as the Union’s participants watched.
• Madara rejected Hashirama’s invitation to return to Konoha and said he would live for revenge, while the Union prepared for the Shinobi War.
• Menma told Minato and the Hokages that Naruto could become a god, but Naruto rejected their idea of using force and war to pursue godhood.
• Konohamaru stole Asuma’s paper and discovered it was Hiruzen’s last will, then realized his grandfather might still be alive.
• Hiruzen told Tobirama that he planned to atone by using Sunagakure’s Life Reincarnation technique, which he had secured through an agreement with Chiyo.

Tobirama investigated Madara’s unnatural tissue as the resurrected Madara and Hashirama fought in a Shinobi War staged by the Reshape Organization. Kakashi manipulated the Five Nations Alliance into the second round, where Neji and Toneri faced its armies, while the third match began with Kakashi and Mifune among its participants.

• Tobirama learned that Madara’s tissue, like the Fire Temple mutants, was composed of activated natural energy, then allowed the Third Hokage to say goodbye to Konohamaru before taking the two Hokage away.
• Menma helped Orochimaru capture the Shinigami, but Minato appeared in Otogakure, after recognizing Menma’s gesture, Minato joined the organization as Jet Black Dancing Wheel.
• Samui lured Land of Lightning troops onto the Island Turtle, which escaped as Madara and Hashirama fought, and Madara’s memories traced his friendship with Hashirama, Izuna’s death, and his rejection of Konoha’s future.
• Menma offered Madara a chance to fight an Ōtsutsuki alongside Hashirama, but Madara challenged Hashirama, and their battle became the first round of the Shinobi War.
• Hashirama revealed his Rinnegan and became a Ten-Tails Jinchuriki, while the Five Nations Alliance entered the war and Kakashi worked with Linduo to manipulate its forces into the second round.
• The alliance’s armies were sent to the second-round battlefield, where Toneri and Neji faced the gathered troops, and Toneri raised the Tenseigan as Neji challenged the army.
• Minato stopped Kaguya from leaving camp, and he and Menma delayed intervening in the ongoing battle between Madara and Hashirama.
• Mifune entered the third match for the Land of Iron, and Kakashi arrived just before the match began, after many major factions had stayed away.

The Fourth Round exposed Reshape’s plans as the Uchiha, Orochimaru, and Konoha confronted its members and secrets. The arc ended with Hiruzen preparing to face Reshape’s leader while Kaguya vanished into black mist.

• Mifune pursued Kakashi and was killed, but Naruto’s chakra healed Kakashi and restored Mifune’s heartbeat.
• Itachi, Obito, Sasuke, and Izumi entered the Fourth Round, where Sasuke challenged Itachi and Izumi confronted Obito over Reshape’s goals.
• Kakashi returned Mifune to the samurai, while Neji and Toneri used Infinite Tsukuyomi to divide the soldiers’ loyalties.
• Izumi and Itachi fought Obito as Sasuke confronted Itachi, and Hashirama defeated Madara before learning Naruto had become a god.
• The Zero-Tails told Hashirama that Naruto had traveled through time and space, while Orochimaru was transported into the black mist and confronted by Konoha’s fighters.
• Orochimaru revealed Reshape’s plans and battled Nagato, then disclosed that Konoha might be delaying the wars for someone’s arrival.
• Itachi withdrew to let Obito win the Shinobi War, while Sasuke and Izumi discussed the truth about Itachi, Obito, and Minato’s soul.
• The dead returned to Konoha, Konohamaru reunited with Biwako, and Hiruzen volunteered to confront Kaguya and Reshape’s leader.

Kaguya’s battle with Hiruzen and Hikari revealed the God of Ōtsutsuki’s influence, while Naruto disclosed that he had organized the Shinobi Wars to contain conflict and steer the world toward peace. As Kurama left to confront the truth behind Naruto’s future memories, the blood-red sky spread across the world and Guy faced Naruto’s Nine-Tails clone.

• Kaguya recalled the Ōtsutsuki Clan’s pursuit of godhood, then fought Hiruzen Sarutobi, who used summoned White Zetsu and reincarnated ninja against her.
• Uchiha Hikari battled Kaguya with chakra drained from the reincarnated ninja, but Hiruzen emerged from her shadow and took over the fight.
• Hiruzen opened the Gate of Death and attacked Kaguya, until Naruto emerged, identified the hostile chakra as the God of Ōtsutsuki, and helped Hiruzen seal her.
• Naruto told Hiruzen that he had organized the Shinobi Wars and revealed that two rounds remained, while Tobirama sent Guy and Rock Lee to stop Reshape from winning the Eighth War.
• Minato fought Jet Black Dancing Wheel, who was another Minato, and summoned Kushina, and Naruto then intervened, and the match was awarded to Reshape under Jet Black Dancing Wheel’s name.
• The sky turned blood-red across the world, while Kurama left the camp and waited for an answer from the pitch-black space.
• Minato learned of Naruto’s future memories, including his life as the First Fire God and the stagnation caused by his rule, and Naruto said the war would end when Kurama learned the truth.
• Guy opened the Ninth Gate to challenge Naruto’s Nine-Tails clone, which dodged his attack and invited him to join Reshape before vanishing as the sky turned blue.