Recaps

Orochimaru and Edo Madara told Hashirama and Tobirama that Konoha was not their target and that Uchiha Itachi was its Hokage. Their argument over whether the Uchiha Clan was inherently evil ended with Orochimaru explaining how Tobirama’s policies had pushed the clan toward rebellion.

• Madara corrected Tobirama’s assumption that their target was Konoha, and Orochimaru explained that Konoha was now the strongest of the Five Great Ninja Villages.
• Madara revealed that Uchiha Itachi was Konoha’s current Hokage, prompting Tobirama to insist that no Uchiha should hold the office.
• Tobirama argued that the Uchiha Clan’s love turned to hatred when lost, while Madara challenged his claims and said he had left Konoha because it could not bring true peace.
• Orochimaru told Tobirama that his Konoha Military Police Force policies had isolated the Uchiha Clan and helped drive it toward rebellion.

Edo Madara approved Orochimaru's plan to target the Daimyo of the Land of Water and assigned the Hokage to opponents, then fought Hashirama. Meanwhile, Kabuto led Zetsu to a hidden force of a thousand experimental subjects, while a blue rain curtain secretly stripped away part of Black Zetsu.

• The Second Hokage warned that the Uchiha could become another Madara, and Edo Madara laughed at his fears.
• Edo Madara read Orochimaru's plan, assigned the Second Hokage to deal with the Daimyo of the Land of Water, and chose Hashirama as his opponent.
• The First Hokage tried to stop Madara from targeting a Daimyo, but Madara blasted him away and began fighting him.
• Kabuto led Zetsu to a cavern beneath a lake, where a blue rain curtain separated Black Zetsu from White Zetsu and damaged Black Zetsu.
• Karin collected the black material that the rain stripped from Black Zetsu while Kabuto concealed the curtain's purpose.
• Kabuto showed Zetsu a thousand experimental subjects made from Hashirama cells and nature energy.

The Five Great Nations’ daimyo declared war on the Akatsuki, with Uchiha Itachi appointed supreme commander and A as Chief of Staff. The Daimyo of the Land of Water was killed in a massive Water Release attack on his palace, and the samurai blamed Kirigakure.

• The Daimyo of the Land of Water objected to the joint campaign, but the daimyo of the Land of Fire and the Land of Lightning persuaded him to join by warning him of Madara Uchiha and the danger to his safety.
• The five daimyo signed a declaration of war, naming Uchiha Itachi supreme commander and A Chief of Staff.
• After the meeting, the Daimyo of the Land of Water ordered ten million ryō in war funds for Kirigakure, hoping to secure its protection.
• A hidden attacker used Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet Technique to kill the daimyo and flood his palace, killing numerous officials as well.
• A Kirigakure chunin found the daimyo’s body, and the samurai commander blamed Kirigakure and held a Samurai Sword to a ninja’s neck.

Orochimaru used the Second Hokage to devastate the Land of Water’s Capital and send the Second Mizukage into the Land of Fire’s Capital, where Kabuto took control of him and disguised him as Mei Terumi. As the Daimyo summoned two absent officials, Shinhiko Kōzuki and Uesugi Genshin arrived in court.

• The Second Hokage, controlled by Orochimaru, killed officials in the Land of Water’s Capital, crippling its government and worsening relations with Kirigakure.
• The Second Hokage questioned Orochimaru about who had been sent to the Land of Fire, and Orochimaru revealed that a Mizukage would attack it in retaliation.
• Minato Namikaze brought the Second Mizukage, Gengetsu Hozuki, into the Land of Fire’s Capital using a Flying Thunder God kunai hidden in a merchant caravan.
• The Second Mizukage summoned his giant clam near the palace, and Kabuto Yakushi took control of him and transformed him to look like Mei Terumi.
• The Land of Fire’s Daimyo ordered his samurai to find Shinhiko and Yuanxin, but Shinhiko Kōzuki and Uesugi Genshin entered court before the samurai could leave.

Kabuto and the resurrected Second Mizukage killed the Land of Fire’s Daimyo and courtiers, while the Third Kazekage and Sasori eliminated the Land of Wind’s ruling officials. Kabuto framed the attacks as a revolution against a system that treated ninja as expendable, and Sasori set his sights on obtaining Sasuke Uchiha’s body.

• Kabuto used the Second Mizukage and Uesugi Genshin to kill the Land of Fire’s Daimyo, courtiers, and family.
• Kabuto explained to the Second Mizukage that they were carrying out a revolution against the Daimyo who sent ninja to die in wars.
• The Second Mizukage considered Kabuto’s argument about the differences between ninja, Daimyo, and ordinary people.
• The Third Kazekage and Sasori killed the Land of Wind’s Daimyo and courtiers with Iron Sand, then removed the bodies and evidence.
• Sasori led the Third Kazekage toward their next targets and said he intended to take Sasuke Uchiha’s body.

A suspected Fourth Raikage killed the Land of Earth's Daimyo and rampaged through its capital, while the Second Tsuchikage erased the Land of Lightning's Daimyo and court with Dust Release. Orochimaru's attacks threatened to fracture the Five Great Nations' alliance, and he challenged Obito's plan to exploit the war.

• A lightning-fast attacker killed the Land of Earth's Daimyo and devastated the capital before escaping, and Iwagakure's Shido identified him as the suspected Fourth Raikage.
• The Second Tsuchikage used Dust Release to erase the Land of Lightning's palace, Daimyo, and assembled officers, and Sandō Raikō warned the Raikage that the alliance could be in jeopardy.
• Obito accused Orochimaru of endangering his plan to attack the Five Great Nations' rear and seize the Rinnegan and the two tailed beasts.
• Orochimaru argued that Obito could not defeat the Fifth Hokage and his protectors, including Shisui, Sasuke, and Naruto Uzumaki.
• Orochimaru said Obito should have prioritized reviving Madara Uchiha instead of letting Orochimaru summon him through Impure World Reincarnation.

Orochimaru asserted control over the Akatsuki alongside Edo Madara and forced Obito to accept his subordinate role. At Konoha's gate, the resurrected Minato Namikaze blocked the village, and Shisui and Hayato fought to protect their men and contain him.

• Orochimaru dismissed Obito's reasons for joining Akatsuki and declared that he and Edo Madara were in charge, demanding that Obito use Kamui to help them.
• Minato Namikaze arrived at Konoha's gate and killed a Konoha ninja who had witnessed him there.
• Shisui Uchiha and Hayato Hyuga led a group out of Konoha to meet the Land of Fire's Daimyo's troops, but recognized Minato as a possible Impure World Reincarnation and sent their subordinates back to report.
• Minato attacked the retreating ninja, but Shisui intervened and forced him back across the gate with Hayato's support.
• Minato warned Shisui and Hayato that he was an Impure World Reincarnation body and suggested sealing him, then continued attacking with Flying Thunder God while Hayato and Shisui struggled to defend themselves.

Naruto, Sasuke, and Hokage Madara arrived to aid Hayato and Shisui against the reanimated Fourth Hokage. Naruto faced his father while Sasuke intercepted Obito, leaving the two young fighters poised to battle.

• The Fourth Hokage overwhelmed Hayato and Shisui with his speed and Rasengan, urging them to retreat before Kabuto took control of him.
• Naruto, Sasuke, and Hokage Madara arrived, and Naruto recognized the Fourth Hokage as his father.
• Naruto asked to fight the Fourth Hokage alone, while Sasuke moved to protect Hayato and Shisui.
• Obito appeared and demanded that Hokage Madara return the Rinnegan, then Sasuke struck him and drove him away from Madara.
• Sasuke faced Obito with Futsu-no-Mitama as Obito threatened to gouge out his eyes.

Sasuke and Naruto fought Obito and the Fourth Hokage, with Minato explaining how to catch Obito while Naruto tried to counter his father’s Flying Thunder God Technique. Naruto left nearly all of Minato’s teleportation marks at Mount Myōboku, and Minato acknowledged how formidable his son had become.

• Minato warned Sasuke that Obito became solid when attacking, and Sasuke used his Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan to detect spatial fluctuations.
• Minato attacked Naruto with the Flying Thunder God Technique, but Naruto’s spinning Nine-Tails chakra deflected the incoming kunai.
• Naruto used shadow clones to guard Minato’s Flying Thunder God marks, but Minato’s speed and reflexes let him defeat the clones.
• Hayato advised Naruto to send the marks away, so Naruto’s clones transported nearly all of them to Mount Myōboku.
• Minato lamented Naruto’s unfair tactic but felt proud of how powerful his son had become.

Naruto and the Fourth Hokage fought seriously, with Naruto using his shuriken skills and clones to overcome his father's Flying Thunder God tactics. Naruto launched a Wind Release: Rasenshuriken at the airborne Fourth Hokage, leaving the outcome of the attack unresolved.

• The Fourth Hokage entered Sage Mode and golden body mode, then attacked Naruto with Flying Thunder God marks and techniques.
• Naruto matched his father’s golden body mode and used wind-infused shuriken to destroy the Fourth Hokage’s marked shuriken and clear his marks from the woods.
• Naruto used a clone underground to lift the Fourth Hokage into the path of a Big Ball Rasengan, sending him flying.
• Naruto’s shuriken pierced the Fourth Hokage’s waist and removed his ninja tool pouch, leaving him unable to teleport to Obito.
• As the Fourth Hokage formed hand seals in midair, a hidden Naruto appeared behind him and attacked with Wind Release: Rasenshuriken.

Naruto defeated the reanimated Fourth Hokage, and Hokage Madara took him to a hidden facility to drain the Nine-Tails chakra inside him. Outside Konoha, Obito tried to seize the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path and threatened Sasuke, who confronted him as Naruto and the others watched.

• Naruto blasted the Fourth Hokage with a Rasenshuriken, but the reanimated Hokage began regenerating and reassured his son.
• Hokage Madara pinned the Fourth Hokage with chakra black rods, then used the Flying Thunder God Technique to take him away while Sasuke blocked Obito.
• Hokage Madara brought the Fourth Hokage to Root's former site and used the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path to drain his Nine-Tails chakra, controlling the Nine-Tails with his Sharingan.
• Obito threatened to capture Sasuke and use him to demand Shisui's Rinnegan, while Naruto, Shisui, and Hayato watched from nearby.
• Sasuke attacked Obito with Futsu-no-Mitama, but the strike passed through his phantom form and left Obito sweating.

Sasuke used his Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan to detect the spatial fluctuations behind Obito’s Kamui and repeatedly countered his attacks. After Sasuke killed Tobi and broke through Obito’s assault, Obito retreated into thoughts of how his missing eye had left him unable to win.

• Obito discovered that Sasuke could see the spatial fluctuations caused by Kamui, while Sasuke sensed a connection between his chakra and Tobi’s.
• Obito merged with Tobi and attacked Sasuke with Wood Release, but Sasuke pierced Obito’s materialized arm with Chidori Sharp Spear.
• Obito abandoned Kamui and fought Sasuke head-on with Fire Release and Wood Release, but Sasuke’s Susanoo blocked the attacks.
• Obito used Kamui to evade Sasuke’s Majestic Destroyer Flame and left Tobi exposed, allowing Sasuke to kill Tobi with Futsu-no-Mitama and black flames.
• Obito realized he could not break Sasuke’s Susanoo and regretted having only one Sharingan, then turned his thoughts to his other eye.

Sasuke’s evolved Rinnegan let him see and strike Obito through space, but Obito survived a fatal blow using Izanagi. Sasuke then summoned his Perfect Susanoo, leaving Obito facing its legendary defensive and sealing weapons.

• Sasuke evolved his eyes into the Rinnegan and struck Obito through his intangibility with black Chidori and Futsu-no-Mitama.
• Obito used Izanagi to return after Sasuke cut off his head, and Shisui explained the technique’s reality-altering power and cost.
• Obito repeatedly attacked Sasuke while relying on Izanagi, but Sasuke countered his strikes.
• Sasuke summoned his Perfect Susanoo, equipped with the Yata Mirror and Totsuka Blade, while Obito felt helpless before it.

Obito escaped Sasuke’s attack but returned to the Mountainous Cemetery badly wounded, where Edo Madara killed him. Hokage Madara restored Kurama’s other half to Naruto, who dismissed Kurama’s unease about Itachi before a samurai arrived with a message from Lord Shinhiko.

• Obito used Kamui to escape Sasuke’s Yata Mirror, but the attack left him gravely wounded.
• Obito begged Edo Madara to save him and warned that Sasuke and Naruto had become too powerful to stop.
• Edo Madara activated Obito’s restriction and killed him in the cave.
• Hokage Madara freed the Fourth Hokage’s soul, recovered Kurama’s other half, and returned it to Naruto.
• Kurama warned Naruto that Itachi felt as dangerous as Madara, but Naruto defended Itachi and dismissed the warning.
• A samurai arrived at Konoha’s entrance and delivered a message from Lord Shinhiko to Hokage Madara.

After the five daimyo and many senior officials were killed, Shikaku Nara deduced that Orochimaru had used resurrected former Kage to frame the villages and fracture the alliance. Konoha received a plea to protect the Land of Fire’s interim leaders, and Hokage Madara was asked to go to the capital.

• Jiraiya questioned why the Fifth Mizukage would kill the Land of Fire’s daimyo and senior officials.
• Ajin, Sai, and Kazuhiko reported that the daimyo and officials of the Lands of Wind, Lightning, Earth, and Water had also been killed.
• Shikaku deduced that Madara Uchiha was behind the attacks and explained that Orochimaru could use Impure World Reincarnation to resurrect former Kage and stage the killings.
• Shikaku reasoned that the murders were meant to sow distrust among the nations and prevent them from forming an allied army.
• A samurai reported that Lord Shinhiko and Lord Yuanxin were overseeing the Land of Fire but lacked guards, and asked Hokage Madara to protect them, coordinate with the other nations, and avenge the daimyo.

Hokage Madara agreed to go to the Capital with a team and take charge, while Shikaku would lead Konoha in his absence and Naruto would protect the village. In Kumogakure, the Raikage blamed Madara for the Daimyo’s death and ordered troops to protect the chaotic Capital of the Land of Lightning.

• Shikaku persuaded Koharu and Konoha’s leaders that Madara should go to the Capital to reassure the surviving ministers and secure their support.
• Madara named Shikaku acting village head, assigned Naruto to protect Konoha, and chose Sasuke and others to accompany him.
• Madara gave Jiraiya a letter and land deed securing a refuge in the Land of Rice Fields for Nagato and Konan.
• The Raikage blamed Madara for the Daimyo of the Land of Lightning’s death, while Mabui suggested the Akatsuki had used Impure World Reincarnation to summon the Second Tsuchikage.
• Darui and C reported that Lord Ya had ordered Kumogakure to move troops to the Capital but keep them outside the city, and the Raikage assigned one-third of the village’s forces to protect it under C’s command.

After Orochimaru’s attacks left the great nations’ leaders dead and their villages mired in suspicion, Konoha circulated Shikaku’s deductions to reassure them that the Akatsuki was responsible. Hokage Madara gained the nations’ trust and entered the Land of Fire’s capital.

• The Third Tsuchikage sent half of Iwagakure’s manpower to protect the Land of Earth’s capital as he suspected the attacks were an Akatsuki scheme.
• Gaara and Ebizo considered sending Temari to Konoha after Sunagakure received no reply, while Kirigakure feared the Land of Water’s officials might purge it.
• Konoha distributed Shikaku’s explanation that Orochimaru and reanimated Previous Kage had attacked the nations, urging the villages not to turn against one another.
• The Raikage, Ōnoki, Mei Terumi, Gaara, and the surviving nobles gained confidence in Hokage Madara after receiving Konoha’s intelligence.
• Hokage Madara entered the Land of Fire’s capital, where Shinhiko and Yuanxin welcomed him.

Hokage Madara became the Land of Fire’s Acting Daimyo after Uesugi Genshin, Shinhiko Kōzuki, and the surviving nobles backed his appointment. He secured the Capital and reassured its ministers, then considered using the other nations’ weakened leadership to gain greater influence.

• Shinhiko Kōzuki recalled how he had once underestimated Hokage Madara, while he and Uesugi Genshin helped keep the Land of Fire stable after Kabuto and Orochimaru’s massacre.
• Uesugi Genshin and Shinhiko Kōzuki asked Hokage Madara to temporarily become Daimyo, and the surviving nobles joined their appeal.
• Hokage Madara accepted the position of Acting Daimyo, and his Bodyguard Unit took control of the Capital’s defenses.
• At his first court meeting, Hokage Madara promised the ministers he would protect the Capital while the Five-Nation Allied Army was formed.
• After the ministers were reassured, Hokage Madara noted that the other four nations had lost most of their leaders and suggested they could use the crisis to secure greater gains.

Yamaguchi Aoyama explained to Sasuke and the other ninja why the daimyo and nobles feared their own villages, describing how they used missions, wars, and other institutions to limit ninja strength. Neji then asked how that fear justified scheming against allied nations, leaving Aoyama to answer.

• Yamaguchi Aoyama argued that the Five Great Nations should prioritize forming an Allied Army, but Sasuke questioned his call to scheme against their allies.
• Aoyama recognized Sasuke Uchiha and explained that nations feared ninja villages because ninja were more loyal to their Kage than to the daimyo.
• Aoyama used Kirigakure's Bloody Mist policy to show how a powerful, isolated village could threaten its daimyo.
• Aoyama said the daimyo used missions, wars, and the Bounty Exchange Office to drain ninja strength and prevent rebellion.
• Neji asked Aoyama how the nations' fear of their ninja villages related to scheming against their allies.

Aoyama explained that the Land of Fire needed to support friendly factions in the other nations before it could unite the Five Great Nations against the Akatsuki. The group reviewed intelligence showing political instability across the four nations, and Shikamaru asked why Mei Terumi had secretly appealed to Hokage Madara for help.

• Aoyama asked Sasuke and Neji how the Land of Fire should unite the Five Great Nations, and Shikamaru explained that it needed to support governments friendly to the Land of Fire.
• Shikamaru warned that choosing a trustworthy proxy in the other nations would be difficult, and Aoyama sought permission to share intelligence with Hokage Madara.
• Yuanxin provided documents showing that Matsushita Tetsugo had gained power in the Land of Lightning and Yamamoto Taro had taken control of the royal Capital in the Land of Earth.
• Shikamaru read that rival factions in the Land of Wind had both requested the Land of Fire's protection, while the Land of Water's leaders and Kirigakure had sent opposing appeals for help.
• Shikamaru asked Hokage Madara why Mei Terumi had secretly written to him for help.

Hokage Madara revealed his strength and Aoyama explained how noble marriages preserved power across nations. Aoyama then proposed taking control of the Land of Wind, arguing that its political weakness and ties to Konoha made it an easy target.

• Hokage Madara told Shikamaru that he had helped kill the Akatsuki-controlled Fourth Mizukage, leaving the court stunned by his strength.
• Aoyama explained that his wife, Takahashi Sakura, came from a powerful Land of Wind family and that noble marriages maintained influence and shared interests across countries.
• Shikamaru and the other ninja realized that noble families prioritized their wealth and survival, even if their countries were defeated.
• Hokage Madara asked Aoyama to present his plan, and Aoyama proposed taking control of the Land of Wind and Sunagakure.
• Aoyama cited the Land of Wind's weak political and military position and Sasuke's favorable relationship with the Kazekage as advantages for Konoha.

Aoyama explained to Shikamaru how the Land of Wind could be brought under Hokage Madara’s control, then traveled there with Sasuke’s team. In the Land of Lightning, the Raikage confronted Acting Daimyo Zhegang and pressured him to form the Five-Nation Allied Army against the Akatsuki.

• Aoyama told Shikamaru that controlling the Land of Wind’s inner circle, backed by military strength, would bring the country under Madara’s control.
• Madara sent Sasuke’s team and Shikamaru to accompany Aoyama to the Land of Wind.
• The Raikage smashed into the Royal Palace of the Land of Lightning and demanded to know whether Zhegang planned to dissolve the Five-Nation Allied Army.
• When samurai moved to seize him, the Raikage shattered the palace floor and threatened to replace Zhegang as daimyo.
• Zhegang explained that the country should stabilize first and warned that the other nations were in chaos, but the Raikage insisted that they also form the allied army and attack the Akatsuki.

The Raikage forced Zhegang and the Land of Lightning’s ministers to obey his wartime orders, while Sasuke’s group reached the Land of Wind’s capital to negotiate an alliance. Sasuke used his Perfect Susanoo to terrify a thousand samurai, leaving Aoyama stunned.

• The Raikage demanded that Zhegang and the ministers follow his orders during the war, and Zhegang agreed on the condition that their safety was guaranteed.
• Neji spotted samurai waiting to ambush Sasuke’s group near the Land of Wind’s capital, and Aoyama asked the ninja to demonstrate their strength while sparing as many enemies as possible.
• Sato Hirofumi confronted Aoyama and ordered him to leave, insisting that the Land of Wind needed to choose an Acting Daimyo instead of forming an allied army.
• Sasuke approached Hirofumi and summoned his Perfect Susanoo, causing the surrounding samurai to drop their swords and kneel in terror.
• Suigetsu teased Sasuke for going too far, while Aoyama stood speechless at the sight.

Sasuke used Susanoo to terrify Yuwen and his samurai into escorting him and Aoyama to the Land of Wind's Capital. At the city gates, Aoyama told Yuwen the Land of Fire would not help the Takahashi clan destroy the Sato family, and Sasuke asked Kento about Sunagakure.

• Sasuke flattened a distant sand hill with Susanoo's arrow, leaving Yuwen and his samurai too frightened to move.
• Sasuke ordered Yuwen to lead the group into the city, and Suigetsu caught Aoyama when he stumbled toward the sand.
• Yuwen's men escorted Sasuke and Aoyama to the gates, where Takahashi Kento arrived with armed samurai.
• Aoyama gave Yuwen four hours to gather his clan's decision-makers and allies, and reiterated that the Land of Fire would not help the Takahashi clan wipe out the Sato family.
• Aoyama introduced Sasuke to Kento as a Konoha ninja whose strength surpassed a Kage's, and Sasuke asked about Sunagakure.
• Kento said the Land of Wind trusted Konoha more and had ordered Sunagakure to hold position and await further instructions.

Aoyama, backed by Sasuke, met with the Sato and Takahashi factions to negotiate the Land of Fire’s goals in the Land of Wind. The nobles accepted the talks peacefully and bowed after hearing Aoyama’s terms.

• Kenshō brought Sasuke and the others to the royal palace while he went to gather the Takahashi allies.
• Sato Hirofumi led Sato Takeshi and the Sato faction to meet Sasuke, and they prostrated themselves before him.
• Sasuke told the nobles to handle all matters through Aoyama, who helped Sato Takeshi rise.
• Takahashi Yamato and the Takahashi faction arrived and paid their respects to Sasuke.
• Aoyama explained that the Land of Fire would not alter the Land of Wind’s balance of power or attack it, and outlined its aims of mediation, protecting the remaining nobles, and securing help to assemble the Five-Nation Allied Army.
• Takahashi Yano and Sato Takeshi exchanged a glance and bowed together.