Recaps

Madara Uchiha and Konoha’s forces ended Otogakure’s attack on the Land of Rice Fields and captured the invaders at the Land of Fire’s border. In court, Madara supported peace with the Land of Rice Fields, and after the treaty was signed, Uesugi Genshin proposed rewarding Konoha.

• Madara Uchiha killed Zhijiu and his Sound Ninja with a Majestic Destroyer Flame, ending Otogakure’s threat to the Land of Rice Fields.
• Shisui and the others defeated Otogakure’s remaining forces, while Shikaku’s squad captured the hundred ninja sent to attack the Land of Fire.
• Shinhiko Kōzuki argued for annexing the Land of Rice Fields, but Uesugi Genshin backed Daimyo Kenya’s offer of grain reparations and peace.
• Madara Uchiha said the Land of Rice Fields should be spared because Orochimaru and Zhijiu had orchestrated the attack, and the Daimyo approved an alliance and peace treaty.
• Uesugi Genshin asked the Daimyo to reward Konoha for its contribution.

After Madara rejected the Daimyo’s attempt to recruit Sasuke as a royal bodyguard, he met with Genshin and Shinhiko, who revealed that their apparent rivalry concealed an alliance. They proposed another deal to Madara, leaving its terms undisclosed.

• Genshin proposed that Konoha garrison the Land of Rice Fields and receive funds from it, while the Daimyo considered rewards for Madara and the Uchiha Clan.
• The Daimyo offered Sasuke a position as his son’s bodyguard, but Madara promised to send Sasuke to the capital in four years instead.
• Genshin invited Madara to his residence, where Madara met Genshin’s son, Uesugi Kiyoteru.
• Shinhiko entered through a secret passage with Kōzuki Ryoma and warned Madara that the Daimyo intended to use Sasuke to restrain him.
• Genshin and Shinhiko revealed that their political rivalry was a performance and said they wanted to make another deal with Madara.

Madara met with Shinhiko and Genshin, who offered their support in exchange for protection for their families. He persuaded them that his real concern was the surviving Madara Uchiha and the Akatsuki, then asked what resources they could provide.

• Genshin and Shinhiko proposed backing Madara’s rise in influence in return for security and prosperity for their families.
• Madara said he had no interest in becoming Daimyo and told them Madara Uchiha was alive and had founded the Akatsuki.
• Kōzuki Ryoma confirmed that Madara’s intelligence network focused on the Akatsuki and Orochimaru.
• Madara estimated that Madara Uchiha would make a major move within four years and offered to stand with Genshin and Shinhiko.
• Genshin offered access to Uesugi territory and scout contacts in the Land of Earth and the Land of Lightning.
• Shinhiko offered to reveal a secret about the Bounty Reception Office if Madara promised to keep it confidential.

Madara learned that the Daimyo backed the Bounty Exchange Office to keep the shinobi villages weakened, and discovered that one billion ryō had been placed on his head. Later, Konoha’s leaders objected to his plan to lead a deployment to the Land of Rice Fields, leaving his decision to depart the village under dispute.

• Shinhiko and Genshin explained that the Daimyo used the Bounty Exchange Office to encourage conflict among ninja and limit the villages’ power.
• Shinhiko told Madara that the Bounty Exchange Office had offered one billion ryō for his assassination, and Madara laughed at the price.
• After Madara left, Genshin told Shinhiko that Madara seemed focused on intelligence about the Akatsuki, though his words might mix truth and falsehood.
• Madara returned to Konoha and named Sasuke and Neji among the troops assigned to the Land of Rice Fields, drawing objections from Tsunade and Fugaku.
• Shikaku noticed that Madara himself was listed as the deployment’s principal officer and protested that the Hokage should not leave Konoha for an extended posting.

Madara won approval to station Konoha forces in the Land of Rice Fields as a buffer and to pursue Orochimaru with Sasuke and Neji. After traveling to the former site of Otogakure with his core force, he met Orochimaru in the Sound Shadow Office basement.

• Madara explained that the Land of Rice Fields would serve as a buffer for the Land of Fire and said he would take Sasuke and Neji to track down Orochimaru.
• Tsunade and Fugaku supported Madara’s plan, and Shikaku reluctantly agreed to it and arranged weekly reports and emergency contact through the Flying Thunder God formation.
• After the meeting, Shikaku wondered whether Madara had wider plans for establishing buffer zones beyond the Land of Rice Fields.
• Madara took Sasuke, Neji, Hayato, Shisui, and his other core-force members to the former site of Otogakure that night.
• Once the others had gone to sleep, Madara entered the Sound Shadow Office basement, where Orochimaru greeted him and called him Lord Fifth Hokage.

Madara arranged for Orochimaru to prepare training grounds for Sasuke and Neji and assigned him to investigate the Bounty Exchange Office. As Sasuke and Neji headed toward an Orochimaru base for their first test, a bounty hunter and his pursuer were being steered toward the Mountainous Cemetery for Madara’s plan.

• Madara intimidated Orochimaru into taking their plans seriously, then confirmed that Orochimaru had prepared training grounds and ninjutsu for Sasuke and Neji.
• Madara explained his restrained approach to changing the shinobi world, and Orochimaru pledged to help him build strong roots.
• Madara ordered Orochimaru to investigate the Bounty Exchange Office, lure a bounty target toward the Mountainous Cemetery, arrange for a non-Konoha Jōnin to kill him, and prepare Impure World Reincarnation.
• The next morning, Madara sent Sasuke and Neji intelligence about an Orochimaru base, and they set out with covert protection.
• In the Land of Earth, a scarred man fled toward the outskirts while a Kirigakure ninja pursued him; Sasuke and Neji reached a secluded island where they would face their first test.

Sasuke and Neji attacked Orochimaru’s base to rescue two boys prepared as possible Containers, defeating the samurai guards before confronting their targets. Sasuke fought the transformed Jūgo, while Neji reached Hozuki Suigetsu, who planned to escape once released.

• Neji used his Byakugan to locate Jūgo in a prison cell and Hozuki Suigetsu in a Container, and Sasuke and Neji split up to reach them.
• Sasuke and Neji knocked down more than a hundred samurai as Kabuto watched and evaluated their strength.
• Sasuke opened Jūgo’s cell, but Jūgo transformed and attacked him; Sasuke dodged his blows and countered before Jūgo fired chakra blasts from his back.
• Neji found Hozuki Suigetsu in a water-filled Container and introduced himself, while Suigetsu prepared to kill Neji and escape once freed.

Neji fought Suigetsu after freeing him from a water-filled Container, while Sasuke defeated Jūgo and invited him to join his team. The chapter ended with Jūgo accepting Sasuke’s hand and asking whether Konoha would accept him.

• Neji freed Suigetsu and saw through his water disguise with the Byakugan.
• Neji and Suigetsu exchanged attacks, and Neji deduced that Suigetsu could use the Hydrification Technique only a few more times before running out of chakra.
• Sasuke subdued Jūgo and learned that Kimimaro had once stopped him when he went berserk.
• Sasuke offered Jūgo friendship and a place on his team, then untied him.
• Jūgo took Sasuke’s hand and asked if the people in his village would accept him.

Sasuke and Neji completed Orochimaru and Madara’s test by defeating Jūgo and Suigetsu. Meanwhile, Madara used a staged fight to evade Black Zetsu and White Zetsu, then met Orochimaru to perform Impure World Reincarnation and attempt to resurrect someone.

• Sasuke reassured Jūgo that Otogakure had powerful people who could stop him if he went berserk, then led him to Neji and Suigetsu’s fight.
• Neji sealed Suigetsu’s tenketsu and defeated him, completing the test Orochimaru and Madara had arranged for Sasuke and Neji.
• Black Zetsu and White Zetsu investigated a battle between a missing-nin from Iwagakure and a Kirigakure ninja, then left after deciding they were no threat.
• Madara, disguised as the Kirigakure ninja, killed the missing-nin and returned to his hidden chamber with the man’s severed head.
• Kabuto accepted thirty million ryō from Madara, then led him to Orochimaru, who had prepared a sacrifice and Madara Uchiha’s cells for Impure World Reincarnation.
• Madara declined Orochimaru’s offer of help and began preparing to use the technique, while Orochimaru and Kabuto left him alone.

Madara investigated Jūgo’s Nature Energy and used genjutsu to help him control it, then decided to study the power as a way to grow stronger and eventually kill Kaguya. Jūgo agreed to stay with Madara and assist with his research.

• Madara emerged from Orochimaru’s Secret Chamber after burning everything inside, and told Orochimaru he would learn about his plans in time.
• Madara met Sasuke, Neji, Jūgo, and Suigetsu after their mission, then arranged for Suigetsu to return to Kirigakure.
• Madara asked Jūgo to activate his power and recognized that it came from Nature Energy, which caused Jūgo to lose control and become violent.
• Madara restrained Jūgo and used Sharingan genjutsu to help him regain control of the Nature Energy and his senses.
• Madara decided to master Nature Energy and study it through Jūgo, and Jūgo agreed to stay and help him.

Madara studied Jūgo’s ability to absorb nature energy and learned from Jiraiya how Sage Mode worked. He discovered that Hashirama cells let him absorb stable nature energy directly, while Jūgo began training under Hayato Hyuga.

• Madara received Orochimaru’s research on Jūgo and secretly asked Jiraiya about nature energy and Sage Mode.
• Jiraiya explained that Sage Mode required balancing chakra, spiritual energy, and nature energy, and described his own imperfect method.
• Madara tested Jūgo’s nature-energy absorption and concluded that Jūgo’s cells absorbed it naturally, while Hashirama’s Sage Mode likely relied on his body.
• Madara assigned Hayato Hyuga to train Jūgo in chakra and spiritual control and gave Jūgo Jiraiya’s Sage Mode training notes.
• Madara meditated and discovered that nature energy absorbed through his Hashirama cells became stable and directly enhanced his perception, speed, and strength.

Madara experimented with Sage Power and sent Sasuke, Neji, and Jūgo to seize Orochimaru’s second base. He challenged Kabuto to consider giving orphans a better future, then heard Kabuto’s report about the Land of Grass, where the mission was headed.

• Madara discovered that Hashirama absorbed Nature Energy effortlessly and found that Sage Power strengthened his Susanoo.
• Madara assigned Sasuke, Neji, and Jūgo to capture Orochimaru’s base and rescue imprisoned children.
• Kabuto arrived in Otogakure and questioned Madara’s apparent concern for orphans.
• Madara recounted Kabuto’s past and said he wanted the children to have a future unlike Kabuto’s.
• Kabuto said Madara’s vision had made him curious about the future and began reporting on the Land of Grass.

Madara and Orochimaru began a covert plan to take control of the Land of Grass, while Karin fled Kusagakure and sought refuge at Orochimaru’s base. The chapter left Karin intercepted by Jūgo, who questioned her about her identity.

• Madara reviewed Kabuto’s intelligence on Kusagakure and left Otogakure with Kabuto and Ajin to pursue their covert plan against the Land of Grass’s daimyo.
• Wanamaru beat two genin for letting Karin escape, then summoned Black Wind and set off to track her using her kunai.
• Karin ran toward Orochimaru’s territory, hoping to escape Wanamaru and avoid being used as a healing tool like her mother.
• Karin sensed appealing chakra nearby and encountered Jūgo, who had been stationed near Orochimaru’s base.
• Karin told Jūgo she wanted to seek refuge with Lord Orochimaru and offered her healing ability in exchange for being taken in.

Sasuke and his companions met Karin as she fled Ranmaru, a Kusagakure ninja, and agreed to protect her. Ranmaru attacked them with a secret grass technique and summoned wolves, while Karin warned the group that he was too strong to face.

• Jūgo offered Karin help after learning she was being pursued, and she agreed to go with him.
• Sasuke and Neji defeated the Test Subjects at Orochimaru’s hideout before Ranmaru arrived on his black wolf.
• Ranmaru demanded that Sasuke’s group hand Karin over, but Sasuke invited her to return to Konoha with them.
• Ranmaru attacked Sasuke, and Neji blocked the charge with Rotation.
• Ranmaru recognized Sasuke and Neji as members of the Uchiha and Hyuga clans, then used Sea of Grass and summoned wolves.
• Neji called Sasuke and Jūgo to gather around him, while Karin urged them to flee from Ranmaru.

Sasuke and Neji fought Ranmaru, who tried to capture Karin, while Shisui’s ANBU team watched without intervening. Sasuke’s fire attack burned away Ranmaru’s grassy terrain, but Ranmaru recognized the setup for a lightning strike and scattered the storm clouds, leaving Sasuke’s plan disrupted.

• Neji destroyed Ranmaru’s summoned wolves, blocked his grass-spears with Rotation, and used Eight Trigrams Vacuum Palm to reveal his position.
• Sasuke clashed with Ranmaru, whose wind-coated kunai countered Sasuke’s lightning-infused blade, while Neji covered Sasuke’s retreat.
• Shisui refused to send the ANBU team into the fight, trusting Sasuke and Neji to handle Ranmaru unless they were in real danger.
• Sasuke unleashed Majestic Destroyer Flame, burning much of the grassland and forcing Ranmaru to defend with Water Formation Wall.
• Ranmaru realized Sasuke might be preparing a lightning attack and used Great Wind Gust to scatter the storm clouds, making Sasuke frown.

Madara used Ajin’s Sharingan to secretly control the Eldest Princess of the Land of Grass and influence her toward the Land of Fire. Meanwhile, Sasuke, Neji, and Jūgo fought Ranmaru, who merged with his giant wolf summon Windmark and prepared to finish them.

• Madara, Kabuto, and Ajin infiltrated Chigusa Satsuki’s mansion, and Ajin placed the Eldest Princess under genjutsu.
• Madara ordered Ajin to remain undercover and quietly foster the Eldest Princess’s friendly attitude toward the Land of Fire.
• Kabuto received word that Ranmaru had encountered Sasuke, Neji, and Jūgo near Orochimaru’s hideout, and Madara decided to observe their fight.
• Ranmaru summoned Windmark and used Wolf Transformation to merge with the giant wolf.

Sasuke, Neji, and Jūgo fought Ranmaru while Madara watched from the shadows and Shisui’s ANBU were held back by Orochimaru. After Neji died protecting Sasuke, Sasuke awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan.

• Ranmaru overwhelmed Sasuke, Neji, and Jūgo, while Madara and Kabuto watched and discussed Sasuke’s future.
• Shisui ordered the ANBU to intervene, but Orochimaru summoned pythons to block them.
• Karin offered Sasuke her chakra, and Neji used Rotation: Modified to knock Ranmaru away from him.
• Ranmaru struck Neji with a Wind Blade as Sasuke bit Karin’s arm to replenish his chakra.
• Neji died before Sasuke, whose Sharingan evolved into a six-pointed-star Mangekyō Sharingan.

Sasuke fought Ranmaru after Karin and Jūgo began healing Neji, and his newly awakened Mangekyō Sharingan turned the battle in his favor. After Ranmaru died and Neji recovered, Sasuke returned to Otogakure and asked Madara whether he had awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan too.

• Karin and Jūgo treated Neji while Sasuke confronted Ranmaru, whose attacks continued despite Sasuke’s improved speed.
• Ranmaru threatened Sasuke’s companions, but Sasuke used black flames from his Mangekyō Sharingan to set him alight.
• Ranmaru escaped the flames by separating from his Demon Wolf body, then tried to attack Karin with a clone.
• Sasuke recognized Ranmaru’s deception and killed him before he could harm Karin.
• Orochimaru left after watching the fight, Shisui felt relieved that Neji had recovered, and Madara returned to the village.
• Sasuke returned to Otogakure, settled Karin in, and asked Madara whether he had awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan.

Madara guided Sasuke after his first kill, and Sasuke chose to make Madara’s dream of world peace his own. After three years of training, Naruto returned to Konoha and learned Sasuke would be back the next day.

• Sasuke told Madara he had killed Ranmaru and awakened his Mangekyō Sharingan, and Madara warned him against using it too often.
• Madara urged Sasuke to find his own ambition and build a power base, offering him Karin, Neji, Jūgo, and the spoils from Orochimaru’s hideout.
• Madara said his dream was for people to stop fighting, and Sasuke vowed to help him bring peace to the world.
• Naruto and Jiraiya returned to Konoha after three years of training, and Naruto went to visit Mikoto.
• Mikoto told Naruto that Sasuke and the others were stationed in Otogakure and would return the next day, so Naruto looked forward to seeing Sasuke.

After Jiraiya questioned Shikaku about Madara’s rule, Naruto welcomed Sasuke back to Konoha and challenged him to a long-awaited fight. Before they could leave for the training ground, Raido summoned them to the Hokage’s office for an urgent matter.

• Jiraiya asked Shikaku about Konoha’s prosperity and its presence in the Land of Rice Fields, but Shikaku told him to question Madara directly about his concerns.
• Naruto welcomed Sasuke back to Konoha and learned that Sasuke and Neji had become jōnin while he remained a chunin.
• Hayato teased Naruto about Sasuke leading a team in the Land of Rice Fields, prompting Naruto to insist he had grown strong during his training with Jiraiya.
• Naruto and Sasuke agreed to fight at the Uchiha Clan’s Training Ground No. 1 with Hayato as referee.
• Raido arrived and ordered Naruto and Sasuke to report to Madara immediately about an urgent matter.

Madara ordered Sasuke, Naruto, Sakura, and Kakashi to go to Sunagakure after the Akatsuki captured Gaara. The team set out on an S-rank mission while Madara secretly planned to use the conflict to weaken Obito and sharpen Sasuke and Naruto.

• Madara told Naruto and the others that the Akatsuki had attacked Sunagakure and taken Gaara.
• Madara assigned Sasuke, Naruto, Sakura, and Kakashi to kill the attackers and rescue Gaara if possible.
• Jiraiya objected that the mission was too dangerous, but Madara and Shikaku explained that the team would face only two Akatsuki members and that Madara intended Naruto to draw their attention.
• Madara revealed that he wanted Obito to gather tailed beasts and spread panic while losing Akatsuki members, leaving him dependent on Madara's support.
• Sasuke led Naruto, Sakura, and Kakashi toward Sunagakure, and Naruto looked forward to undertaking the mission with Sasuke.

Sasuke’s team reached Sunagakure and learned that Akatsuki had captured Gaara, with Sasori among the attackers. After tracking the enemy’s scent, Sasuke prepared to leave with Naruto and Kakashi, while Chiyo volunteered to join them and face her grandson.

• Sasuke stopped Chiyo from attacking Kakashi and took charge of the rescue effort.
• Baki identified Sasori and described the second attacker as a long-haired ninja who used explosions; Kankuro confirmed Sasori’s identity after waking.
• Sakura developed an antidote for Kankuro, and Sasuke persuaded Naruto to rest while Kakashi’s ninja dogs searched for the enemy.
• The next morning, Sasuke refused Temari’s offer of reinforcements because Sunagakure needed to defend itself.
• Chiyo volunteered to accompany Sasuke’s team, citing her experience with puppeteers and her wish to confront her grandson.

Sasuke, Naruto, Kakashi, Sakura, and Granny Chiyo found the cave where Akatsuki was extracting Gaara’s tailed beast. Sasuke and Naruto combined their techniques to break the Five-Seal Barrier, exposing the cave as Gaara fell silent.

• Sasuke led the group to a cliff where Kakashi’s Shinobi dog had tracked the enemy and Gaara.
• Naruto struck the cave’s barrier with a Big Ball Rasengan, but it failed to break through.
• Inside the cave, Sasori told the others to continue extracting Gaara’s tailed beast despite the approaching pursuers.
• Kakashi and Granny Chiyo identified the Five-Seal Barrier and explained that its five tags had to be removed simultaneously.
• Sasuke and Naruto combined Kirin with Wind Release: Rasenshuriken and shattered the barrier through brute force.
• The barrier and boulder broke apart, revealing the cave as Gaara fell silent.

Sasuke’s team reached the cave after the Akatsuki extracted the One-Tail from Gaara, and Sakura confirmed that Gaara was dead. Sasuke assigned Naruto and Kakashi to pursue Deidara while he, Sakura, and Granny Chiyo faced Sasori.

• Sasuke pulled Gaara’s body away from Sasori and told Sakura to check whether he was alive.
• Sakura confirmed that Gaara had died, and Naruto’s anger caused the Nine-Tails’ chakra to surface.
• Sasuke briefed Naruto on Deidara and Sasori, then assigned Naruto to fight Deidara and himself to face Sasori with Sakura and Granny Chiyo.
• Naruto chose Deidara as his opponent, and Kakashi joined him as backup.
• Deidara formed a clay bird, flew away from the cave, and Naruto pursued him with Kakashi after Sasuke gave permission.

Sasuke fought Sasori in the cave, destroying his puppet with Futsu-no-Mitama and forcing him to reveal his true body. Sasori then summoned the Third Kazekage as a puppet, leaving Granny Chiyo horrified by her grandson’s role in the Kazekage’s death.

• Granny Chiyo offered to help Sasuke, but he declined and drew Futsu-no-Mitama to face Sasori alone.
• Sasuke used his speed and sword to cut through Sasori’s puppet and its poisoned tail, then pulverized it with lightning before Sasori could control it.
• Sasori emerged from the destroyed puppet, and Granny Chiyo realized that he had not aged in twenty years.
• Sasori summoned his favorite puppet, the Third Kazekage, and Granny Chiyo revealed that Sasori had killed Sunagakure’s strongest Kage.