Recaps

Jiraiya and his companions brought the injured Mifune back to Iron City, where the general learned that Mifune—not Ichirō—had returned and rushed to apologize to the Tsuchikage. The next morning, Yui visited Iinaka’s shop and received her repaired sword, Wave Breaker.

• Jiraiya explained to two samurai that their group had been attacked, and the samurai escorted him and his companions into Iron City while Mifune remained unconscious.
• A samurai told the general that only one member of the mission had returned injured, and the general mistakenly believed Ichirō had eliminated the Dove Faction samurai.
• The samurai clarified that Mifune had returned with three Konoha ninja, prompting the general to realize the danger and hurry off to apologize to the Tsuchikage.
• The next morning, Yui went to Iinaka’s shop and collected her repaired short sword, Wave Breaker.

Yui accepted Iinaka’s free repair of her Short Sword and agreed to help him in the future. She stayed to plan a custom blade with him, then left after choosing its design and length while Iinaka reconsidered his measurements.

• Iinaka repaired Yui’s Short Sword and explained that it would eventually need to be reforged to avoid breaking in battle.
• Yui tried to pay, but Iinaka refused the money and said he would ask her to return the favor someday.
• Iinaka asked Yui to help design a custom blade, and she requested a simple white scabbard.
• Yui tested wooden swords and chose one a little over a meter long while Iinaka recorded her measurements.
• Yui told Iinaka she did not know her current height, so he began revising his measurements using his own height as a reference.

Yui tried to leave the Land of Iron but repeatedly crossed paths with Orochimaru, Jiraiya, and Dan Katō, who recognized her as a Konoha rogue ninja and cornered her. She drew Wave Breaker and prepared to fight all three rather than be captured.

• Yui left Iinaka and headed toward the city gates, hoping to find a way to improve her mental power.
• Jiraiya asked a passerby for directions to Iron City's hospital, and he, Orochimaru, and Dan Katō turned back toward the alley where Mifune was recovering.
• Yui emerged from her hiding place and fled when she saw the three men, but Dan Katō recognized her and chased her with Orochimaru and Jiraiya.
• Yui tried to escape through an alley, but Orochimaru and Dan Katō blocked her while Jiraiya dropped in from above.
• Orochimaru identified Yui as an S-rank Konoha rogue ninja, and Yui drew Wave Breaker as the three Jonin surrounded her.

Yui escaped Dan Katō and Orochimaru, then asked Jiraiya about training mental power and teased him by demanding the Second Hokage’s Flying Thunder God Technique. Dan Katō and Orochimaru blocked her path, leaving her poised to test Dan Katō’s abilities.

• Yui evaded Orochimaru’s Hidden Shadow Snake Hands, leaving Dan Katō caught in the snakes while she fled.
• Jiraiya chased Yui and asked whether the wanted notice’s accusations were true; Yui admitted she had killed Hyuga Feng and defected from the village.
• Yui reminded Jiraiya that he had promised to guide her in ninjutsu and asked about techniques that could train mental power.
• Jiraiya suggested Dan Katō might know a way to train mental power and invited Yui to return to Konoha, but she refused and asked for the Flying Thunder God Technique instead.
• Dan Katō and Orochimaru appeared in front of Yui and blocked her escape as the frightened crowd scattered.

Yui Hyuga fought Jiraiya and Orochimaru in Iron City while trying to draw out Dan Katō's Spirit Transformation Technique. As Dan's soul rushed toward her, Yui raised her hands and surrendered.

• Yui Hyuga cut through Orochimaru's Hidden Shadow Snake Hands and avoided Jiraiya's Wild Lion's Mane Technique.
• Dan Katō told Jiraiya and Orochimaru to keep Yui occupied while he prepared the Spirit Transformation Technique.
• Yui overpowered Jiraiya and Orochimaru in close combat, then reflected their Fire Release: Flame Bullet and Water Release: Water Shockwave with Eight Trigrams Palm: Rotation.
• Yui sensed Dan Katō's soul approaching and recognized it as the Spirit Transformation Technique.
• As Dan Katō's soul neared her body, Yui raised both hands and said, "I surrender..."

Yui Hyuga surrendered after seeing Dan Katō use his Spirit Transformation Technique, leaving Dan and the others puzzled about her motive. A samurai squad arrived over the damage from their fight and escorted them to the General’s Residence, warning that group brawls in the Land of Iron could mean jail time.

• Orochimaru bound Yui Hyuga’s hands and sealed the chain after she surrendered, while Jiraiya promised to help her if she was innocent.
• Orochimaru called Dan Katō’s soul back, and Dan questioned Yui about why she had surrendered.
• Jiraiya, Orochimaru, and Dan encountered a samurai squad, and Orochimaru explained that they had been pursuing a rogue ninja from Konoha.
• The samurai captain decided to take them to the General’s Residence so the general could judge the incident and the damage.
• Jiraiya worried that they might be jailed, while Orochimaru and Dan doubted that the Land of Iron’s laws applied to them.

Yui and her companions were brought before the General of the Land of Iron after a street fight, while Ōnoki recognized Yui as the masked woman who had stolen his ninja tools. Ōnoki hid his recognition and waited for a chance to act, as Yui sensed someone watching her from behind a screen.

• Yui followed Dan Katō and Jiraiya into the General's Residence, hoping to learn the Spirit Transformation Technique.
• The general paused a private meeting with Ōnoki to hear that Konoha ninjas had been arrested for damaging houses during a pursuit.
• The tall samurai brought Orochimaru and the others into the general's office and explained what had happened.
• Ōnoki secretly peered through a hole in the screen, recognized Yui as the masked thief who had taken his ninja tools, and decided to wait before confronting her.
• Yui felt a strange gaze from behind the screen and looked toward it suspiciously.

The general confirmed that Yui was a Konoha rogue ninja and released her and the others, though he planned to seek compensation from the Hokage. Ōnoki secretly recognized Yui and considered what to do next, while Jiraiya led the group to the hospital where Mifune was recovering.

• Orochimaru showed the general Konoha’s wanted order, and Dan Katō removed Yui’s mask so the general could compare her face to her portrait.
• The general recognized Yui as the wanted rogue ninja and dismissed the group, saying Iron City’s laws did not apply but that he would seek compensation from the Hokage.
• Ōnoki memorized Yui’s face and decided not to tell the samurai about his interest in her.
• Jiraiya asked where Mifune was recovering, and the tall samurai said he had taken him to Iron City’s hospital.
• Dan Katō returned Yui’s mask, and Jiraiya led the group to a dilapidated hospital courtyard marked with a red cross.

Orochimaru, Jiraiya, Dan Katō, and Yui failed to find Mifune at the abandoned hospital and decided to return to Konoha, giving Yui a chance to pursue Dan Katō’s mental-training ninjutsu. Meanwhile, Iinaka cared for the unconscious Mifune, and the General of the Land of Iron prepared to demand compensation from Konoha.

• Orochimaru and Jiraiya left the abandoned hospital after finding no sign of Mifune, while Dan Katō sensed the building and confirmed it was empty.
• Orochimaru decided the group should return to Konoha, and Dan Katō agreed; Yui privately welcomed the decision as an opportunity to act.
• Iinaka returned to his blade shop carrying the unconscious Mifune, gave him medicine, and put him to bed.
• The General of the Land of Iron told Ōnoki he hoped to use Konoha’s compensation to replace his office building, and Ōnoki left in disdain.
• The general began writing a compensation demand to Konoha’s Third Hokage.

Ōnoki caught up with Orochimaru, Jiraiya, Dan Katō, and Yui Hyuga at the Land of Fire's border and demanded that they hand Yui over for stealing from Iwagakure. Orochimaru and the others refused and fled after Jiraiya attacked, leaving Ōnoki to pursue them.

• Ōnoki ordered a tall, thin ninja to return the remaining ninja tools to the village while he went after something else.
• Orochimaru used snakes to restrain Yui Hyuga and hurried toward the Land of Iron with Jiraiya and Dan Katō.
• Ōnoki arrived by flying and demanded that Orochimaru hand Yui over, accusing her of stealing from Iwagakure.
• Yui denied stealing and hinted that she had taken something valuable, but Ōnoki stopped her from revealing what it was.
• Orochimaru refused to surrender Yui, and Jiraiya attacked Ōnoki with Flame Bullet as the group fled.

Ōnoki cornered Orochimaru, Jiraiya, and Dan Katō while demanding they hand over Yui. As the three fought back, Yui freed herself and waited for a chance to act, while Orochimaru and Dan Katō prepared a plan to bring Ōnoki down from the sky.

• Ōnoki blocked the trio’s escape with a boulder, attacked them with falling stones, and demanded that they hand over Yui.
• Orochimaru hid Yui in the undergrowth and returned to fight Ōnoki alongside Jiraiya and Dan Katō.
• Yui woke Xiao You, who removed her sealing tag, and then used a Shadow Clone to free her hands from the chain.
• Jiraiya’s attacks failed to reach the flying Ōnoki, so Orochimaru quietly explained a plan to Dan Katō to pull him down.
• A figure vanished from the battlefield, and Ōnoki turned toward a white, ghostly figure rushing at him from behind.

Yui took advantage of the battle to knock out Dan Katō and carry him away, forcing Ōnoki to abandon his fight with Jiraiya and Orochimaru to pursue her. As Ōnoki closed in, Yui released Ibuse’s poison mist to stop him.

• Ōnoki tried Earth Release and Dust Release against the strange white entity, but it passed through both attacks as he evaded it.
• Orochimaru used Hidden Shadow Snake Hands to ensnare Ōnoki while Yui slipped behind a stone wall and knocked out Dan Katō.
• Yui tied Dan Katō’s hands, lifted him, and flew away; the white entity vanished after running out of chakra.
• Ōnoki broke free of Orochimaru’s snakes and chased Yui, while Jiraiya and Orochimaru realized she had taken their friend.
• At Xiao You’s reminder, Yui released Ibuse’s poison mist from her palm and used the wind beneath her feet to spread it toward Ōnoki.

Yui captured Dan Katō after escaping Ōnoki and asked him to hand over the Spirit Transformation Technique. Dan Katō refused, and Yui began thinking of a deal while he secretly tried to free himself.

• Yui released poison that weakened Ōnoki and escaped with the unconscious Dan Katō.
• Yui took Dan Katō to a cave and waited for him to wake up.
• Dan Katō awoke bound with a black iron chain and demanded to know where Orochimaru and Jiraiya were.
• Yui asked Dan Katō for the Spirit Transformation Technique, explaining that she knew its name and how it worked.
• Dan Katō refused to teach her the technique, so Yui proposed making a deal.
• While Yui searched for an offer, Dan Katō secretly rubbed his hands against the chain to escape; Yui then had an idea.

Yui threatened Dan Katō with his younger sister and revealed she could infiltrate Konoha disguised as him, then offered to become his disciple as a way to justify learning the Spirit Transformation Technique. Dan Katō agreed to teach her and began copying the technique onto a scroll.

• Dan Katō refused to reveal the Spirit Transformation Technique, warning that a rogue ninja with it would endanger Konoha.
• Yui threatened Dan Katō's younger sister, then removed her mask and transformed into Dan Katō to show she could enter Konoha unnoticed.
• Yui suggested Dan Katō take her as his disciple, arguing that teaching her would be acceptable because she remained a Konoha ninja.
• Dan Katō agreed to hand over the Spirit Transformation Technique after Yui promised not to kill his sister.
• Yui freed Dan Katō's hands, and he copied the technique onto a scroll for her.

Yui learned the Spirit Transformation Technique from Dan Katō and decided to return to Shikkotsu Forest to pursue Sage Mode. Two days later, Ōnoki chose to sell the ninja tools in Iwagakure’s possession to Sunagakure, though his aide questioned the decision.

• Yui finished studying Dan Katō’s scroll, gave him a Purple Talisman that promised her help, and left him at the cave.
• Yui realized the Spirit Transformation Technique could strengthen her mental energy indirectly and decided to postpone her trip to the Land of Whirlpools.
• Yui summoned Shobue and returned to Shikkotsu Forest, where Shobue welcomed her and checked whether she was hurt.
• Two days later in Iwagakure, Ōnoki ordered the ninja tools on the transport carts sold to Sunagakure, puzzling the Thin, Tall Ninja.

Hiruzen Sarutobi questioned Orochimaru, Jiraiya, and Dan Katō about Yui Hyuga’s abduction of Dan and the abilities she had displayed. Dan returned to Konoha and concealed Yui’s real purpose, while Hiruzen became intrigued by her Flying Ninjutsu and asked Jiraiya what else he had seen.

• Ōnoki ordered the Thin, Tall Ninja to follow his instructions without asking questions.
• Orochimaru told Hiruzen Sarutobi that Yui Hyuga had abducted Dan Katō, and Hiruzen said he would send ANBU to search for him.
• Dan Katō arrived at the Hokage’s Office, where Jiraiya hugged him and checked that Yui had not harmed him.
• Dan claimed he did not know why Yui had captured him and fabricated an account of how he escaped.
• Orochimaru, Jiraiya, and Dan described Yui’s strength and techniques, including her Wind Release method of flying.
• Hiruzen considered trying Yui’s Flying Ninjutsu himself, then asked Jiraiya whether she had used any other techniques.

Hiruzen Sarutobi learned that Yui Hyuga had taken the Byakugan and considered using Danzo’s Root to pursue her. In Shikkotsu Forest, Yui visited the Ice Bed holding Nai Hyuga, then found Tsunade arguing with Katsuyu about learning Sage Mode.

• Jiraiya told Hiruzen Sarutobi that Yui had moved quickly without using the Body Flicker Technique, and Hiruzen dismissed Jiraiya, Orochimaru, and Dan Katō.
• Hiruzen concluded that Yui had taken the Byakugan and considered asking Danzo to send Root after her.
• Yui visited Nai Hyuga on the Ice Bed and promised to wake her after mastering Sage Mode.
• Shobue told Yui that a familiar guest was waiting by the Giant Lake and sent her there.
• Yui found Tsunade refusing to learn Sage Mode while Katsuyu urged her to try, and Katsuyu crawled toward Yui for help.

Yui Hyuga told Tsunade why she killed Hyuga Feng and deserted Konoha, then showed her Nai Hyuga on the Ice Bed. The two returned to the lake and discussed Tsunade’s attempt to learn Sage Mode.

• Tsunade recognized Yui Hyuga and asked whether she had killed Hyuga Feng and why she had deserted Konoha.
• Yui recounted her imprisonment by Hyuga Feng, Nai Hyuga’s eyes being gouged out, and Hiruzen Sarutobi deceiving her about Nai.
• Yui led Tsunade to a cave, where Tsunade saw Nai Hyuga lying on an Ice Bed and believed Yui’s account.
• On their way back to the lake, Yui asked why Tsunade had come to Shikkotsu Forest, and Tsunade admitted she wanted to learn Sage Mode.
• Tsunade complained that three days of training had brought no progress, while Yui said she had trained for three years without mastering the basics.

Yui encouraged Tsunade to pursue Shikkotsu Forest's Sage Mode or develop a healing Ninjutsu inspired by it, then began training the Spirit Transformation Technique. In a lucid dream, Yui encountered a gigantic Truth-Seeking Orb that swallowed her consciousness, leaving her fate unknown.

• Yui suggested Tsunade try to learn Shikkotsu Forest's Sage Mode and develop a powerful healing Ninjutsu if she could not master it.
• Tsunade excitedly left to test an idea for a new Ninjutsu, and Yui began studying the Spirit Transformation Technique.
• Yui failed her first attempt at entering a lucid dream, then tied her hands together and tried again.
• Yui entered a strange white dream space, realized she could not return to her body, and searched for a way out.
• Yui approached a gigantic black sphere that she suspected was a Truth-Seeking Orb, and it swallowed her before shrinking and disappearing.

Yui encountered a white Spirit Body in her dream, which called her its child and gave her something before sending her awake. After enduring a mysterious fever, Yui discovered that her body had grown stronger and her chakra had changed color.

• Yui remained trapped in the dream and was restrained when a white Spirit Body approached her.
• The Spirit Body called Yui Hyuga her child, pressed multicolored light into her forehead, and told her she would learn the truth in time.
• Yui woke beside the lake, freed herself from the vines, and realized that the pain in her head meant the encounter had been real.
• Yui plunged into the lake to endure a feverish heat that lasted until daybreak, then felt the heat subside.
• Yui used Sensory Ninjutsu to inspect herself and discovered that her body had grown stronger and her chakra had changed from pale blue to deep blue.

Yui discovered that she had gained all five chakra natures and learned the Spirit Transformation Technique, then went north through Shikkotsu Forest to find Shobue. There, she found Shobue watching an immense rift with a blue, seemingly shattered mirror at its bottom.

• Yui tested her chakra and found that the Chakra Paper showed wind, lightning, fire, earth, and water natures.
• Yui used the Spirit Transformation Technique and confirmed that she could leave her body as a soul.
• Yui returned to the cabin, learned from Katsuyu that Shobue had gone north, and headed into the forbidden area.
• Yui found Shobue in a barren region filled with scarlet mist, where Shobue directed her attention to an enormous rift.
• Yui saw a deep blue mirror at the bottom of the rift that looked as though it was about to shatter.

Yui and Shobue discovered that the shattered blue mirror had revealed Yomotsu Hirasaka, a passage to the Land of the Underworld watched over by the Three Great Sage Lands. After the passage closed, Shobue noticed that the Caged Bird Seal had vanished from Yui’s forehead, and Yui hurried back with her to begin Sage Mode training.

• The blue mirror shattered, revealing a black abyss that Shobue identified as Yomotsu Hirasaka, the passage to the Land of the Underworld.
• Shobue explained that the Three Great Sage Lands guarded their passages, which opened once every thirty years to keep ghosts and monsters from entering the living world.
• Yui sensed a space-time fluctuation from Yomotsu Hirasaka and considered whether its power could help her learn the related Ninjutsu.
• Shobue noticed that Yui’s skin looked more radiant and the last trace of her Caged Bird Seal had disappeared.
• Yui told Shobue she had already learned the Spirit Transformation Technique and rushed with her to begin Sage Mode training.

Yui trained at the Giant Lake to absorb natural energy and successfully mastered Sage Mode after struggling against the lake’s resistance. When she emerged with new horns, Shobue was stunned by how much Yui looked like someone she knew.

• Yui meditated beneath the lake and held Sage Mode for nine seconds using her own Mental Energy.
• Yui used the Spirit Transformation Technique to sense the lake’s natural energy, but the lake water repeatedly pushed her soul away.
• Yui persisted in a standoff with the lake until its water stopped resisting, then absorbed natural energy into her soul.
• Yui returned to her body and converted the energy, awakening Sage Mode as horns emerged from her forehead.
• Yui told Shobue that she had mastered Sage Mode, and Shobue stared at her, saying she looked so much like her.

Yui learned Sage Mode, but discovered that it had given her a pair of horns and caused a brief bout of intense forehead pain. Shobue planned to teach her senjutsu techniques before they tried to awaken Nai Hyuga.

• Yui noticed Shobue staring at her and realized she had not put on her outer clothes.
• Shobue pointed out that Yui’s forehead had changed, and Yui discovered two hard, grayish-white horns.
• Yui examined her Sage Mode appearance and worried that she might be reverting to an Otsutsuki.
• Shobue said the horns were not a feature of Shikkotsu Forest’s Sage Mode and told Yui to master senjutsu before awakening Nai Hyuga.
• Yui’s forehead suddenly hurt as Sage Mode wore off, but the pain soon passed and the horns remained.
• Shobue confirmed that Yui had maintained Sage Mode for thirteen minutes, and Yui told her they could go.

Yui spent a year mastering Shikkotsu Forest senjutsu and prepared to perform the final step needed to awaken Nai Hyuga. Tsunade arrived just as Yui was about to enter the cave, and noticed her mask and newfound power.

• Shobue gave Yui a wooden box containing offensive senjutsu, which Yui could read only in Sage Mode, then led her to learn the healing senjutsu needed for Nai Hyuga.
• Yui struggled through a year of training and mastered Shikkotsu Forest's white slug and blue slug senjutsu while improving her Sage Mode.
• Yui prepared to enter the cave where Shobue was waiting for the final step to awaken Nai Hyuga.
• Tsunade arrived breathless, and Yui put on her copper-colored mask before turning to meet her.
• Tsunade saw Yui's mask and sensed the powerful presence she had developed.