Recaps

Zhou Cheng rescued Itachi and Sasuke, helped Mei Terumi take control of Kirigakure, and learned the truth about his parents’ deaths. He then left for Orochimaru’s base in the Land of Snow and became involved in an attack on a civilian group.

• Zhou Cheng brought Sasuke and Itachi back to Konoha, where Tsunade helped them reconcile and performed eye transplants that gave them Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan.
• Zhou Cheng traveled to Kirigakure with Hinata, Haku, Karin, and Chojuro, defeated Ao’s rebels, and learned from Genji that Madara had manipulated the village and caused his parents’ deaths.
• Zhou Cheng trained Mei Terumi and her followers in Chakra Mode, then went to capture Isobu before the Akatsuki could reach him.
• Zhou Cheng defeated Utakata and Isobu, persuaded them that Genji was using them, and killed the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist after they attacked his group.
• Zhou Cheng exposed Genji’s role in his family’s deaths, tortured him to death, and declared Mei Terumi the Fifth Mizukage.
• Mei Terumi took office while the Akatsuki prepared to hunt tailed beasts and Asuma left on a mission with Shikamaru, Ino, and Choji.
• Zhou Cheng traveled to the Land of Snow to find Orochimaru’s secret base, then helped Miss Hui escape attackers by taking a mechanical sled.

Zhou Cheng restored Koyuki Kazahana to power, gained new abilities, and rescued Asuma’s team from Akatsuki. As the Akatsuki made him a target, Tsunade appointed him to lead Konoha’s delegation to the joint Chunin Exams in Iwagakure, where he planned to pursue the Four-Tails and Five-Tails.

• Zhou Cheng defeated Dotō Kazahana and his Snow Shinobi, restored Koyuki Kazahana as Daimyo, then raided Orochimaru’s base and evolved his Sharingan.
• Zhou Cheng killed Orochimaru’s Mangekyō Sharingan test subject and arranged to receive more Sharingan, while Han told Roshi that Ōnoki expected Zhou Cheng to challenge Iwagakure’s Jinchūriki.
• Zhou Cheng rescued Asuma, Shikamaru, Choji, and Ino from Kakuzu and Hidan, captured Hidan’s head, and forced Obito to retreat.
• Nagato made Zhou Cheng a primary Akatsuki target and ordered the Tailed Beast Capture Plan and Zhou Cheng Hunting Plan to proceed together.
• Zhou Cheng gave Tsunade the Chakra Cloak blueprints, gained perfect Wood Release, replicated Konohamaru Sarutobi’s fire affinity, and later evolved his Sharingan to three tomoe after receiving Orochimaru’s Sharingan.
• Zhou Cheng threatened Konoha’s Advisors before agreeing to lead Konoha’s team to the joint Chunin Exams in Iwagakure, and Tsunade told Jiraiya she hoped to test him as a future Hokage.
• Zhou Cheng gathered his companions for the journey, urged Naruto to keep trying to befriend the Nine-Tails, and led the group toward the Konoha Gate.

Zhou Cheng defeated Ōnoki’s forces and Akatsuki attacks while rescuing several jinchūriki, though the tailed beasts were extracted from them. The arc left Zhou Cheng pursuing Dust Release and preparing to target the remaining tailed beasts.

• Yamada Masaaki revealed the Daimyo’s conspiracy against Zhou Cheng and agreed to help overthrow his father in exchange for becoming Daimyo before becoming Zhou Cheng’s disciple.
• Zhou Cheng led Konoha’s young shinobi to Iwagakure, where Hanabi defeated a Genin challenger and Ōnoki’s forces attacked during the Chunin Ninja Exams.
• Zhou Cheng fought Ōnoki, Raikage A, Killer B, Obito, and Pain, destroying much of Iwagakure before returning safely to Konoha.
• Zhou Cheng rescued Yugito and Utakata after Akatsuki extracted their tailed beasts, then returned them to Kumogakure and Kirigakure.
• Zhou Cheng saved Gaara after Shukaku was extracted and brought him back to Sunagakure, while Akatsuki assigned attacks on other jinchūriki.
• Zhou Cheng failed to find Uchiha Shin and traveled to Takigakure, where Kakuzu, Sasori, and Deidara captured Fū after extracting Chōmei from her.
• Zhou Cheng copied Obito’s Sharingan and Kamui with the Purple-Gold Gourd, then used Chōmei’s wing to make a cage for the Seven-Tails.

Zhou Cheng strengthened his Sharingan, negotiated with Orochimaru, and trained Naruto as the Akatsuki escalated its hunt for the tailed beasts. After defending Konoha from Pain’s assault, Zhou Cheng rejected the Hokage nomination and made a bet with Obito about Madara’s plans.

• Zhou Cheng awakened a four-tomoe Sharingan, demonstrated Kamui’s power, and challenged the Four-Tails and Five-Tails at Iwagakure.
• Zhou Cheng bargained with Orochimaru for access to future technologies and Chakra Cloak research, then demanded Sharingan from Uchiha Shin.
• Zhou Cheng opposed the Five Kage Summit, gave Tsunade, Gaara, and Mei Terumi upgraded Chakra Cloak plans, and sent Naruto to train in Sage Mode.
• Zhou Cheng stopped Naruto’s rampage, evolved his eyes into a Five-Tomoe Rinnegan, and later helped Naruto gain control of Nine-Tails Chakra Mode.
• Akatsuki attacked Kumogakure and Konoha while Zhou Cheng and Naruto were away, and Zhou Cheng returned to help defend the village from Pain.
• Zhou Cheng defeated Pain’s assault and revealed to Nagato and Obito that Madara had manipulated them, while Obito escaped with Deva Path.
• Zhou Cheng refused Tsunade’s nomination for Sixth Hokage, then met Obito at the Valley of the End and agreed to let Akatsuki take some Nine-Tails chakra.
• Obito accepted Zhou Cheng’s bet about Madara’s resurrection plans and announced that Akatsuki would attack Kumogakure for the Eight-Tails in half a month.