Recaps

Amamiya Maki used his system to gain skills and influence while protecting Yakushi Nonō and drawing Minato Namikaze and Senju Nawaki into his circle. The arc ended with Tsunade agreeing to meet Maki and Nonō, intending to judge Maki’s intentions toward Nawaki.

• Amamiya Maki confronted Jiro Matsumoto and later used pressure and misdirection to deter Root’s interest while securing his place at the Ninja Academy.
• Amamiya Maki befriended Minato Namikaze and protected Yakushi Nonō from Root, then helped Nonō study medical knowledge with Senju En.
• Amamiya Maki pressured Senju Nawaki to question his family’s expectations and stay alive, while building ties with Shikaku Nara, Inoichi Yamanaka, and Choza Akimichi.
• Amamiya Maki placed first in the monthly exam, impressed Hiruzen Sarutobi with his essay and techniques, and exposed Jiro Matsumoto’s rumors by defeating him and demanding an apology to Nonō.
• Tsunade’s medical research produced the preliminary Strength of a Hundred Technique and Creation Rebirth, but she discovered that their healing shortened the user’s lifespan and withdrew in grief.
• Senju Nawaki persuaded Tsunade to meet Yakushi Nonō and Amamiya Maki, and Tsunade decided to bring Maki to see Mito Uzumaki and assess his intentions toward Nawaki.

Amamiya Maki became Orochimaru’s apprentice, completed the Rasengan, and helped Kushina Uzumaki form bonds in Konoha. As conflict with Hanzō approached, Maki received a reconnaissance mission to the Land of Whirlpools, where Konoha’s support remained uncertain.

• Amamiya Maki helped Yakushi Nonō pass Tsunade’s practical test, and Tsunade took Nonō as her disciple while Maki completed the Rasengan and drew Orochimaru’s interest.
• Kushina Uzumaki faced bullying at the Academy, and Maki urged her to fight back as Hiruzen Sarutobi decided she needed acceptance and bonds in Konoha.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi made Maki Orochimaru’s student, and Orochimaru assessed Maki and Senju Nawaki while warning that war might be near.
• Maki defeated Nawaki in Orochimaru’s unrestricted sparring exercise, and Jiraiya reported troop movements that threatened to draw Konoha into a wider war.
• Orochimaru gave Maki scrolls and the Multiple Shadow Clone Technique, while Hiruzen Sarutobi ordered Konoha to prepare for war and Shimura Danzō secretly sent Root to kill Hanzō.
• Hanzō survived Root’s assassination attempt and used it to declare war on the Land of Fire, the Land of Wind, and the Land of Iron.
• Orochimaru assigned Maki, Nawaki, and Kushina a reconnaissance mission to investigate Kumogakure and Kirigakure’s forces and Uzushio Village’s defenses.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi told Mito Uzumaki that Konoha could not send aid to the Land of Whirlpools, and Mito tore up its plea while reflecting on Hashirama and his legacy.

Amamiya Maki helped Konoha and Uzushio Village repel Kirigakure’s invasion, then supported Kushina through Mito’s death and the Nine-Tails’ transfer. The arc leaves Maki, Minato Namikaze, and Yakushi Nonō disguised as a Land of Iron patrol and preparing to infiltrate Hanzō’s supply line.

• Tsunade and Amamiya Maki uncovered Taobo’s theft of Uzushio Village’s maps, prompting Konoha to reinforce the village and evacuate the Uzumaki Clan’s younger generation.
• At the Salt Field ambush, Maki helped break Kirigakure’s attack, killed several enemies, and survived a fight with Jinin Akebino before the Konoha forces captured Suikazan Fuguki.
• Konoha and the Uzumaki Clan agreed on relief and student exchanges, while Maki borrowed the Sword of the Thunder God and helped Minato Namikaze uncover its Flying Thunder God marker.
• Maki fought Mikoto, then trained with Minato and Kushina as Konoha’s war against Hanzō and other enemies continued.
• As Mito Uzumaki died during Kushina’s Nine-Tails succession, Maki protected Kushina from Kumogakure attackers and enlisted Kurama’s aid to create the powerful Spiraling Ring.
• Maki, Minato, and Yakushi Nonō departed for the Land of Rain, where Maki gathered intelligence and led them in capturing bandits at an abandoned mine.
• The team took identity papers and samurai armor, disguised themselves as a Land of Iron patrol, and planned to pass a checkpoint before reaching the rear of Hanzō’s supply line.

Maki built the Great Love Society in the Land of Rain, drawing refugees and deserters away from Hanzō’s control before defeating him and securing a ceasefire. Back in Konoha, Maki graduated into Orochimaru’s squad and began D-rank missions while preparing for the Chunin Ninja Exams.

• Maki secured Mifune’s help to cross the Land of Iron, but abandoned his plan to use refugees to plant explosive tags and founded the Great Love Society instead.
• The Society grew as refugees and deserters arrived, and Maki sheltered Yahiko, Konan, and Nagato while teaching them to control their chakra and protect others.
• After Mifune made a secret pact with Hanzō, Hanzō ordered the Society destroyed, and Amegakure troops captured its residents.
• Maki challenged Hanzō’s rule during a public interrogation, inspiring silent defiance, while Minato helped him escape and rumors spread that he was a healing envoy of the Sage of Six Paths.
• Konoha attacked Amegakure, and Maki joined Tsunade, Jiraiya, and Orochimaru against Hanzō before calling down Kirin and leaving him defeated.
• Hanzō signed a ceasefire recognizing the Great Love Society and barring forced conscription and grain requisitions, and the Society’s members returned to rebuild.
• Maki returned to Konoha, helped Tsunade and Nonō develop poison counteragents, graduated from the Academy, and joined Nawaki and Nonō on Orochimaru’s team.
• Orochimaru trained the new squad and took them on a D-rank cleanup mission, where Maki requested a mission to the Land of Iron and Orochimaru asked why.