Recaps

Obito left Nagato and turned his attention toward recruiting in Kirigakure, while Black Zetsu worried about disturbances connected to Hagoromo and Hamura. At Akatsuki’s secret base, Orochimaru offered Hiruko an exchange of techniques and hinted that he could help Hiruko pursue revenge against the man behind the Tailed Beast Merchant Association.

• Obito accepted Zetsu’s intelligence on Kirigakure and Sunagakure, abandoned plans to target Konoha, and headed to Kirigakure to scout for recruits.
• Black Zetsu sensed disturbances in the Leyline and chakra traces outside Konoha, recognized one as belonging to Hagoromo’s descendants, and resolved to move faster.
• Orochimaru approached Hiruko at Akatsuki’s secret base and proposed exchanging techniques, including Hiruko’s Chimera Technique.
• Hiruko admitted he wanted to perfect his technique and take revenge on the man behind the Tailed Beast Merchant Association.
• Orochimaru suggested Hiruko could target the merchant association’s branches if he could withstand retaliation, then promised to offer something worthwhile for the Chimera Technique.

Zou Hyuga tested chakra transmission through Chakra Threads and a Leyline node, using Haku as his first subject. Haku survived the procedure unusually well, while other test subjects collapsed, and Zou Hyuga suspected Haku might be suited to Sage Mode.

• Zou Hyuga mastered the Puppet Technique and visited Taro Utada, who reported that the Merchant Company's business was expanding without interference.
• Zou Hyuga went to the underground tailed beast base and attached Chakra Threads to Haku to test chakra transmission.
• Zou Hyuga successfully transmitted chakra and nature transformation chakra through the threads, then used a Leyline node to feed chakra into Haku.
• Haku suffered discomfort from the chakra influx but remained conscious, prompting Zou Hyuga to wonder whether he was a scientific genius.
• Zou Hyuga repeated the experiment on other ninja, whose unconsciousness showed that Haku had been an exceptional case.
• Zou Hyuga recorded the results and considered whether Haku's Ice Release and natural-energy tolerance might let him learn Sage Mode.

Oto attended a tense Uchiha clan meeting, redirected a challenge to Fugaku’s leadership toward the goal of producing an Uchiha Hokage, and discovered the Memorial Stone beneath Naka Shrine. After returning to the village, Zou heard Oto’s report and discussed the Eye of the Moon Plan with her while considering the Akatsuki threat.

• Oto went to the Naka Shrine, where Uchiha members debated replacing Fugaku as clan head and promoting an Uchiha Hokage.
• Oto challenged the clan to focus on producing a Hokage, helping Fugaku retain his position, then asked him about his Mangekyō Sharingan.
• Fugaku admitted he had a Mangekyō Sharingan and directed Oto and Shisui to the Memorial Stone beneath the shrine.
• Oto found the Memorial Stone, which described the Eye of the Moon Plan, and later told Zou about it after he returned to the village.
• Zou questioned whether the Eye of the Moon Plan could be trusted and considered monitoring the Akatsuki and the village’s response to their activity.

After spending a long stretch researching Chakra Threads, Zou Hyuga emerged for the Summer Festival and wandered the village, where he met Jiraiya and saw Naruto with his new friends. He left Jiraiya behind to meet Oto Uchiha, who teased him for finally stepping away from the laboratory.

• Zou Hyuga emerged from his underground laboratory, learned the Summer Festival had arrived, and went looking for Oto Uchiha.
• Zou Hyuga found Jiraiya watching the festival from a rooftop, and they discussed village security and the Hokage.
• Zou Hyuga and Jiraiya watched Naruto walk with the new Ino-Shika-Cho while Kakashi Hatake followed him as ANBU.
• Zou Hyuga noticed Oto Uchiha maintaining order in her Military Police Force uniform, then left the rooftop to meet her.
• Oto Uchiha confronted Zou Hyuga about sneaking around the rooftop, then smiled and teased him for leaving his laboratory.

During the Hanabi Festival, Zou Hyuga and Oto Uchiha enjoyed an evening together while the Third Hokage and his advisers debated whether Konoha should support Sunagakure against the Masked Man’s organization. The festival ended with Zou spotting Jiraiya accompanying Naruto, while the village’s leaders faced a difficult decision about sending help.

• Oto Uchiha teased Zou Hyuga about helping her put on a yukata, and he presented the one she had left at his home as the festival fireworks began.
• The Third Hokage reviewed intelligence about the mercenary organization and a request for support from Sunagakure, whose jinchūriki Bunpuku was nearing the end of his life.
• Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu discussed Konoha’s limited strength, and the Third revealed he had asked Jiraiya to contact Tsunade.
• Danzo urged the leaders to send Shisui Uchiha and Oto Uchiha to help Sunagakure, arguing that Madara Uchiha might destabilize the village as he had Kirigakure; the Third accepted their recommendation.
• Zou Hyuga and Oto Uchiha watched the fireworks, then visited festival stalls and enjoyed games, food, and masks as ordinary people.
• Before leaving the festival, Zou spotted Jiraiya accompanying Naruto with Kakashi nearby, and Oto invited Zou to return and have a drink.

Zou Hyuga and Oto were summoned by the Third, who assigned them an urgent mission to reinforce Sunagakure after an Akatsuki-linked disaster. Zou accepted and chose Shisui and Might Guy for his team as they prepared to leave.

• Zou Hyuga woke after drinking with Oto, checked his Shadow Clone's memories, and learned from Yamato that the Third wanted to see them and had been discussing Sunagakure.
• The Third told Zou Hyuga and Oto that Sunagakure had requested reinforcements after its ANBU were wiped out while hunting Sasori of the Red Sands, leaving the village vulnerable during a jinchūriki replacement.
• The Third warned that the Masked Man might exploit the crisis to unleash Shukaku and authorized Zou Hyuga to bring Shisui and another jonin.
• Zou Hyuga accepted the mission, chose Might Guy instead of Kakashi or Yamato, and the Third summoned Guy and assigned him to the team.
• Might Guy eagerly accepted the urgent mission and prepared to protect the village.

Zou Hyuga’s squad traveled to Sunagakure as reinforcements and was led into the village by Pakura, the Sand’s celebrated hero. Zou and Oto recognized her as the commander behind the squad that had nearly killed them years earlier, leaving their reunion tense.

• Zou Hyuga briefed the squad on Akatsuki’s members and abilities before they set out for the Land of Wind.
• The squad crossed the desert and reached Sunagakure, where Zou presented the Hokage’s and Kazekage’s letters to a patrol.
• The patrol captain, Pakura, escorted the Konoha squad through Sunagakure and warned them that the village could handle its own affairs.
• Zou sensed that Pakura’s health was failing and suspected her Scorch Release was taking a toll on her body.
• Oto recognized Pakura as the commander of the Sunagakure squad that had nearly wiped out her and Zou’s team on their first mission.

Zou Hyuga’s squad arrived in Sunagakure to help protect the One-Tail Jinchuriki as the village prepared to transfer Shukaku from the dying Bunpuku to Gaara. Rasa met secretly with Orochimaru, who offered a partnership against Konoha, then brought the squad to Bunpuku’s prison, where Bunpuku learned Gaara would replace him.

• Zou Hyuga memorized Sunagakure’s layout while Rasa mined gold dust underground to support the village’s finances.
• Orochimaru infiltrated Rasa’s cavern, offered to cooperate against Konoha, and gave him information about the missing-nin who attacked Sunagakure’s ANBU.
• Rasa welcomed Zou Hyuga’s squad and led them to Bunpuku, whose life was nearing its end and whose Shukaku chakra affected the prison guards.
• Zou Hyuga offered to help contain Shukaku if it lost control, and Rasa asked the squad to keep a low profile until the transfer was complete.
• Bunpuku asked Rasa whether Gaara would replace him, and Rasa’s silence confirmed it before Bunpuku prayed as dusk fell.

Zou and Oto uncovered a Sand Ninja spy linked to Sasori while visiting Sunagakure’s temple, and the village prepared to make Gaara its new jinchūriki. Zou warned his squad that the Akatsuki could attack after Bunpuku died, and two days later Sunagakure invited the Konoha Squad to help replace its jinchūriki.

• Zou told Oto that he had collected Shukaku’s chakra and explained that he had come to study Sunagakure’s chakra threads as well as prepare for the Akatsuki.
• At the temple, Zou spotted a spy fleeing toward the village entrance and alerted the Sunagakure ANBU, who pursued him until Pakura caught up with him.
• Oto subdued the spy with her Sharingan, but he died from Sunagakure’s brainwashing formula; Pakura identified him as one of her former subordinates and blamed Sasori.
• Kazekage Rasa, Chiyo, Ebizo, and Pakura discussed the spy, the planned sealing site, and Rasa’s decision to make Gaara the next jinchūriki after Bunpuku died.
• Zou warned Shisui and Guy to prepare for an Akatsuki attack and told Oto that the Akatsuki leader possessed the Rinnegan, then explained Pain’s abilities and possible counters.
• Two days later, Sunagakure’s ANBU invited the Konoha Squad to help replace its jinchūriki.

Zou Hyuga and his team joined Sunagakure’s preparations to seal Shukaku and learned that Bunpuku’s seal would fail that night. They met Gaara, Rasa’s frightened young son and the new jinchūriki, while Bunpuku spent his final hours speaking with Shukaku.

• Zou Hyuga and his team reached a desert basin where Sand Ninja prepared to seal Shukaku away from the village.
• At the temporary camp, Bunpuku told Zou Hyuga that Shukaku would break free that night and that they could communicate.
• Gaara arrived, and Rasa rebuked him; Gaara stumbled into Bunpuku’s arms, where Bunpuku’s kind manner eased his fear.
• Rasa introduced Gaara as Sunagakure’s new jinchūriki, then left to inspect the sealing preparations.
• Zou Hyuga explained to Oto Uchiha that making Gaara a jinchūriki was a way to keep the tailed beast under the village’s control, though Rasa treated his son cruelly.
• Bunpuku spoke with Shukaku in his mindscape, and Shukaku asked whether he feared dying that night.

Sasori, Orochimaru, and Hiruko infiltrated Sunagakure to draw out Rasa and the One-Tail jinchūriki, sparking a battle with the village’s defenders. As Pakura fought Hiruko and Sasori and Orochimaru battled the Sand ninja, Obito appeared, and Sasori asked whether he had found the Kazekage and jinchūriki.

• Bunpuku gave Gaara candy and urged him to understand Shukaku and become his friend, while the Fourth Kazekage watched and prepared for Shukaku’s escape.
• Sasori, Orochimaru, and Hiruko entered Sunagakure unnoticed, and Sasori and Orochimaru discussed their mission and Pakura’s Scorch Release.
• A Sand patrol spotted the intruders and raised the alarm, but Hiruko killed the patrol and summoned a fusion monster as the village’s defense force arrived.
• Pakura fought Hiruko, Sasori faced Baki, and Orochimaru attacked the other Sand ninja as the battle spread through the village.
• Obito emerged through a vortex, and Sasori asked him whether he had located Rasa and the jinchūriki.

Akatsuki withdrew from Sunagakure and pursued the Kazekage and the Jinchūriki while Pakura set out to support them. In the desert, Bunpuku died during the transfer of Shukaku to Gaara, and the One-Tail rampaged as his seal failed.

• Obito, Sasori, Orochimaru, and Hiruko left Sunagakure to pursue the Kazekage and the Jinchūriki after Obito distracted Pakura with a Fire Release attack.
• A medical ninja told Pakura that the fallen Sand Ninja were poisoned but could be saved with the village's antidotes.
• Pakura ordered the village defenses maintained and went to support the Kazekage, while Ebizo stayed to handle matters in Sunagakure.
• Zou Hyuga's squad prepared to respond if Shukaku broke free, and Zou asked Guy how many gates he could open.
• Bunpuku released Gaara's hand and died as the sealing team prepared to transfer Shukaku into Gaara.
• Shukaku's seal ceased functioning after Bunpuku died, and the One-Tail went on a rampage.

After Bunpuku’s death, the Fourth Kazekage trapped Shukaku and prepared to seal him into Gaara while Sunagakure’s forces confronted Sasori, Orochimaru, and Hiruko. As the Fourth Kazekage brought Gaara forward, a mysterious vortex appeared behind him and a hand reached out.

• Shukaku emerged in the sealing formation and attacked wildly, but the Fourth Kazekage controlled the gold-dusted sand and restrained him with a Gold Dust Giant.
• Zou Hyuga and Oto noticed Sasori, Orochimaru, and Hiruko approaching, alerted the others with a signal flare, and vanished.
• Chiyo led Sand Ninja forces to surround the intruders, and Sasori charged at his grandmother with the Third Kazekage Human Puppet.
• Guy struck Orochimaru, then fought him as elite Sand Ninja joined the attack; Pakura ambushed Hiruko with fireballs before he could summon his beast.
• The Fourth Kazekage weakened Shukaku further and used Magnet Release to bring the frightened Gaara forward for the sealing, but a vortex opened behind him and a hand reached out.

Obito disrupted the Fourth Kazekage’s attempt to seal Shukaku, who broke free and unleashed a devastating Tailed Beast Bomb. After surviving the blast, the ninja watched Shukaku flee when Shisui advanced in his Susanoo.

• Obito attacked the Fourth Kazekage during the sealing, but Oto interrupted him and warned the Kazekage about the Masked Man.
• Shukaku broke out of the weakened pyramid, and Zou Hyuga rescued Gaara from the surging sand.
• Zou Hyuga brought Shisui toward Shukaku while the beast stirred up a sandstorm and the Fourth Kazekage fought Obito.
• Shukaku unleashed a Tailed Beast Bomb that devastated the sealing site, while Shisui’s Susanoo protected Zou Hyuga and several Sunagakure ANBU.
• Zou Hyuga checked on Oto and the injured Fourth Kazekage, and Shukaku fled when Shisui drove his Susanoo toward him.

After Shukaku escaped and Obito withdrew, the Fourth Kazekage and Zou Hyuga pursued the One-Tail while Sasori abandoned his fight with Chiyo to follow them. Chiyo survived the duel, and Orochimaru escaped Guy after their battlefield received a signal to regroup.

• Obito used Kamui to leave the battlefield, and the Fourth Kazekage led his remaining fighters after Shukaku while Zou Hyuga and Oto followed.
• Sasori gained the advantage over Chiyo, poisoning her and destroying several of her puppets.
• Obito told Sasori that the sealing ceremony had failed and the Fourth Kazekage was pursuing Shukaku, so Sasori sent a signal flare and left to follow them.
• Chiyo conceded defeat, took medicine for the poison, and headed toward the main force to support the other battles.
• Orochimaru tried to place a Cursed Seal on Guy, but Guy's attack forced him to escape by shedding a snakeskin.

Pakura fought Hiruko as he fused with his Summoning Beast, while the Fourth Kazekage’s group confronted Obito and Sasori over Shukaku. The chapter ended with Zou Hyuga and Oto leaping onto Shukaku as the Fourth Kazekage faced Sasori and Shisui sought a way to break Obito’s control.

• Hiruko injected himself with an experimental solution and fused with his Summoning Beast, gaining enough strength to narrow Pakura’s advantage.
• The Fourth Kazekage told Zou Hyuga, Oto, and Shisui that Shukaku was being controlled, and they soon found Obito and Sasori riding on the tailed beast.
• Shisui failed to wrest control of Shukaku from Obito and looked to Zou Hyuga and Oto for help.
• The Fourth Kazekage trapped Shukaku with gold dust, but Obito’s intangibility let him escape the attack and challenge Sasori to fight the Kazekage.
• Obito confronted Zou Hyuga and Oto while Shukaku began forming a Tailed Beast Bomb, but Oto’s Fire Release forced Shukaku to stop.
• Zou Hyuga and Oto closed in and leaped onto Shukaku.

Zou Hyuga used Sage Art Gentle Fist to disrupt Obito’s chakra, revealing that he had mastered Sage Mode. As Orochimaru and Manda joined the battle and Orochimaru targeted Shisui, Manda asked whether Orochimaru had carried out the White Snake Sage’s instructions.

• Zou Hyuga struck Obito with a Shadow Clone feint and Sage Art Gentle Fist, leaving foreign chakra inside him that caused his chakra to clash.
• Orochimaru arrived and told Obito that Zou Hyuga had mastered Sage Mode, then said he would leave Shisui Uchiha to him.
• Orochimaru summoned Manda, who sensed Zou Hyuga’s senjutsu and asked whether Orochimaru had followed the White Snake Sage’s instructions.

Zou Hyuga and Oto Uchiha fought Orochimaru, Manda, and Obito while Shisui and Oto struggled against Obito’s control of Shukaku. Zou pursued Orochimaru into the desert, where Orochimaru revealed an Impure World Reincarnation coffin and hinted that it contained someone Zou knew.

• Orochimaru summoned Manda, who demanded more sacrifices after learning that Zou Hyuga and Oto Uchiha had senjutsu and Mangekyō Sharingan.
• Oto Uchiha formed Susanoo with Shisui, and their attacks wounded Manda badly enough that he abandoned his tail and dispelled the summoning.
• Orochimaru retreated while Zou Hyuga pursued him, leaving Shisui and Oto to battle Obito over Shukaku.
• Zou Hyuga caught up with Orochimaru beside an Impure World Reincarnation coffin and refused to attack rashly.
• Orochimaru questioned Zou about his senjutsu and motives, then said the coffin held a good friend whom Zou had met.

Orochimaru summoned the reanimated Third Kazekage to persuade Zou Hyuga to join him, but Zou refused and fought the Kazekage. After Zou revealed that Sasori was using the Third Kazekage’s corpse to attack Sunagakure and that the One-Tail Jinchuriki had died, the furious Kazekage’s reanimated body began to destabilize.

• Orochimaru reanimated the Third Kazekage and offered to resurrect Zou Hyuga’s uncle if Zou became his subordinate.
• Zou refused, denounced Orochimaru’s desecration of the dead, and attacked him to protect Oto.
• Orochimaru used the Third Kazekage’s iron sand to trap Zou, but Zou repelled it with Sage Art: Rotation and repeatedly shattered the reanimated body with Vacuum Palm.
• The Third Kazekage regained awareness, recognized Orochimaru, and asked Zou how Sunagakure was faring.
• Zou told the Third Kazekage that Sasori was using his corpse to attack Sunagakure and that the One-Tail Jinchuriki had died; the enraged Kazekage’s body shook until Orochimaru stabilized it.

Zou Hyuga defeated Orochimaru’s reanimated Third Kazekage, drove Orochimaru away, and found that Shukaku had escaped Obito’s control. At the other battlefield, Oto and Shisui recovered from their fight with Obito as Rasa arrived, too exhausted to pursue the One-Tail.

• The Third Kazekage regained his will, broke free of Impure World Reincarnation, and returned to the Pure Land.
• Zou Hyuga struck Orochimaru, but Orochimaru escaped with the Reverse Summoning Technique, leaving his body for Zou to seal in a scroll.
• Zou Hyuga noticed black markings on his arm and then found Shukaku free of Obito’s control as he traveled back toward Oto.
• Oto used Samehada to replenish Shisui’s chakra after they had fought Obito, and Shisui learned that Oto had driven the Masked Man away.
• Rasa arrived with wounded Sunagakure ANBU and told Oto and Shisui that Sasori had escaped; he was too exhausted to pursue Shukaku.

Obito reported his defeat and the hidden strength of Konoha’s fighters to Zetsu, then revealed the One-Tail’s location for Pain to pursue. In the desert, Pakura rescued Gaara from Hiruko and stayed behind to fight, sending Gaara away with a farewell for Maki.

• Obito told Zetsu that Oto Uchiha had awakened the Mangekyo Sharingan, Zou Hyuga had mastered Senjutsu, and the One-Tail had escaped his control.
• Obito gave Zetsu the One-Tail’s location, hoping Nagato would face Zou Hyuga and his companions.
• Pakura fled Hiruko across the desert until she found Gaara and carried him away from danger.
• Hiruko caught up and attacked Gaara, but Gaara’s sand shield blocked him.
• Pakura burned Hiruko with Scorch Release, then sent Gaara away in a sand clone and asked him to tell Maki that her teacher could not continue with her.

Zou Hyuga tracked the exhausted Shukaku and watched him bury his deceased jinchūriki, Bunpuku, before the One-Tail fled at the sight of Pakura. Pakura entrusted Gaara to Zou and warned him about Hiruko, then her Sand Clone vanished as Gaara’s protective sand appeared.

• Zou Hyuga followed Shukaku through the desert and waited for Oto while absorbing some of the One-Tail’s chakra.
• Shukaku mourned Bunpuku, buried his body in the sand, and celebrated his freedom.
• Pakura and Gaara arrived, startling Shukaku into fleeing before Zou could capture him.
• Pakura revealed she was a Sand Clone, asked Zou to protect Gaara, and identified Hiruko as a Konoha missing-nin who fused with summoning beasts.
• Pakura’s clone crumbled, and Gaara’s sand began protecting him as Zou absorbed chakra from it.

After leaving Gaara in Bell Cat’s care, Zou Hyuga tracked the escaped Shukaku to the Rōran oasis and warned Queen Sara to evacuate her people. He found Shukaku recovering in an oil well and approached him, preparing to fight.

• Zou Hyuga left Bell Cat to guard Gaara, then pursued Shukaku while Oto Uchiha later arrived to take Gaara and Bell Cat away.
• Zou Hyuga followed Shukaku’s chakra trail to the Rōran oasis and told Queen Sara that a battle with the One-Tail might take place there.
• Queen Sara ordered Rōran’s people to evacuate under the pretense of a drill while Zou searched the oasis for Shukaku.
• Zou Hyuga found Shukaku in an oil well, where the recovering tailed beast was devouring crude oil, and walked toward him.

Pain arrived at the oasis town seeking Shukaku and learned that the survivors of Rōran prospered through an oil-based industry. Outside the town, Zou Hyuga fought Shukaku, and both prepared Tailed Beast Bombs as their battle reached a climax.

• Pain entered the oasis town, questioned guards, and learned that its residents were survivors of Rōran conducting an evacuation drill.
• Pain discovered that underground resources and an oil-based industry had improved the survivors’ lives, and learned where Queen Sara was.
• An explosion outside the oasis revealed Shukaku fighting Zou Hyuga, and Pain rushed toward the One-Tail’s chakra.
• Zou Hyuga used Sage Mode, Water Release, Earth Release, and Gentle Fist against Shukaku while trying to avoid damaging the nearby oil fields.
• Shukaku ignited crude oil to burn Zou Hyuga, then trapped him with sand and fought him at close range.
• Shukaku prepared a Tailed Beast Bomb and was stunned when Zou Hyuga formed one too.

Zou Hyuga fought Shukaku, drained much of his chakra, and killed him when Deva Path Pain appeared. Pain confronted Zou over the One-Tail’s death and used Banshō Ten'in as Zou silently gathered chakra.

• Zou Hyuga blasted Shukaku with Tailed Beast Bombs, seized him, and drained much of his chakra.
• Shukaku offered to show Zou where to find more black oil, and Zou considered keeping him as a source of chakra.
• Zou spotted Deva Path Pain approaching, then killed the weakened Shukaku with a Wind Blade.
• Pain confronted Zou about killing the One-Tail, and Zou claimed Shukaku had attacked him first.
• Zou gathered chakra without answering Pain, who extended his palm and used Banshō Ten'in.