Recaps

Danzo told the Third Hokage that the Akatsuki had taken control of Amegakure and might be allied with Iwagakure, while the Hokage and his advisors discussed rumors sparked by Oto Uchiha surrendering the Samehada Greatsword. The Third later met with Oto and Zou Hyuga to explain his decision and was expected to offer them compensation.

• Danzo told the Third Hokage and the Elder Advisors that Iwagakure and the Akatsuki might have secretly allied, and identified the Land of Rain as the Akatsuki's base.
• Danzo revealed that the Akatsuki had taken control of Amegakure and that Ibuse had not appeared there for several years.
• Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura urged the Third Hokage to address rumors that the village leadership was weak after Oto Uchiha surrendered the Ninja Blade to Kisame.
• The Third Hokage met with Zou Hyuga and Oto Uchiha, explained that the Samehada Greatsword had been surrendered to protect the alliance with Kirigakure, and left them expecting some benefit in return.

The Third Hokage offered Zou Hyuga and Oto Uchiha the ANBU Deputy Commander position, but neither accepted immediately. Outside Kusagakure, Konan questioned Nagato’s alliance with Iwagakure after seeing the village’s suffering, leaving him unable to defend the arrangement.

• The Third Hokage offered Zou Hyuga and Oto Uchiha the ANBU Deputy Commander position, and they left to consider it.
• Zou Hyuga and Oto Uchiha agreed that the Third’s offer reflected the success of their plan and discussed why neither wanted the job.
• Zou Hyuga joked that he would empty the ANBU warehouses if he took the position.
• Deva Path Pain and Konan surveyed Kusagakure, where residents endured reconstruction alongside the Rock Ninja Assault Force.
• Konan challenged Nagato over cooperating with Ōnoki, and Nagato reflected that the alliance protected Amegakure from the Five Great Nations while serving his own goals.

After returning to Amegakure, Konan visited the Ninja Academy and went to a popular hot pot restaurant with Shion. Learning that former Rain Ninja worked for the Tailed Beast Merchant Association because it was safer and paid better than missions, she began to worry about its influence and thought of the Association’s President.

• Konan returned to Amegakure and watched students at the Ninja Academy, reflecting on how she and Nagato had made it a normal school.
• Shion invited Konan to Sun Wukong Hot Pot Restaurant, where Konan tried the spicy broth and understood its popularity in the cold Land of Rain.
• The restaurant owner revealed his identity as a former Rain Ninja and explained that he and others joined the Tailed Beast Merchant Association for safer, better-paying work.
• Konan questioned why Rain Ninja worked for the Association instead of taking missions, then recognized she could not refute the owner's reasons.
• Shion urged Konan to visit the Association's shop next door, and Konan thought about its President as she looked over the bustling street.

Zou Hyuga investigated the Byakugan and grew suspicious of his identity and his uncle Hyuga Yu’s past. After questioning Hiashi and other elders, he entered the Archives Room to search for more clues.

• Zou Hyuga experimented on a Pure Byakugan but stopped before it collapsed, then reflected on the mysteries surrounding Hyuga Yu, his parents, and his own memories.
• Zou Hyuga warned Hiashi that the Third Hokage’s ANBU Deputy Commander appointment might have an ulterior motive and asked about his uncle’s youth and the time before his Caged Bird Seal was placed.
• Hiashi told Zou Hyuga what he knew and suggested asking clan elders or searching the Archives Room, while Hanabi noticed that Hiashi treated Zou like an equal.
• Zou Hyuga learned from elderly clan members that Hyuga Yu had been the Hyuga’s strongest fighter before retiring at his peak and that Zou’s parents had died in war with their bodies unrecovered.
• Zou Hyuga entered the Archives Room to search for answers.

Zou Hyuga searched the Archives Room for clues about his unusual past, then met Kakashi, Yamato, and Guy and advised Kakashi on ways to grow stronger. Meanwhile, Oto Uchiha urged Itachi to train, while Orochimaru and Hiruko reached a remote island and met the informant Shinnō.

• Zou Hyuga found discrepancies in the clan records suggesting he had lived outside Konoha before receiving the Caged Bird Seal, but the Main Family member could not explain them.
• Zou Hyuga met Kakashi, Yamato, and Guy, and advised Kakashi to pursue Flying Thunder God, Rasengan, and senjutsu after Kakashi lamented his weakness.
• Oto Uchiha met Itachi at the Training Ground, learned that he had three tomoe, and encouraged him to become stronger and seek her out for sparring.
• Orochimaru warned Hiruko not to provoke the Kumogakure brothers, then told him they would meet the person who had supplied information about the Chinoike Clan.
• Orochimaru and Hiruko reached a remote island in the Land of Lightning, where Orochimaru introduced Hiruko to the old man Shinnō.

Orochimaru and Hiruko visited Shinnō at his island base, where Shinnō examined Hiruko and found he could only suppress the damage from the Chimera Technique, leaving him at most five years to live. Orochimaru invited Shinnō to join the Akatsuki and offered help with his Zero-Tails project, but Shinnō insisted that creating the Zero-Tails was all he wanted.

• Shinnō examined Hiruko and said his medical Forbidden Technique could suppress, but not cure, the damage in his body.
• Shinnō explained that Hiruko had no more than five years to live because his body contained cells from several Ninja.
• Orochimaru asked about Shinnō's Zero-Tails project, and Shinnō said he lacked a suitable source of chakra.
• Orochimaru invited Shinnō to join the Akatsuki and revealed that the organization had caused the One-Tail's death and the Nine-Tails' Rampage in Konoha.
• Shinnō asked whether the Akatsuki would help him create the Zero-Tails, and Orochimaru agreed while describing the organization's larger goal of capturing every Tailed Beast.
• Shinnō firmly said that the Zero-Tails was all he wanted.

After joining the ANBU, Oto Uchiha settled into her new role while Zou Hyuga pursued his own interests and learned that Kazahana Koyuki was coming to Konoha. As Kakashi took charge of Yukie’s security, Zou and Oto headed to the theater, where Zou spotted Naruto, Sasuke, Hinata, and Sakura and began studying them.

• Oto Uchiha accepted the ANBU Deputy Commander position, and the major clans interpreted it as a sign that tensions between the Hokage and the Uchiha were easing.
• Zou Hyuga complained to Oto about the ANBU’s leadership, then visited a shop run by the Tailed Beast Merchant Association and read reports about the shinobi world.
• Zou learned that Fujikaze Yukie was touring Konoha and recognized her as Kazahana Koyuki, the Land of Snow’s former Daimyō’s daughter, whose family’s scientific research interested him.
• A week later, the Third Hokage assigned Kakashi to protect Yukie, hinting that Kakashi had met her before.
• Zou and Oto went to watch a movie, met Gekko Hayate and Uzuki Yugao on the way, and saw Naruto, Sasuke, Hinata, and Sakura heading to the theater.
• Zou focused on Naruto and Sasuke’s inherited chakra and then turned his attention to the mysterious Sakura.

Zou Hyuga noticed ANBU watching Kazahana Koyuki at the movie theater, while Koyuki struggled with whether to reclaim her position as the Land of Snow’s daimyō. That night, snow ninja ambushed and captured her in Konoha, just as cries of birds sounded nearby.

• Zou Hyuga saw an ANBU squad near the movie theater and suspected they were there because of Kazahana Koyuki.
• Koyuki greeted fans after the screening and wrestled with whether to pursue revenge and reclaim her position or continue acting.
• Koyuki spotted Kakashi in the crowd and remembered that a young ninja had once helped her escape the Land of Snow.
• Koyuki practiced her lines at the inn and hid her Crystal Pendant in a wooden box before answering the door.
• A snow ninja disguised as Asama Sandayu lured Koyuki outside, where another snow ninja blocked her escape and captured her.
• Koyuki was unable to speak or resist as mournful bird cries sounded on the street.

Kakashi and Might Guy stopped the Snow Ninja’s attack on Kazahana Koyuki, who revealed she was the former princess of the Land of Snow. After returning to the inn, she discovered her Crystal Pendant was missing, while the fleeing Snow Ninja captain Nadare Rōga encountered someone in the forest.

• Kakashi and Might Guy rescued Kazahana Koyuki and captured the attackers, but the last Snow Ninja destroyed himself with Explosive Tags before Kakashi could extract useful intelligence.
• Kazahana Koyuki confirmed to Kakashi that she was the former princess of the Land of Snow, and Kakashi realized the attackers had likely been sent by her uncle.
• Kakashi escorted Kazahana Koyuki back to the inn, where she found Asama Sandayu unharmed and discovered her Crystal Pendant was gone.
• Nadare Rōga defeated a Konoha Chunin squad while escaping the village, then met a figure blocking his path in the forest.

Zou Hyuga defeated Nadare Rōga, took the Crystal Pendant, and revealed that he had manipulated Nadare into attacking Konohagakure. After Zou escaped, the ANBU Captain suspected the lone mole in ANBU had orchestrated the incident.

• Nadare Rōga attacked Zou Hyuga, but Zou overpowered him and took the Crystal Pendant.
• Zou revealed that he had enabled Nadare’s mission and planted a Chakra Seed in him before knocking him unconscious.
• Zou spotted the approaching ANBU Squad and vanished into the darkness.
• The ANBU Squad found evidence of the fight but no trail to pursue, so the captain ordered them to report to Lord Hokage.
• The ANBU Captain removed her mask, revealing her Three-Tomoe Sharingan, and realized the incident pointed to the mole in ANBU.

After Team Kakashi stopped the attack on Fujikaze Yukie, the Third Hokage considered the Land of Snow’s political significance while Zou offered Oto the Crystal Pendant and began studying the captured Chakra Armor. The armor would not respond to Zou, so he forced the injured Nadare Rōga to help with his research.

• Sandayu posted a B-rank mission to recover the Crystal Pendant, and the Third learned that he and Yukie had not requested help reclaiming the Land of Snow.
• Kakashi reported the mission to the Third, who revealed that he had assigned it knowing Yukie was the Land of Snow’s princess.
• Zou explained his movie theater visit to Oto, then offered her the Crystal Pendant, which she refused to wear.
• Zou visited his underground base, shackled the captive Nadare Rōga, and tried to activate the Land of Snow’s Chakra Armor.
• When the armor failed to respond, Zou used tools on Nadare until the armor activated, then said he would rely on Nadare for further research.

Zou Hyuga tested the Chakra Armor, then took the unconscious Nadare Rōga by carriage toward the Land of Snow. Nadare woke during the journey and discovered their young driver could use Ice Release.

• Zou Hyuga tested the Chakra Armor, judged its current capabilities unimpressive, and recorded its structure with his Byakugan instead of dismantling it.
• Zou Hyuga knocked Nadare Rōga unconscious and brought him along in a carriage.
• Nadare Rōga woke in the carriage, accepted food from Zou Hyuga, and questioned his captor’s strength.
• As the carriage approached a river without a bridge, the young driver used Ice Release: Demonic Mirroring Ice Crystals to carry it safely across.

Zou Hyuga and Haku reached the Land of Snow with Nadare Rōga and were met by Kazahana Dōtō and the Snow Ninja Forces. Haku fought the snow ninja while Zou watched, leaving Haku outmatched once Dōtō joined the battle.

• Zou Hyuga showed Nadare Rōga the Crystal Pendant and said they were heading to the Land of Snow, while Haku demonstrated his Ice Release kekkei genkai.
• A week later, Zou Hyuga, Haku, and Nadare Rōga reached the Land of Snow, where Nadare secretly left signs to alert his colleagues.
• Kazahana Dōtō and the Snow Ninja Forces confronted the group beside a railway, and Dōtō ordered his forces to attack after Nadare confirmed they had the key.
• Zou Hyuga blocked the icicle barrage with an ice wall and told Haku to deal with the snow ninja as he saw fit.
• Haku unleashed Ice Release in the blizzard, but Nadare warned Dōtō about Haku's kekkei genkai and Zou's strength; Dōtō joined the fight, turning the battle against Haku.
• Zou Hyuga watched from a cliff while drinking milk tea and concluded that letting Haku fight in his place was convenient.

Haku fought Kazahana Dōtō and the Snow Ninja until Zou Hyuga intervened, exposing the overwhelming gap between their forces. Zou demanded Kazahana Dōtō trade his Chakra Armor research for the Crystal Pendant and threatened to destroy it when Kazahana Dōtō hesitated.

• Haku held off Kazahana Dōtō’s Black Dragon Blizzard with an ice pyramid, but his defenses began to break under the assault.
• Zou Hyuga stopped the ice tornado with his hands, leaving the Snow Ninja surrounded and stunned.
• Zou criticized Haku’s performance, then challenged Nadare Rōga and Kazahana Dōtō over the Land of Snow’s hostile welcome.
• Kazahana Dōtō offered wealth or land in exchange for the Crystal Pendant, but Zou said he wanted the Chakra Armor data and documentation instead.
• Kazahana Dōtō hesitated to surrender his research, so Zou threatened to crush the Crystal Pendant.

Zou Hyuga traded the Crystal Pendant for the Chakra Armor technology and accompanied Kazahana Dōtō to the Land of Snow. After Kazahana Dōtō discovered the treasure was a Geothermal Heater, Zou Hyuga revealed his ties to Akatsuki and proposed a partnership, leaving the daimyō wary of the powerful organization.

• Kazahana Dōtō agreed to trade the Chakra Armor technology for the Crystal Pendant, and Zou Hyuga told him to leave Kazahana Koyuki alone.
• Zou Hyuga and Haku traveled with Kazahana Dōtō to the Land of Snow's capital, where Kazahana Dōtō promised to prepare the technology documents.
• Kazahana Dōtō searched for the Land of Snow's treasure and found a Geothermal Heater instead of a weapon.
• Zou Hyuga explained that the Geothermal Heater and Chakra Armor could help the Land of Snow grow stronger.
• Zou Hyuga revealed he was an Akatsuki member and president of the Tailed Beast Merchant Association, then proposed a partnership with the Land of Snow.
• Kazahana Dōtō recognized that the Land of Snow could not afford to oppose Akatsuki or the great shinobi villages.

Zou Hyuga collected the Chakra Armor documents, bought three suits from Kazahana Dōtō, and asked to inspect the Land of Snow’s Geothermal Heater. After examining it in the valley, he marveled at the ingenuity of the Land of Snow’s two successive daimyō.

• Zou Hyuga followed Kazahana Dōtō into the Land of Snow’s Ninja Base and checked the Chakra Armor technical documents.
• Zou Hyuga offered thirty million ryō for three suits of Chakra Armor and asked Kazahana Dōtō to inform him of future breakthroughs.
• Kazahana Dōtō accepted the payment, and Zou Hyuga later asked to see the Geothermal Heater.
• Kazahana Dōtō led Zou Hyuga to the valley with Nadare Rōga, who had secretly become Zou Hyuga’s informant.
• Zou Hyuga examined and operated the Geothermal Heater, then marveled at the genius of the Land of Snow’s two successive daimyō.

Zou Hyuga and Haku returned from the Land of Snow and encountered a major battle between the Akatsuki and Kumogakure. The two sides converged on Zou, who decided to watch the fight while hiding his identity.

• Zou Hyuga left the Land of Snow with Haku, and Kazahana Dōtō watched them depart before turning his attention to Nadare Rōga.
• After half a month at sea, Zou Hyuga and Haku reached the continent, and Zou decided to bring Haku along rather than leave him in the Land of Snow.
• Zou Hyuga and Haku heard a battle in the forest, and Zou used his Byakugan to identify the fighters as an Akatsuki team and Kumogakure forces.
• Zou Hyuga recognized Hiruko, Orochimaru, and Shinnō facing the Fourth Raikage, Killer B, and elite Cloud Ninja, with Chino of the Chinoike clan among the Akatsuki group.
• The Fourth Raikage demanded that Hiruko and his allies return Kumogakure’s medical technology and stolen kekkei genkai, while Killer B echoed the demand in a rap.

The Fourth Raikage and Killer B attacked Orochimaru while he fought alongside Hiruko, Shinnō, and a Ketsuryūgan Youth. Zou Hyuga and Haku arrived to help, and Zou faced Killer B as he advanced into a stronger tailed-beast transformation.

• The Fourth Raikage used Lightning Release Chakra Mode to destroy Orochimaru's Snake Clone and attack Hiruko, while Shinnō joined the fight.
• Killer B pressed Orochimaru, who summoned a Ten Thousand Snake Formation and reminded him that he had killed Blue B, the previous Eight-Tails Jinchūriki.
• The Ketsuryūgan Youth warned Orochimaru that two unfamiliar ninja were approaching, and Zou Hyuga and Haku arrived.
• Zou Hyuga joined the battle and clashed blades with Killer B, who entered Partial Tailed Beast Transformation.
• Killer B's tailed-beast chakra intensified as he grew tails and charged Zou Hyuga with Lariat.

Zou Hyuga fought Killer B, survived his Lariat, and drove the Eight-Tails jinchūriki to retreat with the Cloud Ninja. After meeting with Orochimaru, Zou learned that the young woman accompanying him was Chinoike, a wielder of the Ketsuryūgan, and suspected Orochimaru and Hiruko wanted her kekkei genkai.

• Zou Hyuga blocked Killer B's Lariat but was injured, then attacked him through the Cloud Ninja and an Ice Mirror Labyrinth.
• Killer B escaped Zou Hyuga's attacks with the elite Cloud Ninja and withdrew to regroup with the Fourth Raikage.
• Zou Hyuga pretended to be gravely wounded, while Orochimaru declined to attack him and proposed regrouping with Hiruko.
• Orochimaru recognized Haku as a Yuki Clan ninja and showed interest in her, prompting Zou Hyuga to warn him off.
• Zou Hyuga learned that Orochimaru's companion was Chinoike and recalled that the Ketsuryūgan could use Blood Release.

Killer B reported the Akatsuki’s strength to the Fourth Raikage, who withdrew and planned to investigate the Chinoike Clan’s return. At Orochimaru’s base, Zou Hyuga watched a Ketsuryūgan user demonstrate his abilities and suspected the young man was being recruited as an experimental subject rather than a fighter.

• Killer B told the Fourth Raikage that Orochimaru’s group had driven them off, and the Raikage learned that Hiruko and Shinnō had escaped into Yugakure.
• The Fourth Raikage reconsidered the Akatsuki’s strength and returned to the Land of Lightning, deciding to investigate the resurfaced Chinoike Clan.
• Orochimaru and Zou Hyuga found Hiruko and Shinnō near Yugakure, then brought them to a nearby base, where Zou processed the Eight-Tails’ chakra.
• Haku told Zou Hyuga that the Ketsuryūgan user had joined the Akatsuki to seek revenge on the Uchiha, prompting Zou to watch his training.
• The Ketsuryūgan user controlled two test subjects through their blood and made them explode, while Orochimaru said he had never intended the young man to fight the Uchiha.

Zou Hyuga returned from Amegakure with news that Shukaku would revive soon, then warned Oto Uchiha about Akatsuki and the Ketsuryūgan. He began researching a severed piece of the Eight-Tails' tentacle and prepared to test whether he could absorb its chakra by eating it.

• Zou Hyuga traveled through the Land of Rain with Shinnō and learned from Pain and Konan that Shukaku would soon revive in the desert.
• Zou Hyuga returned to Konoha and reported his movements to Oto Uchiha, who questioned him about Haku and the Ketsuryūgan.
• Zou Hyuga warned Oto Uchiha that Shukaku might revive within six months and that Akatsuki could target Yugito next.
• Zou Hyuga entered the Secret Room and retrieved a severed section of the Eight-Tails' tentacle for research.
• Zou Hyuga studied the tentacle for several days, then cut off a small piece and prepared to eat it to test whether he could absorb the Eight-Tails' chakra.

Zou Hyuga processed the Eight-Tails' tentacle and learned that Konoha knew the Akatsuki was based in Amegakure. The village was preparing for a possible campaign, while Kakashi traveled to the Land of Lightning and the ANBU planned a major recruitment drive.

• Zou Hyuga separated the Eight-Tails' chakra from Shukaku's inside his Diamond Mark after the two forces fought for control.
• Zou Hyuga learned from Oto Uchiha that the village leadership had informed the ANBU leadership of the Akatsuki's base in Amegakure.
• Oto Uchiha told Zou Hyuga that Kakashi had been sent to the Land of Lightning, and Zou suspected he would seek an alliance with Kumogakure.
• Zou Hyuga asked whether Jiraiya had left the village, then learned his Chakra Armor had arrived near Daimyō Castle.
• Oto Uchiha invited Zou Hyuga to help assess recruits for a major ANBU intake that would include Uchiha and Hyuga members.

Kakashi escorted Kazahana Koyuki toward Daimyō Castle while reflecting on the Akatsuki and his own limits. During a rest stop, Nadare Rōga confronted Koyuki and attacked her, and Kakashi countered with a water blade.

• Kakashi escorted Kazahana Koyuki out of Konoha and told her she was not suited to becoming a ninja.
• Kakashi considered his mission to meet the Fourth Raikage and the growing threat posed by Akatsuki members.
• During a midday rest, Kakashi spotted Nadare Rōga emerging from the bushes and moved in front of Kazahana Koyuki.
• Nadare Rōga told Kazahana Koyuki that her father's treasure was worthless and implied Kazahana Dōtō had found it.
• Nadare Rōga lunged at Kazahana Koyuki with a water blade, and Kakashi created an identical blade to block him.

Kakashi fought Nadare Rōga and suspected his Chakra Armor had greatly enhanced him, while Zou Hyuga discussed Pain, the One-Tail, and the Rōran Leyline with Orochimaru and Shinnō. After Nadare fled, Kakashi and Asama Sandayu prepared to change the convoy’s route and conceal Princess Koyuki’s identity.

• Nadare Rōga tested his Chakra Armor against Kakashi and realized Kakashi had grown much stronger, while Kakashi wondered whether to alert the village about the armor.
• Zou Hyuga confronted Orochimaru and Shinnō in an izakaya, asking whether they planned to attack the Fire Daimyō; Orochimaru instead raised the One-Tail and Pain’s plans.
• Orochimaru proposed using the shinobi villages against Pain, and Zou Hyuga warned him that he would charge five million ryō each to keep their conversation secret.
• Shinnō asked to use the power in the Rōran Ruins, but Zou Hyuga warned him about the dangers of the Leyline.
• Kakashi drove Nadare Rōga away and suspected the Chakra Armor was responsible for his opponent’s unusual strength.
• Kakashi asked Asama Sandayu whether the convoy should change its route, and Asama agreed, planning to disguise himself and Princess Koyuki once they reached safety.

Zou Hyuga recognized the factions within the Akatsuki and left to retrieve the Chakra Armor while Orochimaru and Shinnō headed to the Fire Temple. Their nighttime assault drew out Chiriku, whom Shinnō fought as Orochimaru watched and studied their use of natural energy.

• Zou Hyuga concluded that Orochimaru and Shinnō had their own goals and left the city to collect the Chakra Armor.
• Orochimaru and Shinnō reviewed their exchange of forbidden techniques and traveled to the Fire Temple to investigate its natural-energy methods and Chiriku's Gift of the Sages.
• Orochimaru and Shinnō disguised themselves as visitors, scouted the Fire Temple, and attacked one of its main halls after nightfall.
• Chiriku pursued the attackers into the forest and confronted Orochimaru and Shinnō.
• Chiriku used Welcoming Approach: Thousand-Hand Kill, and Shinnō opened the fifth gate and engaged him while Orochimaru observed and considered the dangers of absorbing too much natural energy.