Recaps

Obito sent Zetsu to persuade Nagato to pursue the Seven-Tails Jinchuriki in Takigakure, while Nagato decided to go there himself and dispatch Madara Uchiha to assist Orochimaru against Iwagakure. In Takigakure, Suien and his missing-nin infiltrated the village to steal the Hero Water, but they found it guarded by Root and kept encountering apparent new recruits.

• Obito judged Konoha's plan to use the Seven-Tails Jinchuriki as bait and sent Zetsu to inform Nagato rather than abandon the capture.
• Nagato and Konan discussed Konoha's plan, and Nagato decided to visit Takigakure while sending Madara Uchiha to help Orochimaru target Iwagakure's jinchūriki.
• Suien led Takigakure missing-nin through the village at night to reach the Hero Water, mistaking Konoha's Root guards for evidence that Shibuki had brought in outsiders to stop him.
• A Takigakure ninja guarding the Hero Water joined Suien's group, and Suien then noticed another unfamiliar figure had appeared among the missing-nin.

Suien guided Kakuzu, Shinnō, Hiruko, and the other Akatsuki members toward the Takigakure Tower, where they clashed with Danzo’s Root forces. As the battle erupted into a sea of trees, Suien led the Missing-nin onward, only to find another group blocking their path near the tower.

• Suien asked Kakuzu what to do, and Kakuzu ordered him to lead the group to Takigakure’s current leader.
• The Akatsuki members and Missing-nin advanced toward the Takigakure Tower, dealing with Takigakure Ninja they encountered along the way.
• Root Ninja confronted the group, and Hiruko, Kakuzu, and Shinnō fought them, with Shinnō using the Eight Gates Released Formation.
• Danzo arrived and unleashed Wood Release: Nativity of a World of Trees, filling the streets with vines and trees as both sides fought to kill.
• Suien rallied the Missing-nin to continue toward the Takigakure Tower and change Takigakure’s order, but another group stopped them near the tower.

Suien’s coup attempt was interrupted when Zou Hyuga and his group subdued the missing-nin, while Danzo gained the upper hand against the Akatsuki in Takigakure. The Akatsuki held out as they waited for Pain and continued searching for the Seven-Tails Jinchuriki.

• Shisui used his Mangekyō Sharingan to incapacitate Suien and the other missing-nin, and Zou Hyuga drank some of the Hero Water.
• Shisui learned that the missing-nin were from Takigakure and planned to seize the Hero Water and overthrow its leader.
• Zou Hyuga told Shibuki that his group were Konoha ninja and left with his companions, leaving Shibuki to find Suien among the fallen.
• Danzo used Wood Release and Wind Release to pressure Kakuzu, Shinnō, and Hiruko, then offered to spare them if they accepted Cursed Seals.
• The Akatsuki members dodged Danzo’s attacks and remained confident because Pain was on his way while their other members searched for the Seven-Tails Jinchūriki.

Danzo used his enhanced Wood Release to trap the Akatsuki and faced Konan in a destructive battle over the Seven-Tails Jinchuriki. As Konan began to lose ground, Zou Hyuga and the others watched from a distance rather than joining the fight.

• Danzo blocked the Akatsuki's escape, brought Fū before them, and challenged Hiruko, Shinnō, and Kakuzu to act.
• Konan arrived on an Explosive Cloud and bombarded the forest, prompting Danzo to reveal his Sharingan and summon a wooden dragon.
• Zou Hyuga and the others watched Danzo and Konan fight while Shibuki and Suien marveled at the scale of their power.
• Danzo's Wood Release steadily overwhelmed Konan's Explosive Tags, and she began to lose ground.

Konan and the Akatsuki members attacked Danzo while trying to locate the Seven-Tails Jinchuriki, but Danzo survived their explosive assault. The Deva Path intervened, and Danzo recognized his Rinnegan and set his sights on taking them.

• Konan drew Danzo away while Hiruko, Shinnō, and Kakuzu fought Root and tried to reach Fū.
• Danzo used Genjutsu and Wind Release against Konan, prompting her to unleash the Explosive Cloud in a furious attack.
• The Deva Path used Shinra Tensei to protect Konan and the others, then asked whether they had found the Seven-Tails Jinchuriki.
• Shinnō reported that the captured Root ninja had yielded no information, and the man transformed into a towering tree after his Wood Release went out of control.
• Danzo emerged alive from the explosions, and he identified the Deva Path as Akatsuki's leader and coveted his Rinnegan.
• The Deva Path used Banshō Ten'in against Danzo.

As the Six Paths of Pain overwhelmed Danzo while searching for the Seven-Tails Jinchuriki, Zou Hyuga and Oto Uchiha watched and waited for the right moment to intervene. With the nearby earth veins exhausted and his body’s natural energy suppression failing, Danzo used a Wood Release clone to reach Konan and unleash a Sharingan genjutsu.

• A Takigakure ninja warned Shibuki that the Hero Spring was nearly dry, prompting Suien and the village’s ninja to leave.
• Zou Hyuga told Oto Uchiha to wait until Danzo had learned more about Pain’s abilities before intervening.
• The Six Paths of Pain overwhelmed Danzo, who realized they were puppets controlled by one person.
• Danzo claimed he had killed the Seven-Tails Jinchuriki, but Deva Path Pain sensed that the Jinchuriki was not dead.
• Danzo found the nearby earth veins exhausted and feared he would transform as his body lost control of its natural energy.
• Danzo used a Wood Release clone to get close to Konan and spent his remaining chakra on a Sharingan genjutsu.

Danzo’s attack on Konan’s Paper Clone failed, and Oto Uchiha and Shisui arrived to battle Pain and the Akatsuki. As the fight continued, Shinnō abandoned the battlefield with Kakuzu to investigate a surge of natural energy and pursue his research.

• Danzo trapped a Paper Clone of Konan in genjutsu, but exploding Explosive Tags engulfed him instead.
• Pain sent the Preta Path against the approaching reinforcements, but Oto Uchiha’s Susanoo destroyed it and attacked the other Paths.
• Oto Uchiha fought Pain’s Paths and summoning beasts, using her dojutsu to disrupt the creatures and dismiss them.
• Shisui ambushed Hiruko, Kakuzu, and Shinnō, while Shinnō used the Eight Gates Released Formation to free Kakuzu from genjutsu.
• Shinnō sensed dense natural energy, then left the battlefield with the weakened Kakuzu to investigate it and further his research.

After surviving Pain’s attack with Izanagi, Danzo went to retrieve Fū, the Seven-Tails Jinchuriki, and tried to recruit her into Root by claiming Takigakure might have been destroyed. Zou Hyuga secretly followed Danzo, while Fū was left to decide whether to trust him.

• Danzo survived the explosive tags with Izanagi and watched Oto and another Susanoo fight Pain’s Six Paths from afar.
• Danzo decided to withdraw, then summoned a beast and headed for the secret place where he had hidden Fū.
• Zou Hyuga followed Danzo without being detected, avoiding the battle because he wanted to conceal his identity and feared the power of Karma.
• Root brought Fū to Danzo, and he told her that Akatsuki had attacked Takigakure and that her village might have been destroyed.
• Danzo offered to train Fū in Root so she could avenge Takigakure, intending to control the Seven-Tails Jinchuriki for his own purposes.

Zou Hyuga watched Danzo try to recruit Fū before Obito attacked and Kakashi, Guy, and Yamato intervened. As the battle escalated, Zou sent a Sand Clone to help them while he continued after Danzo to prevent him from taking the Seven-Tails.

• Danzo tried to recruit Fū, but Obito appeared behind her and attacked.
• Kakashi and Guy ambushed Obito, allowing Danzo to retreat with Fū and his subordinates.
• Yamato arrived and used Wood Release to obscure Danzo and Fū from Obito.
• Obito summoned his Susanoo and fought Kakashi, Guy, and Yamato, injuring Guy and breaking through Yamato’s wooden defenses.
• Zou Hyuga sent a Sand Clone to aid the three ninja while his real body followed Danzo to keep him from obtaining the Seven-Tails.

Zou Hyuga joined Kakashi, Yamato, and Guy against Obito, helping them shatter his Susanoo before Obito focused his taunts on Kakashi. As the battle continued, Zou and Yamato discussed Danzo’s Wood Release, while Guy mistook Obito’s interest in Kakashi for love and left Yamato alarmed.

• Zou Hyuga punched the ground beneath Obito’s Susanoo, letting Guy, Yamato, and Kakashi combine their attacks and shatter it.
• Obito used Intangibility to evade the rubble, then taunted Kakashi about failing to protect the people he cared about.
• Yamato asked Zou how the battle against Oto was going and wondered how Danzo had learned to use Wood Release.
• Zou told Yamato that Danzo had likely implanted Hashirama cells, and Yamato worried that Wood Release experiments might resume and cost more lives.
• Guy asked whether Obito targeted Kakashi because Kakashi’s youth outshone his, and Zou joked that the Masked Man fought Kakashi because of love.
• Guy concluded that love had made Zou and Oto stronger, while Yamato stared between Guy and Kakashi in horror and Guy flashed him a grin.

Oto Uchiha and Shisui escaped Pain after stalling him during Akatsuki's attack on Takigakure. Pain and Konan turned their attention to the missing Seven-Tails, while Danzo's retreating group crossed into the Land of Fire and White Zetsu scouts were killed.

• Oto Uchiha and Shisui fought the Six Paths of Pain with Susanoo, but Oto realized Pain could revive his Paths unless they found his true body.
• Oto Uchiha used a senjutsu-enhanced attack to draw out Pain's Shinra Tensei, then dispelled her Susanoo and escaped; Shisui had already fled as well.
• Konan told Deva Path Pain that Oto was fleeing toward Amegakure, and Pain asked whether Madara Uchiha had captured the Seven-Tails.
• Hiruko defeated a Shadow Clone of Shisui and realized that Shinnō and Kakuzu had disappeared.
• Danzo and his retinue crossed into the Land of Fire with the jinchūriki, and Danzo hurried toward a familiar earth vein pulse.
• White Zetsu scouts emerged to watch Danzo's group, but someone severed their heads before they could return underground.

Zou Hyuga collected White Zetsu and Black Zetsu samples for research while Orochimaru and Oyashiro En watched the battle in Takigakure and discussed their business. They encountered an injured Danzo and his group in the forest, and Orochimaru agreed to talk while Danzo insisted his subordinates leave with the little girl beside him.

• Zou Hyuga sealed White Zetsu's corpse and reviewed his findings that Black Zetsu's fragments shared the same substance as the Karma on his body.
• Orochimaru asked Oyashiro En about the battle in Takigakure, and Oyashiro En said the Uchiha escaped after neither side won.
• Oyashiro En asked Orochimaru when he would deliver the Type C Test Subjects, and Orochimaru gave no specific date.
• Orochimaru and Oyashiro En sensed chakra in the forest and found Danzo, who was traveling with a little girl and Root ninja.
• Oyashiro En identified himself as neutral, and Danzo agreed to speak with Orochimaru on the condition that his subordinates leave with the girl.

Orochimaru negotiated with Danzo for Uchiha intelligence in exchange for Sharingan, then realized Danzo’s strength was tied to natural energy. Meanwhile, Kakashi fought the Masked Man evenly until White Zetsu delivered a message that ended their sparring.

• Orochimaru asked Danzo for intelligence on the young Uchiha, including the two Mangekyo Sharingan users, and Danzo agreed in exchange for Sharingan.
• Orochimaru and Danzo left and destroyed the temporary base, while Oyashiro En questioned why Orochimaru had not attacked Danzo.
• Oyashiro En declined Orochimaru’s suggestion to visit Konoha and asked when Orochimaru would leave the Akatsuki before disappearing.
• Orochimaru concluded that Danzo’s strength came from natural energy and that his own cursed seal research was on the right track.
• Kakashi asked the Masked Man whether he had stolen Minato and Kushina’s bodies, and White Zetsu then whispered a message to Obito.
• Obito ended the sparring and threatened to kill Kakashi next time before sinking into the ground with White Zetsu’s power.

Oto Uchiha’s squad withdrew after Danzo took the Seven-Tails Jinchuriki, while Shinnō gathered Hero Water and escaped Konoha’s forces with Fū. After capturing her, Shinnō questioned whether he should remain in the Akatsuki or create Zero-Tails first.

• Obito fled as Oto Uchiha and Shisui arrived, and Kakashi told them that Danzo had taken the jinchūriki away.
• Oto Uchiha declared the mission complete, then discovered that Zou Hyuga was a shadow clone and treated her damaged eyesight while the squad rested.
• Shinnō returned to Takigakure, collected Hero Water, and carried the unconscious Kakuzu toward the woods.
• Shinnō encountered Danzo’s Root operatives escorting Fū, activated the Eight Gates Released Formation, defeated the operatives, and captured the Seven-Tails Jinchuriki.
• Shinnō wondered whether to create Zero-Tails before handing Fū over to the Akatsuki.

Shinnō defected from Akatsuki and handed Fū over to the Sky Ninja, but Zou Hyuga found their temporary base, drained some of the Seven-Tails’ chakra, and uncovered troubling information about the Otsutsuki. Akatsuki’s leaders argued over their defeat and turned toward Iwagakure, while Danzo discovered his escort team was missing; Zou later reunited with Oto Uchiha, whose teasing turned personal.

• Shinnō chose to leave Akatsuki, hid Fū with the surviving Sky Ninja, and returned toward Takigakure.
• Zou Hyuga infiltrated the Sky Ninja’s temporary base, absorbed some of Fū’s chakra, and learned from Karma that other Six Paths-level figures might be active.
• Obito admitted to Nagato and Konan that Danzo had escaped with the Seven-Tails Jinchuriki, and Nagato ordered an attack on Iwagakure.
• Danzo reached the rendezvous point and found his Root team gone, then hurried away rather than risk confronting Akatsuki.
• Zou Hyuga rejoined his team and received his Shadow Clone’s memories; Oto Uchiha questioned whether he had brought Fū to his secret base and teased him about the girls there.

After the Fire Squad returned, the Third Hokage questioned them about Akatsuki and confronted Danzo over his secret Wood Release experiments. Reviewing Root’s research materials afterward, he discovered that Hashirama cells could restore a ninja to their prime.

• The Third Hokage read the Fire Squad’s report and asked Oto, Zou Hyuga, and the others to predict Akatsuki’s next target.
• Kakashi predicted Kumogakure, Oto Uchiha predicted Konoha, and Zou Hyuga predicted Iwagakure.
• The Third Hokage dismissed the team and told Danzo he would cut funding for him and Root because of Danzo’s unauthorized Wood Release research.
• The Third Hokage ordered Danzo to hand over his Wood Release research materials and stop further experiments, and Danzo agreed.
• A Root spy delivered the research materials to the Third Hokage, who found a document stating that successful Hashirama cell transplants could restore a ninja to their prime.

The Third Hokage summoned Tsunade while Zou Hyuga focused on researching Black Zetsu’s tissue and considered the possible conditions for evolving the Sharingan. After Oto reported that Danzo and Root had increased surveillance of the Uchiha, Zou warned the clan to be careful in the coming days.

• The Third Hokage dismissed his thoughts about regaining his prime and called for Tsunade.
• Kakashi left the Fire Squad alone, and Guy and Yamato followed him while Zou and Oto discussed Obito and the possibility of Oto turning against Zou.
• Zou checked on Vortex Shizuko and asked Oto about her recovering ocular power and her inability to reach the Fourth-Stage Susanoo.
• Zou and Oto went to the underground laboratory, where Zou began studying Black Zetsu’s tissue to learn its secrets and potentially improve his chakra network.
• After two weeks, Oto told Zou that Danzo and Root had intensified surveillance of the Uchiha, and Zou warned her that the Uchiha Clan Compound needed to be careful.

Danzo reviewed Uchiha Itachi’s records and ordered Root to keep investigating the Uchiha despite its depleted forces and the Military Police Force’s scrutiny. After school, Itachi invited Naruto to walk with him and Sasuke, leaving Sasuke jealous of his brother’s attention.

• Danzo considered Hiruzen’s search for a successor and feared that Root’s losses and the Wood Release Experiment would undermine his own prospects of becoming Hokage.
• Aburame Ryoma gave Danzo information on Itachi and warned that the Military Police Force was obstructing Root’s investigations, but Danzo ordered Root to recruit more operatives and work discreetly.
• Ryoma reported that Akatsuki had increased the bounty on Danzo through the underground black market, and Danzo ordered continued surveillance.
• Itachi waited outside the Ninja Academy for Sasuke and joined him after classes ended.
• Naruto approached Sasuke, and Itachi recognized him and invited him to walk with them, making Sasuke feel that Naruto was competing for his brother’s affection.

Itachi investigated Danzo’s attempts to recruit him into Root while secretly monitoring Root for Oto. After half a month of feigned cooperation, Danzo gave Itachi a mission to investigate outside the village.

• Itachi treated Sasuke and Naruto to ramen, then left them and met Danzo, who tried to recruit him as a bridge between the Uchiha and the village.
• Itachi recognized that Danzo’s Sharingan had not been a gift from Kagami and continued pretending to be persuaded while monitoring Root for Oto.
• Danzo ordered Itachi to gather information on the Uchiha clan’s jonin, then returned the list to him as a gesture meant to win his trust.
• Itachi questioned Oto about the arrangement, while Kabuto noticed that Danzo had provided Uchiha intelligence unusually easily and asked for nothing in return.
• Half a month later, Danzo sought out Itachi again and assigned him an investigation outside the village.

Danzo and the Third Hokage weighed the threats facing Konoha, while Zou Hyuga put his Black Zetsu research on hold to focus on a chakra network for scientific ninja tools and Chakra Armor. As Zou left his laboratory, he sensed something and disappeared.

• Danzo reviewed reports on Itachi and Uchiha Sharingan users, then considered how he might obtain more Sharingan without provoking the Uchiha or Hiruzen Sarutobi.
• Danzo hoped Orochimaru would act against the Uchiha and planned to rely on information he had given Kabuto Yakushi.
• The Third Hokage heard that the Akatsuki had intensified its activity and learned that Danzo had been secretly approaching Naruto.
• The Third Hokage asked how long Kakashi had stayed home and worried that Pain's strength had left him despondent.
• Zou Hyuga paused his research on the Black Zetsu fragment and focused on developing a chakra network to power scientific ninja tools and Chakra Armor.
• Zou Hyuga left the basement laboratory, furrowed his brow, and vanished.

Zou Hyuga received Nagato’s warning to monitor the Seven-Tails and prepared to leave Konoha, bringing Oto and Shisui to his old underground laboratory. There, they discovered that Sasori was alive as a human puppet and being forced to assist with Zou’s research.

• Zou Hyuga received Nagato’s message about keeping watch on the Seven-Tails and replied that he might soon have to leave the village.
• Zou Hyuga met Oto and Shisui at the Uchiha compound and led them to his old underground laboratory outside Konoha.
• Zou Hyuga entered Sage Mode, struggled to control his intensified power, and opened a passage underground with Inorganic Reincarnation.
• Zou Hyuga, Oto, and Shisui reached the laboratory, where a human puppet accused Zou Hyuga of betraying the Akatsuki.
• Zou Hyuga silenced Sasori and told Oto and Shisui that the human puppet was their old acquaintance, Sasori.

Shisui learned that Zou and Oto planned to act against Danzo to prevent him from targeting Itachi, while Danzo discovered his unstable powers might be pushed toward awakening the Mangekyō Sharingan. The chapter ended with Danzo preparing a plan against the Uchiha as he weighed Itachi’s potential and his own urgent need for power.

• Shisui recognized Sasori in Zou’s laboratory, and Zou confirmed that he and Oto intended to move against Danzo.
• Zou told Shisui that Danzo might target Itachi and steal his Sharingan, ending Shisui’s hesitation about the operation.
• Danzo reviewed reports showing that his Hashirama cells and Sharingan were dangerously unstable, and researcher Shin suggested that more Sharingan might trigger an evolution.
• Danzo decided to obtain a pair of eyes for Shin and considered provoking a Uchiha’s Sharingan to evolve so he could gain the Mangekyō Sharingan.
• A Root ninja reported that Itachi had completed his fifth mission and might have reached jonin level, after which Danzo began planning against the Uchiha.

Itachi joined a Root squad on a mission to destroy one of Orochimaru’s bases near the village, where they uncovered a trap and suffered heavy losses. As Itachi and the squad captain retreated, a small snake watched them from the smoke.

• Itachi met Danzo in a secluded alley, accepted a mission to search for Orochimaru’s bases, and joined a Root squad outside the village.
• Itachi used his Sharingan to identify disguised ninjas at a dilapidated settlement and interrogated their leader, who died when Orochimaru’s Cursed Seal released a phantom snake.
• Itachi and the Root squad searched the settlement and found a deep well that concealed natural gas.
• The squad captain tossed a torch into the well, triggering a massive explosion that killed several Root members and set the settlement ablaze.
• Itachi and the squad captain fled the fire and abandoned their comrades, while a small snake watched them retreat.

Itachi confronted Danzo near Konoha, recognized him as the target of his mission, and led him away from the village. After finding the unconscious Root captain, Kabuto realized Danzo had exploited Orochimaru’s destroyed base and followed the fighters to gather intelligence.

• Itachi’s Shadow Clone killed a messenger snake, but a smaller snake emerged from its corpse and escaped inside another body.
• Itachi and the Root Squad Captain reached Konoha’s outskirts, where Danzo ambushed them, sealed the captain, and attacked Itachi.
• Itachi recognized Danzo beneath the Akatsuki robe and used two fleeing figures to draw him deeper into the forest.
• Kabuto arrived with Orochimaru’s spies, inferred that Danzo had used Orochimaru’s base, and continued after the fighters alone.

Danzo followed Itachi into ancient ruins and an underground palace, believing he had uncovered a secret behind the Uchiha and Senju clans’ power. He tricked the guardian puppet into letting him pass, while the puppet revealed that Danzo had been fooled.

• Danzo followed Itachi through the ruins and discovered a hidden underground palace marked with Senju and Uchiha crests.
• Itachi reached a vast gate with a puppet guardian and slipped through as the gate began to close.
• The puppet fought Danzo and warned that only Uchiha and Senju could enter the forbidden ground.
• Danzo showed his Sharingan and claimed membership in both clans, persuading the puppet to let him pass.
• After the gate closed behind Danzo, the puppet mocked him as another fool who had been taken in.