Recaps

Zou Hyuga and Oto Uchiha investigated Akatsuki and Kusagakure, where the village opened the Box of Ultimate Bliss and unleashed Gō. Zou entered the box and learned from Mui that a Black Crystal had transformed him into Gō, while Oto fought Orochimaru and Tobirama Senju.

• Zou Hyuga and Orochimaru joined Akatsuki’s pursuit of Hiruko, who fought Iwagakure’s forces until Zou stopped a clash between Ōnoki and the Akatsuki.
• Zou returned to Konoha, then joined Oto Uchiha on a mission to investigate Akatsuki activity in the Land of Grass.
• Zou and Oto discovered that Kusagakure was exploiting Karin’s healing ability, and they arranged for her mother Shizuko to let Karin go with them.
• Kusagakure’s elders opened the Box of Ultimate Bliss, which swallowed Mui and the Horse-Faced Elder before releasing Gō to attack the village.
• Zou and Oto fought Gō as it singled Zou out, while Oto clashed with Orochimaru and Kimimaro near Kusagakure.
• Zou carried the box away and entered its dark dimension, while Oto thwarted Orochimaru’s attempt to control the reanimated First and Second Hokage.
• Oto fought Tobirama Senju and left Bell Cat to guard him as she pursued Orochimaru, while Zou entered the box after his clone lost contact.
• Zou found Gō transformed into Mui and learned that the Black Crystal embedded in his clone had turned Mui into Gō and was connected to the box.

Zou Hyuga and his allies helped free Kirigakure from Obito’s control, but the alliance with Konoha sparked a dispute over Samehada. As Zou and Oto turned the dispute against the Third Hokage, Iwagakure moved against Kusagakure under cover of pursuing Akatsuki members.

• Zou Hyuga learned the Box of Ultimate Bliss held Gō, while Tobirama Senju’s Impure World Reincarnation ended and Orochimaru fled after losing Kimimaro.
• Kakashi’s squad uncovered Obito’s control of Kirigakure, and Zou Hyuga joined the operation as Mei Terumi, Hozuki Mangetsu, Kisame, and Zabuza moved to free the Fourth Mizukage.
• The rebels and Mei’s forces defeated the controlled Yagura, who agreed to pursue an alliance with Konoha and rebuild the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist.
• Zou Hyuga told Shisui that he had joined Akatsuki to study White Zetsu cells and Mangekyo blindness, and warned him that Akatsuki’s leader was not Obito.
• Kirigakure sent Kisame to Konoha to negotiate an alliance and reclaim Samehada, while Zou Hyuga and Oto Uchiha refused to return the blade without compensation.
• Kisame confronted Oto in the street, but she surrendered Samehada on the Third Hokage’s orders, giving Zou and Oto a chance to weaken public confidence in Hiruzen.
• Ōnoki’s forces pursued Kakuzu and Hidan into Kusagakure, uncovered evidence linking a Grass elder to Akatsuki, and left troops to help overthrow the Kusagakure Leader.
• Konan confronted Ōnoki over his interference, and Danzo told Hiruzen that he suspected Iwagakure was colluding with Akatsuki.

Zou Hyuga pursued the Land of Snow’s Chakra Armor while balancing his dealings with Akatsuki, Orochimaru, and Konoha. As Kakashi escorted Kazahana Koyuki and faced Nadare Rōga, Orochimaru and Shinnō began investigating the Fire Temple’s natural-energy techniques.

• Danzo warned the Third Hokage that Iwagakure might be allied with Akatsuki, while the Third offered Zou Hyuga and Oto Uchiha the ANBU Deputy Commander position and Oto accepted it.
• Zou Hyuga investigated his family history, encountered Kazahana Koyuki’s Crystal Pendant, captured Nadare Rōga, and traveled with Haku to the Land of Snow to obtain Chakra Armor technology.
• Zou Hyuga traded the Crystal Pendant for the Chakra Armor documents and a partnership with Kazahana Dōtō, then left the Land of Snow with Haku.
• Zou Hyuga and Haku joined Orochimaru’s group in battle against the Fourth Raikage and Killer B, after which Zou learned more about the Ketsuryūgan user and the Akatsuki’s plans.
• Zou Hyuga returned to Konoha, warned Oto Uchiha that Shukaku might soon revive, and studied a piece of the Eight-Tails’ tentacle to absorb its chakra.
• Kakashi escorted Kazahana Koyuki toward the Land of Lightning and fought Nadare Rōga, while Zou Hyuga questioned Orochimaru and Shinnō about their plans and warned Shinnō about the Rōran Ruins.
• Orochimaru and Shinnō attacked the Fire Temple to investigate its natural-energy methods, and Chiriku confronted them as Shinnō opened the fifth gate to fight him.

Zou Hyuga helped the Akatsuki capture Shukaku while Konoha prepared for an attack, then Kakuzu, Hidan, and Obito struck the village. Oto drove Obito away and helped protect Konoha, while the Akatsuki escaped with Shukaku and Yugito fell into Shinnō’s hands.

• Zou Hyuga gave Chakra Armor to Taro Utada and Haku, received Shinnō’s Natural Energy Cultivation Method, and arranged for Vortex Shizuko to perform the ritual that might free Kushina Uzumaki and Minato Namikaze.
• Oto Uchiha intervened when Naruto and Hinata uncovered an old man’s plan to destroy Konoha, and Konoha began preparing for a possible Akatsuki attack while Kakashi secured Kumogakure’s alliance.
• The Third Hokage sent Kakashi, Guy, Yamato, and Shisui to help Sunagakure capture Shukaku, while Zou Hyuga joined Hiruko and Sasori and secretly sent Konoha intelligence about the Akatsuki’s plans.
• Shukaku revived, and Zou Hyuga fought alongside the Akatsuki as Hiruko attacked the tailed beast and Sasori battled Kakashi, Yamato, Chiyo, and the Sand Ninja.
• Zou Hyuga absorbed Shukaku’s chakra and let Hiruko carry the weakened One-Tail away, while Rasa and the Konoha forces allowed Zou to leave rather than risk more casualties.
• Kakuzu and Hidan attacked Konoha, and Obito tried to capture Naruto, but Oto rescued Naruto and fought Obito with her Mangekyō Sharingan and Susanoo.
• Oto wounded Black Zetsu and drove Obito off, but the Akatsuki escaped Konoha with help from a white figure and a distorted vortex, leaving the village damaged.
• Shinnō carried the unconscious Yugito from a canyon despite Orochimaru’s warning, and Orochimaru reported that Hiruko and the President had captured Shukaku while Sasori and Oyashiro En were missing.