Recaps

Zou Hyuga gained Ryūchi Cave Senjutsu while continuing to infiltrate Akatsuki and warn Konoha through Oto Uchiha. Akatsuki moved against Kirigakure, while Danzo began an experiment with natural energy, Wood Release, and Sharingan.

• The Fourth Raikage and Killer B entered Ōnoki’s trap in the Land of Rain, fought Iwagakure, and learned that Konoha had attacked Amegakure while Akatsuki had captured Yugito.
• Zou Hyuga joined Akatsuki as it sealed Shukaku, then began investigating the Demonic Statue and the organization’s experiments with Hiruko, Orochimaru, and Shinnō.
• The Third Hokage formed the Fire Squad under Oto Uchiha, while Kakashi tried and failed to master Senjutsu at Mount Myōboku before Oto helped him remove the natural energy inside him.
• Zou Hyuga traded Chakra Armor knowledge with Orochimaru for Cursed Seal techniques, entered Ryūchi Cave, passed its trials, subdued Garaga, and learned Senjutsu from the snake princesses.
• Nagato sent Zou Hyuga to infiltrate Konoha, where Zou met Oto and shared information about Akatsuki’s test subjects and its plans, and Kabuto later delivered Orochimaru’s request for Uchiha cells.
• During the Fire Squad’s training exercise, Kakashi and Guy fought Zou in Sage Mode while Oto battled Yamato and Shisui, and afterward, Jiraiya and Tsunade watched the team and discussed the coming danger.
• Yamato told Zou that his Wood Release trees were growing excessively and mentioned Danzo’s base, while Danzo led Root into an underground node to experiment with its natural energy.
• The Fourth Mizukage, Hozuki Mangetsu, and Zabuza defeated Akatsuki’s Type C Test Subjects, but Hiruko and Shinnō arrived carrying Utakata, the Six-Tails Jinchuriki.

Akatsuki captured the Fourth Mizukage and Utakata, while Danzo used natural energy and Wood Release to capture Hidan and launch a mission to protect Takigakure’s Seven-Tails. The Third sent the Fire Squad after Danzo, and both groups converged on Takigakure as Danzo prepared to use Fū as bait.

• The Fourth Mizukage fought Hiruko, but Obito captured him and took Utakata, leaving Kirigakure to face casualties and choose a new Mizukage.
• Zou Hyuga taught Hanabi to sense natural energy, and her pure Byakugan drew Toneri’s attention, and Zou stopped Toneri’s meteorite attack from destroying the valley’s trainees.
• Danzo experimented with natural energy at the Valley of the End, developed Wood Release, and captured Hidan after ambushing him and Kakuzu.
• Danzo questioned Hidan and gathered Akatsuki intelligence, while Jiraiya suspected Danzo had learned to cultivate natural energy.
• Danzo identified Takigakure’s Seven-Tails as a likely Akatsuki target and left Konoha with Root to pursue the jinchūriki.
• The Third sent Oto Uchiha, Shisui, Kakashi, Yamato, and the Fire Squad to retrieve and protect the Seven-Tails’ Jinchūriki, while Zou Hyuga prepared Minato and Kushina’s bodies for transport.
• At Takigakure, Shibuki accepted Danzo’s offer to protect Fū after seeing his Wood Release, and Danzo recognized the village’s Hero Water as natural-energy-infused water.
• Yamanaka Fū warned Danzo that Akatsuki had discovered the false intelligence, but Danzo remained confident they would take the bait.

Akatsuki’s hunt for the Seven-Tails collided with Danzo’s schemes, while Zou Hyuga and his allies prepared to move against him. Itachi’s mission for Danzo led him to a hidden underground palace, where Danzo entered after being deceived by its guardian.

• Obito sent Zetsu to inform Nagato about Konoha’s plan, and Nagato set out for Takigakure while assigning Madara to help Orochimaru target Iwagakure’s jinchūriki.
• Danzo and the Akatsuki fought over Fū in Takigakure, but the Six Paths of Pain overwhelmed Danzo before he escaped with the Seven-Tails Jinchuriki, and Shinnō later captured Fū and hid her with the Sky Ninja.
• The Third Hokage reprimanded Danzo for his unauthorized Wood Release research, while Zou Hyuga studied Black Zetsu’s tissue and warned Oto that the Uchiha compound needed caution as Root increased its surveillance.
• Zou Hyuga brought Oto and Shisui to his underground laboratory and revealed that he intended to move against Danzo, and Shisui joined the plan after Zou warned that Danzo might target Itachi and steal his Sharingan.
• Danzo’s researcher Shin reported that his Hashirama cells and Sharingan were unstable, and Danzo began planning to obtain more eyes and provoke a Uchiha’s Mangekyō Sharingan.
• Danzo sent Itachi to investigate Orochimaru’s bases, where an explosion killed several Root members and Itachi fled with the squad captain, and Danzo later ambushed them and attacked Itachi.
• Itachi led Danzo to a hidden underground palace bearing Senju and Uchiha crests, and Danzo persuaded its puppet guardian to let him enter before it mocked him as a fool.

Zou Hyuga manipulated Danzo, freed Minato and Kushina’s souls, and prepared Hanabi for training while the Akatsuki moved against the Four-Tails and Five-Tails. The Akatsuki’s attack on Iwagakure escalated into a battle that left Obito blinded and the Five-Tails in Orochimaru’s hands.

• Danzo fell into Zou Hyuga’s trap and was sealed inside the Box of Ultimate Bliss, then emerged with missing memories and a changed attitude toward the Uchiha.
• Zou Hyuga began training Hanabi away from the village and used Vortex Shizuko’s chains to free Minato and Kushina’s souls, restoring them to reanimated bodies.
• Oto Uchiha became the Nine-Tails’ summoner, while Zou Hyuga sought Orochimaru’s knowledge and prepared for the Akatsuki’s next moves.
• Pain assigned Zou Hyuga and Hiruko to capture Roshi, and Zou subdued the Four-Tails while Deidara warned Ōnoki of the Akatsuki’s attack.
• Ōnoki put Iwagakure on wartime footing after learning the Akatsuki had also attacked Han, and the Akatsuki launched an assault on the village.
• Hiruko fought Iwagakure’s defenders while the Six Paths of Pain killed Kitsuchi, and Obito and Zetsu searched for Han.
• Orochimaru and Shinnō turned Han into the Five-Tails, but Obito briefly controlled the beast before Orochimaru and Oyashiro En stole his eyes and escaped with it.
• Obito used Kamui to tear off one of the Five-Tails’ tails, then withdrew from the pursuit with little chakra remaining.