Recaps

Xia Yan and Kakashi pursued a mission that drew them into a border attack by disguised Iwa Ninja and a fight with Sunagakure Anbu Yashamaru. They captured Yashamaru and other enemies, while Xia Yan gained a Wind Release seed.

• Xia Yan and Kakashi joined forces in Anbu, and Xia Yan used their mission against Kakuzu to build trust with Kakashi while navigating Konoha’s internal politics.
• Uesugi Gen gave Xia Yan the Flying Thunder God Technique scroll, which Xia Yan memorized before deciding to study Sealing Jutsu.
• Xia Yan introduced Kakashi to Masaya and Shinichi, but an Anbu order sent Xia Yan and Kakashi to defend the northwestern border outposts.
• On the journey, Xia Yan told Kakashi about leaving a wounded teammate behind, while worrying that Danzo’s actions against the Akatsuki could put him in danger near the Land of Rain.
• Xia Yan and Kakashi reached an observation post under attack by disguised Iwa Ninja, and Xia Yan’s Water Release helped defeat the attackers and save the wounded captain.
• Xia Yan identified the surviving prisoners as Sand Ninja and confronted a hidden Sunagakure Anbu, who turned out to be Yashamaru, Gaara’s maternal uncle.
• Xia Yan outmaneuvered Yashamaru’s Magnet Release and captured him, then ordered Kakashi to restrain him and the other prisoners.
• Xia Yan drained a nearby tree to create a Wind Release chakra seed and sealed it in his diary.

Xia Yan helped Kakashi confront his grief, then revealed his Senju identity to Minato and offered him intelligence about Konoha’s internal divisions. Minato began teaching Xia Yan sealing jutsu and the Flying Thunder God Technique, while Xia Yan discovered a basic sealing-type seed.

• Xia Yan and Kakashi encountered Root in the forest, then visited Rin and Obito’s graves, where Xia Yan urged Kakashi to live on and honor their sacrifices.
• Xia Yan reunited with Uchiha Sora at a training ground and later sparred with Kakashi, showing his skill with Water and Earth Release.
• After Minato summoned him, Xia Yan revealed that he was Senju Natsuhiko and explained that he wanted to support Minato without provoking conflict in Konoha.
• Kakashi told Xia Yan that Kakuzu had killed two members of their squad, and Xia Yan chose to leave the vacant positions open while reporting the Root encounter to Minato.
• Xia Yan gave Minato intelligence about suspected Third Hokage allies in the Anbu and identified Shimura Danzō as connected to a captain loyal to an unknown person.
• Minato verified some of Xia Yan’s claims, taught him sealing jutsu and Flying Thunder God insights, and marked a tree for him to study.
• After Minato left, Xia Yan rested by the marked tree, and his system identified a nearby plant as a basic sealing-type seed.