Recaps

Shihōin Naraku encouraged Naruto Uzumaki by telling him how Might Guy overcame his weaknesses through relentless training, inspiring Naruto to vow never to give up. Naruto then demonstrated his original Sexy Jutsu, and Shihōin Naraku kicked him into the bushes.

• Naruto Uzumaki asked Shihōin Naraku whether he could become a strong ninja, and Naraku told him he had the potential despite being the dead last at school.
• Shihōin Naraku described how Might Guy became a powerful taijutsu ninja through hard work and perseverance, with Kakashi Hatake confirming Guy’s strength.
• Naruto Uzumaki regained his confidence and vowed to keep training until he became a ninja.
• Naruto Uzumaki showed Shihōin Naraku and Kakashi Hatake his Sexy Jutsu, then Shihōin Naraku kicked him into a patch of bushes.

Shihōin Naraku and Kakashi Hatake discovered that Naruto Uzumaki’s chakra control made the Clone Technique a poor fit, so Kakashi taught him tree-climbing practice instead. As Naruto kept trying despite repeated falls, Shihōin Naraku told Kakashi Hatake that he was not suited to the ANBU, leaving Kakashi to reflect on his future.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi reacted to Naruto Uzumaki’s Sexy Jutsu and decided Naruto should stop using it.
• Naruto Uzumaki failed the Clone Technique, and Kakashi Hatake explained that the Nine-Tails’ chakra disrupted his control while the Multiple Shadow Clone Technique suited his large reserves.
• Naruto Uzumaki worried that he would fail the graduation exam, so Shihōin Naraku prompted Kakashi Hatake to demonstrate tree-climbing chakra control.
• Kakashi Hatake taught Naruto Uzumaki how to practice walking up a tree, and Naruto repeatedly fell but refused to quit.
• Shihōin Naraku told Kakashi Hatake that he was not suited to the ANBU, prompting Kakashi to silently consider his inner turmoil and what he could do next.

Shihōin Naraku and Kakashi Hatake observed Naruto Uzumaki’s training and recovery, then watched him go to school excited by what he had learned. Hiruzen Sarutobi summoned them to assess Naruto, and Kakashi concluded that Naruto had the potential to become an outstanding ninja but needed careful training.

• Naruto Uzumaki fell asleep from exhaustion after practicing tree climbing, and Tenzo carried him back to rest.
• Shihōin Naraku and Kakashi Hatake noticed Naruto’s bruises fading quickly and discussed his recovery ability.
• Naruto Uzumaki arrived at school full of confidence and told Shikamaru Nara and Choji Akimichi that he had learned something amazing.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi summoned Shihōin Naraku and Kakashi Hatake to discuss Naruto Uzumaki.
• Kakashi Hatake told Hiruzen Sarutobi that Naruto had poor fundamentals and was sensitive to others’ judgments, but could become an outstanding ninja with careful training.

Hiruzen Sarutobi heard Kakashi Hatake and Shihōin Naraku assess Naruto Uzumaki, then dismissed them while worrying over the village’s younger generation. On the walk back, Naraku defended his belief that Naruto could someday match Hashirama Senju, insisting that the future belonged to the young.

• Kakashi Hatake said Naruto Uzumaki’s perseverance during tree-climbing practice had earned his respect.
• Shihōin Naraku predicted Naruto would become the strongest ninja, then said Naruto shared qualities with Hashirama Senju and was the true Child of the Prophecy.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi accused Jiraiya of influencing Naraku and dismissed Naraku and Kakashi from his office.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi reflected on Minato Namikaze, his former students, and his worries about Naraku and Kakashi.
• Kakashi Hatake warned Naraku that comparing Naruto to Hashirama would not help Naruto, but Naraku argued that young people could surpass their predecessors.

Naruto Uzumaki trained in tree walking while waiting for Shihōin Naraku and Kakashi Hatake, and Hiruzen Sarutobi arrived to encourage and teach him. Later, Umino Iruka began ninja sparring at the Academy, pairing Sasuke Uchiha with Shikamaru Nara.

• Naruto Uzumaki ran to the forest to train, but Shihōin Naraku and Kakashi Hatake were absent, so he practiced tree walking alone.
• Naruto Uzumaki caught and roasted a fish, then Hiruzen Sarutobi joined him and shared a meal after chatting with him.
• Naruto Uzumaki showed Hiruzen Sarutobi his progress, and Hiruzen praised him and offered advice as he continued practicing.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi eventually left, while Naruto Uzumaki kept training by himself.
• Umino Iruka organized ninja sparring at the Academy and announced Sasuke Uchiha and Shikamaru Nara as the first pair.
• Someone shoved Shikamaru Nara out of line, and Naruto Uzumaki urged him to beat Sasuke Uchiha.

Umino Iruka held sparring matches at the Ninja Academy while Shihōin Naraku and Kakashi Hatake watched and reminisced about their own school days. Naruto Uzumaki was paired with Hinata Hyuga, who fainted from embarrassment before their match could begin.

• Sasuke Uchiha defeated Shikamaru Nara in their spar, and Naruto Uzumaki declared that he would beat Sasuke.
• Shihōin Naraku and Kakashi Hatake recalled their Academy sparring record and argued over how many times Naraku had beaten Kakashi.
• Umino Iruka paired Naruto Uzumaki with Hinata Hyuga for a spar, and Naraku joked that Iruka was arranging a future romance.
• Naruto Uzumaki formed the Seal of Confrontation and waited, while Hinata Hyuga blushed and struggled to face him.
• Naruto Uzumaki moved closer to look at Hinata Hyuga, and she fainted from embarrassment.

Naruto Uzumaki surprised his classmates by using his new chakra control to hold his own against Sasuke Uchiha in a sparring match. As their fight reached a stalemate, a Mysterious Masked Man and a strange half-white, half-black figure appeared unnoticed on the Academy rooftop and watched Kakashi Hatake.

• Naruto Uzumaki defeated a classmate with a sudden burst of speed, impressing Shihōin Naraku and Kakashi Hatake.
• Naruto Uzumaki and Sasuke Uchiha began their sparring match, and Naruto used chakra beneath his feet to rush at Sasuke.
• Naruto and Sasuke traded strikes until they caught each other's fists and became locked in a stalemate, shocking their classmates.
• Shihōin Naraku praised Naruto's combat instincts while Kakashi Hatake watched and remembered his comrade Obito.
• A Mysterious Masked Man appeared on the rooftop and focused on Kakashi Hatake as a strange half-white, half-black figure emerged beside him.

Obito Uchiha and Zetsu monitored Kakashi Hatake and discussed Orochimaru’s alliance with Sunagakure, while Shihōin Naraku sensed their presence and confirmed Obito had visited Rin Nohara’s grave. After several days guarding Naruto Uzumaki, Naraku approached Hiruzen Sarutobi with a request.

• Obito Uchiha ordered Zetsu to let Orochimaru and Sunagakure’s plan against Konoha proceed, then pass the information to Uchiha Itachi.
• Shihōin Naraku sensed malice near the Ninja Academy, searched the area with ANBU, and suspected Obito Uchiha and Zetsu had been there.
• Naruto Uzumaki lost his sparring match to Sasuke Uchiha, then went to the forest and resumed tree-climbing practice.
• Shihōin Naraku found fresh flowers at Rin Nohara’s grave and confirmed that Obito Uchiha had visited and replaced Kakashi Hatake’s bouquet.
• Shihōin Naraku returned to the forest and told Hiruzen Sarutobi that he wanted to become Medical Department Director.

Shihōin Naraku secured the Head of Konoha's Medical Department position to help divide the Medical Emergency Response Unit, while Hiruzen Sarutobi mistook his request and distance from Naruto Uzumaki for a refusal to become a Hokage candidate. Hiruzen chose Kakashi Hatake to supervise Naruto, who mastered Tree-Climbing Practice but learned he still had to pass the Ninja Academy's Clone Technique exam.

• Shihōin Naraku asked Hiruzen Sarutobi to make him Head of Konoha's Medical Department, and Hiruzen agreed, earning Naraku five prize draws from the system.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi noticed that Shihōin Naraku had stopped visiting Naruto Uzumaki and concluded that Naraku was avoiding consideration as a Hokage candidate.
• After reflecting on Naraku's apparent refusal, Hiruzen Sarutobi decided Kakashi Hatake could become Naruto Uzumaki's supervising teacher and instructed the ANBU to look after Naruto's meals.
• Naruto Uzumaki successfully completed Tree-Climbing Practice and asked Hiruzen Sarutobi if he could now become a ninja.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi told Naruto Uzumaki he still had to pass the Ninja Academy's Clone Technique exam, so Naruto resolved to keep practicing.

Shihōin Naraku exploited a loophole in the system to earn draws through self-appointments, then created a legitimate ANBU logistics position to reach ten draws. His second ten-pull gave him a range of rewards, including Tensa Zangetsu, which he inspected with satisfaction.

• Shihōin Naraku appointed himself director of the Medical Emergency Response Unit's Disassembly Group and earned two draws before the system patched the loophole with new restrictions.
• Shihōin Naraku established an ANBU Logistics Squad, secured Kakashi Hatake and Hiruzen Sarutobi's approval, and earned the draw that brought his total to ten.
• Shihōin Naraku returned home and used his second ten-pull.
• Shihōin Naraku received ten rewards, including Fire Release: Garuda Technique, Sun Breathing, Observation Haki, Tensa Zangetsu, Explosive Tags, and ten thousand ryō.
• Shihōin Naraku drew Tensa Zangetsu and admired its black blade and distinctive hilt.

Shihōin Naraku renamed Tensa Zangetsu as Kurikara, awakening new abilities that strengthened him and allowed the blade to devour other Zanpakutō. He examined the remaining draw rewards and tested his Observation Haki, which he hoped to develop further.

• Shihōin Naraku asked the system about Tensa Zangetsu and learned that renaming it would make it his Zanpakutō while preserving its original abilities.
• Shihōin Naraku meditated with Tensa Zangetsu and named it Kurikara, transforming its appearance into a black blade with a dragon-decorated scabbard.
• Shihōin Naraku learned that Kurikara restored his stamina and chakra, strengthened his Ninjutsu, protected him from snakes and dragons, and could devour other Zanpakutō.
• Shihōin Naraku discovered that Kurikara appeared at his waist when he touched it and vanished when he let go, then inspected his other rewards, including expired Ichiraku Ramen coupons and Observation Haki.
• Shihōin Naraku tested Observation Haki, experienced his surroundings with heightened senses, and wondered whether training could teach him its advanced abilities.

Shihōin Naraku mastered new abilities, strengthened himself over several months, and judged his power to have reached Kage level. When he visited Naruto Uzumaki, he heard Naruto and Sasuke Uchiha arguing after a contest.

• Shihōin Naraku examined his rewards and gained Super Sonic Vibration Lightning Blade, Hand Seals Master, and Sun Breathing with twelve sword forms.
• Shihōin Naraku trained in Sun Breathing for months, eventually maintaining Total Concentration even while sleeping and gradually improving his constitution.
• Naruto Uzumaki and Sasuke Uchiha began tree-climbing practice together, trading taunts and tips while their friendship deepened through frequent fights.
• Shihōin Naraku demolished another training ground and estimated that his strength had reached Kage level.
• Shihōin Naraku went to the Forest Behind the Mountain and heard Naruto Uzumaki gloating that Sasuke Uchiha had lost.

Shihōin Naraku watched Naruto Uzumaki and Sasuke Uchiha train before Kakashi Hatake asked him to spar, prompted by the news that he might soon leave the ANBU. Naraku agreed to fight him at Training Ground Nineteen, while Naruto and Sasuke secretly followed them.

• Shihōin Naraku interrupted Naruto Uzumaki and urged him to resume training, and Sasuke Uchiha joined him.
• Kakashi Hatake appeared and challenged Shihōin Naraku to a spar after saying Lord Third Hokage had discussed his possible departure from the ANBU.
• Shihōin Naraku agreed and chose Training Ground Nineteen so they would not damage the woods.
• Naruto Uzumaki and Sasuke Uchiha secretly followed Shihōin Naraku and Kakashi Hatake toward the training ground.
• Shihōin Naraku asked whether Kakashi Hatake needed to retrieve any ninja tools, and Kakashi said he was already prepared.

Shihōin Naraku and Kakashi Hatake prepared to spar at Training Ground 19, and Might Guy brought his students to watch. Kakashi revealed his scarlet Three-Tomoe Sharingan, leaving Sasuke Uchiha stunned as the fight was about to begin.

• Shihōin Naraku invited Might Guy to join the spar, and Guy rushed to turn in his mission with Neji Hyuga, Tenten, and Rock Lee.
• Might Guy told his students that Shihōin Naraku and Kakashi Hatake would fight, and they hurried to Training Ground 19.
• Might Guy warned Naruto Uzumaki and Sasuke Uchiha to stay clear, while Rock Lee challenged Naruto before Guy called him back.
• Might Guy described the coming match as a battle between Konohagakure's strongest jonin, prompting Sasuke to consider seeking one of them as a teacher.
• Kakashi Hatake opened his eyes, lifted his forehead protector, and revealed his scarlet Three-Tomoe Sharingan, shocking everyone except Might Guy and Naruto Uzumaki.

Shihōin Naraku and Kakashi Hatake began a fierce fight at Training Ground 19, drawing the attention of their allies and observers. Kakashi’s fire and wind techniques failed to hurt Naraku, who struck back and sent him flying.

• Sasuke Uchiha was stunned to see Kakashi Hatake’s Sharingan, and Rock Lee explained that it was the Uchiha Clan’s kekkei genkai.
• Shimura Danzō learned that Shihōin Naraku and Kakashi Hatake had gone to Training Ground 19 and hurried there with two subordinates, hoping to use their fight against them.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi watched the two through a crystal ball and believed their fight might help Kakashi Hatake overcome his reservations.
• Shihōin Naraku and Kakashi Hatake collided with enough force to crack the ground and knock Naruto Uzumaki and the other spectators off balance.
• Kakashi Hatake combined his Great Fireball Technique with his Great Breakthrough Technique, but Shihōin Naraku emerged unharmed from the flames.
• Shihōin Naraku suddenly appeared beside Kakashi Hatake and kicked him flying.

Shihōin Naraku overwhelmed Kakashi Hatake, evaded his attacks, and met his Chidori with a Fire Release: Rasengan that devastated Training Ground 19. As the explosion spread, Might Guy opened the Eight Gates and charged into it.

• Shihōin Naraku battered Kakashi Hatake, who used a shadow clone and launched a Chidori attack backed by a volley of concealed weapons.
• Shihōin Naraku used Observation Haki to evade every weapon, then countered Kakashi Hatake's charge with a Fire Release: Rasengan.
• Shihōin Naraku's Rasengan collided with Kakashi Hatake's Chidori, creating a massive blast that flattened Training Ground 19 and scattered the onlookers.
• Might Guy opened the first five gates of the Eight Gates Formation and charged into the explosion.

Explosions from a fierce spar between Shihōin Naraku, Kakashi Hatake, and Might Guy sent Konohagakure into a panic and devastated Training Ground 19. As onlookers gathered and discovered the three were still fighting, their battle continued with Might Guy and Shihōin Naraku exchanging powerful blows.

• Asuma Sarutobi and Kurenai Yuhi rushed toward Training Ground 19 while Hiruzen Sarutobi ordered the village reassured and its ninja to maintain order.
• ANBU members stopped most ninja from entering, but Asuma Sarutobi, Kurenai Yuhi, and other observers saw that the training ground had been nearly destroyed.
• Shikaku Nara, Inoichi Yamanaka, Choza Akimichi, and Hyuga Hiashi arrived and surveyed the wreckage, while Neji Hyuga kept his distance from Hyuga Hiashi.
• When more explosions sounded, Hyuga Hiashi used his Byakugan and confirmed that Shihōin Naraku, Kakashi Hatake, and Might Guy were still fighting.
• Kakashi Hatake was sent flying by Shihōin Naraku, then Might Guy pierced Naraku with a kick before Naraku's burning body struck Guy with an elbow and drove him into a crater.

Shihōin Naraku fought Might Guy and Kakashi Hatake in a three-way melee, using Sun Breathing, the first Eight Gates, and Kurikara to keep pace with their attacks. Kakashi and Might Guy then teamed up against Naraku, charging at him together as Kakashi launched Lightning Blade.

• Shihōin Naraku assessed the damage from his clash with Kakashi Hatake and recalled how Might Guy had rescued Kakashi from the explosion.
• Shihōin Naraku, Might Guy, and Kakashi Hatake continued their battle, though Kakashi was nearly out of stamina.
• Might Guy’s speed overwhelmed Naraku, so Kakashi and Naraku each opened the first gate of the Eight Gates Formation.
• Naraku combined Sun Breathing and Kurikara with the gate’s boost, then attacked Kakashi and Might Guy with Hinokami Kagura: Dance.
• Kakashi and Might Guy repeatedly interrupted Naraku’s attacks, and Might Guy knocked him into the air with Konoha Rock-Breaking Rise.
• Kakashi charged at Naraku with Lightning Blade as Might Guy rushed in alongside him.

Shihōin Naraku battled Kakashi Hatake and Might Guy, overpowering the two jonin with his Fire Release and swordsmanship. The spar ended when Kakashi passed out, and Asuma Sarutobi caught him as Naraku sent him out of the field.

• Shihōin Naraku unleashed a massive Fire Release attack, and Might Guy used Morning Peacock to open a path through the flames for Kakashi Hatake.
• Shihōin Naraku pressed his attack with Kurikara while Kakashi Hatake and Might Guy coordinated their strikes against him.
• Shihōin Naraku deflected Might Guy's nunchaku, dodged Kakashi Hatake's Lightning Blade, and pinned Kakashi beneath his foot.
• Kakashi Hatake passed out during the struggle, and Shihōin Naraku sent him flying out of the field.
• Asuma Sarutobi caught Kakashi Hatake, whose clothes were torn and body was burned and bleeding.

Shihōin Naraku defeated Might Guy in a fierce sparring match, then summoned the Katsuyu Sage to treat Guy and the unconscious Kakashi Hatake. The onlookers remained shaken by Naraku’s power as the injured ninja received help.

• Might Guy’s Eight Gates-enhanced attacks failed to hit Shihōin Naraku, who blocked and countered each move while Kurikara restored his stamina and chakra.
• Naraku fired a Getsuga Tenshō that carved through the ground and split a distant mountaintop, then brought Guy down and ended the battle.
• Naraku helped the exhausted Guy leave the training ground, while the others stared at the destruction and warned that the village leaders would reprimand them.
• Naraku told Naruto Uzumaki and the other youngsters to fetch stretchers, then summoned the Katsuyu Sage.
• The Katsuyu Sage divided into two smaller bodies and began treating Might Guy and the unconscious Kakashi Hatake.

Shihōin Naraku helped treat Kakashi Hatake and Might Guy after their fierce fight, then took them to the hospital. He learned that Tsunade had not summoned the Katsuyu Sage recently and concluded he would have to wait until after the Konoha Crush Plan to see his teacher.

• The Katsuyu Sage treated Kakashi Hatake and Might Guy, while Asuma Sarutobi and Kurenai Yuhi scolded Shihōin Naraku for going too far in their fight.
• Shihōin Naraku explained that his Mera Mera no Mi powers combined with his Fire Release had made the training-ground flames unusually intense.
• Shihōin Naraku ordered the youngsters to carry Kakashi Hatake and Might Guy to the hospital, where the Katsuyu Sage finished treating them.
• Shihōin Naraku asked the Katsuyu Sage whether Tsunade had summoned her, and learned that Tsunade had not done so in a long time.
• At the hospital, Shihōin Naraku ordered Might Guy to stay for three days and confirmed that Kakashi Hatake would need at least a month to recover.

Hiruzen Sarutobi reprimanded Shihōin Naraku for the destruction caused by his sparring match but gave him a light punishment, while Shimura Danzō grew more determined to remove Hiruzen. Half a month later, Kakashi Hatake was recovering well, but he had been dismissed from ANBU as Naraku prepared to leave on a mission.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi ordered Shihōin Naraku to pay for restoring the ruined training ground and to take missions once Kakashi Hatake stabilized.
• Shimura Danzō complained that Hiruzen had gone easy on Naraku, then secretly resolved that Hiruzen should die and kept his plans hidden.
• Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu defended Hiruzen’s handling of the sparring incident and dismissed Danzō’s ambitions to become Hokage.
• Half a month later, Shihōin Naraku examined Kakashi Hatake and said he would likely leave the hospital in a little over two weeks.
• Kakashi Hatake told Naraku that Hiruzen had removed him from ANBU, while Naraku revealed he was leaving immediately on a mission for at least half a month.

Shihōin Naraku received intelligence that Deidara had defected and that Iwagakure might blame Konoha, then finished his missions and stopped at a hot spring in the Land of Hot Water. There, White Zetsu attacked him, and an unseen assailant struck from behind with a space-warping technique.

• Shihōin Naraku learned from an Iwagakure operative that Deidara had defected and that Iwagakure might use Uchiha Itachi's visit to blame Konoha, so he sent the intelligence to Hiruzen Sarutobi.
• Shihōin Naraku completed nearly all his assigned missions, then relaxed at a hot spring in the Land of Hot Water.
• A black-haired woman lured Shihōin Naraku away from town, and he killed her, revealing her to be White Zetsu.
• White Zetsu surrounded Shihōin Naraku and his two ANBU subordinates, who began fighting them.
• An assailant reached for Shihōin Naraku through twisting space, but he evaded with the Body Flicker Technique and slashed at the attacker's arm with Kurikara; the blade passed through without harming it.

Obito Uchiha confronted Shihōin Naraku, but Naraku outmaneuvered him and severed his arm. Obito then caught Naraku in a Sharingan genjutsu, leaving the fight’s outcome uncertain.

• Obito Uchiha appeared before Shihōin Naraku, and they charged at each other.
• Shihōin Naraku shattered Obito Uchiha’s wooden spike, pierced him, and cut apart his chain.
• Obito Uchiha combined Fire Release with a Kamui attack, but Shihōin Naraku absorbed the flames and struck back with Fire Fist.
• Obito Uchiha used Kamui and Wood Release to attack, but Shihōin Naraku sliced off his left arm and burned it to ash.
• Shihōin Naraku pressed his attack while Obito Uchiha’s wounds failed to heal and his Kamui time ran short.
• Obito Uchiha caught Shihōin Naraku in a Sharingan genjutsu.

Shihōin Naraku broke free of Obito Uchiha’s genjutsu and nearly killed him, but Zetsu rescued Obito and escaped. Naraku checked on his two captured subordinates and realized Black Zetsu had left them alive to prevent him from giving chase.

• Obito Uchiha trapped Shihōin Naraku in a genjutsu, but Naraku used Kurikara to cut through the illusion and return to reality.
• As Obito Uchiha tried to draw Naraku into the Kamui Dimension, Naraku pierced him with a flame spear and slashed him in two.
• Zetsu covered Obito Uchiha with spores to suppress the flames while White Zetsu and Black Zetsu attacked Naraku with reinforcements and Wood Release.
• Naraku burned through Zetsu’s trees, but White Zetsu carried the unconscious Obito underground and Black Zetsu followed.
• Naraku found that his two subordinates were alive but drained of chakra, and concluded Black Zetsu had spared them to keep him from pursuing.