Recaps

Kurotsuchi and Mei Terumi arrived in Konoha for the Five Kage Summit, while Naraku waited anxiously for Kumogakure’s Seventh Raikage, Burūi. With the summit about to begin, Shikaku reported that Burūi had finally entered the country.

• Kurotsuchi accepted Naraku’s terms and was escorted to her lodgings after their official meeting.
• Mei Terumi arrived in Konoha with Chōjūrō and six Kirigakure ANBU, then went to rest before the summit.
• Naraku learned that Burūi had not arrived by the deadline and decided the summit would begin without him if necessary.
• On the morning of the summit, Shikaku reported that Burūi had entered the country.

Shihōin Naraku postponed the Five Kage Summit so Burūi could reach Konoha after political infighting delayed his departure from Kumogakure. Burūi arrived safely, was taken to guest lodgings to rest, and prepared to discuss the Kaguya Ōtsutsuki discoveries and Otsutsuki Toneri.

• Shikaku Nara told Shihōin Naraku that Burūi had crossed into the Land of Fire, and Naraku ordered checkpoints to let the Raikage pass and postponed the summit until that afternoon.
• Gaara, Temari, Kurotsuchi, and Mei Terumi accepted the postponement after learning Burūi was on his way.
• Burūi traveled to Konoha after spending three days settling a power dispute with Kumogakure's elders, and Aoba Yamashiro met him and explained that the summit had been delayed for his arrival.
• Burūi entered Konoha and was escorted to guest lodgings, where he rested and considered the summit agenda, including the Kaguya Ōtsutsuki findings and Otsutsuki Toneri.

Burūi prepared to raise Kumogakure’s concerns about Konoha’s intelligence on Otsutsuki Toneri and attended the Five Kage Summit in Konoha. After the Kage accepted his apology for the delay, Shikaku Nara opened the meeting with a report on the Search Team’s investigation of Kaguya Ōtsutsuki’s ruins.

• Burūi weighed how to question Konoha about Kumogakure’s casualties and losses without compromising his village’s interests.
• Aoba Yamashiro escorted Burūi to the Hokage Building, where Burūi entered the summit hall with C as his guard.
• Gaara, Kurotsuchi, Mei Terumi, and Shihōin Naraku arrived and took their seats.
• Burūi apologized to the other Kage for delaying the summit, and they accepted his apology.
• Shikaku Nara officially began the Five Kage Summit and announced the first agenda item: the Search Team’s intelligence from Kaguya Ōtsutsuki’s ruins.

The Five Kage reviewed the Search Team’s findings on the God Tree and the Ōtsutsuki Clan and agreed the intelligence was credible. Mei Terumi proposed doubling the team, but Shihōin Naraku rejected the plan, warning that more personnel could lower efficiency and increase casualties if they encountered Isshiki.

• Gaara, Kurotsuchi, Mei Terumi, and Burūi reviewed the intelligence report and judged it consistent with what they knew from the Fourth Shinobi World War and the newly discovered ruins.
• Shihōin Naraku noted that the Search Team had followed existing intelligence and that its work had produced results, earning the other Kage’s agreement.
• Mei Terumi formally proposed doubling the Search Team’s size to speed up its investigation and cover more ground, with Kirigakure offering its support.
• Shihōin Naraku rejected Mei Terumi’s proposal, arguing that the team’s success came from precise investigation, while expansion could make it less efficient and expose more shinobi to Isshiki.

At the Five Kage Summit, Shikaku explained that the Ōtsutsuki Clan threatened to drain the world of life, making conflict unavoidable, while Shihōin Naraku proposed opening restricted areas to the Search Team. The other Kage resisted unrestricted access and suggested having each village investigate its own sites, leaving the proposal unresolved.

• Kurotsuchi and Gaara agreed that a small Search Team was better suited to dealing with the Ōtsutsuki Clan, and Mei Terumi withdrew her proposal to enlarge it.
• Shikaku told the Five Kage that the Ōtsutsuki were outsiders seeking to plant the God Tree and harvest its fruit, which would consume the planet’s life and chakra.
• Shikaku said the villages needed to find Ōtsutsuki Isshiki and prepare for further arrivals, while Burūi noted that the hidden enemy made their situation harder than during the Fourth Shinobi World War.
• Shihōin Naraku explained that village restrictions were impeding the Search Team and proposed lifting them so it could investigate any potentially informative location.
• Burūi proposed that each village send its own ninja to investigate its restricted areas, and Kurotsuchi and Mei Terumi supported the suggestion, with Mei offering Kirigakure’s search and sensory specialists.

The Five Kage agreed to let the Search Team investigate their villages’ territories and secret areas for Ōtsutsuki Isshiki, subject to coordination conditions. Burūi then pressed Shihōin Naraku for a fuller explanation of Ōtsutsuki Toneri’s attack and the losses Kumogakure suffered.

• Shihōin Naraku proposed that Sasuke Uchiha lead the Search Team into each village’s secret areas if neither the villages nor the team found Ōtsutsuki Isshiki within a year.
• Burūi agreed to lift Kumogakure’s restrictions if the team coordinated its movements with the village, and Kurotsuchi, Mei Terumi, and Gaara also agreed to allow investigations.
• Shikaku thanked the Five Kage and said the Search Team would organize new investigation directions and share them with the villages.
• Burūi asked Shihōin Naraku for detailed intelligence about Ōtsutsuki Toneri, citing the deaths, injuries, and destruction caused by the meteorite attack on Kumogakure.

At the Five Kage Summit, Burūi and the other Kage demanded more information about Otsutsuki Toneri and the meteor shower that devastated their villages. Shihōin Naraku angrily defended Konoha’s actions, and Mei Terumi tried to soften the confrontation.

• Burūi challenged Naraku to explain whether Otsutsuki Toneri was alive, whether he had accomplices, and how many Ōtsutsuki descendants lived on the moon.
• Kurotsuchi, Mei Terumi, and Gaara supported Burūi’s demand, describing the damage their villages had suffered and asking what had happened to Toneri.
• Naraku refused to let Shikaku answer and argued that Konoha had also suffered and that its ninja had saved the shinobi world from destruction.
• Naraku slammed his hand on the table, startling the Kage as he defended Konoha’s efforts.
• Mei Terumi softened her tone and said the villages wanted more details so they could prepare their defenses and cooperate with Konoha.

At the Five Kage Summit, Shikaku explained Otsutsuki Toneri’s origins and attack, while Naraku approved a visit from Kirigakure’s Kaguya Clan to the Hyuga. The other Kage accepted Konoha’s account but suspected it was still withholding information.

• Burūi stopped pressing Naraku after the other Kage backed down, and Shikaku began presenting Konoha’s intelligence on Toneri.
• Shikaku explained that Toneri was descended from Hamura Otsutsuki and had attacked the Shinobi World because some of Hamura’s descendants misinterpreted his will.
• Shikaku said Konoha was reasonably certain Toneri was dead, and the Four Kage accepted his answer.
• Mei Terumi asked about Konoha’s search near its border, so Naraku had Shikaku reveal that Toneri had attacked Hyuga Hiashi’s party and stolen their Byakugan before Naruto recovered it on the moon.
• Mei asked permission for Kirigakure’s Kaguya Clan to visit the Hyuga, and Naraku agreed as long as the group had fewer than five people.

At the Five Kage Summit, Shihōin Naraku warned the other Kage that Ōtsutsuki Isshiki and the wider Ōtsutsuki Clan could threaten the Shinobi World. The villages agreed to unite and consider new systems for sharing intelligence and coordinating reinforcements.

• Mei Terumi eased tensions by raising the Kaguya Clan's request to visit Hyuga Hiashi and the others, and Shihōin Naraku approved it.
• Shihōin Naraku warned that Ōtsutsuki Isshiki might be stronger than Kaguya and argued that Kaguya could have injured him through surprise and superior knowledge.
• Gaara, Burūi, and Mei Terumi debated whether Kaguya's victory showed Isshiki was weaker, while Shihōin Naraku cautioned that other Ōtsutsuki could come to investigate.
• Burūi, Mei Terumi, Gaara, and Kurotsuchi agreed that the villages should unite against the Ōtsutsuki threat.
• Shihōin Naraku presented a proposal for shared emergency communications, cross-village summoning contracts, coordinated sensing, and reinforcements within one day.

Shihōin Naraku persuaded the Four Kage to coordinate against the Ōtsutsuki Clan by agreeing to share intelligence and establish emergency communications. After settling most cooperation details, the Five Kage Summit reached its final proposal.

• Burūi agreed to discuss intelligence sharing after Naraku warned that no village could face the Ōtsutsuki Clan alone.
• Mei Terumi, Gaara, and Kurotsuchi agreed to put aside village divisions if an Ōtsutsuki appeared, and Burūi said Kumogakure would not hold them back.
• Shikaku asked how the villages could identify disguised Ōtsutsuki, and Naraku shared portraits and described their common features.
• Mei Terumi, Kurotsuchi, Gaara, and Burūi agreed to use Chakra Communication Antennas for emergency contact between villages.
• Shikaku presented draft cooperation proposals, and the Five Kage settled their details before Naraku introduced the final proposal.

At the Five Kage Summit, Shikaku proposed that Konoha host the first Five-Nation Joint Chunin Selection Trials, inviting shinobi clans and factions from across the world and covering all costs. The Four Kage remained wary of how much prestige Konoha and Shihōin Naraku would gain, leaving the proposal under discussion.

• Shikaku proposed expanding the Chunin Ninja Exams into Five-Nation Joint Chunin Selection Trials open to clans and factions throughout the Shinobi World.
• Kurotsuchi, Mei Terumi, Burūi, and Gaara questioned the timing, scale, and cost of holding the trials after the war.
• Naraku told the Four Kage to hear Shikaku out before giving their opinions.
• Shikaku announced that Konoha would host the trials in May of the following year and pay all expenses.
• The Four Kage examined Konoha's preparations but hesitated, concerned that Konoha and Naraku would gain too much prestige.

Shihōin Naraku proposed that Konoha host the first Five-Nation Joint Chunin Selection Trials, but the other Kage feared the event would strengthen Konoha’s influence. He offered a rotating hosting arrangement, leaving them to consider the proposal.

• Gaara, Mei Terumi, Kurotsuchi, and Burūi hesitated to support the trials because their villages lacked resources and feared Konoha would gain most from hosting.
• Shihōin Naraku argued that the trials would raise morale and help villages identify promising Genin after the war.
• Naraku recognized that forcing agreement could lead the other villages to send unqualified participants and undermine the event.
• Naraku offered for Konoha to cover the first trials’ costs and proposed that the Five Great Shinobi Villages take turns hosting future events.
• Naraku guaranteed that Konoha would not host again until every nation had taken a turn, and the conference room fell silent.

Naraku persuaded the Four Kage to support Konoha’s first Five-Nation Joint Chunin Selection Trials by promising that the villages would take turns hosting future events. The Kage agreed to participate and began discussing the event’s rules, eligibility standards, and oversight.

• Naraku assured Kurotsuchi, Burūi, Mei Terumi, and Gaara that the Five Great Shinobi Villages would take turns hosting the trials.
• Gaara agreed on behalf of Sunagakure, and Kurotsuchi agreed on behalf of Iwagakure after considering the benefits to her village.
• Naraku set the first event for May next year, seven months later, and said the Five Kage would decide the next event’s timing and location afterward.
• Burūi agreed for Kumogakure but questioned the expense of inviting small factions, while Naraku proposed that the Five Kage jointly establish eligibility rules.
• Mei Terumi agreed for Kirigakure after Naraku accepted her request for shared oversight and allowed other villages to send proctors.
• Naraku said the Kage would review Konoha’s prepared rules and regulations, including the eligibility standards and first-round format.

Naraku and the Four Kage reviewed Kakashi's Chunin Ninja Exams plan through the night, with Shikaku answering their questions. They adjourned until morning, and Shikaku told Naraku that the Kage's focus on protecting their own villages' interests made a hostile turn unlikely.

• The Four Kage questioned Shikaku about Kakashi's detailed exam plan while Naraku observed.
• As the meeting stretched late into the night, Burūi, Kurotsuchi, and Mei Terumi showed signs of fatigue.
• Naraku ended the meeting and told the Kage they would discuss the remaining details the next day.
• The Four Kage left with their escorts, while Shikaku stayed to organize the documents.
• Shikaku told Naraku that the Kage's questions showed they wanted their people treated fairly, making hostility unlikely at the next meeting.
• Naraku and Shikaku left the conference room to rest before continuing the discussions in the morning.

Gaara, Temari, and Baki discussed the Five Kage Summit’s decisions, including cooperation against the Ōtsutsuki Clan and the Five-Nation Joint Chunin Selection Trials. Sunagakure agreed to participate and began planning how to choose and prepare its young ninja.

• Gaara told Baki that the summit had reached a consensus and accepted Konoha’s decision to keep some information about Otsutsuki Toneri private.
• Temari explained that the villages would strengthen communication to guard against threats from the Ōtsutsuki Clan, a proposal Gaara supported.
• Temari gave Baki the documents for the Five-Nation Joint Chunin Selection Trials, and Baki said Sunagakure should focus on gaining practical benefits rather than competing to host.
• Gaara and Baki agreed that Sunagakure would participate without providing the event’s funding or manpower.
• Baki noted that the trials would take place next May and said Sunagakure needed to begin selecting and training its participants.

Gaara, Kurotsuchi, Mei Terumi, and Burūi spent the night considering the proposed Five-Nation Joint Chunin Selection Trials and their villages’ plans. The Five Kage resumed their meeting in Konoha, where they addressed practical details of the inaugural trials.

• Baki explained that Sunagakure could improve its finances if its Genin impressed the Daimyo or attracted mission commissions, and Gaara agreed to prepare after the meeting finalized its plans.
• Temari named Chōjūrō, C, Akatsuchi, and Shikaku Nara as notable representatives accompanying the other Kage, and Gaara said Sunagakure could not embarrass itself at the trials.
• Kurotsuchi discussed Iwagakure’s recovery with an accompanying Jonin and decided to consider hosting a Chunin Ninja Exam in three years after seeing how Konoha’s trials went.
• Mei Terumi told Chōjūrō that the success of the proposals depended on the meeting and called Shihōin Naraku a difficult Hokage to deal with.
• The Five Kage resumed their meeting at ten, and Shikaku Nara answered questions about testing grounds, proctor numbers, and accommodations for the Daimyo.

Shihōin Naraku and the Four Kage finalized the first Five-Nation Joint Chunin Selection Trials, setting them for May seventeenth of next year in Konoha. After the Kage departed, Naraku assigned Kakashi Hatake to organize the event’s implementation.

• Gaara, Kurotsuchi, Mei Terumi, and Burūi approved the final proposal, and Naraku declared the trials would be held in Konoha on May seventeenth of next year.
• Mei Terumi visited a Konoha ninja tool shop with Chōjūrō, while Kurotsuchi viewed the village from the path to Hokage Rock.
• The Four Kage departed Konoha the following morning after saying farewell to Naraku.
• Naraku returned to his office and summoned Kakashi Hatake, then gave him responsibility for arranging the trials’ venue, assessments, proctors, and logistical support.
• Kakashi reluctantly accepted Naraku’s assignment.

Naraku and Kakashi prepared Konoha for the Five-Nation Joint Chunin Selection Trials, while the Search Team discovered two more damaged ruins with no useful intelligence. Naraku concluded that Ōtsutsuki Isshiki remained hidden inside Jigen and had not yet found a suitable vessel.

• Naraku asked Kakashi to draft implementation guidelines for the Five-Nation Joint Chunin Selection Trials, and Kakashi delivered a revised plan that Naraku approved as final.
• Konoha gradually prepared for the trials by making small repairs, selecting examiners, approving venues, and coordinating logistics.
• The Search Team found two more ancient sites in the Land of Fire and the Land of Rivers, but the Analysis Team recovered little decipherable information.
• Naraku told the ANBU to keep the search at its current pace and not force results from the damaged ruins.
• Naraku reflected that Sasuke had found no trace of Ōtsutsuki Isshiki and reasoned that Isshiki was still living inside Jigen and was not yet at his peak.

Shihōin Naraku sent Naruto to join Sasuke’s Search Team and investigate the Ōtsutsuki Clan while preparations for the Five-Nation Joint Chunin Selection Trials continued. Naruto headed for the team’s rendezvous point in the northern Land of Rivers, and Naraku returned to his paperwork while considering the possibility of an attack during the exams.

• Shihōin Naraku decided to send Naruto to assist Sasuke’s Search Team in finding clues about the Ōtsutsuki Clan.
• Naraku gave Naruto a transfer order and told him to follow Sasuke’s orders and avoid acting recklessly.
• Naraku gave Naruto directions to a rendezvous point in the northern Land of Rivers and explained that the team had to return before the selection trials began.
• Naruto left to meet the Search Team, promising to find clues about the Ōtsutsuki Clan.
• Naraku returned to reviewing preparations and wondered whether the Chunin exams might bring a Konoha Crush Plan.

Naruto prepared to leave Konoha for the Land of Rivers to join Sasuke’s Search Team and track down Ōtsutsuki Isshiki. After saying goodbye to Sakura and Iruka, he headed to the Hyuga Clan’s residence to see Hinata.

• Naruto packed his belongings and set out for the Konoha Gate, then remembered to tell Sakura and the others where he was going.
• Naruto told Sakura that Shihōin Naraku had assigned him to join Sasuke’s Search Team in the Land of Rivers, and Sakura gave him medical supplies and urged him to be careful.
• Naruto visited Iruka, explained his mission, and received a reminder to listen to Sasuke and an offer of Ichiraku Ramen when he returned.
• Naruto went to the Hyuga Clan’s residence to see Hinata, where a clan member welcomed him and led him inside.

Naruto left Konoha for the Land of Rivers to join Sasuke’s search for clues about the Ōtsutsuki Clan, carrying military rations Hinata had prepared for him. Sasuke received word of Naruto’s arrival and went to meet him while the Search Team continued investigating.

• Naruto told Hinata he was leaving on a mission and reassured her when she worried about Ōtsutsuki Isshiki.
• Hinata gave Naruto a pouch of homemade military rations, and he promised to return safely.
• Naruto left Konoha and ran north toward the Land of Rivers.
• Shihōin Naraku watched Naruto depart and sent orders to the Search Team by ninja hawk.
• Sasuke examined strange tracks, received Naraku’s message that Naruto was coming, and set off to meet him.

Sasuke met Naruto at the rendezvous point in the Land of Rivers and brought him back to the Search Team’s camp. Naruto’s arrival was warmly welcomed by the Jonin, and the team prepared to resume searching the ruins the next morning.

• Sasuke fired a signal flare and waited until Naruto arrived at the rendezvous point.
• Sasuke told Naruto that the team had found more clues near the ruins and might still uncover something useful.
• Sasuke brought Naruto to the camp, where the Jonin greeted him enthusiastically and recalled his actions during the Fourth Shinobi World War.
• Sasuke called off the search for the night and told everyone to rest before resuming in the morning.
• Naruto told Sasuke he was surprised that everyone remembered him, and Sasuke teased him about his memory.

Sasuke told Naruto about a newly discovered ruin with symbols resembling those in Kaguya Ōtsutsuki’s ruins, and Naruto agreed to inspect the area with him. The next morning they reached the damaged stone chamber, where Naruto began searching for anything the Analysis Team had missed.

• Sasuke showed Naruto a map and explained that a damaged ruin had been found about twenty li north of their camp.
• Sasuke said a Search Team member had accidentally broken a stone wall, revealing clues that might point to other nearby ruins.
• Naruto agreed to use Sage Mode to search the area and asked Sasuke whether they would find Ōtsutsuki Isshiki in the Shinobi World.
• The next morning, Sasuke and Naruto left camp and traveled to the stone chamber while the rest of the Search Team continued looking for possible ruins.
• Naruto inspected the chamber’s familiar carvings and spotted the hole left by the demolished wall, though Sasuke said the recovered items had already been taken to Konoha.

Naruto and Sasuke found no clues in the stone chamber and continued searching the Land of Rivers border. Naruto eventually detected a chakra signature beneath an area Huangyan had already searched, and the Search Team set out to investigate it.

• Naruto used Sage Mode to search the stone chamber, found nothing, and left with Sasuke.
• Naruto and Sasuke returned to camp and split up to recheck areas the Search Team had already searched.
• After two days of fruitless searching, Naruto detected a faint chakra signature and a large underground space about thirty to forty meters beneath the ground.
• Naruto fired the Search Team's signal flare, and Sasuke and the other Jonin gathered at the hill.
• Huangyan said his earlier Rock Release investigation had revealed only solid rock, but Naruto suggested that natural energy sensing might detect what ordinary chakra sensing could not.
• Sasuke led the Search Team toward the underground space, with Naruto eager to guide them.

Naruto and Sasuke led the search team to a concealed underground passage, which the jonin uncovered and cleared. The group entered the passage to investigate the vast base, unsure whether it belonged to Orochimaru, Obito, or someone connected to Ōtsutsuki Isshiki.

• Naruto located a hidden passage beneath a patch of bushes and directed the team to its blocked entrance.
• Huangyan used Earth Release to split open the ground, revealing the artificial stone passage below.
• Sasuke ordered the jonin to clear the rubble, and they opened more than ten meters of passage.
• Sasuke left Mikazuki and Tetsufune to guard the entrance while he, Naruto, Huangyan, and the other jonin went underground.
• As the team explored the passage, Naruto wondered whether Orochimaru or Obito had built the underground base.