Recaps

Lin Ze secured the Ryūmyaku, defeated Sasori, and developed a method to remove Danzo’s cursed seals. He freed Nonō from her seal and began arranging for the orphanage family to leave Konoha, while launching a campaign against Orochimaru’s bases.

• Lin Ze bought the Ryūmyaku from Sara, transferred it into the shell containing the Sea Dragon Jade, and absorbed its power.
• Lin Ze fought Sasori, destroyed his puppet army, sealed the Third Kazekage Puppet, and forced Sasori to flee.
• Lin Ze studied Lightning Release Chakra Mode and sealing techniques, then accepted Hiruzen Sarutobi’s mission to find Tsunade and persuaded her to acknowledge the Hokage’s order while refusing to return.
• Lin Ze captured Root ninja, studied their cursed seals, and developed a method to remove them without triggering their self-destruction.
• Lin Ze removed Nonō’s Cursed Tongue Eradication Seal, and they planned to leave Konoha with the orphanage family after the old director’s death.
• Lin Ze arranged for ninja cats to carry messages and help the group prepare to leave, while Rei Uesugi chose to remain in Konoha.
• Lin Ze sent shadow clones to locate Orochimaru’s bases in the Land of Rice Fields, then attacked the facilities and infiltrated one himself.

Lin Ze extracted Nonō and the others from Konoha, then returned to the front and fought off Kumogakure’s decisive assault with a spectacular stand against the Third Raikage and Killer B. The battle made him famous as the Konoha Azure Dragon, while Orochimaru’s suspicions and Madara’s plans remained unresolved.

• Lin Ze looted and destroyed Orochimaru’s five Land of Rice Fields bases, then spread rumors about Orochimaru’s experiments and First Hokage cell research.
• Lin Ze freed Nonō from Root surveillance and brought her to Ascension Island, where she reunited with Kabuto and Miyamoto Ichirō.
• Lin Ze learned that Qingtian had told Asuma about their partnership, then left for the northeastern front and fought beside Minato Namikaze against the Third Raikage.
• After learning Yumi and Ayumi were headed to the medical company, Lin Ze staged an attack and abducted them with other medical ninja, bringing the group to Ascension Island.
• Kumogakure launched a massive assault, and Lin Ze combined his Azure Dragon abilities, the Sixth Gate, and Lightning Release Chakra Mode to face the Third Raikage while Killer B attacked with a Tailed Beast Bomb.
• Lin Ze summoned Qingtian’s pillar and countered the Raikage’s Two-Finger Nukite as his clones weakened the Tailed Beast Bomb, forcing Kumogakure to retreat and earning him the name Konoha Azure Dragon.
• While recovering from petrification, Lin Ze repelled Orochimaru’s surprise attack, and Orochimaru later received orders to return to the main battlefield.
• Tobi reported Lin Ze’s victory to Madara, who dismissed him as a threat and told Tobi to keep Obito on the path of his plan.

Lin Ze defeated Danzo’s Root squad, captured Kitsuchi, and became a target of Madara Uchiha as the war with Iwagakure reignited. Back in Konoha, he accepted Ryūchi Cave’s representative, renewed his bond with Kurenai, and helped Might Duy and Might Guy develop ideas for the Eight Gates.

• Tagorihime reported Lin Ze’s feats and awakened dragon bloodline to the White Snake Sage, who sent Tagitsuhime to offer him Ryūchi Cave’s senjutsu knowledge, while Hiruzen Sarutobi and Danzo debated Lin Ze’s power and suspected actions.
• Danzo learned Miyamoto Ichirō and Kabuto had vanished, then led Root ninja to confront Lin Ze, who learned Yumi and Ayumi had been abducted and prepared to return to Konoha.
• Lin Ze ambushed Danzo’s Root squad, killed several operatives, and injured Danzo with Thunder-Bagua, then returned to Konoha and secured Hiruzen Sarutobi’s permission to search the Land of Earth for Yumi and Ayumi.
• After two months without finding Yumi and Ayumi, Lin Ze joined Jiraiya’s front, tracked down Kitsuchi, killed his four jōnin companions, and captured him alive.
• Madara Uchiha attacked the Konoha stronghold with Perfect Susanoo, killed more than thirty ninja, and rescued Kitsuchi, prompting Iwagakure to abandon its ceasefire agreement.
• Ōnoki led Iwagakure against Konoha, where Jiraiya and Orochimaru coordinated to counter his Dust Release while Lin Ze fought Kitsuchi and let him retreat.
• Lin Ze returned to Konoha to study at the ANBU Ninjutsu Library and allowed Tagitsuhime to accompany him, while Hiruzen Sarutobi permitted her to stay under Konoha’s rules.
• Kurenai Yuhi asked Lin Ze to take her with him someday when he traveled beyond the Shinobi World, and they sealed the promise with a pinky swear.
• Lin Ze studied ninjutsu scrolls and discussed Eight Gates techniques with Might Duy and Might Guy, suggesting Daytime Tiger, Evening Elephant, and Night Guy.

Lin Ze mastered the Seventh Gate, fought Kakuzu and Ōnoki, and used the war’s aftermath to investigate Orochimaru and undermine his chances of becoming Hokage. The arc ends as Hiruzen gathers Konoha’s leaders to discuss his successor and Danzō announces his own candidacy.

• Lin Ze opened the Seventh Gate and learned Morning Peacock and Daytime Tiger from Might Duy, then joined the eastern front and promised Uchiha Onibi he would look after Ryota.
• Lin Ze returned to Ascension Island to oversee the cloning project, then defeated Kakuzu’s hearts in battle but let him escape so he could later join Akatsuki.
• Lin Ze witnessed Yagura kill the Third Mizukage and escape Kisame, then reported Kirigakure’s upheaval to Hiruzen and joined Jiraiya against Ōnoki.
• Lin Ze shielded Konoha ninja from Ōnoki’s Dust Release, helping force Iwagakure’s retreat, and returned to Konoha with a strengthened reputation.
• Lin Ze spread damaging rumors about Orochimaru and searched his bases, discovering that Living Corpse Reincarnation had been completed and destroying one laboratory.
• Lin Ze copied data on Hashirama cell experiments and arranged for it to circulate, planning to turn Danzō and Hiruzen against Orochimaru.
• Hiruzen convened Konoha’s leaders to discuss the next Hokage, as Minato gained support and Danzō announced his candidacy.