Recaps

Sōkyū Hatake escaped after killing Shimura Danzō and demanding the truth about his father, prompting Hiruzen Sarutobi to brand him a traitor and postpone the Hokage ceremony. In Iwagakure, Ōnoki considered offering Sōkyū Hatake an alliance.

• Sōkyū Hatake mocked Hiruzen Sarutobi, rejected his attempt to end the matter, and vanished using the Flying Thunder God Technique.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi declared Sōkyū Hatake an SSS-rank missing-nin, set a forty-million-yen bounty, and postponed the ceremony for a week.
• News of Sōkyū Hatake's return, defection, and killing of Shimura Danzō spread across the villages.
• Ōnoki discussed Sōkyū Hatake's return with Kitsuchi and asked what would happen if Iwagakure offered him an alliance.

Ōnoki considered inviting Sōkyū Hatake to join Iwagakure, despite their past conflict, and Sōkyū Hatake appeared in his office before the offer could be made. After traveling with Ōnoki and Kitsuchi to Ōnoki’s home, Sōkyū Hatake asked what Iwagakure could offer that he could not refuse.

• Ōnoki told Kitsuchi he wanted to recruit Sōkyū Hatake, and Kitsuchi doubted Sōkyū Hatake would accept because it could undermine Hatake Sakumo’s restored reputation.
• Sōkyū Hatake suddenly appeared in the Tsuchikage’s office and accepted Ōnoki’s invitation to have tea.
• Sōkyū Hatake used the Flying Thunder God Technique to take Ōnoki and Kitsuchi to Ōnoki’s living room, revealing that he had placed marks throughout Iwagakure.
• Ōnoki confirmed that he wanted Sōkyū Hatake to join Iwagakure, and Sōkyū Hatake asked what offer could persuade him.

Sōkyū Hatake proposed a trade partnership with Ōnoki and offered to prove his strength in a fight. After surviving Ōnoki’s Dust Release and teleporting behind him, Sōkyū pursued Ōnoki as the battle continued.

• Sōkyū proposed that Iwagakure cooperate in establishing a Financial City and grant it trading rights, promising Iwagakure a cut of transactions and pledging not to attack it.
• Sōkyū said he had given Hiruzen Sarutobi a week to meet his demands and implied that Hiruzen would otherwise be killed.
• Ōnoki challenged Sōkyū to a fight to test his claims, and Sōkyū transported Ōnoki and Kitsuchi to a desert in the Land of Wind.
• Ōnoki attacked Sōkyū with Dust Release, but Sōkyū’s chest regenerated after the attack punched through it.
• Sōkyū used the Flying Thunder God Technique to appear behind Ōnoki, who dodged with the Body Flicker Technique before Sōkyū appeared behind him again.

Sōkyū Hatake secured Ōnoki’s agreement for Iwagakure to cooperate with Rōran and revealed that their venture would be a fast delivery service called Tailwind Express. Ōnoki wondered whether Sōkyū Hatake planned to use a technique like Flying Thunder God to make deliveries.

• Sōkyū Hatake returned Ōnoki and Kitsuchi to Ōnoki’s living room after demonstrating his strength.
• Sōkyū Hatake told Ōnoki that Rōran, with the Queen’s approval, would cooperate with Iwagakure and offer it intelligence at a preferential rate.
• Ōnoki asked whether Sōkyū Hatake would work with other villages, and Sōkyū Hatake said Iwagakure was the first he had approached.
• Ōnoki and Sōkyū Hatake shook hands on a preliminary partnership.
• Sōkyū Hatake named their venture Tailwind Express and described its promise to deliver entrusted items as quickly and reliably as possible.
• Ōnoki wondered whether Sōkyū Hatake could use the Heavenly Transfer Technique or Flying Thunder God Technique to deliver items.

Sōkyū Hatake proposed connecting the Shinobi World’s main roads through the Ryūmyaku’s chakra, and Ōnoki agreed to pursue cooperation with him. After Sōkyū left, Ōnoki explained to Kitsuchi that Iwagakure’s benefits outweighed the risks of drawing the powerful rogue ninja’s attention.

• Sōkyū Hatake explained that he planned to connect the Shinobi World’s main roads to the Ryūmyaku’s chakra, allowing him to travel instantly using his Flying Thunder God marks.
• Ōnoki agreed to discuss and sign a cooperation agreement with Sōkyū Hatake, who left a marked piece of paper behind before vanishing.
• Kitsuchi questioned Ōnoki, who said the cooperation could benefit Iwagakure but might expose the village’s secrets to Sōkyū Hatake.
• Ōnoki told Kitsuchi that refusing Sōkyū could provoke him, and that Iwagakure might be unable to stop him from killing its leaders and escaping.
• Ōnoki said he would accept personal risk for the village’s benefit, including gaining access to intelligence on other villages.
• Ōnoki compared Sōkyū Hatake’s strength to Madara Uchiha’s and told Kitsuchi that the gap between them was like a child facing an adult at his peak.

Sōkyū Hatake returned to Rōran, reassured Rin Nohara about Kakashi Hatake, and reviewed his powerful abilities before checking in for Senzu Beans. Sara finished a meeting about Rōran’s surplus goods, and Sōkyū told her he had negotiated a partnership with Iwagakure and asked when she could go discuss it.

• Sōkyū Hatake returned to Rōran and told Rin Nohara that Konoha had probably branded him a rogue ninja, while reassuring her that Kakashi Hatake would be fine.
• Sōkyū Hatake reviewed his attributes, recognized that he had reached the Super Kage realm, and checked in at Rōran to receive three Senzu Beans.
• Sara returned from a meeting about the risks of Rōran’s growing inventory and was pleased to hear Sōkyū had negotiated a partnership with Iwagakure.
• Sōkyū Hatake asked Sara when she could travel to Iwagakure to discuss the partnership.

Sōkyū Hatake and Sara inspected Rōran’s Ryūmyaku network, which was already supplying chakra beneath the Five Great Nations. They left Mayuri Kurotsuchi engrossed in his research, and Sōkyū Hatake promised to find more talented researchers for Rōran.

• Sara agreed to accompany Sōkyū Hatake to discuss cooperation in a week, after some matters had been confirmed.
• Sara told Sōkyū Hatake that construction of the Ryūmyaku network was underway and would take about a month to span the Five Great Nations.
• Sōkyū Hatake and Sara visited the laboratory, where researchers reported that Ryūmyaku chakra already flowed beneath all five nations through sealed pipelines.
• Sōkyū Hatake asked Mayuri Kurotsuchi whether he had settled into his work, and Mayuri complained that his assistants could not keep up with him.
• Sōkyū Hatake promised Sara he would find more talented researchers, then looked out with her at Rōran’s citizens.

Sara and Sōkyū Hatake discussed Rōran’s future and the need to keep its research secret before going out for barbecue together. At the restaurant, Sara relaxed among her citizens as the two shared a meal.

• Sara asked Sōkyū Hatake whether Rōran would continue to develop, and he reassured her about the country’s prospects and Mayuri Kurotsuchi’s research.
• Sōkyū Hatake warned that Rōran’s research had to remain confidential, and Sara explained that she had restricted the movements of people involved and arranged protections for them.
• Sara invited Sōkyū Hatake to dinner and chose a barbecue restaurant on East Second Street.
• Sōkyū Hatake and Sara arrived at the Salahiyo Barbecue Restaurant, where they declined a private room and ordered several dishes.
• Sara and Sōkyū Hatake ate together, and the other customers gradually stopped treating them as a spectacle when Sara enjoyed her meal without formality.

After hearing that Sōkyū Hatake had defected, Kakashi Hatake struggled with grief and the conflict between family and loyalty. Sōkyū returned to the compound and reminded Kakashi that he had other watchers to worry about.

• Mitaraishi Anko asked Ayame whether Sōkū had really betrayed Konoha, and Ayame said she believed he had his reasons.
• Kakashi Hatake recalled Sōkyū Hatake’s plans and broke down, admitting he felt too weak to help; he had been ordered to watch for his brother and report him.
• Sōkyū Hatake returned, and Mitaraishi Anko and Ayame hurried to greet him.
• Sōkyū Hatake told Kakashi to leave the dark work to him and focus on restoring the Hatake Clan’s glory, joking that the clan once had nearly a hundred members.
• Kakashi Hatake admitted he could not signal Hiruzen Sarutobi because Sōkyū was his younger brother, and Sōkyū warned him that Hiruzen had placed more than one watcher nearby.

Sōkyū Hatake returned early to the Hatake Clan grounds, where Kakashi tried to protect him from Hiruzen Sarutobi. Hiruzen arrived with Konoha’s leaders and forces, confident that his spatial lockdown and preparations would let him capture Sōkyū and learn the source of his strength.

• Sōkyū revealed that he had hidden his arrival from the watchers around the Hatake Clan grounds with a genjutsu, and Kakashi urged him to leave.
• Sōkyū sensed Hiruzen watching through the Telescope Technique and predicted his arrival.
• Hiruzen appeared and accused Kakashi of disappointing him, while Sōkyū challenged his manipulation of Kakashi.
• Hiruzen arrived with Mitokado Homura, Utatane Koharu, Jiraiya, and the clan heads, declaring that Sōkyū could not leave.
• Hiruzen explained that his forces had sealed the grounds against spatial techniques and demanded Sōkyū surrender, intending to spare his life and uncover the source of his power.

Sōkyū Hatake rejected Hiruzen Sarutobi’s demand and unleashed his Conqueror’s Haki against the assembled Konoha forces. After he tricked Hiruzen into striking Mitokado Homura, Hiruzen called on Jiraiya and the Mount Myōboku sages to attack.

• Sōkyū Hatake sent Mitaraishi Anko, Ayame, and Kakashi into a room before facing Hiruzen Sarutobi and the assembled forces.
• Sōkyū Hatake unleashed Conqueror’s Haki, knocking out at least half the gathered ninja and leaving Hiruzen struggling to resist.
• Mitokado Homura claimed Sōkyū Hatake was bluffing, so Sōkyū appeared behind him with Lightning Strike and Hiruzen accidentally smashed Homura with the Adamantine Staff.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi called for a group attack, and Jiraiya entered Sage Mode with Sage Fukasaku and Sage Shima.

Sōkyū Hatake confronted Hiruzen Sarutobi and Konoha’s forces after his Space Release was sealed, revealing a powerful Sage Mode and summoning a gigantic Gundam. Hiruzen ordered Anbu to bomb the Hatake Clan Compound to force Sōkyū to stop, and Sōkyū challenged him to carry out the threat.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi demanded that Sōkyū Hatake surrender, but Sōkyū stepped forward to fight.
• Sōkyū summoned Pikachu and entered a powerful Sage Mode, prompting Sage Fukasaku and Sage Shima to warn Jiraiya.
• Jiraiya attacked Sōkyū with a Senjutsu Toad Oil Bullet, while Sōkyū called out the Konoha fighters for opposing him without understanding his motives.
• Sōkyū used Senjutsu: Infinite Thunder God and Ryūmyaku to create a towering, purple-gold Gundam.
• Hiruzen ordered Anbu to cover the Hatake Clan Compound with Explosive Tags and threatened to raze it, despite villagers remaining inside.
• Sōkyū accused Hiruzen of threatening him and dared him to blow something up.

Sōkyū Hatake defeated Jiraiya and the attacking ninja while protecting the Hatake Clan Compound. The Great Toad Sage appeared and told Jiraiya that his prophecy had changed.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi ordered the Anbu to bomb the Hatake Clan Compound, but Sōkyū Hatake revealed that he had protected it and the compound remained unscathed.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi ordered an attack, and Sōkyū Hatake used the Lightning Gundam to knock dozens of ninja unconscious.
• Jiraiya, Sage Fukasaku, and Sage Shima attacked with Senjutsu, but Sōkyū Hatake's Thunder God Demon Movement overwhelmed Jiraiya's Toad Oil Bullet and Ultra-Big Ball Rasengan.
• Sōkyū Hatake called out the watcher above, and the Great Toad Sage emerged from a spatial rift despite Hiruzen Sarutobi's sealing barrier.
• The Great Toad Sage told Jiraiya that his prophecy had changed, and Sōkyū Hatake recognized him as Gamamaru.

The Great Toad Sage revealed that Sōkyū Hatake’s appearance had obscured and altered the predetermined course of fate, but said the Toad Clan would not interfere. After taking Fukasaku and Shima away, he left Sōkyū and Hiruzen Sarutobi to resume their battle.

• The Great Toad Sage told Sōkyū Hatake that he had watched him because his appearance had obscured fate and changed its course.
• The Great Toad Sage said he had come to meet Sōkyū and take Fukasaku and Shima back to Mount Myōboku.
• Fukasaku and Shima obeyed the Great Toad Sage and departed with him, leaving Jiraiya without their support for Sage Mode.
• The Great Toad Sage vanished with Fukasaku and Shima through a spatial rift.
• Sōkyū Hatake challenged Hiruzen Sarutobi to resume their battle and readied Bakusaiga.

After Hiruzen Sarutobi surrendered to Sōkyū Hatake, Sōkyū relocated the Hatake Clan Compound out of Konoha and left the village. Hiruzen decided to resign as Hokage, while Konoha’s leaders and clan heads considered the consequences of losing Sōkyū.

• After Sōkyū Hatake killed a charging jōnin, Hiruzen Sarutobi agreed to surrender, and Jiraiya supported the decision.
• Sōkyū told Hiruzen to fulfill his conditions within a day, then used purple chakra to move the Hatake Clan Compound out of Konoha.
• Hiruzen regretted how he had handled the conflict and told Orochimaru he would resign as Hokage after settling Hatake Sakumo’s matter.
• Orochimaru warned that news of Konoha losing Sōkyū would soon reach other villages, while Mitokado Homura accepted that no one could stop him.
• Uchiha Fugaku and Hyuga Hiashi discussed how the upheaval affected their clans, and Minato Namikaze noted that Sōkyū’s departure could change the outside world’s plans.

Sōkyū Hatake cleared Hatake Sakumo’s name and brought Kakashi Hatake to Rōran, where he reunited Kakashi with Rin Nohara and Obito Uchiha. Kakashi’s guilt eased, while Sōkyū left to deal with the rivalry between Ayame, Mitaraishi Anko, and Sara.

• News spread that Hiruzen Sarutobi had admitted Konoha’s wrongdoing and cleared Hatake Sakumo’s name, while Sōkyū Hatake relocated the Hatake Clan to Rōran.
• Sōkyū Hatake told Kakashi Hatake that he had been behind the public vindication, then introduced him to Rin Nohara and Obito Uchiha.
• Kakashi Hatake learned that Rin Nohara and Obito Uchiha had both survived, and Sōkyū Hatake explained that he had saved Rin while someone else saved Obito.
• Kakashi Hatake let go of his guilt over Hatake Sakumo, Obito Uchiha, and Rin Nohara, then went to buy fish so he could make grilled fish for his friends.
• Rin Nohara explained that Ayame, Mitaraishi Anko, and Sara were competing for Sōkyū Hatake’s attention, and Sōkyū left to face the resulting trouble.

Sōkyū Hatake watched Mitaraishi Anko, Ayame, and Sara compete in a cooking contest before a report of ninja at Rōran’s border interrupted them. He recognized Ōnoki, who had arrived to discuss cooperation, and introduced him to Queen Sara.

• Mitaraishi Anko, Ayame, and Sara prepared dishes for Sōkyū Hatake to judge, and he sampled all three while trying to avoid taking sides.
• A Rōran soldier reported that a group of ninja had appeared in the kingdom’s territory, so Sōkyū Hatake, Sara, and Mitaraishi Anko went to investigate.
• Sōkyū Hatake recognized Ōnoki leading the group with Han and learned that Ōnoki had come to Rōran to discuss cooperation.
• Sōkyū Hatake introduced Ōnoki, the Third Tsuchikage of Iwagakure, to Queen Sara, and they exchanged greetings.

Ōnoki visited Rōran and discussed cooperation with Sōkyū Hatake, hoping to improve Iwagakure’s access to food and reduce import costs. After outlining potential savings through Rōran’s Tailwind, Sōkyū left the precise price for later negotiations and offered to show Ōnoki the laboratory.

• Ōnoki toured Rōran with Sara and expressed confidence in cooperating with Sōkyū Hatake.
• Ōnoki acknowledged Konoha’s strength and explained that Iwagakure needed fertile land because many citizens lacked enough food.
• Sōkyū and Ōnoki discussed how Rōran could help Iwagakure avoid high grain import duties and transportation costs.
• Over hot pot, Ōnoki asked what price Sōkyū would offer for the cooperation.
• Sōkyū said an assigned negotiator would discuss the price later, then invited Ōnoki to tour the laboratory.

Sōkyū Hatake showed Ōnoki Rōran’s advanced technology and arranged for Iwagakure to negotiate for Hirenkyaku Shoes. After touring the Technology Park, Ōnoki returned to his residence fearing that Rōran’s growth would eventually overwhelm the other powers.

• Sōkyū Hatake brought Ōnoki into the Research Laboratory, where Mayuri Kurotsuchi demonstrated Hirenkyaku Shoes that enabled fast aerial movement.
• Ōnoki asked whether the shoes could be mass-produced, and Sōkyū Hatake said scarce materials made production difficult while offering to negotiate a discounted deal.
• Mayuri Kurotsuchi showed Ōnoki and Sōkyū Hatake around the Technology Park, while Sōkyū Hatake kept the Ryūmyaku Eye secret.
• Kitsuchi asked Ōnoki how the visit had gone, and Ōnoki warned that Rōran’s technology could make it stronger than any rival power.
• Ōnoki concluded that Sōkyū Hatake’s plan to connect every nation could let Rōran surpass the other powers unless they could restrain him.

Ōnoki continued Iwagakure’s cooperation with Rōran, and a month later Sōkyū Hatake and Mayuri Kurotsuchi established and tested a teleportation site in Iwagakure. Orochimaru arrived to meet Mayuri, and the two scientists agreed to visit the laboratory together.

• Ōnoki told Kitsuchi that Iwagakure had to continue cooperating with Rōran, then sent him back to prepare and report their findings.
• A month later, Sōkyū Hatake brought Mayuri Kurotsuchi to the new Iwagakure shop, where Mayuri approved the location for a Teleportation Array.
• Mayuri Kurotsuchi and his clone connected the site to the Ryūmyaku chakra and concealed the energy fluctuations with a Sealing Barrier.
• Sōkyū Hatake and Mayuri Kurotsuchi successfully tested the teleportation system by transferring a bag of rice from Rōran to Iwagakure in five seconds.
• Orochimaru met Mayuri Kurotsuchi, and Mayuri invited him to visit the laboratory and try their research together.

Mayuri Kurotsuchi and Orochimaru began experimenting together while Sōkyū Hatake and Sara advanced Rōran’s partnership with Iwagakure. After Iwagakure’s Demolition Squad used Rōran’s Hirenkyaku Shoes to help kill the Third Raikage, the other villages turned their attention to Rōran, and Sunagakure moved to summon its leader.

• Mayuri Kurotsuchi and Orochimaru set aside Sōkyū Hatake and began conducting experiments together in the laboratory.
• Sara told Sōkyū Hatake that Rōran’s first shop had opened in Iwagakure, and he arranged for Iwagakure to receive an initial batch of one hundred Hirenkyaku Shoes after paying in advance.
• Iwagakure’s Demolition Squad used the shoes to attack the Third Raikage from the air until he died of exhaustion after two days and nights of fighting.
• The other villages learned that Rōran, not Iwagakure, had made the shoes and began investigating Rōran’s capabilities.
• Rasa ordered that Rōran’s leader be brought to Sunagakure for discussions about a partnership.

Rasa ordered Sunagakure to seize Rōran’s Hirenkyaku Shoes technology, despite reports that Sōkyū Hatake was nearby. Pakura led the force toward Rōran and grew suspicious of the unusually cheerful citizens as her troops prepared to enter.

• Rasa learned that Pakura had led a team toward Rōran and privately feared she was building military prestige to challenge him.
• Rasa ordered Sunagakure to bring back Rōran’s Hirenkyaku Shoes technology after learning it had strengthened Iwagakure.
• A Sunagakure Anbu reported that Sōkyū Hatake had been spotted near Rōran, but Rasa told the force to proceed with its mission.
• Pakura instructed her troops to control Rōran’s people without harming civilians and halted the advance after sensing they were being watched.
• Pakura questioned why Rōran’s citizens looked so happy despite the country’s weakness.

Sōkyū Hatake confronted Pakura and the Sunagakure shinobi who came to obtain information about Rōran’s Hirenkyaku Shoes. Pakura attacked him, but he easily stopped her and caught her in his arms.

• Pakura prepared to enter Rōran alone, but Sōkyū Hatake appeared and revealed that he belonged to Rōran.
• Sōkyū Hatake admitted that he had created the Hirenkyaku Shoes, and Pakura demanded the information as part of her mission.
• Pakura drew her sword and threatened to take the shoes by force, while the Sunagakure shinobi backed away from Sōkyū Hatake.
• Pakura struck Sōkyū Hatake with her sword, but it failed to hurt him.
• Sōkyū Hatake vanished, pulled Pakura backward, and caught her in his arms.

Sōkyū Hatake captured Pakura and brought her to Rōran, where he argued that Sunagakure and Rasa had no future for her. Pakura remained wary as Sōkyū Hatake tried to persuade her to leave her village.

• Sōkyū Hatake held Pakura and used Conqueror's Haki to force the Sunagakure ninja to stand down.
• Pakura ordered her deputy and the Sunagakure ninja to retreat after Sōkyū Hatake told them to report to Rasa that he was keeping her.
• Sōkyū Hatake released Pakura and used Flying Thunder God to take her to Rōran.
• Sōkyū Hatake asked Pakura how she felt about staying in Sunagakure and suggested that Rasa had been suppressing her.
• Sōkyū Hatake told Pakura that Rasa would likely refuse to let her return after she had been captured, while Pakura questioned his reasoning.

Sōkyū Hatake kept Pakura in Rōran and believed Rasa would prevent her from returning to Sunagakure. After a report revealed that Rōran was Sōkyū Hatake’s territory, Rasa was left stunned by the news of Pakura’s capture.

• Sōkyū Hatake told Pakura that Rōran needed talented people and predicted Rasa would brand her a rogue ninja, while allowing her to move freely within Rōran.
• Sara welcomed Pakura, and Mitaraishi Anko and Ayame introduced themselves as Sōkyū Hatake’s girlfriends before taking Pakura to look around.
• Sara teased Sōkyū Hatake about comics featuring him and Pakura, while he wondered whether more girls were gathering around him.
• A Sunagakure Anbu member reported Pakura’s capture to Rasa and said Sōkyū Hatake had claimed Rōran as his territory.