Recaps

After killing the Fourth Raikage, A, Sōkyū Hatake installed Kakashi Hatake and Pakura as the leaders of Kumogakure and Sunagakure, then tied their villages and the wider world to Rōran through aid and technology. The Rōran Accords launched a global economic system, and Sōkyū turned his attention to shaping culture and thought.

• Sōkyū Hatake absorbed the Thunder Giants’ lightning, defeated the Fourth Raikage, A, and killed him after declaring that he sought to control the world.
• Sōkyū Hatake installed Kakashi Hatake as the Fifth Raikage, subdued Kumogakure’s elders, and brought the other Kage into a summit where they agreed to pursue peace.
• Sōkyū Hatake killed Rasa and named Pakura the Fifth Kazekage, then secured Chiyo and Ebizo’s acceptance by offering Rōran’s economic support.
• Pakura faced Sunagakure’s severe debts and signed Sōkyū Hatake’s aid agreements, giving Rōran commercial and institutional influence in exchange for funds and development projects.
• Rōran’s technology and support spread across the nations, while Sōkyū Hatake dismissed growing dependence and dissent as he considered ways to make the world more interesting.
• After a hot-spring trip with Sara, Ayame, and Anko, Sōkyū Hatake ordered the second phase of his economic initiative and invited the nations to a summit.
• Sōkyū Hatake secured the Rōran Accords, assigned new research and policy work to his allies, and decided that culture and thought would be his next focus.

Sōkyū Hatake defeated Momoshiki and Kinshiki, then used Rōran’s resources and intelligence network to prepare for further Ōtsutsuki threats. He captured Urashiki and left Orochimaru and Mayuri studying both prisoners as he turned his attention to Isshiki.

• Momoshiki and Kinshiki attacked Iwagakure, and Sōkyū prepared Rōran for their arrival after receiving warnings from Tracing the Source.
• Sōkyū defeated Momoshiki and Kinshiki, captured Momoshiki, and sent him to Orochimaru and Mayuri Kurotsuchi for study.
• Sōkyū offered Iwagakure reconstruction aid in exchange for conditions that placed its rebuilding, security, and resources under Rōran’s influence.
• Orochimaru and Mayuri decoded a star chart from Momoshiki’s blood, and Sōkyū ordered the information sealed and directed them to investigate other Ōtsutsuki.
• Sōkyū’s intelligence team traced Isshiki to a northern monastic stronghold and identified Urashiki’s attempts to scout tailed-beast chakra sources.
• Sōkyū used a Lightning Illusion Clone and spatial jamming traps to protect Shira and capture Urashiki after Urashiki repeatedly tried to escape.
• Orochimaru and Mayuri scanned Urashiki and studied his Fish Basket, using false promises to make him activate it before tightening his restraints.
• Sōkyū declared Isshiki his next target while Momoshiki and Urashiki remained prisoners in Rōran’s laboratory.

Ōtsutsuki Isshiki infiltrated Rōran to reach Momoshiki Otsutsuki and Urashiki Otsutsuki, only to discover that Sōkyū Hatake had prepared for him. Their fight moved to a distant desert, where Hatake shattered Isshiki’s Root Source Gate and left him weakened.

• Ōtsutsuki Isshiki received Urashiki Otsutsuki’s message and traveled to Rōran to investigate Sōkyū Hatake’s research and seek a chance to rescue the captives.
• Ōtsutsuki Isshiki infiltrated Rōran’s underground laboratory and crossed its traps, then found Momoshiki Otsutsuki and Urashiki Otsutsuki restrained in containers.
• Orochimaru and Mayuri Kurotsuchi revealed that they had lured Ōtsutsuki Isshiki into a trap, but he broke through the laboratory defenses and freed the captives by destroying their containers.
• Ōtsutsuki Isshiki revealed that he had used the infiltration to draw Sōkyū Hatake out, and his chakra surge collapsed the laboratory around them.
• Sōkyū Hatake moved the battle to a remote desert, where he and Ōtsutsuki Isshiki exchanged attacks as Isshiki drew on the God Tree and transformed through Kāma’s Deep Resonance.
• Ōtsutsuki Isshiki opened the Root Source Gate to sever Sōkyū Hatake’s connection to the world’s physical laws, but Hatake shattered it with the Thunder God: Spear of the World.
• The Root Source Gate’s destruction weakened Ōtsutsuki Isshiki, and Sōkyū Hatake told him that this world’s laws would not allow outsiders to take root.