Recaps

Anyo endured Ryūchi Cave’s senjutsu and awakened Sage Mode, earning the White Snake Sage’s offer to become a guardian. He accepted and was sent away to avoid Orochimaru, who later realized Anyo had escaped him.

• Anyo used Ryūchi Cave’s scroll to guide the conflicting powers in his body and successfully activated Sage Mode.
• The White Snake Sage offered Anyo the position of Ryūchi Cave Guardian in exchange for standing against beings from beyond this world, and Anyo agreed.
• Anyo asked the White Snake Sage to send him away before Orochimaru could claim or study him, and she transported him to his chosen location.
• Orochimaru waited outside Ryūchi Cave for Anyo, then entered after half a day and learned that the White Snake Sage had sent him away.
• Orochimaru left Ryūchi Cave and admitted to himself that Anyo understood him well.

Anyo combined the natural energies of Mount Myōboku, Shikkotsu Forest, and Ryūchi Cave to create a new senjutsu and began using it to rebirth his body. His life signs nearly vanished during the process, and Katsuyu and his Wood Release Clone intervened to keep him alive as Hashirama estimated the rebirth would take at least ten years.

• Anyo's Wood Release Clone arrived at Shikkotsu Forest, where Anyo, Hashirama, Minato, and Katsuyu were gambling in Anyo's soul space.
• Minato proposed a new game, and Katsuyu suggested adding summoning beasts before Anyo sensed his clone's return.
• Anyo merged with the clone's memories and realized that Ryūchi Cave's Sage Mode completed his understanding of the three Sage Modes.
• Anyo rushed to his original body and entered the corrosive pool, combining all three kinds of senjutsu chakra to create a new senjutsu and attempt rebirth.
• Anyo's life signs weakened, so Katsuyu wrapped him in her smaller bodies while his Wood Release Clone entered the pool to help.
• Hashirama told Minato that Anyo's rebirth could take at least ten years.

Anyo and Minato watched Naruto in Konoha, where Anyo learned how lonely Naruto’s childhood had been. Anyo approached Naruto and Iruka at Hokage Rock, introduced himself as the author Kurotsuchi, and invited them to ramen.

• Naruto escaped the Chunin pursuing him after painting the Hokage statues, but Iruka caught him and brought him back to clean the paint.
• Anyo and Minato discussed Naruto’s lonely childhood and the cost of Anyo’s early transformation, which had left him blind and physically depleted.
• Anyo approached Naruto and Iruka at Hokage Rock and claimed he was Kurotsuchi, an author seeking inspiration.
• Naruto recognized Anyo’s book, Ōbu Ultraman, and asked him to sign his clothes.
• Anyo learned Naruto’s name, greeted Iruka, and offered to treat them both to ramen.

Anyo bonded with Naruto over ramen and left Little Bumblebee with him before arranging a book-printing deal with Niannian. When Minato reported that Naruto had been tricked into stealing the Scroll of Seals, Anyo revealed he had already sent a soul division and agreed to go see what happened.

• Anyo treated Naruto and Iruka to ramen, and Naruto explained that he wanted to become Hokage so the village would acknowledge him.
• Naruto asked to borrow Iruka’s forehead protector, but Iruka told him he had to pass the graduation exam first.
• Anyo discovered that his former home was now Naruto’s residence, gave Naruto Little Bumblebee, and disappeared.
• Anyo reunited with Niannian at the ninja tool shop and proposed printing books to sell for a share of the profits.
• Minato arrived to tell Anyo that a traitor had tricked Naruto into stealing the Scroll of Seals, and Anyo said he had already sent a soul division to investigate.

Anyo watched Naruto defeat Mizuki with the Multiple Shadow Clone Technique, then told Minato he would leave Konoha and eventually restore him to life. He traveled toward Sunagakure with Tenten as his escort, and their journey left them chatting about his writing and her family’s ninja tool business.

• Anyo and Minato watched Naruto hear Iruka’s words, use the Multiple Shadow Clone Technique, and beat Mizuki.
• Anyo reassured Minato that Naruto would be safe in Konoha and promised to reunite Minato with his body once Anyo recovered.
• Anyo asked Niannian to arrange transportation to Sunagakure, and Tenten volunteered to accompany him on the escort mission.
• Anyo and Tenten left Konoha by carriage, and Anyo revealed his face and introduced himself as Kurotsuchi.
• During the journey, Tenten learned that Kurotsuchi wrote books, and they discussed her family’s ninja tool shop and the Land of Crafts.

Anyo traveled with Tenten to Sunagakure and reunited with Sasori at his vast, mech-filled base. He discovered Sasori had advanced his puppet technology dramatically and had grown close to Tenten.

• Anyo and Tenten talked about her dream of becoming a powerful kunoichi like Tsunade, and Anyo recalled his past connection to Tsunade.
• Anyo visited the Aima Room casino, won a large amount of money, and left before the staff could draw him into high-stakes games.
• Anyo and Tenten traveled by camel toward Sunagakure, where Tenten sent a signal flare to announce their arrival.
• Blackarachnia flew Tenten and Anyo into Sunagakure, and Anyo was amazed by the mech's automated systems.
• Sasori met Anyo at his enormous mech-filled base and excitedly asked whether his body had fully recovered.
• Tenten revealed that Sasori brought her to the base every year to play, and Anyo was surprised by their closeness.

Anyo learned about Sasori’s base, his Akatsuki cover, and his plans to study senjutsu, then sent him to Ryūchi Cave. He reunited with Mabui, promised to make amends, and agreed to her requests.

• Sasori explained that he had seized and rebuilt the Land of Sky’s Angkor Fortress and described his undercover identity and history with the Akatsuki.
• Anyo gave Sasori three senjutsu scrolls and explained how natural energy related to the God Tree and the threat of outsiders.
• Sasori chose Ryūchi Cave senjutsu and used Anyo’s token to travel there.
• Anyo met Mabui outside the base, hugged her, and agreed to her requests for a break, a chance to have fun, and a raise.
• Mabui reminded Anyo that he had sweet-talked her before, and Anyo apologized and promised it would not happen again.

Anyo finished Mabui’s backlog of documents in half a day, then joined Mabui and Tenten for a ride across the desert and reflected on living in the present. Back at the office, Mabui discovered he had stamped every document without reading them, and Anyo argued that she should focus on the village’s overall direction rather than handle every issue herself.

• Anyo took Mabui’s piled-up office work so she could go have fun.
• After finishing the documents, Anyo joined Mabui and Tenten on their sand motorcycles in the desert.
• Anyo told Mabui and Tenten that he had stopped worrying about what came next and was enjoying the present.
• Mabui pounced on Anyo after he teased her about looking older, then sat back when Tenten pointed out how suggestive their position looked.
• Mabui returned to the office and found that Anyo had stamped all the documents without reading them.
• Anyo told Mabui to focus on the village’s overall direction and let lower-level officials resolve ordinary disputes.

Anyo settled into life in Sunagakure, where his illustrated Ōbu Ultraman became a hit and Sasori returned with senjutsu from Ryūchi Cave. After receiving documents about the Chunin Ninja Exams and Orochimaru’s Konoha Crush Plan, Anyo and Sasori considered whether to get involved.

• Anyo gave Tenten illustrations to arrange and publish, and the popular book kept her busy pressing him to make more.
• Sasori returned after learning senjutsu, revealing that the White Snake Sage had offered him immortality and a summoning contract, both of which he refused.
• Mabui delivered documents from Konoha and Otogakure, and Anyo recognized that Naruto’s class would soon take the Chunin Ninja Exams and that Orochimaru planned to attack Konoha.
• Sasori dismissed Orochimaru’s alliance offer, while Anyo reasoned that Orochimaru chiefly wanted Sasuke and hoped to provoke a wider conflict.
• When Anyo mentioned that Tenten would take the exams, Sasori changed his mind about staying out of the matter, and Anyo agreed they should go too.

Anyo arranged for Sunagakure’s Genin to travel to Konoha for the Chunin Ninja Exams while preparing to leave the Kazekage Puppet behind to guard the village. He sent Mabui to represent the Kazekage, and the group departed with Tenten, who learned that Konoha’s newly graduated Genin might also compete.

• The Third Kazekage announced that Sunagakure’s Chunin Ninja Exam team would be selected by Baki, while Anyo observed Gaara and learned about his insomnia and the proposed test involving Yashamaru.
• Baki selected thirty Genin and received the Kazekage’s approval to lead them to Konoha for the exams.
• Anyo left the Kazekage Puppet in Sunagakure to protect the Mechanical Corps Base and placed a trace of Soul Power inside it as an alarm.
• Anyo disguised Mabui as the Kazekage and set out for Konoha with her, Sasori, and Tenten.
• Tenten questioned why they were heading to Konoha, and Anyo told her that Konoha’s new graduates might take part in the exams and joked that the Konoha 12 would survive like cockroaches.

Anyo met Orochimaru on the way to Konoha and agreed to help with his plan, while warning Sasori not to kill him. After reaching Konoha, Anyo and his companions reunited with Tenten, and Hiruzen Sarutobi announced that the Chunin Ninja Exams would begin in seven days.

• Tenten realized they could use flying puppets, fell asleep in Sasori's arms, and Sasori placed her inside a Mecha Puppet.
• Anyo, Sasori, and Mabui encountered Orochimaru, Kimimaro, and Kabuto Yakushi, and Anyo revealed that he had returned and was working with Orochimaru.
• Anyo offered to ensure no one interfered with Orochimaru's duel against Hiruzen Sarutobi and said the One-Tail Jinchuriki would erupt inside Konoha.
• Sasori and Mabui urged Anyo to kill Orochimaru, but Anyo told them to restrain themselves and said Orochimaru could become a useful helper.
• Anyo and the others flew to Konoha, where Tenten woke at her family's Ninja Tools shop and joined them for Five Nations Kill after their Mahjong game.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi gathered Konoha's Jonin and announced that the Chunin Ninja Exams selection test would begin in seven days.

Anyo and Sasori prepared to enter the Chunin Ninja Exams alongside Minato, who received a mechanical body and disguise. At the exam venue, Sasori nearly attacked the guards after they struck Tenten, while Anyo told Minato about the Uchiha Clan’s destruction; the chapter ended with Rock Lee asking Sakura out and being rejected.

• Mabui questioned Anyo and Sasori’s plan to take the Chunin Ninja Exams, and Anyo gave her a Takigakure Forehead Protector to help conceal their identities.
• Sasori transferred Minato’s Soul Power into a mechanical Puppet, and Anyo gave the trio Forehead Protectors and carved masks.
• At the exam entrance, Kotetsu Hagane and Izumo Kamizuki knocked Rock Lee and Tenten down while pretending to discourage them from taking the exams.
• Sasori unleashed murderous intent against the guards, but Anyo stopped him before he could attack.
• Minato learned from Anyo that Sasuke was the Uchiha Clan’s sole survivor and regretted that he had not prevented the clan’s destruction.
• Rock Lee asked Sakura to go out with him, and Sakura firmly refused.

Anyo, Minato, and Sasori accompanied Team 7 to the Chunin Ninja Exams, where Rock Lee overwhelmed Sasuke before Might Guy intervened. After registering, they reached the first-stage written exam, where Anyo planned to use Sasori’s puppets to help Minato copy the answers.

• Rock Lee defeated Naruto and dominated Sasuke with taijutsu, even after Sasuke activated his two-tomoe Sharingan.
• A windmill interrupted Lee’s follow-up attack, and Might Guy arrived to take Lee away.
• Anyo proposed an alliance with Team 7 for the scroll competition, but Sasuke refused and declared he would defeat anyone in his way.
• After registering, Anyo and his companions watched Kabuto explain the exam to Konoha’s rookies, and Naruto provoked the assembled genin.
• Ibiki Morino began the written exam and warned that cheating would cost points, prompting Anyo to tell Minato that Sasori’s puppets could reproduce the answers for him.

Naruto passed the written exam by refusing to give in to Ibiki Morino’s pressure, and Anyo’s group entered the Forest of Death for the second stage. Anyo revealed that he was cooperating with Orochimaru and disclosed his wider influence to Minato, while Sasori left them with a protective scroll.

• Minato secretly copied answers during the written exam and worried that Naruto had not written anything.
• When Ibiki Morino announced the final question, Naruto refused to withdraw and declared he would become Hokage; Ibiki then passed everyone who remained.
• Anko led the candidates to the Forest of Death, where Anyo identified Orochimaru and told Minato that he wanted to speak with Sasuke.
• Anyo collected a Heaven Scroll and passed it to Sasori, who later gave Anyo a scroll that could withstand one attack from a Kage-level expert before leaving.
• Anyo showed Minato Otogakure’s document about Orochimaru’s plan to destroy Konoha and said he had already notified Jiraiya.
• When Minato asked about his ties to Sunagakure, Anyo said it lay within his sphere of influence and reaffirmed his intention to change the world.

Anyo spoke with Minato about changing the Shinobi World, then questioned Sasuke about the risks he would take to gain power and kill his brother. While observing the Chunin Exams, Anyo encountered Neji and asked to inspect his Caged Bird Seal.

• Minato pondered Anyo's ideals before rushing off when Anyo told him Naruto had been swallowed by a snake.
• Anyo agreed with Orochimaru to speak with Sasuke before Orochimaru continued testing him, after learning that Orochimaru's chosen flower was dying from a kekkei genkai disease.
• Anyo found Sasuke and Sakura hiding, asked Sasuke how far he would go for power, and heard Sasuke declare he would risk everything to kill his brother.
• Orochimaru began another trial against Sasuke as Anyo used the Spirit Transformation Technique to observe the Forest of Death.
• Anyo saw the Ino-Shika-Cho trio flee from Neji after Ino's Honey Trap failed to sway him.
• Anyo revealed himself to Neji and politely asked to examine his Caged Bird Seal.

Anyo defeated Neji’s attacks and offered to remove his Caged Bird Seal. After Anyo erased it, Neji broke down in relief, while Anyo was left exhausted and worried that his body would not recover before the final battle.

• Neji attacked Anyo with Gentle Fist, but Anyo dodged his strikes and stopped him with a blade against his forehead protector.
• Tenten identified Anyo and Sasori as friends, and Anyo offered to remove Neji’s Caged Bird Seal.
• Neji accepted Anyo’s offer after struggling to trust him, and Anyo used a powerful technique to erase the seal.
• Neji confirmed the mark was gone and released his pent-up emotions as Tenten watched over him.
• Anyo collapsed from exhaustion, and he reflected that his body had not recovered enough for battle.

Anyo and Sasori watched Neji’s team reunite with Rock Lee and encounter Sakura and the Sound Ninja during the Chunin Exams. After Sasuke’s cursed seal erupted and he attacked the Sound Ninja, Minato arrived with an Earth Scroll and discussed Naruto’s seal with Anyo.

• Neji thanked Anyo for helping him and joined Anyo and Sasori in searching for Rock Lee, while Anyo revealed he intended to cultivate Neji’s Byakugan.
• Neji’s team found Rock Lee injured beside the hollow tree where Sasuke and Naruto lay unconscious, as the Sound Ninja held Sakura captive.
• Sakura cut her hair and fought back against the Sound Ninja, but the new-generation Ino-Shika-Cho trio intervened and rescued her.
• Sasuke awakened under the influence of his cursed seal, crippled the Sound Ninja, and nearly killed them before Sakura stopped him and helped him regain control.
• Minato brought Anyo an Earth Scroll and explained that Orochimaru had placed a Five Elements Seal on Naruto; Anyo offered to remove it, but Minato said Naruto was not ready to master the Nine-Tails’ power.

Anyo’s group reached the exam tower, and Sasori manipulated the elimination-round draw to arrange their opponents. The matchups were announced, leaving Kankuro confident he could defeat the mysterious Blackarachnia despite Gaara’s warning not to underestimate the masked trio.

• Anyo gave Neji an extra scroll, and their six-person alliance reached the tower without incident.
• Anyo and Sasori discussed manipulating the matchups, while Anyo decided to enter the elimination rounds for fun.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi announced the elimination rounds after the remaining teams arrived, and Sasori secretly controlled the draw.
• The matchups were Bumblebee versus Naruto Uzumaki, Megatron versus Kiba Inuzuka, and Blackarachnia versus Kankuro.
• Temari doubted Blackarachnia was the famous Sand Puppeteer, Kankuro vowed to beat him, and Gaara warned him not to be careless.

Sasuke won his elimination match, and Kakashi sealed his Cursed Seal before confronting Orochimaru, who warned that Sasuke would seek him out. Anyo later learned Sasori had prepared a vast poison as a contingency for the Zero Organization, and Sasori entered the next match against Kankuro.

• Sasuke defeated his opponent with the Lion Combo despite his weakened condition.
• Kakashi sealed Sasuke's Cursed Seal, then faced Orochimaru and warned him to stay away from Sasuke.
• Orochimaru revealed his interest in Sasuke and disappeared, leaving Kakashi wondering where Anyo had gone.
• Anyo and Sasori discussed a reclusive insect researcher and Sasori's plan to develop a powerful poison as a contingency for the Zero Organization.
• Genma Shiranui announced Kankuro versus Blackarachnia, and Kankuro challenged Sasori as he entered the arena.

Sasori, disguised as Blackarachnia, defeated Kankuro in the Chunin Exams by using a tiny hornet puppet to counter Crow and take control of it. Kankuro recognized something about his opponent and demanded answers, but Gaara called him back, leaving the Sunagakure spectators watching Sasori closely.

• Tenten recognized Sasori, and Neji warned her to be careful around a ninja from another country.
• Kankuro attacked Sasori with Crow, but Sasori’s hornet puppet blocked its weapons and pierced its head.
• Sasori’s hornet severed Crow’s chakra threads and intercepted Kankuro’s blades and poison gas bombs.
• Kankuro launched Crow’s severed head in a surprise attack, but Sasori stopped it just short of Kankuro’s forehead.
• Genma Shiranui declared Blackarachnia the winner, and Kankuro demanded to know if he was Sasori before Gaara ordered him back.
• Baki watched Sasori intently as the Konoha spectators wondered why Kankuro had questioned Blackarachnia’s identity.

Sakura broke free of Ino’s mind technique, and their match ended in a draw. In the next match, Tenten revealed Sasori’s powerful armor after Temari’s wind attack struck her, and Temari surrendered.

• Kakashi told Naruto and Sakura that Sasori had stood motionless throughout his fight, and the next match was announced as Sakura versus Ino.
• Sakura forced Ino’s Mind Body Switch Technique out of her body, but both girls exhausted their chakra and fell, ending their match in a draw.
• Tenten launched her Twin Rising Dragons against Temari, but Temari countered her weapons and struck her with Ninja Art: Sickle Weasel.
• Sasori released a pulse of chakra, and a scroll transformed Tenten into an armored fighter with golden wings.
• Temari admitted defeat, and Genma Shiranui declared Tenten the winner.

Tenten struggled with Sasori’s intervention in her match until Anyo explained the grief behind his protectiveness, and she returned to thank him. Naruto then faced Bumblebee in a bell-snatching match, where the masked Ninja patiently tested and guided him as Kakashi began to recognize something familiar.

• Tenten left the arena upset that Sasori’s Puppet had made her victory feel unearned, and Anyo entered her Soul Space to explain why Sasori feared her being hurt.
• Tenten learned that Sasori’s parents had died on the Battlefield when he was young, then returned to the Training Ground and thanked him.
• Shikamaru defeated the female Ninja from Otogakure, and Naruto began his match against Bumblebee.
• Bumblebee tied a Bell to his waist and challenged Naruto to take it, then evaded Naruto’s attacks without striking back.
• Naruto used the Shadow Clone Technique to surround Bumblebee with eight clones, while Kakashi watched the masked Ninja’s movements and sensed that he was familiar.

Naruto fought Minato, unleashed the Nine-Tails’ chakra, and pushed their duel to a draw before Minato honored their agreed condition. The chapter ended with Naruto unconscious but holding Minato’s bell, making him the winner.

• Naruto used feints, clones, and the Naruto Barrage to attack Minato, but Minato evaded the finishing blow and defeated Naruto’s clones.
• Naruto used the Multiple Shadow Clone Technique and Harem Technique, but Minato countered with the Shuriken Shadow Clone Technique and struck him with a sealing attack.
• The Nine-Tails recognized Minato’s chakra and lent Naruto power, transforming him with an orange-red Chakra Cloak and allowing him to overwhelm Minato.
• Anyo entered Minato’s puppet as Naruto’s body neared its limit, and Minato used a wind-and-fire attack before both fighters’ final blows left them unconscious.
• Minato sat up and declared that Naruto had won because he had taken the bell, which Naruto still held in his left hand.

Anyo defeated Kiba Inuzuka by countering his and Akamaru’s attacks, then watched Neji Hyuga defeat Hinata Hyuga after Naruto encouraged her to keep fighting. Neji lost control after the match, and four jonin restrained him as Hinata was carried away with severe internal injuries.

• Anyo entered the arena and told Kiba Inuzuka that bringing Akamaru would leave him with almost no chance of winning.
• Kiba and Akamaru attacked Anyo with Fang Over Fang, but Anyo used sensory suppression, genjutsu, and Transformation Technique to deceive them and knock Kiba unconscious.
• Kurenai Yuhi asked Anyo whether they had met before, then watched as Hinata Hyuga faced Neji Hyuga in the next match.
• Neji pressured Hinata to give up, but Naruto urged her to believe in herself; Neji eventually won after Hinata repeatedly rose and continued fighting.
• Neji charged at Hinata in anger after she acknowledged his suffering, so Genma, Guy, Kakashi, and Kurenai Yuhi restrained him while a stretcher carried away the badly injured Hinata.

Rock Lee lost to Gaara after opening the Fifth Gate, and the elimination rounds ended with ten finalists selected. As the finalists received their matchups for the finals a month later, Anyo was caught in a genjutsu attack in Konoha.

• Rock Lee opened the Fifth Gate and used Reverse Lotus against Gaara, but Gaara's defense held and his sand crushed Rock Lee's hand and foot.
• Rock Lee stood again through muscle memory, and Might Guy rushed down to catch him; Anyo said only Tsunade might be able to heal his injuries.
• The remaining matches ended, and Sasuke, Naruto, Blackarachnia, Megatron, Shino, Shikamaru, Tenten, Neji, Gaara, and the no-name Sound Ninja advanced.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi announced that the finals would begin in one month, and the finalists drew matchups including Naruto versus Megatron and Sasuke versus Gaara.
• After parting from the others, Anyo walked through Konoha until a genjutsu altered his surroundings and trapped him inside a giant tree.