Recaps

Anyo discovered that the Third Kazekage’s Dragon Vein-powered body could pass for a living person and devised a plan to impersonate him, take control of Sunagakure, and establish a hidden Zero Organization base. After Minato arrived and delivered a transfer order sending Anyo to investigate Sunagakure, Anyo set off with Haku and Yugao.

• Anyo examined the Third Kazekage’s lifelike shell and realized its Dragon Vein Power gave it an enormous chakra supply.
• Anyo planned to use the Spirit Transformation Technique to impersonate the Third Kazekage and secretly gain control of Sunagakure for the Zero Organization.
• Minato arrived at the Kumogakure Battlefield, and Anyo told him about his fight with the Raikage and the Raikage’s formidable strength.
• Minato gave Anyo a transfer order to gather intelligence in Sunagakure, where Konoha suspected the village was preparing for another war.
• Anyo allowed up to two squad members to accompany him, and Haku and Yugao joined the mission while Shisui and Inoichi stayed behind.
• Anyo flew toward Sunagakure with Haku and Yugao aboard his eagle puppet.

Anyo sent Haku and Yugao to gather intelligence on Sunagakure while he headed to the Rōran Ruins to check on Sasori. He found Sasori still absorbing the Ryūmyaku’s power, and Sasori greeted him as Kurotsuchi, big brother.

• Anyo met Ying and the other Anbu, concluded Sunagakure might have wiped out Konoha’s outpost, and stayed behind to investigate.
• Anyo assigned Yugao to gather information from merchants and gave Haku Ying’s Mark so she could contact Gardenia in Amegakure.
• Anyo sent Haku and Yugao on their missions and rode his Eagle Puppet toward the Rōran Ruins.
• Anyo broke through the barrier around the ruins, where Mabui told him Sasori had remained at the Ryūmyaku seal.
• Anyo found Sasori absorbing the Ryūmyaku’s power, and Sasori greeted him as Kurotsuchi, big brother.

Anyo helped Sasori control and absorb the Dragon Vein Power, then explained his plan to impersonate the Third Kazekage and take control of Sunagakure. After a day of practice, the group prepared to enter the village with Mabui posing as the Queen of Rōran.

• Anyo sealed Sasori's chaotic Dragon Vein Power, allowing Sasori to absorb all of it safely.
• Anyo told Sasori and Mabui that he planned to use the Third Kazekage's body to control Sunagakure, then demonstrated the impersonation with the Soul Division Technique.
• Sasori taught Anyo the Third Kazekage's history and mannerisms, and Anyo practiced the role for a day.
• Sasori warned Anyo to watch out for Rasa, but Anyo said Rasa could be useful to the plan.
• Anyo gave Mabui an elegant ivory dress and told her to pose as the Queen of Rōran.

Anyo, controlling the Third Kazekage, returned to Sunagakure with Sasori and Mabui and gave the village leaders a fabricated account of their disappearance. After Mabui blamed Konoha and mourned Rōran, the Kazekage revealed his new Ryūmyaku power, leaving Sunagakure’s leaders confident in their strength.

• Anyo, controlling the Third Kazekage, arrived at Sunagakure’s gates with Sasori and Mabui, and the guards welcomed him back.
• Chiyo recognized Sasori and brought the returning group into the village for a meeting with Sunagakure’s senior leaders.
• The Third Kazekage introduced Mabui as the queen of Rōran, and Sasori claimed they had been trapped in the ruins during a battle involving a rogue Ninja and Konoha Ninja.
• Mabui pretended to grieve over Rōran’s destruction and accused Konoha Ninja of helping ruin the kingdom.
• The Third Kazekage activated the Ryūmyaku power he had absorbed and told the leaders that Sunagakure would no longer be at anyone’s mercy.

Anyo, controlling the Kazekage, learned that Sunagakure had allied with Iwagakure to attack Konoha and handed the next Kazekage armband to Rasa. He approved Operation Hurricane but stayed in the village, then ordered a 2,000-ninja force to be disguised as 5,000 with Sasori’s puppets before the attack in ten days.

• An official reported that Sunagakure had fewer than 5,000 ninja and had secretly joined Iwagakure’s Operation Hurricane against Konoha.
• The Kazekage named Rasa his successor and gave him the next Kazekage armband.
• Senior officials stopped the Kazekage from going to the front, so he assigned Rasa to lead the attack.
• The Kazekage ordered Sunagakure to send 2,000 ninja while claiming to have 5,000, using Sasori’s puppets to make up the numbers.
• The Kazekage ordered all ninja to help Sasori prepare the puppets for an attack on Konoha in ten days.

Anyo and Sasori planned to take the Kazekage position after Rasa’s death, while Yahiko and Nagato discussed Konan’s return to Amegakure. Konan reunited with Haku and revealed that Sunagakure was preparing for war.

• Anyo returned to Sunagakure and found Chiyo pressuring Sasori to stay close to her, but she left after Sasori asked for time alone.
• Anyo told Sasori they would wait before killing Rasa, then suggested Sasori could turn him into a puppet for his Magnet Release and gold dust.
• Nagato and Yahiko discussed Konan’s possible mission for Konoha, but Yahiko insisted she would never betray them and resolved to rebuild their bond.
• Konan met her new Anbu contact and recognized Haku; the sisters removed their masks and embraced.
• Haku told Konan that Anyo had gone to Sunagakure, and Konan reported that the village had recalled nearly all its mission teams in preparation for a major move.

Anyo and Sasori devised a way to control the Kazekage puppet by splitting Sasori’s soul and transferring part of it into the puppet. Sasori successfully took control, while Anyo left him to adjust to the new body and handle the Kazekage’s duties.

• Konan reunited with Yahiko and Nagato, who had cooked a meal for her, and the three ate together.
• Anyo and Sasori discussed how to remove the Kazekage puppet from Sunagakure without arousing suspicion.
• Sasori proposed that Anyo use the Soul Division Technique to split off part of his soul so it could control the Kazekage puppet.
• Anyo divided Sasori’s soul, and Sasori endured the pain before entering the Kazekage puppet and awakening its abilities.
• Anbu entered after sensing chakra, but Sasori intimidated them as the Kazekage and sent them away.
• Sasori told Anyo that controlling the puppet felt good but complained about the Kazekage’s paperwork, and Anyo began suggesting that a secretary handle it.

Anyo sent Yugao to deliver intelligence warning the Hokage that Iwagakure was Sunagakure’s real main force, then traveled with Haku to Amegakure. There he confronted Hanzo of the Salamander and defeated him decisively.

• Anyo praised Yugao’s intelligence work and explained that Sunagakure was feigning an attack while Iwagakure prepared to strike Konoha.
• Anyo gave Yugao two intelligence reports to deliver to the Hokage and stayed behind to pursue his plans in Amegakure.
• Anyo asked Haku whether she would help him despite the possibility of disrupting Konan’s life, and she agreed to accompany him.
• In Amegakure, Anyo used his Sharingan to make Rain Ninja lead him toward their headquarters before Hanzo of the Salamander intervened.
• Anyo broke Hanzo’s chain-sickle attack, escaped his Explosive Flame Formation, and placed the Unintentional Blade against Hanzo’s neck.

Anyo defeated Hanzō and invited him to join Zero, an organization seeking to reshape the shinobi world. Hanzō accepted after Anyo described Zero’s strength and hinted that the coming war would provide prisoners for recruitment.

• Hanzō claimed his poison had weakened Anyo, but Anyo showed no signs of poisoning and explained how he had countered Hanzō’s abilities.
• Anyo had Haku eliminate several Rain Ninja witnesses, then persuaded Hanzō to speak privately at his headquarters.
• Anyo invited Hanzō to join Zero, but Hanzō initially refused to give up his leadership of Amegakure for an unknown organization.
• Anyo challenged Hanzō’s resignation and described Zero’s growing membership, three secret bases, and three members who could defeat him.
• Hanzō agreed to join if Anyo could offer hope of change, and Anyo told him to preserve his strength and recruit isolated prisoners after the fighting began.

The Third Hokage learned that Operation Hurricane threatened Konoha with simultaneous attacks by Iwagakure and Sunagakure, so he entrusted the village to Tsunade and went to face Sunagakure’s forces. Eight days later, the assaults began, and Tsunade placed Konoha on its highest alert as the Third Shinobi World War intensified.

• The Third Hokage sent Ying to warn Jiraiya about Iwagakure and to give Minato a copy of the report so he could act independently.
• The Third Hokage visited Tsunade at the hospital, asked whether she wanted to be Hokage, and learned that she and Anyo had promised to be together.
• After showing Tsunade the Operation Hurricane report, the Third Hokage said he would lead Konoha’s forces at Kikyo Mountain against Sunagakure’s army of five thousand, and he refused Tsunade’s offer to join him.
• Eight days later, Iwagakure’s Tsuchikage attacked Konoha’s strongholds with ten thousand troops while Rasa led Sunagakure’s forces against Konoha’s border.
• Tsunade ordered Konoha’s ninja to their assigned positions and guided the villagers into shelters as the attacks began.

Sunagakure began its assault on Konoha’s defenses at Kikyo Mountain, using Chiyo’s vast puppet force to wear down the defenders. Anyo ambushed Rasa and Chiyo amid the fighting and ended the chapter with a deadly sword strike.

• Rasa ordered Sunagakure to attack Konoha’s stronghold after reaching Kikyo Mountain.
• Rasa spent three days preparing his forces before launching an assault with swarms of puppets controlled by Chiyo and her puppeteers.
• Konoha’s defenders signaled the attack and bombarded the advancing puppets with ninjutsu, but the puppet force kept pressing forward.
• Rasa asked Chiyo to increase the puppets’ speed and suggested that Sasori join the battle, but Chiyo refused to risk her grandson.
• Anyo burst from underground and trapped Rasa and Chiyo in darkness before attacking them with the Unintentional Blade.
• Anyo unleashed the Blade-Breaking Technique, and blood fell to the ground.

Anyo failed to kill Rasa and Chiyo during an assassination attempt, but his attack wounded them and helped prompt Sunagakure to pause its assault on Kikyo Mountain. After the fighting resumed as a full offensive, the Third Hokage and Anyo entered the battle and confronted Chiyo and Rasa.

• Anyo attacked Rasa and Chiyo, but Chiyo sacrificed a puppet arm to protect them, and Anyo escaped after wounding both.
• Anyo reported his failure to the Third Hokage, who learned Sunagakure had withdrawn and considered taking the offensive.
• After several days of calm, Sunagakure launched an all-out attack on Kikyo Mountain with its puppets and Sand ninja.
• Konoha and Sand ninja fought across the mountainside, trading deadly attacks and suffering casualties.
• The Third Hokage charged at Chiyo as Anyo attacked Rasa.

Rasa trapped the Konoha forces in a Sand Barrier and unleashed Shukaku of the Sand, turning the battle against them. After Shukaku went berserk, the Third Hokage ordered a retreat, leaving Rasa to consider how to control the tailed beast.

• Rasa summoned Shukaku of the Sand and had four Jonin raise a Sand Barrier around the battlefield.
• The Third Hokage fought Shukaku while Anyo suppressed Rasa, and Anyo realized the barrier rapidly restored the Sand Ninja's chakra.
• The Third Hokage and Enma struck Shukaku in the eye, provoking him into unleashing a powerful Wind Release that damaged the barrier and wounded fighters on both sides.
• Rasa threatened to seal Shukaku in the Antler Vessel, but Shukaku continued rampaging, and the Third Hokage ordered the Konoha forces to retreat.

Anyo persuaded the Third Hokage to abandon the Kikyo Mountain stronghold and draw Sunagakure into a battle at Konoha. Rasa’s forces reached the village gates, where Hyuga Hiashi rallied the defenders as Tsunade and Anyo prepared to support the fight.

• Anyo argued that Konoha should retreat from Kikyo Mountain and use the village’s streets to limit the effectiveness of Sunagakure’s puppets.
• The Third Hokage ordered all Konoha ninja and civilians at Kikyo Mountain to return to the village.
• Rasa discovered the retreat, crossed Kikyo Mountain, and led Sunagakure’s forces to Konoha’s gates within three days.
• Hyuga Hiashi rallied the Hyuga Clan and ordered them to assemble and charge the puppets.
• Tsunade questioned where Sunagakure had obtained so many puppets, while Anyo reassured her and agreed to help treat the wounded.

Sunagakure detonated poisoned puppets at Konoha’s gate and used Wind Release to drive the poison mist into the village. The Aburame Clan’s insects halted its advance, and Tsunade ordered Konoha to reinforce its defenses and take antidotes.

• Anyo judged that Sunagakure would lose because Konoha had the advantages of home ground and determined defenders.
• Rasa ordered Chiyo to trigger the puppets’ explosions despite Chiyo’s concerns about their position.
• The puppet blasts broke through the gate defenses, killing many Hyuga Clan members and releasing poison from the wreckage.
• Hyuga Hiashi warned that Sand ninja planned to blow the poison into Konoha, and Tsunade ordered Konoha’s Wind Release ninja to stop it.
• The Sand ninja’s Wind Release sent the purple poison mist toward the village, but Aburame Clan insects formed a black cloud that held it back.
• Tsunade ordered Konoha ninja to strengthen their defenses and take antidotes as Earth-Style Walls rose between the armies.

Konoha’s defenders stopped Chiyo’s poison mist with Aburame Antibody Bugs, but Sand Ninja broke through the village’s earthen wall and began fighting inside. Tsunade released her Yin Seal to heal Konoha’s wounded, while Rasa and Chiyo had yet to enter the battle.

• Chiyo destroyed more puppets to create poison mist, but the Aburame Clan sent out bugs that analyzed the poison and became immune to it.
• The Third Hokage explained the Antibody Bugs’ defense, then said he had set up a barrier and left command of the village to Tsunade.
• The Sand Ninja broke through the cracked earthen wall and poured into Konoha, where close-quarters fighting spread through the village.
• Tsunade ordered Katsuyu to heal the wounded, and Anyo warned that she would need her chakra to face Rasa and Chiyo.
• Tsunade released her Yin Seal and used the Strength of a Hundred Technique to supply enough chakra to heal the village.

Anyo stayed with Tsunade while his shadow clones went to defend the village, where Sand Ninja attacked the Uchiha grounds. Kushina Uzumaki rescued Uchiha Itachi and fought alongside Uchiha Mikoto, but Sunagakure's Anbu trapped them with a sand technique, leaving Kushina to call on the Nine-Tails, who refused to help.

• Anyo reassured Tsunade that his shadow clones had already gone to fight the Sand Ninja and stayed behind to protect her.
• Sand Ninja attacked the Uchiha Clan's grounds, where Uchiha Mikoto and Uchiha Itachi fought back until Jonin overwhelmed them with Earth and Wind Release attacks.
• Kushina Uzumaki rescued Uchiha Itachi from an Earth Release attack, and Itachi left the battle while Kushina and Mikoto continued fighting.
• Kushina Uzumaki, Uchiha Mikoto, and two Konoha Anbu fought off the Sand Ninja until Sunagakure's Anbu trapped them inside spinning sand.
• The Sand Ninja used Secret technique: Frenzied Sand Bone Devour to bury the trapped fighters, and Kushina Uzumaki called on the Nine-Tails, who refused to help.

Anyo’s shadow clones rescued Kushina Uzumaki, Mikoto, and Itachi, then helped defend the Ninja Academy against a vastly larger Sand Ninja force. After Shinku Yuhi withdrew with the young Konoha ninja, Anyo prepared to face the remaining enemy alone.

• Anyo’s clone cut through the Sand Ninja attacking Kushina Uzumaki and warned her for holding back, then set up a barrier to protect Mikoto and Itachi.
• Anyo’s other clone joined Shinku Yuhi, Kurenai Yuhi, Might Guy, Genma Shiranui, and the other defenders at the Ninja Academy, where they struggled against more than a hundred Sand Ninja.
• A Sand Ninja earth attack sent a mountain of stones toward the defenders, but Anyo’s arriving clone shattered the rocks with the Unintentional Blade.
• Shinku Yuhi told Anyo that only thirty Konoha ninja faced the enemy, including inexperienced genin, while many had already fallen.
• Anyo took the Supreme Edge, dispelled his other clone, and ordered Shinku Yuhi to withdraw with the survivors before facing the Sand Ninja alone.

Anyo used the Spirit Transformation Technique to help defeat Sand Ninja at the Ninja Academy as Konoha launched a counterattack against Sunagakure's puppeteers. Chiyo deployed the Ten Puppets of Chikamatsu to cover their retreat, but Sunagakure's puppeteer force was nearly wiped out.

• Anyo sent his Dark Soul to the Ninja Academy, where he and his Shadow Clone killed the attacking Sand Ninja.
• Hyuga Hiashi ordered the disguised Hyuga clansmen to strike, and they killed many of Chiyo's puppeteers.
• Chiyo ordered the Sand Ninja to support the puppeteers, but Konoha's major clans attacked and blocked their routes back.
• Chiyo summoned the Ten Puppets of Chikamatsu, which killed several Hyuga clansmen and forced the others to retreat under cover of smoke.
• Chiyo held back from further attacks for fear of hitting her own troops, and Sunagakure's puppeteer force was left nearly destroyed.

Rasa unleashed Shukaku, but the Third Hokage trapped the tailed beast with prepared Space-Time Barriers, and Rasa went after him. Anyo persuaded Chiyo to order a retreat, leaving Konoha victorious and mourning its fallen.

• Rasa summoned Shukaku, and the Third Hokage sealed him away with Space-Time Barriers.
• Rasa ordered a retreat and pursued the barrier’s location to find Shukaku.
• Anyo confronted Chiyo and revealed himself as Kurotsuchi, using Sasori’s puppet as proof of their connection.
• Anyo convinced Chiyo that defeat was certain and that continuing the battle would endanger Sunagakure and Sasori.
• Chiyo ordered the Sand Ninja to withdraw, and Konoha celebrated its victory before grieving its dead.

The Third Hokage defeated Shukaku and negotiated a ceasefire with Rasa, ending the battle for Konoha. After Tsunade was assigned to rebuild Kikyo Mountain, Anyo spent their last night together preparing her for the dangerous posting and saw her off the next morning.

• The Third Hokage overwhelmed Shukaku, then agreed to let Rasa retreat with him if Sunagakure abandoned its stronghold on Kikyo Mountain.
• Konoha and Sunagakure entered a ceasefire, and Konoha held a memorial for its fallen ninjas.
• Anyo visited White Fang’s grave, where Tsunade told him she was leaving to oversee the reconstruction of Kikyo Mountain.
• Anyo agreed to spend the night with Tsunade and prepared antidotes while warning her about Sunagakure’s poisons and the need to protect herself.
• Anyo and Tsunade shared a passionate night, and Anyo pretended to sleep until she had left the next morning.

Anyo visited Kurenai Yuhi after the war and found her training so intensely that her hands were bleeding. Asuma challenged Anyo over his treatment of Kurenai, and after she rejected Asuma and held Anyo’s hand, Anyo began to question whether he should let go of their relationship.

• Anyo went to Shinku’s home to treat his injuries but found no one there, so he headed to the Training Ground to look for Kurenai Yuhi.
• Anyo watched Kurenai Yuhi train with a shuriken until Asuma intervened and told her to stop because her hands were bleeding.
• Asuma accused Anyo of failing to care about Kurenai Yuhi, and Anyo knocked Asuma down with Lightning Release after Asuma swung at him.
• Asuma criticized Anyo for not knowing Kurenai Yuhi well or showing her enough care, and Anyo admitted he did not know why she liked him.
• Kurenai Yuhi defended Anyo, took his hand, and told Asuma she did not want to see him again; Asuma left in anger.
• Anyo reflected on Asuma’s accusations and wondered whether he should let go of Kurenai Yuhi.

Anyo reconciled with Kurenai Yuhi, then went to the Hokage Office to make sure Shinku received treatment for his injuries. There, Asuma argued with the Third Hokage and left Konoha, while Anyo confronted Danzo before departing with Shinku.

• Anyo healed Kurenai Yuhi's hand, and the two reaffirmed their affection with a kiss and a playful bite.
• After learning Shinku's whereabouts, Anyo found him working injured in the Hokage Office and prompted the Third Hokage to order him to take a week off.
• Asuma demanded battlefield missions from the Third Hokage, was slapped after shouting at him, and declared that he was leaving Konoha.
• The Third Hokage let Asuma go, and Anyo left the office with Shinku.
• Anyo challenged Danzo over Root's absence during the Konoha Defense War, then walked away after Shinku urged him to avoid escalating the confrontation.

Anyo learned from Shinku that Danzo was overseeing a secret experiment to recreate Wood Release using the First Hokage’s cells, and suspected Orochimaru was involved. After a day of treating Shinku, Anyo shared dinner and hidden liquor with him before Kurenai caught her father trying to get Anyo drunk.

• Anyo asked Shinku about Danzo, and Shinku explained that Danzo served as Konoha’s dark side under the Third Hokage’s control.
• Anyo hinted that he knew about an experiment, prompting Shinku to reveal that Danzo was researching Wood Release using the First Hokage’s cells.
• Anyo suspected Orochimaru knew about and might be directing Danzo’s research, while Shinku explained that Konoha hoped Wood Release could counter the tailed beasts.
• Anyo treated Shinku, prepared his medicine and dinner, and learned that Kurenai had gone to the training ground to practice.
• Shinku brought out his hidden liquor and poured Anyo a drink, but Kurenai returned and scolded him for secretly drinking and trying to lead Anyo astray.

After returning home from Shinku’s, Anyo trained Yugao and redirected Haku’s Ice Release toward battlefield support, helping her create a powerful freezing technique and Ice Armor. He began considering how Haku’s abilities could help him defeat the Third Raikage, while Haku remained disappointed that he misunderstood her feelings.

• Anyo returned home and learned that Haku had stayed safe during the Konoha Defense War by helping Yugao from the shadows.
• Anyo sparred with Yugao, praised her developing swordsmanship, and told her he would teach her new techniques after she gained battlefield experience.
• Anyo changed Haku’s training to focus on controlling Ice Release and using it to slow and weaken enemies rather than relying on direct attacks.
• Haku created Ice Release: Absolute Zero and froze Anyo, who broke free with flames; he recognized the technique’s combat potential.
• Anyo imagined combining Haku’s Ice Release with his Spirit Transformation Technique to counter the Third Raikage, and Haku later developed a powerful Ice Armor.
• Anyo asked Haku to show him where her clan had lived so they could improve her Ice Release, but she sighed because she thought he had misunderstood her feelings.