Recaps

Aoki Tsuki led missions against smugglers and rogue groups, survived escalating clashes with Sunagakure and Iwagakure, and joined Lord Hanzō’s guard unit while Root maneuvered behind the scenes. The arc ended with Hanzō pursuing the Iron Fang Group after its mine trap killed many of Amegakure’s vanguard.

• Aoki Tsuki led his squad to kill Ogawa Kōhei and his guards, then returned to Amegakure and reported their success to Takenaka Osamu.
• Aoki Tsuki’s squad encountered Sunagakure forces at Chōkai Peak and later helped drive them back, while Aoki Tsuki told Satō Ichirō that some enemy fighters resembled Konoha operatives.
• Aoki Tsuki led his squad against the Araki Rōnin Organization, defeated Aburame Shinobu, and accepted an assignment to reinforce the daimyō’s guards in Kyoto.
• Aoki Tsuki fought off Iwagakure attackers at the daimyō’s residence, then recorded the factions seeking the daimyō’s support, including Yahiko, Nagato, and Konan’s Akatsuki.
• Aburame Ryoma recruited Aoki Tsuki to investigate the Iron Fang Group, and Aoki Tsuki and Mieko tracked Yotaka Squad to its base before Aoki captured and interrogated Ryōsuke.
• Aoki Tsuki brought evidence of the Iron Fang Group’s collusion with Iwagakure to Shinonome, who led the assault that killed Haibi and subdued the group’s members.
• Aoki Tsuki returned to Amegakure, joined Lord Hanzō’s guard unit, and trained while learning the village’s security arrangements.
• Hanzō led the vanguard into the Iron Fang Group’s hideout at Sumida Mine, where Aoki Tsuki and Kurokawa escaped the collapsing mine with captives as many Rain Ninja died, and Hanzō pursued Tetsuga’s group.

Aoki Tsuki played both sides as Hanzō and Danzo moved against Akatsuki, then helped Nagato and Konan take control of Amegakure. He became an adviser to the new regime and helped recruit Sasori, as Akatsuki prepared to challenge the Five Great Nations.

• Aoki Tsuki persuaded Hanzō to leave Akatsuki alone, then secretly supplied Yahiko’s group and warned them that Hanzō had noticed them.
• Danzo and Hanzō set a trap for Akatsuki, Yahiko died to save Nagato, and Nagato summoned the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path to drive off their attackers.
• Aoki Tsuki survived the massacre and later aided Konan and Nagato with intelligence, while Akatsuki regrouped under Nagato’s leadership as Pain.
• Aoki Tsuki and Konan defeated Kakuzu and recruited him into Akatsuki, then Aoki Tsuki traveled to Konoha and met with Danzo and the newly inaugurated Minato Namikaze.
• Aoki Tsuki declared his support for Akatsuki and guided Pain’s Six Paths through Amegakure, where Pain killed Hanzō and seized control of the village.
• Konan appointed Aoki Tsuki as an adviser, uncovered his double role as a liaison between Hanzō and Danzo, and later agreed to let him study Medical Ninjutsu.
• Aoki Tsuki helped Konan recruit Sasori after she defeated him at the Land of Wind border, and Sasori joined Akatsuki at its secret base.

Aoki Tsuki joined Akatsuki, helped secure Amegakure, and carried out missions that brought him into conflict with Konoha and Kirigakure. After aiding Pain in capturing Yagura and building an operation in the Land of Hot Water, he drew Kumogakure’s retaliation and had to halt the cult’s activities.

• Aoki Tsuki became captain of Amegakure’s guard, defeated Ran’on’s rebels, and secured the daimyo’s promise of funding for Pain’s new leadership.
• Aoki Tsuki failed to kill Ōnoki after Shisui Uchiha intervened, then joined Akatsuki as Azure Dragon and recruited Juzo Biwa.
• Aoki Tsuki won the Land of Iron’s swordsmanship tournament, found lightning-patterned steel on Thunder God Mountain, and discovered a sword that amplified his Lightning Release.
• Aoki Tsuki helped Sasori attack Shisui, learned about the Uchiha’s confinement, and agreed to spare the clan if he encountered its members.
• Aoki Tsuki signed Ibuse to a summoning contract, infiltrated the Jashin Cult, and helped make Hidan its successful vessel before recommending him to Akatsuki.
• Aoki Tsuki killed Miura Kawa during Akatsuki’s Kirigakure operation, then helped Juzo escape Fuguki as Pain’s Paths captured Yagura for Obito.
• Aoki Tsuki established an Akatsuki base in the Land of Hot Water and directed the cult’s missions, but Kumogakure destroyed its bases after cultists attacked Guardian Ninja and nobles.

Aoki Tsuki built his strength and influence within Akatsuki while uncovering leaks in its intelligence and clashing with Obito, Danzo, and Orochimaru’s schemes. The arc ended with Shisui and the Sunagakure squad fighting Sasori as Konan intervened and Shisui shielded them from her explosive paper swords.

• Aoki Tsuki returned to Amegakure after two years of growth, while Pain sensed his increased strength and Konan worried he might betray Akatsuki.
• Aoki Tsuki fought Chiriku at the Fire Temple, then received its Senjutsu and Gift of the Sages scrolls from Zōkai.
• Aoki Tsuki and Konan rescued Yurika and Karin from Kusagakure and brought them to Amegakure, where Konan arranged a home and work for them.
• Shisui delivered the Third Hokage’s letter to Hanzō and discovered that the elderly leader possessed purple, rippled eyes.
• Aoki Tsuki captured a White Zetsu Clone and fought Obito, who later warned Pain that Tsuki’s profile should remain low.
• Pain accepted Orochimaru into Akatsuki and assigned him to partner with Sasori, while Obito formed a secret partnership with Danzo.
• Aoki Tsuki uncovered Zetsu’s false intelligence and warned Konan, then investigated Sasori’s mission as Fuki’s Sunagakure squad moved to capture him.
• Sasori escaped Fuki’s ambush, and Shisui joined the Sunagakure squad against Sasori and Orochimaru before Konan’s explosive paper swords forced Shisui to protect them with Susanoo.