Recaps

Ziyun led Kumogakure to defeat Konoha, collect concessions from the other villages, and recruit Orochimaru while expanding his influence. After orchestrating Minato’s apparent death during Obito’s attack, he left Konoha under Hiruzen’s rule and demanded Hinata Hyuga as tribute.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi released the Nine-Tails as Konoha’s last resort, but Mikoto took control of the beast and Kumogakure forced Konoha to surrender territory, the Scroll of Seals, and annual tribute.
• Madara Uchiha drew Sunagakure and Iwagakure into the war against Konoha, but Ziyun’s forces captured Rasa and secured payments and scrolls from both villages.
• Ziyun recruited Pakura and Orochimaru into Kumogakure, then made the Kage agree to protection payments at a summit in Konoha.
• Ziyun held Nagato for ransom, gained Madara Uchiha’s Six Paths knowledge and Yin-Yang Release, and confronted Obito to obtain Hashirama Cells.
• Ziyun arranged for Obito to attack Konoha on the day Minato’s wife gave birth, and Minato agreed to fake his death and leave Naruto in Konoha with half of the Nine-Tails sealed inside him.
• Minato defeated Obito and appeared to die while sealing the Nine-Tails, and Hiruzen found Naruto and resumed control of Konoha.
• Orochimaru demanded Hinata Hyuga for Kumogakure, and Danzo, Utatane Koharu, and Homura Mitokado pressured Hyuga Hiashi into agreeing to hand her over.

Ziyun’s Kumogakure exposed and defeated Konoha’s leadership, brought Tsunade to the Hokage seat, and expanded its control over Kirigakure. Naruto trained to confront the imprisoned Konoha F4, and their public battle began with Naruto holding his own against all four.

• Minato Namikaze helped Uchiha Fugaku evacuate the Uchiha Clan from Konoha, and Hozuki Mangetsu rescued Fugaku from the village’s forces before bringing the clan to Kumogakure.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi and Shimura Danzō allied with Obito Uchiha and used Impure World Reincarnation to summon Hashirama Senju and Tobirama Senju before declaring war on Kumogakure.
• Ziyun defeated Hashirama Senju in battle, captured Konoha’s leaders, and heard Minato Namikaze reveal the High Command’s persecution of Konoha’s clans.
• Hashirama Senju put the Konoha F4 on trial, stripped them of their positions, and sentenced them to life imprisonment, then named Jiraiya as his choice for Hokage.
• Ziyun pressured Konoha to elect Tsunade as Fifth Hokage, and the major clans supported her nomination as Hashirama Senju and Tobirama Senju departed.
• Ziyun sent Orochimaru to infiltrate the Akatsuki, learned Nagato intended to attack Kumogakure, and allowed Nagato to stand down after Konan persuaded him to abandon the plan.
• Naruto trained with Killer B and Minato Namikaze, mastered Nine-Tails Mode, Sage Mode, and the Rasengan, then challenged the imprisoned Konoha F4 to a fight.
• The Konoha F4 fought Naruto together in a public arena, but Naruto held them off, destroyed their coordinated attacks with Sage Art: Rasenshuriken, and took down Utatane Koharu with Frog Kata.