Recaps

Mukai subdued Shukaku, helped Sunagakure overthrow the Land of Wind’s daimyo, and strengthened the village’s defenses. As Sunagakure turned toward war with Amegakure, Sasori confronted Hanzo outside Moon Sake Town.

• Mukai left Moon Sake Town after suspending his cooperation with Yahiko, then developed construction machinery and prepared to enter Sunagakure’s Shukaku Trial.
• Mukai passed the trial’s tests, defeated Shukaku’s rampaging arm, and was pulled into Shukaku’s consciousness as a coup against the Third Kazekage erupted.
• The Fusa and Sasa clans murdered the Third Kazekage and seized Bunpuku, but Mukai subdued Shukaku and helped Chiyo and Rasa defeat the rebels.
• Mukai made Shukaku his summon, and Sunagakure’s Jonin backed Chiyo’s declaration of war against the Land of Wind’s daimyo and nobles.
• Mukai killed Kakuzu, broke the Daimyo’s castle defenses with Shukaku and Pakura, and helped Sunagakure take control of the Land of Wind.
• Mukai learned that Hanzo and Konoha’s Root had killed Yahiko and his companions, and that Amegakure had occupied Moon Sake Town.
• Hanzo led Amegakure forces toward Sunagakure, while Sasori confronted him in the Mountain God Mecha and deployed his puppets after the mecha’s electrical self-destruction killed dozens of Rain Ninja.

Mukai and his allies killed Hanzo, secured Amegakure, and helped Konoha resist attacks from three great villages while building an alliance with Tsunade. Mukai’s projects brought rain toward the Land of Wind as the war continued, and the stretch ended with Ōnoki preparing to strike Orochimaru and Manda with Dust Release.

• Mukai, Konan, and Sasori killed Hanzo with an escalating chain of Explosive Tags, then Mukai persuaded the Rain Ninja to surrender.
• Hiruzen learned that Iwagakure, Kumogakure, and Kirigakure were mobilizing against Konoha, and he sent Minato with Team Kakashi to bring Tsunade to Sunagakure.
• Mukai reunited Tsunade with the lingering obsessions of Dan Katō and Nawaki, and Tsunade stabilized Nagato before asking Orochimaru and Jiraiya to help him.
• Mukai, Tsunade, and Shisō fought the Third Raikage, and Mukai wounded him with the Hierarch Mecha’s laser as the Raikage fled.
• Minato and Pakura’s forces defeated Iwagakure’s assault, while Mukai opened a Ninja Academy and promised Rain Ninja students protection and instruction.
• Mukai, Konan, Shukaku, and Wind Release ninjas built waterways and guided rain clouds toward the Land of Wind, bringing rain to Sunagakure.
• Danzo’s assault on Kumogakure went badly as A and Killer B broke through Konoha’s forces, but Minato diverted Killer B’s Tailed Beast Bomb and helped secure a retreat.
• Orochimaru and Manda fought Iwagakure, bound Han with snakes and Explosive Tags, and watched Ōnoki appear above them to prepare Dust Release.

Mukai turned the war against Iwagakure by defeating the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist, recruiting Kisame, and leading a counterattack that forced Ōnoki to surrender. As the story left the Land of Rice Fields battlefield, Jiraiya, Orochimaru, and Tsunade reunited to face the Third Raikage, Killer B and Gyuki, and Matatabi.

• Orochimaru escaped Ōnoki’s attack and requested Konoha support, while Konan confessed her love to Mukai and they returned from their childhood cave.
• Mukai sent Sunagakure’s conditions to Konoha, negotiated access to the Scroll of Seals and clan exchange students, and unveiled his War God Mecha.
• Mukai rescued Might Guy from the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist, killed the swordsmen, and persuaded Kisame to join him.
• Mukai captured Isobu and returned to the Land of Wind, where he announced a counterattack to end the war.
• Mukai and his allies stopped Son Gokū and Ōnoki’s forces, captured the Four-Tails, and forced Ōnoki to surrender Iwagakure.
• Minato took Orochimaru to Jiraiha’s battlefield, where the Third Raikage and Yugito pressed Jiraiya until Tsunade arrived with reinforcements.
• Jiraiya, Orochimaru, and Tsunade reunited with their summons to fight the Third Raikage, Killer B and Gyuki, and Matatabi, and Tsunade struck the Raikage with a powerful punch.