Recaps

Didaze sent Golden Tiger on Ōnoki’s mission to negotiate with Konoha, offering Sharingan as proof of Iwagakure’s sincerity. Hiruzen Sarutobi agreed to cooperate after Shimura Danzō eagerly accepted the Sharingan.

• Ōnoki gave Didaze a token and tasked him with arranging the mission through the Anbu.
• Didaze recruited Golden Tiger, explained that completing the mission could earn Ōnoki’s favor, and urged him to act quickly.
• Golden Tiger presented Hiruzen Sarutobi with a scroll containing ten pairs of Three-Tomoe Sharingan, fifteen pairs of two-tomoe, and thirty pairs of one-tomoe.
• Shimura Danzō declared that Konoha would cooperate and took the scroll, after which Hiruzen Sarutobi confirmed the agreement.

Hiruzen Sarutobi negotiated with Shimura Danzō over the Sharingan, while Ōnoki and his companions arrived at the Five Kage Summit in the Land of Iron. The summit opened with arguments over Iwagakure’s Tailed Beasts, and Hiruzen Sarutobi defended Ōnoki’s right to keep the Six-Tails.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi refused Shimura Danzō’s demand for half the Sharingan and gave him only one tenth after their argument.
• Ōnoki chose Kōdo and Didaze to accompany him to the Five Kage Summit, and Didaze flew them to the Land of Iron on a Giant Bird.
• Ōnoki, the Third Mizukage, the Third Kazekage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, and the Third Raikage arrived at the summit, where Kōdo recognized Orochimaru among Hiruzen Sarutobi’s escorts.
• The Third Mizukage demanded that Iwagakure return its Tailed Beasts, and Ōnoki confirmed that his village had four.
• Ōnoki offered to sell the Three-Tails to the Third Kazekage, but the Third Mizukage warned him against accepting.
• The Third Raikage asked Hiruzen Sarutobi for his view, and Hiruzen Sarutobi said Iwagakure should keep the Six-Tails.

The Five Kage argued over Iwagakure’s Tailed Beasts and Kirigakure’s Ninja Blades, with Ōnoki refusing to give up his gains. The summit ended with Kirigakure agreeing to pay for the Three-Tails but failing to recover its blades or the Six-Tails.

• The Third Mizukage pressed Ōnoki to return the Six-Tails or compensate Kirigakure, while the Third Raikage repeatedly slammed the table and Gaku told him to stop disrupting the summit.
• The Third Raikage proposed that Iwagakure hand over another Tailed Beast, and Ōnoki mocked him and rejected his demands.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi argued that Iwagakure should return the Three-Tails, and Ōnoki and the Third Mizukage traded insults before Ōnoki demanded one hundred million ryō for it.
• Yagura cooled the Third Mizukage’s anger, and the Mizukage agreed to pay two hundred million ryō for the Three-Tails and asked to buy three Ninja Blades.
• Ōnoki refused to sell or return the Ninja Blades, and Hiruzen Sarutobi backed Iwagakure’s decision as the Third Mizukage accepted recovering only one Tailed Beast.
• Gaku declared the second Five Kage Summit concluded after Ōnoki told Kirigakure to collect its Jinchūriki soon.

The Second Shinobi World War ended after the Five Kage Summit, and the villages returned to a brief peace. In Konoha, Hatake Sakumo discovered masked ninja abducting a child and resolved to stand against the village’s darkness.

• Didaze and Ōnoki left the summit, discussed Orochimaru’s escape, and planned for Didaze to train before leading Nanako Uzumaki’s Jonin team.
• The Kage departed the Land of Iron, Kirigakure agreed to pay a heavy ransom, and the Second Shinobi World War ended.
• The Third Kazekage praised Sasori to Granny Chiyo and considered him a future Kazekage.
• Jiraiya pestered Orochimaru about his return, while Kakashi told Hatake Sakumo he would surpass him as the Konoha White Fang.
• Hatake Sakumo worried that Hiruzen Sarutobi was targeting him, then heard a plea for help and found masked ninja carrying off an unconscious child.
• Hatake Sakumo killed the abductors and declared that Konoha’s darkness had surpassed its light.

Shimura Danzō halted Root’s recruitment after Hatake Sakumo confronted his men, while Iwagakure collected Kirigakure’s ransom and released the Three-Tails Jinchūriki. In the first half of Konoha Year 44, Nanako Uzumaki graduated and went to meet her Jonin instructor on the rooftop.

• Shimura Danzō ordered Root to stop recruiting and avoid clashing with Hatake Sakumo for the time being.
• Ōnoki accepted two hundred million ryō from Kirigakure and ordered Kōdo to take the Kirigakure Anbu to the prison to retrieve the Three-Tails Jinchūriki.
• Kōdo told Han that guarding the Three-Tails Jinchūriki had earned him an S-rank mission and a ten-million-ryō reward, then Han released the prisoner.
• Nanako Uzumaki and her classmates Reigyō and Watanabe Kawa were called last to meet their instructor on the rooftop.
• A long-haired, golden-haired man smiled as Nanako Uzumaki and the others approached.

Didaze took Watanabe Kawa, Reigyō, and Nanako Uzumaki as apprentices and brought them to the training ground for a test. He set their task as touching his shadow, leaving the three youngsters to face their first challenge under his instruction.

• Didaze explained that he had come to take apprentices and warned the three that his teaching would be strict.
• Watanabe Kawa, Reigyō, and Nanako Uzumaki introduced themselves and shared their ambitions.
• Didaze scolded Watanabe Kawa for reaching toward the Clay Giant Bird without checking whether it was dangerous.
• Didaze flew the three apprentices to the training ground on the Clay Giant Bird and gave them the task of touching his shadow.
• Didaze allowed the apprentices to use shuriken or kunai to touch his shadow and pass.

Didaze tested Watanabe Kawa, Reigyō, and Nanako Uzumaki in a half-hour battle, then accepted all three as his students after Kawa reached his shadow through a tunnel. The new Team One celebrated its formation with a feast.

• Didaze gave the three children half an hour to make him move, and Reigyō organized a coordinated attack plan.
• Watanabe Kawa and Reigyō combined fire and wind ninjutsu, while Nanako Uzumaki and Reigyō attacked with chains and lightning, but Didaze countered their techniques.
• Didaze exposed Kawa's shadow-clone feint as genjutsu and trapped him in an earth wall while Reigyō and Nanako grew exhausted.
• Kawa dug a tunnel for more than twenty minutes and emerged behind Didaze, touching his shadow and earning the group's passing result.
• Didaze accepted all three as his students, formed Team One with them, and took them to celebrate with a feast.

Didaze took his students on a D-rank cat-catching mission, while Jiraiya returned to Konoha and learned that Minato Namikaze had begun mastering Flying Thunder God. The chapter ended with Jiraiya challenging Minato to a sparring match to test his progress.

• Didaze chose a cat-catching mission for Watanabe Kawa, Reigyō, and Nanako Uzumaki, and the team caught the kitten after Nanako bound it with her Adamantine Sealing Chains.
• Didaze told the students they would keep doing D-rank missions, and the team began accepting them one after another.
• Jiraiya returned to Konoha and told Minato Namikaze that he had met Nagato, a boy with the Rinnegan whom he believed was the Child of Prophecy.
• Jiraiya asked Minato about his Flying Thunder God training, and Minato said he had only just gotten started, despite already being able to use the technique.
• Jiraiya challenged Minato to spar so he could assess his Flying Thunder God skills and offer pointers.

Jiraiya tested Minato Namikaze’s Flying Thunder God and learned that Minato believed he had only begun to explore its potential. As tensions around the Uchiha Clan grew, Uchiha Fugaku weighed the clan’s options while Tsunade confronted the Third Hokage over targeting them.

• Minato Namikaze used Flying Thunder God to land dozens of punches on Jiraiya, then explained that he still sensed untapped potential in the technique.
• Jiraiya and Minato Namikaze discussed the Uchiha Clan, and Jiraiya promised to ask the old man why it was being targeted.
• Uchiha Fugaku told the clan meeting that its choices were to wait for Tsunade’s help or defect, and rejected a hardliner’s proposal to attack Konoha.
• After the meeting, Uchiha Fugaku privately blamed the Hokage’s leadership for Konoha’s decline.
• Tsunade challenged the old man in the Hokage’s office over targeting the Uchiha Clan, and Jiraiya arrived as she spoke.

Tsunade and Jiraiya challenged Hiruzen over the targeting of the Uchiha Clan, but the clan’s reputation remained damaged despite Tsunade’s reassurance and Hiruzen’s public denial. In Iwagakure, Didaze prepared Team One for its first A-rank mission and asked Ōnoki to approve an escort job.

• Hiruzen privately suspected Danzō had sent Root members with the Sharingan after the Uchiha Clan, then ordered Anbu to bring Danzō to him.
• Jiraiya pulled Tsunade away from Hiruzen’s office and warned her not to cause more trouble; Tsunade later reassured the Uchiha Clan, but their reputation did not recover.
• Didaze remembered Nanako Uzumaki’s thirteenth birthday and gave her a small clay bear, while Watanabe Kawa learned that Didaze had known Nanako’s birthday since bringing her to Iwagakure.
• Didaze told Watanabe Kawa, Nanako, and Reigyō that Team One would take an A-rank mission to broaden their experience, and sent them to prepare for the next day.
• Didaze asked Ōnoki to approve an A-rank mission, and Ōnoki proposed guarding the daimyo of the Land of Birds during talks in the Land of Rivers.

Didaze and three young ninja accepted an A-rank mission to escort Ōwashi, the Land of Birds' daimyō, to the Land of Rivers. As Ōwashi set out, Hōki mistook the escort for an easy target and prepared to attack him and seize the Land of Birds.

• Didaze asked Reigyō, Watanabe Kawa, and Nanako Uzumaki whether they wanted to escort the Land of Birds' daimyō, and they agreed.
• Didaze told the youngsters that daimyō were rarely attacked and said he would watch their performance while intervening only if necessary.
• Didaze flew Steward Fuku and the three youngsters to the Land of Birds on a Clay Giant Bird, then concealed himself with Dustless Bewildering Cover.
• Ōwashi questioned the youngsters' ability to handle an A-rank mission but eagerly agreed to leave after Didaze revealed himself.
• Ōwashi set out by carriage for the Land of Rivers, while Hōki learned that the escort appeared to consist of only three children.
• Hōki decided to attack Ōwashi and take over the Land of Birds, believing the mission presented his chance to become daimyō.

Nanako Uzumaki, Watanabe Kawa, and Reigyō were ambushed by Hōki and nearly a hundred rogue ninjas while escorting the daimyo of the Land of Birds. Nanako replenished her teammates’ chakra and captured Hōki with her Adamantine Sealing Chains, leaving the battle ongoing.

• Hōki and his rogue ninjas ambushed the daimyo’s party, and Watanabe Kawa kicked Hōki before he could finish speaking.
• Watanabe Kawa and Reigyō combined Fire Style and Wind Release to destroy the attackers’ first volley of weapons and ninjutsu.
• Nanako Uzumaki protected the daimyo with Earth Release, then restored Watanabe Kawa and Reigyō’s chakra.
• Watanabe Kawa and Reigyō unleashed another combined attack that killed nearly half the rogue ninjas.
• Hōki charged at Nanako, but she trapped him in her Adamantine Sealing Chains.

Nanako Uzumaki captured Hōki and killed his rogue ninja, then the team escorted the daimyo of the Land of Birds safely to the Land of Rivers. The grateful daimyo rewarded the three youngsters with five million ryo and let them enjoy themselves while they waited.

• Nanako Uzumaki trapped Hōki with Adamantine Sealing Chains, sealed the rogue ninja inside an earthen wall, and killed them all.
• Nanako Uzumaki killed Hōki, and Watanabe Kawa burned his corpse while Reigyō comforted the frightened daimyo.
• After a day and night of travel, the team reached the Land of Rivers, where the daimyo of the Land of Birds praised the three youngsters and decided he would side with the Land of Earth if war came.
• The daimyo gave Steward Fuku five million ryo for the youngsters to spend, and Didaze appeared after Watanabe Kawa called for him.
• Didaze told the three youngsters to enjoy themselves but not delay the escort, and they ran off with Steward Fuku.

Kakuzu killed the Stealth Brothers and took their earth-affinity hearts to gain a powerful underground infiltration ability. Confident he could infiltrate Iwagakure, he accepted the bounty to retrieve the Jashin Statue.

• Kakuzu collected ten million ryō for turning in several heads at the bounty exchange.
• The Stealth Brothers offered to work with Kakuzu on the Jashin Statue mission and demonstrated their ability to burrow deep underground.
• Kakuzu agreed to work with them, then killed them with Tentacle Fist and took their earth-affinity hearts.
• Kakuzu replaced his original earth-affinity heart and discovered he could move through the earth as easily as on the surface.
• Kakuzu accepted the 300-million-ryō bounty to retrieve the Jashin Statue.

Kakuzu infiltrated Iwagakure to steal the Jashin Statue from Didaze's house, but Six-Tails fought him until Ōnoki arrived and drove him away. After Kakuzu escaped underground, Didaze learned where he was headed and prepared to intercept him.

• After returning to the Land of Birds, Watanabe Kawa and the other youngsters said they had enjoyed their mission, and Didaze urged them to carry the same attitude into future missions.
• Kakuzu used the Hiding Like a Mole Technique to search Iwagakure for several days, then broke into Didaze's house looking for the Jashin Statue.
• Six-Tails's miniature clone attacked Kakuzu, and Six-Tails transferred most of his chakra to the clone after learning it was under attack.
• Six-Tails grew to Kakuzu's size and fought him, while their battle wrecked Didaze's room and revealed the Jashin Statue when its scroll was corroded.
• Ōnoki attacked Kakuzu with Dust Release, destroying one of Kakuzu's hearts, and Kakuzu escaped underground as Ōnoki and Kōdo reached Didaze's house.
• Six-Tails told Didaze that Kakuzu had escaped, and Didaze decided to intercept him.

Didaze used Saiken’s chakra and a powerful Heavy Explosive Bomb to attack Kakuzu underground. Kakuzu survived by sacrificing two Earth Grudge Fears, then escaped, leaving Didaze convinced he had frightened him into avoiding another confrontation.

• Didaze and Nanako sensed Kakuzu moving underground, and Didaze sent his Shadow Clone to carry the three children high into the sky.
• Didaze infused a clay bomb with Saiken’s chakra and dropped the resulting Strong Acid Number 18, but Kakuzu burrowed deeper to escape the blast.
• Didaze threw a Heavy Explosive Bomb underground, badly damaging Kakuzu and forcing him to sacrifice two Earth Grudge Fears, including his earth-attribute heart.
• Didaze attacked Kakuzu with a Two-Winged Bird while preparing more bombs, but Kakuzu restored a heart from a scroll and fled underground.
• Didaze launched a Clay Giant Bird at Kakuzu, who sacrificed his wind-attribute Earth Grudge Fear and escaped at full speed.

Didaze returned to Iwagakure with the three young ninja after driving Kakuzu away and reported the encounter to Ōnoki. Ōnoki praised the mission’s success and awarded it S-rank status, leaving the three young ninja excited to spend their reward.

• Didaze flew back to Iwagakure with Watanabe Kawa, Reigyō, and Nanako, saying Kakuzu would be too afraid to trouble the village again soon.
• Didaze told Ōnoki that he had blasted Kakuzu out of the ground and severely wounded him, and Ōnoki celebrated Didaze’s new Clay Bomb technique.
• Ōnoki offered to arrange a new house for Didaze because Kakuzu had wrecked his home.
• Nanako reported that the team had escorted the Land of Birds’ daimyo and encountered wandering ninja along the way.
• Ōnoki praised the team, noted the Land of Birds’ strategic value against Sunagakure, and classified the mission as S-rank.
• After leaving Ōnoki’s office, the three young ninja cheered over the reward they would be able to spend.

Shimura Danzō orchestrated a rumor campaign that destroyed Hatake Sakumo’s reputation, while Tsunade and Jiraiya tried to support him. After Danzō forced a woman Sakumo had saved to publicly condemn him, Sakumo asked Tsunade to care for Kakashi and set out to kill Danzō.

• Hatake Sakumo returned to Konoha after failing a mission but rescuing his teammates, and reunited with Kakashi.
• Shimura Danzō ordered Root to spread rumors that Sakumo had betrayed the village, prompting villagers to accuse and harass him.
• Uchiha Fugaku blamed Danzō for the rumors, while Tsunade and Jiraiya visited Sakumo and promised to support him.
• Tsunade tried to disprove the rumors, but Sakumo continued facing abuse, and even his teammate and Kakashi questioned his actions.
• Shimura Danzō threatened the mother of a child Sakumo had saved and forced her to throw rotten vegetables at Sakumo.
• Sakumo asked Tsunade to look after Kakashi and said he was going to kill Shimura Danzō.

Hatake Sakumo stormed into the Shimura Clan compound to kill Shimura Danzō, cutting through the defenders and entering Root's base. He overwhelmed Danzō and severed his arm, continuing his relentless assault as the fight remained unresolved.

• Hatake Sakumo left a Shadow Clone with Tsunade to ask her to look after Kakashi, then rushed toward Root's base.
• Hatake Sakumo fought through the Shimura Clan compound, knocking its members unconscious and destroying their Ninjutsu with White Fang.
• Shimura Danzō ordered a Root member to alert Sarutobi, but Hatake Sakumo killed the messenger at the base entrance.
• Hatake Sakumo wounded Baku and trapped Shimura Danzō inside a shrinking prison of blade light.
• Shimura Danzō offered to support Hatake Sakumo as the Fourth Hokage, but Hatake Sakumo attacked and severed his arm.

Hatake Sakumo fought his way out of Root after Hiruzen arrived, then became Konoha’s S-rank missing-nin. In Sunagakure, the news drew Chiyo’s attention, stirred Sasori’s hatred, and encouraged the Third Kazekage to consider war against Konoha.

• Shimura Danzō forced Root members to attack Hatake Sakumo, who killed most of them and severed Danzō’s remaining hand.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi protected Danzō with Enma, but Hatake Sakumo escaped Root by cutting an opening through the ground.
• Konoha issued an S-rank missing-nin notice for Hatake Sakumo, and the news spread to other villages.
• Granny Chiyo showed Sasori the notice, but he remained withdrawn until she left, then spoke Sakumo’s name with killing intent.
• The Third Kazekage laughed at Konoha for driving Sakumo away and considered attacking once Sasori had grown stronger.

Didaze mastered the Splitting Technique and discovered that a clone could carry a split-off version of Saiken at full power. After reporting his success to Ōnoki, he learned Hatake Sakumo had defected, and Ōnoki warned him to prepare for the Third Shinobi World War.

• Ōnoki ordered Kōdo to prepare Iwagakure for war after hearing Hatake Sakumo had defected from Konoha.
• Didaze’s three students, Nanako Uzumaki, Reigyō, and Watanabe Kawa, had become independent Chunin who could fight together effectively.
• Didaze used the Splitting Technique to create a clone with half his own chakra and strength.
• Didaze had Saiken split off an individual into the clone, confirming that the tailed beast’s power remained undiminished.
• Didaze showed Ōnoki the technique and learned that Hatake Sakumo had defected after rumors spread about his failed mission.
• Ōnoki told Didaze to prepare for the Third Shinobi World War, which Didaze knew would begin in a year.

Madara Uchiha learned that Hatake Sakumo had fled Konoha and ordered Black Zetsu to bring him in for a meeting. After recovering his chakra, Hatake Sakumo agreed to go, and Madara prepared to test the strength of the other Konoha S-rank missing-nin.

• Black Zetsu and White Zetsu told Madara Uchiha that Hatake Sakumo had fled Konoha after the village condemned him for choosing his comrades over a mission.
• Madara Uchiha ordered Black Zetsu to bring Hatake Sakumo to him despite Black Zetsu warning that Madara was too weak to fight.
• Black Zetsu found Hatake Sakumo in the forest and invited him to meet Madara, but refused to reveal his lord's identity.
• Hatake Sakumo rested for three hours, recovered his chakra, and told White Zetsu to take him to the meeting.
• Madara Uchiha waited confidently for Hatake Sakumo, intending to judge whether he deserved his S-rank.

Hatake Sakumo tracked White Zetsu to a cave and fought Madara Uchiha, who used Susanoo to defeat and capture him. Sakumo woke bound beside Madara, with his chakra sealed.

• White Zetsu led Hatake Sakumo to a cave, where he discovered Madara Uchiha connected to the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path.
• Madara Uchiha sent out a chakra-filled clone, and Hatake Sakumo recognized him when the clone activated Susanoo.
• Hatake Sakumo attacked with Heavenly Abyss and Weeping Abyss, but Madara's Susanoo overwhelmed him.
• Black Zetsu struck the exhausted Hatake Sakumo unconscious and told Madara Uchiha that he had planted a Cursed Seal on Sakumo's heart.
• Madara Uchiha ordered Black Zetsu to bind Sakumo, and an hour later Sakumo woke with his chakra sealed and his body tied to a bed.

Madara Uchiha revealed his Infinite Tsukuyomi plan to Hatake Sakumo and forced him to serve as a pawn. In Konoha, Tsunade took Kakashi Hatake into her care, while in the Land of Wind Sasori betrayed the Third Kazekage with a sneak attack.

• Madara Uchiha told Hatake Sakumo that Infinite Tsukuyomi could give the world an illusory peace and ordered him to obey a future successor.
• Madara Uchiha revealed that he had planted a Cursed Seal in Hatake Sakumo and released him, warning him to return whenever summoned.
• Tsunade showed Kakashi Hatake his father's wanted notice and took him to live with her for his safety.
• In the Land of Wind, Sasori pretended to regret stealing the Scroll of Seals, then attacked the unsuspecting Third Kazekage.

Sasori killed the Third Kazekage and took his body, leaving Sunagakure to conceal his disappearance. As Iwagakure prepared for the coming war, Didaze recruited Roshi to join him on the Konoha front.

• Sasori poisoned and killed the Third Kazekage, stored his corpse in a sealing scroll, and vanished into the desert.
• Granny Chiyo learned the Third Kazekage was missing and ordered the news kept quiet.
• Didaze and Ōnoki discussed the coming war, and Ōnoki ordered Iwagakure's forces to prepare for separate fronts against Kumogakure and Konoha.
• Ōnoki assigned Didaze to command the Konoha front with Roshi, while other forces would face Kumogakure.
• Didaze invited Roshi to join him, and Roshi agreed before drinking with him until evening.