Recaps

Naoki Senju went alone to meet Orochimaru, who offered him a collection of Wood Release techniques in exchange for defeating him. Naoki immediately struck Orochimaru with a poisoned kunai, but Orochimaru survived using his signature substitution technique and counted the attack as Naoki’s first earned ninjutsu.

• Kabuto Yakushi summoned Naoki Senju to meet Orochimaru, but Naoki first alerted Tsunade and Shizune and warned Kabuto not to order him around.
• Tsunade told Naoki that Orochimaru was not as sinister as he seemed, though she advised caution, then she and Shizune followed him at a distance.
• Kabuto led Naoki to a mountain valley where Orochimaru had prepared a training ground and explained that Naoki’s name reminded him of Senju Nawaki.
• Orochimaru offered Naoki his collected Wood Release techniques on the condition that Naoki defeat him, with each successful kill earning one technique.
• Naoki pierced Orochimaru’s heart with a poisoned kunai, but Orochimaru shed his old body using the Orochimaru-Style Substitution Technique and awarded Naoki one ninjutsu.

Naoki Senju battled Orochimaru in the flooded training ground, using Water Release and Wood Release against Orochimaru’s snakes and unusual techniques. After Orochimaru struck him hard, Naoki struggled back to his feet and insisted on continuing.

• Orochimaru attacked Naoki Senju with Hidden Shadow Snake Hands, and Naoki countered with Water Release before flooding the training ground with Great Exploding Water Colliding Wave.
• Naoki trapped Orochimaru in a water sphere and cut him with Water Severing Wave, but Orochimaru survived by shedding his body and emerging from a giant snake.
• Orochimaru summoned a sea of snakes, drove Naoki from his footing, and bound him with Hidden Shadow Snake Limbs.
• Naoki used a Wood Clone to distract Orochimaru and hurled Wood Release: Cutting Sprigs, but Orochimaru escaped with an Earth Clone and attacked from behind.
• Orochimaru sent Naoki crashing through a tree and asked if he wanted to continue, and Naoki wiped blood from his mouth and said he did.

Naoki Senju used Wood Release clones, traps, and spiked wooden staffs to press Orochimaru, who drew the Kusanagi Sword and destroyed the staffs. Naoki then completed a Snake seal and unleashed Deep Forest Emergence, surrounding Orochimaru with rapidly growing trees.

• Naoki Senju created a Wood Clone and attacked Orochimaru alongside it, but Orochimaru threw the clone aside and evaded Naoki’s hidden Wood Release attack.
• Two Wood Clones fought Orochimaru recklessly, forcing him to destroy them with Multiple Hidden Shadow Snake Hands.
• Naoki Senju attacked with a spiked wooden staff that nearly pierced Orochimaru’s head, then used a Wood Locking Wall and two Wood Clones to launch another assault.
• Orochimaru summoned the Kusanagi Sword and cut through all three wooden staves, leaving Naoki Senju struggling to overcome his advantage.
• Naoki Senju completed a Snake seal and used Wood Release: Deep Forest Emergence, surrounding Orochimaru with rapidly growing branches, roots, and trunks.

Naoki Senju used Wood Release to overwhelm Orochimaru’s Triple Rashomon and capture him, impressing Tsunade and Shizune. Orochimaru escaped with a substitution, conceded Naoki had won, and gave him the promised Wood Release scroll.

• Orochimaru summoned Triple Rashomon to break free of Naoki Senju’s tree bindings, while Naoki nearly collapsed from chakra exhaustion.
• Naoki unleashed Deep Forest Emergence, which overwhelmed Orochimaru’s gates and bound him in a vast sea of trees.
• Tsunade caught the exhausted Naoki, and he brought the captured Orochimaru to her and Shizune.
• Orochimaru revealed that the bound figure was a substitute, reclaimed his Kusanagi Sword, and praised Naoki’s skill.
• Orochimaru conceded the contest and gave Naoki the Wood Release scroll, which Naoki accepted while calling him Aunt Snake and then Uncle Snake.

After the battle, Naoki Senju and the others cleaned up Orochimaru’s base, and Guren took the exhausted Naoki back to his room. When Naoki woke at sunset, he realized Guren had changed his clothes while he slept.

• Naoki Senju controlled and buried the aggressive trees while the Sound Four caught the escaped venomous snakes.
• Orochimaru ordered Guren to stay with Naoki, then invited Tsunade to his base to discuss cell division research.
• Guren carried Naoki on a Crystal Release dragon after refusing to carry him on her back, and they returned exhausted to the Wood Release courtyard.
• Naoki fell asleep without examining the Wood Release scroll, and Guren cleaned and changed his clothes while he slept.
• Naoki woke at sunset, found the scroll beside his pillow, and realized Guren was likely the one who had changed him.

Naoki Senju copied Orochimaru’s Wood Release scroll and spent the night learning its techniques to prepare for his conflict with Danzo and Root. Guren arrived to summon him, but became flustered and captivated after seeing him fresh from his bath.

• Naoki Senju copied the Wood Release scroll, including powerful techniques such as True Several Thousand Hands.
• Naoki Senju found Tsunade and Shizune absent, cooked dinner, and trained with the scroll through the night.
• Naoki Senju learned a third of the scroll’s more than thirty techniques before dawn and returned home to bathe.
• Guren appeared in Naoki Senju’s courtyard and ordered him to meet Orochimaru, prompting him to get dressed.
• Guren saw Naoki Senju after his bath, blushed, and became captivated by his white hair and appearance.

Naoki Senju hurried to Orochimaru’s secret research base after Guren told him Orochimaru had something important to discuss. There, Naoki saw the people held for experiments and heard Orochimaru explain their origins, then followed him upstairs to learn why he had been summoned.

• Guren told Naoki Senju that Orochimaru wanted to see him, and Naoki eagerly changed and went with her.
• Guren opened the hidden entrance to Orochimaru’s research base, but Naoki ordered her to enter with him and pulled her inside.
• Naoki Senju saw the vast underground facility and sensed that many people were being held in its cells.
• Orochimaru explained that the prisoners were citizens of the Land of Birds whom their daimyo had intended to sacrifice to cure his illness.
• Naoki Senju declined to discuss the prisoners further and walked toward the second floor with Guren, asking Orochimaru what he had summoned him for.

Naoki Senju joined Tsunade, Shizune, and Orochimaru in testing how his Wood Release chakra affected lobster cells, Hashirama cells, and Katsuyu's cells. The experiments showed that his chakra caused dramatic changes in the first two samples, and Orochimaru eagerly sought to advance his research with Naoki's help.

• Orochimaru led Naoki Senju and Guren to the sixth-floor laboratory, where Tsunade and Shizune were conducting their experiment.
• Naoki Senju reunited with Tsunade, and she showed him Petri dishes containing lobster cells, Hashirama's cells, and Katsuyu's cells.
• Naoki Senju injected Wood Release chakra into the three dishes, causing the lobster cells to form flesh-like buds that began turning woody.
• The Hashirama cells divided rapidly under Naoki Senju's chakra, releasing enough vitality to make a grass seed sprout and grow beyond its normal limit before withering.
• Orochimaru explained that Hashirama cells could divide into three hundred portions before becoming ordinary cells, but Wood Release chakra might break that limit.

Tsunade and Orochimaru studied Katsuyu cells and discussed research into immortality, while Naoki Senju redirected them toward understanding the cells rather than relying only on human experiments. After agreeing to help with the research and requesting Kabuto Yakushi as an assistant, Naoki brought Tsunade, Shizune, and Guren home, offering Guren a place among them.

• Tsunade and Orochimaru observed Katsuyu cells proliferating under Wood Release chakra and recorded their extensive division and eventual lignification.
• Naoki Senju urged Orochimaru to study how Katsuyu and lobster cells differed from human cells, and Orochimaru proposed conducting cell research alongside human experiments.
• Naoki agreed to participate in the research and requested Kabuto Yakushi, whom Orochimaru promised to bring while asking Naoki to spare his life.
• Naoki changed the subject when Tsunade noticed Guren, then persuaded Tsunade and Shizune to go home and rest.
• Naoki called for Guren to follow them, and Guren followed, moved by the warmth she saw between them.

Naoki Senju settled Guren into a new home, then turned away Kabuto Yakushi when he arrived to assist with research. Later, Naoki drank with Tsunade and Shizune, carried the two unconscious women to bed, and frightened Tonton by joking about eating her.

• Kabuto Yakushi arrived at the research base on Orochimaru's orders but found the laboratory empty and tidied it before leaving.
• Naoki Senju used Wood Release to expand the courtyard and gave Guren a wooden house as her new home.
• Kabuto Yakushi introduced himself at the courtyard gate, but Naoki Senju slammed it shut and called him a rat.
• Naoki Senju prepared Tsunade's favorite drinking dishes, and Tsunade made him and Shizune drink with her until all three were drunk.
• Naoki Senju carried Tsunade and Shizune to bed, then teased Tonton about eating her and sent her scurrying into a cabinet.

Naoki Senju gave Kabuto Yakushi research on cells while continuing his Wood Release training, but a spy's message exposed the hideout to Danzo. Danzo sent orders to Hanzō of Amegakure and Akatsuki, and Orochimaru told Tsunade and Naoki they had to relocate.

• Guren joined Naoki Senju, Tsunade, and Shizune for breakfast at the hideout.
• Kabuto Yakushi told Naoki Senju that Orochimaru was conducting experiments, and Naoki gave him Tsunade's report to guide his cell research.
• Naoki Senju continued to the mountaintop for Wood Release training as a letter left the hideout in the Land of Rice Fields.
• Danzo deciphered the message, learned that Orochimaru sheltered Tsunade and a Senju who had awakened Wood Release, and sent scrolls to Hanzō of Amegakure and Akatsuki.
• Orochimaru brought the tortured spy before Tsunade and Naoki Senju, revealed that the hideout had been exposed, and said they had to move.

Naoki Senju turned a Root ninja into a wooden carving with a newly developed Wood Release ability, then traveled with Orochimaru and the others toward a hidden base in the Land of Wind. After three days crossing the desert, Kabuto Yakushi spotted the ruins of Rōran ahead.

• Naoki Senju used Wood Release chakra to turn the Root ninja into a wooden carving after learning he had aided Danzo.
• Naoki Senju explained that the technique came from developing Wood Release chakra’s nature transformation, and Orochimaru urged the group to leave before Root could seize him.
• Orochimaru led Naoki Senju, Tsunade, Shizune, Guren, and Kabuto Yakushi toward his hidden base in the Land of Wind.
• Tsunade complained that the group had been lost in the desert for three days, while Orochimaru admitted they should be nearly there.
• Kabuto Yakushi pointed out a vast expanse of ruined buildings emerging through the sand.

Naoki Senju recognized that the desert ruins might be connected to Rōran and its mysterious Ryūmyaku, so he persuaded Tsunade’s group to investigate. At the city’s center, they found a vast fissure that Orochimaru suspected had not been caused by an earthquake.

• Orochimaru became absorbed in thoughts of immortality before noticing extensive ruins in the desert.
• Naoki Senju suspected the ruins might be Rōran and convinced Tsunade to head there to rest and investigate.
• Guren searched the ruins and reported that they had been abandoned for over a decade and seemingly destroyed from within by a powerful force.
• Naoki Senju took Tsunade’s hand and led the group, including Shizune and Tonton, to inspect the city center.
• Orochimaru examined a fissure several meters wide and asked Naoki Senju what might have caused it.

Naoki Senju and the others explored the vast destruction in Rōran and concluded that neither Earth Release nor a tailed beast could have caused it. Suspecting Orochimaru was pursuing the Ryūmyaku, Naoki left Tsunade to follow him and secure some initiative.

• Naoki Senju told Orochimaru that Rōran's vanished survivors and legendary power were known only through rumor, while Orochimaru questioned how he knew the name.
• The group followed the fissure to a nearly thousand-meter-wide pit, where Orochimaru said no Earth Release he knew could cause such destruction and the Five-Tails could not either.
• Tsunade, Orochimaru, and the others descended into the abyss and began searching for the source of Rōran's destruction.
• Naoki Senju noticed Orochimaru leave his group and head purposefully toward a particular spot, then told Tsunade he would follow him.
• Tsunade warned Naoki Senju about the danger and hugged him before letting him go; Naoki promised to return with good news.

Naoki Senju followed Orochimaru to a hidden sealing array in Rōran and learned that it contained the Ryūmyaku, sealed by the future Fourth Hokage. Unable to break the seal, they returned to Tsunade, while Naoki secretly marked the route and resolved to keep the Ryūmyaku’s power from Kabuto Yakushi.

• Naoki Senju pressed Orochimaru to explain the destruction of Rōran, and Orochimaru led him to an enormous sealing array.
• Orochimaru identified the array as a compound seal and said he could not undo it; he revealed that it contained the Ryūmyaku and had been made by the future Fourth Hokage.
• Orochimaru summoned a small white snake to mark the site, while Naoki secretly grew underground trees to mark the route for himself.
• Naoki Senju and Orochimaru returned to Tsunade and the others, and Naoki told Tsunade he would explain the discovery later, away from Kabuto Yakushi.

After reaching Orochimaru’s Land of Wind base, Naoki Senju suspected the Ryūmyaku had acted with some awareness and decided to seek advice from Katsuyu Sage. Tsunade agreed to take him to Shikkotsu Forest, while Orochimaru arranged for her to visit a nearby gambling town with Naoki.

• Kabuto Yakushi found the engraved marker for Orochimaru’s Land of Wind base, and Naoki Senju wondered whether the Ryūmyaku had caused the sandstorm and their discovery of it.
• Naoki Senju sensed that the Wood Release chakra he had left in the Ryūmyaku was gone and remained unable to understand its purpose.
• Naoki Senju hugged Tsunade and said he wanted to meet Katsuyu Sage, and Tsunade agreed because he was now strong enough to visit Shikkotsu Forest.
• Orochimaru watched Naoki Senju and Tsunade’s affectionate exchange without objection, while Kabuto Yakushi decided to strengthen his relationship with Naoki and advance his research on immortal cells.
• Orochimaru told Tsunade about gambling houses in a nearby town and insisted that Naoki accompany her, and Tsunade agreed.

Pain accepted Danzo's assassination mission against Orochimaru and Naoki Senju, deciding to use it to damage Konoha's reputation. He assigned Kakuzu and Itachi to hunt the targets, who were together under Orochimaru's protection, and left them waiting for intelligence on Orochimaru's whereabouts.

• Konan showed Pain Danzo's letters requesting the assassination of Orochimaru and Naoki Senju, and Pain chose to accept the mission.
• Pain gathered the Akatsuki's core members, and Kakuzu volunteered after recalling his failed mission against Hashirama Senju.
• Pain assigned Kakuzu and Itachi to kill Orochimaru and Naoki Senju, who were currently together, and told White and Boar to recruit new members.
• Kakuzu questioned Itachi about his time with Orochimaru, and Itachi used his Sharingan to trap Kakuzu in a brief genjutsu.
• Konan gave Kakuzu and Itachi information on Orochimaru's techniques and said his whereabouts would arrive in three days.

Naoki Senju signed the Shikkotsu Forest summoning contract and summoned an enormous Katsuyu, accidentally crushing the hideout’s furnishings and trapping himself and Tsunade together. After Tsunade introduced him to Katsuyu, the slug confirmed that the Katsuyu Sage wanted to see them.

• Tsunade showed Naoki Senju the Shikkotsu Forest Summoning Scroll, and Naoki signed it in blood and left his fingerprints.
• Naoki performed the Summoning Technique, bringing a gigantic Katsuyu into the room and crushing the furniture against the walls.
• Naoki and Tsunade were squeezed together until Tsunade told Katsuyu to split into a smaller form.
• Tsunade introduced Naoki to Katsuyu as her younger brother and the Senju Clan’s new Wood Release wielder.
• Naoki sensed Katsuyu’s senjutsu and asked to meet the Katsuyu Sage, and Katsuyu relayed the Sage’s invitation to Naoki and Tsunade.

Naoki Senju and Tsunade reached the Katsuyu Sage’s shrine in Shikkotsu Forest, where Naoki saw natural energy gathering around them. After the Sage gave Naoki a wooden box, she learned he could see natural energy and asked him to demonstrate his Wood Release.

• Katsuyu guided Naoki Senju and Tsunade through Shikkotsu Forest, where Tsunade gave Naoki an antidote pill for the poisonous mushroom spores.
• Naoki and Tsunade entered the shrine and met the Katsuyu Sage, who praised Naoki’s steady aura and resilient mind.
• The Katsuyu Sage used natural energy to float a wooden box to Naoki, and Naoki recognized the energy she had used.
• The Katsuyu Sage asked Naoki whether he could see natural energy, and he claimed that he could.
• The Katsuyu Sage asked Naoki to demonstrate his Wood Release.

Naoki Senju received Hashirama’s Wood Release branch and necklace chakra, then learned that the Katsuyu Sage’s true body lay beneath Shikkotsu Forest. At the sage’s chosen clearing, he used Deep Forest Emergence to grow an immense forest that continued to spread.

• The Katsuyu Sage told Naoki Senju to open a box containing Hashirama’s branch, which Tsunade’s necklace transformed alongside into powerful chakra that flowed into Naoki.
• The Katsuyu Sage asked Naoki whether he knew Deep Forest Emergence and led him and Tsunade outside.
• Naoki asked Tsunade why the Katsuyu Sage’s body was so small, and Tsunade revealed that all of Shikkotsu Forest was the sage’s true body.
• Naoki considered the sage’s age and the extent of her body as they reached a clearing.
• Naoki used Wood Release: Deep Forest Emergence, rapidly growing a vast expanse of enormous trees that continued to expand.

Naoki Senju experienced senjutsu chakra and entered Sage Mode, where he met a chakra remnant of Hashirama Senju. Hashirama asked about Konoha, while Naoki reflected on how much he disagreed with Hashirama’s ideals.

• Naoki Senju stopped Deep Forest Emergence and sensed senjutsu chakra, while the Katsuyu Sage explained how it was formed.
• The Katsuyu Sage poured natural energy into Naoki Senju, causing his Sage Mode to manifest as black markings spread across his face and neck.
• Naoki Senju found himself in a mental space and met Hashirama Senju, who explained that he was a remnant of chakra he had left behind.
• Naoki Senju introduced himself as Tobirama Senju’s grandson and explained that his family branch lived in the Land of Fire’s capital.
• Hashirama Senju asked how Konoha was doing, and Naoki Senju privately judged Hashirama’s ideals as naive and favored Tobirama Senju and Madara Uchiha’s harsher philosophies.

Naoki Senju told Hashirama Senju how Konoha prospered under Tobirama, then recounted the wars and Tobirama’s death. Hashirama was devastated by the losses but brightened when he learned Tsunade had become one of Konoha’s Sannin, while Naoki withheld news of Nawaki’s death.

• Naoki Senju explained that Hashirama’s death had been kept secret and that Tobirama became Hokage in Konoha Year 14.
• Naoki described Tobirama’s reforms and how Konoha entered the First Shinobi World War after Hashirama’s death became known.
• Naoki recounted Konoha’s victories and Tobirama’s final stand, during which he killed Ginkaku and crippled Kinkaku before dying.
• Naoki told Hashirama that the war ended after Tobirama’s death and that Hiruzen Sarutobi later became the Third Hokage.
• Naoki described the Second Shinobi World War and revealed that Tsunade had risen to prominence as one of the Konoha Sannin.
• Hashirama laughed with joy at Tsunade’s success, while Naoki chose not to tell him that Nawaki had died.

Naoki Senju told Hashirama Senju how war and tragedy had devastated Konoha and the Senju, then declared that Konoha was responsible for the clan's destruction. He rejected destroying the village and planned instead to help Tsunade become Fifth Hokage and strip its corrupt powers, while Hashirama accepted him as family.

• Naoki Senju recounted the Second and Third Shinobi World Wars and the deaths and departures of Konoha's prominent shinobi.
• Naoki Senju revealed that the Uchiha had been wiped out and that he was the Senju Clan's sole survivor, saved by Sister Tsunade.
• Hashirama Senju asked whether Naoki Senju suspected Konoha, and Naoki declared that Konoha was the only possible culprit.
• Hashirama Senju asked how Naoki Senju would take revenge, ready to stop him if he planned to destroy Konoha.
• Naoki Senju explained that he would help Sister Tsunade become the Fifth Hokage and cripple the people who held power in the village.
• Hashirama Senju approved of Naoki Senju's plan and asked him to call him Grandpa.

Naoki Senju woke after briefly mastering Sage Mode, and Tsunade discovered that he had also given her a small amount of senjutsu chakra. When he asked Katsuyu Sage about the Ryūmyaku’s spirit, her shocked response suggested Naoki had encountered a deity.

• The markings on Naoki Senju’s face receded as he emerged from Sage Mode, and Tsunade sensed his aura had grown more dangerous.
• Naoki woke and playfully embraced Tsunade, whose body weakened after he touched her head.
• Naoki explained that he had given Tsunade weakened senjutsu chakra so she could gradually adapt and practice senjutsu.
• Katsuyu Sage said Hashirama Senju had passed Naoki a method for cultivating Wood Release senjutsu and invited him to keep training in Shikkotsu Forest.
• Naoki asked whether the Ryūmyaku had a spirit, and Katsuyu Sage exclaimed that he might have seen the deity.

Naoki Senju learned that the Ryūmyaku’s consciousness was part of Otsutsuki Kaguya’s scattered soul, then returned from Shikkotsu Forest to find the Akatsuki closing in on Orochimaru’s hideouts. He confronted Orochimaru and asked which Akatsuki members were coming for them.

• The Katsuyu Sage revealed that part of Otsutsuki Kaguya’s soul resided in the Ryūmyaku and advised Naoki Senju to reinforce its seal and ask the Toad Sage at Mount Myōboku for more information.
• Tsunade’s Shadow Clone dispelled, so she and Naoki Senju left Shikkotsu Forest and returned to the hideout.
• Orochimaru told Tsunade and Naoki Senju that the Akatsuki had destroyed three hideouts and was approaching their base in the Land of Wind.
• Orochimaru stared at Naoki Senju’s divine markings until Tsunade blocked his view and warned him not to threaten her little brother.
• Naoki Senju challenged Orochimaru over whether he had led the Akatsuki to the hideouts, then asked who was pursuing them.
• Orochimaru named Uchiha Itachi and Kakuzu as the Akatsuki members coming after them.