Recaps

Naoki Senju discovered his Wood Release and began training under Tsunade while Root targeted them over his survival. After they fought off Root and Guren, Orochimaru brought the group to his base, where Naoki and Tsunade prepared to pursue Wood Release training and medical research.

• Naoki Senju revealed to Tsunade that he was Tobirama Senju’s grandson and that the Senju in the daimyo’s capital had been massacred, so Tsunade took him in and began teaching him.
• Naoki awakened Wood Release, rapidly learned chakra control and Wood Clone, and resolved to protect Tsunade and the Senju from Konoha’s corrupt elders.
• Danzo ordered Root to kill Naoki and Tsunade, but Naoki, Tsunade, Shizune, and Katsuyu fought off the attackers, and Naoki sent Danzo a warning by burying the bodies with Wood Release.
• Naoki defeated Guren with a poisoned Wood Clone and persuaded her to owe him three favors, then Orochimaru revealed that Danzo had sent Root and promised to prevent another attack.
• Tsunade and Shizune joined Naoki and Orochimaru, who took them to his secluded base, where Tsunade planned to settle scores with Konoha and begin medical research.
• Naoki proposed using Guren’s Crystal Release for a profitable project, and after Guren returned with a Wood Release scroll, he built a wooden residence over the ruined courtyard.

Naoki Senju won Orochimaru’s Wood Release scroll, helped uncover the Ryūmyaku, and gained Sage Mode after meeting the Katsuyu Sage and Hashirama Senju. He returned to the Land of Wind hideout just as Orochimaru revealed that Uchiha Itachi and Kakuzu were approaching with the Akatsuki.

• Naoki Senju defeated Orochimaru in their contest and received the Wood Release scroll, then studied its techniques while Guren joined his household.
• Naoki Senju, Tsunade, Shizune, Guren, and Kabuto Yakushi fled to the Land of Wind after Danzo exposed their hideout, and they discovered the ruined city of Rōran.
• Naoki Senju and Orochimaru found a vast sealing array containing the Ryūmyaku, which Orochimaru said the future Fourth Hokage had sealed.
• Naoki Senju summoned Katsuyu and traveled with Tsunade to Shikkotsu Forest, where the Katsuyu Sage tested his Wood Release and awakened his Sage Mode.
• Naoki Senju met Hashirama Senju through the chakra remnant in a branch, recounted Konoha’s history, and explained his plan to help Tsunade become Fifth Hokage and weaken the village’s leaders.
• The Katsuyu Sage said part of Otsutsuki Kaguya’s soul resided in the Ryūmyaku and advised Naoki Senju to reinforce its seal and consult the Toad Sage at Mount Myōboku.
• Naoki Senju and Tsunade returned to the hideout, where Orochimaru warned that the Akatsuki had destroyed three bases and that Uchiha Itachi and Kakuzu were coming after them.

Naoki Senju and Tsunade defeated Kakuzu, gained Uchiha Itachi as a covert ally, and joined Orochimaru’s plan to infiltrate Kirigakure. Their cover unraveled during Mei Terumi’s inauguration as the Three-Tails rampaged and an Iwagakure squad threatened the village.

• Naoki Senju and Tsunade helped Orochimaru ambush Akatsuki, and Naoki killed Kakuzu with Wood Release and water techniques.
• Naoki confronted Uchiha Itachi, promised to support the Uchiha, and persuaded him to secretly aid Konoha while preserving his cover inside Akatsuki.
• Orochimaru revealed that the Masked Man led Akatsuki, while Pain accepted Kisame Hoshigaki as Kakuzu’s replacement and ordered him to partner with Itachi.
• Orochimaru, Tsunade, and Naoki traveled to Kirigakure in disguises to attend Mei Terumi’s inauguration, while Orochimaru planned to investigate the village’s bloodline survivors.
• Mei Terumi staged a public account of the Bloody Mist’s end and was acclaimed as the Fifth Mizukage, while Naoki and Tsunade recognized the danger of her political skill.
• Naoki realized their identities were exposed and triggered a plan involving the Three-Tails, while Kabuto searched Kirigakure Prison and Mei ordered the suspected infiltrators arrested.
• The Three-Tails went berserk as prisoners escaped, and Utakata fought the beast while Ao captured an Iwagakure squad and hurried back to protect Mei from a possible attack.

Naoki Senju seized the Three-Tails, uncovered Orochimaru’s plan with Danzo, and returned to the Land of Fire with Tsunade. He avenged the Soga Clan by attacking the daimyo’s residence, leaving Konoha to investigate the massacre and search for Tsunade.

• Naoki Senju defeated Mei Terumi, took the Three-Tails’ chakra with Isobu’s cooperation, and escaped Kirigakure with Tsunade.
• Orochimaru revealed Madara Uchiha’s powers and his arrangement with Danzo, while Naoki recognized Danzo’s letter as pointing toward the Konoha Crush Plan.
• Naoki and Tsunade returned to the Land of Fire, visited the Soga Clan ruins, and Naoki raised a forest that spread toward the daimyo’s palace.
• The Twelve Guardian Ninja entered the forest to confront Naoki, who revealed Kazuma’s ambition to destroy Konoha and overwhelmed the group.
• Naoki killed Kazuma, nine Guardian Ninja, and the daimyo, while forcing Chiriku to keep the events secret.
• Konoha brought Chiriku in for interrogation and sent an Anbu operative to find Tsunade and bring her back gently.