Recaps

Killer B escaped while Samui, Omoi, and Karui traveled to the Land of Demons, where they learned of a lead on his whereabouts. Uzumaki Hane resumed training at the restored volcanic crater and began opening the Fourth Gate, enduring overwhelming pain.

• Killer B secretly left a smoke clone behind and ran away, so Samui, Omoi, and Karui went to the Land of Demons for help finding him.
• Taruho learned that a traveling singer resembling Killer B planned to perform near the Land of Demons, and the three Kumogakure ninja hurried off to find him.
• After training the students and learning the crater house had been rebuilt, Uzumaki Hane returned to the volcano and resumed training in the magma.
• Uzumaki Hane began opening the Fourth Gate, the Gate of Pain, and endured intense pain as thoughts urged him to give up.

After opening the Fourth Gate, Uzumaki Hane decided to leave the Land of Demons and return to Konoha. Shion confessed her feelings before he departed, and he reunited with Yamano Koromo after reaching the village.

• Uzumaki Hane opened the Fourth Gate, doubled his strength, and decided to return to Konoha after more than three years away.
• Uzumaki Hane told Shion he had to leave, and they spent the day together in town.
• Shion confessed that she liked Uzumaki Hane and said she would wait for him in the Land of Demons before vanishing in a violet glow.
• Taruho told Uzumaki Hane that Shion was training, and he left the palace; Shion cried after hearing he was gone.
• Uzumaki Hane returned to Konoha, found his house clean, and encountered Yamano Koromo, who threw herself into his arms.

Uzumaki Hane returned to the village and reunited with Yamano Koromo before visiting Tsunade, who tested his abilities at the training ground. Their sparring escalated into a clash of Tsunade’s strength and Hane’s magma techniques, leaving his arm badly cracked but quickly restored.

• Uzumaki Hane reunited with Yamano Koromo, and they walked through the village while catching each other up on the past three years.
• Uzumaki Hane and Yamano Koromo visited Tsunade, who revealed she had taken Koromo as her disciple and was teaching her Medical Ninjutsu and Chakra Enhanced Strength.
• Tsunade led Uzumaki Hane to the training ground and tested his speed, finding that he could keep up with her.
• Tsunade attacked with her full strength, and Uzumaki Hane dodged her blows before countering with Hell Hound and a giant magma fist.
• Tsunade and Uzumaki Hane exchanged powerful strikes, sending Hane into a tree with cracks across his right hand, which he healed with magma.

Uzumaki Hane sparred with Tsunade, then was summoned to test Naruto’s training after Naruto returned to Konoha. Hane easily caught Naruto’s first attack, but a second Naruto appeared behind him as the fight continued.

• Tsunade and Uzumaki Hane fought in the training ground, and Tsunade praised his progress before leaving with Shizune.
• An Anbu member summoned Uzumaki Hane to see the Hokage, while Naruto reunited with Konohamaru and his companions, then with Sakura.
• Jiraiya brought Naruto and Sakura to Tsunade, who chose Uzumaki Hane to test Naruto’s training.
• Tsunade made Sakura team up with Naruto against Hane, and Naruto charged after throwing shuriken.
• Hane caught Naruto’s hand and pinned him down, then noticed another Naruto behind him.

Naruto and Sakura teamed up against Uzumaki Hane in a training battle, using Shadow Clones and Chakra Enhanced Strength to challenge him. Uzumaki Hane eliminated Naruto’s clones and found the pair hiding, but his punch revealed that the Naruto he reached was another Shadow Clone.

• Naruto used a Shadow Clone to distract Uzumaki Hane, but Hane spotted the trick and knocked the clone into Naruto.
• Sakura attacked with Chakra Enhanced Strength, smashing the ground and a tree, while Naruto supported her with Shadow Clones.
• Naruto surrounded Uzumaki Hane with many clones, and Hane used Lava Shuriken and Canine Red Lotus to destroy them while dodging Sakura’s attacks.
• After clearing the clones, Uzumaki Hane found Naruto and Sakura hiding behind a tree and dodged Sakura’s attempt to break it.
• Uzumaki Hane rushed at Naruto and struck him, only for Naruto to vanish in a puff of smoke as another Shadow Clone.

Naruto and Sakura fought Uzumaki Hane until Tsunade ended their exhausting battle. Meanwhile, Deidara and Sasori of the Red Sand arrived at Sunagakure with Yura’s help, and Deidara began attacking the village from the air.

• Sakura and Naruto struck Uzumaki Hane with powerful attacks, but his body healed, and he chased them through the forest.
• Naruto and Sakura hid from Uzumaki Hane, who unleashed dozens of lava fists and destroyed the trees around them.
• Tsunade stopped the battle, and Naruto vowed to defeat Hane next time.
• Deidara and Sasori of the Red Sand traveled toward Sunagakure to capture the One-Tail, while Deidara also planned to seek revenge on Uzumaki Hane.
• Yura killed the ninja guarding Sunagakure’s wall and led Deidara and Sasori into the village.
• Deidara flew over Sunagakure on a giant clay bird and killed three sky-watchers with exploding clay spiders.

Deidara attacked Gaara in Sunagakure, using explosive clay to test his defenses while Gaara fought back with sand. Gaara trapped Deidara with Sand Binding Prison, but Deidara detonated his giant bird and was blasted toward the ground.

• Deidara landed on the Kazekage's Office roof, and Gaara intercepted him after spotting the strange bird.
• Gaara chased Deidara through the streets and into the sky with streams of sand, while Deidara dodged and the village went on alert.
• Sasori of the Red Sand told Yura to return to the village as he waited at the entrance for Deidara.
• Gaara formed a giant Shukaku hand and repeatedly attacked Deidara, whose small explosive birds blasted holes in the sand that quickly repaired themselves.
• Deidara's winged explosive birds detonated around Gaara, who protected himself inside a sphere of sand and secretly watched Deidara with the Third Eye.
• Gaara used Sand Binding Prison to surround Deidara, who escaped by detonating his giant bird, sending himself plummeting toward the ground in the blast wave.

Deidara defeated Gaara by planting explosive clay in his sand, then captured him and escaped. Kankuro pursued Deidara and Sasori of the Red Sand, and began fighting Sasori to reach Gaara.

• Deidara destroyed Gaara’s sand defense from within, but Gaara used his remaining strength to move the explosion away from Sunagakure.
• Gaara passed out, and Deidara caught him and flew away while the village ninja watched helplessly.
• Kankuro pursued Deidara with several Jonin, but a trap injured the others and left Kankuro to continue alone.
• Kankuro summoned Crow, Black Ant, and Ibuse, while Deidara flew ahead and Sasori of the Red Sand confronted him.
• Kankuro attacked Sasori of the Red Sand with Crow and Black Ant, which fired countless poisoned needles.

Tsunade formed Team Kakashi with Kakashi, Naruto, and Sakura, who headed to Ichiraku Ramen together with Uzumaki Hane. Meanwhile, Sasori defeated Kankuro and poisoned him as Deidara escaped with Gaara, leaving the pursuing Jonin to chase after them while one took Kankuro back for treatment.

• Tsunade told Kakashi, Naruto, and Sakura they would form Team Kakashi and complete missions together.
• Naruto invited everyone to Ichiraku Ramen, and Uzumaki Hane, Kakashi, Naruto, and Sakura went together.
• Sasori blocked Kankuro from pursuing Deidara, who flew away with Gaara.
• Sasori revealed he had made Kankuro's puppets, destroyed them, and struck Kankuro with a poisoned tail.
• Sasori left Kankuro behind, and Kankuro collapsed as the poison spread through his body.
• The reinforcements found Kankuro; one Jonin took him to the village for treatment while the other three pursued Sasori and Deidara.

Team Kakashi’s mission to Sunagakure became a rescue operation after the Akatsuki captured Gaara, while Kankuro lay near death from Sasori’s poison. Hane realized Sasori had survived their earlier battle, leaving the group facing an enemy he had believed he killed.

• Tsunade received word that the Akatsuki had captured Gaara and sent Kakashi, Naruto, Sakura, and Hane to Sunagakure.
• Deidara and Sasori left the scene after completing the One-Tail mission, while Temari joined the Konoha team on its way to Sunagakure.
• Kankuro identified Sasori as the one who poisoned him, and Buggy asked Chiyo for help when the village’s medics could not treat him.
• Chiyo could not neutralize Sasori’s poison and said Tsunade might be able to save Kankuro, but there was no time to wait for her arrival from Konoha.
• Temari brought Kakashi, Hane, Naruto, and Sakura to the medical room, where Chiyo attacked Kakashi after mistaking him for Konoha’s White Fang.
• Hane saw Kankuro’s condition and realized Sasori had survived Hane’s earlier attack and escaped with Deidara.

After Sakura saved Kankuro, Uzumaki Hane and the others set out to rescue Gaara from Sasori of the Red Sand. They joined forces with Might Guy’s team, but Uchiha Itachi and Kisame blocked their path.

• Pain summoned the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path, and the Akatsuki began extracting Shukaku from Gaara.
• Chiyo mistook Kakashi for Konoha’s White Fang and attacked him, but Ebizo stopped her and corrected her mistake.
• Sakura treated Kankuro and drew the poison from his body, saving his life.
• Kankuro told Uzumaki Hane and Naruto that Sasori of the Red Sand had taken Gaara, and identified the puppet Hiruko as Sasori’s disguise.
• Kakashi, Naruto, Sakura, Uzumaki Hane, and Chiyo set off after Sasori, then met and joined Might Guy’s team on the way.
• Kisame sent a huge wave toward the pursuing group, and Uchiha Itachi and Kisame confronted them as Kisame greeted Uzumaki Hane.

Uzumaki Hane drew Kisame away from the others and killed him after a fierce battle that showcased Hane’s increased strength. Meanwhile, Naruto, Might Guy, and Kakashi confronted Uchiha Itachi, and Kakashi attacked him after Naruto escaped Itachi’s Genjutsu.

• Kisame recognized Uzumaki Hane and pursued him after Hane drew him away from the group.
• Kisame flooded the battlefield and attacked with water sharks, but Uzumaki Hane countered with powerful lava techniques.
• Uzumaki Hane evaporated the lake and struck Kisame with a final Great Eruption, reducing him to ashes.
• Kakashi warned the group about Uchiha Itachi’s Genjutsu, and Naruto charged in before realizing he had fallen under its effects.
• Naruto broke free of the Genjutsu, then Might Guy and Kakashi attacked Uchiha Itachi while a Shadow Clone engaged Might Guy.
• Kakashi deflected Itachi’s Shuriken and charged, but Itachi dodged his Kunai and launched a Great Fireball Technique.

Kakashi and the others defeated the enemy posing as Uchiha Itachi and discovered he was Yura using the Shapeshifting Technique. After realizing their opponents had only been delaying them, the group hurried toward Gaara, whose One-Tail was being extracted.

• Kakashi used a shadow clone to resist Uchiha Itachi’s genjutsu while Naruto struck Itachi with a Big Ball Rasengan.
• Might Guy defeated Uchiha Itachi’s shadow clone, and the group examined the body left in the crater.
• Chiyo recognized the corpse as Yura, a Sunagakure ninja who had disappeared after Gaara went missing.
• Kakashi explained that Yura had used the Shapeshifting Technique to appear as Uchiha Itachi.
• Uzumaki Hane arrived, and Kakashi urged everyone to hurry to Gaara before it was too late.
• Naruto rushed ahead toward Gaara, and the others followed.

Uzumaki Hane and the others reached the cave where the Akatsuki had extracted Shukaku from Gaara, and confronted Sasori and Deidara. Deidara fled with Gaara as Hane, Naruto, and Kakashi pursued, while Chiyo and Sakura stayed to fight Sasori.

• Itachi and Kisame returned to the Akatsuki after delaying their pursuers, and the group completed the extraction of Shukaku from Gaara.
• Neji located the Five-Seal Barrier talismans, and the teams removed them so Sakura could smash the boulder blocking the cave entrance.
• Hane confronted Sasori and Deidara, while Chiyo revealed that Sasori was hiding inside a rebuilt, strengthened Hiruko puppet.
• Deidara escaped on his giant bird with Gaara, and Hane and Naruto pursued him; Kakashi also left to help recover the Kazekage.
• Chiyo and Sakura remained behind to face Sasori, and Chiyo explained that Sakura should use her Chakra Enhanced Strength to break Hiruko.

Uzumaki Hane, Naruto, and Kakashi pursued Deidara as he carried Gaara away, evading his clay explosives and attacks. Deidara’s strengthened bird bomb failed to harm them, and the chase continued with the three emerging unharmed from the smoke.

• Uzumaki Hane destroyed Deidara’s giant bird with a lava fist, but Deidara formed another bird and kept flying with Gaara.
• Naruto attacked Deidara with his Shadow Clones, but Deidara exploded a clay bird; Kakashi caught Naruto as he fell.
• Uzumaki Hane and Naruto continued pursuing Deidara while Kakashi destroyed Deidara’s Clay Spiders with lightning needles.
• Kakashi contacted Might Guy, who said he and his team had fallen into a trap and was beating his impostor.
• Deidara dived, leaped from his bird with Gaara, and sent an explosive bird at the pursuers, but Uzumaki Hane, Naruto, and Kakashi emerged from the blast unharmed.

Chiyo and Sakura fought Sasori, whose modified Hiruko unleashed increasingly dangerous poison attacks. Chiyo’s control helped Sakura evade them, but Sasori discovered her Chakra Threads and launched another attack as the battle continued.

• Itachi and Kisame left the mountain after Kisame complained that Uzumaki Hane had defeated him again.
• Chiyo warned Sakura to stand back, then attacked Sasori with Kunai and explained that his puppet was a Human Puppet.
• Chiyo told Sakura to close in and smash Hiruko while she guided her movements, and Sakura agreed to the plan.
• Sasori fired poison needles and jets of poison liquid, but Chiyo controlled Sakura as they dodged every attack.
• Sasori’s scorpion tail nearly struck Sakura, but Chiyo pulled her clear before it could hit her.
• Sasori realized Chiyo was controlling Sakura with Chakra Threads and sent his scorpion tail toward them again.

Might Guy, Neji, Rock Lee, and Tenten struggled against doubles who matched their abilities while Deidara lured Naruto, Kakashi, and Uzumaki Hane away with Gaara. Naruto rescued Gaara, and Hane pursued Deidara alone, surviving an explosive attack as their fight continued.

• Might Guy, Neji, Rock Lee, and Tenten were gradually suppressed by their matching doubles and could only hold on.
• Deidara flew away with Gaara to draw Naruto, Kakashi, and Uzumaki Hane after him, dodging Hane’s lava attack to protect his advantage.
• Kakashi struck the giant bird with lightning, and Naruto cut off its head with a giant shuriken, forcing Deidara to release Gaara.
• Kakashi sent Naruto toward Gaara, and Naruto used a Shadow Clone to catch him before landing on a tree trunk; Gaara remained unresponsive.
• Uzumaki Hane pursued Deidara alone and pierced his giant bird with a lava javelin, but Deidara’s C3 explosion engulfed Hane.
• Hane emerged transformed into magma and continued attacking, while Deidara dodged his lava fists and threw down an exploding white doll.

Sakura and Granny Chiyo fought Sasori of the Red Sand, using Chiyo’s Chakra Threads to help Sakura destroy Hiruko. Sasori revealed his youthful face and summoned his puppet made from the Third Kazekage, leaving Chiyo and Sakura shocked.

• Chiyo restrained Sasori’s scorpion tail and guided Sakura as she dodged his poisoned needles and attacks.
• Sakura charged Sasori while Chiyo restrained the tail, then shattered Hiruko with a Chakra Enhanced Strength punch.
• Sasori’s detached arm fired poisoned needles at Sakura, but Chiyo controlled her movements and helped her evade them.
• Chiyo asked Sasori to reveal himself, and he turned around to show that he still had a youthful face.
• Sasori summoned his restored puppet made from the Third Kazekage, and Chiyo identified it for Sakura.

Naruto and Kakashi headed back to find Sakura and treat Gaara while Chiyo confronted Sasori over his crimes against the Kazekage. Sasori began fighting Sakura and Chiyo, then sent a mass of puppet arms toward Sakura.

• Naruto found Gaara still had a heartbeat, and Kakashi urged him to seek Sakura’s medical help.
• Naruto carried Gaara as he and Kakashi headed to the cave to find Sakura, while Kakashi said Uzumaki Hane could handle himself.
• Chiyo recognized that Sasori had killed the Third Kazekage and resolved to end her grandson’s betrayal herself.
• Sasori admitted his past involvement with Orochimaru, prompting Sakura to question him about Sasuke.
• Sasori attacked Sakura with a poisoned puppet, but Chiyo pulled her clear and blocked its blades with Hiruko’s tail, which snapped.
• Sasori dismissed the damaged puppet and unleashed countless arms from its right arm toward Sakura.

Tenten, Rock Lee, Might Guy, and Neji continued fighting their impostors while Chiyo and Sakura battled Sasori of the Red Sand. Chiyo summoned Father and Mother to confront Sasori’s puppet, leaving Sakura waiting for a chance to strike.

• Tenten struggled to keep fighting her tireless impostor, while Rock Lee and Might Guy clashed with their own copies and Neji used his Byakugan to search for openings and report to the others.
• Chiyo pulled Sakura away from Sasori of the Red Sand’s attacks, but Sakura was trapped among his arms and narrowly escaped unharmed.
• Sasori of the Red Sand sprayed poisonous mist and then poisonous liquid at Sakura, and Chiyo pulled her clear of the corrosive poison.
• Chiyo summoned Father and Mother, the puppets Sasori had made, and they severed the many arms of his mechanism with steel wires.
• Chiyo told Sakura to wait for a chance to use Chakra Enhanced Strength, as Father and Mother clashed with Sasori’s Third Kazekage Puppet.

Sasori of the Red Sand revealed his puppet body and attacked Chiyo and Sakura with powerful flame and water weapons. Sakura was weakened by his poison but injected an antidote she had made, and began to recover.

• Chiyo and her puppets fought Sasori's imitation of the Third Kazekage, destroying it as Sasori revealed his own puppet body.
• Sasori attacked Chiyo and Sakura with flames from his palm, while Chiyo's puppets dodged his attacks and pressed him.
• Sasori used a water blade to drive Sakura and Chiyo back, then pursued Sakura with it until his water cannon ran out.
• Sasori's poison dart left Sakura weak, and Chiyo pulled her out of its path.
• Sakura injected the antidote she had made from Kankuro's poison, quickly feeling better and surprising Sasori.

Uzumaki Hane defeated Deidara with a massive eruption of lava. At the cave, Kakashi and Naruto arrived as Chiyo treated Sakura, and Naruto fought Sasori’s puppets while Sakura recovered and Chiyo prepared to act.

• Uzumaki Hane engulfed Deidara and his giant bird with the Great Eruption, sending lava fragments raining down.
• Sasori of the Red Sand attacked Chiyo and Sakura, but Kakashi arrived and blocked his blade while Naruto brought Gaara back to the cave.
• Sasori summoned a swarm of puppets and sent them against the group, and Naruto used Multiple Shadow Clones to fight them.
• Sakura recovered after Chiyo treated her poison, and Chiyo stepped forward after confirming they had brought back the Fifth Generation Kazekage.
• Neji told Might Guy, Rock Lee, and Tenten that Kakashi and Naruto had reached the cave and rescued Gaara, and the team pressed their fights to finish quickly.

Chiyo restored Sakura and unleashed the Chikamatsu Collection of Ten Puppets against Sasori of the Red Sand’s puppets. Naruto and Kakashi fought their way through the swarm, and Sakura joined Naruto after Chiyo asked for her help, while Gaara remained in need of treatment.

• Neji used his Byakugan to tell Might Guy, Rock Lee, and Tenten that Sakura was treating Gaara while Naruto and the others fought puppets.
• After restoring Sakura with One's Own Life Reincarnation, Chiyo summoned the Chikamatsu Collection of Ten Puppets and sent them against Sasori of the Red Sand’s forces.
• Kakashi charged into the puppet swarm, using the Great Fireball Technique and Chidori to destroy several puppets before Sasori sent more after him.
• Naruto used Shadow Clones and a Big Ball Rasengan to clear a path through the puppets and confront Sasori of the Red Sand, who revealed his plan to capture Naruto and seek revenge on Uzumaki Hane.
• Sakura realized she could not treat Gaara yet, so Chiyo whispered a plan to her and sent her to help Naruto; Sakura blocked Sasori’s dart with a Kunai.

Uzumaki Hane endured Deidara’s attacks until Deidara used his ultimate art, a ten-kilometer self-destruction that engulfed Hane and devastated the surrounding land. The blast left Hane’s fate uncertain as his allies and the others in the cave reacted to the explosion.

• Uzumaki Hane emerged unharmed from Deidara’s repeated explosions and defeated several of his clay clones.
• Deidara revealed the mouth on his chest, consumed clay, and prepared to self-destruct with a ten-kilometer blast radius.
• Uzumaki Hane used Great Eruption, but Deidara’s explosion overwhelmed his magma fists and swallowed him.
• Neji reported that Uzumaki Hane had seemed unharmed and had the upper hand before Deidara’s enormous blast shook the battlefield.
• Might Guy, Rock Lee, Tenten, and Neji witnessed the distant pillar of fire, while Kakashi identified Deidara’s chakra in the cave.
• Sasori of the Red Sand murmured about the art Deidara had chosen.

Sasori of the Red Sand fought Naruto, Sakura, Kakashi, and Chiyo in the cave until Sakura pinned him with a seal that stopped his puppets. Uzumaki Hane survived Deidara’s massive explosion, but he was badly weakened as he headed back toward the cave.

• Sasori of the Red Sand attacked the group with his puppets while Kakashi, Naruto, Sakura, and Chiyo fought back.
• Naruto and Kakashi struck Sasori of the Red Sand, and Sakura smashed him apart, but his puppets kept attacking.
• Sasori of the Red Sand reassembled himself, and Sakura used Chiyo’s seal to pin him and stop his puppets.
• Chiyo explained that the seal had blocked Sasori of the Red Sand’s Chakra Threads, then collapsed from exhaustion.
• Uzumaki Hane emerged from the crater left by Deidara’s explosion and, badly weakened, made his way back toward the cave.