Recaps

Hiruzen Sarutobi sent Tenzo to test Chiya Rikuto’s abilities, and Tenzo attacked Rikuto while he was spending time with Ino atop Hokage Rock. Rikuto dodged the attacks, and Tenzo ran off the cliff as if he could not see them.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi reviewed reports about Chiya Rikuto’s medical, ninjutsu, and genjutsu abilities and ordered Tenzo to test him without injuring him.
• Tenzo accepted the assignment and went to find Rikuto.
• Rikuto sat with Ino atop Hokage Rock and sensed that Hiruzen was watching him with the Telescope Technique.
• Tenzo attacked Rikuto and Ino with senbon and a Ninja Blade, but Rikuto dodged while protecting Ino.
• Tenzo charged past Rikuto and ran off the front of Hokage Rock.

Rikuto’s encounter with Tenzo, sent by the Third Hokage to test him, ended with Rikuto smashing the top of the Third Hokage’s likeness on Hokage Rock. Tenzo survived with a Wood Clone, but he and the Third Hokage were left facing the damage and its consequences.

• Rikuto recognized that Tenzo had been sent by the Third Hokage and trapped him in a Genjutsu as Tenzo pursued him and Ino over Hokage Rock.
• Tenzo broke free of the Genjutsu and used Wood Release to catch himself on the cliff, while the Third Hokage watched through his crystal ball and sent Kakashi to stop the fight.
• Rikuto used the Body Flicker Technique and struck Hokage Rock with Heavenly Foot of Pain as Tenzo climbed the stone likeness.
• The impact shattered the top of the Third Hokage’s likeness and sent rocks tumbling toward Konoha, alarming the villagers and ninjas.
• Tenzo escaped the strike with a Wood Clone, then emerged near Rikuto and realized he had caused a disaster.

Rikuto confronted Tenzo, an Anbu ninja using Wood Release, and blamed him for damaging Hokage Rock while the Third Hokage watched through his crystal ball. Tenzo escaped after Rikuto attacked him with the Shuriken Shadow Clone Technique and Wind Release: Vacuum Sphere, and Rikuto pursued him.

• Rikuto accused Tenzo of infiltrating Konoha, attacking a villager, and damaging Hokage Rock, then tried to stop him from fleeing.
• Rikuto used the Shuriken Shadow Clone Technique to overwhelm Tenzo, who defended himself with Wood Release: Wood Locking Wall.
• Tenzo was surprised when Rikuto’s shuriken changed direction in midair, and the Third Hokage recognized the technique as his own creation.
• Rikuto blasted apart Tenzo’s wooden shield with Wind Release: Vacuum Sphere, but Tenzo used Wood Release: Deep Forest Emergence to escape across the Hokage Rock faces.
• Rikuto told Ino to go home and chased Tenzo.

Tenzo lured Rikuto to Training Ground Three to test the strength of Tsunade’s disciple, while the Third Hokage watched through his crystal ball and grew suspicious about how Rikuto knew of Tenzo. Their fight left Tenzo shaken after Rikuto overwhelmed his Wood Release, but Tenzo caught Rikuto in a strangling vine.

• Tenzo led Rikuto to Training Ground Three and prepared to challenge him while hiding his identity.
• The Third Hokage watched their exchange and wondered how Rikuto knew about Tenzo’s Wood Release.
• Tenzo attacked with Wood Release, but Rikuto smashed through his techniques and struck him with overwhelming strength.
• Tenzo avoided Rikuto’s slam with a wood clone, then bound Rikuto with the Silent Strangling Jutsu Technique.

Rikuto defeated Tenzo in their fight on Hokage Rock, revealing his mastery of the Rasengan and powerful Fire Release. Kakashi arrived with the Anbu, ended the confrontation, and led Tenzo away.

• Rikuto broke Tenzo's Genjutsu and struck him with a Rasengan, sending him crashing through the trees.
• Kakashi and the Anbu arrived and were stunned by Rikuto's Rasengan and his skill at only ten years old.
• Rikuto used the Great Fireball Technique to expose Tenzo's hiding place, then smashed through Tenzo's Wood Release attack.
• Rikuto told Tenzo to report back, and Kakashi ordered Tenzo to stop fighting because he was no match for Rikuto.
• Rikuto recognized Kakashi, who asked how Rikuto knew him.

Rikuto challenged Kakashi’s entire Anbu squad to test his strength, then announced that he would show Tenzo what real Wood Release could do. He began the fight by using Wood Release: Deep Forest Emergence.

• Rikuto teased Kakashi about their seniority and told Tenzo that the Hokage did not need to secretly test him.
• Rikuto declared that all the Anbu could attack him together, surprising the squad and the Third Hokage.
• Uzuki Yugao warned Rikuto not to underestimate the Anbu, but he told her to watch from the sidelines.
• Rikuto challenged Tenzo to witness real Wood Release and used Wood Release: Deep Forest Emergence.

Rikuto overwhelmed Kakashi’s Anbu squad with a vast display of Wood Release, leaving Tenzo, Kakashi, and Yugao stunned by the gap in their abilities. As the Third Hokage rushed to Training Ground Three, Rikuto sent wooden vines at the squad, prompting them to counterattack with multiple techniques.

• Rikuto’s Wood Release created a forest that swept aside the Anbu’s Earth Release walls and covered Training Ground Three.
• Kakashi comforted the shaken Tenzo, while the Anbu and Yugao stared in disbelief at Rikuto’s power.
• The Third Hokage summoned Shinnosuke Sarutobi and Mieko Sarutobi and hurried to Training Ground Three.
• Rikuto apologized for going overboard, then directed wooden vines to attack Kakashi and the Anbu.
• Kakashi’s squad countered with Wind, Fire, Water, and Lightning Release techniques.

Rikuto’s Wood Release overwhelmed the Anbu squad, binding members and draining their chakra as Kakashi struggled to free them. Tenzo urged Kakashi to target Rikuto instead, and the squad worked together to clear a path while Kakashi charged forward with Lightning Blade.

• Rikuto’s vines caught and drained most of the Anbu members, leaving them too weak to fight.
• Kakashi used his Sharingan and Lightning Blade to cut through the vines and try to rescue his teammates, but they were quickly bound again.
• Tenzo warned Kakashi to stop focusing on rescuing the captured members and go after Rikuto.
• An Anbu member used Great Breakthrough while others used Wind Cutter Technique and Earth-Style Wall to clear a path toward Rikuto.
• Tenzo trapped himself in a Four-Pillar Prison Technique and reinforced the trench with Wood Wall to hold back the vines.
• Kakashi charged toward Rikuto with Lightning Blade as the squad’s coordinated attacks bought him time.

Rikuto defeated Kakashi and the Anbu squad with Wood Release, then demonstrated that he could wield Lightning Blade as well. Outside Training Ground Three, Inoichi sensed that Rikuto had created the vast forest, leaving Shikaku and the other arriving shinobi stunned.

• Kakashi charged Rikuto with Lightning Blade, but Rikuto showed no injury, seized Kakashi, and bound him and the other Anbu with vines.
• Rikuto emerged from a tree and mocked Kakashi before forming Lightning Blade from the vine-like fingers of his hand.
• Shinobi gathered outside Training Ground Three and discovered that the forest's trees could bind people and drain their Chakra.
• Shikaku questioned Ino about the Wood Release she had seen, while Ino worried about Rikuto.
• Inoichi sensed familiar Chakra signatures inside the forest and recognized Rikuto's immense Chakra as its source, shocking Shikaku and the others.

Chiya Rikuto revealed overwhelming Wood Release at Training Ground Three, convincing Konoha’s leaders that he possessed power close to the First Hokage’s. Hiruzen Sarutobi classified the secret as S-rank, while Rikuto left the cleanup to him and later addressed the damage to the village as an enemy spy’s work.

• Shikaku Nara, Inoichi Yamanaka, and Asuma Sarutobi concluded that Rikuto had created the forest with powerful Wood Release, and Ino realized her big brother Rikuto was responsible.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi arrived, confirmed Rikuto’s Wood Release, classified it as an S-rank village secret, and ordered the area sealed off.
• Rikuto released Kakashi, Tenzo, and the other Anbu members, then told them he would visit Hiruzen later and flew away using chakra wings.
• Kakashi told Hiruzen that Rikuto had flown off and left him to handle the aftermath, including the ruined Training Ground Three and cracked Hokage Rock.
• Hiruzen addressed worried ninja and villagers, claiming that a long-hidden enemy spy had caused trouble in the village.

The Third Hokage rejected Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu’s push to control Chiya Rikuto, recognizing his strength and importance to Konoha. Danzo barged into the Hokage’s office, where Hiruzen confronted him about no longer being an advisor.

• Utatane Koharu warned that Chiya Rikuto’s Senju heritage and hidden Wood Release might make him distrust Konoha’s leaders.
• Mitokado Homura urged the Third Hokage to bring Chiya Rikuto under the village’s control, but Hiruzen said he was too powerful to force into obedience.
• Hiruzen told the advisors not to interfere and warned that forcing Tsunade to return could strengthen her and Rikuto’s influence.
• Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura agreed to leave the matter to Hiruzen, concerned that Tsunade and Rikuto could rally opposition to the village’s leaders.
• Danzo forced his way into the Hokage’s office, and Hiruzen dismissed the guard and reminded Danzo that he was no longer a Hokage advisor.

Danzo tried to gain control of Naruto by arguing that the village needed leverage against Rikuto, but Hiruzen refused and asserted his authority. Rikuto reunited with Tenten and Ino at the weapon shop, where Ino revealed the shocking events of his return and his fight with the Anbu.

• Danzo urged Hiruzen to keep Rikuto in check and asked to train Naruto, but Hiruzen refused to hand over the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki.
• Hiruzen reminded Danzo that he was Hokage and no longer an advisor, and Danzo left in anger.
• Rikuto met Tenten at the weapon shop, and she was delighted to learn he had returned.
• Ino arrived and showed Rikuto and Tenten the green leaf crane he had used to summon her.
• Ino told Tenten that Rikuto had damaged Hokage Rock and fought the Anbu at Training Ground Three, then hurriedly told her to keep quiet.

After returning to Konoha, Rikuto reunited with Tenten and Ino, shared a barbecue meal with them, and learned about their training. He visited the Third Hokage, who spent two hours lecturing him about the Will of Fire, leaving Rikuto frustrated as he walked out of the Hokage building.

• Tenten admired Rikuto after hearing about his Wood Release and his defeat of the Anbu, and she and Ino joined him for barbecue.
• At the restaurant, Rikuto said he would stay in Konoha for about ten days and praised Ino's progress with the Yamanaka Clan's Secret Techniques.
• Tenten told Rikuto she could control Rikuto No. 1 and the flying puppet Suzaku, and he encouraged her to become a renowned puppet master.
• Rikuto took Tenten and Ino home, arranged to meet them at the old place, and went to visit the Third Hokage.
• The Third Hokage lectured Rikuto about the Will of Fire for two hours, and Rikuto left the Hokage building with a dark expression.

After returning to Konoha, Rikuto met Neji Hyuga training and learned about Neji’s resentment toward the Hyuga Main Family and his fate as a Branch Family member. Neji also told him that Rock Lee had become Might Guy’s disciple after Rikuto’s earlier advice, and Rikuto treated Neji’s injured hands.

• Rikuto refused the Third Hokage’s implied effort to groom him as a successor and left.
• Rikuto found Neji Hyuga practicing the Gentle Fist and greeted his former classmate.
• Neji recognized Rikuto’s immense chakra and admitted he could not match him.
• Rikuto understood Neji’s anger over the Caged Bird seal, his father’s death, and the Branch Family’s fate.
• Neji explained that Rock Lee had knelt at Might Guy’s door for three days and endured months of training until Guy accepted him as a disciple.
• Rikuto treated Neji’s scarred hands.

Rikuto examined Neji Hyuga’s Caged Bird Seal and explained how it had become a source of control over the Branch Family. He offered to undo it, but Neji doubted anyone could succeed, and Rikuto described the seal’s lethal safeguards.

• Rikuto treated Neji’s training injuries, then asked to see the Caged Bird Seal on his forehead.
• Neji showed Rikuto the seal and explained how it controlled the Branch Family and why his father, Hizashi Hyuga, had died in Hyuga Hiashi’s place.
• Rikuto examined the seal without triggering it and told Neji that the Main Family’s absolute authority had corrupted the system’s original purpose.
• Neji said generations of Hyuga Clan members had died trying to undo the seal, and he did not believe Rikuto could succeed.
• Rikuto explained that the seal was linked to Neji’s brain and could activate automatically if anyone tried to remove it by force.

Rikuto used his consciousness and precise chakra control to disable Neji Hyuga’s Caged Bird Seal, freeing him from its control while leaving remnants that would not attract the Main Family’s attention. Neji gratefully accepted Rikuto’s help, and Rikuto then borrowed his body to test the Byakugan.

• Rikuto offered to remove Neji Hyuga’s Caged Bird Seal, and Neji chose to trust him and asked for his help.
• Rikuto summoned a Mini Wood Clone to protect his body, then entered Neji’s mental world and took control of Neji’s body.
• Rikuto activated the Byakugan and used chakra to disable and dismantle the Caged Bird Seal.
• Neji felt the seal’s restraint disappear and gained a full 360-degree field of vision, while Rikuto left harmless remnants to avoid drawing the Main Family’s attention.
• Neji knelt and repeatedly thanked Rikuto for freeing him, and Rikuto asked to borrow Neji’s body to test the Byakugan.

Rikuto demonstrated Neji’s Gentle Fist techniques, Rotation, and a fire-enhanced Rotation while controlling Neji’s body, showing him new possibilities for his training. After Rikuto returned control, Neji thanked him and promised to treat Hinata better at Rikuto’s request.

• Rikuto used Neji’s body to perform the Eight Trigrams One Hundred Twenty-Eight Palms, astonishing Neji with its power.
• Rikuto demonstrated Rotation by releasing Chakra from Neji’s tenketsu and creating a destructive hemispherical shield.
• Rikuto combined Rotation with fire-nature Chakra transformation, blasting the surrounding ground into a scorched crater.
• Rikuto returned to his own body, and Neji felt excited about the techniques and direction they gave his training.
• Neji thanked Rikuto, who asked him to treat Hinata better because he had chosen her as his little girlfriend.

Rikuto found Hinata crying after Hyuga Hiashi scolded her for her poor Gentle Fist practice and comforted her with advice about learning from failure. Hinata regained confidence as Rikuto urged her to believe in herself.

• Neji asked Rikuto about Tenten, and Rikuto declared that he intended to become the harem king.
• Rikuto sensed that Hinata was away from the Hyuga Clan, formed chakra wings, and flew off to find her.
• Rikuto found Hinata crying in a deserted forest and guessed that a family elder had scolded her after training.
• Rikuto reassured Hinata that she was kind and strong, then advised her to learn from mistakes rather than train blindly.
• Hinata took heart from Rikuto's words as he told her that unwavering belief in herself was a kind of strength.

Rikuto encouraged Hinata and used the Spirit Transformation Technique to control her body, demonstrating the Gentle Fist and powerful Hyuga techniques. Hinata watched in astonishment as he devastated the forest with her body.

• Hinata thanked Rikuto and said his encouragement had helped her regain confidence.
• Rikuto asked Hinata to demonstrate the Gentle Fist and noted that her movements were stiff and lacked force.
• Rikuto brought Hinata into her spiritual world and explained that he would control her body to demonstrate the technique.
• Rikuto performed the Gentle Fist with fluid movements, then used Eight Trigrams: One Hundred Twenty-Eight Palms and Rotation to smash trees and crater the ground.
• Hinata watched from the spiritual world, amazed that Rikuto could perform techniques she had never mastered.

Rikuto used Hinata’s body to demonstrate Gentle Step Twin Lion Fists and teach her Gentle Fist techniques, then encouraged her to practice with the chakra he had left in her. Hinata improved from sixteen consecutive Eight Trigrams Palms to attempting thirty-two, with Rikuto coaching her.

• Rikuto controlled Hinata’s body and formed Gentle Step Twin Lion Fists, explaining how her lightning chakra could strengthen the technique.
• Rikuto demonstrated Gentle Fist moves for Hinata, then left chakra in her body and returned to his own.
• Hinata practiced the moves and became smoother after several repetitions, earning Rikuto’s praise.
• Hinata struck sixteen consecutive palms with Eight Trigrams Palm, improving on her earlier limit of eight.
• Rikuto urged Hinata to continue, and she began practicing Eight Trigrams Thirty-Two Palms while he corrected her technique.

Rikuto trained Hinata in the Eight Trigrams Palm, gave her a secret leaf-crane means to contact him, and encouraged her to grow more confident. He then met Tenten and Ino to assess their progress, finding Tenten’s puppet skills had reached elite Genin level.

• Rikuto pushed Hinata through a strict training session, and she managed thirty-two consecutive Eight Trigrams Palm strikes for the first time.
• Rikuto told Hinata to be stronger and more confident, then gave her a leaf crane she could activate with Chakra to contact him in Konoha.
• Rikuto told Hinata that girls looked better with long hair, and she touched her short hair with a determined expression after he left.
• Rikuto met the waiting Tenten and Ino at a training ground and checked their progress over the past two years.
• Tenten controlled her puppet Rikuto No. 1 in a fight against Rikuto’s Wood Clone, showing combat ability on par with an elite Genin.

Rikuto reunited with Anko, who boldly tried to seduce him before joining him for dinner at Chiya's home. Karin grew jealous and hostile toward Anko, and the two girls competed over the meal until they finished every dish.

• Rikuto dodged Anko's surprise attack and reunited with her after two years.
• Anko clung to Rikuto, tried to seduce him, and invited him to her home, but he put her off because of the Cursed Seal of Heaven.
• Rikuto invited Anko to dinner at Chiya's home, and she eagerly accepted.
• Karin became hostile after seeing Anko cling to Rikuto and watched her eat freely at dinner.
• Anko and Karin competed for the food and cleared the table, while Nanako welcomed Anko and Karin pouted angrily.

Hinata astonished Hyuga Hiashi with her sudden mastery of the Gentle Fist after Rikuto secretly helped her. Hiashi praised her progress but remained unsure whether to name her the Main Family heir, while Rikuto sensed something just as he was preparing to rest.

• Anko teased Karin about liking Rikuto, and Rikuto sent Anko home before she could keep embarrassing Karin.
• Hinata demonstrated the Gentle Fist art: Eight Trigrams Thirty-Two Palms against Hyuga Hiashi, leaving him astonished by her rapid improvement.
• Hyuga Hiashi praised Hinata but worried that choosing her as heir would leave Hanabi destined for the Branch Family and the Caged Bird seal.
• Hanabi admired Hinata's achievement, and Hinata stopped herself from revealing that Rikuto had taught her.
• After seeing Anko off and chatting with Karin and her mother, Rikuto sensed something as he prepared to rest.

Rikuto reunited with Kurenai Yuhi and learned that she had become a Jonin with help from the Genjutsu insights he had given her. He decided to strengthen her Ninjutsu and Taijutsu, then began by channeling visible Chakra through her hand.

• Rikuto surprised Kurenai Yuhi at the stairs and reunited with her after two years away.
• Rikuto showed Kurenai Yuhi his Strength of a Hundred Seal, and she praised his achievement.
• Kurenai Yuhi explained that Senju Toka's Genjutsu insights had helped her overcome a bottleneck and become a Jonin.
• Rikuto urged Kurenai Yuhi to broaden her abilities, noting her fire and earth Chakra natures and weaknesses in Ninjutsu and Taijutsu.
• Rikuto asked Kurenai Yuhi to stay in the village and hold out her hand, then channeled visible Chakra from his palm.

Rikuto confessed his feelings for Kurenai Yuhi, stole her first kiss, and reassured her about their age difference by promising he could keep her young. He revealed his mastery of the Spirit Transformation Technique and explained how he could use it to help her form the Strength of a Hundred Seal.

• Rikuto offered to supply Kurenai Yuhi with Chakra and guide her Ninjutsu training so she could become an elite Jonin.
• Kurenai Yuhi thanked Rikuto but said she could not keep accepting his help without limits.
• Rikuto kissed Kurenai Yuhi and asked if she understood his feelings for her.
• Kurenai Yuhi admitted to herself that she had developed romantic feelings for Rikuto but worried about their age difference and her future aging.
• Rikuto said he had a way to keep Kurenai Yuhi young and used the Spirit Transformation Technique to bring her into her mental world.
• Rikuto explained that he could help Kurenai Yuhi form the Strength of a Hundred Seal and periodically regulate her body.