Recaps

Tsunade used Wood Release to bind the Six-Tails and stop it from forming another Tailed Beast Bomb. Mei Terumi was stunned by Tsunade’s power and worried about what it could mean for Kirigakure, while Rikuto teased her about marriage.

• Mei Terumi learned that Rikuto was Tsunade’s disciple and challenged Tsunade’s reputation with a wary glance.
• Ao warned that the Six-Tails was gathering another Tailed Beast Bomb, and Tsunade used Wood Release: Deep Forest Emergence to restrain it.
• The growing trees bound the Six-Tails, absorbed its Chakra, and dispersed the unfinished Tailed Beast Bomb as it struggled to break free.
• Mei Terumi and the other Kirigakure Ninja watched in disbelief as Tsunade subdued the Six-Tails with Wood Release.
• Mei Terumi felt frustrated by Tsunade’s strength and worried that Konoha might become too powerful, while Rikuto joked that marriage would make Konoha and Kirigakure one family.

Tsunade used Wood Release to suppress the rampaging Six-Tails, leaving its Jinchūriki gravely injured and drained of chakra. Rikuto offered to return the Six-Tails to Mei, but Tsunade demanded that Ao surrender his Byakugan.

• Mei Terumi responded with amusement to Rikuto's boast that he would steal her away if she married someone else, while Karin muttered jealously.
• The Six-Tails broke free of Tsunade's wooden restraints and devastated the surrounding forest as everyone retreated.
• Tsunade summoned a Wood Dragon that bound the Six-Tails, pierced it with thorns, and drained its chakra until it could no longer struggle.
• After the Six-Tails disappeared, the Kirigakure ninja saw its unconscious Jinchūriki lying bloodied and feared that Rikuto's group might take the beast.
• Rikuto offered to return the Six-Tails to Mei, but Tsunade demanded that Ao reclaim the Hyuga Byakugan in his right eye, leaving him sweating in alarm.

Tsunade demanded that Kirigakure return Ao’s Byakugan, while Mei Terumi resisted because it was valuable to her village and Ao was her trusted subordinate. After a Kirigakure Anbu attacked Karin and Shizune killed him with one punch, the Kirigakure group felt overwhelmed, and Ao stepped forward as the chapter ended.

• Tsunade demanded Ao’s Byakugan back, and Mei Terumi and the Kirigakure Anbu refused.
• Shizune and Rikuto warned Mei Terumi that Kirigakure would not take the Six-Tails Jinchuriki unless they surrendered the Byakugan.
• A Kirigakure Anbu attacked Karin to take her hostage, but Shizune intercepted him and killed him with a single punch.
• Ao realized that Kirigakure had little chance against Tsunade, Rikuto, and Shizune, while Tsunade pressed Mei Terumi for an answer.
• Ao stepped forward as the Kirigakure group faced Tsunade’s demand.

Ao agreed to return the Byakugan in exchange for Kirigakure taking the Six-Tails Jinchuriki home unharmed, and Rikuto removed the eye despite its sealing curse. After Tsunade let the Kirigakure group leave, Mei insulted her age and provoked her into a furious confrontation.

• Ao offered to return his Byakugan and demanded that Tsunade let Kirigakure take the Six-Tails Jinchuriki home unharmed.
• Tsunade agreed and offered to transplant an eye, but Mei refused her help and said Kirigakure had its own medical-nin.
• Ao warned Rikuto that a Cursed Seal protected the Byakugan, but Rikuto tore through the seal and gouged the eye out.
• Tsunade let Mei and the Kirigakure Ninja leave with the Six-Tails Jinchuriki and warned them that keeping a Tailed Beast could be dangerous.
• Mei mocked Tsunade for being an old woman who looked eighteen, and Tsunade angrily demanded to know whom she had called old.

Rikuto parted from Mei Terumi after Tsunade and Mei clashed over Ao’s Byakugan, then followed the Kirigakure group and gave Mei a Sharingan as a meeting gift. Mei and her companions left with the eye, while Rikuto returned to Tsunade, Karin, and Shizune.

• Tsunade and Mei Terumi traded insults and stares but avoided a fight, and Mei left with Ao and the Kirigakure Ninja.
• Rikuto preserved Ao’s removed Byakugan in a vial and offered it to Karin and Shizune to examine.
• Rikuto reassured Tsunade that she mattered more to him, prompting Karin to pout over his interest in Mei.
• Mei stopped the Kirigakure group to apologize to Ao, who urged her to report Tsunade’s Wood Release and arrange a replacement eye.
• Rikuto caught up with Mei and gave her a vial containing a Sharingan, explaining that it eased his conflict over supporting her.

Rikuto gave Mei Terumi the Sharingan he had taken from Danzo, kissed her before leaving, and returned to Hot Water Town. Shizune visited him that night for their training and realized he had only just returned.

• Rikuto gave Mei Terumi the Sharingan for Ao and kissed her before vanishing with Flying Thunder God.
• Mei Terumi told Ao and the others to keep quiet about the kiss, then ordered a medical-nin to replace Ao’s eye with the Sharingan.
• Rikuto returned to his inn room in Hot Water Town and reflected that he had placed a Flying Thunder God Mark on Mei Terumi.
• Shizune came to Rikuto’s room and asked whether they would train that night.
• Shizune noticed a scent on Rikuto and questioned whether he had just returned.

Rikuto helped Shizune master the Strength of a Hundred Seal, and their training turned intimate. Shizune fled back to her room before Rikuto could persuade her to stay the night.

• Rikuto helped Shizune train in the Strength of a Hundred Seal and Swift Release while Shizune warned him not to let Tsunade learn about his visits to Mei Terumi.
• Shizune successfully mastered the Strength of a Hundred Seal and thanked Rikuto with an embrace.
• Shizune and Rikuto kissed, and Shizune boldly gave him a blowjob.
• Rikuto asked Shizune to stay the night, but she refused because Karin was in her room and hurried back there.
• Rikuto watched Shizune leave and noted that it was already past two in the morning.

Rikuto visited Tsunade after helping Shizune master the Yin Seal and the Strength of a Hundred Seal, and the two grew more intimate. The next morning, Tsunade regretted letting Rikuto persuade her to use a Shadow Clone, but she accepted that their relationship had crossed another line.

• Rikuto told Tsunade that Shizune had successfully mastered the Yin Seal and the Strength of a Hundred Seal.
• Tsunade defended her decision to break up Rikuto's potential match with a woman from Kirigakure, warning him about the village's dangers.
• Rikuto pressed Tsunade for affection, and she eventually gave in to a kiss and let him use a Shadow Clone in her place.
• Tsunade woke the next morning embarrassed by the vivid memories that returned when her Shadow Clone dispersed, and she told Rikuto to leave.
• Rikuto kissed Tsunade again, and she closed her eyes and accepted that she could no longer pretend nothing had changed between them.

After leaving the Land of Hot Water, Rikuto suggested that the group visit the Land of Whirlpools to seek information about the Uzumaki Clan’s Sealing Jutsu. Tsunade agreed, and the group prepared to depart.

• Rikuto returned to his room after meeting with Tsunade, then joined Shizune and Karin in the hallway.
• Karin wondered why Tsunade had been waking up and getting ready so late, and Rikuto blamed her behavior on her hard work fighting the Six-Tails.
• Tsunade joined Rikuto, Karin, and Shizune for breakfast and announced that they would leave the Land of Hot Water now that its summer festival had ended.
• Rikuto suggested visiting the Land of Whirlpools to look for information about the Uzumaki Clan’s Sealing Jutsu, and Tsunade agreed.
• The group settled their bill and prepared to leave the Land of Hot Water.

Rikuto used his combined Byakugan and Red Eye to find a hidden Uzumaki Clan entrance in the Land of Whirlpools. Karin opened it with her Adamantine Sealing Chains, and the group reached a secret underground chamber.

• Rikuto activated the Byakugan and Red Eye together and scanned the ruins across the island.
• Rikuto spotted a hidden entrance beneath an ordinary hill and led Tsunade, Shizune, and Karin to it.
• Karin placed her hand on the hill, sensed something unusual, and used her Adamantine Sealing Chains to split it open.
• Rikuto led the others through the underground passage into a secret chamber, where Tsunade, Shizune, and Karin stared in astonishment.

Rikuto chose to remain in the Land of Whirlpools to study the Uzumaki Clan’s archives and develop a Forbidden Technique, parting from Tsunade, Shizune, and Karin. After three days of intensive study with his Wood Clones, he had mastered the collection and was ready to begin his work.

• Rikuto found the Uzumaki Clan’s extensive collection of Sealing Jutsu and related documents and said he could perfect his Forbidden Technique within three months.
• Tsunade accepted Rikuto’s decision to stay behind, while Shizune and Karin reluctantly said goodbye to him.
• Rikuto reassured the women that he could reach them with the Flying Thunder God Technique and promised to visit when he had time.
• After Tsunade, Shizune, and Karin departed in a Wood Release helicopter, Rikuto summoned over a hundred Wood Clones to study the archive.
• Rikuto and his Wood Clones mastered the collection in less than three days, and Rikuto prepared to begin developing the Forbidden Technique.

Rikuto returned to Root, obtained Shinnō’s body-related forbidden techniques, and assigned him and the captured Sky Ninja to research and testing. Root agents then reported finding Kinkaku and Ginkaku’s bodies along with the Treasured Tools of the Six Paths, leaving Rikuto and the others to examine the discovery.

• Rikuto arrived at Root and asked Shimura Danzō whether his agents had found Shinnō, whom they had captured as a remnant of the Sky Ninja.
• Shimura Danzō and Aburame Ryoma reported that Root had seized Shinnō’s techniques and the Sky Ninja’s technology, and had sealed the prisoners’ Chakra.
• Aburame Ryoma told Rikuto that Shinnō had tried to seal Zero-Tails inside Amaru, and Rikuto decided to have Nanako Uzumaki raise the girl.
• Rikuto studied Shinnō’s Body Activation and Body Revival techniques, then ordered Root to prepare a training room and bring him Sky Ninja prisoners as test subjects.
• A Root squad reported finding Kinkaku and Ginkaku’s bodies and the Treasured Tools of the Six Paths, and Second Tsuchikage Mu reacted with astonishment.

Rikuto recovered the Gold and Silver Brothers’ bodies and four of their Six Paths Treasured Tools, then tested the Bashōsen’s power. He ordered Danzo to retrieve Takumi Village’s Ultimate Weapon and Seimei’s remains while he began research on sealing basic nature transformations into scrolls.

• Danzo gave Rikuto scrolls containing the Gold and Silver Brothers’ sealed bodies and four treasured tools: the Kohaku no Jōhei, Bashōsen, Benihisago, and Shichiseiken.
• Danzo recalled that the Third Raikage had taken the brothers’ Amber Purifying Pot, which was later used to seal the Eight-Tails, and remembered how the Second Hokage’s sacrifice led to Hiruzen becoming Hokage instead of him.
• Rikuto used the Bashōsen in the Land of Whirlpools, demonstrating its wind, fire, water, and lightning attacks before unleashing all five chakra natures together.
• Rikuto warned that the Bashōsen required substantial Chakra and ordered Danzo to bring him Seimei’s Ultimate Weapon and remains from Takumi Village.
• Rikuto created over a hundred Wood Clones and began researching how to seal the Five Basic Nature Transformations into scrolls.

Rikuto advanced his research into sealing powerful Ninjutsu, then used his Red Eye to watch Anko fight Kakashi at Training Ground Seven. He was curious to see how well Anko could perform with Kiba against Kakashi without using her Cursed Seal.

• Rikuto outlined research phases for creating reusable scrolls that could transform ordinary Chakra into Ninjutsu, and tested sealing various nature types.
• Rikuto sealed an A-rank Ninjutsu into a scroll but found that it could only be used once.
• Rikuto sensed Anko and Kakashi fighting at Training Ground Seven and watched them from the Root base using his Red Eye.
• Anko attacked Kakashi with Kiba and Lightning Release: Lightning Fang as Kurenai, Might Guy, Asuma, and other shinobi watched.
• Rikuto speculated that Anko had acquired Kiba after Raiga's death and that Kakashi had left the Anbu, then decided to end his research early to watch the fight.

Anko used Kiba and her Dark Release to turn Kakashi’s Lightning Blade attack against him during their fight at Training Ground Seven. Kakashi was left shocked and retreating as the onlookers realized how much Anko’s abilities had changed.

• Kakashi revealed his Sharingan and used Lightning Blade to cut through Anko’s lightning attacks as he charged her.
• Anko’s Kiba sent lightning down from the sky, numbing Kakashi before she kicked him away.
• Kakashi used a Shadow Clone as a feint and attacked Anko from behind with his real Lightning Blade.
• Anko absorbed the Lightning Blade through a seal on her neck, then absorbed the lightning surging through Kiba and emerged unharmed.
• Kakashi retreated in shock while the watching shinobi recognized Anko’s Dark Release, and Kurenai praised her strength.

Anko absorbed Kakashi’s Lightning Blade during their spar, prompting Kakashi to end the fight and concede. Later, Rikuto returned to Kurenai Yuhi’s home and reunited with Kurenai Yuhi and Anko, who told him about their recent mission.

• Anko used Dark Release to absorb Kakashi’s Lightning Blade and the lightning from his Shadow Clone, then wielded the technique herself.
• Kakashi declared Anko the winner and left the arena, while Kurenai Yuhi stopped Anko from chasing after him.
• Anko abandoned her plan to prank Kakashi and went with Kurenai Yuhi to the Yuhi home, where they found Rikuto waiting.
• Anko and Kurenai Yuhi embraced Rikuto, who said he had returned after finishing what Tsunade could teach him.
• Rikuto praised Anko for obtaining Kiba, and Kurenai Yuhi told him that their recent mission had involved Raiga Kurosuki and Zabuza.

Rikuto spent several days researching a reusable Ninjutsu scroll and successfully created one that could repeatedly cast Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique when supplied with Chakra. He tested the scroll at the Root base, where it blasted a reinforced wall apart.

• Rikuto left Kurenai Yuhi and Anko in the morning and went to the Root base.
• Kurenai Yuhi and Anko woke up and teased each other about their intimate night with Rikuto.
• Rikuto gathered research from his Wood Clones and continued working on Chakra nature transformation simulations.
• After several days of experiments, Rikuto inscribed a reusable Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique scroll.
• Rikuto supplied the scroll with Chakra and watched it unleash a Great Fireball that wrecked a reinforced wall.

Rikuto created tougher Chakra-conducting paper with Wood Release and used it to inscribe reusable Ninjutsu scrolls. After three days of research, he made a Flying Thunder God Teleportation Tag and began testing its safety with controlled Sky Ninja.

• Rikuto found that ordinary scrolls wore down after repeated use and said he could make better Chakra paper himself.
• Rikuto used Wood Release to produce piles of scrolls and tags, then had himself and his Wood Clones inscribe C-rank through A-rank Ninjutsu and Sealing Jutsu.
• Rikuto and his Wood Clones spent three days developing a Flying Thunder God Teleportation Tag that teleported its user to a fixed coordinate tag.
• Rikuto tested the tag and found that its Chakra cost increased with distance, warning that insufficient Chakra could cause failure or endanger the user.
• Rikuto used Sharingan Genjutsu to control several Sky Ninja and make them test the tags while Aburame Ryoma watched in astonishment.

Rikuto tested Flying Thunder God Teleportation Tags and began refining them after a Sky Ninja died in a teleportation accident. Later, he encountered Amaru repeatedly trying to leave Konoha, and Nanako comforted her over the loss of her home and family.

• Rikuto left the tags’ correction and improvement to his Wood Clones after one Sky Ninja teleported into a wall and died.
• Rikuto saw Uzuki Yugao restraining Amaru, who had tried to escape Konoha for the thirty-second time.
• Uzuki Yugao explained that Amaru’s village was gone and that staying in Konoha would protect her from danger.
• Amaru insisted she had to watch over her dead villagers and rejected the idea of living in Konoha.
• Nanako embraced Amaru and told her that she should keep living to honor those who had died.
• Amaru broke down in Nanako’s arms and sobbed.

Nanako brought Amaru home to live with her and introduced her to Rikuto and Uzuki Yugao. Amaru quickly became fascinated by Rikuto’s stories, and she asked him what happened to Fire Fly Star and Natsuhiboshi.

• Nanako asked Amaru to become her daughter, and Amaru ran toward the village, calling for Nanako to come home.
• Rikuto revealed that he had mastered the Flying Thunder God Technique and reunited with Nanako and Uzuki Yugao.
• Nanako brought Amaru to the Chiya home and introduced her to Rikuto and Uzuki Yugao.
• Amaru recognized Yugao as the masked Anbu who had stopped her from leaving the village, then warmed up to Rikuto as he told her about his adventures.
• Rikuto told Amaru about Fire Fly Star and Natsuhiboshi leaving their son to protect Hoshigakure, and Amaru tearfully condemned the village’s leaders.
• Rikuto told Amaru to call him Brother Rikuto, and she eagerly asked him what happened to the couple.

Rikuto walked Uzuki Yugao home and comforted her about her performance on a recent mission. Yugao invited him to dinner at her house the next day, while their conversation touched on her childhood friendship with Gekko Hayate.

• Nanako Uzumaki told Rikuto she had found a house and planned to move out, and Rikuto agreed to bring Karin to visit it.
• Rikuto insisted on walking Uzuki Yugao home and reassured her that struggling against two members of the Seven Swords of Kirigakure was nothing to be ashamed of.
• Yugao thanked Rikuto for saving her from fatal injuries on a past mission and invited him to eat at her house the next day.
• Rikuto asked whether Gekko Hayate was Yugao's boyfriend, and Yugao said she thought of him only as an older brother.
• At Yugao's house, Rikuto joked that he would return home using Flying Thunder God, then corrected her about the technique's creator.

Hyuga Ayako and Hanabi discovered that Hinata had been eating much more than usual, while Rikuto watched Hinata train with fierce determination. After returning to her room, Hinata reunited with Rikuto, who soothed her fatigue and teased her about missing him, leaving her flustered.

• Hyuga Ayako and Hanabi learned from a Branch Family maid that Hinata had been eating an unusually large amount before training.
• Hinata practiced the Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms and Twin Lion Fists at the training ground.
• Rikuto watched Hinata train and admired her determination, though she still could not master Rotation.
• After resting and spending time with her mother and Hanabi, Hinata returned to her room and found Rikuto waiting.
• Rikuto comforted Hinata with healing Chakra and asked whether she had missed him, making her blush and stammer.

Rikuto visited Hinata in her bedroom, where they shared an intimate moment before she fell asleep in his arms. The next morning, Hanabi asked Hinata to spend time with her, while Hyuga Ayako mentioned that the Main Family elders believed an important matter concerning Hanabi could no longer be delayed.

• Rikuto reassured Hinata that the Hyuga Clan’s Byakugan could not detect him and said he wanted to keep her company.
• Rikuto kissed Hinata, then held her as she fell asleep.
• Hinata woke to find Rikuto gone and realized his visit had not been a dream.
• Hanabi entered Hinata’s room and asked her to go out together while their father was away.
• Hyuga Ayako encouraged her daughters to balance training with rest and said the elders believed Hanabi’s matter could not be put off any longer.

Hinata took Hanabi out for a rare day of fun after learning that Hanabi was expected to receive the Caged Bird Seal and become Branch Family. She promised to protect her sister and brought her to meet someone, where Hanabi discovered two tiny people inside moving puppets.

• Hinata learned that the clan elders were pressuring Hiashi to make Hanabi a Branch Family member and have her branded with the Caged Bird Seal.
• Hanabi accepted the prospect of the seal as her duty to protect Hinata, and Hinata vowed not to let her be bound.
• Hinata took Hanabi around the village, shared treats with her, and used a leaf crane from Brother Rikuto to contact him.
• Hinata brought Hanabi to a training ground, where Hanabi used her Byakugan to see two miniature people inside the puppets moving on their own.

Hinata brought Hanabi to meet Tenten and used a green paper crane to summon Rikuto. Rikuto welcomed Hanabi and gave her a chakra crystal pendant shaped like her, leaving her delighted but unsure whether to accept it.

• Hinata showed Hanabi Tenten’s Mini Shadow Clone technique and introduced the sisters to Tenten.
• Hinata told Tenten she wanted to summon Rikuto for help, and Hanabi recognized his name and reputation.
• Hinata poured chakra into the green paper crane, and Rikuto teleported from the Root base to meet them.
• Rikuto greeted Hanabi and created a dark green chakra crystal pendant shaped like her.
• Rikuto put the pendant around Hanabi’s neck, and Hinata told her she could accept it as family.