Recaps

Rikuto’s return to Konoha exposed his immense Wood Release power, and he later freed Neji from the Caged Bird Seal and helped Hinata improve her Gentle Fist. He reunited with friends and mentors, then offered Kurenai Yuhi a way to strengthen her abilities and preserve her youth.

• Hiruzen sent Tenzo to test Rikuto, but Rikuto’s counterattack shattered part of Hokage Rock and led to a battle at Training Ground Three, where he overwhelmed the Anbu with Wood Release.
• Rikuto released Kakashi, Tenzo, and the other Anbu, then flew away, while Hiruzen sealed off the area and told villagers that an enemy spy had caused the damage.
• After rejecting Hiruzen’s implied effort to groom him as a successor, Rikuto met Neji, learned about the Caged Bird Seal, and dismantled it without alerting the Hyuga Main Family.
• Rikuto demonstrated advanced Byakugan techniques through Neji’s body, then found Hinata crying and trained her in the Gentle Fist until she reached thirty-two consecutive strikes.
• Rikuto reunited with Tenten, Ino, and Anko, while Tenten showed her skill with Rikuto No. 1 and Hinata later astonished Hyuga Hiashi with her improved technique.
• Rikuto reunited with Kurenai Yuhi, offered to guide her Ninjutsu training, and kissed her after she admitted to herself that she had developed feelings for him.
• Rikuto brought Kurenai Yuhi into her mental world and explained that he could help her form the Strength of a Hundred Seal and periodically regulate her body to keep her young.

Rikuto trained Kurenai, Anko, and the younger Konoha shinobi, removed Anko’s Cursed Seal, and developed powerful new techniques and Devil Fruits. He left Konoha with Karin to reunite with Tsunade and Shizune in the Land of Hot Water.

• Rikuto trained Kurenai Yuhi in Fire and Earth Release, the Mysterious Peacock Method, and the Lizard Clan’s summoning techniques, helping her become an all-round Jonin.
• Rikuto removed Orochimaru’s Cursed Seal of Heaven from Anko, healed its damage, and formed Yin and Strength of a Hundred Seals for her.
• Kurenai defeated Anko in a sparring match, while Hinata astonished the Hyuga elders by mastering advanced Gentle Fist techniques.
• Rikuto helped Tenten improve her puppet skills and taught Ino, Shikamaru, and Choji new techniques that inspired the Nara clan to develop its shadow arts.
• At Root, Rikuto summoned Second Tsuchikage Mu, learned Dust Release and weight-altering Earth Release techniques, and tested Devil Fruits made from Ranmaru and a Storm Release ninja.
• Rikuto gave Kurenai an artificial Devil Fruit that awakened the Red Eye, then said goodbye to his companions and left Konoha with Karin.
• Karin raced Rikuto to the Land of Hot Water, lost, and called him Senior Brother Rikuto before they reunited with Tsunade and Shizune.
• Rikuto showed Tsunade his perfected Yin Seal and gave her, Shizune, and Karin scrolls of custom clothes, while Karin shared gifts from Konoha.

Rikuto’s gifts strengthened Tsunade, Shizune, and Karin before Kurenai’s squad defeated Raiga Kurosuki and Zabuza. At the summer festival, Kirigakure tried to recapture Utakata, but his rampage brought Rikuto and Tsunade into a battle against the Six-Tails.

• Rikuto gave Tsunade, Shizune, and Karin Artificial Devil Fruits that awakened Wood Release, Swift Release, and Uzumaki abilities, then helped them train their new powers.
• Kurenai led Anko, Uzuki Yugao, and Hana Inuzuka against Raiga Kurosuki, Zabuza, and Yuki Haku, and the team killed all three enemies.
• Anko used her Cursed Seal transformation and Dark Release to kill Raiga, then received the Kiba Blades and a promotion to Jonin from the Third Hokage.
• At the Land of Hot Water summer festival, Rikuto recognized Utakata and discovered Mei Terumi, Ao, and Kirigakure’s Tactical Assassination Squad in town.
• Mei and Ao confronted Utakata, but after he escaped their fight, Rikuto incapacitated him with his Sharingan and the Six-Tails went berserk.
• Mei revealed that Madara Uchiha had controlled the Fourth Mizukage, while Kirigakure’s attacks failed to stop the raging Six-Tails, Saiken.
• Rikuto redirected Saiken’s Tailed Beast Bomb with Flying Thunder God, rescued Mei from its acid, and asked Tsunade to take over the fight as Karin jealously scolded him.

Rikuto subdued the Six-Tails, helped Mei and Ao settle the Byakugan dispute, then pursued sealing research and reunited with people across Konoha. The arc left Rikuto helping Hinata protect Hanabi from the clan elders’ plan to brand her with the Caged Bird Seal.

• Tsunade restrained and drained the Six-Tails, then demanded Ao surrender his Byakugan before Kirigakure could take the Jinchūriki home.
• Ao agreed to return the eye, and Rikuto removed it despite its Cursed Seal before giving Mei a Sharingan for Ao and kissing her.
• Rikuto trained with Shizune, grew closer to Tsunade, and then stayed in the Land of Whirlpools to study the Uzumaki sealing archive.
• Rikuto mastered the archive and worked with Root on Shinnō’s techniques, the Six Paths tools, and reusable Ninjutsu and teleportation tags.
• Anko defeated Kakashi by absorbing his lightning with Dark Release, then reunited with Rikuto alongside Kurenai.
• Rikuto developed reusable Fire Release scrolls and Flying Thunder God tags, while Nanako persuaded Amaru to stay in Konoha and become her daughter.
• Rikuto visited Hinata, who learned that the elders wanted Hanabi placed in the Branch Family and branded with the Caged Bird Seal.
• Hinata brought Hanabi to Tenten, summoned Rikuto with a chakra paper crane, and watched him give Hanabi a dark green chakra crystal pendant as a sign of family.