Recaps

Rikuto developed chakra-imbued tags, settled Tsunade in the Land of Whirlpools, and revived her younger brother Nawaki. The arc left Rikuto back in Konoha, watching a Ninja Academy lesson as the students noticed him.

• Rikuto revealed Root’s abuses to Uzuki Yugao, then secured her release from the Anbu by demonstrating Wind Release: Rasenshuriken and offering it to Hiruzen Sarutobi.
• Rikuto gave Moegi an Artificial Devil Fruit that awakened her Wood Release, and he began training her to control it.
• Rikuto developed Flying Thunder God Teleportation Tags and Mystical Palm Tags, then agreed with Tsunade to settle and research forbidden medical techniques in the Land of Whirlpools.
• Rikuto transformed the Land of Whirlpools into a lush estate for Tsunade, while Shizune and Karin returned to Konoha with teleportation tags.
• Rikuto stole One's Own Life Reincarnation from Chiyo and used it with Impure World Reincarnation to revive Nawaki in a young body.
• Rikuto brought Nawaki to Tsunade, who embraced him and learned that Root had preserved his organs and that Rikuto had sacrificed a Sky Ninja spy to restore him.
• Rikuto took Moegi back to Konoha and warned her to keep her Wood Release hidden, then visited the Academy as Iruka’s students began a practical combat lesson.

Rikuto tested the Academy students, rewarded their teamwork, and guided Sakura, Yugao, and Koyuki through new training and powers. Meanwhile, he developed a powerful mecha, while Hiruko’s hunt for strength brought him into conflict with Akatsuki members.

• Rikuto challenged the Academy students to break Rashomon, and they worked together to pierce it before Sakura won the draw for his guidance.
• Rikuto rewarded the students with Gravity Talismans and brought Sakura to Shizune to begin medical-ninjutsu training.
• Rikuto trained Uzuki Yugao in new techniques, gave her the Peacock Twin Swords, and later reunited with Tsunade before recognizing Koyuki at the cinema.
• Rikuto revealed his identity to Koyuki, gave her an ice-blue Devil Fruit, and trained her through simulated battles until she resolved to face Kazahana Dōtō.
• Rikuto tested Aburame Ryoma’s regeneration and joined Seimei in piloting a powerful mecha that fought his Wood Clone with advanced techniques.
• Rikuto planned to improve the mecha by studying a Byakugan, while Hiruko killed Kuroishi Motokawa and encountered Itachi, Kisame, and Kakuzu.
• Hiruko agreed to prove his strength to Akatsuki, then fought Kakuzu by absorbing and returning his flames and striking his heart with a bone spike.
• Kakuzu survived Hiruko’s attack, vowed to take his heart, and unleashed the masked monsters emerging from his back.