Naruto Shippuden · Climax (cont.)

The Alliance faces the Ten-Tails and takes heavy losses: Shikaku, Inoichi and Neji die, Neji while shielding Naruto and Hinata. Elsewhere, a revived Hashirama tells his story with Madara, the founding of Konoha and the peace that fell apart. Sasuke hears the truth about Itachi and decides to fight to protect the village. The Hokage reach the battlefield, and Sasuke fights alongside Naruto and Sakura again, reforming Team 7. Kakashi battles Obito inside the Kamui dimension. In the end, Obito returns and absorbs the Ten-Tails, becoming its jinchūriki.

1. ReferenceStones on the river

   In ep. 367, Hashirama and Madara meet as kids skipping stones on a river. That place and that friendship explain the Valley of the End statues where Naruto and Sasuke fought.

   source ↗
2. CameoAll four Hokage together

   Orochimaru revives the First, Second, Third and Fourth Hokage. He'd already brought back the first two during Konoha Crush; now the Third, who beat him that day, returns on his side.

   source ↗
3. SetupNeji's death echoes

   Neji dies in ep. 364 protecting Naruto and Hinata. His death echoes in a tribute much later in the saga.

   source ↗