EPISODE CONTEXT

Episode 370 directly follows the extended Hashirama flashback arc where the founding of the Hidden Leaf and its ideological roots were laid bare, giving Sasuke the full picture he demanded before choosing a side. This episode serves as the critical turning point where historical exposition ends and Sasuke's decision propels him — and the narrative — back into the Fourth Shinobi World War battlefield. It bridges the introspective detour with the war's climactic phase, making it essential viewing for understanding Sasuke's motivations in every major conflict that follows.