Recaps

Team 7 began the Land of Waves mission escorting Tazuna, while Sakura concealed her knowledge of the danger surrounding his bridge project. After more than two weeks of peaceful travel, they reached a city near the border and prepared to continue toward Tazuna’s home.

• Sakura arrived at the Konoha Gate disguised with the Transformation Technique, then changed into ordinary travel clothes after Kakashi saw through it.
• Tazuna arrived, and Team 7 set out on the mission to escort him to the Land of Waves.
• Sakura recalled that Gato’s blockade had impoverished the Land of Waves and that Tazuna’s bridge threatened his control.
• Team 7 traveled for more than two weeks through towns outside Konoha, with Sakura watching for an attack that never came.
• The group reached a city near the border and planned to rest for one night before traveling three days to Tazuna’s home.

Sakura explored Sapporo's night market, helped a little girl catch goldfish, and avoided a confrontation with two punks. The next day, Zabuza Momochi attacked Team 7, and Kakashi ordered the others to protect Tazuna while he faced the missing-nin.

• Sakura wandered through Sapporo's festival in a rented kimono, won a cat mask, and helped a little girl catch goldfish with her Taijutsu.
• Sakura caught dozens more goldfish to tease the stall owner, then knocked over a man and was threatened by his blond companion until Kakashi intervened.
• Kakashi watched the two punks leave, saying something about them felt strange, and Team 7 continued its journey the next day.
• As Team 7 neared the river crossing, Zabuza Momochi hurled his Kubikiribōchō at Sakura, who stopped it with her Ultra-Pure Water.
• Zabuza attacked Sakura from behind, but she dodged his strike and kicked his Water Clone; Kakashi then knocked the real Zabuza away before his sword could hit her.
• Kakashi revealed his Three-Tomoe Sharingan and ordered Sakura and the others to form a manji formation around Tazuna while he fought Zabuza.

Sakura and her team fought Zabuza’s Water Clones while Kakashi battled Zabuza in the mist. After Kakashi was trapped in a Water Prison, the Demon Brothers ambushed Sakura, but she escaped with a Substitution Technique as Sasuke and Naruto attacked them with a combined fire-and-wind technique.

• Zabuza covered the riverbank in chakra-infused mist and attacked Sakura, Sasuke, and Naruto with Water Clones.
• Sakura destroyed her Water Clones, while Sasuke and Naruto defeated theirs and Kakashi continued fighting Zabuza.
• Kakashi and Zabuza clashed with powerful techniques, but Zabuza trapped Kakashi in a Water Prison.
• Zabuza sent five more Water Clones against Sakura, who destroyed them while telling Sasuke and Naruto to protect Tazuna.
• The Demon Brothers used a Water Clone as bait and bound Sakura with a chain, but Sakura substituted a hidden Water Clone for herself.
• Naruto summoned Shadow Clones, and Sasuke and Naruto combined Fire Release and Wind Release to attack the Demon Brothers.

Sakura’s ambush badly wounded Zabuza, but Haku’s intervention and Kakashi’s presence forced her to stop before she could finish him. Zabuza retreated, and the group regrouped as Sasuke asked Kakashi about his Sharingan.

• Naruto and Sasuke defeated the Demon Brothers with a combined Ninjutsu attack, while Haku prepared to counter Sakura’s ambush on Zabuza.
• Sakura fired her Water Gun Technique and cut Zabuza’s left arm, then stopped the attack to avoid hitting Kakashi amid Haku’s Thousand Flying Water Needles of Death.
• Zabuza judged the mission too dangerous to continue, released Kakashi from the Water Prison Technique, and retreated with Haku.
• Sakura returned to Tazuna as Kakashi confirmed the enemies had left and rested after using his Sharingan.
• Sasuke asked Kakashi about his Sharingan, and Kakashi said he lacked Uchiha blood and would explain the eye’s history later.
• Kakashi praised Naruto and Sasuke’s teamwork, while Sakura claimed credit for the idea and Naruto and Sasuke teased her about her failed experiments.

Sakura and Kakashi explained Chakra and Chakra control to Naruto and Sasuke before beginning special training at Tazuna’s house in the Land of Waves. Naruto and Sasuke struggled with the tree-walking exercise, while Kakashi arranged for Sakura to discuss her own training with him.

• Sakura recalled how Kakashi had corrected her failed ideas about speeding up Hand Seals, using Shadow Clones for Taijutsu, and training Chakra with inner cultivation methods.
• Sakura, Naruto, Sasuke, and Kakashi arrived at Tazuna’s house, and Kakashi said Zabuza’s injuries would give them about a week to prepare for another attack.
• Kakashi began explaining Chakra, but Naruto and Sasuke showed they barely understood it, so Sakura explained how spiritual and physical energy formed Chakra.
• Sakura demonstrated gathering Chakra in her feet to walk up a tree, then told Naruto and Sasuke to try the exercise.
• Naruto used too much Chakra, broke through the tree, and fell, while Sasuke also struggled with control; Kakashi made a clone to coach them and took Sakura aside to discuss her training.

Kakashi admitted he had little left to teach Sakura and asked about her difficulty producing Ultra-Pure Water. Sakura explained her research and shared her view that Water Release nature transformation meant “flow,” leaving Kakashi impressed by her understanding.

• Kakashi told Sakura that she had found her own path and that he could offer little new training in Ninjutsu or Taijutsu.
• Kakashi asked Sakura to explain her progress and problems with producing Ultra-Pure Water.
• Sakura demonstrated her laborious filtration process and explained that she could produce less than a liter in an hour.
• Kakashi suggested she approach the problem through Ninjutsu and asked how she understood water's nature transformation.
• Sakura argued that Water Release nature transformation was “flow,” explaining how it shaped Water Release techniques and their strengths and weaknesses.
• Kakashi was surprised by the depth of Sakura's explanation and recognized that few Jonin had comparable insight.

Sakura showed Kakashi her Water Release: Spiraling Vortex, an exceptionally powerful water-natured Rasengan, and decided to pursue Ice Release by combining wind and water transformations. Kakashi agreed to guide her through the basics while he protected Tazuna, leaving Sakura to watch over the house, Naruto, and Sasuke.

• Sakura demonstrated Water Release: Spiraling Vortex, astonishing Kakashi with a Rasengan that incorporated water Nature Transformation.
• Kakashi suggested Sakura explore another nature or a Kekkei Genkai to find new ideas for her Water Release development.
• After Kakashi explained the difficulty of combining wind and water transformations, Sakura chose to learn Ice Release.
• Kakashi tested Sakura's wind Nature Transformation and said she needed deeper mastery before attempting Ice Release.
• Kakashi told Sakura to use a Shadow Clone for training and asked her to watch the house, Naruto, and Sasuke while he protected Tazuna.

Sakura helped Naruto and Sasuke improve their tree-climbing chakra control, then pushed herself through intensive training and achieved her first Ice Release transformation. She collapsed from exhaustion after showing Kakashi the ice she had created.

• Sakura brought Naruto and Sasuke lunch and stopped them from resuming strenuous tree-climbing practice immediately after eating.
• Sakura demonstrated chakra control with a transparent Shadow Clone, helping Naruto and Sasuke understand how to climb trees.
• Sakura trained to combine water and wind nature transformations, focusing on mastering Wind Release after Kakashi explained that his copied Ice Release techniques could not guide her.
• After seven days of intensive practice, Sakura combined the two chakra natures and created a piece of ice in her palm.
• Kakashi told the exhausted Sakura to rest, and she fell asleep sitting up; Kakashi carried her to bed and left.

As the bridge neared completion, Sakura defended Tazuna’s home from a probing attack and killed a Kirigakure missing-nin. She left Kakashi and the others at the construction site, where they might also be under attack.

• Sakura told Tsunami that Konoha’s protection and the bridge could help secure the Land of Waves, even as the country grew closer to the Land of Fire.
• On the eighth morning, Sakura used Chakra to wash clothes while Tsunami watched, then sensed enemies approaching the house.
• Two samurai broke into Tazuna’s home and threatened Tsunami, but Sakura’s Water Clone knocked them unconscious.
• Hidden enemies threw poisoned Kunai through a window, and Sakura blocked them with water before launching ice Kunai at the attackers.
• A masked Kirigakure missing-nin entered and used Water Release: Wild Water Wave, but Sakura cut through the technique with a wind-infused ice blade.
• The missing-nin escaped Sakura’s first strike with the Substitution Technique, but her Water Clone stabbed him in the heart with an ice Kunai.

Sakura defeated three Kirigakure missing-nin who attacked Tsunami and Inari, using Chakra sensing, Water Release, and a Water Clone to counter their ambushes. After leaving Tsunami and Inari with a clone to keep them safe, she hurried toward the bridge to support Kakashi.

• Sakura killed Mizuyoshi, then sensed another missing-nin hiding in the mist and defeated him with Super Water Gun Jutsu.
• Sakura brought Tsunami and Inari out of the house and warned them to hide while she went to support Kakashi.
• A bandaged missing-nin ambushed Sakura, but her Water Shield blocked his Kunai and her Water Clone killed him with an ice blade.
• Sakura confirmed all three enemies were dead and told Tsunami and Inari to follow her remaining clone to safety.
• Sakura raced toward the bridge to support Kakashi and the others fighting Zabuza.

Sakura killed Haku to stop her from saving Zabuza, while Kakashi mortally wounded Zabuza. After Naruto confronted Zabuza about Haku’s devotion, Zabuza killed Gato and collapsed beside Haku, where a miracle began to descend.

• Sakura found Sasuke unconscious but alive, then saw Kakashi emerge from the mist with Zabuza pinned and badly wounded.
• Sakura struck Haku with Water Release: Super Water Gun Jutsu as Haku tried to stop Kakashi, and Kakashi’s Lightning Blade mortally wounded Zabuza.
• Gato arrived with his henchmen, revealed his plan to betray Zabuza, and stomped on Haku’s corpse.
• Naruto condemned Zabuza for treating Haku as a tool, and Zabuza admitted he had wronged Haku as tears streamed down his face.
• Zabuza charged through Gato’s henchmen, cut Gato in two, then collapsed beside Haku as a miracle began to descend.

Haku survived Sakura’s attack, and Zabuza died after asking Kakashi and Naruto to care for her and urging her to live. As the Land of Waves mission ended, Haku began to accept Zabuza’s final wish with Sakura’s help.

• Haku coughed up the blood blocking her airway and began breathing again, while Zabuza asked Kakashi and Naruto to look after her before he died.
• Sakura defeated the thugs who attacked the group, and Inari led villagers to the battlefield, where they later put the thugs to work finishing the bridge.
• Haku recovered from her wounds, and Kakashi, Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura accepted her as a companion despite Sakura’s unease about their change from enemies to friends.
• Haku told Sakura she had heard Zabuza’s final words and wondered why she had survived, and Sakura urged her to live for both of them.
• Sakura examined Haku’s healing wound and comforted her, and the mission in the Land of Waves came to a close.

After returning from the Land of Waves, Sakura struggled against Sasuke in training and worried about the coming Chunin Ninja Exams and Orochimaru’s planned attack on Konoha. She reconsidered her impatience with her training just before a piercing cry rang out.

• The new bridge was named the Great Bridge of Courage, and Sakura, Naruto, Sasuke, Kakashi, and Haku left the Land of Waves after three weeks there.
• Sakura lost three spars to Sasuke, whose Two-Tomoe Sharingan countered her Water Clone tactics, and she stopped Naruto from challenging her.
• Sakura worried that she could not warn Konoha about Orochimaru’s Konoha Crush without a credible source, and she resolved to uncover information during the Chunin Ninja Exams.
• Sakura failed to cut through iron with wind-nature Chakra, then reflected that she had become impatient despite years of steady training.
• A long, piercing cry rang out.

Sakura, Naruto, and Sasuke encountered the Sand shinobi Kankuro and Temari after Kakashi dismissed the team. Gaara arrived and ordered his siblings to leave, while Sakura sensed his deadly presence and overwhelming chakra.

• Kakashi dismissed Team 7 for the afternoon, and Sasuke left to train while Naruto agreed to go eat with Sakura.
• Naruto crashed into Kankuro, and Sakura calmly freed him from Kankuro's grip.
• Kankuro threatened Sakura and Naruto, but Sasuke appeared behind him with the Body Flicker Technique and grabbed his wrist.
• Kankuro dropped his puppet, and Sakura searched for Gaara while noticing the puppet's lack of a chakra signature.
• Gaara used his Sand Body Flicker Technique to appear behind Sakura, who instinctively raised an Ultra-Pure Water shield before withdrawing it.
• Gaara rebuked Kankuro for causing trouble, threatened to kill him if he continued, and led Kankuro and Temari away.

Sasuke, Naruto, and Sakura discussed the Chunin Ninja Exams and encountered Rock Lee and Neji before entering the exam. Neji recognized Sakura’s awareness and Naruto’s enormous Chakra, leaving him excited by the strength of this year’s new graduates.

• Sasuke called out to Temari, Kankuro, and Gaara, and he and Gaara exchanged names and expressed interest in each other.
• Sakura explained the Chunin Ninja Exams, and Sasuke challenged Naruto and Sakura to survive the matches so they could fight him.
• Rock Lee confronted Sasuke outside the exam classroom, showed off his speed, and awkwardly asked Sakura on a date before Neji called him away.
• Sasuke, Naruto, and Sakura recognized Lee and Neji as formidable opponents and headed toward the exam.
• Neji told Lee that Naruto had more than ten times their Chakra and that Sakura had reacted to Lee’s movement, then judged Sakura likely the strongest of the three.

Sakura and her teammates gathered with the other Konoha rookies for the Chunin Ninja Exams, where she met the information-gathering senior Kabuto Yakushi. Suspecting Kabuto’s hidden strength, Sakura challenged him by asking for information on herself, Sasuke, and Naruto.

• Sakura reunited with Ino, Shikamaru, Choji, Kiba, Hinata, and Shino as the Konoha rookies gathered in the examination classroom.
• Kiba asked how far the teams thought they could go, and Sakura declared that she would take first place.
• Kabuto Yakushi approached and offered to share information about the exam’s strongest Genin.
• Sasuke asked Kabuto for information on Gaara, Rock Lee, and Neji Hyuga, but Sakura caught Kabuto’s wrist before he could show the cards.
• Sakura asked Kabuto to show her the information on Sasuke Uchiha, Naruto Uzumaki, and Sakura Haruno.

Sakura checked Kabuto’s public information on Team 7 before he described the other exam candidates, then Ibiki Morino arrived and began the first Chunin Exam. Outside, Kakashi, Asuma, and Kurenai discussed whether their students could handle the test, while Kakashi remained confident in Team 7 even as one of them struggled inside.

• Sakura stopped Kabuto from reading Team 7’s cards aloud, reviewed the assessments, and passed them to Sasuke and Naruto.
• Kabuto read aloud the information on Rock Lee, Neji Hyuga, and Gaara, impressing the other rookies with Gaara’s record of completing a B-rank mission without injury.
• Ibiki Morino and the other proctors entered the classroom, ordered the candidates to their seats, and began the first written exam.
• Kakashi, Asuma, and Kurenai discussed how Shikamaru and Team 7 might respond to Ibiki’s test, and Kakashi said he trusted all three of his students.
• One member of Team 7 was already worried about failing the written test while Kakashi remained unaware.

Naruto struggled through the first Chunin Exam before Sakura helped him, and Team 7 entered the Forest of Death with Sakura resolved to face the danger ahead. Sakura later awoke in a tree hideout after a major battle and remembered sensing danger just before three Amegakure Genin ambushed them.

• Naruto panicked over the exam questions, and Hinata offered to let him copy her paper.
• Sakura used Chakra-infused ink to send Naruto the answers, and Naruto passed the first exam after committing to Ibiki Morino’s tenth question.
• Sakura put aside her fear of Orochimaru and led Sasuke and Naruto into the Forest of Death.
• Sakura awoke inside a hollow tree, exhausted, with Sasuke and Naruto unconscious nearby.
• Sakura recalled that three Amegakure Genin had ambushed Team 7 by the river, and she had challenged them while suspecting Orochimaru was nearby.

Sakura and her teammates killed three Rain Ninja, but the attack drew the attention of Orochimaru, who confronted Sakura and Sasuke. After Sakura identified him, Orochimaru revealed that he wanted Sasuke and lunged at him.

• Sasuke and Naruto combined their Fire and Wind techniques to defeat the Rain Ninja, while Sakura killed their surviving leader with a Water Clone.
• A giant snake burst from underground, separating Naruto from Sakura and Sasuke as they dodged its attack.
• Orochimaru appeared atop the snake and overwhelmed Sakura and Sasuke with his killing intent.
• Sakura recovered, recognized Orochimaru, and demanded to know what he wanted.
• Orochimaru declared that he wanted Uchiha Sasuke and darted toward him.

Sakura, Sasuke, and Naruto fought Orochimaru and his giant snakes, but Orochimaru survived their attacks by emerging unharmed from his own severed body. As he prepared to deal with them, Naruto summoned hundreds of Shadow Clones to unleash a mass of wind blades, and Orochimaru answered with Rashomon.

• Sasuke used his Sharingan and kunai against Orochimaru, but Sakura struck Orochimaru with Nintaijutsu and a powerful Water Release technique.
• Orochimaru's body split apart, then four giant snakes burst from underground and attacked Sakura.
• Sakura killed two snakes with an ice blade and used a high-speed water attack to sever the other snakes and Orochimaru.
• Naruto and Sasuke regrouped with Sakura, and Orochimaru emerged unharmed from his severed body.
• Naruto summoned hundreds of Shadow Clones, who unleashed Wind Cutter Technique at Orochimaru.
• Orochimaru used Summoning Technique: Rashomon to counter Naruto's attack.

Sakura, Sasuke, and Naruto battled Orochimaru, whose powerful attacks and clones kept them from landing a decisive blow. After Sakura destroyed another apparent clone, she searched the battlefield for Orochimaru’s real body.

• Orochimaru summoned Rashomon and unleashed a river of venomous snakes, but Sasuke’s Fire Dragon Flame Bullet destroyed the snakes and shattered the gate.
• Orochimaru attacked Sakura from behind, but she blocked his sword with a water shield and crushed his snake-shaped blade with Water Python Strangulation.
• Orochimaru countered with a fire dragon, and Sakura protected herself and her companions with an Ice Release wall.
• Orochimaru swept away Naruto’s Shadow Clones with an extended sword, while Sakura’s Super Water Gun Jutsu cut down an Earth Clone; she then evaded a snake attack and rushed Orochimaru.
• Sakura struck down another Earth Clone and cut apart a further apparent Orochimaru, then searched the sky and ground for his real body.

Sakura survived Orochimaru’s overwhelming snake assault and rejected his offer to join his ninja village. After Orochimaru vanished, she carried the unconscious Naruto and Sasuke deeper into the Forest of Death, seeking somewhere safe to recover.

• Orochimaru unleashed a vast horde of snakes that surrounded Sakura, and she fought them with Water Release techniques until she was exhausted.
• Sakura cut her way out of the snake horde with Water Release: Exploding Thousand Blades and faced Orochimaru across the ruined battlefield.
• Sakura discovered Naruto and Sasuke unconscious, and Orochimaru claimed they were only asleep.
• Orochimaru urged Sakura to join his ninja village, but Sakura rejected him and denied that they were alike.
• Orochimaru vanished after warning Sakura that Sasuke would seek his power, and Sakura used a Water Clone to help move Naruto and Sasuke deeper into the forest.

Anko confronted Orochimaru in the Forest of Death and learned that he had cursed Sasuke and taken an interest in Sakura. Hours later, Sakura defended her hiding place from three Rain Ninja by summoning a vast crowd of Water Clones.

• Anko pinned Orochimaru's clone to a tree, but the Cursed Seal's pain left her unable to fight him.
• Orochimaru told Anko he had given Sasuke a Cursed Seal, admitted he had spared Sakura, and threatened to destroy Konoha if she interfered with his plans.
• Anko found the battlefield where Orochimaru had fought Team 7 and realized Sakura had wielded powerful cutting Ninjutsu against him.
• Sakura woke before dawn, spotted three Rain Ninja approaching, and chose to confront them instead of hiding.
• Sakura summoned more than a hundred Water Clones with ice blades, trapping the Rain Ninja as their leader charged her.

Sakura defeated three Rain Ninja and frightened three Sound Ninja into fleeing by concealing how exhausted she was. Just as she tried to return to her hiding place to rest, a Shadow Imitation Technique caught her.

• Sakura's Water Clones defeated the three Rain Ninja, who surrendered and handed over their scroll, and Sakura let them go.
• Sakura sensed the three Sound Ninja and faced them despite her dwindling stamina.
• Sakura advanced on the Sound Ninja, endured one attack with Ultra-Pure Water, and made them flee by projecting confidence.
• Sakura turned toward her hiding place, but a Shadow Imitation Technique connected to her shadow and three figures landed behind her.

Sakura outmaneuvered Shikamaru, Ino, and Choji when her Water Substitution escaped Shikamaru’s Shadow Possession, but Shikamaru still trapped her after judging that she was too exhausted to fight. Sakura then persuaded Ino to switch sides by promising to help her with Sasuke, and the six-person team joined forces.

• Sakura escaped Shikamaru’s Shadow Possession with Water Substitution and showed that Ino’s Mind Body Switch Technique could not control her.
• Shikamaru explained that Sakura’s exhaustion gave his team an advantage and trapped her with Shadow Possession.
• Sakura warned Ino that stealing Team 7’s scroll could make Sasuke resent her, then promised to help her win his affection and pass the exam.
• Ino defected to Sakura’s side, and Shikamaru released Sakura as the six-person team formed.