Chapter Summaries

Sakura reflected on her conflicted feelings and told Jiraiya that ninjas should be professionals who use their abilities for more than war. After discussing Naruto and the meaning of being a ninja, she challenged Jiraiya to test her Azure Water Release, and her Water Clone struck him with tremendous force.

• Sakura wondered whether her dream of kissing Haku meant she had romantic feelings for her, but concluded she saw Haku only as a friend.
• Jiraiya told Sakura that Naruto was the son of his former student, the Fourth Hokage, and asked what being a ninja meant to her.
• Sakura argued that ninjas should use Chakra and Ninjutsu for more than fighting, and criticized the wars caused by the ninja village system.
• Jiraiya compared Sakura's dedication to mastering Water Release with Minato Namikaze's pursuit of powerful techniques and warned her not to underestimate Naruto.
• Sakura told Jiraiya she had mastered the Wind Release: Rasengan and challenged him to face her second-stage Azure Water Release.
• Sakura's Azure Water Release Water Clone accelerated toward Jiraiya and struck him, raising a cloud of dust that revealed he had withstood the attack.

Sakura tested her Blue Water techniques against Jiraiya, then refined the Blue Water Clone while training Ice Release with Haku. On the day of the third exam, Sakura agreed to face Naruto without holding back, and their match began as the Konoha Collapse Operation approached.

• Sakura used her Blue Water Clone and Water Binding Technique to defeat Jiraiya's summoned toads, then explained Blue Water's strength and limitations.
• Jiraiya asked Sakura to show Naruto her full strength in their formal match, and Sakura agreed not to lose to him.
• Sakura trained with Haku, developed her Ice Release skills, and redesigned the Blue Water Clone to use ultrapure water as armor instead of constantly spending Chakra.
• On the morning of the third exam, Sakura used Water Release: Telescope Technique from Hokage Rock and spotted Naruto talking with Hinata.
• At the exam venue, the Third Hokage began the official matches, and the first bout was announced as Naruto Uzumaki versus Sakura Haruno.
• Naruto asked Sakura to fight at full strength, and Genma Shiranui started their match.

Sakura and Naruto fought in the Chunin Exam arena, trading clone feints, Water and Ice Release techniques, and Rasengan attacks. Naruto was nearly exhausted, but the Nine-Tails' chakra surged around him, and he warned Sakura that he was coming for her.

• Hanabi asked Neji about Sakura, and Hyuga Hiashi told her to watch the fight closely.
• Sakura used Hidden Mist and Ice Release to destroy Naruto's shadow clones, then took to the air and countered his attacks.
• Naruto said he wanted Sakura to recognize him as a ninja she could trust, then launched a massive shadow-clone assault that nearly caught her with a Rasengan.
• Sakura freed herself, landed, and overpowered the exhausted Naruto with close-range attacks.
• Naruto forced himself to stand and released the Nine-Tails' chakra, forming a visible cloak around himself.

Sakura defeated Naruto in the first match, and Shikamaru forfeited to Temari after trapping her with his Shadow Imitation Technique. Sasuke and Kakashi arrived just before Sasuke’s match against Gaara began, leaving Sakura and the others worried by Gaara’s killing intent and the blood on his clothes.

• Sakura used Azure Water Release to block Naruto’s final attack, won the match, and praised his refusal to give up after he woke.
• Shikamaru advanced from his match with Temari by outmaneuvering her with his shadow, but forfeited because he had run out of chakra.
• Naruto and Sakura confronted Shikamaru over his forfeit, and Shikamaru urged them to focus on Sasuke’s match against Gaara.
• Sasuke and Kakashi arrived at the arena, and Sasuke told Naruto he wanted to fight him after facing Gaara.
• Gaara entered the arena with blood on his clothes, and Genma Shiranui began the match between Sasuke and Gaara.

Sakura fought Sound Ninja during the Konoha Crush, then led Naruto and Shikamaru toward Sasuke before turning back to defend Konoha. After helping stop the giant snakes in the western district, she was rescued by Jiraiya when her stamina failed.

• Sasuke used Chidori to break through Gaara's sand defense as the genjutsu attack began and the Konoha Crush started.
• Sakura fought off Sound Ninja in the stands, then followed Kakashi's orders to wake Naruto and Shikamaru and track Sasuke with Pakkun.
• When Pakkun detected nine pursuing Sound Ninja, Sakura stayed behind and defeated the visible attackers with Water Clones and Explosive Tags; Asuma killed the hidden ninth ninja.
• Sakura scouted the battle between Gamabunta and the One-Tail, then flew back to Konoha on a water glider.
• Sakura destroyed several giant snakes rampaging through the western district, but her stamina failed as another attacked her.
• Jiraiya arrived on Gamabunta, pinned the giant snake, and greeted Sakura.

After the Third Hokage died defending Konoha, Sakura mourned the dead with Ino and Naruto and reflected on the bonds that kept people moving forward. The next day, she sensed Itachi and Kisame at a dessert shop, and Kakashi left with Asuma and Kurenai to pursue them.

• Jiraiya carried Sakura away from the battle because she was exhausted, then arrived at the exam venue after the Third Hokage had died and Orochimaru had escaped.
• Two days after the Konoha Crush, Sakura bought white chrysanthemums at the Yamanaka Flower Shop and comforted a grieving Ino, who asked whether Sakura and Sasuke were a couple.
• Sakura visited the Memorial Stone to honor Fuyuno Maiyo, spoke with Kakashi, and attended the Third Hokage's funeral, where she and Kakashi helped Naruto understand why people risked their lives for others.
• The following day, Sakura ate dessert with Kakashi and sensed Itachi and Kisame sitting nearby; Kakashi told her to wait for Sasuke while he, Asuma, and Kurenai pursued them.

Sakura, Kakashi, and the other Konoha ninja fought Itachi and Kisame, but Itachi left Sasuke and Kakashi with severe mental injuries. After Sakura told Naruto and Jiraiya what had happened, Jiraiya announced that she would join him and Naruto on the trip to find Tsunade.

• Jiraiya persuaded Naruto to travel with him and Sakura, explaining that the trip could help Naruto learn the next stage of Rasengan.
• Kakashi agreed to let Jiraiya take Naruto for his safety and asked him to bring Sakura along to learn from Tsunade.
• Sakura helped defend Kakashi, Kurenai, and Asuma from Itachi and Kisame, using Azure Water Release to shield them from Kisame’s water sharks.
• Sasuke arrived and attacked Itachi with Chidori, but Itachi broke his arm and used Mangekyō Sharingan: Tsukuyomi to knock him unconscious.
• Might Guy confronted Itachi and Kisame, who withdrew after Itachi taunted Sasuke about his hatred.
• At Konoha Hospital, Sakura told Naruto and Jiraiya that Kakashi and Sasuke needed Tsunade’s help, and Jiraiya said Sakura would join them on the journey to find her.

Sakura and Naruto waited by a river while Jiraiya gathered information, but Itachi and Kisame appeared to capture Naruto. Sakura fought them off with her Azure Water Release and Water Blade techniques, though Itachi used Amaterasu to cover their retreat; Jiraiya arrived afterward and led the group toward the next town.

• Jiraiya explained that he had brought Sakura along to meet Tsunade and left Naruto in her care while he searched for information.
• Sakura considered the techniques she hoped to learn from Tsunade and told Naruto to focus on Taijutsu rather than asking for more Ninjutsu.
• Itachi and Kisame confronted Sakura and Naruto by the river and demanded that Naruto come with them.
• Sakura used her Water Clone and Azure Water Release to counter Kisame's attacks, then wounded him with her Super Water Cannon Technique.
• Itachi used Amaterasu to stop Sakura from finishing Kisame, and the two Akatsuki members retreated.
• Jiraiya returned, inspected the battle's aftermath, and led Sakura and Naruto toward the next town.

Sakura, Naruto, and Jiraiya tracked Tsunade and Orochimaru to Tanzaku Town, where Sakura fought Orochimaru and forced him to retreat. Jiraiya arrived after the battle, and Tsunade reunited with him.

• Sakura warned Jiraiya that Orochimaru might seek Tsunade for treatment, prompting Naruto and Jiraiya to hurry ahead.
• After reaching Tanzaku Town, Sakura and Naruto followed signs of battle and found Tsunade confronting Orochimaru.
• Kabuto destroyed Sakura and Naruto’s signal flares, but Sakura brought Naruto to Tsunade and faced Orochimaru.
• Sakura cut Orochimaru in half, defeated his summoned Manda with a water technique, and taunted Orochimaru until he escaped with Kabuto.
• Tsunade recovered enough to speak with Sakura and Naruto, then Jiraiya arrived with Shizune and reunited with her.

Sakura challenged Tsunade to confront her grief over Dan and Nawaki, and Tsunade agreed to return to Konoha as the Fifth Hokage and take Sakura as her apprentice. After Tsunade healed Sasuke and Kakashi, Sasuke challenged Sakura and Naruto to fight, and the chapter ended as Sasuke charged at Sakura with Chidori.

• Jiraiya asked Tsunade to become the Fifth Hokage and take Sakura as her apprentice, but Tsunade refused because she feared the deaths tied to pursuing dreams.
• Sakura provoked Tsunade into a fight and let Tsunade punch her, then urged her to honor Dan and Nawaki’s dream; Tsunade broke down and agreed to return to Konoha.
• Naruto said he would risk his life to become Hokage, and Tsunade accepted the role and named Sakura her apprentice the next morning.
• Two days later, Tsunade completed the Hokage succession and used Medical Ninjutsu to wake Sasuke and Kakashi.
• Sasuke challenged Sakura to a duel, then Naruto joined them; on the hospital rooftop, Sasuke attacked Sakura with Chidori.

Sakura kept Sasuke close, sparred with him, and advised him to focus his training in Konoha rather than seek strength from Orochimaru. She then introduced Haku to Ino and Hinata, whose questions ended with Haku asking Sakura whether she liked Naruto or Sasuke.

• Kakashi stopped Sasuke from using Chidori against Sakura, and Sakura persuaded Sasuke and Naruto to train together.
• Sakura lost a Taijutsu spar with Sasuke and explained how she trained Chakra control through everyday movements.
• Sakura advised Sasuke to focus on his Sharingan and one elemental style, and Sasuke left to consider her advice.
• Sakura invited Haku, Ino, and Hinata to a dessert shop, where she introduced Haku and discussed their backgrounds and romantic interests.
• Hinata fainted when Sakura teased her about liking Naruto, and Haku asked Sakura which boy she liked.

Sakura led Naruto, Sasuke, and Haku on a mission to guard actress Fujikaze Yukie during a film shoot in the Land of Snow. After the group reached an iceberg, armored Ice Release attackers ambushed them, and Sakura’s team retreated by ship after blasting apart much of the iceberg.

• Sakura reassured Ino that she had no romantic interest in her teammates, then kissed Ino on the cheek and walked Hinata home.
• Sakura told Naruto and Sasuke that Kakashi was away on a mission and, as a newly appointed Chunin, led them with Haku to accept a mission guarding Fujikaze Yukie.
• Sakura used Genjutsu to knock out Yukie after she refused to travel to the Land of Snow, and Yukie later began filming with the crew.
• On the fourth day of filming, three attackers used Ice Release to ambush the group on an iceberg and demanded that the team hand over Yukie, whom they called Princess Snow.
• Sakura ordered Naruto to evacuate the film crew and, with Sasuke and Haku, fought the attackers before detonating ice across much of the iceberg and retreating with the others by ship.

Asama Sandayu revealed that Princess Snow was Kazahana Koyuki, the rightful heir to the Land of Snow, and Naruto’s team agreed to continue protecting her and confront Kazahana Dōtō. After Dōtō disclosed his plan to use the Hexagonal Crystal to unlock a powerful secret treasure, the team destroyed his train and defeated his three Snow Ninja, leaving Dōtō facing them.

• Asama Sandayu told the group that Kazahana Koyuki was the surviving heir of the Land of Snow and begged her to reclaim her country, but Naruto and the narrator insisted they would fight Kazahana Dōtō.
• The narrator, Haku, Sasuke, and Naruto discussed the Snow Ninja’s imitation Ice Release and the defensive armor they wore, then made a plan to protect the film crew and counterattack.
• After the group reached a new filming location in the Land of Snow, Kazahana Dōtō confronted them by train and explained that Koyuki’s Hexagonal Crystal was the key to a secret treasure inside the Rainbow Ice Wall.
• Naruto’s Shadow Clones vanished after revealing that Koyuki was not present, and Naruto and Sasuke destroyed Dōtō’s weaponized train with a combined Wind and Fire technique.
• Haku blocked the Snow Ninja’s attacks, while the narrator killed the flying Tsurugi with a Chakra-free water blade and Naruto and Sasuke defeated the other two Snow Ninja.
• The narrator landed and called on Kazahana Dōtō to surrender.

The narrator and his allies defeated Kazahana Dōtō, then helped Kazahana Koyuki discover that her family’s hidden treasure could transform the Land of Snow. A geothermal generator warmed the frozen country and brought its first spring.

• Kazahana Dōtō attacked the group with his Chakra Armor, but Sasuke cracked it with Chidori and the narrator pursued the fleeing ruler through Haku’s Demonic Mirroring Ice Crystals, bringing him down alive.
• Asama Sandayu and his companions celebrated Dōtō’s defeat, while Kazahana Koyuki worried that she could not govern the impoverished Land of Snow or give it a future.
• The narrator argued that war would only bring disaster and suggested that the Kazahana family’s hidden treasure might solve the country’s problems, so the group brought Dōtō to the Rainbow Ice Wall.
• Dōtō revealed that the hexagonal crystal opened the treasure, and the narrator’s Water Clone inserted it into the pavilion’s slot.
• The geothermal generator activated, melting the snow and helping plants grow as Kazahana Koyuki, Asama Sandayu, and the people witnessed spring arrive in the Land of Snow.

After returning from the Land of Snow, Sakura was urgently recruited by Tsunade to assist with Lee’s dangerous surgery. The chapter ended as Sakura prepared to help remove bone fragments from Lee’s nerves.

• Sakura and the narrator persuaded Asama Sandayu to let Princess Snow finish her film so it could promote tourism in the Land of Snow.
• Princess Snow completed filming, while the narrator and Haku trained in Ice Release and Sasuke sparred with Haku.
• The team finished its mission, returned to Konoha, and Shizune summoned Sakura to Konoha Hospital.
• Tsunade told Sakura that Lee needed surgery to remove bone fragments from his nerves and trained her intensively through the night.
• Sakura woke at five in the afternoon, put on her surgical gear, and told Tsunade she was ready to begin Lee’s operation.

Sakura finished Lee’s operation, then discovered Sasuke was defecting to Orochimaru and set out with Haku and Naruto to bring him back. Near the Land of Fire border, Naruto continued after Sasuke while Sakura and Haku confronted Kimimaro and the Sound Four, and Sakura killed Jirobo with one attack.

• Sakura and Tsunade completed Lee’s eight-hour operation, removing all the bone fragments without causing further injury.
• Sasuke admitted he planned to leave Konoha for Orochimaru, used genjutsu to incapacitate Sakura, and departed after thanking her.
• Sakura told Tsunade that Sasuke had defected and used a water marker to track him; Tsunade authorized a pursuit with Haku and Naruto.
• Sakura, Haku, and Naruto chased Sasuke toward the Land of Fire border, where Kimimaro and the Sound Four blocked their path.
• Naruto escaped Kidomaru’s attack with Haku’s help and continued pursuing Sasuke while Sakura and Haku stayed to fight.
• Jirobo trapped Sakura in an earth dome, but Sakura pierced the barrier and killed him with her Super Water Gun Technique.

The narrator and Haku fought Kimimaro, Tayuya, Sakon, and Ukon, revealing a new water-and-wind technique and outmaneuvering their coordinated attacks. Haku killed Sakon and Ukon, leaving Kimimaro and two Sound Ninja still to face.

• The narrator sent Haku after Tayuya while he confronted the Sound Ninja, who transformed with their Cursed Seals and tried to keep him at bay.
• Kimimaro and the others coordinated attacks with Tayuya's Genjutsu, Kidomaru's weapons, and Kimimaro's bone forest, but Haku helped the narrator survive.
• The narrator used Wind Cutter Water Blade to destroy the summoned monsters, cut through the bone forest, and force Kimimaro to retreat.
• Sakon appeared with Haku apparently captured and threatened to kill her, but the narrator kept forming Hand Seals and revealed that Sakon held an Ice Clone.
• The Ice Clone exploded and wounded Sakon and Ukon, while Haku emerged from an ice mirror and restrained Sakon so the narrator could kill both brothers with Super Water Gun Jutsu.
• The narrator declared that three Sound Ninja remained.

Sakura and Haku defeated the Sound Four, while Kimimaro died after exhausting his failing body trying to stop them. In a hidden room, Orochimaru and Kabuto discussed the deaths and Orochimaru’s plan to claim Sasuke as his next vessel as Sakura hurried onward.

• Sakura and Haku escaped the Sound Four’s combined ambush with Demonic Mirroring Ice Crystals, then used powerful attacks to incapacitate Tayuya.
• Sakura destroyed Kidomaru’s arrow, severed his spider threads, and killed him with a Super Water Gun Jutsu after her Ice Clone trapped him.
• Kimimaro attacked Sakura despite his failing health, but she easily knocked him down until he forced himself into one final charge and died before reaching her water shield.
• Sakura and Haku left the battlefield in the rain to continue after Sasuke.
• Orochimaru and Kabuto discussed Kimimaro’s death, the Sound Four’s defeat, and Orochimaru’s plan to reincarnate into Sasuke before killing Uchiha Itachi and Sakura Haruno.

Sakura found Naruto unconscious at the Valley of the End, but Sasuke had already left to pursue power and revenge. After returning to Konoha, Naruto chose to train with Jiraiya and vowed to bring Sasuke back, while Sakura agreed to help and saw them off as they departed for three years of training.

• Sakura and Haku found Naruto unconscious at the Valley of the End and learned that the Sasuke beside him was only a Shadow Clone; Sasuke refused to turn back and vanished after warning Sakura they might become enemies.
• Sakura carried Naruto back to Konoha, where Tsunade confirmed he was recovering and agreed to train Sakura in her own Ninjutsu.
• Jiraiya told Naruto that Sasuke had chosen Orochimaru and ordered Naruto to abandon the rescue, but Naruto vowed to defeat Orochimaru and the Akatsuki and bring Sasuke back.
• Sakura promised Naruto she would help him when the time came, then visited Hinata and brought her to the Konoha Gate to see Naruto off.
• Sakura gave Naruto her notes on the next stage of Rasengan training and warned Jiraiya not to teach him bad habits; Naruto then left with Jiraiya for three years of training.

Sakura studied Medical Ninjutsu under Tsunade, mastered and adapted the Monstrous Strength Technique, and sparred with Tsunade to test it. Tsunade then recommended Sakura for assessment to join the Anbu.

• After Sasuke defected and Naruto left to train, Sakura began studying Medical Ninjutsu and human anatomy under Tsunade.
• Sakura learned to use Chakra water to examine her body and developed an inner vision that helped her understand its functions.
• Sakura learned Tsunade's Monstrous Strength Technique, adapted it to boost her speed, and developed her own Sakura Style version.
• During a sparring match, Tsunade warned Sakura that her speed outpaced her ability to react and read an opponent's movements.
• After more than half a year of training, Tsunade gave Sakura a letter recommending her for assessment to join the Anbu.