Chapter Summaries

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.

After passing the second exam, Sakura and the other candidates gathered for the preliminary rounds, where Sasuke overcame his Cursed Seal long enough to defeat Akado Yoroi. The first three matches concluded, and the next pairing put Sakura against Neji.

• Sakura and the other candidates gathered in the tower as the Third Hokage explained the political purpose behind the Chunin Exams.
• Gekko Hayate announced Sasuke Uchiha versus Akado Yoroi as the first match, and Sakura told Kakashi she had something important to discuss after the preliminaries.
• Sasuke’s Cursed Seal overwhelmed him during the fight, but Naruto and Sakura’s shouts helped him regain his strength and defeat Akado Yoroi.
• Shino Aburame defeated Zaku Abumi in the second match, and Kankuro defeated Misumi Tsurugi in the third.
• Gekko Hayate announced Sakura Haruno versus Neji Hyuga as the fourth match.

Sakura faced Neji in the Chunin Exam and chose to fight him with Taijutsu, while Neji tried to convince her that her limitations made defeat inevitable. Their opening clash left them evenly matched, with Sakura’s powerful Strong Fist meeting Neji’s fluid Gentle Fist.

• Sakura and Neji leaped from the stands into the hall, where Neji used his Byakugan to recognize her water-assisted Nintaijutsu and Sakura admired his appearance.
• The examiner announced Sakura Haruno versus Neji Hyuga, and Kakashi predicted Sakura’s Nintaijutsu gave her a strong chance against Neji despite Guy and Lee’s doubts.
• Sakura told Neji she would fight with Taijutsu, and Neji criticized her potential, Chakra reserves, and prospects while insisting his Byakugan had revealed her defeat as destiny.
• Sakura rejected Neji’s claims and refused to surrender, so they charged at each other and began exchanging blows.
• Sakura and Neji fought at high speed, with Neji’s subtle Gentle Fist matching Sakura’s forceful, precise Strong Fist.

Sakura and Neji fought a fierce Taijutsu match, and Neji blocked the Chakra flow in Sakura’s right arm with a Tenketsu strike. Sakura revealed that she had allowed the hit to test herself, rejected Neji’s belief in destiny, and resumed their clash.

• Sakura and Neji exchanged more than a hundred blows, each using their knowledge of Strong Fist and Gentle Fist to counter the other.
• Neji changed his approach and struck a Tenketsu on Sakura’s right arm, blocking its Chakra flow and limiting her Taijutsu and Ninjutsu.
• Neji declared that Sakura had no hope of winning, while Kakashi wondered why she had not used Ultra-Pure Water to stop the strike.
• Sakura reflected that she had allowed Neji to hit her so she could test herself against a skilled Taijutsu opponent.
• Sakura told Neji that destiny was no excuse to avoid reality and declared that she would not admit defeat.
• Sakura and Neji charged at each other again, ready to settle their disagreement with their fists and feet.

Sakura overwhelmed Neji with a fierce Nintaijutsu assault, but her strained right arm gave him an opening to use Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms. She survived by relying on Water Release, defeated him, and declared that she would keep forging her own path rather than submit to destiny.

• Sakura’s loss of Chakra control in her right arm made her Nintaijutsu harder to control, but she intensified her attacks and drove Neji onto the defensive.
• Neji evaded Sakura’s assault until her right arm faltered, then struck her with Gentle Fist: Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms.
• Sakura caught Neji by surprise after the final strike and knocked him down with a punch when his Rotation lacked enough power to stop her.
• Sakura explained that her Water Release had protected her from Neji’s Gentle Fist and that she had fought with Nintaijutsu to improve her Taijutsu.
• Sakura declared that she would overcome her limitations and refuse to bow to destiny.

After Sakura defeated Neji and urged him to keep hope of escaping his fate, Naruto faced Kiba in the sixth match. Naruto overcame Kiba’s fierce attacks with his strength and stamina, advancing alongside Sakura and Sasuke to the Chunin Ninja Exams’ final round.

• Sakura defeated Neji, and Neji admitted his loss as Sakura encouraged him to believe he could escape the Hyuga Main Family and Branch Family’s fate.
• Naruto celebrated Sakura’s victory, then learned he would fight Kiba Inuzuka in the sixth round.
• Naruto ignored Sakura’s warning and fought Kiba and Akamaru hand-to-hand, using his Chakra-enhanced strength to withstand their attacks.
• Kiba’s stamina ran low, and Naruto exploited an opening to knock him down with a punch.
• Naruto defeated Kiba, ensuring that all three members of Team 7 advanced to the final round of the Chunin Ninja Exams.