Recaps

Naruto trained and gathered food outside the village while four Anbu watched over him. That evening, the Third Hokage approached Naruto, who complained about his poverty and offered to share his meal.

• Naruto left the village, ate his bento by a river, and trained his Chakra under the Anbu's watch.
• Naruto caught fish, gathered mushrooms and wild vegetables, and practiced Taijutsu and Hidden Weapons while the Anbu debated whether to help him.
• Naruto prepared grilled fish and soup as night approached.
• The Third Hokage appeared, claiming he had come to check on Naruto, and Naruto complained that he had to forage to save money before offering him food.

After two years of training, Naruto started at the Ninja Academy and reunited with familiar faces, including Sasuke. He ended the chapter seated beside Sakura and Sasuke, still uncertain about his memories and feelings.

• Naruto continued training in the forest, and the Third Hokage increased his relief payment.
• When Naruto turned six, the Third Hokage told him to enroll in the Ninja Academy and tested his Chakra nature, finding Wind Release.
• The Third Hokage taught Naruto several D-rank techniques and one C-rank technique before bringing him to meet Iruka.
• Naruto entered Iruka's classroom and watched the familiar students arrive, including Sasuke, whom he called Second Pillar.
• Iruka rearranged the seats and placed Naruto, Sakura, and Sasuke together.

Naruto questioned whether his life and Kurama were real or part of a powerful illusion, then reaffirmed his desire to control his own destiny. A year later, he excelled in the first-year exams while continuing to watch Sasuke, and the chapter ended with Sasuke about to take his turn in the hidden weapons test.

• Naruto told Kurama that he could not determine whether his life was real or an illusion, and Kurama admitted that he was unsure what he wanted.
• Naruto said he wanted to control his destiny and pursue humanity’s limits, accepting that he and Kurama depended on each other.
• A year passed, and Naruto watched Sasuke and Itachi as the final exams began, noting that he had found nothing wrong with Sasuke.
• Naruto finished the written exam in twenty minutes with every answer correct, while Sasuke continued working and resented being outperformed.
• Naruto returned to school for the hidden weapons exam and hit every target’s bullseye from twenty meters, earning a perfect score.
• Naruto stayed to watch Sasuke take his turn as the other students discussed Naruto’s skill.

Naruto watched the Uchiha Clan’s destruction from a distance and saw Sasuke return to the academy consumed by thoughts of revenge. At the third-year combat exam, Sasuke attacked Naruto with a Great Fireball Technique, but Naruto evaded it and ended up behind him with a Kunai at his neck.

• Naruto continued training and decided to postpone testing Sage Mode until after graduation because Konoha’s Anbu restricted his practice and his strength remained limited.
• On the night the Uchiha Clan was destroyed, Naruto sensed that Itachi Uchiha and Obito Uchiha were involved, then went to sleep without intervening.
• Naruto noticed Sasuke’s absence after the massacre, and when Sasuke returned, Sasuke became hostile and trained harder to take first place from Naruto.
• At the third-year final exams, Iruka arranged a combat assessment in which Naruto and Sasuke, the top two students, fought first.
• Sasuke used the Great Fireball Technique against Naruto, but Naruto vanished from its path and appeared behind Sasuke with a Kunai at his neck.

Naruto won his academy matches against Sasuke and graduated, while Sasuke grew more withdrawn after repeatedly coming in second. On the way home after graduation, Naruto defeated and captured Mizuki, who had ambushed him, as the Anbu watched.

• Naruto defeated Sasuke in a match, and Sasuke charged at him afterward before Naruto knocked him down and Iruka ordered him to reflect.
• Over the next three years, Naruto remained first in the exams while Sasuke stayed second and became increasingly distant from his classmates.
• Naruto passed the Clone Technique graduation exam, received his Forehead Protector, and went to train in the forest.
• Mizuki approached Naruto on his way home and attacked him with Hidden Weapons, but Naruto blocked them and fought back.
• Naruto overwhelmed Mizuki with Taijutsu and Wind Release, tied him up, and left him for the Anbu to take to the interrogation division.

Naruto and his former classmates were assigned to Team 7 again, and he continued investigating whether his changed life was a Genjutsu. During Kakashi’s bell test, Naruto attacked him directly and began drawing on the Nine-Tails’ power.

• Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura were assigned to Team 7 without objecting.
• Naruto discussed the upcoming Survival Exercise with the Nine-Tails and said Sasuke might be the key to understanding their situation.
• Naruto trained before Kakashi arrived for the bell test, while Sasuke and Sakura hid and Naruto stayed to challenge Kakashi directly.
• Naruto attacked Kakashi with Taijutsu and Wind Release, forcing him to defend and retreat.
• Naruto called on the Nine-Tails and began the first stage of the Tailed Beast form.

Naruto used the Nine-Tails’ Chakra for the first time, transforming with four tails while keeping control and fighting Kakashi for the bells. He overwhelmed Kakashi with tailed attacks and Ninjutsu, then exposed him in the river with a small Tailed Beast Bomb.

• Naruto accepted four tails’ worth of Chakra from the Nine-Tails and transformed while retaining his awareness.
• Kakashi activated his Sharingan and fought Naruto, but Naruto’s speed and tailed attacks forced him to retreat.
• The Third Hokage and the Anbu learned that Naruto’s transformation was a first and concluded that he was acting of his own will.
• Kakashi used the forest and Water Release to evade Naruto, but Naruto countered with Wind Release and closed in.
• Kakashi sank beneath the river’s surface, and Naruto fired a small Tailed Beast Bomb that exposed him on the riverbed.

Naruto defeated Kakashi in the bell test using Tailed Beast Mode and became a Genin, then prepared for the Chunin Exams. After signing up, he sought Wind Release techniques and rejected Danzo’s attempt to approach him.

• Naruto trapped Kakashi with four tails and Chakra arms, took a bell, and passed the test.
• The Third Hokage questioned Naruto about Tailed Beast Mode and the Nine-Tails, then confirmed that he was a Genin.
• Team 7 completed D-Rank missions and trained while waiting for the Chunin Exams, but their trip to the Land of Waves never happened.
• Kakashi gave Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura Chunin Exams application forms, and all three decided to participate.
• Naruto went to the Hokage Tower to request Wind Release ninjutsu and refused Danzo’s offer to discuss his parents.

Naruto asked the Third Hokage for Wind Release ninjutsu and learned the Rasengan instantly, while privately seeking the Flying Thunder God Technique. At the Chunin Exams entrance, Naruto overpowered Neji and entered the examination room, where he spotted Orochimaru among the Sound Ninja.

• Naruto told the Third Hokage he needed more ninjutsu, and the Hokage demonstrated the Rasengan, which Naruto immediately formed himself.
• Naruto explained that the Nine-Tails had told him about his parents, then left and ignored the Wind Release scrolls the Hokage sent him because he already knew those techniques.
• Naruto practiced his Tailed Beast form without loosening the seal further, then headed to the Chunin Exams with his companions.
• At the blocked entrance, Sasuke saw through the Genjutsu, and Naruto declined Rock Lee's challenge before sending Neji crashing into a wall with a kick.
• Naruto entered the examination room, noticed the Sound Ninja lineup was unchanged, and recognized that Orochimaru had come.

Naruto and his team entered the Forest of Death, where Naruto let a giant snake swallow him so he could secretly watch Orochimaru test Sasuke. After Orochimaru branded Sasuke with the Cursed Mark, Naruto challenged him and attacked with Wind Release and a Rasengan.

• Naruto humiliated Dosu Kinuta by slamming him into the floor after Dosu approached him in the exam hall.
• Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura entered the Forest of Death and defeated three Amegakure Ninja, taking their Heaven Scroll.
• Naruto let a giant snake swallow him, then escaped with a Rasengan and watched Sasuke fight Orochimaru from nearby.
• Orochimaru branded Sasuke with the Cursed Mark, and Naruto stepped out to challenge him.
• Naruto struck Orochimaru with dense Wind Blades and a Rasengan, but Orochimaru shed his damaged outer skin.

Naruto fought off Orochimaru using Nine-Tails Chakra, then took the unconscious Sasuke and Sakura to shelter for the night. While Naruto prepared food, Dosu Kinuta and his companions attacked, but Rock Lee intervened.

• Naruto activated Nine Tails Mode and overwhelmed Orochimaru with seven Rasengan, forcing him to flee.
• Naruto found Sasuke unconscious and left the Cursed Mark untouched before carrying him away with Sakura.
• Naruto settled Sasuke and Sakura in a tree hollow, then went to gather food and returned to grill it.
• Dosu Kinuta and his companions followed the firelight and confronted Naruto as he cooked.
• Rock Lee kicked Dosu Kinuta back and vowed to protect Sakura, while Naruto turned back to the food.

Naruto protected Sasuke from the Cursed Mark and led his team to the Central Tower, where the second exam ended. As the third exam began with individual matches and freely chosen opponents, Naruto decided he would face Gaara himself.

• Naruto's crimson Chakra arms killed the three Sound Ninja, and Neji warned Rock Lee and Tenten to avoid fighting Naruto.
• Naruto told Sakura that he was a Jinchuriki, while Sasuke slept and struggled with his Cursed Mark.
• When Sasuke woke and the mark spread, Naruto restrained him with Chakra tails until it receded, then warned him to control his power.
• Naruto, Sakura, and Sasuke reached the Central Tower, opened their scrolls, and Kakashi took Sasuke away to seal the Cursed Mark.
• At the third exam, Yakushi Kabuto withdrew, and the Third Hokage announced that competitors would choose their own opponents.
• Naruto considered the matchups and decided to challenge Gaara to keep someone else from facing him.

Naruto chose Gaara for the third preliminary match, while Sasuke and Sakura also selected opponents. Naruto revealed his Seven Chakra Tails and overwhelmed Gaara’s sand, leaving their battle underway.

• Orochimaru objected to the Third Hokage’s arrangements, and Hayate Gekko announced the opponents’ selection format.
• Naruto challenged Gaara, Sakura challenged Ino, and Sasuke challenged Akado Yoroi.
• Sasuke defeated Akado Yoroi, while Sakura and Ino badly injured each other and were both eliminated.
• Naruto faced Gaara and revealed his Seven Chakra Tails, declaring that the Nine-Tails inside him was stronger than Gaara’s One-Tail.
• Gaara attacked Naruto with waves of sand, but Naruto’s Chakra tails blocked every strike and kept the sand from reaching him.

Naruto overwhelmed Gaara with his Seven Chakra Tails, breaking through Gaara’s defenses and injuring him. Baki ordered Gaara to continue fighting so he could judge whether Konoha’s jinchuriki could undermine their plan, and Gaara began to transform as he fell from the ceiling.

• Gaara trapped Naruto in a Sand Coffin, but Naruto blasted free and struck Gaara with seven Rasengan, injuring him despite his sand defenses.
• Temari and Kankuro asked Baki whether Gaara should forfeit, but Baki ordered him to continue so they could assess Naruto’s strength.
• Gaara vowed to kill Naruto, who rushed him, punched him into the air, and struck him repeatedly before launching Wind Release attacks.
• Naruto’s Big Ball Rasengan broke through Gaara’s defenses and slammed him into the ceiling, badly injuring him.
• Gaara roared as sand covered his body, a tail appeared behind him, and he knocked aside the weakened Rasengan while beginning to fall.

Naruto brought Gaara and One-Tail into the tailed beast mental space and replaced Gaara’s crude seal with an Eight Trigrams Sealing Style. The two returned to the examination hall, leaving the audience bewildered and silent.

• Gaara transformed into a One-Tail form and attacked Naruto with sand, but Naruto bound his tail and dragged him closer.
• Naruto sensed Gaara struggling against One-Tail and brought them into the tailed beast mental space to prevent One-Tail from emerging.
• Naruto offered to improve Gaara’s seal, while Nine-Tails and One-Tail argued with each other.
• Naruto restrained One-Tail with the Gate of the Great God, released Gaara’s old seal, and placed a new Eight Trigrams Sealing Style around One-Tail.
• Naruto encouraged Gaara to befriend One-Tail, then both returned to the examination hall as their transformations disappeared and the crowd watched in silence.

Naruto befriended Gaara, resealed the One-Tail, and persuaded him to abandon the invasion plan. Gaara woke after sleeping for two days and told Baki that the Sound Ninja were now their enemies.

• Naruto and Gaara talked with the One-Tail, and Gaara agreed to surrender and seek a friendship with Naruto.
• Gaara canceled the invasion plan, ordered a search for the Fourth Kazekage, and proposed competing for the Kazekage position if his father was dead.
• The remaining Chunin Exam matches produced seven finalists, and the final exam was scheduled for one month later.
• Gaara returned to the inn and slept for two days while Temari and Kankuro kept watch.
• Baki told Gaara that the village had asked why Naruto knew about the Fourth Kazekage's death, and Gaara blamed Orochimaru and declared the Sound Ninja enemies.

Kakashi brought Naruto to Jiraiya so he could train for the next month before the competition. Naruto signed the toad summoning contract, summoned Gamabunta, and challenged him to a fight.

• Kakashi told Naruto that he could not teach him effectively and asked the Third Hokage to find a stronger instructor.
• The Third Hokage introduced Naruto to Jiraiya, who took him to a valley to assess his abilities.
• Naruto displayed his eight-tailed Tailed Beast Mode and demonstrated both the Rasengan and Big Ball Rasengan.
• Jiraiya taught Naruto the Summoning Technique, and Naruto signed the contract and summoned Gamabunta.
• Naruto stood firm on Gamabunta's head during his leap, then activated Tailed Beast Mode and challenged him to fight.

Naruto fought Gamabunta to establish himself as the boss and briefly used Nine-Tails’ complete form to defeat him. After Gamabunta accepted Naruto, Jiraiya explained the battle to Third Hokage, who urged him to continue teaching Naruto.

• Naruto attacked Gamabunta with Wind Release and repeated Big Ball Rasengan strikes, forcing the giant to fight back and try to crush him.
• Naruto escaped underground and, with Nine-Tails’ help, transformed into the complete Nine-Tails form for five minutes.
• Third Hokage sent Anbu to investigate the huge Chakra surge, while Danzo worried about Naruto’s rapid progress.
• Naruto restrained Gamabunta and threatened him with a Tailed Beast Bomb until Gamabunta admitted defeat and recognized Naruto as his boss.
• Naruto ended the transformation and told Jiraiya he could only use the form briefly; when Third Hokage arrived, Jiraiya recounted the battle and promised to keep teaching Naruto.

Naruto learned the Flying Thunder God Technique after Jiraiya obtained the Scroll of Seals, and discovered that his power over space still remained. A month later, the Chunin Exams began their final round, where Naruto faced Hyuga Neji as Gaara’s group prepared to act after Orochimaru ambushed the Kazekage.

• Naruto asked Jiraiya to teach him the Flying Thunder God Technique, and Jiraiya went to the Third Hokage for the Scroll of Seals.
• The Third Hokage worried Naruto’s strength and lack of attachment to the village could make him dangerous, but he let Jiraiya bring Naruto the scroll.
• Naruto learned the Multiple Shadow Clone Technique, mastered the Flying Thunder God’s coordinate formula, and successfully teleported to a tagged Kunai.
• A month later, Naruto placed a Flying Thunder God formula on the Third Hokage before the Chunin Exams’ final round began.
• Naruto was matched against Hyuga Neji, while Gaara learned that Orochimaru had ambushed the Kazekage.

Naruto fought Hyuga Neji in the first match, using Shadow Clones and martial arts to counter Neji’s Gentle Fist. The chapter ended with Naruto restraining Neji and kicking him into the air as Shadow Clones joined the attack.

• Shiranui Genma started the match, and Naruto surrounded Neji with Shadow Clones that threw Shuriken in waves.
• Neji used Eight Trigrams Palms Revolving Heaven to deflect the Shuriken, then wielded Kunai to fend off the next attacks.
• Naruto sent Shadow Clones against Neji in waves, forcing him to use Revolving Heaven again before Neji charged Naruto with Eight Trigrams Vacuum Palm.
• Naruto used Tai Chi to redirect Neji’s Eight Trigrams Thirty-Two Palms without being struck.
• Naruto counterattacked with improved Xing Yi and, with help from his Shadow Clones, stopped Neji from using Revolving Heaven and kicked him upward.

Naruto fought Orochimaru after exposing him in the middle of the Chunin Exam, using the Flying Thunder God Technique to attack the disguised impostor. Orochimaru trapped Naruto and the Third Hokage inside a Four Violet Flames Formation as his plan began to unfold.

• Naruto defeated Neji, and Temari, Shikamaru, Kiba, and Shino competed in the next matches while Sasuke remained absent.
• Baki informed Konoha that Orochimaru had deceived the Sand Ninja and killed the Fourth Kazekage, prompting the two villages to prepare against the Sound Ninja.
• Temari defeated Shino after a destructive battle, and Orochimaru insisted on waiting for Sasuke to arrive for his match against Naruto.
• Kakashi brought Sasuke to the arena, and Naruto and Sasuke prepared their Rasengan and Chidori before Naruto vanished with the Flying Thunder God Technique.
• Naruto attacked Orochimaru beside the Third Hokage and revealed that the Nine-Tails had sensed Orochimaru's malice.
• Orochimaru summoned the Sound Four, who raised a Four Violet Flames Formation around him, Naruto, and the Third Hokage.

Orochimaru revealed that killing the Third Hokage had been his real goal and summoned the First and Second Hokage to fight him and Naruto. Naruto transformed into a golden Chakra Divine Garment and prepared to face them as the two resurrected Hokage became active.

• Orochimaru admitted that the Sand and Sound Ninja had only been pawns in his plan to kill the Third Hokage.
• Naruto struck Orochimaru with a Big Ball Rasengan, forcing him out of hiding and interrupting his fight with the Third Hokage.
• Orochimaru summoned three coffins; the First and Second Hokage emerged, while the third coffin intended for the Fourth Hokage was empty.
• Naruto explained that the Fourth Hokage's soul was sealed with the Grim Reaper, then rejected Orochimaru's offer to help him recover the Nine-Tails' other half.
• Naruto gathered Chakra and transformed into a golden Chakra Divine Garment as the First and Second Hokage recognized the Nine-Tails' Chakra.
• Orochimaru inserted talisman-wrapped kunai into the First and Second Hokage, and Naruto prepared to fight them while the Nine-Tails warned him about Wood Release.

Naruto fought the First and Second Hokage while the Third Hokage battled Orochimaru, but their Impure World Reincarnation bodies kept recovering. After striking the Second Hokage and using a Rasenshuriken against the First, Naruto turned toward Orochimaru as the battle continued.

• The Third Hokage and Naruto combined Fire Release and Wind Release against the First and Second Hokage, but the Second Hokage blocked the flames with Water Release.
• Naruto used Twin Big Ball Rasengans to break through the First Hokage’s Wood Lock Wall, then fought both Hokage while telling the Third Hokage to handle Orochimaru.
• The Anbu watched Naruto hold his own, while Konoha and the Sand Ninja defeated Otogakure’s forces outside and Kakashi and Baki cornered Yakushi Kabuto.
• Gaara arrived at the barrier and watched Naruto fight; Naruto later used Pressure Damage against the Second Hokage and a Rasenshuriken to cut through the First Hokage’s Wood Dragon and defenses.
• As both Hokage’s bodies recovered, Naruto attacked the Second Hokage with another Big Ball Rasengan and charged toward Orochimaru.

Naruto defeated Orochimaru’s attack on Konoha, sealed the two reanimated Hokage, and bonded with Gaara over their shared pasts. After the Sand Ninja withdrew and Gaara declared he would seek the Kazekage position, the Third Hokage announced he would step down and asked Jiraiya to bring Tsunade back.

• Naruto broke the Four Violet Flames Formation and forced Orochimaru to retreat, while Gaara restrained the two recovering Hokage.
• Naruto sealed the two Hokage with the Four Symbols Sealing and took Gaara to Ichiraku Ramen.
• Naruto told Gaara that the Fourth Hokage was his father and encouraged Gaara to understand his own father by becoming Kazekage.
• Gaara declared he would compete for Kazekage, and Baki, Temari, and Kankuro agreed to support him.
• Naruto and Shikamaru were promoted to Chunin as the exams ended without a final champion.
• The Third Hokage decided to step down and asked Jiraiya to bring Tsunade back to lead Konoha.

Naruto led Itachi and Kisame away from town and challenged Kisame to a fight. He overwhelmed Kisame with Wind Release attacks and advanced with a Big Ball Rasengan, leaving the battle unresolved.

• The Third Hokage sent Jiraiya and Naruto to find Tsunade, and they set out the next morning.
• Itachi and Kisame confronted Naruto at an inn, but Naruto lured them away from town to avoid endangering its people.
• Kisame created a vast lake with Great Exploding Water Colliding Wave and attacked Naruto with a massive wave.
• Naruto countered Kisame's Water Release with Pressure Damage and then fired a barrage of Thousand-Faced Wind Blades.
• Naruto charged behind the Wind Blades with a Big Ball Rasengan and drove Kisame backward.