Chapter Summaries

Sasuke defeated Haku after Haku shielded the fallen Zabuza, then granted Haku’s request to bury them together and killed them both. After returning to Tazuna’s house, Sasuke explained his thoughts about the battle and set out to deal with Gato.

• Sasuke attacked Haku with clones, fire techniques, exploding tags, and close combat while Haku stayed near Zabuza and defended himself.
• Sasuke defeated Haku, heard his request to be buried with Zabuza, and learned that his name was Yuki Haku.
• Sasuke killed Haku and Zabuza, buried them together, and sealed away the Kubikiribōchō.
• Kakashi collapsed, and Tazuna carried him back to his house with Naruto, Sakura, and Sasuke.
• Naruto challenged Sasuke about his gloomy mood, and Sasuke explained that he had been troubled by Haku’s story and had fought without hesitation because they could have been killed.
• Sasuke told Naruto and Sakura to protect Kakashi and Tazuna, then left to take care of Gato.

Sasuke returned to Gato Manor, where Konoha’s Anbu had already seized Gato and his wealth, and offered advice on securing influence in the Land of Waves. After the bridge was completed, Team 7 returned to Konoha and planned to celebrate their mission.

• Sasuke found four Anbu forcing Gato to open his safe and explained why Konoha had sent them to deal with Gato.
• Sasuke took the cash and advised the Anbu to use Gato’s wealth and trade to build ties with the Land of Waves; the Anbu reported his proposals to the Third Hokage, whose advisers approved them.
• Sasuke returned to Tazuna’s house, told everyone Gato was finished, and later informed Kakashi about the Anbu; Kakashi told him to keep the matter from Naruto and Sakura.
• Sasuke divided the money into five shares while he protected Tazuna at the bridge and Naruto and Sakura trained under Kakashi.
• After the Great Naruto Bridge was completed and Kakashi recovered, Team 7 returned to Konoha and Naruto invited Sasuke and Sakura to celebrate.

Kakashi reported Team 7’s progress to the Third Hokage, and Sasuke continued pushing the team through missions as the Chunin Exams approached. The rookie teams were recommended for the exams despite Iruka’s objections, while Sasuke prepared for the dangerous second stage.

• Kakashi praised Sasuke, Naruto, and Sakura’s performance to the Third Hokage, noting Sasuke’s perception, Naruto’s battle planning, and Sakura’s steady defense and Chakra control.
• Sasuke drove Team 7 through D-Rank Missions while Kakashi reviewed their recent fight and explained the strengths and flaws of Haku’s disguise.
• Sasuke’s group encountered Kankuro and Gaara near Ichiraku, and Sasuke recognized that someone was watching from a tree.
• Kakashi, Kurenai, and Asuma recommended all nine members of their rookie teams for the Chunin Selection Exam, but Iruka objected that they had graduated too recently.
• Sasuke prepared for the exam’s second stage by planning to bring more Ninja Tools and Exploding Tags and to find the team carrying the other scroll quickly.

Sasuke and his teammates entered the Chunin Exams, where he saw through the entrance Genjutsu and avoided getting drawn into a fight with Rock Lee. In the exam room, Sasuke kept his strength in reserve as the other rookies gathered and Yakushi Kabuto began his act.

• Kakashi gave Sasuke, Naruto, and Sakura their Chunin Exams application forms, and Sasuke resolved to enter despite fearing Orochimaru.
• Sasuke saw through the entrance Genjutsu and urged the disguised Rock Lee and the others to stop blocking the way.
• Sasuke stepped aside as Rock Lee fought the disguised man, then declined to give Neji his name and went upstairs with Naruto and Sakura.
• Kakashi met Team 7 at the examination room, where Sasuke assessed the gathered candidates and worried about Orochimaru's presence.
• In the classroom, Ino clung to Sasuke before Sakura intervened, while Naruto and Kiba argued and Shikamaru greeted Sasuke.
• Yakushi Kabuto stepped forward to perform his spy act as Sasuke rested and watched.

Sasuke passed the first Chunin Exam and used his preparation to identify teams carrying Earth Scrolls before the Forest of Death trial. He led Naruto and Sakura toward an adjacent gate to pursue a Kusagakure team, while trying to stay away from Orochimaru.

• Sasuke completed the written test, and he, Naruto, and Sakura passed the first exam.
• Kakashi took Team 7 to the second examination site, where Anko explained the Forest of Death rules and the risks.
• Sasuke persuaded Naruto and Sakura to sign the consent forms and exchanged them for a Scroll of Heaven.
• Sasuke secretly watched the other teams and identified three groups carrying Earth Scrolls, including a Kusagakure team.
• Sasuke chose Gate 16 beside the Kusagakure team's Gate 15 and told Naruto and Sakura to follow him toward their target.

Sasuke, Naruto, and Sakura recovered the Earth Scroll and raced toward the tower after Sasuke sensed danger. Sasuke stopped to face Orochimaru while Sakura ran ahead to get help, and he and Naruto prepared to fight.

• Sasuke ambushed the Grass Ninja at Gate 15, defeated them, and took their Earth Scroll.
• Sasuke told Sakura to carry both scrolls to the tower and get reinforcements if danger appeared, then the three rushed onward.
• Orochimaru sensed Sasuke was about to escape and pursued him through the Forest of Death.
• Sasuke sensed Orochimaru closing in and told Sakura to run to the tower for Kakashi-sensei while he and Naruto stayed behind.
• Sasuke used a Fuma Shuriken to strike down a giant snake targeting Naruto, then explained that it was a Summoning Animal.

Sasuke and Naruto fought Orochimaru after Sasuke realized he had tracked them using Naruto’s blood, while Sakura alerted Iruka that they were in danger. Orochimaru escaped as reinforcements approached, leaving Sasuke as the target of his interest and offer of power.

• Sasuke deduced that Orochimaru had used Naruto’s blood to track them, and Orochimaru offered Sasuke power to help him kill Itachi.
• Sakura reached the tower, read the calligraphy to summon Iruka, and urged him to get help for Sasuke and Naruto.
• Sasuke and Naruto attacked Orochimaru with clones and coordinated strikes, but his apparent defeats turned out to be clones.
• Orochimaru tried to bite Sasuke and give him a Cursed Mark, but Sasuke had used a clone as bait and countered with Exploding Tags and Great Fire Annihilation.
• Orochimaru survived the attack, shed his damaged skin, and escaped into the earth as he sensed approaching reinforcements.

After Sasuke and Naruto survived Orochimaru’s attack, Sasuke warned Konoha that Orochimaru might strike during a crowded exam stage. During the five-day break, Sasuke learned Lightning Style techniques and discovered his Four-Tomoe Sharingan could use Tsukuyomi; the chapter ended as the third examination began and Sasuke wondered whether Akado Yoroi would be his opponent.

• Kakashi and Anko Mitarashi escorted Sasuke and Naruto to the tower after Orochimaru left, and Sasuke explained how the attacker had found them.
• Sasuke identified the attacker as Orochimaru and warned Kakashi that he might be disguised as a Jonin and planning an attack during a later exam stage.
• Kakashi reported Sasuke’s warning to the Third Hokage, who began preparing Konoha’s defenses while Anbu secretly monitored the other villages’ participants.
• During the five-day rest, Sasuke learned several Lightning Style Jutsu from Kakashi and discovered that his Four-Tomoe Sharingan’s Tsukuyomi could last up to twelve hours.
• Sakura studied the basics of Medical Ninjutsu, while Kakashi kept Naruto from practicing Water Walking outside.
• After the second examination ended, Sasuke and the other twenty examinees gathered in the third examination arena, where Sasuke wondered whether he would face Akado Yoroi.

Sasuke won his Chunin Exam match and watched the other preliminary fights before the remaining contestants were assigned a month to prepare. The next day, Kakashi tested Sasuke and Naruto’s Chakra attributes, then took Naruto away while Sasuke trained alone.

• Sasuke defeated Akado Yoroi with a fast aerial attack, and Hayate Gekko declared him the winner.
• Shino defeated Zaku Abumi, Sakura and Ino fought to a mutual knockout, and Sasuke carried the exhausted Sakura back to the second floor.
• Sasuke told Naruto that Hinata liked him and warned him to consider how his words affected her.
• Neji dismissed Naruto as a loser, but Sasuke defended Naruto and urged Neji to fight him seriously.
• After the Third Hokage announced a month before the next stage, Sasuke increased his training weights to 1,500 kilograms.
• Kakashi tested Sasuke and Naruto’s Chakra attributes the next day, then took Naruto away and sent Sasuke to train alone.

Sasuke trained with Kakashi to improve his combat skills and learned several powerful techniques ahead of the official exam. He warned Kakashi that an enemy attack would come from both inside and outside the village, but Kakashi said the Third Hokage had prepared for it.

• Sakura studied Medical Ninjutsu while Sasuke began a month of one-on-one training with Kakashi.
• Sasuke fought Kakashi using Xing Yi and Tai Chi, eventually exhausting himself after a fierce Taijutsu session.
• Sakura brought lunch to Sasuke and Kakashi and offered to deliver their meals during training.
• Kakashi taught Sasuke Chidori and Lightning Cutter, then showed him the Rasengan, which Sasuke mastered on his first try.
• Sasuke cautioned Kakashi that enemies would attack from within and outside the village, but Kakashi assured him that the Third Hokage had made preparations.

Sasuke learned how uncontracted summoning could lead him to a Summoning Animal, continued training, and arrived at the Chunin Exam finals. He was matched against Gaara, and both entered the arena as Orochimaru watched from the stands.

• Sasuke asked Kakashi about learning the Summoning Technique, and Kakashi explained his own summons and the danger of seeking an uncontracted Summoning Animal.
• Sasuke continued his intense training until Kakashi reduced it to simple exercises in the days before the final examination.
• Sasuke arrived at the arena and watched Naruto defeat Neji, while the next two matches followed their expected course and Kankuro forfeited.
• Shiranui Genma called Sasuke and Gaara for the fourth match, and they entered the arena as the crowd and Orochimaru watched.

Sasuke used water and lightning techniques to weaken Gaara’s sand and limit his movements in the arena. He trapped Gaara on the arena wall and launched a barrage of hidden weapons at him.

• After Shiranui Genma began the match, Sasuke let Gaara prepare his sand before creating three Shadow Clones.
• Sasuke and his clones used Great Waterfall Technique to flood the arena and weigh down Gaara’s sand.
• Sasuke sent lightning through the water, forcing Gaara to leap onto the trees to avoid it.
• Sasuke used Water Dragon Bullet Technique to smash the remaining trees, leaving Gaara stranded on the arena wall.
• Sasuke opened a weapon scroll and attacked Gaara with Fuma Shuriken, Wild Dance.

Sasuke pierced Gaara’s sand sphere and disrupted Sunagakure’s plan to release Shukaku, while Orochimaru’s forces began the Konoha invasion. The chapter left Sasuke pursuing Gaara into the forest as Konoha’s prepared defenses engaged the attackers.

• Gaara enclosed himself in a sand sphere as Sasuke pierced it with an extended Lightning Cutter, wounding him and driving him toward losing control.
• Yakushi Kabuto cast a Genjutsu over the spectators, while Orochimaru disguised as the Kazekage made his move against the Third Hokage.
• Orochimaru’s forces summoned a three-headed snake outside Konoha, and Otogakure and Sunagakure ninja charged the village walls.
• Baki ordered Kankuro and Temari to withdraw with the injured Gaara because they could not safely release Shukaku.
• Sasuke followed Gaara’s retreating group into the forest, with Aburame Shino following behind, as Konoha’s prepared defenses confronted the invasion.

Orochimaru’s plan to destroy Konoha failed as the village’s forces ambushed the invading Sound and Sand Ninja, while Sasuke pursued Gaara’s group. After the battle, the Third Hokage recognized that Konoha needed new leadership and decided to retire and bring Tsunade back.

• Orochimaru trapped the Third Hokage inside the Four Violet Flames Formation, but the Hokage summoned Jiraiya to help stop him and the First Hokage’s reincarnation.
• Sasuke defeated Temari with a fire-and-lightning ambush, sparing her before continuing after Kankuro and Gaara.
• Kakashi sent Naruto, Sakura, and Shikamaru after Sasuke, and Asuma rescued Shikamaru when nine pursuers cornered him.
• Konoha’s hidden forces ambushed the Sound and Sand Ninja, while Gama Hiro defeated the three-headed snake and Kakashi and Might Guy fought the invaders.
• Jiraiya fought Orochimaru as the Third Hokage used a Shadow Clone and the Dead Demon Consuming Seal against the First Hokage.
• The Third Hokage realized Orochimaru had wanted him to die before Konoha decayed further and decided to retire and bring Tsunade back.

Sasuke battled Gaara as the Sand ninja began transforming under Shukaku’s influence, then Naruto took over and fought him with Gamabunta. Gaara regained his senses and called off the battle, leaving with Temari and Kankuro after beginning to understand the bonds he had seen.

• Sasuke left Shino to fight Kankuro and caught up with Gaara, who was nearing collapse and beginning to transform.
• Sasuke questioned Gaara about whether he was himself or Shukaku, then attacked him with Water Release techniques and Lightning Cutter.
• Sakura and Naruto arrived, and Sasuke handed the fight to Naruto before resting.
• Naruto fought Gaara with shadow clones, and after Gaara released Shukaku, Naruto summoned Gamabunta to battle him.
• Naruto knocked Gaara back to his senses, and the exhausted fighters fell into the lake.
• Gaara declared the battle over and left with Temari and Kankuro after realizing something about the bonds between Naruto and Sasuke.

Sasuke met Itachi Uchiha and Kisame Hoshigaki at the village gates, then shared a meal with them before taking Itachi to the Forest of Death. Sasuke asked Itachi to use Tsukuyomi on him, and the genjutsu caught him as he calmly questioned his brother about their meeting.

• The Third Hokage said he would resign and asked Jiraiya to bring Tsunade back to become Hokage while continuing to train Naruto.
• Sasuke waited for Itachi Uchiha near the village gates and stopped him and Kisame Hoshigaki as they entered Konoha.
• Sasuke took Itachi Uchiha and Kisame Hoshigaki to his Barbecue Restaurant, where he explained how he had opened it after the Uchiha Clan massacre.
• Sasuke led Itachi Uchiha and Kisame Hoshigaki to the Forest of Death, where Kisame Hoshigaki stepped away to give the brothers privacy.
• Sasuke asked Itachi Uchiha to give him another memorable gift, and Itachi Uchiha caught him in Tsukuyomi.

Sasuke revealed to Itachi that his Four-Tomoe Sharingan came from training rather than trauma, and urged him to rebuild his fundamentals while pretending to suffer under Tsukuyomi. After Itachi left with Kisame, Sasuke intensified his training and prepared for the possibility of leaving Konoha.

• Sasuke broke free of Itachi's Genjutsu and showed him his Four-Tomoe Sharingan, explaining that Sharingan growth came from training spiritual power rather than killing loved ones or taking their eyes.
• Sasuke warned Itachi about the Akatsuki, told him to stop using the Mangekyo and train his Three-Tomoe Sharingan, and revealed that his own Tsukuyomi lasted twelve hours per outside second without side effects.
• Sasuke endured more than seventy hours of Tsukuyomi to train his willpower and conceal his strength from Kisame, while Itachi left with Kisame and resolved to train anew.
• Itachi and Kisame encountered Kakashi and failed to capture Naruto, who had Jiraiya's protection; Itachi avoided using his Mangekyo.
• Sasuke recovered at home, added three hundred kilograms to his weights, and resumed training as he anticipated Orochimaru's next move and his own eventual departure from the village.

As Konoha prepared for Tsunade’s inauguration, Sasuke was promoted to Chunin based on his performance in the interrupted exams. He then asked Tsunade for permission to leave the village for three years of training, but she questioned whether his reason was sufficient.

• Sasuke continued training in Taijutsu while Konoha prepared for the Third Hokage’s retirement and Tsunade’s inauguration.
• While Team 7 patrolled, Sasuke encouraged Sakura to pursue Medical Ninjutsu under Tsunade and told her and Naruto he planned to train outside the village for up to three years.
• Kakashi told Sasuke he was being promoted to Chunin, and Naruto asked to fight him before he left; Sasuke agreed.
• Tsunade formally promoted Sasuke and Shikamaru, then heard Sasuke request permission to leave Konoha for training.
• Sasuke explained that he needed combat experience after being helpless against Itachi, and Tsunade asked whether that was his only reason.

Sasuke explained why he wanted to leave Konoha for three years, then prepared to travel while Naruto and Sakura were set to pursue their own training. He entrusted Sakura with his home and restaurant, leaving their relationship poised to deepen before his departure.

• Sasuke told Tsunade and Kakashi that Naruto would leave with Jiraiya, Sakura should become Tsunade's disciple, and he wanted to travel; Tsunade agreed to consider it after seeing his fight with Naruto.
• Sasuke accepted a handmade sash from Sakura and packed Chakra Metal, ores, Ninja Tools, and his valuables into Sealing Scrolls.
• Tsunade's inauguration ceremony took place, and Konoha returned to peace.
• Sasuke introduced Sakura to the Barbecue Restaurant staff, handed her control of the restaurant, and told everyone she would become Tsunade's disciple.
• Sasuke showed Sakura his home and asked her to supervise its cleaning while he was away.

Sasuke and Naruto fought a sparring match beneath the village waterfall as the Hokage and others watched. Sasuke demonstrated his hard-earned Taijutsu and controlled Naruto’s Shadow Clones, while the spectators discussed his fighting style and reasons for leaving to train.

• Sasuke and Naruto faced each other on the waterfall’s lake as the Third Hokage, Tsunade, Jiraiya, Kakashi, and Sakura watched.
• Sasuke told Naruto that hard work mattered more than being called a genius, then took his fighting stance.
• Naruto charged, but Sasuke evaded him and drove him backward with a series of Five Element Fist strikes.
• Naruto summoned hundreds of Shadow Clones, and Sasuke used their momentum to redirect them into one another and dispel them.
• Jiraiya, Tsunade, and Kakashi discussed Sasuke’s unusual Taijutsu, his adaptable tactics, and his desire to seek unfamiliar opponents.