Chapter Summaries

A month before the Joint Chunin Exam, Hatake Sakumo trained Minato Namikaze and warned him about dangerous opponents, including the red-haired Uzumaki Hirohiko. In the present, Minato and Hirohiko met in the canyon, where Hirohiko raised a massive earth platform and unleashed a huge water technique from above.

• Hatake Sakumo trained Minato Namikaze in swordsmanship while Kakashi resented his father's attention to Minato.
• At dinner, Hatake Sakumo told Minato to protect his teammates in the Joint Chunin Exam and arranged for the Military Police Force to guard the contestants.
• Hatake Sakumo warned Minato about Yotsuki Dana and Uzumaki Hirohiko, prompting Minato to resolve to investigate Kushina's disappearance himself.
• In the canyon, Chishin Yusuke told Kagari the map's secret as Minato Namikaze and Uzumaki Hirohiko faced each other with their teams nearby.
• Kagari reported that five Kumogakure teams remained, and Hirohiko told her to decipher the map while he drove the others away.
• Hirohiko raised a huge earth platform, created three shadow clones, and had them unleash Great Exploding Water Shockwave, forming a lake in the sky.

Konan, Yahiko, and Killer B discovered how to reveal an escape-point map, but Hirohiko’s enormous Water Release sent a tsunami through the canyon and forced the competing squads to flee. Four Kumogakure squads escaped, and fourteen squads advanced to the next round, leaving the other villages uneasy about Hirohiko’s strength.

• Konan combined two maps with patterns on a boulder and revealed another map pointing to an escape point.
• Konan spotted a massive wave approaching through the canyon and warned Yahiko and Killer B to run.
• Han, Mabui, and Oonoki deciphered their map, then fled when they saw the wave, while Pakura and Kaguya Tsuki’s squads abandoned their confrontation and ran as well.
• The stands learned that Hirohiko’s Water Release had created the tsunami, which drove the squads west toward the escape points.
• Kumogakure’s Chishin Squad and Tiexiong Daquan located the remaining Kumogakure squads, and all four surviving squads escaped through two points.
• Fourteen of the forty-two squads advanced by sunset, and the other villages worried that Hirohiko might become another Hiruzen Sarutobi.

After the first round of the Joint Chunin Exam ended, Dada celebrated with Kumogakure’s contestants while the village leaders gathered at a tense banquet. The daimyo left the Third Raikage to deal with a covert merchant organization suspected of consolidating the country’s blacksmith shops and weapons.

• Hanzo of the Salamander announced the end of the first round, which eliminated teams through combat without anyone running out of time.
• Dada declined the formal banquet and treated Kumogakure’s contestants to a barbecue celebration, congratulating them and promising extra credit for those who had been eliminated.
• Dada asked Hirohiko about Minato Namikaze, and Hirohiko explained that he had used the canyon’s narrow terrain and Water Release to drive Konoha’s team back.
• Elder Chiyo complained to Yagura Karatachi that Kaguya Tsuki had killed seven members of Sunagakure teams, and Yagura promised to speak with her.
• The daimyo questioned the Third Raikage about an organization consolidating blacksmith shops and weapons, and the Third Raikage offered to use Kumogakure’s ninja to shut down suspected businesses.
• After the banquet, the daimyo of the Land of Lightning and the Third Raikage were both displeased, leaving Hanzo of the Salamander puzzled.

Hatake Sakumo learned about the first exam’s results as Danzo continued experimenting on Kushina to force her to control the Nine-Tails’ chakra. Meanwhile, the surviving exam participants gathered in the Land of Rain, where Hanzo announced the second round’s test.

• Hatake Sakumo received a report about the first round and went to inspect the guard force while pursuing reforms to reintegrate Uchiha ninja into regular missions.
• Danzo ordered Kushina to manifest the Nine-Tails’ chakra, but she lost consciousness after reaching four tails.
• A Root researcher told Danzo that Kushina’s progress had stalled, though the Nine-Tails might ultimately make her an exceptionally powerful Jinchuriki.
• Kushina thanked the Nine-Tails in her consciousness space, and her Sharingan began to turn despite meeting resistance.
• The daimyo of Rain, Bird, and River joined the village leaders as Hanzo announced that the second round would be a hostage rescue test.

The contestants formed two mixed-village camps for a hostage-rescue exercise, then secured hostages and prepared their strategies in a simulated town. Camp B began probing Camp A’s defenses while Pakura launched a feint along the central road.

• The rules required two camps of twenty-one, three hostages per camp, individual scoring, and no large-scale destructive ninjutsu or harm to hostages.
• Uzumaki Hirohiko gathered Kumogakure’s contestants, while Minato argued that each ninja needed a chance to use their strengths as the teams formed.
• The contestants split into Camp A, centered on Kumogakure, and Camp B, centered on Konohagakure and Sunagakure; Yahiko joined Camp B and Tsume Inuzuka joined Camp A.
• Camp A found three tied-up clones of Uchiha Fugaku in its tallest building, while Camp B found three clones of Yotsuki Dana in a tavern.
• Shikaku Nara coordinated Camp B’s defenses and assigned Minato to scout, Pakura and Watermelon Mountain to stage a feint, and Mabui and Oonoki to investigate underground.
• Explosions sounded along the main road as Pakura’s feint attack began.

Camp A launched a coordinated assault on Camp B while Shikaku Nara tracked the battles and Minato Namikaze infiltrated their base. Minato exposed Uzumaki Hirohiko’s disguise as Uchiha Fugaku, though his reasoning misunderstood Fugaku’s actual behavior.

• Camp A advanced through Kirigakure’s mist, and its fighters engaged their assigned opponents as Shikamaru sent in reserve forces.
• Killer B fought Kaguya Tsuki, while Sasori held off Mabui and Oonoki with two puppets.
• Shikaku Nara used Shibi Aburame’s insect reports to track the battles and ordered him to watch the red-eyed ninja fighting Yashamaru.
• Minato Namikaze sneaked into Camp A’s base and found three bound Uchiha Fugakus while Uzumaki Hirohiko remained inside.
• Minato struck the apparent Uchiha Fugaku, who transformed into Uzumaki Hirohiko, and explained that Fugaku’s unnatural cries for help had given him away.

Uzumaki Hirohiko trapped Minato Namikaze in an Earth Prison Dome, and the two competed with their Rasengans while the rescue match unfolded elsewhere. Uzumaki Kagari rescued Dada, but the match ended with Shikaku and Shibi incapacitated and several fighters injured or exhausted.

• Uzumaki Hirohiko sealed himself and Minato Namikaze inside an Earth Prison Dome, then revealed a Blazing Flame Rasengan during their contest.
• Shikaku Nara realized Yotsuki Dana's singing was masking an unnatural change in the mist.
• Jingze Shunyuan accidentally struck his opponent's neck when the opponent's arm fractured, and he called desperately for medical help.
• Sasori exhausted himself maintaining four puppets, and Ringo Ameyuri carried him away as Mabui and Oonoki stayed behind.
• An invisible Chishin Yusuke knocked Shikaku unconscious and then defeated Shibi Aburame; Uzumaki Kagari rescued Dada.
• The examiner arrived and ended the match as the paired fighters' battles reached their conclusions.

The second round of the Joint Chunin Exam ended, and the contestants attended a banquet before Hanzo announced the twelve who advanced. Dada met with Raihara Natsu privately and gave her a Communication Snail, while the third round was set for early the day after tomorrow.

• Minato Namikaze and Uzumaki Hirohiko stopped fighting when the exam ended, treated their injuries, and left without settling who had won.
• Hanzo of the Salamander hosted a banquet for the contestants, where Dada reflected on the fragile peace between the villages and the cost of the wars to come.
• Raihara Natsu secretly visited Dada to ask about training, and he gave her a Communication Snail before she returned.
• Hanzo announced that Uzumaki Hirohiko, Uzumaki Kagari, Minato Namikaze, Sasori, Kaguya Tsuki, Chishin Yusuke, Han, Pakura, Amber Konan, Ringo Ameyuri, Choza Akimichi, and Shibi Aburame advanced to the third round.
• Hanzo scheduled the third round for early the day after tomorrow.

Hanzo announced that the third round of the Joint Chunin Exam would be a martial arts tournament, and Dada gave Hirohiko a Chakra Metal kunai. Dada then reviewed the Third Raikage’s plan to make concessions to the Daimyo by withdrawing Kumogakure-backed businesses from the Capital City of the Land of Lightning while preserving United Steel Company’s supply chain.

• Hanzo’s announcer explained that the twelve contestants would fight through paired matches, with the final scheduled for the following day.
• Dada discussed the contestants with Hirohiko and lent him a kunai made with Chakra Metal.
• Han left the Training Ground under pressure as the last remaining contestant from Iwagakure, while Ōnoki’s ban on using his power weighed on him.
• Dada visited the Third Raikage, who showed him a list of nine chambers of commerce and Blacksmith Shops intended for the Daimyo.
• The Third Raikage planned to close seven Kumogakure-backed businesses as a show of concession, genuinely close two rival businesses, and leave the Capital City’s markets open to small merchants.

Dada told Third Raikage A that Kumogakure’s growing independence would inevitably bring it into conflict with the Daimyo, and argued that the village had to become strong enough to control the situation. Third Raikage A agreed to withdraw Kumogakure’s people from the merchant associations, then revealed Dada’s wedding was set for the end of next year and that he would inherit the name A afterward.

• Third Raikage A explained that he had yielded to the Daimyo because of Kumogakure’s historical ties and the resources the Daimyo had provided.
• Dada described how Daimyo had funded ninja villages to gain soft control over shinobi and argued that Kumogakure’s development threatened that arrangement.
• Dada told Third Raikage A that the Daimyo would become an obstacle to Kumogakure’s future, making conflict unavoidable unless the village became stronger.
• Dada proposed pulling Kumogakure’s people from the merchant associations and giving them to the Daimyo, and Third Raikage A accepted the plan.
• Third Raikage A revealed that Dada’s wedding had been set for the end of next year and said Dada would inherit the name A after the wedding.

Dana considered whether to accept the name A from his father, the Third Raikage, as the Joint Chunin Exam’s martial tournament began. Chishin Yusuke faced Kaguya Tsuki, and their opening exchange revealed that Yusuke’s Red Eye could counter her Shikotsumyaku with mist and invisibility.

• Dana hesitated to inherit the name A, but the Third Raikage told him that no one else could take it.
• Three days later, Dada and the four Kumogakure contestants arrived at the tournament arena, where village leaders drew lots for the matches.
• The first match paired Chishin Yusuke with Kaguya Tsuki, alarming Yusuke’s teammates and drawing attention from the spectators.
• Kaguya Tsuki pursued Yusuke with her Bone Blade and fired Ten-Finger Bullet, but he dodged and blocked the bone projectiles with kunai.
• Yusuke released mist and vanished, prompting Chiyo to identify his Red Eye as a rare bloodline limit once known as the Byakugan Nemesis.

Kaguya Tsuki defeated Chishin Yusuke by enduring his attacks and countering his joint-damaging technique. Pakura then defeated Ringo Ameyuri, and the chapter ended as Sasori and Amber Konan prepared to fight.

• Kaguya Tsuki closed her eyes to sense the invisible Chishin Yusuke, then endured his attacks and fought back with her bone blade.
• Chishin Yusuke struck Kaguya Tsuki's elbow, but she forced the joint back into place and continued fighting until he surrendered from exhaustion and dehydration.
• Red Rock and Hongling rushed to rehydrate Chishin Yusuke, while Yagura Karatachi congratulated Kaguya Tsuki on her victory.
• Pakura defeated Ringo Ameyuri with Scorch Release, and the Rain Ninja examiner took Ringo away for treatment.
• Red Rock and Hongling gave the unconscious Ringo water as the examiner announced Sasori versus Amber Konan as the third match.

Konan defeated Sasori with paper weapons packed with Explosive Tags, and Hirohiko, Minato, and Han also won their matches. The first round ended with six contestants remaining, and the village leaders were called to draw the second-round match order.

• Konan overwhelmed Sasori with explosive paper cranes and Paper Shuriken until he surrendered, winning their match.
• Hirohiko defeated Shibi Aburame by burning his insects with Fire Style: Dragon Flame Jutsu, prompting Shibi to surrender.
• Minato quickly pinned Kagari with his short sword, and Kagari surrendered.
• Han defeated Choza Akimichi after a nearly half-hour battle.
• The first round ended with Kaguya Tsuki, Pakura, Amber Konan, Uzumaki Hirohiko, Minato Namikaze, and Han remaining, and the village leaders were asked to draw lots for the second-round order.

Hirohiko advanced after Konan forfeited, while Han defeated Pakura and Minato Namikaze defeated Kaguya Tsuki. Kumogakure, Iwagakure, and Konoha secured the three remaining places in the Joint Chunin Exam.

• Dada drew Hirohiko and Konan against each other, and Konan forfeited to conserve her teammate’s strength.
• Pakura fought Han fiercely, but Chiyo surrendered on Pakura’s behalf, ending Sunagakure’s run in the exam.
• Minato Namikaze used his speed, clones, and Rasengan to defeat Kaguya Tsuki, who was carried away with internal injuries.
• Uzumaki Hirohiko, Han, and Minato Namikaze remained as the top three contestants for Kumogakure, Iwagakure, and Konoha.

Minato Namikaze defeated Han in the semifinal with a carefully timed Rasengan, earning a place in the final against Uzumaki Hirohiko. The chapter left Minato standing over the injured Han as the crowd recognized his skill.

• Third Raikage A drew the bye, sending Uzumaki Hirohiko directly into the final while Minato Namikaze and Han fought for the other spot.
• Dada told Konan that Minato’s speed, reactions, and thinking gave him a decisive advantage over Han.
• Han used Steam Nintaijutsu and Earth Release to reshape the arena and pressure Minato.
• Minato hid underground while Han attacked a clone, then struck Han’s exposed abdomen with a Rasengan.
• Minato defeated the injured Han and placed a short sword against his throat.

Uzumaki Hirohiko and Minato Namikaze reached the Joint Chunin Exam final, where they fought a fast-paced battle before a packed arena. Minato destroyed one of Hirohiko’s Shadow Clones with a calculated substitution, and the match continued as Hanzo of the Salamander watched eagerly.

• After the finalists were announced, Dada demonstrated his Sage Lightning Armor and explained how its Chakra weapons could explode on impact.
• Uzumaki Hirohiko and Minato Namikaze entered the arena, and Hanzo of the Salamander personally refereed their final match.
• Hirohiko raised and reshaped the arena with Earth Release while Minato maneuvered through the terrain, and Hirohiko’s clones attacked with water, fire, wind, and lightning techniques.
• Minato avoided Hirohiko’s attacks, countered with Rasengan, and retreated when Hirohiko tried to trap him with earth.
• Minato used a kunai he had thrown earlier to perform the Substitution Technique and slash one of Hirohiko’s Shadow Clones, while Hirohiko’s true body watched from afar.
• Hanzo of the Salamander praised the fighters and began considering what titles to give them as Minato leaped up to seek another opening.

Hatake Sakumo taught Minato Namikaze how to counter powerful ninjutsu users, including a sword technique called Slash Release. During his arena battle with Uzumaki Hirohiko, Minato used it to cut through a Great Fireball Technique, revealing his connection to Hatake Sakumo and drawing Sasori’s hatred.

• Hatake Sakumo advised Minato Namikaze to use brief underground movement against Uzumaki Hirohiko and promised to train him in Earth Release before the Land of Rain mission.
• Hatake Sakumo introduced Slash Release, a sword technique that used precise timing to cut through some ninjutsu.
• Minato struggled to approach Uzumaki Hirohiko as Earth Release and repeated attacks drained his Chakra.
• Minato charged through Hirohiko’s Great Fireball Technique and split it in two with a Chakra-coated sword.
• Chiyo recognized Minato as Hatake Sakumo’s disciple, and Sasori stared at Minato with undisguised hatred.
• Hatake Sakumo warned Minato that using Slash Release could ruin his blade after only two or three attempts.

Minato Namikaze’s fight with Uzumaki Hirohiko revealed a hidden defensive technique that repelled attacks with a membrane and triggered sealed jutsu. Although badly burned and nearly out of chakra, Minato insisted on one final strike, which sent him flying and left him wondering how Hirohiko had sealed ninjutsu onto his body.

• Minato used Slash Release, acrobatics, and a Shadow Clone to surprise Hirohiko, but Hirohiko stopped his sword with an invisible barrier and blasted him with flames.
• Hirohiko urged the injured, exhausted Minato to surrender, but Minato refused and demanded one more chance to learn what had protected Hirohiko.
• Dada suspected Hirohiko’s barrier had effects similar to Fujinjutsu and wondered whether Kagari could awaken Adamantine Sealing Chains.
• Hirohiko agreed to continue and approached Minato without using ninjutsu as they prepared to fight at close range.
• Minato noticed a resilient membrane and flashing technique patterns around Hirohiko’s body before wind blades and electricity struck him and sent him flying.

After defeating Minato Namikaze, Hirohiko won the Joint Chunin Exam for Kumogakure. At the awards ceremony, Hanzo of the Salamander gave titles to the top three, ending with Hirohiko being named the Red Fortress.

• Hanzo of the Salamander stopped the fight and declared Hirohiko the winner after Minato Namikaze fell unconscious.
• Dada treated Hirohiko's injuries and placed Healing Tags on Minato Namikaze's face before Kumogakure celebrated its victory.
• The Joint Chunin Exam concluded, and its rankings reinforced the Shinobi World's view of the villages' relative strength.
• Hanzo of the Salamander awarded bronze, silver, and gold Kunai and named Han the Steam Boy and Minato Namikaze the Yellow Flash.
• Hanzo of the Salamander gave Hirohiko a golden Kunai and bestowed on him the title of Kumogakure's Red Fortress.

The village leaders reviewed the Joint Chunin Exam results and considered how to develop their next generation of shinobi. Kumogakure’s party departed Amegakure after a long farewell, but stopped when the Fourth Mizukage, Yagura Karatachi, appeared to meet them.

• The Third Kazekage reviewed Pakura and Sasori’s defeats and considered them, along with Rasa, candidates to lead Sunagakure’s next generation.
• Ōnoki praised Han’s third-place result, complained about his title, and ordered Iwagakure’s young shinobi to train harder.
• Hatake Sakumo and Mitokado Homura reviewed Konoha’s results, planned a commendation ceremony, and Hatake Sakumo considered teaching Minato Namikaze the Flying Thunder God Technique.
• The Third Raikage and Hanzo of the Salamander prolonged their farewell at Amegakure’s gate before Kumogakure’s party finally departed.
• Less than an hour into the journey, Kumogakure’s party stopped when Yagura Karatachi was waiting for them.