Chapter Summaries

A knocked Killer B out of his distraction and got him drinking, then invited Omoi, Karui, and Mabui to join the celebration. Mabui took a seat beside Senya, sampled the liquor, and introduced him to local dishes.

• A struck Killer B in the forehead, then hauled him into a chair and poured liquor into his mouth.
• Killer B enjoyed the liquor, asked A for another cup, and invited Omoi and Karui to drink with them.
• Karui pushed Omoi into a seat, and the group gathered around the table with one place left beside Senya.
• Mabui brought out the dishes, sat beside Senya at A's invitation, and accepted a cup of liquor after A told her to rest.
• Mabui introduced the Land of Lightning's dishes to Senya, who sampled them and preferred the cilantro-like vegetable.

During a drinking party with A and the others, Senya resisted their attempts to use Samui and Mabui to entice him, then raised the Land of Lightning daimyō’s son’s arrest with A. A backed Senya’s decision and agreed to handle the daimyō, becoming his ally in the future Shinobi World Association.

• Senya learned about A’s wife, Killer B’s rap teacher, and Mabui’s loneliness as the group drank and Omoi passed out.
• A and Killer B encouraged Senya to respond to Samui’s drunken request for a shoulder massage, while Mabui flirted with him.
• Samui accidentally let Senya squeeze her breast, and the two pretended nothing had happened as A and Killer B watched.
• After Samui and Mabui passed out, Senya told A that the daimyō’s son was being held in Konoha for insulting Yūhi Kurenai.
• A told Senya to handle the prisoner as he saw fit, even if he crippled him, and promised to deal with the daimyō.

On the day of the Chunin Exams’ final matches, Naruto and Sasuke confidently prepared to compete while Sakura studied to become a Medical Ninja. Kakashi called them to the arena, and Naruto hinted that he had mastered a surprising new ninjutsu.

• Wealthy visitors and nobles arrived in Konoha to watch the Chunin Exams’ final matches and assess the new generation of shinobi.
• Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura ate ramen at Ichiraku, where Teuchi treated them and urged them to represent Konoha well.
• Naruto and Sasuke declared that they intended to take first place, while Sakura continued studying a book about the human body.
• Kakashi told Naruto and Sasuke that the matches would begin in two hours and that they would draw lots for their opponents in one hour.
• Naruto told Kakashi he had mastered an amazing ninjutsu, and Kakashi wondered whether he had learned the Summoning Jutsu and could draw on the Nine-Tails’ power.

Naruto and Sasuke entered their waiting rooms as Kakashi and Guy wagered on their students, while Neji prepared to face the Uchiha genius. The arena filled for the final stage of the Chunin Exams, and Gekko Hayate began announcing the random matchups.

• Kakashi led Naruto and Sasuke to their waiting rooms, where they parted for rooms No. 8 and No. 12.
• Guy challenged Kakashi to stake their students' honor on the exams, and Kakashi accepted after Guy offered him an autographed collector's edition of Make-Out Paradise.
• Neji said he wanted to show the Assistant what he had learned, while Tenten reassured him about his custom-made ninja tools and Rock Lee vowed to defeat him.
• Guy told Kakashi that Neji had been kidnapped for Root in Hinata's place and later adopted a dangerous technique inspired by the Assistant.
• The arena filled with spectators, the contestants' names appeared on a massive screen, and Gekko Hayate announced that random matching would begin.

Hayate announced the tournament matchups and introduced betting and concessions for the audience. As wagers climbed, Ashiwa bet heavily on Uchiha Hikari and Second Pillar while the other feudal lords mocked him for respecting his wife.

• Hayate revealed twelve tournament matchups and announced that Tenten had received a bye.
• Hayate introduced the tournament betting system and food and drink vendors, then returned to the private room to ask Senya how he had done.
• Tsunade praised Hayate, while Senya watched the prize pool rise past a billion and considered future tournaments as a way to bring wealth to Konoha.
• Ashiwa placed fifty million ryo each on Uchiha Hikari and Second Pillar as the feudal lords of the Five Great Nations reviewed the competitors.
• The Feudal Lord of the Land of Lightning and the other lords teased Ashiwa for refusing to pursue his two attendants, unaware that they were Uchiha jonin in disguise.

Ashiwa reflected on inheriting his father’s hopes for peace and on the reforms that improved life in the Land of Fire. After receiving Senya Uchiha’s plan, he ordered Ninja Association buildings constructed, and the chapter ended as Neji Hyuga and Karui prepared to begin their match.

• Ashiwa warned the other daimyo not to stare at his mother’s former maids, then increased Uchiha Hikari and Sasuke Uchiha’s rewards by twenty million ryo each.
• Ashiwa recalled how Tsunade had helped him take the daimyo position and how he discovered his father’s letter urging him to care for the people and uphold the hope of peace.
• Ashiwa remembered the prosperity and new opportunities that Konoha’s factories, schools, and other projects had brought to the Land of Fire.
• Ashiwa received Senya Uchiha’s plan and ordered Ninja Association buildings to be constructed in the capital and other towns.
• Gekko Hayate called Neji Hyuga and Karui to the arena for the first match, and Ashiwa wondered how strong Konoha’s new generation had become.

Neji Hyuga and Karui fought in the first arena match, each testing the other's close-combat skills. After Neji struck Karui's ribs and disrupted her Chakra, she forced herself to continue, and Neji prepared to face her with Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms.

• Gekko Hayate explained the match rules, and Neji Hyuga and Karui began fighting when the signal pistol fired.
• Karui charged with a lightning-enhanced blade, while Neji used his Byakugan to read her movements and evade her slash.
• Neji struck Karui beneath the ribs with Gentle Fist: One Body Strike, slowing her Chakra and causing severe pain.
• Karui detonated her lightning blade and numbed Neji's chest, then punched her injured ribs to break the disrupted acupoint's seal.
• Karui resumed her attack with Lightning Release: Dancing Lightning Slash, and Neji countered with Gentle Fist: Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms.

Neji defeated Karui after a fierce exchange, then revealed a gun he had developed with Tenten and used it to knock her unconscious. Senya recognized the weapon and was stunned by Neji’s creation.

• Neji used his Byakugan and Gentle Fist techniques to block Karui’s attacks and seal her acupoints, eventually sending her flying with a strike to her chest.
• Karui got back up despite Neji’s claims that fate and bloodline limits made their gap impossible to overcome, insisting she would fight until the end.
• Neji drew a strange black weapon from a scroll, intending to demonstrate the tool he had developed with Tenten using tactics from Lord Senya.
• Neji aimed away from Karui’s heart and major arteries, then fired the weapon and knocked her unconscious.
• Senya recognized Neji’s weapon as a gun and wondered how he had made it.

Neji defeated Karui with a long-range ninja tool, and Naruto faced Omoi in the next match. Naruto overwhelmed Omoi with Shadow Clones, the Rasengan, and his Harem Jutsu, winning the bout and drawing cheers from Konoha.

• Neji defeated Karui with his concealed ninja tools, and Gekko Hayate declared him the winner.
• Neji told Naruto that Konoha could only win and urged him not to disappoint Senya.
• Omoi used smoke bombs, Shadow Clones, and Lightning Style: Scattered Attack against Naruto, but Naruto countered with dozens of Shadow Clones and the Rasengan.
• Naruto's Shadow Clones used Transformation to perform the Harem Jutsu, causing Omoi to faint and fall outside the arena.
• Gekko Hayate declared Naruto the winner and announced the next match between Second Pillar and Samui.

Uchiha Sasuke defeated Samui in the arena after copying her Cloud Style and awakening a stronger Sharingan under pressure. He finished the match with his modified Lightning Release—Chidori Stream, leaving Kakashi impressed and learning that Sister Hikari had helped Sasuke develop it.

• Naruto encouraged Sasuke to win their anticipated match and teased that he had another new ninjutsu to show him.
• Sasuke opened the match against Samui with explosive kunai, then used his Sharingan to copy her Cloud Style: Instant Slash and fight her at close range.
• Samui used lightning-enhanced taijutsu to exploit Sasuke's weaker lower-body strength, but Sasuke awakened a third tomoe and struck her with Lion's Whip Kick, breaking two ribs.
• Sasuke and Samui prepared decisive attacks, and Sasuke unleashed Lightning Release—Chidori Stream against Samui's Lightning Release—Body Sacrifice Strike, breaking her blade and knocking her unconscious.
• Gekko Hayate declared Sasuke the winner, while Kakashi realized the technique was a modified lightning release and Itachi explained that Senior Hikari had suggested it as Sasuke's homework.

Shikamaru Nara faced Kisame Hoshigaki in the fourth match, reluctantly entering the arena after his mother warned him not to surrender. Shikamaru tested his Shadow Imitation Technique’s range, then sat down to think while Kisame waited; Yoshino silenced the complaining spectators and drew a smile from her son.

• Shikamaru Nara slowly entered the arena after seeing his mother, Yoshino Nara, threaten him if he surrendered.
• Hayate checked that Shikamaru was well, then started the match between Shikamaru and Kisame Hoshigaki.
• Kisame tried to reassure Shikamaru and decided to go easy on him, believing the boy was frightened.
• Shikamaru used the Shadow Imitation Technique, and Kisame retreated until the shadow reached its fifty-meter limit.
• Shikamaru sat cross-legged to think while Kisame waited, and spectators began complaining about the delay.
• Yoshino shouted at the spectators through a megaphone, and Shikamaru smiled at his mother's outburst.

Shikamaru drew on his friendship with Naruto and his other companions to keep fighting Kisame, despite knowing he could not win. He outmaneuvered Kisame with traps and a strange prediction of his words, then caught him with the Shadow Imitation Technique as a tidal wave swallowed him.

• Shikamaru remembered his friends’ dreams and resolved not to give up or disappoint his mother.
• Shikamaru used smoke bombs, wire, kunai, and an Explosive Tag to surprise Kisame, earning praise from the jonin watching.
• Kisame blew away the smoke and attacked Shikamaru with a water shark jutsu.
• Shikamaru rushed out of the smoke and threw a kunai while he and Kisame spoke the same predicted line at once.
• Kisame, enraged, unleashed a massive Great Exploding Water Colliding Wave that swallowed Shikamaru.
• Shikamaru revealed that his Shadow Imitation Technique had connected to Kisame and frozen him.

Shikamaru lost his match against Kisame after cleverly restraining him, then received comfort and a homemade meal from his parents. Seeing their affection stirred Gaara’s pain over his family and left him entering his match against Shino hoping victory would earn his father’s acknowledgment and love.

• Shikamaru used the shadows of the spectator stands and a suspended bundle to restrain Kisame, but Kisame broke free after a few seconds.
• Shikamaru surrendered, and Kisame left the arena without waiting for the referee to announce the result.
• Yoshino and Shikaku met Shikamaru in the passage, where Yoshino brought him a warm meal and reassured him that he had done well.
• Gaara saw the Nara family together and wondered whether his mother would have loved him, as memories of his father’s attempts on his life and Yashamaru’s betrayal overwhelmed him.
• Gaara entered the arena for his match against Shino Aburame, hoping that winning the championship would earn his father’s acknowledgment and love.

Rasa recalled Karura’s death and his regret over how he had treated Gaara, then watched as Gaara faced Shino Aburame in the arena. Their match began with Gaara launching a wave of sand at Shino as Shino’s Kikaichū started building a hive beneath the arena.

• Spectators discussed Shino Aburame’s Aburame clan, while Hidden Sand spectators voiced contempt for Gaara and bet on his strength.
• Rasa remembered agreeing to seal Shukaku into his unborn child, Karura dying in childbirth, and the moment he stopped himself from killing the infant after seeing her message, “I, love, Luo.”
• Rasa watched Gaara through the glass and urged him to prove the value and meaning of his existence.
• Hayate started the match, and Gaara and Shino moved apart as each prepared to prove his strength.
• Shino sent Kikaichū beneath the arena floor to build a hive while Gaara unleashed his sand with “Sand Binding Burial” and sent it surging toward Shino.

Shino revealed that he could withstand Gaara’s sand with his powerful Scale Insects, then faced Gaara’s attempt to overwhelm him with a vast sand wave. The battle escalated as Shino unleashed a huge insect swarm and Gaara compressed the arena beneath them.

• Gaara’s Sand Burial failed to crush Shino, whose Scale Insects broke apart the sand and left him unharmed.
• Shino sent his Scale Insects against Gaara’s sand, and the two fighters’ forces clashed until both were largely destroyed.
• Gaara turned much of the arena into sand and unleashed Flowing Sand Waterfall against Shino.
• Shino summoned a vast sea of Scale Insects that poured into the sand wave and blocked its advance.
• Gaara resisted using Shukaku’s power, leaped onto the sand, and used Sand Burial to compress the ground as the arena began sinking.

Gaara defeated Shino after Gekko Hayate stopped his killing blow, and the crowd celebrated Gaara’s victory. Gaara left with a new sense of acceptance, while Rasa believed his son was nearing control of Shukaku.

• Gaara crushed Shino’s insects with Sand Burial and pinned him in place before throwing Shukaku’s Spear.
• Gekko Hayate cut the spear apart with Swallow Return and reassured Shino after his loss.
• Hayate declared Gaara the winner, and the crowd cheered him as “Gaara of the Sand Waterfall.”
• Gaara left the arena smiling faintly, while Hayate suspended the matches so Earth Release ninja could repair the arena.
• Rasa praised Gaara’s restraint and hoped to reunite with Karura, while Gaara restored his Chakra in the preparation room and wondered whether his father would smile.

Neji showed Senya and Tsunade three Chakra-powered ranged weapons he had designed with Tenten, including a sniper-rifle-like weapon and a huge long-range launcher. Senya praised Neji and asked whether the weapons had names.

• Shizune brought Neji to meet Senya and Tsunade after Tsunade healed his arms.
• Neji unsealed three weapons and explained that he and Tenten had designed them, with Tenten's father forging them.
• Neji described the weapons' ranges and Chakra costs, including a massive weapon estimated to reach twenty to thirty kilometers.
• Senya praised Neji and asked whether he had named the three weapons.

Senya named three new ninja tools for Neji and explained that Orochimaru and Kabuto would help solve the artillery’s power-source problem after the Chunin Exams. After the arena was repaired, Rock Lee and Shiro began the next one-on-one duel, both determined to prove the strength of taijutsu.

• Senya named the one-handed weapon a pistol, the long-range weapon a Sniper or Sniper Rifle, and the third weapon artillery, delighting Neji.
• Tsunade guessed Neji admired Senya because he had saved him from Danzo’s Root, and Senya said Orochimaru and Kabuto could improve the artillery after the exams.
• Yamato and other Konoha workers repaired and reinforced the arena before the spectators returned.
• Hayate introduced Rock Lee and Shiro as taijutsu specialists from Konoha and Hidden Sand, and both fighters entered the arena ready to give their all.

Rock Lee and Shiro fought in a fierce taijutsu match, and Shiro challenged Rock Lee to remove his weights and use his full strength. The chapter ended as Rock Lee’s weights shattered the arena floor, stunning the spectators.

• Rock Lee and Shiro exchanged a rapid series of punches and kicks as the crowd cheered.
• Shiro used Winged Silent Fist to blunt Rock Lee’s Konoha Whirlwind, then grabbed his leg and threw him to the ground.
• Rock Lee struck Shiro’s calf with Konoha Violent Wind, and Shiro urged him to take off his weights.
• Might Guy gave Rock Lee an approving signal, and Rock Lee removed two rows of weights from his calves.
• Rock Lee threw the weights outside the arena, where they smashed the floor and left the spectators astonished.

Shiro used silent attacks and sealed Rock Lee’s acupoints to stop him from opening the Eight Gates, then unleashed his Seven Day Call Method. Rock Lee kept fighting and finally opened the Gate of Life, bringing his Chakra to Shiro’s level.

• Shiro used a Chakra layer that muffled his attacks, making it harder for Rock Lee to predict his movements.
• Neji spotted the Chakra layer with his Byakugan and realized Shiro had also used a protective layer to disperse the force of Lee’s earlier kick.
• Rock Lee tried to open the Gate of Opening, but Shiro’s finger strikes had sealed the acupoints needed to open the first two gates.
• Shiro activated the first three stages of the Seven Day Call Method and launched a barrage of attacks against Rock Lee.
• Rock Lee tried to open the Gate of Healing, then forced his Chakra against the blocked Gate of Life until he finally opened it.