Recaps

Naruto rescued Tazuna’s family from Gato’s forces, then brought Zabuza and Haku back to Konoha and gave them work at the Breeding Farm. As he tried to befriend Kakashi and the young taijutsu specialists through sparring, Team 7 entered the Chunin Exams, and Zabuza finally decided to seek Naruto out.

• Naruto stopped samurai from kidnapping Inari’s mother, then joined Kakashi’s team at the bridge, where Sasuke fought Zabuza and Haku and Naruto faced Haku’s ice mirrors.
• Naruto spared Haku, but Gato arrived with armed men, so Naruto killed the attackers and Gato while Sasuke cremated the bodies.
• Naruto prevented Haku from killing himself and brought him and Zabuza to Tazuna’s home, then took Gato’s money and offered Haku and Zabuza work at the Breeding Farm.
• Haku agreed to stay at the farm, and Naruto hired Shikamaru as its director while Kakashi learned that Naruto had taught Sasuke the Flying Thunder God Technique and Rasengan.
• Kakashi apologized to Naruto for neglecting him, and Naruto welcomed him as a friend before beating him in a spar and hosting a feast with friends and guests.
• Naruto befriended Haku, Rock Lee, and Neji through sparring, while Might Guy’s repeated fights with Naruto left him exhausted and pleading for a day of rest.
• Kakashi entered Team 7 in the Chunin Exams, and Naruto bruised Sakura in a spar before deciding to befriend Zabuza, who resolved to find him after work.

Naruto helped Mei Terumi prepare to overthrow Yagura, then entered Konoha’s Chunin Exams and made friends through his unusual challenges. After defeating Orochimaru and earning an exceptional promotion to Chunin, Naruto watched Hinata win her preliminary match as Orochimaru began plotting to capture him.

• Naruto agreed to help Zabuza overthrow Yagura for half the spoils, defeated Mei Terumi in a test of strength, and agreed to join the operation after the Chunin Exams.
• Naruto reunited with his friends at the exams, passed the written test with a blank paper, and entered the Forest of Death with Sasuke and Sakura.
• Naruto’s team took scrolls from the Sound Village team, then faced Orochimaru, who tried to recruit Naruto and Sasuke and threatened Hiruzen Sarutobi.
• Sasuke fought Orochimaru before Naruto grew into a giant and defeated him, earning Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura exceptional promotions to Chunin.
• Danzo concluded that Orochimaru had survived by using a female vessel, while Orochimaru abandoned the Konoha Crush Plan and began plotting to capture Naruto.
• Naruto reunited with the examinees and insisted on sparring with them to become friends, defeating Kankuro before Kakashi and Anko stopped him from delaying the exam.
• Naruto apologized to Kabuto Yakushi after their spar, while Kabuto reported Naruto’s Breeding Farm location to Orochimaru.
• Hinata defeated Neji in the first preliminary match, and Rock Lee entered the arena to face Zaku Abumi in the next match.

Naruto befriended the Sound Ninja Trio, Temari, Baki, and Gaara through sparring, while the confrontation with Shukaku revealed his immense power to Konoha. After Hiruzen told Naruto about his parents and planned to announce his identity, Naruto confided in his friends and helped Gaara find a place among them.

• Naruto hosted a feast at the Breeding Farm, sparred with Might Guy and Tenten, and walked Hinata home before asking Sasuke to renew their friendship.
• Naruto befriended Zaku, Dosu, and Kin, then challenged Temari and Baki to spars and defeated them until they accepted his friendship.
• Naruto shattered Gaara’s Sand Armor, causing Shukaku to emerge, then fought Shukaku alongside Kurama until the beast retreated into Gaara.
• Naruto carried the unconscious Gaara back to the Breeding Farm, knocked out Orochimaru while he was disguised as Tsukishirohime, and received Danzo’s apology letter.
• Hiruzen told Naruto that he was Minato Namikaze’s son and planned to reveal his parentage, while Naruto asked him to wait two days.
• Shino and Hinata pledged their support to Naruto, and Sasuke urged him to share his concerns about Hiruzen with their family.
• Naruto showed Gaara memories of his lonely childhood, and Gaara accepted Naruto’s offer of friendship.
• Shino introduced Gaara to Naruto’s friends, and Gaara relaxed among them as Naruto decided to give him a mirror.

Naruto befriended Gaara and his siblings before Rasa’s death sent them back to Hidden Sand, then helped Mei Terumi prepare for a fight against Yagura. Later, Naruto’s hot-spring gathering ended with Itachi and Sasuke confronting each other, and Naruto uncovered the truth behind Itachi’s anguish while saving Sasuke from Tsukuyomi.

• Naruto shared meals and time at his farm with Gaara, Temari, Kankuro, and his friends, while Orochimaru plotted with Kabuto Yakushi and Kimimaro to kill Rasa.
• Orochimaru killed Rasa, and Baki told Gaara, Temari, and Kankuro that their father was dead and Gaara would become Kazekage, and Naruto said goodbye to Gaara as they returned to Hidden Sand.
• Naruto visited Mei Terumi, taught her Vibration Force, and agreed to help with her operation against Karatachi Yagura, then befriended Chojuro and Ao through sparring.
• Naruto created more than twenty thousand shadow clones for training, then invited his friends and acquaintances to a hot-spring hotel, where he stopped Jiraiya from peeping and sent him to the hospital.
• Sasuke sensed Itachi’s return and confronted him beneath the streetlamp at the Uchiha Clan Grounds, while Naruto fought Kisame nearby.
• Naruto killed Kisame, and Sasuke fought Itachi before Itachi trapped him in Tsukuyomi and made him relive the Uchiha massacre.
• Naruto freed Sasuke and entered Itachi’s inner world, where he saw that Itachi’s deepest fear was the massacre and realized Itachi had chosen Sasuke’s survival over the clan.
• Sasuke raised his sword against Itachi, who begged him to kill him, and Naruto asked Itachi whether he regretted his choice.