Chapter Summaries

Naruto and the other candidates took the Chunin Exam’s first written test, which secretly tested intelligence-gathering and resolve rather than academic knowledge. Naruto’s signal encouraged Konoha 11 to stay, and Morino Ibiki passed everyone who remained.

• Naruto explained that six villages, including Konoha and the Sand Ninja, were participating in the exam, while Gaara and Kankuro watched him warily.
• Morino Ibiki began the written exam and warned candidates against cheating; Naruto went to sleep while the others used varied methods to gather answers.
• Sasuke interpreted Naruto’s behavior as a clue and copied a nearby candidate with his Sharingan, while Sakura, Ino, Hinata, Shino, Gaara, and Kiba also found ways to cheat.
• Ibiki announced that candidates who answered Question Ten incorrectly would never be allowed to take the Chunin Exams again, prompting many candidates to consider withdrawing.
• Naruto signaled Konoha 11 not to give up, and the candidates who remained passed when Ibiki revealed that the final question had been a test of willpower.

Mitarashi Anko explained the Forest of Death exam, and Naruto’s team quickly obtained the scroll they needed. After watching Gaara defeat the Sound Ninja Trio, Naruto learned that Gaara still wanted to challenge him.

• Mitarashi Anko announced the Forest of Death’s scroll-gathering rules and warned examinees that killing was permitted.
• Naruto, Sasuke, and Hinata entered the forest and took the Scroll of Heaven from the team Sasuke had previously defeated.
• Naruto’s team headed toward the Central Tower and watched Gaara, Temari, and Kankuro battle Zaku Abumi, Dosu Kinata, and Kin Tsuchi.
• Gaara drove off the Sound Ninja Trio, took their scroll, and threatened Kankuro when he questioned Gaara’s orders.
• Gaara told Temari and Kankuro to seek out Uzumaki Naruto, whom he wanted to test.

Naruto’s team quickly passed the second exam and joined the remaining candidates for the third stage’s preliminary rounds. Tsunade explained the political purpose behind the Chunin Exams, and the first matchup was announced as Sasuke versus Dosu Kinuta.

• Naruto and Sasuke opened the Scrolls of Heaven and Earth together at the Central Tower, summoning Iruka, who confirmed their team was the first to pass the second exam.
• A few days later, the surviving candidates gathered in Konoha’s indoor arena, where Anko reported the second stage’s casualties and Tsunade introduced the third stage.
• Tsunade explained that the Chunin Exams served as a public display of national strength and a small-scale war between allied nations, prompting Naruto to tell Sasuke and the others that lasting peace required strength.
• Hayate Gekko announced one-on-one preliminary matches that could end in surrender or death, then named Sasuke’s first opponent as Dosu Kinuta.
• Naruto used the Body Flicker Technique to approach Hayate Gekko after the matchup was announced.

Naruto cured Hayate Gekko’s hereditary illness and weakness while Sasuke easily defeated Akado Yoroi in the first match. Gaara and Shukaku recognized Sasuke as a dangerous opponent and warned Gaara not to provoke him.

• Naruto used Yang Release Chakra to cure Hayate Gekko’s hereditary illness and repair his weakened body, and Hayate thanked him.
• Sasuke faced Akado Yoroi, whose Chakra Absorption Technique failed against Sasuke’s powerful taijutsu.
• Akado Yoroi mistook Sasuke’s strength for Genjutsu, but Sasuke bypassed his guarded arms and knocked him unconscious with a kick.
• Hayate declared Sasuke the winner after confirming Akado Yoroi was alive but unable to fight.
• Kankuro and Gaara were shocked by Sasuke’s speed, and Shukaku warned Gaara that Sasuke was stronger than he appeared and should not be provoked.

Choji fought Kankuro in the second round and overwhelmed him with his strength, forcing him to surrender after destroying Crow. The chapter left Choji celebrated as the victor while Choza felt reassured about trusting Naruto’s training plan.

• Kankuro faced Choji and initially mistook him for an ordinary opponent.
• Choji enlarged his body, moved at tremendous speed, and knocked Kankuro down with a punch.
• Kankuro deployed Crow and unleashed its weapons and poison attacks, but Choji’s punches swept them aside.
• Choji opened three Inner Gates and used the Expansion Jutsu to crush Crow with a single punch.
• Kankuro surrendered, and Hayate Gekko declared Choji the winner.
• Choza applauded, relieved that Naruto’s training plan had made Choji powerful.

The Chunin Exam matches continued as Aburame Shino defeated Tsurugi Misumi and Uzumaki Naruto defeated Inuzuka Kiba. The next match was set between Yamanaka Ino and Haruno Sakura, whose friendship had grown close under Tsunade’s mentorship.

• Aburame Shino used an insect clone and Kikaichū to immobilize Tsurugi Misumi, who surrendered.
• Inuzuka Kiba faced Naruto without Akamaru’s help, fought until he was exhausted, and surrendered.
• Akamaru carried Kiba from the arena after Naruto was declared the winner.
• The next match was announced as Yamanaka Ino versus Haruno Sakura.

Sakura defeated Ino in their match after surviving Ino’s mental-power-enhanced punch and healing with the Byakugou Seal. Tenten then faced Temari and surprised her with the Shuriken Shadow Clone Jutsu, leaving Temari forced to retreat from the real shuriken.

• Haruno Sakura activated Sage Mode and charged Yamanaka Ino, who answered with a punch combining all her Chakra and mental power.
• Ino disrupted Sakura’s mind, knocked her down, and pressed her attack, but Sakura activated the Byakugou Seal and healed her injuries.
• Sakura defeated Ino after they resumed exchanging taijutsu blows, and the judge declared Sakura the winner.
• Tenten faced Temari and attacked with the Shuriken Shadow Clone Jutsu, sending countless solid shuriken toward her.
• Temari swung her fan to create a hurricane, then retreated when some shuriken passed through the wind and struck the ground nearby.

Tenten defeated Temari with a combination of shuriken, explosive tags, an Emei Sword, and an Emei Spear. The next match began between Hinata and Neji, and Hinata immediately showed that her strength surpassed his.

• Tenten lured Temari into a shuriken trap, then used explosive tags and her Wind Scythe to fill the area with smoke.
• Tenten attacked Temari from behind with an Emei Sword and Emei Spear, stopping her final thrust just short of her body.
• Temari conceded, and Hayate Gekko declared Tenten the winner.
• The next match was drawn as Hinata Hyuga versus Neji Hyuga, and Neji agreed to spar after Naruto and Hinata assured him she would not use the Tenseigan.
• Hinata and Neji exchanged Gentle Fist techniques, but their first clash sent Neji staggering backward and revealed that Hinata was stronger.

Hinata and Neji escalated their spar by combining the Eight Inner Gates with their other abilities. Hinata forced open the Seventh Gate and unleashed Twin Dragon Azure Wave Break, leaving her body badly overstrained.

• Hinata pressed Neji until he opened three Inner Gates and activated Shikkotsu Forest Sage Mode.
• Hinata opened five Inner Gates and used Gentle Step Twin Lion Fists, launching chakra lion heads with the principle behind Morning Peacock.
• Neji blocked Hinata’s attack with Sage Art: Eight Trigrams Vacuum Wall Rotation, then opened five gates and unleashed his newly named Divine Air Strike.
• Hinata judged that she could not withstand Neji’s attack without injury and opened the Seventh Gate, despite the severe strain on her body.
• Hinata unleashed Twin Dragon Azure Wave Break.

Hinata’s powerful attack forced Naruto to intervene, and Neji was declared the winner after Hinata forfeited. Naruto healed Hinata before the next match began, where Rock Lee dodged Gaara’s increasingly fast sand attacks.

• Hinata used Twin Dragon Azure Wave Break against Neji, but Naruto absorbed its Chakra and teleported its impact away from the arena.
• Hinata collapsed, and Naruto caught her and declared that she forfeited; Hayate Gekko announced Neji as the victor.
• Naruto used Six Paths Power to heal Hinata’s injuries, then took her hand and returned with her to the arena.
• The draw paired Gaara from Sunagakure against Rock Lee from Konoha, and both entered the arena as the match began.
• Gaara sent sand after Rock Lee, who dodged the attacks even as Gaara increased their speed, leaving Gaara frustrated.

Rock Lee opened six Inner Gates and overwhelmed Gaara, who turned to Shukaku after being injured and unable to fight back. Gaara began the Sleeping Fox Technique, leaving his next move—and the threat of Shukaku’s power—unresolved.

• Gaara unleashed Bullet Sand Shower and Sand Hail, but Rock Lee opened six Inner Gates and charged through the attacks.
• Rock Lee used Morning Peacock to clear Gaara’s sand and struck him, injuring him through his Sand Armor.
• Gaara partially transformed and attacked with Sand Shuriken, but Rock Lee easily shattered the sand.
• Shukaku offered to take over Gaara’s body, and Gaara accepted after recalling Rasa’s advice to use Shukaku’s power.
• Gaara formed a hand seal and began the Sleeping Fox Technique.

Gaara fell asleep and Shukaku emerged, attacking Rock Lee during their match. Rock Lee countered the One-Tail’s attacks and removed his training weights as he prepared to fight back.

• Hayate Gekko warned Tsunade that Gaara was about to lose control, but Naruto urged her to let the match continue and promised to intervene if needed.
• Shukaku emerged from Gaara and fired a Void Ball at Rock Lee, who countered with Morning Peacock.
• Rock Lee judged Shukaku’s attack and dodged its barrage of sand-enhanced Void Balls.
• Shukaku used sand to slow Rock Lee, but Rock Lee removed his training weights, smashing them into the ground.

Rock Lee combined the Seventh Gate with Shikkotsu Forest Sage Mode to unleash Sage Art: Phoenix Flame Dance against Shukaku. Naruto protected the arena with the Four Red Yang Formation, and Shukaku was left badly damaged while Rock Lee still had strength to fight.

• Rock Lee opened the Seventh Gate and activated Shikkotsu Forest Sage Mode as Shukaku began gathering chakra for a Tailed Beast Bomb.
• Naruto reassured Rock Lee and used four Shadow Clones to raise the Four Red Yang Formation around the arena.
• Rock Lee used Sage Art: Phoenix Flame Dance to sweep Shukaku into a chakra tornado and strike him with a flame-wreathed diving kick.
• Shukaku's Tailed Beast Bomb collided with Rock Lee's attack, creating a huge explosion that Naruto's barrier contained.
• After the smoke cleared, most of Shukaku's body and sand had been destroyed, while Rock Lee remained comparatively unhurt and Shukaku's chakra was depleted.

Rock Lee defeated Shukaku, prompting Gaara to surrender and advance the preliminaries’ final Konoha contestant, Shikamaru, without a fight. After Tsunade announced the official matches would begin in a month, Naruto invited Gaara, Temari, and Kankuro to join the Konoha group for grilled meat, offering to answer Gaara’s questions.

• Rock Lee subdued Shukaku, struck Gaara awake, and Gaara surrendered after Shukaku warned him not to fight.
• The judges declared Gaara of Konoha the winner, and Shikamaru advanced directly because he had no opponent.
• Tsunade announced that the official matches would take place in a month, while the Sunagakure team learned they would remain in Konoha until the exams ended.
• Gaara approached Naruto, and Naruto invited him, Temari, and Kankuro to celebrate with the Konoha contestants at a grilled-meat restaurant.
• Naruto told Gaara he would answer his questions, and Gaara accepted the invitation and followed him.

Naruto welcomed Gaara, Temari, and Kankuro at a meal and explained how he had earned Konoha’s acceptance and befriended Kurama. Gaara found comfort in his siblings’ loyalty, and Naruto showed everyone a cute Little Nine-Tails.

• Naruto invited Gaara to sit beside him and helped him and the other Sunagakure visitors feel at ease over food and cola.
• Gaara asked Naruto whether they were both Jinchuriki, and Naruto confirmed that he carried the Nine-Tails while Gaara carried Shukaku.
• Sasuke described how Naruto had endured mistreatment and gradually earned the recognition of Konoha.
• Naruto helped Gaara realize that Temari and Kankuro had remained by his side as family, and Gaara thanked them.
• Naruto explained that he trusted Kurama rather than controlling him, then revealed that he had removed the seal and called forth a Little Nine-Tails.
• Hinata scooped up the Little Nine-Tails and exclaimed over how cute it was.

Naruto convinced Gaara that Tailed Beasts could become friends with their hosts, and Gaara began to trust him and reconcile with Temari and Kankuro. The next morning, Gaara went looking for Naruto but instead chased the frightened Konohamaru Corps through Konoha.

• Hinata cuddled Little Nine-Tails while Naruto explained to Gaara that Tailed Beasts wanted friendship and freedom, citing Bunpuku’s bond with Shukaku.
• Naruto told Gaara about a Konoha technique that let a recognized Tailed Beast manifest outside its host, and Gaara watched Nine-Tails enjoy grilled meat.
• Naruto called Gaara his friend and urged him to grow stronger, leaving Gaara deeply moved and more at ease with him.
• Gaara, Temari, and Kankuro returned to their lodging, where Gaara thanked and apologized to his siblings, and Temari privately thought about Shikamaru as a potential partner.
• The next morning, Gaara left a note for Temari and Kankuro and went out to find Naruto, but the Konohamaru Corps ran from him when he called to them.
• Gaara pursued the children on foot and pleaded with them to stop, while nearby villagers grew suspicious of the visiting Sunagakure ninja.

Gaara asked Naruto to help him communicate with Shukaku, who had shut himself away after losing to Rock Lee. Naruto brought Kurama into Shukaku’s mindscape, where the tailed beasts fought while Gaara watched.

• Gaara asked Konohamaru, Moegi, and Udon to take him to Naruto, and they led him to Naruto’s home.
• Gaara asked Naruto to train him to get along with Shukaku, explaining that Shukaku had refused to communicate with him.
• Naruto entered Gaara’s mindscape through the seal and found Shukaku hidden beneath the sand.
• Naruto summoned Kurama, whose taunts provoked Shukaku into emerging and attacking him.
• Naruto brought Gaara into Shukaku’s mindscape, where they watched Kurama beat Shukaku.

Naruto helped Gaara and Shukaku begin repairing their relationship, leading Shukaku to agree to lend Gaara his power in exchange for brief freedom. Naruto then proposed replacing Gaara’s seal with an Eight Trigrams Seal that Gaara could eventually open himself, and Gaara and Shukaku agreed to prepare for the sealing.

• Kurama defeated Shukaku in their mental space, and Gaara began speaking and interacting with Shukaku more openly.
• Naruto advised Gaara to build trust with Shukaku by negotiating fairly and offering him occasional freedom in return for his power.
• After following Naruto and training with him for about two weeks, Gaara secured Shukaku’s agreement to lend his power and avoid harming Sunagakure.
• Naruto proposed replacing Gaara’s seal with an Eight Trigrams Seal and giving Gaara its key so he could choose when to free Shukaku.
• Shukaku agreed to the new seal, and Gaara promised to open it only after he and Shukaku had built genuine trust; they then prepared for the sealing.

Naruto removed Shukaku’s old seal from Gaara and replaced it with an Eight Trigrams Seal that Gaara could adjust using a key Naruto gave him. A month later, Rasa arrived in Konoha for the Chunin Exams and was surprised by his children’s improved relationship and Gaara’s account of a Konoha genin defeating Shukaku.

• Naruto used Yin-Yang Release to remove the seal restraining Shukaku, then placed a new Eight Trigrams Seal on Gaara and gave him a scroll containing its key.
• Gaara learned to control Shukaku’s power and adjust the seal, while Kankuro and Temari relaxed in Konoha and Temari grew close to Yoshino Nara.
• Temari, Kankuro, and Gaara welcomed Rasa, who wondered why they seemed so harmonious after a month apart.
• Temari explained that Gaara had released Shukaku during the Chunin Exams preliminaries, but a Konoha genin had defeated him and limited the damage.
• Rasa questioned whether Konoha’s genin were truly so powerful, recalling reports he had heard on his journey from Sunagakure.

Gaara, Temari, and Kankuro returned to Sunagakure with Rasa, who accepted Gaara’s improved emotional state but warned his children that Konoha and Sunagakure could become enemies again. On the day of the Chunin Exams’ third round, Rasa arrived in Konoha to watch the matches and assess the village, while bonding with Jiraiya over his books.

• Gaara told Rasa that the children had made friends in Konoha but kept Naruto’s role and help with his seal private.
• Rasa allowed his children to maintain their friendships, then warned that Sunagakure might betray Konoha and they could face their friends on a battlefield.
• Konoha’s Eleven gathered for the third-round matches, and Naruto encouraged them to overcome their nerves.
• Rasa arrived at the arena with Baki and exchanged compliments with Tsunade and Jiraiya.
• Rasa told Jiraiya that he collected his books and asked for an autograph, and Jiraiya promised to entertain him after the matches.