Recaps

Naruto, Gaara, and Sasuke fought Orochimaru’s forces as the Chunin Exams descended into chaos, while Chiyo’s blood sphere created Blood Shadow Soji. Soji sealed Hashirama with Ice Prison Cataclysm, but Orochimaru escaped after placing a curse mark on Sasuke.

• The Nine-Tails and Shukaku agreed to lend Naruto and Gaara their power, letting the two transform and overpower Ohm.
• Orochimaru and Tobirama joined the battle, Itachi sealed the Reanimated Third Kazekage, and Chiyo turned Sakura and the Sound Ninja Trio into threats against Sasuke.
• Chiyo’s Ketsuryūgan summoned a Nine-Headed Blood Dragon, and Naruto joined Sasuke to fight it while Ohm and Hashirama pressured Itachi.
• Hashirama unleashed Flower Tree World Descent, and its poisonous pollen paralyzed the fighters until Chiyo’s blood sphere dispelled it and transformed into Blood Shadow Soji.
• Hashirama broke free of Orochimaru’s control and fought Blood Shadow Soji, while Naruto and Sasuke fled and the Kage changed the exam rules so teams could escape the forest.
• Soji spread blood-colored ice mirrors across the Forest of Death and used Ice Prison Cataclysm to freeze and seal Hashirama.
• Naruto and Sasuke joined Itachi against Orochimaru and Tobirama, while Gaara recovered and entered the fight to protect Temari and Kankuro.
• Orochimaru abandoned his attempt to take Itachi’s body and tried to retreat, but Sasuke charged him and received a curse mark.

After the Forest of Death, Sasuke chose to master Orochimaru’s Curse Mark, Itachi recovered his eyesight, and Sakura began learning genjutsu. Yakumo’s awakened power trapped her and others in illusions, so Soji brought her former classmates to rescue her.

• Sakura freed herself from Chiyo’s genjutsu, and Naruto accepted Chiyo’s Earth Scroll in exchange for letting her leave the Forest of Death.
• Chiyo learned that Oyakiro Homura was her father and that the Chinoike Clan, not the Uchiha Clan, had caused her mother’s death, so she abandoned her revenge.
• Sasuke chose to master Orochimaru’s Heavenly Curse Mark, while Soji transplanted Hashirama Cells into Itachi and restored his eyesight.
• Sakura sought genjutsu training from Kurenai Yuhi, passed her tests, and met Kurama Yakumo at Satomi Hill Villa.
• Yakumo’s painting caused a lightning strike at the Hokage Office Building, and her Five Senses Manipulation trapped Sakura and Kurenai in illusions.
• Yakumo accused Kurenai of betraying her, while Ido emerged from a black hole and dragged Sakura away as Yakumo confronted intruders.
• Soji secured the mission to rescue Yakumo and took Kimimaro, Haku, and Yota to Satomi Hill Villa.
• Soji and his disciples entered Yakumo’s illusion, knocked out the controlled people, and used Soji’s Right Eye Void Mirror to counter her attacks as they advanced toward her.

Soji helped Kurama Yakumo accept Inner Demon Ido and took her as his disciple, while Sakura gained a mysterious remnant of Ido’s power. At the third stage of the Chunin Exams, Neji defeated Rock Lee, Sakura revealed her genjutsu, and Karin’s Uzumaki abilities drew the attention of Konoha and Sasuke.

• Soji defeated Inner Demon Ido, helped Kurama Yakumo recover her memories, and guided her through merging with Ido so she could become his disciple.
• Soji returned with Yakumo and Sakura, then realized a fragment of Ido’s power and consciousness remained inside Sakura as Yakumo gained approval to become a ninja.
• The Kage of Konoha, Sunagakure, and Kirigakure announced the Three Great Shinobi Villages Mutual Defense Alliance as the third stage of the Chunin Exams began.
• Neji Hyuga defeated Rock Lee after Lee opened the Six Gates and Neji revealed the Byakugan’s Pressure ability.
• Sakura won her match against a Takigakure Ninja with genjutsu, surprising her teammates and revealing her rapid progress.
• Sasuke Uchiha faced Karin, who repeatedly recovered from his attacks before awakening the Adamantine Sealing Chains.
• Kushina, Minato, and the Third Hokage recognized Karin’s Uzumaki abilities and considered bringing her to Konoha, while Sasuke asked her who she was as her chains swept toward him.

Karin learned she was an Uzumaki, was adopted by Minato and Kushina, and joined Naruto’s family in Konoha. As the Chunin Exams reached the quarterfinals, Sasuke’s fight with Chiyo exposed Orochimaru’s influence within his Curse Mark and left him with greater control over it.

• Karin fainted before attacking Sasuke, and Minato and Kushina arranged to take her in while using her situation to pressure Kusagakure.
• Kushina and Karin confirmed they were both Uzumaki, and Karin agreed to stay in Konoha after learning Minato and Kushina were alive.
• Kushina adopted Karin, who called her Mother, and Naruto accepted Karin as his older sister when the family welcomed her home.
• Sakura defeated Ino after revealing her Second Personality and using genjutsu, while Naruto, Sasuke, Neji, Shikamaru, Gaara, Chiyo, and Suigetsu advanced to the final eight.
• Neji defeated Suigetsu, and Gaara defeated Shikamaru after Naruto shoved him into the arena before he could forfeit.
• Sakura forfeited to Naruto, and Sasuke began his quarterfinal match against Chiyo, who overwhelmed him with her techniques and taijutsu.
• Sasuke activated his Curse Mark and fought back, but Chiyo wounded him with her blood techniques and exposed Orochimaru’s influence within him.
• Chiyo entered Sasuke’s consciousness and helped him fight Orochimaru, and they wounded the White Phosphorus Snake, which escaped, leaving Sasuke with greater control over the Curse Mark.