Chapter Summaries

Soji consolidated Kirigakure’s gains from the Super Civilization Ship and Gelel Ore, resolved Heide’s execution and the Merchant Group’s departure, and reshuffled Anbu posts. A month later, Rasa sent Mizuki Ember a letter, stirring Pakura’s hatred of the Fourth Kazekage and leaving Soji to wonder what Rasa wanted.

• Soji returned to Kirigakure with the frozen Gelel Ore Vein and arranged for researchers to study the Super Civilization Ship’s technology.
• Soji discovered why the Gelel Ore Vein had become unstable and sent Kazahana Koyuki a necklace made from a piece of ore.
• Timsi killed Heide to avenge his clansmen, then chose to remain in Kirigakure, while He Yan and Nilu Gu departed with their Merchant Group.
• Soji appointed Jinin Akebino deputy director of the Anbu and made Chiyo an Anbu squad captain.
• A month later, Soji received a letter from Fourth Kazekage Rasa, and Pakura’s lingering hatred of Sunagakure’s leadership resurfaced.

Soji and Pakura suspected Konoha was pushing Sunagakure and Kirigakure toward an alliance to bind Kirigakure and Mizuki Ember to Konoha’s interests. Soji delayed answering Sunagakure, then received Konoha envoy Kakashi, whose first meeting with Mizuki Ember left him tense and overwhelmed.

• Pakura read Rasa’s proposal for an offensive and defensive alliance between Sunagakure and Kirigakure, and Soji explained that Konoha was likely behind it.
• Pakura suspected Soji had arranged the proposal himself, but Soji denied knowing about it and decided to send Ao to Sunagakure to stall for time.
• Soji realized he had begun making decisions from Kirigakure’s perspective and predicted that Konoha would soon make another move.
• A month later, Kakashi arrived in Kirigakure as an envoy on a mission from the Third Hokage.
• Kakashi met Mizuki Ember in the Mizukage’s Office and felt that the Fifth Mizukage had seen through him, leaving him tense and sweating.

Kakashi delivered the Third Hokage’s invitation for Kirigakure to join the Chunin Exams, and Soji agreed. Kakashi then revealed that Konoha and Sunagakure also wanted Kirigakure to co-host, a proposal Soji recognized as a test of Kirigakure’s willingness to form an alliance.

• Soji teased Kakashi for being startled, while Kakashi apologized and admired Soji’s strength and Kirigakure’s progress.
• Kakashi gave Soji the Third Hokage’s letter inviting Kirigakure to send genin to the Chunin Exams in two months.
• Kakashi recognized Pakura, but she rejected her former identity as Sunagakure’s hero and identified herself only as Kirigakure’s Mizukage secretary.
• Soji agreed to send genin to the exams and asked Kakashi to reveal the second matter.
• Kakashi announced that Konoha and Sunagakure invited Kirigakure to jointly host the exams, and Soji understood the proposal as a test of Kirigakure’s stance toward an alliance.

Soji agreed to Konoha’s proposals after Kirigakure’s leaders approved them, including hosting the Chunin Exams and forming an alliance. He suspected Minato had prompted the Third Hokage to invite him to Konoha, and Minato and Kushina discussed whether Soji had figured it out.

• Kakashi asked Soji to let Kirigakure participate in and co-host the Chunin Exams, and invited him to visit Konoha.
• Soji explained to Pakura that Konoha was using the exam proposals to test Kirigakure’s willingness to form a mutual defense alliance.
• Soji suspected Minato was behind the invitation to Konoha and agreed because he recognized his friend’s influence.
• Soji convened Kirigakure’s higher-ups, who approved all three proposals after he expressed his support.
• Soji informed Kakashi of Kirigakure’s decision, and Kakashi left to report it to the Third Hokage.
• Minato told Kushina that Soji had probably guessed he was behind the invitation, and Kushina questioned why Minato had not told Soji beforehand.

Soji discovered that Hozuki Suigetsu could strengthen Kirigakure’s Chunin Exams team and summoned him to the Mizukage’s Office. Suigetsu arrived despite his clan’s fear that the Fifth Mizukage meant to punish them, leaving Soji poised to recruit him.

• Soji struggled to find enough strong genin for Kirigakure’s Chunin Exams team, with only Chojuro standing out.
• Pakura gave Soji a file identifying Hozuki Suigetsu as a potential candidate, and Soji realized he had overlooked him.
• Soji sent a Kirigakure Anbu to summon Hozuki Suigetsu from the Hozuki Clan grounds.
• The Hozuki Clan elders feared Mizuki Ember was targeting their clan because Hozuki Mangetsu had not returned, but Suigetsu chose to answer the summons.
• Hozuki Suigetsu arrived at the Mizukage’s Office, wondering why Soji wanted to see him.

Soji reassured Hozuki Suigetsu that Kirigakure would not punish the Hozuki Clan for Hozuki Mangetsu’s apparent defection, then recruited Suigetsu for a genin squad heading to Konoha’s Chunin Exams. With Suigetsu confirmed as the second member, Soji still struggled to find a third candidate before the team departed.

• Soji told Hozuki Suigetsu that he had no intention of targeting the Hozuki Clan and promised its members could live safely in Kirigakure.
• Soji asked Suigetsu about his lack of ninja rank because he had studied at the Hozuki Clan’s private academy.
• Soji granted Suigetsu the rank of genin and explained his plan to send an elite genin squad to Konoha for the Chunin Exams.
• Suigetsu vowed to pass the Chunin Exams for Kirigakure’s glory, and Soji named him the squad’s second member.
• Soji wondered who could fill the squad’s remaining spot before it left for Konoha in half a month.

Soji struggled to choose the third Kirigakure candidate for the Chunin Exams, weighing Ranmaru’s support abilities against Chiyo’s risks. After drawing Ranmaru by lot, he declared that he was eliminating him and chose Chiyo instead.

• Soji crossed Jinin Akebino and Timsi off his candidate list, leaving Ranmaru and Chiyo as the final options.
• Pakura suggested that Soji choose between Ranmaru and Chiyo by drawing a name, while Soji weighed their strengths and risks.
• Soji drew a paper marked Ranmaru, then wrote Chiyo as the third candidate and claimed the draw had eliminated Ranmaru.
• Pakura questioned whether Soji had written the wrong name, but Soji insisted Chiyo was his choice.

Soji selected Chiyo to join Chojuro and Hozuki Suigetsu on Kirigakure’s elite genin squad for the Chunin Exams in Konoha, promising to support her as she faced the Uchiha Clan. He sent a letter to Oyakiro Homura, who agreed to intervene if needed and looked forward to meeting the Fifth Mizukage.

• Soji chose Chiyo for the elite genin squad, reversing the result of his draw because he believed his draws always pointed to the wrong choice.
• Soji ordered Chiyo to resume using her real name, join Chojuro and Hozuki Suigetsu, and travel to Konoha for the Chunin Exams.
• Chiyo hesitated because she feared losing control around the Uchiha Clan, but Soji promised Kirigakure would stand behind her, and she accepted the mission.
• Soji arranged for the three genin to train together before the trip and wrote a letter seeking further help to resolve the Chinoike-Uchiha grudge.
• Oyakiro Homura read Soji’s letter, agreed to step forward if anything unexpected happened, and reflected that Soji had uncovered his identity.

Soji secured Oyakiro Homura’s help as a safeguard for Chiyo and prepared to build ties with him after the Chunin Exams. Soji then led Kirigakure’s delegation toward Konoha as Rasa’s Sunagakure team set out too, with Gaara eager to show Soji how much he had grown.

• Oyakiro Homura agreed to travel to Konoha after Soji revealed that he knew Homura was Chiyo’s father and asked him to intervene if she lost control.
• Soji received Homura’s reply and decided that Homura could protect Chiyo while also becoming a valuable future contact for resources and trade.
• Soji led a Kirigakure delegation of around fifty or sixty people, including seven genin teams, Ringo Ameyuri’s Anbu squad, Pakura, and Ranmaru, toward Konoha.
• Rasa led Sunagakure’s delegation toward Konoha with Baki, Temari, Kankuro, and Gaara.
• Kankuro and Temari regretted that Kimimaro, Haku, and Yota were already chunin and could not enter the Exams, while Gaara looked forward to showing Soji his progress and reflected on how his relationship with Shukaku had improved.

Orochimaru led Otogakure’s team toward Konoha, planning to use the Chunin Exams as cover to capture Itachi Uchiha. Meanwhile, Konan sent Amegakure genin to investigate the exams, and Dodai calmed the Fourth Raikage’s fears about the three villages’ intentions.

• Orochimaru told Ohm that he intended to capture Itachi Uchiha during the Chunin Exams, with Ohm and Kabuto helping him.
• Orochimaru set out for Konoha with Ohm, the Sound Four, and other Sound ninja, confident that his plan to seize Itachi’s body would succeed.
• Konan ordered Amegakure’s genin to investigate why Konoha, Sunagakure, and Kirigakure were jointly holding the Chunin Exams.
• The Fourth Raikage feared the three villages were preparing for the Fourth Ninja World War, but Dodai argued that they were more likely planning an alliance.
• The Fourth Raikage accepted that Kumogakure could not stop the three villages from forming an alliance without risking a wider conflict.

The Fourth Raikage decided Kumogakure needed to cooperate with Iwagakure to counter a possible alliance among Konoha, Sunagakure, and Kirigakure. Ōnoki accepted the offer while also planning to hire the Akatsuki Organization to disrupt the three villages’ relationship, leaving both schemes in motion.

• Dodai advised the Fourth Raikage to seek cooperation with Iwagakure, despite their villages’ bitter history.
• The Fourth Raikage set aside his personal hatred and ordered Dodai to contact Ōnoki.
• A Kumogakure envoy arrived in Iwagakure, and Ōnoki agreed to discuss cooperation with the Fourth Raikage at the border in three days.
• Ōnoki planned to use the Akatsuki Organization to undermine the possible alliance among Konoha, Sunagakure, and Kirigakure, while keeping Iwagakure’s involvement hidden.

Ōnoki agreed to pursue cooperation with both Kumogakure and the Akatsuki Organization, unaware that the latter would later capture Iwagakure’s Jinchuriki. Meanwhile, Soji’s Kirigakure delegation arrived in Konoha for the Chunin Exams, where the Third Hokage welcomed Mizuki Ember as the village’s living legend.

• Ōnoki and Han discussed Kumogakure’s proposed cooperation, and Ōnoki agreed with Han that Dodai had persuaded the Fourth Raikage to set aside his grudge against Iwagakure.
• Han asked whether Iwagakure should keep working with the Akatsuki Organization, and Ōnoki decided to pursue both alliances while Han withheld his suspicions.
• Soji’s Kirigakure delegation sailed to the Land of Fire, traveled overland to Konoha, and drew a crowd when Mizuki Ember arrived at the village gates.
• Chiyo led Kirigakure’s genin squad with Hozuki Suigetsu and Chojuro, while the three planned to disguise their team’s strength.
• Soji watched from the Konoha welcoming party as his alter ego Mizuki Ember greeted the Third Hokage, who welcomed him to Konoha.

Soji, disguised as Mizuki Ember, reminded Konoha of the time he had blocked its gates, prompting other villages’ genin to mock Konoha before they reconsidered the incident in light of his legendary status. The Third Hokage smoothly redirected the conversation, and Soji and the Kirigakure delegation entered Konoha; Soji reflected on the village’s advantages over Kirigakure.

• Mizuki Ember teased Konoha about his last visit, recalling how he had once blocked its gates during the Third Ninja World War.
• A man explained the incident to younger genin, who mocked Konoha until they realized that being opposed by a legendary ninja was no longer considered shameful.
• Soji privately regretted failing to unsettle the Third Hokage, while Uchiha Homura recognized that Soji had deliberately provoked him.
• The Third Hokage redirected the conversation by recalling his past clash with Mizuki Ember, and Mizuki Ember agreed that he had learned much from it.
• Soji, disguised as Mizuki Ember, and the Kirigakure ninjas entered Konoha under the guidance of the Third Hokage and its higher-ups.
• Soji admired Konoha’s development and reflected that its fertile land and central location gave it advantages Kirigakure could not easily match.

Soji hosted Temari, Kankuro, and Gaara after the Sand Siblings arrived in Konoha, while the village leaders delayed discussing an alliance. Gaara asked to speak with Soji alone, and Temari suspected Soji had helped change Gaara in Sunagakure.

• Soji waited for Sunagakure to arrive before raising the proposed alliance with Konoha and Kirigakure.
• Temari, Kankuro, and Gaara visited Soji at his home, where Yota, Haku, and Kimimaro greeted their friends.
• Soji welcomed the Sand Siblings and let the young people spend time together without him.
• Gaara asked Soji to speak with him privately, and Soji agreed.
• Temari recalled Gaara's change after Soji's visit to Sunagakure and decided to keep her suspicion to herself and ask Kankuro to do the same.

Gaara thanked Soji for helping him change his life and recounted how he had learned to control Shukaku and grown closer to his family. After Gaara rejoined his friends, Hyuga Kiyoka told Soji that a delegation from Otogakure had arrived, led by an old acquaintance.

• Gaara followed Soji to the courtyard and thanked him for the guidance that had helped him escape his former loneliness and despair.
• Gaara told Soji that he had learned to control his sand, developed a sand-based sealing technique to restrain Shukaku, and begun building a cooperative relationship with the Tailed Beast.
• Gaara recounted how he had told Rasa he understood his harsh treatment and intended to master Shukaku, prompting Rasa to reconsider how he treated his youngest son.
• Gaara shared that his relationship with Rasa, Temari, and Kankuro had improved, then promised Soji he would keep working toward becoming a Perfect Jinchuriki.
• Gaara returned to his waiting friends, and Hyuga Kiyoka soon informed Soji that visitors from Otogakure had arrived with an old acquaintance leading them.
• Soji realized that Orochimaru had come to visit.

Soji met his disguised teacher Orochimaru in Konoha and recalled their promise from fourteen years ago to share a drink. During their meal, Orochimaru revealed that he wanted Itachi Uchiha’s complete schedule during the Chunin Exams, leaving Soji to weigh his concern for Orochimaru against protecting Konoha.

• Soji recognized Orochimaru and sent Ohm and the Sound Four away so he could speak privately with his teacher.
• Soji and Orochimaru recalled their promise from fourteen years ago and went to an izakaya to drink together.
• Orochimaru asked Soji to obtain Itachi Uchiha’s full Chunin Exams schedule, noting that Soji could arrange Itachi’s work assignments.
• Soji realized Orochimaru had come to target Itachi Uchiha and worried about helping his teacher without endangering Konoha.

Soji agreed to send Orochimaru Itachi Uchiha’s schedule during the Chunin Exams, then learned Orochimaru intended to ambush Itachi in Konoha. He sent the itinerary anyway, confident Itachi would be protected, and the exams began as the Third Hokage still made no move to discuss an alliance.

• Soji agreed to arrange Itachi Uchiha’s itinerary for Orochimaru and teased his nominal teacher about likely failing to ambush Itachi.
• Orochimaru revealed that he planned to attack Itachi in Konoha, and Soji admitted he had been testing him while refusing to take part himself.
• Soji and Orochimaru finished their drinks and parted ways, with Orochimaru paying for the meal in return for a drink Soji had bought fourteen years earlier.
• On the night before the Chunin Exams, Soji sent Orochimaru Itachi’s schedule through Little Black Snake, confident that Itachi could hold out until help arrived.
• The Chunin Exams began, but the Third Hokage still did not approach Soji’s alter ego about forming an offensive and defensive alliance.

At the Konoha Ninja Academy, Naruto stopped Kusagakure and Takigakure Genin from fighting before the Chunin Exams, while Sasuke sensed someone secretly watching him. Orochimaru’s Otogakure subordinates and a girl seeking revenge on Sasuke were among those monitoring him as everyone headed for the first exam.

• Naruto stepped between the Kusagakure and Takigakure Genin, giving both sides a chance to leave the confrontation without fighting.
• Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura entered the academy, where Sasuke sensed a hidden observer but could not identify them.
• Dosu, Zaku, and Kin revealed that Orochimaru had ordered them to test Sasuke and gather information on him.
• A girl in the crowd vowed to take revenge on Sasuke during the Chunin Exams, though her companions did not notice her reaction.
• Dosu, Zaku, and Kin and the girl with her companions headed toward the first examination venue.

Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura exposed a genjutsu trap on the way to the first Chunin Exam and arrived just before the deadline. During Ibiki Morino’s cheating-based written test, Naruto realized the questions were easy and answered them all from his own knowledge, while his worried teammates assumed he was stuck.

• Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura exposed the fake examination room and helped Konoha genin avoid losing their chance to take the exam.
• Kakashi encouraged his team as they entered the real examination room in the final minute before time ran out.
• Ibiki Morino began the written test, explaining that examinees could cheat but would be eliminated after five clumsy attempts.
• Sasuke and Sakura worried when Naruto sat holding his head without writing, while Naruto privately debated whether to answer questions he already knew.
• Naruto began rapidly filling in the answers, surprising Hinata, who saw through her Byakugan that they were all correct.

Naruto completed the first nine questions without cheating, while the proctors mistakenly believed he had used an undetectable method to copy answers. After checking his work, he noticed Tenten’s ceiling mirror and wires, then decided he wanted to hand in his paper early.

• Sasuke and Sakura worried that Naruto was writing random answers, while Hinata believed he had solved the test himself.
• Naruto rapidly answered the first nine questions, and the proctors concluded that his cheating technique had evaded their observation.
• Naruto checked his answers and recalled the demanding lessons and multiple-solution practice his Sensei, Soji, had given him.
• After finishing early, Naruto noticed a mirror and wires in the ceiling and identified them as Tenten’s work.
• Naruto chose not to expose Tenten’s method and considered handing in his paper early.