Chapter Summaries

Naruto introduced Karin as his newly adopted older sister and a Konoha ninja, and his friends gradually accepted her. At the Chunin Exams, Shino and Kankuro fought to a draw before Sakura and Ino began their match, which ended with them clashing in taijutsu.

• Naruto told his friends Karin was his older sister and showed them that she had a Konoha forehead protector and official status as a Konoha ninja.
• Hinata, Sasuke, Kiba, Ino, Sakura, and the others introduced themselves to Karin and accepted her as Naruto's sister.
• Shino Aburame fought Kankuro for nearly an hour; both were injured and lost the ability to continue, leaving neither able to advance.
• The match screens paired Sakura Haruno against Ino Yamanaka, and the two exchanged taunts before entering the arena.
• Sakura and Ino began their match with a kunai clash; Sakura revealed she had anticipated Ino's plan to guard against genjutsu and chose to test their taijutsu first.

Sakura and Ino fought in the arena until a mysterious voice in Sakura’s mind distracted her, letting Ino attempt the Mind Transfer Jutsu. Sakura dodged through an unexplained movement, then entered her consciousness space to discover who the voice was.

• Sakura and Ino traded kunai blows, with Ino gaining a slight advantage while both prepared their signature techniques.
• A mysterious voice spoke to Sakura, startling her and giving Ino an opening to use the Mind Transfer Jutsu.
• Sakura dodged Ino’s attack at the last moment, while Ino’s failed technique left her consciousness temporarily unable to return to her body.
• Sakura realized that something had moved her body and suspected the voice belonged to an entity inside her.
• Sakura entered her consciousness space, where a figure emerged from the darkness and left her staring in shock.

Sakura confronted a wicked double and learned that it was her newly born Second Personality, formed when her inner alter ego fused with power left behind by Inner Demon Ido. Sakura accepted her Second Personality as a partner, while Soji secretly listened in and recognized the change.

• Sakura mistook her double for Inner Demon Ido, but the figure explained that she was Sakura’s Second Personality.
• Sakura learned that her Second Personality could take control when her consciousness weakened, though her primary personality could suppress her.
• Sakura’s Second Personality explained that Sakura’s alter ego had absorbed power left behind by Inner Demon Ido, strengthening Sakura’s genjutsu talent and creating the Second Personality.
• Sakura accepted her Second Personality and said they would grow stronger and face their enemies together.
• Soji, disguised as Mizuki Ember, secretly used the Byakugan’s Mind Reading ability to hear their conversation.

After Sakura's Second Personality took control, Sakura overwhelmed Ino with her speed and Naraka Clone genjutsu, leaving Ino with few options. Sakura challenged Ino to use the Mind Transfer Jutsu again, hinting that she had a way to break it and had prepared a final surprise.

• Sakura's Second Personality took control and struck Ino hard with a Body Flicker-enhanced punch.
• Sakura used Naraka Clone, a genjutsu that created an illusionary duplicate, and the two Sakuras drove Ino out of the smoke with a coordinated assault.
• Sasuke, Hinata, and Neji identified the clone as genjutsu, while the other examinees realized Ino was facing two Sakuras unless she could see through it.
• Ino recognized that she could not keep up with Sakura and considered forfeiting, but Sakura urged her to use the Mind Transfer Jutsu again.
• Ino decided to gamble on her last option, and Sakura said she was ready and had prepared a final closing ceremony for her.

Sakura let Ino’s Mind Transfer Jutsu enter her consciousness space, where her second personality kept her from controlling Sakura’s body and helped awaken her primary personality. Ino was trapped and admitted defeat, while Sakura approached Ino’s unconscious body, hinting that she planned to torment it.

• Ino used the Mind Transfer Jutsu on Sakura, whose consciousness appeared to fall asleep when Ino entered her body.
• Ino discovered she could not control Sakura’s body and encountered an awake version of Sakura inside her consciousness space.
• Sakura’s primary personality awoke and restrained Ino, trapping her inside Sakura’s body.
• Ino admitted defeat and asked Sakura to release her, but Sakura refused and threatened to torment her body.
• Sakura dismissed the Naraka Clone and walked toward Ino’s unconscious body as Ino watched nervously.

Sakura defeated Ino by resisting her Mind Transfer Jutsu and tricking her into conceding, while keeping her powerful Second Personality secret. The second day of the Chunin Exams ended with the final eight decided, including all three members of Team 7.

• Sakura helped Ino up, raised her arm, and announced Ino's concession after Ino failed to control Sakura's body.
• Ino realized Sakura had only wanted to scare her, but kept quiet about what she had seen in Sakura's consciousness space.
• Gaara defeated Hinata, Neji defeated Temari, Hozuki Suigetsu defeated Choji, and Shikamaru defeated Tenten using her steel wire to trap her with the Shadow Binding Jutsu.
• Naruto and Sasuke won their matches, and the final eight were set as Naruto Uzumaki, Sasuke Uchiha, Neji Hyuga, Sakura Haruno, Shikamaru Nara, Gaara, Chiyo, and Hozuki Suigetsu.
• Kakashi was surprised that all three of his students had reached the final eight and become celebrities in the village.

Kakashi agreed to treat Might Guy, Asuma, and Kurenai Yuhi after all three of his students reached the Chunin Exams’ top eight. On the final day, Hozuki Suigetsu drew Neji Hyuga as his opponent and entered the arena, still believing his Water Transformation Technique gave him a chance.

• Might Guy, Asuma, and Kurenai Yuhi pressured Kakashi into promising them dinner after the matches.
• The third and final day of the Chunin Exams began, drawing a full arena and important spectators.
• Hozuki Suigetsu hoped to avoid facing his captain, Chiyo, and celebrated when the draw paired him with someone else.
• Suigetsu discovered his opponent was Neji Hyuga, who took his cheering as an insult and vowed to beat him.
• Genma Shiranui called Neji and Suigetsu into the arena, where Suigetsu tried to reassure himself that his Water Transformation Technique could counter Neji’s taijutsu.

Neji faced Hozuki Suigetsu in the tournament and overcame Suigetsu’s Water Transformation Technique with elemental Gentle Fist. After spinning Suigetsu around like laundry, Neji prepared to finish the match with Wind Shatters Water.

• Hanabi asked Hiashi and Hizashi why Neji was angry, but neither knew what had upset him.
• Neji opened the match with Eight Trigrams Vacuum Palm, but Suigetsu transformed into water and reformed unharmed.
• Suigetsu attacked Neji with Water Gun Technique, but Neji’s water-based Gentle Fist drew the attack into a water column.
• Neji used water and wind Elemental Gentle Fist to pull Suigetsu into a puddle and spin him around.
• Neji shouted Wind Shatters Water as he prepared to deliver the final blow.

Neji defeated Hozuki Suigetsu with his new Wind Shatters Water technique, while Shikamaru was accidentally knocked into the arena before he could forfeit against Gaara. The second quarterfinal began with Shikamaru facing his worst matchup and looking for a way to avoid losing badly.

• Neji spun Hozuki Suigetsu and launched him into a wall with Wind Shatters Water, knocking him unconscious and winning the first quarterfinal.
• Hanabi celebrated Neji’s victory as Hiashi and Hizashi praised his growth, while Hiashi considered having Soji teach Hinata and Hanabi.
• The draw matched Shikamaru against Gaara, and Shikamaru decided to forfeit because he could not see how his Shadow Binding Jutsu could affect Gaara’s sand.
• Naruto slapped Shikamaru over the railing before he could forfeit, sending him tumbling into the arena as the others realized what had happened.
• Shikamaru cursed Naruto, got up, and entered the arena; Genma announced the start of the match against Gaara.

Gaara defeated Shikamaru with little effort, and Shikamaru blamed Naruto for forcing him to fight. The quarterfinal draw paired Naruto with Sakura, while Sasuke was matched against Chiyo, leaving Sakura wary that Naruto might shove her into the arena too.

• Gaara restrained Shikamaru with sand and won the second quarterfinal match after Shikamaru's Shadow Binding Jutsu failed to stop him.
• Shikamaru returned to the waiting area and angrily slapped Naruto's hand away after Naruto praised his performance.
• The electronic displays matched Naruto against Sakura and set Sasuke's next opponent as Chiyo.
• Sasuke vowed to take revenge on Chiyo for their earlier encounter, while Chiyo considered whether to go easy on him.
• As Naruto approached Sakura to enter the arena, Sakura shouted for him not to come closer, afraid he would shove her like he had Shikamaru.

Sakura forfeited her match against Naruto, explaining that she did not want him to hold back, and they agreed to fight another time. Sasuke then faced Chiyo in the final top-eight match, determined to show his strength and defeat her.

• Sakura forfeited to Naruto because she knew he would hold back, and Naruto agreed to save their fight for the future.
• Sasuke challenged Chiyo and promised Naruto and Sakura that he would defeat her.
• Chiyo teased Sasuke by calling him “Little Sasuke,” while Naruto joined in and drew Sasuke's annoyance.
• Sasuke entered the arena with a Body Flicker Technique and promised his family he would win.
• Genma Shiranui announced the match between Sasuke Uchiha and Chiyo, and Sasuke stayed calm despite Chiyo's taunts.

Before Sasuke and Chiyo’s match, the Uchiha family discussed Chiyo’s strength and noticed an unknown person spying on them. The watcher was revealed as Oyakiro Homura, Chiyo’s father, while spectators debated the fighters’ chances as the match was about to begin.

• Itachi confirmed to Fugaku Uchiha that Chiyo was the girl whose actions had disrupted Orochimaru’s hunt during the Forest of Death exams.
• Fugaku Uchiha, Uchiha Homura, Mikoto Uchiha, and Itachi discussed Chiyo’s history and Sasuke’s chances, with Itachi judging that Sasuke would struggle against her.
• Fugaku Uchiha, Uchiha Homura, and Itachi sensed a probing gaze in the stands but could not identify its source before it withdrew.
• Fugaku Uchiha told his family to leave the unknown watcher’s identity for later and focus on Sasuke’s match.
• Oyakiro Homura watched Chiyo compete and reflected that he had abandoned the Chinoike Clan’s grudge against the Uchiha Clan.
• Kankuro and Temari favored Chiyo over Sasuke, while Gaara suspected Sasuke might have a trump card; many spectators still backed Sasuke because Chiyo looked small.

Sasuke fought Chiyo in the Chunin Exams, hoping to prove how much he had improved since their last encounter, but Chiyo’s Water Release and lethal taijutsu kept him firmly on the defensive. When the steam cleared, Sasuke was far more battered than Chiyo, leaving the spectators stunned by his opponent’s strength and Ketsuryūgan.

• Sasuke activated his Three-Tomoe Sharingan and faced Chiyo, who activated the Ketsuryūgan.
• Sasuke’s Fire Release: Great Dragon Fire Technique collided with Chiyo’s Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet Technique, filling the arena with steam.
• Sasuke and Chiyo fought through the steam, but Chiyo adapted to his mixed Hard Fist and Gentle Fist style and suppressed him in taijutsu.
• The steam dissipated and revealed Sasuke covered in wounds while Chiyo had suffered far less damage.
• The spectators reacted in disbelief as they realized Chiyo had overwhelmed Sasuke, and discussed her unfamiliar dojutsu.

Sasuke confronted Chiyo about holding back and her reasons for abandoning her grudge against the Uchiha Clan, but she teased him until he lost his composure. Sasuke then prepared to use Chidori, while Kakashi and the other jonin doubted it would overcome Chiyo’s unrevealed Ketsuryūgan abilities.

• Sasuke realized Chiyo had been holding back and asked why she no longer seemed hostile toward him and the Uchiha Clan.
• Chiyo said the Chinoike Clan held a grudge against the Uchiha Clan, but she did not, and hinted that the Uchiha Clan might have helped her.
• Chiyo insisted she was older than Sasuke and called him Little Sasuke, making him lose his temper before he refocused on the match.
• Sasuke retreated to prepare a technique, and Kakashi revealed that he had taught Sasuke his Lightning Release technique, Chidori.
• Kakashi warned that Chiyo had yet to reveal her Ketsuryūgan and doubted Sasuke could turn the match around with Lightning Release alone.

Sasuke used Chidori against Chiyo, but she weakened it with Water Release—Cutting Rain and countered his attack. Kakashi recognized the technique as a Kirigakure Anbu secret, exposing Chiyo's likely rank as a squad leader or higher.

• Sasuke formed Chidori and charged at Chiyo, confident its power would overcome her taijutsu.
• Chiyo used Water Release—Cutting Rain, prompting Kakashi to identify her as a Kirigakure Anbu member.
• The rain weakened Sasuke's chakra and Chidori until only faint sparks remained as he attacked.
• Chiyo seized Sasuke's wrist, struck him in the abdomen, and threw him onto the ground, leaving him bloodied and injured.
• Spectators reacted to Sasuke's defeat and learned that Chiyo was at least a Kirigakure Anbu squad leader.

Sasuke activated Heavenly Curse Mark I during his match with Chiyo, revealing the power Orochimaru had left in him. As his companions and mentors reacted with concern, Sasuke reveled in the strength and resolved to explore the Curse Mark further after the Chunin Exams.

• After Chidori was broken and Chiyo taunted him, Sasuke activated Heavenly Curse Mark I, and black markings spread across his body as ominous purple Chakra seeped from him.
• Kiba and Akamaru reacted fearfully, while Shikamaru questioned Naruto and Sakura about Sasuke's condition; Naruto said Orochimaru had caused it but admitted he knew little else.
• Temari recognized the markings from Ohm's Curse Mark, and Gaara explained that Orochimaru had bitten Sasuke before the Uchiha Clan apparently helped him turn the power to his advantage.
• Kakashi recalled that the Uchiha Clan had refused his offer to seal Sasuke's Curse Mark and realized Sasuke's Chakra-control training was likely preparation for controlling it.
• Sasuke savored his enhanced strength, resolved to master the Curse Mark after the exams, and imagined that its next stage might let him challenge his relatives with Mangekyō Sharingan.

Sasuke used the first stage of the Curse Seal to gain the upper hand against Chiyo, but its influence made him reckless. Chiyo trapped him with a blood-based Ketsuryūgan technique, and the fight continued as she summoned blood crows to counter his Shadow Windmill Shuriken.

• Chiyo recognized Orochimaru's influence in Sasuke's Curse Seal and decided to help him as repayment to the Uchiha Clan.
• Sasuke attacked Chiyo with increased speed and strength, but the Curse Seal's influence made him arrogant and impulsive.
• Chiyo cut her palm and used Thorn Blood Spikes to trap and wound Sasuke after he charged across her blood.
• Sasuke escaped with Great Fire Annihilation, then restrained himself to conserve Chakra and suppress Orochimaru's influence.
• Sasuke threw a Shadow Windmill Shuriken at Chiyo, who transformed drops of her blood into flying crows with a Ketsuryūgan Blood Secret Technique.

Sasuke and Chiyo unleashed powerful attacks that collided, leaving both injured and exhausted. As Sasuke tried to exploit Chiyo’s paralysis, her genjutsu stalled him, and Orochimaru’s consciousness awakened within Sasuke.

• Sasuke combined Lightning Release - Chidori Stream with two Fuma Shuriken, while Chiyo expanded her Blood Crow Storm with more blood.
• The Third Hokage ordered the Anbu to surround the arena with the Four Violet Flames Formation to protect the spectators.
• The attacks collided and canceled each other out, leaving Chiyo numb from Chidori Stream and Sasuke battered by the Blood Crow Storm.
• Sasuke charged at the paralyzed Chiyo, but she trapped him in Blood Dragon Eye Illusion and used the time to recover.
• Sasuke broke free after burning through a large amount of Chakra, and Orochimaru’s voice spoke to him from within his consciousness.

Sasuke encountered Orochimaru’s soul fragment inside his consciousness, where Orochimaru tried to tempt him with greater Curse Seal power. Chiyo invaded Sasuke’s consciousness and exposed Orochimaru’s deception just as his snakes surrounded them.

• Orochimaru revealed himself to Sasuke as a White Phosphorus Snake and offered to help him master the Curse Seal’s greater power in exchange for studying the Uchiha and the Sharingan.
• Sasuke wavered at the offer but demanded to know what Orochimaru wanted, remaining wary of him.
• Chiyo entered Sasuke’s consciousness through her Ketsuryūgan and warned him that Orochimaru was lying.
• Chiyo urged Sasuke to look around, and he discovered Orochimaru had summoned countless Little Black Snakes while Sasuke was distracted.

Sasuke and Chiyo joined forces inside Sasuke’s consciousness to defeat most of Orochimaru’s soul fragment after he tried to influence Sasuke. Orochimaru escaped deeper into Sasuke, but Sasuke gained more freedom from the Curse Mark and improved control over its power.

• Chiyo warned Sasuke that Orochimaru’s consciousness had awakened inside him, and Sasuke reluctantly accepted her help.
• Sasuke and Chiyo stood motionless in the arena while they fought Orochimaru inside Sasuke’s consciousness.
• Uchiha Homura, Fugaku Uchiha, and Itachi used the Sharingan to recognize that Sasuke and Chiyo were attacking Orochimaru together.
• Sasuke and Chiyo defeated the Little Black Snakes and wounded the White Phosphorus Snake with a combined Ketsuryūgan and Sharingan illusion.
• The White Phosphorus Snake escaped into the depths of Sasuke’s consciousness, leaving Sasuke with only ten percent of his Chakra needed to suppress Orochimaru and greater control over the Heavenly Curse Mark.