Chapter Summaries

Kaze agreed to let the ailing Kimimaro join the Chunin Exams and learned that Orochimaru hoped a unified ninja world might bring peace. Back home, Kaze confirmed that Tama was a Stand User and discovered the arrow seemed to be choosing her for another power.

• Kaze defeated Orochimaru's Triple Rashomon attack, then asked why Orochimaru had come to Naka Shrine.
• Orochimaru explained that Kimimaro's illness was serious and asked Kaze to let him fight in the Chunin Exams before he died.
• Orochimaru said he was curious whether unifying the ninja world would create peace, then returned to the Technical Development Bureau thinking about Stands.
• Kaze returned home and showed Tama the arrow; Tama reacted by summoning her enormous feline Stand.
• Kaze noticed the arrow seemed to pull toward Tama and wondered whether it could grant her a new ability.

Kaze assembled Konoha’s ninja near Naka Shrine and persuaded them to support a secret campaign against Sunagakure, presenting conquest and unification as the path to lasting peace. The chapter ended with Kaze satisfied that the mobilization had succeeded and preparing to send Konoha’s exam delegation to Sunagakure.

• Kaze decided not to use the Stand Arrow on Tama, then cleaned up and slept.
• Kaze assigned Genin teams led by Yamato and a thousand-strong force led by Hizashi to coordinate Konoha’s operation against Sunagakure.
• Kaze gathered Konoha’s ninja near Naka Shrine and reminded them that Konoha had destroyed Kumogakure, changing the balance among the great nations.
• Kaze argued that unifying the shinobi world by ending the era of shinobi would bring true peace, despite concerns that Sunagakure was an ally.
• Yunō publicly echoed Kaze’s message, and the gathered ninja rallied behind the undeclared campaign against Sunagakure.
• Kaze concluded that the next step was sending Konoha’s supervising Jonin and Genin to the Joint Chunin Exams in Sunagakure.

Kaze arrived in Sunagakure for the Chunin Exams and recognized that Rasa had arranged poor lodging and restricted water to weaken his group. He had Yamato build a luxurious villa and create a waterfall, leaving Sunagakure’s gathered residents and shinobi astonished.

• Baki welcomed Kaze and his party, registered the Genin teams, and led Kaze, Jiraiya, and Kakashi to their assigned guesthouse.
• Kaze learned that Rasa had placed them in uncomfortable lodging with limited water, while the Mizukage and Tsuchikage received better accommodations.
• Yamato arrived after inspection, and Kaze instructed him to build a villa and make a waterfall to address Sunagakure’s water shortage.
• Yamato used Wood Style to raise a luxurious villa from the sand before the watching crowd.
• Yamato raised a great earthen mountain range and used Water Style to create a waterfall, stunning the gathered Sunagakure residents and shinobi.

Yamato demonstrated Wood Release and created a waterfall that thrilled Sunagakure’s water-starved residents, while Kaze used the display to win their support. Baki reported the setback to Rasa, who concluded that Kaze planned to conquer Sunagakure and decided Yamato might be worth capturing.

• Yamato used Wood Release to create a mansion, then combined Water Release and Earth Release to make a waterfall and pool.
• Kaze invited Sunagakure’s residents to collect the water, and the villagers cheered and praised him as their support for him grew.
• Baki reported the demonstration to Rasa, explaining that it had ruined their plan to make Kaze uncomfortable and had won him public favor.
• Rasa believed Kaze intended to conquer Sunagakure during the Chunin Exams and use the village’s people as well as military force to take control.
• Rasa considered capturing Yamato so Sunagakure could gain his Wood Release and solve its water shortage.

Rasa misread Kaze’s plans and organized a joint strike with Mei Terumi and Ōnoki against Konoha’s forces, while Kaze secretly overheard their discussion through his Mind Net. Kaze prepared to contact Hizashi with his Den Den Mushi, leaving the attack’s outcome pending.

• Rasa concluded that Kaze had stationed more than a thousand ninja near the Land of Wind and proposed eliminating them before the Chunin Exams began.
• Rasa persuaded Mei Terumi and Ōnoki to send elite units, appointing Baki, Kitsuchi, and Ao to lead the operation alongside six hundred Sand Ninja.
• The three leaders agreed to assemble their forces outside Sunagakure and let Rasa invite Kaze to dinner as a distraction.
• Kaze overheard the leaders’ entire conversation by extending his Mind Net across the Kazekage Building.
• Kaze took out his Den Den Mushi, intending to contact Hizashi.

Kaze warned Hizashi about Rasa’s ambush and ordered him to destroy the enemy force while keeping his troops fit for the coming assault on Sunagakure. In Amegakure, Obito persuaded Pain to join an attack on Sunagakure, while Black Zetsu secretly began forming a new plan.

• Kaze told Hizashi that Baki, Kitsuchi, and Ao were leading an ambush, and ordered him to annihilate their forces without rushing his exhausted troops toward Sunagakure.
• Hizashi accepted the order, alerted his forces, and reflected on how the Den Den Mushi had let Kaze deliver vital intelligence quickly.
• Obito urged Pain to exploit the coming conflict by targeting Kaze, arguing that the other villages lacked Jinchuriki and could not defeat him together.
• Konan warned that the plan was risky, but Pain agreed with Obito and used the Rinnegan to contact Akatsuki’s members for a journey to Sunagakure.
• Black Zetsu watched Pain and quietly formed a new plan.

Pain and Obito rallied Akatsuki to target Kaze, while Rasa, Mei Terumi, and Ōnoki agreed to turn the Joint Chunin Exams into a free-for-all that could eliminate Konoha’s Genin and create an opening against Kaze. Kaze accepted the format, unaware that Baki, Kitsuchi, and Ao were already leading forces toward the Land of Wind’s border, though he had warned Hizashi of the planned ambush.

• Pain summoned Itachi, Kisame, and Black Zetsu, explained that Kaze’s expansion threatened Akatsuki, and secured their agreement to attack him; Itachi insisted that Sasuke be kept alive.
• Kaze arrived at Rasa’s office, where Mei Terumi and Ōnoki joined the discussion about the Joint Chunin Exams.
• Rasa proposed a free-for-all exam, and Mei Terumi and Ōnoki backed the format as a way to test combat and cooperation.
• Kaze accepted the free-for-all, confident that his Genin could face the other villages’ teams.
• Baki, Kitsuchi, and Ao led their village forces toward the Land of Wind’s border as war approached.

Ao, Baki, and Kitsuchi led an allied force to ambush Konoha’s ninjas at the Land of Wind border, but Hizashi’s forces turned the trap against them. Hizashi explained how Konoha evaded Ao’s Byakugan, leaving the allied commanders surrounded and stunned.

• Ao used his Byakugan to count roughly five hundred Konoha ninjas, and Baki ordered the allied force to surround their camp from three directions.
• The allied ninjas attacked, but the Konoha force was ready and fought back as forty-three Hyuga activated their Byakugan.
• Konoha reinforcements charged from both sides, trapping Baki, Kitsuchi, and Ao’s forces, while Hizashi descended from the sky and struck the ground with a powerful shockwave.
• Hizashi confronted Ao about the stolen Byakugan and showed Baki a Den Den Mushi, which Baki recognized as the means Konoha had used to learn of the ambush.
• Hizashi revealed that Konoha’s ninjas had hidden above Ao’s field of vision by using Moonwalk, then descended to encircle the allied force.

Hizashi led Konoha’s surprise force against the allied ninja unit, reclaimed Ao’s Byakugan, and fought off Kirigakure assassins. After Kitsuchi trapped him inside a crushing sphere of earth, Hizashi broke free in a transformed beastman form and declared it his true power.

• Hizashi explained that Konoha’s ninja could walk on air, and Kitsuchi ordered Iwagakure’s forces to retreat as their alliance began to fracture.
• Hizashi used his speed to gouge out Ao’s Byakugan, then killed several Kirigakure ninja with Eight Trigrams Palms Revolving Heaven.
• Kitsuchi analyzed Hizashi’s defense and trapped him inside a massive sphere of compressed earth.
• Hizashi transformed using his Zoan Devil Fruit and broke out of the earth sphere unharmed.
• Hizashi showed Kitsuchi, Baki, and Ao his beastman form and declared it his true power.

Hizashi fought off the allied attacks of Ao, Baki, and Kitsuchi, then endured Kitsuchi’s strongest punch with Armament Haki. He trapped Kitsuchi in midair and prepared to strike as Kitsuchi called for help.

• Kitsuchi, Ao, and Baki coordinated an attack, but Hizashi dodged Baki’s Wind Blades and repelled Ao’s Water Breaking Wave with Rotation.
• Kitsuchi rushed through the opening after Hizashi stopped rotating and punched him in the abdomen, but Hizashi stood unharmed and held Kitsuchi’s wrist.
• The black energy covering Hizashi’s abdomen was revealed as Armament Haki, which had protected him from Kitsuchi’s Rock Fist.
• Hizashi formed a fist coated in Armament Haki and prepared to counterattack while Kitsuchi, unable to escape, called to Baki and Ao for help.

Hizashi overwhelmed Kitsuchi, Baki, and Ao, leaving Kitsuchi mortally wounded and forcing Baki to flee with intelligence for the three Kage. Kitsuchi died after using his remaining Chakra to create a rock monster, while Ao stayed behind as the monster charged Hizashi.

• Hizashi punched through Kitsuchi's abdomen, tore off his arm, and deflected Baki and Ao's attacks with Rotation.
• Baki and Ao reached the mortally wounded Kitsuchi as Hizashi walked toward them, and Kitsuchi urged them to warn the three Kage about Konoha's strength.
• Kitsuchi proposed sacrificing himself to delay Hizashi, and Ao agreed to hold him off while Baki escaped to deliver the intelligence.
• Baki fled using Wind Release as Ao attacked Hizashi with Water Shock Wave and Kitsuchi spent his last Chakra creating a rock monster before dying.
• Hizashi charged through Ao's water attack, and the rock monster struck at him as Ao declared that Kitsuchi's technique could turn defeat into victory.
• Hizashi met the rock monster's fist with his own Armament Haki-coated fist, and the collision's shockwave sent Ao and Kitsuchi's body flying.

Hizashi destroyed Kitsuchi’s Rock Giant, killed Ao, and pursued Baki before he could deliver the allied forces’ intelligence to Sunagakure. He dragged Baki far from the village and left him stranded in the sand, closing in as Baki cursed him.

• Hizashi combined Armament Haki with Gentle Fist to shatter Kitsuchi’s Rock Giant in a few breaths.
• Hizashi bypassed Ao’s Water Wall and fatally pierced his chest, while the Konoha Ninja overwhelmed the allied forces.
• Ao died believing Baki could still deliver the vital intelligence to Sunagakure.
• Hizashi caught up with Baki near the village, seized his head, and dragged him in the opposite direction.
• Hizashi threw Baki into a sand dune, and Baki cursed the invaders as Hizashi approached.

Hizashi killed Baki and led Konoha’s forces to wipe out the allied ninja army sent by Sunagakure, Kirigakure, and Iwagakure. Kaze learned of the victory and prepared to attack Sunagakure during the Chunin Exams, while considering the enemy forces and the possibility of Akatsuki intervening.

• Baki attempted to kill Hizashi with a Kunai and Wind Release, but Hizashi evaded the attack and killed him with an Armament Haki-enhanced punch.
• Hizashi returned to the battlefield and helped Konoha’s ninja eliminate the remaining allied forces after a fierce half-hour battle.
• Hizashi ordered his forces to treat the wounded and bury the dead, then reported the victory and Konoha’s casualties to Kaze using a Den Den Mushi.
• Kaze told Hizashi to leave some ninja behind and lead the rest into Sunagakure when the Chunin Exams began three days later.
• Kaze used his Mind Net to assess Sunagakure’s forces, the Samurai gathering nearby, and the coalition’s intelligence situation.
• Kaze considered whether Akatsuki might exploit the coming conflict, then went to sleep as he waited for the Chunin Exams.

Rasa, Ōnoki, and Mei Terumi prepared to attack Konoha during the Chunin Exams, unaware that Kaze knew their plan and that Hizashi’s forces were nearing Sunagakure. Rasa declared the exam underway, and the surrounded Konoha ninja faced the other villages as the battle began.

• Rasa grew uneasy when Baki and the dispatched scouts failed to return, reinforced Sunagakure, and prepared for the Chunin Exams.
• Rasa, Ōnoki, and Mei Terumi planned to eliminate Kaze and Konoha, while Kaze used his Mind Net to uncover their ambush and sense Hizashi’s approaching force.
• Rasa opened the exam with rules requiring contestants to remain standing for an hour, while the villages secretly placed Jonin among the Genin to target their enemies.
• Konoha’s teams, including Sasuke, Naruto, Karin, Kimimaro, Jugo, and Kabuto Yakushi, refused to withdraw despite being surrounded by the other villages.
• Rasa announced the start of the Chunin Exams, and shinobi from all four sides charged at one another.

Rasa, Mei Terumi, and Ōnoki trapped Kaze high above the Chunin Exams venue while their forces took control of the arena. Kaze revealed he already knew their plans, then faced You Long’s attack and easily countered it with his Sharingan.

• Rasa tore off his Kage Robe, signaled the attack, and raised the platform into the sky as Genjutsu put the audience to sleep.
• Rasa, Mei Terumi, and Ōnoki surrounded Kaze with their allies, while Rasa boasted that Kaze’s forces could not reach him.
• Kaze accurately revealed the allied villages’ troop numbers and the Land of Wind Samurai, then explained that General Mifune had disclosed their plans through a Den Den Mushi.
• Rasa and Ōnoki withdrew from the formation, leaving Mei Terumi, Chojuro, You Long, and three disguised Jonin to face Kaze.
• You Long attacked Kaze with Wind Release-enhanced Kunai and a Wind Blade, but Kaze dodged the Kunai and used his Sharingan to split the Wind Blade with a Shuriken.

Kaze killed You Long with a Lightning Release Shuriken, then survived Chojuro’s surprise strike after rushing toward Mei Terumi. Rasa and Ōnoki restrained Kaze as Mei Terumi launched a Lava Release attack.

• Rasa used Gold Dust to shield You Long and attack Kaze, but Kaze turned his body into lightning and evaded the spear.
• Kaze’s lightning-coated Shuriken pierced You Long’s Gold Dust defenses, fatally tore through his chest, and then embedded itself in Rasa’s Gold Dust wall.
• Kaze used Soru to rush behind Mei Terumi, but Chojuro instinctively swung Hiramekarei and split Kaze’s body in two.
• Kaze’s elementalized body remained unharmed, and Mei Terumi pulled Chojuro away as Rasa and Ōnoki restrained Kaze with Gold Dust and an Earth Release Rock Arm.
• Mei Terumi unleashed Lava Release at the restrained Kaze.

Kaze activated Sage Mode and Susanoo to break the Kage’s restraints and escape their attacks. After Chojuro survived Kaze’s lightning trap, Kaze appeared before him and killed him with a Hell Stab, leaving Mei Terumi and the other Kage devastated.

• Kaze combined Sage Mode with his Mangekyō Sharingan, broke Ōnoki’s stone restraint, and used Susanoo to repel Mei Terumi’s Lava Release.
• Kaze turned Rasa’s Gold Dust formation into a lightning trap, knocking out three disguised Elite Jonin while Chojuro escaped by cutting through the formation with Hiramekarei.
• Rasa sent a Gold Dust cloud to carry Chojuro to safety, but Kaze suddenly appeared in front of him before he could defend himself.
• Mei Terumi, Rasa, Ōnoki, and Akatsuchi attacked Kaze, but he ignored them and pierced Chojuro’s chest with Hell Stab, killing him instantly.
• Kaze vanished with Moonwalk, and Mei Terumi’s water dragon struck Ōnoki and Akatsuchi as Rasa pulled back his Gold Dust spears; Mei Terumi mourned Chojuro’s death.

Kaze killed Chojuro and faced the three Kage as they tried to coordinate their attacks. He escaped Ōnoki's Dust Release and remained above the group, recognizing their teamwork as the fight continued.

• Kaze killed Chojuro with Four-Finger Stab, and Ōnoki warned Rasa and Mei Terumi that Kaze might have copied the Raikage's Nintaijutsu and other techniques.
• Kaze used Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet Technique against Mei Terumi, while Ōnoki prepared a Dust Release attack.
• Mei Terumi countered with Water Shock Wave, and Ōnoki struck Kaze with Dust Release: True Several World Stripping Technique.
• The water dragon hit Mei Terumi and injured her, but Rasa's Gold Dust kept her from falling from the sky.
• Kaze revealed that he had escaped Ōnoki's attack with Soru and Moonwalk, then praised the group for finally showing teamwork.

Kaze fought Rasa, Ōnoki, and Mei Terumi in the sky, while the three Kage abandoned their rivalries and worked together to survive. Their combined attacks failed to harm Kaze, who remained poised to press the assault.

• Rasa urged the others to return to the ground and used Gold Dust to attack Kaze while he and Ōnoki descended.
• Kaze turned into lightning, punched through Rasa’s Gold Dust hand, and charged toward the badly injured Mei Terumi.
• Ōnoki and Rasa prepared attacks to protect Mei Terumi, while Mei Terumi formed hand seals and launched Water Dragon Bullet Technique at Kaze.
• Rasa fired Gold Dust spears and Ōnoki unleashed Dust Release: True Several World Stripping Technique as Mei Terumi attacked Kaze.
• Ōnoki’s Dust Release swallowed the three attacks, but the light faded to reveal Kaze completely unharmed.

Kaze evaded Ōnoki’s Dust Release and exploited the opening to dive toward Mei Terumi, while Rasa struggled to raise buried Gold Dust to protect her. Mei Terumi concealed herself in mist, used two clones to launch Lava and Boiling Release attacks, and waited for a chance to turn the battle around.

• Kaze stopped just short of Ōnoki’s Dust Release, which erased Rasa’s Gold Dust and Mei Terumi’s water dragon, and Ōnoki was left too exhausted to attack again.
• Kaze dived toward Mei Terumi as Ōnoki suffered severe back pain and Rasa tried to summon buried Gold Dust to shield her.
• Rasa urged Mei Terumi to hold on for ten seconds, and she regained her resolve while recalling Chojuro’s death.
• Mei Terumi enveloped herself in Hidden Mist, created two tangible clones, and hid her real body beneath the rising Gold Dust.
• Mei Terumi’s clones attacked Kaze with Boiling Release: Skillful Mist Technique and Lava Release: Melting Monster Technique, using the visible lava to distract him from the concealed boiling mist.