Chapter Summaries

Naruto’s group arrived in time to end the Sound Ninja’s fight with Shino, Kiba, and Sakura, and Dosu surrendered his team’s Scroll to leave safely. Hinata then challenged Sakura over her ability to become a Chunin, and Sakura accepted as their teams departed.

• Naruto’s group surrounded Dosu, Zaku, and Kusuna, and Dosu traded his team’s Scroll for safe passage.
• Hinata urged Naruto to eliminate the Sound Ninja, but Naruto let them leave and said they would face future opponents when the time came.
• Shino gave his team’s Scroll to Naruto, and Hinata passed it to Shikamaru’s team while telling Sakura she lacked the ability to become a Chunin.
• Sakura challenged Hinata’s judgment, and Hinata dropped Dosu’s Scroll at Sakura’s feet and dared her to come before her.
• Sakura picked up the Scroll and vowed to defeat Hinata, while Kiba and Shino stood beside her in support.
• Hinata led the teams away, then collapsed after they had disappeared into the forest.

Team Seven arrived at the third-round exam, where Shinichi Hyuga served as chief examiner and reassured Hinata before the individual matches began. Sakura defeated Ino in the first match, then challenged Hinata, setting up a possible grudge match.

• Team Seven arrived at the arena and found Kakashi already waiting, while Shinichi Hyuga spoke with Minato nearby.
• Shinichi explained that he had volunteered as chief examiner partly to watch Hinata, then opened the elimination matches with instructions for the competitors.
• The random draw matched Sakura against Ino, and both entered the arena as their teammates watched.
• Sakura used Genjutsu to narrowly defeat Ino and became the first competitor to advance.
• Sakura gestured challengingly toward Hinata, who activated her Byakugan and grew angry, leaving Shinichi curious about their apparent rivalry.

Choji lost quickly to Dosu, while Hinata defeated Kusuna with overwhelming speed and taijutsu. After the match, Hinata fixed her gaze on Sakura, leaving Sakura positioned as her next rival.

• Asuma encouraged Shikamaru and Choji after Ino lost to Sakura.
• Dosu defeated Choji by dodging his Human Boulder and striking him with sound pressure.
• Shinichi pulled Choji free from the wall with an unseen force, startling Dosu and the other contestants.
• Hinata defeated Kusuna with Eight Trigrams Thirty-Two Palms after Kusuna failed to counter her speed.
• Hinata returned to the waiting area and stared down Sakura, while Shinichi considered Sakura a possible opponent who could spur Hinata forward.

Shino Aburame defeated Zaku Abumi by blocking the wind holes in his palms, and Sasuke Uchiha faced Kankuro in the next match. Sasuke used his Sharingan and Chidori to dismantle Kankuro’s puppet and pierce Kankuro’s chest with a lightning strike.

• Shino Aburame defeated Zaku Abumi after his Kikaichū blocked the wind holes in Zaku’s palms, causing Zaku’s arms to burst when he activated them.
• Shinichi Hyuga drew Sasuke Uchiha against Kankuro and reflected on how the Butterfly Effect had changed the opponents from his memories.
• Sasuke opened the match with Shuriken and a Great Fireball, but Kankuro used his puppet Crow to block the attacks and fire poisoned Senbon.
• Sasuke dodged Crow’s attacks with his Sharingan, then ran around the arena to create distance and struck the puppet with Chidori.
• Kankuro prepared another puppet while Crow’s reconnected pieces attacked Sasuke from behind, but Sasuke extended Chidori across the distance and pierced Kankuro’s chest.

Sasuke Uchiha defeated Kankuro with Chidori Sharp Spear and advanced in the Chunin Exams, impressing Konoha’s leaders. Naruto Uzumaki then faced Kiba Inuzuka and won easily after Kiba’s damaged balance system failed during his attack.

• Sasuke Uchiha paralyzed and wounded Kankuro with Chidori Sharp Spear, then dispelled the technique after Shinichi Hyuga pointed out that Kankuro could not speak while restrained.
• Kankuro surrendered, and Shinichi Hyuga declared Sasuke the winner as Naruto and the other Konoha genin cheered.
• Might Guy questioned Kakashi about Sasuke’s advanced technique, and Kakashi said he had taught Sasuke Chidori but not Chidori Sharp Spear.
• Hokage Minato Namikaze considered Konoha’s shortage of future high-level ninja and hoped that an Uchiha might eventually become Hokage.
• Naruto Uzumaki and Kiba Inuzuka entered the arena, and Kiba insisted that he had changed while Naruto challenged him to fight seriously.
• Kiba and Akamaru used Fang Over Fang, but Kiba’s lingering ear and balance injuries flared up, allowing Naruto to defeat him with ease.

Rock Lee pushed Gaara to the brink with the Eight Inner Gates but lost after Gaara remained conscious and crushed his limbs with sand. As Gaara began to lose control of Shukaku, Shinichi Hyuga entered his inner world, calmed him to sleep, and confronted the tailed beast.

• Rock Lee overwhelmed Gaara with high-speed attacks and struck him into the arena floor using the Gate of Limit and Gate of View.
• Gaara stayed conscious, used Sand Coffin to crush Rock Lee’s arm and leg, and tried to kill him before Might Guy intervened.
• Shinichi Hyuga declared Gaara the victor, while Rock Lee lost consciousness and Might Guy grieved over his student’s resolve.
• Gaara’s weakening control stirred Shukaku, whose chakra began wrapping around his body as Baki realized the danger.
• Shinichi Hyuga entered Gaara’s inner world, made Gaara fall peacefully asleep, and warned Shukaku to behave.

Shinichi subdued Shukaku inside Gaara and prevented him from taking over Gaara’s body, while Gaara was declared the winner over Rock Lee. The Chunin Exams advanced to Neji’s match against Shikamaru, whose Shadow Possession Jutsu began pursuing Neji as he kept his distance.

• Shinichi blasted Shukaku with an air strike and sealed him into dormancy, then left Gaara’s inner world.
• Baki checked on the unconscious Gaara and carried him to the stands, while the Jonin praised Gaara and Rock Lee’s abilities.
• Temari defeated Tenten, and Sakura, Shino, Naruto, Sasuke, Hinata, Gaara, Temari, and Dosu secured places in the finals.
• Asuma persuaded Shikamaru to fight Neji instead of surrendering, while Guy took the injured Rock Lee to Konoha Hospital.
• Neji greeted Shinichi as his elder brother before the match, then activated his Byakugan as Shikamaru retreated and sent his shadow after Neji.

Hyuga Neji used Water Release to flood the arena, preventing Shikamaru from relying on his Shadow Possession Jutsu and forcing him into close combat. Neji defeated Shikamaru with Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms, leaving Asuma to reconsider his ability as a Jonin Leader.

• Asuma predicted that Shikamaru's Shadow Possession Jutsu would counter Neji's close-range fighting, but Neji escaped its range and attacked with Water Severing Wave.
• Neji used Water Dragon Bullet Jutsu to flood the arena and sent Shikamaru crashing into a wall.
• Neji realized that Shikamaru could not control shadows reflected in the water and closed in for close combat.
• Neji knocked away Shikamaru's Kunai, struck his abdomen, and sealed his acupoints with Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms.
• Shinichi Hyuga declared Neji the winner after Shikamaru remained unable to rise, and Asuma questioned his own ability to guide his students.

After the Chunin Exam qualifiers ended, Minato announced that the public matches would take place in a month and urged the finalists to prepare. Meanwhile, Hana considered strengthening ties between the Hyuga and Namikaze families through Hinata and Naruto, while Shinichi questioned whether their relationship should be pushed toward a political marriage.

• Neji defeated Shikamaru to become the final ninja to advance, and Minato congratulated the nine finalists before explaining the public-match rules and one-month interval.
• Minato dismissed the contestants, and Kakashi invited his advancing team to celebrate with barbecue while Shinichi returned to the Hyuga clan.
• Hana asked Shinichi what he thought of Naruto and suggested the Hyuga clan send him a gift if he became chunin, seeing him as a possible match for Hinata.
• Shinichi argued that Naruto and Hinata should develop their relationship naturally and that gifts or pressure could harm their chances.
• Hana warned Shinichi that the clan might force Hinata into an arranged marriage and that ties to the Hokage’s family could help protect her from the Caged Bird Seal and the clan’s elders.

Hana and Kushina began considering a future marriage between Naruto and Hinata, while the children trained for the Chunin Exams. The chapter ended with Rasa asking Minato to let Gaara stay in Konoha for training and to persuade Kushina to treat him.

• Hana invited Kushina and Naruto to her home, where Naruto and Hinata reviewed their likely opponents and promised to give their all if they faced each other.
• Hana proposed a childhood betrothal between Naruto and Hinata, and Kushina began seriously considering Hinata as a daughter-in-law.
• Sasuke trained to improve Chidori Sharp Spear, Naruto began Sealing Jutsu training with Kushina, and Hinata practiced using the Three-Tails' power under Shinichi Hyuga's supervision.
• Rasa bowed before Minato and asked him to persuade Kushina to treat Gaara and allow Gaara to remain in Konoha temporarily for training.

Minato agreed to treat Gaara in Konoha after Rasa entrusted his son to the village, and he chose Shisui Uchiha to guide Gaara and Sunagakure’s other genin. Gaara felt abandoned by his father but found himself calmer around Minato and increasingly curious about Konoha.

• Minato agreed to help Sunagakure stabilize Gaara in exchange for reduced conventional forces and gold dust, while warning Rasa that training a Jinchuriki could take years.
• Rasa entrusted Gaara to Konoha and left Kankuro and Temari with him, saying he hoped Gaara could live like an ordinary child.
• Gaara interpreted Rasa’s decision as abandonment and suffered a painful emotional episode, but Minato’s concern calmed him without provoking Shukaku.
• After Rasa’s party left, Minato considered how Konoha could safely supervise and train Gaara, then ordered Shisui Uchiha back to the village to lead the Sunagakure genin.

Shinichi Hyuga trained in Sage Mode on Mount Myōboku and returned to Konoha after Gekko Hayate was murdered. As the investigation began, Shinichi and Minato suspected different hidden threats, leaving the killer’s identity uncertain.

• Shinichi Hyuga chose Toneri as an assistant and trained him to handle Hyuga Clan affairs.
• Shinichi learned Sage Mode on his first attempt by using the Tenseigan to sense and balance Natural Energy.
• Minato summoned Shinichi back to Konoha after Gekko Hayate was found murdered in the village’s back mountain.
• Shinichi and Minato examined Gekko Hayate’s body while Inoichi Yamanaka tried to undo a seal blocking the victim’s memories.
• Shinichi suspected the Sand Ninja Baki, while Minato secretly suspected Shimura Danzō.

After Gekko Hayate’s murder, Konoha tightened security while Minato investigated and recalled Shisui to the village. The Chunin Exams finals began under Shinichi Hyuga’s supervision, and he opened the matches with Hinata versus Neji, urging Neji to fight without holding back.

• Konoha increased security after Gekko Hayate’s death, while Shinichi Hyuga returned from Mount Myōboku and left the investigation to others.
• Minato found no evidence against Danzo and summoned Shisui back, warning him that Hayate might have uncovered a conspiracy.
• Inoichi Yamanaka triggered a trap while examining Hayate’s Brain Seal, destroying the dead ninja’s brain and deepening suspicion that the killer knew Konoha’s methods.
• The Chunin Exams finals began, with Shinichi presiding as Naruto, Hinata, Sasuke, and Gaara gathered before the spectators.
• Shinichi announced Hinata and Neji as the first competitors, then told Neji he could fight at full strength without worrying about seriously hurting Hinata.

Hinata and Neji fought in the Chunin Exams, with Neji using Water Clones and Water Prison to trap her before she revealed a powerful Chakra Cloak. The battle ended with Hinata standing after their clash while Neji struggled out of a crater, leaving the victor undecided.

• Shinichi encouraged Neji to fight Hinata without holding back, then started their match.
• Hinata overwhelmed Neji with her strength and Gentle Step Twin Lion Fist, but Neji used Water Clones and Water Prison Technique to trap her.
• Hinata formed a red Chakra Cloak and a tail that broke the Water Prison and struck Neji.
• Neji used Kaiten against Hinata's charge, and their collision sent both fighters flying.
• Hinata stood her ground with a two-tail Chakra Cloak while Neji climbed out of a crater, badly exhausted.

Hinata defeated Neji after the Three-Tails’ chakra overwhelmed her emotions and Shinichi stopped her from delivering a lethal blow. As Temari and Sakura entered the arena for the next match, Rasa began considering the risks of leaving Gaara in Konoha.

• Neji used Water Style: Water Dragon Bullet Technique to break Hinata’s Tailed Beast Cloak and send her crashing into the arena wall.
• Hinata healed with Three-Tails chakra, then blasted Neji with a Chakra Cannon and charged to finish him while enraged.
• Shinichi restrained Hinata before she could kill Neji, and announced her as the winner after Neji could no longer fight.
• Minato told Rasa that Hinata was Konoha’s Three-Tails Jinchuriki, prompting Rasa to suspect Konoha’s role in the Mizukage’s death and weigh Gaara’s safety.
• Temari and Sakura entered the arena for the second match, and Temari said she would hold back to let Sakura lose with dignity.

Hinata defeated Neji in the arena after her Three-Tails power overwhelmed him, but Shinichi stopped her from delivering a potentially fatal blow. Rasa recognized Hinata as Konoha’s Three-Tails Jinchuriki and grew wary of Konoha, as Temari and Sakura began the next match.

• Hinata recovered from Neji’s Water Dragon Bullet with Tailed Beast Chakra, then blasted him down with a Chakra attack and charged to finish him.
• Shinichi stopped Hinata from striking Neji, and she regained control as he declared her the winner.
• Rasa learned Hinata was the Three-Tails Jinchuriki and suspected Konoha had been involved in the Mizukage’s death.
• Temari and Sakura entered the arena for the next match, and Temari taunted Sakura as the spectators doubted her chances.

Naruto fought Gaara in the Chunin Exams and used Shadow Clones and Wind Release: Breakthrough to break through Gaara’s sand defense. After Naruto struck Gaara with Chakra Enhanced Strength, Shinichi Hyuga realized Naruto had learned the technique from Kushina, leaving the match’s outcome uncertain.

• Shinichi Hyuga started Naruto and Gaara’s match, and Gaara tested Naruto with his gourd stopper before unleashing his sand.
• Naruto dodged Gaara’s sand attacks, tested their range, and then used Multiple Shadow Clones to spread out across the arena.
• Naruto’s clones used Wind Release: Breakthrough to evade the sand, draw Gaara’s defenses thin, and close in on him.
• One Naruto broke through Gaara’s sand shield and punched him hard enough to send him flying and crack his Sand Armor.
• Naruto said his punch could have been deadlier if he had mastered the ability, and Shinichi Hyuga recognized Chakra Enhanced Strength and linked it to Kushina’s training.

Naruto used his clones, Explosive Tags, and Rasengan to keep attacking Gaara, but Gaara expanded his control over the arena’s sand and took to the air. Naruto summoned Gama Riki and combined their techniques to strike Gaara with a Spiral Water Pillar, leaving the fight unresolved as Gaara fell toward the ground.

• Gaara used Sand Eye, Sand Walls, and Sand Bullets to destroy Naruto’s Shadow Clones, while Naruto dodged and disrupted Gaara’s sand with an Explosive Tag.
• Naruto struck Gaara’s Sand Shield with a Rasengan that erupted behind it, blasting Gaara onto the ground.
• Gaara grew enraged, summoned more sand from beneath the arena, and lifted himself into the air to keep Naruto at a distance.
• Naruto summoned Gama Riki, a Mount Myōboku toad specializing in Water Release, and ordered it to attack Gaara.
• Naruto and Gama Riki performed a combination technique that sent a Spiral Water Pillar into Gaara and knocked him from the air.

Naruto Uzumaki defeated Gaara in the Chunin Exams by using a composite Water and Wind Release attack, then exploiting the Sand Eye and sand sphere to land a Rasengan and restrain Gaara with a sealing barrier. Shinichi Hyuga declared Naruto the victor, while Rasa watched Naruto’s strength with interest.

• Naruto and Gama Riki struck Gaara with a composite Water and Wind Release attack, knocking him to the arena floor and soaking his Sand Armor.
• Gaara gathered sand into a sphere to protect himself while preparing the Feigning Sleep Technique, and Naruto launched himself toward it with a Rasengan.
• Naruto destroyed Gaara’s Sand Eye, used Explosive Tags to expose a weakness in the sphere, and hit Gaara through its sand with a Rasengan.
• Gaara’s pain interrupted his incomplete Feigning Sleep Technique, and Naruto immobilized him with the Uzumaki Clan’s One-Thread Light Array.
• Shinichi Hyuga declared Naruto Uzumaki the victor, while Rasa observed Naruto’s powerful techniques.

Naruto defeated Gaara, but Shinichi Hyuga stopped Gaara from attacking him after the match and Minato arranged for Shisui to supervise and train Gaara. Sasuke then defeated Dosu in the next match, while Kabuto watched from the stands on Orochimaru’s behalf.

• Naruto celebrated his victory over Gaara, but Gaara secretly sent sand toward him after the match ended.
• Shinichi Hyuga stopped Gaara’s attack and calmed him, then Rasa apologized to Minato and offered to take Gaara back to the Sand Ninja.
• Minato introduced Shisui as Gaara’s Jonin Leader and instructor, and Rasa thanked him for the arrangement.
• Shinichi escorted Gaara to Baki, then returned to announce Sasuke Uchiha’s match against Dosu while Kabuto watched from the stands.
• Sasuke kept Dosu at a distance, wounded him with Kunai, and defeated him with a Chidori Sharp Spear after obscuring his vision with the Great Fireball Technique.