Chapter Summaries

The third Chunin Exam began in a packed arena, where Kisame Hoshigaki defeated Yamashiro Aoba in the opening match. Nohara Rin and Nara Shiomizu then entered the arena for the second match, which was about to begin.

• On August 5, the sixteen candidates gathered in the arena as Hiruko explained the rules and called the first match.
• Kisame Hoshigaki flooded the battleground with Water Release and used the water to overwhelm Yamashiro Aoba.
• Hiruko declared Kisame Hoshigaki the winner, and Medical Ninja carried Yamashiro Aoba away for treatment.
• Obito encouraged Nohara Rin, while Kakashi advised her to use Water Release early to take advantage of the flooded arena.
• Hiruko called Nohara Rin and Nara Shiomizu to begin the second match, and both candidates entered the battleground.

Nohara Rin defeated Nara Shiomizu after countering his clever Shadow Imitation Jutsu with a hidden Water Clone. Might Guy then overwhelmed Noguchi Nobuhide with a single kick, leaving the tournament moving toward its next match.

• Nohara Rin used Water Release attacks to keep Nara Shiomizu at a distance while he searched for a way to counter her advantage.
• Nara Shiomizu used a wind-borne Kunai and its makeshift parachute to extend his shadow and take control of Nohara Rin.
• Nohara Rin's hidden Water Clone trapped her controlled body in a Water Prison, forcing Nara Shiomizu to release his jutsu; Nara Shiomizu surrendered, and Hiruko declared Nohara Rin the winner.
• Hiruko announced the third match between Noguchi Nobuhide and Might Guy, and Might Guy entered the arena eager to show his strength to his father.
• Might Guy opened three Eight Gates and used Extreme Konoha Strong Whirlwind to defeat Noguchi Nobuhide in one strike; Hiruko declared Might Guy the winner.

Might Guy impressed the crowd with a swift victory, while Inuzuka Midori lost to Kurosawa after injuring him. Obito Uchiha then gained the upper hand against Sarutobi Asuma, who struggled under the pressure of being the Hokage’s son, and both prepared to use Ninjutsu as their fight continued.

• Might Guy defeated Noguchi Nobuhide with one kick, earning praise from the spectators.
• Inuzuka Midori tracked Kurosawa through his Hidden Mist Jutsu and injured his right leg before Kurosawa won their match.
• Obito Uchiha and Sarutobi Asuma began their match, with Asuma feeling pressure to prove himself despite expecting Obito to be strong.
• Obito used his Sharingan to gain the advantage in taijutsu and drive Asuma back.
• Asuma opened the distance to prepare Wind Release Ninjutsu, while Obito prepared to counter with Fire Release.

Obito defeated Asuma with superior Fire Release, while Mei Terumi and Zabuza secured further victories for Hidden Mist Village. Kakashi then overwhelmed Hyuga Goichi in an instant, ending the first round as the second round awaited.

• Asuma used a Wind and Fire Combination Ninjutsu, but Obito countered it with Flame Breathing Chakra Mode and Fire Dragon Flame Bullet, forcing Asuma to surrender.
• Mei Terumi defeated Moriyama Haruya in under a minute with Boil Release and Water Release.
• Zabuza defeated Osaki Shinya after a four-minute battle, adding another Hidden Mist Village win.
• Kakashi charged at Hyuga Goichi with his White Fang Short Blade and lightning-enhanced speed, ending the match before Goichi could attack.
• Hiruko declared Kakashi the winner, and the first round concluded before a short break and the start of the second round.

Nohara Rin lost to Kisame Hoshigaki despite using Super Strength and Medical Ninjutsu, while Tsunade discovered that Rin had trained in a style resembling her own and agreed to teach her. Might Guy then defeated Kurosawa with a decisive kick, and Obito left to face Mei Terumi.

• Obito and Kakashi encouraged Nohara Rin before she fought Kisame Hoshigaki.
• Nohara Rin attacked Kisame with Super Strength, but Kisame avoided her punches and gradually wore her down until she collapsed from exhaustion.
• Tsunade recognized Rin's fighting style and Medical Ninjutsu, and Mu Yue explained that Rin was his disciple; Tsunade agreed to take Rin under her care.
• Might Guy opened three Gates and defeated Kurosawa through the Hidden Mist Jutsu with a sound-guided kick.
• Obito prepared to fight Mei Terumi after Kakashi warned him to stay calm, while Zabuza realized the others expected him to lose.

Obito defeated Mei Terumi in the second round after breaking through her Lava Release trap and overpowering her Water Dragon Bullet with Flame Breathing. He celebrated his victory, then Kakashi entered the arena to face Momochi Zabuza.

• Obito and Mei Terumi exchanged attacks, and Mei used Lava Release to build walls while steering him toward the arena's edge.
• Obito recognized Mei's trap, broke through the gray wall, and drove her away from the pond with a barrage of fireballs and a flaming kick.
• Mei trapped Obito in a huge Water Formation Wall and tried to transform it into a Water Dragon Bullet, but Obito smashed the weakened dragon with Blazing Impact.
• Mei conceded, and Hiruko announced Obito as the winner; Obito waved to Nohara Rin before returning to the waiting room.
• Obito boasted to Kakashi about his battle, and Hiruko called Momochi Zabuza and Hatake Kakashi to the arena for their match.

Kakashi defeated Zabuza with his newly developed Thunderclap Flash, and Might Guy beat Kisame in a battle that pushed his Breathing Technique to its limit. Guy advanced to the final, where he expected to face his eternal rival.

• Zabuza reflected on how Konoha's environment shaped Kakashi before the two began their match.
• Kakashi used Thunderclap Flash to shatter Zabuza's sword and seriously wound him, then won the match while holding back.
• Zabuza vowed to change Hidden Mist Village and someday defeat Kakashi.
• Might Guy opened three Eight Gates and used Stone Breathing to counter Kisame's Water Release attacks.
• Kisame trapped Guy in a giant water sphere, but Guy endured the fight and defeated him just after his Breathing Technique's boost began to fade.
• Hiruko declared Might Guy the winner, and Guy looked toward Kakashi as his next opponent.

Might Guy defeated Kisame, leaving the semifinals to Konoha ninja, and Obito Uchiha fought Hatake Kakashi in a fierce contest of Fire Release and lightning-fast attacks. Kakashi won with a final Thunderclap Flash, but collapsed from exhaustion after Obito fell.

• Might Guy defeated Kisame, and the audience praised his powerful Taijutsu as Konoha advanced to the next semifinal.
• Obito Uchiha and Hatake Kakashi entered the arena, each confident he would win and advance.
• Obito used the Sharingan and increasingly powerful Fire Release to pressure Kakashi, while Kakashi countered with lightning techniques and sword strikes.
• Obito unleashed a Fire Dragon Flame Bullet that filled most of the arena, leaving Kakashi with little room to dodge.
• Kakashi pushed himself to his limit and used Thunderclap Flash to break through the flames and strike Obito.
• Hiruko declared Kakashi the winner, and Kakashi collapsed after Obito lost consciousness.

Kakashi and Might Guy fought in the Chunin Exams final, each drawing on their strongest techniques. Kakashi defeated Guy with a last-second strike and was declared the winner before collapsing himself.

• Tsunade treated Kakashi and Obito, allowing them to recover from their semifinal battle and return to the exams.
• Hiruko announced the final between Might Guy and Hatake Kakashi, and both fighters opened with their strongest breathing and combat techniques.
• Kakashi used clones, Purple Electricity, and Flash to injure Guy, while Guy countered with his Konoha Hand Blade and forced open the fourth Eight Gates gate.
• Might Guy unleashed Konoha Dragon God against Kakashi's Thunderclap Flash, winning their direct clash and sending Kakashi crashing into the arena wall.
• Kakashi stood again, entered the Transparent World, and refined his Thunderclap Flash before slashing through Guy's Konoha Dragon God.
• Might Guy collapsed, then Kakashi fell moments later, and Hiruko declared Hatake Kakashi the winner.

Kakashi defeated Might Guy in the Chunin Exams final, and Mu Yue's students drew praise for their performances. After the injured finalists were taken to Konoha Hospital, Genji encouraged the Hidden Mist candidates and offered Kisame, Mei Terumi, and Zabuza opportunities to develop their skills.

• Kakashi won the final against Might Guy after both fighters reached their limits, leaving Obito determined to train and surpass Kakashi.
• Might Duy praised Might Guy's performance, while Hiruzen Sarutobi and Minato credited Mu Yue with much of Kakashi's growth.
• Mu Yue urged Tsunade to treat Kakashi and Might Guy, and Jiraiya joined them as they headed to Konoha Hospital.
• Mu Yue received Fire Dragon Flame Bullet and Reverse Lotus as rewards for Obito's and Might Guy's improvements, and Shisui and Obito left to train.
• Genji praised the Hidden Mist candidates for their efforts and urged them to use their defeat as motivation.
• Genji invited Kisame to train in the Anbu and offered Mei Terumi and Zabuza guidance in Water Release.

After the Chunin Exams, the candidates returned to training, and Hiruzen Sarutobi promoted the successful participants to chunin. The chapter ended with Asuma receiving both criticism and praise from Hiruzen before leaving to train.

• Mu Yue observed that the students worked harder after seeing Obito and Might Guy’s progress, while Mei Terumi thanked him with three servings of strawberry ice cream before leaving Konoha.
• Minato summoned Obito, Kakashi, Might Guy, Nohara Rin, Asuma, Nara Shiomizu, and Yamashiro Aoba to the Hokage’s Office, where they guessed they were being promoted.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi announced that all the candidates would become chunin and explained the missions their new ranks allowed them to take.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi handed out promotion forms and chunin vests, and Obito declared that he would accept dangerous missions to protect Konoha.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi pointed out flaws in Asuma’s techniques from the exams, then praised his final Combination Ninjutsu as Asuma left to train.

Hiruzen Sarutobi rejected Shimura Danzō’s attempt to recruit Obito Uchiha into Root, prompting Danzō to ask Mu Yue to monitor Obito. Meanwhile, Mu Yue claimed generous rewards from his disciples’ Chunin promotions and drew new skills and Ice Release, then received Danzō’s letter and smiled at its request.

• Asuma recalled Hiruzen Sarutobi’s lack of praise during his childhood, but eased into a better mood after Hiruzen offered help with Combination Ninjutsu.
• Shimura Danzō demanded that Hatake Kakashi and Obito Uchiha join Root, but Hiruzen refused and warned him not to expand Root or recruit illegally.
• Danzō argued that Obito was a threat because he was an Uchiha, but Hiruzen defended Obito and rejected the proposal.
• Danzō returned to Root and sent Mu Yue a letter asking him to assess Obito and report any signs of disloyalty.
• Mu Yue received Chakra and three draw scrolls for Hatake Kakashi, Might Guy, and Obito Uchiha advancing to Chunin, then drew Orochi Nagi, Golden Horizon Line, and Ice Release.
• Mu Yue read Danzō’s letter that evening and smiled at the request to find fault with Obito.

As war spread across the continent, Minato Namikaze left on an S-rank mission while Mu Yue worried that Uchiha Madara might exploit the growing conflict to target Obito. Mu Yue resolved to prepare his disciples with harsher training, leaving Obito uneasy as a new regimen loomed.

• Inuzuka Midori asked Nara Shiomizu why he became a Chunin while she did not, and he offered a tactful explanation as she and Aburame Naoya planned to train for the next exams.
• Asuma discussed his defeat by Obito with Izumo Kamizuki and Kotetsu Hagane, then encouraged Kurenai Yuhi to rest and train alongside him.
• Mu Yue held regular exams during special training, where Asuma took first place in Group A, Hayate Gekko stood out in Group B, and Anko placed second in Group C.
• Minato Namikaze told Mu Yue that he was leaving to reinforce the Land of Hot Water front on an S-rank mission and asked him to look after Kushina and continue training Obito and the others.
• After learning that Jiraiya had returned to the Land of Grass battlefield, Mu Yue considered the widening war and the possibility that Uchiha Madara would push Hidden Mist Village into conflict with Konoha.
• Mu Yue prepared a new, grueling training regimen for his disciples, and Obito sensed something unpleasant when he greeted Mu Yue at the Southern Forest.

Mu Yue began the final stage of Constant Concentration training for his disciples while overseeing a summer special-training course where students learned five low-level Ninjutsu he had created. After the students requested an extension and Hiruzen Sarutobi approved it, Hiruzen considered promoting Mu Yue to Vice Principal of the Ninja Academy pending the final exam.

• Mu Yue had his disciples practice maintaining the Breathing Technique all day, with Kakashi, Obito, Might Guy, and Shisui receiving questions whenever they failed.
• Mu Yue started teaching groups A and B five self-created D-rank Ninjutsu, while group C began the lessons after catching up in Nature Transformation.
• The students studied Ninjutsu for two weeks and practiced using it in two Practical Exams before asking Mu Yue to extend the special training by a week.
• Mu Yue reported the extension and students’ progress to Hiruzen Sarutobi, who approved the extra week and praised Mu Yue’s teaching and Ninjutsu.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi decided to consider creating a Vice Principal position for Mu Yue if the final exam went well.

After Obito and Mu Yue’s other disciples learned to maintain the Breathing Technique throughout training, Mu Yue began a harsher second phase: keeping it up while sleeping. The disciples used Shadow Clones to supervise one another, and their first night brought interrupted sleep, extra questions, and dreams about Obito becoming Hokage.

• Obito complained to Nohara Rin about his growing backlog of questions while he and Might Guy struggled through training.
• After another week, Obito and the other disciples learned to maintain the Breathing Technique for the full training period, but Mu Yue announced a second phase focused on practicing while asleep.
• Mu Yue instructed the disciples to use exchanged Shadow Clones to wake them whenever their Breathing Technique faltered, with each interruption earning four questions.
• Kakashi’s Shadow Clone woke Obito with a strike when he stopped the Breathing Technique while dreaming about Nohara Rin, and Obito resumed training after facing four more questions.
• Obito’s Shadow Clone later woke Kakashi and mocked him, while Kakashi reflected that Obito’s dream of becoming Hokage could come true only in an absurd scenario.
• None of Mu Yue’s four disciples managed to sleep through the night without interruption.

Anko showed off her Fire Release while Mu Yue announced that the Third Hokage would observe the final exam, prompting Izumo Kamizuki and Kotetsu Hagane to seek Ebisu’s advice on impressing him. After the disciples recovered from Phase Two Breathing Technique training, Kakashi challenged Shisui, and their match began with both using Total Concentration breathing.

• Anko performed the Little Fireball Technique and rejected Kotetsu Hagane’s suggestion that she challenge Shisui.
• Mu Yue told the students that the Third Hokage would observe and offer guidance during the final exam.
• Izumo Kamizuki and Kotetsu Hagane asked Ebisu how to impress the Third Hokage, and Ebisu suggested challenging him with their Deception Technique.
• Obito, Kakashi, Shisui, and Might Guy completed Phase Two Breathing Technique training at different times, and Mu Yue gave them a temporary return to ordinary training.
• Kakashi challenged Shisui after recovering, seeking to end his losing streak, and Mu Yue agreed to referee their match.
• Shisui opened with Great Fireball Barrage, and Kakashi blocked the attacks with an Earth-Style Wall.

Kakashi defeated Shisui in a fierce battle, breaking his Genjutsu and overpowering him with Thunderclap Flash. Shisui accepted Mu Yue’s reassurance and awakened a second Sharingan tomoe, while Mu Yue saw Kakashi’s new Life Mission appear.

• Shisui used clones, ninjutsu, and an Explosive Tag to challenge Kakashi, but both fighters’ apparent deaths were revealed to be shadow clones.
• Shisui trapped Kakashi in the Phantom Body Flicker Technique’s Genjutsu, but Kakashi used his developing Transparent World perception to recognize and dispel it.
• Kakashi used Thunderclap Flash to scatter Shisui’s shadow clones and send Shisui flying, and Mu Yue declared Kakashi the winner.
• Mu Yue comforted Shisui after his first defeat, and Shisui’s Sharingan awakened a second tomoe as he resolved to keep training.
• Kakashi completed his training mission, and Mu Yue saw that Kakashi had received the Life Mission “True Strength Lies in Protecting.”

Mu Yue held the final day of special training, teaching students Nature Transformation and overseeing examinations that demonstrated their progress. After watching the students battle, Hiruzen Sarutobi decided to begin preparing to make Mu Yue Vice Principal.

• Mu Yue explained that he would divide the students by Chakra Nature and teach them Nature Transformation, using Shadow Clones to instruct the large crowd.
• Mu Yue’s Shadow Clones began the final examinations, and Anko Mitarashi defeated Kiuchi Yayoi with a stronger Fire Release: Little Fireball Technique.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi and the teachers watched the students’ battles and learned that Mu Yue had developed the five Ninjutsu being taught.
• Asuma defeated Genma Shiranui after using Wind Release to gain the advantage, and Hiruzen Sarutobi praised Genma and offered him advice.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi decided to prepare to make Mu Yue the Vice Principal.

Mu Yue concluded the vacation special training, received a promotion to Vice Principal, and used his rewards to learn Ice Release techniques. Meanwhile, Kakashi, Obito, and Nohara Rin set out to choose their first mission as Chunin and heard about a new commission involving a princess.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi praised the students and Mu Yue, and Mu Yue thanked the students and reminded them to keep training.
• Anko gave Mu Yue a notebook filled with messages from the students, and Mu Yue surprised them by remembering their names.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi proposed creating a Vice Principal position for Mu Yue, and the teachers approved the appointment.
• Izumo Kamizuki and Kotetsu Hagane decided to have an Ebisu clone join their plan to challenge Hiruzen Sarutobi.
• Mu Yue drew Ice Beam and Pheasant Beak, then used a Nature Transformation Experience Scroll to raise Ice Release to Proficient.
• Kakashi, Obito, and Nohara Rin went to the Hokage Building to accept a mission, and Sawada Kazuya told Obito there was a commission involving a princess.

Obito persuaded Mu Yue to lead his team on an A-rank mission guarding the Land of Snow’s princess, and they set sail for the Snow God Festival. The team left Konoha for the Land of Snow, where Mu Yue remained alert to the possibility that events might differ from the story he remembered.

• Sawada Kazuya explained that the princess-guarding mission was A-rank and required a jonin or Special Jonin to lead, so Obito and his teammates sought Mu Yue.
• Mu Yue agreed to take the mission after learning it involved protecting the Land of Snow’s princess, despite the Ninja Academy reopening soon.
• Mu Yue accepted the mission, and Asama Sandayu confirmed that the young team members were qualified Konoha ninja before preparing to depart.
• Obito and the others traveled to the eastern coast, took photographs by the sea, and boarded a ship bound for the Land of Snow.
• Asama Sandayu told Mu Yue that the bodyguard assignment would last until the Land of Snow’s October Snow God Festival.