Chapter Summaries

After the Nine Tails Riot, Konoha’s leaders learned that Orochimaru had orchestrated the attack and that his Rinnegan-wielding enemy might target Danzo. As they prepared for Orochimaru’s possible invasion, they also discussed Naruto’s future and reviewed his new team assignment.

• Yakushi Kabuto warned Shimura Danzo that the Rinnegan user might seek revenge for Salamander Hanzo’s death, then said Orochimaru’s side would use the Uzumaki Clan treasure to revive two powerful ninja.
• Sarutobi Hiruzen and Jiraiya concluded that Orochimaru had planned the attack and resolved to prepare for his possible invasion of Konoha.
• Jiraiya raised concerns that Naruto Uzumaki could no longer live an ordinary life after the village learned he was the Fourth Hokage’s son and the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki.
• Sarutobi Hiruzen revealed Naruto’s team assignment, and Tsunade inspected the plan to place him with Sasuke Uchiha and Sakura Haruno under Kakashi Hatake.

After Team 7’s formation, Jiraiya prepared to investigate Orochimaru while Orochimaru and Obito plotted to use the Chunin Exams to turn Konoha against Shirou Emiya. Nagato decided to infiltrate Konoha and kill Danzo himself in Yahiko’s name.

• Jiraiya told Tsunade he planned to leave Konoha to investigate Orochimaru, after already informing Sarutobi Hiruzen.
• Orochimaru prepared to revive Hashirama Senju, Tobirama Senju, and Minato Namikaze with Impure World Reincarnation and planned to use the Chunin Exams to confront Shirou Emiya.
• Obito told Orochimaru that Nagato planned to enter the Chunin Exams and assassinate Shimura Danzo.
• Konan warned Nagato and Pain that traveling to Konoha was dangerous, but Nagato said he wanted to kill Danzo himself to avenge Yahiko.

Konan agreed to let Nagato pursue revenge for Yahiko, while urging him to protect his health and identities. In Konoha, Shirou Emiya continued preparing for his departure and advised Tsunade to improve the medical records that would shape the future of medical ninjas.

• Konan supported Nagato's plan to take revenge for Yahiko but warned him to proceed carefully and offered to ask Shirou Emiya to examine his body.
• Shirou Emiya reviewed medical records in Konoha Hospital as he reflected on how Black Zetsu had directed Nagato's trio to infiltrate the Chunin Exams and assassinate Danzo.
• Tsunade visited Shirou Emiya and asked him to review a medical record she had written.
• Shirou Emiya corrected Tsunade's overly absolute wording and urged her to learn to avoid such mistakes herself.
• Shirou Emiya praised Tsunade's collection of medical records and encouraged her to do even better for the future of medical ninjas.

After Team 7 returned from the Land of Waves, Shirou Emiya met with Orochimaru and Nagato’s trio as the joint Chunin Exams approached. Shirou ordered them to protect Naruto, while Orochimaru stalled on the plan to kill Danzo and Shirou assigned Obito and the Zetsus to watch him.

• Naruto told Shirou, Sasuke, and others about Team 7’s mission and hoped to become a chunin, while Sasuke warned that the exams would include dangerous opponents such as Gaara.
• Shirou met Orochimaru and Nagato’s trio in an alley, then ordered them to protect Naruto during the Chunin Exams and revealed that Naruto was Jiraiya’s disciple.
• Orochimaru expressed interest in Sasuke as a potential vessel and claimed he needed more time to find an opportunity to deal with Danzo.
• Shirou ordered Obito to monitor Orochimaru, and Black Zetsu and White Zetsu offered to help keep watch.
• Shirou reflected that Nagato’s trio would become the center of the storm during the Chunin Exams.

Jiraiya oversaw the Chunin Exams as Nagato, Konan, and Deva Path Pain entered under the Hidden Rain Village banner and displayed abilities far beyond ordinary genin. As Shirou Emiya worried that their performance would attract attention in Konoha, he wondered what names the trio had used.

• Jiraiya returned to Konoha and was appointed chief examiner for the Chunin Exams, where he noticed a masked Hidden Rain shinobi passing information with folded paper.
• Anko Mitarashi began the Forest of Death stage, and Konan identified Naruto Uzumaki as the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki whom they had been ordered to protect.
• Nagato's trio fought with restrained techniques but still overwhelmed their opponents, drawing praise and concern from Jiraiya, Asuma Sarutobi, Kakashi Hatake, Kurenai Yuhi, and Might Guy.
• Shirou Emiya noticed that Nagato and his companions were attracting attention and asked what names they had used to enter the exams.

Jiraiya and Kakashi discovered that Orochimaru and Obito had infiltrated the Chunin Exams, and both feared they might cause another Nine-Tails Riot. In the Forest of Death, Obito warned Orochimaru not to harm Naruto, while Orochimaru revealed his interest in Sasuke as a future vessel and prepared to test him.

• Jiraiya identified the Face Stealing Technique on three murdered ninjas as Orochimaru's work and rushed into the Forest of Death after Anko went to track him down.
• Kakashi found traces of Sharingan genjutsu on the corpses and concluded that Obito had infiltrated Konoha as well, so he chased after Jiraiya.
• Obito confronted Orochimaru in the Forest of Death and warned him not to harm Naruto, the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki.
• Orochimaru admitted he wanted Sasuke as a future vessel, but agreed to leave him alone until their plan was complete.
• Obito agreed that Orochimaru could claim Sasuke after their plan succeeded, while prioritizing the Eye of the Moon Plan and the removal of Shirou Emiya.
• Orochimaru formed hand seals and prepared to give Sasuke a greeting gift to test his talent.

Team 7 encountered Orochimaru and Obito Uchiha in the Forest of Death, where Sasuke Uchiha recognized that they were overwhelmingly stronger and tried to surrender their scroll. Naruto Uzumaki charged at them anyway, and when Obito pinned him down and insulted Kakashi, Sasuke regained his fighting spirit and attacked.

• Orochimaru and Obito Uchiha arrived before Team 7, whose members froze under their killing intent.
• Sasuke Uchiha offered them Team 7's scroll, but Orochimaru swallowed it and revealed they had not come for the scroll.
• Sasuke told Naruto Uzumaki to escape with Sakura Haruno, but Naruto refused to abandon him and charged at their enemies.
• Obito Uchiha caught Naruto, pinned him beneath his foot, and mocked him and Kakashi Hatake.
• Sasuke threw a shuriken at Obito and demanded that he let Naruto go, reigniting his resolve to fight.

Obito Uchiha and Orochimaru attacked Team 7 in the Forest of Death, revealing Obito’s identity and leaving Naruto Uzumaki unconscious and Sasuke Uchiha bearing Orochimaru’s Curse Mark. Sakura Haruno guarded them until Nagato’s group arrived to protect Jiraiya’s disciples.

• Sasuke Uchiha attacked Obito Uchiha, who used Kamui to avoid the kunai and knocked Sasuke and Naruto Uzumaki aside.
• Obito Uchiha removed his mask, and Sasuke recognized him as the missing-nin responsible for the Nine Tails Riot; Naruto realized Obito had killed his parents and attacked him with the Nine-Tails’ Chakra.
• Orochimaru blocked Sasuke while Obito defeated Naruto, and Orochimaru left Sasuke with a Curse Mark before the two missing-nin departed.
• Sakura Haruno rushed to her injured teammates, and Sasuke urged her to check on Naruto before collapsing.
• Nagato’s group arrived and quietly guarded Team 7, intending to keep them safe.

Team 7 completed the Forest of Death exam, but the Chunin Exams continued despite the threats posed by Orochimaru and Obito Uchiha. After Gaara badly injured Rock Lee, Tenten waited outside the operating room and met a Konoha hospital worker who said Lee was lucky to be treated by Tsunade.

• Team 7 gathered the Heaven and Earth Scroll and reached the Forest of Death finish line after three days.
• Sarutobi Hiruzen insisted the Chunin Exams continue, while Jiraiya warned him about Orochimaru, Obito Uchiha, and suspicious Hidden Rain ninja.
• Nagato and Konan withdrew from the preliminary round, leaving Pain to fight alone.
• Temari injured Tenten, and Gaara broke Rock Lee's lower leg before Might Guy stopped him from killing Lee.
• Tenten waited outside the operating room as Tsunade operated on Rock Lee, and a Konoha hospital worker offered to treat Tenten's wounds.

Shirou Emiya helped Tsunade treat Rock Lee and restrained Orochimaru’s Curse Mark on Sasuke as the Chunin Exams approached their third stage. Meanwhile, the Hidden Sand Village joined Orochimaru and Obito Uchiha’s plot against Konoha, while Shimura Danzo prepared to exploit the coming crisis to reclaim power.

• Tsunade healed Rock Lee, then rushed off after Shirou told her there was news of Orochimaru at the Chunin Exams.
• Shirou Emiya contained Sasuke Uchiha’s Heavenly Cursed Seal, and Naruto Uzumaki and Sasuke prepared for the third exam with special training from Jiraiya and Kakashi Hatake.
• Nagato’s group delayed its plan to assassinate Shimura Danzo after Jiraiya took an interest in them, while Konoha struggled to watch the Hidden Rain Village and other threats.
• In the Kamui Dimension, Obito Uchiha and Orochimaru planned to use the Hidden Sand Village and three reanimated Hokage to attack Shirou Emiya, while Obito dismissed Nagato as a threat.
• Shimura Danzo learned that Nagato’s team was under surveillance and decided to use its anticipated clash with Konoha to seize the Rinnegan and become Fifth Hokage.
• Shimura Danzo left Root Base to seek Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura’s support, hoping the coming crisis would eliminate Hiruzen, Jiraiya, and Tsunade and secure his return to power.

Gaara tried to kill the recovering Rock Lee in the hospital, but Shirou Emiya stopped him and revealed that he had met Gaara’s mother and uncle in the Underworld. After Shirou explained Gaara’s painful family history to Naruto, Naruto resolved to defeat Gaara in the third exam and tell him the truth.

• Gaara sneaked into Rock Lee’s hospital room and used sand to try to kill him.
• Shirou Emiya stopped Gaara by soaking and weighing down his sand, and Naruto Uzumaki arrived before Gaara could attack again.
• Shirou told Gaara that he had seen Karura and Yashamaru’s souls in the Underworld, but Gaara dismissed him and left.
• Shirou explained to Naruto how the Fourth Kazekage Rasa made Gaara a weapon and forced Yashamaru to try to assassinate him.
• Naruto decided to find Gaara and tell him the truth, then promised to defeat him in the third exam.

The third round of the Chunin Exams began as Naruto defeated Neji and Sasuke fought Gaara, while Jiraiya and Tsunade watched for Orochimaru and other threats. Sasuke’s Chidori wounded Gaara, awakening Shukaku, who emerged in the arena.

• Sarutobi Hiruzen welcomed Rasa to the arena as Jiraiya and Tsunade kept watch for Orochimaru and Shirou Emiya attended beside Tsunade.
• Naruto Uzumaki defeated Neji Hyuga with the Rasengan, avenging Hinata Hyuga.
• Sasuke Uchiha fought Gaara, using Fire Style and Chidori to break through Gaara’s sand defense and wound his shoulder.
• Gaara began losing control as Shukaku’s chakra emerged, and Naruto recognized him as a fellow Jinchuriki.
• Shirou Emiya identified Gaara as the Jinchuriki of One-Tail, Shukaku, before Shukaku appeared in the arena.

One-Tail, Shukaku went berserk during the Chunin Exams, and Fourth Kazekage Rasa revealed that he had planned the chaos to bring Hidden Sand Ninja into Konoha for a joint response to a threat. The chapter ended with Rasa telling Third Hokage Sarutobi Hiruzen that Akatsuki’s Leader had already infiltrated Konoha.

• One-Tail, Shukaku went berserk, sending the spectators and competing ninja into a panic as Jiraiya and Tsunade began evacuating the crowd.
• Jiraiya ordered Sasuke Uchiha to retreat, while Fourth Kazekage Rasa challenged Sarutobi Hiruzen over Konoha’s willingness to use tailed beasts in battle.
• A Konoha Ninja reported that a large Hidden Sand force was approaching, and Rasa confirmed that his ninja had stopped outside Konoha.
• Rasa asked Sarutobi Hiruzen to let the Hidden Sand force enter Konoha, explaining that he needed the chaos to stage a response to a problem facing both villages.
• Sarutobi Hiruzen demanded that Rasa stop his actions and withdraw his ninja, but Rasa warned that Akatsuki’s Leader had infiltrated Konoha.

During the One Tail’s rampage, Fourth Kazekage Rasa told Sarutobi Hiruzen that Akatsuki’s leader had infiltrated Konoha and revealed the organization’s ties to several Kage assassinations. Hiruzen realized Shimura Danzo had concealed his past dealings with Akatsuki, then learned that Rasa and Danzo had also been in contact.

• Deva Path Pain watched the calm Shimura Danzo in the arena and wondered when to attack, while both searched for Orochimaru.
• Fourth Kazekage Rasa told Sarutobi Hiruzen that Sasori of the Red Sand, Obito Uchiha, Itachi Uchiha, Orochimaru, and Kisame Hoshigaki were connected to Akatsuki.
• Rasa explained that the Leader of Akatsuki had killed Salamander Hanzo and taken over the Hidden Rain Village, and that he suspected the leader had infiltrated Konoha during the Chunin Exams.
• Hiruzen realized Danzo had concealed his history with Hanzo and Akatsuki, and grew angry that Danzo had withheld such important information.
• Rasa admitted that he and Danzo had been in contact while dealing with the threat of Akatsuki.

After learning that Konoha and Hidden Sand Village had set a trap for Pain, Nagato weighed whether to retreat while Tsunade subdued Shukaku. The chapter ended as Hiruzen and Rasa rushed to intercept Pain and ordered Jiraiya to help capture him.

• A Konoha spy warned Nagato and Konan that Rasa knew Pain’s identity and that Konoha and Hidden Sand Village planned to capture him.
• Konan urged Nagato to retreat, but Nagato surveyed the arena and questioned whether anyone could stop him.
• Tsunade battered Shukaku while Jiraiya and Kakashi watched over the evacuation, and Kakashi sent Naruto and Sasuke to monitor the hidden sand ninja.
• Jiraiya noticed that Pain, Zero, and White Tiger had remained in the arena even as the crowds fled.
• Pain leapt toward the stands, and Hiruzen and Rasa immediately rushed to intercept him.
• An Anbu Ninja delivered Hiruzen’s order for Jiraiya to subdue Shukaku and then help capture the enemy.

The Third Hokage Sarutobi Hiruzen and Fourth Kazekage Rasa joined forces with Jiraiya and Tsunade to capture Pain, whom they identified as the Akatsuki leader. Pain revealed his Rinnegan and broke their formation, but Jiraiya’s quick counterattack burned away Pain’s mask, leaving his face exposed.

• Sarutobi Hiruzen and Rasa confronted Pain and began attacking him after revealing they had set a trap to capture the Akatsuki leader.
• Pain dispersed their combined fire and wind ninjutsu, and Hiruzen told Jiraiya that Akatsuki’s leader had infiltrated Konoha.
• Tsunade joined Hiruzen, Rasa, and Jiraiya, but Pain used Shinra Tensei to blast all four away.
• Jiraiya recognized Pain’s Rinnegan and attacked during the technique’s cooldown with a Fire Dragon Bullet.
• Pain dodged too late, and Jiraiya’s flames burned away his gas mask; Pain praised Jiraiya as his sensei.

Jiraiya discovered that Pain, Nagato, and Konan were his supposedly dead former disciples, and their reunion quickly turned into a battle with Konoha and the Hidden Sand. After Pain badly injured the defenders with Shinra Tensei, Orochimaru appeared to have entered the scene, leaving Tsunade and the others facing another former comrade.

• Pain revealed himself as Yahiko, and Nagato and Konan removed their masks to reunite with Jiraiya.
• Jiraiya questioned his disciples about Akatsuki, but Pain said their methods and goals would put them against their former teacher.
• Sarutobi Hiruzen, Jiraiya, Tsunade, and Rasa attacked Pain and his companions, but Nagato absorbed Hiruzen's fire technique and Rasa rescued Tsunade from Konan's explosive paper.
• Pain unleashed Shinra Tensei at near full force, blasting the defenders across the arena and badly injuring Hiruzen, Jiraiya, and Rasa.
• Tsunade summoned Katsuyu to treat the wounded, then discovered Rasa's shriveled body and recognized that the Orochi-ryū Substitution Technique had been used.
• A voice addressed Tsunade, while Hiruzen and Jiraiya stared tensely behind her, suggesting Orochimaru had appeared.

Orochimaru revealed that he had impersonated the Fourth Kazekage and summoned the First, Second, and Fourth Hokage with Impure World Reincarnation. As Nagato and Konan recognized his betrayal and considered retreating, two unseen attackers struck at Pain.

• Orochimaru revealed his identity and explained that he had manipulated events to bring Konoha to its most perilous state.
• Orochimaru summoned Hashirama Senju, Tobirama Senju, and Minato Namikaze with Impure World Reincarnation.
• Orochimaru lied to the revived Hokage about conspiring with Danzo to fight the Akatsuki, while Tsunade tried to expose his deception.
• Nagato and Konan realized Orochimaru had betrayed them, and Konan urged Nagato to retreat and consult Shirou Emiya.
• Two figures appeared beside flying kunai and attacked Pain, but Nagato used Shinra Tensei to repel them before they vanished.

Nagato and Pain faced the resurrected Hokage as Tobirama Senju and Minato Namikaze used their speed to pressure them. Pain unleashed Super Almighty Push against Konoha, and Sarutobi Hiruzen, Tsunade, Jiraiya, and Orochimaru formed a Four Red Yang Formation to counter it.

• Tobirama Senju and Minato Namikaze launched a probing attack on Nagato's group, revealing their speed and forcing Nagato to recognize the danger.
• Hashirama Senju, Tobirama Senju, and Minato Namikaze charged, while Pain told Konan to retreat and Nagato prepared to fight alongside him.
• Hashirama Senju filled the arena with trees, and Pain cleared space with Shinra Tensei as the Hokage pressed their attack.
• Nagato transferred Chakra to Pain while the Hokage attacked, and Pain gathered power for a large-scale technique.
• Pain unleashed Super Almighty Push toward the arena, and Sarutobi Hiruzen, Tsunade, Jiraiya, and Orochimaru formed the Four Red Yang Formation.

Nagato trapped inside the Four Red Yang Formation tried to hold off the three Hokage, but the revived Hokage quickly dismantled his summons and pressured Pain. Minato Namikaze defeated Deva Path Pain with Flying Thunder God Second Stage, leaving Nagato’s side at a disadvantage.

• The Four Red Yang Formation contained Nagato’s Super Almighty Push, trapping Nagato, Konan, and Pain inside while Deva Path Pain entered a cooldown.
• Nagato summoned an archaeopteryx to give them a brief rest, but Tobirama Senju destroyed it with Water Release: Water Severing Wave.
• Nagato summoned a wolfhound, rhinoceros, and centipede, but Hashirama Senju defeated all three with Wood Release techniques.
• Tobirama Senju and Minato Namikaze closed in on Nagato and Pain as Pain used Almighty Push against Minato Namikaze.
• Minato Namikaze used Flying Thunder God Second Stage to strike Deva Path Pain with a Rasengan and declare, “Senior Brother, you lost.”