Chapter Summaries

The second Chunin exam began with candidates being dropped into the Forest of Death, while Uchiha Yoru arranged the teams to keep promising ones apart. In the forest, Jiraiya told Sarutobi Asuma that the Sarutobi Clan had allied with Sunagakure to stage a coup and demanded that Asuma choose where he stood.

• Kabuto Yakushi explained that the first written exam tested intelligence-gathering, and Mitaraishi Anko introduced the second exam in the Forest of Death.
• Mitaraishi Anko announced that teams needed both a Heaven Scroll and an Earth Scroll, then Guren summoned hawks to carry the candidates before they were dropped into the forest.
• The candidates used their own methods to slow their falls as Konoha displayed the teams' progress to visiting dignitaries, and Uchiha Yoru revealed that he had separated the promising teams.
• Sarutobi Asuma gave Jiraiya intelligence about the Sarutobi Clan's militant faction and its compound, explaining that the clan's lost resources and Jiraiya's influence had fueled unrest.
• Jiraiya told Asuma that the Sarutobi Clan had allied with Sunagakure to stage a coup, placed a restriction in Asuma's brain against leaking the intelligence, and demanded that he decide what to do about his clan.

Guren explained the second Chūnin Exam stage, where Genin fought across ten arenas for a place in the third exam and a chance at promotion or a ninjutsu reward. As the matches began, Ino Yamanaka fought Choji Akimichi, while Kaguya Kimimaro and Karin Uzumaki each challenged everyone on their arenas; Karin won after the other contestants withdrew.

• Guren announced the arena rules, the third exam rewards, and a ten-minute rest before the matches began.
• Naruto Uzumaki and Sasuke Uchiha chose separate arenas, while Temari kept Kankuro and Gaara together; Ino Yamanaka chose to face Team 10 with Hinata Hyuga and Yuki Haku supporting her.
• Might Guy and Zabuza Momochi confronted Hatake Kakashi about their forgotten bet as the arena matches and betting pools began.
• Ino Yamanaka poisoned Choji Akimichi with senbon and attacked him with her fists after the referee started their match.
• Kaguya Kimimaro challenged all the contestants on Arena Five and began knocking them out of the arena.
• Karin Uzumaki summoned a massive Water Release on Arena Seven, causing the other contestants to withdraw and making her the arena's first winner.

With the third-stage matchups announced and the Five Kage expected to attend, the contestants began training for their duels. Sasuke, Naruto, Neji, and Suigetsu received guidance as they prepared for their opponents, leaving their upcoming matches still uncertain.

• Konoha's announced matchups drew intense attention and betting, especially for the duels between Sasuke and Naruto, Neji and Suigetsu, and Kimimaro and Gaara.
• Ino thanked Hinata and Yuki Haku for withdrawing in the second stage, and they encouraged her to prepare for the match against Shikamaru.
• Sasuke asked Uchiha Yoru for special training and declared his ambition to become the Sixth Hokage; Itachi supported his dream.
• Naruto asked Jiraiya to train him so he could defeat Sasuke and prove his ideals, and Jiraiya began training him while urging him to change Sasuke's mind first.
• Hizashi advised Neji on fighting Suigetsu's Water Transformation Technique, then learned that Uchiha Yoru had ordered Neji to attend half a month of special training.
• Zabuza warned Suigetsu that Neji's Gentle Fist could counter his Water Transformation Technique and began teaching him the Mist Village Assassination Technique.

Sarutobi Asuma asked Jiraiya to spare Konohamaru and offered to help expose the organization recruiting him, while Konoha’s leaders decided how to suppress the Sarutobi Clan’s treason. Uchiha Yoru agreed to spare Konohamaru and seven marginalized households, and Jiraiya and Tsunade began planning an operation against the clan and its allies.

• Sarutobi Asuma told Jiraiya he would eliminate the Sarutobi Clan’s unstable elements and asked him to spare Konohamaru.
• Jiraiya showed Tsunade and Mei Terumi Asuma’s intelligence that a mysterious masked man had recruited him into an organization.
• Tsunade gave Jiraiya Root’s old Uchiha extermination plan and proposed eliminating the Sarutobi Clan’s threat while sparing selected households.
• Uchiha Yoru agreed to spare Konohamaru and seven Sarutobi households, and said Asuma would not have to take the blame for the clan’s treason.
• Jiraiya took charge of the operation, while Tsunade arranged medicine and Anbu preparations to counter the Sarutobi Clan and an infiltrated Sunagakure unit.

As the Five Great Kage and Uchiha Yoru gathered for the Chunin Exam, Sarutobi Asuma learned that his father had used the Sarutobi Clan as bait and, manipulated by Masked Obito, slaughtered his own clan. The exam began with Sasuke Uchiha and Naruto Uzumaki facing off, while the arena buzzed over Sasuke’s resemblance to Yoru.

• At the arena, Sarutobi Asuma confronted Hiruzen Sarutobi and learned that Hiruzen had deliberately exposed the Sarutobi Clan to divert the Uchiha’s attention.
• Asuma stabbed Hiruzen’s Shadow Clone, then entered the sealed clan compound and slaughtered the poisoned Sarutobi Jōnin and other clan members.
• Masked Obito used genjutsu to intensify Asuma’s bloodlust as Asuma continued killing throughout the compound.
• Fourth Kazekage Rasa, Fourth Raikage Ay, and Third Tsuchikage Ōnoki arrived at the arena, where Tsunade and Mei Terumi welcomed them before Uchiha Yoru appeared.
• Yoru declared the Chunin Exam could begin, and Sasuke Uchiha and Naruto Uzumaki entered the arena for the first qualifying match.
• The crowd and Konoha’s ninja reacted to Sasuke’s outfit and resemblance to Yoru, and the referee announced the start of their match.

Sasuke Uchiha and Naruto Uzumaki drew in the first match, Neji Hyuga defeated Hozuki Suigetsu, and Kaguya Kimimaro dominated Gaara before a planned attack interrupted the exam. The disguised Fourth Kazekage revealed himself as Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi, who trapped Uchiha Yoru in a barrier.

• Sasuke Uchiha and Naruto Uzumaki fought with powerful ninjutsu until both lost the ability to fight, and the referee declared a draw.
• Neji Hyuga used Gentle Fist Chakra through water on the ground to paralyze Hozuki Suigetsu and win their match.
• Kaguya Kimimaro overwhelmed Gaara with Shikotsumyaku techniques, displaying power that Kakashi judged to be at the Jōnin level.
• Three Sarutobi Clan Jōnin cast a genjutsu during the fight, but Yūhi Kurenai broke it as the disguised Fourth Kazekage took Uchiha Yoru hostage.
• Sand Ninja attacked outside Konoha while the Fourth Kazekage led Uchiha Yoru to the rooftop and sealed them inside the Four Violet Flames Formation.
• The disguised Fourth Kazekage revealed himself as Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi.

Hiruzen Sarutobi summoned the First Hokage, Second Hokage, and Madara Uchiha to fight Uchiha Yoru, accusing him of endangering Konoha. The three reanimated figures emerged into a chaotic village, but their reunion turned comedic as Hashirama Senju learned that Tsunade had married Uchiha Yoru.

• Uchiha Yoru exposed Hiruzen Sarutobi's deception while Konoha came under attack, and Tsunade confronted Hiruzen over his plan.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi used Impure World Reincarnation to summon Hashirama Senju, Tobirama Senju, and Madara Uchiha.
• Hashirama Senju recognized Tsunade as Hokage and learned that she had married Uchiha Yoru, while Tobirama Senju objected.
• Uchiha Yoru told Hashirama Senju that the First Hokage's approach had failed to prevent later wars, and Hashirama found his argument reasonable.
• Hashirama Senju urged Tsunade to have more children to expand the Senju Clan, embarrassing her and amusing Madara Uchiha.

During the Chunin Exam invasion, Hiruzen Sarutobi resurrected Hashirama Senju, Tobirama Senju, and Madara Uchiha, who were controlled by their battle instincts. Uchiha Yoru fought Tobirama and then faced the Hokage together, leaving the fight poised to intensify.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi used Impure World Reincarnation to summon Hashirama Senju, Tobirama Senju, and Madara Uchiha, then controlled their bodies with cursed seal tags.
• Tobirama Senju attacked Uchiha Yoru, who kicked him into a wall as Madara Uchiha cheered him on.
• Hashirama Senju's Chakra pressure unnerved the shinobi and frightened Gaara's Shukaku, while Tsunade warned the gathered forces not to act rashly.
• Uchiha Yoru and Tobirama Senju exchanged powerful taijutsu and ninjutsu, and Kakashi helped open the arena as their battle moved into the Forest of Death.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi forcibly sent Hashirama Senju and Madara Uchiha to join Tobirama against Yoru, but Yoru held his own and declared that the legendary fighters had finally made him get serious.
• Madara Uchiha mocked Hiruzen's claim to be the strongest Hokage, prompting Hashirama Senju to ask when Hiruzen had earned that title.

Uchiha Yoru fought the reincarnated Madara Uchiha, Hashirama Senju, and Tobirama Senju, overwhelming them until Hashirama and Madara combined their powers into a Susanoo-Armored Great Buddha. Karin Uzumaki joined Yoru as the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, and the chapter ended with the armored Nine-Tails facing the Great Buddha as Hashirama's Wood Golem caught its Tailed Beast Ball.

• Uchiha Yoru unleashed a massive Fire Release and beat back Madara Uchiha, Hashirama Senju, and Tobirama Senju with his enhanced abilities.
• Hashirama Senju used Birth of Tree World, but Yoru and Madara Uchiha's fire techniques engulfed the forest in flames.
• Hashirama Senju and Madara Uchiha combined their powers to create the Susanoo-Armored Great Buddha.
• Karin Uzumaki arrived to help Yoru, restored his Chakra, and transformed into the Nine-Tails before Yoru clad it in Perfect Susanoo armor.
• The Nine-Tails fired a Tailed Beast Ball at the Great Buddha, and Hashirama Senju's Wood Golem caught it with one hand.

Uchiha Yoru defeated Madara Uchiha and Hashirama Senju’s overwhelming attacks, then sealed them with Sage Art while the Uchiha Clan and Tsunade protected the village from the blast. As the two legendary ninja bickered over Tsunade and Wood Release, a sudden change interrupted them.

• Hashirama Senju and Madara Uchiha unleashed their strongest techniques against Uchiha Yoru, while the battle awakened Sasuke Uchiha’s Three-Tomoe Sharingan and convinced the gathered ninja of Yoru’s power.
• Uchiha Itachi and Uchiha Shisui led the Uchiha Clan ninja in raising the Uchiha Flame Formation, and Tsunade used the Slug to replenish their Chakra and stabilize it.
• The collision reduced the Forest of Death to a barren expanse and shattered the clouds, leaving the giant Buddha and the Nine-Tails badly damaged.
• Uchiha Yoru revealed that his Shadow Clones had used Space-Time Ninjutsu and Sage Art: Self-Exerting Curse Binding Seal to restrain Madara Uchiha and Hashirama Senju.
• Madara Uchiha argued that Tsunade and her Wood Release should belong to the Uchiha Clan, and Hashirama Senju protested before a sudden change occurred.

Uchiha Yoru fought off Hiruzen Sarutobi’s attacks, while Sasuke and Sakura confronted Naruto over his attempt to reach the battlefield. Hiruzen then used the Reaper Death Seal against Yoru, but Yoru immobilized Tobirama and prepared to reveal a way to counter the Forbidden Technique.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi attacked Yoru with Enma and a five-element Shadow Clone assault, but Yoru remained unharmed and mocked the titles of strongest Hokage and strongest Summoning Beast.
• Sasuke Uchiha explained how Yoru’s reforms had restored historical records, while Naruto Uzumaki tried to rush through the barrier to help Hiruzen.
• Kakashi ordered the Konoha ninja to treat Naruto as a Rogue Ninja if he damaged the barrier, and Sakura persuaded Naruto that opening it would endanger everyone nearby.
• Hiruzen used Tobirama’s Flying Thunder God Technique to reach Yoru and cast the Reaper Death Seal, briefly immobilizing Yoru as the Shinigami seized his soul.
• Yoru revealed that he knew the Reaper Death Seal and used the Self-Retribution Curse Seal to pin Tobirama to the ground, then vowed to demonstrate how to counter the Forbidden Technique.

Uchiha Yoru sealed the Shinigami with the Totsuka Sword and confronted Hiruzen Sarutobi about the Senju and Uzumaki Clans’ fates and his rule of Konoha. The chapter left Hiruzen wounded and unrepentant as Uchiha Yoru defended his own leadership before the watching ninjas.

• Uchiha Yoru used the Totsuka Sword to seal the Shinigami after testing how the Reaper Death Seal worked, leaving Hiruzen Sarutobi gravely wounded.
• Uchiha Yoru revealed to Hashirama Senju and Tobirama Senju that the Senju Clan had nearly vanished and accused Hiruzen Sarutobi of enabling its decline and the destruction of the Land of Whirlpools.
• Tsunade arrived and reunited with Hashirama Senju and Tobirama Senju, while Hashirama embarrassed her with a remark about restoring the Senju Clan through her children.
• Uchiha Yoru told Hiruzen Sarutobi that the Sarutobi Clan had colluded with Sand Ninja and that Konoha’s Uchiha extermination plan had been used against them.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi insisted that his actions had served Konoha and the Will of Fire, while Tobirama Senju condemned him and Hashirama Senju struggled to respond.
• Uchiha Yoru criticized Hiruzen Sarutobi’s wartime decisions and praised his own rule, leaving Hiruzen facing the silent disapproval of Konoha’s ninjas.

After the battle at the Chunin Exam arena, Uchiha Yoru declared the daimyo subordinate to the Kage and announced his plan to unite four lands under one authority. As the resurrected Hokage faded away and Hiruzen Sarutobi died, the surviving Kage recognized that another war was coming.

• Tsunade restored the Forest of Death with Wood Style, and Uchiha Yoru had Hiruzen Sarutobi release the Impure World Reincarnation bodies of Hashirama Senju, Tobirama Senju, and Madara Uchiha.
• Uchiha Yoru declared that daimyo would rank below the Kage and ordered the Land of Fire and Land of Water Daimyo's Mansions relocated to Konoha; Kazahana Koyuki knelt as Daimyo of the Land of Snow.
• Uchiha Yoru proclaimed that the Land of Fire, Land of Water, Land of Snow, and Land of Wind would have one voice, and he justified the Land of Wind's annexation because it had started the war.
• Orochimaru appeared and argued that ninjas with godlike power could seek eternal life, while Hashirama Senju accepted that Uchiha Yoru's rule might bring temporary peace.
• After the resurrected figures vanished, Tsunade discovered that Hiruzen Sarutobi had used Sarutobi Clan Jōnin and injected them with Wood Style Cells as sacrifices; Uchiha Yoru struck a cross into Hiruzen's Hokage Rock likeness, and Hiruzen died.
• Jiraiya said he would bury Hiruzen, while Fourth Raikage Ay and Third Tsuchikage Ōnoki concluded they needed a stronger alliance against Uchiha Yoru; the Sand Ninja elite had been stopped before reaching Konoha's center.

After the Sarutobi Clan’s betrayal and the Sand Ninja’s attack, Uchiha Yoru defeated the conspirators and launched a campaign that conquered the Land of Wind. The chapter ends with Pakura proclaimed the Fifth Kazekage of a Sunagakure now under Yoru’s control.

• Uchiha Itachi watched Sarutobi Asuma spare Konohamaru after killing much of the Sarutobi Clan, then reminded Asuma that Uchiha children might not have been spared in the same situation.
• Jiraiya told Asuma that the Sand Ninja had been defeated, while Itachi left to help Uchiha Yoru and Asuma departed Konoha as a rogue ninja.
• Uchiha Yoru ordered Konoha to imprison Gaara, detain Kankuro and Temari, and send thirteen thousand ninja toward the Land of Wind alongside Pakura’s purported rebellion.
• Hatake Kakashi led the blitzkrieg against Sunagakure, which fell within days as Pakura’s uprising and Yoru’s forces shattered its defenses.
• Uchiha Yoru spread the account that Hiruzen Sarutobi had plotted against Sunagakure, then incorporated the Land of Wind into his territory.
• Pakura was proclaimed the Fifth Kazekage at Konoha, while Sunagakure’s families were relocated there under Uchiha Yoru’s control.

Uchiha Yoru assigned Gaara to Kakashi's Team 7 and allowed Naruto Uzumaki and his friends to pursue Sarutobi Asuma. Temari urged her brothers to accept their new place in Konoha and saw Gaara's assignment as an opportunity to integrate into its ranks.

• In Amegakure, Pain and Obito discussed the Nine-Tails intelligence, suspected Karin was Orochimaru's test subject, and ordered Zetsu to track the Jinchuriki while Obito recruited Sarutobi Asuma.
• Uchiha Yoru promoted Temari and Kankuro to Chūnin, assigned Temari to Uzuki Yugao, and placed Kankuro in the Konoha Military Police Force.
• Uchiha Yoru assigned Gaara to Kakashi's Team 7, explaining that Naruto Uzumaki would soon leave to train with Jiraiya and that Kakashi's Mangekyō Sharingan could restrain Shukaku.
• Naruto Uzumaki asked to pursue Sarutobi Asuma, and Uchiha Yoru permitted him, Shikamaru Nara, Choji Akimichi, and Yamanaka Fire to leave the village without a Jōnin assigned by him.
• Temari explained to Kankuro and Gaara that they should accept Konoha's opportunities, work hard, and make allies; she encouraged Gaara to learn from Kakashi and get along with Sasuke Uchiha.

Naruto Uzumaki set out with Shikamaru Nara and Choji Akimichi to find Sarutobi Asuma, while Sasuke Uchiha rejected the rescue and warned that bringing Asuma back could ignite conflict with the Sand Ninja. Tsunade ordered a joint team to retrieve Naruto after learning Asuma had contacted Akatsuki, and Uchiha Yoru said Asuma joining the organization could help preserve peace.

• Gaara joined Team 7, and Naruto arrived asking Sasuke Uchiha and Sakura Haruno to help bring Sarutobi Asuma back.
• Sasuke refused, arguing that Asuma’s return could provoke the Sand Ninja and worsen the clans’ grievances; Naruto left after calling Sasuke selfish.
• Sasuke and Sakura went to stop Naruto’s other classmates from getting involved, while Gaara was sent to inform Teacher Yoru.
• Shikamaru Nara, Choji Akimichi, Yamanaka Fire, and Naruto pursued Asuma, and Shikamaru warned them not to mention the Sarutobi Clan.
• Tsunade learned that Team 10 and Naruto had gone after Asuma and ordered six jonin, led by Hatake Kakashi, to retrieve Naruto, with the young Chūnin joining under Kakashi’s command.
• Uchiha Yoru told Tsunade, Pakura, and Mei Terumi that Asuma joining Akatsuki could redirect the Sand Ninja’s hatred and help maintain peace.

Sarutobi Asuma joined Akatsuki after Masked Obito manipulated his anger and set him against the captured heads of the Ino-Shika-Cho clans. When Shikamaru Nara and the others arrived, Asuma attacked them, leaving Choji Akimichi and Naruto Uzumaki injured as the confrontation continued.

• Uchiha Yoru announced that his three allied villages would not start a war, while threatening to unite the Shinobi World if another nation provoked one.
• Masked Obito persuaded Sarutobi Asuma to join Akatsuki and revealed that he had captured Shikaku Nara, Choza Akimichi, and Yamanaka Ye.
• Asuma accused the clan heads of betraying him and demanded that Choji trade himself for his captured father.
• Shikamaru Nara tried to restrain Asuma with a shadow technique while Naruto Uzumaki and the others moved to rescue the captives.
• Asuma evaded the trap, stabbed Yamanaka Fu, struck Choji, and burned Naruto with his Ash Pile Burning technique.

Shikamaru and Choji tried to save their fathers and companions from Asuma’s deadly wire trap, but the explosion killed Choza and left the Yamanaka father and son gravely burned. Obito exploited the tragedy to turn Choji against Shikamaru as Kakashi and Guy arrived to confront him.

• Asuma forced explosive tags into Choji and challenged Shikamaru to choose whom to save, while Naruto revealed his Nine-Tails chakra and Obito watched from afar.
• Shikamaru used his shadow technique to control Yamanaka Fire, then coordinated with Choji to cut the wires as Naruto’s shadow clones attacked Asuma.
• The trap detonated: Choza was killed, Shikaku suffered a devastating genjutsu, and Yamanaka Fire and his father were badly burned.
• Obito appeared, rescued the burned Yamanaka pair from the flames, and taunted Choji by claiming Shikamaru had chosen his own father over his companions.
• Kakashi attacked Obito with Lightning Blade, but Obito turned intangible; Guy rushed in to help Kakashi keep him from striking.

Masked Obito’s attack left the Ino-Shika-Cho clans badly weakened, while Sarutobi Asuma escaped with him. After the medical reports revealed the extent of the casualties, Uchiha Yoru and Uchiha Itachi planned to exploit the clans’ divisions by winning over the Akimichi, suppressing the Nara, and leaving the Yamanaka alone.

• Masked Obito and Sarutobi Asuma escaped after Hatake Kakashi’s team surrounded them and Baki sent up a signal flare.
• Tsunade declined to personally treat the Ino-Shika-Cho patients, while Yakushi Nonō and Ino Yamanaka arranged for Shikamaru Nara to receive a botched operation that removed his leg and testicles.
• Uchiha Itachi reported that Choza Akimichi and Yamanaka Fire had died, Choji Akimichi and the Yamanaka clan head were badly disabled, and Shikaku Nara’s psychological trauma might prevent him from thinking intensely.
• Uchiha Itachi proposed winning over the Akimichi, suppressing the Nara, and leaving the Yamanaka alone, and Uchiha Yoru approved the strategy while suggesting they split the Akimichi Clan.

Shikamaru visited his injured teammates and began plotting to secure Naruto’s support for the Nara Clan while driving a wedge between Naruto and Sasuke. He then encouraged Sakura to confront her lack of training and connections, leaving her looking to him for guidance.

• Naruto visited Shikamaru in the hospital, and Shikamaru resolved to align the Nara Clan with Naruto as the Ino-Shika-Cho alliance fractured.
• Naruto told Shikamaru he would train with Jiraiya and intended to become Sixth Hokage, while Shikamaru concealed his strategic motives.
• Naruto visited Choji, whose grief over his father’s death had created distance between him and Shikamaru.
• Shikamaru met Sakura, learned Sasuke would train under Orochimaru, and considered using Sakura to weaken Naruto and Sasuke’s friendship.
• Sakura admitted she lacked the resources and teacher needed to grow stronger, and Shikamaru explained how difficult it was for an ordinary ninja to gain training and connections.