Chapter Summaries

Shino defeated Gaara in the Chunin selection tournament after his insects drilled through Gaara’s sand, and White Fang stopped Gaara from attacking after Shino surrendered. After Neji won the final match, Genma returned home and reunited with Kagura and Kurenai.

• Shino’s hardened insects drilled through Gaara’s sand defense, and Shino surrendered when Gaara’s sand pursued him.
• White Fang dispersed Gaara’s sand and declared Shino the winner, while Gaara reacted with anger.
• Neji decisively defeated his opponent, bringing the Chunin selection tournament to a temporary close.
• Genma handed his work report to Minato and returned home for the first time since the Chunin Exams began.
• Kagura complained that Genma had been away, then clung to him when he arrived home, while Kurenai asked about his work.

Genma trained in several Land of Iron sword styles and discovered that Divine Cloud Three Illusions Iaido was designed for people who could use Divine Concealment. After learning its true name, Divine Cloud Thousand Illusions Iaido, he continued experimenting with its vector stacking ahead of the Chunin Exams.

• Genma studied swordsmanship manuals from the Land of Iron and learned the Snowfall Sword Style’s true power through Nature Energy.
• Genma trained in the Snowfall and Beichen Sword Styles, but Hokushin Shinryō told him his personality was incompatible with Beichen’s sinister artistic conception.
• Genma practiced Divine Cloud Three Illusions Iaido and struggled to understand its mysterious angles and vector force stacking.
• Ito Genshō told Genma the technique had been designed for people who could use Divine Concealment and gave him an ancient diagram naming it Divine Cloud Thousand Illusions Iaido.
• Genma used Shadow Clones and Divine Concealment to practice the technique, managing ten layers of vector stacking and splitting apart a small mountain.

The Uchiha Guard Team enforced Konohagakure’s quiet-hour rules when the Land of Fire Daimyo’s noisy procession passed through the village, then Genma and Kurenai decided to attend the Chunin Exams finals. The chapter ended with Genma carrying Kurenai to breakfast as they teased each other.

• Genma watched the Land of Fire Daimyo’s procession make noise in Konohagakure through his telescope.
• The Uchiha Guard Team captain confronted the Daimyo’s escort and asked them to keep their voices down and verify their identities.
• The captain praised the burly Guardian Shinobi and warned him that Anbu ninja were watching ahead, prompting the escort to quiet down.
• Kurenai joined Genma, and they agreed to watch the Chunin Exams finals together.
• Genma carried the embarrassed Kurenai to breakfast while teasing her.

Genma and Kurenai watched the Chunin Exam finals at Konohagakure’s arena, where Kankuro faced Kiba Inuzuka in the opening match. Kankuro’s puppet trick caught Kiba’s attack and trapped Akamaru, leaving Genma worried about the ninja hound’s fate.

• Genma and Kurenai arrived at the arena and joined their classmates to watch the Chunin Exam finals.
• White Fang announced the matchups and called Kankuro and Kiba Inuzuka to fight first.
• Kiba Inuzuka fed Akamaru a Ration Pill, and Akamaru transformed into a copy of Kiba.
• Kiba and Akamaru attacked Kankuro with Fang Over Fang, but Kankuro switched places with his puppet and countered them.
• Genma realized Akamaru had been trapped inside Kankuro’s puppet and told Kurenai that Kiba might still have a chance.

Kankuro defeated Kiba Inuzuka by trapping Akamaru and forcing Kiba to forfeit. Gaara then brutally injured his Konohagakure opponent, drawing fearful accusations from the crowd and unsettling Naruto before White Fang intervened.

• Kankuro revealed that Akamaru was trapped inside his puppet and threatened to stab him unless Kiba Inuzuka surrendered.
• Kiba Inuzuka forfeited to protect Akamaru, and White Fang declared Kankuro the winner.
• Gaara entered the arena against a shaggy-haired Konohagakure ninja who had defeated Sakura.
• Gaara overwhelmed the young man with sand and left him barely breathing, alarming the spectators and stirring Naruto.
• Gaara reacted to the crowd's accusations with a bloodthirsty stare, and White Fang dug the injured ninja out of the sand.

After Gaara defeated his opponent, Shikamaru faced Temari in the next match and relied on misdirection and careful timing to evade her powerful wind attacks. He continued fighting despite his reluctance, and the chapter left Temari dodging an explosive kunai.

• Gaara questioned White Fang about why he had not saved his previous opponent, then left the arena as White Fang pitied his loneliness.
• Shikamaru entered to loud cheers and told Temari he would fight rather than surrender, despite not wanting to face her.
• Temari attacked Shikamaru with repeated gusts of wind, then unleashed a broad hurricane that appeared to swallow him.
• Shikamaru's shadow stretched toward Temari, but she dodged it; he revealed that he had anticipated her attack and admitted he still wanted to try fighting.
• Shikamaru threw kunai at Temari, and she barely escaped when an exploding tag attached to one of them detonated beside her.

Shikamaru surrendered to Temari after trapping her with his Shadow Imitation Technique. Neji and Rock Lee began their match, which ended with Rock Lee attacking Neji’s Rotation after opening the Fourth Gate.

• Shikamaru caught Temari with his Shadow Imitation Technique, then surrendered because he could not maintain it and had no time to carry out his plans.
• White Fang declared Temari the winner, and she returned to the stands visibly flustered.
• Neji and Rock Lee entered the arena and argued over whether hard work could overcome fate and the difference between genius and dead last.
• After an opening exchange left Rock Lee worse off, he dismissed the effect of Neji’s Acupoint Strike and opened the Fourth Gate.
• Rock Lee charged Neji with a powerful punch, and Neji used Rotation to form a white Chakra barrier around himself.

Rock Lee pushed Neji’s Rotation to its limit, opened the Fifth Gate, and shattered the defense before both fighters were badly injured. Unable to stand, Lee swallowed a pill as Neji moved in to finish him, but Lee unexpectedly dodged Neji’s stomp.

• Rock Lee repeatedly attacked Neji’s Rotation with punches and a Konoha Great Whirlwind, nearly exhausting Neji’s Chakra.
• Rock Lee opened the Fifth Gate and struck the same point on Rotation until he shattered Neji’s defense.
• Neji raised his arms to block Lee’s follow-up punch, and the blow fractured his hands while sending Lee crashing down.
• Neji struggled to his feet and claimed victory as Lee tried and failed to stand.
• Rock Lee swallowed a brown pill, and Neji kicked at him, but Lee slapped Neji’s foot away and rolled aside from his next stomp.

Rock Lee defeated Neji after both fighters collapsed, breaking through his expected fate but leaving his place in the competition uncertain. Naruto then began his match against Kankuro and formed a dangerous Chakra sphere as he closed in.

• Rock Lee pinned Neji beneath him, and both fighters passed out after their exhausting struggle.
• White Fang declared Rock Lee the winner, though his injuries threatened his eligibility for the final round.
• Hanabi vowed to defeat Rock Lee, while her father warned her never to underestimate an opponent.
• Might Guy praised Rock Lee and challenged Kakashi to duel him three hundred times a day.
• Naruto used Shadow Clones to attack Kankuro and his puppet, then formed a dangerous Chakra sphere as Kankuro watched warily.

Naruto defeated Kankuro with repeated waves of Shadow Clones, and the Daimyo proposed adding another Konohagakure contestant to the tournament. Sasuke and Shino were selected for an unexpected match, which began with Sasuke using lightning against Shino’s advancing insects.

• Naruto overwhelmed Kankuro’s puppet with Shadow Clones and defeated him after creating another wave of clones.
• The semifinal winners were Temari, Gaara, Naruto, and Rock Lee, but Lee’s injuries prevented him from continuing.
• The Land of Fire Daimyo suggested choosing another Konohagakure contestant, and Minato agreed to review the competitors’ records.
• Ninjas approached Sasuke, Shino, and Shikamaru in the stands, then brought Sasuke and Shino into the arena for another match.
• Sasuke attacked Shino with shuriken and Fire Release, then coated himself in lightning as Shino sent his insects after him.

Sasuke defeated Shino in the semifinal and advanced to the Chunin Exams finals, where he faced and defeated Temari. He moved on to the final match against the winner of Naruto versus Gaara.

• Sasuke broke through Shino's insect defense and electrocuted him, winning the semifinal.
• White Fang announced the finals pairings: Sasuke versus Temari and Naruto versus Gaara.
• Sasuke closed in on Temari while dodging her wind attacks, but her Great Sickle Weasel jutsu wounded him and forced him to retreat.
• Sasuke activated his Sharingan and charged Temari with Chidori, evading her hurricanes as he advanced.
• Sasuke and Temari exchanged Kunai, and Sasuke disarmed her and held his Kunai to her throat until she conceded.

Naruto and Gaara began their Chunin Exam match, with Naruto’s Shadow Clones and Rasengans challenging Gaara’s formidable sand defense. As the fight continued, Minato and Rasa exchanged pointed remarks about the boys’ abilities, while the Land of Fire Daimyo noticed how closely Naruto resembled Minato and Gaara resembled Rasa.

• Gaara threatened Naruto and said he wanted to kill him, but Naruto calmly asked whether they could get to know each other after the fight.
• Gaara attacked with his sand, and Naruto created nearly a hundred Shadow Clones that surrounded him.
• Gaara’s sand blocked Naruto’s Kunai, but Exploding Tags blasted apart his sand claw as the clones advanced with teamwork and Wind Style Jutsu.
• Gaara spread sand across the field to seize Naruto’s clones, while the audience marveled at how well his sand defended against repeated explosions.
• Naruto’s remaining seventeen Shadow Clones charged at Gaara with Rasengans after half the clones sacrificed themselves to form them.
• Minato and Rasa discussed Naruto’s Rasengan and Gaara’s sand control, while the Land of Fire Daimyo noticed the boys’ resemblance to the two leaders.

Naruto relentlessly attacked Gaara’s sand defenses, breaking through them and forcing Gaara to keep drawing on his sand. In the stands, Hinata blushed as she voiced her confidence in Naruto, while the fight continued with Naruto appearing beside Gaara to strike with a Kunai.

• Naruto gathered his Shadow Clones’ remaining Chakra into a giant Rasengan and shattered Gaara’s sand barrier, but Gaara emerged from the sand unharmed.
• Naruto created more Shadow Clones and used explosive Kunai and Rasengans to break through Gaara’s sand attacks and advance toward him.
• Shino questioned how Gaara could be defeated, and Hinata shyly said she believed Naruto could win.
• Naruto surrounded Gaara with Shadow Clones and kept attacking, forcing Gaara to use up the sand from his gourd.
• Naruto appeared beside Gaara in a cloud of smoke and thrust a Kunai toward him.

Gaara’s transformation triggered an attack on Konohagakure, and Minato confronted Rasa as the invasion spread. Naruto formed a pursuit team to track Gaara and his companions, while Genma and Kurenai reached Kagura’s shelter as the village came under threat.

• Naruto’s Shadow Clone wounded Gaara, whose reaction to the blood sent him into a violent transformation.
• Minato questioned Rasa as explosions and snakes appeared around Konohagakure, revealing that the invasion had begun.
• Rasa used Magnet Release against Namiashi Raidō, Tatami Iwashi, and Minato, while Orochimaru appeared on a giant snake.
• White Fang knocked Gaara unconscious, but Baki helped Temari and Kankuro carry him away; Kakashi sent Naruto, Sasuke, and Shikamaru after them with Pakkun.
• Genma and Kurenai reached Kagura’s shelter, and Genma stayed outside to fight while Kurenai guarded Kagura.

Genma left Kurenai and Kagura’s clone with Konohamaru at the shelter, then went to confront the invading Akatsuki members. He captured Hidan and brought him to a secret basement, where he returned carrying an unknown object.

• Konohamaru wanted to help fight, but Kurenai, Kagura, Moegi, and Udon persuaded him to stay in the shelter.
• Genma spotted Hidan, Kakuzu, and Kisame Hoshigaki attacking Konohagakure while the Third Hokage fought Orochimaru.
• Genma activated Sage Mode, rushed to Hidan, and captured him with Divine Concealment’s chains.
• Genma transported Hidan to a dim basement, left a Shadow Clone to bind him, and departed.
• Genma returned to the basement holding an unidentified lump.

Genma’s Shadow Clone questioned Danzo, who agreed to organize manpower while secretly choosing to wait, as Genma’s original body drove back Sunagakure’s forces. After searching for other threats, Genma sensed violent ground vibrations and saw a huge mushroom cloud rise in the distance.

• Danzo received a mysterious message claiming the Third Hokage and Fourth Hokage had been eliminated and asking him to take over Konohagakure.
• Danzo told the messenger he would prepare to organize manpower, but privately decided to wait before acting.
• Genma’s Shadow Clone questioned Danzo’s messenger, then stayed nearby to monitor Root.
• Genma’s original body slaughtered Sunagakure Ninja and helped Konoha Ninja drive the invaders back.
• Genma searched for Kisame Hoshigaki and other dangerous enemies but could not find them.
• Genma sensed intense vibrations and saw an enormous mushroom cloud in the distance.

Kushina used her combined Sage Mode and Nine-Tails Mode to devastate Shukaku, then prepared to fight him again after Kurama urged her to put him in his place. Genma arrived to protect Naruto, Sasuke, and Shikamaru as Kushina and Shukaku’s Tailed Beast Balls collided.

• Genma sensed the devastation and rushed to the site, where he found Kushina had nearly destroyed Shukaku with a powerful attack.
• Shukaku recovered and mocked Kurama for helping Kushina, then boasted that he would prove himself the strongest Tailed Beast.
• Kushina spoke with Kurama in his sealing space, and Kurama told her to beat Shukaku after she thanked him for his power.
• Kushina and Shukaku each formed a Tailed Beast Ball, and the two attacks collided.
• Genma raised layers of Earth-Style Walls to shield Naruto, Sasuke, and Shikamaru from the blast, and the three recognized him.

Naruto refused to leave Kushina behind, while Genma sent Sasuke and Shikamaru back to Konohagakure and then returned to the battlefield. Kushina defeated Shukaku and freed Gaara, but a paper-wielding enemy and a black shadow with an chakra-absorbing blade seized Gaara before she could reach him.

• Naruto insisted on staying to help Kushina, and Genma reluctantly allowed him to wait nearby while they watched for other enemies.
• Genma sent Sasuke and Shikamaru to Konohagakure, warning Sasuke that the Uchiha Clan might have been attacked.
• Kushina pinned Shukaku down and repeatedly punched him until he released Gaara.
• Kushina reached for Gaara with a hand of Tailed Beast chakra, but sheets of paper severed it and carried Gaara away.
• A black shadow absorbed Kushina's second chakra hand with its massive blade, and Kushina demanded to know who it was.

Kushina confronted Kisame Hoshigaki while Genma pursued Gaara with Naruto and faced Pain and Konan. Genma trapped Konan in an invisible cage, leaving her unable to escape.

• Kisame Hoshigaki revealed he was a Rogue Ninja from Kirigakure and challenged Kushina to show him the Nine-Tails, so Kushina formed a Tailed Beast Ball to confront him.
• Genma led Naruto toward Gaara, and Naruto tore at the paper strips covering him before Konan attacked with sheets of paper.
• Pain arrived, identified Genma as an ordinary ninja, and told Konan to catch Naruto and Gaara while he went to help Kisame Hoshigaki.
• Genma stopped Konan's paper attacks with an invisible barrier and used the Shadowless Hand to grab her, but she escaped by turning into paper.
• Genma's remark that Konan had been dead weight left her distracted, allowing him to trap her in an invisible cage that she could not escape.

Genma sealed Konan’s Chakra and escaped with Naruto and Gaara after Pain rescued her. He and Kushina returned to the devastated village, carrying the unconscious boys toward the Hokage Building.

• Genma used Divine Concealment to approach Konan and seal her Chakra, but Pain intervened and pulled her free.
• Pain caught Konan after Genma was flung away, and Genma took the unconscious Naruto and Gaara and fled.
• Genma found Kushina crawling out from beneath boulders, and she took Naruto and Gaara from him.
• Kushina and Genma hurried back to the village, where they saw that most of its buildings had been destroyed.
• Kushina carried Naruto and Gaara toward the Hokage Building, and Genma followed her.