Chapter Summaries

Kakashi and Shisui warned that the joint Chunin Exams could be a test before war, and Orochimaru feared the other villages might unite against Konohagakure. A month later, the leaders gathered in Kumogakure for the first exam round, where Mabui began explaining the rules.

• Kakashi suggested the Chunin Exams might test the villages’ strength, and Shisui warned that war could follow once a village felt prepared.
• Orochimaru considered the possibility that the four other villages would join forces against Konohagakure and began planning for the exams with the other Kage.
• The Fourth Raikage kept Killer B away from Kumogakure to prevent his concerts from embarrassing the village, while Mabui tracked damage to the Raikage’s office.
• At the exam grounds in Kumogakure, Orochimaru confronted Ao about Kirigakure’s absent Mizukage, and Rasa intervened on Ao’s behalf.
• The Fourth Raikage arrived, and Mabui announced that 265 participants would compete, with the first round selecting ninja for elimination rounds in Konohagakure.

The Chunin Exams exposed Konoha’s overwhelming strength, while Naruto and Sasuke each blamed the other for losing the mountain-climb’s top spot. A month later, Naruto confronted Temari, Kankuro, and Gaara after Temari suggested Sunagakure had gone to war for Konoha’s resources, and Temari dismissed his objections as naive.

• The Fourth Raikage announced the mountain-climb rules, while Rasa and Ōnoki traded barbs with him and Ao stayed out of the dispute.
• Konoha’s Genin dominated the examination footage, with Naruto and Sasuke defeating opponents as Ōnoki worried about Konoha’s future strength.
• Naruto and Sasuke each told their families that the other had cost them first place, prompting their relatives to promise training and support.
• Yuu revealed that Qiong had challenged him to rock-paper-scissors during the climb, then faced Tsunade and Qiong as they prepared to punish him.
• One month later, Temari, Kankuro, and Gaara marveled at Konoha’s prosperity, and Temari suggested Sunagakure’s leaders had waged war to gain its resources.
• Naruto condemned the idea of taking resources by force, and Temari called him naive because he had grown up in the Land of Fire.

Naruto and Sasuke’s encounter with Gaara escalated into a confrontation among Konoha’s Uchiha Security Force, the Kazekage, and Ōnoki before Hiruzen defused it. Fugaku then revealed that ninja were gathering along the borders of the major countries, leaving Hiruzen to realize that war was approaching.

• Gaara sensed a connection to Naruto and threatened to tear everyone apart, prompting Sasuke to ready his Sharingan and Tekka Uchiha to confront the Sunagakure ninja.
• Rasa and Baki calmed Gaara, while Tekka warned Rasa to keep his people in line and Ōnoki arrived to challenge the Uchiha.
• Fugaku stood up to Ōnoki, and Hiruzen arrived to ease tensions and argue with him about Iwagakure’s future.
• Hiruzen asked Naruto and Sasuke about the Chunin Exams, and they argued over who would take first place.
• After Ōnoki and Rasa left, Fugaku told Hiruzen that ninja were gathering along the borders and that the Hokage was preparing for a possible attack during the exams.
• Hiruzen realized that war was about to erupt and resolved that he could still fight.

Neji Hyuga defeated Karui in the Chunin Exams, prompting the Kage to discuss the Hyuga clan’s Caged Bird Seal and its effects on the Branch Family. Sasuke Uchiha and Gaara began their match, which ended with Gaara’s sand forming a clone that charged at Sasuke.

• Neji Hyuga defeated Karui with Gentle Fist: Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms and advanced from the top sixteen.
• The Fourth Raikage praised Neji’s Byakugan, while Ōnoki and Rasa criticized the Hyuga clan’s Caged Bird Seal.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi changed the subject, and Gekko Hayate announced Sasuke Uchiha’s match against Gaara.
• Sasuke and Gaara traded boasts before the match began, and Sasuke attacked with shuriken controlled by steel wires.
• Sasuke used Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique, but Gaara blocked it with a sand shield and formed a Sand Clone that charged at Sasuke.

Sasuke pierced Gaara with Chidori Sharp Spear, triggering Gaara’s transformation into One-Tails Shukaku. As the Kage moved to confront Orochimaru and Hiruzen Sarutobi, Obito Uchiha and a coalition of enemies appeared to face Konoha’s forces.

• Sasuke evaded Gaara’s Sand Spikes and used explosive-tagged Kunai to weaken the Sand Shield before striking it with Chidori.
• Sasuke extended his attack with Chidori Sharp Spear and pierced Gaara’s chest, causing Gaara to lose control and transform into One-Tails Shukaku.
• The Raikage ordered the Kage to surround Orochimaru and Hiruzen Sarutobi, while Hiruzen prepared to fight.
• Minato Namikaze, Fugaku Uchiha, Shikun Mitarashi, Kakashi, Shisui, and other Konoha fighters formed a ring around the Kage.
• Kusagakure revealed Obito Uchiha, Hidan, Kakuzu, Danzo, Juzo Biwa, Kitsuchi, Killer B, and other enemy fighters as they arrived through a vortex.

The four great ninja villages and the Akatsuki Organization joined forces against Konoha, while Shimura Danzō revealed his plan to seize the Hokage’s seat. As the battle began, Orochimaru prepared Minato Namikaze and Kakashi for the truth about Obito Uchiha.

• Killer B arrived with the allied forces, and Hiruzen Sarutobi confronted Shimura Danzō over his betrayal and plans to rebuild Konoha as Hokage.
• The Fourth Raikage charged Orochimaru, but Minato Namikaze intercepted him and challenged him to a fight.
• Hiruzen summoned Enma and refused Danzō’s offer to join forces, prompting Danzō to summon Baku.
• Before the battle, Orochimaru assigned Konoha’s Jōnin to strengthen security, gather intelligence, and reinforce the borders.
• Orochimaru brought Minato and Kakashi to a guarded chamber and asked Kakashi about his Mangekyō Sharingan’s limits.
• Orochimaru began recounting to Minato and Kakashi how he had learned that Obito was the Masked Man.

Kakashi learned that Obito was alive and chose to confront him, while Orochimaru revealed that Kakashi’s father, Hatake Sakumo, had survived. On the battlefield, Kakashi and Obito began their long-awaited fight as Orochimaru faced Ōnoki, Rasa, and Kusagakure.

• Kakashi struggled with the revelation that Obito had become the Masked Man, then accepted Orochimaru’s scroll to study the Flying Thunder God Technique and asked to handle Obito himself.
• Orochimaru summoned Snake Shadow, who revealed himself as Hatake Sakumo and reunited with his stunned son, Kakashi.
• Fugaku recognized Obito on the battlefield and let Kakashi confront him; Kakashi released the seal covering his Mangekyō Sharingan and appeared before Obito.
• Obito admitted through his actions that he wanted Kakashi’s Sharingan, and he and Kakashi exchanged accusations before clashing with their weapons.
• Orochimaru faced Ōnoki, Rasa, and Kusagakure, who challenged his claim that he could take on all three Kage.

Orochimaru fought Rasa, Ōnoki, and Kusagakure at once, using Sage Art to overwhelm their attacks. Meanwhile, Shukaku emerged at the arena and attacked Sasuke, but Yū and Qiong restrained him with Wood Release as Yamato joined them.

• Rasa and Ōnoki attacked Orochimaru while Kusagakure transformed and sent his two summoned serpents to fight him.
• Orochimaru entered Sage Mode and used Inorganic Reincarnation to counter Dust Release and batter Rasa’s gold-dust shield.
• Shukaku appeared in the arena and set his sights on Sasuke, whom Sakura and Naruto were helping after his fight with Gaara.
• Yū and Qiong used Wood Release to bind Shukaku’s claw, drawing shocked reactions from the battlefield.
• Yamato joined Yū and Qiong and said they would handle the One-Tail.

Konohagakure’s defenses held back the invading forces as Wood Release users restrained Shukaku, while battles broke out across the village. The fight left Kurotsuchi near death and revealed her as the Four-Tails’ Jinchuriki, while Shikun Mitarashi and his allies faced Kakuzu and Kitsuchi.

• Yamato, Yu, and Qiong used Wood Release to restrain Shukaku, while Sai killed a Sunagakure Genin and headed toward the battlefield.
• Sasuke, Naruto, and Sakura set out to support the fight, while Temari and Kankuro moved to block reinforcements and protect Gaara.
• Kurotsuchi intercepted Sai and fought him with Earth and Lava Style, but Sai’s ink warriors overwhelmed her and left her near death.
• Kurotsuchi transformed into a Four-Tails Jinchuriki, shocking Sai as tailed beasts appeared across the battle in Konohagakure.
• Shikun Mitarashi confronted Kakuzu, who admitted he was working for the alliance, while Kitsuchi joined the fight against him.
• Asuma, Kurenai, and their companion arrived to face Kitsuchi as Shikun scattered Flying Thunder God Kunai and approached Kakuzu.

Kakashi and Obito continued their duel in the Kamui Dimension, while Chiyo ambushed Kakashi and Tsunade intervened to fight her. The chapter left Tsunade battling Chiyo’s puppets as Kakashi resumed his fight with Obito.

• Kakashi and Obito fought with weapons and ninjutsu until Kakashi’s Lightning Clone and Earth Release attack forced Obito to escape through Kamui.
• Chiyo disguised herself as a Sunagakure ninja and waited near the battlefield to take revenge on Kakashi for his father’s actions.
• Tsunade identified a deadly poison used against a Konoha Ninja and went to confront the suspected poisoner.
• Chiyo attacked Kakashi with poisoned needles, but Kakashi absorbed them with Kamui before Tsunade arrived and offered to handle Chiyo.
• Kakashi charged back at Obito while Tsunade fought Chiyo, destroying several of her puppets before Chiyo launched the Three Treasures Crushing Wave.

Might Guy and Might Duy unleashed their combined Bright Qilin against the Eight-Tails, while Fugaku Uchiha confronted the Four-Tails and Minato Namikaze kept the Fourth Raikage from reaching Killer B. After killing Juzo Biwa, Itachi Uchiha prepared to join another major fight, and Minato turned the Raikage’s airborne attack into a Flying Thunder God assault.

• Might Guy and Might Duy combined Night Phoenix and Daytime Tiger into Bright Qilin, which struck the Eight-Tails’ Tailed Beast Ball and continued charging at the beast.
• Fugaku Uchiha arrived to face the Four-Tails and began forming skeletal phantoms with his Mangekyō Sharingan.
• The Fourth Raikage rushed to help Killer B, but Minato Namikaze intercepted him and continued fighting to hold him back.
• Itachi Uchiha killed Juzo Biwa by trapping him in Tsukuyomi, checked that Sasuke was safe, and chose another high-level battlefield to support.
• Minato used a flash bomb and scattered Flying Thunder God Kunai to attack the Fourth Raikage while he was airborne.

Minato Namikaze and Itachi Uchiha killed the Fourth Raikage with a combined Rasenshuriken and Amaterasu attack. Meanwhile, Killer B worried about his brother as the Might family fought Gyūki, while Anko, Kurenai Yūhi, and Asuma battled Kitsuchi, who survived their explosive attack badly burned.

• Minato Namikaze evaded the Fourth Raikage's One-Finger Nukite by using a Shadow Clone while keeping his real body airborne with Flying Thunder God.
• Minato Namikaze launched a Sage Art Rasenshuriken, and Itachi Uchiha added Amaterasu before Minato's clone redirected the attack toward the Fourth Raikage.
• The Fourth Raikage was engulfed by the combined attack and turned to ash, while Minato Namikaze and Itachi Uchiha discussed their combination technique.
• Killer B sensed a huge blast from his brother's battlefield as the Might family continued tearing apart Gyūki's remaining tentacles.
• Anko and Kurenai Yūhi trapped Kitsuchi with fire, snakes, and genjutsu, but Kitsuchi used Earth Replacement to escape their attack.
• Asuma burned Kitsuchi with Ash Accumulation Burn and an explosion, leaving him badly scalded and disfigured but still alive.

Orochimaru fought Ōnoki, Rasa, and Kusagakure as the Kage struggled to coordinate their attacks. He killed Rasa with the Sky Sword and then faced Isobu’s incoming Tailed Beast Ball.

• Kitsuchi held his ground against Kurenai Yūhi, Asuma, and Anko as a volcanic eruption revealed Kurotsuchi’s use of the Four-Tails’ Lava Release.
• Ōnoki and Rasa struggled to withstand Orochimaru’s Inorganic Reincarnation while Kusagakure used Isobu’s Shadow Turtle to drive Aoda and Garaga away.
• Kusagakure began charging a Tailed Beast Ball, prompting Orochimaru to target Rasa and secretly prepare a stone tentacle marked with an Ouroboros.
• Orochimaru stopped Inorganic Reincarnation, cut through Rasa’s Gold Dust shield with the Sky Sword, and killed him with a slash to the throat.
• Isobu fired its Tailed Beast Ball at Orochimaru, who chose to meet the attack with force rather than use Flying Thunder God to escape.

Fugaku sealed the Four-Tails with his Susanoo while Orochimaru faced Ōnoki and Shisui escaped a brutal fight with Pain. Minato, Itachi, and Fugaku gathered with the wounded survivors as they considered how to confront Pain.

• Orochimaru used Five Layered Rashomon to withstand the Four-Tails' Tailed Beast Ball and taunted Ōnoki as the battle continued.
• Fugaku used his Susanoo and the sealing sword Feather of Heaven to suppress and seal Son Goku, but the strain worsened his vision.
• Asuma and his allies killed Kitsuchi, then Shisui arrived badly injured and revealed that Pain, not Hidan, had driven him to retreat.
• Anko treated Shisui while Minato and Itachi arrived; Minato warned that the group lacked the strength to face Pain while Shisui was injured.
• Fugaku arrived and noted that Itachi's Mangekyō Sharingan gave them another pair, praising his son for surpassing him.

Fugaku Uchiha, Minato Namikaze, and their allies prepared to face Pain and Hidan as battles continued across the battlefield. Hiruzen Sarutobi trapped Shimura Danzō in a fatal embrace and began to teach him one last lesson, leaving the outcome of their final fight unresolved.

• Fugaku Uchiha agreed with Minato Namikaze that the two of them and Shisui could fight Pain, while Asuma and Kurenai Yūhi volunteered to face Hidan.
• Tsunade destroyed the Ten Puppets of Chikamatsu and forced Chiyo to bring out Father and Mother as Tsunade continued her assault.
• Kakashi overwhelmed Obito Uchiha with a combined attack, but Obito escaped to the outside world with Kamui, and Kakashi followed him there.
• Shimura Danzō used Izanagi to undo Hiruzen Sarutobi's attack, then fought back with Wood Style while Hiruzen defended himself with Enma.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi let Danzō's wooden spear pierce him so he could grab Danzō and hold him fast, then said he would teach him one final lesson.

Hiruzen Sarutobi used the Reaper Death Seal to kill Shimura Danzō, while Pain attacked Konohagakure and overwhelmed its defenders. The chapter ended with Pain preparing to strike down the wounded Yūhi Shinku as the village’s battle continued.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi sealed his and Shimura Danzō’s souls with the Reaper Death Seal, and Black Zetsu watched as both men died.
• Asuma sensed that something terrible had happened, and Kurenai Yūhi reassured him.
• Deva Path Pain arrived in Konohagakure and demanded that its ninja reveal where the Tailed Beasts were gathered.
• Yūhi Shinku and Uchiha Inabi attacked Pain, but Pain impaled Yūhi Shinku and killed Uchiha Inabi with the power of his Rinnegan.
• Pain repelled the Konohagakure ninja with Shinra Tensei, and the wounded Yūhi Shinku clung to him to protect the village.
• Pain prepared to impale Yūhi Shinku, who feared for Kurenai Yūhi and his daughter.

Minato Namikaze, Fugaku Uchiha, and Itachi Uchiha fought Pain, while Tsunade and Kakashi defeated Chiyo and Obito Uchiha on another battlefield. Chiyo used a forbidden jutsu to revive Obito, who woke in the Shinobi World as Chiyo began explaining what had happened.

• Minato Namikaze arrived in time to stop Pain from killing Yūhi Shinku, then joined Fugaku Uchiha and Itachi Uchiha against him.
• Pain summoned the Six Paths and battled the three Konoha shinobi, while Gamabunta, Gamaken, and Gamahiro fought his summoning beasts.
• Minato Namikaze used Frog Kata and natural energy to turn the Preta Path into stone and destroy it, while the Human Path was also lost.
• Tsunade killed Chiyo, and Kakashi used Flying Thunder God Second Step to pierce Obito Uchiha's heart and kill him.
• After Tsunade and Kakashi left, Chiyo revealed she was still alive and used Living Corpse Reincarnation to revive Obito Uchiha.
• Obito Uchiha awoke in the Shinobi World with his heart restored as Chiyo began recounting her fight with Tsunade.

Chiyo revived Obito Uchiha and secured his promise to kill Kakashi, while Orochimaru's battle with the revived Kage continued and Team 7 defeated Kankuro and Temari. As Pain unleashed Universal Pull on Konohagakure, Minato, Orochimaru, Itachi, and Fugaku worked together to block it, but Fugaku's Susanoo shattered as Sasuke watched in shock.

• Chiyo used her remaining life force to revive Obito Uchiha and asked him to kill Kakashi Hatake, and Obito agreed before she died.
• Orochimaru exhausted Ōnoki, then Kusagakure escaped his attack with Obito's help, and Kakashi arrived alive.
• Naruto defeated Kankuro with his Shadow Clones and Rasengan while Sasuke defeated Temari, and Team 7 began arguing over who had won more fights.
• Nagato and Konan decided to move toward Pain's battle to keep Yahiko's body from falling into Konohagakure's hands.
• Minato Namikaze, Fugaku Uchiha, and Itachi Uchiha confronted Pain, who unleashed Universal Pull across Konohagakure.
• Minato and Orochimaru redirected much of the shock wave while Itachi and Fugaku defended the remaining angles, but Fugaku's Susanoo shattered as Sasuke watched.

Fugaku, Minato, and Orochimaru sealed Pain, but Nagato answered with Chibaku Tensei, which Sasuke, Kushina, Minato, and Orochimaru destroyed. Black Zetsu then withdrew Nagato and Konan from Konoha, revealing a rogue ninja, a horn, and a scroll as pieces of his plan to cultivate the Ten-Tails.

• Fugaku survived Pain’s attack with Izanagi and sealed Pain with the Feather of Heaven while Minato and Orochimaru held him in place.
• Kakashi arrived as Yamato, Yū, and Qiong failed to capture Shukaku, and he entered Kamui to pursue the figure he associated with Rin.
• Kakuzu fled after nearly losing four hearts to Shikun Mitarashi, while Hidan escaped Asuma and Kurenai; Killer B also survived and headed back toward Kumogakure.
• Nagato used Chibaku Tensei, but Orochimaru, Minato, Sasuke, and Kushina combined their attacks to destroy it, after which Nagato disappeared.
• Black Zetsu told Nagato and Konan to retreat from Konoha, then showed them an unknown rogue ninja, a horn, and a scroll connected to his plans for the Ten-Tails.

Black Zetsu, Obito Uchiha, and Nagato discussed their partial collection of tailed beasts and planned to provoke the great nations against Konohagakure. After the battle, Konohagakure mourned its dead, and Biwako Sarutobi told Orochimaru that Hiruzen Sarutobi had been proud to choose him as Hokage.

• Black Zetsu explained that the Akatsuki had substitutes for the Four-Tails and Eight-Tails, while Obito Uchiha brought the unconscious Gaara and Kusagakure and confirmed their capture of the One-Tail and Three-Tails.
• Nagato questioned whether their incomplete tailed-beast collection could revive a powerful Ten-Tails, but Black Zetsu insisted they should spread news of Konohagakure's captures to inflame conflict with the other villages.
• Sakura Haruno reflected on the strength of the fighters, while Naruto asked Kushina to teach him her jutsu and learned that he would first need to master the Sage Seal.
• Shikaku Nara told Orochimaru that Hiruzen Sarutobi and Shimura Danzō had killed each other, and Orochimaru considered Hiruzen's death a final act of atonement and service to the village.
• At the funeral, Asuma and Kurenai Yūhi grieved their fathers, while Biwako Sarutobi told Orochimaru that Hiruzen had been proudest in old age of choosing him as Konohagakure's successor.