Chapter Summaries

Masahiko watched Team 7’s introductions, startled Sakura by examining her unusual talent, and planned how to help her keep pace with Naruto and Sasuke. He took over Ichiraku Ramen for the evening and prepared four training options for Sakura to choose from.

• Masahiko revealed Kakashi after Naruto and Sasuke recognized him, then watched the team introduce themselves again.
• Masahiko used his Six Tomoe Rinne Sharingan to inspect Sakura’s abilities, frightening her, and discovered she had talent for Yin and Yang Release.
• Masahiko decided Sakura should choose among genjutsu, taijutsu, and Water Release training, while he planned to earn Witness Points by arranging events around Team 7.
• Masahiko transformed into Teuchi and served ramen to Team 7, where Kakashi warned Naruto and Sasuke that they would have to repeat the Ninja Academy if they failed the next test.
• Masahiko wrote out four possible training paths for Sakura: genjutsu, medical basics, Water Release, or Ancestor Divine Fist.

Masahiko arranged a secret weapon for Naruto during Kakashi’s bell test, hoping to alter the familiar scene and earn Witness Points. Kakashi turned Naruto’s counterattack into a painful disaster, while Sasuke and Sakura were left facing their terrifying teacher.

• Masahiko gave Sakura four martial arts manuals, and she chose to return the Ancestor Divine Fist manual.
• Masahiko prepared a steel plate for Naruto and told him it would help him pass Kakashi’s bell test.
• During the test, Naruto attacked with Shadow Clones while Sasuke and Sakura hid and looked for openings.
• Naruto exposed his back to Kakashi, but the steel plate blocked Kakashi’s One Thousand Years of Death technique.
• Naruto’s plan let Sasuke and Sakura charge Kakashi, but Kakashi used Lightning Release and made Naruto scream.
• Masahiko received Witness Points for changing the scene and wondered why Kakashi had used Lightning Release on Naruto.

Masahiko’s interference helped Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura pass Kakashi’s Bell Test, though Kakashi’s attack left Naruto painfully embarrassed. Back at Kushina’s house, Masahiko discovered that Yuexia’s knuckle gloves had been made from material bearing his scent, and he left to investigate where Kushina had bought it.

• Kakashi ended the Bell Test after Masahiko’s interference and declared Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura had all passed.
• Masahiko treated Naruto’s injury in the Eight Trigrams Space while Naruto complained about his idea and Kakashi’s attack.
• Kushina laughed at Naruto’s torn pants, then told Masahiko that she and Minato planned to begin Yuexia’s training when she turned four.
• Masahiko noticed Yuexia’s black knuckle gloves and questioned Kushina about their unusually tough material.
• Kushina claimed she had bought the material at a shop on the western street corner, and Masahiko left to investigate after recognizing his scent on it.

Masahiko arranged the Land of Waves mission and trained Naruto to master the Rasengan before Team 7 accepted Tazuna’s escort request. The chapter ended as Kakashi led Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura into a mission whose true danger Obito and Tazuna seemed to know about.

• Masahiko watched Team 11 complete the cat-catching mission and gained Witness Points after the mission was assigned to them instead of Team 7.
• Masahiko planned the Land of Waves mission and brought Naruto to Training Ground 40 to teach him the Rasengan and its advanced forms.
• Naruto mastered the Rasengan in half a month, earning Masahiko 40 Witness Points, then spent more time practicing and sparring.
• Obito offered Kakashi’s team a C-rank escort mission for Tazuna, a bridge builder from Wave Town in the Land of Whirlpools.
• Tazuna recognized Naruto as Kushina Uzumaki’s son and praised him, while Obito discreetly warned Kakashi to be careful and Tazuna glared at Obito.

Team 7 escorted Tazuna toward Wave Village, where he persuaded Naruto to help with a dispute over two bridges controlled by Gato. Near the Great Naruto Bridge, Kisame Hoshigaki and Zabuza Momochi appeared as the opponents in Masahiko’s arranged training exercise, and Zabuza learned that Tazuna was their client.

• Team 7 left Konoha with Tazuna, who repeatedly praised Naruto and irritated Sasuke and Sakura.
• When the group stopped for the night, Kakashi asked Tazuna about his hidden purpose, and Tazuna explained that Gato controlled Wave Village’s bridges with backing from two high-ranking ninja.
• Naruto agreed to confront the ninja on behalf of Wave Village, while Kakashi recognized that Tazuna was Senior Masahiko in disguise.
• The next day, Kisame Hoshigaki and Zabuza Momochi confronted Team 7 near the Great Naruto Bridge, and Tazuna identified them as Gato’s backers.
• Kakashi drew the White Fang as Kisame and Zabuza considered their assigned missions to occupy Kakashi and train Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura.

Masahiko's scheme turned the confrontation with Zabuza into a fight, and he faked Tazuna's death to provoke Naruto and Sakura. The system counted Tazuna as dead, but Masahiko's laughter exposed the trick and left Zabuza furious.

• Kakashi and Kisame fought away from the group while Zabuza confronted Masahiko, Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura.
• Masahiko claimed Haku protected Zabuza and identified Naruto as young master Naruto Uzumaki, provoking Zabuza into attacking.
• Naruto and Sasuke fought Zabuza as he covered the area in mist, while Sakura guarded Masahiko.
• Zabuza struck Masahiko with the Kubikiribōchō, and Naruto and Sasuke returned to find Sakura shaken and Masahiko lying on the ground.
• The system awarded Masahiko Witness Points after registering Tazuna's apparent death, and Masahiko laughed before the real Tazuna fell dead.
• Zabuza tasted the red liquid on his blade and recognized the malicious intent behind Masahiko's plan.

Masahiko staged Tazuna’s apparent injury and Zabuza’s attack so Naruto and his teammates could gain combat experience, then vanished after Kakashi drove Zabuza away. The team reached Tazuna’s home in Wave Village and found him safe, leaving Naruto confused about the supposed client he had worried over.

• Sakura treated Tazuna’s staged wound while Naruto and Sasuke fought Zabuza, who played along as their sparring partner.
• Sakura rushed toward the battle, and Masahiko ended the act as Kakashi returned and forced Zabuza to retreat.
• Naruto discovered Tazuna had disappeared, so Kakashi, Sasuke, Sakura, and Naruto crossed the bridge to search for him.
• The team found Tazuna at home playing with his grandson, and Tazuna failed to recognize Naruto.

Masahiko arranged for Naruto to unlock more of the Nine-Tails' chakra and set him a training goal ahead of the Chunin Exams. When Rin became pregnant, Masahiko agreed to take over Team 11 for three months, giving him a reason to enter the exams himself.

• Naruto argued with the real Tazuna until Sakura noticed his injuries had healed, and Kakashi and Sasuke revealed that the earlier Tazuna had been the fake.
• Masahiko told Kushina he planned to let Naruto meet the Nine-Tails more directly, then helped Naruto access its crimson chakra and challenged him to sustain the state for fifteen minutes within a year.
• Kushina encouraged Naruto to master the chakra mode within six months, and Naruto vowed to do it in three.
• Obito told Masahiko that Rin was pregnant and asked who should take over Team 11 while she stopped leading it.
• Masahiko agreed to lead Toneri, Sai, and Uchiha Hoshino for three months, including during the Chunin Exams.

Masahiko trained Team Eleven, overseeing Sai’s painting and Toneri and Uchiha Hoshino’s sparring. After accidentally cutting down a messenger hawk from Sunagakure, he healed it and sent it off with Sai’s portrait instead of the damaged message.

• Masahiko praised Sai’s portrait and told him to add color, then learned Sai only knew Ink Wash Painting.
• Masahiko reflected on Sai’s gentle nature, Toneri’s strength, and Uchiha Hoshino’s relentless training habits.
• Toneri struck Uchiha Hoshino’s Chakra points during their spar, and Masahiko made them release the points and perform the Reconciliation Seal afterward.
• Masahiko offered to buy lunch, but he accidentally shot down a hawk that Sai identified as a village messenger bird.
• Masahiko healed the hawk, replaced its damaged scroll with Sai’s portrait, and sent it flying.

Obito and Hiruzen misinterpreted Sunagakure’s portrait of Masahiko, prompting Obito to send back a colored portrait. Masahiko taught Hoshino Chidori and received Obito’s reply, which led him to plan a message of his own for Sunagakure.

• Obito asked Hiruzen what Sunagakure meant by sending Masahiko’s ink-wash portrait, and Hiruzen concluded they did not want Masahiko participating in the Chunin Exams.
• Obito decided to send Sunagakure a colored portrait of Masahiko, while Masahiko ate with Hoshino, Sai, and Toneri and urged Hoshino to sit properly.
• Masahiko promised Hoshino a powerful ninjutsu if she stayed seated, then taught her Chidori and had her practice it until sunset.
• Masahiko received Obito’s colored portrait by messenger eagle and decided to write something to send back to Sunagakure, calling it Ink Treasure.

Masahiko watched Hoshino master Chidori and set out to register Team 11 as the joint Chunin Exams approached. Naruto and Sasuke encountered the Sand siblings and Karin’s group, then Masahiko gathered everyone to meet Team 11.

• Hoshino mastered Chidori, and Masahiko left her to experiment with Chidori Sharp Spear while he went to handle registration.
• Naruto and Sasuke collided with Gaara and Kankuro on the street, and Sasuke learned the Sand siblings had come for the joint Chunin Exams.
• Naruto and Gaara felt an inexplicable connection, and Gaara asked Naruto his name.
• Karin arrived, knocked Naruto down, and told the group she was already a Jonin; Haku and Kimimaro joined her.
• Masahiko gathered the assembled group and led them to the grove to meet the three children from Team 11.

Masahiko oversaw sparring between the children, then prepared for the upcoming Chunin Exams and turned Kabuto’s contestant-information stall into a betting business. He left hoping Orochimaru would disrupt the exams so he could profit from the wagers.

• Haku trapped Naruto in Demonic Mirror Ice Crystals, then left him sprawled on the ground with his eyebrows shaved off.
• Masahiko told Kimimaro that he had a small mission after the Chunin Exams and asked Haku about Uchiha Hoshino.
• As May ended, ninja from several villages, including Otogakure, arrived in Konoha for the Chunin Exams.
• Masahiko questioned Kabuto about his contestant information cards and received a card describing himself as the world’s strongest man.
• Masahiko opened a betting stall opposite Kabuto’s and invited passersby to wager on the Chunin Exams.

Masahiko handed the Chunin Exams betting operation to the Konoha Gambling House and discussed the odds with Naruto and Sasuke. After noticing the unusually large number of examinees, he decided to eliminate some of them and tested a new genjutsu at the Ninja Academy, where it appeared to affect reality.

• Masahiko agreed to an eighty-twenty split with the Konoha Gambling House and dismissed concerns about the betting odds.
• Naruto asked Masahiko to improve his odds, while Sasuke asked whether Tenten and Gaara were stronger than him and Naruto.
• Masahiko learned that more than three hundred million ryo had been bet and that 379 examinees would take part in the exams.
• Masahiko decided to eliminate some of the examinees and went to the Ninja Academy to test his genjutsu on Izumo and Kōtetsu.
• Masahiko's genjutsu created a doorway and tentacles that struck Kōtetsu, leading Masahiko to realize his Yin Release could make illusions interfere with reality.

Masahiko’s genjutsu preliminary round tested the Chunin Exam candidates with color-coded challenges, while Kakashi and Obito observed from outside. Tenten’s team was the first to reach the written exam, but more than two hundred candidates were eliminated when the test ended.

• Team 7 entered the Academy’s genjutsu corridor, where Naruto triggered a red-square battle against the Shrimp Soldiers and Crab Generals.
• Rock Lee’s team faced a hundred-spin punishment, Toneri’s team had to share their deepest wishes, and Kankuro’s team received a leap before being sent back to the start.
• Masahiko watched the candidates’ challenges as Obito told Kakashi the preliminary round was meant to screen out weak Genin before the exams.
• Team 7 defeated the Third Prince of the East Sea Dragon King, but Naruto triggered a harder fight against the East Sea Dragon King and Sasuke and Sakura decided to punish him afterward.
• Tenten’s team cleared the genjutsu by choosing red squares and defeating Nezha, while Shikamaru worked out a strategy for his team to balance the different colored challenges.
• At 2:58 p.m., the remaining candidates awoke and learned they had been eliminated for failing to escape the genjutsu.

Masahiko watched the Chunin Exams’ written test, interfered with Ibiki’s speech, and observed the start of the Forest of Death. Orochimaru stayed away from Konoha and sent a hidden operative to assassinate the Kazekage instead.

• Masahiko entered the written exam, told the examinees to keep going, and asked Ibiki about the tenth question.
• Naruto declared that he would not give up, and Ibiki explained the test’s purpose before Masahiko healed his scar.
• Anko arrived to announce the second exam, and Masahiko learned that thirty-two teams had qualified.
• Masahiko watched the examinees enter the Forest of Death and worried that Tenten might win the championship.
• In Otogakure, Orochimaru refused to let a silver-haired young man go to Konoha and assigned him to assassinate the Kazekage.

Masahiko left the Chunin Exams to investigate Kurama Yakumo’s inner demon after learning that Kurenai had been her tutor. At Satomioka Villa, Yakumo attacked him with a genjutsu, and Masahiko knocked her unconscious so he could confront the inner demon.

• Masahiko watched Shikamaru outwit a Takigakure squad, then visited the Hokage’s Office, where Konoha’s Jonin instructors watched the exams and revealed their bets on Shikamaru.
• Masahiko asked Kurenai about Kurama Yakumo, and she explained that Yakumo had awakened an inner demon after accidentally killing her parents and had been isolated at Satomioka Villa.
• Kurenai took Masahiko to the villa and described Yakumo’s dangerous abilities and troubled past.
• Yakumo mistook Masahiko for an agent sent to target her and unleashed a genjutsu that made trees attack them.
• Masahiko tapped Yakumo’s forehead, knocked her unconscious, and told Kurenai to put her in bed while he dealt with her inner demon.

Masahiko sealed the monster inside Yakumo and discovered that her paintings could make her desires real, accidentally burning down the Hokage Office Building. Meanwhile, Team 7 struggled to find other examinees in the Forest of Death, where Naruto was startled by someone poking him.

• Masahiko bound and sealed Ido inside Yakumo, then told Kurenai to help Yakumo face her inner turmoil when she woke.
• Kurenai explained that Yakumo's paintings could turn what she wanted into reality, and Masahiko explored her art studio.
• Masahiko activated Yakumo's painting of the Hokage Office Building, setting the building on fire and leaving Obito's office badly charred.
• Masahiko told Obito he had burned the building to give him time off, then decided to test the five-senses genjutsu he had obtained from Yakumo.
• Team 7 discussed their plan to reach the Central Tower after failing to find any examinees in the Forest of Death.
• Naruto went into the forest to relieve himself and shouted at Sasuke after someone poked him from behind.

Masahiko’s nighttime tree-demon genjutsu tormented the teams in the Forest of Death until seven teams passed the exam. The third round was scheduled for a month later without preliminaries, and Masahiko hurried to change his betting odds.

• Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura fought moving trees at night, while Shikamaru’s team was surrounded and used their newly learned Rolling Boulder to break through.
• Anko battled a giant tree and discovered it had been created by Masahiko’s genjutsu, which he watched from the Central Tower for amusement.
• Hinata’s team passed after resting overnight, and six more teams passed before the five-day exam ended, while Masahiko’s scheme eliminated Takigakure and Kusagakure.
• Obito announced that the third round would begin on July 6th and that there would be no preliminaries, because the matches would span two days and Konoha needed time to sell tickets.
• Masahiko learned the preliminaries had been canceled and used the Body Flicker Technique to seek out the casino owner and change his betting odds.

Masahiko brought Jiraiya to help Naruto learn the Summoning Jutsu, but Naruto summoned only a tadpole and Masahiko stopped beating him after noticing something strange. Meanwhile, the Fourth Kazekage used Masahiko’s Ink Treasure at the Land of Wind border, summoning the Uzumaki God of Painting as Orochimaru watched.

• Masahiko welcomed Kimimaro back from his mission and had Karin and Haku bring Jiraiya to him.
• Masahiko and Jiraiya watched Naruto train and then went with him to practice the Summoning Jutsu.
• Masahiko urged Naruto to pour all his Chakra into the technique, but Naruto followed Jiraiya’s advice and summoned a tadpole.
• Masahiko scolded Naruto and raised his hand to hit him, then stopped and stared at Naruto’s backside.
• At the Land of Wind border, the wounded Fourth Kazekage recited the words on Masahiko’s Ink Treasure while Orochimaru stabbed his silver-haired companion.
• The Uzumaki God of Painting emerged from the Ink Treasure, catching Orochimaru off guard.

Masahiko discovered that Orochimaru’s actions had been influenced by the power in Masahiko’s blood, which Orochimaru called guidance or control. Orochimaru revealed that his latest guidance had led him to impersonate the Fourth Kazekage and target Hiruzen, leaving Masahiko troubled by what his blood could do.

• Masahiko encountered Orochimaru and Hidan after Hidan killed the Fourth Kazekage, then left a Thought Body mark on Hidan’s arm as a precaution.
• Masahiko returned to Konoha, explained the Thought Body technique to Jiraiya, and said he would investigate Orochimaru alone.
• Masahiko met Orochimaru at the Land of Wind border and asked whether destiny had guided him to kill the Fourth Kazekage.
• Orochimaru said his guidance had instead directed him to impersonate the Fourth Kazekage and go to Konoha to kill Hiruzen.
• Orochimaru revealed that Masahiko’s blood had influenced five major actions in his life, including taking Anko as a disciple, defecting, founding Otogakure, seeking Kimimaro, and targeting Hiruzen.