Chapter Summaries

Neji faced Gaara after Gaara transformed into One-Tails Shukaku, but Xiao You and his three teammates intervened to seal the beast. Gaara recovered, gave Neji the Heaven Scroll, and left vowing to defeat him next time.

• Neji took out a rare Sealing Tag as he prepared to confront the growing One-Tails Shukaku, while Hinata and the Sand Ninja watched.
• Xiao You appeared with his three teammates and told Neji they would handle Shukaku while he waited safely.
• Up, Down, Left, and Right used the Four Corner Sealing Technique to crush Shukaku's manifested body and return its sand to Gaara's gourd.
• Neji checked on Gaara, who woke and gave him the Heaven Scroll after learning the monster had been sealed.
• Gaara left alone, promising Neji he would not lose to him again.

Sasuke and Sakura encountered Orochimaru in the Forest of Death and were overwhelmed by his attack. Naruto, Yakumo, and their companions arrived to help, but Orochimaru summoned another giant snake and threatened to stop them from escaping.

• Sasuke exposed the disguised Grass Ninja by testing Naruto’s password, and Orochimaru revealed himself and swallowed the Earth Scroll.
• Orochimaru used the Hell Viewing Technique to terrify Sasuke and Sakura, then pursued them as Sasuke carried Sakura away.
• Sasuke killed a giant snake, but Orochimaru emerged from its body and attacked him.
• Naruto, Yakumo, and their companions arrived, and Naruto refused to abandon Sasuke despite Yakumo’s warning to retreat.
• Orochimaru summoned a giant snake, and Shikouin struck its brain with Lightning Style: Electric Discharge.
• Orochimaru declared that the group would not be able to escape.

Orochimaru ambushed the genin during the Chunin Selection Exam, overpowering them and revealing his interest in Naruto’s Nine-Tails seal. The chapter ended with Orochimaru placing a Five Elements Seal on Naruto and turning his attention to Sasuke.

• Orochimaru attacked Shikouin, Yakumo, Xiangling, and Naruto with a giant snake, but Shikouin destroyed the Summoning Beast with her lightning transformation.
• Sasuke and Yakumo attacked Orochimaru with a Fire Style jutsu and a genjutsu, but Orochimaru broke free and left Yakumo incapacitated with his cold Chakra.
• Naruto used Shadow Clones to rescue Yakumo, while Orochimaru bound Xiangling and Shikouin and then captured Naruto with his tongue.
• Orochimaru exposed Naruto’s seal, sensed the Nine-Tails’ Chakra, and identified him as the Nine-Tails brat.
• Orochimaru placed a Five Elements Seal on Naruto, leaving him limp, then asked Sasuke what he would do.

Sasuke fought Orochimaru in the Forest of Death, using his Sharingan and wire traps to land a powerful attack, but Orochimaru subdued him and placed a curse mark on his neck. Yuexi and her companions protected Yakumo but did not intervene in Orochimaru’s attack on Sasuke.

• Sasuke awakened his Two Tomoe Sharingan and charged Orochimaru, countering his attacks with precise dodges and a Fire Style technique.
• Sasuke tricked Orochimaru with an Earth Clone, then bound him to a tree with steel wires and struck him with the Dragon Fire Technique.
• Orochimaru broke free, trapped Sasuke and Sakura with the Binding Technique, revealed his identity, and burned the team’s Heaven Scroll.
• Orochimaru redirected his attack toward Yakumo, but Yuexi, Qing Yan, and Mirai arrived and shielded her.
• Orochimaru appeared behind Sasuke and bit his neck, leaving him with a curse mark.

Yuexi used the Six Harmonies Sealing Technique to suppress Sasuke’s Heavenly Seal after Orochimaru escaped, then left Yakumo and the others to continue the exam. At the Central Tower, Ming Jing learned of Hinata’s loss to Temari and watched the first group arrive after surviving an encounter with the One-Tail.

• Orochimaru bit Sasuke, left him with a conflicting energy, and vanished into the ground.
• Mirai treated Yakumo, then examined Sasuke and found Orochimaru’s energy clashing with his Chakra.
• Yuexi sealed Sasuke’s Heavenly Seal with the Six Harmonies Sealing Technique, and Mirai set Xiangling’s bones before their group departed.
• Ming Jing learned that Hinata had lost to Temari and discussed the strength of the One-Tail with Xiao You.
• Ming Jing noticed that the first group had reached the Central Tower despite encountering the Four Brothers, and Xiao You realized they had managed it without the Tailed Beast’s power.

Ming Jing encountered Gaara and his siblings, then congratulated the Police Department team after they passed the second round and explained their role as guardians of the people. The second round ended with twenty-three teams advancing, and Ming Jing watched with Yuexi and the Third Hokage as the remaining exams began.

• Ming Jing approached Gaara, Kankuro, and Temari, demonstrated that he could bypass Gaara’s Sand Shield, and left after wishing Gaara luck in the exam.
• Gaara’s team became the first to reach the Central Tower, and Ming Jing later sensed the Police Department team arriving there.
• Ming Jing appeared before Sako Ryosa, Suga Hane, and Mori Shin, congratulated them on passing, and described Patrol Officers as guardians who maintained order between the people and the nation.
• Kurenai’s team reached the Central Tower two hours later, and Kurenai conveyed the Third Hokage’s guiding principles while Ming Jing took Hinata away to rest.
• The second round ended with twenty-three teams passing, and Ming Jing and Yuexi stood beside the Third Hokage to watch the examinees.

The Chunin Exam preliminaries began after the Third Hokage explained their purpose and rules. Hinata surrendered to Neji in their first match so he could carry the Hyuga Clan’s hopes forward, and Ming Jing comforted her afterward.

• The jonin gathered to greet the teams who had passed the second exam, while Sasuke watched the other contestants and their rivalries.
• The Third Hokage introduced the third exam, and Gekko Hayate announced that one-on-one preliminary matches would determine who advanced.
• The match screen paired Neji Hyuga with Hinata Hyuga, surprising the contestants and Ming Jing.
• Hinata surrendered before fighting and asked Neji to carry her wish by showing the Hyuga Clan’s strength.
• Ming Jing embraced Hinata on the stairs and reassured her that surrendering was the right decision.

Sasuke defeated Akagane Kai by adapting Rock Lee’s taijutsu, and Shino gained the upper hand against Zaku in the next preliminary match. Zaku continued attacking Shino despite being caught in his insect technique.

• Gekko Hayate announced Neji Hyuga as the winner of the first match and drew Sasuke against Akagane Kai for the second.
• Akagane Kai grabbed Sasuke and used his Chakra Absorption Technique, but Sasuke kicked him away and counterattacked.
• Sasuke copied Rock Lee’s movements to perform Shadow Leaf Dance, then knocked Akagane Kai unconscious and won the match.
• Shino warned Zaku to forfeit, but Zaku attacked him with Air Severance Wave and struck an insect clone.
• Shino revealed his Kikaichū and told Zaku to surrender, while Zaku scattered the insects and aimed both Wind Vents at Shino.

Kakashi examined the sealing technique on Sasuke while Orochimaru revealed his interest in the Uchiha and his plans for Otogakure. After Ming Jing arrived and Orochimaru left, Sasuke asked Ming Jing to teach him, but Ming Jing refused, leaving Sasuke determined to surpass him.

• Kakashi identified Yuexi's mark on Sasuke as the Six Harmonies Sealing Technique and confronted Orochimaru, who revealed that he wanted the Sharingan and had established Otogakure.
• Orochimaru said Sasuke was too exceptional to be a disposable pawn and predicted that Sasuke would seek him out for power.
• Ming Jing arrived with Yami, dismissed Orochimaru's exam-taking subordinates, and let Orochimaru leave after he challenged Kakashi to attack him.
• Sasuke asked Ming Jing to become his teacher, but Ming Jing refused, explaining that he could not teach Sasuke much.
• Kakashi reassured Sasuke that they followed different paths, and Sasuke vowed to surpass Ming Jing.

Kurama Shikouin fought Nakano Ichikazu in the fourth match and overcame his Earth Release restraint by pushing her Lightning Release into an unmastered Two Scales state. She won after crashing into him at tremendous speed, leaving the other contestants wary of her strength.

• Shikouin and Nakano Ichikazu traded heavy punches and kicks before Shikouin grabbed him and used Lightning Style: Electric Discharge.
• Nakano Ichikazu countered with Earth Release: Great Stone Tablet Palm, pinning Shikouin to the ground and explaining that his technique could channel her lightning into the earth.
• Shikouin intensified her lightning with Thunder Dragon Transformation: Two Scales, breaking free of Nakano Ichikazu's restraint.
• Shikouin charged into Nakano Ichikazu and sent him crashing into the Central Tower wall.
• Gekko Hayate declared Shikouin the victor after she dragged the unconscious Nakano Ichikazu from the dust.

Rock Lee faced Gaara in the Chunin Exam and struggled against his automatic sand defenses until he removed his weighted leg wraps. Freed from the weights, Lee became fast enough to repeatedly shatter Gaara's Sand Shield, leaving the match's outcome unresolved.

• Gaara became agitated by the monster within him, and Baki calmed him while Kankuro went to Kabuto Yakushi for information.
• The match screen selected Gaara versus Rock Lee, and Lee reluctantly took his turn after joking that he had manipulated the draw to avoid appearing last.
• Kabuto told Kankuro that Lee had trained under Might Guy, whose former disciple Yami Kurama had once suppressed a rebel army.
• Lee's taijutsu attacks failed against Gaara's Sand Shield, and Gaara's sand bound Lee's ankle and hurled him into a wall.
• Might Guy permitted Lee to remove his weighted leg wraps, and their impact shook the Central Tower.
• Lee moved at tremendous speed and repeatedly shattered Gaara's Sand Shield with his punches.

Lee overwhelmed Gaara with his Taijutsu, but Gaara survived and revealed the danger of Shukaku’s power. As Gaara battered Lee, Lee opened the Third Life Gate and prepared to finish the match with a forbidden technique.

• Lee shattered Gaara’s Sand Shield and landed repeated attacks, then used the Front Lotus to slam him into the arena floor.
• Gaara’s body crumbled into a sand substitute, and he emerged from the ground with a bloodthirsty smile as Neji sensed Shukaku within him.
• Gaara began toying with the injured Lee, while Might Guy insisted that Lee would not fall and Kakashi recognized his intent to use the Reverse Lotus.
• Lee declared that he could not lose to Neji, Sasuke, Shikouin, or Naruto, then opened the Third Life Gate.

Rock Lee unleashed the Eight Inner Gates and battered Gaara with the Reverse Lotus, but Gaara survived behind his sand defenses and defeated Lee. Might Guy stopped Gaara from attacking the unconscious Lee, leaving Gaara puzzled by their bond.

• Yakumo, Yami, Ming Jing, Kakashi, and the others watched as Lee opened the third and then the fourth gate, while Guy urged them not to underestimate him.
• Lee overwhelmed Gaara with a rapid series of attacks, opened the fifth gate, and slammed him into the arena with the Reverse Lotus.
• Lee collapsed from the strain, but Gaara emerged injured yet protected by sand and used Sand Binding Burial to break Lee's left leg and hand.
• Guy stepped between Gaara and Lee and scattered the sand wave before it could finish Lee.
• Guy called Lee his most beloved subordinate, leaving Gaara wondering why Baki could not show him the same affection.

Sakura Haruno faced Xiangling in the selection match, initially escaping Xiangling’s close-range attack and landing a punch of her own. Xiangling then used a water whip to bind Sakura and threw Shuriken at her, leaving Sakura’s next move uncertain.

• Ino challenged Sakura to keep fighting, and Sakura insisted she would not withdraw; Yakumo and Hinata encouraged her.
• The match pairing was announced, and Sakura and Xiangling entered the arena to fight.
• Xiangling disarmed Sakura and nearly pinned her, but Sakura broke free with a knee strike.
• Sakura used a feint and a punch to send Xiangling flying, drawing praise from Naruto and Kakashi.
• Xiangling used water from a bottle supplied by Yakumo and Hinata to bind Sakura with a Water Whip, then threw three Shuriken at her.
• Ino, Sasuke, and Naruto urged Sakura not to give up as she struggled against the water whip.

Sakura and Xiangling knocked each other out in their preliminary match, which ended in a draw. The next match began with Temari facing Tenten, who cautiously assessed her opponent.

• Sakura dodged Xiangling’s shuriken by rolling through the dust, then charged and pinned Xiangling to the ground.
• Xiangling’s sleeping gas took effect, but Sakura resisted long enough to knock her out before falling asleep herself.
• Gekko Hayate declared the match a draw because neither Sakura nor Xiangling could continue.
• The screen paired Temari against Tenten, and Neji warned that Temari specialized in Wind Release.
• Temari challenged Tenten to make the first move while Tenten kept her distance and prepared for the fight.

Tenten fought Temari in the arena, revealing her weapon techniques and using the Six-and-a-Half Stick Technique with Hinata’s permission. The battle continued as Temari’s speed made her disappear from sight.

• Ming Jing explained that Neji had defeated Gaara, prompting Naruto and Sasuke to react with surprise and respect.
• Tenten attacked Temari with weapons from her scrolls, but Temari’s fan winds scattered them and blew Tenten backward.
• Tenten asked Hinata for permission to use the Six-and-a-Half Stick Technique, and Hinata agreed.
• Ming Jing learned that Tenten had trained Hinata in stick techniques and affectionately teased Hinata until she fainted into his arms.
• Temari used Sickle Weasel, and Tenten blocked the storm with a huge floor tile before Temari spun her fan and vanished through sheer speed.

Tenten pushed Temari hard with her staff techniques but lost after Temari unleashed a series of powerful wind attacks. The next match was announced as Ino Yamanaka versus Kurama Yakumo, and Yakumo entered the arena confident she would win.

• Tenten pierced Temari’s Three-Star Fan and overwhelmed her with swift staff attacks.
• Temari broke free, destroyed Tenten’s staff with Wind Release techniques, and defeated her with Whirlwind Wall Bash.
• Neji caught the trident Temari kicked toward Tenten, and Gekko Hayate declared Temari the winner.
• Xiangling volunteered to treat Tenten as Neji carried her back to the stands.
• Gekko Hayate announced Ino Yamanaka versus Kurama Yakumo, and Ming Jing encouraged Yakumo to win.
• Ino and Yakumo faced each other and recalled their rivalry from the Academy.

Yakumo defeated Ino in the Chunin Exam preliminaries by outlasting her Shuriken barrage and finishing her with layered Genjutsu. The match ended with Yakumo declared the winner, while Sasuke reflected on Shisui’s death and its connection to the changes in his clan.

• Ming Jing confidently predicted Yakumo would defeat Ino, while Asuma argued that Ino’s Yamanaka techniques could give her a chance.
• Ino used Yakumo’s voice to locate her and pressured her with a continuous barrage of Shuriken, exploiting Yakumo’s poor stamina.
• Yakumo revealed she had prepared the Mist Servant Technique from the start, making Ino’s Shuriken pass through her.
• Kurenai explained that Yakumo had held the Genjutsu in reserve, and Sasuke silently considered Shisui’s role in the changes within his clan.
• Yakumo blocked Ino’s sight and hearing, then used the Heartless White Art to make her collapse unconscious.
• Gekko Hayate declared Yakumo the winner after checking Ino.

Ming Jing agreed to train Neji, Hinata, and Hanabi for a month and explained that the Byakugan could develop abilities beyond its usual vision and scouting powers. The children learned that Hizashi had already developed the ability to extract another person’s Chakra from a distance.

• Neji told Ming Jing that Hiashi had asked him to provide special training, with Hinata and Hanabi accompanying Neji and helping with his needs.
• Ming Jing agreed to train all three children and asked what they knew about the Byakugan.
• Neji described the Byakugan’s wide field of vision, Chakra perception, telescopic and penetrating sight, and ability to see an opponent’s chakra points.
• Ming Jing explained that the Byakugan could develop additional abilities and that Hizashi had learned to extract Chakra from someone as far as a kilometer away.
• Hinata reacted with amazement, and Ming Jing affectionately pinched her cheek.

Ming Jing trained Neji in reflexes before explaining a new way to strengthen the Byakugan by amplifying its pressure. The chapter ended as Neji, Hinata, and Hanabi prepared to begin practicing the technique.

• Ming Jing had Neji balance on one leg and dodge volleys of chakra-enhanced pebbles to train his reactions.
• Hinata and Hanabi brought lunch, and Ming Jing hid the kiss mark on his cheek from Neji and Hanabi with Genjutsu.
• Ming Jing told Neji that his father had prepared an afternoon training method, then invited Hinata and Hanabi to join them.
• Ming Jing explained that strengthening the Byakugan's pressure could disrupt an enemy's focus or interrupt a ninjutsu.
• Neji, Hanabi, and Hinata suggested ways to use the pressure in battle, and Ming Jing began their training.