Recaps

Uzumaki Menma trained to become stronger while navigating his place in Konoha and building an alliance with Kurama. After graduating from the Ninja Academy, he followed Mizuki’s plan to steal the Scroll of Seals, leaving Mizuki to reveal his betrayal as Sarutobi Hiruzen watched.

• Sarutobi Hiruzen named the surviving twins Uzumaki Menma and Namikaze Naruto, and Menma grew up isolated while Naruto received the village’s affection.
• Menma trained to extract and control chakra, then persuaded Kurama to lend him chakra by promising to help free him and take revenge on their enemies.
• Menma enrolled in the Ninja Academy with Umino Iruka as his teacher, learned the Three Body Techniques, and became the class’s strongest practical fighter.
• After the Uchiha Clan massacre, Menma continued training and repeatedly defeated Sasuke Uchiha in sparring while Naruto and their classmates watched.
• Menma and his classmates took the graduation examination in Konoha Year 60, and Menma passed the Clone Technique test and received his headband.
• Mizuki visited Menma at night and tricked him into agreeing to retrieve the Scroll of Seals, while Sarutobi Hiruzen allowed the theft as a test and sent searchers after them.
• Menma memorized the techniques available in the scroll and mastered the Multiple Shadow Clone Jutsu before delivering it to Mizuki.
• Mizuki attacked Menma, admitted he had deceived him to steal the scroll, and told him that the village despised him as the Nine-Tails Fox while Sarutobi Hiruzen monitored them.

Menma defeated Mizuki, graduated from the Ninja Academy, and joined Team Seven under Kakashi. After the team took a mission to the Land of Waves, they discovered Tazuna had hidden the danger, and Naruto insisted on protecting him despite Menma’s objections.

• Menma defeated Mizuki, then convinced Iruka and Sarutobi Hiruzen that Mizuki had provoked the incident, earning praise for defeating the rogue ninja.
• Menma graduated from the Ninja Academy and was assigned to Team Seven with Namikaze Naruto, Sasuke Uchiha, and Sakura Haruno.
• Kakashi tested Team Seven with a bell exercise, and all four passed after choosing cooperation over competing for the three bells.
• After a month of D-rank missions, Naruto, Menma, and Sasuke asked Sarutobi Hiruzen for harder work, and Team Seven received a mission to escort Tazuna to the Land of Waves.
• Danzō sent Ino to deliver an item to Orochimaru and say he would accept the plan if Orochimaru first showed sincerity.
• Two attackers ambushed Team Seven on the road, but Menma and Sasuke defeated them, and Kakashi revealed that he had hidden to identify their target.
• Tazuna admitted that Gato controlled the Land of Waves and that the mission was far more dangerous than its C-rank description suggested, so Kakashi considered abandoning it.
• Menma warned that Gato could hire more Kirigakure Jonin, but Naruto declared he would continue protecting Tazuna even alone.

Team Seven protected Tazuna, defeated Zabuza, Haku, and Gato’s forces, and returned to Konoha after the Great Bridge was completed. As the Chunin Exams approached, Menma prepared his escape plans and entered the academy with Team Seven to register.

• Naruto insisted that Team Seven protect Tazuna, and Kakashi agreed to continue the mission despite the danger.
• Menma and Sasuke killed the Demon Brothers after Kakashi interrogated them, and Team Seven continued toward the Land of Waves.
• Kakashi fought Zabuza while Menma, Naruto, and Sasuke battled Haku, and the team killed both Haku and Zabuza.
• Kakashi explained that the mission could help prevent Kirigakure from using the Land of Waves as a foothold, then assigned Menma to investigate Gato.
• Menma discovered Gato’s planned attack, and he, Naruto, and Kakashi confronted Gato aboard his ship, where Kakashi confirmed Gato had hired Zabuza without Kirigakure’s involvement.
• Menma took Gato’s money and property deeds, while Tazuna completed the Great Bridge and Team Seven trained and completed further missions.
• Kakashi recommended Team Seven for the Chunin Exams, and Menma prepared new clothes and considered using Orochimaru’s Konoha Crush to escape Konoha.
• Menma, Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura entered the academy to register for the Chunin Exams, and Menma noticed two familiar figures amid a crowd near Classroom 301.

Menma entered the Chunin Exams, negotiated a deal with Orochimaru, and helped Team Seven pass the Forest of Death. After the tournament matchups were drawn, Menma agreed to join Orochimaru’s plan to attack Konoha on his own terms.

• Menma and his team saw through Kotetsu and Izumo’s Genjutsu, then met Lee, Neji, and Tenten before entering the exam classroom.
• Ibiki’s written test tested the candidates’ resolve, and he declared everyone who stayed until the tenth question a passer.
• Kabuto exchanged a scroll for Sharingan eyes on Orochimaru’s behalf, while Menma arrived at the Forest of Death for the Second Exam.
• Menma chose to enter the forest alone, met Karin, and killed the two Grass Ninja threatening her before agreeing to help her join Konoha.
• Orochimaru gave Sasuke the Cursed Seal, then fought Menma, who revealed his Nine-Tails power and negotiated a deal that included shelter, research materials, and protection for Karin.
• Menma reunited with Sakura, Naruto, and Sasuke, subdued Sasuke when the Cursed Seal took control, and led Team Seven to pass the Second Exam.
• Menma drew Rock Lee for the Main Tournament, then learned from Kabuto that Orochimaru planned to attack Konoha with Sunagakure and accepted a role in the plan under his own conditions.