Chapter Summaries

Menma asked Kakashi why he insisted on continuing the Land of Waves mission, and Kakashi explained that the country’s strategic location made it important to Konoha’s security. Menma proposed investigating Gato for intelligence, and Kakashi left the task to him.

• Kakashi invited Menma to speak with him privately after returning with Sasuke.
• Menma asked why Kakashi wanted to continue the mission despite the danger.
• Kakashi explained that the Land of Waves could serve as a foothold for Kirigakure to invade the Land of Fire.
• Menma and Kakashi discussed whether Zabuza had acted independently and agreed to remain in the Land of Waves while Tazuna completed the bridge.
• Menma suggested questioning Gato, and Kakashi assigned him to investigate the wealthy merchant.

Menma and Kakashi planned for Team 7 to investigate Gato and protect Tazuna’s bridge project. When Inari angrily insisted that heroes did not exist, Menma silenced him with a cold rebuke and killing intent.

• On the way back, Menma considered investigating traitors in the Land of Waves and how Gato controlled the country.
• Kakashi assigned Menma to investigate Gato while Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura rotated between guarding Tazuna and assisting Menma.
• Naruto, Sakura, and Sasuke agreed to the plan, and Tazuna thanked them while warning that Gato had many subordinates.
• Inari appeared and declared that they could not defeat Gato and that heroes did not exist, prompting Tazuna and Tsunami to demand that he apologize.
• Menma insulted Inari and released killing intent, frightening him into stopping his sobs.

Menma lost his temper at Inari, then left to reflect on his immaturity and decide what he truly wanted. He returned to the house calmer, having resolved to live freely and without hesitation.

• Menma's killing intent frightened Inari and his family, and Kakashi called him out before Menma apologized and left the room.
• Naruto understood Menma's anger, Sasuke watched him with recognition, and Sakura blamed Menma for frightening Inari.
• At the sea cliff, Menma criticized himself for letting personal feelings about Inari and Naruto distract him from his goals.
• Menma resolved to live freely and without regrets, refusing to hesitate when others stood in his way.
• After calming down, Menma returned to the house with a composed demeanor and a more detached resolve.

Menma gathered intelligence that Gato was leading a force to attack Team Seven and the Land of Waves resistance, then killed the man who revealed the plan. Menma and Naruto rushed toward the Great Bridge to meet Gato’s force.

• Menma and Naruto split up to search for information about Gato.
• Menma caught a middle-aged villager who admitted that Gato had bribed him and planned to attack Team Seven in person.
• Menma killed the villager to prevent him from reporting back to Gato.
• Menma reunited with Naruto and told him that Gato was bringing a large force to attack.
• Menma and Naruto headed for the Great Bridge to confront Gato and his men.

Menma reported that Gato was behind the threat to the bridge, and his prediction was confirmed when Gato's ship approached. Kakashi, Menma, and Naruto set out to capture him while Sasuke and Sakura remained on guard.

• Menma brought Naruto back to the bridge and told Kakashi that Gato was responsible for the threat against Tazuna and the bridge.
• Kakashi questioned Menma's certainty, but a ship approached the coast as Menma predicted.
• Kakashi, Menma, and Naruto ran across the water toward the ship, surprising Sasuke and Sakura and inspiring Sasuke to seek an explanation from Kakashi.
• Kakashi reminded Menma and Naruto that their primary objective was to capture Gato without fail.

Kakashi, Naruto, and Menma confronted Gato aboard his ship, where Gato boasted that his hired thugs would defeat them. Menma slaughtered the attackers while Naruto charged toward Gato, leaving Gato terrified as his men fled.

• Kakashi, Naruto, and Menma boarded Gato's ship and faced a crowd of armed thugs.
• Gato mocked the Konoha ninjas and ordered his men to kill them, promising to double their pay.
• Kakashi told Menma and Naruto to handle the thugs while he stayed by the mast and read.
• Menma rushed into the enemy formation and killed several thugs, while Naruto knocked aside anyone blocking his path to Gato.
• The surviving thugs fled or jumped into the sea, and Gato trembled when Menma looked at him.

Menma and Naruto captured Gato, and Kakashi confirmed that Gato alone had arranged the attack without involvement from the Land of Water or Kirigakure. Menma took Gato to a nearby island to retrieve his assets, while Naruto was left unsettled by a momentary feeling that Menma had become a stranger.

• Naruto seized the terrified Gato, and Menma acknowledged that he had been excessive in killing Gato's hired men.
• Kakashi interrogated Gato with Genjutsu and confirmed that Gato had hired Zabuza with his own money, without any connection to Kirigakure.
• Kakashi let Menma take Gato away and gave him a Sealing Scroll, while Naruto returned to the Great Bridge with Kakashi.
• Menma questioned Gato aboard the ship, then sailed with him to a small island north of the Land of Waves.
• Gato led Menma toward the island's lavish building, claiming that most of his assets were stored there.

Team Seven returned to Konoha after the bridge in the Land of Waves was completed, while Menma kept the wealth he had taken from Gato and continued training in the Rasengan. Kakashi reported the mission’s unexpected developments, including Menma’s performance, to Sarutobi Hiruzen.

• Menma sealed Gato’s cash and took his property deeds before leaving for the Land of Waves.
• Tazuna completed the bridge after Gato’s death encouraged the Land of Waves’ workers to return.
• Sakura and Sasuke trained in Tree Climbing and Water Walking, Naruto trained with Kakashi, and Menma began practicing the Rasengan.
• On February 20, Team Seven returned to Konoha, and Kakashi gave the four genin a few days off.
• Kakashi handed in the mission report and reward, then went to tell Sarutobi Hiruzen about Zabuza and Haku’s bodies, Kubikiribōchō, and Menma’s performance.

Kakashi reported Team Seven’s mission to Sarutobi Hiruzen, who questioned him about Menma and asked him to guide the team. Menma planned to leave Konoha during the Chunin Exams’ chaos and continued training to master the Rasengan.

• Kakashi told Sarutobi Hiruzen that Menma was worthy of trust and could become a pillar of Konoha.
• Sarutobi Hiruzen asked Kakashi to guide Menma, Sasuke, and Naruto properly.
• Menma decided that leaving during the Konoha Crush at the Chunin Exams was his best option, while keeping his plan flexible.
• Menma continued consolidating his Rasengan training and worked to prevent Chakra from dissipating.

Menma trained to perform the Rasengan with one hand while Team Seven prepared to resume missions. Kakashi took the team on a C-rank escort mission from Konohagakure to Kyoto, in the Land of Fire.

• Menma used over a hundred Shadow Clones to train his Rasengan and improve his one-handed Chakra control.
• After three or four days, Kakashi summoned Team Seven and announced they would take only C-rank missions or higher.
• Naruto welcomed the harder missions, while Menma and Uchiha Sasuke agreed; Sakura Haruno remained uneasy about another C-rank mission.
• Kakashi accepted a C-rank mission to escort a merchant caravan from Konohagakure to Kyoto.
• The caravan's owner raised the reward after seeing that Kakashi, a Jonin, would lead the escort.

Team Seven rapidly completed C-rank missions, then gained experience on B-rank missions as Kakashi helped Sakura adapt to ninja life. As summer arrived, Hiruzen gathered the Genin instructors and asked whether they would recommend newly graduated teams for the Chunin Exams jointly hosted by Konoha and Sunagakure.

• Team Seven safely escorted a merchant caravan to Kyoto, completing its second C-rank mission and helping Sakura grow more comfortable with ninja work.
• Kakashi observed Sakura's adaptability and chakra-control talent and decided she was worth cultivating.
• Team Seven completed many kinds of C-rank missions over the next two or three months, while Sakura gained confidence and experience.
• Kakashi led Team Seven on its first B-rank missions against wandering ninjas, giving the team more demanding combat experience.
• As summer arrived, Hiruzen gathered Genin instructors and Ninja Academy teachers and asked whether they would recommend newly graduated teams for the upcoming Chunin Exams hosted by Konoha and Sunagakure.

Sarutobi Hiruzen approved the participation of newly graduated Genin in the Chunin Exams despite Iruka’s objections. Meanwhile, Menma collected his newly tailored outfits and left the clothing store.

• Kakashi Hatake, Sarutobi Asuma, and Kurenai Yuhi recommended their new Genin teams for the Chunin Exams.
• Iruka objected that the recently graduated Genin were too inexperienced, but Sarutobi Hiruzen overruled him and finalized the participants.
• Sarutobi Hiruzen gave final instructions for the exams, including preparations to receive visiting leaders and daimyō.
• Menma went to Konoha's Largest Clothing Store to collect several custom outfits he had designed.
• Menma tried on the red-and-black outfit, paid the remaining balance, and left the store.

Menma prepared for the Chunin Exams and was excited to use the coming Konoha Crush as a chance to leave Konohagakure. After the Sand siblings arrived, Kakashi summoned Team Seven, and Menma's new appearance caught everyone's attention.

• Menma restocked his ninja tools and thought about relying on Orochimaru's Konoha Crush plan to escape the village.
• Menma saw Kankuro and Temari confront Sasuke and Naruto, then recognized that the Chunin Exams had arrived when Gaara appeared.
• As ninja from other villages arrived, Konohagakure grew busy and genin began preparing for the exams.
• Kakashi summoned Menma, Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura, who remarked on Menma's new clothes and appearance.
• Kakashi arrived early and briefly saw a resemblance between Menma and the Fourth Hokage.

Kakashi recommended Menma, Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura for the upcoming Chunin Exams and gave them registration forms. Menma, Naruto, and Sasuke chose to participate, while Sakura left still unsure and had three days to decide.

• Kakashi surprised Team Seven by arriving on time and explained that he had recommended all four members for the Chunin Exams.
• Kakashi handed out registration forms and said the team would face special rules if all four participated.
• Menma, Sasuke, and Naruto each announced that they would take part in the exams.
• Sakura hesitated because she doubted her abilities, so Kakashi urged everyone to consider their choices before registration closed.
• Kakashi dismissed the team, and the four left with their decisions still to make.

Menma and his teammates arrived at the Ninja Academy for the Chunin Exams, where genin from many villages gathered amid mutual suspicion. As they headed toward Classroom 301, a blocked passage and two familiar figures caught Menma’s attention.

• Menma looked for Kabuto Yakushi at the academy entrance, hoping to use him as a bridge to meet Orochimaru alone during the second round.
• Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura joined Menma, and the four entered the academy together before the registration deadline.
• Menma reflected that hatred and conflicts of interest made the ideal of understanding between people unrealistic, while he focused on gaining control of his own life.
• The team walked through the academy toward Classroom 301, where a crowd blocked the passage and Menma noticed two familiar figures at its center.

Menma’s team saw through Kotetsu and Izumo’s Genjutsu at the Chunin Exams entrance, but Sasuke’s attack was interrupted by Rock Lee. Lee and his teammates Neji and Tenten introduced themselves and showed keen interest in challenging Menma, Sasuke, and Naruto.

• Menma, Sasuke, and Sakura recognized Kotetsu and Izumo’s Genjutsu, while Naruto realized it only after Sakura pointed it out.
• Menma’s team confronted Kotetsu and Izumo, who dispelled the Genjutsu and challenged them to defeat their way past.
• Sasuke attacked Izumo, but Rock Lee moved between them and blocked the strike.
• Lee introduced himself and explained that he had graduated a year earlier, then admitted he wanted to challenge Menma, Sasuke, and Naruto.
• Neji and Tenten joined Lee, and Neji apologized for Lee’s impulsiveness before introducing himself as a Hyuga.

Menma, Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura entered the Chunin Exam classroom after deferring a possible fight with Neji and Lee until the exams. Inside, Menma identified Kabuto Yakushi and began considering how to approach him, before Shikamaru, Choji, and Ino came over.

• Tenten introduced Neji as the top student of the previous year, and Naruto eagerly accepted the possibility of sparring with him.
• Menma stopped Naruto and Sasuke from starting a fight, saying the Chunin Exams would provide a better chance to compete with Neji and Lee.
• Neji watched Team Seven leave and became eager to face Menma, Naruto, and Sasuke during the exams.
• Menma and his team entered Classroom 301, where Kabuto noticed them and decided to report their participation to Orochimaru.
• Menma recognized Kabuto and considered how to approach him without drawing attention.
• Shikamaru approached Menma, with Choji and Ino following behind him.

Menma reunited with the other genin before the Chunin Exams and intimidated a Waterfall Ninja who tried to silence them. Morino Ibiki arrived, took control of the examination hall, and announced the first test was a written exam.

• Menma greeted Shikamaru and joined Naruto, Sasuke, Choji, Sakura Haruno, Ino, and the other genin as they gathered before the exam.
• A scar-faced Waterfall Ninja confronted the noisy group, and Menma frightened him with his powerful Chakra and killing intent.
• The other genin, including Neji, Lee, Gaara, and Kabuto Yakushi, noticed Menma's strength and presence.
• Morino Ibiki entered, ordered the candidates to obey his instructions, and announced that the first test was a written exam.
• Sakura Haruno was pleased when she heard the first test was written.

Morino Ibiki used the first Chunin Exam’s written test and tenth-question rules to pressure the genin, testing their judgment and resolve more than their academic knowledge. He announced that every candidate who remained had passed, leaving the bewildered genin in Room 301.

• Sakura felt confident about the written test, while Naruto, Kiba, and Choji worried they would fail; Menma remained unconcerned about the exam.
• Morino Ibiki announced the rules, including the team-average score and a tenth question to be revealed after forty-five minutes, and the candidates began the test.
• Ibiki’s examiners caught candidates using crude cheating methods, deducted points, and expelled those who reached zero.
• Ibiki gave the remaining genin the choice to forfeit before the tenth question, and several candidates withdrew, disqualifying their teammates.
• Sakura, Ino, Choji, Naruto, and the other remaining candidates chose to persist despite Ibiki’s pressure.
• Ibiki announced that everyone still in the room had passed, leaving most candidates confused by the sudden reversal.

Anko Mitarashi interrupted the end of the First Exam to announce that the Second Exam would begin the next day, leaving the genin uneasy about what awaited them. Menma returned home to prepare for a possible negotiation with Orochimaru, while Kabuto Yakushi met a Root Member in secret with a scroll.

• Ibiki explained the purpose of the written test and congratulated the remaining genin on passing.
• Anko Mitarashi burst into the classroom, introduced herself as the Second Exam’s Lead Proctor, and dismissed the examinees after warning that she would eliminate at least half of them.
• Menma returned home and considered how to negotiate with Orochimaru during the Second Exam.
• Kabuto Yakushi met a Root Member in a shadowy area of Konohagakure and presented a scroll without handing it over.