Chapter Summaries

Danzo learned that Orochimaru wanted manpower and freedom in the Land of Rice Fields and could offer the remaining forces of the Land of the Sky. After returning from Kumogakure, Shuji received a gift from the Raikage and gave protein powder to Guy, who immediately challenged him to run five hundred laps around Konoha.

• Earth Nine told Danzo that Orochimaru wanted manpower and freedom of action in the Land of Rice Fields and offered the Land of the Sky's remaining forces.
• Nara Shikaku returned to Konoha and gave Shuji an upgraded canister of protein powder from the Raikage.
• Shikaku reported Kumogakure's proposal to focus future competitions on taijutsu and the five elemental transformations, and Tsunade agreed in principle.
• Shuji told Tsunade he planned to consult Guy about improving his physical training and decided to give Guy his stored protein powder.
• Guy enthusiastically accepted Shuji's gift and challenged him to run five hundred laps around Konoha.

Naruto learned that Yamato had won the previous Chunin Exams and that Sasuke’s brother Itachi had become a Chunin at a young age. After Konoha’s poor genin performance in the exchange with Kumogakure, Shuji approved proposals to strengthen Ninja Academy training and considered allowing exceptional students to learn low-level elemental techniques.

• Naruto asked Shikamaru about the Chunin Exams, and Shikamaru explained that Yamato had won the Four-Village Joint Exam.
• Sasuke dismissed Yamato’s victory as luck, and Shikamaru told Naruto that Itachi had won an earlier exam and become a Chunin in second grade.
• Shikamaru worried that the genin defeat in Kumogakure could bring blame upon his father, Nara Shikaku.
• Iruka attended a meeting where Konoha’s leaders raised graduation standards and increased combat training at the Ninja Academy.
• Ebisu gave Shuji a list of outstanding students and proposed using recently graduated genin as sparring partners for graduating students.
• Shuji approved the sparring proposal and considered Ebisu’s request to teach low-level elemental techniques to exceptional students.

Shuji approved a limited system for the Ninja Academy to request ninjutsu and discussed the Joint Chunin Exams with Samui, while Iruka took Naruto to Ichiraku Ramen. The chapter ended with Iruka and Naruto encountering Shuji and Samui at the ramen shop.

• Shuji revised Ebisu's ninjutsu proposal so the village would provide techniques to promising students after Ninja Academy aptitude tests, with costs reimbursed if they mastered them.
• Shuji met Samui at the Hokage Building, where she discussed the previous event's revenue share and proposed that genuine genin compete in the November Joint Chunin Exams if Konoha, Kumogakure, and Sunagakure all participated.
• Shuji hesitated over the proposal because the exams were meant to demonstrate strength, then agreed to arrange ramen with Samui after she reminded him he still owed her a favor for the seeds.
• Iruka worried about his students' prospects under a harder graduation assessment and encouraged Naruto to work on his academic subjects.
• Iruka treated Naruto to ramen, where they encountered Shuji and Samui.

Shuji met Iruka and Naruto while accompanying Kumogakure envoy Samui, who later asked him about Karin. Meanwhile, Kakashi explained to Tsunade why Yakushi Nonō may have been forced to work with Danzo and proposed a plan to gain the orphanage managers’ cooperation.

• Samui recognized Iruka from the previous Chunin Exams, and Naruto peppered Shuji with questions while they ate ramen together.
• Shuji paid for Iruka and Naruto’s meal, then took Samui for a walk through Konoha to find a suitable return gift.
• Samui stopped Shuji and asked what Karin was to him.
• Kakashi told Tsunade that Yakushi Nonō was most likely hiding in Iwagakure and described how delayed village funding may have forced her to accept Danzo’s terms.
• Kakashi proposed issuing an official document confirming the orphanage’s funding came from the village and telling its managers that Shimura Danzō was no longer an elder advisor.

Shuji and Tsunade discussed funding the Ninja Academy’s higher graduation standards and proposed regulating tournament betting to cover costs. Meanwhile, Ōnoki planned Iwagakure’s own tournament while dealing with Deidara’s latest trouble.

• Samui asked Shuji about visiting Konoha’s Ninja Academy, and he confirmed they would go as part of their mission.
• Samui told Shuji that Kumogakure’s proposed event name was “Thunder Fire: Sword and Combat Tournament,” though its details still needed discussion.
• Ōnoki decided Iwagakure would hold a Western Ninja Exchange Tournament and recruit wandering ninja and participants from nearby smaller villages.
• Banga brought Deidara to Ōnoki after he used his jutsu outside the village, and Ōnoki ordered him expelled until he learned to use his power properly.
• Tsunade worried about the costs of raising Ninja Academy graduation standards, so Shuji proposed investigating tournament betting and making dependent merchants help pay for enforcement.

Shuji and Hiruzen Sarutobi agreed on plans for preschool classes and genin training, with Hiruzen taking charge of the preschool and Shuji volunteering to teach ninjutsu. At the Ninja Academy, Iruka announced weekly combat demonstrations, with the first scheduled for the next afternoon.

• Tsunade sent Shuji to discuss his funding proposal with Hiruzen Sarutobi, who approved raising revenue from competition organizers and creating preschool classes for four-year-olds.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi planned to use Yamato’s Four-Pillar House Technique for the preschool and volunteered to oversee its initial operations and teach basic courses.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi assigned Hayate Gekko to teach taijutsu and swordsmanship, and Shuji agreed to teach ninjutsu to genin trainees.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi told Shuji that Konoha’s future exchanges with other villages would rely more on young genin and thanked him and Tsunade for building cooperation with Kumogakure.
• Naruto told Shikamaru that Shuji had praised Shikamaru’s father and had once treated Naruto and Iruka to ramen, while Karin secretly listened.
• Iruka announced that the students would watch a weekly taijutsu or ninjutsu demonstration by upperclassmen, beginning the next afternoon.

Orochimaru planned to draw power from the Ley Line beneath Rōran without disrupting Minato’s seal, while Konoha investigated suspicious border activity linked to Danzo. Shuji suspected Akatsuki was behind the unexplained movements near the Land of Rivers.

• Orochimaru told Zetsu that he needed two days to open a crack in the Ley Line seal and draw out its power without destabilizing it.
• Kakashi reported that the Orphanage had provided Yakushi Nonō’s approximate whereabouts and that Anbu had identified four suspicious border outposts.
• Kakashi and Tsunade noted that unusual activity at an outpost near the Land of Rivers could not be explained by operations against Iwagakure.
• Shuji joined Tsunade and Kakashi, considered whether Danzo was targeting Sunagakure, and asked about recent intelligence on Orochimaru.
• Shuji concluded that Akatsuki might be the hidden force behind the abnormal activity and asked whether they had made any moves.

Tsunade questioned Danzo about his secret recruitment and deployment of Yakushi Nonō and Yakushi Kabuto, while the village assessed unusual activity at a Land of Rivers outpost and contacts between Sunagakure and Iwagakure. Shuji asked Danzo to hand over all information on the spies to Kakashi, leaving their whereabouts and mission details unresolved.

• Tsunade said Kakashi had sent teams to monitor all four outposts and ordered border troops to prepare, then decided to interrogate Danzo.
• Danzo admitted recruiting Yakushi Nonō and sending her adopted son, Yakushi Kabuto, on covert missions without updating village records.
• Danzo claimed he had lost contact with many intelligence networks and said he had nearly forgotten the two spies.
• Danzo revealed that frequent exchanges between Sunagakure and Iwagakure had led him to increase undercover operations, and argued that Konoha should pressure Sunagakure into subordination.
• Shuji asked Danzo to transfer everything concerning Nonō and Kabuto to Kakashi and said the village would assess Danzo's intelligence about the envoys.

After Danzo agreed to comply with the village’s decision, Tsunade ordered tighter surveillance and investigated his covert network. The chapter left Shuji preparing to lead a team to the Land of Rivers while Kakashi pursued Yakushi Nonō and Yakushi Kabuto.

• Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura backed Shuji’s proposal, and Danzo left the Hokage Office with Kakashi.
• Tsunade ordered the outposts’ personnel replaced and Shimura Danzō placed under round-the-clock surveillance.
• Interrogations revealed that the Land of Rivers outpost chief had supported Danzo’s operation, while Kakashi received no useful response from Yakushi Nonō or Yakushi Kabuto.
• Samui told Shuji that Kumogakure would remain Konoha’s ally unless a greater upheaval occurred.
• Tsunade assigned Shuji to investigate the Land of Rivers border and ordered Kakashi to keep tracking Danzo’s contact channels.

Shuji investigated Danzo’s unexplained supply movements at a Land of Rivers outpost, but an aerial attack by Sky Ninja interrupted his work. He learned that Rasa had brought Sunagakure forces to assist the Land of Rivers, leaving Konoha to await the Chunin Exam teams.

• Shuji learned that Sunagakure had notified the outpost that thirty-nine Chunin Exam participants were on their way, and he ordered the team monitored under standard procedures.
• An alarm warned Shuji that three nearby outposts had been attacked by Sky Ninja dropping explosives from flying devices.
• Shuji killed the six Sky Ninja approaching his outpost with Wind Release: Wind Cutter, then ordered defenses strengthened and an urgent report sent to Konoha.
• Shuji assembled border forces and went to meet the expected Sunagakure team, but found Rasa leading an elite force instead.
• Rasa told Shuji that the Feudal Lord of the Land of Rivers had requested help against aerial attacks and said the Chunin Exam teams were still following their original schedule.

Shuji withdrew from a standoff with Rasa after learning that Sunagakure had entered the Land of Rivers, while Konoha’s leaders debated how to respond. Rasa’s plan relied on the Sky Ninja and the Ley Line to help Sunagakure secure a lasting foothold.

• Shuji withdrew his Konoha forces after confronting Rasa and Sunagakure’s troops in the Land of Rivers.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi and Tsunade discussed Sunagakure’s move and the missing intelligence contacts, and Hiruzen assigned himself the Iwagakure front while leaving intelligence matters to Kakashi.
• Tsunade agreed with Hiruzen that Konoha should recall its forces abroad and bring Jiraiya and the others back.
• Rasa recalled how a half-black, half-white figure had urged conflict and explained that the Sky Ninja’s attack gave Sunagakure cover for its preparations.
• Rasa planned to use the Ley Line’s earth energy to power puppets and secure the Land of Rivers as a fertile hinterland for Sunagakure.

Shikaku joined Shuji’s forces on the Land of Rivers border, where Sky Ninja air raids supported Sunagakure’s growing presence. Shuji planned to lead Konoha troops into the Land of Rivers to protect its local influence and disrupt Rasa’s preparations.

• Shikaku left Konoha with reinforcements and reached the border before nightfall.
• Sky Ninja bombed Konoha’s positions, but the defenders intercepted the explosives and drove the attackers off.
• Shikaku met Shuji at the cave command post and handed him a sealed message conveying the Hokage’s orders.
• Shuji explained that Sky Ninja raids came from the sea and likely relied on a base within Sunagakure’s controlled territory or offshore.
• Shuji proposed entering the Land of Rivers to reassure its people and prevent Sunagakure from gaining control.
• Shikaku agreed that Konoha should take the initiative while Rasa was still waiting.

Shuji and Nara Shikaku prepared to exploit the Sky Ninja’s flight weakness while Konoha staged a large assembly near the Land of Rivers border. The Sky Ninja launched a bombing attack, but Shuji’s Sage Art disrupted their flight and sent them crashing down, leaving Rasa to witness the sudden reversal through his Sand Eye.

• Shuji explained that his wind-vortex technique could disrupt the Sky Ninja’s flight, and Nara Shikaku agreed to draw them into a large-scale attack.
• After learning Konoha had assembled near the border, Rasa ordered Sunagakure’s forces to prepare and told the Sky Ninja to launch a major aerial strike.
• Nara Shikaku met Rasa at the border and claimed Konoha had come to pursue the unidentified flying ninja and help its ally, but Rasa refused Konoha’s assistance.
• Rasa used a Sand Eye to observe Konoha’s troops converging in a valley and recognized the assembly as a tempting target for an air raid.
• As the Sky Ninja descended to bomb the valley, Shuji entered Sage Mode and unleashed Sage Art: Thousand Frenzied Whirling Currents.
• Shuji’s vortices threw the Sky Ninja into chaotic turbulence, causing many of them to lose control and crash into the forests and valleys below.

Shuji led Konoha’s successful strike against the Sky Ninja, then rushed to defend the vanguard from Rasa’s Gold Dust assault. Rasa recognized Shuji as Konoha’s Wood Release user as a forest rose to battle the golden tide.

• Shuji ordered the Sky Ninja prisoners and wreckage handed over to Shikaku and sent the units to regroup.
• Shikaku directed Shuji to lead the vanguard to Preset Point Three while he organized rear troops and supplies.
• Rasa identified Shuji as the caster behind Konoha’s attack and led the First Puppet Unit and Wind Style Assault Team toward the battlefield.
• At Preset Point Three, Shuji raised an Earth Flow Rampart to block Rasa’s Gold Dust, while Konoha shinobi formed flank defenses.
• Shuji used Wood Release to shatter the Gold Dust spears and unleash Deep Forest Emergence, beginning a clash between the forest and Rasa’s golden tide.

Shuji used Wood Release to repel Rasa’s attack and secure Konoha’s position in the valley. At the Sunagakure camp, Rasa demanded that Zetsu modernize and integrate the Sky Ninja forces or risk losing Sunagakure’s cooperation.

• Shuji’s Wood Release blocked Rasa’s gold-dust assault and sent wooden spikes at him, but Sunagakure’s Wind Release squad and puppets cut back the forest.
• Rasa retreated inside a protective puppet, then withdrew his forces while leaving the Earth Flow Rampart blocking the valley.
• Shuji returned to the valley and ordered Konoha’s troops to build a camp, fortify it, and wait for reinforcements.
• Rasa secretly summoned Zetsu and demanded the Sky Ninja, but Zetsu said their forces had suffered heavy losses.
• Rasa rejected using the Sky Ninja to attack towns in the Land of Fire and insisted they needed a complete technical overhaul and integration into Sunagakure’s forces.
• Rasa warned that Sunagakure could pursue peace talks with Konoha if Zetsu’s organization would not invest in the Sky Ninja.

Chiyo examined the Sky Ninja’s flight equipment as Sunagakure prepared for battle, while Rasa held Konoha back with a Gold Dust barrier. Shuji shattered the barrier with a massive Water Release, allowing Konoha to launch a fierce assault on Sunagakure’s position.

• Chiyo tested the Sky Ninja’s weapons and flight gear, criticizing their limitations and Rasa’s pressure to modify them.
• Rasa and Sunagakure’s Wind Release ninja spread Gold Dust into a barrier that blocked Konoha’s attacks for three days.
• Shikaku and Shuji concluded that Sunagakure was waiting for something and discussed how to disrupt its defensive preparations.
• Shuji used Sage Art: Water Release: Water Shockwave to wash away the Gold Dust barrier, though Rasa stopped the wave from reaching Sunagakure’s position.
• Shikaku ordered Konoha’s ninja to attack across the flooded battlefield.

Shuji pressed Rasa’s forces with Wood Release and overwhelming strength, but Sunagakure’s coordinated defenses held until Konoha withdrew at sunset. Rasa ordered a retreat to a second defensive line and focused on securing supplies, though he worried Konoha had grown stronger faster than expected.

• Shuji attacked Rasa with Wood Release and monstrous-strength strikes while Sunagakure’s squads coordinated to defend their line.
• Rasa’s forces used their fortifications and numerical advantage to hold back Konoha until sunset.
• Konoha withdrew in an orderly fashion, leaving the battlefield devastated.
• Rasa ordered the rear troops to build a second defensive line and prepare to receive the withdrawing frontline troops.
• Rasa prioritized transporting the food supplies and considered retreating from the Land of Rivers, while doubting whether Sunagakure had enough time to recover.

Ōnoki ordered Deidara brought back after learning Konoha had gained another Yellow Flash, while Shuji and Nara Shikaku assessed Konoha’s position after Sunagakure’s rapid retreat. With Sunagakure pilots using captured Sky Ninja equipment to harass the camp, Shuji proposed advancing only to the Land of Wind border and restarting the investigation into missing supplies.

• Ōnoki ordered Deidara brought back after hearing that another Yellow Flash had appeared in Konoha.
• Shuji and Nara Shikaku surveyed the captured camp and observed Sunagakure ninja flying Sky Ninja aircraft to disrupt Konoha’s deployments.
• Shuji proposed securing the Land of Rivers’ routes and coastline without advancing into Sunagakure’s desert homeland.
• Shikaku explained that Shuji’s ability to counter the Sky Ninja had helped Konoha advance faster than expected.
• Shuji asked Shikaku to investigate the missing supplies while he remained at the front in case Sunagakure counterattacked.

Tsunade and the advisers weighed whether to hold the November Joint Chunin Exams after Konoha pushed Sunagakure out of the Land of Rivers. At the front, Shuji rejected Sunagakure's peace overture unless it offered safeguards that would prevent another betrayal.

• Tsunade learned that Sunagakure had retreated and Konoha had advanced to the Land of Wind border.
• Tsunade, Utatane Koharu, and Mitokado Homura discussed the risks and financial consequences of canceling the Joint Chunin Exams, and Tsunade ordered them to sound out Iwagakure and consult Shuji and Shikaku.
• Shuji inspected a mountain command post designed to protect Konoha's forces from Sunagakure's air power.
• Shuji met with Baki and demanded to know what price Sunagakure would pay for betraying its alliance with Konoha.
• Shuji refused to discuss peace without safeguards and warned Baki that Konoha knew what Sunagakure was preparing.

Shuji and Nara Shikaku traced Yakushi Kabuto to a caravan in the Land of Rivers, where Kakashi confronted him with news from the Orphanage. Kabuto’s disguise began to fall away when Kakashi warned that Yakushi Nonō was also working as a spy and faced greater danger.

• Shimura Danzō waited under guard, believing his plan to destabilize Sunagakure would still let him regain power.
• Shuji received word that Kakashi had located Yakushi Kabuto in the Land of Rivers and promised to send Konoha his recommendations on Sunagakure.
• Nara Shikaku and Kakashi traced missing supplies and other clues to a desert caravan beside a trade route.
• Kakashi and two Anbu teams surrounded the caravan, while Nara Shikaku restrained its apparent leader with his shadow.
• Kakashi identified a disguised caravan hand as Yakushi Kabuto and told him his mission was over.
• Kakashi told Kabuto that Yakushi Nonō had also been sent out as a spy and was in greater danger, causing Kabuto’s panicked disguise to crack.