Chapter Summaries

Mingren and Kushina sealed Orosuke Hime’s spirit inside an Eight Trigrams Seal prison, then Mingren forced her to reveal the Konoha Crush Plan. The chapter left Rasa confirmed alive and Sunagakure’s plan against Konoha still set to unfold during the final exam round.

• Mingren found Orosuke Hime in her Mental World and confined it inside an Eight Trigrams Seal cage, with his Chakra acting as its jailer.
• Mingren confirmed the seal had succeeded, and Kushina left him alone with the awakened Orosuke Hime.
• Mingren threatened Orosuke Hime with death until she revealed that Rasa was alive and had agreed to the invasion plan.
• Orosuke Hime explained that Sunagakure and Otogakure would use Gaara to topple Konoha during the final round of the exams, killing its leaders and occupying the village.

Mingren exposed Orosuke Hime’s plans and struck her, insisting that he was human and that she was his Dark Weapon. Three days later, the surviving Chunin Exam candidates gathered at the Death Tower for the next stage, while the assembled Jonin observed them.

• Mingren told Orosuke Hime that she wanted to use Konoha’s revival to counter the Akatsuki and Amegakure, and Orosuke Hime agreed but accused him of wanting to become a god.
• Mingren attacked Orosuke Hime and declared that he was human and that she was his Dark Weapon, while Kushina watched in terror.
• Three days later, Pakura learned that Ying had placed first and broken the Forest of Death record, while Kimimaro wondered why Orochimaru had not contacted them.
• Anko Mitarashi announced that thirty-three examinees had passed, and the Jonin gathered to observe the candidates at the Death Tower.
• Hayate Gekko examined Naruto Uzumaki, Sasuke Uchiha, and Sakura Haruno, judging Sakura ordinary in strength.

Naruto and his teammates reached the Chunin Exam preliminaries, where Sasuke defeated Shi and Naruto beat Kiba before Hinata faced Neji. Neji nearly killed Hinata, but the proctors and Jonin stopped him, and the chapter ended with a scene shifting to an inn in Konoha.

• Oboro and his teammates lost to the group led by Kabuto, and Kabuto later forfeited the exam so Naruto and his teammates could enter Death Tower.
• Sasuke defeated Shi with his Lion Combo, shocking Darui and Mabui and prompting Pakura to take Sasuke and Naruto more seriously.
• Naruto defeated Kiba after declaring that Kiba would become a lost dog if he fought Naruto for the Hokage title.
• Neji criticized Hinata's weakness and claimed people could not change, then beat her badly despite Naruto urging her to keep fighting.
• Neji charged at Hinata again, but Gekko Hayate, Kakashi, Kurenai, and Guy intervened to stop him as the fight shifted to a Konoha inn.

Mingren sent a Dark Chakra clone to the Forest of Death tower, where it possessed Ying as Neji’s clash with Konoha’s ninja exposed his anger at the Main Family’s privileges. The chapter ended with Mingren surveying the aftermath and preparing to question Konoha’s actions.

• After three days of interrogating Orosuke Hime, Mingren used Dark Chakra to send a shadow across the distance to the Forest of Death tower.
• Neji confronted Hyuga Hinata and accused the Main Family of receiving special treatment, prompting Might Guy to restrain and reprimand him.
• Naruto Uzumaki charged at Neji, but Rock Lee stopped him and urged him to settle things in an official match.
• Hinata’s condition worsened, and Kurenai Yuhi ordered the Medical Team to rush her to intensive care.
• Naruto vowed to defeat Neji while holding Hinata’s blood, and Mingren’s Dark Shadow possessed Ying.
• Mingren observed Hinata being carried away and Naruto glaring at Neji as he began assessing the scene.

Ying denounced Konoha for its handling of Neji and Hinata’s match and for its past invasions of the Land of Rain. She then faced Kurotsuchi in the next match and unleashed a powerful blast of Natural Energy at her.

• Ying challenged the officials for allowing Kakashi and Kurenai to enter the arena and criticized Naruto for urging Hinata to keep fighting.
• Ying accused Konoha of betraying Sunagakure and invading the Land of Rain, while Pakura supported her and Hiruzen remained silent.
• The match board announced Ying versus Kurotsuchi, and Gekko Hayate started the fight.
• Kurotsuchi attacked with Lava Release: Lime Sintering Technique, but Ying fired a massive beam of Natural Energy through it toward her.

Ying’s enormous Natural Energy attack threatened Kurotsuchi, prompting Konoha’s Jonin to intervene, but Mingren’s Dark Shadow struck them down to stop their interference. The chapter left Kitsuchi and Kurotsuchi exposed as the Dark Shadow pointed a finger at Kitsuchi amid Ying’s attack.

• Konoha’s Jonin learned that Ying’s Tsuchigumo secret technique could unleash town-destroying power and rushed to save Kurotsuchi from it.
• Neji watched the Jonin interfere and concluded that the privileged class would always dictate the outcome.
• Mingren’s Dark Shadow appeared and knocked out Anko, broke Asuma’s arm, slammed Kurenai Yuhi into the ground, and rendered Kakashi Hatake unconscious.
• Kitsuchi raised an Earth Flow Wall to shield Kurotsuchi, but the Dark Shadow shattered it as Ying’s Natural Energy attack approached.
• The Dark Shadow pointed a finger at Kitsuchi, who threw a punch at it.

Mingren killed Kitsuchi with a mysterious dark shadow after the Jonin entered the arena, leaving the Chunin Exam in crisis. Hiruzen ended the exam and postponed the third round for a month as Konoha faced the problem of explaining Kitsuchi’s death to Ōnoki and Iwagakure.

• Mingren’s Dark Shadow shattered Kitsuchi’s rock-covered arm, struck his forehead, and pulverized his body.
• The Genin and observing ninjas struggled to understand the attack, while Kurotsuchi cried out for her father and Sakura and Naruto rushed to Kakashi.
• Neji recognized that the dark shadow had killed Kitsuchi with one finger, and Might Guy judged its power to be beyond ordinary Jonin or Shadow-level fighting.
• Might Guy suspected that the rule-breaking Jonin entering the arena had provoked the attacker, but kept his thought to himself.
• Hiruzen ended the Chunin Exam and selected the remaining examinees for the third round, scheduled for a month later.

Ying left Konoha after Hiruzen Sarutobi decided the village would blame Orochimaru for Kitsuchi’s death rather than risk war with Iwagakure. Mingren prepared Orosuke Hime for the coming Konoha Crush, then left Kushina shaken after she witnessed the aftermath of his interrogation.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi considered how to explain Kitsuchi’s death and settled on blaming the traitorous disciple Orochimaru.
• Ying mocked Konoha and departed with Haku and Ajisai, while the other nations’ Genin looked on with contempt.
• Mingren ended his remote control of Dark Shadow and confirmed that Konoha would face retaliation during the exam’s third round.
• Mingren reminded Orosuke Hime of their plan, restrained her with Chakra Restraint Tools, and sent her away from Konoha.
• Kushina emerged from the study after witnessing the interrogation and trembled in fear when Mingren looked at her.

Kabuto Yakushi abandoned his plan to assassinate Sasuke after seeing Orosuke Hime and went to find her. Later, Mingren took the disguised Uzumaki Kushina to prepare for Konoha’s Fireworks Festival, choosing her a red cheongsam.

• Kabuto Yakushi noticed Orosuke Hime outside the hospital and gave up on attacking Sasuke, while Kakashi entered to teach Sasuke Chidori.
• Jiraiya gave Naruto Uzumaki the Mount Myōboku Summoning Scroll, and Sasuke secretly trained Chidori with Kakashi as Konoha and Iwagakure faced a diplomatic standoff.
• Ino served Kurenai Yuhi at the flower shop before Mingren and the disguised Uzumaki Kushina arrived and bought small summer chrysanthemums.
• Mingren brought Kushina to a clothing store and chose a red, slit cheongsam for her to wear to the Fireworks Festival.

At Konoha’s Fireworks Festival, Mingren took a restrained Kushina through the crowds while she watched Naruto from afar, aching to reveal that she was his mother. Kurenai rejected Asuma’s pursuit and was unable to answer when he asked what had happened in the Land of Demons.

• Mingren paid for a fox-themed cheongsam and accessories, then took Kushina from the clothing store.
• Ying attended the festival with Ajisai, Haku, and Pakura, while Mingren and Kushina walked nearby in disguise.
• Naruto, Sasuke, Sakura, and Kakashi gathered at the festival, and Kushina watched Naruto without approaching him.
• Asuma followed Kurenai through the festival despite her coldness, while Kushina recognized how much Kurenai had changed.
• Kurenai finally demanded that Asuma stop following her, and he asked what had happened to her in the Land of Demons; she could not answer.

Kurenai endured the pain of Mingren’s Dark Chakra Jutsu Mark while Kushina watched, uncertain about the future and her ability to return to Naruto and Minato. In the Land of Rain, the Daimyo learned that Mingren planned to kill the Third Hokage and Fourth Kazekage at Konoha’s third Chunin Exam, while Hanzo and his allies prepared to travel there in disguise.

• Asuma confessed that he would wait for Kurenai, but she clutched her abdomen and walked away without answering.
• Mingren left Kushina and approached Kurenai in the hillside woods as her pain intensified; nearby, Hayate Gekko and Uzuki Yugao watched the fireworks together.
• Kushina thought about Mingren’s prediction of war and resolved to endure until Naruto mastered the Nine-Tails’ power.
• In the Land of Rain, the Daimyo read Konoha’s letter and heard Mingren’s decree that he would kill the Third Hokage and Fourth Kazekage at the third Chunin Exam.
• The Land of Rain’s nobles panicked, but the Daimyo told them to wait; Hanzo, Asuka, Hizashi Hyuga, and the others arrived ready to disguise themselves as the Daimyo’s guards and palanquin bearers and travel to Konoha for revenge.

Gaara’s rampage against Dosu exposed the alliance between Sunagakure, Otogakure, and Amakawa Mingren’s Amegakure, while Hayate Gekko was captured after overhearing their plans. As the Chunin Exam’s third round approached, Hiruzen Sarutobi and Rasa prepared for the coming attack on Konoha.

• Gaara unleashed the One-Tail’s power and nearly killed Dosu, but Amakawa Mingren rescued him.
• Kabuto Yakushi revealed that Mingren had joined forces with Otogakure and Sunagakure, and Mingren told Baki he would kill the Hokage.
• Hayate Gekko overheard the alliance and its plans to attack Konoha, so Kabuto knocked him unconscious on Mingren’s orders.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi told Konoha’s leaders that Hayate had disappeared and that Orochimaru seemed to be allied with Amegakure, but he refused to cancel the Chunin Exam.
• Baki reported Mingren’s threat to kill the Third Hokage during the exam’s third round, and Rasa prepared a plan before heading to Konoha.

As the Chunin Exam’s third stage began, Mingren positioned allies to strike at Konoha while deceiving Hiruzen Sarutobi and the Land of Rain’s Daimyo. The match schedule put Ying against Darui and Naruto Uzumaki against Neji Hyuga, and the contestants argued over Konoha’s conduct before the fights began.

• Mingren’s plan used the Land of Rain’s Daimyo to reassure Hiruzen Sarutobi while preparing to force the Daimyo to abdicate after the exam.
• The Land of Rain’s Daimyo met Hiruzen Sarutobi at the arena, while Rasa, Hanzo, Asuka, Hizashi Hyuga, and Pakura stood ready to act on Mingren’s signal.
• Genma Shiranui announced the revised third-stage match order, including Ying versus Darui and Naruto Uzumaki versus Neji Hyuga.
• Ying challenged Genma Shiranui over Konoha’s intervention in past matches, and Naruto Uzumaki angrily confronted her.
• Shikamaru tried to calm Naruto and admitted Konoha had been at fault, while Kaede asked Genma Shiranui whether he would intervene.

The Chunin Exam’s third round began, and Naruto Uzumaki faced Neji Hyuga as Neji argued that people’s fates were fixed at birth. Mingren prepared Ying to use the fight to begin resisting the world’s Bloodline Theory, while Neji’s display of talent stirred Hizashi Hyuga’s hopes for a future beyond the Hyuga clan’s main and branch families.

• Shikamaru Nara forfeited to Temari after earning the crowd’s respect, and Kankuro conceded to Shino Aburame to save his strength.
• Naruto Uzumaki and Neji Hyuga began their match as Mingren told Ying to carry out their plan against Bloodline Theory.
• Neji defeated Naruto’s Shadow Clones and insisted that talent and fate were determined at birth.
• Neji used Eight Trigrams Palms Revolving Heaven and began striking Naruto with the Sixty-Four Palms, astonishing Hyuga Hiashi and encouraging Hizashi Hyuga to imagine a future beyond the clan’s family divisions.

Naruto Uzumaki defeated Neji Hyuga after breaking the Gentle Fist’s restraints with Nine-Tails Chakra, but Ying challenged the claim that Naruto won through hard work. She exposed Naruto’s privileged access to forbidden knowledge and revealed his identity as Konoha’s Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, leaving Neji and Sakura shocked.

• Neji Hyuga struck Naruto Uzumaki with the Sixty-Four Palms and declared that fate made hard work meaningless, while Hizashi Hyuga resolved to take Neji away from Konoha.
• Naruto Uzumaki broke free with Nine-Tails Chakra, fought Neji, and sent him crashing to the ground after their techniques collided.
• Ying interrupted Naruto’s victory speech and argued that he was no failure, citing his access to the Shadow Clone technique and the Scroll of Seals.
• Ying explained that the Scroll of Seals was restricted to the Hokage and challenged Naruto’s claim that his victory came from hard work.
• Ying revealed that Naruto Uzumaki was Konoha’s Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, shocking Neji Hyuga and Sakura, who had not known.

Ying exposed Naruto Uzumaki’s hidden power and prestigious heritage, shattering Neji Hyuga’s belief that fate could be overcome by effort alone. As the Chunin Exam advanced, Ying was matched against Naruto, while Mingren warned her not to underestimate him.

• Ying revealed that Naruto Uzumaki had used the Nine-Tails’ chakra and possessed a bloodline more prestigious than Neji Hyuga’s, and Neji left the arena devastated.
• Might Guy confirmed Neji’s suspicions with a silent gesture, while Hizashi Hyuga resolved to help his son leave Konoha.
• Naruto Uzumaki angrily challenged Ying, but she dismissed him and walked away; Darui then forfeited his match against Ying.
• Ajisai and Haku both forfeited, and Sasuke arrived with Kakashi before defeating Kaede with copied taijutsu.
• Genma Shiranui announced that Ying would face Naruto Uzumaki in the second round, and Mingren warned Ying that Naruto remained dangerous despite her advantage.

Naruto Uzumaki fought Ying in the Chunin Exam arena, revealing hundreds of Shadow Clones and then drawing on the Nine-Tails' Chakra as Ying unleashed powerful Natural Energy attacks. As the battle threatened the spectators, Hiruzen Sarutobi ordered a Five Seal Barrier around the arena, and Naruto continued evading Ying's concentrated beams while the audience realized how much stronger he had become.

• Ying absorbed Natural Energy and destroyed Naruto Uzumaki's Shadow Clones with beams of light.
• Naruto Uzumaki created hundreds of Shadow Clones, but Ying wiped them out with Heavenly Fury.
• Naruto Uzumaki drew Chakra from the Nine-Tails, gained a Tailed Beast Cloak, and charged Ying at tremendous speed.
• Naruto Uzumaki collided with Ying's enormous beam and landed seemingly unharmed.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi ordered five ANBU members to activate a Five Seal Barrier around the arena as the battle threatened the spectators.
• Naruto Uzumaki evaded Ying's concentrated beams in a beastlike state, astonishing Sakura, Sasuke, and the other spectators.

Ying overwhelmed Naruto Uzumaki and challenged his reliance on the Nine-Tails, but Naruto summoned Gamabunta to continue the fight. The arena watched in shock as Ying confronted the giant toad and questioned whether Mount Myōboku supported Naruto.

• Ying blasted Naruto Uzumaki through the barrier and argued that her Earth Spider Clan Secret Technique could be learned by anyone, unlike the unique Nine-Tails.
• Naruto Uzumaki borrowed the Nine-Tails' Chakra and summoned Gamabunta, who smashed through the Five Seal Barrier and filled the Colosseum.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi realized Naruto had learned to summon Mount Myōboku's toads and considered Jiraiya as a possible Fifth Hokage.
• Gaara grinned at the fight, while Kankuro, Temari, and Maki reacted cautiously; Sasuke grew jealous of Naruto's strength, and Kakashi noticed.
• Gamabunta recognized the connection between Amegakure and the Fourth Generation's death, while Ying asked whether Mount Myōboku's toads were allied with Naruto Uzumaki.

Naruto Uzumaki summoned Gamabunta, who fought Ying outside the arena after Naruto warned him not to endanger the spectators. Ying blasted apart Gamabunta’s huge water attacks with a pillar of golden light, leaving the crowd drenched and stunned by her power.

• Asuma and the other ninja recognized Gamabunta as the Fourth Hokage’s summon and wondered about Naruto Uzumaki’s abilities.
• Gamabunta prepared to attack Ying, but Naruto Uzumaki warned him to move the fight away from the spectators.
• Gamabunta leaped outside the arena, and Ying followed him using Natural Energy.
• Gamabunta fired ten enormous Iron Cannonballs at Ying with Water Style.
• Ying released a massive golden pillar of light that destroyed the Iron Cannonballs and drenched the arena and forest with rain.

Ying used Dark Sage Chakra and an eight-ton Kusanagi-series Katana to defeat Naruto Uzumaki in the arena. Genma Shiranui declared Ying the winner, while Naruto remained unconscious.

• Mingren told Ying to use her weapon, and she unsealed an eight-ton Katana made by Amegakure's Fūma Clan blacksmiths.
• Ying combined Natural Energy with her Dark Chakra to enter Sage Chakra mode and lift the Katana.
• Ying wounded Gamabunta with rapid slashes, dispelling the Summoning Technique and sending him back to Mount Myōboku.
• Ying punched Naruto Uzumaki across the arena, where he crashed into a crater and lost consciousness.
• Ying pressured Genma Shiranui to announce the result, and he declared Earth Spider Hotaru the winner.