Chapter Summaries

Naruto considered the dangers of the Chunin Exams and the strength of the Ember Organization, while Menma found Kisame Hoshigaki after his betrayal by the Hidden Mist. Menma invited Kisame to join the organization and help reshape the world.

• Kakashi warned Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura that the Chunin Exams could become a deadly ordeal and told them how Nagatsuki had died on a mission.
• Naruto assessed the threats of Orochimaru's planned assault on Konoha and thought about the Ember Organization's assembled fighters.
• Kisame brooded in a cave over the comrades he had killed, the intelligence his superior had betrayed, and the beliefs he had lost.
• Menma found Kisame and revealed himself as the leader of the Ember Organization.
• Menma told Kisame that the old order had discarded him and invited him to join the organization.

Menma answered Kisame’s doubts by explaining that he rejected the Ninja World’s corrupt rules and offering Kisame a key and a trial instead of an unbreakable promise. Kisame felt drawn to Menma’s vision of true companionship, but still needed proof before committing himself.

• Kisame questioned whether Menma’s truth would only lead him into another cage and asked what had caused Menma to reject the world’s order.
• Menma said hope and the rules sustaining the Ninja World had betrayed him, trapping the weak in a cycle of loyalty and betrayal.
• Menma offered Kisame a place beside him as a true companion and challenged him to accept a key that might lead to hell or new life.
• Kisame was deeply moved by Menma’s offer but decided he needed irrefutable proof before entrusting him with his past and future.

Menma revealed the Nine-Tails to Kisame instead of removing his mask, leading Kisame to accept the Ember Organization. Kisame then addressed Menma as the Fourth Hokage, leaving Menma stunned.

• Menma realized Kisame needed a final answer before he could join the Ember Organization.
• Menma transferred the Nine-Tails’ chakra to his Shadow Clone and used it to show Kisame the Nine-Tails in Kisame’s mental world.
• Kisame understood Menma’s identity, accepted the offer, and pledged his life to the organization.
• Menma welcomed Kisame and prepared to take him to safety, but Kisame called him the Fourth Hokage.

Kisame joined the Ember Organization and developed respect for Zabuza, while Naruto and Satsuki spent the evening together in Konoha. The chapter ended with Satsuki giving Naruto a handmade Uchiha-clad cat doll.

• Naruto decided to let Kisame continue mistaking him for the Fourth Hokage and assigned him to Shisui Uchiha's Anbu.
• Kisame met Zabuza at the organization's base and treated him with reverence for having resisted Kirigakure's Bloody Mist system.
• Kakashi stopped Sakura from following Naruto and Satsuki, then took her away to discuss mission details.
• Naruto invited Satsuki to dinner, and she later prepared to leave after enjoying his cooking.
• Satsuki gave Naruto a handmade white cat doll wearing Uchiha clan attire and told him to display it somewhere noticeable.

Naruto treasured the handmade cat plushie Satsuki had given him and studied the Forbidden Jutsu scroll. Back at the Uchiha compound, Satsuki clung to Naruto’s old clothes and watched him through a secret live feed.

• Naruto placed Satsuki’s handmade cat plushie on his desk, where he could see it every day.
• Naruto spread out the Seal Scroll and began studying its forbidden jutsu theories.
• Satsuki returned home and went to her room, where she kept a life-size Naruto body pillow and Naruto’s discarded clothes.
• Satsuki dressed the body pillow in Naruto’s old jacket and hugged it while indulging her intense attachment to him.
• Satsuki turned on her computer and watched a live feed of Naruto studying the Seal Scroll.

Naruto studied the Impure World Reincarnation through the night and considered how the Ember Organization might affect Orochimaru’s Konoha Crush Plan. After reflecting on Rasa’s cruelty toward Gaara, Naruto decided to recruit Gaara into the Ember Organization if he survived the Chunin Exams.

• Naruto studied the Impure World Reincarnation after mastering the principles of Multiplying Explosive Tags.
• Naruto met Team 7 the next morning, where Sakura worried about the Chunin Exams and Satsuki appeared confident.
• Naruto questioned whether Sunagakure would still join Orochimaru’s attack on Konoha given the Ember Organization’s deterrence.
• Naruto recalled how Rasa isolated Gaara and repeatedly sent assassins after him, turning him into a bloodthirsty child.
• Naruto decided to defeat Gaara in the Chunin Exams and try to bring him into the Ember Organization afterward.

Naruto weighed whether to confront Orochimaru and considered recruiting him, while Satsuki worried about Naruto’s troubles. Kurama then detected Shukaku’s jinchuriki nearby and urged Naruto to meet them.

• Satsuki asked Naruto if he was nervous about the Chunin Exams, and Naruto reassured her that he had other things on his mind.
• Naruto assessed his chances against Orochimaru and Otogakure, deciding he could likely handle them but might prefer to redirect Orochimaru’s scientific talent.
• Naruto resolved that Orochimaru could never threaten Satsuki or seek Uchiha power, or Naruto would eliminate him.
• Kurama told Naruto that Shukaku’s jinchuriki was nearby and urged him to go meet them.

Naruto intervened when Kankuro bullied Konohamaru in Konoha, quickly disarming and intimidating the Sand ninja before securing an apology. He offered to heal Kankuro's wrist and left the encounter looking ahead to the Chunin Ninja Exams.

• Kankuro grabbed Konohamaru after the boy accidentally bumped into him, ignoring Konohamaru's apology and his friends' pleas.
• Naruto and Uchiha Satsuki arrived, and Naruto cut Kankuro's wrist with a precise wind attack to make him release Konohamaru.
• When Kankuro reached for his puppet, Naruto used the Body Flicker Technique to appear behind him and hold a kunai to his throat.
• Temari pleaded for Kankuro, and Kankuro apologized to Naruto and Konohamaru.
• Naruto offered to heal Kankuro's cut and told him and Temari he looked forward to seeing what they could do in the Chunin Ninja Exams.

After Naruto left, Gaara confronted Temari and Kankuro and became unsettled by his encounter with Naruto. Naruto then warned Kakashi that Gaara was the One-Tails’ Jinchuriki, and the joint Chunin Exams began several days later.

• Gaara appeared before Temari and Kankuro, threatened Kankuro, and wondered about the strange feelings Naruto had stirred in him.
• Naruto told Kakashi that the Sunagakure team included Gaara, the One-Tails’ Jinchuriki, and Kakashi rushed to report the intelligence to the Third Hokage.
• Kurama complained that Naruto had not fought Gaara, but Naruto persuaded him to wait for a chance during the Chunin Exams.
• On July 1st of Konoha Year 63, the joint Chunin selection exams hosted by Konoha began with teams from several villages participating.

Team 7 arrived at the Chunin Exams and Naruto exposed the fake classroom entrance, revealing Kotetsu and Izumo’s Illusionary Barrier. As the teams headed toward the real exam room, Neji sensed a connection between Naruto and Menma, while Tenten noticed Neji and Rock Lee fixating on Team 7.

• Naruto, Satsuki, and Sakura arrived at classroom 301 and saw Rock Lee being shoved around by two disguised examiners as Tenten pleaded for them to stop.
• Sakura and Satsuki noticed the Illusionary Barrier, while Naruto recognized the disguised Kotetsu and Izumo and announced that the real exam room was one floor up.
• Kotetsu and Izumo abandoned their act, revealed themselves, and dispelled the barrier, restoring the classroom sign to 201.
• Neji stared at Naruto and realized Naruto’s presence reminded him of Menma, who had saved his father ten years earlier.
• Satsuki watched Neji warily, while Tenten noticed Neji staring at Naruto and Rock Lee gazing at Sakura.

Team 7 reached the real Chunin Ninja Exams room after dealing with Rock Lee’s confession and Neji’s urgent request to speak with Naruto. Inside, they reunited with familiar classmates, and Ino reacted with disbelief when she saw Sakura.

• Rock Lee confessed to Sakura, while Neji pressed Naruto to speak with him until Tenten dragged both teammates away.
• Satsuki reassured Sakura by praising her skill at analyzing illusions and understanding Genjutsu.
• Kakashi explained that the application form had tested Team 7’s cooperation and that the team would be disqualified if any member was absent.
• Team 7 entered the crowded examination room and saw more than a hundred candidates from various countries.
• Shikamaru and Choji greeted Naruto, and Ino reunited with Sakura while privately wondering how Sakura was still unharmed.

Naruto reunited with his former classmates before the first Chunin Exam began. As Ibiki announced the written test rules and started the exam, Naruto worked through the first projectile-motion question.

• Sakura told Ino that Satsuki was a gentle, considerate friend, leaving Ino baffled and uneasy.
• Kiba greeted Naruto warmly, but Satsuki pulled him away and warned him not to sling an arm around Naruto.
• Naruto noticed Kabuto among the examinees and suspected Orochimaru was preparing to act.
• Ibiki introduced himself as the first-stage chief examiner and explained the written exam rules, including team scoring and disqualification penalties.
• Naruto studied the first question about a shuriken's trajectory and calculated that its maximum range on level ground was about 24 meters.

Naruto realized the first exam tested intelligence gathering, copied answers with Golden Experience, and passed alongside the surviving examinees. At the entrance to the Forest of Death, he recognized Orochimaru in disguise and asked Satsuki if she would abandon him for power; she promised she would never leave his side.

• Naruto noticed Hinata, Satsuki, Shino, Kiba, and Gaara gathering answers through their abilities while Sakura alone wrote normally.
• Naruto used Golden Experience to see the disguised examiner's answers and copied them onto his test paper.
• Ibiki Morino announced the tenth-question challenge, and nearly half the examinees left before he declared the rest had passed.
• Anko Mitarai arrived to lead the examinees to the Forest of Death and explained the five-day Heaven and Earth Scroll challenge.
• Naruto spotted Orochimaru disguised as an examinee and asked Satsuki whether she would leave him for the promise of great power.
• Satsuki told Naruto that no power or temptation could compare to staying by his side.

Ibiki examined Naruto’s written exam and was astonished by the rigor of his calculations. In the Forest of Death, Naruto led Satsuki and Sakura toward the central tower, then used the Flying Thunder God technique to defeat a Kirigakure ambusher and demand information about his team’s scrolls.

• Ibiki reviewed Naruto’s exam paper and realized Naruto had solved a complex shuriken problem with calculations more detailed than the examiners’ standard answer.
• Naruto assigned Satsuki and Sakura their roles and used Golden Experience to sense life forces throughout the Forest of Death.
• Naruto sensed Gaara and Orochimaru nearby, soothed Kurama, and chose to head straight for the central tower.
• Naruto threw a marked kunai, teleported above a Kirigakure ninja who ambushed him, and pinned the attacker down.
• Naruto held a kunai to the Kirigakure ninja’s throat and asked whether the team’s scrolls were with him.

Naruto rescued Satsuki and Sakura from a powerful attack, then confronted Orochimaru in the Forest of Death. He unleashed hundreds of Shadow Clones and Water Dragon Bullets, leaving Orochimaru facing a massive assault.

• Naruto subdued a Mist ninja who had ambushed the team and stopped Satsuki from killing him.
• Naruto sensed an approaching enemy and used the Flying Thunder God Technique to move himself, Satsuki, Sakura, and the Mist ninja away from a powerful Wind Style blast.
• Naruto let the Mist ninja leave, but Satsuki and Sakura collapsed under the intense killing intent of the approaching Orochimaru.
• Orochimaru appeared atop a giant python and questioned why Naruto seemed unaffected by his killing intent.
• Naruto summoned hundreds of Shadow Clones, which jointly unleashed Water Dragon Bullet Techniques at Orochimaru.
• Naruto told Orochimaru that he was the challenger as the water dragons closed in.

Naruto defeated Orochimaru’s first attack, but Orochimaru survived and summoned another giant snake to threaten Satsuki and Sakura. Naruto transformed into a miniature Nine-Tails and fired a Tailed Beast Ball, leaving Orochimaru visibly terrified.

• Naruto used Flying Thunder God to move Satsuki and Sakura out of the battlefield before his Water Release overwhelmed Orochimaru and his summoned snake.
• Orochimaru emerged unharmed from a snake’s mouth and summoned a larger snake, which sent a swarm of snakes toward Naruto, Satsuki, and Sakura.
• Naruto shielded Satsuki and Sakura and transformed into a four-tailed miniature Nine-Tails.
• Naruto fired a Tailed Beast Ball into the snake swarm, leveling the surrounding area and leaving Orochimaru terrified.

Naruto’s Nine-Tails Chakra shook the Forest of Death, terrifying the examinees and provoking Shukaku inside Gaara. As the Third Hokage watched Naruto protect Uchiha Satsuki and Sakura Haruno in his controlled Tailed Beast form, his attention fixed on the figure confronting Naruto atop a giant snake.

• Team Eight felt the blast, and an Anbu captain reassured Kiba, Shino, and Hinata that the power was contained and their exam could continue.
• Kankuro and Temari sensed the destructive Chakra, while Gaara struggled against Shukaku’s rage before ordering his siblings to continue the mission.
• The Third Hokage watched through his crystal ball as Naruto transformed into a miniature Nine-Tails and shielded Uchiha Satsuki and Sakura Haruno.
• The Third Hokage recognized Naruto’s precise control over the Nine-Tails, then focused on the figure standing atop a massive snake and facing him.

Naruto unleashed the Nine-Tails’ power to devastate the battlefield and protect Satsuki and Sakura, but he found evidence that Orochimaru had escaped. Hiruzen and Kakashi arrived as Naruto examined the shed snakeskin left behind.

• Hiruzen recognized Orochimaru in the crystal ball and rushed to the Forest of Death with Kakashi and dozens of Anbu.
• Naruto checked that Satsuki and Sakura were safe, then let the cooperative Tailed Beast Chakra recede.
• Naruto searched the crater for Orochimaru and used Earth Release: Mud River to uncover a large shed snakeskin.
• Naruto concluded that Orochimaru had escaped, and Hiruzen and Kakashi arrived at the devastated battlefield.

After Naruto drove Orochimaru away, the Third Hokage confirmed the Sannin’s escape and marveled at Naruto’s control of Kurama’s power and mastery of the Flying Thunder God Technique. The Chunin Exams continued as Hiruzen and others searched for Orochimaru, while Satsuki prepared to confront Naruto privately about the danger he had faced.

• The Third Hokage confirmed Orochimaru had escaped and realized Naruto had mastered the Flying Thunder God Technique.
• Hiruzen instructed Team 7 to continue the exam and warned Naruto not to use Kurama’s power except in dire circumstances.
• Hiruzen, Kakashi, Anko Mitarai, and Konoha’s Anbu entered the forest to search for Orochimaru.
• Naruto concluded the exam should continue, then noticed Satsuki was angry because his use of Tailed Beast Chakra could harm him.
• Satsuki concealed her concern from Sakura and prepared to send her away before demanding an explanation from Naruto.

Naruto's team continued toward the central tower after the explosion, while Orochimaru escaped and became fascinated by Naruto's controlled bond with Kurama. He ordered Kabuto to abandon the exam and prepare for the next stage of their plan.

• Satsuki hid her intense urge to protect Naruto and settled for telling him not to mistreat his body again.
• Naruto reassured Satsuki, and Sakura returned; the team continued toward the central tower through a forest emptied by the explosion.
• Kabuto Yakushi summoned Orochimaru from a white snake after confirming that no Konoha Anbu were following him.
• Orochimaru realized Naruto had controlled Kurama's power without losing his sanity and wanted to study how a human and Tailed Beast could coexist.
• Orochimaru told Kabuto Yakushi to end his mission, and the two disappeared into the forest to prepare the next stage of the plan.