Chapter Summaries

Naruto, Satsuki, and Sakura reached the Central Tower after receiving the Earth Scroll from a Kirigakure ninja whose teammates had been killed. They passed the second stage in first place, but had to wait in the tower while the exam continued for the other teams.

• Naruto deflected an ambush by the Kirigakure ninja whom Team 7 had spared earlier.
• The Kirigakure ninja gave Naruto his team's Earth Scroll, then headed to the tower to withdraw from the exam.
• Naruto, Satsuki, and Sakura opened their Heaven and Earth Scrolls and summoned Iruka.
• Iruka congratulated Team 7 on passing the second stage and explained the meanings of the scrolls and the words on the tower wall.
• Iruka told Team 7 to wait because the exam was still underway, leaving Satsuki and Sakura to anticipate a long stay in the tower.

Naruto served Satsuki and Sakura a carefully prepared lunch during Team 7’s five-day break from the Chunin Exams. Their meal was interrupted when Gaara, Kankuro, and Temari entered the lounge, leaving the two teams facing one another.

• Naruto used a Storage Scroll to bring out lunch boxes he had prepared for his teammates.
• Satsuki and Sakura ate Naruto’s Prosperous Joy Rice and savored the meal.
• Sakura worried that she might not get to eat Naruto’s cooking in the future, while Satsuki remained certain she would stay by Naruto’s side.
• Kakashi’s past question about what could separate Satsuki from Naruto ended when he chose not to ask what she would do if Naruto died.
• Gaara, Kankuro, and Temari opened the lounge door and came face-to-face with Naruto, Satsuki, and Sakura.

Naruto offered food to the Sunagakure team in the tower, but Temari politely refused while Gaara remained troubled by Naruto’s kindness. After Team 3 arrived with the scrolls, Team 7 left to avoid Neji and Rock Lee, and the examinees faced the question of where to sleep.

• Naruto greeted the Sunagakure team and offered Kankuro, Temari, and Gaara food he had prepared.
• Temari declined the offer, while Gaara silently wrestled with his confusion about Naruto’s kindness.
• Temari watched Team 7’s easy camaraderie and felt a trace of envy toward their closeness.
• Neji Hyuga, Rock Lee, and Tenten arrived at the tower after completing the second test.
• Tenten stopped Neji and Rock Lee from approaching Team 7, and Naruto, Satsuki, and Sakura left the lounge to avoid them.
• As night fell, the examinees who had reached the tower wondered where they would spend the night.

Satsuki tried to arrange for Naruto to share a tent with her during the Chunin Exams, but he instead used a teleportation ninjutsu to take her home for the night. She arrived at the Uchiha residence disappointed and found her mother, Mikoto, acting strangely behind a locked door.

• Satsuki gave Sakura a one-person tent so she would not bother Satsuki and Naruto, then prepared a larger tent for herself and Naruto.
• Satsuki approached Naruto with plans to invite him to share her tent, but Naruto asked her to close her eyes for a surprise.
• Naruto teleported Satsuki from the central tower to the Uchiha Clan head's residence and said he would take Sakura home too.
• Naruto left to fetch Sakura, while Satsuki angrily dropped the two-person tent after realizing his surprise was only a way to let them sleep at home.
• Satsuki found the residence locked from inside and saw Mikoto open the door with flushed cheeks and disheveled clothes.

After the five-day wait, eighteen examinees gathered for the third exam preliminaries, where Hiruzen Sarutobi explained the stakes and Hayate Gekko announced the combat rules. The first match was revealed to be Naruto against Satsuki.

• Naruto sent Sakura back to the tower, and she noticed Satsuki's grim expression.
• The remaining Konoha teams arrived safely, and Naruto learned that Orochimaru and Kabuto Yakushi had not returned.
• The eighteen survivors gathered at the examination plaza, where Naruto noticed Satsuki avoided Fugaku Uchiha.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi explained that the exam represented a contest between villages, and Hayate Gekko announced the preliminary rules.
• The electronic screen selected Uzumaki Naruto and Uchiha Satsuki for the first match.

Naruto and Satsuki were matched against each other in the Chunin Exam preliminaries, leaving Satsuki reluctant to fight. Naruto urged her to see their duel as a way to honor their shared growth, then invited her to give everything she had.

• The electronic lottery matched Naruto and Satsuki, and both struggled with the prospect of fighting each other.
• Naruto realized Satsuki was considering surrendering because she did not want to hurt him or make their relationship awkward.
• As Satsuki began to announce her withdrawal, Naruto stopped her and described the fears she had been trying to hide.
• Naruto recalled their early training and told Satsuki that their duel could show respect for their shared progress rather than simply decide a winner.
• Naruto formed the Opposition Seal and challenged Satsuki to show him everything she had, promising to answer with all his strength.

Satsuki recovered her fighting spirit after understanding Naruto’s request to show him everything she had, and the two began their duel in earnest. Their battle escalated from taijutsu to ninjutsu, leaving Satsuki facing golden chakra chains emerging from the mist.

• Satsuki realized that giving up would disrespect the effort and experiences she and Naruto had shared, then formed the Seal of Opposition.
• Naruto and Satsuki charged at each other and began exchanging taijutsu blows, with Naruto carefully matching her strength and speed.
• Satsuki integrated hand seals into her movements and used the Great Fireball Technique against Naruto.
• Naruto countered with Water Style: Water Wall, and the collision of fire and water filled the arena with thick mist.
• Satsuki watched the mist with her Three Tomoe Sharingan as golden chakra chains burst through it and shot toward her vital points.

Satsuki used a Wind Release scroll and a Lightning Domain to counter Naruto’s Adamantine Sealing Chains, then launched a carefully planned attack. She appeared to pin Naruto with a kunai, but recognized the target was a clone and conceded defeat to the real Naruto.

• Satsuki cleared Naruto’s mist with Wind Release: Wind Scythe Formation, revealing him just as the Adamantine Sealing Chains reached her.
• Satsuki spread lightning chakra around herself, disrupting the chains long enough to escape and attack Naruto with shuriken and Chakra Threads.
• Satsuki charged Naruto, used her Sharingan to cast Genjutsu, and followed with Lightning Release: Lightning Bullet.
• Satsuki held a kunai to Naruto’s neck, but sensed the target lacked Naruto’s familiar scent and realized she had captured a clone.
• Naruto revealed himself behind Satsuki and explained that he was basically immune to mental attacks like Genjutsu, while Satsuki admitted defeat.

Naruto defeated Satsuki in the Chunin Exam match, then comforted and praised her, and they agreed to train together. The next match was drawn: Gaara versus Kankuro.

• Naruto appeared behind Satsuki, and Hayate Gekko declared Naruto the winner after Satsuki admitted defeat.
• Naruto wiped dust and sweat from Satsuki's face, took her hand, and led her to the stands.
• Naruto praised Satsuki's tactics, and she said she did not want to fight him but agreed to train together.
• Satsuki encouraged Naruto to become a Chunin and promised she would succeed next time.
• The electronic screen announced Gaara versus Kankuro, leaving Kankuro pale with fear.

Kankuro forfeited his match against Gaara, and Shino defeated Zaku by draining his Chakra with Kikaichū. The next match paired Kiba with Rock Lee, who entered the arena ready to fight.

• Kankuro forfeited, and Hayate Gekko declared Gaara the winner.
• Zaku attacked Shino with Air Bullet, but Shino's insects clogged the vents on Zaku's arm devices.
• Shino revealed that his Kikaichū were draining Zaku's Chakra and knocked him unconscious.
• Hayate Gekko announced Shino's victory, and the screen paired Kiba against Rock Lee.
• Might Guy cheered Rock Lee on as Rock Lee and Kiba headed into the arena.

Rock Lee effortlessly defeated Kiba and Akamaru in the Chunin Exam preliminaries, revealing how far his taijutsu had advanced. After Might Guy and Lee celebrated their victory with an emotional embrace, the next match was announced: Neji Hyuga versus Hinata Hyuga.

• Kiba and Akamaru attacked Rock Lee with the Four Legs Technique, but Lee dodged them and knocked Akamaru unconscious with a controlled strike.
• Lee overwhelmed Kiba with his speed and defeated him with Konoha Whirlwind, ending the match in under a minute.
• Hayate Gekko declared Rock Lee the winner, and Might Guy rushed into the arena to celebrate tearfully with his student.
• Kiba briefly woke as medical ninja carried him away, saw Guy and Lee embracing, and fainted again from shame and disbelief.
• Hayate Gekko drew the next match, pairing Neji Hyuga against Hinata Hyuga.

Neji defeated Hinata in a respectful Gentle Fist match, and Sakura and Ino fought to a double knockout after rekindling their competitive spirit. The preliminary match ended with neither friend advancing.

• Neji and Hinata exchanged controlled Gentle Fist attacks, and Neji won while stopping his palm short of Hinata's vital point.
• Neji helped Hinata up and apologized, and she accepted the loss with a gentle smile.
• Sakura and Ino began their match hesitantly, but Sakura challenged Ino to fight seriously after realizing Ino was holding back.
• Ino used the Mind Body Switch Technique, but Sakura's inner self drove Ino from her mental world and broke the technique.
• Sakura and Ino exhausted themselves in a prolonged fight and collapsed unconscious together, so Hayate Gekko announced that neither passed.

Choji, Tenten, and Shikamaru won the remaining preliminary matches, and the eight finalists gathered to hear the main tournament rules and draw their opponents. Naruto discovered that his first match would be against Gaara, delighting Kurama, who was eager for Naruto to confront Shukaku.

• Choji Akimichi crashed his Human Bullet Tank into the arena wall, and Dosu Kinata knocked him unconscious with a sonic attack.
• Temari defeated Tenten with her Three-Star Fan and Summoning Jutsu: Sickle Weasel Dance.
• Shikamaru Nara outwitted Kin Tsuchi with a thin shadow thread and won without a direct fight.
• Gekko Hayate announced the preliminaries were over, and Hiruzen Sarutobi told the eight winners that the main tournament would begin in one month.
• Naruto confirmed his number, and Ibiki Morino revealed the matchups, placing Uzumaki Naruto against Gaara in the first round.

Orochimaru and Kabuto devised a scheme to turn Naruto against Konoha by manipulating his friendships and revealing his origins. Unaware of the danger, Naruto asked Kakashi to teach Satsuki Lightning Cutter, hoping she would grow stronger and spend time away from him.

• Orochimaru told Kabuto to befriend Naruto and Satsuki, fake his death, and use the fallout to make Naruto distrust Konoha.
• Orochimaru planned to reveal Naruto’s origins and the truth about his parents when Naruto was most vulnerable, and Kabuto agreed to help.
• Naruto worried that Kakashi was delaying teaching Satsuki his signature Lightning Release technique.
• Naruto found Kakashi at the Memorial Stone and asked him to teach Satsuki Lightning Cutter.
• Kakashi said he had no objection but warned that the technique was difficult, and said Naruto would need to persuade Satsuki to learn it.

Naruto persuaded Satsuki to train with Kakashi to learn Lightning Cutter, promising to visit her daily and take her home each night. At Kakashi's training ground, Satsuki met Might Guy and Rock Lee, whose enthusiasm culminated in an offer of a green bodysuit that she firmly refused.

• Naruto encouraged Satsuki to learn Lightning Cutter, and she agreed on the condition that he check on her training every day and take her home each night.
• Naruto brought Satsuki to Kakashi, who led her to his mountain training ground.
• Satsuki met Might Guy and Rock Lee, who celebrated their youthful bond while Kakashi explained Guy's strength in taijutsu.
• Guy offered Satsuki a green bodysuit as a gift, and she rejected it outright.

Naruto visited his injured classmates with homemade lunches, and Pearl Jam healed Kiba and Choji’s injuries. Meanwhile, Kakashi teased Guy and Lee with Naruto’s food before promising them lunch the next day.

• Naruto brought lunch to Kiba and Choji at Konoha Hospital, where Sakura and Ino were caring for them.
• Choji eagerly ate Naruto’s food while Kiba and Akamaru remained discouraged over Kiba’s loss to Rock Lee.
• After Naruto left, Pearl Jam’s ability caused strange objects to fall from Kiba and Choji as their injuries healed and their bodies felt better.
• At lunch, Guy and Lee tried to resist the smell of Naruto’s food, and Guy called it a test of their youthful willpower.
• Kakashi teased Guy with fried chicken, then promised to ask Naruto to make lunch for Guy and Lee the next day.

Naruto interrupted Jiraiya while he was peeping at a women's bath, then met him and learned his identity as one of the Three Sannin. Jiraiya recognized Naruto as Minato’s child after Naruto caught him when his summoned toad disappeared.

• Naruto spotted Jiraiya peeping through the wall of a Hot Springs inn and threw a stone to expose him.
• Jiraiya fled from the angry women and inn staff, but Naruto quietly followed and confronted him.
• Jiraiya claimed he was conducting research for literary creation, and Naruto urged him to use a more appropriate method.
• Jiraiya summoned GamaTada and theatrically introduced himself as one of the legendary Three Sannin.
• Naruto introduced himself as a Konoha genin, and he caught Jiraiya after GamaTada vanished.
• Jiraiya recognized Naruto as Minato’s child.

Shisui, Kakuzu, and Deidara infiltrated Konoha as merchant representatives ahead of the Chunin Exams, while Naruto invited Jiraiya to Ichiraku Ramen and asked him to become his teacher. Naruto revealed that an enormous, ancient toad in a dream had told him to seek out Jiraiya, leaving Jiraiya stunned.

• Shisui, Kakuzu, and Deidara reviewed their mission to hide in Konoha until the Chunin Exams ended and entered the village using legitimate merchant permits.
• Jiraiya avoided passing villagers while accompanying Naruto, troubled that the Third Hokage wanted him to become the Fifth Hokage.
• Naruto brought Jiraiya to Ichiraku Ramen, where Jiraiya recalled Minato and noticed Naruto's warm rapport with Teuchi.
• Naruto asked Jiraiya to take him as a disciple, and Jiraiya instinctively refused before regretting his response.
• Naruto explained that a huge, ancient toad had told him in a dream to find Jiraiya, shocking Jiraiya.

Naruto convinced Jiraiya that he had received a dream revealing he was the Child of Prophecy, prompting Jiraiya to consider taking him as a disciple. Jiraiya began teaching Naruto the Rasengan, and Naruto burst the first water balloon almost immediately.

• Naruto described his supposed prophetic dream to Jiraiya, who wondered whether the Great Toad Sage had revealed the Child of Prophecy to him.
• Uncle Teuchi mistook Jiraiya's intense stare at Naruto for suspicious behavior, but Naruto clarified who Jiraiya was and Teuchi apologized.
• After eating ramen, Jiraiya took Naruto to a secluded forest and demonstrated the Rasengan before explaining its first training exercise.
• Jiraiya gave Naruto a water balloon to practice chakra control, and the balloon burst before Jiraiya had finished turning away.

Naruto impressed Jiraiya by mastering the Rasengan almost immediately, and Jiraiya resolved to continue training him. Naruto then received a notification that his bond with Jiraiya had reached Level 2.

• Naruto burst a water balloon with precise Chakra control, convincing Jiraiya that his success was genuine.
• Naruto burst a rubber ball almost instantly, completing the Rasengan's second training stage.
• Naruto formed a Rasengan and used it to gouge a hole through a tree.
• Naruto explained that learning the Rasengan was different from Minato Namikaze developing it, earning Jiraiya's pride and admiration.
• Jiraiya ended the day's training and promised to teach Naruto another difficult ninjutsu the next day.
• Naruto received 600 points after forming a Level 2 bond with Jiraiya.