Chapter Summaries

Naruto revisited Konoha with Shisui and his Uzushiogakure team, then watched Sasuke clash with Gaara as a tense encounter threatened to disrupt the Chunin Exams. Naruto sent Karin and Haku to stop the fight and demonstrate Uzushiogakure’s strength.

• Orochimaru warned Kimimaro not to provoke Uzushiogakure’s shinobi, whom he could not afford to antagonize.
• Naruto and Shisui ate ramen at Ichiraku, where Teuchi found Naruto’s voice and habits familiar, and Naruto admitted Konoha was where he grew up.
• Naruto led the group toward the Uchiha Clan Compound, but they encountered Gaara’s team confronting Kirigakure shinobi in an alley.
• Sasuke interrupted Gaara’s technique and provoked him, reigniting their fight as other Konoha Genin gathered around them.
• Naruto ordered Karin and Haku to stop Sasuke and Gaara’s battle and show the others Uzushiogakure’s strength.

Haku and Karin fought Gaara and Sasuke in a secluded alley before Konoha's Anbu stopped the battle. As the candidates left, Gaara revealed that Shukaku feared a black-haired ninja wrapped in bandages, while Hinata recognized someone’s back and thought of Naruto.

• Haku froze the ground beneath Gaara, but Gaara used a Wind Clone and sand to counter Haku’s attacks; Haku’s captured body proved to be a Water Clone.
• Karin overwhelmed Sasuke by anticipating his moves, resisting his genjutsu, and attacking with golden chains.
• Konoha's Anbu intervened and ended the fight without declaring a winner, then warned the candidates not to fight in the village again.
• Naruto explained to Karin and Haku that Gaara was Sunagakure's One-Tails Jinchuriki and Sasuke was Mikoto's son before leaving with them.
• Gaara told Temari and Kankuro that Shukaku feared the black-haired ninja wrapped in bandages, leaving them alarmed by the possibility of his strength.
• Hinata looked after the departing figure because his back seemed familiar, then left while thinking about proving herself so Naruto would know she could stand on her own.

Jiraiya and Tsunade discussed the risks of the Chunin Exams as Naruto investigated the Uzumaki Ancestral Hall and made arrangements around Konoha. At the gathering point, Naruto encountered Kabuto Yakushi, who sensed Naruto’s extraordinary Nature Energy.

• The Elder Council Duo reported the clash involving Gaara and Sasuke, and Jiraiya reassured Tsunade that the Chunin Exams remained under control.
• Naruto searched the Uzumaki Ancestral Hall for Shinigami Masks, found none, and detected recent traces of Space-Time Ninjutsu.
• Naruto visited the Hyuga Compound, saw Hinata training in Shikotsumyaku, and left a note for Hyuga Hiashi.
• Shisui watched Sasuke train but could not deliver Mikoto’s gift, while Naruto completed the initial stages of his plans across Konoha.
• Naruto brought Karin and Haku to the Chunin Exams gathering point, where Kabuto Yakushi warned the Genin about dangerous candidates.
• Kabuto Yakushi sensed Naruto’s Nature Energy and wondered how any candidate could possess more than Jugo.

Naruto, Hinata, and the other genin passed the written first stage of the Chunin Exams, and Naruto agreed to team up with Hinata for the next stage. They arrived at the Death Forest, where examiner Anko announced that candidates could kill one another in the second exam.

• Naruto flirted with Hinata during the written test, while she used her Byakugan to copy answers and offered to share them with him.
• Sasuke watched Naruto speak with Hinata, while Shikamaru copied answers for Choji and Karin completed the test on her own.
• Naruto passed Ibiki Morino’s resolve test with only the word “Answer” on his paper, then Hinata invited him to team up for the second exam.
• Naruto agreed to Hinata’s invitation, and the two teams traveled together to the Death Forest.
• Anko Mitarashi introduced the second stage and warned the candidates that they could attack and kill one another.

Sasuke’s team entered the Death Forest, defeated a Sound ninja team, and came under attack from a white-haired ninja with bone blades. Meanwhile, Naruto and Hinata reunited as Menma and discussed his departure before he sensed Sasuke was in danger and went to help.

• Sasuke, Sakura, and Sai entered the Death Forest and chose to seek out teams carrying the Earth Scroll.
• Sasuke’s team fought and defeated three Sound ninja, then took their Earth Scroll.
• Sasuke sensed another hostile team nearby, and a white-haired Otogakure ninja with bone blades appeared and attacked him.
• Naruto and Hinata traveled toward the central tower with their teams, sharing milk tea and speaking privately as Menma and Hinata.
• Naruto told Hinata he had awakened her Shikotsumyaku and explained why he had left her behind in Konoha.
• Naruto sensed Sasuke was in danger and set off with Hinata to support him.

Naruto and Hinata reached Sasuke’s fight with Kimimaro and watched as Sasuke battled the powerful Kaguya Clan ninja. Naruto then revealed Chakra Guns to Hinata and prepared to intervene as Konoha’s jonin approached.

• Hinata insisted on joining Naruto, and he used the Body Flicker Technique to return with her to the teams.
• After learning Sasuke was in danger, Naruto and the others hurried into the Death Forest, where Karin lamented that Menma saw her as a younger sister.
• Naruto confirmed Sasuke was not in immediate danger, then watched the fight while sharing snacks and suggesting Hinata recruit Kimimaro.
• Sasuke pierced Kimimaro’s arm with a lightning-charged blade, but Kimimaro broke the weapon and counterattacked, prompting Sasuke to send Sakura and Sai to alert the exam proctors.
• Naruto told Haku and Karin to take out their Chakra Guns, explained the weapons to Hinata, and guided her as she fired a Lightning Release: Electromagnetic Cannon at Kimimaro.

Naruto gave Hinata a Chakra Gun and sent her to join Karin and Haku against Kimimaro, where Hinata revealed she possessed Shikotsumyaku. Meanwhile, a mysterious female ninja bit Sasuke and lured him into the forest with a claim that she knew Itachi Uchiha's whereabouts.

• A Chakra Gun bullet wounded Kimimaro, and Karin and Haku joined the fight while Sasuke warned Shino and Kiba that their enemy was not a Chunin Exams participant.
• Naruto gave Hinata his Chakra Gun, then left to meet an old friend he suspected was watching from the shadows.
• Hinata joined Karin and Haku, used the Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms against Kimimaro, and pierced his abdomen with a Shikotsumyaku bone spike.
• A mysterious female ninja bit Sasuke and sent venomous snakes after Kiba and Shino, then offered to reveal Itachi Uchiha's whereabouts.
• Sasuke confirmed Kiba and Shino could handle the snakes and chased the female ninja into the forest.

Naruto confronted Orochimaru, stopped him from targeting Sasuke, and let Sasuke overhear conflicting claims about Itachi’s motives. After revealing that the conversation may have been staged to influence Sasuke, Naruto left him questioning what was true and suspecting he had met Menma before.

• Orochimaru planned to use Sasuke for his body and Mangekyō Sharingan, but Naruto confronted him and warned him to leave Sasuke alone.
• Orochimaru claimed Itachi had spared Sasuke to awaken his Mangekyō Sharingan and steal his eyes, and Sasuke overheard the conversation.
• Sasuke considered seeking power from Orochimaru so he could kill Itachi sooner, then recognized Naruto as the Uzushio Squad captain who had approached Hinata.
• Naruto caught Sasuke eavesdropping and admitted he had come to Konoha for other business, while claiming all Uchiha in Uzushio were his subordinates.
• Naruto told Sasuke that he and Orochimaru had wanted him to hear the claims about Itachi, then left to rejoin Hinata and the others.
• Sasuke doubted the story he had heard, suspected Menma knew him, and trusted his own judgment despite being unable to identify Naruto.

Naruto’s team reported their encounter with Kimimaro to Anko, who pursued the strange activity in the Death Forest and recognized Orochimaru as the intruder. She discovered masked Konoha Anbu gathered with Orochimaru, leaving her to suspect that village ninja were helping him.

• Kimimaro escaped Naruto’s team after fighting Hinata, Karin, Haku, and the others, and Naruto explained that Kimimaro was close to Kage-level.
• Naruto gathered the spoils, including Orochimaru’s modified Impure World Reincarnation Jutsu, while Sasuke struggled over whether to report what he knew about Menma.
• Anko arrived to investigate the destroyed cameras and battlefield, and Naruto warned her that the intruder was too powerful for her to handle.
• Anko followed the scent of Orochimaru through the Death Forest and confronted him, but froze when she saw several masked Konoha Anbu with him.
• Anko suspected that the Anbu were colluding with Orochimaru to overthrow Konoha.

Orochimaru revealed that powerful Konoha figures were colluding with him and used genjutsu to control Anko. Meanwhile, Naruto's group reached the tower area, where the Sunagakure squad withdrew from its clash with Team 3 and Gaara agreed to settle things in the third exam.

• Anbu confronted Orochimaru about their plan, and he hinted that Konoha's darkness was cooperating with Sunagakure and rogue ninja.
• Anko attacked Orochimaru, but he defeated her, revealed that Jiraiya would not believe her, and used genjutsu to control her.
• Naruto's group handed an unconscious Sound ninja to the exam proctors and continued toward the central tower after defeating several squads for their scrolls.
• Naruto stopped Hinata from joining Team 3's fight with Gaara's Sunagakure squad so they could observe their abilities.
• Gaara's squad retreated after spotting Naruto's group, and Gaara said he would fight them in the third exam.

Temari worried that the Fourth Kazekage’s plan to break Sunagakure free of Konoha’s control might be disrupted by Uzushio’s powerful genin. As the exam teams advanced to the third round, Jiraiya learned that Anko had vanished in the Death Forest and suspected an attacker was hiding among the examinees.

• Temari wondered whether Naruto’s group from Uzushio would interfere with her father’s plan, and she and Kankuro decided to report what they saw to Baki and the Kazekage.
• Rock Lee thanked Naruto for helping Team 3 and challenged him to spar, but Naruto redirected him to Sasuke, and Lee declared Naruto his rival.
• Sakura, Sai, and the Ino-Shika-Cho trio reached the Central Tower and advanced to the third round with the others.
• Jiraiya and the Fourth Kazekage watched the exam, and the Kazekage questioned why Uzushio’s team was cooperating with Konoha’s.
• Anbu informed Jiraiya that Anko had been missing for hours after investigating damaged surveillance in the Death Forest, and Jiraiya ordered them to keep the matter secret while he suspected an attacker was among the examinees.
• Jiraiya returned to the Fourth Kazekage and dismissed the incident as minor, while the Kazekage remarked that the Fifth Hokage should be able to handle it.

Naruto returned to Konoha with Karin and Haku as the Chunin Exam ended, while Konoha’s young ninjas began suspecting that Menma was the missing Naruto. He confronted Kakashi, rejected Kakashi’s belief that he had inherited Minato’s will, and moved to take Kakashi’s Kamui Sharingan.

• Naruto refused Hinata’s invitation and returned to the inn with Karin and Haku, while Konoha’s young ninjas debated whether Menma was Naruto.
• Sasuke connected Naruto’s disappearance with Uchiha Night and realized Naruto might have left Konoha with the Uchiha clan for Uzushio Village.
• Naruto sent Shisui to recover hidden Uchiha assets and investigate whether Obito and White Zetsu were in Konoha.
• Naruto walked through Konoha and met Kakashi in a secluded grove, telling him Minato was dead and Uzushio Village was his home.
• Naruto approached Kakashi to take his Kamui Sharingan, but Kakashi pulled away and showed him a mask he suspected Naruto and Shisui were seeking.

Naruto obtained the Shinigami Mask from Kakashi and used it to release Minato Namikaze and Kushina from the Death God, then revived them with Impure World Reincarnation. The chapter ended with Minato and Kushina opening their eyes as Naruto wondered about the secrets of the Pure Land.

• Kakashi gave Naruto the Shinigami Mask and declined his offer to revive Konoha's White Fang.
• Naruto invited Kakashi to join Uzushio Village, then told him he planned to revive Minato Namikaze and Kushina.
• Naruto and Kakashi went to a forest outside Konoha, where Naruto prepared White Zetsu sacrifices and used the Reaper Death Seal to release the sealed souls.
• Naruto performed Impure World Reincarnation, and Kakashi was overwhelmed by memories as Minato Namikaze and Kushina appeared.
• The Death God's phantom vanished without retaliating against Naruto, and Minato Namikaze and Kushina opened their eyes.

Kushina and Minato were revived, and Kushina learned that Naruto was their son and that he had suffered under Konoha’s Third Hokage. She supported Naruto’s choices and agreed to watch Orochimaru turn against the Third Hokage.

• Kushina and Minato awakened and learned that Naruto had revived them with the Impure World Reincarnation Jutsu.
• Naruto revealed that he was their son, the Daimyo of the Land of Whirlpools, the Uzumaki Clan head, and the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, then explained that Jiraiya had become Fifth Hokage after overthrowing the Third Hokage.
• Kushina drew Naruto aside and promised to support him, even if he chose to destroy Konoha or leave it.
• Naruto told Kushina about being mistreated as the Demon Fox and leaving Konoha, and Kushina condemned the Third Hokage while affirming Naruto’s decision.
• Naruto revealed that he had returned to watch Orochimaru betray the Third Hokage, and Kushina agreed to watch with him.

Naruto and Minato Namikaze fought to test Naruto’s strength and argued over whether leaving Konoha was the right choice. After Naruto revealed Orochimaru’s plan to target the Third Hokage, Minato had to face the threat and Kushina’s anger.

• Kushina asked Naruto about his bond with the Nine-Tails, and Naruto showed her Kurama’s Chakra phantom.
• Minato Namikaze confronted Naruto for leaving Konoha and fought him while Kakashi explained that their battle was a clash of ideals.
• Naruto defeated Minato in their contest and said he needed Minato’s half of Kurama.
• Naruto told Minato that Jiraiya and Tsunade had failed to remove Konoha’s final obstacle, the Third Hokage.
• Naruto revealed that Orochimaru planned to launch the Konoha Crush Plan against the Third Hokage, then warned Minato to consider how to calm Kushina’s anger.

Naruto reunited the Yin-Yang Nine-Tails with Minato and learned that Obito had been identified as the Masked Man who attacked Konoha. Naruto rejected Kushina and Minato’s pleas for mercy, while Kakashi revealed his own disillusionment with Konoha and its Third Hokage.

• Naruto reunited the two halves of the Nine-Tails with Minato and received rewards from Kushina and Minato through the system.
• Minato asked whether Naruto had dealt with the Masked Man, and Kakashi identified Obito Uchiha as the attacker from twelve years earlier.
• Naruto and Kakashi presented evidence linking Obito to the Masked Man, leaving Minato and Kushina to accept that Obito was the prime suspect.
• Kushina asked Naruto to spare Obito, but Naruto said he would use Obito before making him disappear and reminded them that he was a rogue ninja.
• After Naruto left, Kakashi vowed to kill Obito, and Minato accepted that Obito deserved punishment.
• Minato asked whether Kakashi would stop Orochimaru from taking revenge on the Third Hokage, and Kakashi said he and others wanted the Third Lord dead.

Naruto showed Minato Namikaze the reforms in the Land of Whirlpools and warned him that the ninja world would change within five years. At the Chunin Exams, the Third Hokage and the Feudal Lord of the Land of Fire discussed Konoha’s reforms as Orochimaru watched in disguise.

• Naruto stayed at the inn to adapt to the Nine-Tails’ full form while Kushina and Minato Namikaze learned about Konoha’s changed state.
• Naruto shared his memories of the Land of Whirlpools with Minato Namikaze, who was astonished by its civilian-supported development.
• Naruto warned Minato Namikaze that the ninja world faced major changes within five years and named Obito Uchiha among the unstable factors.
• After deliberately losing his match, Naruto watched the third stage of the Chunin Exams with Kushina and Minato Namikaze.
• The Feudal Lord of the Land of Fire questioned the Third Hokage about Jiraiya and Tsunade’s reforms, while Orochimaru sat disguised as the Fourth Kazekage.

Sasuke defeated Gaara, but Gaara transformed into Shukaku as Sunagakure and Sound Village forces launched an attack on Konoha. The Third Hokage discovered that Orochimaru, the Feudal Lord, and the Sarutobi Clan had been drawn into a plot to restore him as Hokage, and he vowed to stop Orochimaru.

• Sasuke pierced Gaara's defense with Raikiri, but Gaara lost consciousness and Shukaku emerged.
• A genjutsu sound put most spectators to sleep as Shukaku attacked, and the Fourth Kazekage tried to bind Jiraiya and Tsunade with Gold Sand.
• Jiraiya fought the Fourth Kazekage while Tsunade directed the Anbu to contain Shukaku, and Sunagakure and Sound Village assault troops surrounded the arena.
• The Feudal Lord told the Third Hokage that Sarutobi Jonin had recruited him to support the Third Hokage's return, while Sunagakure and Orochimaru were his allies.
• Orochimaru revealed herself and said the Sarutobi Clan was attacking the Hokage Building, and the Third Hokage realized members of his clan had betrayed him.
• The Third Hokage accused Orochimaru of plotting to destroy Konoha and vowed to end him.

The Third Hokage fought Orochimaru and the reanimated First and Second Hokage while Naruto watched the Konoha Crush unfold. Naruto revealed that the Sarutobi Clan and the Fire Daimyo backed the attack to restore the Third Hokage, leaving Minato unable to intervene in what he saw as an internal conflict.

• The Third Hokage drove Orochimaru back, but Orochimaru summoned the reanimated First and Second Hokage to join the fight.
• Naruto watched the battle from the stands and refused a Konoha squad leader’s offer to evacuate, while the squad kept watch over him and his companions.
• Naruto told Kushina and Minato that the Fire Daimyo and the Sarutobi Clan were involved in the Konoha Crush Plan.
• Naruto explained that the Sarutobi Clan viewed the attack as a way to return the Third Hokage to power, while Sunagakure and Orochimaru were pawns.
• Naruto admitted he had urged Jiraiya to launch the coup and had helped inspire his reforms, and Minato concluded he could not intervene in the internal conflict.

Kakashi, Might Guy, and Asuma uncovered the Sarutobi Clan’s attempted coup while responding to the invasion of Konoha. As Kakashi and Guy left to restore order elsewhere, Kakashi suspected that Obito was secretly watching nearby.

• Kakashi, Might Guy, and Asuma defeated the invading Sand forces, captured Baki, and learned that Sunagakure had joined Orochimaru’s attack on Konoha.
• After learning that the Hokage Building had been raided, Kakashi led the group there instead of supporting the Third and Fifth Hokage.
• Kakashi recognized the Sarutobi Clan ninja confronting the Hokage Building guards as the mysterious faction behind the raid.
• Asuma confronted the Sarutobi Jonin, who said the clan was trying to restore Hiruzen as Hokage with the Daimyo’s support.
• Kakashi and Might Guy left to maintain order elsewhere, and Kakashi encouraged Guy to follow his own principles and keep faith in the Will of Fire.
• Might Guy renewed his resolve to help Kakashi, while Kakashi suspected that Obito was hiding nearby and watching him.