Chapter Summaries

After passing the first Chunin Exam, Tejima Shinichi and his teammates learned that the second round would take place in the Forest of Death. Shinichi warned Sarutobi Hiruzen that he sensed trouble ahead, and the chapter left Hiruzen weighing his unusually powerful disciple’s concern.

• Yamato congratulated Kobayashi Ken, Sato Yu, and Tejima Shinichi on passing the first exam after hearing about Naruto’s defiant speech during the test of will.
• Yamato told his team to meet at Training Ground 44, the Forest of Death, the next morning and warned them to prepare for a difficult practical exam.
• Tejima Shinichi visited Sarutobi Hiruzen, who noticed his increased composure, growing Chakra, and progress with techniques from the Scroll of Seals.
• Shinichi told Sarutobi Hiruzen that he sensed the Chunin Exam was wrong and that the second exam would not be peaceful.
• Shinichi asserted that no Genin at the exam could match his strength, while admitting that he had not tested himself against a Kage.

Tejima Shinichi warned Sarutobi Hiruzen about possible trouble during the Chunin Exam and urged him to consider a future Hokage successor. In the Forest of Death, Orochimaru and Gaara both targeted Shinichi, and Gaara confronted Team 1 as Shinichi prepared to fight.

• Tejima Shinichi warned Sarutobi Hiruzen to reinforce the Forest of Death and suggested he choose someone to serve as Fifth Hokage until Shinichi was ready.
• At the Forest of Death entrance, Orochimaru disguised as a Kusagakure Ninja exchanged stares with Tejima Shinichi, who warned Kobayashi Ken and Sato Yu to prioritize their survival if they met him.
• Team 1 received an Earth Scroll and entered the Forest of Death, where Tejima Shinichi used his Sensing Technique to detect a hostile team approaching with immense Tailed Beast Chakra.
• Orochimaru told his Sound Ninja subordinates to follow their original plan and seek out the Uchiha brat first.
• Gaara ordered Temari and Kankuro to find Tejima Shinichi, then confronted Team 1 and demanded Shinichi's blood.
• Tejima Shinichi taunted Gaara about the monster inside him as Gaara raised a sand claw to attack.

Anko discovered that Orochimaru had infiltrated the Chunin Exam by disguising himself as a Kusagakure ninja, while Orochimaru attacked Team 7 inside the Forest of Death. Orochimaru sent his subordinates to find Tejima Shinichi and prepared to face Sasuke.

• Anko inspected three dead Kusagakure examinees whose faces had been stripped away and recognized Orochimaru's Vanishing Facial Copy Technique.
• Anko ordered the discovery reported to the Hokage and warned the proctors and Anbu to strengthen security around the Forest of Death.
• Sasuke taught Naruto and Sakura a password for verifying their identities, but Naruto struggled to memorize it.
• Orochimaru unleashed a powerful attack that sent Team 7 flying, then told his two subordinates to find and watch Tejima Shinichi.
• Orochimaru confronted the hidden Team 7 and challenged Sasuke to satisfy him.

Tejima Shinichi overwhelmed Gaara and left him pinned against a tree while Kobayashi Ken and Sato Yu attacked Temari and Kankuro with a combined fire-and-wind technique. As Tejima held Gaara, he sensed the chakra inside him growing more violent.

• Tejima Shinichi provoked Gaara, who lost control and sent a massive sand wave and Sand Shuriken at him.
• Tejima Shinichi blocked Gaara's attack with an Earth Style Wall, then seized Gaara and smashed him against a giant tree.
• While Temari and Kankuro stood stunned, Kobayashi Ken and Sato Yu combined their Fire and Wind Releases into a blazing attack.
• Temari and Kankuro dodged the combined technique but were scorched by its heat and shockwave.
• Tejima Shinichi sensed Gaara's chakra growing more violent and remarked that the monster inside him was losing patience.

Gaara lost control and began transforming into Shukaku after Tejima Shinichi restrained him, while Shinichi fought the growing beast and the nearby teams watched in alarm. Hinata detected an imminent danger as Gaara’s transformation continued to intensify.

• Gaara’s Chakra erupted, and he partially transformed into Shukaku, frightening Kankuro and Temari.
• Orochimaru sensed the One-Tail’s Chakra, then turned his attention back to Sasuke and pressed him to show his strength.
• Kankuro gave Kobayashi Ken an Earth Scroll, but Shinichi’s fight with Gaara continued despite Temari and Kankuro’s pleas.
• Shinichi struck Gaara’s Shukaku form in the face with a Rasengan, but Gaara’s sand body rapidly regenerated and grew larger.
• Kiba, Shino, and Hinata watched from the bushes, and Hinata cried out a warning after seeing the dangerous Chakra within Gaara.

Gaara’s fight with Tejima Shinichi triggered the full awakening of One-Tails Shukaku, whose enormous form appeared in the Forest of Death. As examinees fled and Konoha Anbu mobilized, Anko remained missing while searching for Orochimaru.

• A blast and spreading mist engulfed the battlefield, and Hinata, Kiba, and Shino saw a colossal beast emerge.
• Temari urged Kankuro, Kobayashi Ken, and Sato Yu to flee, and Kobayashi Ken led Sato Yu away after trusting Shinichi to survive.
• Examinees across the Forest of Death reacted to Shukaku’s appearance, while Shikamaru recognized the danger and Kabuto withdrew into the shadows.
• Konoha Anbu identified the beast as the fully awakened One-Tails and learned Anko was missing while searching for Orochimaru.
• An Anbu Captain split the patrol into groups to alert the Hokage, evacuate examinees, and contain Shukaku within the Forest of Death.

Orochimaru branded Sasuke with a Cursed Seal before fleeing as Shukaku’s full transformation began. Tejima Shinichi evaded Shukaku’s attacks and destroyed its right arm with Water Release: Hard Vortex Water Blade.

• Orochimaru praised Sasuke’s developing abilities, then bit his neck and gave him a Cursed Seal before escaping into a tree.
• Tejima Shinichi faced the transformed Shukaku and welcomed the chance to test his Wood Release training.
• Gaara, speaking through Shukaku, ordered Tejima Shinichi to die and attacked him with a massive sand palm.
• Tejima Shinichi dodged Shukaku’s sand attacks and formed Water Release: Hard Vortex Water Blade.
• Tejima Shinichi launched the technique through Shukaku’s right wrist, causing the arm to crumble into sand.

Tejima Shinichi tore apart Shukaku’s sand arm with Water Release, then unleashed Wood Release to grow a vast forest that bound the Tailed Beast. Shukaku blasted a path free and retreated to the forest’s edge, but the trees began regrowing as Shinichi’s attack continued to restrain it.

• Tejima Shinichi’s Hard Vortex Water Blade severed Shukaku’s giant sand arm, shocking Gaara and the examinees who witnessed the battle.
• Kobayashi Ken and Sato Yu recognized Shinichi’s jutsu and took heart, while Kankuro, Temari, and Team 8 watched in fear and disbelief.
• Tejima Shinichi used Wood Style: Deep Forest Emergence, raising a dense forest around Shukaku and binding its body with branches and vines.
• Shukaku smashed through the trees and fired several Vacuüm Blasts, clearing a path and breaking free of most of the bindings.
• Shukaku retreated to the forest’s edge as saplings began growing back across the scorched ground.

Tejima Shinichi’s immense Wood Release stunned the Konoha Anbu and revealed his power to Orochimaru as a naturally awakened ability. As Shinichi challenged Gaara to begin the real second round, Gaara used the Art of Slumber, awakening Shukaku’s true consciousness.

• The Konoha Anbu arrived to stop Shukaku, but the scale of the forest led their captain to conclude that Tejima Shinichi had awakened Wood Release.
• Orochimaru watched Shinichi and recognized his power as genuine Wood Release, becoming eager to claim it for himself.
• Shinichi told Gaara that their warm-up was over and called for the real second round.
• Temari and Kankuro realized Gaara was about to use the Art of Slumber, but stayed to see whether Shinichi could face Shukaku.
• Gaara formed the hand seal for the Art of Slumber and fell asleep as Shukaku’s true consciousness awakened.

Tejima Shinichi fought Shukaku after the beast broke free, using Wood Release to withstand its attacks and then restrain it with a Wood Dragon. The dragon began draining Shukaku’s Chakra, leaving the battle unresolved.

• Shukaku broke free, thanked Tejima Shinichi for its release, and attacked him with a powerful Vacuüm Blast.
• Tejima Shinichi blocked the blast with a Wood Golem Wall, while Konoha Anbu warned him that Orochimaru was active in the Forest of Death and the Hokage was on his way.
• Shukaku shattered the wooden wall and nearly struck Tejima Shinichi with its tail, but he dodged and moved away.
• Tejima Shinichi summoned the Wood Dragon Technique, which coiled around Shukaku and began draining its Chakra.

Tejima Shinichi’s Wood Dragon restrained Shukaku and began absorbing his Chakra, but strange violet markings appeared on the wood before Shukaku broke free with a Tailed Beast Bomb. Shinichi set aside his concern about the mutation and summoned a Wood Golem alongside another Wood Dragon to face Shukaku.

• Shukaku struggled against Tejima Shinichi’s Wood Dragon as it drained his Chakra, while the watching Anbu and Orochimaru were shocked by its strength.
• Tejima Shinichi noticed faint violet markings on the Wood Dragon that resembled markings on Shukaku, leaving him unsure whether they came from Shukaku’s Chakra or his own Wood Release.
• Shukaku fired a Tailed Beast Bomb at close range, destroying the Wood Dragon and breaking free.
• Tejima Shinichi dismissed his concern about the markings and challenged Shukaku, who sensed danger as Shinichi gathered more Chakra.
• Tejima Shinichi summoned a towering Wood Golem with a Wood Dragon coiled around it, facing Shukaku.

Tejima Shinichi used the Wooden Man and Wood Dragon to overwhelm Shukaku, then awakened Magnet Release through the dragon’s absorption of Shukaku’s chakra and defeated the tailed beast. Gaara woke after Shukaku’s chakra ran dry and realized that he had lost to a Konoha Genin.

• Tejima Shinichi sent the Wooden Man charging at Shukaku while the Wood Dragon entangled it and drained its chakra.
• The Wooden Man battered Shukaku until its body weakened and the Wood Dragon’s violet markings spread across its body.
• Tejima Shinichi sensed power flowing back through the Wood Dragon and used it to gather Iron Sand into armor and an Iron Sand Ball.
• Tejima Shinichi fired the Iron Sand Ball into Shukaku’s mouth, destroying the beast’s remaining ability to maintain its form.
• Gaara fell onto the sand dune as Shukaku’s chakra returned to him, then woke and recognized that he had been defeated by Tejima Shinichi.

Tejima Shinichi defeated Shukaku with Wood Release and discovered that his Wood Dragon had plundered Magnet Release. As he considered whether it could absorb other Tailed Beasts’ powers, an Anbu suddenly attacked him and declared he would take Shinichi’s body.

• The evacuated Genin watched Tejima Shinichi standing over the defeated Shukaku, and his victory left them astonished and fearful of his strength.
• Temari worried about Gaara while Ino, Shikamaru, Neji, Lee, and the other examinees reacted to Shinichi’s victory.
• Tejima Shinichi noticed the Wood Dragon had absorbed Shukaku’s Magnet Release and wondered whether it could plunder the other Tailed Beasts’ powers.
• Tejima Shinichi dismissed his Wooden Man and Wood Dragon, landed on the battlefield, and told the arriving Anbu that he had overused his Chakra.
• An Anbu suddenly lunged at Tejima Shinichi, stretched his neck toward Shinichi’s throat, and announced that he would take Shinichi’s body.

Tejima Shinichi foiled Orochimaru’s ambush and wounded him, but Orochimaru escaped with his substitution technique. Orochimaru departed after recognizing Shinichi as his junior brother and expressing interest in his Wood Release.

• Orochimaru bit a Wood Clone, and Tejima Shinichi burst from the ground to attack him with a Rasengan.
• Orochimaru blocked most of the Rasengan with Multiple Hidden Shadow Snake Hands, but Tejima Shinichi pierced his chest and heart before Orochimaru escaped by shedding his body.
• The Anbu surrounded Orochimaru and moved to protect Tejima Shinichi.
• Tejima Shinichi told Orochimaru that being taught by the same Teacher had prepared him for the ambush.
• Orochimaru compared Tejima Shinichi to Uchiha Itachi, praised his strength, and revealed his interest in Shinichi’s Wood Release.
• Orochimaru withdrew into the shadows, promising to meet his junior brother again as the Anbu and Tejima Shinichi remained at the scene.

After Tejima Shinichi defeated Shukaku and drove him back into Gaara, Sarutobi Hiruzen arrived and learned that Orochimaru had also attacked Shinichi before escaping. The chapter ended with Gaara finally relaxing and falling into a peaceful sleep beside Temari and Kankuro.

• Tejima Shinichi vowed to change Orochimaru's Konoha Collapse Plan into the Orochimaru Collapse Plan.
• Sarutobi Hiruzen arrived, confirmed that Tejima Shinichi had subdued Shukaku, and praised him for preventing a disaster.
• An Anbu captain reported Orochimaru's attack and escape, so Sarutobi Hiruzen ordered a wider pursuit and stronger security for the Genin examinees.
• Temari and Kankuro found Gaara exhausted but safe, and Temari reassured him that she was there.
• Gaara relaxed against Temari and fell asleep while Kankuro helped shield him from the crowd.

Sarutobi Hiruzen ruled that the battle between Tejima Shinichi and Gaara counted as exam competition and ordered the Chunin Exam to continue. After the teams were relocated, Tejima Shinichi set out with Kobayashi Ken and Sato Yu to speed through the exam, while Uzumaki Karin was pressured by her Kusagakure teammates to replenish their Chakra.

• Anko asked Sarutobi Hiruzen whether the Chunin Exam should continue, and he classified the destructive battle as normal competition before ordering the second stage to resume.
• The examinees agreed to continue, and Anko kept their acquired scrolls while reshuffling their starting positions.
• A Chunin examiner led Tejima Shinichi, Kobayashi Ken, and Sato Yu to a new starting point in the forest.
• Tejima Shinichi used his Sensing Technique to locate the nearest team and led his teammates into the woods to speedrun the exam.
• Uzumaki Karin's Kusagakure teammates demanded that she replenish their Chakra by letting them bite her, despite the pain and loss of life force it caused her.

Tejima Shinichi rescued Uzumaki Karin from two Kusagakure ninjas and asked her to join Konoha. Karin reluctantly accepted and followed Shinichi and his teammates toward the Central Tower.

• The Kusagakure ninjas tried to drain Karin's chakra, but Tejima Shinichi arrived and grabbed them by the throat.
• Shinichi crushed the two ninjas' necks, and Kobayashi Ken retrieved the Scroll of Heaven from one of their bodies.
• Sato Yu asked whether they should kill Karin, but Shinichi stopped him and asked Karin her name and clan.
• Karin pleaded for her life and explained her healing and sensing abilities, and Shinichi asked if she wanted to join Konoha.
• Karin reluctantly agreed, and Shinichi removed her Kusagakure forehead protector before leading her and his teammates toward the Central Tower.

After Tejima Shinichi brought Uzumaki Karin from Kusagakure to Konoha, Sarutobi Hiruzen and the village’s elders approved his actions and agreed to promote him as a future Hokage. As news of Shinichi’s Wood Release spread, Shimura Danzō became consumed by jealousy and vowed to destroy him before he could claim the seat.

• Anko learned that Tejima Shinichi’s team had reached the Central Tower with Uzumaki Karin, who had renounced her Kusagakure identity and asked to join Konoha.
• An Anbu captain told Anko that Shinichi’s actions would be reported to the Third Hokage, and Anko let Karin remain under Shinichi’s team’s supervision pending a decision.
• Sarutobi Hiruzen and the advisors discussed Orochimaru’s attack and Shinichi’s Wood Release, then approved keeping Karin in Konoha and supporting Shinichi as a future Hokage.
• Sarutobi Hiruzen decided that reports of Shinichi’s achievements should spread through the Ninja World to build his prestige and deterrence.
• Shimura Danzō read the report about Shinichi, resented his true Wood Release and rise as Hiruzen’s chosen heir, and resolved to destroy him.

News that twelve-year-old Tejima Shinichi defeated the One-Tails with Wood Release reached the other ninja villages. Rasa hesitated over Orochimaru’s Konoha Collapse Plan, while Ōnoki warned that Iwagakure’s future would depend on its next generation.

• Spies spread news across the Ninja World that Tejima Shinichi had used Wood Release to defeat Shukaku and break the Art of Slumber.
• Rasa read the report in Sunagakure and questioned whether Konoha could still be considered weak enough for Orochimaru’s plan to succeed.
• Ōnoki confirmed to Kitsuchi and Kurotsuchi that Tejima Shinichi had defeated Shukaku before many witnesses.
• Kurotsuchi asked whether Wood Release was a Kekkei Tōta, and Ōnoki said its power and significance were especially feared.
• Ōnoki reflected on Iwagakure’s losses and told Kitsuchi and Kurotsuchi to work harder as the Ninja World’s balance began to shift.

In Kumogakure, the Fourth Raikage reacted angrily to news that Tejima Shinichi had used Wood Release to defeat the One-Tails, while Killer B’s visit ended in a fight between the brothers. Black Zetsu identified Tejima Shinichi as Asura’s reincarnation, prompting Obito to end the Akatsuki Organization’s dormancy and launch the Tailed Beast capture plan.

• The Fourth Raikage read a report about twelve-year-old Tejima Shinichi defeating Shukaku with Wood Release and complained that Konoha kept producing geniuses.
• Killer B entered the Raikage’s office joking and rapping, and A kicked him into the wall after hearing him mutter that his brother was stupid.
• White Zetsu told Obito that Tejima Shinichi had used Wood Release to defeat the fully rampaging One-Tails, and Obito dismissed the boy as no match for him.
• Black Zetsu concluded that Tejima Shinichi was Asura’s reincarnation and urged Obito to move the Akatsuki Organization’s plans forward.
• Obito ended the Akatsuki Organization’s dormancy, ordered the Tailed Beast capture plan to begin immediately, and set off to meet Nagato.