Chapter Summaries

Shinji confirmed that Neji and Kimimaro had awakened a Tenseigan each, but the eyes consumed too much Chakra for them to maintain. When Fusion State ended, both Tenseigan went dormant to protect their hosts.

• "H" explained that it had split the newly awakened Tenseigan between Neji and Kimimaro because it lacked enough Chakra to sustain both eyes itself.
• Shinji confirmed the Tenseigan had awakened successfully, though they remained unstable and their hosts could not fully use their power.
• Neji and Kimimaro ended Fusion State, causing "H" to split and return to their bodies.
• Shinji saw that both Tenseigan had gone dormant, since Neji and Kimimaro could not bear even one eye.

Shinji learned that Neji and Kimimaro had gained no lasting benefits from awakening the Tenseigan, which remained dormant and impossible to remove safely. Kimimaro agreed to keep his Tenseigan secret, taking his first step toward choosing Shinji’s organization over Orochimaru.

• Neji used his Byakugan to confirm that the Tenseigan was still between his brows and had gone dormant.
• Shinji concluded that Neji and Kimimaro were temporary hosts and that removing the unstable Tenseigan would turn it back into Byakugan.
• Neji and 'H' urged Kimimaro to protect the Tenseigan, warning that it might be needed against the Otsutsuki Clan on the moon.
• Kimimaro struggled with his loyalty to Orochimaru and his growing sense of belonging among Shinji's comrades.
• Kimimaro agreed to keep the Tenseigan secret, while Shinji saw the decision as the start of Kimimaro's allegiance shifting to him.

After the Tenseigan awakened, Shinji considered how he might claim the eyes and planned to monitor Kimimaro. Meanwhile, Sunagakure and Kirigakure uncovered suspected Akatsuki spies, and messages about the investigations reached their temporary bases in Konoha.

• Shinji realized that he, Neji, Kimimaro, and "H" could each become the Tenseigan's original owner, and imagined wielding the eyes through the Susanoo Lamp.
• Shinji decided to take precautions and keep watch on Kimimaro.
• Pakura caught an intruder at an oasis in Wind Country and blasted him into the water.
• Baki captured a Sunagakure Jonin suspected of being an Akatsuki spy after learning Lord Kazekage had set a trap.
• Kirigakure ANBU found that the Six-Tails Jinchuriki's former hiding place had been thoroughly cleaned and planned to report a suspected insider to the Mizukage.
• In Konoha, Kirigakure and Sunagakure messengers received urgent scrolls as the Intelligence Squad handled messages from across the Shinobi World.

The Five Kage discussed the spy purges and agreed to gather underage Jinchuriki in Konoha for protection against the Akatsuki Organization. They also moved the Chunin Exams forward to select promising young ninja.

• Sunagakure caught two spies planted by Sasori, while Kirigakure continued investigating the attack on Utakata and identified a suspect.
• The Fourth Kazekage proposed sending Gaara to Konoha so the Five Great Shinobi Villages could better protect the Jinchuriki from the Akatsuki Organization.
• The Third Hokage agreed to host the underage Jinchuriki, and the Five Kage resolved that other villages would send elite forces to help defend them.
• The Fourth Tsuchikage suggested holding a contest, and the Fourth Kazekage and Fourth Mizukage proposed advancing the Chunin Exams.

Konoha announced that the Chunin Exams would be held early and include nearly every village, but Shinji, Haku, Karin, and Neji declined to sign up. Naruto, Sasuke, and many of their classmates volunteered, while Kimimaro remained undecided.

• Iruka announced that graduating students could apply for the early, unprecedentedly large Chunin Exams, though the village would approve participants.
• Shinji avoided signing up, and Haku and Karin followed his lead; Neji also declined because he had an important mission.
• Iruka questioned Shinji after class, and Shinji claimed the Advisor Elder Council planned to assign him to ANBU.
• Naruto and Sasuke signed up in their class, prompting many classmates to join them; Shion persuaded Yakumo to sign up too.
• The teacher began recording applicants and stopped when he noticed Kimimaro had not raised his hand.

Konoha’s leaders prepared to host an unprecedented Chunin Ninja Exam, while Orochimaru sent Kidomaru, Tayuya, Sakon Ukon, and Jirobo to compete and kill within the rules. The four prepared to leave for Konoha in three days, as Orochimaru and Kabuto Yakushi wondered how strong they had become.

• Tsunade reported which villages wanted to enter the exam, and the Third rejected Amegakure’s application.
• The Third learned that Shinji Uchiha, Neji Hyuga, and Kimimaro had not signed up, then ordered applicant reviews and intensive training under Kakashi.
• News of the exam spread, and participant lists and betting pools circulated across the Shinobi World.
• Orochimaru assigned Kidomaru, Tayuya, Sakon Ukon, and Jirobo to compete in Konoha’s exam and kill as many people as they could within the rules.
• Orochimaru ordered the four to leave in three days, while Kabuto Yakushi speculated that they might now be stronger than Kimimaro.

The Fourth Mizukage and his guards prepared Kirigakure’s team for the Chunin Ninja Exam, discussing Konoha’s participants and the village’s strongest young shinobi. As the fifteen-person group set out for Konoha under Suikazan Fuguki’s command, Kirigakure also planned to use the trip to expose a suspected spy.

• The Fourth Mizukage reviewed Konoha’s participant list with Mei Terumi and Kisame Hoshigaki, noting the threat posed by Yakumo Kurama, Sasuke Uchiha, and the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, while Shinji Uchiha was absent.
• Mei Terumi and Kisame Hoshigaki advised reducing Kirigakure’s thirty candidates to fifteen, with Chojuro, Hozuki Suigetsu, and Ringo Ameyuri as the key competitors.
• The Fourth Mizukage revealed that Chojuro had received Twin Swords Hiramekarei and Ringo Ameyuri had received Lightning Blade Kiba, and Mei suggested asking Tsunade to examine Ringo’s illness.
• The Fourth Mizukage planned to send a suspected spy to Konoha so he could expose and arrest him there.
• Suigetsu, Chojuro, and the other Kirigakure participants gathered, where Ringo Ameyuri dismissed Chojuro and declared she would destroy anyone who stood in her way.
• Suikazan Fuguki arrived to lead the fifteen participants to Konoha, prompting the group to recognize the significance of the exam.

Gaara traveled toward Konoha with Chiyo, Temari, and Kankuro while discussing his stay and the upcoming Chunin Ninja Exams. In Grass Country, Ryūsetsuna and Chiyo ambushed a camp of wandering ninja and unexpectedly killed them all, just as Ryūran arrived to summon Ryūsetsuna to Konoha.

• Chiyo told Gaara, Temari, and Kankuro that Gaara would remain in Konoha, and Temari and Kankuro considered staying with him.
• Chiyo warned Gaara that the Chunin Ninja Exams would include powerful new-generation competitors, and Gaara said he would do his best.
• Ryūsetsuna and Chiyo watched a camp of wandering ninja in Grass Country and learned the camp held many fighters, including a Jonin.
• Ryūsetsuna and Chiyo launched a nighttime surprise attack and silently killed everyone in the camp, including the Jonin.
• Ryūran arrived with two teams and told Ryūsetsuna he had come to call her back for Konoha's Chunin Ninja Exams.

Ryūsetsuna and Chiyo killed a camp of rogue ninjas, then learned Kusagakure was sending them to Konoha’s Chunin Ninja Exams. On the way, Orochimaru had Kabuto kill a Kusagakure Genin so he could impersonate him and join the exams.

• Ryūsetsuna told Ryūran that she and Chiyo had wiped out the rogue ninjas, and Ryūran inspected the bodies and realized how decisively they had been killed.
• Ryūran explained that Kusagakure would participate in the large Chunin Ninja Exams in Konoha, and Ryūsetsuna and Chiyo agreed to go.
• Ryūsetsuna, Chiyo, and ten other Kusagakure participants traveled toward Konoha under a Kusagakure Jonin’s leadership.
• Kabuto Yakushi killed a Kusagakure Genin who had left the camp, then reported to Lord Orochimaru.
• Lord Orochimaru said he wanted to confirm a few things at the exams and used the dead Genin’s features to make a lifelike human-skin mask.

Orochimaru infiltrated the Kusagakure camp by impersonating Shinji Kotera, though Ryūsetsuna and Chiyo recognized the deception. Meanwhile, Sasuke discussed his risky transplant with Kakashi before arriving at a confrontation between Naruto and Darui.

• Orochimaru disguised himself as Shinji Kotera after Kabuto explained the Grass shinobi’s identity and abilities.
• Ryūsetsuna and Chiyo sensed that the approaching Shinji was an impostor and decided to stay quiet while seeking a way to alert their lord.
• Kakashi warned Sasuke to conserve his remaining Dojutsu before the transplant and stay alert during the Chunin exams.
• Sakura told Sasuke that Darui had defeated Naruto after Naruto challenged him to apologize to Kaede.
• Darui dismissed Naruto and said he would only be interested in sparring with Shinji Uchiha, prompting Sasuke to challenge him.

Shinji studied the Second’s chakra research while rumors drew the village to a confrontation between Sasuke Uchiha and Kumogakure’s Darui. After Darui and Sasuke fought to a close stalemate, Sasuke charged his kunai with lightning to gain the advantage.

• Shinji read the Second’s book on chakra principles in the archives and overheard students leaving to watch Sasuke Uchiha face Kumogakure ninjas.
• Suigetsu and Chojuro spotted Ringo Amayuri watching from a rooftop, while Kankuro and Temari cleared a path for Gaara through the crowd.
• Naruto explained to Sasuke that a quarrel with Kumogakure ninjas began after Kaede tried to make friends with them and Naruto stepped in.
• Sasuke demanded that Darui apologize to Naruto, but Darui refused and challenged him to fight instead.
• Sasuke and Darui traded blows in close combat, and the onlookers judged Darui slightly superior in taijutsu.
• Sasuke drew a kunai and clashed with Darui’s longsword, then charged the kunai with lightning to try to cut through the blade.

Sasuke’s fight with Darui exposed how outmatched he was in close combat, until Gaara used sand to stop Darui’s blade and protect the spectators. The Third Hokage learned that the Chunin Ninja Exams faced stronger competition than expected and reconsidered whether Sasuke and Yakumo were enough to secure Konoha’s success.

• Sasuke infused a specially made Kunai with Lightning Release Chakra, but Darui matched the technique, disarmed him, and drove him toward the crowd.
• Gaara raised a sand barrier that stopped Darui’s blade just short of Sasuke, then Darui called Sasuke disappointing and left.
• Naruto thanked Gaara for intervening, while Sasuke left angrily after recognizing that Darui and Gaara were stronger than he had expected.
• Kakashi worried that the other villages had several talented young ninja competing in the exams.
• An ANBU informed the Third Hokage that Darui had suppressed Sasuke, and the Hokage noted that Kirigakure and Iwagakure had also sent formidable candidates.

After Sasuke’s defeat by Darui emboldened foreign shinobi in Konoha, the village’s leaders identified five special-class combatants and decided to enter Shinji and Neji in the Chunin Ninja Exams. Shinji noticed Ryūsetsuna and Chiyo exploring Konoha, then encountered Kakashi, who had come to speak with him.

• Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura warned Third that foreign shinobi were causing more conflicts, and Third told Tsunade to investigate the exam participants.
• Tsunade named Darui, Chojuro, Ringo Ameyuri, Kurotsuchi, and Gaara as five special-class combatants, while Kakashi suggested Shinji and Neji join the exams.
• Third approved Kakashi’s suggestion and ordered him to notify Shinji and Neji.
• Shinji spotted Ryūsetsuna and Chiyo touring Konoha after the Kusagakure group arrived.
• Kakashi approached Shinji after Shinji noticed him watching from the crowd.

Shinji refused Kakashi’s request to join the Chunin Ninja Exams, while Kakashi learned that Kidomaru had badly injured Kiba. Sasuke confronted a Grass Ninja named Shinji after the latter mocked his defeat by Darui, and held a kunai to his throat.

• At a barbecue restaurant, Shinji rejected Kakashi’s request to enter the Chunin Ninja Exams, saying he was not interested.
• Kakashi joined ANBU responding to a fight and found Kiba seriously injured by Kidomaru of Otogakure.
• Kakashi ordered the ANBU to register Kidomaru, Sakon Ukon, Tayuya, and Jirobo, then watched the Sound Ninja leave.
• Sasuke, still upset about losing to Darui, encountered Grass Ninja who recognized his Uchiha crest.
• A Grass Ninja named Shinji mocked Sasuke, and Sasuke used the Body Flicker Technique to press a kunai to Shinji’s throat.

Sasuke fought the impostor posing as Shinji Kotera and was overpowered, while Ryūsetsuna and Chiyo tried to prevent the confrontation from turning deadly. Chiyo knocked out Shikamaru, Choji, and Ino to protect them, and Shinji released Sasuke.

• Sasuke began fighting Shinji Kotera after Shinji struck him and challenged his taijutsu.
• Shinji steadily overpowered Sasuke, who used Chidori but failed to hit him.
• Shinji dodged the Chidori, grabbed Sasuke by the throat, and left the onlookers stunned.
• Shikamaru, Choji, and Ino rushed to help Sasuke, but Chiyo intercepted them and knocked them out.
• Shinji threw Sasuke to the ground and declared the fight boring.

Kakashi investigated attacks on Konoha genin by Otogakure and Kusagakure ninja, while village leaders debated the unexpected threats and Sasuke’s weakened condition. Shinji contacted Ryūsetsuna and Chiyo, who reported that someone had impersonated Shinji Kotera on their way to Konoha.

• Hinata and Shino visited the injured Kiba, who said Kidomaru had overwhelmed him like Kimimaro.
• Sasuke, Shikamaru, Choji, and Ino arrived at the hospital after being defeated by Kusagakure ninja Shinji Kotera and Chiyo.
• Tsunade told the village leaders that Kidomaru, Shinji Kotera, and Chiyo were capable opponents, while Sasuke’s depleted Dojutsu had sharply weakened him.
• Utatane Koharu said Shinji should participate in the Chunin Ninja Exams and clear away every obstacle, revealing that she had kept him in reserve.
• Shinji used Naobi to contact Ryūsetsuna and Chiyo, who reported that someone had impersonated Shinji Kotera and provoked Sasuke after they entered Konoha.

Shinji considered the identity and motives of the impostor who had infiltrated Konoha, while Tsunade reassured Yakumo about the Chunin Ninja Exams. Karin, now Kusagakure’s first Kusa Kage, learned that the impostor had replaced Shinji Kotera and refused to take action against him.

• Shinji suspected Orochimaru might be behind the infiltration and decided to wait rather than risk triggering a war before he awakened the Rinnegan.
• Tsunade encouraged Yakumo, saying she had the potential to become a Kage, and told her Shinji and Neji would join the Chunin Ninja Exams.
• Ryūsetsuna secretly met Karin and reported that someone had replaced Shinji Kotera and injured Sasuke after provoking Konoha.
• Karin refused to report or monitor the impostor, choosing not to act without an order from the organization.

With Konoha’s prodigies avoiding the challenges ahead of the Chunin Ninja Exams, Kakashi tried to recruit Neji and Kimimaro, but both gave him reasons they could not compete. Shinji considered entering to protect Sasuke and secure his own plans, then demanded the right to choose his ANBU subordinates as a condition for taking part.

• Ringo Ameyuri topped the challenge rankings after defeating seventeen opponents, while no Konoha prodigies appeared on the list.
• Kakashi visited Neji to invite him to the exams, but Neji claimed he had injured his leg and needed to rest.
• Kakashi went to Kimimaro’s apartment, where Kimimaro coughed up blood and confirmed that his Bloodline Disease had worsened.
• Utatane Koharu asked Shinji to enter the exams and offered him an ANBU squad captain position if he won.
• Shinji demanded the right to choose his own subordinates, but Utatane Koharu refused, so he left the office.

Shinji refused to back down after Konoha rejected his demands for an ANBU squad, then ordered Ryūsetsuna and Chiyo to challenge Konoha’s exam participants. The two Grass ninjas found the injured Konoha group leaving the hospital, setting up a confrontation.

• Tsunade, Jiraiya, and other leaders opposed Shinji’s demands, and the Third kept the ANBU squad leader position open while rejecting his other requests.
• After receiving the decision, Shinji resolved to make things livelier for Konoha and ordered Ryūsetsuna and Chiyo to challenge its Chunin Ninja Exams participants.
• Ryūsetsuna and Chiyo escaped Kusagakure’s temporary compound and checked the challenge ranking, where they saw that no Konoha ninja had made the list.
• Ryūsetsuna guessed the challenged Konoha ninjas were at Konoha Hospital and led Chiyo there.
• Sasuke left the hospital with Sakura, Shion, Shikamaru, Choji, Ino, and Kiba, and the group encountered Ryūsetsuna and Chiyo outside.

Ryūsetsuna and Chiyo challenged the Konoha ninjas outside the hospital, and Chiyo quickly defeated Kiba and Shino. Shikamaru realized that only Shinji, Yakumo, or a fully recovered Sasuke might have a sure chance against her.

• Shion and the Konoha group learned that Grass ninjas had injured Sasuke and that Chiyo had previously beaten Ino, Shikamaru, and Choji.
• Chiyo announced that she had come to challenge the Konoha ninjas, and Kiba volunteered to face her.
• Chiyo exploited a weakness in Kiba's Fang Over Fang and defeated both Kiba and Akamaru in one exchange.
• Shino sent his Kikaichū to attack Chiyo, but she charged through the swarm and punched him away.
• Hinata used her Byakugan to see the powerful Chakra surrounding Chiyo, while Shikamaru worried about the growing crowd and the Konoha group's losses.