Recaps

Guren, Zabuza Momochi, and Kaguya Black Bone tracked down three Takigakure genin after they witnessed Black Bone’s deadly bone technique. Black Bone killed Liuxi and Shibu, leaving Kawajiro’s fate unresolved.

• Shibu, Liuxi, and Kawajiro fled after seeing Black Bone’s bone spikes impale a pack of giant wolves.
• Guren caught the Takigakure team between herself and Zabuza Momochi and Black Bone.
• Shibu blocked Guren’s crystal shuriken with a Water Formation Wall, but Black Bone attacked him with a bone blade and Five-Finger Piercing Bullets.
• Liuxi took Black Bone’s bone bullets in the back while protecting Shibu and died in his arms.
• Black Bone attacked Shibu from behind with Shikotsumyaku: King of Execution, piercing him with branching bone spikes.

Zabuza's team secured the Water Scroll and prepared to head for the Waterfall of Truth, while Mei Terumi's squad fought Hoshigakure's remaining fighters. Hua Bing used the water her teammates created to unleash a powerful Ice Release attack, leaving Natsuhiboshi and Hotarubi defeated and wondering if she had reached the highest realm of Ice Release.

• Kaguya Black Bone defeated Shibu, and Zabuza killed Takigakure's last genin before finding the Water Scroll on Liuxi and announcing that his team would head for the Waterfall of Truth.
• Hotarubi attacked Mei Terumi's squad with a chakra dragon, while Natsuhiboshi sent chakra whips at them and Ringo Ameyuri and Mei Terumi countered the assaults.
• Mei Terumi and Ringo Ameyuri created a large pool of water so Hua Bing could use Ice Release to freeze the battlefield.
• Hua Bing summoned an Ice Dragon from the ice and rode it into the sky, evading the attacks of Natsuhiboshi and Hotarubi.
• Hua Bing sent the Ice Dragon crashing through the pair's layered chakra shields, wounding them with ice shards and smashing them onto the ice.
• Hua Bing wondered whether her attack had reached the legendary highest realm of Ice Release, Frost Heaven.

The Third Raikage arrived at Turtle Island after learning that Nagato had revealed his Rinnegan, and chose to wait rather than disrupt the Chunin Exams. The second exam ended with all eighteen teams passing, and Killer B invited the genin to discover their true selves at the Waterfall of Truth.

• The Third Raikage arrived, heard Dodai explain the situation with Nagato, and decided to wait for Nagato to come out.
• Hikō withdrew into the crowd after the Third Raikage arrived, while Araki pretended not to notice his accusing looks.
• Killer B collected the teams' scrolls with Hachibi's chakra tentacles and announced that all fifty-two genin had passed the second exam.
• Killer B explained that the Waterfall of Truth reflected each person's hidden self, and a silver-haired Yugakure boy said he wanted to try it.

Killer B returned with more than fifty candidates who had passed the Waterfall of Truth, and the Third Raikage immediately tried to recruit Nagato as his right-hand man. Nagato refused to leave Amegakure, so the Raikage ordered him to remain in Kumogakure until Hanzo came to collect him and began gathering lightning around himself.

• Killer B brought more than fifty successful candidates back to the landing site, where the Third Raikage confronted Nagato.
• The Third Raikage offered Nagato a place in Kumogakure as his right-hand man, but Nagato refused because he was a ninja of Amegakure.
• The Third Raikage pointed out Nagato's red hair and suggested he was descended from the Uzumaki Clan, but Nagato did not know his own background and remained unmoved.
• The Third Raikage praised Nagato's lack of concern about surnames and declared that he belonged in Kumogakure, but Nagato again refused to leave Amegakure.
• The Third Raikage ordered Nagato to stay in Kumogakure until Hanzo came to collect him, then began to gather lightning around his body.

Nagato agreed to stay in Kumogakure after the Third Raikage tested him, and the Raikage and Dodai considered Hanzo’s proposal to support the Land of Rain. Before they could decide, Obito and White Zetsu attacked with Wood Release, revealing that Konoha’s people had arrived.

• The Third Raikage attacked Nagato with Lightning Release Chakra Mode, but Nagato countered with Shinra Tensei and then agreed to remain in Kumogakure temporarily.
• Nagato gave the Raikage Hanzo’s scroll, which outlined a betting agreement using Nagato as a wager on whether the Land of Rain could become the sixth great nation.
• The Third Raikage asked Dodai to review the terms, and they decided to return to the village and give Nagato an answer before the Chunin Exams ended.
• Obito and White Zetsu emerged from underground with Wood Release, raising a thorny wall between Nagato and the Raikage.
• The Third Raikage recognized the Wood Release as a sign that Konoha’s people had arrived, while Araki prepared to act beside Dodai.

Konoha's Wood Release user Obito attacked the gathering on Turtle Island, revealing a giant Buddha and unleashing a devastating five-element barrage. After the blast, Araki challenged the Third Raikage to charge Obito together, leaving their counterattack about to begin.

• Dodai recognized the wooden barrier as Konoha's Wood Release, and the Third Raikage's forces formed up to defend him.
• Araki protected Nagato's group and used Samehada to drain Obito's Diamond Wood attack, while provoking him by mocking Konoha's strength.
• Obito summoned a gigantic Wood Release Buddha and fired five elemental techniques from its masks, creating a huge explosion that devastated the surrounding area and threatened Kumogakure's personnel.
• Araki told the Third Raikage that Obito's barrage was ineffective at close range and challenged him to race to take Obito down.

Araki and the Third Raikage fought their way toward Obito’s giant wooden Buddha, dodging and breaking through its barrage of arms. Araki shattered Obito’s wooden encirclement with his Azure Dragon sword wave and reached the Buddha’s main body, where its five elemental masks began to open their mouths.

• The Third Raikage attacked with Four-Finger Nukite as Araki used Mind’s Eye: Self-Knowledge and Hoho to evade the wooden Buddha’s blows.
• Obito unleashed Wood Release: Thousand-Hand Murder, battering the battlefield with the Buddha’s countless fists.
• The Third Raikage drove through the attacks and advanced with Three-Finger Nukite, while Araki ran along the Buddha’s wooden arms and cut through those that surrounded him.
• The Third Raikage escalated to Two-Finger Nukite as Obito concentrated more attacks on Araki.
• Araki used Slash Wave: Azure Dragon to break through Obito’s wooden-arm encirclement, then drained chakra from the wooden paths with Samehada as he charged ahead.
• Araki reached the wooden Buddha’s main body, and its five elemental masks turned toward him and opened their mouths.

Araki countered Obito’s five-element barrage by absorbing its attacks with Samehada and using Shadow Clones to conceal his real position. He gathered the returning chakra from the clones and struck at the wooden Buddha’s head with an enormous, lightning-charged Samehada.

• Obito fired five elemental attacks from the masks atop his wooden Buddha, and Araki sent five apparent copies to meet them.
• Araki’s Shadow Clones absorbed the fire, water, wind, lightning, and earth techniques with Samehada’s Fivefold Devouring Slash.
• Obito fired a second barrage at the five figures, which revealed themselves as Shadow Clones by detonating and returning their chakra to Araki.
• Araki’s overflowing chakra exposed his position near the Buddha’s head, and he enlarged Samehada and swung it down at the wooden structure.

Araki defeated White Zetsu Obito’s Wood Golem and warned the Third Raikage that Konoha had used a method to trigger Tailed Beast rampages. The Third Raikage ordered Kumogakure’s forces to advance toward the Land of Fire’s border, escalating tensions between the villages.

• Araki cut Obito and the wooden Buddha in half, and the Third Raikage destroyed the Golem with One-Finger Nukite.
• White Zetsu helped Obito attach his head to a new body, while the two joked about Nagato watching them.
• Nagato warned Araki and the Third Raikage that the strange attacker might not be dead, and Araki said the man had not seemed human.
• Araki told the Third Raikage that Konoha had released the Six-Tails in Kirigakure by drugging its Jinchuriki and inducing a genjutsu.
• The Third Raikage connected the method to Blue B’s past rampage and ordered Dodai to move Kumogakure’s troops toward the Land of Fire border.

After Araki secured Kumogakure’s resolve to oppose Konoha, he sounded out Iwagakure’s position and learned its forces were mobilizing. Meanwhile, the Joint Chunin Exams continued with a new team arena format, while Obito and White Zetsu decided to report back after seeing Nagato was safe.

• Araki invited Hikō to discuss Iwagakure’s stance, and Hikō said the village had begun mobilizing for war and could enter the battlefield at any time.
• Killer B told Araki that he would join the Third Raikage as a front-line commander, and the two agreed to compete over defeating Konoha ninja.
• Dodai announced that the Joint Chunin Exams’ next stage would be team arena battles, with a revival challenge available to each defeated team.
• Obito and White Zetsu watched Nagato from underground, concluded Kumogakure posed no immediate threat to him, and decided to return and consult Lord Madara.

Mei Terumi’s Mist team drew Iwagakure’s Earth Two team, and Ringo Ameyuri faced Karito in the first match. After Karito countered her opening strike and mocked her, Ringo launched a six-direction lightning sword attack that forced him to defend with explosive punches.

• Mei Terumi encouraged Ringo Ameyuri after Mist drew Earth Two, while Karito agreed to lead Iwagakure’s team against Water One.
• Ringo Ameyuri opened the match with Lightning Release: Flash Thrust, but Karito met her sword with Explosion Release: Landmine Fist and split her hand.
• Karito charged at Ringo with Heaven-Shattering Thunder Fist, but she evaded and attacked him with six lightning sword strikes.
• Karito used Earth-Splitting Fist to blast the ground and discovered that Ringo’s six figures were afterimages while her sword lights were real.
• Karito countered the incoming sword lights with Explosion Release: Vulcan Cannon as the fight continued.

Ringo Ameyuri defeated Karito with a lightning attack that concealed her approach, then faced Hanaka in the next match. Hanaka entered the arena after he and Shito argued over who should fight, and their battle began.

• Karito used Explosion Release: Vulcan Cannon, prompting Araki and Sasori to discuss capturing an Explosion Release jonin to study.
• Ringo Ameyuri combined lightning sword lights, Lightning Needles, and Transformation Techniques to paralyze Karito and stab him from behind.
• Araki praised Ringo's tactics and reflected on her inability to learn his space-time technique, the Lightning Stiletto.
• Hanaka and Shito argued backstage about who should face Ringo, then settled the question with rock-paper-scissors.
• Hanaka stepped into the arena and traded taunts with Ringo before Dodai started their match.

Ringo Ameyuri fought Hanaka in the second match, while Hanaka tried to exploit Earth Release and drain her chakra. Ringo outmaneuvered him and defeated him, then called for the next opponent.

• Ringo Ameyuri dodged Hanaka’s lightning slash with Earth Release: Floating Stone Dash and countered his earth attacks with her sword.
• Hanaka chose to target Ringo while she was airborne, setting a swamp beneath her and dropping sticky clay from above.
• Ringo cut apart the falling clay, then used a Water Clone to launch herself clear of Hanaka’s Falling Lid technique.
• Ringo used Lightning Release: Wild Flash to appear behind Hanaka and slash his neck, leaving him defeated but alive.
• Ringo sheathed her sword and called for the next fighter.

Katsuchi explained that Ringo Ameyuri had defeated Hanaka by baiting him into misreading her plan. Ringo then faced Shito, whose Lava Release fist clashed with her lightning blade, and Shito unleashed another technique as her sword pushed forward.

• Da Yan mourned Hanaka’s narrow loss, but Katsuchi argued that Ringo had deliberately deceived him into predicting the wrong move.
• Katsuchi explained that Ringo had hidden a clone in advance, making Hanaka’s planned counter useless and allowing her to win.
• Shito stepped forward to fight Ringo, charging her with a lava-coated fist.
• Ringo met Shito’s Lava Release: Rock Fist with Lightning Release: Lightning Cutter, and her blade began cutting through his magma gauntlet.
• Shito opened his lava-covered fist and used Lava Release: Great Eruption.

Ringo Ameyuri defeated Shito and his Iwagakure teammates in the first-round match, combining lightning swordsmanship with Kirigakure's Silent Killing Technique to overcome Shito's lava attacks. After seeing Ringo receive praise and healing, Samui bristled at Shi's reassurance and vowed that she could also defeat three opponents alone.

• Shito unleashed a barrage of lava bullets, but Ringo Ameyuri spun through them with her lightning sword and attacked him with elusive Silent Killing Technique movements.
• Shito disrupted the ground with Volcanic Eruption and tried to catch Ringo with a lava ball followed by a concealed Rock Fist, but she narrowly evaded the strike.
• Ringo compressed and released her body in a powerful sword attack that sent Shito flying into the tower wall and knocked him unconscious.
• Dodai declared the Land of Water's First Team the winner, and Araki healed Ringo's wounds as he praised her.
• Shi tried to reassure Samui that her team would not face Ringo early, but Samui challenged the implication that she was weaker and declared she could defeat three opponents too.

Karatachi Yagura learned that the Third Mizukage planned to travel to the Land of Lightning and was left in charge of Kirigakure, while the other Kage also prepared to attend the Joint Chunin Exams. In Konoha, Orochimaru and the advisors considered sending a team to assassinate the Third Mizukage at sea.

• The Third Mizukage warned Karatachi Yagura that Konoha would not let the war settle and ordered him to oversee Kirigakure while he traveled to the Land of Lightning.
• Ōnoki set out for the Land of Lightning with Wenya after telling Kitsuchi to remain in Iwagakure and manage the village.
• The Third Kazekage left Sunagakure in Chiyo and Rasa's hands and departed with his Shadow Guard.
• Orochimaru, Danzo, Tsunade, and Sarutobi Hiruzen discussed assassinating the Third Mizukage during his sea journey.
• Danzo proposed Namikaze Minato, Aburame Shibi, and a Hyuga Branch House shinobi for the mission, and Orochimaru considered the team.

Araki welcomed the Third Mizukage to Kumogakure after the Mizukage said Konoha shinobi had attacked him and killed his Shadow Guard. The two vowed revenge as the Mizukage arrived alone, bearing bloodstained robes and a strange, divided aura.

• Samui defeated her third opponent, helping Land of Lightning Team One win, and the preliminary matches produced twenty-six finalists for the battle in one week.
• Araki practiced extending his Mind's Eye by synchronizing his spirit with nature while waiting outside Kumogakure.
• Araki sensed a strange aura and greeted the approaching Third Mizukage, who wore bloodstained robes.
• The Third Mizukage said he had dealt with Konoha shinobi on the way and that Kiryu and the rest of his Shadow Guard had died protecting him.
• Araki and the Third Mizukage condemned Konoha and vowed to repay the blood debt.

Araki realized that the Third Mizukage who entered Kumogakure was an impostor, likely Zetsu, and decided to ask Sasori for help eliminating him discreetly. The chapter ended with Sasori hurrying to meet Araki while the Third Kazekage teased Pakura about being too old for Sasori.

• Three black-clad ninja arrived too late to stop the Third Mizukage from entering Kumogakure, and their blond captain ordered a retreat.
• Araki searched himself with the Mind's Eye and confirmed that no foreign chakra had been planted on him.
• Araki concluded that the Third Mizukage was an impostor and decided the threat to Kirigakure had to be removed without exposing him as a traitor.
• Araki went to the Sunagakure lodgings to consult Sasori about using poison against Zetsu's regenerative body.
• Sasori eagerly left the Third Kazekage and Pakura to meet Araki, and the Kazekage teased Pakura that Sasori might consider her too old.

Araki asked Sasori to develop a poison that could erode Yang Release chakra so they could secretly incapacitate the Third Mizukage, whom Araki believed White Zetsu had possessed. Sasori accepted the challenge, hoping the mission would lead to a Wood Release Human Puppet.

• Sasori told Araki that the Third Kazekage still refused to act against Konoha and expressed contempt for his caution.
• Araki asked Sasori whether he wanted a body like the Konoha ninja on Turtle Island who could use Wood Release, and Sasori eagerly agreed.
• Sasori explained that a Wood Release Human Puppet could create and repair puppets, helping him avoid running out of usable puppets in battle.
• Araki asked whether Sunagakure had a poison that could erode Yang Release chakra, and Sasori said it did not.
• Araki explained that ordinary poison would likely fail against the Third Mizukage and tasked Sasori with developing a poison that could hinder the target's healing.
• Sasori agreed to produce the poison within three days, before they left Kumogakure.

The Third Hoshikage barged into the Raikage's meeting and claimed a place among the Five Kage. The Third Raikage knocked him unconscious with a lightning-powered strike, leaving his claim in ruins.

• The Third Raikage, Third Mizukage, Kazekage, and Tsuchikage silently clashed their auras in the Raikage's office while their attendants watched.
• The Third Hoshikage insisted he should join the Kage meeting and transformed into his formal robes, declaring himself the fifth Kage.
• The Third Hoshikage burst into the office, where the four Kage redirected their combined aura pressure toward him.
• The Third Hoshikage used the Mysterious Peacock Method to repel the pressure and asked whether he had earned the right to join them.
• The Third Raikage activated Lightning Release Chakra Mode and struck the Third Hoshikage with a lightning-charged palm blade.
• The Third Hoshikage's Peacock Feather Dragon collapsed, and the Third Raikage sent him crashing into a wall before asking what Kage he had claimed to be.

The Third Raikage tried to claim the unconscious Third Hoshikage, but the other Kage insisted on investigating Hoshigakure and its Mysterious Peacock Method. After learning the technique’s severe risks and limited usefulness, they dismissed the matter and headed to the arena as the Joint Chunin Exams’ final battle began.

• The Third Raikage knocked out the Third Hoshikage and ordered Kumogakure ninjas to take him away, but Ōnoki objected to Kumogakure claiming him.
• The Third Mizukage, secretly controlled by White Zetsu, deflected Ōnoki’s question to the Third Kazekage without revealing his ignorance of Hoshigakure.
• The Third Kazekage proposed questioning the Third Hoshikage, and Dodai brought in Kumogakure’s Interrogation Unit to examine his memories.
• The Kage learned that the Mysterious Peacock Method relied on a radioactive meteorite, had a low success rate, and had few practitioners, so they lost interest in Hoshigakure.
• Dodai told the interrogators to claim the Third Hoshikage had fallen on the road and send him to the hospital.
• The four Kage took their seats in the Grand Arena, and the final decisive battle of the Joint Chunin Exams began.

After a week trapped on Bluefish Island, Konoha received Tsunade and her reinforcements, and Jiraiya prepared to lead a counterattack against Mist Village. Tsunade revealed that she had awakened Wood Release and could heal the island’s wounded, leaving Konoha ready to attack.

• Kisame Hoshigaki led Mist Village ninja in another Water Release assault, but Jiraiya and Konoha’s Earth Release users blocked it with a massive wall.
• Jiraiya asked Nara Shikaku and Yamanaka Inoichi whether the village had replied, worried that the trapped Konoha ninja’s morale would falter after seven days.
• Tsunade arrived and told Jiraiya that two thousand reinforcements were on their way, while she had infiltrated the island ahead of them.
• Tsunade revealed her awakened Wood Release and healed the severely wounded Konoha ninja, restoring their combat strength.
• Jiraiya rallied the Konoha forces and ordered the whole army to attack Mist Village.

At the Kage summit in Kumogakure, the four leaders weighed the war against Konoha and negotiated routes and guarantees for joining it. The Third Tsuchikage demanded Kirigakure share captured Byakugan, leaving Araki worried about how White Zetsu would answer.

• The Third Raikage asked the Third Mizukage how Kirigakure’s war against Konoha was going, and White Zetsu replied that Kirigakure could still hold them off with the sea as support.
• The Third Kazekage learned that Jiraiya alone commanded Konoha’s forces in the Land of Water, while the Third Raikage urged the other villages to commit to the war.
• The Third Raikage proposed separate invasion routes for Iwagakure and Sunagakure, but Ōnoki resisted and the Third Kazekage demanded guarantees against Iwagakure attacking Sunagakure.
• After Baki defeated Toroi, the Third Kazekage agreed to send troops if Iwagakure stayed out of the Land of Rain and did not attack Sunagakure during the war.
• Ōnoki agreed to consider those terms but asked the Third Mizukage to share Kirigakure’s captured Byakugan, shifting the Kage’s attention to him.
• Araki feared White Zetsu would mishandle the demand and dig Kirigakure into a deeper hole.

Araki watched the Third Mizukage bargain with the other Kage and decided Kirigakure had to keep the Mizukage’s supposed death secret. During the break, he encouraged Sasori to join the fighting in the Land of Water, angering the Third Kazekage and leaving Araki unaware that the Kazekage was blaming him.

• Araki concluded that Kirigakure needed to conceal the Third Mizukage’s death and arrange a quiet transfer of power rather than risk the village’s stability.
• The Third Mizukage offered two Byakugan to the first two allied forces to enter the Land of Fire, spurring the other Kage to compete in attacking Konoha.
• Araki told the Third Mizukage that Sasori wanted to travel to the Land of Water and fight Konoha’s shinobi, and the Mizukage approved.
• Sasori told the Third Kazekage he intended to visit the Land of Water, and the Kazekage erupted in anger when Sasori insisted the decision was his own.
• The Third Kazekage restrained himself from confronting Sasori and blamed Araki, who sneezed after leaving the Mizukage and wondered who had been talking about him.

Araki faced the Third Kazekage’s unexpected demand that he travel to Sunagakure in exchange for Sasori, while the Third Mizukage’s controller considered accepting. Meanwhile, Tsunade and Konoha’s forces fought Mist Village on a battlefield transformed by her Wood Release, and Tsunade remained locked in combat with the Kaguya Clan.

• The Third Kazekage proposed that Araki go to Sunagakure as the exchange for Sasori visiting Kirigakure, leaving Araki scrambling to prevent White Zetsu from agreeing.
• White Zetsu considered the exchange acceptable because he believed neither Araki nor Sasori could affect the larger picture.
• Tsunade’s Wood Release blocked Mist Village’s underwater attacks and gave Konoha’s forces a secure foothold, while slugs healed wounded Konoha ninja.
• Yanliu saved Suilian from a dying Konoha ninja and warned her to behead enemies before they could counterattack.
• Tsunade fought Kaguya Steel Bone and five Kaguya Clan jonin, sending them flying with her punches before Steel Bone and the others stood back in her path.