Recaps

After passing the second exam, Naruto took Sasuke and Hinata to relax at a hot spring, where he sensed Jiraiya nearby and went to deal with him. The chapter ended with Naruto vanishing from the men’s bath while his friends wondered what he was doing.

• Naruto sealed Orochimaru’s Heavenly Cursed Seal on Sasuke and told him that Orochimaru was a rogue ninja on Itachi’s level.
• Naruto’s team collected the two required scrolls and reached the central tower, where Naruto joked that they had been delayed by delicious food.
• The Third Hokage announced that the third exam would take place in half a month, and Naruto invited Sasuke and Hinata to the hot springs.
• Hinata sat quietly in the women’s bath until Sakura approached her and asked about her long hair.
• Jiraiya arrived at the hot springs and prepared to spy on the women’s bath, but Naruto sensed his chakra and vanished to confront him.

Naruto stopped Jiraiya from peeping at the women's hot spring, then received two hair-control jutsu from him. Afterward, Naruto fed Karin Uzumaki and arranged for her to study Sealing Jutsu while Hinata began learning Eight Trigrams Vacuum Palm.

• Naruto confronted Jiraiya at the hot spring and explained that his hair had held him in midair.
• Jiraiya gave Naruto scrolls containing the Wild Lion's Mane Technique and True Jizo, then left impressed by Naruto's strength.
• Naruto returned to his friends at the hot spring, then went to the underground space and brought food to the starving Karin Uzumaki.
• Naruto arranged for Karin Uzumaki to stay and study Sealing Jutsu while Sasuke trained with Kakashi.
• Hinata asked her father to teach her a long-range attack, and she began practicing Eight Trigrams Vacuum Palm with Naruto's guidance.

Naruto questioned the flaws in the ninja chakra system and searched within himself for a path to greater strength. As he examined the Six Thief Immortals, his body began absorbing Natural Energy, leaving Hinata and Jiraiya unable to reach him.

• Naruto decided that ordinary ninja training and chakra refinement could not give him the cultivation path he wanted, and he searched his body for a new direction.
• Hinata found Naruto unresponsive by the river, surrounded by strands of hair that pushed her away.
• Naruto’s Six Thief Immortals began absorbing Natural Energy from across Konoha, and Jiraiya sensed the disturbance and rushed to the riverbank.
• Naruto’s Shadow Clones blocked Jiraiya from approaching, while Hinata worried and Jiraiya warned that absorbing Natural Energy was dangerous.
• Naruto continued searching for a solution inside his Sealing Space and turned his attention to the Six Thief Immortals’ ability to grow by devouring energy.

Naruto searched for the Middle Dantian by experimenting on his body while Jiraiya and Hinata kept watch. After repeatedly injuring and healing himself, he found a space in his chest and successfully formed the Middle Dantian with the Eight Trigrams Seal.

• Naruto considered where the three dantian were and ruled out the Upper and Lower Dantian as places to experiment.
• Naruto began searching for the Middle Dantian while Jiraiya and Hinata watched over him outside.
• Naruto's experiments repeatedly caused his chest to explode, but the Six Thief Immortals healed him and absorbed the spilled blood.
• Naruto discovered a golden space in his chest that he suspected was the Middle Dantian.
• Jiraiya and Hinata continued guarding Naruto through the night as his corrosive chakra made it dangerous to approach.
• Naruto formed a Shadow Clone, which used the Eight Trigrams Seal to create a tiny golden dot in his chest, completing the Middle Dantian.

Naruto completed his Middle Dantian experiment by compressing his excess energy, alarming Hinata and Jiraiya in the process. The next day, Jiraiya offered to teach Naruto ninjutsu, only to discover that Naruto already knew the Rasengan.

• Naruto gathered his body's excess energy in his chest and continued experimenting with chakra purification as the Six Thief Immortals devoured Natural Energy.
• Hinata rushed to Naruto and embraced him after he recovered, while Jiraiya questioned his dangerous research and Naruto described his ideas without being understood.
• Jiraiya mistook Naruto's results for research into the Yin Seal, ordered him to stop experimenting dangerously, and offered to teach him ninjutsu.
• Naruto noticed Hinata's injured hand, heard how she had been hurt, and healed the wound with chakra.
• The next day, Jiraiya asked Naruto what ninjutsu he wanted to learn and offered to teach him the Rasengan, but Naruto revealed he already knew it by forming a golden one.

Jiraiya taught Naruto Summoning Jutsu, but Naruto declined to pursue stronger toad summons and practiced alone after Jiraiya left. Naruto replenished Hinata’s Yin Seal and shared his feelings through their chakra connection, and Hinata kissed him as his Sharingan began to change.

• Jiraiya had Naruto sign the Mount Myoboku scroll and taught him Summoning Jutsu.
• Naruto summoned Gama but refused Jiraiya’s suggestion to summon a stronger toad, preferring Taijutsu.
• After Jiraiya left, Naruto noticed Hinata watching him and invited her to sit beside him.
• Naruto soothed Hinata’s fatigue and replenished the chakra in her Yin Seal while sharing his feelings through their connection.
• Hinata kissed Naruto, and his Three-Tomoe Sharingan spun rapidly as the kiss cleared his thoughts.

Naruto and Hinata shared their first kiss, awakening Naruto’s Mangekyō Sharingan and triggering an unknown change in Hinata’s eyes. Naruto discovered his new Dōjutsu, continued training with Jiraiya, and awaited the start of the exams’ third round.

• Naruto kissed Hinata, and their feelings caused his Three-Tomoe Sharingan to transform into the Mangekyō Sharingan while Hinata’s eyes also began changing.
• Naruto tested his new Dōjutsu in the Forest of Death and discovered that his right eye summoned the Heavenly Cloud Sword, while his left eye granted Divine Control over his chakra.
• Naruto returned home satisfied with his new abilities, including his golden Susanoo, though he could not yet activate it.
• Naruto returned to the training grounds the next day, where Hinata was absent and he trained with Jiraiya.
• More than half a month passed, and Konoha grew lively as the third round of the exams began.

Naruto and his friends gathered for the third exam, where the matchups were drawn and Naruto was paired against Neji. The first match began with the audience cheering for Neji as he faced Naruto in the arena.

• Naruto and Hinata arrived at the exam venue and joined their friends while Sasuke remained away training with Kakashi.
• The Third Hokage and the Fourth Kazekage watched the contestants, and Orochimaru secretly assessed Naruto.
• The draw paired Naruto with Neji, Hinata with Tenten, Shikamaru with Temari, and Rock Lee with Gaara.
• Naruto and his friends teased each other about his match against Hinata’s older brother, while Neji looked forward to fighting him.
• Naruto used the Body Flicker Technique to enter the arena, where Neji declared that Naruto’s journey would end and the first match began.

Naruto and Neji fought in the arena, where Naruto’s overwhelming strength and Neji’s modified Rotation turned their match into a display of powerful taijutsu. Naruto emerged unharmed from Neji’s counterattack and objected when Neji called him a genius, insisting his strength came from hard work.

• Hiashi told Hanabi he expected Neji to win, while Hanabi recalled that Hinata had said Naruto was strong.
• Naruto blocked Neji’s attacks, then struck his improved Rotation hard enough to blast a huge crater into the arena.
• Neji used his speed and newly developed taijutsu to counter Naruto, and their next clash sent Naruto crashing into a wall while Neji’s arm hung limp.
• Naruto walked out of the smoke unharmed, and Neji admitted he had underestimated Naruto’s strength.
• Naruto rebuked Neji for calling him a genius and said his taijutsu strength came from hard work.

Naruto Uzumaki defeated Neji in a taijutsu match, confronting Neji’s despair over fate and the limits imposed by his clan. After the fight, Orochimaru became interested in investigating the Uzumaki Clan’s unusual talent.

• Naruto struck Neji and challenged his belief that fate made effort meaningless, while Neji revealed his scarred hands and insisted on continuing the fight.
• Neji charged and hit Naruto with a powerful punch, but Naruto was unharmed; Naruto admitted he had not been pitying Neji and knocked him unconscious.
• Genma Shiranui declared Naruto the winner, and Naruto walked over to Hinata while considering how he might protect Neji from the Caged Bird Seal.
• Shikamaru teased Naruto about his strength, while Orochimaru discussed Naruto with the Third Hokage and wondered whether the Uzumaki Clan possessed a hidden talent.

Hinata won her match, but Neji’s fate and the Caged Bird Seal left her troubled. Naruto promised to help Neji, who remained overwhelmed by the belief that the seal had stripped his life of meaning.

• Hinata defeated Tenten in a battle of attrition, while Kiba lost to a ninja who attacked with sound waves and Shino won his match easily.
• Naruto noticed Hinata was upset about Neji and promised to handle Neji’s situation for her.
• At Konoha Hospital, Naruto awkwardly greeted Hyuga Hiashi, and Hanabi embarrassed them by asking if Naruto was the person Hinata liked.
• Naruto went to Neji’s room after Hiashi left, while Neji dwelled on his father’s death and felt that the Caged Bird Seal had made his choices meaningless.

Naruto placed a seal over Neji's Caged Bird Seal to prevent others from controlling him, then watched Shikamaru and Sasuke compete in the Chunin Exams. In the Sealing Space, Naruto urged the Nine-Tails to grow stronger and promised it freedom if it could defeat him.

• Naruto used the Three Talents Seal to protect Neji from being controlled through the Caged Bird Seal, and the two talked at length.
• Shikamaru forfeited his match after impressing the Jonin and Temari with his control of the fight.
• Sasuke won his match and advanced to the second round.
• Naruto left a Shadow Clone at the exams and returned home to train in the Sealing Space.
• Naruto told the Nine-Tails that he had found a way to release its other half and wanted it to become stronger.
• Naruto promised the Nine-Tails that it would be free if it could defeat him.

Naruto experimented with meditation and techniques from his past life, discovering that mantras could affect his chakra. The Chunin Exams resumed with Naruto facing Hinata, and he studied the Eight Trigrams diagram as she attacked.

• Danzo prepared Root for Hiruzen's death and planned to stay out of Orochimaru's operation.
• Naruto went to the woods to calm his mind, then found that the Mind-Calming Mantra produced refreshing chakra.
• Naruto used a shadow clone to test the Golden Light Mantra, and the clone discovered a way to influence chakra flow before dispelling.
• Naruto began the third day of the Chunin Exams against Hinata, who charged at him with Eight Trigrams Thirty-Two Palms.
• Naruto ignored Hinata's attack and examined the Eight Trigrams diagram beneath them, comparing it to Qimen arts.

Naruto endured Hinata’s Gentle Fist unharmed, sparred with her until she forfeited, and then watched Sasuke begin his match against Gaara. Sasuke’s attacks failed to penetrate Gaara’s automatic sand defense.

• Naruto took Hinata’s Gentle Fist without injury and praised her progress before sparring with her.
• Hinata grew tired and forfeited, making Naruto the winner of the match.
• Genma announced Sasuke Uchiha versus Gaara as the next match, and Sasuke entered the arena.
• Sasuke attacked Gaara with Taijutsu, but Gaara’s sand blocked every strike.
• Sasuke used a Shadow Clone and fired a Great Fireball Technique at Gaara from behind, but Gaara’s automatic sand defense protected him.

Gaara lost control during his match with Sasuke as Orochimaru launched an attack on Konoha and revealed himself to Hiruzen. Naruto set out to capture Gaara, arriving as Sasuke fought the rampaging jinchūriki.

• Gaara used his sand defenses against Sasuke, but Sasuke pierced them with Chidori and wounded him.
• Gaara transformed as Shukaku's chakra broke loose, while Kabuto's genjutsu put the spectators to sleep and Orochimaru's forces attacked Konoha.
• Orochimaru revealed himself to Hiruzen, and the Sound Four trapped them inside the Four Violet Flames Formation.
• Kakashi ordered Naruto to capture Gaara, and Naruto helped Shikamaru move their companions away from the battle before pursuing Gaara.
• Sasuke chased Gaara and was badly beaten, so Naruto arrived, threw Sasuke aside, and faced the rampaging Gaara.
• Orochimaru told Hiruzen that he had completed his immortality jutsu.

During Orochimaru’s attack on Konoha, Naruto provoked Gaara into letting Shukaku take control, then fought the tailed beast in the forest. As Naruto’s battle drew attention, the Third Hokage used the Dead Demon Consuming Seal against Orochimaru and his resurrected Hokage.

• The Third Hokage summoned Enma and confronted Orochimaru, who resurrected the First and Second Hokage with Impure World Reincarnation after the Third stopped the Fourth Hokage’s coffin.
• Naruto repeatedly struck and taunted Gaara, trying to make Shukaku emerge.
• Gaara used Feigning Sleep Jutsu, allowing Shukaku to take control and attack Naruto with wind and sand techniques.
• Naruto deflected Shukaku’s wind bullets and raised a Water Formation Wall to block his sand attack from reaching others in Konoha.
• The Third Hokage noticed Naruto’s immense Water Release, but Orochimaru said the fighter was someone he would never guess; the Third then used the Dead Demon Consuming Seal.

Naruto defeated Shukaku by absorbing much of his chakra, then brought Gaara, Temari, and Kankuro back to Konoha after sensing that the Third Hokage had died. As Konoha’s leaders gathered to choose a successor, Danzo declared himself the most qualified to become Hokage.

• The Third Hokage used the Dead Demon Consuming Seal to seal Orochimaru’s hands before dying.
• Naruto restrained Shukaku with Adamantine Sealing Chains and absorbed most of his chakra, leaving the One-Tail weakened and asleep.
• Naruto spoke with Gaara about his strength and the protective sand, then decided to take Gaara back to Konoha for an explanation.
• Temari and Kankuro tried to stop Naruto, but he brought all three siblings to Konoha and handed them over to the Anbu.
• Konoha’s Jonin, Jiraiya, and the Council of Elders gathered after the Third Hokage’s death, and Danzo claimed he was the best choice to lead the village.

Jiraiya was chosen to become the Fifth Hokage, but he recommended Tsunade instead. Meanwhile, Pain’s forces continued preparing to capture the tailed beasts, and Itachi Uchiha returned to Konoha with Kisame as Naruto left the village with Jiraiya.

• Jiraiya challenged Danzo over Root’s absence during the battle, and the elders declared Jiraiya the Fifth Hokage.
• Jiraiya refused the position and recommended Tsunade, whose family ties and status made her a strong candidate.
• Pain learned that the locations of the One-Tail through Seven-Tails had been confirmed and ordered Zetsu to identify the Eight-Tails and Nine-Tails.
• Jiraiya asked Naruto to leave the village on a mission, and Naruto agreed after sending a Shadow Clone to inform Hinata.
• Sasuke trained furiously after comparing himself with Naruto and resolved to gain power to kill the man he hated.
• Itachi Uchiha and Kisame entered Konoha, where Itachi stopped at a dango shop and remembered the girl he had loved and his family.

Kakashi and Anko encountered Itachi Uchiha and Kisame in Konoha, where Itachi injured Sasuke and used Tsukuyomi against Kakashi. Meanwhile, Jiraiya told Naruto they were searching for Tsunade as the Fifth Hokage.

• Kakashi and Anko recognized Itachi Uchiha and Kisame at a dumpling shop, then followed them away from the crowded street.
• Sasuke charged Itachi with Chidori, but Itachi caught him, broke his arm, and said he needed Sasuke's eyes.
• Kakashi attacked Itachi, who trapped him in Tsukuyomi, and Asuma, Kurenai, and Might Guy arrived to help.
• Itachi used Tsukuyomi on Sasuke and kicked him away, leaving Anko to catch the unconscious boy while Might Guy fought on.
• Jiraiya explained to Naruto that they were traveling to find Tsunade and recruit her as the Fifth Hokage.

Naruto encountered Itachi Uchiha and Kisame Hoshigaki at the inn and fought off Kisame while hiding the true nature of his chakra-absorbing ability. Itachi prepared to use Amaterasu, and Jiraiya rushed in to protect Naruto as Naruto began forming hand seals.

• Naruto sent a Shadow Clone to find Orochimaru and make a deal, then sensed two powerful visitors at the inn.
• Naruto recognized Itachi Uchiha and Kisame Hoshigaki when they arrived, and Kisame attacked him with Samehada.
• Naruto caught Kisame's strike and used [Six Thief Immortals] to reclaim his chakra and absorb some of Kisame's, making Kisame mistake his ability for Dark Release.
• Kisame attacked Naruto with a Kunai, but Naruto blocked his blows while Jiraiya watched from nearby.
• Itachi activated his Mangekyō Sharingan and prepared to use Amaterasu as Jiraiya rushed to protect Naruto and Naruto began forming hand seals.

Naruto and Jiraiya drove off Itachi Uchiha and Kisame Hoshigaki before continuing their search for Tsunade, while Danzo arranged a mission to test Naruto. Naruto then visited the ailing Orochimaru to negotiate for Impure World Reincarnation, leaving Orochimaru to state what he wanted in return.

• Naruto used a massive Water Release to drive Itachi Uchiha and Kisame Hoshigaki away, then Jiraiya scolded him and paid for the town’s damage.
• Kisame Hoshigaki reported Naruto’s Underworld Release to Nagato, who decided it was not yet a concern.
• Danzo sent his right-hand man to place a bounty-station mission to kill Naruto Uzumaki and ordered Fū Yamanaka to watch him.
• Orochimaru decided to reincarnate because his condition had worsened, and Kabuto Yakushi asked whether they should capture Sasuke Uchiha for the ritual.
• Naruto appeared in Orochimaru’s underground base and explained that he needed Impure World Reincarnation, then asked Orochimaru what he wanted in return.

Naruto negotiated with Orochimaru for Hashirama Cells and a chance to meet Minato Namikaze, while Orochimaru prepared to transfer into a new body. Naruto then attacked Kusagakure and destroyed the village with a massive Fire Style Rasengan.

• Naruto told Orochimaru that he knew the Dead Demon Consuming Seal and demanded Hashirama Cells and a meeting with Minato Namikaze in exchange for helping with Orochimaru's arms.
• Orochimaru agreed, ordered Kabuto Yakushi to give Naruto Hashirama Cells, and prepared to transfer into another body.
• Naruto quietly watched Orochimaru perform the ritual at night.
• Naruto appeared over Kusagakure in his true form, alarming the village's sensory shinobi and leader.
• Naruto dismissed the villagers' plea to negotiate and dropped a gigantic Fire Style Rasengan onto Kusagakure, vaporizing everything in its path.

Naruto used a devastating attack to destroy Kusagakure, drawing attention from the ninja world and Akatsuki. He then traveled with Orochimaru and Kabuto Yakushi to revive Minato Namikaze, and asked to speak with his father alone.

• Naruto's Shadow Clone destroyed Kusagakure with a powerful attack, and reports spread that the Nine-Tails Fox had destroyed a nation.
• Nagato ordered Akatsuki members to recruit the fox demon if they encountered it, while Konan worried about the danger.
• Naruto used Flying Thunder God to take Orochimaru and Kabuto Yakushi to a mountain cave, where Kabuto prepared the Impure World Reincarnation ritual.
• Orochimaru recovered the use of his hands, and Naruto revealed his Three-Tomoe Sharingan without explaining how he obtained it.
• Orochimaru performed Impure World Reincarnation and revived Minato Namikaze, whom Naruto greeted as his father before asking Orochimaru to leave them alone.

Naruto reunited the Yin and Yang halves of the Nine-Tails by taking the power sealed inside Minato, who disappeared after apologizing to his son. Naruto left with the Nine-Tails’ power and kept Orochimaru’s mark, then told Orochimaru he dreamed of learning powerful ninjutsu from everyone in the world.

• Naruto told Minato that an organization had tried to capture him and asked for the Nine-Tails’ power.
• Minato transferred his half of the Nine-Tails to Naruto, and Minato was surprised to see Naruto and the Nine-Tails acting as friends.
• Minato apologized to Naruto before his body crumbled and his soul departed, and Naruto thanked him.
• Orochimaru asked Kabuto Yakushi about Hiruko, and Kabuto reported that he had found Hiruko’s location.
• Naruto refused to remove Orochimaru’s mark and offered to seal it so he could not sense its chakra.
• Naruto told Orochimaru that he dreamed of learning the powerful ninjutsu of everyone in the world, reminding Orochimaru of his own old ambition.

Naruto and Jiraiya traveled to the Land of Hot Water to find Tsunade, but their search led to an unexpected encounter with her as a child. The chapter ended with little Tsunade punching Naruto and sending him flying.

• Naruto told Orochimaru that he wanted to learn the Second Hokage's ninjutsu and Particle Style before returning to Jiraiya with Flying Thunder God.
• Jiraiya took Naruto to the Land of Hot Water, where they searched several casinos for Tsunade without success.
• Naruto spotted a little girl escaping a group of pursuers and recognized her as Tsunade, though he could not remember why she seemed familiar.
• Little Tsunade confronted Naruto, and he teased her until he challenged her to punch him.
• Tsunade punched Naruto in the face and sent him flying.