Chapter Summaries

Uzumaki Kuming reunited with Sarutobi Kotaro in the Land of Flowers, gave a sealing technique to Kotaro for his newborn son, and learned about Kotaro’s classified pursuit mission. Kotaro set out to hunt an S-rank wanted criminal, while Kuming returned to his courtyard with Uchiha Itachi and the others.

• Uzumaki Kuming and Sarutobi Kotaro met at an izakaya and caught up about Hiruzen Sarutobi, the village, and Kotaro’s newborn son, Konohamaru.
• Kuming wrote out a rare Three-Way Seal for Konohamaru and advised Kotaro to pat defeated opponents on the head and comfort them.
• Kotaro revealed that Hiruzen had assigned him to pursue an S-rank wanted criminal who had killed a Chunin squad.
• Kuming wished Kotaro success and paid for dinner as an early celebration before they parted late that night.
• Kuming returned to his courtyard with Uchiha Itachi and the others.

Koizumi reached Kuming’s courtyard mortally wounded and died before Rin could save him. Kuming sensed the killers in the Land of Flowers and recognized Sarutobi Kotaro’s Chakra among them as Kakuzu carried Kotaro’s corpse through the woods.

• Koizumi collapsed at Kakashi’s gate and warned that Sarutobi Kotaro’s team was in danger before he died.
• Rin examined Koizumi and confirmed he was dead, while Kuming sensed the Chakra signature of his killers.
• Kuming gave Itachi the Heavenly Feather Blade and told him to prepare Koizumi for burial and take him back to Konoha.
• Kakuzu threatened and killed his companion, then left the man’s corpse behind as he walked away carrying Sarutobi Kotaro’s corpse.

Uzumaki Kuming tracked down Kakuzu after finding the bodies of fallen Konoha Ninja and recovered Sarutobi Kotaro's corpse. Kuming revealed his Nine-Tails power and overwhelmed Kakuzu with a giant Chakra beast.

• Uzumaki Kuming confronted Kakuzu and asked for Sarutobi Kotaro's body, fueled by anger at finding dead Konoha Ninja along the trail.
• Kuming drew the Heavenly Feather Blade, cut off Kakuzu's right arm, and took Kotaro's corpse.
• Kakuzu reattached his arm with black threads and attacked Kuming with his masks, detached creatures, and a combined fire-and-wind technique.
• Kuming sealed Kotaro's body in a scroll and blocked Kakuzu's attacks with a Chakra wall that expanded into the Nine-Tails.
• Kakuzu recognized Kuming as the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, and Kuming's giant Chakra beast struck him with a paw.

Uzumaki Kuming defeated Kakuzu and sealed him away to take back to Konoha for his role in killing Sarutobi Kotaro. In Konoha, Hiruzen Sarutobi felt a foreboding pain and learned that Kotaro had fallen in battle.

• Uzumaki Kuming used Tailed Beast Mode to crush Kakuzu and his masked creatures, keeping Kakuzu alive through the torture.
• Uzumaki Kuming sealed the nearly dead Kakuzu inside a hollowed tree trunk, stored the makeshift coffin in a scroll, and said he had avenged Kotaro.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi felt sudden chest pain while playing with Konohamaru, then asked Asuma to check for reports and news from his brother.
• Asuma returned with a Hokage Anbu, who told Hiruzen Sarutobi that Jonin Sarutobi Kotaro had fallen in battle.

After Sarutobi Kotaro died on a mission, Hiruzen and Asuma grieved, and Asuma learned that Uzumaki Kuming had captured Kotaro’s killer, Kakuzu. Two years later, Asuma asked to leave Konoha and join the Land of Fire Daimyo’s Guard Corps, but Hiruzen forbade him.

• An Anbu told Hiruzen and Asuma that Sarutobi Kotaro had been killed, and Hiruzen wept while holding Konohamaru.
• Asuma went to Minato’s office to learn who had killed Kotaro and where the killer was.
• Minato told Asuma that Kakuzu had killed Kotaro and that Uzumaki Kuming had already captured him.
• Two years later, Asuma asked Hiruzen for permission to leave Konoha and join the Daimyo’s personal Guard Corps.
• Hiruzen refused, telling Asuma that he was not allowed to go.

Asuma Sarutobi defied Hiruzen Sarutobi and set out to join the Daimyo’s Guard Corps, only to learn that Konoha had made him a Special Jōnin and provided a letter supporting his appointment. In spring, Naruto Uzumaki arrived at the Ninja Academy entrance exam determined to beat Sasuke and take first place.

• Asuma Sarutobi argued with Hiruzen Sarutobi, who warned him that the Daimyo’s Guard Corps could become a target in Konoha’s struggle with the Daimyo.
• Asuma ran away from home to join the Guard Corps, and Anbu caught up with him and delivered a Special Jōnin appointment scroll and a letter to the Daimyo.
• Asuma understood that Hiruzen had arranged the appointment and letter to protect and support him, thanked his father, and continued toward his goal.
• In early April, Kushina Uzumaki brought six-year-old Naruto Uzumaki to the Ninja Academy entrance exam.
• Naruto declared that he would beat Sasuke and take first place.

Naruto and the other children gathered for the Ninja Academy entrance examination, while Iruka explained that this year's class had been pre-screened for an elite education program. The examination began with a shuriken test, and Naruto declared he would beat Sasuke.

• Kushina encouraged Naruto before joining the parents who went inside to watch the examination.
• After their parents left, Naruto joined Choji, Shikamaru, and Fang, while Sasuke watched them from a distance.
• Iruka and Mizuki discussed the candidates' prominent family backgrounds and the Academy's new elite education system.
• Iruka greeted the children and explained that the first examination was a ten-throw shuriken test requiring at least sixty points.
• Naruto and the other candidates followed Iruka to the training ground, where Naruto vowed to beat Sasuke.

At the Ninja Academy entrance exam, Naruto watched as the children competed in a shuriken test, and Sasuke Uchiha earned the highest score so far. The parents praised Sasuke as the little brother of the genius Uchiha Itachi, while Naruto waited for his own chance to face Sasuke.

• Kushina cheered for Naruto from the stands as parents recognized him as the Hokage's son, and Hiashi watched him with his Byakugan.
• Iruka began the entrance exam's shuriken test, and the first group earned scores ranging from 10 to 77 points.
• Fang scored 81 points, setting the highest mark before Sasuke's group was called.
• Sasuke threw ten shuriken in quick succession and scored 96 points, astonishing Iruka and the watching parents.
• Fugaku said Sasuke's score was merely all right compared with Itachi's skill, while the parents praised Sasuke as Itachi's talented little brother.

Naruto took the Ninja Academy entrance exam after Sasuke and Karin impressed the spectators with high shuriken scores. The chapter ended as the Fifth Hokage, Minato Namikaze, appeared as a judge and Naruto recognized his father.

• Sasuke finished his shuriken test, scored 96 points, and received praise from his parents.
• Iruka called Naruto, Karin, Shino, Rock Lee, and Choji to take their turn, and Naruto reunited with Karin.
• Karin scored 96 points, matching Sasuke, while Naruto scored 93 and briefly felt disappointed.
• Iruka announced one-on-one sparring matches judged by Uchiha Fugaku, Hyuga Hiashi, and Nara Shikaku, with Minato Namikaze as the opponent.
• Minato appeared beside Iruka, and Naruto cried out in surprise when he saw his father.

Karin Senju faced Minato Namikaze in the Ninja Academy entrance exam and revealed exceptional taijutsu and chakra control. She ended the chapter by using Wood Release: Four-Pillar Prison against him.

• Minato introduced the exam, and Iruka announced that Karin Senju would fight first because she had the highest shuriken score.
• Karin attacked Minato with shuriken and taijutsu, while Fugaku and Hiashi watched with Nara Shikaku.
• Hiashi activated his Byakugan and recognized that Karin was using Strength of a Hundred.
• Minato praised Karin's skill and told her that Uzumaki Kuming had mastered Strength of a Hundred at her age and could knock down a Chunin.
• Karin recalled her admiration for Kuming, resolved not to lose, and trapped Minato's position with Wood Release: Four-Pillar Prison.

Karin Senju surprised the Ninja Academy examiners by using multiple Wood Release techniques during her test, though they noted her lack of combat experience. After Minato ended her test, Sasuke Uchiha was called as the next candidate.

• Karin Senju used Wood Release to escape Minato's wooden pillars, astonishing the spectators and other candidates.
• Minato threw shuriken at Karin, and she blocked them with a Wood Locking Wall.
• When Minato tested her reaction again, Karin raised another Wood Locking Wall instead of responding to the shuriken near her feet.
• The examiners praised Karin's talent and potential while noting her weak combat instincts, and Minato ended her test.
• Karin returned to the sidelines, and Iruka announced that Sasuke Uchiha was the next candidate.

Sasuke Uchiha faced Minato in the practical exam and displayed strong combat instincts, precise weapons skills, and the Great Fireball Technique. Minato ended the match after getting behind Sasuke, while the judges praised his performance and Fugaku remained unimpressed.

• Sasuke stepped forward, greeted Minato respectfully, and began the exam by throwing Smoke Bombs and shuriken.
• Sasuke recognized Minato's Substitution Technique and charged in with a series of kunai attacks and a kick.
• After Minato tossed him into the air, Sasuke formed Hand Seals and fired the Great Fireball Technique, then used another Smoke Bomb.
• Sasuke prepared wire-linked shuriken, but Minato appeared behind him and ended the exam, praising his traps and calling him a prodigy.
• Nara Shikaku and Hyuga Hiashi praised Sasuke's abilities, while Fugaku said he was not yet good enough.

Naruto Uzumaki began his practical assessment against his father, Minato, and surprised the audience with Earth Style and coordinated attacks. As Naruto pressed his assault, Kushina watched proudly, convinced his potential would shock everyone.

• Sasuke Uchiha finished his assessment with high marks and watched Naruto prepare for his turn.
• Naruto entered the field as spectators discussed his status as the Fifth Hokage's son, prompting Kushina to urge him to give his all.
• Naruto charged Minato immediately, and Minato caught his fist before noticing that Earth Style had covered his hand.
• Naruto broke free, created a Shadow Clone, and attacked Minato from two directions.
• Mikoto asked Kushina about Naruto's Earth Style, and Kushina praised his potential without explaining its source.

Naruto used Earth Style fueled by the Tailed Beast’s Chakra during his assessment against Minato, alarming the judges until they concluded Kushina’s expertise had kept his power under control. The examination ended at dusk, with Naruto judged the strongest candidate so far and Hinata also noted as a promising prospect.

• Naruto attacked Minato with a Shadow Clone and Earth Rising Spear, forcing Minato to use the Flying Thunder God to evade the jutsu.
• Hiashi identified that Naruto had used the Tailed Beast’s Chakra, and the judges feared the seal was weakening and the beast’s power was leaking out.
• Minato ended Naruto’s assessment, and Kushina joined her smiling son after the fight.
• The judges decided Naruto’s power was under control because Kushina understood his condition and had expertise in Fuinjutsu.
• The remaining students completed their assessments, with Hinata impressing the judges by activating her Byakugan in battle.
• The examination finished at dusk, and the judges considered Naruto the most outstanding candidate so far.

During the Ninja Academy entrance physical, Kushina Uzumaki discovered that Hinata Hyuga had numerous hidden injuries and suspected Hiashi Hyuga’s training methods were harming her. Kushina confronted Hiashi and Minato Namikaze with Hinata’s report, leaving Hiashi speechless.

• The examinees completed their physical examinations, and Kushina found several hidden injuries on Hinata Hyuga.
• Kushina reviewed the reports and decided Hinata’s injuries needed to be discussed with Hiashi and Minato.
• Kushina brought Hinata’s report to the Hokage’s office, where Hiashi, Minato, Uchiha Fugaku, and Nara Shikaku were ranking candidates.
• Kushina asked Fugaku and Shikaku to leave, then gave Hiashi Hinata’s report and accused him of training her too harshly.
• Hiashi read the report, listened to Kushina’s reprimand, and began to respond before falling silent.

Hiashi arranged for Hinata to recover and train at Minato and Kushina’s home on school days, while Konoha finalized the Ninja Academy exam rankings. Meanwhile, Uzumaki Kuming’s caravan reached the Land of Tea and was ambushed by bandits, whom he ordered Kakashi and the others to eliminate.

• Kushina identified Hinata’s hidden injuries and told Hiashi to change her training routine; Hiashi asked Minato and Kushina to care for Hinata on school days, and Minato agreed.
• Minato, Hiashi, Fugaku, and Nara Shikaku set the exam rankings, placing Naruto first, Karin Senju second, and Sasuke third; the results were posted at the Ninja Academy.
• Uzumaki Kuming’s tour group reached the Land of Tea after several months of travel.
• Bandits blocked Kuming’s thirteen-cart caravan with a fallen tree and killed a driver who tried to warn the others.
• Kuming ordered Kakashi, Uchiha Itachi, Obito, and Rin to kill the bandits and hurry toward Aoba Town.

Uzumaki Kuming sensed the bandits’ unusual Chakra but trusted Kakashi, Obito, Itachi, and Rin to handle them. The Konoha ninjas defeated most of the attackers, while the bandit leader and three stronger men surrounded themselves and realized they faced two Uchiha.

• Kurama warned Kuming that several bandits had unusually strong Chakra, but Kuming said Kakashi and the others could handle them and used Mind’s Eye of the Kagura to watch the road.
• Pockmarked Face attacked fleeing passengers with a saber, but Itachi deflected it with a Kunai and began taking down the bandits with shuriken.
• Obito attacked the bandit leader from above, but the leader dodged and trapped him between rising stone walls.
• Kakashi used Chidori to shatter the walls and save Obito, who joined him with his three-tomoe Sharingan.
• Itachi and Rin defeated most of the bandits, leaving the leader and three stronger men surrounded by the four Konoha ninjas.
• A surviving bandit warned Pockmarked Face that the attackers were powerful, and the leader recognized that two of them belonged to the Uchiha Clan.

Kakashi Hatake, Uchiha Itachi, Obito, and Rin Nohara fought bandits attacking a convoy, but two bandits transformed under the power of strange Cursed Seals. After Kakashi killed them, Uzumaki Kuming captured the fleeing bandit leader and covered him in Cursed Seals.

• Kakashi Hatake ordered Obito, Uchiha Itachi, and Rin Nohara to attack the surrounded bandits, and the team dodged stone spikes thrown through the flames.
• Rin Nohara caught a stone spike and launched Wind Style and Water Style attacks at the bandits.
• The bandit leader hurled two companions into Rin's torrent, where they emerged covered in Cursed Seals and overwhelmed by strange Chakra.
• Uchiha Itachi recognized that the Cursed Seals were supplying the two bandits with power, and Kakashi Hatake killed both with Chidori.
• Uzumaki Kuming stopped the fleeing bandit leader and covered his body in black Cursed Seals.

Uzumaki Kuming discovered that Orochimaru’s Cursed Seals could hold Senjutsu and headed to Aoba Town to meet him. There, Kuming approached Orochimaru and Yahiko, leaving both men surprised by his arrival.

• Uzumaki Kuming found a Cursed Seal on the bandit leader, questioned him about it, and killed him after deciding to seek out Orochimaru.
• Uzumaki Kuming sensed Orochimaru and a familiar but unexpected Chakra in Aoba Town and led the caravan there.
• Uzumaki Kuming told Uchiha Itachi and the others to find lodging, then vanished to meet someone.
• Orochimaru sat in a teahouse with Yahiko, who spotted Uzumaki Kuming approaching and reacted in disbelief.
• Orochimaru recognized Uzumaki Kuming and wondered how he had arrived, then noticed that Yahiko seemed to know him.

Uzumaki Kuming met Yahiko in Aoba Town and grew suspicious of his mission after receiving a secret message from Orochimaru. Kuming followed them into the forest, where Yahiko gathered Akatsuki allies and Orochimaru summoned three coffins to prepare for a fight.

• Kuming met Yahiko and Orochimaru at a teahouse, but Yahiko refused to explain his mission and left with Orochimaru.
• A white snake delivered Orochimaru's scroll to Kuming, bearing the single message, "Money."
• Kuming suspected Akatsuki planned to take control of Aoba Town, then used his Mind's Eye of the Kagura to follow Yahiko and Orochimaru out of town.
• Yahiko and Orochimaru stopped in the forest, where a masked figure with a Three-Tomoe Sharingan and a Venus flytrap-like creature joined them.
• Orochimaru used the Impure World Reincarnation Jutsu to raise three coffins, while Yahiko called Kuming out and declared the spot would be his grave.