Recaps

Naruto protected Karin, deepened his bonds with Sasuke and Jiraiya, and trained for the Chunin Ninja Exams as danger gathered around Konoha. The arc ended with the group at the temple fair while Hiashi and Jiraiya prepared to act on a plan involving Hinata.

• Gaara defeated Chibo Longying, Neji defeated Kiba, and Sakura and Ino fought to a double knockout before the preliminaries concluded.
• Naruto stopped Kusagakure from taking Karin and brought her into his clan, then tried to secure his parents’ house for her and used the Harem Technique to escape the Third Hokage’s office.
• Naruto helped Sasuke begin snake summoning and restored Anko’s memories of Orochimaru’s Cursed Seal, awakening his Six-Pointed Mangekyō Sharingan in the process.
• Sasuke trained with Xiao Qing at Ryūchi Cave, while Naruto signed the toad contract, won Gamabunta’s approval, and told Jiraiya what he knew about the Akatsuki.
• Jiraiya trained Naruto in combat and defeated him with Sage Mode techniques, while Orochimaru revealed his plan to attack Konoha using the Fourth Kazekage’s identity and a red-haired boy killed the Kazekage.
• Naruto helped Hanabi train to use Rotation, and Hiashi told Neji that Hinata had exceptional potential and planned to involve Naruto in a scheme concerning her.
• Hanabi mastered Rotation, and Naruto, Hinata, Karin, and their companions went to the temple fair, where Hinata and Naruto won stuffed toys for Hanabi and Karin.

Naruto helped defend Konoha from Orochimaru’s invasion, then left with Jiraiya to find Tsunade while his friends and allies confronted new threats. The arc ended with Naruto preparing to meet Orochimaru as Obito revealed himself to Itachi and Nagato moved to seize Shukaku’s chakra.

• Naruto helped Hinata awaken her golden-eyed power during Jiraiya’s staged attack, then watched her lose to Neji before Orochimaru’s invasion began.
• Naruto fought Gaara and helped him make peace with Shukaku, while Temari and Kankuro accepted Gaara as their brother.
• Naruto and Sasuke helped stop Orochimaru’s attack, but Akatsuki captured Shukaku’s chakra and Nagato absorbed the Nine-Tails’ chakra.
• Naruto left Konoha with Jiraiya to find Tsunade, and Tsunade agreed to consider becoming Hokage after Naruto challenged her convictions.
• Naruto nearly died in his fight with Tsunade, recovered with her help, and agreed to keep his relationship with Anko secret after Jiraiya and Tsunade urged him to consider his future with Hinata.
• Tobi warned Nagato that Naruto had become a powerful perfect Jinchuriki, while Nagato began sealing Shukaku’s chakra.
• Itachi confronted Tobi, identified him as Obito Uchiha, and tried to kill him, but Obito escaped with Shisui’s eye.
• Tsunade agreed to meet Orochimaru early, and Naruto prepared to try to bring him to Konoha’s side.