Chapter Summaries

Uchiha Itachi and Uchiha Izumi faced off in the third quarterfinal, but Izumi forfeited before either fought, leaving Itachi the winner. After the audience demanded refunds, Uchiha Fugaku promised an extra match, and the next bout was announced.

• Uchiha Itachi and Uchiha Izumi exchanged their reasons for becoming Ninja before revealing their Sharingan.
• Uchiha Itachi prepared to let Uchiha Izumi win, but Uchiha Izumi saw through his plan and forfeited.
• Uchiha Itachi won the match without landing a blow, prompting the audience to demand refunds.
• Uchiha Fugaku calmed the crowd by promising an additional match, and the host announced Uzuki Yugao against Kumogakure's Lightning Kid.

Uzuki Yugao challenged Darui in the tournament but was decisively defeated by his Lightning Release Chakra Mode. Darui then revealed details about the technique during an interview, giving Uchiha Qingfeng ideas while the Fourth Raikage grew increasingly displeased.

• Darui asked Uzuki Yugao to surrender, but she refused and attacked with Second Crescent Moon Dance.
• Darui caught both of Yugao’s blades with his lightning-coated hands and overwhelmed her with Lightning Style.
• The host declared Darui the winner, and medical staff helped Yugao away as she vowed to improve her sword techniques.
• During the host’s interview, Darui explained Kumogakure’s Lightning Release Chakra Mode and said he hoped to place third or second.
• Uchiha Qingfeng gained ideas for developing his own Lightning Chakra Mode, while the Fourth Raikage became irritated by Darui’s candid answers.

Deidara used his Explosive Clay to take to the air and overwhelm C during their Chunin Exams match. As he unveiled his C2 Dragon and the audience cheered, Uchiha Qingfeng decided Deidara would be valuable to recruit.

• The audience demanded a song-and-dance performance before C and Deidara entered the arena, while Minato Namikaze considered turning the arena into a theater.
• Deidara provoked C to buy time to create an Explosive Clay bird, then took off before C could stop him.
• C tried to reach Deidara but could only strike the bird, while Deidara bombarded him with Explosive Bombs and pursuing Little Birds.
• The audience cheered as Deidara's explosions blasted holes throughout the arena, and Deidara brought out his C2 Dragon.
• Uchiha Qingfeng admired Deidara's skill at making clay creations and decided to recruit him, while spectators wondered whether anyone could stop him in the air.

Deidara ignored C’s surrender and attacked referee Iwashi Tatami, forcing the Kage to let the other examinees stop him. Uchiha Qingfeng used the Flying Thunder God Technique to cut a wing from Deidara’s clay bird, and Deidara was captured and sealed after crashing to the ground.

• C surrendered after Deidara’s explosive attacks overwhelmed her, but Deidara kept firing and attacked Iwashi Tatami when the referee tried to stop him.
• Ōnoki agreed to let the other examinees handle Deidara, while Kurotsuchi asked Uchiha Qingfeng to intervene.
• Qingfeng threw a kunai at Deidara, then used the Flying Thunder God Technique to appear on his scouting bird and cut off one wing.
• Deidara fell to the arena, where Iwashi Tatami restrained him and the Sealing Team placed seals on him.
• Kurotsuchi had Deidara taken away for confinement while he protested that he needed to question Qingfeng.

After Deidara attacked the chief examiner and was defeated by Uchiha Qingfeng, the Kage questioned him and revoked his Chunin Exam qualification. They then arranged for Qingfeng to receive a bye in the semifinals, leaving him to face Kumogakure’s Samui in the quarterfinals.

• The Kage questioned Deidara about attacking the chief examiner, and Ōnoki urged him to treat the incident as a minor offense.
• Deidara defended his actions and threatened to make the examiner apologize to his art, so Ōnoki revoked his qualification to advance.
• The Fourth Raikage explained that Qingfeng had used the Flying Thunder God Technique, and Deidara became dejected after realizing how thoroughly he had been defeated.
• Ōnoki encouraged Deidara to develop large-scale attacks, then ordered him to remain in the courtyard until the exams ended.
• The Kage debated how to handle the remaining seven competitors, and Ōnoki proposed giving Qingfeng a bye to the semifinals because he had already eliminated Deidara.

Two more quarterfinal matches ended in surrenders, prompting officials to make Kurotsuchi and Akatsuchi stage a fight for the audience. Kurotsuchi advanced, leaving one quarterfinal match to be completed that day.

• Karui surrendered to Yugito Nii, who advanced and told her fans to stop calling her their wife.
• The audience shouted at a fan who called Yugito Nii his wife, and a performance filled the time before the next match.
• The chief examiner ordered Kurotsuchi and Akatsuchi not to surrender immediately and told them to stage a fight for at least ten minutes.
• Kurotsuchi and Akatsuchi exchanged Earth Style techniques that deliberately missed each other while the host and audience played along.
• Akatsuchi surrendered, and Kurotsuchi advanced before the host could interview her.

Uchiha Qingfeng faced Samui in the quarterfinals and demonstrated that her sword techniques could not overcome his Sharingan or Lightning Release defense. Samui continued attacking, but Qingfeng remained unharmed.

• The quarterfinal match between Uchiha Qingfeng and Samui began as the crowd cheered Samui and Qingfeng offered to let her make three moves.
• Samui charged with Cloud Style—Rising Dragon, but Qingfeng used his Sharingan to deflect her sword and avoid her follow-up elbow strike.
• Qingfeng told Samui that his Sharingan could see through her attacks and urged her to surrender or change her tactics.
• Samui used Cloud Style—Flying Blade to launch Lightning Chakra blades at Qingfeng.
• Qingfeng activated Lightning Release Chakra Mode and caught the lightning blades with his bare hand, leaving the audience stunned as Samui's attacks failed to hurt him.

Uchiha Qingfeng defeated Samui in the final quarterfinal match after she unleashed her Cloud Style—Flash technique but exhausted herself against his defenses. The Fourth Raikage reassessed Qingfeng as a threat to Kumogakure’s chances of winning.

• Samui stopped her ineffective attacks and told Uchiha Qingfeng she would concede if he survived her final move.
• Samui used Cloud Style—Flash to vanish and strike from multiple directions, but Qingfeng closed his eyes and sensed each attack well enough to block it.
• Samui’s ultimate technique exhausted her, and she fell onto Qingfeng after dropping her blade; medical staff confirmed she was not seriously injured.
• Iwashi Tatami announced Uchiha Qingfeng’s victory after Samui lost the ability to fight.
• The Fourth Raikage marked Qingfeng as a potential threat to Kumogakure’s chance of taking first place and noted that the Stone Village had only one quarterfinalist.

Uchiha Qingfeng complained about the Joint Chunin Exams’ two-day break and resisted Uchiha Itachi’s attempt to get him training before the semifinals. He left his Pharmacy with Itachi, but instead of going to the training ground, Qingfeng led him to Ichiraku Ramen.

• Qingfeng reviewed the seven quarterfinalists: Yamato, Omoi, Itachi, Darui, Deidara, Yugito Nii, and Kurotsuchi, and hoped he would receive a bye to the semifinals.
• Itachi urged Qingfeng to train for the upcoming matches, but Qingfeng refused and explained that his future strength depended on rare abilities and System potions.
• Itachi challenged Qingfeng’s laziness, but Qingfeng offered to fight him with one hand, leaving Itachi unable to argue that he could win.
• Itachi persuaded Qingfeng to leave his room, and Qingfeng led him through the crowds and quarterfinalist posters to Ichiraku Ramen.
• Qingfeng ordered a large bowl of ramen from Shouda, and Itachi added a second bowl for himself.

The semifinal draw left Uchiha Qingfeng with a direct pass, while Kurotsuchi and Omoi began the first match. Kurotsuchi trapped Omoi among earth spikes and rock pillars, forcing him to spend more chakra to move and defend himself.

• Kurotsuchi drew Omoi as her opponent, while Yugito Nii drew Uchiha Itachi and Darui drew Yamato.
• The host explained that Deidara's disqualification had left an odd number of contestants, so Uchiha Qingfeng received a direct pass into the semifinals.
• The host announced that Kurotsuchi and Omoi would fight first, with the remaining matches scheduled for the following day.
• Orochimaru watched the tournament from the audience and considered secretly visiting Hiruzen Sarutobi after the matches.
• Kurotsuchi blocked Omoi's Lightning Blades with an Earth Wall, then filled the arena with Earth Spikes and Rock Pillars.
• Omoi coated his feet in Lightning Chakra to move through the stone obstacles and protect himself, rapidly draining his chakra.

Kurotsuchi used Earth Style and Lava Release to trap Omoi, then defeated him with a powerful enhanced punch. Omoi survived but suffered severe injuries, and Kurotsuchi advanced as the winner.

• Kurotsuchi raised herself above the arena and used Lava Release: Quicklime Condensation Technique, then Water Style to engulf Omoi in steam.
• Omoi charged through the smoke with Lightning Release Chakra Mode and ran up Kurotsuchi’s stone pillar.
• Kurotsuchi reinforced her fist with Earth Style techniques and struck Omoi before his Lightning-wrapped Katana could reach her.
• Omoi’s Lightning Armor shattered, and the punch sent him flying onto a stone spike with severe injuries.
• Medical staff carried Omoi away while the Fourth Raikage watched, and Kurotsuchi was declared the winner.

Uchiha Itachi and Yugito Nii fought in the semifinals, each revealing powerful techniques as Itachi tried to counter the Two-Tails Jinchuriki’s attacks. Yugito Nii’s blue flames forced Itachi to defend, and the battle continued with Minato Namikaze and others studying her abilities.

• Uchiha Itachi opened the semifinal match by attacking Yugito Nii with shuriken and Fire Style: Phoenix Sage Flower Claw Red, but she dodged every strike.
• Itachi used Fire Style: Great Fire Annihilation and explosive-tagged kunai, but Yugito Nii cut the kunai and tags apart with her claws.
• Yugito Nii taunted Itachi and launched a Fire Rat Ball that split into tracking clusters of blue flame.
• Itachi blocked the blue flames with Fire Style: Great Fire Dragon Technique and wondered how Yugito Nii’s flames tracked him.
• Minato Namikaze and Uchiha Itachi watched Yugito Nii’s techniques as Itachi used Summoning Technique and Shadow Clone Jutsu.

Uchiha Itachi used a sealing scroll and Sharingan genjutsu against Yugito Nii, but she called on the Two-Tails’ chakra and resisted. The chapter left Itachi at close range with his kunai cut apart and Yugito Nii poised to attack.

• Itachi and his Shadow Clone attacked Yugito Nii with ninja tools, but she deflected them with her claws.
• Minato Namikaze defended Itachi’s use of a Sealing Scroll as allowed by the Joint Chunin Exam rules after the Fourth Raikage called it cheating.
• Yugito Nii summoned the Two-Tails’ chakra, forming a dark-blue tail that blocked the scroll’s sealing formulae.
• As the formulae faded, Itachi used Sharingan genjutsu and approached Yugito Nii with a kunai.
• Yugito Nii recognized the genjutsu, cut through Itachi’s kunai, and prepared to strike him at close range.

Yugito Nii defeated Itachi in the semifinal after relentlessly pursuing and striking him with her tail until he surrendered. Itachi was carried away for treatment, while Yugito advanced with the Fourth Raikage confident in her chances of winning the championship.

• Yugito Nii chased Itachi down and repeatedly struck him with her tail as he tried to escape.
• Uchiha Qingfeng and Fugaku watched Itachi suffer severe injuries, while the Fourth Raikage mocked his stubbornness.
• Itachi surrendered, and Yugito Nii was declared the winner of the semifinal.
• Yugito refused the host's interview, and spectators heckled her about her animal ears as she left the arena.
• Uchiha Qingfeng checked on Itachi and found that his injuries included a few broken bones but were not life-threatening.
• The Fourth Raikage looked forward to Yugito's next match against the remaining competitors, while Qingfeng considered his reserves of pills and potions.

Yamato and Darui began the final semifinal match, with Darui revealing a powerful Lightning Style mode that overwhelmed Yamato’s Wood Style defenses. The fight remained unresolved as Uchiha Qingfeng recognized Darui’s four-finger strike as possibly a simplified Four-Finger Nukite.

• The Fourth Raikage assessed Konoha’s strength and concluded that Kumogakure would need allies to challenge it.
• Uchiha Itachi returned to the stands with Uchiha Izumi supporting him so he could watch the match despite his injuries.
• Darui discarded his katana and easily countered Yamato’s Earth Style and Water Style attacks with Lightning Style.
• Yamato charged Darui with Wood Style branches, but Darui activated Lightning Release Chakra Mode and destroyed them as he advanced.
• Yamato trapped himself in layers of Wood Locking Wall, but Darui pierced through the first with four fingers, prompting Uchiha Qingfeng to suspect a simplified Four-Finger Nukite.

Darui defeated Yamato in the tournament after breaking through his Wood Style defenses with Black Lightning and Storm Release. Yamato conceded with serious injuries, leaving the Fourth Raikage celebrating Kumogakure’s strength.

• Darui’s Black Panther overwhelmed Yamato’s wooden defenses and left him shaking from the lightning’s lingering effects.
• Yamato sent two Wood Clones at Darui, then used their branches to bind him and trap him inside a rapidly growing tree.
• Darui escaped with Storm Release: Laceration Lock and guided lasers around Yamato’s Wood Locking Wall.
• Yamato protected his head by turning part of his body into wood, but the lasers blasted through the defense and left him with two bloody wounds.
• Yamato conceded, and the Fourth Raikage celebrated that two of the final four competitors were from Kumogakure.

After the semifinals, Uchiha Qingfeng headed back to collect his Survivor Benefit instead of visiting the injured Yamato, but Uchiha Itachi convinced him to go to the hospital first. They found Yamato recovering under the doctor's orders to stay hospitalized.

• Darui praised his own performance and criticized Yamato's Wood Style during an interview, prompting the Fourth Raikage to object to the disclosure of classified information.
• Uchiha Itachi and Uchiha Izumi caught up with Qingfeng as he left the stadium, and Itachi offered to accompany him.
• Qingfeng explained that he had donated the box of money he had received and wanted to collect his Survivor Benefit because he could not afford food.
• Itachi promised to ask his father about the benefit, so Qingfeng agreed to go with him and Izumi to Konoha Hospital.
• At Yamato's ward, the doctor questioned Itachi about sneaking out of the hospital, and Itachi asked Yamato how he was feeling.

After Yamato and Uchiha Itachi were injured fighting the Two-Tails Jinchuriki, Uchiha Qingfeng urged them to train instead of relying on others or wasting time on romance. Konoha placed its hopes on Qingfeng for the final Joint Chunin Exams match, and he agreed to fight before asking Minato Namikaze for his overdue survivor benefits.

• Uchiha Izumi helped the battered Uchiha Itachi onto a hospital bed, where he and Yamato discussed how they would defeat their opponents next time.
• Uchiha Qingfeng scolded Yamato and Uchiha Itachi for not training enough and warned Itachi that romance would hinder his progress.
• Kakashi Hatake summoned Uchiha Qingfeng to the Hokage Office, where Minato Namikaze encouraged him to prepare for his match against the Two-Tails Jinchuriki.
• Uchiha Qingfeng promised to give the match his all, then asked Minato Namikaze to pay him his survivor benefits because he had no money for food.

Uchiha Qingfeng received an S-rank mission to win the Joint Chunin Exams, then drew Kurotsuchi as his semifinal opponent while Yugito Nii drew Darui. Kurotsuchi refused to fight at first, but Qingfeng’s attempts to persuade her only angered her as the match began.

• Minato Namikaze gave Uchiha Qingfeng an S-rank mission with a reward of One Million Ryo for taking first place in the Joint Chunin Exams.
• Kurotsuchi drew Uchiha Qingfeng, while Yugito Nii drew Darui, setting up an internal Kumogakure match for the other semifinal.
• Uchiha Qingfeng and Kurotsuchi entered the arena, but Kurotsuchi said she would surrender rather than fight someone she expected to beat her.
• Qingfeng urged Kurotsuchi to put on a brief show and offered not to use his Sharingan or Flying Thunder God Technique.
• Kurotsuchi took Qingfeng’s offers as an insult and prepared to attack him with her Heavy Rock Style Technique.

Uchiha Qingfeng fought Kurotsuchi in the tournament and revealed his Chidori Stream and mastery of the Eight Inner Gates. He stopped after defeating her, leaving Ōnoki furious but Kurotsuchi alive and injured.

• Kurotsuchi bombarded Uchiha Qingfeng with Earth Style attacks, but he cut through them with his newly completed Chidori Stream.
• Kurotsuchi used Lime Condensation, Water Trumpet, and a rising rock pillar, but Qingfeng opened three of the Eight Inner Gates and scattered the lime and water with Morning Peacock.
• Qingfeng's flaming punches shattered Kurotsuchi's rock pillars and forced her to defend with Earth Wall and Substitution Jutsu.
• Qingfeng stopped the assault and closed the Eight Inner Gates after Kurotsuchi was injured and coughing blood.
• Ōnoki glared at Qingfeng in anger but held back after Qingfeng ended the fight.