Recaps

The first Chunin Exam ended with nearly all examinees passing, and Ōnoki interpreted the easy test as Chiba warning the other villages that Konoha’s strength made intelligence gathering irrelevant. At the second exam’s opening, Chiba appeared before a fervent crowd, leaving the visiting Kage shaken by Konoha’s power and devotion.

• Morino Ibiki announced that everyone still in the examination hall had passed, then warned them that the written test was only the first examination.
• Naruto celebrated passing while Sasuke and Gaara remained wary of Morino Ibiki’s intentions.
• A condemned the high pass rate, but Ōnoki argued that Chiba was demonstrating Konoha’s overwhelming military strength and planned to crush rival villages in the combat rounds.
• The next morning, Chiba appeared at Training Ground 6 as Konoha’s villagers cheered, and the visiting Kage felt overwhelmed by the crowd’s devotion and his presence.

Chiba began the second exam, a brutal battle for fifty platforms, and Konoha’s Genin overwhelmed opponents from other villages with powerful ninjutsu and teamwork. Naruto claimed a platform after using a new Wind Release technique, while the wider battle for the remaining spots continued.

• Chiba raised fifty wooden platforms and announced that examinees had one hour to stay atop one to pass.
• Genin from Sunagakure, Kumogakure, and Kirigakure joined forces against Konoha, but Naruto’s clones, Sasuke’s fire, Neji’s Gentle Fist, and Konoha teams’ combined techniques drove them back.
• Konoha’s Genin encircled opponents from other villages, following their Jotai Instructors’ hint to claim every platform.
• Gaara used his Sand Binding Coffin against a Konoha Genin, but Rock Lee struck Gaara’s Sand Shield and forced him backward.
• Naruto climbed onto a platform occupied by three Amegakure Genin and swept them off with Wind Release: Pressure Damage, claiming the spot.

Konoha dominated the Chunin Ninja Exams, with thirty-seven Genin advancing and the other villages winning only a handful of spots. The Four Kage concluded that Senju Qianye had staged the exams as a display of strength and an ultimatum to unite the Ninja World.

• Shikaku Nara announced that time had expired and read the results: Konoha had thirty-seven Genin advance, followed by Kumogakure with five, Iwagakure with three, Kirigakure and Sunagakure with two each, and Takigakure with one.
• Ōnoki warned the Raikage that Konoha's Genin looked relaxed, suggesting they had never fought seriously, while Mei Terumi and Rasa reflected on their villages' poor results.
• Rasa considered approaching Konoha High Command because Sunagakure was struggling financially, and Chiba announced that the third exam would begin at dawn.
• That night, the Raikage, Ōnoki, Mei Terumi, and Rasa met privately and discussed Konoha's Merit Point System and growing military strength.
• Ōnoki declared that Senju Qianye had called the Kage to deliver an ultimatum and intended to annex the ninja villages and unite the Ninja World.

Ōnoki’s plan to unite the four villages against Konoha collapsed when Rasa refused to join, while Chiba prepared to use the Chunin Exams to weaken the other villages’ resolve. At the exam, Chiba promoted all fifty Genin and offered Merit Points as ranking rewards, provoking the other Kage with a scheme that could draw their ninjas toward Konoha.

• Ōnoki proposed that the four villages unite against Konoha, but Rasa declined and declared Sunagakure would support Konoha as its ally.
• Kakashi reported the Kage’s failed meeting to Chiba, who dismissed them and said the third exam would crush their resolve.
• Chiba announced that all fifty Genin who had advanced had passed and were promoted to Chunin.
• Chiba turned the third round into a ranking tournament and promised Merit Point rewards to every competitor.
• The other Kage realized that foreign Genin could use the rewards to obtain Konoha resources and become more loyal to Konoha.

Chiba organized the first round of the Chunin exams, where fifty newly promoted Chunin fought across ten arenas for ten places in the top ten. Konoha claimed seven spots, while Gaara, a Kumogakure ninja, and Fū won the remaining three, leaving the other villages’ leaders shaken by Konoha’s strength.

• Chiba created ten wooden arenas and explained that the last person standing in each arena would advance.
• Sasuke, Hinata, Neji, Rock Lee, Shikamaru, Fujimoto, and Naruto each eliminated their arena opponents and secured places in the top ten for Konoha.
• Gaara used sand, a Kumogakure ninja used Lightning Release Armor, and Fū used paralyzing scale powder to win the other arenas.
• The first round ended in less than five minutes, with seven Konoha ninja and one ninja each from Sunagakure, Kumogakure, and Takigakure advancing.
• The Four Kage reacted with anger and dismay, while Chiba watched, satisfied that Konoha’s dominance had shaken them.

The second round of the Chunin Ninja Exams began as a king-of-the-hill gauntlet, with a special recovery elixir preventing challengers from winning through attrition. Sasuke Uchiha defeated Toroi and then pierced Gaara’s defenses, leaving their match unresolved.

• Chiba announced the second round’s king-of-the-hill rules and revealed an elixir that restored a Jonin’s stamina and Chakra within ten seconds.
• Sasuke Uchiha stepped into the arena, and Toroi of Kumogakure challenged him.
• Sasuke overwhelmed Toroi’s Lightning Release with Chidori and knocked him unconscious with a kick.
• Gaara challenged Sasuke, blocked his Fire Release with sand, and trapped what appeared to be Sasuke in a Sand Waterfall Funeral.
• Sasuke escaped with the Substitution Technique and pierced Gaara’s Sand Shield and left shoulder with Chidori Sharp Spear.

Gaara’s injury caused the One-Tail Shukaku to emerge and threaten the spectators during the Chunin Ninja Exams. Chiba subdued Shukaku with Wood Style and ordered him to fight as Gaara’s substitute, leaving the battle to continue under control.

• Gaara’s unstable seal broke after Sasuke wounded him, and Shukaku emerged from the sand covering the arena.
• Shukaku’s Chakra blast knocked Sasuke from the arena, and Fugaku Uchiha caught him.
• Shukaku began charging a Tailed Beast Bomb at the stands while Rasa feared Sunagakure would be destroyed.
• Chiba restrained Shukaku with a Wood Dragon and the Gate of the Great God, stopping the attack.
• Chiba warned Shukaku to fight in Gaara’s place without attacking the spectators, and Shukaku agreed before Chiba released him.

Naruto agreed to let Nine-Tails take control so it could fight Shukaku, and Chiba expanded the arena and enclosed it with a reinforced Wood Style barrier. Nine-Tails began overpowering Shukaku while the other villages watched in shock.

• Shukaku taunted the crowd after Chiba subdued it, and Nine-Tails angrily demanded that Naruto let it out to fight.
• Naruto agreed to Nine-Tails's offer, trusting Chiba's seal and strength to keep the fox under control.
• Naruto transformed into the Nine-Tailed Demon Fox, startling the spectators and provoking Shukaku into a confrontation.
• Chiba expanded the arena and enclosed it in a reinforced Wood Style barrier, telling the beasts they could fight as long as neither killed the other.
• Shukaku attacked with a Wind Style: Drilling Air Bullet, but Nine-Tails smashed it aside and battered Shukaku into the barrier.
• Rasa, Ōnoki, and A watched Nine-Tails dominate Shukaku and realized how formidable Chiba's Wood Style had become.

The Nine-Tails defeated Shukaku with a Tailed Beast Bomb, leaving Gaara unconscious and Naruto triumphant. Afterward, Fugaku told Sasuke that the Uchiha’s ultimate Sharingan could control Tailed Beasts, giving Sasuke a new goal.

• The Nine-Tails overwhelmed Shukaku in close combat, and both beasts launched Tailed Beast Bombs at each other.
• The Nine-Tails’ attack crushed Shukaku’s bomb and blasted Shukaku, creating a crater and forcing its Chakra back into Gaara.
• The Nine-Tails returned to Naruto, who challenged the silent crowd, while Anbu carried the unconscious Gaara away.
• Sasuke clenched his fists in frustration at Naruto’s power, and Fugaku asked whether he was unwilling to accept the result.
• Fugaku told Sasuke that Tailed Beasts were not invincible and that the Uchiha’s ultimate Sharingan could control them.

Naruto won first place in the Joint Chunin Assessment after no one dared challenge him, and Qianye opened the arena for the fight over second place. Fū transformed into the Seven-Tails, prompting Gaara to let Shukaku emerge, and the two Tailed Beasts faced off.

• Chiba announced Naruto as the assessment’s winner, and Naruto thanked Qianye before leaving the arena.
• Qianye rebuilt the ruined arena and invited contestants to compete for second place, but no one volunteered to face Gaara.
• Fū stepped onto the arena and challenged Gaara, while Chōmei urged her to let it fight.
• Fū transformed into the Seven-Tails, Chōmei, shocking the spectators and village leaders.
• Shukaku raged at Chōmei, and Gaara cooperated as sand and the Cursed Seal transformed him into the sand tanuki.

Chōmei defeated Shukaku with a Tailed Beast Bomb, giving Fū second place and leaving Gaara unconscious in the arena. Sasuke defeated Neji for fourth place, the remaining rankings were decided, and Chiba prepared to address the crowd.

• Chōmei dodged Shukaku’s attacks and wore down the One-Tail with scale powder and aerial assaults.
• Chōmei fired a Tailed Beast Bomb that destroyed Shukaku’s Sand Shield, leaving Gaara severely injured and unconscious.
• Chiba stabilized the Wood Style Barrier, then declared Fū the runner-up and Gaara third; medics carried Gaara away.
• Sasuke challenged Neji and defeated him by pressing his lightning-coated Ninja Sword to Neji’s neck, taking fourth place while Neji placed fifth.
• Rock Lee opened the Eight Inner Gates and claimed sixth place as the remaining matches established the other rankings.
• Chiba stepped forward after the exams ended as Konoha’s villagers looked on with admiration and the other villages watched with awe and fear.

At the end of the Joint Chunin Exams, Chiba publicly declared that he would abolish the Daimyo system and unite the Ninja World under Konoha. The Daimyo of the Land of Fire abdicated, while the other Daimyo and Kage fled to prepare for war, which Chiba intended to meet by crushing their forces on the battlefield.

• Chiba addressed the gathered ninja and Daimyo, condemning the feudal system and declaring that Konoha would establish a unified empire.
• Chiba unleashed his overwhelming Chakra as he announced that the Daimyo system would be abolished and all nations and villages incorporated under Konoha.
• The Daimyo of the Land of Fire abdicated and transferred his territory, wealth, and power to Chiba after recalling Tsunade's warning.
• The other Daimyo and Kage left the arena to gather their forces, while Kakashi withdrew the Anbu who had blocked the exits at Chiba's command.
• Shikaku warned Chiba that the fleeing leaders would unite against Konoha, but Chiba said he wanted them to gather their forces so he could destroy their resistance on the battlefield.

Konoha’s villagers and leaders rallied behind Chiba’s plan to unify the ninja world, and he ordered the army to wait three days before defeating the enemy in a direct battle. After the meeting, Kazekage Rasa secretly visited Chiba, having chosen to remain in Konoha rather than return to an impoverished Sunagakure.

• Konoha’s villagers celebrated Chiba’s calls to abolish the Daimyo and unify the ninja world, while two infiltrating spies watched in fear.
• Sarutobi Hiruzen, Fugaku Uchiha, Hyuga Hiashi, Shikaku Nara, and other clan leaders volunteered their forces to serve Chiba’s campaign.
• Chiba rejected assassination and surprise attacks, ordering the army to strike in three days after the enemy had time to gather its forces.
• Shikaku Nara promised to deliver supplies to the borders, and Chiba dismissed the meeting so the clans could reorganize.
• Kazekage Rasa entered Chiba’s office secretly and stayed in Konoha rather than return to Sunagakure.

Rasa surrendered Sunagakure to Chiba in exchange for equal treatment for its people, and Chiba promised to unite everyone as citizens of a New Empire. When Orochimaru revealed his improved Impure World Reincarnation, Chiba explained that White Zetsu would serve as sacrifices, and the Anbu were already capturing them.

• Rasa offered Sunagakure’s unconditional submission and asked that its ninja and civilians receive the same treatment as Konoha’s citizens.
• Chiba promised to build up the Land of Wind and create a New Empire without distinctions between villages, convincing Rasa to swear loyalty and march with Konoha in three days.
• Orochimaru presented his improved Impure World Reincarnation, prompting Tsunade and Jiraiya to object to using living people as sacrifices.
• Chiba revealed that White Zetsu were soulless artificial beings lurking beneath Konoha and suitable vessels for the technique.
• Chiba said Kakashi’s Anbu had begun capturing the White Zetsu and would deliver 500 of them to Orochimaru’s laboratory before dawn.

Kakashi and Hyuga Hiashi led a Konoha operation that captured five hundred White Zetsu, forcing Obito Uchiha to halt infiltration. Qianye then had Orochimaru use them for Impure World Reincarnation, summoning Konoha’s ancestors and legendary fighters, as Tsunade rushed to greet Hashirama Senju.

• Hyuga Hiashi drank Orochimaru’s Byakugan Enhancement Serum and located White Zetsu hiding underground outside Konoha.
• Kakashi led more than a hundred Anbu in capturing five hundred White Zetsu and severing their communication network.
• Black Zetsu reported the losses to Obito Uchiha, who ordered the infiltration of Konoha to stop temporarily.
• Qianye brought Konoha’s leaders to Orochimaru’s research base and told him to revive Konoha’s own dead first.
• Orochimaru used Impure World Reincarnation on White Zetsu bodies, summoning Hashirama Senju, Tobirama Senju, Mito Uzumaki, Kagami Uchiha, Hatake Sakumo, Might Duy, and others.
• Tobirama Senju condemned Orochimaru for using his forbidden technique, and Tsunade rushed forward to call out to Hashirama Senju.

Qianye awakened Konoha’s fallen ninjas and announced that he intended to unify the Ninja World. Hashirama and Tobirama supported him, revealing that their past pursuit of peace had been a strategy to prepare Konoha for eventual domination.

• Tsunade reunited with Hashirama, while Kakashi, Guy, and Fugaku greeted their deceased relatives and clan elder.
• Tobirama sensed Qianye’s power, and Qianye introduced himself as the Senju descendant serving as Konoha’s Fifth Hokage.
• Qianye announced his plan to unify the Ninja World, alarming Mito and the other resurrected ninjas.
• After Qianye listed Konoha’s military strength, Hashirama told him to proceed, and Tobirama explained that they had once lacked the staff and systems to rule conquered lands.
• Tobirama revealed that the Senju brothers had used the One country, one village system and the distribution of Tailed Beasts to buy Konoha time to grow stronger.

Chiba announced Konoha’s coming campaign to unite the Ninja World, while the revived Konoha predecessors explored the village. Kushina reunited with Naruto, and Hashirama and Tobirama learned that the Senju Clan had been driven to near extinction, prompting them to head for the Sarutobi territory.

• Chiba revealed that Rasa had surrendered Sunagakure and declared that Konoha’s army would march against the Lightning, Earth, and Water countries in two days.
• Chiba freed the revived Konoha predecessors to leave the research hall and explore the village.
• Kushina found Naruto at Ichiraku Ramen and revealed that she was his mother; when Naruto asked about his father, she remembered that Minato remained sealed inside the Death God.
• Hashirama and Tobirama noticed that the Senju Clan’s crest was absent from Konoha’s streets and questioned a Jonin about the clan.
• The Jonin explained that generations of war had killed most Senju men, while surviving women hid their identities and married into civilian families.
• Enraged by the Senju Clan’s decline, Hashirama and Tobirama headed toward the Sarutobi Clan’s territory.

Tobirama Senju and Hashirama Senju confronted Sarutobi Hiruzen over the Senju Clan’s decline, then told Chiba that Tobirama had hidden pure-blooded Senju descendants in the Land of Fire’s capital. Chiba revealed that the descendants had degenerated and refused to let them return, but proposed rebuilding the clan from their young children after the Ninja World was unified.

• Tobirama Senju beat Sarutobi Hiruzen in the Sarutobi Clan Compound, blamed him for the Senju Clan’s suffering, and left him alive for the coming war.
• Tobirama Senju told Chiba and Tsunade that he had secretly settled pure-blooded Senju in the Land of Fire’s capital to preserve the clan.
• Chiba revealed that he had found those descendants six years earlier and said they had become weak, greedy, and unable to refine Chakra.
• Chiba refused to let the descendants return to Konoha and said he would gather their children under three to form a new Senju Clan after unifying the Ninja World.

The Raikage accepted the Land of Lightning’s supplies and vowed to attack Konoha, while Ōnoki chose to hold back and Mei Terumi planned to keep Kirigakure’s troops at the border. Rasa rejected the Land of Wind’s orders, broke with its Daimyo, and committed Sunagakure to cooperating with Konoha.

• A erupted at the messenger from the Land of Lightning, took the Daimyo’s money and supplies, and vowed to bury Konoha beneath them.
• Ōnoki ordered Kitsuchi to store the Land of Earth’s supplies and sent its messenger away, choosing to wait for Kumogakure and Konoha to fight.
• Mei Terumi ordered Kirigakure’s troops assembled and told Ao to have them hold at the border and surrender if Konoha advanced.
• Rasa crushed the Land of Wind’s messenger with Gold Dust and ordered Sunagakure’s ninja to seize the supplies and kill the Daimyo’s guards.
• Rasa announced that Sunagakure would leave the Daimyo’s jurisdiction, reorganize its army, and cooperate with Konoha’s unified plan.

Chiba rallied Konoha’s twenty thousand shinobi and announced his plan to unify the Ninja World, then assigned armies to conquer its major villages and surrounding nations. As the forces departed, Hashirama, Tobirama, and Orochimaru took command of key roles in the campaign.

• Chiba addressed Konoha’s assembled shinobi, calling for the abolition of borders and Daimyo rule, and won their enthusiastic support for unification.
• Chiba appointed Hashirama Senju to lead the First Army against Kumogakure, with Fugaku Uchiha and the Uchiha Clan assigned to serve under him.
• Chiba assigned Tobirama Senju to lead the Second Army against Iwagakure alongside Shikaku Nara, the Ino-Shika-Cho clans, Might Duy, and other taijutsu elites.
• Chiba appointed Hatake Sakumo to command the Third Army against Kirigakure and placed the Sarutobi, Utatane, and Mitokado clans under him.
• Chiba divided the Hyuga Clan among the combat units, sent the remaining armies toward smaller nations and the Land of Snow, and put Orochimaru’s Impure World Reincarnation army in reserve.
• Chiba ordered the troops to move out, and Konoha’s forces departed in every direction.

Konoha’s forces overwhelmed the major villages on several fronts, using Hashirama Senju and Tobirama Senju to crush resistance while Kirigakure surrendered. Konoha’s march continued across the surrounding nations, leaving the other small villages surrendering before battle.

• Hashirama Senju used Wood Style to devastate Kumogakure’s army while Fugaku Uchiha and the Uchiha Clan attacked, leaving A despairing at his forces’ defeat.
• Tobirama Senju flooded Iwagakure’s trapped canyon, then ordered Yamanaka Inoichi to locate survivors and Might Duy to eliminate them.
• Mei Terumi offered Kirigakure’s surrender to Hatake Sakumo, who assigned Sarutobi Hiruzen and the Sarutobi Clan to receive prisoners of war.
• The leaders of the Land of Rice Fields, the Land of Snow, and other small nations surrendered as Konoha’s army advanced.

Chiba arrived in the Land of Rain with Jiraiya, Kakashi Hatake, and Anbu, revealing that Nagato was alive and leading Akatsuki. He gave Jiraiya two hours to persuade Nagato to surrender, while Nagato sensed Chiba’s overwhelming Chakra and agreed to meet Jiraiya.

• Chiba told Jiraiya that defeating the major ninja villages would not unify the Ninja World and revealed that Nagato was alive and had formed Akatsuki.
• Jiraiya asked to speak with Nagato and persuade him to surrender, and Chiba gave him two hours before he would intervene.
• Nagato sensed Chiba’s Chakra through the Rain Tiger at Will Technique, suffered bleeding, and judged Chiba more powerful than all nine Tailed Beasts combined.
• Nagato detected Jiraiya approaching the tower and told Konan to guide him in, despite her concern that the meeting could be a trap.

Jiraiya confronted Nagato in Amegakure and learned that he planned to impose peace through fear and the threat of a weapon made from the Tailed Beasts. Jiraiya countered with Chiba’s plan to unify the Ninja World, leaving Nagato and Konan surprised by the proposal.

• Jiraiya met Konan in Amegakure, and she led him to Nagato after he asked about Yahiko.
• Jiraiya found Nagato crippled and connected to the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path, while Yahiko’s corpse stood before him as Deva Path Pain.
• Nagato explained that he would gather the nine Tailed Beasts and use an ultimate weapon to make nations fear war.
• Jiraiya condemned Nagato’s plan to create peace through repeated mass destruction, and Nagato insisted that people could understand one another only through shared pain.
• Jiraiya revealed that Chiba planned to unify the Ninja World, abolish the Daimyo and national borders, and provide equal treatment and supplies under one government.

Jiraiya's attempt to persuade Nagato failed, and their confrontation turned into a battle in the tower. After capturing four Akatsuki members, Chiba arrived just as Jiraiya faced a deadly attack and effortlessly shielded him.

• Nagato rejected Jiraiya's proposal to unify the Ninja World, accused Chiba of seeking dictatorship, and ordered Jiraiya to leave the Land of Rain.
• Jiraiya refused to leave and attacked Nagato, prompting Pain to strike him with Shinra Tensei.
• Chiba defeated Kisame, Deidara, Sasori, and Hidan in minutes while Kakashi and the Anbu bound the captives.
• Jiraiya entered Sage Mode but was overwhelmed by the Six Paths of Pain and suffered a severe injury.
• Chiba reached the tower, destroyed Pain's attacking summons and attacks with Wood Style, and left Nagato stunned by his power.

Chiba overwhelmed Nagato’s Six Paths of Pain and defeated Konan, leaving Nagato helpless. Obito Uchiha then appeared with Black Zetsu and confronted Nagato, calling him a failed vessel.

• Nagato ordered the Six Paths of Pain to attack Chiba, but Chiba destroyed the Preta, Human, Naraka, Asura, and Deva Paths with ease.
• Chiba repelled Konan’s paper attack and left her wounded beside Nagato.
• Black Zetsu emerged from distorted space and immobilized Nagato in his wheelchair.
• Obito Uchiha appeared, criticized Nagato for failing as a vessel, and ignored Konan’s attacks with his intangibility.
• Nagato demanded to know who Obito was.