Chapter Summaries

After capturing the woman linked to a mysterious organization, the examinees returned to the Hokage, who praised them and warned that more dangers could lie ahead. They continued through the Forest of Death together and finally reached its exit, where Gaara thanked Kawaki Aoba and reflected on the value of teamwork.

• Tenten, Gaara, Naruto, Sasuke, Kawaki Aoba, Temari, and Kankuro discussed their combat experience and agreed to stay vigilant and cooperate against future threats.
• The Hokage praised the examinees, confirmed that the captured woman would be interrogated, and told them to keep growing and stand united.
• Kawaki Aoba warned the examinees not to relax in the Forest of Death, and Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura agreed that they needed to remain cautious.
• The examinees traveled onward as a more united group, supporting one another and sharing what they had learned.
• Naruto ran toward the Forest of Death exit despite Sasuke's warning, and the examinees celebrated when they reached it.
• Gaara thanked Kawaki Aoba for his help and said he had learned the importance of teamwork.

After passing the Forest of Death, the examinees prepared for the final exam, with Gaara, Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura resolving to improve. During several days of training in Konoha, Sakura urged Naruto and Sasuke to take care of themselves, and Sasuke agreed they needed to manage their training properly.

• Mitarashi Anko congratulated the examinees on passing the Forest of Death and encouraged them to prepare for the final exam, while Kawaki Aoba refused to give them hints.
• Gaara told Kankuro and Temari to prepare for the new challenges, and Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura agreed to work hard together.
• The examinees headed toward the final examination hall, reflecting on how the Forest of Death had strengthened them and their teamwork.
• After resting in Konoha for a few days, Naruto and Sasuke trained hard for the final exam, and Naruto said his Rasengan had grown stronger.
• Sasuke warned Naruto not to underestimate opponents such as Gaara, while Naruto said he welcomed challenges.
• Sakura prepared food and water and urged Naruto and Sasuke to avoid overtraining; Sasuke agreed they should arrange their training time properly.

Naruto and Sasuke recovered from training while the Sand siblings prepared for the final exam. Kawaki Aoba and Mitarashi Anko discussed an exam combining demonstrations, paired combat, and survival challenges, while Kakashi and Might Guy assessed the candidates; the exam’s details remained under discussion.

• Sakura gave Naruto and Sasuke food and water, and they ate after training.
• Temari, Gaara, and Kankuro discussed their preparations and strategies for the final exam.
• Kawaki Aoba and Mitarashi Anko proposed specialty demonstrations, paired combat, and survival challenges, with Medical Ninja on standby for safety.
• Kakashi and Might Guy discussed the candidates’ strengths, including Naruto, Sasuke, Rock Lee, Tenten, Neji, and the Sunagakure team.
• Choji Akimichi sat beneath a tree and ate potato chips.

Naruto and the other candidates trained while Mitarashi Anko and Kawaki Aoba finalized the three-stage examination plan. Anko announced that the exam would test ninjutsu skills, one-on-one combat, and survival and teamwork in a simulated dangerous environment.

• Shikamaru, Choji, and Ino discussed their training, including Choji's effort to combine his Expansion Technique with ninjutsu and Ino's practice of the Mind Body Switch Technique.
• Naruto and Sasuke held a mock battle, using the Rasengan and Chidori and recognizing each other's improved abilities.
• Mitarashi Anko and Kawaki Aoba discussed time limits, judging criteria, and disqualification for deliberately using a forbidden technique.
• Temari and Kankuro discussed Konoha's candidates, with Temari warning that Naruto could be unpredictable and Kankuro trusting Gaara and his puppets.
• Tenten and Neji prepared to face possible Sunagakure opponents and discussed how their ninja tools and Gentle Fist could counter different enemies.
• Mitarashi Anko announced a final exam consisting of a ninjutsu demonstration, one-on-one combat, and a survival challenge in a simulated hazardous environment.

The final exam began with one-on-one duels, and Naruto faced a Sunagakure candidate who countered his Shadow Clones with Sand Release. Naruto attacked with the Rasengan, but the opponent raised another sand wall, leaving the two locked in an ongoing battle.

• Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura discussed preparing for the dangerous final exam, while Gaara, Temari, and Kankuro discussed Sunagakure's strategy.
• Mitarashi Anko announced that the final exam would consist of one-on-one duels testing ninjutsu, taijutsu, and wisdom.
• Mitarashi Anko paired Naruto against a Sunagakure candidate, and both fighters entered the arena confidently.
• Naruto sent Shadow Clones at the candidate, who blocked them with a Sand Release barrier and then attacked with sand-wrapped fists.
• Naruto dodged the sand fists and struck with a Rasengan, but the candidate raised a thicker sand wall to block it.
• Naruto and his clone searched for a weakness in the opponent's Sand Release defense as the evenly matched battle continued.

Naruto weakened the Sunagakure examinee’s sand defenses with clones and shattered his sand sphere with a Rasengan. The opponent summoned a sand scorpion, and Naruto revealed a small application of Tailed Beast power as he pressed the attack.

• Naruto sent clones against the sand sphere, cracking it and drawing the Sunagakure examinee’s attention away from the rear.
• Naruto circled behind the sphere and smashed it with a Rasengan, blasting the examinee backward, though he insisted he had not lost.
• The Sunagakure examinee formed a massive sand scorpion and sent it charging at Naruto.
• Naruto used clones to target the scorpion’s legs, dodged its tail, and threw shuriken that the examinee blocked with a sand wall.
• Naruto absorbed surrounding Chakra and revealed his Tailed Beast power, then dodged the scorpion’s pincers and struck one aside.
• Naruto blocked the examinee’s sand blades with a Chakra shield and kept advancing as the examinee grew nervous.

Naruto defeated a Sunagakure examinee with his Super Rasengan after a hard-fought battle, then celebrated with Sakura. Sasuke entered the arena for his match against an intimidated Amegakure examinee, and their fight was about to begin.

• The Sunagakure examinee burrowed beneath the arena and tried to seize Naruto from below, but Naruto used a Rasengan to force him back above ground.
• Naruto and the Sunagakure examinee unleashed their strongest techniques, and Naruto's Super Rasengan destroyed the examinee's sand shield and knocked him down.
• Mitarashi Anko declared Naruto the winner, and Naruto shook hands with the defeated examinee, who accepted the loss and praised his strength.
• Naruto celebrated his victory and thanked Sakura for her support and his training.
• Sasuke entered the arena for his match, and the Amegakure examinee faced him nervously as his Sharingan gleamed.

Sasuke defeated an Amegakure examinee with his Sharingan and Chidori, and Gaara beat a Konoha examinee using his sand. The matches continued with Hinata facing an Iwagakure examinee, and she began evading his attacks with Gentle Fist footwork.

• Sasuke overwhelmed the Amegakure examinee, dodged his Water Dragon Bullet Technique, and won with Chidori.
• Gaara blocked a Konoha examinee's attacks with sand, broke through his Earth-Style Wall, and restrained him after his Great Fireball Jutsu failed.
• The Konoha examinee admitted defeat, and Mitarashi Anko announced Gaara as the winner.
• Kankuro and Temari praised Gaara's strength as the matches continued.
• Hinata refused to surrender against the Iwagakure examinee and evaded his opening charge with Gentle Fist footwork.

Hinata defeated an Iwagakure examinee, and Gaara forced a Konoha contestant to surrender before Sakura began her match against an Otogakure contestant. Sakura fought back against his taunts and attacks, then summoned cherry blossom petals with her Ninja Art as the battle continued.

• Hinata used Gentle Fist and Air Palm against the Iwagakure examinee, then defeated him with Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms.
• Gaara blocked a Konoha contestant’s fireball, bound him with sand, and accepted his surrender.
• Mitarashi Anko announced Sakura’s match against an Otogakure contestant, who mocked Sakura for being a female ninja.
• Sakura dodged the contestant’s punch, countered with a kick, and used Mystical Palm Technique to drive him back.
• Sakura formed hand seals and summoned cherry blossom petals with Ninja Art: Cherry Blossom Impact.

Sakura defeated an Otogakure examinee with a smoke-screened acupoint strike, then Naruto began his match against Kankuro and revealed a speed technique powered by dispelled shadow clones. Naruto’s enormous Super Rasengan struck Kankuro’s puppet, leaving the outcome of the battle unresolved.

• Sakura used petals, the Mystical Palm Technique, and a smoke bomb to disable the Otogakure examinee, and Mitarashi Anko declared her the winner when time ran out.
• Naruto praised Sakura, and Sasuke complimented her fighting style before Mitarashi Anko announced Naruto would face Kankuro of Sunagakure.
• Naruto attacked Kankuro with shadow clones and Rasengans, but Kankuro’s puppet struck the clones and bound them with threads.
• Naruto dispelled his clones and used their Chakra backlash to boost his speed, then punched Kankuro in the stomach.
• Naruto summoned a Super Rasengan, and Kankuro tried to block it with his puppet, but the Rasengan exploded against the puppet with tremendous force.

Naruto defeated Kankuro, and Sasuke beat an Otogakure examinee by breaking his soundwave shield with Chidori. Sakura faced a burly Otogakure opponent and found a weakness in his Earth Style defense, leaving their match unresolved.

• Naruto knocked Kankuro's puppet out of the arena, and Kankuro conceded the match.
• Sasuke evaded an Otogakure examinee's attacks, then used his Sharingan and Chidori to shatter the examinee's soundwave shield and force his surrender.
• Sakura faced a burly Otogakure examinee who mocked her, but she dodged his charge and struck him in the stomach.
• The examinee raised an Earth-Style Wall, but Sakura circled around it and continued attacking with agility and taijutsu.
• Sakura noticed that the examinee's right shoulder dipped whenever he used an Earth Style technique.

Sakura defeated an Otogakure examinee by exploiting his weakness and using her new Cherry Blossom Impact, earning praise from her companions. The next match began between a Konoha examinee and a Kirigakure examinee, and the chapter left them fighting in the Kirigakure examinee’s Hidden Mist Technique.

• Sakura spotted the Otogakure examinee’s habit and interrupted his Earth Release technique with a kick.
• Sakura used Cherry Blossom Impact to send the Otogakure examinee crashing to the ground and win the match.
• Naruto, Sasuke, and the other Konoha ninja praised Sakura’s performance as she joined her friends.
• A Konoha examinee and a Kirigakure examinee began their match, trading a Fire Release attack, a Water Wall, and close-range blows.
• The Kirigakure examinee used Hidden Mist Technique and attacked the Konoha examinee from within the fog.

A Konoha examinee defeated a Kirigakure opponent by exploiting a pause in his footwork, while Orochimaru approached Sasuke backstage and tried to lure him away from Konoha with promises of power and revenge. Sasuke wavered as he considered Orochimaru’s offer, but memories of Kawaki Aoba, Naruto, and Sakura came to mind.

• The Konoha examinee used Wind Release: Great Breakthrough to thin the mist, then baited the Kirigakure examinee into an attack and defeated him with Leaf Whirlwind.
• Mitarashi Anko announced the Konoha examinee’s victory, and the spectators cheered as the remaining matches promised tougher opponents.
• Orochimaru told Yakushi Kabuto that he still intended to obtain Second Pillar, then sought out Sasuke backstage.
• Orochimaru offered to make Sasuke stronger than Itachi and urged him to leave Konoha, claiming the village would only limit his potential.
• Sasuke struggled with the temptation of power and revenge, but memories of training and fighting alongside Kawaki Aoba, Naruto, and Sakura came to mind.

Sasuke rejected Orochimaru’s offer of power, choosing to pursue revenge without abandoning his companions. After Orochimaru vanished, Sasuke reassured Naruto and Sakura before heading toward his next match, while Kawaki Aoba and Mitarashi Anko discussed the remaining contestants.

• Sasuke told Orochimaru that his companions gave him strength and refused to leave Konoha for a faster path to power.
• Orochimaru warned Sasuke he would regret rejecting him, then vanished after Sasuke insisted he would not seek him out.
• Sasuke sat alone to steady himself and reflect on his family, goals, and memories with his companions.
• Naruto found Sasuke and offered to face his troubles together, but Sasuke said he needed to handle his own problem.
• Sakura checked on Sasuke before he and Naruto prepared to return to the arena.
• Kawaki Aoba told Mitarashi Anko that the remaining contestants had unique abilities and the upcoming matches would be exciting.

As Sasuke prepared for the Chunin Exam match, he reaffirmed his bond with Naruto and his determination to compete without holding back. Gaara envied Team 7’s closeness but began to trust that his bond with Temari and Kankuro could grow stronger, while Orochimaru remained intent on making Sasuke his vessel.

• Kawaki Aoba worried that Sasuke’s clan hatred might lead him astray, while Mitarashi Anko urged him to trust Sasuke’s companions.
• Yakushi Kabuto asked Orochimaru whether he would give up on Sasuke, and Orochimaru said he would keep watching and push Sasuke toward power.
• Sasuke entered the arena determined to prove his convictions and strength, encouraged by Naruto and Sakura.
• Naruto and Sasuke promised to give their all in the competition and hoped to face each other in the finals, while Sakura said they would become Chunin together.
• Gaara envied Team 7’s close friendship, and Temari and Kankuro reassured him that their own bond was growing stronger.
• Mitarashi Anko and Kawaki Aoba discussed Naruto and Sasuke’s strengths and hoped the exam would proceed without unexpected trouble.

Kakashi and Might Guy strengthened Anbu surveillance as they worried that Orochimaru might disrupt the Chunin Exam. At the arena, a Kumogakure examinee and a Konoha examinee fought fiercely while Naruto, Sasuke, Sakura, Gaara, Temari, and Kankuro watched and studied their techniques; the match remained underway.

• Kakashi warned Might Guy that Orochimaru might interfere with the exam, and Might Guy vowed to protect the examinees.
• An Anbu member reported no abnormalities around the arena, and Kakashi ordered surveillance to continue.
• Mitarashi Anko began a match between a Kumogakure examinee and a Konoha examinee.
• The Kumogakure examinee attacked with Lightning Release, while the Konoha examinee defended with Earth Release and countered with Wind Release.
• The Kumogakure examinee used the Cloud Concealment Technique, but the Konoha examinee dispersed the mist and evaded his ambush.
• Naruto, Sasuke, Sakura, Gaara, Temari, and Kankuro discussed what they could learn from the fighters as the battle continued.

Naruto and Sasuke began their final match, clashing with the Rasengan and Chidori as Naruto tried to reach his former teammate. The chapter left them locked in battle while Naruto urged Sasuke to abandon his solitary pursuit of revenge.

• Gaara said they should combine useful abilities with their own strengths, while Kakashi and Might Guy watched the arena and discussed their precautions.
• Naruto and Sasuke entered the field, and Mitarashi Anko announced the start of the finals.
• Naruto sent Shadow Clones at Sasuke, but Sasuke used his Sharingan and sword to dispel them.
• Naruto charged with a Rasengan as Sasuke attacked with Chidori, and their techniques collided in a powerful shockwave.
• Naruto asked why Sasuke had become cold, and Sasuke said he sought power to achieve his goal of revenge.
• Naruto told Sasuke that he could find warmth among comrades again, but Sasuke insisted Naruto could not understand his pain.

Naruto tried to convince Sasuke to abandon hatred and remember their friendship, but Sasuke rejected his appeals and insisted that they had never been friends. Naruto remained convinced Sasuke was hiding his true feelings, while Sasuke pushed him away and warned that Naruto did not understand him.

• Naruto recalled his own loneliness and urged Sasuke to accept warmth instead of seeking power through hatred, but Sasuke dismissed warmth as weakness.
• Naruto vowed to bring Sasuke back to Konoha and said he would keep getting stronger, while Sasuke taunted him and claimed their paths were set by destiny.
• Naruto rejected the idea of destiny and remembered the missions and training he had shared with Sasuke, but Sasuke said those memories meant nothing to him.
• Naruto asked whether their friendship was fragile, and Sasuke cruelly claimed he had never considered Naruto a friend.
• Naruto refused to believe Sasuke and sensed that he was struggling internally, but Sasuke denied that Naruto understood him and stepped away with his Sharingan warning Naruto not to approach.

Naruto tried to persuade Sasuke to abandon his path, but Sasuke insisted their friendship meant nothing and challenged him to fight. Naruto drew on the Nine-Tails' Chakra and charged at Sasuke, who readied his Sharingan to analyze the attack.

• Naruto told Sasuke he would not give up on him, but Sasuke dismissed their friendship and attacked with his sword.
• Naruto stood firm against Sasuke's claims of superiority and argued that conviction and friendship mattered as much as strength.
• Sasuke mocked Naruto as weak, prompting Naruto to draw on the Nine-Tails' Chakra and prepare to prove his strength.
• Naruto's eyes and Chakra changed as the Nine-Tails' power enhanced his senses, speed, and strength.
• Naruto charged at Sasuke, who focused his Sharingan on the attack and tried to read its speed, angle, and force.

Naruto and Sasuke fought while Naruto tried to persuade Sasuke to return to Konoha and talk about their friendship. The chapter ended with Sasuke insisting they had never been friends and refusing to be swayed from his goal of revenge.

• Naruto and Sasuke clashed again, and both were forced back by the impact of their attacks.
• Naruto drew more deeply on the Nine-Tails' power despite Sasuke warning that it could hurt his body, saying he would do anything to bring Sasuke back.
• Naruto and Sasuke resumed fighting with ninjutsu, Shadow Clones, swordsmanship, and Lightning Release, but neither gained the advantage.
• Naruto proposed pausing the fight to talk, but Sasuke refused and said only victory mattered.
• Naruto asked Sasuke to share his feelings and understand him, but Sasuke said revenge was his only goal and denied that they had ever been friends.