Chapter Summaries

Naruto confronted Minato over sealing the Nine-Tails inside him, and Minato explained that he chose Naruto because he believed his son could stop the masked attacker and fulfill the Child of Prophecy’s role. Naruto remembered his mother’s pleas from Chiyu’s illusion and struggled to hear Minato claim he loved him, but steadied himself before responding.

• Naruto punched Minato and demanded to know why his father had sealed the Nine-Tails inside him, recounting the hatred and loneliness he had endured.
• Minato apologized and, despite Shikaku’s concern, agreed that Naruto had the right to hear what happened during the Nine-Tails Attack.
• Minato explained that a masked ninja had controlled the Nine-Tails, Miyuki could not survive having it sealed inside her again, and he had chosen Naruto as its other host because he believed in him.
• Naruto recalled Miyuki’s pleas to protect him and Minato’s arguments for prioritizing the village, which had made Naruto despise his father in Chiyu’s illusion.
• The Nine-Tails urged Naruto to calm down, and Naruto composed himself before looking at Minato again.

Naruto Uzumaki learned that his mother, Miyuki Uzumaki, was alive but away from Konoha, and agreed to keep his identity as Minato Namikaze’s son secret while pretending to welcome his father’s guidance. After Shikaku Nara reported their conversation to Hiruzen Sarutobi, he judged Naruto’s behavior normal and Minato unchanged.

• Minato Namikaze told Naruto Uzumaki that his mother, Miyuki Uzumaki, was alive and promised they would reunite someday.
• Minato Namikaze explained why Naruto’s identity had been kept secret, and Naruto agreed to continue hiding it.
• Naruto Uzumaki claimed he had learned the Wind Release Breathing Sword Style through watching Chiyu train and receiving Kakashi’s instruction.
• Minato Namikaze offered to guide Naruto’s training, and Naruto accepted while concealing his irritation.
• After Minato Namikaze left with Shikaku Nara, Naruto Uzumaki dropped his cheerful act and complained to the Nine-Tails about Minato.
• Shikaku Nara reported the conversation to Hiruzen Sarutobi and said Naruto had acted normally and Minato still loved Konoha.

Hiruzen Sarutobi remained suspicious of Naruto Uzumaki and questioned Shikaku Nara and Kakashi about Naruto’s Wind Breathing Sword Style. Kakashi gave Hiruzen a false explanation about the abilities required to master Breathing Styles, leaving Hiruzen to consider how they worked.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi recalled Naruto Uzumaki’s sudden change in attitude as a child and continued to suspect that Chiyu had influenced him.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi asked Shikaku Nara about Naruto’s Wind Breathing Sword Style, and Shikaku reported Naruto’s account of learning it from memories of Chiyu’s training and Kakashi’s guidance.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi told Shikaku Nara to keep protecting Minato Namikaze ahead of the Joint Chunin Exams.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi summoned Kakashi and asked how Naruto had learned Wind Breathing Sword Style and why Breathing Style users had different levels of strength.
• Kakashi claimed that mastering Breathing Styles required unusually strong hearts and lungs from birth, intending to discourage Hiruzen Sarutobi from pursuing them.

Hiruzen Sarutobi worried about Naruto Uzumaki and remembered Orochimaru as Kakashi prepared for the coming Konoha Crush. Meanwhile, Chiyu and Orochimaru entered the Land of Wind to lure Rasa into an alliance.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi learned that Thunder Breathing required exceptional lung and heart function, then told Kakashi to report any problems with Naruto Uzumaki's seal.
• Kakashi reassured Hiruzen Sarutobi about Naruto, but Hiruzen remained uneasy and recalled Orochimaru as a gust scattered his papers.
• Minato Namikaze began training Naruto, while Kakashi told Hyuga Neji that Chiyu and Cang Nagi would soon come to Konoha to assist Orochimaru.
• Hyuga Neji said he had persuaded fourteen clan members and considered asking Chiyu to help them leave Konoha; Kakashi advised him to decide soon.
• Chiyu, Orochimaru, and Kabuto Yakushi entered the Land of Wind, and Orochimaru sent Rasa a letter proposing cooperation against Konoha.
• Chiyu, Orochimaru, and Kabuto Yakushi hid in the desert and waited for Rasa.

Rasa considered an alliance with Orochimaru and Chiyu to attack Konoha, then traveled to meet them. Chiyu and Orochimaru prepared to use Rasa and his escorts for their own plans, including testing Orochimaru’s body and revealing the truth about Konoha to Minato Namikaze.

• Rasa worried that Sunagakure’s lack of funding and Konoha’s strength would leave his village permanently subordinate.
• A summoned snake delivered Rasa a scroll revealing that Orochimaru and Chiyu wanted Sunagakure’s help attacking Konoha during the Joint Chunin Exams.
• Rasa judged the proposal promising but, wary of Orochimaru’s cunning, set out with three trusted jonin to meet him and Chiyu.
• Chiyu and Orochimaru discussed exposing Konoha’s past to Minato Namikaze and involving Hiruzen Sarutobi in the confrontation.
• Chiyu sensed Rasa and his three jonin approaching, sent Kabuto Yakushi to hide nearby, and planned to handle the escorts while Orochimaru tested his body against Rasa.

Orochimaru and Chiyu lured Rasa into a meeting and revealed their plan to kill him so Orochimaru could take control of Sunagakure and lead it against Konoha. Rasa struggled against Orochimaru’s Mangekyō Sharingan and Shikotsumyaku, then unleashed a field of gold dust spikes, but Orochimaru kept advancing as if he could foresee their attacks.

• Rasa refused to agree to cooperate until Orochimaru provided a complete plan and terms for dividing their interests.
• Chiyu explained that he and Orochimaru had used the Hidden Sound Village to hurry Rasa into meeting them, then killed the three jonin accompanying him.
• Orochimaru revealed that he planned to replace Rasa as Sunagakure’s leader and attacked him with his Mangekyō Sharingan and Shikotsumyaku.
• Rasa blocked Orochimaru’s bone attacks with gold dust, but Orochimaru used his Mangekyō abilities to predict attack paths and evade Rasa’s counterattack.
• Rasa launched the Gold Dust Boundary Method at Orochimaru and Chiyu, but Chiyu cut through the spikes while Orochimaru dodged them and closed in on Rasa.

Orochimaru defeated Rasa and took his identity, then used it to persuade Sunagakure's leaders to invade Konoha during the Chunin Exams. He remained in Sunagakure to prepare while Chiyu and Kabuto Yakushi departed with Rasa's corpse.

• Orochimaru used his Mangekyō Sharingan, snakes, and Kusanagi Sword to defeat and kill Rasa.
• Orochimaru explained his Mangekyō Sharingan's abilities to Chiyu and said he would impersonate Rasa to make Sunagakure invade Konoha.
• Orochimaru used the Face Duplication Technique to disguise himself as Rasa, while Kabuto Yakushi sealed Rasa's corpse and left with Chiyu.
• Orochimaru told Baki that Orochimaru and Chiyu had sought cooperation with Sunagakure, then called a meeting of the village elders.
• Orochimaru announced that Sunagakure would join him and Chiyu in invading Konoha during the Chunin Exams, and the village's higher-ups agreed.

Chiyu learned that two Sharingan-wielding, spiral-masked ninjas might include the missing Uchiha Yoshihiko, while Kakashi found no leads on Jigen. In Konoha, Sasuke asked Kakashi to teach him the true Thunder Breathing Sword Style after seeing Minato train Naruto.

• Chiyu told Yahiko that Orochimaru had killed Rasa and infiltrated Sunagakure, and Yahiko said the group would leave for Konoha in a week.
• Kakashi told Chiyu that two spiral-masked ninjas with Sharingan had attacked the Hidden Hot Water Village and Hoshigakure, and Chiyu suspected the larger one might be the missing Uchiha Yoshihiko.
• Kakashi reported that Neji was considering leaving Konoha with his clansmen, and Chiyu agreed to prepare for their departure.
• After speaking with Chiyu, Kakashi encountered Sasuke, who asked him to teach the Thunder Breathing Sword Style he used rather than the other version.
• Sasuke explained that Naruto was training under Minato and said he wanted to learn Kakashi's true Thunder Breathing Full Sword Form.

Kakashi refused to teach Sasuke Uchiha Thunder Breathing Full Sword Form but offered to teach him Chidori. Minato Namikaze, frustrated that he could not help Naruto Uzumaki much with his current training, offered to teach him his own techniques instead.

• Kakashi told Sasuke Uchiha he could not teach him Thunder Breathing Full Sword Form, then demonstrated Chidori and offered to train him in it.
• Sasuke Uchiha eagerly accepted Kakashi's offer, and Kakashi arranged to begin teaching him at the Second Training Ground the next day.
• Minato Namikaze observed Naruto Uzumaki's progress with Shadow Clone Technique, Wind Breathing Full Sword Form, and training for the Eight Gates Formation.
• Naruto Uzumaki considered how to get Minato Namikaze to stop supervising him as Minato admitted he could not guide him much in his current training.
• Minato Namikaze offered to teach Naruto Uzumaki the Rasengan, Flying Thunder God Technique, and Mount Myōboku's Contract Summoning Technique.

Minato Namikaze offered to teach Naruto Uzumaki the Rasengan, the Flying Thunder God Technique, and the Mount Myōboku Contract Summoning Technique, demonstrating the first two and explaining the third. Naruto agreed to learn them while continuing his current training, and Minato called him a true hero after Naruto said he had protected the village.

• Minato Namikaze offered Naruto Uzumaki three signature techniques, but Naruto initially declined because he was focused on his current training.
• Shikaku Nara explained the power and reputation of Minato’s techniques, and Minato demonstrated the Rasengan and Flying Thunder God Technique.
• Minato described Mount Myōboku, its toads, and the Sage Mode and Sage Art it could teach.
• Naruto changed his mind and agreed to learn Minato’s techniques, while promising not to neglect his Wind Release Breathing Sword Style.
• Minato asked Naruto about his lonely childhood, and Naruto said he no longer felt it was hard because he had helped protect the village.
• Minato rubbed Naruto’s head and called him a true hero.

Minato Namikaze began training Naruto Uzumaki as Kakashi trained Sasuke Uchiha, while Hyuga Neji committed to escaping Konoha with fourteen Branch Family clansmen. After deciding to participate in the upcoming Chunin Exams, Neji prepared to coordinate with his clansmen as Hiruzen Sarutobi reviewed the invited villages' participant lists.

• Kakashi began training Sasuke Uchiha, and Minato Namikaze began training Naruto Uzumaki.
• Hyuga Neji overcame his doubts about leading fourteen clansmen out of Konoha and contacted Chiyu, who promised to help and urged him to stay calm.
• Tenten and Rock Lee found Neji at the training ground and told him about the Chunin Exams, and Neji agreed to participate.
• Rock Lee declared that he would defeat Neji in the exams, and Neji left to notify his clansmen and await Chiyu's arrival.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi reviewed participant lists from Sunagakure, Amegakure, Kusagakure, Takigakure, and the Hidden Sound Village.

Hiruzen Sarutobi prepared for the Joint Chunin Exams, considered delegating authority to Minato Namikaze, and ordered increased surveillance of Danzo. Meanwhile, Chiyu led the disguised Sound Seven toward Konoha, where Orochimaru joined them and confirmed his plans for Sunagakure and its One-Tail Jinchuriki.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi reviewed the participating villages’ rosters, judged Konoha ready to dominate the exams, and noted Naruto Uzumaki and Hyuga Neji among its strongest Genin.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi considered giving Minato Namikaze some authority after the exams, questioned an Anbu about Danzo, and ordered more Anbu to watch the Root base.
• After a week, Chiyu led the Sound Seven toward Konoha and assigned disguises and aliases to himself, Cang Nagi, and Orochimaru.
• Chiyu assigned team leaders to the Sound Seven and told Jirobo to enter Konoha as a tourist and enjoy its food.
• At the Land of Fire border, Orochimaru joined Chiyu’s group and said Sunagakure was under his control and he would release the One-Tail if necessary.
• Chiyu and Orochimaru led Sōshi Uzumaki and the others into the Land of Fire toward Konoha.

Danzo planned to use the Joint Chunin Exams as his last chance to kill Minato Namikaze and seize Konoha’s political power before Minato could take control. He prepared Umaru, a Magnet Release ninja, to counter Minato’s Flying Thunder God Kunai, while keeping an escape route ready if the plot failed.

• Danzo told Aburame Ryoma that Hiruzen Sarutobi would eventually have to hand power to Minato Namikaze, leaving Danzo vulnerable to Minato’s reckoning.
• Danzo explained that intelligence suggested Sunagakure would disrupt the Chunin Exams and ordered Aburame Ryoma to prepare Root ninja to assassinate Minato Namikaze during the chaos.
• Danzo told Umaru that he was key to killing Minato, and Umaru agreed to prove his worth.
• Danzo revealed that Umaru was a Magnet Release ninja trained to magnetize Minato’s Flying Thunder God Kunai and limit his ability to teleport.
• Danzo considered failure and kept an escape route ready in case he could no longer remain in Konoha.

Hiruzen Sarutobi announced that the Chunin Exams would begin in Konoha in seven days, and Chiyu, Orochimaru, and the Hidden Sound Village delegation arrived to participate. Chiyu watched Konoha and discussed its looming upheaval with Orochimaru, leaving the village’s future uncertain.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi told the Jonin team leaders that the Chunin Exams would begin on July 1st, seven days later.
• Chiyu and Orochimaru brought the Hidden Sound Village delegation into Konoha, where Sakon and Sōshi Uzumaki admired the village and Sōshi took Kimimaro Kaguya out to explore.
• Chiyu and Orochimaru watched Konoha from their inn and discussed the village’s stagnation, Neji’s impending actions, and the possible consequences for Minato Namikaze.
• Minato Namikaze noticed Chiyu and Orochimaru at the inn, and Chiyu greeted him as the Hidden Sound Village’s Jonin leader and asked him to cheer for their team.
• After Minato left, Chiyu said he had not changed, while Orochimaru wondered whether Konoha would survive the coming upheaval.

Naruto Uzumaki stopped Kankuro from bullying Konohamaru and defeated him, then faced Gaara and a group of Hidden Sound Village ninja in the alley. The confrontation ended without a fight, and Naruto Uzumaki and Rokumeigaku exchanged names ahead of the Chunin Exams.

• Naruto Uzumaki found Kankuro choking Konohamaru and knocked Kankuro down, injuring him before pinning him beneath his foot.
• Temari prepared to fight Naruto Uzumaki, but Sasuke Uchiha appeared and warned the group against starting a battle.
• Gaara arrived and ordered Temari and Kankuro to put away their weapons, then Naruto Uzumaki kicked Kankuro over to him.
• Sōshi Uzumaki and six others from Hidden Sound Village arrived, and Naruto Uzumaki told Gaara's group not to cause trouble in Konoha.
• Rokumeigaku praised Naruto Uzumaki and introduced himself, saying he hoped to see him during the Chunin Exams.

Kakashi told Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura about the upcoming Chunin Exams, and all three agreed to participate. He advised Sakura to study Medical Ninjutsu and brought her to the Ninja Hospital to begin training.

• Sōshi Uzumaki and the others left after Naruto learned Gaara’s name, and Naruto explained the Chunin Exams to Sakura.
• Kakashi gave Team 7 application forms and said all three had to agree to take the team-based first round in the Forest of Death.
• Sakura agreed to participate, then asked Kakashi for training advice.
• Kakashi recommended Medical Ninjutsu, explaining that Sakura’s precise Chakra control and attention to detail suited it.
• Sakura asked to start learning that day, and Kakashi took her to the Ninja Hospital.

Kakashi left Sakura at the Ninja Hospital and spoke with Minato before turning his attention back to the Chunin Exams. Chiyu prepared Neji for a plan tied to the exam’s final match, while Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura arrived at the first test and encountered a genjutsu blocking the way to Classroom 301.

• Kakashi recommended Sakura to the Ninja Hospital director, then thanked Minato for his words and left to handle Chunin Exam matters.
• Chiyu visited Neji at the training ground, praised his Water Breathing forms, and confirmed that Neji’s clansmen were ready to have their Cursed Seals removed when the plan began.
• Chiyu told Neji to wait for instructions after his final-round match and warned him that Cang Nagi, disguised as Rokumeigaku, would also compete.
• Five days later, Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura arrived at the Ninja Academy for the Chunin Exams and found candidates gathered outside Classroom 301.
• Izumo and Kotetsu, disguised as candidates, kicked Rock Lee away as part of a genjutsu test for Konoha’s candidates.

Sōshi Uzumaki and his group exposed Izumo Kamizuki and Kotetsu Hagane’s fake classroom and clashed with them before reaching the Chunin Exam venue. Kakashi explained the exam’s format, and Naruto Uzumaki, Sasuke Uchiha, and Sakura Haruno entered the crowded classroom, where Naruto focused on Sōshi and Hyuga Neji.

• Izumo Kamizuki and Kotetsu Hagane blocked the examinees, but Sōshi Uzumaki mocked them and Jugo sent Kotetsu flying while Kimimaro Kaguya threatened Izumo.
• Sōshi identified the false classroom, noticed Hyuga Neji, and led his group toward the real third floor.
• Sasuke Uchiha and Naruto Uzumaki looked forward to fighting, while Sakura Haruno felt intimidated by the display of strength.
• After the examinees left, Izumo and Kotetsu discussed the strength of Sōshi’s group and suspected Kimimaro’s bones were a bloodline limit.
• Kakashi told Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura that the exams would begin in two days and described the dangerous Forest of Death round and the later one-on-one battles.
• Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura entered Classroom 301, where Naruto ignored most classmates and focused on Sōshi Uzumaki and Hyuga Neji.

Ibiki Morino and Anko Mitarashi explained the Forest of Death survival trial and its rules to the Chunin Selection Exam candidates. After Sōshi Uzumaki challenged the Konoha teams, Chiyu reminded him to hide his strongest techniques, leaving Sōshi confident he could still dominate the exam.

• Ibiki Morino and Anko Mitarashi announced that the first round would take place in the Forest of Death and warned that casualties were possible.
• Anko Mitarashi explained the five-day scroll battle, the requirement to reach the central tower with both scrolls, and the conditions for elimination.
• Sōshi Uzumaki taunted Naruto Uzumaki and the other Konoha candidates, and Naruto Uzumaki and Hyuga Neji answered his challenge.
• Hyuga Neji left with Tenten and Rock Lee, while the candidates dispersed to prepare for the exam.
• At the inn, Chiyu forbade Sōshi Uzumaki from using several powerful techniques, and Sōshi insisted he could win without them.
• Chiyu asked Orochimaru whether he planned to join the exam, and Sōshi Uzumaki mocked Chiyu before Chiyu threatened to beat him up.

As the Chunin Exams began, Sōshi Uzumaki’s team entered the Forest of Death with both scrolls already secured. Sōshi planned to use Mind’s Eye of the Kagura to find Naruto Uzumaki or Hyuga Neji and surprise them.

• Chiyu warned Sōshi Uzumaki and the others not to underestimate their opponents, and Sōshi led the group toward the exam.
• Orochimaru told Chiyu that Sunagakure was preparing to infiltrate the Land of Fire during the month before the matches.
• Sōshi received an Earth Scroll and gave it to Sakon, whose team already had a Heaven Scroll; Anko Mitarashi challenged the move, but Sōshi pointed out that no rule forbade it.
• Sōshi called attention to Hyuga Neji, Rock Lee, and Tenten being beaten by Konoha ninja, then left to choose an entrance with Kimimaro Kaguya and Jugo.
• At noon, the first round began and the examinees rushed into the Forest of Death; Sōshi considered searching for Naruto Uzumaki or Hyuga Neji with Mind’s Eye of the Kagura.