Chapter Summaries

Sōshi Uzumaki hunted down Naruto Uzumaki’s team after defeating numerous other exam participants and destroying the scrolls his group had collected. He began fighting Naruto while Kimimaro Kaguya confronted Sasuke Uchiha and Sakura Haruno.

• Sōshi Uzumaki chose to seek out Naruto Uzumaki and attacked every team his group encountered along the way.
• Naruto Uzumaki, Sasuke Uchiha, and Sakura Haruno defeated Hidden Sand and Hidden Rain teams, then obtained the scrolls they needed from another Konoha team.
• Sōshi Uzumaki, Kimimaro Kaguya, and Jugo confronted Naruto’s team and displayed the many forehead protectors they had taken from defeated ninja.
• Sōshi Uzumaki had Jugo throw their seven collected scrolls onto the ground, then burned them to force a fight.
• Sōshi Uzumaki attacked Naruto Uzumaki, evaded his wind blades with the Substitution Technique, and kicked him into a tree.
• Kimimaro Kaguya intercepted Sasuke Uchiha’s Kunai with finger bones, then drew a bone sword and challenged Sasuke and Sakura.

Sōshi Uzumaki and Naruto Uzumaki fought seriously, with Sōshi relying on ninjutsu because he could not use Thunder Breathing. Meanwhile, Kimimaro Kaguya overwhelmed Sasuke Uchiha in close combat, while Jugo stayed out of the fight.

• Sōshi Uzumaki kicked Naruto Uzumaki away, and Naruto attacked with Wind Breathing before Sōshi countered with Fire and Earth Release techniques.
• Naruto Uzumaki used a Shadow Clone and an underground attack, but Sōshi Uzumaki stopped his Wind Blades with Water Prison Jutsu.
• Naruto Uzumaki realized Sōshi Uzumaki had been forbidden from using Thunder Breathing, and Sōshi pursued him with Water Hail.
• Sasuke Uchiha struggled to block Kimimaro Kaguya’s bone sword attacks and suffered numerous wounds.
• Kimimaro Kaguya used Dance of the Willow, forcing Sasuke Uchiha to defend himself; Sasuke’s wire-and-fire attack exposed Kimimaro’s bones and rapid regeneration.
• Sasuke Uchiha pulled away using wires attached to Kunai, while Jugo remained still because he considered Sakura Haruno too weak to fight.

Sōshi Uzumaki and Kimimaro Kaguya kept Naruto Uzumaki and Sasuke Uchiha on the defensive in their battle. Naruto and Sōshi’s powerful wind and lightning attacks canceled each other out, leaving the fight unresolved.

• Sasuke Uchiha attacked Kimimaro Kaguya with fire-infused Shuriken and a Lightning Release Kunai, but Kimimaro blocked the attacks and crushed the Kunai.
• Kimimaro Kaguya charged Sasuke Uchiha, who used wires between the trees to evade him and keep attacking.
• Naruto Uzumaki countered Sōshi Uzumaki’s water bullets with Wind Breathing, but Sōshi’s Thousand-Faced Wind dismantled Naruto’s attack.
• Naruto Uzumaki used Shadow Clones to escape Sōshi Uzumaki’s lightning-charged punch, then sent the clones to surround him.
• Naruto Uzumaki unleashed Black Wind Mist, and Sōshi Uzumaki answered with Lightning Dragon Tornado; the two attacks collided and annihilated each other.

Naruto Uzumaki and Sasuke Uchiha were overwhelmed by Sōshi Uzumaki and Kimimaro Kaguya until their classmates arrived, prompting the attackers to retreat. The group then headed toward the tower, while Hinata Hyuga offered Naruto medicine that he declined.

• Sōshi Uzumaki and Kimimaro Kaguya knocked Naruto Uzumaki and Sasuke Uchiha down, but Naruto refused the Nine-Tails' offer of power.
• Sakura Haruno stood protectively in front of Sasuke Uchiha, and Hinata Hyuga came to Naruto's aid.
• Rock Lee, Hyuga Neji, Tenten, Shikamaru Nara, Ino Yamanaka, Choji Akimichi, Kiba Inuzuka, and Shino Aburame arrived, and Sōshi Uzumaki, Kimimaro Kaguya, and Jugo retreated.
• Hyuga Neji scolded Rock Lee for acting alone and led his teammates toward the tower.
• Hinata Hyuga thanked Naruto Uzumaki for his concern, offered him injury medicine, and was disappointed when he declined.

Shikamaru Nara questioned how Naruto Uzumaki had become so strong, while Sasuke Uchiha grew more desperate for power after being crushed in battle. Sōshi Uzumaki’s group encountered Gaara, Temari, and Kankuro, and Jugo attacked after Gaara refused to leave.

• Shikamaru Nara suspected Naruto Uzumaki had hidden his strength at the Ninja Academy after witnessing his fight with Rokumeigaku and Kimimaro Kaguya.
• Ino Yamanaka and Choji Akimichi left to search for scrolls, while Naruto Uzumaki, Sasuke Uchiha, and Sakura Haruno prepared to head for the tower.
• Sasuke Uchiha brooded over his defeat and wished for a technique that could make him vastly stronger, envying the people who had taught Naruto Uzumaki.
• Sōshi Uzumaki, Kimimaro Kaguya, and Jugo encountered Gaara, Temari, and Kankuro, and Sōshi told them to leave.
• When Gaara gathered sand to attack, Sōshi ordered Jugo to strike him, and Jugo smashed a huge hole through Gaara’s sand with his transformed arm.

Jugo defeated Gaara with a single punch, and Sōshi Uzumaki’s team took scrolls from Temari and Kankuro before heading toward the tower. Gaara regained control after sensing Naruto’s Nine-Tails, while a report at the tower revealed that three Genin were blocking its entrance.

• Jugo smashed through Gaara’s sand wave and struck him hard enough to send him flying, then Sōshi Uzumaki demanded scrolls from Temari and Kankuro.
• Temari handed over three scrolls, and she and Kankuro left to find Gaara while Jugo and Sōshi Uzumaki’s team continued toward the tower entrance.
• Kankuro and Temari found Gaara injured and feared he would lose control, but Shukaku sensed the Nine-Tails in Naruto Uzumaki and Gaara calmed down.
• Naruto Uzumaki declined the Nine-Tails’ suggestion to attack Gaara, choosing instead to avoid disrupting Uncle Chiyu and the others’ plans.
• A ninja told Anko Mitarashi and Ibiki Morino that three Genin were blocking the tower entrance, taking scrolls, and eliminating other Genin.

Ibiki Morino reported that Sōshi Uzumaki, Kimimaro Kaguya, and Jugo were eliminating teams near the tower, prompting Hiruzen Sarutobi to authorize intervention under the rule against disrupting the exam. As Ibiki rushed back to stop them, Hiruzen watched the trio and considered arranging different opponents if an extra round became necessary.

• An examiner told Ibiki Morino and Anko Mitarashi that three Hidden Sound Village Genin had eliminated four teams near the tower and burned the scrolls they took.
• Anko Mitarashi wanted to revoke the trio’s qualifications, but Ibiki Morino insisted he could not intervene until he consulted Hiruzen Sarutobi.
• Sōshi Uzumaki told Kimimaro Kaguya and Jugo to clear out nearby Genin before the examiners arrived to stop them.
• Ibiki Morino informed Hiruzen Sarutobi about the attacks, and Hiruzen directed him to intervene under the rule against maliciously disrupting the exam.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi watched the trio through the Crystal Ball, recognized Kimimaro Kaguya’s Shikotsumyaku, and considered arranging different opponents for Konoha’s ninja if an extra round was needed.

Sōshi Uzumaki’s team entered the tower after Ibiki Morino and Anko Mitarashi stopped them from eliminating more Genin. The first stage ended with twenty-six participants advancing to an immediate additional round, where Sōshi suspected the matchups were rigged.

• Ibiki Morino warned Sōshi Uzumaki to stop disrupting the exam, and Sōshi led Kimimaro Kaguya and Jugo into the tower to register their scrolls.
• Sōshi Uzumaki’s group met Sakon’s group and complained about waiting in the tower while discussing the Genin they had eliminated.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi reviewed the groups that had passed and ensured Naruto Uzumaki and Hyuga Neji would not face Sōshi Uzumaki’s team in the additional round.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi announced a randomly assigned one-on-one additional round, and four injured participants withdrew, leaving twenty-six competitors.
• Sōshi Uzumaki was matched against Kidomaru, who forfeited, and Sōshi then objected when Kimimaro Kaguya was matched against Jugo.

The extra round ended with Konoha’s suspected match manipulation leaving only Sōshi Uzumaki and Kimimaro Kaguya among the Hidden Sound candidates. Hiruzen Sarutobi announced that the final competition would begin in a month and revealed the matchups, leaving Sōshi set to face Hyuga Neji.

• Sōshi Uzumaki accused Konoha of rigging the extra round, while Chiyu told him the village could not expect fairness from its hosts.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi heard Chiyu’s accusation but chose not to restore the electronic screen to normal.
• Tayuya forfeited against Gaara of Sunagakure, and Sakon surrendered to Hyuga Neji, leaving only Sōshi Uzumaki and Kimimaro Kaguya from their village.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi announced that the final round would take place one month later and that the candidates could use the time to prepare.
• Anko Mitarashi distributed lots, and Ibiki Morino displayed the matchups: Sōshi Uzumaki would face Hyuga Neji, Kimimaro Kaguya would face Rock Lee, Naruto Uzumaki would face Shino Aburame, Sasuke Uchiha would face Gaara, and Shikamaru Nara would face Temari.
• Sōshi Uzumaki and Kimimaro Kaguya left the tower, met Chiyu and the others, and departed the Forest of Death.

Orochimaru and Chiyu discussed Sunagakure’s coming attack and Danzo’s likely plan to exploit the chaos. Jiraiya returned to Konoha and reunited with Minato Namikaze, while Hiruzen Sarutobi intervened before Jiraiya could reveal the truth Minato did not know.

• Orochimaru told Chiyu he would leave Konoha disguised as Rasa, and Chiyu agreed to coordinate with Baki.
• Jiraiya met Chiyu, gave him a signed special edition of Icha Icha Paradise for Kakashi, and then left.
• Orochimaru told Chiyu that Sunagakure had uncovered a Konoha spy, and they concluded Danzo was waiting to exploit the invasion.
• Jiraiya found Minato Namikaze training Naruto Uzumaki, embraced Minato, and learned that Minato had acknowledged Naruto.
• Jiraiya asked whether Minato knew everything, but Hiruzen Sarutobi arrived and Jiraiya realized Minato remained unaware of the truth.

Jiraiya reunited with Minato Namikaze and Naruto Uzumaki, then confronted Hiruzen Sarutobi about Konoha’s past treatment of Naruto and the future of the Hokage position. Hiruzen refused to step down or tell Minato the truth, leaving Jiraiya uncertain about what would happen when Minato learned it.

• Jiraiya expressed relief at Minato Namikaze’s awakening and discussed his recovery while Minato prepared to take on Hokage duties.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi and Jiraiya left Naruto Uzumaki to continue training for the Chunin Exams and master the Rasengan.
• In the Hokage’s office, Jiraiya told Hiruzen Sarutobi that he had found no trace of Orochimaru and urged him to hand the Hokage position to Minato.
• Hiruya Sarutobi said he trusted Minato but feared that learning the truth about Naruto’s past would change him.
• Jiraiya urged Hiruzen Sarutobi to tell Minato the truth and apologize, but Hiruzen rejected the suggestion.

Hiruzen Sarutobi refused to tell Minato Namikaze the truth and planned to keep his authority under scrutiny, while Jiraiya left troubled by the prospect of Minato being controlled. Chiyu and Orochimaru watched through a snake and discussed Konoha’s decay, with Chiyu looking forward to seeing where Naruto’s path led.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi refused Jiraiya’s suggestion to confess the truth to Minato Namikaze and asked Jiraiya to keep Minato from learning it.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi said he would divide the Hokage’s authority among Koharu, Homura, Jiraiya, and Tsunade if he judged Minato unqualified.
• Jiraiya left the Hokage Office worried that Hiruzen’s vague assessment would make Minato a figurehead and that discovering the deception would be harder for him to forgive.
• Chiyu and Orochimaru observed the discussion through a snake and concluded that Hiruzen wanted to control Minato after losing trust in him.
• Chiyu said Naruto Uzumaki would eventually ignite change and released a dead leaf into the wind, wanting to see where Naruto’s path would lead.

Chiyu and Baki met secretly to discuss their plan to destroy Konoha, while Hayate Gekko and Sasuke Uchiha discovered their secrets. Chiyu confronted Sasuke and revealed that he had found the scroll Sasuke intended to send to Hiruzen Sarutobi.

• Gaara lost control of his sand under the full moon before calming down as Chiyu and Baki watched.
• Chiyu and Baki discussed Hidden Sound Village and Sunagakure’s plan to destroy Konoha, while Hayate Gekko eavesdropped and learned their identities.
• Baki pursued Hayate after the spies were discovered, while Chiyu confronted the other hidden observer, Sasuke Uchiha.
• Sasuke told Chiyu how he had deduced Chiyu’s identity and threatened to send his suspicions to Hiruzen Sarutobi if he did not return.
• Chiyu produced Sasuke’s hidden scroll with a snake, leaving Sasuke shocked.

Chiyu caught Sasuke Uchiha spying on him and learned that Sasuke wanted to trade his future for power to kill Itachi Uchiha. After Sasuke agreed to serve him, Chiyu sealed him and promised to teach him.

• Chiyu revealed that he knew Sasuke Uchiha had been watching him and took the scroll Sasuke had planned to use as leverage.
• Chiyu immobilized Sasuke and demanded to know why he had come, and Sasuke confessed that he wanted power to avenge himself on Itachi Uchiha.
• Sasuke offered his future to Chiyu, explaining that Chidori was not enough and that he could no longer tolerate falling behind Naruto Uzumaki.
• Chiyu agreed to train Sasuke and warned that a sealing jutsu would kill him if he betrayed Chiyu.
• Chiyu placed the Inner Brain Lock Jutsu on Sasuke, who demanded that Chiyu give him power immediately.

Chiyu gave Sasuke Uchiha a Heaven and Earth Curse Mark and arranged for Kakashi to teach him Thunder Breathing, while warning Sasuke that their deal made him obligated to repay the advance. Chiyu also urged Kakashi to leave Konoha for the Hidden Sound Village if necessary, then teased him about pursuing Hualing.

• Chiyu summoned a snake to give Sasuke Uchiha the first stage of the Heaven and Earth Curse Mark and offered him a path to greater power in exchange for future service.
• Sasuke Uchiha accepted the deal and asked to learn Chiyu's Thunder Breathing Full Sword Form, which Chiyu arranged for Kakashi to teach.
• Chiyu explained Sasuke's desperation to Kakashi and told him that Orochimaru could address the drawbacks of his Sharingan and teach him Sage Art if he left Konoha.
• Chiyu gave Kakashi a copy of Icha Icha Paradise and encouraged him to pursue Hualing, revealing that he had arranged for her to become Key-Front Village's representative through an alliance.

Kakashi was assigned to handle cooperation with Key-Front Village and encouraged to get to know Hualing, while Sasuke Uchiha tested the Cursed Seal and began planning to leave Konoha for greater power. The chapter ended with Hiruzen Sarutobi learning that Hayate Gekko had been killed by a much stronger opponent.

• Chiyu told Kakashi to manage the Key-Front Village handover and urged him to get to know Hualing.
• Sasuke Uchiha activated the Cursed Seal, endured its pain, and felt his power increase.
• Izumi Uchiha checked on Sasuke Uchiha, who concealed the seal and resolved to pursue power and protect the Uchiha Clan.
• Kakashi began teaching Sasuke Uchiha Thunder Breathing Full Sword Form and warned him not to use the Cursed Seal in Konoha.
• Anbu found Hayate Gekko's body, and Hiruzen Sarutobi concluded that Hayate had been overwhelmed by a far stronger opponent.

With the second official examination approaching, Hiruzen Sarutobi tightened security after Hayate Gekko's murder, while Jiraiya worried over the Great Toad Sage's vision that Konoha would split apart. Sasuke Uchiha continued training in the Breathing Style but could not master Thunderclap and Flash, so Kakashi decided to seek advice.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi ordered Anbu to guard the examination grounds and arranged strict patrols throughout Konoha.
• The Great Toad Sage told Jiraiya that the future had changed and warned that Konoha might split apart.
• Jiraiya asked Minato Namikaze whether he would forgive Konoha if it wronged him, and Minato said he would.
• Naruto Uzumaki overheard Jiraiya and judged that Jiraiya was seeking relief from his guilt over hiding the past from Minato Namikaze.
• Sasuke Uchiha struggled to control Thunderclap and Flash, and Kakashi promised to ask someone for help.

Chiyu explained that Sasuke Uchiha’s distracting thoughts were preventing him from mastering Thunderclap and Flash, while Danzo prepared Umaru and Root for an attack on Minato Namikaze. As the second exam began, Chiyu assigned his allies to support Neji, and Orochimaru arrived disguised as the Fourth Kazekage.

• Chiyu told Kakashi that Sasuke Uchiha could not use Thunderclap and Flash because he could not clear his mind, and Kakashi passed on the advice, but Sasuke still failed to master the form.
• Danzo confirmed that Root was ready and ordered Umaru to join Aburame Ryoma’s group in targeting Minato Namikaze.
• Chiyu directed Sakon, Kidomaru, Tayuya, and Jirobo to rendezvous with Orochimaru, while assigning Cang Nagi, Kimimaro, and Jugo to help Neji and escape the village with Raiga’s group.
• The second exam began with Hiruzen Sarutobi and Minato Namikaze seated in the stands, and Orochimaru arrived disguised as Rasa, the Fourth Kazekage.

Orochimaru, disguised as Kazekage Rasa, attended the Chunin Selection Exams as Minato Namikaze announced Hyuga Neji’s match against Sōshi Uzumaki. Neji rejected the Hyuga Clan’s belief in fate, and the two began a fierce taijutsu battle that ended with Neji’s strikes being blocked.

• Orochimaru, disguised as Kazekage Rasa, exchanged greetings with Hiruzen Sarutobi and Minato Namikaze before the official matches began.
• Minato Namikaze announced that Hyuga Neji would face Sōshi Uzumaki in the first match.
• Hyuga Hiashi told Hanabi Hyuga to study Neji’s fight, while Hanabi searched the stands for Hinata Hyuga.
• Sōshi Uzumaki challenged Neji about the Hyuga Clan’s belief in fate, and Neji declared that he would determine his own fate.
• Genma Shiranui started the match, and Neji launched Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms against Sōshi Uzumaki.
• Sōshi Uzumaki blocked every one of Neji’s rapid strikes as their taijutsu clash drew cheers from the audience.

Hyuga Neji and Sōshi Uzumaki exchanged powerful techniques in their tournament match, with each countering the other’s attacks. Neji unleashed Water Breathing: Eleventh Form: Dead Calm as Sōshi’s Thunderstorm Dragon charged toward him, leaving the winner undecided.

• Hyuga Neji used the Gentle Fist and several secret Hyuga techniques against Sōshi Uzumaki, who blocked them and pierced Revolving Heaven with a lightning-coated blade.
• Hyuga Neji countered Sōshi’s attacks with Water Breathing techniques, sending him tumbling across the wet ground.
• Sōshi created a Shadow Clone and combined wind and fire into a flaming hurricane, which Neji cut through with Strike of the Tide.
• Sōshi unleashed the Thunderstorm Dragon, combining water and lightning, and Neji planted his sword in the ground to activate Dead Calm.