Chapter Summaries

Nagato restored his strength by draining the Three-Tails, then left with Konan for the Land of Rain. After Kirigakure reported the attack, Mei Terumi asked Ren to let her return to her village, and he agreed.

• Nagato absorbed the Three-Tails' chakra, regained his former physique, and sensed that the Rinnegan held greater power beyond Planetary Devastation.
• Nagato activated the Animal Path body, then left with Konan and Deva Path Pain for the Land of Rain.
• Kirigakure's ninja arrived, and Isobu told them he was changing locations before swimming to shore.
• Mei Terumi received Kirigakure's report of Akatsuki's attack on the Three-Tails and went to Ren to request permission to return home.
• Ren suspected Mei Terumi wanted compensation for Kirigakure's losses, but told her to set off at once.

Mei Terumi failed to win compensation from Ren, while Obito learned that Nagato and Konan had been spotted in the Land of Water. As the third exam approached, Naruto prepared to face Gaara and discovered a surprising front-page story in the newspaper.

• Ren saw through Mei Terumi's attempt to gain compensation and offered Kirigakure words of respect instead.
• Obito learned that Nagato and Konan had appeared in the Land of Water and fought three people, then decided not to visit Konoha's cemetery.
• Naruto went to Ichiraku Ramen before his match with Gaara and encountered people who recognized him from a newspaper.
• Naruto borrowed the newspaper and read about the contestants before turning to the front page, where its contents left him stunned.

Naruto read a newspaper report praising Konoha’s strength and its role in preserving peace, then learned about Kirigakure’s recovery with Konoha’s help. The report left him proud of Konoha and seeing Kirigakure as its close ally, with Utakata as a symbol of their friendship.

• Naruto read that Konoha had over 51,000 active-duty ninja and vast reserves, and he was astonished by the village’s strength.
• The report described Kirigakure’s decline after the Mizukage was controlled and its development after Konoha helped rescue it.
• Naruto felt satisfied that Konoha had helped Kirigakure recover and began to regard it as Konoha’s good brother.
• Naruto connected Utakata’s presence in Konoha with the friendship between Konoha and Kirigakure.

Naruto read Konoha’s newspaper profiles of the other ninja villages and found little useful information about Hidden Cloud, Hidden Sand, or Hidden Stone. Ōnoki became furious when he saw his profile paired with an embarrassing photograph from his last meeting with Ren.

• Ren’s Kirigakure agreement remained separate from the agreement Hiruzen Sarutobi had signed, and Utakata’s background was likely to become public.
• Naruto read the newspaper’s account of Hidden Cloud Village, which portrayed it as redeemed by Konoha and listed most of its ninja numbers as unknown.
• Naruto read the Hidden Sand and Hidden Stone profiles, which repeated textbook information and marked nearly all details as confidential.
• Ōnoki read his Kage profile and flew into a rage when he saw the photograph of himself resisting Ren, looking short, pathetic, and lecherous.

Naruto read a newspaper profiling the Five Kage, especially Yushu, whose flattering introduction excited readers across the Shinobi World. He was interrupted before finishing Ōnoki’s profile when the man who lent him the paper took it back.

• Ōnoki refused to provide a photograph, so Qiyue cropped one from an old picture, leaving him furious.
• Naruto read Yushu’s profile and saw how it praised his strength, character, and devotion to peace, while Konoha residents and people across the Shinobi World reacted with excitement.
• Kurotsuchi admired Yushu’s photograph and compared him with Deidara.
• Naruto read profiles of Mei Terumi, Darui, and Rasa, learning about their abilities and leadership.
• The uncle took back the newspaper before Naruto could finish reading about Ōnoki, and encouraged Naruto to keep it up before promising to watch his match.

The Third Chunin Exams audience filled the newly arranged venue as the village leaders made dramatic entrances to the main platform. Ren’s Complete Body Susanoo stunned the crowd before he took his seat, leaving all five central seats occupied.

• Spectators and the daimyo settled into the venue’s new seating areas while the village leaders appeared on the main platform.
• Mei Terumi emerged from white mist and took the seat marked for Water as the audience cheered.
• Rasa arrived amid gold dust and, encouraged by the crowd, flew to the platform on a gold-dust platform.
• Darui appeared in a streak of black lightning, and Ōnoki formed from chunks of rock before floating to his seat.
• Ren descended in a golden Complete Body Susanoo, then used flames to create a smaller fiery appearance as he took the final seat.

Ren’s dramatic arrival as the central Kage drew cheers before the Chunin Exam’s opening match began. Naruto and Gaara faced off, and Rasa recognized Naruto as Konoha’s jinchuriki while expecting Gaara to win.

• Ren took the central seat among the Five Kage, and the crowd erupted in applause after his entrance.
• At ten o’clock, Naruto and Gaara entered the arena and the referee started their match.
• Naruto sensed that Gaara was a jinchuriki and said he would defeat him for Konoha; Gaara answered that he would kill him.
• Naruto used the Multiple Shadow Clone Technique, impressing the crowd and making Rasa reconsider how easily Gaara would win.
• Rasa guessed Naruto was Konoha’s Nine-Tails jinchuriki and decided he would intervene if Gaara went berserk.

Naruto’s Shadow Clones attacked Gaara with Twin Rasengan, but Gaara’s Sand Shower and automatic Sand Shield kept him safe. Naruto stopped the ineffective assault after losing half his clones, leaving the fight unresolved.

• Gaara opened his gourd and attacked Naruto’s clones with Sand Shower, while the clones dispelled themselves before being destroyed.
• Naruto sent a mass of clones charging at Gaara with Twin Rasengan, drawing the spectators’ cheers and the Kage’s attention.
• Gaara intensified Sand Shower as his gourd replenished the sand, and Naruto’s clones pushed through the attack by smashing the sand clusters.
• Gaara’s Sand Shield blocked every Rasengan, and his sand destroyed more clones when they crowded around him.
• Naruto stopped sending clones forward after losing half of them without landing a hit on Gaara.

Rasa remembered how Gaara became Shukaku’s jinchuriki and how Karura died after giving birth to him. He blamed Gaara for her death and distanced himself from his son, whose Sand Shield kept appearing whenever Rasa approached.

• Ōnoki praised Gaara’s Sand Shield, but Rasa cut him off with a cold snort.
• Rasa recalled that he had chosen his unborn child as Shukaku’s jinchuriki because Gaara was compatible with the tailed beast.
• Karura secretly infused Gaara with her chakra and died after giving birth, leaving Rasa to seal Shukaku inside their son.
• After Gaara’s rampages, Rasa once tried to kill him, but Sand Shield blocked his attack and he fled.
• Rasa ordered the village to shun Gaara and used Yashamaru to sever their bond, eventually viewing Gaara as a weapon and the cause of Karura’s death.

Naruto used Wind Style ninjutsu to pierce Gaara’s sand defenses, but Gaara survived and transformed into a half-tailed beast form. Naruto answered by appearing in a golden form, and the battle continued.

• Naruto’s Shadow Clones used Wind Style: Vacuum Wave to break through Gaara’s Sandstorm Layered Funeral.
• Naruto focused his Vacuum Waves on one point and pierced Gaara’s sand wall.
• Naruto used Vacuum Serial Waves to strike Gaara’s true body after briefly glimpsing him.
• Gaara transformed into a half-tailed beast form, and Naruto appeared in a golden form.

Naruto entered Nine-Tails Chakra Mode and faced Gaara, whose hatred grew after he realized Naruto shared his past. Naruto overwhelmed Gaara with a rapid series of attacks, leaving the one-sided battle still in progress.

• Naruto's transformation into Nine-Tails Chakra Mode stunned the spectators, while Ren told Mei Terumi that Naruto was not yet a perfect jinchuriki.
• Gaara realized Naruto was like him, and Shukaku urged him to kill Naruto.
• Gaara chose to attack Naruto, resentful that others accepted Naruto while treating him as a monster.
• Naruto dodged Gaara's charge, struck his abdomen, and sent him flying with arms formed from golden chakra.
• Naruto appeared behind Gaara in midair and continued hammering him with a flurry of blows.

Naruto overwhelmed Gaara with his speed and power, then redirected his Planetary Rasengan to spare him. The attack revealed a sand statue resembling Karura, and Naruto approached the battered Gaara as the statue crumbled.

• Naruto struck Gaara repeatedly, breaking through his Sand Shield and causing him to feel pain for the first time.
• Gaara cried and curled up as sand enveloped him in a thick protective layer.
• Naruto unleashed Planetary Rasengan but redirected the attacks into the sky and ground so he would not kill Gaara.
• Rasa recognized the statue formed from the sand as Karura and was overcome by guilt and regret toward Gaara.
• Naruto walked toward Gaara as the statue collapsed, revealing Gaara battered and staring at it in disbelief.

Naruto defeated Gaara after offering to become his first friend, and the arena moved on to exhibition matches featuring Kurotsuchi and Hidden Stone Village fighters. As the audience and leaders watched the remaining bouts, Ren and Ōnoki waited for Tobi to begin his operation, and the fourth match was announced.

• Naruto told Gaara he would be his first friend, then knocked him unconscious and was declared the winner.
• Ren sent an Uchiha Clan ninja to deliver a message, while Ōnoki and Darui also gave instructions to their people.
• Hidden Cloud Village's 20 Million overwhelmed Kurotsuchi before defeating her with a final move at 11:30.
• A Hidden Stone Village exhibition match began, while Ren and Ōnoki wondered when Tobi would act.
• The fourth match was announced as Uchiha Natsuri versus Chojuro.

Natsuri overwhelmed Chojuro with a rapid series of techniques during their arena match, while Ren coordinated a response to the suspicious people targeting her. The fight continued as Fugaku left the stands, convinced it was about to end.

• Naruto sensed suspicious activity, delivered intelligence to a Uchiha Clan guard, and received Ren’s assurance that he would handle the threat.
• Ren confirmed that the suspicious people had shifted their malicious intent toward Natsuri and relayed orders throughout Konoha.
• Natsuri used her Sharingan and a succession of fire, earth, water, and lightning techniques against Chojuro, who tried to counter with Hiramekarei.
• Fugaku told Sasuke that Natsuri’s victory seemed imminent, then left the stands to greet a friend.

Chojuro fully unleashed Hiramekarei but panicked and fainted after his attack missed Natsuri, who won the match. As the tournament continued, Natsuri was abducted, Iwagakure forces charged toward Konoha, and an attack erupted inside the venue.

• Chojuro released Hiramekarei and swung at Natsuri, but his attack missed her and he fainted in panic.
• The referee declared Natsuri the winner, and she headed back toward the waiting room after Chojuro was carried away.
• A masked figure appeared in the corridor and invited Natsuri to come along, but she refused and continued on.
• A space-rippling hand seized Natsuri in the waiting room and transported her away, while a White Zetsu slipped underground.
• Iwagakure ninja charged toward Konoha as other villages' sensory ninja watched their camp.
• Longswords decapitated Land of Earth nobles at the tournament venue, and Iwagakure ninja sensed attacks coming from nearby.

Yushu exposed Ōnoki’s attempt to blame Konoha for the chaos and captured him after blocking his attack on the arena. The other villages received reports about the fighting outside Konoha, leaving their leaders to decide what to do next.

• Fugaku shielded Mikoto and Sasuke as panicked spectators fled and Konoha ninja killed White Zetsu disguised as nobles.
• Ōnoki accused Konoha of plotting to wipe out the gathered villages and prepared Dust Release against the arena.
• Yushu revealed that the slain nobles were White Zetsu and urged the village leaders to turn their forces against the Hidden Stone Village forces outside Konoha.
• Ōnoki fired Dust Release at the arena, but Konoha’s Four Red Yang Formation blocked it while Yushu continued pursuing him.
• Yushu seized Ōnoki with Susanoo, shattered his bones without killing him, and had the sealing and medical squads take him away.
• Ninja from every village brought their leaders intelligence they had received about the situation.

After Black Zetsu confirmed that Uchiha Natsuri had been captured, he ordered the White Zetsu spores inside Konoha to awaken. Meanwhile, Yushu persuaded the shinobi villages to join Konoha in “saving” the Land of Earth and Iwagakure, just as white objects began swelling across the arena.

• Zetsu and 'Obito' escaped underground while Iwagakure’s forces fought Sunagakure and Kumogakure.
• Black Zetsu realized Yushu had used him and the White Zetsu, then learned that Uchiha Natsuri had been captured.
• Black Zetsu ordered the White Zetsu spores scattered through Konoha to awaken and attack Hokage.
• Yushu proposed that the gathered villages join Konoha to save the Land of Earth and Iwagakure, and Kirigakure, Kumogakure, Sunagakure, and smaller villages agreed.
• As Yushu resumed the Joint Chūnin Exams, white objects began swelling throughout the arena.

Ren used the White Zetsu attack to push the gathered leaders into fighting together, while Kakashi began a mission inside the Kamui dimension. Kakashi waited in the empty space for the enemy Ren had warned him about.

• Black Zetsu made the White Zetsu kneel before Ren and announce that their mission was complete, prompting suspicion among the leaders.
• Ren urged the leaders to fight the White Zetsu, and Rasa, Mei Terumi, Darui, and the others joined the battle.
• Ren ordered commanders outside Konoha to support Hidden Sand Village and Hidden Cloud Village against Hidden Stone Village.
• Qingyue gave Kakashi two bottles and explained that he had to drip them into his Sharingan.
• Kakashi used the first bottle, entered the Kamui dimension, found it empty, and hid there to wait for the enemy.

Black Zetsu met Obito at their cave and discovered that the captive Uchiha Natsuri was actually a dangerous impostor. Obito was caught off guard by her Mangekyō Sharingan and died after she pierced his chest and burned him with Amaterasu.

• Black Zetsu learned that Yushu had thwarted his plan to drive a wedge between Konoha and the other hidden villages.
• Obito led Black Zetsu to the cave where he had captured Uchiha Natsuri and said she seemed strange.
• Black Zetsu sensed that the unconscious girl was not Uchiha Natsuri and began escaping underground.
• The impostor opened her Mangekyō Sharingan and attacked Obito with Amaterasu.
• The impostor pierced Obito through the chest, and Amaterasu reduced him to ashes.

After Obito's death, Fugaku revealed himself and warned Black Zetsu on Yushu's behalf to stop interfering with the tailed beasts. Black Zetsu accepted the warning and reaffirmed their cooperation, while Fugaku studied the mysterious being.

• Fugaku emerged from the disguise as Natsuri after Obito turned to ashes.
• Fugaku waited in the cave, sensed Zetsu nearby, and delivered Yushu's warning that Black Zetsu must not try to gather the tailed beasts again.
• Black Zetsu realized Yushu had used him and the Hidden Stone Village, but decided that continuing their cooperation was still better than letting Yushu cause trouble for decades.
• Black Zetsu emerged with White Zetsu and promised Fugaku there would not be a next time.
• Fugaku examined Zetsu with his Mangekyō Sharingan but could not determine what Black Zetsu was made of.