Recaps

Naruto watched Rock Lee, Tenten, and Neji arrive at the Chunin Ninja Exams and saw Sasuke expose the guards’ Genjutsu barrier. Rock Lee revealed his speed while stopping a fight, then confessed to Sakura and was rejected; Naruto greeted Tenten.

• Rock Lee argued with the entrance guards and was kicked away, while one guard slapped Tenten as Neji watched.
• Sasuke stepped forward, identified the door’s sign as a Genjutsu, and Sakura confirmed it before a guard dispelled the illusion.
• A guard kicked at Sasuke, but Rock Lee moved between them and caught both of their feet.
• Neji reminded Rock Lee that he had wanted to avoid drawing attention, but Rock Lee confessed his love to Sakura instead.
• Sakura rejected Rock Lee because she disliked his thick eyebrows, and Naruto greeted Tenten.

Rock Lee challenged Sasuke and overwhelmed him with his speed, even after Sasuke activated his Sharingan. Just as Lee prepared to continue his attack, someone grabbed him and struck him on the head.

• Tenten recognized Naruto, and Sakura hurried Sasuke and Naruto away toward the third floor.
• Rock Lee followed them and challenged Sasuke to test the strength of the top rookie.
• Sasuke charged first, but Lee dodged and struck his ribs with Leaf Whirlwind, sending him into the wall.
• Sasuke activated his Two-Tomoe Sharingan and attacked again, but Lee outpaced him and kicked him to the floor.
• Lee leapt behind Sasuke to continue his attack, but an unseen person grabbed him by the collar and hit him on the head.

Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura reached Classroom 301 for the Chunin Ninja Exams, where Kakashi had waited to ensure the full team could register. Naruto’s appearance reminded Kakashi of Minato, and Kakashi wished the team good luck before they entered.

• Might Guy reunited with Rock Lee in an emotional display while Naruto considered learning the Eight Inner Gates.
• Sasuke, Sakura, and Naruto climbed to the third floor and found Kakashi waiting outside Classroom 301.
• Kakashi saw Naruto’s new appearance and was reminded of his former teacher, Minato Namikaze.
• Kakashi explained that all three teammates had to be present to register and praised their team before letting them enter.
• Kakashi quietly told Naruto to be careful, then reflected that Naruto was becoming more like Minato.

Naruto entered the Chūnin Exam classroom with Sasuke and Sakura, where his changed appearance surprised his old classmates. As Konoha's Genin gathered around him, Shino noticed that Naruto's Chakra density had changed dramatically.

• Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura entered a classroom filled with wary Genin from different villages, and Sakura drew closer to Sasuke.
• Ino grabbed Sasuke from behind, argued with Sakura, then recognized Naruto and was startled by his new appearance.
• Shikamaru and Chōji joined Naruto, and Chōji offered him chips.
• Kiba complained that Naruto was stealing the attention while Akamaru wagged his tail at Naruto.
• Shino observed that Naruto's Chakra density had changed greatly, while Hinata blushed and praised his outfit.

Naruto and the other Konoha Genin gathered before the Chunin Exams and met Kabuto Yakushi, who shared information about Rock Lee and Gaara. The first-round examiner, Ibiki Morino, then appeared and began the exam.

• Naruto greeted the Konoha 12 and wished Hinata luck, prompting Kiba to challenge him over their goal of becoming Hokage.
• Kabuto Yakushi introduced himself and warned the group that their conversation was drawing attention from other examinees.
• Kabuto showed the group his Ninja Info Cards and shared Rock Lee's mission record and Gaara's unusual, uninjured return from a B-rank mission.
• Ibiki Morino appeared with the other examiners, told the examinees to quiet down, and introduced himself as the first-round examiner.

Naruto recognized that the written exam tested covert intelligence gathering rather than book knowledge as examinees began using their abilities to copy answers. The proctors started expelling teams for cheating, and Naruto turned to look at Hinata.

• Ibiki Morino assigned the examinees random seats and explained the written exam’s rules and penalties.
• Naruto realized the impossible questions were meant to test intelligence gathering and concealment, while Genin including Gaara and Shino began cheating.
• Sakura recognized questions she could answer from her Academy studies and started writing.
• Sasuke used his Sharingan to copy another examinee’s answers.
• Ibiki and the proctors caught multiple teams cheating and dragged them from the classroom.
• Naruto watched the expulsions and then looked toward Hinata.

Naruto copied Hinata’s answers during the written exam before Ibiki announced a tenth-question rule that could permanently bar anyone who answered incorrectly from becoming a Chunin. The remaining teams chose to stay, and Ibiki’s expression softened as he prepared to continue.

• Naruto asked Hinata to let him copy her test paper, and Hinata moved it toward him while Kiba noticed.
• Ibiki stopped the first exam and announced that examinees could withdraw or risk losing the right to become a Chunin forever if they answered the tenth question incorrectly.
• Several examinees raised their hands to withdraw, and Ibiki had their entire teams escorted from the room.
• The remaining twenty Genin teams stayed as Sakura looked between Sasuke and Naruto and tightened her grip on her pen.
• Ibiki looked at the remaining examinees, and the scars on his face relaxed along with his smile.

After the examinees passed Ibiki’s first exam, Anko introduced the Forest of Death test, where teams had five days to collect matching Heaven and Earth Scrolls and reach a central tower. Naruto sensed Orochimaru nearby as he entered the forest with Sasuke and Sakura.

• Ibiki revealed that the examinees who remained had passed the first exam because they accepted the risk of answering the tenth question.
• Anko arrived and led the examinees to the Forest of Death, where they signed consent forms acknowledging they might die.
• Anko explained that teams had five days to obtain one Heaven Scroll and one Earth Scroll and bring them unopened to the tower.
• Naruto received a Heaven Scroll, gave it to Sasuke, and sensed Orochimaru inside the forest.
• Anko began the second exam, and Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura entered the forest without rushing.

Naruto killed an Amegakure Genin who had ambushed Team 7, revealing how much stronger he had become to Sasuke and Sakura. As they debated what to do about the Genin’s nearby teammates, Naruto sensed Orochimaru approaching and warned them to prioritize survival.

• Naruto sensed a weak Chakra signature lying in ambush and struck the Amegakure Genin with a thrown Kunai.
• Naruto moved behind the Genin, killed him, and searched his body but found no scrolls.
• Sasuke and Sakura arrived and were startled by Naruto’s speed and strength.
• Naruto told Sasuke and Sakura that the Genin’s teammates might still be nearby and asked whether they should wait or change direction.
• Naruto sensed Orochimaru approaching, warned Sasuke and Sakura that a powerful enemy was coming, and told them to prioritize staying alive.
• A fierce wind carrying cold Chakra swept out of the forest, forcing Sasuke’s Kunai downward.

Naruto faced Orochimaru after the rogue ninja revealed himself and unleashed his killing intent, forcing Sasuke to retreat with Sakura. Naruto held Orochimaru off with rapid attacks and Shadow Clones, then launched a mass Kunai assault.

• Orochimaru emerged from the forest, swallowed the Earth Scroll, and announced the battle for the scroll.
• Orochimaru's killing intent overwhelmed Sakura and nearly paralyzed Sasuke, but Naruto remained standing between them and Orochimaru.
• Naruto told Sasuke to take Sakura and flee, and Sasuke carried her deeper into the forest.
• Naruto attacked Orochimaru with Kunai and close-range strikes, forcing Orochimaru to block and dodge.
• Orochimaru used Hidden Shadow Snake Hands, but Naruto escaped the snakes' bite with the Multiple Shadow Clone Technique.
• Naruto sensed that Sasuke and Sakura had reached a safer distance, then sent over twenty Shadow Clones to bombard Orochimaru with Kunai.

Naruto used the Flying Thunder God and a barrage of Rasengans against Orochimaru, who survived by escaping inside a snake. After seeing Naruto’s controlled Nine-Tails Chakra, Orochimaru decided to withdraw, leaving Naruto in the Forest of Death.

• Naruto appeared behind Orochimaru with the Flying Thunder God and struck him with a Rasengan, tearing apart his lower body.
• Naruto sensed Orochimaru’s Chakra rising and unleashed more than twenty Rasengans at his remains and the crater.
• Orochimaru emerged from a snake in his original form and praised Naruto’s abilities, including his Flying Thunder God and Rasengan.
• Naruto told Orochimaru to leave, then revealed four tails of controlled Nine-Tails Chakra.
• Kakashi refused Asuma’s suggestion to enter the forest, saying he trusted Naruto.
• Orochimaru judged that continuing the fight would draw Konoha’s forces and escaped underground inside the giant snake.

After hiding the evidence of his Rasengan fight with Orochimaru, Naruto followed a bloodline resonance and rescued Karin Uzumaki from a bear. As night fell, Karin told him her teammates had abandoned her, and Naruto asked what she planned to do next.

• Naruto retrieved his Kunai and used Shadow Clones to conceal the damage his Rasengan had caused before tracking Sasuke and Sakura.
• Naruto sensed a Chakra resonance linked to Kushina and found Karin clinging to a tree while a giant black bear attacked her.
• Naruto defeated the bear with a Rasengan, and Karin climbed down and recovered her glasses.
• Naruto shared roasted bear meat with Karin, who explained that her teammates had used her as bait and then abandoned her.
• Naruto introduced himself as Naruto Uzumaki, and Karin said she had never met another Uzumaki besides her mother.
• Naruto asked what Karin planned to do, and she said she would go back and find her teammates.

Karin told Naruto how Kusagakure had exploited her and her mother’s healing ability, and Naruto offered her a chance to leave for Konoha after the Chunin Ninja Exams. Elsewhere in the Forest of Death, Orochimaru gave Sasuke the Heaven’s Cursed Seal, and Sasuke rose to fight after Sakura, Rock Lee, and Chōji were attacked by Otogakure ninja.

• Karin showed Naruto the bite scars on her arm and explained how Kusagakure had used her mother and then her as a source of healing.
• Naruto invited Karin to come to Konoha after the exams and gave her a Flying Thunder God-marked kunai so he could find her.
• Orochimaru caught up with Sasuke and Sakura by a stream and bit Sasuke, giving him the Heaven’s Cursed Seal.
• Sakura dragged the collapsed Sasuke from the stream, made shelter, and guarded him through the night.
• Dosu, Zaku, and other Otogakure ninja found Sasuke and Sakura at dawn and attacked them, but Rock Lee and Chōji intervened.
• Sasuke stood up with cursed seal markings covering his left arm and half his face, his Chakra surging as the fight continued.

Naruto and Sasuke regrouped with Sakura after Sasuke defeated three Otogakure Ninja and obtained the Earth Scroll. Naruto explained Orochimaru's identity as the team raced toward the Central Tower, where Kabuto spotted them and decided to watch Naruto closely.

• Sasuke defeated Dosu, Zaku, and their teammate, took the Earth Scroll, and gave Rock Lee topical medicine.
• Naruto returned to find Sakura collapsed from exhaustion; Sasuke's Cursed Seal flared, but Naruto's warning helped him regain control.
• Naruto thanked Neji and Rock Lee, then set off with Sasuke, who carried Sakura, toward the Central Tower with both scrolls.
• Sasuke asked about Orochimaru, and Naruto said they had fought without either of them gaining the upper hand.
• Kabuto saw Naruto and Sasuke approach the Central Tower sooner than expected and resolved to observe Naruto carefully.

Naruto and Sasuke delivered the Heaven and Earth Scrolls to Iruka in the Central Tower, where Sakura recovered while the team rested. After the second exam ended, Naruto reunited with his classmates and met the Third Hokage, whose impression of Naruto’s composure reminded him of Minato.

• Naruto and Sasuke opened the Heaven and Earth Scrolls, summoning Iruka, who guided them and the unconscious Sakura to the tower’s rest area.
• Sasuke suppressed his curse mark while Naruto checked Sakura and rested beside her.
• Anko announced the end of the second exam as the remaining teams gathered in the Central Tower.
• Naruto greeted Hinata and spoke with Shikamaru, Chōji, and Kiba about their experiences in the forest.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi entered with the Jōnin instructors and remarked that Naruto was growing more like Minato.

The Chunin preliminaries began, and Sasuke overcame Yoroi despite the lingering effects of his Cursed Seal. The first three matches ended, and Sakura Haruno was paired against Ino Yamanaka.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi explained the significance of the Joint Chunin Exams, and Gekko Hayate announced the preliminary rules.
• Kabuto Yakushi withdrew from the exam before the random matchups began.
• Sasuke Uchiha defeated Yoroi Akadō by adapting Rock Lee's taijutsu, and Kakashi took him away after noticing the Cursed Seal spreading.
• Shino Aburame defeated Zaku, and Kankuro defeated Tsurugi Misumi.
• The display board paired Sakura Haruno against Ino Yamanaka.

Sakura and Ino knocked each other out, Temari defeated Tenten, and Shikamaru defeated Kin Tsuchi as the Chunin Exams matches continued. Naruto and Kiba began their match, which ended the chapter with Kiba activating the Four Legs Technique.

• Sakura forced Ino's consciousness out of her body, and both fell before Hayate disqualified them from the third stage.
• Temari blew away Tenten's weapons with her iron fan and returned to the resting area.
• Shikamaru caught Kin Tsuchi with the Shadow Imitation Technique and knocked her unconscious against the wall.
• The display board matched Naruto against Kiba, drawing the attention of Hinata, Hiruzen Sarutobi, Gaara, and the others.
• Hayate started Naruto and Kiba's match, and Kiba transformed into his four-legged stance using the Four Legs Technique.

Naruto defeated Kiba in the Chūnin Exams match by overwhelming him with speed, a precise punch, and a calculated Shadow Clone maneuver. Kiba accepted the loss and promised to train for a rematch.

• Naruto appeared behind Kiba with extraordinary speed and struck his shoulder, knocking him down and disrupting the Four Legs Technique.
• Kiba recovered and teamed up with Akamaru to attack Naruto with Fang Over Fang.
• Naruto used Shadow Clones to slip through Fang Over Fang’s blind spots and position himself behind Kiba.
• Naruto held a Kunai to Kiba’s neck, forcing him to admit defeat.
• Naruto helped Kiba up, and Kiba promised to learn new moves and challenge him again.

Naruto defeated Kiba, impressing the spectators with his skill and composure, then encouraged Hinata before her match against Neji. Hinata kept fighting despite Neji’s superior Gentle Fist and the injuries he inflicted.

• Gekko Hayate declared Naruto the winner after his match with Kiba, and Hiruzen admired Naruto’s skill and regard for his opponent.
• Naruto reunited with his friends, deflected their questions about his strength, and promised to treat them to a meal after the exams.
• The notice board named Hinata and Neji as the next opponents, and Naruto told Hinata he would keep watching her.
• Neji urged Hinata to give up, but Hinata asked him to fight seriously and began battling him with Gentle Fist.
• Neji repeatedly struck Hinata’s Chakra points, leaving her bruised and bleeding, but Hinata continued to rise and fight while Naruto watched.

Naruto caught Hinata after Neji defeated her, challenged Neji’s belief in fate, and stayed beside Hinata while Rock Lee was brought in badly injured. After the preliminary matches ended, Hiruzen announced the final exam would take place in a month, and Naruto drew match number 1.

• Naruto caught Hinata as she fell, then told Neji that training had let him overcome being labeled a failure and challenged Neji’s claims about fate.
• Might Guy stopped Neji from attacking Naruto, and Naruto hurried to the medical room to stay with the unconscious Hinata.
• Rock Lee was brought into the medical room with severe injuries after his fight with Gaara, and Hinata soon woke and spoke with Naruto.
• Naruto reassured Hinata that her courage meant she had not truly lost, while word arrived that Chōji had lost to an Otogakure Ninja and the ten finalists were set.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi announced that the final examination would be held in one month, and Naruto drew the number 1 from the match lottery.

After the preliminary matches were set, Naruto visited the recovering Sakura and told her he would train for the next month. Kakashi chose to focus on Sasuke’s Cursed Seal and preparation for Gaara, leaving Naruto to train on his own before the exams.

• The match chart paired Naruto Uzumaki with Hyuga Neji, Sasuke Uchiha with Gaara, Kankuro with Shino Aburame, and Shikamaru with Temari, while Dosu received a bye.
• Naruto found Hinata gone and visited Sakura, telling her that she and Sasuke had passed the preliminaries and that Sasuke’s Cursed Seal was stable.
• Sakura thanked Naruto for protecting her and Sasuke in the Forest of Death and acknowledged that she had treated him harshly; Naruto replied that they were teammates.
• Kakashi told Naruto he could not accompany him for the next month because Sasuke needed intensive sealing work and specialized training for his match against Gaara.
• Naruto and Sasuke agreed to meet again at the Chunin Ninja Exams in a month, while Kakashi began discussing Sasuke’s special training with Sakura.

Naruto watched Konoha from Kage Rock and spoke with Hiruzen Sarutobi, who gave him a lesson about the Will of Fire and questioned him about his special kunai. The chapter left Hiruzen silently considering Naruto’s explanation for commissioning them.

• Naruto leaped onto Kage Rock, looked out over Konoha, and said he would someday have his face carved there too.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi arrived and asked Naruto how becoming a ninja had changed his view of the world.
• Naruto explained that the Land of Waves mission had shown him how weak he was and declared that he would become Hokage.
• Hiruzen spoke to Naruto about the Will of Fire, then handed him the two Chakra-Conductive Metal kunai he had commissioned.
• Hiruzen asked why Naruto had commissioned the kunai, and Naruto explained that he wanted to improve his attacks and protect his teammates.

Naruto told Hiruzen Sarutobi that a blond, blue-eyed man had taught him Chakra control in his dreams, and Hiruzen concluded that Minato’s Chakra was responsible for Naruto’s growth. Naruto asked for Ninjutsu scrolls and received Hiruzen’s promise to send them, while Hiruzen ordered ANBU to maintain Naruto’s guard detail.

• Naruto described the dream mentor who had taught him Chakra control and explained that the man had disappeared after completing his mission.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi said the mentor sounded like the Fourth Hokage and asked Naruto whether he resented the villagers.
• Naruto declared that he would earn the village’s recognition as Hokage and surpass the past rather than hate it.
• Naruto asked Hiruzen for Ninjutsu scrolls while Kakashi trained Sasuke, and told him about the Chakra ball technique he had failed to master.
• Hiruzen recognized Naruto’s description as the Rasengan and agreed to have Ninjutsu scrolls delivered to Naruto’s home.
• After Naruto left, Hiruzen ordered a masked ANBU to continue Naruto’s existing guard detail without changes.

Hiruzen Sarutobi asked Jiraiya to train Naruto, then sent Naruto two Ninjutsu scrolls. Naruto received them and began reading, finding that the second contained the A-rank Shadow Clone Shuriken.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi asked Jiraiya what he thought of Naruto and decided to have him train the boy.
• Jiraiya agreed to visit Naruto but refused to take the Hokage position.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi ordered an ANBU to deliver two Ninjutsu scrolls to Naruto that night.
• Naruto returned home, trained his Chakra for about an hour, and accepted the scroll case from the ANBU.
• Naruto read the B-rank Wind Release: Vacuum Blade scroll and judged it a useful transitional technique.
• Naruto opened the second scroll and found the A-rank Shadow Clone Shuriken.

Naruto studied the Vacuum Blade and Shadow Clone Shuriken scrolls, then went to a secluded woodland to train with fifty Shadow Clones. On the way, he caught Jiraiya peeping into a women's bathhouse and exposed him, while Jiraiya recognized Naruto and became interested in him.

• Naruto read and memorized the training methods for Vacuum Blade and Shadow Clone Shuriken before going to sleep.
• Naruto spotted Jiraiya peeping into a women's bathhouse and shouted to alert the people inside.
• Jiraiya was chased through three streets by the women, escaped by disguising himself as a trash can, and searched for Naruto.
• Naruto reached the woodland behind Kage Rock, checked that it was safe, and summoned fifty Shadow Clones.
• Naruto's clones split into groups to practice Vacuum Blade and Shadow Clone Shuriken.
• As Naruto was about to join the Vacuum Blade practice, a deep voice spoke in his consciousness.