Chapter Summaries

Naruto completed the first stage of the Flying Raijin Technique and unexpectedly mastered Nine-Tails Chakra Mode after the Nine-Tails opened its Chakra to him. He returned to Konoha without alerting the ANBU and waited for Team 7’s meeting, which was about to begin as Sasuke and Sakura approached.

• Naruto completed the Flying Raijin Technique’s first stage and gained Nine-Tails Chakra Mode after the Nine-Tails voluntarily opened its Chakra to him.
• Naruto returned to Konoha by switching places with a Shadow Clone in a secluded restroom, evading the ANBU surveillance.
• Naruto reached the bridge early and used Shadow Clones to make his arrival and training look ordinary.
• Naruto dismissed his clones as eight o’clock approached, and two figures appeared at the far end of the bridge.

Kakashi recommended Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura for the Chunin Ninja Exams and explained that participation was optional. Naruto signed up while Sasuke considered the chance to test his strength, and Naruto began thinking about preparing Flying Raijin Kunai before the exams.

• Naruto arrived early at the bridge, where Sasuke and Sakura joined him while they waited for Kakashi.
• Kakashi arrived an hour late, gave his usual excuse, and handed the three Genin applications for the Chunin Ninja Exams.
• Kakashi explained that the dangerous exams were optional and told anyone who joined to report to Room 301 in five days.
• Sasuke considered the exams an opportunity to fight powerful opponents, including Gaara, and grow stronger.
• Naruto signed his application and thought about the coming events and getting Chakra-Conductive Metal for his Flying Raijin Kunai.

Naruto explained that Team 7 had to enter the Chunin Ninja Exams together and proposed that Sasuke train Sakura during the five days remaining before the exams. The chapter ended with Sasuke reacting to Naruto’s suggestion as Naruto tried to persuade him to help.

• Naruto told Sasuke and Sakura that all three members of a team had to register for the Chunin Ninja Exams.
• Sakura panicked at the thought that her decision could prevent Sasuke from participating, while Naruto watched her calmly.
• Sasuke told Sakura that she was the weakest of the three and urged her to improve her combat ability before the exams.
• Naruto acknowledged Sakura’s weakness and suggested that Sasuke personally train her for the remaining five days.
• Naruto reminded Sasuke that he also did not want to miss the Chunin Ninja Exams, and Sasuke reacted to the proposal.

Naruto arranged for Sasuke to train Sakura while he searched Konoha’s Ninja District for Tenten’s family ninja tool store. He found Tenten leaving a medicine shop and followed her into a quiet alley.

• Sasuke agreed to teach Sakura so Team 7 could enter the Chunin Ninja Exams, and Sakura eagerly began planning their five days of training.
• Naruto left to work on his own abilities and walked through the Ninja District while using Good and Evil Perception.
• Naruto sensed the villagers’ concealed malice but ignored it as he searched for Tenten’s family store.
• After checking several shops, Naruto spotted Tenten leaving a medicine shop and recognized her by her hair buns and distinctive equipment.
• Tenten turned into a quiet alley, and Naruto realized he had found his target.

Naruto sought out Tenten because he expected other ninja tool shopkeepers to refuse to serve him, and she agreed to show him her family’s shop. At the Ninja Tool Exchange, Naruto asked whether the shop carried weapons made from Chakra-Conductive Metal, revealing what he had been looking for.

• Naruto followed Tenten into an alley and explained that he wanted ninja tools to improve his combat ability before the Chunin Ninja Exams.
• Tenten questioned why Naruto had chosen to follow her, and Naruto said she had judged his intentions instead of recoiling from his identity.
• Tenten introduced herself and led Naruto to her family’s Ninja Tool Exchange.
• Naruto examined the shop’s weapons but did not choose any of them.
• Naruto asked Tenten whether her family sold ninja tools made from Chakra-Conductive Metal, and she realized what he wanted.

Naruto ordered two custom kunai made from Chakra-Conductive Metal, designed after the Fourth Hokage’s special kunai. He left Tenten’s shop with the order placed, though the completion date was uncertain.

• Tenten explained that Chakra-Conductive Metal was rare and costly, and estimated that five basic kunai would cost about the reward for two B-Rank Missions.
• Naruto offered all the money in his frog wallet as a deposit and ordered two kunai, promising to pay the remainder after his next mission.
• Naruto specified the Fourth Hokage’s special kunai design, and he and Tenten confirmed its measurements and proportions.
• Tenten gave Naruto an order slip and warned that her father might take a while to make the custom mold.
• Naruto left the shop, and Tenten wrote a reminder for her father about the order.

Naruto used a Flying Thunder God-marked kunai to travel from his apartment to Waterfall Cave without alerting the ANBU watching him. There, he began training with forty Shadow Clones to improve how quickly he could inscribe the Flying Thunder God Formula during combat.

• Two ANBU members entered Tenten's shop and asked what Naruto had bought.
• Naruto bought groceries, cooked dinner at his apartment, and used Shadow Clones to make the ANBU outside think he was training at home.
• Naruto concealed a marked kunai, then teleported from his bathroom to Waterfall Cave while the ANBU watched outside.
• Naruto checked that the cave and its Perception Isolation Barrier were undisturbed, then summoned forty Shadow Clones to train.
• Naruto focused his training on quickly inscribing the Flying Thunder God Formula the moment he touched an enemy.

Naruto trained to improve Flying Thunder God and adapt Golden Body Mode to combat while Hiruzen Sarutobi reviewed reports about him and met with the Chunin Ninja Exams examiners. The chapter ended with Hiruzen confirming who would oversee each exam stage and that he would supervise the final matches.

• Naruto identified stability, concealment, combat integration, and reaching Flying Thunder God’s second stage as areas for improvement.
• Forty Shadow Clones began focused training while Naruto practiced basic movements and coordinated Chakra hands in Golden Body Mode.
• An ANBU member reported Naruto’s movements to Hiruzen, who watched him sleeping and assumed he was preparing for the coming exams.
• Mitaraishi Anko, Gekko Hayate, and Ibiki Morino met Hiruzen to discuss their Chunin Ninja Exams assignments.
• Hiruzen assigned Ibiki the first test, Anko the Forest of Death test, Hayate the third-test preliminaries, and himself the final matches.

Hiruzen Sarutobi reviewed preparations for the Chunin Ninja Exams and intelligence about contact between Sunagakure and Otogakure while Naruto spent five days mastering key Flying Thunder God techniques and improving Golden Body Mode. As the exams approached, Naruto revealed a new appearance and set out with confidence in his growing strength.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi discussed exam procedures, emergency plans, and diplomatic contingencies with three officials, then studied intelligence about the Fourth Kazekage's possible contact with someone.
• Naruto returned from the waterfall cave to his apartment and spent the next five days training at night with forty shadow clones while following his usual routine in the village during the day.
• Naruto mastered continuous midair teleportation with Flying Raijin Second Stage and learned to inscribe a five-pointed star mark during a taijutsu clash.
• Naruto improved his Golden Body Mode, including his ability to summon Chakra arms from eight to ten directions at once.
• Naruto dressed in a black bodysuit and white trench coat, adjusted his forehead protector, and left his apartment with confidence.

Naruto arrived at the Ninja Academy for the Chunin Ninja Exams, and his new appearance drew comparisons to the Fourth Hokage. He reached Classroom 301 with Sasuke and Sakura, where two Genin were blocking the entrance after beating several others.

• Naruto met Sasuke and Sakura at the Ninja Academy gate, and both reacted to his changed appearance.
• Genin in the school corridor noticed Naruto's resemblance to the Fourth Hokage, while Sasuke grew uneasy and Sakura asked Naruto about it.
• Naruto called the resemblance a coincidence, and Sakura accepted his explanation.
• Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura reached the third-floor corridor and found two Genin guarding Classroom 301 as several beaten Genin crawled away.

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.