Chapter Summaries

Naruto, Sasuke, and Hinata met Gaara and his teammates on Konoha’s Uchiha Snack Street before the Chunin Exams, and Naruto quickly befriended Gaara. After Gaara left with Baki, a Hidden Grass genin secretly tested a technique on Naruto and then reacted with surprise to Gaara.

• Naruto, Sasuke, and Hinata reunited at Uchiha Snack Street and talked about the upcoming Chunin Exams while eating Stinky Tofu.
• Kurama recognized Gaara as a jinchuriki, and Naruto introduced himself to Gaara as they met on the street.
• Naruto introduced Sasuke and Hinata to Gaara, Temari, and Kankuro, while Sasuke felt irritated by Naruto’s instant friendliness with Gaara.
• Gaara said he wanted to find Natsuki, and Naruto explained that Natsuki was Sasuke’s master and would arrive for the Chunin Exams.
• Baki interrupted the conversation and led Gaara, Temari, and Kankuro away after Gaara and Naruto promised to meet at the exams.
• A Hidden Grass genin secretly produced small flames while watching Naruto, then looked astonished toward the direction Gaara had gone and became thoughtful about Gaara’s Sand Village forehead protector.

Natsuki met with Orochimaru and Kabuto in the laboratory, then returned to the Uchiha Clan Compound to prepare Sasuke and Naruto for the Chunin Exams. He warned them that the exams would become a battlefield and assigned them to protect their companions and return safely.

• Natsuki observed Kabuto's Natural Energy experiments on the Sound Four, and Orochimaru praised Kabuto's work while discussing its limitations.
• Natsuki returned to the Uchiha Clan Compound, where Sasuke and Naruto told him they had met Gaara and become friends.
• Natsuki explained that Gaara had suffered like Naruto and that he had reinforced Gaara's seal, easing Sasuke's jealousy.
• Natsuki rebuked Sasuke's confidence about the Chunin Exams and took him and Naruto to the training grounds, where their companions were practicing.
• Natsuki tasked Sasuke with bringing the group back safely, told Naruto the exams would test whether he could survive a battlefield, and assigned Kimimaro to protect Naruto.

Hyuga Hayato’s patrol uncovered suspicious behavior among a merchant caravan, while Naruto, Sasuke, and Hinata arrived at the Ninja Academy for the Chunin Exams. The chapter left the trio facing a staged test at the entrance to examination room 301.

• Sarutobi Clan Members inspected a caravan’s herb carts, ruined its Ink Cloud Fruit, and agreed to compensate the angry caravan leader.
• After the Sarutobi Clan Members left, three caravan ninjas secretly sent a subtle sound wave through the ground.
• Hyuga Hayato dismissed the dispute as manageable and recorded the uncooperative caravan while continuing his patrol duties.
• Naruto, Sasuke, and Hinata entered the Ninja Academy and reached examination room 301, where two genin were blocking the door and striking candidates.
• The genin at the door claimed they were testing whether the candidates had the resolve and awareness needed to take the Chunin Exams.

Naruto, Sasuke, Hinata, and their companions reached the Chunin Exam entrance, where the examiners tried to weed out nervous Genin with a fake floor number and threats. Kimimaro kicked the disguised Izumo Kamizuki after he attacked Naruto, and Rina Uchiha treated Izumo as the group continued toward the Third Floor.

• Naruto, Sasuke, and Hinata greeted Neji, Tenten, Rock Lee, and the Uchiha medical team gathered for the exam.
• Neji guessed that the entrance commotion was a test meant to filter out fools, and Kimimaro, Haku, and Hyuga Xiu joined the group.
• Sasuke questioned the examiners blocking the way to the Third Floor, and Haku revealed their genjutsu by changing the sign from 301 to 201.
• One examiner attacked Naruto, but Kimimaro intercepted the kick and sent the disguised Izumo Kamizuki crashing into a wall.
• Kotetsu Hagane disqualified the Genin who had been frightened by the examiners, while Rina Uchiha treated Izumo's cracked tibia with Yellow Pot Powder.
• Naruto and the others left for the Third Floor after learning Izumo was injured but not in danger.

Naruto and his classmates gathered in Room 301 for the Chunin Exams, where gifts and old rivalries brought the Konoha genin together. Natsuki watched the candidates and suspected Sand Village had come with plans beyond the exam, while Gaara wrestled with the possibility of a coming conflict.

• Sakura and Ino rushed at Sasuke, collided, and resumed arguing as Sasuke kept his distance.
• Natsuki, disguised as Hideki Uchiha, received a Hundred Healings Jutsu reward after seeing Sakura.
• Naruto reunited with Choji, Shikamaru, Kiba, and Shino, gave them gifts from the Land of Tea, and heard that their families had pushed them to train for the exam.
• Kiba challenged Sasuke, who said they were no longer on the same level after spending his time on missions.
• Gaara recalled Baki's warning that Sunagakure might break with Konoha and quietly hoped he would not have to fight Naruto.
• Natsuki noticed Sand Village and Hidden Grass Village watching Naruto and suspected Sand Village had brought experts for more than the exam.

Orochimaru organized Konoha’s defenses after learning that multiple forces would attack during the Chunin Exams, while Natsuki observed the exam’s contestants cheating through the written test. Outside the village, Kazuma’s group waited for a chance to act and planned to retreat if the operation failed.

• Orochimaru assigned Konoha’s jonin and clan leaders defensive duties, naming Shikaku as the fallback overall commander.
• Shikaku gathered the others to coordinate detailed assignments after they left the Hokage’s Office.
• Ibiki Morino began the written exam, and the contestants used varied methods to cheat while Haku, Kimimaro, and Natsuki left their papers blank.
• Ibiki’s final courage question allowed the remaining examinees to pass, and Naruto realized he had been the only one answering honestly.
• Kazuma’s group watched Konoha’s genin patrols, suspected a trap, and decided to wait for news from the power station before acting or retreating.

Anko briefed the chunin candidates on the deadly, accelerated Forest of Death exam, and the surviving teams entered the expanded grounds to race toward the central tower. As Natsuki followed Naruto’s group through the traps, Tobi infiltrated the area near Konoha’s power station and escaped before the guards could catch him.

• Anko explained that candidates had to obtain two scrolls and reach the central tower by nine that night, warning them of the danger and giving them a chance to withdraw.
• Sasuke watched the other examinees, Sakura pointed out the exam’s suspicious difficulty, and Naruto resolved to prove himself to Natsuki.
• The candidates entered through separate gates, and a Rain Ninja died after stepping on a venomous snake.
• Natsuki’s group followed Naruto and Kimimaro through the forest, using the Byakugan to avoid traps as screams sounded around them.
• Tobi appeared near Konoha’s power station, then sank into the ground before Sarutobi Clan members from the Police Force arrived and strengthened security.

Shikamaru's injured team reached the Central Assembly Tower without scrolls, and several members withdrew, handing their scrolls to Naruto. Naruto shared the extra scrolls with Natsuki's and Rina Uchiha's teams as they waited to enter the tower.

• Shikamaru's and Kiba's teams arrived at the clearing badly injured after fighting a poisonous spider, and Hinata's antidotes failed to cure the poison.
• Anko announced that the teams could enter the tower at eight and would be eliminated if they lacked scrolls by nine.
• Rina examined the injured ninjas and told Shikamaru they could not continue the exam.
• Kiba, Ino, Sakura, Choji, and Shino gave their scrolls to Shikamaru and withdrew, and Shikamaru then gave his scrolls to Naruto before withdrawing too.
• Naruto offered the surplus scrolls to Natsuki's and Rina Uchiha's teams, and they accepted them.

The surviving examinees gathered at the Chunin Exams venue, where Anko confirmed they had passed the Forest of Death round and announced the next briefing. As they ate, the Hidden Grass Village team used an unfamiliar spice whose scent affected the group; Natsuki noticed its unusual effects and warned his teammates to stay alert that night.

• The examinees chose rooms in the building, and Anko announced that the twenty-eight people who had arrived had passed the round.
• Anko said the examinees would gather at eight the next morning to learn about the following round, then left with the other examiners.
• Natsuki and the other examinees began eating the food provided in the lobby.
• Two Hidden Grass Village ninja crushed purplish-red fruits into their food, releasing a potent scent that heightened the examinees' appetites.
• Natsuki sensed the unfamiliar spice accelerated blood circulation and noticed its scent lingered on him after the meal.
• Natsuki warned his two teammates that there might be trouble that night, and they agreed to stay alert.

Mui used the Hidden Grass Village's Flower Tying Poison to incapacitate the examinees and capture Naruto, while Natsuki resisted the toxin with a gas mask. The chapter left Naruto in Mui's custody as Sasuke and Hinata lay powerless.

• Ryohei sacrificed himself to summon Mui, who learned that the Purple Blood Fruits had been crushed and Gaara was among the targets.
• Busk burned Binding Flower, releasing a toxin that took effect when mixed with the scent of Purple Blood Fruit and weakened its victims.
• Natsuki noticed the faint fragrance, put on a gas mask, and gave masks to his two clansmen after they collapsed.
• Mui melted the lock on Naruto's door, dodged Naruto's weakened Rasengan, and kicked him back into the room.
• Mui used Fire Release: Heavenly Prison on Naruto and carried him away while Sasuke and Hinata remained unable to move.

Obito and Kusagakure’s team launched a coordinated attack on Konoha, sealing the village inside a barrier, infiltrating its center, and cutting its power. Rasa waited in his room for Gaara’s signal while Konoha came under assault.

• Obito and Tobi prepared to attack the Power Plant as Kazuma, Būfū, Buyuan, and Fudō confronted Sarutobi Clan guards at Konoha’s gates.
• Buyuan used the Barrier Gate Talisman Jutsu, Eight Gates Closing Field, to seal Konoha inside a barrier that blocked attacks from both directions.
• Obito moved Kazuma and the others through the Kamui Dimension into central Konoha, where Fudō raised Corpse Puppets from the streets.
• The four coffins at the Power Plant discharged electricity, shutting down the plant and plunging Konoha into darkness.
• Rasa heard that Konoha was under attack but stayed in his room, waiting for Gaara’s signal from the Forest of Death.

After the Flower Tying Poison incapacitated the exam proctors and candidates, Kimimaro’s illness erupted as he fought Mui to stop him from taking Naruto. The battle left both Kimimaro and Mui badly wounded, while Kimimaro’s condition rapidly worsened.

• Flower Tying Poison spread through the central tower, suppressing everyone’s Chakra, and Mui carried the sealed Naruto away.
• Kimimaro burst from his room and attacked Mui, but his illness flared up after reacting with the poison in his blood.
• Kimimaro used Finger Bullet to kill Yamura and Busk, then pierced Mui with Dance of the Larch.
• Mui recognized Kimimaro’s Shikotsumyaku and battered him with Grass Shadow Style, Palm Strike as Kimimaro struggled to fight through his failing body.
• Mui struck Kimimaro in the chest, but Kimimaro’s bones pierced Mui’s palm, and both were thrown back as flames surged around Kimimaro.

Mui attacked Naruto, but Kimimaro protected him with his Early Fern Dance as Sasuke awakened his Sharingan and fainted. Minato rescued Naruto and Kimimaro and brought them to Orochimaru’s laboratory, where Kimimaro’s life was rapidly fading.

• Mui wounded his hand while blocking Kimimaro’s attack, then tried to seize Naruto, who was paralyzed by poison and the Heavenly Prison seal.
• Kimimaro unleashed Early Fern Dance, driving Mui back and shielding Naruto with layers of bone blades, though his injuries worsened.
• Natsuki sensed Sasuke’s Yin Release Chakra surge as his Sharingan awakened, then determined that Sasuke had fainted.
• Kakashi reported the corpse invasion and Konoha’s disrupted defenses to Orochimaru, while Natsuki informed him that Hidden Grass Village had targeted Naruto and Kimimaro.
• Minato teleported to Naruto and Kimimaro, brought them to Orochimaru’s laboratory, and watched Orochimaru and Kabuto examine Kimimaro as his vital signs declined.

Natsuki and Orochimaru began treating Kimimaro after his bloodline disease violently worsened, while Minato took over Konoha’s affairs for the night. Naruto was found poisoned and temporarily unable to use Chakra, and Natsuki promised to save Kimimaro.

• Orochimaru examined Kimimaro and found that his bloodline disease had flared up, so Natsuki told him to proceed with their treatment plan.
• Natsuki sent Minato to handle Konoha’s affairs and the night’s diplomatic confrontation while Orochimaru focused on Kimimaro.
• Kabuto discovered that Naruto had been poisoned with Flower Tying Poison, which prevented him from using Chakra for twenty-four hours.
• Natsuki eased Kimimaro’s pain with Healing Power as Orochimaru confirmed that his body was being overwhelmed by toxins produced by his evolved blood and bone marrow.
• Natsuki reassured Naruto that Sasuke was safe, then had Kabuto put him to sleep while he continued channeling Healing Power into Kimimaro.

Minato rescued Naruto and Kimimaro from Kimimaro’s Bone Forest, while Mui kidnapped Gaara and fled from the pursuing Anbu. In Orochimaru’s laboratory, Natsuki continued using Cell Erosion to save Kimimaro, replenished his strength with the Hundred Healings Jutsu, and ordered Orochimaru to inform Rasa that Gaara had been taken.

• Minato appeared in the Forest of Death and rescued Naruto and Kimimaro, causing Kimimaro’s Bone Forest to collapse.
• Mui captured Gaara with the Heavenly Prison and escaped as four Anbu pursued him; Natsuki’s Shadow Clone also gave chase and sent the news back.
• Natsuki kept healing Kimimaro while eroding his cells, and Orochimaru reported that the process had reached 22 percent.
• Natsuki activated the Hundred Healings Mark to restore his Life Energy and continue the treatment despite Kimimaro’s resistance.
• After learning Gaara had been kidnapped, Natsuki told Orochimaru to notify Rasa.

Konoha's ninja fought the Corpse Puppets and pursued Kazuma's team after the attack caused heavy losses among the Sarutobi Clan. Kakashi headed to stop the four lightning-wielding enemies, while Asuma, Guy, and Tenzo chased Kazuma toward the still-active barrier.

• Asuma explained that Kōdo's team had raised the barrier and that four enemies could combine their powers to unleash a Lightning Release technique capable of destroying Konoha.
• Asuma sent Kakashi to stop the four enemies beneath the lightning strikes and took Guy and Tenzo to hunt down Kazuma's team.
• Kakuzu arrived outside Konoha, found himself trapped by the Eight Gates Closing Field barrier, and waited for Obito and the others to come for him.
• Asuma, Guy, and Tenzo pursued Kazuma's team through altered underground terrain, while Fudō slowed them with the Labyrinth Technique.
• Asuma discovered that the Sarutobi Clan had suffered the greatest losses, and Kazuma's team headed for the city walls, hoping to escape through the active barrier.

Obito observed Konoha’s defenses against the Corpse Puppets, then entered the Uchiha Clan Compound to test its security and learn what the clan was relying on. Uchiha Itachi confronted him there.

• Hyuga Hayato led a small force in holding back the Corpse Puppets until the civilians evacuated, then ordered his people to retreat.
• Obito watched Konoha’s response and entered the Kamui Dimension, while Dionysus took control of an Iwa rogue ninja’s corpse and headed toward the lightning strikes to seek powerful opponents.
• The Uchiha Clan Compound moved its members into shelters and activated patrols and monitoring measures when Obito appeared.
• Uchiha Iori used the Reverse Summoning Technique to bring Uchiha Itachi back to the compound, and he told her to take shelter.
• Obito entered the compound openly and approached Itachi, intending to probe the Uchiha Clan’s defenses.

Obito confronted Itachi, who revealed his Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan and trapped him in Tsukuyomi, but Obito broke free and used Kamui and the Rinnegan to kill him. Obito then searched for the Uchiha Clan’s remaining members and found them in an underground shelter.

• Obito challenged Itachi, believing he had the advantage with his strengthened Mangekyo Sharingan and the Rinnegan.
• Itachi revealed his Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan and trapped Obito in Tsukuyomi.
• Obito combined the power of his Kamui Eyes and the Rinnegan to shatter the Tsukuyomi Space and escape.
• Itachi and Obito clashed with their Susanoo, and Obito used Banshō Ten'in to pull Itachi into a Kamui Vortex and destroy him.
• Obito searched for the Uchiha Clan’s remaining members and found them in an underground shelter.

Obito escaped Itachi’s second layer of Tsukuyomi and fled through the Kamui Dimension, while Kakashi tracked down Hokune and was delayed by a revived Stone Village rogue ninja. The Lightning Release Four-Man Squad’s plan to destroy Konoha remained underway.

• Obito realized his apparent massacre of the Uchiha Clan and the battle in Konoha were illusions, then broke free of Itachi’s Tsukuyomi.
• Itachi pressed his attack, but Obito formed a Susanoo and escaped into the Kamui Dimension.
• Kakashi tracked Hokune and cut through his lightning-emitting staff as Hokune headed to join the other members of the Lightning Release Four-Man Squad.
• A revived Stone Village rogue ninja intervened, allowing Hokune to continue toward the squad’s gathering point.
• Kakashi fought the rogue ninja, but the Impure World Reincarnation body regenerated after Kakashi severed its arm, leaving Kakashi delayed.

Minato, disguised as Orochimaru, coordinated Konoha’s defense as the village faced simultaneous attacks and learned that Gaara had been captured. He revealed himself as the Fourth Hokage and prepared to go rescue Gaara, leaving Shikaku and Rasa stunned.

• Rasa learned that Gaara had been captured in the Forest of Death and asked Orochimaru for help rescuing him.
• Kurenai reported that the resurrected Lightning Release Four-Man Squad could destroy Konoha, while Kakashi had failed to stop the northern attacker.
• Minato rejected Shikaku’s offer to handle the pursuit, saying Konoha still needed him to coordinate its forces.
• Minato said he would go after Gaara himself, then revealed his identity by releasing his Transformation Jutsu.
• Shikaku and Rasa recognized Minato as the Fourth Hokage and reacted with shock.