Recaps

A Naruto fan woke up as Naruto Uzumaki in Konoha on the day Team 7 would be formed and tried to use his knowledge of the story to guide his actions. After Hinata accidentally injured him and Sakura shoved him toward Sasuke, Naruto ended up kissing Sasuke in front of everyone.

• Naruto Uzumaki woke up in Naruto's room, realized he had become Naruto, and learned from the calendar that the Team 7 briefing was that day.
• Naruto ate instant ramen, avoided Konohamaru, and waited on the road for Hinata while Sasuke passed by without acknowledging him.
• Naruto told Hinata he would save his first kiss for her, and Hinata struck him hard enough to send him flying and leave him badly bruised.
• Naruto reached the Ninja Academy and recognized that his conversation with Shikamaru was following the original story, so he tried to keep his distance from Sasuke.
• Sakura shoved Naruto aside as she rushed toward Sasuke, pushing Naruto into him and causing them to kiss while everyone watched.

After Sasuke stole Naruto’s first kiss, Naruto sought revenge by ambushing him and forcing him to drink expired milk. Naruto then disguised himself as Sasuke and left him tied up, promising to arrange his happiness in the next life.

• Naruto fled the classroom after the girls blamed him for kissing Sasuke, and he skipped the class-assignment briefing.
• Naruto found expired milk in the trash, then ambushed Sasuke at the Ninja Academy, but Sasuke appeared to defeat him and left.
• Sasuke approached Sakura in the park, complimented her forehead, warned her not to insult Naruto, and asked her to hug him next time they met.
• Sasuke discovered that the Naruto he had subdued was a decoy, and the real Naruto used Shadow Clones to tie him up.
• Naruto forced Sasuke to drink the expired milk, declared his revenge complete, transformed into Sasuke, and escaped while Sasuke remained bound.

Naruto used a laxative to torment Sasuke, then joined Sasuke and Sakura for Kakashi’s survival test. The test was underway when Kakashi caught Sasuke off guard and prepared to use Thousand Years of Death.

• Naruto’s laxative left Sasuke rushing repeatedly to the restroom, and Naruto watched from a rooftop.
• Naruto told Sasuke and Sakura that Kakashi would lead Team 7, then rigged a blackboard eraser above the classroom door; it struck Kakashi when he entered.
• Kakashi ordered the trio to meet him in the forest without breakfast, then announced a survival test in which they had to take two bells before noon.
• Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura hid while Kakashi waited; Sasuke attacked first, but Kakashi effortlessly blocked his blows as Sakura threw a kunai.
• Kakashi formed the Tiger hand seal behind Sasuke and called out the Thousand Years of Death technique.

Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura fought Kakashi during their test, but Kakashi overwhelmed them with his Thousand Years of Death technique and genjutsu. Naruto protected himself with steel plates and teamed up with Sasuke to seize Kakashi's bells, leaving the test unresolved.

• Kakashi struck Sasuke with Thousand Years of Death, and Sakura fainted after Kakashi caught her in a genjutsu.
• Kakashi found Naruto hiding and confronted him about throwing a kunai at Sasuke.
• Naruto tried to use Thousand Years of Death on Kakashi, but Kakashi escaped with the Substitution Jutsu and counterattacked.
• Naruto's hidden steel plate blocked Kakashi's strike, and Naruto revealed he had carried three plates for protection.
• Naruto called for Sasuke to attack Kakashi, then rushed in to grab the bells from Kakashi's waist.

Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura's lack of teamwork undermined their bell test with Kakashi. Naruto tried to calm Sakura by claiming Sasuke had a crush on her, leaving her stunned.

• Sasuke and Naruto accidentally struck each other while attacking Kakashi, and Sakura chased Naruto instead of helping.
• Sasuke triggered a hidden trap and used a steel plate under his clothes to fake being hit, but Kakashi escaped and saw through his ruse.
• Naruto realized Team 7 needed to unite to pass and decided to get Sakura to regain her senses.
• Naruto told Sakura that Sasuke had a crush on her and had confided in Naruto as his best friend, leaving her blushing and speechless.

Naruto misled Sakura into believing Sasuke cared for her, then joined Sasuke and Sakura during Kakashi’s bell test. After the three Genin worked together and refused to give up, Kakashi declared that they had passed.

• Naruto told Sakura that Sasuke wanted her attention, and Sakura believed him.
• Sasuke used the Great Fireball Technique against Kakashi, but Kakashi buried him underground and left him stuck with his head exposed.
• Naruto distracted Kakashi with Shadow Clones while Sakura freed Sasuke.
• Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura stood together in a defensive formation and agreed to fight as comrades.
• Kakashi congratulated the three Genin and announced that they had passed the test.

Team 7 passed Kakashi’s test and became Genin, then received a C-rank mission to protect Tazuna, a bridge-building expert. Tazuna revealed that they would guard him until he completed a bridge in his country.

• Kakashi explained that his test measured whether Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura valued teamwork, then declared them Genin.
• Naruto shared boxed lunches with Sasuke and Sakura, saying that feeding his companions mattered more than following the rules.
• Several days later, Naruto asked the Third Hokage for a more challenging mission, and the Hokage assigned Team 7 a C-rank protection mission.
• Tazuna entered the Hokage’s office, doubted that Team 7 could protect him, and identified himself as a bridge-building expert.
• Tazuna told Team 7 to protect him from their departure until his bridge was completed.

Naruto escorted Tazuna toward the Land of Waves with Kakashi, Sasuke, and Sakura, carrying cat poop he had collected on a previous mission. When two Hidden Mist ninja emerged from a suspicious puddle and attacked, Kakashi subdued them, and Naruto demanded that Tazuna explain why ninja were trying to assassinate him.

• Naruto explained that he had brought cat poop along because he had picked it up while cleaning Konoha, then set out with the team to escort Tazuna.
• Kakashi noticed a suspicious puddle on the road, and Naruto tripped, dropping his bag of cat poop into it and causing two Hidden Mist ninja to emerge.
• Naruto denied deliberately provoking the ambushers, while Sasuke realized Naruto might have noticed the trap from the start.
• The Hidden Mist ninja attacked Kakashi with a chain saw weapon, but Kakashi quickly defeated both of them.
• Naruto called the defeated ninja overconfident fools and demanded that Tazuna explain why they had tried to assassinate him.

Naruto and Kakashi staged an attack to make Tazuna admit that he had lied about the danger of the escort mission. After revealing the trick, Naruto impressed Tazuna and left Sasuke questioning whether Naruto had surpassed him.

• Naruto challenged Tazuna to admit that the Hidden Mist ninja had come to assassinate him.
• Naruto and Kakashi staged a battle in which disguised Shadow Clones appeared to kill Kakashi and injure Naruto, prompting Tazuna to confess that he had lied to afford a cheaper mission.
• Kakashi emerged with the real Hidden Mist ninja captured, and Sasuke realized that the apparent attackers had been Naruto's clones.
• Naruto revealed that his injury was ketchup and teased Tazuna for giving in, while Tazuna admired Naruto's ability.
• Sasuke wondered whether Kakashi's cooperation with Naruto meant Naruto had become more capable than him, and Kakashi told Naruto to treat their client more politely.

After learning that Gato’s control of the Land of Waves made Tazuna’s bridge project dangerous, Naruto persuaded the team to continue the mission and vowed to stop Konoha from creating more hatred. The group entered the Land of Waves secretly, where Naruto’s kunai struck a suspicious snow hare and Kakashi realized an enemy shinobi might be nearby.

• Tazuna explained that Gato controlled the Land of Waves’ shipping and that his bridge would challenge Gato’s power.
• Naruto insisted the team continue the mission and promised to cut through hatred aimed at Konoha, and Sasuke and Sakura agreed.
• Kakashi accepted the team’s decision, and the group crossed to the Land of Waves by boat as stowaways.
• Sasuke scouted at the front of the group but found no sign of an enemy.
• Naruto threw a kunai into the bushes and struck a snow hare, which Kakashi recognized as a likely substitution decoy left by a hidden shinobi.

Kakashi and Team 7 faced Zabuza Momochi, who attacked them under cover of mist while targeting Tazuna. Naruto’s layered disguises and clones helped wound Zabuza, and the chapter left Kakashi pressing the attack as Zabuza retreated.

• Naruto detected an enemy and warned the group, allowing them to evade Zabuza Momochi’s spinning blade.
• Zabuza Momochi used the Hiding in Mist Technique and threatened the group while Kakashi disappeared into the fog.
• Naruto revealed that the apparent Tazuna was a disguise and that Zabuza had struck a Water Clone, while Kakashi also used a Water Clone to evade a slash.
• Zabuza Momochi appeared behind Kakashi, but Naruto revealed another disguise and attacked from beneath him.
• Zabuza Momochi dodged Naruto’s strike to his backside but took a kunai wound to the thigh, giving Kakashi a chance to force him back.

Naruto outwitted Zabuza Momochi during Team 7’s fight, first warning Kakashi about a trap near the water and then using a transformation to make Zabuza imprison him instead. Kakashi attacked Zabuza while Naruto revealed himself, leaving Zabuza furious and the battle still underway.

• Naruto bragged about injuring Zabuza Momochi, then provoked him into charging at him.
• Kakashi fought Zabuza Momochi and gained the upper hand after Zabuza lost his composure.
• Naruto noticed Zabuza retreating toward the water and warned Kakashi that a trap was waiting there.
• Zabuza Momochi used Water Dragon Bullet Technique, forcing Kakashi, Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura to take cover.
• Naruto transformed into Kakashi and jumped into the water, causing Zabuza to trap him with Water Prison Technique.
• Naruto revealed himself as the captive, while Kakashi appeared behind Zabuza and prepared to attack.

Kakashi defeated Zabuza, but Naruto exposed the masked boy who claimed to be a Hidden Mist hunter-nin as Zabuza’s companion. Naruto held Zabuza at knifepoint and demanded that the boy choose between surrender and battle.

• Naruto escaped Zabuza’s Water Prison, and Kakashi wounded Zabuza while mimicking his hand seals and unleashing the Great Waterfall Technique.
• A masked boy appeared, struck Zabuza with senbon, and claimed he had killed the rogue ninja so he could take the body back to the Hidden Mist.
• Naruto tried to stab Zabuza’s heart, but the boy stopped him and Sasuke knocked off his mask as he tried to leave.
• Naruto deduced that Zabuza was still alive and that the boy was his companion, then threatened Zabuza to keep the boy from fighting.
• The boy called Naruto Konoha’s finest ninja and offered to surrender if Naruto spared Zabuza, but Naruto demanded that he choose surrender or battle.

After capturing Zabuza and Haku, Team 7 brought them to Tazuna’s home, where Kakashi recovered and praised Naruto’s performance. Kakashi then began teaching the team precise chakra control by demonstrating how to walk up a tree.

• Sasuke knocked Haku unconscious after Naruto signaled him, and Naruto tied him up while Kakashi collapsed from exhaustion.
• Naruto reassured Sakura and Sasuke that Kakashi was only exhausted, then made up a story about Might Guy to explain how he knew.
• Naruto brought Tazuna back, and the team carried Kakashi, Haku, and Zabuza to Tazuna’s home.
• After recovering, Kakashi praised Naruto and reminded Team 7 to understand their own strength and keep training.
• Kakashi taught Team 7 precise chakra control and demonstrated walking up a tree by focusing chakra beneath his feet.

Kakashi taught Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura to control chakra by climbing trees, and Sakura quickly outperformed the boys. Naruto used shadow clones to accelerate his training, then agreed to teach Sasuke the Shadow Clone Technique.

• Kakashi demonstrated walking up a tree and challenged the three students to climb as high as they could.
• Sakura reached the top easily, while Naruto managed three steps and Sasuke climbed fifteen before falling.
• Naruto used shadow clones to train repeatedly, improving from three steps to forty-one as Sasuke watched in shock.
• Sasuke asked Naruto to teach him the Shadow Clone Technique, and Naruto agreed.

Naruto and Sasuke completed their tree-climbing chakra-control training, then Naruto arranged for Sasuke to face Haku in hopes of awakening the Sharingan. The chapter ended as Haku trapped Sasuke inside a ring of ice mirrors.

• Naruto taught Sasuke the Shadow Clone Technique, and the two trained from morning until midnight until they reached the top of a giant tree.
• Naruto and Sasuke returned to Tazuna's house and surprised Sakura and Kakashi by completing their training.
• Kakashi said Zabuza was captured and the mission could end once Tazuna finished the bridge, while Sasuke left for the forest and Naruto followed.
• Naruto went to the boathouses, where he had arranged for Haku to be held separately so Sasuke would have to fight him.
• Sasuke carved and attacked a portrait of Itachi before Haku appeared and accused him of killing someone important to him.
• Haku used Demonic Ice Mirrors to surround Sasuke with more than a dozen mirrors.

Naruto secretly manipulated Haku’s fight with Sasuke, first replacing Haku’s steel needles with bamboo skewers and then returning some to provoke a real threat. Naruto ultimately shielded Sasuke from Haku’s final attack, and the two stood together against him.

• Haku escaped captivity and trapped Sasuke inside a ring of Ice Mirrors, but his steel needles had been replaced with bamboo skewers by Naruto.
• Naruto tossed Haku a sack containing some of his steel needles, and Haku resumed attacking Sasuke with them.
• As Sasuke neared defeat, Naruto stepped in and blocked Haku’s last volley with his body, then joined Sasuke in the fight.
• Naruto recalled that he had escaped Haku from the fishing warehouse by disguising himself as Sasuke and claiming Sasuke had killed Zabuza Momochi.
• Haku had broken free after seeing Zabuza’s bloodstained bandage and hearing Naruto’s false claim, then chased into the forest.

Haku attacked Naruto and Sasuke with frozen bamboo skewers, pushing them to the brink as Naruto used his clones to buy Sasuke time. Sasuke awakened the One-Tomoe Sharingan and struck back, while Naruto survived his apparent death; Naruto then urged Haku to return to Zabuza before Gato killed him.

• Haku revealed that he could freeze bamboo skewers with his breath and launched a barrage at Naruto and Sasuke.
• Naruto used repeated Shadow Clone Technique attacks to shield Sasuke while Sasuke struggled to follow Haku’s movements.
• Haku struck Naruto’s vital points, and Naruto appeared to die after telling Sasuke to live and to tell Hinata that he liked her.
• Sasuke awakened the One-Tomoe Sharingan, tracked Haku through the Ice Mirrors, and burned him with the Great Fireball Technique.
• Naruto suddenly stood back up, explaining that the Nine-Tails’ chakra healed his injuries, and celebrated Sasuke’s Sharingan awakening.
• Naruto warned Haku that Zabuza was still alive and urged him to hurry back before Gato killed him.

Naruto used a swarm of Shadow Clones to break Haku’s Ice Mirrors, then fled with Sasuke and let Haku go after revealing that Zabuza was still alive. Naruto explained that deception could complete their mission without a fight and recalled that he had infiltrated Kado’s base disguised as Haku; the flashback ended as Kado mocked the pair for failing and refused to pay more.

• Naruto summoned over a hundred Shadow Clones to trap Haku and force Sasuke to use Fire Release, destroying the Ice Mirrors.
• Naruto urged Sasuke to flee, and Sasuke followed him, having begun to accept Naruto as Team Seven’s leader.
• Naruto told Haku that Zabuza was alive and pointed him toward Kado, so Haku left to find him.
• Naruto told Sasuke that he avoided unnecessary fights and believed Kado would soon die without their intervention.
• Naruto recalled disguising himself as Haku with the Transformation Technique and telling Kado that the mission had failed and Zabuza was injured.
• Kado mocked Naruto, still disguised as Haku, and refused to spend more money on him or Zabuza.

Naruto used disguises and deception to awaken Sasuke’s Sharingan and turn Zabuza and Kado’s forces against each other. After Kado’s group was wiped out, Team 7 completed Tazuna’s bridge mission and returned to Konoha while Zabuza and Haku watched from afar.

• Naruto disguised as Haku freed Zabuza, then used a trap to trick him into leaving Haku behind.
• Naruto disguised as Sasuke manipulated the imprisoned Haku into fighting Sasuke, awakening Sasuke’s Sharingan.
• Naruto reflected on the Sharingan and anticipated a future contest with Zetsu.
• Tazuna told Team 7 that Zabuza and Haku had killed Kado and wiped out his thugs.
• Team 7 guarded Tazuna until the bridge was finished, then departed for Konoha as Zabuza and Haku watched them from a hill.

After returning to Konoha, Naruto and Sasuke encountered visiting Sand Village Genin, including Gaara, and Naruto bluffed them into backing down. Kakashi recommended Team 7 for the Chunin Ninja Exams, where Sasuke repeatedly named Naruto as stronger than himself, drawing the attention of the other examinees and Neji Hyuga.

• Kakashi left Team 7 after returning to Konoha, and Sasuke challenged Naruto before Naruto distracted him by playing ninja games with Konohamaru.
• Kankuro grabbed Konohamaru, so Naruto intervened, and Sasuke joined the confrontation before Gaara stopped Sasuke's attack.
• Naruto warned Gaara, Kankuro, and their companion not to cause trouble, then privately admitted he had only been bluffing about being able to disqualify them from the exams.
• Kakashi told Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura that he had recommended them for the Chunin Ninja Exams, and the three arrived at the Ninja Academy the next morning.
• When a thick-browed boy questioned Sasuke's strength, Sasuke pointed to Naruto as the stronger one, drawing attention from the gathered examinees.
• Neji Hyuga recognized Naruto and walked away after making a strange remark, while Naruto decided he would settle the score with him.

Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura qualified as Team 7 for the Chunin Ninja Exams and began Morino Ibiki’s written test. Naruto focused on Hinata instead of the exam, asked her to join Team 7, and accepted her offer to share her answers.

• Naruto challenged the other examinees, then joined Sasuke and Sakura in reaching Classroom 301, where Kakashi confirmed their team qualified for the exam.
• Kakashi praised Naruto’s abilities, while Naruto privately thought he only wanted to take the exam to accompany Hinata.
• Morino Ibiki explained the written exam’s scoring and cheating rules, and Sasuke realized the test was meant to assess intelligence-gathering skills.
• Naruto asked Hinata to join Team 7, and she blushed without giving him a clear answer.
• Hinata offered Naruto her answers, and Naruto pretended to copy them while writing that she smelled like lilies.

Naruto defended himself after a proctor accused another candidate of cheating, drawing the examiners’ attention away from the rest of the room. The written exam ended with many candidates still in, and Morino Ibiki announced a hidden question as the first stage entered its final phase.

• Hinata showed Naruto her test paper, and he praised her handwriting and skill before a proctor interrupted them by accusing another candidate of cheating.
• Naruto challenged the proctor for frightening Hinata, prompting the Chunin examiners to focus their attention on him.
• Other candidates, including Sasuke, Neji Hyuga, and Shino, used their abilities to copy answers while Naruto wrote on his own paper.
• Naruto reassured Hinata and continued answering as the other Genin benefited from the examiners’ diverted attention.
• Morino Ibiki ended the exam and announced that the test had nine major questions and one hidden question.

Naruto used Morino Ibiki’s warnings about the tenth question to make other Genin withdraw, while reassuring Hinata that he would support her. Ibiki revealed that the ordeal tested perseverance, and everyone who remained in the room passed the first exam.

• Morino Ibiki announced that refusing the tenth question would eliminate a team, while answering incorrectly would permanently bar the Genin from the Chunin Exams.
• Naruto comforted and teased Hinata, then asked questions that heightened the examinees’ fear of the final test.
• As Genin withdrew in panic, Morino Ibiki realized Naruto was deliberately helping him scare away competitors.
• Naruto challenged Ibiki to add more questions, drawing hostile attention from the remaining examinees before reassuring Hinata with a confident smile.
• Morino Ibiki declared that everyone still seated had passed and explained that the test measured intelligence-gathering and perseverance.

The examinees passed Morino Ibiki’s first Chunin Exam test, and Anko Mitarashi announced that she would oversee the next test. After leaving, Naruto met Zabuza Momochi and Haku in secret to collect supplies, while Zabuza accused Naruto of stealing Kado’s fortune.

• Morino Ibiki explained that the tenth question tested the examinees’ courage and willingness to face danger with their teammates.
• Anko Mitarashi burst into the examination room, introduced herself as the second test’s examiner, and dismissed the examinees.
• Morino Ibiki found Naruto’s paper filled with observations about Hinata and became alarmed by Naruto’s cryptic answer about someone coming to Konoha Village.
• Naruto met three disguised Hidden Rain Village ninja in a secluded forest, collected sacks of supplies, and paid them.
• Zabuza Momochi and Haku revealed themselves, and Zabuza accused Naruto Uzumaki of taking Kado’s property after their earlier mission.