Recaps

Naruto rescued Karin from the Hidden Grass Village ninja and summoned Gamayū, who disappeared before the attackers charged. Naruto defeated the Genin with his Shadow Clones, while Gamayū secretly intervened when their Chunin took Karin hostage.

• Naruto arrived in the courtyard and challenged the Hidden Grass Village ninja who had attacked Karin.
• Naruto summoned Gamayū, who recognized him, then vanished when Naruto told him to defeat the enemy.
• Naruto created two hundred Shadow Clones, which overwhelmed the Hidden Grass Village Genin through coordinated attacks.
• The Hidden Grass Village Chunin took Karin hostage and threatened to cut her throat.
• Gamayū secretly struck the Chunin with three shuriken, saving Karin from harm.

Naruto protected Karin from the Hidden Grass Village Genin and deliberately let them escape so their complaint would test the Third Hokage’s willingness to sacrifice him for political peace. He brought Karin to meet Sasuke, whose failed Chidori and suspicion of Naruto were interrupted by Kakashi.

• Karin killed the mortally wounded Hidden Grass Village Chunin by forcing him to bite a Konoha forehead protector, and Naruto praised her for standing up to him.
• Naruto confronted the Hidden Grass Village Genin, admitted responsibility for the Chunin’s death, and threatened them until they fled to report the incident to the Third Hokage.
• Naruto recalled how Konoha had sacrificed Hizashi Hyuga to secure peace with the Hidden Cloud Village, and wondered whether the Third Hokage would make a similar choice about him.
• Naruto took Karin shopping for new clothes, then brought her to the rocky area where Sasuke was training, saying she could help his best friend.
• Sasuke’s Chidori collapsed as he charged Naruto, and he drew a kunai after suspecting Naruto was an impostor because he lacked his forehead protector.
• Naruto revealed two Shadow Clones behind Sasuke, and Kakashi arrived and asked why Naruto was there instead of training with Ebisu.

Naruto left Karin with Kakashi while Sasuke trained to master Chidori before the shortened Chunin Ninja Exams, then watched the other Genin prepare and encouraged Hinata. As the final round began without Sasuke, the Third Hokage granted him fifteen extra minutes, and Kakashi arrived with Sasuke just in time.

• Naruto asked Kakashi to look after Karin, saying she might help Sasuke, and left Sasuke to train with Kakashi.
• Sasuke repeatedly failed to stabilize the lightning chakra for Chidori, but kept training while Karin watched.
• Naruto observed the other Genin training and secretly left a rose beside Hinata.
• At the final round, the Third Hokage delayed the match for fifteen minutes after Sasuke missed the start, and Naruto encouraged Hinata while provoking Neji, Rock Lee, and Shino.
• Kakashi arrived with Sasuke just before the deadline, and Karin offered Sasuke her arm to bite; Kakashi urged Sasuke to accept.

Sasuke mastered Chidori with Karin’s help before returning to the Chunin Exam, where Naruto’s team entered the team melee. Naruto arranged to face Hinata at the arena’s center, but Sasuke charged at her, forcing Naruto to stop him.

• Karin repeatedly let Sasuke bite her to replenish his chakra, and his frustration helped him master Chidori in a few days.
• Genma Shiranui announced that the final exam would be a team melee, and Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura began fighting as Team 7.
• Gaara tried to rush out and find Naruto, but Temari and Kankuro persuaded him to wait.
• Naruto led Team 7 to the arena’s center and called for Hinata, whom he had arranged to duel.
• Hinata activated her Byakugan, and Naruto told Sasuke and Sakura to leave her to him and deal with Shino and Kiba.
• Sasuke charged Hinata to test her, but Naruto threw a kunai to block his attack.

Naruto outsmarted Hinata in their spar by exploiting the Byakugan’s limits, then told her he had deliberately taken last place at the Ninja Academy to keep her from finishing last. Neji Hyuga interrupted them and challenged them both, insisting they could not change their fate.

• Naruto sent Sasuke and Sakura away with a false sighting, then faced Hinata alone.
• Naruto explained how the Byakugan’s different abilities limited Hinata’s vision and used Shadow Clones to break through her defense.
• Naruto defeated Hinata’s Gentle Fist defense and told her to look for anything hidden behind him when using X-Ray Vision.
• Naruto told Hinata he had become last place so she would not have to, deeply shocking her.
• Neji Hyuga arrived, claimed they could not change their fate, and challenged Naruto and Hinata to come at him together.

Naruto revealed his claim to be the Fourth Hokage’s son and teamed up with Hinata to fight Neji. Naruto restrained Neji after tricking him with transformed Shadow Clones, leaving Hinata poised to strike.

• Naruto told Neji that the Fourth Hokage was his father and connected his own lineage to the other Hokage.
• Neji insulted Hinata and challenged Naruto, so Naruto called for Hinata to attack alongside him.
• Naruto created sixty Shadow Clones and transformed them into Hinata to overwhelm Neji.
• Neji used Heavenly Rotation to repel the attackers, then activated his Byakugan to identify the real Hinata.
• Neji attacked a Hinata who turned out to be Naruto in disguise, and Naruto restrained him despite Neji's Gentle Fist.
• The real Hinata appeared behind Neji and struck toward his back.

Naruto helped Hinata fight Neji in the Chunin Exams, using shadow clones disguised as Hinata to overwhelm him. After an accidental kiss with Hinata, Naruto tried to engineer another, and the chapter ended with him taking Neji’s palm strike to fly toward her again.

• Naruto rescued Hinata from Neji’s attack, took a Gentle Fist strike himself, and countered with a punch.
• Naruto disguised his shadow clones as Hinata, forcing Neji to use Eight Trigrams Palm Revolving Heaven and exhaust his chakra.
• Neji accidentally struck Naruto into Hinata, and the two kissed while Naruto still wore Hinata’s appearance.
• Naruto recovered, reverted to his own appearance, and tried to provoke Neji into knocking him toward Hinata again.
• Neji grew suspicious and threw shuriken at Naruto, but Naruto later deliberately took Neji’s palm strike while aiming toward Hinata.

Jiraiya used Naruto’s map to peep on Kurenai Yuhi, but his investigation also revealed Sound Ninja and Sand Ninja activity in Konoha. He then learned Naruto had written about the same suspicious alliance on his Chunin Exam paper, leaving Jiraiya wondering what intelligence Naruto was conveying.

• Jiraiya recalled how he had created the Seduction Release Technique and used it to peep without being detected.
• Jiraiya followed Naruto’s map to Kurenai Yuhi’s home, distracted her with transformed toads, and marked her changing spot on the map.
• Jiraiya used the Seduction Release Technique to peep on Kurenai Yuhi while she listened to a staged conversation between Asuma and a young woman.
• Jiraiya noticed Sound Ninja and Sand Ninja personnel moving around Konoha and suspected they were colluding.
• Morino Ibiki showed Jiraiya Naruto’s Chunin Exam paper, whose ninth answer mentioned the Sound Ninja and Sand Ninja acting suspiciously close.

Naruto shared the Nine-Tails' chakra with Hinata as they faced Neji, while Rock Lee challenged Naruto and Gaara arrived at the arena. The strongest fighters gathered around Naruto, and Lee stood between him and Gaara.

• Naruto rushed toward Hinata but Rock Lee caught him, then Naruto hurried to Hinata and flirted with her while Neji watched angrily.
• Neji attacked Naruto, who shielded Hinata and spread the Nine-Tails' chakra over both of them.
• Hinata fought Neji while Naruto summoned a giant toad to disrupt Rock Lee's rapid attacks.
• Gaara appeared near Naruto, and Rock Lee stopped fighting Naruto to stand between him and Gaara.

Naruto disrupted the Genin Exam battle by knocking out Rock Lee, then paired with Sasuke and Hinata to face Gaara and Neji. He reassured Hinata that he would protect her, and the chapter ended with him summoning a giant toad.

• Gaara attacked Naruto, while Sasuke, Hinata, and Neji joined the confrontation; Naruto proposed they deal with the outsiders before settling their own disputes.
• Sasuke attacked Gaara but could not penetrate his Sand Shield, while Rock Lee’s speed let him strike Gaara through the defense and reveal the Sand Armor beneath it.
• As Rock Lee prepared to use the Lotus, Naruto struck him from behind and knocked him unconscious.
• Naruto told Sasuke to fight Gaara and teamed with Hinata against Neji, then comforted Hinata by promising to protect her.
• Naruto used the Summoning Technique and summoned a giant toad six meters tall.

Naruto used a giant toad, a shadow clone, and a disguise to make Neji waste his strongest technique before Hinata defeated him herself. After explaining the strategy, Naruto turned his attention to Sasuke and Gaara’s ongoing battle.

• Neji saw through Naruto’s apparent switch with Hinata and struck Naruto with Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms, only to discover he had hit a shadow clone.
• Hinata grappled with Neji while the real Hinata emerged from inside the giant toad and struck him with Eight Trigrams Thirty-Two Palms, knocking him unconscious.
• Naruto explained how he hid Hinata inside the toad and used his shadow clone and Transformation Technique to deceive Neji.
• Hinata admired Naruto and grew more attached to him after learning that he had arranged for her to defeat Neji herself.
• Naruto watched Sasuke and Gaara continue their fierce, evenly matched fight.

Naruto impressed the audience with his strength, then found himself targeted by Shikamaru, Ino, and Choji while Sasuke fought Gaara. The chapter ended as Choji enlarged himself and launched his Human Bullet Tank attack against Naruto.

• The Third Hokage and Kakashi admired Naruto’s performance while Sasuke struggled to break through Gaara’s sand defense.
• Sasuke used Lightning Release: Chidori against Gaara, but Temari’s wind attack interrupted him and Kankuro reminded Gaara of their mission.
• Naruto noticed Shikamaru’s Shadow Imitation Technique and escaped with Hinata, then made fifty shadow clones to counter Shikamaru and Ino.
• Ino confronted Naruto for deceiving her with a promise to reveal whom Sasuke loved, and Shikamaru complained that Naruto had dragged him into the fight.
• Choji enlarged his body and began his Human Bullet Tank attack against Naruto.

Naruto fought Choji, Shikamaru, and Ino while protecting Hinata. Ino's Mind Body Switch Technique reached Naruto's inner world, where the Nine-Tails terrified her into releasing it before she collapsed unconscious.

• Choji used Human Bullet Tank, destroying many of Naruto's Shadow Clones as Naruto dodged while carrying Hinata.
• Shikamaru identified Naruto's real body, and Ino prepared to use the Mind Body Switch Technique while Hinata stood behind him.
• Shikamaru used the trench Choji had carved to extend his shadow, and Naruto collided with it while protecting Hinata.
• Ino's Mind Body Switch Technique sent her consciousness into Naruto's inner world, where she encountered the Nine-Tails and became terrified.
• Naruto urged Ino to release the technique, and she did so before collapsing unconscious; Naruto warned that ordinary people could not easily enter his heart.

Hinata faced Choji’s Human Bullet Tank while Naruto was bound by Shikamaru’s Shadow Imitation Technique, and she used Eight Trigrams Palm Rotation for the first time. She knocked Choji away, leaving Shikamaru stunned by her strength.

• Shikamaru discovered that Ino’s Mind Body Switch Technique had failed and that Naruto remained caught in his Shadow Imitation Technique.
• Choji recovered and charged at Naruto with Human Bullet Tank, so Hinata stepped in front of him.
• Hinata remembered Naruto asking her to protect him by mastering Eight Trigrams Palm Rotation, and she resolved to try.
• Shikamaru released Naruto from the Shadow Imitation Technique, but Naruto stayed still and trusted Hinata to succeed.
• Hinata used Gentle Fist Style: Eight Trigrams Palm Rotation and knocked Choji’s Human Bullet Tank away.
• Shikamaru stared in disbelief at Hinata’s strength.

Hinata used Eight Trigrams Palm: Heavenly Rotation to stop Choji, prompting Hiashi to reconsider her abilities before reaffirming Hanabi as the heir. Naruto arranged for Choji to fake defeat in exchange for a year of barbecue and accidentally secured Hinata’s agreement to date him for a year, then tried to recruit Shikamaru to help Sasuke and Sakura against the Sand Ninja.

• Hiashi recalled rejecting Hinata as the Hyuga heir after she failed to master Heavenly Rotation and lost to Hanabi, then pressured Hanabi to surpass Hinata and Neji.
• Hinata blocked Choji’s Human Bullet Tank with Heavenly Rotation, astonishing Shikamaru and making Naruto resolve to help her train.
• Naruto had Hinata offer Choji a year of barbecue to fake defeat, and Hinata blushed as she remembered agreeing to date Naruto for a year.
• Shikamaru suspected Naruto had bought off Ino and Choji while Naruto focused on Sasuke and Sakura, who were struggling against Gaara, Temari, and Kankuro.
• Naruto asked Shikamaru to help and assigned him to face Temari, but Shikamaru refused.

Naruto forced Shikamaru to join the fight and brought Hinata to help Team 7 against Gaara and Kankuro. Sasuke fought Gaara with his newly learned Chidori, but his attack missed the Great Sand Sphere, and a giant toad appeared behind it.

• Naruto threatened Shikamaru until he attacked Temari, then carried Hinata into the battle despite her saying she was uninjured.
• Shikamaru restrained Temari, and Naruto, Hinata, Sasuke, and Sakura turned the fight against Gaara and Kankuro into a four-against-two battle.
• Naruto held Kankuro back and assigned Hinata and Sakura to fight him while Sasuke insisted on facing Gaara alone.
• Sasuke used his speed and Sharingan to land repeated kicks on Gaara, prompting Gaara to encase himself in a Great Sand Sphere.
• Sasuke struck the Great Sand Sphere with Chidori, but his attack hit nothing, and he saw a huge toad appear behind it.

Naruto saved Gaara from Sasuke’s Chidori, then provoked the fight so Gaara would enter his Tailed Beast Transformation. Sasuke’s Cursed Seal power clashed with Gaara’s transformation, and Naruto sat back to watch as the arena filled with dust and sand.

• Naruto summoned a giant toad whose oil weakened Gaara’s sand, then pulled Gaara from the Great Sand Sphere before Sasuke’s Chidori struck.
• Sasuke’s anger and desire for power caused Kakashi’s seal on the Cursed Seal to fail, and the seal spread across Sasuke’s body.
• Sasuke used his enhanced speed to attack Naruto and overwhelm Gaara, who began preparing to awaken Shukaku.
• Sasuke charged Gaara with Chidori, while Naruto’s interference helped Gaara enter a Tailed Beast Transformation.
• Gaara blocked Sasuke’s attack with his transformed body, and the Third Hokage recognized the One-Tail as the spectators watched in shock.
• Naruto sat down in the arena and said he could watch the show.

As Gaara transformed into Shukaku and attacked Sasuke during the Chunin Exams, Naruto joined the fight while the Third Hokage and the disguised Fourth Kazekage watched from the stands. Sasuke activated both the Heaven's Curse Mark and Earth Seal, prompting Orochimaru to begin the Konoha Crush Plan.

• Gaara partially transformed into Shukaku and attacked Sasuke, who cut through the tailed beast's arm with Chidori.
• Gaara continued transforming, and the Third Hokage prepared to intervene, but the Fourth Kazekage argued that stopping the match would violate the exam rules.
• Sasuke weakened by the fight, used Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique against Gaara, and Naruto added toad oil to intensify the flames and blast Gaara back.
• Naruto told Sasuke to step back and handle Gaara himself, angering Sasuke enough to activate the Heaven's Curse Mark and Earth Seal simultaneously.
• The disguised Fourth Kazekage declared Sasuke qualified as his next vessel and secretly signaled for the Konoha Crush Plan to begin.

As the Konoha Crush began, Sasuke fought Gaara after Gaara transformed into the monstrous One-Tail Shukaku, while Shikamaru dragged Temari toward the beast. Naruto summoned Gamabunta to face Shukaku, but Gamabunta refused to fight it.

• Naruto watched Sasuke battle transformed Gaara as Sasuke used his Curse Marks and Chidori to break through Gaara’s sand defenses.
• Shikamaru defeated Temari with his Shadow Imitation Technique, then forced her to follow him toward the mountain-sized Shukaku.
• The Fourth Kazekage took the Third Hokage hostage, and four Sound Ninja trapped them inside the Four Violet Flame Formation.
• Sound Ninja and Sand Ninja launched a full-scale assault on Konoha, using giant snakes to break through the village’s walls.
• Naruto summoned the giant toad Gamabunta beside Shukaku and ordered him to attack, but Gamabunta refused.

Orochimaru revealed himself as the fake Fourth Kazekage and prepared to watch Shukaku destroy Konoha. Naruto transformed Gamabunta into a giant beauty, stunning the battlefield, before Gaara attacked and Gamabunta prepared to fight.

• Orochimaru revealed his disguise to the Third Hokage and announced that Shukaku would destroy Konoha.
• Naruto summoned Gamabunta and used the Fusion Transformation Technique to turn him into a gigantic beauty.
• The transformed Gamabunta stunned everyone in Konoha, and Jiraiya emerged before fleeing when Gamabunta leapt toward him.
• Naruto ended the transformation, and Gaara charged at Naruto while controlling Shukaku.
• Gamabunta drew his sword and prepared to fight Shukaku.

Naruto and Gamabunta battled the fully awakened One-Tailed Shukaku while Naruto rescued Hinata and rallied Konoha’s Genin to defend the village. As Gamabunta grew exhausted, Naruto ordered him to retreat toward the southwest corner, where Naruto claimed Konoha’s Fifth Hokage was waiting.

• Naruto told Gamabunta to use Water Release, and Gamabunta’s Iron Cannonball shrank Shukaku’s sand body.
• Gaara used the Feign Sleep Technique, allowing Shukaku to awaken fully and attack Gamabunta with Wind Release: Air Bullet.
• Naruto spotted Shikamaru carrying Temari, searched for Hinata, and left Sakura to find Sasuke and help defend Konoha.
• Naruto issued an A-rank mission urging Konoha’s Genin to protect the village or survive, then carried Hinata back to Gamabunta.
• When Gamabunta grew exhausted, Naruto told him to run to Konoha’s southwest corner, where he said the Fifth Hokage was waiting.

Naruto Uzumaki lured One-Tail Shukaku toward Root and Danzo Shimura, then dismissed Gamabunta and faced the approaching Konoha elites. Hinata hid nearby as Naruto waited for Danzo to appear.

• Gamabunta carried Naruto and Hinata across Konoha, killing Sound Ninja hiding in houses with Water Release: Iron Cannonball.
• Danzo Shimura learned that Naruto had summoned a giant toad and that Shukaku was following him toward Root.
• Naruto led Gamabunta to Root, then sent the toad back to Mount Myoboku and told Hinata to hide.
• Naruto spotted One-Tail Shukaku approaching and saw masked Konoha elites appear behind him.

Naruto manipulated Danzo Shimura into believing the Third Hokage had named him the Fifth Hokage, then isolated Danzo and Root as they fought the One-Tail Shukaku. The chapter left Danzo surrounded by danger while Naruto’s Shadow Clones blocked Konoha’s reinforcements.

• Naruto told Danzo Shimura that the Third Hokage had named him as his successor, and Danzo recalled how his hesitation had cost him the Hokage position before.
• Naruto pointed Danzo toward Shukaku and urged him to fight, so Danzo and Root attacked the One-Tail while Naruto watched.
• Shukaku unleashed powerful Wind Release techniques, destroying the area and killing several Root members.
• Naruto’s Shadow Clone disguised as a Root member turned away Konoha’s ANBU reinforcements, citing the need to evacuate civilians.
• Naruto revealed that his Shadow Clones had been stationed around the perimeter to isolate Danzo and Root from help.

Danzo Shimura fought the One-Tail Shukaku while Naruto encouraged him and secretly monitored his use of Izanagi. After surviving Shukaku’s attack, Danzo spotted Gaara atop the beast and targeted him with Wind Release shuriken.

• Danzo Shimura waited in vain for Root reinforcements as Shukaku overwhelmed his remaining forces.
• Naruto urged Danzo to fight, rekindling his determination to protect others and become Hokage.
• Danzo’s Vacuum Wave failed to harm Shukaku, which retaliated with an Air Bullet that tore him apart.
• Naruto had Hinata use her Byakugan to monitor Danzo’s arm, and she saw its eyeballs consuming chakra as Danzo activated Izanagi.
• Danzo reappeared unharmed, noticed Gaara atop Shukaku, and threw Wind Release shuriken at him.

Danzo Shimura fought Shukaku while Naruto used Hinata’s observations to figure out the limits of Danzo’s Izanagi and kept Konoha reinforcements from reaching him. After Shukaku unleashed a Tailed Beast Ball that flattened Konoha’s southwestern corner, Zabuza Momochi and Haku wondered whether Naruto had caused the explosion.

• Shukaku struck Danzo Shimura, but Danzo revived through Izanagi as one of the Sharingan in his arm went blind.
• Naruto questioned Hinata about the brief chakra disconnection that might let someone sever Danzo’s arm while Izanagi took effect.
• Naruto’s shadow clone disguised as a Root member persuaded arriving Konoha reinforcements to leave and protect civilians and the next generation instead of rescuing Danzo.
• Shukaku fired a Tailed Beast Ball, and Naruto carried Hinata away as the blast flattened Konoha’s southwestern corner.
• Zabuza Momochi and Haku saw the explosion from a mountain area, and Zabuza said he regretted getting involved with Naruto.