Chapter Summaries

Naruto challenged the new rule barring teams without three members, while Sasuke returned and restored Team 7’s eligibility for the Chunin Ninja Exams. The chapter ended with Naruto declaring that all three members of Team 7 were present, as Kakashi stood beside them.

• The Third Hokage announced that only three-person teams could enter the third round, which would now be a chaotic team battle instead of one-on-one duels.
• Naruto reasoned that Orochimaru, disguised as the Fourth Kazekage, had changed the rules and accelerated his plan; he was relieved that Hinata would not have to fight Neji.
• Kabuto Yakushi withdrew from the exam, causing his two teammates to be eliminated with him.
• Sasuke entered the hall with Kakashi, and Naruto noticed that Sasuke was physically struggling but determined to continue.
• Kakashi’s memory revealed that he had used the Evil-Sealing Method to restrain Sasuke’s Cursed Seals and promised to teach him a lightning technique if he could suppress them.
• Naruto declared that Naruto Uzumaki, Sasuke Uchiha, and Sakura Haruno were all present and that Team 7 could continue.

After the Third Hokage explained the political purpose of the Chunin Ninja Exams, Naruto learned the third round would be a team battle in seven days and searched Konoha for a teacher to help him prepare. He left Ebisu chasing after him and continued looking for the master fate had chosen.

• The Third Hokage told the Genin that the exams were a showcase of village and national strength, then announced a three-person team melee would begin in seven days.
• Naruto urged Sakura to train, then met Haku, who reported that Karin had moved into Naruto’s house and gave him the deed and key to the bathhouse he had bought.
• Naruto gave Haku money to look after Karin and Zabuza, then wandered through Konoha searching for someone.
• Ebisu confronted Naruto and offered to tutor him, but Naruto rejected him and ran off with Ebisu following and calling after him.

Naruto searched for the Pervy Sage and found him peeping at the bathhouse Naruto owned. After the Sage knocked Ebisu unconscious, Naruto revealed he had read the Sage’s book and tried to persuade him to teach him, but the Sage walked away until Naruto produced a Konoha Village Peeping Map.

• Naruto rejected Ebisu’s offer to guide him and searched for the Pervy Sage instead.
• Naruto and Ebisu found a white-haired man peeping into Naruto’s bathhouse, and the man summoned an orange toad that knocked Ebisu unconscious.
• Naruto recognized the man as the Pervy Sage, showed him the bathhouse deed, and complained that he had injured Naruto’s hired bodyguard.
• Naruto told the Sage he had read his book and recalled how he had used his date with Hinata to persuade Kakashi to lend it to him.
• Naruto asked the Sage to teach him in exchange for peeping at his bathhouse, but the Sage tried to leave.
• Naruto stopped the Sage by showing him the Konoha Village Peeping Map.

Naruto used his detailed Konoha peeping map to impress the Toad Sage, who discovered the Five Elements Seal disrupting Naruto’s chakra and revealed himself as Jiraiya. Jiraiya promised to teach Naruto powerful ninjutsu, but became distracted by the map and its unfinished blue-dot locations.

• Naruto led the Toad Sage to a rooftop peeping spot and gave him a powerful telescope to watch a woman bathing.
• The Toad Sage praised Naruto’s intelligence-gathering talent and urged him to consider becoming a spy, but Naruto insisted he wanted to learn powerful ninjutsu.
• The Toad Sage examined Naruto’s unstable chakra, found the Five Elements Seal added to the Nine-Tails’ seal, and used Five Elements Unsealing to remove it.
• The Toad Sage revealed that his name was Jiraiya and promised to teach Naruto powerful ninjutsu and killing techniques.
• Jiraiya studied Naruto’s map, accepted Naruto’s lie about the blank area near the Hyuga Main House, and grew eager to complete the map’s blue-dot locations, including Anko Mitarashi and Kurenai Yuhi.

Orochimaru questioned Kabuto’s loyalty after hearing that Sunagakure knew of the Fourth Kazekage’s death, then discovered the report was false. Meanwhile, Jiraiya decided to take Naruto as his disciple but refused Ebisu’s request to help defend Konoha from Orochimaru.

• Orochimaru questioned Kabuto about his history with Danzo, then told him to watch Sasuke and keep Danzo’s forces away from him.
• Kabuto told Orochimaru that Sunagakure had learned of the Fourth Kazekage’s death, and Orochimaru sent him to watch Sasuke.
• Orochimaru interrogated Sunagakure ninja and found that they knew nothing about the Fourth Kazekage’s death, making him suspect Kabuto had betrayed him.
• Jiraiya watched Naruto sleep and decided to take him as his disciple.
• Ebisu told Jiraiya that Orochimaru had returned and asked him to help protect Konoha, but Jiraiya refused and asked Ebisu not to reveal his return to the Third Hokage.

Naruto confronts the Nine-Tails in a dream and proposes a pact to reunite it with the other tailed beasts, then begins learning the Summoning Technique from Jiraiya. His summon unexpectedly calls several enormous toads and leaves him towering above Konoha.

• Naruto meets the Nine-Tails inside his seal and proposes gathering all nine tailed beasts within three years.
• Naruto offers to reunite the Nine-Tails with its siblings if it shares its chakra, but the fox demands that he break the seal; Naruto cannot, and the Nine-Tails roars him awake.
• Jiraiya takes Naruto to a secluded area and teaches him the Summoning Technique using the toad contract scroll.
• Naruto signs the contract beneath Jiraiya and Minato Namikaze's names, then performs the Summoning Technique.
• Naruto summons Gamabunta, Gamaken, Gamahiro, Gamayū, and Gamami, creating a huge disturbance and appearing high above Konoha Village.

Naruto summoned all Five Toads of Mount Myoboku, and the Third Hokage sent them back after Jiraiya fled. The Hokage then promised Naruto a box from his parents if he became a Chunin, revealing that it contained the Flying Thunder God Technique.

• Naruto summoned Gamabunta, Gamaken, Gamahiro, Gamayū, and Gamami, while Jiraiya secretly slipped away.
• Gamabunta questioned Naruto, and Naruto told him that he had summoned the five toads himself.
• The Third Hokage arrived and ordered the toads to return to Mount Myoboku, ending the commotion.
• The Third Hokage took Naruto aside and said his parents had left him a box that he would receive after becoming a Chunin.
• The Third Hokage revealed that the box contained the Flying Thunder God Technique, and Naruto thought about placing a mark on Hinata.

Naruto fantasized about where to place the Flying Thunder God Formula on Hinata, then set out to win over rivals and classmates ahead of the Chunin Ninja Exams. After bribing several of them, he considered how to deal with the harder candidates, including Neji Hyuga, Rock Lee, Shikamaru, and Shino.

• Naruto ignored the Third Hokage while imagining possible places to mark Hinata, until the Hokage shook him out of his fantasy.
• Naruto declared that he would become a Chunin and ran off to find Choji Akimichi, whom he persuaded to go easy on him by buying him barbecue.
• Naruto bought a rose for Hinata at a flower shop and tried to manipulate Ino Yamanaka into following his orders during the exams by promising to reveal Sasuke's secret.
• Naruto won over Kiba Inuzuka with high-grade soldier pills and treated Tenten to weapons from Konoha's largest weapons shop.
• Naruto judged Choji Akimichi, Ino Yamanaka, Kiba Inuzuka, and Tenten easy to persuade, but recognized that Neji Hyuga, Rock Lee, Shikamaru, and Shino would be harder to handle.

Naruto acquired the Eight-Foot Magatama Sword and welcomed Karin as family, offering her his Konoha Village forehead protector. He revealed that he wanted Haku to use the sword to cut off Danzo Shimura’s arm.

• Tenten left with a handcart full of weapons, and Naruto collected the Eight-Foot Magatama Sword from the weapon shop owner.
• Naruto returned home and gave Haku the sword, then learned Karin had been waiting to speak with him.
• Naruto showed Karin the bite marks on her arm and explained that Hidden Grass Village had exploited her and her mother for their healing abilities.
• Naruto offered Karin his Konoha Village forehead protector and promised that Konoha Village would be her home and his family.
• Naruto insisted that Haku use the sword to cut off Danzo Shimura’s arm.

Naruto tried to bring Haku, Zabuza, and Karin into new lives in Konoha, while warning them that Danzo Shimura stood in their way. After Hidden Grass Village ninja abducted Karin and forced her to heal their wounded, she declared herself a Konoha Villager, and Naruto appeared to protect her.

• Naruto told Haku, Zabuza, and Karin that Danzo Shimura was their greatest obstacle to establishing a family in Konoha, and urged Haku to practice swordsmanship.
• Naruto took Karin around Konoha’s shopping district, where Hidden Grass Village ninja watched them and planned to abduct her.
• A Hidden Grass Village ninja disguised as Kakashi lured Naruto away, but Naruto used a shadow clone and stayed behind.
• Hidden Grass Village ninja seized Karin and took her to a secluded estate, where they forced her to heal their wounded by letting them bite her.
• When a Hidden Grass Village Chunin questioned Karin about her Konoha forehead protector, Karin declared, “I am a Konoha Villager!”
• Naruto appeared at the estate and told Karin to leave the rest to him.

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.