Chapter Summaries

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.

Naruto and Hinata tracked Danzo Shimura as he fought Shukaku and tried to escape, while Zabuza failed to deceive him into releasing his technique. Hinata located Danzo during his fifth Izanagi, and Haku used the Eight-Foot Magatama Sword to sever his right arm.

• Hinata located Danzo behind Shukaku, while Danzo summoned the Dream Tapir and attacked with a Wind Release blade.
• Shukaku leapt and slammed into the ground, dismissing the Dream Tapir and forcing Danzo to use Izanagi for the fourth time.
• A Root member tried to carry Danzo away, but Zabuza revealed himself and cut off Danzo's right arm; Danzo had anticipated the trick and used Izanagi again.
• Naruto urged Hinata to search with her Byakugan, and she pinpointed Danzo's reappearance southeast of them.
• Naruto threw a kunai toward Danzo's location, and Haku appeared with the Eight-Foot Magatama Sword and cut off Danzo's right arm with an ice blade.

Naruto and his allies attacked Shimura Danzō while the Five Toads of Mount Myoboku fought Shukaku. Naruto seized Shisui Uchiha’s Sharingan from Danzō, leaving the battle’s outcome unresolved.

• Haku used Ice Path to sever Shimura Danzō’s right arm, and Zabuza Momochi exposed the Sharingan implanted in it.
• Naruto summoned the Five Toads of Mount Myoboku, who began fighting Shukaku while Gamami remained asleep.
• Zabuza Momochi confronted Shimura Danzō, who decided to use Kotoamatsukami on Zabuza and make him kill Haku.
• Naruto pretended to protect Shimura Danzō, then rushed him and gouged out Shisui Uchiha’s eye.

Naruto revealed that he had orchestrated Danzo Shimura's downfall and took Shisui's Sharingan, while Hinata and Kabuto worked to stop Danzo's sealing technique. The story then shifted to Naruto's shadow clone appearing during the Third Hokage and Orochimaru's deadlocked battle.

• Naruto gouged out Danzo Shimura's eye and considered who to control with Shisui's Kotoamatsukami.
• Naruto condemned Danzo for weakening Konoha, and Danzo began the Inner! Four Symbols Seal.
• Hinata used her Byakugan and Gentle Fist to disrupt Danzo's chakra pathways as Zabuza Momochi and Haku fled.
• Kabuto arrived and joined Hinata in severing Danzo's chakra pathways with Chakra Scalpels.
• Naruto sensed that the Third Hokage and Orochimaru's battle was nearing its end and recalled that his shadow clone had been trapped on the palace roof.
• After the Third Hokage and Orochimaru reached a deadlock, Naruto's shadow clone emerged.

Naruto’s shadow clone confronted the Third Hokage and Orochimaru during their deadly stalemate, demanding the location of Minato’s box containing the Flying Thunder God Technique. As Jiraiya defended Konoha from the invading Sound forces, the Third Hokage chose to activate the Dead Demon Consuming Seal again, leaving Naruto without his answer.

• Naruto’s shadow clone appeared on the palace roof and revealed he had watched the Third Hokage and Orochimaru fight.
• The Third Hokage urged Naruto to stab Orochimaru, but Naruto demanded to know where his father’s box containing the Flying Thunder God Technique was.
• Naruto reminded the Third Hokage that his three earlier attempts to help had failed, including giving Jiraiya a map and drawing him over with a transformation.
• The Sound Ninja summoned a Three-Headed Giant Snake to smash through Konoha’s defenses, and Jiraiya arrived on a giant toad to defeat the invaders.
• The Third Hokage refused to reveal the box’s location and activated the Dead Demon Consuming Seal as Orochimaru and Naruto protested.

Hinata and Naruto's Shadow Clone fought Danzo while the Third Hokage used the Dead Demon Consuming Seal against Orochimaru, sealing away Orochimaru's hands and sacrificing his own life. Orochimaru escaped with the Sound Ninja, and Naruto learned that the Third Hokage had died without revealing where he had hidden the box containing the Flying Thunder God Technique.

• Hinata fought Danzo alongside Naruto, following his orders to disrupt Danzo's chakra and prevent him from using sealing techniques.
• The Third Hokage used the Dead Demon Consuming Seal, sacrificing his life to seal Orochimaru's hands and the souls of the First and Second Hokage.
• Naruto's Shadow Clone revealed that Naruto had chosen to keep Orochimaru alive and had used Kabuto as a pawn, then dispelled itself.
• Orochimaru called for Sakon and Ukon, Kidomaru, Tayuya, and Jirobo, who fled with him after escaping the Konoha ANBU.
• Naruto received the clone's memories and learned that the Third Hokage had died without disclosing the location of the Flying Thunder God Technique box.