Recaps

After Team 7 returned from a mission, Tenka gave them two days off, and Hiashi asked him to guide Hinata and Hanabi in training. The rookie teams gathered by the river to share a rare carefree day, leaving them aware that such moments together would become less frequent as they grew up.

• Hizashi and Hiashi discussed Tenka’s recent changes, while Hiashi arranged for him to train Hinata and Hanabi during the break.
• Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura complained about their time off until Ino invited them to a gathering the next day.
• The Nine Rookies met beside a river, where Naruto grilled meat and the teams shared food and stories.
• Sakura told Ino she did not regret cutting her hair and promised to keep growing more brilliant.
• The rookies enjoyed their time together until the gathering ended, knowing they would have fewer chances to meet as they grew up.

Team 7 undertook a B-Rank mission that pushed them into dangerous bounty work, where Sasuke was poisoned and Sakura learned the Delicate Illness Extraction Technique from Tenka. After completing their assignments, they returned to Konoha having each survived at least ten assassination missions against Special Jonin-level targets.

• Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura met early, and Sakura shared the lunches she had prepared for them.
• Tenka gave Team 7 a B-Rank mission, and the three left after reviewing it.
• After twenty days, Sasuke killed an enemy with Lightning Cutter but collapsed from his injuries and poison, so Fox and Sakura carried him to Tenka.
• Tenka extracted the poison from Sasuke and taught Sakura the Delicate Illness Extraction Technique before she treated Sasuke's wounds.
• After Sasuke recovered, Tenka ordered Team 7 to find a target and bring his head back to Konoha.
• Six days later, Team 7 returned to Konoha after independently completing at least ten bounty assassinations each, all against targets of at least Special Jonin rank.

After returning to Konoha, Tenka gave Team 7 only two days to rest before the Chunin Ninja Exams came up. At the recommendation meeting, Iruka objected to the newly graduated teams taking part, and Tenka defended Team 7 by declaring that each of its members could defeat Iruka one-on-one.

• Team 7 recalled how Tenka had massacred a bounty-hunting group and the family behind them, teaching the students to show no mercy to enemies.
• After turning in their mission, Tenka allowed Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura two days of rest, and they went their separate ways to recover.
• An Anbu summoned Tenka to the Hokage's Office to discuss the Chunin Ninja Exams, and he agreed to attend.
• Tenka recommended Uchiha Sasuke, Uzumaki Naruto, and Haruno Sakura for the exams, while Kurenai Yuhi and Sarutobi Asuma recommended their own teams.
• Iruka objected that the newly graduated students were not ready, and Tenka retorted that none of them could last one move against any member of Team 7.

After learning how accomplished Team 7 had become, Iruka was stunned by their mission record. Tenka gave Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura applications for the Chunin Ninja Exams, then Iruka reunited with Naruto over ramen and learned how much the team had grown.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi showed Iruka Team 7's certificates for twenty C-Rank missions, one B-Rank mission, and one A-Rank mission.
• Tenka found Naruto at Ichiraku Ramen and told him to gather Sasuke and Sakura.
• Tenka gave Team 7 Chunin Ninja Exams applications, announced the exam would be in five days, and suspended their missions until then.
• Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura agreed to rest and prepare for the exam before going their separate ways.
• Iruka met Naruto at Ichiraku Ramen, where Naruto said Tenka had taught them powerful techniques and that Sakura had saved him and Sasuke several times.

Naruto told Iruka that, despite his fear, he chose to stay with Tenka and Team 7 because each mission helped them survive and grow stronger. The next day, Naruto rescued Konohamaru from Kankuro, then provoked the kneeling Sand ninja.

• Naruto told Iruka that Tenka had taught him to be ruthless toward enemies, and that he would not change his team or teacher despite the danger.
• Iruka accepted Naruto’s choice and wished him and Team 7 continued survival and growth.
• The next day, Naruto, Sakura, and Sasuke spotted Kankuro grabbing Konohamaru in the street.
• Naruto struck Kankuro’s wrist and knees with stones, freed Konohamaru, and caught him with the Body Flicker Technique.
• Naruto mocked Kankuro as he knelt in pain, enraging him further.

Team 7 confronted Gaara, Temari, and Kankuro after Kankuro attacked Naruto while he carried Konohamaru. Gaara ended the confrontation and left, while Naruto, Sakura, and Sasuke recognized his dangerous killing intent and vowed to face him at the Chunin Ninja Exams.

• Kankuro ignored Temari's warning and reached for Crow, prompting Sasuke and Sakura to prepare to fight while Naruto held Konohamaru.
• Gaara appeared between the teams and ordered Kankuro to put Crow away.
• Sasuke rebuked the Sand siblings for grabbing the Hokage's grandson, and Gaara threatened to taste the blood of Team 7 before challenging them at the Chunin Ninja Exams.
• Gaara ordered Kankuro and Temari to leave, threatening to kill Kankuro if he disobeyed.
• Naruto, Sakura, and Sasuke sensed Gaara's intense killing intent and encouraged each other to grow stronger and face him without fear.

Team 7 encountered Rock Lee at the Ninja Academy, where he challenged Sasuke over Sakura and Naruto nearly fought him. Neji warned Lee that Team 7 was formidable, leaving Lee fired up for the exams.

• Naruto ignored Sakura’s protests and approached a crowd where Rock Lee had been knocked down by the gatekeepers.
• Lee confessed his feelings to Sakura, then challenged Sasuke to a duel with Sakura as the wager; Naruto stepped forward to fight Lee instead.
• Sasuke stopped Naruto, promised him a match in the finals, and refused to treat Sakura as a wager, calling her his teammate.
• Sasuke, Sakura, and Naruto left together, while Neji told Tenten and Lee that he was unsure he could defeat any member of Team 7, including Sakura.
• Neji said Team 7’s teacher was exceptionally strong and led Tenten away, while Lee’s fighting spirit rekindled.

Sasuke, Naruto, and Sakura entered the Chunin Exam classroom and clashed with a Sound Village ninja and the hostile group around him. The chapter ended with Team 7 unleashing their power and threatening to wipe out anyone who challenged them.

• Sasuke warned Naruto and Sakura not to underestimate Hyuga Neji, whom Sakura identified as a renowned genius from the previous class.
• Neji entered Classroom 301 with Tenten and Little Lee, introduced himself to the Konoha rookies, and recognized Team 7.
• A Sound Village ninja criticized Team 7 for being noisy, then rallied the other exam candidates against them.
• Neji pulled Kabuto Yakushi aside and encouraged Team 7 to stand their ground.
• Sasuke insulted the hostile candidates, and Sakura cracked the floor with a punch as Sasuke and Naruto unleashed their auras.
• Team 7 threatened to wipe out their opponents, leaving Ino and the other candidates shocked while Neji praised their strength.

Team 7’s killing intent intimidated the other rookies, while Naruto nearly lost control after Gaara stared at him. Sakura and Sasuke calmed Naruto and discussed the danger of his unconscious rampages before a group of men in black burst into the classroom.

• Team 7’s killing intent made the rookies avert their gazes, while Gaara welcomed the prospect of bloodshed.
• Sasuke insulted the other rookies, and Naruto threatened Gaara for staring at him.
• Sasuke and Sakura restrained Naruto as red chakra flickered around him, and Gaara recognized Naruto’s aura as similar to his own.
• Sakura pretended that their teacher had arrived to calm Naruto, then explained that he had nearly gone berserk.
• Sasuke recalled that Tenka had repeatedly stopped Naruto’s unconscious rampages and suspected that the force inside Naruto feared their teacher.
• A group of burly men dressed in black kicked open the classroom door and entered.

Ibiki Morino began the written first stage of the Chunin Ninja Exams, where the teams had to avoid losing points through wrong answers and cheating. Naruto struggled with the test while Ino used her Mind Body Switch Technique to copy answers, and Sasuke began looking for someone to cheat from.

• Ibiki Morino announced the written exam rules and warned that a zero from any team member would eliminate the whole team.
• Sakura and Sasuke worried that Naruto would fail, while Naruto pinned his hopes on the final question.
• Ino used the Mind Body Switch Technique to copy Sakura's answers, then helped Shikamaru and Choji complete their papers.
• Ino entered Naruto's mind to fill in his paper and found herself in a dark sewer-like passage.
• After finishing his own test, Sasuke searched the room for someone whose answers he could copy and settled on Gaara.

Sasuke and Gaara sabotaged examinees during the written exam while Ino was knocked unconscious after encountering the Nine-Tails in Naruto’s mind. As Ibiki began the tenth question, Naruto boldly demanded that he stop talking and get to the point.

• Sasuke destroyed Gaara’s Sand Eye and exposed Kankuro’s examiner puppet, costing their teams points.
• Gaara discovered Sasuke’s interference and joined him in disrupting the exam, causing more examinees to be eliminated.
• Ino encountered the Nine-Tails through the sewers, was blasted out of Naruto’s consciousness, and collapsed; Shikamaru worried over her.
• Ino woke as the exam ended and watched Naruto, while Neji saw Hinata trying to help Naruto and resolved to confront him.
• As Ibiki announced the tenth-question rules, Naruto stood up and complained about his long-winded explanation.

Team 7 entered the Forest of Death and encountered a powerful stranger carrying an Earth Scroll, who tested their abilities. Naruto and Sakura fought giant snakes while Sasuke faced the stranger alone, who blocked his attacks without striking back.

• Ibiki announced that the examinees had passed, and Anko led them to the Forest of Death for the second test.
• Sakura asked Naruto how he had answered the tenth question, and Naruto admitted he had left the first nine blank and wanted the examiner to hurry up.
• Team 7 set out to find their scrolls, with Sakura leading them toward the nearest gate and Sasuke warning them about Gaara and Neji.
• Sasuke sensed killing intent, and a pale, long-haired stranger appeared with an Earth Scroll and challenged the team to defeat him for it.
• Naruto attacked with a Rasengan, Sasuke charged with Chidori, and Sakura struck the stranger with Monster Strength, but he escaped unharmed by spitting out another version of himself.
• The stranger summoned two giant snakes to fight Naruto and Sakura while he tested Sasuke in taijutsu, blocking Sasuke's blows without attacking.

Tenka arrived in the Forest of Death and rescued Sasuke, Naruto, and Sakura from Orochimaru. He overwhelmed Orochimaru with his Byakugan genjutsu and spared him on condition that he hand over the Ryūchi Cave summoning contract.

• Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura fought Orochimaru in the Forest of Death while Anko discovered a contestant's corpse and sent word that Orochimaru had infiltrated the village.
• Orochimaru restrained Sasuke and stretched his neck to bite him, but Tenka's sword pierced Orochimaru's neck and freed Sasuke.
• Tenka confronted Orochimaru, opened his Byakugan, and destroyed Orochimaru's summoned snakes with a burst of pressure.
• Tenka trapped Orochimaru in his All-Encompassing Purgatory genjutsu, then released him after Orochimaru collapsed.
• Tenka warned Orochimaru not to harm those around him and demanded the Ryūchi Cave summoning contract.

Tenka forced Orochimaru to hand over the summoning scroll, then Sasuke, Naruto, and Sakura set off to explore instead of heading straight to the Central Tower. Naruto rescued Karin Uzumaki from a black bear and discovered her arm covered in bite marks.

• Orochimaru gave Tenka the scroll, and Tenka warned him that his weak soul would leave him vulnerable to the Third before teaching Sasuke the Summoning Technique.
• Naruto took a scroll from Orochimaru, and the team left; Orochimaru escaped as Anko arrived to investigate the devastated scene.
• Naruto persuaded Sasuke and Sakura to explore the forest rather than go directly to the Central Tower.
• Naruto rescued Karin Uzumaki from a black bear, and the two realized they shared the Uzumaki surname.
• Karin told Naruto that her teammates had abandoned her, and Sakura noticed bite marks on Karin's arm before Naruto lifted her sleeve and stared at them.

Naruto heard Karin’s account of her suffering in the Hidden Grass Village and offered to make her his little sister and help her escape. He sent Shadow Clones to find their teacher for help, then prepared a meal with Sasuke and Sakura while they waited.

• Karin told Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura about the abuse she had endured in the Hidden Grass Village, and Naruto’s anger nearly unleashed the power inside him.
• Naruto calmed himself by invoking his teacher and rejecting the tempting voice in his heart.
• Naruto asked Karin to become his little sister and promised to help her take revenge and protect her from returning to the Hidden Grass Village.
• Sasuke and Sakura agreed to help Naruto, and Sakura suggested asking their teacher to prevent Karin from being investigated or monitored in Konoha.
• Naruto sent Shadow Clones toward the outskirts of the Forest of Death to find their teacher, then began grilling meat with Sasuke and Sakura.

Naruto and his teammates waited anxiously for Tenka to help Karin before entering the Central Tower. Inside, Gaara grew violent while waiting for his companions, and Temari tried to stop him, ending with Gaara attacking her.

• Naruto's Shadow Clone found Tenka at the Hyuga Clan's entrance, and Tenka agreed to help Karin.
• Tenka appeared before Team 7, took Karin with him, and left Naruto, Sakura, and Sasuke to enter the Central Tower.
• Naruto, Sakura, and Sasuke headed for the tower while Gaara waited angrily for the people he cared about to arrive.
• Gaara left his room and went to the tower entrance as Temari and Kankuro followed him.
• Temari apologized to a Konoha ninja and begged Gaara to return, but Gaara formed a sand hand to seize her.

Team 7 arrived at the Central Tower, ending the second stage of the Chunin Ninja Exams, and the preliminary matches began. Hinata faced Neji in a Gentle Fist showdown, where her progress surprised him as she unleashed Eight Trigrams Vacuum Palm.

• Gaara stopped attacking Temari and Kankuro when Team 7 arrived, then returned to his room with a slight smile.
• The Third Hokage announced that the finals would be held in a month and started the preliminary matches, where Sasuke, Shino Aburame, Kankuro, Shikamaru Nara, and Naruto Uzumaki won while Ino Yamanaka conceded to Sakura Haruno and Temari defeated Tenten.
• Hinata Hyuga and Neji Hyuga began their match, with Neji holding back as Hinata attacked using Gentle Fist.
• Hinata advanced from Thirty-Two Palms to Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms, forcing Neji to respond with the same technique.
• Hinata used Eight Trigrams Vacuum Palm, and Neji broke apart the rushing airflow with a chakra-powered strike.

Hinata conceded her match to Neji, and the next bout began between Gaara and Rock Lee. Lee struggled against Gaara’s sand until Might Guy allowed him to remove his weights, leaving the spectators stunned by their immense heaviness.

• Hinata conceded, and Genma Shiranui declared Neji the winner; Neji praised her progress and confidence.
• Genma Shiranui drew Gaara against Rock Lee, and Neji warned Lee not to underestimate his opponent.
• Gaara’s sand blocked Lee’s attacks and repeatedly stopped him from closing in, while Neji told Team 7 that Lee could use only taijutsu.
• Might Guy urged Lee to remove his weights, and Lee dropped them onto the arena floor with a crash that shocked the spectators.
• Kakashi questioned Guy’s harsh training, and Guy replied that Lee had chosen it to catch up with others through extraordinary effort.

Little Lee broke through Gaara’s Sand Armor with the Front Lotus, but Gaara escaped the attack and countered while Lee was exhausted. Refusing to surrender, Lee opened the Life Gate and then the Wound Gate as the fight reached its next stage.

• Little Lee’s speed overwhelmed Gaara’s sand, and he cracked Gaara’s Sand Armor with a series of attacks.
• Little Lee used the Front Lotus to slam Gaara into a crater, but Gaara escaped and left behind an empty shell of sand.
• Gaara attacked the exhausted Little Lee with waves of sand, while Sakura urged him to surrender and Guy insisted he would not give up.
• Gaara prepared another attack as Little Lee opened the Life Gate and the Wound Gate, turning bright red and releasing a powerful surge of energy.

Little Lee overwhelmed Gaara with the Eight Gates and Reverse Lotus, but Gaara survived and counterattacked after Lee lost the ability to move. Lee stood again despite catastrophic injuries, leaving Might Guy, Naruto, and the others shaken as the medical team warned he might never become a ninja again.

• Little Lee opened the Gate of Limit and battered Gaara with the Reverse Lotus, smashing him into a crater.
• Gaara survived by cushioning his fall with sand, then used Sand Binding Coffin to break Little Lee's arm and leg.
• Might Guy stopped Gaara from killing Little Lee and said he had saved his most beloved student.
• Little Lee stood up unconscious and badly injured, driven by his determination to prove his ninja way.
• The medical team told Might Guy that Little Lee had suffered fractures throughout his body and might never recover or become a ninja again.

After the preliminary matches ended, the Third announced the finalists and had them draw opponents for the finals a month later. Tenka dismissed the third round’s importance and began planning training for Sasuke and Sakura, while Naruto insisted on competing.

• Choji lost the final preliminary match to Dosu, leaving Dosu as the only member of Orochimaru’s Sound Ninja trio to reach the finals.
• The Third announced the finalists and arranged a new draw so they could train for their opponents during the coming month.
• Tenka treated Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura to grilled meat and said the Chunin Ninja Exams had effectively ended after the second round.
• Sasuke asked to improve his physical abilities, and Tenka assigned him Lightning Body Tempering.
• Sakura asked how to increase her chakra, and Tenka told her to seek recognition from her other personality and offered to let them talk the next day.
• Naruto asked Tenka what training he would receive.

Tenka gave Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura training advice, then lent Naruto enough money to buy a house for Karin and told him to master chakra nature transformation within a month. After the group discovered how wealthy Tenka was, he went to confront Jiraiya and demand his Summoning Scroll.

• Tenka told Naruto to improve his Rasengan and train Wind Release by cutting leaves, while giving Sasuke and Sakura guidance.
• Naruto asked to bring Karin along, and Sakura offered to let her stay at her home while Naruto saved for a house.
• Tenka lent Naruto a card, ordered him to master chakra nature transformation in a month, and told Sakura to hold the card for Team 7's future expenses.
• Naruto, Sakura, and Sasuke checked the card balance, were stunned by Tenka's enormous fortune, and set out to choose a large house.
• Tenka appeared near Konoha's Hot Spring Village and demanded Jiraiya's Summoning Scroll, prompting Jiraiya to hand it over in alarm.

Tenka took Jiraiya’s Mount Myoboku Summoning Scroll and gave Neji advice after revealing his mastery of Gentle Fist momentum. The next day, Tenka trained Team 7 and Karin, while Might Guy sought permission to leave Konoha and find Tsunade to save Little Lee.

• Tenka forced Jiraiya to hand over the Summoning Scroll, then left after saying it was for the Fourth’s child.
• Tenka warned Neji that he could not beat Naruto in their upcoming match and advised him to see more of the world.
• Tenka demonstrated Gentle Fist momentum to Neji, and Hiashi asked him to record his training insights in the clan genealogy.
• Naruto, Sasuke, Sakura, and Karin settled into a new home, then began training under Tenka, who arranged training and summoning contracts for them.
• Might Guy learned that Little Lee had little chance of recovery without Tsunade and asked the Hokage for permission to search for her.

Tenka agreed to operate on Little Lee after Might Guy sought his help, and he assessed Lee's severe injuries at the hospital. Tenka gave the operation an 80% chance of success, higher than Tsunade's estimated 60%, but the decision remained with Might Guy and Little Lee.

• The Third told Might Guy that Tenka, Tsunade's disciple, might be able to treat Little Lee, so Might Guy hurried to find him.
• At the Hyuga training ground, Sakura asked Tenka to help Little Lee, and Tenka agreed to go to the hospital.
• Might Guy tried to kneel in gratitude, but Tenka stopped him and went with him to see Little Lee.
• Tenka used his Byakugan to examine Little Lee's widespread fractures, torn muscles, and bone fragments near vital nerves.
• Tenka said surgery had an 80% chance of success, compared with Tsunade's maximum 60% chance.

Tenka agreed to operate on Little Lee, whose successful surgery allowed him to recover in time for the Chunin Ninja Exams finals. The finals began with Neji overwhelming Naruto in their first match, leaving Naruto battered and his chakra points mostly sealed.

• Tenka explained that his Byakugan gave him the best chance of repairing Little Lee’s severe injuries, and Little Lee chose to undergo the operation.
• Tenka successfully operated on Little Lee, who recovered over the following month and attended the finals.
• Genma Shiranui announced Neji and Naruto as the first contestants in the finals.
• Neji immediately attacked Naruto with Gentle Fist techniques and struck him with Eight Trigrams Two Hundred Fifty-Six Palms.
• Neji sent Naruto crashing into a wall, leaving him bruised, swollen, and with most of his chakra points sealed.