Recaps

Naruto absorbed the memories of Awen, a soul from another world, after defeating it in a struggle for control of his body. He woke on the morning of his graduation exam, rushed toward the Academy, and collided with Ino.

• Naruto worried that he would fail the graduation exam because he struggled with the Clone Technique.
• Naruto blacked out and awoke in his inner world, where the Nine-Tails explained that he had absorbed Awen’s memories.
• Naruto learned about Awen’s life and his own connection to the Fourth Hokage, but panicked when he remembered the exam might test the Clone Technique.
• Naruto woke after eight o’clock and hurried toward the Ninja Academy with toast in his mouth.
• Naruto collided with Ino at a corner, and the two recognized each other.

Naruto and Nine-Tails confirmed that Awen’s memories matched their world’s future, so they formed an alliance to change it. After Naruto failed the graduation exam, Mizuki approached him as expected, while Ino’s unexpected kindness left her angry when Naruto went with him.

• Naruto and Ino raced to the Ninja Academy after colliding and arrived just before the bell.
• Sakura insulted Naruto while arguing with Ino about Sasuke, and Sasuke overheard her words.
• Naruto failed the Clone Technique portion of the graduation exam despite Mizuki urging Iruka to pass him.
• Naruto and Nine-Tails agreed that Naruto would steal the Scroll of Seals and copy its techniques while concealing their plans.
• Ino offered to treat Naruto to Ichiraku Ramen, but Naruto left with Mizuki, prompting Ino to storm away in frustration.

Naruto stole the Scroll of Seals and learned the Multi Shadow Clone Jutsu, then used it to defeat Mizuki after Mizuki revealed the truth about the Nine-Tailed Fox. Iruka gave Naruto his forehead protector, and they set off to turn Mizuki over to the Hokage and celebrate with ramen.

• Mizuki told Naruto that stealing the Scroll of Seals would help him graduate, and Naruto took it from the Third Hokage's study after using Sexy Jutsu to knock Hiruzen unconscious.
• Naruto and Kurama recorded the scroll's techniques, and Naruto learned the Multi Shadow Clone Jutsu while Iruka went to find him after Mizuki reported the theft.
• Mizuki attacked Naruto and Iruka, then revealed that Naruto was the Nine-Tailed Fox and claimed Iruka hated him because the fox had killed Iruka's parents.
• Naruto used thousands of shadow clones to beat Mizuki, and Iruka praised his jutsu and gave him his forehead protector.
• Naruto and Iruka planned to hand Mizuki over to the Hokage and celebrate Naruto's graduation with ramen.

After learning the Eight Trigrams Seal could free Kurama, Naruto was refused help and told to grow stronger on his own. He met Konohamaru, taught him the Sexy Jutsu, and explained that a Hokage first needed the people’s recognition.

• Hiruzen questioned Naruto about the Scroll of Seals, and Naruto admitted he had memorized the Flying Thunder God Technique but had not learned it.
• Naruto told Kurama he had mentioned the Flying Thunder God Technique to Hiruzen, then discovered the Eight Trigrams Seal and offered to learn it to free Kurama.
• Kurama refused to help Naruto further until he became stronger and sent him out of the sealed inner space.
• Konohamaru barged into Hiruzen’s office to challenge his grandfather, then secretly followed Naruto and asked to become his underling in exchange for lessons in the Sexy Jutsu.
• Naruto taught Konohamaru the Sexy Jutsu and told him that being recognized by the people, rather than gaining power alone, was what made someone fit to become Hokage.
• Ebisu overheard Naruto’s advice and began to reconsider his opinion of him.

Naruto joined his classmates for team assignments, where he was placed on Team 7 with Sakura Haruno and Sasuke Uchiha. While waiting for Kakashi Hatake, he watched a movie with the Nine-Tails in his inner space, and the chapter ended with Kakashi giving Team 7 a cold first impression.

• Naruto went to the academy for team assignments, avoided Sakura's rough treatment, and noticed Hinata watching him.
• Iruka assigned Naruto, Sakura Haruno, and Sasuke Uchiha to Team 7, and Sasuke wondered why Naruto seemed different.
• Naruto ate lunch, then entered his inner space and watched Ultraman Tiga with the Nine-Tails.
• Naruto discussed training and his plans to learn the Rasengan with the Nine-Tails before Kakashi Hatake arrived.
• Kakashi greeted Team 7 by saying he did not like them, leaving Sakura and Sasuke displeased.

Naruto introduced himself to Kakashi and learned about Team 7’s survival test, then met Ino at Ichiraku Ramen. After Ino shared information about Kakashi, Naruto left to find Iruka, while Ino fumed that he had ignored her plan to have him deliver a love letter to Sasuke.

• Kakashi had Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura introduce themselves and announced a survival exercise that could send failed graduates back to the Ninja Academy.
• Naruto declared that he would surpass every Hokage and showed no fear of the upcoming test, encouraging Sasuke to steady himself.
• Sasuke rejected Sakura’s invitation to eat together, and Naruto went to Ichiraku Ramen.
• Ino told Naruto that Kakashi was a famous Konoha genius, and Naruto thanked her before leaving to find Iruka.
• Ino realized Naruto had not played along with her plan to have him deliver a love letter to Sasuke and angrily vowed not to let him get away with it.

Naruto, Sakura, and Sasuke waited hours for Kakashi, then used Naruto’s preparation and shadow clones to pass Kakashi’s bell test together. Kakashi dismissed Team 7 and told them they would begin missions the next day.

• Naruto arrived late with breakfast and told Sakura and Sasuke he had gathered information about Kakashi and the test.
• Sakura and Sasuke ate with Naruto and agreed they would need to work together to become ninja.
• Kakashi arrived near noon and explained that they had to take two bells from him before the alarm rang.
• Naruto attacked Kakashi, escaped with a Shadow Clone, then summoned hundreds of clones to surround him.
• Kakashi declared that all three had passed, and Sasuke and Sakura revealed themselves from Naruto’s clones and the grass.
• Kakashi told Team 7 that they would begin missions the next day.

After Team 7 completed another D-rank mission, Naruto persuaded Hiruzen Sarutobi to assign them a C-rank escort mission for Tazuna. On the road to the Land of Waves, the team defeated the Demon Brothers and Kakashi confronted Tazuna about hiding the mission’s true danger.

• Naruto and his teammates returned Little Tiger to Lady Chishimi, then asked Hiruzen Sarutobi for a C-rank mission.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi assigned Team 7 to escort Tazuna to the Land of Waves.
• Tazuna questioned Naruto’s reliability, and Naruto introduced himself as the future Hokage.
• Naruto and Sasuke noticed something suspicious about a puddle, but the Demon Brothers attacked Kakashi after he passed it.
• Sasuke and Naruto attacked the Demon Brothers while Sakura protected Tazuna, and Kakashi revealed he had used the Substitution Technique to defeat them.
• Kakashi accused Tazuna of concealing the mission’s true circumstances, and Tazuna reacted nervously.

Kakashi’s team continued escorting Tazuna after learning Gato had made the mission more dangerous than its assigned rank. In the Land of Waves, Zabuza Momochi ambushed them, and Kakashi recognized the Hidden Mist ninja.

• Tazuna revealed that Gato controlled the Land of Waves’ sea transport and wanted him dead, and Kakashi agreed to continue the mission after Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura chose to stay.
• Naruto killed one of the Demon Brothers but got blood in his eyes, while Sasuke killed the other and impressed Sakura with his composure.
• Team 7 crossed the foggy sea to the Land of Waves with help from Tazuna’s old friend and continued toward Tazuna’s home.
• Naruto threw a kunai at a snow-white rabbit in the forest, and Kakashi wondered how it had come to the Land of Waves.
• Zabuza Momochi appeared on his Kubikiribōchō and challenged Kakashi, who recognized him and prepared to fight.

Team 7 fought Zabuza as he ambushed Tazuna, and Kakashi used his Sharingan to counter the rogue ninja’s techniques. A masked hunter-nin appeared to take Zabuza’s body, and Kakashi collapsed after exhausting himself.

• Zabuza used the Hidden Mist Technique and threatened Team 7 while Kakashi warned them about his Silent Killing Technique.
• Zabuza attacked the formation, but Naruto blocked his sword strike and disrupted his plan to trap Kakashi.
• Kakashi and Zabuza exchanged Water Style attacks, and Kakashi defeated Zabuza with the Great Waterfall Technique.
• A masked youth struck Zabuza with senbon and claimed to be a Hidden Mist hunter-nin before taking his body.
• Kakashi told Team 7 to continue the mission, then fainted from overusing his Sharingan, and Naruto caught him.

After recovering from his collapse, Kakashi warned the group that Zabuza might still be alive and began training Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura. He took Naruto aside to test his chakra nature, while Naruto already knew he was naturally suited to Wind Release.

• Naruto carried the unconscious Kakashi to Tazuna's home, where Kakashi woke the next morning and told Naruto to keep his face a secret.
• Kakashi explained to Sasuke that his Sharingan was a memento from a former comrade, then warned everyone that Zabuza might not be dead.
• Tazuna introduced his grandson Inari, who insisted that anyone resisting Gato would die, and Tsunami led him away.
• Kakashi began teaching the team chakra control, assigning Sasuke and Sakura tree-climbing practice while taking Naruto for further training.
• Kakashi explained chakra natures and handed Naruto a chakra test paper, while Naruto recalled that Wind was his strongest nature and that he had already been secretly practicing it.

Naruto discovered that he had both Wind and Water chakra natures and persuaded Kakashi to teach him the Rasengan. While training with Shadow Clones, Naruto confronted Inari, who remained convinced they could not defeat Gato.

• Naruto’s chakra test paper showed Wind and Water natures, and the Nine-Tails explained that Naruto had inherited Awen’s Water nature after absorbing part of Awen’s soul.
• Kakashi demonstrated the Rasengan and agreed to let Naruto learn it, though he admitted he did not know how to teach the technique step by step.
• Naruto summoned hundreds of Shadow Clones to train, but Kakashi limited him to fifty Clones and three hours per session because of the strain and the risk of the Nine-Tails’ chakra leaking out.
• Naruto followed Kakashi’s restrictions and began training with fifty Shadow Clones while Kakashi went to check on Sasuke and Sakura.
• Naruto found Inari watching the training and told him that the future could still be saved, but Inari insisted that nothing mattered because Keisha would not return and walked away.

Naruto mastered the Rasengan and discussed how memories from another world might help him develop the Flying Thunder God Technique. He then met Haku, who was a girl in this world, and immediately developed a crush on her.

• Naruto mastered the Rasengan and showed it to Kurama, who barely reacted while watching a movie.
• Naruto and Kurama discussed how insights from Awen's memories could help Naruto expand the possibilities of the Flying Thunder God Technique.
• Kurama noticed Haku approaching and kicked Naruto out of the inner world, then commented that Haku was a girl.
• Haku found Naruto asleep in the woods, considered killing him, then woke him instead.
• Naruto blushed at Haku's appearance, introduced himself as the future Hokage, and felt embarrassed when she treated him like a child.

Naruto met Haku in the forest and encouraged her to believe that her past did not have to determine her future. Days later, Zabuza and masked Haku attacked the bridge, leaving Naruto to face Haku while Kakashi confronted Zabuza and Sasuke protected Tazuna.

• At breakfast, Kakashi reassured everyone that Naruto was safely training at night and had reached the final stage of his Rasengan practice.
• Naruto gathered herbs with Haku, shared his dream of becoming Hokage, and encouraged her to trust that the person she cared about cared for her too.
• Haku revealed that she was a man before leaving, and Sasuke found Naruto in the forest and urged him not to forget to eat.
• Several days later, Kakashi took Naruto and Sasuke to guard the nearly completed bridge while Sakura stayed behind to protect Tazuna's family.
• Zabuza and masked Haku emerged from the mist, and Naruto stepped forward to fight Haku as Kakashi faced Zabuza and Sasuke led Tazuna away.

Haku defeated Naruto with her Ice Release techniques after Naruto lured her away from the battle between Kakashi and Zabuza. She carried the unconscious Naruto toward shore while the Nine-Tails mocked his weakness.

• Haku disarmed Naruto, struck him, and followed him off the bridge when he pulled her into the sea.
• Zabuza used the Hidden Mist Technique to counter Kakashi's Sharingan and claimed he had discovered its weakness.
• Naruto recognized Haku, praised her, and summoned thousands of Shadow Clones to keep her from returning to Zabuza.
• Haku used Demonic Mirroring Ice Crystals and Water Dragon Jutsu to destroy most of Naruto's clones.
• Haku pierced Naruto with Senbon, rendered him unconscious, and carried him toward shore.
• The Nine-Tails laughed at Naruto and told him he was too weak to fight on his own.

Naruto used the Nine-Tails’ chakra to defeat Haku without killing her, while Kakashi gravely wounded Zabuza on the bridge. Naruto’s return awakened Sasuke’s Sharingan, and Gato and his samurai approached as the fight remained unresolved.

• Naruto transformed into One-Tail Naruto, broke Haku’s Ice Mirror, and captured her with Nine-Tails chakra.
• Naruto refused to kill Haku and knocked her unconscious before carrying her away.
• Kakashi broke Zabuza’s Hidden Mist Technique, pinned him with ninja hounds, and pierced his chest with Raikiri.
• Naruto returned to the bridge carrying Haku, shocking Zabuza and reassuring Kakashi and Sasuke.
• Sasuke awakened his Sharingan after seeing Naruto’s strength, while Gato and his samurai looked down on the defeated Zabuza.

Team 7 and the villagers defeated Gatō’s thugs, completed the bridge, and said goodbye to Zabuza and Haku before returning to Konoha. Naruto hurried home, Kakashi reported to the Hokage, Sasuke prepared to train, and Sakura was left alone.

• Naruto and Sasuke attacked Gatō’s men, Sasuke killed Gatō, and the villagers helped drive the remaining thugs into surrender.
• Kakashi treated Zabuza, and Haku learned that Zabuza had survived; the Land of Waves mission was completed with the villagers’ help.
• Haku told Team 7 that she and Zabuza planned to leave after Zabuza recovered, and she invited them to the Naruto Festival celebrating the bridge.
• The villagers held the Naruto Festival, naming the bridge Naruto Bridge, and Team 7 departed for Konoha the following morning.
• Naruto hurried home after returning to Konoha, Kakashi went to report the mission, Sasuke went home to prepare for training, and Sakura was left alone.

After returning from the Land of Waves, Naruto asked Kurama to teach him the Flying Thunder God Technique and bought a chakra-conducting weapon to practice with. He learned that Tenten’s Team 3 would take the Chunin Exams next year because Might Guy wanted them to compete with Kakashi’s team.

• Naruto reflected on the Land of Waves mission and wondered where Zabuza and Haku had gone.
• Naruto asked Kurama to teach him the Flying Thunder God Technique, and Kurama wrote it onto a scroll for him.
• Naruto visited a Konoha weapon shop and met Tenten, who offered him a senior’s discount.
• Naruto bought a chakra-conducting Chakra Dagger to help him practice the technique.
• Tenten told Naruto that Might Guy had delayed Team 3’s Chunin Exams so they could compete with Kakashi’s team next year.

Naruto practiced the Summoning Jutsu and managed to reverse-summon himself to his Chakra Dagger, but the attempt left him naked and revealed that his Flying Thunder God technique was still unreliable. After Team 7 reunited for its daily mission, a Jonin assembly signal announced that the Chunin Exams were approaching.

• Naruto trained for six days and successfully reverse-summoned himself to his Chakra Dagger, leaving his clothes behind.
• Kurama laughed at Naruto's mishap and explained that reverse summoning with Flying Thunder God Marks could teleport him without his clothes because his chakra control was inadequate.
• After the seven-day vacation, Naruto could use the Rasengan one-handed, while Sasuke improved his skills and learned Kakashi's signature ninjutsu after revealing his lightning nature.
• Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura waited for Kakashi on the bridge, and Naruto mocked Kakashi's excuse for being late by describing staged accidents.
• An eagle's cry signaled a Jonin assembly, and Kakashi dismissed Team 7 as Naruto realized that the Chunin Exams were about to begin.

Naruto encountered Kankuro, Temari, and Gaara as the Chunin Ninja Exams approached, revealing his awareness of their abilities and standing up to Kankuro’s provocation. Gaara left with a murderous interest in Naruto, while Naruto went to lunch with Konohamaru, Moegi, and Udon.

• Naruto told Konohamaru, Moegi, and Udon he could not play because he needed to prepare for the Chunin Ninja Exams.
• Kankuro mocked Naruto and his friends, but Naruto identified Kankuro as a puppeteer and Temari as a Wind Release user.
• Naruto cut Kankuro’s chakra thread with Wind-nature chakra and taunted him with his own words.
• Naruto confronted Gaara, introduced himself as the future Hokage, and learned Gaara hoped to meet him in the exams.
• Naruto treated Konohamaru, Moegi, and Udon to lunch while Gaara watched and vowed to kill him.

Kakashi recommended Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura for the Chunin selection exam, and Naruto invited them to a movie before it began. At the theater, Sakura’s hoped-for outing with Sasuke was thwarted by an aisle between their seats, while Naruto sat beside a disguised woman who seemed familiar.

• Kakashi gave Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura application forms for the Chunin selection exam and told them to submit them by the following afternoon.
• Naruto told Sakura and Sasuke about Gaara, Neji Hyuga, Rock Lee, and Tenten, and he and Sasuke looked forward to fighting each other.
• Naruto invited Sasuke and Sakura to watch The Adventures of Princess Gale, and they went with him to the cinema.
• Sakura discovered that an aisle separated her seat from Sasuke’s, while Naruto sat farther forward beside a masked woman in disguise.
• Naruto noticed the woman’s familiar fragrance, then turned his attention to the movie as it began.

Naruto and his friends met the star Fujikaze Yukie after watching her film, but she rejected their requests for autographs and insisted she would never return to the Land of Snow. Sandayu resolved to get her there anyway, believing it was their only hope.

• Naruto watched The Great Adventure of Princess Gale and excitedly recognized the disguised Fujikaze Yukie outside the theater.
• Naruto chased Fujikaze Yukie and asked for her autograph, but she tore his poster, crushed his pen, and dismissed him and Sakura.
• Sakura criticized Fujikaze Yukie, while Naruto recovered and said he would still get Princess Gale’s autograph someday; Sasuke left after reminding them the Chunin Ninja Exams were tomorrow.
• Fujikaze Yukie told Sandayu she would absolutely not go to the Land of Snow, and Sandayu resolved to make her go because he believed it was their only hope.

Team 7 encountered Neji Hyuga, Tenten, and Rock Lee outside the Chunin Ninja Exams classroom, then uncovered a genjutsu meant to test the examinees. Rock Lee challenged Sasuke to a fight as Naruto and Sakura continued toward registration, leaving Sasuke to face him with the deadline approaching.

• Sakura worried that her weakness would hold Naruto and Sasuke back during the Chunin Ninja Exams.
• Naruto met Tenten, Neji Hyuga, and Rock Lee outside Classroom 301, where two disguised ninjas were turning away examinees.
• Sasuke recognized the genjutsu that made the second-floor classroom appear to be on the third floor, and Sakura identified the deception aloud.
• Rock Lee and Tenten restrained the disguised ninjas, who later revealed themselves as Konoha Jonin Izumo Kamizuki and Kotetsu Hagane.
• Rock Lee challenged Sasuke to a match, and Sasuke activated his Two-Tomoe Sharingan while Naruto and Sakura headed toward registration.

Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura reached Classroom 301 to take the Chunin Ninja Exams after Sasuke defeated Rock Lee in a spar and Naruto stopped the fight. Inside, they reunited with their classmates, and Sakura and Ino immediately began arguing over Sasuke.

• Sasuke adapted to Rock Lee's taijutsu and caught him in Sharingan genjutsu, but Naruto interrupted before Rock Lee could continue the fight.
• Might Guy appeared, scolded Rock Lee, and became stunned when Naruto repeated Kakashi's acorn joke about him.
• Kakashi told Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura that the exam required teams of three and praised them for choosing to take it.
• Ino embraced Sasuke, prompting Sakura to argue and fight with her while Sasuke slipped away.
• Kiba arrived with Akamaru, Shino, and Hinata, and Hinata shyly greeted Naruto.

Naruto took the Chunin Exams’ written test and, after consulting Kurama about the changing timeline, confidently answered every question. He passed the first round and advanced to the dangerous second exam in the Forest of Death.

• Naruto drew the other examinees’ attention with a loud declaration, but Ibiki Morino interrupted the brewing confrontation and began the first exam.
• Naruto asked Kurama for help, but Kurama told him to trust his intelligence and handle the test himself.
• Naruto realized he could use what he knew about Orochimaru and his own abilities, then returned to the exam and began writing.
• Ibiki Morino and Hinata suspected Naruto had cheated after seeing his answers, while Ino stopped preparing to help him.
• Naruto passed the written exam and advanced to the second round at Training Ground 44, where the danger was real.