Recaps

After Hayato Hyuga struggled with the aftermath of killing the bandits, Madara Uchiha challenged him about his lack of Rotation, and Sosuke confirmed the bandits had no larger force behind them. Kazuhiko Sarutobi refused Shizuko’s request to eliminate the survivors, but Hayato then walked toward the remaining bandits.

• Kazuhiko Sarutobi reprimanded Hayato Hyuga for treating missions like pretend after Hayato complained about Madara Uchiha.
• Madara Uchiha asked whether Hayato knew Rotation, and Sosuke explained that the Hyuga Clan’s Main Family withheld the technique from branch family members.
• Sosuke reported that the bandits were displaced villagers acting on their own, with no higher-level force behind them.
• Kazuhiko Sarutobi told Shizuko that killing the surviving bandits would cost extra and said he wanted to get Hayato away from the scene.
• Hayato Hyuga began walking toward the bandits who were still alive.

Hayato Hyuga killed the bandits until Orochimaru appeared and swallowed their leader with a giant python. Orochimaru spared Kazuhiko Sarutobi’s team, leaving them shaken as he continued his work in the Land of Rice Fields.

• Hayato Hyuga killed the surviving bandits, growing accustomed to killing as he went.
• Kazuhiko Sarutobi warned Hayato of an approaching attack, but a giant python swallowed the bandit leader.
• Orochimaru appeared atop the python, and Kazuhiko recognized the rogue ninja and warned Hayato not to provoke him.
• Orochimaru released his killing intent, causing Shizuko and the others to faint while Hayato struggled to endure it.
• Madara Uchiha deduced that Orochimaru was eliminating outlaws to gain the Land of Rice Fields daimyo’s trust and secure a base.
• Orochimaru spared Kazuhiko’s team and asked him to give Lord Hokage his regards.

After Orochimaru vanished, Kazuhiko Sarutobi’s squad completed its mission safely and began returning to Konoha. On the way, Madara Uchiha challenged the Hyuga Clan’s traditional limits and suggested Hayato Hyuga develop a new way to use Gentle Fist.

• Kazuhiko Sarutobi warned Hayato Hyuga that Orochimaru was a powerful rogue ninja and told him to avoid the man.
• Kazuhiko Sarutobi’s team escorted Shizuko’s group to their destination and completed its first C-Rank Mission without further trouble.
• Hayato Hyuga trained during the return journey and declared Madara Uchiha his rival.
• Madara Uchiha questioned why the Hyuga Clan relied on Gentle Fist rather than kunai, and Kazuhiko Sarutobi explained the style’s internal damage.
• Madara Uchiha proposed that Hayato Hyuga use a kunai to channel chakra and forge his own fighting style, since the branch family restricted his access to advanced techniques.

Madara Uchiha challenged Hayato Hyuga to consider paths beyond the Hyuga Clan’s restricted techniques, but Hayato rejected his advice. After the squad returned to Konoha and celebrated with Kazuhiko Sarutobi, Uchiha hardliners confronted Madara about associating with other clans.

• Madara Uchiha criticized the clans’ stagnation and urged Hayato Hyuga to develop his Byakugan rather than rely solely on the Hyuga Clan’s techniques.
• Hayato rejected Madara’s suggestions, insisting that Hizashi would teach him the clan’s advanced techniques, while Kazuhiko Sarutobi doubted that would happen.
• Kazuhiko told Madara to teach Hayato chakra control, but Madara refused and left Kazuhiko to train him.
• Hayato shouted that he would defeat Uchiha Itachi someday as the squad continued toward Konoha.
• Kazuhiko taught Hayato along the way, and the squad returned safely to Konoha, where Kazuhiko treated them to a feast.
• Three Uchiha hardliners cornered Madara in an alley and criticized him for spending time with members of other clans.

Madara Uchiha defeated three Uchiha boys who challenged him and invited them to face him again at the clan training ground. The next day, he brought Sasuke Uchiha to meet them there.

• Uchiha Nobuo and his two companions cornered Madara Uchiha and accused him of neglecting the Uchiha Clan.
• Madara Uchiha easily defeated all three despite their activated one-tomoe Sharingan and warned them not to rely on their eyes alone.
• Madara Uchiha challenged the boys to return the next day and bring other young Uchiha to compete against him.
• Madara Uchiha brought Sasuke Uchiha to the Third Training Ground, where the three boys were already waiting.

Madara Uchiha brought Sasuke to a reserved Training Ground, where he dismissed Nobuo and his companions as supporting cast before accepting their challenges. He defeated Itsuki in a shuriken contest and prepared to face Moku in a ninjutsu test.

• Madara Uchiha explained that he had brought Sasuke to train and play, while Nobuo and the others were merely there as a side dish.
• Itsuki challenged Madara Uchiha to a shuriken contest, and Nobuo signaled the start.
• Madara Uchiha used five shuriken to deflect all twenty of Itsuki's and hit the five targets behind him dead center, then threw his remaining shuriken into the targets.
• Itsuki admitted defeat, and Moku challenged Madara Uchiha to break through his ninjutsu defenses.
• Madara Uchiha suggested Moku cast his defense before moving to the side, and Moku accepted.

Madara Uchiha defeated Itsuki, Moku, and Nobuo in their contests, winning their recognition as the strongest among them. Meanwhile, Hayato Hyuga learned that the Hyuga Clan’s rules barred him from learning the Main Family’s secret techniques.

• Madara told Moku he would use Fire Release: Great Fireball, then overwhelmed Moku’s Water Dragon Bullet and won the ninjutsu contest.
• Nobuo challenged Madara to a Genjutsu contest, but Madara turned Nobuo’s attack against him and won immediately.
• Madara urged the three boys to prove their strength through action, and they accepted him as their leader and spread word of his abilities among the clan’s younger generation.
• Hayato demanded that Hizashi teach him advanced Hyuga techniques so he could protect the clan and grow stronger.
• Hizashi explained that branch-family members could not learn the Main Family’s secret techniques without the clan head’s approval.

Hayato Hyuga persuaded his teammates to seek permission to enter the Chunin Shinobi Exams, hoping to prove himself to the Hyuga Main Family. Madara Uchiha witnessed Naruto Uzumaki being shunned by Konoha villagers, while Kazuhiko Sarutobi advised the team to wait another year before taking the exams.

• Hayato Hyuga decided to pursue the Chunin Shinobi Exams to attract Lord Hiashi's attention, and Madara Uchiha agreed while Sosuke raised objections.
• Hayato persuaded Sosuke to support the plan, and Madara stepped outside to escape his teammate's nagging.
• Madara saw two-year-old Naruto Uzumaki seek affection from villagers, who avoided him until a masked ninja carried him away.
• Madara angrily reflected on Konoha's treatment of Naruto and considered taking him in, but knew Danzo and the Third Hokage would prevent it.
• Kazuhiko Sarutobi heard the team's request and advised Hayato, Sosuke, and Madara to remain together for another year before taking the exams.

Kazuhiko explained the dangers of the Chunin Ninja Exams and gave Madara Uchiha, Hayato Hyuga, and Sōsuke Aburame registration forms. All three signed up immediately, and Kazuhiko told the examiners to assess Hayato and Sōsuke but not Madara.

• After Hayato Hyuga spent a month pestering him, Kazuhiko agreed to register the team for the Chunin Ninja Exams.
• Kazuhiko explained that the exams would take place in Sunagakure and warned the Genin that candidates could be killed.
• Hayato hesitated over the risk to his teammates, but Madara Uchiha signed his form and challenged Hayato into signing as well.
• Sōsuke Aburame signed after his teammates, and the three Genin left Kazuhiko.
• Three Chunin examiners appeared, and Kazuhiko asked them to test Hayato and Sōsuke while exempting Madara.

As the Konoha group prepared to leave for Sunagakure's Chunin Ninja Exams, Naoto Hyuga mocked the young Madara Uchiha, and Shisui Uchiha stepped in to defend him. Hayato Hyuga apologized for watching instead of supporting his teammate, while Kazuhiko Sarutobi warned Naoto to make amends before the group departed.

• Kazuhiko Sarutobi refused to let the Chunin test Madara Uchiha, saying he trusted Madara's strength and feared he might kill them.
• At the departure point for Sunagakure, Naoto Hyuga mocked Madara and questioned whether an eight-year-old belonged in the exams.
• Shisui Uchiha threw his Ninja Blade past Naoto's cheek, silenced him, and scolded him for bullying a comrade.
• Shisui rebuked Hayato Hyuga for enjoying the quarrel instead of standing up for Madara, and Hayato apologized to them both.
• Kazuhiko Sarutobi arrived, identified Madara as his prized subordinate, and warned Naoto to apologize and Hayato to stop treating Madara like hired muscle.

Madara Uchiha and the Konoha delegation arrived in Sunagakure, where they endured the village’s harsh conditions. Two days later, Kumogakure’s team arrived and defied Sunagakure’s rules, leaving Arakawa Kiba forced to tolerate their insults and unauthorized movements.

• Kazuhiko Sarutobi led Madara Uchiha and the others safely to Sunagakure, where they were assigned poor lodgings.
• Yū Inuzuka complained about Sunagakure’s conditions, and another Konoha Genin reminded him to show courtesy on someone else’s territory.
• Kumogakure’s leader challenged Sunagakure’s restrictions and threatened war, while his Genin loudly supported him.
• Arakawa Kiba restrained himself because the Kazekage had ordered him to protect Kumogakure’s Genin and avoid provoking a war.
• Kumogakure’s leader led his team past Arakawa Kiba to tour the village, and the Genin mocked Sunagakure as Arakawa swallowed his anger.

Kazuhiko Sarutobi restrained Konoha’s Genin as Sunagakure eased its movement restrictions after Iwagakure arrived. The Chunin Ninja Exams began with a desert route test, and Madara Uchiha’s team stayed behind to plan how to find food and water.

• Kazuhiko Sarutobi warned the Konoha Genin not to leave their camp or provoke Sunagakure, then promised to raise their complaints with the Kazekage.
• After Iwagakure’s ninja also ignored Sunagakure’s restrictions, Sunagakure lifted the rules for the other villages.
• Arakawa Kiba explained that the first exam round required Genin to follow a marked map to their destination while finding their own food and water.
• The Kumogakure ninja and other candidates rushed through the gates, while Madara Uchiha and Sōsuke Aburame held back with Hayato Hyuga.
• Sōsuke Aburame explained that the long desert route tested how candidates secured food and water, especially since his clan’s insects needed extra supplies.

Hayato, Sosuke, and Madara followed a Sunagakure team through the desert to learn how to find water and food for the chunin exams. After Madara cooked their catch and they ate, they decided to leave the team behind and pick up the pace.

• Sosuke explained that his insects had identified three Sunagakure teams assigned to demonstrate desert survival, and Hayato led the group in tracking one of them.
• Hayato used the Sunagakure team’s example to find groundwater where plants grew, but the group later grew hungry.
• Hayato gathered lizards and insects for food, while he and Sosuke hesitated to eat them raw.
• Madara used Fire Release to cook the food, and Hayato and Sosuke joined him in eating.
• Madara proposed that they stop following the slow-moving Sunagakure team and continue toward their destination faster.

Madara Uchiha and his teammates crossed the desert and passed Sunagakure’s first-round exam by recognizing its two qualifying conditions. After the candidates were reduced to twenty-seven, Arakawa Kiba announced that the preliminaries would begin the next day.

• Madara Uchiha and his teammates reached the midpoint of the desert march, where many exhausted candidates, including Naoto Hyuga’s team, gave up at the steep descent.
• Madara, Sosuke, and Hayato Hyuga rode a board down the slope, and Arakawa Kiba declared that they had passed the first round.
• Madara explained that candidates passed either by understanding the exam and being able to complete the journey safely or by showing determination to continue despite hardship, and Arakawa confirmed his explanation.
• Madara’s team waited with the other successful candidates as the remaining teams arrived; only twenty-seven of the original candidates passed, and theirs was the only Konoha team to qualify.
• Arakawa announced that the preliminaries would begin the next day with one-on-one matches, and that fourteen candidates would advance to the main tournament.

At the Chūnin Exam preliminaries in Sunagakure, Sandō Raikō threatened Madara Uchiha and his teammates before Arakawa Kiba began the random draw. The draw ended with Sōsuke Aburame advancing directly to the main tournament, while the other candidates prepared to learn their matchups.

• Sandō Raikō approached Madara Uchiha, Hayato Hyuga, and Sōsuke Aburame, then threatened to take Madara's Sharingan and belittled Hayato for being from the Hyuga Branch Family.
• Hayato stepped in to defend Madara, but Arakawa Kiba used his killing intent to stop the confrontation and announced the preliminary rules.
• Arakawa Kiba explained that candidates would draw lots for random one-on-one matches, with one lot granting a direct place in the main tournament.
• Sandō Raikō mocked Hayato before drawing lots with his teammates, and the other teams followed in order.
• Sōsuke Aburame drew Sunagakure's emblem and advanced directly to the main tournament, surprising Hayato.

Hayato Hyuga faced Tetsuya Raikō in the first match of the Chunin Ninja Exams, where Tetsuya taunted him about the Hyuga Branch Family and used Lightning Flash to blind his Byakugan. Hayato regained the advantage by attacking Tetsuya’s acupoints, then considered striking the point near Tetsuya’s heart.

• Madara Uchiha drew the final match number while Hayato Hyuga drew number one, and Hayato was paired against Tetsuya Raikō of Kumogakure.
• Tetsuya taunted Hayato about the Hyuga Branch Family and claimed that the Main Family could control his life regardless of his rank.
• Tetsuya used Lightning Flash to blind Hayato, then knocked him down and nearly crushed him with a stomp.
• Hayato dodged Tetsuya’s attacks and suddenly struck his back, using his Byakugan to paralyze all four of Tetsuya’s limbs.
• Hayato considered striking the acupoint near Tetsuya’s heart to kill him.

Madara Uchiha killed Sandō Raikō with Majestic Destroyer Flame during the final preliminary match, provoking Sandō’s instructor, Arashi Yakō, to attack him. The chapter ended with Madara calmly challenging Arashi as Kazuhiko Sarutobi and Arakawa Kiba moved to intervene.

• Hayato Hyuga defeated Tetsuya Raikō with a feint and a Gentle Fist strike, then cheered against Kumogakure’s contestants.
• Madara Uchiha was paired with Sandō Raikō, who mocked him and threatened to take his eyes.
• Madara Uchiha unleashed Majestic Destroyer Flame as the match began, killing Sandō Raikō in the arena.
• Arashi Yakō accused Madara Uchiha of murder and charged into the arena, while Arakawa Kiba and Kazuhiko Sarutobi confronted him.
• Madara Uchiha asked Arashi Yakō whether he wanted to fight too.

Madara Uchiha intimidated Arashi Yakō into backing down, then agreed to train Hayato Hyuga for the upcoming Chunin finals. After defeating Hayato repeatedly in taijutsu and teaching him the fundamentals, Madara began chakra-control training and planned to teach him Eight Trigrams Vacuum Palm.

• Madara Uchiha and the others prepared to fight when Arashi Yakō threatened them, but Fourth Kazekage Rasa intervened and Arashi apologized.
• Hayato Hyuga admitted that Madara was far stronger than he was and asked him for training.
• Madara agreed to teach Hayato, then defeated him repeatedly in a taijutsu sparring match.
• Madara taught Hayato basic force-generating movements and corrected his footwork before Hayato practiced on his own.
• After Hayato mastered the fundamentals, Madara began teaching him chakra control and introduced Eight Trigrams Vacuum Palm.

Madara taught Hayato the basics of the Eight Trigrams Vacuum Palm, and Hayato trained under him for a month before the Chunin Ninja Exams tournament began. Madara drew Shachuan Mugan in the first match, but Mugan forfeited before they fought.

• Madara explained the Eight Trigrams Vacuum Palm and demonstrated a chakra shock wave for Hayato.
• Hayato accepted Madara’s superiority and trained under his guidance for a month.
• Kazuhiko Sarutobi warned his students that exam performance, not just victories, could earn them promotion to Chunin.
• Madara drew the first match and Hayato drew the seventh, leaving Hayato relieved that he would not face Madara.
• Arakawa Kiba announced Madara’s match against Sunagakure’s Shachuan Mugan.
• Shachuan Mugan forfeited rather than fight Madara.

After Madara Uchiha accepted the Hokage’s order to hold back, Kazuhiko promised he would be promoted to chunin regardless of his next match. Hayato Hyuga then faced Sato Ei of Sunagakure, who aimed to restore his village’s pride.

• Spectators and the Daimyo of the Land of Wind protested when Shachuan Mugan forfeited against Madara Uchiha, and the daimyo threatened to cut Sunagakure’s funding.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi explained that Madara was an exceptionally powerful eight-year-old who had accidentally killed a Kumogakure ninja, and promised he would be ordered not to use lethal force.
• After an ANBU delivered Hiruzen’s order through Kazuhiko, Hayato objected, but Madara calmly agreed to hold back.
• Kazuhiko promised Madara that he had passed the chunin exams and would be promoted after the exams ended.
• Hayato Hyuga was matched against Sato Ei of Sunagakure, who vowed to beat him and reclaim his village’s pride.

Hayato Hyuga used Rotation and the Eight Trigrams Vacuum Palm to defeat Sato Ei and his puppets, then caught him before he hit the ground. Hayato advanced to the second round, while the Third Hokage approved of his restraint.

• Sato Ei summoned two puppets and attacked Hayato Hyuga with poisoned needles while keeping him at a distance.
• Hayato used Rotation to repel the attacks and smash Sato Ei's Humanoid Puppet, shocking the spectators and Kazuhiko Sarutobi.
• Hayato identified the Chakra Threads connecting Sato Ei to his puppets and severed them with a palm strike.
• Hayato struck Sato Ei's acupoints with the Eight Trigrams Vacuum Palm and destroyed both puppets.
• Hayato caught Sato Ei as he fell, and Arakawa Kiba declared Hayato the winner; the Third Hokage nodded in approval.

Sōsuke Aburame lost his match to Kazeya Fūya after secretly following Danzo’s order to let the Sunagakure ninja win. Hayato Hyuga confronted him in anger but forgave him and promised to protect him from suffering the same humiliation again.

• Hayato Hyuga encouraged Sosuke before his match, while Madara Uchiha chose to meditate instead of watching.
• Kazeya Fūya countered Sōsuke Aburame’s insect attacks with Wind Release and sand, forcing Sōsuke to surrender.
• Hayato punched Sōsuke in the viewing gallery and demanded an explanation, while Kazuhiko Sarutobi suspected Danzo had ordered Sōsuke to lose.
• Sōsuke said he had only obeyed orders, and Madara stopped Hayato from striking him again.
• Hayato helped Sōsuke up and promised he would never let him suffer that humiliation again.

Madara Uchiha and Hayato Hyuga were paired in the second round, but Hayato forfeited after realizing he could not match Madara and refused to be used to test his teammate. Madara advanced to the semifinals, where he was matched against Takuma Iwakawa, who dreaded facing him.

• Arakawa Kiba explained that contestants could be paired against their own teammates, and Madara Uchiha and Hayato Hyuga drew each other.
• Hayato Hyuga raised hopes of a dramatic duel but forfeited as soon as Arakawa Kiba started the match.
• The spectators cursed the repeated forfeits, while the Land of Wind's Daimyo angrily questioned Hayato's surrender and the Hokage and Kazekage offered explanations.
• Madara Uchiha praised Hayato for finally becoming smarter, and Hayato happily forgot his disappointment.
• Madara Uchiha, Takuma Iwakawa, Lingchuan Ling, and Kazeya Fūya advanced to the final four, with Madara paired against Takuma and Lingchuan paired against Kazeya.

Madara Uchiha defeated Takuma Iwakawa in the Chunin Ninja Exams semifinals while holding back and demonstrating the Hyuga Clan’s Gentle Fist. Madara advanced to the finals, and Hayato Hyuga learned from watching his combat techniques.

• Takuma Iwakawa nervously asked Madara Uchiha to spare him, and Madara promised not to kill him.
• Takuma attacked with Earth Release: Earth Dragon Bullet, but Madara countered with the Great Fireball Technique.
• Madara caught Takuma’s charge and redirected him into the arena wall with a chakra burst, which Hayato Hyuga recognized as similar to Rotation.
• Madara adopted the Gentle Fist stance and disrupted Takuma’s chakra while stopping him from completing another ninjutsu.
• Madara struck Takuma repeatedly until Takuma surrendered, sending Madara through to the finals and leaving Hayato impressed by what he had learned.

Madara Uchiha defeated Lingchuan Ling in the Chunin Ninja Exams final, then returned to Konoha with his teammates and accepted Hayato Hyuga as his student. On his second day back, Kazuhiko Sarutobi secretly led Madara to meet Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi, who had summoned him.

• Madara Uchiha quickly defeated Lingchuan Ling in the final, and Lingchuan Ling surrendered before Madara's short sword.
• The Third Hokage promoted Madara Uchiha, Hayato Hyuga, and Sōsuke Aburame to chunin, and Hayato knelt before Madara to ask to remain his student.
• Madara Uchiha returned to Konoha, reunited with Sasuke Uchiha, and was interrupted by Kazuhiko Sarutobi, who said Team One urgently needed him.
• After leaving the Uchiha Clan grounds, Kazuhiko Sarutobi revealed that Hiruzen Sarutobi had summoned Madara and led him to a secluded clearing outside Konoha.