Chapter Summaries

Sasuke and Naruto defeated Haku, allowing Madara to make Zabuza submit and leave them tied up. Madara’s personal guards then confronted Zabuza, and their leader easily defeated him before Madara returned.

• Sasuke and Naruto teamed up to subdue Haku and dispel his Demonic Mirroring Ice Crystals.
• Madara told Naruto and the others that he had reached an agreement with Zabuza, then had them tie Zabuza and Haku to trees before leaving.
• Three masked ANBU appeared and freed Zabuza, while their leader challenged him to a fight.
• Zabuza attacked Madara’s guard leader with his great sword, but the guard defeated him despite Zabuza’s injuries.
• Madara returned to find Zabuza beaten, and his guards knelt before him as Zabuza reconsidered the possibility of killing the Mizukage.

Madara Uchiha spared Zabuza and sent him to deal with Gato, then used the captured tycoon’s information to arrange a takeover of his company. The chapter ended with Zabuza questioning Madara’s decision to divide his forces when they were already short-handed.

• Zabuza led Madara, Ajin, and the others to Gato’s villa in the Land of Waves.
• Zabuza used the Hidden Mist Technique to attack Gato’s villa and killed the guards before bringing Gato to Madara.
• Madara used his Sharingan to extract information about Gato’s business and ordered his men to have Chinatsu take over the company.
• Madara gave a subordinate Gato’s records and seal, and assigned him and Uchiha Itsuki to guard Chinatsu.
• Zabuza complained that Madara was splitting up his forces instead of taking them to kill the Fourth Mizukage.

Madara, Ajin, and Zabuza entered Kirigakure to assess how to overthrow the Fourth Mizukage without worsening the village’s suffering. Zabuza identified Master Kūkai as the only person he might still trust, and the group arrived at a deserted temple.

• Madara explained that killing the Fourth Mizukage with only their group could leave Kirigakure vulnerable to a struggle for power and war, while Ajin scolded Zabuza for acting alone and told him to follow Itachi as his master.
• Madara left Haku and Kaito hidden outside Kirigakure, while Zabuza led Madara and Ajin through the village’s Sensory Barrier.
• Zabuza described how the Bloody Mist Village’s policies had destroyed trust between its shinobi and left its streets nearly deserted.
• Zabuza said Master Kūkai was probably the only person in Kirigakure he could trust, and led Madara and Ajin to an empty temple.

Madara Uchiha entered a temple to offer help to Kirigakure, where he and his companions confronted Kūkai, Mei Terumi, and Ao. Kūkai sensed that Madara was dangerously powerful and warned himself not to provoke him.

• Madara met Kūkai in the temple and said he had come to help Kirigakure escape its sea of suffering.
• Madara's chakra clashed with a powerful force from behind a guardian statue, and Mei Terumi and Ao emerged alongside Ajin and Zabuza.
• Mei challenged Zabuza, while Madara introduced himself as Uchiha Itachi of Konoha and said he had come to make a deal.
• Zabuza identified Mei as a powerful Kirigakure ninja and Ao as a village leader with a Byakugan taken from the Hyuga Clan's Main Family.
• Ao prepared to attack Madara's group, but Kūkai stopped him and sensed that he must not anger Madara.

Madara Uchiha secured Kirigakure’s agreement to an alliance and then set out with Zabuza and Ajin to confront the Fourth Mizukage, Yagura. Mei Terumi and Ao followed, and the chapter ended as Zabuza used the Hidden Mist Technique against Yagura’s guards.

• Madara offered to help Mei Terumi, Ao, and Master Kūkai kill Yagura in exchange for an alliance and Kirigakure’s support once in the future.
• Madara added that Kirigakure should withdraw Zabuza’s wanted notice and allow him and his followers to return openly, and Master Kūkai accepted the conditions.
• Ao began outlining how they would work together, but Madara left with Zabuza and Ajin to attack Yagura immediately.
• Master Kūkai told Mei Terumi and Ao to follow Madara and protect themselves, and they went after the group.
• Ajin led Zabuza and Madara to Yagura on a lake, where Yagura’s guards emerged from the woods.
• Zabuza used the Hidden Mist Technique to confront Yagura’s guards while Madara faced Yagura.

Madara Uchiha killed the Fourth Mizukage Yagura after using Tsukuyomi to make him confront the atrocities committed under Obito’s genjutsu. Mei Terumi began purging Yagura’s followers, while Madara left Kirigakure to rebuild and honor its agreement with Konoha.

• Yagura attacked Madara with a Water Dragon Bullet, but Madara dodged and used Tsukuyomi to overwrite Obito’s genjutsu.
• Madara made Yagura witness the Bloody Mist’s atrocities, driving him into despair before he briefly found the resolve to atone.
• Madara cut off Yagura’s head, killing the Fourth Mizukage and causing the Three-Tails to die with him before it would be reborn.
• Ao and Mei Terumi arrived and saw Yagura’s corpse, and Mei ordered Kirigakure’s forces to eliminate every faction connected to him.
• Mei’s forces slaughtered the rebels around the lake as fighting spread through Kirigakure, and Madara departed after reminding Mei of their agreement.

Madara returned from Kirigakure and brought Zabuza and Haku into his service, while Konoha accepted Kirigakure’s alliance. At a village meeting, Hiruzen announced Konoha would host the Chunin Ninja Exams, and the rookie teams were recommended despite Iruka’s concerns.

• Madara returned to the Land of Waves, where Zabuza and Haku asked to serve under him, and he sent them to report to Ajin in Konoha.
• Kaito told Hiruzen that Kirigakure wanted an alliance, and Hiruzen approved the agreement.
• Madara returned to Konoha with Naruto and the others, and Hiruzen summoned the village’s ninja to announce Konoha would host the Chunin Ninja Exams.
• Hiruzen asked the rookie teams’ Jōnin to recommend eligible Genin, and Itachi, Kurenai, and Asuma recommended their teams.
• Iruka objected that the nine Genin were too inexperienced, but Asuma rejected his concern and defended his team’s readiness.

Madara backed Itachi’s decision to let the rookie squad enter the Chunin Ninja Exams, then entered the Forest of Death to investigate the dead Kusagakure ninja and seek Orochimaru. Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura passed their first fight but chose to keep looking for stronger opponents instead of heading straight to the tower.

• Madara declined to discuss Iruka’s objections, and the Third Hokage affirmed that he trusted Itachi’s judgment about the rookies taking the exams.
• Neji warned Tenten and Rock Lee not to underestimate Sasuke and Naruto because Madara was their instructor.
• Madara learned that Orochimaru had come to the village and entered the Forest of Death under the pretext of investigating three murdered Kusagakure ninja.
• Madara immobilized Anko with his killing intent, told her to search with her own people, and then disappeared into the forest.
• Naruto and Sasuke defeated three Amegakure ninja and took the Heaven and Earth Scrolls, while Sakura urged them to continue to the tower.
• Naruto told Sasuke he wanted to find and fight stronger opponents from other villages, and Sasuke was asked whether he felt the same.

Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura encountered Orochimaru disguised as a Kusagakure ninja, and Naruto and Sasuke fought together against him. They struck what appeared to be Orochimaru with kunai, but it turned out to be a substitute, and Orochimaru’s shuriken flew toward them.

• Sasuke and Naruto kept the team together when a gale tried to separate them.
• Orochimaru revealed himself in disguise and attacked the team with his killing intent, leaving Sakura frightened until Naruto encouraged her.
• Naruto and Sasuke fought Orochimaru, defeating his summoned python with a combined attack.
• Naruto and Sasuke used clones, shuriken, and wire to bind and stab Orochimaru, but their target turned out to be a substitute.
• Sasuke warned Naruto to get back as Orochimaru’s shuriken flew toward them.

Orochimaru attacked Sasuke and Naruto, sealed Naruto’s Nine-Tails power, and pushed Sasuke to awaken his two-tomoe Sharingan. Sasuke unleashed increasingly powerful fire techniques, ending with four fire dragons charging at Orochimaru.

• Sasuke shoved Naruto out of Orochimaru’s attack but was struck and kicked into a tree.
• Naruto’s anger awakened the Nine-Tails’ power, but Orochimaru defeated him and used the Five Elements Seal to suppress it.
• Sasuke’s Sharingan evolved to two tomoe, allowing him to dodge Orochimaru’s punch and land a counterattack.
• Sasuke trapped Orochimaru with shuriken wires and struck him with the Great Fireball and Dragon Fire techniques.
• Sasuke warned Sakura to stay back and launched the Dragon Flame Song Technique, sending four enormous fire dragons toward Orochimaru.

Madara Uchiha intervened when Orochimaru tried to recruit Sasuke and confronted him in the Forest of Death. Orochimaru withdrew to protect his plans, and Madara removed the Five Elements Seal from Naruto.

• Orochimaru praised Sasuke’s talent, defeated his Dragon Flame Song with an Earth-Style Wall, and offered to give him power if he followed him.
• Orochimaru attacked Sasuke, but Madara appeared and blocked him after watching Sasuke and Naruto fight.
• Orochimaru offered Madara a place as his subordinate, while Madara countered by telling him to return to Konoha and serve under him.
• Orochimaru decided to retreat before Anko and Konoha’s ANBU arrived, and disappeared from Madara’s sight.
• Sakura brought the unconscious Naruto to Madara, who removed Orochimaru’s Five Elements Seal from Naruto’s abdomen.

After Madara left Team 7 to fend for themselves, Sakura moved the unconscious Naruto and Sasuke to a cave and kept watch over them. Three Sound Ninja followed her trail, and one confronted her outside the cave, demanding Sasuke.

• Madara left Sakura to protect the unconscious Naruto and Sasuke on her own.
• Sakura hid Sasuke in a pit, carried Naruto to a cave, then returned for Sasuke and brought him there too.
• Sakura stayed awake in the dark to guard her teammates despite her exhaustion.
• Dosu Kinata, Zaku Abumi, and Kin Tsuchi found the battle site and followed Sakura's trail toward the cave.
• An unknown voice ordered Sakura out of the cave and demanded that she call Sasuke out.

Neji, Rock Lee, and Tenten arrived in time to save Sakura, Sasuke, and Naruto from Dosu's Sound Ninja team. After the Sound Ninja retreated, Sasuke told his friends about Orochimaru's attack and how his brother had saved them.

• Dosu, Zaku, and Kin confronted Sakura, and Zaku threatened to kill her because she knew about Orochimaru.
• Neji used Eight Trigrams: Rotation to knock the Sound Ninja Trio away and ordered them to leave.
• Neji stopped Zaku's Air Cannon by striking the chakra points in his arm, and Dosu led Kin and Zaku in retreat.
• Sakura thanked Neji, and Naruto and Sasuke woke up as Rock Lee and Tenten stood with their team.
• Sasuke explained that Orochimaru had nearly killed him and Naruto, and that his brother had arrived to save them.

Neji’s team joined Sasuke’s team after confirming they had the scrolls needed to pass the second exam, and both teams reached the Central Tower. At the Third Exam briefing, the Third Hokage explained that the exams were also a contest of national prestige and influence, leaving the young ninja to face the true stakes of the competition.

• Neji confirmed that Sasuke’s team had collected the Heaven and Earth Scrolls, and the two teams traveled together to the Central Tower.
• Madara praised Sakura for protecting her teammates, and Sakura resolved to become stronger.
• The twenty-one genin who passed gathered in the Arena, where Anko congratulated them and the Third Hokage introduced the Third Exam.
• The Third Hokage explained that the Chunin Exams had originated as a way for allied countries to compete without going to war.
• The Third Hokage told the genin that their battles would demonstrate their villages’ strength and affect national prestige and mission commissions.

Sasuke Uchiha defeated Aka Tō in the first preliminary match, while several other contestants advanced and Sakura Haruno and Ino Yamanaka drew. The chapter left off as Naruto was matched against Kiba Inuzuka for the seventh bout.

• Kabuto Yakushi withdrew from the preliminaries, and the electronic bulletin matched Sasuke Uchiha against Aka Tō for the first fight.
• Sasuke used his Sharingan, taijutsu, and shuriken to defeat Aka Tō without difficulty, drawing the attention of Gaara and Orochimaru.
• Shino Aburame defeated Zaku, and Kankuro defeated Misumi Tsurugi in the next two matches.
• Sakura Haruno and Ino Yamanaka drew and were both eliminated, while Temari defeated Tenten.
• Naruto was matched against Kiba Inuzuka in the seventh match, and both contestants were eager to fight.

Naruto faced Kiba and Akamaru in the Arena and showed that his taijutsu was far stronger than Kiba expected. After Kiba and Akamaru teamed up with their Beast-Man Clone and Fang Over Fang, Naruto used the Kage Clone Technique to create four copies of himself, leaving the match poised to continue.

• Naruto argued with Kiba about Akamaru joining the match, while Madara reflected on Konoha's unequal access to clan techniques.
• Kiba attacked with the Four Legs Technique, but Naruto blocked him and sent him flying with a spinning kick.
• Kiba used a Smoke Bomb and attacked with Akamaru, but Naruto fought them off by perception and knocked Akamaru away.
• Kiba fed Akamaru a Soldier Pill and used Beast-Man Clone, then the pair attacked Naruto together.
• Kiba and Akamaru launched Fang Over Fang, but Naruto climbed the Arena wall with chakra and created four clones using the Kage Clone Technique.

Naruto defeated Kiba in the Chunin Exams, and Neji faced Hinata as Hayato arrived to watch. The Third Hokage realized Madara had revealed the truth about Hizashi’s death to Neji and Hayato, leaving the Hyuga branch-family youths free of their hatred and perhaps able to challenge the Caged Bird Seal.

• Naruto used Shadow Clones and Taijutsu to defeat Kiba and Akamaru without being injured.
• Hayato arrived at the arena and encouraged Naruto, while Kurenai worried he might stop her from protecting Hinata.
• Neji offered Hinata the chance to withdraw before their match began.
• The Third Hokage recalled telling Madara that Hizashi had died in Hiashi’s place and warning him about Danzo’s plan to exploit Neji and Hayato.
• The Third Hokage concluded Madara had ignored his advice and likely told Neji and Hayato the truth, freeing them from their hatred of the Main Family.

Neji defeated Hinata, and Lee lost to Gaara after Guy intervened to save him from the jinchūriki’s lethal sand. After the preliminary matches ended, Madara learned that Jiraiya had returned to the village and went to meet him.

• Hinata refused Neji’s suggestion to withdraw, but Neji knocked her unconscious and won their match.
• Hayato warned Guy that Gaara was Sunagakure’s jinchūriki and that Lee faced a dangerous opponent.
• Lee removed his weights and opened the Eight Gates, but Gaara still overwhelmed him, so Guy ended the match before Lee could be killed.
• Choji lost his match against Dosu, bringing the preliminary rounds to a close.
• A Uchiha ninja told Madara that Jiraiya had returned to the village, and Madara left to meet him.

Jiraiya returned to Konoha and asked Madara to let him teach Naruto, but Madara challenged his strength and knowledge before agreeing. Jiraiya ended the meeting by preparing to prove his teaching abilities.

• Jiraiya met Madara on a rooftop and asked him to hand Naruto over for training.
• Jiraiya summoned a toad to intimidate Madara, but Madara's killing intent and the hidden ANBU stopped him from attacking.
• Jiraiya explained that he wanted to protect Naruto from the Akatsuki, and Madara revealed that he already knew about the organization and its plans for the tailed beasts.
• Jiraiya cited his experience teaching the Fourth Hokage, and Madara said he could teach Naruto if he first proved what he could teach him.
• Jiraiya sighed and pulled out a scroll to demonstrate his abilities.

Madara watched the Chunin Ninja Exams begin after giving Jiraiya one month to improve Naruto, while he and Fugaku prepared for a possible Sunagakure threat. Naruto and Neji began the first match, and Naruto opened with a Shadow Clone attack as Madara questioned whether Jiraiya had improved Naruto’s speed.

• Madara gave Jiraiya one month to teach Naruto and left him to earn Naruto’s trust.
• Madara noticed many Sunagakure ninja among the spectators and told Fugaku to guard the Konoha Gate while he attended the matches.
• Madara greeted Guy, Kakashi, and Sasuke at the arena, where Sasuke showed his excitement at seeing his brother.
• Gekko Hayate began the first official match between Naruto Uzumaki and Neji Hyuga.
• Naruto used shuriken to distract Neji, then sent four Shadow Clones charging at him.
• Madara frowned at Naruto’s unchanged speed while Rock Lee praised his taijutsu.