Chapter Summaries

Neji defeated Hinata after realizing that the Hyuga Clan’s system, rather than any individual, had caused his resentment. Naruto then won his match against a Kumogakure genin, and Rock Lee began his preliminary fight against Gaara.

• Neji used the Gentle Fist against Hinata, then pushed her out of the arena and won their match.
• Naruto comforted Hinata, who accepted her loss and praised his confidence.
• Naruto defeated a Kumogakure genin by wearing him down and finishing with Multiple Shadow Clones.
• Rock Lee faced Gaara, caught the stopper Gaara launched before the match began, and took his stance when Gekko Hayate called the start.

Rock Lee fought Gaara and removed his ankle weights to overcome Gaara’s automatic sand defense. Lee landed several blows and forced Gaara to reveal sand armor, leaving the fight unresolved.

• Gaara’s sand blocked Rock Lee’s attacks and even ambushed him, while Naruto argued with Kankuro in the stands.
• Rock Lee removed his heavy ankle weights and rushed past Gaara’s sand defense, striking him for the first time.
• Lee used his speed to break apart Gaara’s sand shield and knocked Gaara to the ground with a punch.
• Gaara stood back up as flakes of sand fell from his face, and Neji identified the sand armor covering his body.
• Kankuro and Temari realized that making Gaara use the armor meant Lee had put him in real danger.

Rock Lee used the Front Lotus against Gaara, but Gaara survived with a Sand Clone and attacked him. Lee opened the Eight Gates and unleashed the Reverse Lotus, leaving Gaara suspended in the air as the fight continued.

• Rock Lee struck Gaara with the Front Lotus, but Gekko Hayate discovered that the figure in the crater was a Sand Clone.
• Gaara attacked the injured Rock Lee with sand and declared that he intended to kill him.
• Rock Lee recovered his speed, and Might Guy revealed that he had taught Lee the Lotus technique.
• Rock Lee opened the third and fourth gates and overwhelmed Gaara with a barrage of attacks.
• Rock Lee opened the fifth gate, caught Gaara with a bandage, and began the Reverse Lotus.

Rock Lee fought Gaara fiercely but was defeated after Gaara broke his arm and leg, while Might Guy saved him from a fatal attack. The preliminaries ended, and Hiruzen Sarutobi drew the final exam pairings, which would take place in one month.

• Rock Lee exhausted himself with the Reverse Lotus, but Gaara survived by turning his gourd into sand and defeated him with Sand Binding Coffin.
• Might Guy stopped Gaara from killing Rock Lee and explained that he had saved him because Lee was his most beloved student.
• Though unconscious and gravely injured, Rock Lee stood up to fight again, and Gekko Hayate declared Gaara the winner.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi gathered the twenty finalists and began drawing their pairings for the final exam.
• Naruto Uzumaki was matched against Neji Hyuga, and Sasuke Uchiha was matched against Gaara.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi announced the remaining matchups and set the final exam for one month later.

Naruto asked Kakashi to teach him new ninjutsu before the Chunin Exam finals, then tried to study a technique Kushina had dictated from the Scroll of Seals. When Nohara Himawari (Rin) recognized the Flying Thunder God Technique on his scroll, she offered to teach him and revealed that she was super strong.

• Naruto celebrated passing the preliminaries with Kakashi, Hinata, and Sakura at Ichiraku Ramen and asked Kakashi to teach him new ninjutsu before the finals.
• Kakashi agreed to consider which techniques would suit Naruto and said he would teach him in a few days.
• Naruto trained early the next morning, but struggled to understand the technique Kushina had dictated from the Scroll of Seals.
• Kushina argued with the Nine-Tails after he laughed at Naruto's difficulty with the scroll.
• Nohara Himawari (Rin) gave Naruto fruit, recognized the scroll's technique as the Flying Thunder God Technique, and offered to teach him, saying she was super strong.

Rin revealed that she knew Flying Thunder God and Rasengan, then took Naruto outside Konoha and began teaching him ninjutsu. Naruto mastered Rasengan but struggled with Flying Thunder God, and he planned to train with Kakashi the next day.

• Rin demonstrated Flying Thunder God to Naruto and used it to take him away from the clearing.
• Kushina recognized the technique and wondered how Nohara Himawari knew Minato’s signature ninjutsu; the Nine-Tails joked that she might be Minato’s illegitimate daughter, enraging Kushina.
• Rin showed Naruto Rasengan and patiently taught him, and he returned to her for training over the next two days.
• Naruto mastered a basic Rasengan but struggled to grasp Flying Thunder God.
• Naruto told Rin he would learn ninjutsu from Kakashi the next day, and Rin offered to teach Kakashi a lesson if he neglected him.

Kakashi took Naruto to Ebisu for chakra-control training, but Naruto already knew or quickly mastered the exercises Ebisu taught him. The chapter ended with Ebisu charging at Jiraiya near the women’s bathhouse and getting hurled away by a giant toad.

• Naruto agreed to let Kakashi take him to a chakra-control specialist, provided Kakashi later taught him ninjutsu.
• Kakashi introduced Naruto to Ebisu, whom Naruto recognized as Konohamaru’s private tutor and teased about a past encounter.
• Ebisu bought Naruto ramen and took him to a river to teach him Water Walking, but Naruto showed he had already mastered it.
• Ebisu tried other chakra-control exercises, but Naruto already knew them or learned them almost immediately.
• Ebisu spotted Jiraiya crouching near the women’s bathhouse, charged at him, and was flung away by a giant toad.

Naruto persuaded Jiraiya to train him after exposing the Sannin’s weakness for his Sexy Jutsu. When Jiraiya offered to teach him the Rasengan, Naruto revealed that Sister Aoi had already taught it to him, leaving Jiraiya baffled.

• Naruto tried to wake the unconscious Ebisu, then confronted Jiraiya and demanded that he teach him ninjutsu.
• Kushina told Naruto that Jiraiya was Minato’s teacher and one of Konoha’s legendary Sannin.
• Naruto used the Sexy Jutsu to distract Jiraiya, who agreed to train him in exchange for Naruto helping with his research.
• Jiraiya praised Naruto’s fundamentals and offered to teach him the Rasengan.
• Naruto demonstrated a Rasengan he had learned from Sister Aoi, and Jiraiya wondered how she knew the jutsu.

Jiraiya learned that Nohara Himawari had taught Naruto the Rasengan and knew the Flying Thunder God Technique, leading him to suspect her identity and ask Hiruzen Sarutobi to investigate. Jiraiya proposed that she might be the supposedly dead Rin Nohara or an outsider who learned Minato’s techniques and returned to help Naruto.

• Naruto told Jiraiya that Nohara Himawari had taught him the Rasengan and knew the Flying Thunder God Technique.
• Jiraiya taught Naruto Fire Release: Flame Bullet, then went to the Hokage Building to ask Hiruzen Sarutobi about Nohara Himawari.
• Hiruzen said the ANBU had identified Himawari as a relative of the Nohara family and that Rin Nohara had died in the war.
• Jiraiya warned Hiruzen that Himawari knew the Rasengan and Flying Thunder God, and said Naruto had already learned the Rasengan from her.
• Jiraiya suggested Himawari might be the surviving Rin Nohara or an outsider who had learned Minato’s techniques and returned to repay a debt to Naruto.

Hiruzen Sarutobi tasked Jiraiya with investigating Nohara Himawari while keeping the matter quiet until the Joint Chunin Ninja Exams ended. As the final round began, Tetsuya joined the gathered Daimyo and watched the arena, anticipating the coming Konoha Crush Plan.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi agreed that someone might be targeting Naruto and asked Jiraiya to investigate Nohara Himawari while staying close to Naruto.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi ordered Jiraiya to keep the investigation secret until the Joint Chunin Ninja Exams were over.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi gave Tenzo a proposal to renovate the spectators' area for the Daimyo, and Tenzo completed the new pavilion.
• Tetsuya left his residence with Shinada of the Salamander and went to watch the final round of the exams.
• The Daimyo of the Land of Fire welcomed Tetsuya, who watched the pavilion where Hiruzen Sarutobi and the Kazekage would sit and discussed who might succeed Hiruzen.

The Chunin Exams final round began with Naruto Uzumaki facing Neji Hyuga. Neji countered Naruto’s attacks with the Hyuga clan’s techniques and followed up with an Eight Trigrams Vacuum Palm.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi opened the final round, and Tetsuya noticed Orochimaru disguised as the Kazekage while Gekko Hayate remained alive.
• Gekko Hayate announced Naruto Uzumaki and Neji Hyuga as the first contestants, while Hyuga Hiashi silently endured spectators’ insults about Neji’s Branch Family status.
• Naruto used Multiple Shadow Clones, but Neji defeated them all with Gentle Fist.
• Naruto attacked with Rasengan, but Neji repelled it using Eight Trigrams Palm, Rotation, astonishing the Hyuga clan members.
• Neji followed his counterattack with Eight Trigrams Vacuum Palm.

Naruto used Fire Release and shadow-clone tactics against Neji, but Neji overcame his trap and won the first match. As Sasuke and Gaara prepared to fight, Sound Ninja took their assigned positions throughout Konoha.

• Neji blocked Naruto’s Flame Bullet and a sea of fire with Rotation, while Naruto and Tetsuya explained Naruto’s large chakra reserves to the Daimyo of the Land of Fire.
• Naruto used shadow clones to restrain Neji and attacked with a Rasengan, but Neji broke free using his strength and threw Naruto out of the arena.
• Neji praised Naruto’s performance, and Gekko Hayate announced Neji Hyuga as the winner.
• Naruto promised to challenge Neji again, and Gekko Hayate announced the next match between Sasuke Uchiha of the Land of Grass and Gaara of Sunagakure.
• Sound Ninja moved into their assigned positions around Konoha while the spectators watched the matches, unaware of their presence.

Sasuke fought Gaara as the Sound Ninja's genjutsu launched Orochimaru's attack on the Hokage and the daimyo. Orochimaru revealed himself to Hiruzen Sarutobi, trapping them together on the rooftop as the invasion began.

• Sasuke shattered Gaara's sand attack and activated his Sharingan as they continued fighting.
• The Sound Ninja put the spectators under genjutsu, while Kakashi and Might Guy recognized the attack and Guy went to protect the daimyo.
• Namiashi Raidō rushed to warn Hiruzen Sarutobi, but the disguised Orochimaru took Hiruzen hostage and led him onto the rooftop.
• Kidomaru, Jirobo, Tayuya, and Sakon and Ukon raised the Four Violet Flames Formation around Hiruzen and Orochimaru, and an ANBU member was burned trying to break through.
• The daimyo refused to evacuate and ordered Might Guy to guard them while they watched the fight.
• Orochimaru removed his disguise and revealed himself to Hiruzen, declaring that the Third Hokage would cease to exist.

Orochimaru began the Konoha Crush while fighting Hiruzen Sarutobi inside the Four Violet Flames Formation. As Tetsuya joined Tobirama Senju to watch, Orochimaru summoned Hashirama Senju and Minato Namikaze with the Impure World Reincarnation Jutsu.

• Sunagakure ninja summoned a giant three-headed snake that smashed through Konoha's walls.
• Orochimaru taunted Hiruzen Sarutobi, and the two fought with ninjutsu inside the Four Violet Flames Formation.
• Tetsuya left the pavilion and used the Flying Thunder God Technique to find Tobirama Senju, who said he had come to witness Hiruzen's fate without intervening.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi summoned Enma while Orochimaru summoned two coffins and used the Impure World Reincarnation Jutsu.
• Hashirama Senju and Minato Namikaze appeared from Orochimaru's coffins.

Hashirama Senju and Minato Namikaze were resurrected by Orochimaru and forced to fight Hiruzen Sarutobi, while Tetsuya and Tobirama discussed bringing Hashirama back to life. As Sunagakure's attack continued and Konoha fell into chaos, Jiraiya arrived to defend the village.

• Hashirama Senju and Minato Namikaze awakened through Impure World Reincarnation and learned from Orochimaru that Hiruzen Sarutobi remained Hokage and Naruto was treated as the Demon Fox.
• Orochimaru placed control talismans in Hashirama and Minato, then sent them to attack Hiruzen Sarutobi.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi fought Hashirama's Wood Release and Minato's Flying Thunder God and Rasengan attacks.
• Tetsuya told Tobirama that he planned to resurrect Hashirama Senju after Madara Uchiha.
• Jiraiya summoned a giant toad that crushed the Three-Headed Snake and appeared to stop Sunagakure's assault on Konoha.

Jiraiya led Konoha’s counterattack and rushed to the Chunin Ninja Exams venue, where Hiruzen Sarutobi used the Reaper Death Seal against Orochimaru and the reanimated Hokage. The seal claimed Hiruzen and the three targets, but Hiruzen discovered too late that Orochimaru had escaped and left a giant snake in his place; afterward, Tetsuya and the Daimyo discussed the battle and compensation.

• Jiraiya rallied Konoha’s Ninja, defeated the Sunagakure attackers, and led reinforcements toward the Chunin Ninja Exams venue after realizing Orochimaru’s true target.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi struggled against the reanimated First and Fourth Hokage, then prepared the Reaper Death Seal with Enma’s help.
• Orochimaru escaped using a snake-style substitution and left a giant snake disguised as himself behind.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi activated the Reaper Death Seal, which claimed the souls of the First and Fourth Hokage and the snake, before taking Hiruzen’s soul as payment.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi realized the real Orochimaru had fled, while Jiraiya arrived in time to witness Hiruzen’s final sacrifice.
• Tetsuya and the Daimyo discussed the battle footage, and the Daimyo of the Land of Fire asked the Daimyo of the Land of Wind for compensation for Sunagakure’s attack.

After Hiruzen Sarutobi’s death, Danzo tried to secure the Hokage position, but Hiruzen’s letter named Jiraiya or Tsunade as possible successors and prompted the clans to vote. With Sunagakure’s attack resolved at a cost to the village, Koharu and Homura asked Jiraiya to become the next Hokage, leaving him surprised.

• Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura rejected Danzo’s bid to become Hokage and showed him Hiruzen Sarutobi’s letter naming Jiraiya or Tsunade as successors.
• Mitokado Homura told Danzo that the major shinobi clans would vote for the next Hokage after the Joint Chunin Ninja Exams.
• Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura worried that Danzo might discover Hiruzen had not sent the other clans copies of the letter and urged each other to persuade Jiraiya.
• The Joint Chunin Ninja Exams ended early, Sunagakure’s people were detained, and Chiyo paid reparations to take the Gaara Squad home.
• Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura summoned Jiraiya and asked him to take over Hiruzen’s duties as the next Hokage.

Jiraiya agreed to search for Tsunade as Konoha’s next Hokage and insisted on taking Naruto with him. Meanwhile, Tetsuya and Tobirama prepared to resurrect Madara Uchiha in Konoha, and Tobirama wondered whether Hashirama Senju would follow.

• Jiraiya rejected becoming Hokage and proposed that Tsunade take the position instead.
• Jiraiya agreed to bring Tsunade back and made taking Naruto with him a condition.
• Tetsuya and Tobirama strolled through Konoha and discussed the village’s changes and Hiruzen Sarutobi.
• Tetsuya told Tobirama they would summon Izuna and find a suitable place to resurrect Madara Uchiha.
• Tobirama wondered if Hashirama Senju would be resurrected after Madara, while Tetsuya said the order depended on Doggo’s mood.

Tetsuya spent half a treasury of gold to revive Madara Uchiha at his peak, and Madara reunited with Izuna. Madara then confronted Tobirama, while Izuna and Tobirama resumed their rivalry.

• Izuna brought gold from the Daimyo's Palace in the Land of Grass, and Tetsuya used half of it to recruit Madara Uchiha.
• Tobirama sealed off the area as Madara emerged from the revival, and Tetsuya gained Madara's peak abilities.
• Madara assessed his revived body and wondered about recovering his Rinnegan and carrying out the Infinite Tsukuyomi plan.
• Madara recognized Izuna, and the brothers embraced after their reunion.
• Madara stepped between Izuna and Tobirama, and Izuna and Tobirama argued over their respective abilities.

Madara Uchiha and Tetsuya discussed the coming alien threat, but Madara’s confidence in his revived prime led him to challenge Tetsuya. They began fighting with matching Fire Release techniques and escalated to Wood Release.

• Izuna and Tobirama fought with Fire Release and Water Release while Madara recognized Tetsuya as the man who had revived him.
• Tetsuya told Madara his real name was Chiba Tetsuya and that he was the Daimyo of the Land of Grass, then confirmed an alien would appear within days.
• Madara boasted that his revived strength, Izuna’s Rinnegan, and the nine tailed beasts would let him decide the Shinobi World’s future, while Tetsuya revealed he had gained Madara’s and Izuna’s powers.
• Madara and Tetsuya accepted each other’s challenge and clashed with matching Majestic Destroyer Flame techniques.
• Madara summoned a Wood Dragon Technique, and Tetsuya countered with Wood Release: Deep Forest Emergence.