Chapter Summaries

Rinne told Hinata that Naruto had said he liked her, leaving Hinata stunned and overwhelmed just as Hizashi brought her inside to answer her father’s question about Naruto.

• Ryushin, Rinne, Neji, and Hanabi reacted as Hinata’s feelings for Naruto came up, while Hanabi felt left out and grew suspicious of Naruto.
• Hinata asked Rinne why she had mentioned Naruto, and Rinne revealed that Naruto had said he liked Hinata.
• Ryushin stopped Rinne from saying more as Hinata blushed and struggled to process the news.
• Hizashi called Hinata inside and urged her to follow her heart when answering her father.
• Hinata entered the room, where Hoshi asked whether she liked Naruto.

Hinata declared that she loved Naruto and wanted to be with him, only to discover that Hiashi enthusiastically supported the match. In the courtyard, Hanabi and Rinne continued their staring contest until Rinne laughed and conceded.

• Hiashi pressed Hinata to explain her feelings about Naruto, and Hinata feared he would oppose their relationship.
• Hinata gathered her courage and told her father that she loved Naruto and would never change her mind.
• Hiashi and Hizashi were surprised by Hinata's bold declaration, then Hiashi urged her to work hard at both training and romance.
• Hanabi glared at Rinne because their guests' visit had disrupted her hopes of making a friend.
• Rinne met Hanabi's stare until she laughed and admitted defeat.

Hanabi became fascinated with Ryushin after Rinne teased her, while Ryushin thought Hanabi might become a good friend for his sister. After Hinata’s matter was settled, Hizashi knelt before Hoshi and Tsunade to ask for their time, preparing to reveal a family matter.

• Rinne laughed at Hanabi and called their standoff a staring game, leaving Hanabi flustered and convinced she had met a formidable rival.
• Ryushin apologized for Rinne’s behavior, and Hanabi was struck by his appearance and smile.
• Hinata returned, and Hanabi quickly changed the subject; Neji recognized Ryushin’s subtle influence over her.
• After Hinata left the adults’ room, Hiashi considered how her relationship with Naruto might benefit the clan, while Tsunade and Hoshi hesitated over raising the topic of Hanabi and Ryushin.
• Hizashi knelt before Hoshi and Tsunade and asked them to hear his request, while Hiashi chose not to stop him.

Hizashi begged Hoshi to help remove Neji's Caged Bird Seal, but Hoshi rejected his approach and warned that it would bring Neji shame. Neji declared that he would break through the seal with his own strength.

• Hizashi knelt before Hoshi and Tsunade, asking them to persuade the Hyuga Clan's head to remove Neji's Caged Bird Seal.
• Tsunade looked to Hoshi for his decision, while Hoshi decided not to change his original plans because Hizashi had made the request this way.
• Hoshi rebuked Hizashi for assuming his service could earn help and warned that Neji would be mocked and shamed if the seal were removed through his father's humiliation.
• Tsunade tried to calm Hoshi and ease Hizashi's shame.
• Neji spoke up and said he would use his own strength to break through the Caged Bird Seal.

Neji confronted Hizashi’s shame and resolved to stop hiding his Caged Bird Seal, vowing to break free of it within five years. Hoshi promised to remove the seal if Neji proved himself, while Hiashi was left considering Hoshi’s hint about Neji’s future in the clan.

• Neji arrived and helped Hizashi stand, and Hizashi tearfully admitted that he had nearly ruined his son’s life.
• Neji removed his headband and bandages to reveal the Caged Bird Seal, then vowed to break its restraints with his own strength within five years.
• Hoshi praised Neji and promised to take responsibility for removing the seal if Neji became one of his generation’s outstanding figures, though he urged Neji to win the clan’s acceptance himself.
• Neji left with Hizashi, and Hoshi hinted to Hiashi that Neji might eventually need to succeed him as Hyuga Clan Head.
• Hiashi found Hanabi in the courtyard and asked about her friendship with the visitors’ children; Hanabi asked to skip a grade at the Ninja Academy.

Nearly a year passed as Ryushin, Rinne, and Hanabi continued their Ninja Academy lives, while Hoshi assessed Neji’s progress and brought Minato to meet with Hiruzen. The three Konoha leaders gathered to discuss the upcoming Genin graduation team assignments.

• Hanabi skipped a grade into the Ninja Academy’s third year and became close friends with Ryushin and Rinne.
• Hoshi took Ryushin and Rinne to school, where he encountered Might Guy, Neji, Tenten, and Rock Lee, and praised Neji’s rapid progress toward mastering Rotation.
• Hoshi asked Ryushin whether he could reach Neji’s current level within three years, and Ryushin said he expected to surpass him before graduation.
• After Ryushin and Rinne entered the school, Hoshi blocked Minato’s surprise attack and greeted him.
• Hoshi and Minato went to Hiruzen’s office, where the three gathered to discuss the upcoming Genin graduation team assignments.

Hoshi, Minato, and Hiruzen selected teams for the graduating prodigies, with Hoshi arranging familiar classmates together. Naruto passed the Graduation Exam and received a Scroll containing the Multiple Shadow Clone Jutsu from Hoshi on Minato’s behalf.

• Hiruzen showed Hoshi and Minato the ninety-three students expected to pass the Graduation Exam and identified fifteen standout students.
• Hoshi recognized many of the standout students and arranged Team 7 with Minato Namikaze, Sakura Haruno, and Second Pillar, Team 8 with Hinata, Shino Aburame, and Kiba Inuzuka, and Team 10 with Ino Yamanaka, Shikamaru Nara, and Choji Akimichi.
• Naruto and the other students identified as prodigies passed the Graduation Exam, while Iruka and Mizuki treated Naruto differently because he was the Fourth Hokage’s son.
• Naruto celebrated becoming a ninja and Hoshi gave him a Scroll from Minato, which contained the Multiple Shadow Clone Jutsu.

Hoshi watched the Academy students await their team assignments, then explained to Kakashi why he had arranged for him to become a Jonin instructor. Kakashi accepted the advice and went inside to meet the students.

• Hoshi secretly observed the students as Sakura and Ino argued over Sasuke, while Naruto and Hinata arrived together as a couple.
• Sasuke moved to sit near Naruto and Hinata, leaving the girls to settle down, just as Iruka entered to announce the team assignments.
• Kurenai, Asuma, and Kakashi found Hoshi outside the classroom, and Kurenai and Asuma went inside.
• Kakashi asked Hoshi why he had arranged for him to become a Jonin instructor.
• Hoshi told Kakashi that teaching and bonding with the students could help him grow beyond his machine-like approach to training.
• Kakashi accepted Hoshi's advice and leapt down to go inside.

Hoshi tried to help Kakashi bond with Team 7, coaching him through their introductions and bringing the new team to Ichiraku Ramen. The chapter left Naruto delighted to discover that Hoshi knew Kakashi.

• Hoshi gave Kakashi a copy of Make-Out Paradise and advised him to be more open with his students.
• Kakashi met Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura on the rooftop, where Hoshi secretly coached him through introductions.
• Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura introduced themselves, and Sasuke said he wanted to surpass Itachi.
• Kakashi took Team 7 to Ichiraku Ramen, where he admitted he ate there often.
• Hoshi joined them, and Naruto excitedly asked whether he knew Kakashi.

Hoshi watched Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura meet their new instructor, Kakashi, and decided to observe their Survival Exercise before stepping back from Team 7's affairs. At Training Ground 8, Kakashi tested the children by making them wait, then arrived late with Hoshi and read Make-Out Paradise as Naruto protested.

• Hoshi told Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura that Kakashi had once been Namikaze Minato's student, and the children gradually grew more curious than afraid of their new instructor.
• Hoshi left after dinner, saying he would watch the team's Survival Exercise and then stop interfering in Team 7's affairs.
• The next morning, Hoshi found Kakashi watching Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura from a thicket and urged him to judge their teamwork and potential rather than compare them to older Anbu.
• Kakashi and Hoshi arrived late at Training Ground 8, where Naruto accused them of planning the delay together.
• Kakashi ignored Naruto's complaint and read Make-Out Paradise, while Hoshi offered a joke about a black cat making him lose his way.

Naruto and Sasuke launched a coordinated attack to take Kakashi’s bells, but Kakashi countered with Earth Release and caught them in a trap. Naruto revealed his plan to use the Multiple Shadow Clone Jutsu, leaving a swarm of clones charging at Kakashi.

• Kakashi explained the bell test, while Hoshi set a one-hour limit and warned that anyone without a bell would miss lunch.
• Naruto charged Kakashi and was caught in a rope trap, then cut himself free and attacked while Sasuke prepared a Great Fireball Technique.
• Sasuke fired the Great Fireball Technique and threw Shuriken as Naruto charged Kakashi, but Kakashi blocked the assault with an Earth Wall.
• Kakashi used the Double Suicide Decapitation Technique, but Sasuke and Naruto escaped with substitutions.
• Naruto leaped from behind a tree and used the Multiple Shadow Clone Jutsu, sending more than a hundred clones at Kakashi.

Naruto and Sasuke nearly took Kakashi’s bells through a coordinated attack, but Sakura froze when Sasuke called for help, and Kakashi defeated them. As Sakura apologized and the others feared repeating a year at the academy, Kakashi looked to Hoshi for help explaining that he had not said they all failed.

• Kakashi stopped Naruto’s Shadow Clones with Water Release and kicked Naruto’s main body away.
• Sasuke transformed into Naruto’s Shuriken and surprised Kakashi, then restrained his arm while calling for Naruto and Sakura.
• Naruto was too exhausted to reach Kakashi, and Sakura froze instead of throwing her Kunai, allowing Kakashi to fling Sasuke away.
• Hoshi ended the exercise, and Kakashi told Naruto and Sasuke they could no longer take the bells.
• Sakura broke down and apologized, while Naruto and Sasuke reassured her that they did not blame her.
• Kakashi realized Sakura’s crying had disrupted his plan to give Naruto and Sasuke the bells, and he turned to Hoshi for help.

Hoshi changed the bell exercise into a choice between the three students, hoping to show Kakashi the value of bonds. Naruto and Sasuke each offered to withdraw for Sakura, and Hoshi ultimately passed all three and celebrated Team 7’s formation.

• Hoshi took the bells from Kakashi and declared that only two students could graduate, leaving Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura to choose who would withdraw.
• Sakura offered to return to the Ninja Academy so Naruto and Sasuke could advance.
• Naruto chose to withdraw so Sakura could have a bell, then claimed he did not want to team up with Sasuke.
• Sasuke also chose to withdraw, arguing that he could graduate again more easily than Sakura.
• Kakashi realized what he had been lacking as he watched the three argue over who should give up a bell.
• Hoshi declared all three had passed the exercise and called Kakashi over for a group photo celebrating Team 7.

Hoshi ran into Team 7 as they left for the Land of Waves mission, then visited Minato to ask about the upcoming Chunin Exam. He learned that Sunagakure and Cloud Village had proposed holding it jointly with Konoha, and Minato prepared to use the exam to demonstrate Konoha’s strength.

• Hoshi and Tsunade encountered Team 7 and Tazuna while shopping, as they prepared to leave for a C-rank mission in the Land of Waves.
• Hoshi recognized Tazuna and reflected that Haku and Zabuza were no longer in the Land of Waves, leaving Gato’s forces to face Team 7 without capable ninja.
• Tsunade noticed Hoshi was distracted and sent him on his way after he kissed her cheek.
• Hoshi went to the Hokage’s Office and learned from Minato that Sunagakure and Cloud Village had invited Konoha to hold the Chunin Exam jointly.
• Minato suspected the villages wanted to investigate Konoha’s strength and vowed to prepare for the exam and show them Konoha’s power.

Hoshi and Minato planned to prepare for the Chunin Exam without alerting Konoha’s enemies, while Rasa and Baki discussed a joint attack by Sunagakure and Cloud Village. The chapter ended with an Akatsuki member meeting a possessed-looking A in Cloud Thunder Gorge.

• Hoshi suggested having Kimimaro, Haku, Shin, and Kabuto enter the Chunin Exam while Konoha prepared secretly, and Minato understood his strategy.
• Rasa asked Baki whether joining Cloud Village’s plan to attack Konoha was the right decision, and Baki urged him to proceed.
• Rasa reflected on how his purges had left Sunagakure without trusted advisers or suitable successors, and hoped the attack would succeed.
• An Akatsuki member entered Cloud Thunder Gorge and met A, whose body bore a pale face that greeted the visitor as Black Zetsu.

Obito and Black Zetsu finalized a plan to use the Chunin Exam to attack Konoha and capture its Tailed Beasts. At Akatsuki's first core meeting, the members gathered and were told that their plan had officially begun.

• Black Zetsu praised Obito for impersonating the Fourth Raikage and asked about the Chunin Exam arrangements.
• Obito explained that Sunagakure and Kumogakure would send Jinchuriki and forces to Konoha, while Rasa would attend the exam's third round.
• Black Zetsu and Obito discussed how the attack could let Akatsuki capture the One-Tail, Two-Tails, and Nine-Tails and advance the Eye of the Moon Plan.
• Black Zetsu told Obito to accompany the delegation to Konoha and watch for trouble, then left Cloud Thunder Gorge for a meeting.
• Akatsuki members assembled at the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path, where the leader introduced them and announced that their plan had officially begun.

As the three-village Chunin Exam drew near, Hoshi kept Rinne home while Tsunade warned Ryushin to watch out for visitors from other villages. At Konoha’s gate, Kankuro grabbed Konohamaru after a collision, but someone struck Kankuro and sent him flying.

• Rinne asked Hoshi to take her shopping, but he refused because Konoha was crowded with visitors for the approaching Chunin Exam.
• Tsunade told Ryushin to stay cautious around people from other villages and to fight back if anyone provoked him.
• Naruto and Sasuke argued about who had done better during the Land of Waves mission before heading their separate ways.
• Konohamaru, Udon, and Moegi revealed themselves as the Konohamaru Corps, and Sakura shouted at them for embarrassing her.
• Konohamaru ran into Kankuro, who grabbed him and threatened him despite Temari’s warning.
• An unidentified person punched Kankuro and sent him flying before he could attack with Chakra Threads.

Naruto and Sasuke clashed with Kankuro and met Gaara, while Konoha completed preparations for the Chunin Exam amid tense negotiations between Baki and Yugito. The exam officially began after the final days of preparation passed.

• Naruto punched Kankuro for attacking Konohamaru, and Sasuke held Kankuro at kunai-point until Gaara ordered him to stop.
• Naruto and Sasuke introduced themselves to Gaara, who said he looked forward to meeting them at the Chunin Exam.
• Team 7 and the other rookies submitted their registration forms, while Hoshi delivered forms for Kimimaro, Haku, and Shin to Minato.
• Minato and Hoshi confirmed that Konoha had reinforced its security and prepared the exam venues and proctors.
• Baki met Yugito, who confirmed that the Cloud and Sand representatives would follow their leaders' orders and avoid further meetings in Konoha.
• The final days of preparation passed, and the Chunin Exam officially began.

Hoshi arrived at the Chunin Exam and watched Sasuke defeat Rock Lee after awakening his Double Tomoe Sharingan, while Neji stopped Lee from escalating the fight. Sasuke left with Sakura troubled by the growing number of powerful rivals around him, and Hoshi resolved to watch him more closely because of Black Zetsu’s interest in him.

• Hoshi secretly went to the Chunin Exam and arrived as Sasuke and Rock Lee began fighting, while Naruto watched from the stairs with Team 8.
• Rock Lee’s speed initially put Sasuke on the defensive, but Sasuke activated his Double Tomoe Sharingan and used it to counter Lee’s movements and throw him.
• Rock Lee began unwrapping his bandages to use more of his strength, but Neji stopped him and told him to save his trump cards.
• Might Guy arrived on his red turtle, and Sasuke left with Sakura after feeling the pressure of Neji’s strength.
• Hoshi decided to pay closer attention to Sasuke because Black Zetsu had targeted him.

Hoshi watched the Chunin Exam’s first test from the Monitoring Room as Naruto inspired the wavering examinees to keep going. Jiraiya, moved by Naruto’s resolve, decided to take him as a disciple, just as an unidentified object crashed through the exam hall window.

• Hoshi joined Minato, Hiruzen, Sakumo, Jiraiya, and the others in the Monitoring Room to watch the exam on Orochimaru’s new surveillance equipment.
• Ibiki Morino intimidated the examinees with the written test rules, and Naruto was dismayed to find no multiple-choice questions on his paper.
• The examinees used varied methods to cheat, and many withdrew after Ibiki announced the high stakes of the final question.
• Naruto’s speech steadied the examinees who were considering quitting, stirring Jiraiya’s hopes that Naruto might be the Child of Prophecy.
• Jiraiya asked Minato about becoming Naruto’s teacher, and Hoshi encouraged him to approach Naruto himself, so Jiraiya agreed to take him as a disciple.
• As Ibiki prepared to end the first exam, an unidentified object smashed through a window into the exam hall.