Chapter Summaries

Nawaki explained his plan to rebuild the Senju Clan through a growing family, but Orochimaru attacked him to use him for a forbidden technique. Nawaki escaped with the Flying Thunder God Technique, and a mysterious attacker’s explosive bamboo skewer forced Orochimaru to halt.

• Nawaki told Orochimaru that having many children and descendants could restore the Senju Clan within decades.
• Orochimaru rejected Nawaki’s plan and charged at him, intending to capture him for his forbidden technique.
• Nawaki used the Flying Thunder God Technique to evade Orochimaru and admitted he had only recently learned it.
• Nawaki declared that he would fight Orochimaru rather than be captured for an experiment.
• Orochimaru lunged again but stopped to evade a glowing blue bamboo skewer that exploded and left a large crater.

Shin Uchiha confronted Orochimaru in the Forest of Death and offered him a place in Konoha, but Orochimaru refused and escaped. Nawaki chose to continue the Chunin Exams, while Shin returned to the Hokage Office and told Tsunade what had happened.

• Shin Uchiha offered Orochimaru a laboratory funded by Konoha and the Uchiha Clan in exchange for sharing his research, but Orochimaru declined.
• Orochimaru escaped using a mud substitute, and Shin explained to Nawaki that he had not intended to force Orochimaru to join him.
• Shin asked Nawaki whether he would leave the Forest of Death, and Nawaki chose to keep competing in the Chunin Exams.
• Shin returned to the Hokage Office and told Tsunade that he had encountered Orochimaru and sent him away from Nawaki.

Shin Uchiha told Tsunade he had driven Orochimaru out of the Forest of Death and then reassured Anko that Konoha was prepared. He took over Anko’s patrol while she rested, heading toward Hinata’s match.

• Tsunade asked Shin Uchiha why he had let Orochimaru go, and Shin said the world would be dull without the scientific genius.
• Tsunade reminded Shin that he had promised Hinata he would watch her match, so he returned to the Forest of Death.
• Anko told Shin that Orochimaru had entered the Forest of Death and asked him to help find and drive the rogue ninja out.
• Shin revealed that he had already driven Orochimaru away, easing Anko’s concern.
• Shin gave Anko three-color dango and offered to patrol in her place while she rested.

Sasuke, Naruto, and Karin secured the scrolls and discussed the shinobi they had defeated before setting off toward the center of the exam grounds. When Naruto heard a distant cry that might have come from Sakura, Sasuke agreed to go help her and asked Karin to locate her chakra.

• Sasuke took the defeated shinobi's Heaven Scroll and explained that they had to face consequences for attacking Karin.
• Karin checked the injured shinobi, and the trio hung them in the trees to protect them from wild animals.
• Karin comforted Naruto about the defeated team, and Naruto said he wanted to become kind and strong like his father, Minato Namikaze.
• Sasuke, Naruto, and Karin headed toward the center after collecting both scrolls.
• Naruto heard a distant cry that might have been Sakura's, and Sasuke led the group toward it while asking Karin to use the Mind's Eye of the Kagura to find her.

Sasuke, Naruto, and Karin rushed toward Sakura after Karin sensed that she and her teammates were in danger. Rock Lee arrived just in time to save Sakura from Kinto, but Zaku Abumi attacked as Lee prepared to defend her.

• Karin used the Mind's Eye of the Kagura and sensed Sakura, her injured teammates, and three enemies ahead.
• Sasuke sped ahead with Lightning Release Armor while Naruto and Karin followed.
• Sakura surrendered her team's Earth Scroll to Zaku Abumi, but Dosu Kinata ordered Kinto to kill her and her teammates.
• Kinto approached Sakura with a needle, but Rock Lee struck him away and shielded her.
• Rock Lee told Sakura to flee with her injured teammates, but Zaku Abumi charged and unleashed Sound Release-Air Cutter Extreme Wave.

Sasuke rescued Sakura and Rock Lee from the Otogakure team, forcing the attackers to injure their own arms and leave the Forest of Death. Sakura thanked Sasuke through tears, then rushed to check on Rock Lee.

• Rock Lee dodged Zaku Abumi’s attack but was disoriented by Dosu Kinata’s sound-based technique and beaten by the Otogakure team.
• Sakura charged at the attackers, but Kinto knocked her down, grabbed her hair, and prepared to kill her.
• Sasuke arrived and used Lightning Release Armor to send Zaku crashing through several trees.
• Dosu Kinata surrendered the team’s Heaven and Earth Scrolls, and Sasuke ordered him and Kinto to break their own arms and leave the Forest of Death.
• After the Otogakure team departed, Sakura cried to Sasuke and then hurried over to Rock Lee.

Sasuke arranged for Karin to treat Rock Lee and persuaded Sakura to withdraw from the exam with her injured teammates. Elsewhere in the Forest of Death, Gaara killed a group of opponents, then spotted Kiba Inuzuka, Hinata, and their teammate after Akamaru ran off.

• Neji Hyuga asked Sasuke to hand over Rock Lee, and Sasuke offered to have Karin treat him.
• Karin treated Rock Lee with the Mystical Palm Technique while Sakura thanked Sasuke for helping her.
• Sasuke urged Sakura to withdraw because her teammates were too injured to continue, and Sakura agreed to stay and care for them.
• Gaara used Sand Burial to crush the opponents who demanded his scroll, easing his agitation.
• Akamaru darted out of Kiba Inuzuka's arms, exposing Kiba Inuzuka, Hinata, and their teammate to Gaara.

Shin Uchiha interrupted Gaara as he prepared to attack Hinata, Kiba Inuzuka, and Shino Aburame, then confronted Gaara, Temari, and Kankuro about bringing a jinchūriki into Konoha. He let the three Sunagakure siblings go to the central stone tower, but stopped them as they were leaving.

• Gaara’s bloodlust stirred, and Hinata stood between him and her teammates while Kiba Inuzuka and Shino Aburame refused to abandon her.
• Gaara raised his hand to use Sand Burial, but Shin Uchiha dropped between them and stopped the attack.
• Shin Uchiha challenged Gaara, Temari, and Kankuro over the Fourth Kazekage sending Gaara, a jinchūriki, to Konoha without warning.
• Shin Uchiha told the siblings to go to the central stone tower, and Gaara prepared to leave with Temari.
• Shin Uchiha called out “Wait” as the three were about to leave.

Shin Uchiha invited Gaara to find him after the competition, then teleported Hinata’s teammates away and flew with her to the stone tower. He kissed a flustered Hinata upon their arrival.

• Shin Uchiha told Gaara he admired him and invited him to visit the Hokage Building after the competition if he wanted to join him.
• Shin Uchiha checked that Hinata was unhurt, then teleported Kiba Inuzuka and Shino Aburame to the stone tower.
• Shin Uchiha invited Hinata to fly with him, and she accepted his hand.
• Shin Uchiha flew with Hinata toward the center of the Forest of Death and pointed out places around Konoha.
• Shin Uchiha kissed Hinata above the stone tower, leaving her dazed and blushing.

Shin Uchiha returned Hinata to her teammates, then went to find Neji Hyuga, Tenten, and the injured Rock Lee in the Forest of Death. Neji deduced how the Otogakure Shinobi had injured Rock Lee, but his scouting revealed a familiar figure with overwhelmingly powerful chakra.

• Shin Uchiha left Hinata with Kiba Inuzuka and Shino Aburame, then returned to the stone tower and vanished from its rooftop.
• Tenten reassured the injured Rock Lee and teased him about helping a pink-haired girl.
• Rock Lee described his fight with the Otogakure Shinobi, and Neji Hyuga recognized that their attacks likely used sound waves.
• Neji told Tenten to stay with Rock Lee while he scouted the area, then activated his Byakugan.
• Neji spotted a familiar figure whose immense chakra made his heart tremble.

Neji Hyuga accepted Shin Uchiha’s offer after learning he had been recruited partly for Hinata’s sake. Shin removed Neji’s Caged Bird Seal, and Neji opened his eyes to find his mind clear.

• Neji Hyuga approached Shin Uchiha and asked why he had chosen to recruit him.
• Shin Uchiha explained that Hinata thought of Neji as an older brother and that recruiting him would ease her worries about the branch family.
• Neji Hyuga accepted Shin Uchiha’s offer, and Shin promised to remove the Caged Bird Seal and give him a brighter future.
• Shin Uchiha pressed a purple-gold flame to Neji’s forehead, causing him intense pain as the seal was removed.
• Neji Hyuga’s pain subsided, and Shin Uchiha asked how he felt while showing him his reflection in a curtain of water.

Shin Uchiha removed Neji Hyuga’s Caged Bird Seal and offered him freedom after ten years of service, while Neji agreed to join him after the Chunin Ninja Exams. Shin then returned to the tower, where Kurenai Yuhi playfully confronted him.

• Shin Uchiha removed Neji Hyuga’s Caged Bird Seal, and Neji saw that the mark on his forehead was gone.
• Neji Hyuga swore to serve Shin Uchiha, but Shin offered him freedom after ten years and said he could decide whether to follow him after the Chunin Ninja Exams.
• Neji Hyuga agreed to leave with Shin after the exams and planned to disguise his forehead so the Hyuga Clan’s Main Family would not notice the seal was gone.
• Shin Uchiha returned to the stone tower, caught Kurenai Yuhi sneaking up behind him, and teased her about her scent.
• Kurenai Yuhi said she had developed a natural fragrance after giving birth to Shin’s child and admitted she had not suppressed it because he liked it.

Shin Uchiha and Kurenai Yuhi spent time together on the tower rooftop until Mitaraishi Anko summoned them for the individual matches. At the arena, Mei Terumi glared at Shin, and Kurenai admired Uzuki Yugao’s formidable strength.

• Kurenai Yuhi found Shin Uchiha on the rooftop, embraced him, and stayed with him as they admired the view.
• Mitaraishi Anko interrupted them and reminded them that the examinees had arrived and the individual matches were about to begin.
• Shin Uchiha noticed that Hiruzen Sarutobi and Mei Terumi were present, then learned from Anko that Sunagakure's Kazekage had sent Baki in his place.
• Mei Terumi glared at Shin Uchiha after seeing him with Kurenai Yuhi and Mitaraishi Anko, and Anko teased him about the misunderstanding.
• Uzuki Yugao entered the arena with a longsword, and Kurenai Yuhi said Yugao seemed to have reached peak Kage level.

While Konoha’s Chunin Exams continued, Obito Uchiha brooded in an underground cavern until White Zetsu brought him news about Konoha and Sunagakure. White Zetsu revealed that Orochimaru was behind the matter, but the chapter ended before he explained further.

• Shin Uchiha reassured Kurenai Yuhi that Uzuki Yugao had advanced through her devotion to swordsmanship.
• Uzuki Yugao announced another round of matches, with only its winners qualifying for the final assessment one month later.
• Obito Uchiha sat in the cavern, worried that Shin Uchiha had disrupted his plans and asking when the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path would awaken.
• White Zetsu offered information that could help Obito recover the Mangekyō Sharingan Kakashi had.
• White Zetsu said his information concerned Konoha and Sunagakure, then revealed that Orochimaru was behind it.

Obito Uchiha planned to use the chaos of the Konoha Crush to retrieve his Mangekyō Sharingan from Kakashi. At the Chunin Exams, Naruto Uzumaki prepared to face Kiba Inuzuka while Sasuke and Karin discussed the match.

• White Zetsu told Obito Uchiha that the Konoha Crush could give him a chance to sneak into Konoha and retrieve his Sharingan from Kakashi.
• Obito Uchiha agreed to go with White Zetsu and vanished into a spatial vortex after murmuring, “For Rin.”
• Uhi Yugao announced Naruto Uzumaki versus Kiba Inuzuka, and Naruto jumped into the arena after Sasuke provoked him.
• Sasuke told Karin he had provoked Naruto to bring out his potential and warned that Kiba could still make the match difficult.
• Karin said Naruto was as strong as Sasuke and that Kiba was a level below them.

Naruto and Kiba Inuzuka began their first Chunin Exam match, while Shin Uchiha met with Shisui Uchiha, who had brought two Uchiha teams to participate. Shisui offered to bring the teams over to pay their respects to Shin.

• Naruto and Kiba Inuzuka exchanged greetings before the match and agreed to fight without holding back.
• Naruto used the Multiple Shadow Clone Technique as Kiba gave Akamaru a red pill and launched Fang Over Fang.
• Shisui Uchiha approached Shin Uchiha and respectfully addressed him as the Uchiha Clan Leader.
• Shin told Shisui that formal etiquette was unnecessary and said strength mattered more than hierarchy.
• Shisui told Shin that the Uchiha Clan had sent two teams to the Chunin Exams and offered to bring them over.

Naruto Uzumaki defeated Kiba Inuzuka after Uzuki Yugao intervened to protect Akamaru, and Kakashi declined Guy’s challenge to compete. The next match was announced as Uchiha Mai versus Temari, drawing Shin Uchiha’s attention.

• Shin Uchiha postponed speaking with the competitors until after the tournament and teased Shisui about wearing a mask.
• Naruto Uzumaki gained the advantage over Kiba Inuzuka and prepared to strike him with a Rasengan.
• Akamaru shoved Kiba Inuzuka out of the way, and Uzuki Yugao knocked Naruto aside to prevent the Rasengan from hitting Akamaru.
• Uzuki Yugao declared Naruto Uzumaki the winner, and Kiba Inuzuka carried Naruto to the raised platform.
• Guy invited Kakashi to compete, but Kakashi refused.
• Uzuki Yugao announced Uchiha Mai versus Temari as the second match, and Shin Uchiha turned his attention back to the arena.

Uchiha Mai faced Temari in the arena after the two discussed the Uchiha Clan’s separation from Konoha. Mai dodged Temari’s wind attack and countered with a powerful Fire Dragon Technique, leaving Temari struggling to stop it.

• Kiba Inuzuka pointed out Uchiha Mai to Naruto and asked why Sakura was absent, and Naruto explained that Sakura’s team had withdrawn after her teammates were badly hurt.
• Uchiha Mai and Temari entered the arena, and Temari questioned Mai about the Uchiha Clan breaking away from Konoha.
• Mai said her clan trusted its leader and hoped to restore its former glory, irritating Temari into beginning the match with the Sickle Weasel Technique.
• Mai awakened her Two-Tomoe Sharingan, dodged Temari’s wind blades, and launched a Fire Dragon Technique.
• Temari answered with the Tornado Technique, but Mai believed her fire technique would overwhelm Temari if it continued for a little longer.

Uchiha Mai defeated Temari in the tournament, and Shin Uchiha offered her a reward for her performance. Mai declined to ask for anything, so Shin decided to give her a gift himself.

• Uchiha Mai and Temari clashed with their fire and wind techniques, and Shin Uchiha praised Mai's skill.
• Shin Uchiha asked Shisui whether the Elder had any connection to Mai, but Shisui denied knowing of one.
• Temari collapsed before Mai's next attack, and Uzuki Yugao cut apart Mai's Great Fireball Technique before it could hit her.
• Uzuki Yugao declared Uchiha Mai the winner, and Shisui urged Shin Uchiha to reward her.
• Shin Uchiha took Mai and Shisui to Hokage Rock and offered Mai a reward, but she declined to request anything.
• Shin Uchiha decided to give Mai a gift anyway.

Shin Uchiha gave Uchiha Mai a space mark for emergencies, which she excitedly recognized as the Clan Leader's protection, and then passed her some Fire Release knowledge and techniques. Mai was left dazed by the lesson as Shisui questioned whether she could handle it, and Shin assured him he had only shared a small portion.

• Shin Uchiha placed a space mark on Uchiha Mai and warned her not to rely on it unless she faced extreme danger.
• Uchiha Mai explained that the Uchiha Clan called the mark the Clan Leader's protection and asked whether Shin gave it only to people he valued.
• Shin confirmed that he had also given a space mark to Mai's brother, Uchiha Jie, and Mai vowed to confront him for keeping it secret.
• Shin passed Mai knowledge of fire release and dozens of Fire Release Ninjutsu by touching her forehead with a purple-gold chakra flame.
• Shisui Uchiha worried that Mai could not handle the information, and Shin said he had given her only a small portion.