Recaps

Sasuke Uchiha wondered whether he could learn a Summoning Technique as he watched Hiruzen Sarutobi fight Orochimaru. Hiruzen sealed Hashirama Senju and Tobirama Senju but was mortally wounded, while Jiraiya reflected on his teacher’s death and the disappointing outcome.

• Sasuke Uchiha watched the fighters summon creatures and wondered if he could get a Summoning Technique of his own.
• Orochimaru explained that his Immortality Technique let him transfer his soul into a new body, and Hiruzen Sarutobi remembered discovering his experiments.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi used the Dead Demon Consuming Seal and sent clones into the darkness to seize Hashirama Senju and Tobirama Senju.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi sealed Hashirama Senju and Tobirama Senju, then summoned Enma as Orochimaru raged over his sealed arms.
• Jiraiya watched the video and mourned Hiruzen Sarutobi while reflecting that his teacher had died without defeating Orochimaru.

Uchiha Itachi reflected on the video of Orochimaru and the First and Second Hokage while preparing to ambush the Two-Tails and Eight-Tails. Konan decided to ask Nagato about Impure World Reincarnation, and Luo Mang continued investigating the Camera.

• Uchiha Itachi rewatched the video and concluded that Impure World Reincarnation had summoned Hashirama Senju and Tobirama Senju at only a fraction of their strength.
• Uchiha Itachi considered Orochimaru's death and hoped it would prevent the Konoha Crush Plan and keep Sasuke safe.
• White Zetsu Tobi urged Uchiha Itachi to prepare an ambush for the Two-Tails and Eight-Tails, and Uchiha Itachi agreed to target them along the way.
• Konan wondered whether Impure World Reincarnation could let her speak with Yahiko and went to ask Nagato about the technique.
• Luo Mang resumed studying the Camera and decided he needed to test it on bandits.

Kakashi gathered Luo Mang and Sasuke for special training in Lightning Blade after giving Luo Mang the C-rank techniques Hiruzen had promised him. The three left for a cliff to practice, with Kakashi suggesting Luo Mang might develop the close-range technique into a ranged attack.

• Luo Mang waited alone at the riverside until Kakashi arrived with the ninjutsu Hiruzen had promised as payment.
• Luo Mang and Kakashi agreed the C-rank techniques did not suit him, so Kakashi put the scrolls away to return them to Hiruzen.
• Kakashi explained that he had given Sakura and Naruto the day off and planned to teach Luo Mang and Sasuke Lightning Blade.
• Sasuke arrived, and Kakashi led him and Luo Mang toward a cliff, explaining that lightning-release explosions could start fires in the forest.

Luo Mang and Sasuke trained with Chidori while Kakashi assessed their limits and warned them against overuse. Sasuke remained troubled by the gap between his current strength and the future shown in his Diary, while Luo Mang considered the coming Chunin Exams and wondered whether Jiraiya had a Diary.

• Luo Mang and Sasuke used Chidori to shatter boulders on a barren mountaintop, then collapsed from the exertion.
• Kakashi examined them and advised that they limit themselves to two Chidori uses for now and never exceed four in a life-or-death fight.
• Kakashi told Luo Mang that improving his physical strength could let him use Lightning Blade more often, but Luo Mang had no intention of following that advice.
• Kakashi urged Sasuke not to rush his progress, but Sasuke stayed silent and felt pressured by the weakness he saw in himself.
• Luo Mang reflected that the Chunin Exams were likely next and wondered whether Jiraiya had a Diary.

Jiraiya visited Naruto Uzumaki and offered to teach him powerful ninjutsu, while Tsunade visited Sakura Haruno to assess her medical talent. Both Naruto and Sakura agreed to follow their prospective teachers.

• Jiraiya woke Naruto Uzumaki and announced that he wanted to take him as his student.
• Naruto questioned Jiraiya's strength until Jiraiya explained that Kakashi was his student's student and that Kakashi had asked him to teach Naruto.
• Jiraiya promised Naruto powerful ninjutsu, and Naruto agreed to become his student.
• Tsunade visited Sakura Haruno after hearing that she wanted to learn medical ninjutsu and had talent for it.
• Tsunade told Sakura she would assess her medical ability, and Sakura eagerly followed her.

Luo Mang and his teammates finished two months of training and missions as the Chunin Exams drew near. At a barbecue restaurant, they encountered Gaara’s team from Sunagakure, and Gaara’s killing intent swept over them.

• Kakashi noted that only seven days remained in the month, and Luo Mang realized the Chunin Exams were approaching.
• Kakashi left after receiving an Anbu summons, and Sakura invited Luo Mang, Naruto Uzumaki, and Sasuke Uchiha to barbecue.
• Luo Mang recognized Gaara, Kankuro, and Temari as the team from Sunagakure arriving in Konoha.
• Gaara noticed Luo Mang and his teammates and released his killing intent, unsettling Naruto Uzumaki.

Luo Mang and his companions encountered Gaara, who declared he would kill Luo Mang, before Temari and Kankuro led him away. They then met Ino Yamanaka, Shikamaru Nara, and Choji Akimichi and joined them for barbecue.

• Gaara stopped Luo Mang, Naruto Uzumaki, and Sasuke Uchiha and said he wanted to get to know them because they might become opponents.
• Gaara declared that he would kill Luo Mang, prompting Naruto and Sasuke to threaten to protect him.
• Temari and Kankuro apologized for Gaara's behavior and took him away.
• Ino Yamanaka, Shikamaru Nara, and Choji Akimichi met Luo Mang's group and invited them to share a table at the barbecue restaurant.
• Luo Mang agreed to join them, while Ino lamented that she had wanted to catch up with Sakura Haruno.

At a barbecue dinner, Sakura Haruno explained to Ino Yamanaka why she had fallen for Luo Mang, and he reassured her when the others teased her about her past crush on Sasuke. The teams then discussed the likely Chunin Ninja Exams, leaving Naruto Uzumaki excited by the chance to be promoted.

• Ino Yamanaka arranged for each team to pay for its own food while splitting the private room charge.
• Sakura Haruno told Ino Yamanaka that Luo Mang had shared his lunch with her after she performed poorly in Kakashi-sensei's team test.
• Choji Akimichi and Shikamaru Nara remarked on Sakura Haruno's former pursuit of Sasuke Uchiha, and Luo Mang told her to stop worrying and mix his dipping sauce.
• Choji Akimichi wondered why the teams' teachers had left, and Ino Yamanaka guessed they had been summoned about the Chunin Ninja Exams.
• Naruto Uzumaki learned that genin could be promoted to chunin through the exams and became eager to take part.

Hiruzen Sarutobi announced that the Chunin Ninja Exams would begin in seven days and approved the rookie teams’ entry. He also allowed Luo Mang to compete alone, assigning Kakashi Hatake to judge and secretly protect the children.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi announced that the Chunin Ninja Exams would begin on July first and asked the rookie teams’ instructors to nominate candidates.
• Kurenai Yuhi and Asuma Sarutobi nominated their teams, and Kakashi Hatake entered Naruto Uzumaki, Sasuke Uchiha, and Sakura Haruno.
• Kakashi Hatake proposed that Luo Mang compete as a one-man team, prompting objections from the gathered ninja and Iruka.
• Iruka argued that the rookies were too young and that Luo Mang should not compete alone, but Kakashi refused to withdraw his nominations.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi approved Luo Mang’s solo entry and ordered Kakashi to serve as a judge and protect the children from the shadows.

Kakashi recommended Luo Mang, Naruto Uzumaki, Sakura Haruno, and Sasuke Uchiha for the Chunin Ninja Exams, but the three-person team limit left Luo Mang uncertain about participating. Naruto, Sakura, and Sasuke signed up, and Kakashi revealed that Luo Mang could enter alone, prompting Sakura to worry about the danger.

• Kakashi gave the four application forms and explained that Luo Mang did not have to participate because exam teams had three members.
• Luo Mang weighed his desire for combat experience against the risk of revealing his abilities.
• Naruto Uzumaki, Sakura Haruno, and Sasuke Uchiha agreed to take the exam and noticed their forms only had space for three teammates.
• Kakashi explained that Luo Mang could enter as a one-man team after he discussed it with the Hokage.
• Sakura Haruno reacted with alarm at the prospect of Luo Mang competing alone.

Luo Mang agreed to enter the Chunin Ninja Exams as a one-person team despite Sakura Haruno’s concerns, after Kakashi Hatake argued that joining up with the others early could give them an advantage. After Kakashi left, Luo Mang considered why Orochimaru had not appeared and concluded that Jiraiya may have disrupted his plans, leaving the exams less dangerous for now.

• Sakura Haruno, Sasuke Uchiha, and Naruto Uzumaki objected to Kakashi Hatake’s suggestion that Luo Mang compete alone, but Luo Mang agreed to try.
• Kakashi Hatake explained that the team could meet early during the scroll-gathering stage and work together against other participants.
• Sakura Haruno remained worried that Luo Mang might encounter another team before finding them, while Luo Mang insisted he wanted to take part.
• Kakashi Hatake left to look for a position monitoring the exam and reminded the others to submit their forms before the deadline.
• Luo Mang wondered whether Jiraiya had a diary and had injured Orochimaru, potentially preventing the Konoha Crush Plan during the exams.

Luo Mang’s group discussed the Chunin Ninja Exams as they headed to eat, while his Diary warned Sasuke Uchiha about the exam stages and Orochimaru’s possible attack. Tsunade read the entry and began to suspect Shimura Danzō was having Anbu watch her to advance his own bid for Hokage.

• Luo Mang, Naruto Uzumaki, and Sasuke Uchiha discussed their applications and prepared to talk over a meal at the Ramen Shop.
• Luo Mang wrote that the exams would involve a written test, a Forest of Death scroll challenge, and an elimination tournament, and worried about Orochimaru targeting his team.
• Sasuke Uchiha read the Diary’s confirmation of the three exam stages and felt relieved that there would be no further team matches.
• Jiraiya read the Diary entry and decided Naruto Uzumaki would manage the exams, while he planned to watch for trouble from the Sand Shadow Village.
• Tsunade wondered why more Anbu were watching her and suspected Shimura Danzō was plotting to secure the Hokage position.

At Otogakure, Kabuto Yakushi sent the Chunin Exam team to Konoha and privately adjusted Orochimaru’s invasion plan while Orochimaru recovered from his injuries. The chapter ended with Orochimaru preparing to use the chaos in Konoha to capture Sasuke Uchiha and take his body.

• Kabuto Yakushi told the assembled Sound Ninja that Orochimaru had been ambushed but that the plan would continue, and Kin, Dosu, and Zaku set off for Konoha.
• After the three Genin left, Kabuto Yakushi revealed to the Sound Ninja Five that Orochimaru was badly injured and gave them adjusted orders.
• Orochimaru appeared after the others departed and praised Kabuto Yakushi for assigning missions in his absence.
• Orochimaru explained that Jūgo and the Sand Shadow Village would create a diversion so he could ambush Sasuke Uchiha during the Chunin Exams.
• Orochimaru rejected Kabuto Yakushi’s suggestion to take another body first and said he had prepared a secret resurrection method as a backup.

Luo Mang arrived at the Ninja Academy with Sasuke Uchiha, Naruto Uzumaki, and Sakura Haruno for the chunin ninja exams. After they passed the preliminary Genjutsu test, Rock Lee stopped Luo Mang and asked to spar with him.

• Luo Mang met Sasuke Uchiha, Naruto Uzumaki, and Sakura Haruno at the Academy entrance, and they went inside together.
• Sasuke Uchiha saw through the Genjutsu guarding Room 301 and challenged the two exam proctors, but Rock Lee stepped between them.
• Rock Lee awkwardly approached Sakura Haruno, while Neji Hyuga asked Sasuke Uchiha his name and Naruto Uzumaki got angry at being overlooked.
• Luo Mang calmed Naruto Uzumaki and led Sakura Haruno away without revealing their abilities.
• Rock Lee called down to Luo Mang and asked to spar with him.

Naruto Uzumaki fought Rock Lee to protect Luo Mang, but Lee outpaced him and defeated him. Rock Lee then challenged Luo Mang, while the gathered spectators watched to assess the lone Chunin Ninja Exams entrant.

• Naruto Uzumaki charged Rock Lee, and the two exchanged blows before Naruto used the Multiple Shadow Clone Technique to keep Lee occupied.
• Neji Hyuga and Tenten watched Naruto hold his own, while Neji studied Luo Mang and recalled what Might Guy had told them about him.
• Naruto taunted Rock Lee as the clones wore him down, but Lee increased his speed and destroyed them before warning Naruto that he had lost.
• Rock Lee challenged Luo Mang in front of the gathered spectators, and Sasuke Uchiha tugged at Luo Mang as if he wanted to take the fight himself.

Luo Mang used Sharingan Genjutsu to make Rock Lee fight an illusion, revealing how far his skills surpassed Lee’s. Might Guy stopped the fight, reassured his embarrassed student, and apologized to Luo Mang before boasting about his rivalry with Kakashi.

• Luo Mang accepted Rock Lee’s challenge and used genjutsu to make him believe he was winning a fight against Luo Mang.
• Neji Hyuga, Tenten, Sasuke Uchiha, and Naruto Uzumaki realized that Rock Lee was battling an illusion, and Naruto wondered if Luo Mang had done the same to them before.
• Might Guy called a halt, and Luo Mang released the genjutsu before Rock Lee could crash headfirst into the ground.
• Rock Lee apologized to Might Guy, who reassured him that learning about his weakness to genjutsu would help him.
• Might Guy praised Luo Mang, apologized for Rock Lee’s challenge, and said he and Kakashi were eternal rivals with a record of fifty wins to forty-nine losses.

Luo Mang entered the Chunin Exams classroom with his teammates and met other Konoha rookies and the Sound Ninja team. When Kabuto Yakushi offered information, Luo Mang refused, and Dosu Kinata attacked Kabuto, provoking Naruto Uzumaki and Sasuke Uchiha as an examiner arrived to restore order.

• Rock Lee vowed to defeat Luo Mang next time and jumped back upstairs to find his teammates.
• Luo Mang and his teammates entered the exam classroom, where Ino Yamanaka, Choji Akimichi, and Shikamaru Nara questioned his decision to compete alone, and Hinata Hyuga offered to help him.
• Kabuto Yakushi approached the rookies and offered information from his ninja info cards, but Luo Mang refused and pulled Sakura Haruno behind him.
• Dosu Kinata shattered Kabuto Yakushi's glasses with a pebble, prompting Naruto Uzumaki to confront the Sound Ninja and Sasuke Uchiha to prepare for a fight.
• An examiner arrived amid a burst of smoke and ordered everyone to be quiet.

The Chunin Selection begins as Luo Mang warns his diary readers that Orochimaru is targeting Sasuke and that Kabuto Yakushi is a spy. Jiraiya learns Orochimaru may have survived and arrives at the Hokage Building, where Hiruzen assigns him to patrol the area around the second exam.

• Ibiki Morino introduced himself as the first exam's proctor and threatened to disqualify the three Sound Ninja if they caused more trouble.
• Luo Mang warned his diary readers that Orochimaru had sent the Sound Ninja, Kabuto was a spy, and Sasuke was Orochimaru's target.
• Sasuke read Luo Mang's diary and realized Orochimaru wanted his body, leaving him frightened by the threat of a Kage Level enemy.
• Jiraiya read the diary and concluded Orochimaru had escaped or revived after Itachi tried to kill him.
• Jiraiya reached the Hokage Building and found Hiruzen Sarutobi, Tsunade, Shimura Danzō, and others meeting with the Kazekage.
• Hiruzen agreed to Jiraiya's request to join the Chunin Exams and assigned him to patrol the area around the second round.

Jiraiya challenged the Kazekage and Shimura Danzō during the Chunin Ninja Exams discussions, while privately suspecting the Kazekage might be Orochimaru in disguise. The Kazekage asked about a lone competitor on Konoha’s roster, and Hiruzen tried to calm the growing tension.

• The Kazekage mocked Jiraiya’s interest in the exams, prompting Jiraiya to wonder whether Orochimaru had replaced the Kazekage.
• Jiraiya dismissed Shimura Danzō’s authority and accused him of leaking information, until Hiruzen Sarutobi interrupted their argument.
• Jiraiya and Tsunade exchanged looks, and Tsunade stayed silent because she feared another electric shock for revealing diary-related information.
• Shimura Danzō considered whether to accept the Kazekage’s plan, while the Sunagakure Jonin hid their anger and anticipated the Konoha Crush Plan.
• The Kazekage asked about the lone competitor on Konoha’s roster, and Jiraiya warned him not to target a student before Hiruzen smoothed over the exchange.

Luo Mang began the Chunin Exam’s first stage and realized its difficult questions tested intelligence gathering and resolve as much as knowledge. He revealed in his diary that candidates would pass by staying for question ten, while Sasuke Uchiha worried that Naruto Uzumaki would fail.

• Ibiki Morino announced the exam rules and started the one-hour test, and Luo Mang saw that the questions covered a wide range of subjects.
• Luo Mang considered leaving answers blank and discreetly activated his Byakugan to inspect other candidates’ papers.
• Naruto Uzumaki struggled to answer or cheat, while Sasuke Uchiha and Sakura Haruno worried that their team might be disqualified.
• Sasuke Uchiha grew anxious about Naruto’s chances, and a proctor mistook Sasuke’s fidgeting for concern about his teammate.
• Luo Mang wrote in his diary that the exam tested intelligence gathering and resolve, and that candidates would pass if they stayed for question ten.

Ibiki Morino tested the examinees’ resolve by threatening them with permanent disqualification if they answered the nonexistent tenth question incorrectly. Naruto Uzumaki’s defiance helped steady the room, and everyone who stayed passed the first round.

• Ibiki Morino told the examinees they could withdraw or risk losing the right to take the Chunin Ninja Exams for life if they answered the tenth question incorrectly.
• Several examinees withdrew, while Sasuke Uchiha trusted Luo Mang’s confidence and Naruto Uzumaki decided he would not back down.
• Naruto Uzumaki loudly vowed to stay in the exam, encouraging some wavering examinees to remain.
• Ibiki Morino revealed that there was no tenth question and that everyone who had stayed had passed.

Ibiki Morino revealed that the first exam had tested intelligence gathering and announced that everyone who remained had passed. Mitaraishi Anko led the candidates to the Forest of Death for the second stage, where Luo Mang searched for signs of Orochimaru but saw none before Anko introduced liability waivers.

• Temari challenged Ibiki Morino, who explained the first exam’s intelligence-gathering test and declared all remaining candidates successful.
• Mitaraishi Anko burst into the room, introduced herself as the second-stage examiner, and led the candidates outside.
• Luo Mang watched the group for signs of Orochimaru as he followed Anko with Naruto Uzumaki and Sakura Haruno.
• Anko brought the candidates to the Forest of Death and explained that it was the location of the second exam.
• Anko cut Naruto Uzumaki’s cheek with a kunai, licked the blood, and told the candidates to sign liability waivers.

Jiraiya and Tsunade secretly watched Naruto Uzumaki and others before Anko explained the second Chunin Exam’s survival challenge. Luo Mang entered Training Ground 44 alone, drawing the attention of other participants as a likely target.

• Jiraiya watched Naruto Uzumaki and a woman, then refocused on searching for Orochimaru and keeping an eye on Sasuke Uchiha.
• Tsunade secretly watched the scene and reacted with disgust at the woman’s behavior.
• Mitaraishi Anko explained that teams had to collect both Heaven and Earth Scrolls and reach the tower, then pointed out that Luo Mang was competing alone.
• Sakura Haruno, Hinata Hyuga, Sasuke Uchiha, and Naruto Uzumaki worried about Luo Mang and hoped to regroup with him in the forest.
• After waiting for the start, Luo Mang entered Training Ground 44 alone, and Mitaraishi Anko wondered whether he would survive.

Luo Mang encountered Gaara, Temari, and Kankuro shortly after entering the Forest of Death, and Gaara attacked him. Luo Mang countered their techniques and escaped Gaara’s quicksand, then struck back with a Water Dragon Bullet that sent Temari and Kankuro flying as Gaara prepared another attack.

• Luo Mang entered the Forest of Death alone and hoped Sasuke, Naruto, and Sakura would find him, but Gaara’s group soon confronted him.
• Temari asked Luo Mang which scroll he carried, but Gaara silenced her and attacked him with Sand Hands.
• Luo Mang blocked Gaara’s sand attacks with water techniques and pierced the sand wave with a Chidori Sharp Spear, cracking Gaara’s Sand Shield.
• Luo Mang escaped Gaara’s Quicksand Torrent with the Substitution Technique and asked Gaara to be his sparring partner.
• Luo Mang used a Water Dragon Bullet, overwhelming Temari and Kankuro’s defenses and throwing them into a tree as Gaara gathered more sand.

Luo Mang fought Gaara and his siblings during the second stage of the Chunin Exam, then withdrew when other teams arrived. Hidden among the newcomers in disguise, he targeted a Takigakure squad carrying the Earth Scroll he needed.

• Jiraiya watched Luo Mang battle Gaara from the shadows while other exam participants began gathering nearby.
• Temari and Kankuro failed to help Gaara, then offered Luo Mang their Heaven Scroll and decided to retreat.
• A masked shinobi attacked from the trees, but Luo Mang revealed that his own scroll was also a Heaven Scroll and disappeared with the body flicker technique.
• Temari and Kankuro left Gaara behind and fled as the surrounding teams gathered.
• Jiraiya spotted Luo Mang disguised as a Takigakure ninja and realized the squad carried an Earth Scroll.