Chapter Summaries

After Tsunade left, Luo Mang examined his golden-glow reward and discovered that the Amazing Camera could affect objects captured in its photographs. He realized the camera might be a rule-based weapon, though its full abilities remained unknown.

• Tsunade beat Luo Mang in their spar, and he kept his attacks to himself to avoid worse injuries.
• Luo Mang wrote praise of Tsunade in his Diary, and she left without explaining why she was in the village.
• Luo Mang checked his reward and received an Amazing Camera.
• He took a photograph of a grove and found that every object in the image had a remove button.
• Luo Mang suspected the camera could claim or manipulate photographed objects at a cost.

Luo Mang discovered that removing objects with his strange ability consumed a small amount of chakra, while Jiraiya returned to Konoha and drew a crowd of admirers. Naruto and his teammates left the commotion to get ramen as Jiraiya escaped by disguising himself.

• Luo Mang erased a tree with his ability and noticed that doing so slightly reduced his chakra.
• Jiraiya left the Hokage Building and watched Naruto, thinking he should take responsibility for teaching the future Savior.
• Naruto asked Jiraiya why he was staring, drawing attention from nearby villagers who recognized and celebrated the famous Sannin.
• Jiraiya signaled Kakashi to help him escape the crowd, and they used the Transformation Technique to switch places.
• Naruto, Sasuke Uchiha, and Sakura Haruno left the crowd and went to eat ramen.

Tsunade and Jiraiya read the Diary’s preview of Orochimaru’s attack on Konoha and Hiruzen Sarutobi’s final battle. The video revealed Orochimaru disguised as the Fourth Kazekage, while Jiraiya wondered whether Orochimaru had wanted to become Hokage.

• Tsunade read that her staying in the village had changed the future and worried about Orochimaru’s Konoha Crush Plan.
• Tsunade saw the video title, “Orochimaru vs. Hiruzen Sarutobi,” and decided to study the battle for ways to counter Orochimaru.
• Jiraiya saw the title and slapped himself to focus before preparing to analyze the video.
• The video showed Orochimaru disguised as the Fourth Kazekage, taking Hiruzen Sarutobi hostage and trapping them on a rooftop with the Four Violet Flames Formation.
• Orochimaru revealed himself and told Hiruzen Sarutobi that he should have chosen the Fifth Hokage sooner, prompting Hiruzen Sarutobi to wonder if Orochimaru had wanted the position.
• Jiraiya considered whether Orochimaru had resented not being chosen as the Fourth Hokage, but stood by his decision to arrest his former friend.

The video showed Orochimaru confronting Hiruzen Sarutobi before summoning the First and Second Hokage through Impure World Reincarnation. Tsunade was enraged by the desecration of her grandfathers, while the battle on the rooftop was just beginning.

• Orochimaru stabbed his own arm to settle his emotions, then told Hiruzen Sarutobi that he found moving things interesting and still saw charm in things that did not move.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi and Orochimaru removed their Kage robes and began fighting on the rooftop.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi used Shuriken Shadow Clone Technique, while Orochimaru summoned coffins with Impure World Reincarnation to block the attack.
• The First, Hashirama Senju, and the Second, Tobirama Senju, emerged from the coffins and recognized Hiruzen Sarutobi.
• Tsunade saw her grandfathers summoned and controlled, smashed her bed with Monster Strength, and vowed to kill Orochimaru.

Hiruzen Sarutobi fought Orochimaru and the controlled Hashirama Senju and Tobirama Senju, but his age left him struggling to keep up. Orochimaru revealed a new woman’s face, shocking Hiruzen and prompting disgust from Tsunade as she watched the video.

• Orochimaru took full control of Hashirama Senju and Tobirama Senju, and they countered Hiruzen Sarutobi’s attacks with their ninjutsu.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi summoned Monkey King Enma, who transformed into the Adamantine Staff and freed him from Hashirama Senju’s wood technique.
• Orochimaru drew the Kusanagi Sword from a snake and blocked Hiruzen Sarutobi’s attack, while Hashirama Senju and Tobirama Senju kicked Hiruzen backward.
• Orochimaru mocked Hiruzen Sarutobi for growing old and peeled away his face to reveal a woman’s face.
• Tsunade watched the video, recoiled at Orochimaru’s transformation, and checked that her own skin remained smooth.

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.