Chapter Summaries

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.

Sasuke Uchiha, Naruto Uzumaki, and Sakura Haruno hurried to meet Luo Mang, fearing he might be in danger, but found him safe near a battle. Luo Mang explained that he had provoked a group into attacking Gaara over fake scrolls, and the team discussed how to proceed.

• Sasuke Uchiha, Naruto Uzumaki, and Sakura Haruno agreed to head for the entrance Luo Mang had used and raced through the trees.
• Sasuke Uchiha heard fighting ahead, and the three stopped to investigate, worried Luo Mang might be caught in the battle.
• Luo Mang appeared beside them, startling Sasuke Uchiha and Naruto Uzumaki, then reassured the group that he was safe.
• Luo Mang explained that he had disguised wooden sticks as scrolls and stirred up the surrounding Ninja to attack Gaara and compete for them.
• Naruto Uzumaki suggested watching from hiding, and Sasuke Uchiha struck him for speaking too loudly.
• Luo Mang stopped their bickering and urged them to quietly discuss how to obtain the scrolls.

Tsunade approved of the group’s cautious plan to avoid the ongoing battle and prepare for a night ambush, while Jiraiya wished they would gather intelligence nearby. Luo Mang sent Naruto Uzumaki and Sasuke Uchiha to the river to find water, hoping Sasuke would encounter and rescue Karin.

• Tsunade approved Sakura Haruno and the others’ plan to leave the fighting and ambush their opponents at night, and considered teaching Sakura taijutsu.
• Jiraiya criticized the group for withdrawing instead of staying concealed and gathering intelligence.
• Luo Mang led the group through the forest and decided they should gather food and water before setting an ambush near monster beast habitats.
• Luo Mang wrote in the Diary that Sasuke Uchiha could find Karin by the river and rescue her from a bear.
• Luo Mang paired himself with Sakura Haruno to find food and sent Naruto Uzumaki and Sasuke Uchiha to the river for water, telling them to shout if they faced serious danger.

Sasuke Uchiha and Naruto Uzumaki rescued Karin from a Giant Bear near the river. Karin revealed that she had an Earth Scroll, leaving the teams with a possible reason to cooperate or compete.

• Sasuke Uchiha hurried toward the river, excited to meet Karin, while Naruto Uzumaki followed and noticed his unusual smile.
• Sasuke Uchiha and Naruto Uzumaki heard Karin calling for help and raced to the river, where a Giant Bear had cornered her.
• Naruto Uzumaki sent out shadow clones to draw the bear’s attention while Sasuke Uchiha crossed the river and defeated it with Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique.
• Naruto Uzumaki lamented that Sasuke Uchiha had burned the bear too badly to eat, and Karin thanked them for saving her.
• Sasuke Uchiha asked Karin whether she had a scroll, and she confirmed that she had an Earth Scroll.

Sasuke and Naruto rescued Karin, who explained that her teammates had abandoned her and revealed her bloodline ability to heal others through her chakra. After learning she did not want to return to Kusagakure, Sasuke let her join their team as support, while Jiraiya secretly hoped they would recruit her for Konoha.

• Karin thanked Sasuke and Naruto for saving her and gave them the Earth Scroll.
• Karin explained that her teammates had abandoned her, and Naruto and Sasuke urged her to withdraw rather than face the exams alone.
• Karin said she did not want to return to Kusagakure and revealed that people could recover by biting her.
• Karin told them her mother had been bitten to death by villagers who exploited the same ability, shocking Naruto and Sasuke.
• Jiraiya recognized Karin's red hair as a possible sign of Uzumaki heritage and secretly urged the boys to recruit her.
• Sasuke invited Karin to join their team as support, and she accepted while thanking him and Naruto.

As the sky darkened, Luo Mang and Sakura Haruno waited anxiously for Sasuke Uchiha and Naruto Uzumaki to return. Sasuke and Naruto rescued Karin, crossed the river with her and a hunted bear, and hurried toward the meeting spot.

• Luo Mang told Sakura Haruno to wait longer instead of searching for the missing Sasuke Uchiha and Naruto Uzumaki.
• Sasuke Uchiha read Luo Mang's worried Diary entry and urged Naruto Uzumaki to finish preparing the bear and head back.
• Sasuke Uchiha carried the injured Karin across the river while Naruto Uzumaki used his Shadow Clones to help them cross and clean the bear.
• Sasuke Uchiha took Karin by the hand and hurried toward the meeting spot, while Naruto Uzumaki carried the bear after them with his clones.

Luo Mang’s team welcomed Karin after rescuing her, and they prepared to search for the Earth Scroll he needed. Meanwhile, Jiraiya and Tsunade sensed Orochimaru nearby, and Jiraiya pursued him.

• Naruto Uzumaki explained how the group had rescued Karin, and Luo Mang agreed to let her join as their sensory ninja.
• Karin thanked the group, and Sakura Haruno offered to treat her wounds.
• Naruto Uzumaki announced that the group had an Earth Scroll and would search for the one Luo Mang needed.
• The team began preparing their bear meat while Tsunade watched them reminisce about mission life.
• Jiraiya and Tsunade sensed Orochimaru in the trees, and Jiraiya chased after him.

Jūgo sent Orochimaru’s prisoners to Konoha as a distraction, then used his explosive ability to attack the village gates. As Konoha mobilized and Sunagakure’s shinobi questioned their next move, Jiraiya and Tsunade confronted Orochimaru in the Forest of Death.

• Jūgo told Orochimaru’s prisoners they could seek refuge in Konoha, and they ran to the village gates.
• The prisoners begged Konoha’s guards to take them in, but some suddenly exploded and injured the guards.
• Jūgo activated his ability, caused more prisoners to explode, and transformed with his Cursed Seal markings as Konoha reacted to the attack.
• Sunagakure’s shinobi saw the chaos and tried to contact the Kazekage, but received no answer.
• Orochimaru heard the explosions in the Forest of Death, where Jiraiya and Tsunade appeared and faced him.

Orochimaru summoned Hashirama Senju and Tobirama Senju to fight Jiraiya and Tsunade, then revealed Yamato as his Wood Release support. Jiraiya dismissed Yamato’s abilities as weak, while Orochimaru summoned Rashomon to protect him.

• Orochimaru asked whether Jiraiya and Tsunade had discovered him long ago, then summoned Hashirama Senju and Tobirama Senju with Impure World Reincarnation.
• Hashirama Senju greeted Tsunade, and Orochimaru expected the reunion to weaken her resolve.
• An Anbu-masked Yamato blocked Jiraiya’s Rasengan with Wood Release, surprising Jiraiya, Tsunade, and Hashirama Senju.
• Orochimaru celebrated Yamato’s apparent success and blamed Danzo for hiding the experiment from him.
• Yamato used Great Forest Technique and Wood Locking Wall, but Jiraiya tore through the wooden attacks and called his Wood Release Sprout Release.
• Orochimaru formed hand seals and summoned Rashomon to shield Yamato.

Danzo and Orochimaru attacked Jiraiya and Tsunade, and the fight exposed Danzo’s resentment toward Tobirama Senju and his desire to become Hokage. Jiraiya and Tsunade fought back, but Danzo and Orochimaru appeared to be stalling as they awaited the next stage of their plan.

• Danzo intervened with Wood Release, shocking Hashirama Senju and Tobirama Senju, who realized Danzo had likely received Hashirama’s cells.
• Jiraiya accused Danzo of joining Orochimaru to attack the village, and Danzo admitted he wanted to reclaim what he believed should have been his, including the Hokage position.
• Jiraiya entered Sage Mode and summoned the Toad Couple while Tsunade activated her Hundred Healings markings.
• Jiraiya’s Sage Art: Goemon overwhelmed Hashirama’s weakened Wooden Shield, but Danzo used Wind Release: Vacuum Sphere to attack Jiraiya before Fukasaku destroyed the projectiles.
• Tsunade attacked Orochimaru, but Yamato’s Wood Release failed to stop her and Yamanaka Fū’s Mind Body Switch Technique only briefly slowed her down.
• Danzo and Orochimaru continued fighting instead of fleeing, while Jiraiya suspected they were stalling for time.

Luo Mang and his companions captured Kabuto Yakushi and the Three Sound Ninja after Luo Mang subdued them with genjutsu. He searched their memories and learned Orochimaru planned to capture Sasuke during the Chunin Exams and take over his body.

• Luo Mang’s group prepared to leave at night to find a team carrying an Earth Scroll, but Karin sensed Kabuto Yakushi and the Three Sound Ninja approaching.
• Luo Mang used his Mangekyo genjutsu to take control of all four attackers, and Naruto Uzumaki tied them to a tree.
• Luo Mang searched the captives’ memories with the Sharingan and discovered Orochimaru’s plan to capture Sasuke and take over his body during the Chunin Exams.
• Luo Mang learned that Kabuto and the Three Sound Ninja were meant to subdue Sasuke and take him to a cave while Orochimaru held off interference and Jūgo served as a decoy.