Recaps

Naruto befriended Hinata, trained with Might Guy, and began learning Wood Release and Sealing Jutsu. After defeating Sasuke in a combat class, he shared lunch with his friends while Sasuke left the rooftop alone.

• Naruto rescued Hinata from bullies, took her to Ichiraku Ramen, and earned Hiashi’s thanks despite Hiashi’s reluctance to bring him closer to the Hyuga family.
• Naruto trained with Might Guy, brought him flowers and cake for his birthday, and declared his resolve to become Hokage and protect others.
• Naruto learned to fuse earth, water, and Yang Release chakra, creating a small Wood Release sprout, then asked the Third Hokage to teach him Sealing Jutsu after awakening the Mind’s Eye of the Kagura.
• Naruto studied the sealing scroll with Kurama’s help and used shadow clones to continue learning while attending the Academy and growing closer to his classmates.
• Might Guy began teaching combat classes and arranged a spar between Naruto and Sasuke, where Naruto defeated Sasuke despite Sasuke awakening his Sharingan.
• Naruto shared lunch with Shikamaru, Choji, Kiba, and Shino, while Might Guy planned to teach for another month and Sasuke left the rooftop without joining them.

Naruto strengthened his friendships, confronted Sasuke, and found success as a novelist while secretly preparing for future threats. After turning Mizuki’s attempt to manipulate him into a test involving the Scroll of Seals, Naruto earned approval to become a Genin and anticipated the coming Konoha Crush Plan.

• Ino gave Naruto a bellflower, and he treasured the first flower he had received as a gift.
• Naruto befriended Hinata and Hanabi, shared meals with them, and prompted Hiashi to reconsider the pressure he placed on Hinata.
• Naruto planned ways to grow stronger, gave Ino a bouquet, and defeated Sasuke in a public match by sealing his flames.
• Naruto hosted dinner for his friends, while Shikaku agreed to teach Shikamaru the Nara Clan’s Secret Techniques and warned him to keep his suspicions about Naruto’s parentage quiet.
• Naruto wrote a novel as Lanling Xiaoxiaosheng, which impressed an editor, Danzo, and Kakashi.
• When Mizuki tried to lure Naruto into stealing the Scroll of Seals, Naruto told Hiruzen, who gave him the real scroll as part of a test.
• Inoichi and Hiashi confronted Naruto, but Hinata and Hanabi defended him, and Shikaku escorted him to the Hokage Building.
• Hiruzen declared Naruto qualified to become a Genin, and Naruto left anticipating the Konoha Crush Plan and Hiruzen’s coming death.

Naruto passed Kakashi’s bell test and led Team 7 and their allies through the Land of Waves mission, where they defeated Gato’s forces and spared Zabuza and Haku. Back in Konoha, the Third Hokage discussed Naruto’s parentage and the village’s leadership with clan heads, while Naruto’s sealing skills and relationships with his friends continued to develop.

• Kakashi tested Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura, then declared them a team after they worked together to take the bells.
• Team 7 and Team 10 reinforced Team 8 in the Land of Waves, where they learned Tazuna had concealed the mission’s danger and agreed to face Zabuza and Gato.
• Naruto challenged Inari to reconsider his hostility toward the ninja, then offered him fish soup again.
• Naruto and his allies used Hinata’s Byakugan and Ino’s Mind Transmission Technique to locate and defeat Zabuza and Haku, while Zabuza killed Gato and his ronin.
• Naruto healed Zabuza and Haku, then let them leave after Zabuza surrendered the Kubikiribōchō.
• The Third Hokage discussed revealing Naruto’s parentage and choosing a successor with Hiashi, Shikaku, Inoichi, and Choza.
• Naruto shared a meal with Ino, Hinata, and Hanabi, subdued Konohamaru and his friends, and encouraged Hinata to be braver.
• The Third Hokage questioned Naruto about the sealing scroll and was stunned to learn he had mastered more than half its contents.

Naruto helped Kazahana Koyuki reclaim the Land of Snow, then returned to Konoha, where his growing ties with Hinata and Hanabi intersected with Hiashi’s secret plans and Kakashi’s dealings with Hanare. The arc ended with Konoha considering Hanare’s recruitment while Naruto received orders to kill her if she refused to stay.

• Naruto trained in Flying Thunder God and joined Kakashi, Sakura, and Sasuke on an escort mission to the Land of Snow, where they discovered their client was actress Yukie Fujikaze.
• After Kakashi revealed that Yukie was Kazahana Koyuki, Naruto helped her reclaim her title, and Kakashi and Naruto defeated Kazahana Dōtō and his Snow Ninja forces.
• Koyuki activated her father’s Geothermal Device, which melted the country’s snow, and Naruto and his companions finished filming Princess Gale before returning to Konoha.
• Naruto watched the film with Hinata and Hanabi, then sparred with Neji and showed his strength and medical skills before inviting the Hyuga girls to learn his technique.
• Hiashi gave Naruto Yasohinokami and warned him that the invitation to Kirigakure was a trap, while Hinata and Hanabi moved into Naruto’s renovated home.
• Kakashi’s walk with Hanare, a spy from Lockfront Village, drew the attention of Team Guy and Asuma’s team, while Naruto learned that Hanare had kissed Kakashi during their surveillance.
• Kakashi led Team 7 to exchange Hanare for Li Yi, but an explosion disrupted the exchange, and Naruto fought Lockfront ninja as Kakashi pursued Hanare and accused her of infiltrating Konoha for its secrets.
• Kakashi let Hanare go, but Naruto confronted him with marriage registration forms, and Hiruzen, Inoichi, and Ibiki decided Konoha should recruit Hanare, ordering Naruto to kill her if she refused to stay.