Chapter Summaries

Zhou Cheng defended Konohamaru from Gaara's siblings, encouraged Konohamaru to train with him, and secretly helped Kurama Yakumo pass the first exam. After the exam, he refined Yakumo's talent and prepared to use the resulting talent original liquid to improve his sensing ability before the second exam.

• Zhou Cheng rebuked Kankuro for threatening him, and Temari stopped Kankuro from starting a fight.
• Zhou Cheng warned Konohamaru not to risk his life carelessly, and Konohamaru agreed to train with him after the Chunin Ninja Exams.
• Zhou Cheng used his Genjutsu Kekkei Genkai to swap his completed exam paper with Kurama Yakumo's blank one, and Yakumo replaced his name with her own.
• Everyone passed the first exam except for a few people Konoha had planted, and the second exam was set to begin that afternoon.
• Zhou Cheng summoned the Purple Crystal Gourd, received twelve drops of talent original liquid from Yakumo's refined talent, and allocated two drops to the Orange Sun Gourd.

Zhou Cheng entered the Forest of Death with Haku and Kurama Yakumo, intending to rescue Karin Uzumaki and make his strength known. He saved Karin from a giant bear, and she was immediately captivated by him.

• Zhou Cheng enhanced his treasure gourds, raising his chakra reserves and taijutsu strength while saving his last two drops of talent original liquid for the final gourd.
• At the second exam briefing, Mitaraishi Anko explained that teams had five days to obtain both scrolls and reach the destination through the Forest of Death.
• Zhou Cheng gave the Konoha 12 Flying Thunder God Kunai and secretly marked Hinata, Naruto, and Ino before entering the forest with Haku and Kurama Yakumo.
• Zhou Cheng carried the exhausted Kurama Yakumo to the place where Karin Uzumaki would appear, and Haku drove away two teams trying to steal their scrolls.
• Zhou Cheng killed the giant bear pursuing Karin with one kick and helped her to her feet, leaving Karin infatuated with him.

After rescuing Karin, Zhou Cheng replicated her talents and gained powerful sensing, sealing, and healing abilities. He took Karin with his group and used his new sensing skill to track down a Takigakure team carrying the Earth Scroll.

• Zhou Cheng gave Karin food and water, then replicated her talents, gaining Mind's Eye of the Kagura, Adamantine Sealing Chains, vast chakra reserves, and rapid healing.
• Team 7 arrived, and Zhou Cheng gave Naruto the Heaven Scroll he had seized before Sasuke led the team away.
• Zhou Cheng invited Karin to travel with him and Haku and Kurama Yakumo until they found her team, and Karin accepted.
• Using Mind's Eye of the Kagura, Zhou Cheng tracked a Takigakure team with the Earth Scroll and confronted them.
• The Takigakure captain mocked Zhou Cheng for challenging them alone and signaled his two teammates to attack.

Zhou Cheng collected scrolls by defeating rival teams in the Forest of Death, then answered Sakura’s call for help when Team 7 encountered Orochimaru. The chapter ended with Zhou Cheng facing Orochimaru after he appeared between the Sannin and Team 7.

• Zhou Cheng killed three Takigakure Genin after they tried to take his Earth Scroll.
• Zhou Cheng ambushed a Sunagakure team, took their Earth Scroll, and knocked them unconscious.
• Gekko Hayate and other Konoha Shinobi discussed which Genin might reach the tower, while Mitaraishi Anko hurried into the forest after sensing Orochimaru.
• Zhou Cheng’s team rested beneath a tree after he collected six scrolls, and he left when he sensed that one of his Flying Thunder God Kunai had been activated.
• Orochimaru defeated Sasuke and Naruto and cornered Sakura, who used the Flying Thunder God Kunai to summon Zhou Cheng.
• Zhou Cheng appeared in front of Team 7 and blocked Orochimaru’s attack, and Orochimaru asked who he was.

Zhou Cheng fought Orochimaru in the Forest of Death, showing off the power of his Sage Body and a perfected Rasenshuriken. Orochimaru tried to escape, but Zhou Cheng tracked him down and cornered him again.

• Zhou Cheng sent Sakura and Naruto away, then faced Orochimaru alone.
• Zhou Cheng used an enormous Rasengan, but Orochimaru dodged it and began planning his retreat.
• Zhou Cheng created and hurled a Rasenshuriken, destroying Orochimaru's three Earth Formation Walls as Orochimaru narrowly escaped the blast.
• Orochimaru left an Earth Clone behind and fled with the Body Flicker Technique, but Zhou Cheng sensed and pursued his real body.
• Zhou Cheng struck Orochimaru's path with another Rasenshuriken and confronted him, asking where he thought he was going.

Zhou Cheng fought Orochimaru in the Forest of Death, forcing him to retreat before showing Mitaraishi Anko his overwhelming strength and Flying Thunder God Technique. As Anko hurried to report what she had witnessed, Haku sensed a new threat near Kurama Yakumo and Karin and narrowly dodged an arrow.

• Mitaraishi Anko found Zhou Cheng fighting Orochimaru and watched Zhou Cheng overpower him with unusual taijutsu.
• Orochimaru attacked with the Kusanagi Sword, but Zhou Cheng blocked it with an Ultra-Big Ball Rasengan before dodging the blade and letting Orochimaru escape.
• Zhou Cheng appeared behind Mitaraishi Anko, spoke with her, and vanished with the Flying Thunder God Technique to meet his teammates.
• Mitaraishi Anko realized Zhou Cheng had used space-time ninjutsu and hurried to report Orochimaru's presence to Third-sama.
• Haku sensed danger while guarding Kurama Yakumo and Karin, then narrowly dodged an arrow that cut his cheek.

Haku, Karin, and Kurama Yakumo were ambushed by the Sound Four after Yakumo blocked the flute’s effects. Haku trapped Sakon and Ukon in his ice mirrors, but Karin’s cry for help forced him to leave before finishing them.

• Haku warned Karin and Kurama Yakumo that the flute could stir negative emotions, and Yakumo used genjutsu to block its effects.
• An Earth Style attack separated the three, and Haku faced Sakon while the others were confronted by Sound Ninja.
• Haku attacked Sakon with senbon and water needles, but Sakon recovered from his wounds and revealed his unusual body.
• Haku used Demonic Mirroring Ice Crystals to trap Sakon and Ukon, then discovered their regeneration worked only when they were merged.
• Karin cried for help, and Haku emerged from the mirrors to go to her aid.

Zhou Cheng rescued Karin from Jirobo and used the Kurama Clan's kekkei genkai to manipulate Tayuya's five senses. He tricked Tayuya into attacking Jirobo, leaving the Sound Ninja fighting each other.

• Jirobo cornered Karin and tried to kill her, but Zhou Cheng stopped him and overpowered him.
• Kidomaru's arrow interrupted Zhou Cheng, and Jirobo activated his Cursed Seal and broke free before Zhou Cheng kicked him away.
• Zhou Cheng brought Karin to Kurama Yakumo, who collapsed from exhaustion after he reassured her.
• Zhou Cheng altered Tayuya's five senses so she saw him as Orochimaru and mistook Jirobo for a Konoha shinobi.
• Tayuya summoned the Rage Ogres to attack Jirobo, who activated the second stage of his Cursed Seal and sent them flying.

Zhou Cheng defeated and intimidated the Sound Four with a Water Release: Rasenshuriken, forcing them to surrender their scroll. After traveling through the Forest of Death, he led his team to the central tower on the fourth day, nearly uninjured.

• Zhou Cheng released Tayuya from his Genjutsu and threatened the Sound Four with a Water Release: Rasenshuriken, driving them away from its blast.
• Zhou Cheng caught Tayuya with a kunai and made her surrender the Sound Four's scroll before letting the group flee.
• Zhou Cheng comforted Haku, Kurama Yakumo, and Karin, then rested with his team before continuing through the forest.
• Zhou Cheng's team traveled for three more days while other Genin fought fiercely for scrolls and suffered heavy casualties.
• Zhou Cheng led his team to the central tower on the fourth day, with their full roster intact and almost no injuries.

Zhou Cheng helped ensure Konoha’s teams passed the second exam, gave Karin’s team scrolls, and revealed that he had collected a huge stash. As everyone rested at the tower before the one-on-one third exam, he comforted Naruto, drew closer to his friends, and won over the assembled shinobi with roasted meat.

• Zhou Cheng gave Karin’s team a set of Heaven and Earth scrolls, allowing them to pass, and later dumped his large stash of scrolls in front of the other shinobi.
• Gekko Hayate announced that the third exam would begin the next day and use one-on-one eliminations, while the Sound Four failed to arrive at the tower.
• Naruto’s Team 7 thanked Zhou Cheng for saving them, and Zhou Cheng privately told Sasuke that protecting his little brother was natural before encouraging Naruto about his future.
• Ino clung to Zhou Cheng when the Ino-Shika-Cho trio visited, and Hinata blushed when she greeted him.
• Zhou Cheng returned from hunting with Haku, Naruto, and Sasuke, then shared honey-roasted meat with Konoha’s shinobi and Karin’s team while charging other villages ten ryo per skewer.
• Temari bought some meat and worried that Sunagakure’s team might face Zhou Cheng in the third exam.

During the Chunin Exam preliminaries, Sasuke defeated Akado Yoroi before Hinata faced Neji and surprised the arena by using Zhou Cheng’s Tai Chi to counter the Gentle Fist. Hinata and Neji reached a stalemate, while the gathered shinobi took notice of her new fighting style.

• Sasuke endured Akado Yoroi’s chakra-draining attacks and defeated him with the Lion Combo.
• The Konoha 12 won their matches against the Sound Ninja, though each fight was difficult.
• Neji overwhelmed Hinata at first, but she repeatedly stood back up and continued fighting.
• Zhou Cheng signaled Hinata to use Tai Chi, and she began redirecting Neji’s Gentle Fist attacks.
• Hinata and Neji fought to a stalemate as Kakashi, Might Guy, and the Sunagakure shinobi watched her technique with interest.

Hinata kept fighting Neji despite being gravely injured, until Zhou Cheng intervened when Neji launched his strongest attack. Zhou Cheng shattered Neji’s Rotation, but Hinata collapsed unconscious, leaving him rushing to help her.

• After Neji sealed her acupoints and knocked her down, Hinata rose and rejected his belief that fate was fixed, saying Cheng Zhou had taught her that persistence was true strength.
• Hinata forced chakra through her sealed acupoints and continued toward Neji, prompting Zhou Cheng and several others to rush in as Neji unleashed Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms.
• Zhou Cheng blocked Neji’s attack with Tai Chi, redirecting every strike, then slowed and shattered Neji’s Rotation with a palm strike.
• Guy, Rock Lee, and Tenten hurried to the injured Neji while medical Shinobi began treating him.
• Uzuki Yugao called out when Hinata collapsed unconscious, and Zhou Cheng used the Body Flicker Technique to reach her and ordered that she be laid flat.

Zhou Cheng used Yang Release to heal Hinata, Neji, and Rock Lee, astonishing the jonin and raising questions about his origins. The Chunin Exam continued, and Zhou Cheng healed Rock Lee after his match with Gaara.

• Zhou Cheng channeled Yang Release into Hinata and Neji, healing their injuries as Kakashi recognized the chakra as Yang Release.
• The jonin questioned Zhou Cheng about his parents, and he said they had died when he was very young before the exam resumed.
• Naruto defeated Kiba, while Haku and Kurama Yakumo also won their matches; Zhou Cheng advanced with a bye.
• Rock Lee opened the Eight Gates of Life against Gaara but suffered a broken arm and leg after losing.
• Zhou Cheng used Yang Release to mend Rock Lee's limbs and hidden injuries, and Guy thanked him.

After the third round of the exams, Zhou Cheng reconciled Neji and Hinata and considered his plans for protecting his friends and growing stronger. He decided to study kenjutsu and pursue sage eyes and Yin Release, while wondering whether his sage body could replace Asura's chakra in awakening the Rinnegan.

• Zhou Cheng shared barbecue with the exhausted exam participants, and Hinata, Neji, and Rock Lee thanked him for saving them.
• Zhou Cheng brought Neji and Hinata together, urged Neji not to hate his cousin, and Hinata forgave him.
• Zhou Cheng reviewed how his perfect sage body had strengthened him and planned to earn more money through missions or bounties.
• Zhou Cheng decided to protect Hinata by mastering the Flying Thunder God Technique and placing its mark on her, and planned to teach Tai Chi to the Konoha 12.
• Zhou Cheng resolved to learn kenjutsu from Kakashi and use the time before assimilating Karin's talent to master his sage body.
• Zhou Cheng planned to obtain the Byakugan and Sharingan and wondered whether his Yang Release could substitute for Asura's chakra to awaken the Rinnegan.

Zhou Cheng planned to grow stronger through senjutsu, combat training, and forbidden techniques while preparing to seek powerful dōjutsu. After hearing of Zhou Cheng’s strength and Yang Release, Hiruzen Sarutobi and Danzo discussed testing, controlling, or killing him if he refused to obey.

• Zhou Cheng planned to pursue Sage Mode, study kenjutsu, train through missions, and learn forbidden techniques during the chaos of the Konoha Crush Plan.
• An ANBU reported to Hiruzen Sarutobi and Danzo that Zhou Cheng had caused a fierce battle, dispersed Neji’s Rotation, gathered scrolls, and used Yang Release to heal others.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi and Danzo realized Zhou Cheng’s power and connections made him harder to control, and Danzo regretted not bringing him into Root earlier.
• Danzo urged Hiruzen Sarutobi to force Zhou Cheng into Root or label him a rogue ninja, and to kill him if he resisted.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi decided to test Zhou Cheng when he returned, threaten the people around him if necessary, and kill him if those measures failed.

Orochimaru prepared to attack Konoha with Kabuto’s help while Hiruzen Sarutobi and Danzo confronted Zhou Cheng about his rapid growth. Zhou Cheng refused Hiruzen’s order to train at Root, leaving their conflict unresolved.

• Orochimaru identified Zhou Cheng as the boy he had encountered in the Forest of Death and considered recruiting him alongside Sasuke.
• Baki reported that Kabuto had provided maps of Konoha’s security forces, and Orochimaru ordered the attack plan to proceed.
• After the Chunin Exam candidates returned to Konoha, Hiruzen Sarutobi summoned Zhou Cheng and questioned him about his strength and Yang Release.
• Danzo accused Zhou Cheng of being a Kirigakure spy, but Zhou Cheng claimed that diligent training explained his abilities.
• Hiruzen ordered Zhou Cheng to train at Root for a year, and Zhou Cheng refused twice.

Zhou Cheng confronted Hiruzen Sarutobi and Danzo over their attempts to control and surveil him, demonstrating his genjutsu and Kage-level power. Hiruzen agreed that Konoha would leave Zhou Cheng alone as long as he did not threaten the village, but Zhou Cheng ended the meeting by revealing a miniature Rasenshuriken.

• Zhou Cheng accused Hiruzen and Danzo of wanting to use him, rejected their offer to make him Sixth Hokage, and denied intending to betray Konoha.
• Zhou Cheng trapped Hiruzen and Danzo in a genjutsu that altered their memories of Tobirama Senju choosing the next Hokage, then released them back into the office.
• Zhou Cheng demanded that Konoha stop surveilling him and warned Hiruzen and Danzo that his genjutsu was only one of his trump cards.
• Danzo continued to threaten Zhou Cheng, so Zhou Cheng released pressure approaching Kage level and warned that a fight could destroy the Hokage Building and Hokage Rock.
• Hiruzen agreed that Konoha would not act against Zhou Cheng unless he threatened the village.
• Zhou Cheng formed a miniature Rasenshuriken, startling Hiruzen and Danzo with his mastery of shape and nature transformation.

After demonstrating his power to Hiruzen Sarutobi and Danzo, Zhou Cheng learned that he would face Gaara in the Chunin Exams’ final matches and planned to draw out the One-Tail’s chakra. That evening, he offered to teach Tai Chi to his friends and other young shinobi.

• Zhou Cheng demonstrated a hand-seal-free Rasenshuriken to Hiruzen Sarutobi and Danzo, then said he would apply to become a Jonin after the exams.
• Danzo urged Hiruzen Sarutobi to kill Zhou Cheng, but Hiruzen persuaded him to keep Zhou Cheng in Konoha and use his bonds with the children to influence him.
• At Zhou Cheng’s home, the group discussed the final exams, and Zhou Cheng discovered that he would face Gaara.
• Zhou Cheng planned to provoke Gaara into letting Shukaku take control so he could obtain some of the One-Tail’s chakra.
• After spending the evening with his friends, Zhou Cheng offered to teach Tai Chi to the Konoha 12, Haku, Kurama Yakumo, and Karin.

Zhou Cheng encouraged Kurama Yakumo and Karin to learn Tai Chi, then offered Karin a place in Konoha. After Gekko Hayate discovered Orochimaru and Sunagakure’s plan to attack the village, Baki killed him, and the final Chunin Exam began under a cloud of grief.

• Zhou Cheng reassured Kurama Yakumo that Tai Chi could improve her health and told Karin she could learn it despite being from the Grass Ninja.
• Zhou Cheng offered Karin official status as a Konoha Shinobi, and she accepted; he gave her a Flying Thunder God Kunai and told her to stay in Konoha after the exams.
• Gekko Hayate overheard Kabuto and Baki discussing Orochimaru and Sunagakure’s planned attack on Konoha, but Baki spotted and killed him before he could report it.
• Zhou Cheng took Naruto, Sasuke, and Neji on a strenuous morning run before the final Chunin Exam.
• Kakashi told Zhou Cheng and the others that Gekko Hayate had been killed, then urged them to focus on completing the exam while Konoha investigated.

Zhou Cheng challenged Gaara to a match and bet that he would win a secret Wind Release technique for Naruto and others to learn. Disguised as the Kazekage, Orochimaru ordered Baki to kill Zhou Cheng once the attack began, as the Chunin Exam’s first match was announced as Naruto versus Neji.

• Zhou Cheng grieved Gekko Hayate’s death and spotted Baki and the Sound Four behind the Kazekage, while Gaara’s team arrived at the venue.
• Temari warned Zhou Cheng that Gaara would defeat him, but Zhou Cheng challenged Gaara and wagered that Temari would give him a secret Wind Release art if he won.
• Zhou Cheng explained that he wanted the technique for Naruto and hoped to help Haku grow stronger through Wind Release and Water Release.
• Disguised as the Kazekage, Orochimaru told Baki to kill Zhou Cheng when the plan began, and Baki agreed.
• The Third Hokage ordered the exam to begin, and the first match was announced as Naruto against Neji.