Chapter Summaries

Hayashi, Zabuza, and Haku ate ramen at Ichiraku, where Zabuza devoured ten bowls. As they left, Hayashi sensed Gekko Hayate’s chakra surging urgently and sprinted off, telling Zabuza and Haku that something serious was happening.

• Teuchi served ramen to Hayashi, Zabuza, and Haku, and gave Hayashi extra pork slices.
• Zabuza and Haku tried the ramen, and Zabuza kept ordering bowls until he had eaten ten.
• Teuchi said some ninja ate a dozen bowls or more and mentioned a super big eater he had not seen in a long time.
• As the three left Ichiraku in the evening, Zabuza joked that he would eat even more next time.
• Hayashi sensed Gekko Hayate’s chakra shifting rapidly, leaped onto a fence, and sprinted away.
• Zabuza and Haku followed Hayashi, who warned them that something serious was happening.

Gekko Hayate finished an ANBU patrol, spoke with Tanabe about Hayashi, and went to the market to buy vegetables for home. On the way back, he followed a concealed stranger and discovered they were heading to the Kazekage's loft.

• Gekko Hayate led an ANBU squad back to Konoha after checking the forest perimeter barrier.
• Tanabe asked Gekko Hayate how Hayashi was doing, and Hayate said his student had made it to the Finals.
• A vegetable vendor recognized Gekko Hayate as Hayashi's teacher and gave him a bag of vegetables, which Hayate paid for secretly.
• Gekko Hayate noticed a cloaked stranger moving through quiet alleys and followed them.
• The stranger checked for pursuers and approached the Kazekage's loft.

Gekko Hayate overheard Baki planning to assassinate Uzumaki Hayashi and was discovered while spying outside the Kazekage Tower. After surviving Baki’s wind attacks, Hayate struck from behind, leaving the fight’s outcome unresolved.

• Gekko Hayate overheard Baki and another ninja discuss their plan and the possibility of assassinating Uzumaki Hayashi.
• Hayate made a noise against the wall, and Baki attacked him with wind blades as he tried to escape and warn Lord Third.
• Baki cornered Hayate and wounded his arm with Wind Release: Wind Blade, which shredded Hayate’s clones.
• Hayate used a substitution to evade Baki’s finishing attack and slashed at him from behind.

Gekko Hayate fought Baki but was wounded and forced to flee. Hayashi and Zabuza intercepted Baki, and Hayashi prepared to fight, asking why a corpse was talking.

• Baki wounded Gekko Hayate with a blade, then attacked him with sand-laced wind and wind blades.
• Gekko Hayate used a burst of dust to escape the sand wind, but Baki pursued him and struck his back with another wind blade.
• At the alley's entrance, Zabuza pulled the injured Hayate behind him while Haku bandaged his wounds.
• Hayashi arrived, formed a Tachi from ice, and confronted Baki alongside Zabuza.
• Baki dismissed the two sword-wielding ninja, and Hayashi asked Zabuza why a corpse was talking.

Zabuza fought Baki while Hayashi watched, and Baki’s wind armor kept him from being decisively wounded. After Baki sprang back to attack Hayashi, Hayashi blocked the strike and prepared to confront him in his transformed state.

• Zabuza charged Baki with the Kubikiribōchō, forcing Baki to evade with wind techniques.
• Baki’s wind blades cut Zabuza, but Zabuza’s bloodied sword struck Baki and sent him crashing into a wall.
• Zabuza told Hayashi that a layer of chakra protected Baki like padded armor, while Haku warned Zabuza not to get hurt.
• Baki burst from the rubble and launched two wind blades at Hayashi, who blocked them with a Water Formation Wall.
• Hayashi gathered natural energy, grew a dragon horn, and declared that Baki was too weak for him to use his full strength.

Hayashi defeated Baki with Sage Art and helped Zabuza finish him, then rushed to Gekko Hayate, who had collapsed after the battle. Hayashi feared his teacher had died until Haku explained that Hayate had only passed out from exhaustion.

• Hayashi used Inorganic Reincarnation to strip Baki of control over the surrounding nature and attack him with a rain of swords.
• Hayashi told Haku to use the Sage Art ninjutsu he had taught him, and Haku's ice wolves pinned Baki in place.
• Zabuza charged and decapitated Baki with Kubikiribōchō.
• Hayashi returned to normal and rushed to Gekko Hayate, who closed his eyes after reassuring him.
• Hayashi grieved and apologized, but Haku clarified that Gekko Hayate had merely passed out from exhaustion.

After Zabuza killed Baki while defending Gekko Hayate, Kakashi and an ANBU squad arrived to find Hayashi, Zabuza, and Haku at the scene. Hayashi claimed Baki had run into Zabuza’s blade, leaving Kakashi to face the consequences of the incident.

• Hayashi reassured Zabuza that he and Haku would not be blamed for Baki’s death, saying he had ordered Zabuza to act.
• Kakashi arrived with an ANBU squad after sensing Zabuza’s killing intent and found Hayate injured beside Hayashi, Zabuza, and Haku.
• Zabuza pointed Kakashi toward Baki’s decapitated corpse and warned him not to threaten the Dragon Princess.
• Hayashi told Kakashi that Baki had tried to kill Hayate and had died after running into Zabuza’s blade.
• Kakashi arranged for an ANBU to take Hayate for treatment, then questioned Hayashi’s account of Baki’s death.

After Baki died in the alley, Zabuza backed Hayashi’s account and pointed out that Konoha had been attacked, prompting Kakashi to seal off the area and take Hayashi to report to the Third. They reached the Hokage’s office, where an elderly visitor warned Sarutobi against letting outsiders into Konoha.

• Hayashi told Kakashi that Baki had run into Zabuza’s greatsword, and Zabuza supported his explanation.
• Hayashi insisted he would go with Kakashi to report the attack, but Zabuza reminded them that Konoha was the victim and that the Third and Jiraiya were in the village.
• Kakashi ordered the ANBU to seal off the alley after declaring that Gekko Hayate had been attacked.
• Zabuza and Haku left the alley to meet Hayashi, while Kakashi carried Hayashi to the Third’s office.
• Kakashi brought Hayashi to the Hokage’s office, where an elderly voice warned Sarutobi that letting outsiders into Konoha was a mistake.

After Baki attacked Gekko Hayate, Hayashi and Kakashi reported the incident to Hiruzen Sarutobi and Shimura Danzō, who debated how Konoha should respond. Danzō suspected Hayashi had anticipated the attack and possessed something that could persuade Hiruzen to confront the Kazekage.

• Kakashi reported that Baki had attacked Gekko Hayate and that Zabuza had rescued Hayate and killed Baki.
• Hayashi confirmed he had been present and asked whether Hiruzen would blame Zabuza.
• Danzō revealed he knew about Hayashi’s abilities and said he trusted Hayashi’s devotion to making Konoha powerful.
• Hiruzen checked Hayashi for injuries and considered taking a hard line against the Kazekage to avoid surrendering him or the hired ninja.
• Danzō urged Hiruzen to go to war and accused Hayashi of having anticipated the incident and possessing leverage to make Konoha act against the Kazekage.

Uzumaki Hayashi warned Hiruzen Sarutobi that Kabuto Yakushi and the Kazekage might be connected to a plot against Konoha, and Hiruzen agreed to strengthen security during the Chunin Ninja Exams. An ANBU then revealed that Gekko Hayate had identified Uzumaki Hayashi as a target for assassination.

• Shimura Danzō left the Hokage Office after telling Hiruzen Sarutobi to notify him when the war began.
• Uzumaki Hayashi told Hiruzen and Kakashi that Kabuto Yakushi knew his title before it had spread publicly and that Kabuto's scent resembled the ninja who had ambushed him in the Forest of Death.
• Uzumaki Hayashi said his Mind's Eye of the Kagura had detected chakra like Kabuto's near Baki when Zabuza killed him, and suspected the Kazekage had allied with Kabuto's organization.
• Hiruzen agreed to evacuate nearby civilians and deploy ANBU to Uzumaki Hayashi's exam site the next day while preparing for possible conflict with Sunagakure.
• An ANBU reported that Gekko Hayate had awakened and said the Kazekage's plans included assassinating Uzumaki Hayashi.

After learning that Sunagakure planned to assassinate Hayashi, the Third agreed to use the Chunin Ninja Exams as a trap while Kakashi prepared Konoha for battle. Meanwhile, Orochimaru decided to begin his attack on Konoha the next day.

• The Third learned from an ANBU that Hayate had reported a plan to assassinate Hayashi and ordered Danzo summoned.
• Hayashi recognized the ANBU as Tanabe, then proposed using himself as bait during the Chunin Ninja Exams while Kakashi evacuated civilians.
• The Third accepted Hayashi’s resolve and told Kakashi to prepare for battle, pointing him to a hidden scroll in his desk in case anything went wrong.
• Kabuto told Orochimaru that the little girl had returned and that he had not been discovered.
• Orochimaru decided to set his plan in motion the next day and vowed to destroy Konoha.

Uzumaki Hayashi visited the hospital after Gekko Hayate was attacked, reassuring Uzuki Yugao that Hayate had been rescued. Hayate woke and immediately warned Hayashi that someone was trying to assassinate her.

• Kakashi comforted Hayashi outside the Hokage Building, and Hayashi promised to be there for him too.
• Kakashi left to prepare defenses and evacuation routes for the next day's examination.
• Hayashi went to the medical ward, where Yugao, Might Guy, and Kurenai watched over the injured Hayate.
• Hayashi told Yugao that Zabuza and he had rescued Hayate after an attack during patrol.
• Hayate woke, then urgently asked Hayashi why she was there and warned that someone was trying to assassinate her.

Uzumaki Hayashi reassured Gekko Hayate and Uzuki Yugao that he would survive the coming danger, then went home and prepared to face the First and Second the next day. He fell asleep with plans to try to save Grandpa Third, but his dream ended with a moon crashing down on him.

• Uzumaki Hayashi comforted Gekko Hayate and Uzuki Yugao, promising that he would be safe and asking Hayate to recover and cook for him.
• Gekko Hayate agreed to bring Uzuki Yugao along and cook for Hayashi once he was better.
• Uzuki Yugao sent Hayashi home so he could rest before his exam, and he returned to an empty house.
• Hayashi anticipated fighting the First and Second through Impure World Reincarnation and asked Tagori, Tagitsuhime, and Ichikishimahime to help him save Grandpa Third.
• Hayashi fell asleep and dreamed of a blazing sun, a luminous moon, and the moon crashing down on him.

Hayashi joined Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura on the morning of his match, smiling through tears as he called them his most precious companions. At the arena, the sparse crowd and empty Kazekage’s seat hinted at trouble, while Sakura worried over Hayashi’s unusually cold hand.

• Hayashi woke from a strange dream after falling off his bed, then met Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura outside his room.
• As Team 7 joked together on the way to the arena, Hayashi began crying and told Sakura that they were his most precious companions.
• Naruto and Sakura celebrated their victories, while Sasuke teased them about how they had won.
• The group reached the new arena, where Naruto noticed the sparse crowd and Sakura spotted Kakashi among the Jonin.
• Genma Shiranui watched the empty Kazekage’s seat while Sakura wondered why Hayashi’s hand felt so cold.

Hiruzen Sarutobi pretended not to suspect the Fourth Kazekage as the Chunin Exams’ final match began. Uzumaki Hayashi faced Gaara, who unleashed a murderous Sand Hand at him.

• The Fourth Kazekage spoke with Hiruzen Sarutobi about the exam and hosting the next one in Sunagakure, while Hiruzen concealed his readiness for combat.
• Hiruzen signaled Genma Shiranui, who announced the first match between Uzumaki Hayashi and Gaara and kept hidden support nearby.
• Hayashi told Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura to watch and listen to Kakashi-sensei, then entered the arena.
• Gaara arrived amid a surge of bloodlust and declared Hayashi worthy of being crushed.
• Gaara sent a gigantic Sand Hand thundering toward Hayashi.

Uzumaki Hayashi urged Gaara to fight the fate he had accepted, then battled through Gaara’s sand attacks and struck him into a wall. The arena fell silent as an inhuman roar began to spread from within the wall.

• Hayashi shielded himself from Gaara’s sand and told him to fight the fate he had decided for himself.
• Gaara attacked Hayashi with a barrage of sand bullets, but Hayashi dodged through them and closed the distance.
• Gaara transformed the arena into a desert and unleashed Quicksand Waterfall, but Hayashi leapt above the waves and slashed at him.
• Gaara’s sand formed a shield that stopped Hayashi’s blade from piercing his chest, though the force of the strike smashed him into a wall.
• Hayashi watched the wall as an inhuman roar slowly spread from within it.

Uzumaki Hayashi faced Gaara’s partial Tailed Beast Transformation and let himself be trapped in a Sand Binding Coffin. He broke free of Gaara’s Sand Burial, revealing a white dragon horn as he vowed to stay until Gaara conceded.

• Gaara’s body partly transformed as he attacked Hayashi with a giant Sand Hand.
• Gaara trapped Hayashi in a Sand Binding Coffin, alarming Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura in the stands.
• Gaara used Sand Burial, expecting to crush Hayashi inside the cocoon.
• Hayashi overpowered the Sand Burial and burst out of the collapsing sand cocoon.
• Hayashi floated above Gaara with a white dragon horn visible and declared he would stay until Gaara conceded wholeheartedly.

Uzumaki Hayashi overwhelmed Gaara with sage-powered wind attacks, then challenged his belief that the sand protecting him belonged to Shukaku. Gaara began transforming as Shukaku emerged, and Hayashi prepared to face the tailed beast.

• Uzumaki Hayashi sent relentless sage-energy wind blades at Gaara, whose sand shield refused to let him escape and was gradually worn away.
• Hayashi struck Gaara with a flying kick and Sage Art: Wind Release: Pressure Damage, smashing him into the arena floor and leaving him badly injured.
• Hayashi told Gaara that the sand protecting him was not Shukaku's ability, provoking Gaara to roar and unleash more of the tailed beast's presence.
• Shukaku began taking over half of Gaara's body and spread a powerful malice across the arena, frightening Naruto, Sasuke, Sakura, and the spectators.
• Hayashi sheathed his sword and stared down Shukaku as the Third Hokage watched from the stands with a gratified smile.

Uzumaki Hayashi restrained Shukaku’s Tailed Beast Bomb, while Gaara discovered that his mother had given him the power to control sand. Gaara broke down in tears, but in the real world Shukaku took full control and began crawling out of his body.

• Orochimaru declined Hiruzen Sarutobi’s offer of help, unaware that Hiruzen had alerted Konoha Jonin.
• Uzumaki Hayashi used Senjutsu-powered Adamantine Sealing Chains to bind Shukaku and divert his Tailed Beast Bomb into the sky.
• Shukaku told Gaara that he had only given him chakra, prompting Gaara to question where his sand-control ability had come from.
• Gaara saw a sand statue of his mother embrace him and realized she had left him the ability to control sand.
• Gaara lost consciousness as Shukaku took over his body and began crawling out of his stomach.

Orochimaru revealed himself as the disguised Kazekage and unleashed Shukaku on Konoha, then lured Hiruzen Sarutobi away to fight. As Kakashi organized the response, Uzumaki Hayashi summoned a colossal ice whale to face Shukaku.

• Orochimaru revealed his disguise to Hiruzen Sarutobi as Shukaku began destroying the arena and nearby buildings.
• Orochimaru accused Hiruzen of underestimating him, and Hiruzen summoned Enma to attack him.
• Hiruzen drew Orochimaru toward the Hokage Building, and the two left the stands to continue their battle.
• Kakashi ordered the Sealing Squad to surround Shukaku and called on Hayashi for help.
• Uzumaki Hayashi used Sage Art: Ice Release: One-Horned White Whale to summon a giant ice whale that charged Shukaku.