Recaps

Gorō Satoru returned to Konoha with Haku and Hozuki Kagetsu to take the Chunin exams, and Sasuke recognized him as his long-missing second brother. The trio was allowed through the gate after Gorō presented their wanted notices as proof of identity.

• Gorō Satoru, Haku, and Hozuki Kagetsu arrived at Konoha's main gate without passes and claimed they had come for the Chunin exams.
• Sasuke recognized the bandaged Gorō Satoru, ran to him, and tearfully welcomed him home.
• Kakashi and Naruto approached after Genma Shiranui explained that the visitors had no identification and claimed to be from the Sweet Ninja Village.
• Gorō produced three wanted notices as proof of identity, leaving Kakashi and the onlookers stunned.
• Kakashi accepted the notices as sufficient proof, and Gorō, Haku, and Hozuki Kagetsu entered Konoha with Sasuke.

Wu Chiwu met Sasuke in a secluded mountain corner and refused to reveal the truth until Sasuke became stronger. He reassured Sasuke that his disguise was safe, though Sasuke noted that Kakashi had started to suspect something.

• Wu Chiwu took Sasuke, Hozuki Kagetsu, and Haku to a secluded spot to speak away from watchful eyes.
• Sasuke demanded answers about Wu Chiwu's return and changed appearance, but Wu Chiwu told him to ask again when he was stronger.
• Wu Chiwu promised to explain everything once Sasuke became strong enough, and Sasuke insisted that he would remember the promise.
• Sasuke worried that Wu Chiwu's disguise might be exposed, and Wu Chiwu assured him that he could escape and keep their background identities hidden.
• Sasuke warned that Kakashi seemed to have noticed something, but Wu Chiwu dismissed the suspicion as mere curiosity.

Wu Chiwu returned to Konoha with Sasuke, Haku, and Hozuki Kagetsu and stopped for sweets, while Sasuke and the others got caught up in a confrontation with Kankuro. Sasuke intervened to free Konohamaru, and Gaara appeared beside him, leaving the group facing the Sand siblings.

• Wu Chiwu asked Sasuke to show him around Konoha and headed into the South Street Snack Shop for Three-Color Dango while Sasuke, Haku, and Hozuki Kagetsu waited outside.
• Kankuro held Konohamaru by the collar and knocked Naruto to the ground with fine threads as Sakura tried to stop Naruto from provoking him.
• Sasuke struck Kankuro's arm with a stone, freeing Konohamaru, and warned Kankuro to leave Konoha.
• Kankuro reached for Crow, but Gaara appeared hanging upside down from a nearby tree and ordered him to stop.

Gaara confronted Kankuro and apologized coldly to Sasuke’s group, but Wu Chiwu suddenly appeared unnoticed beside him. Wu Chiwu teased Naruto about Sasuke showing off, then hinted that the crowded tree was a problem, leaving everyone puzzled.

• Gaara threatened Kankuro into silence, and Kankuro apologized while the blonde girl watched tensely.
• Gaara apologized to Sasuke and the others, while Sasuke brooded over his weakness and Gaara judged him a promising but inexperienced fighter.
• Wu Chiwu appeared hanging upside down right behind Gaara, startling Gaara, Kankuro, Sasuke, and the others because none had noticed him.
• Naruto and Wu Chiwu bonded over mocking Sasuke for showing off, irritating Sasuke and leaving Sakura amused.
• Gaara asked whether Wu Chiwu was treating him like air, and Wu Chiwu replied that too many people were crowded into one tree, confusing everyone nearby.

Hozuki Kagetsu and Haku appeared in the tree, which collapsed under the crowd as Wu Chiwu jumped clear. Wu Chiwu teased Gaara about crushing the tree, while Gaara fixed him with killing intent and Naruto misunderstood the joke.

• Hozuki Kagetsu and Haku revealed themselves in the tree, joining Wu Chiwu, Gaara, and Sasuke on the crowded branch.
• Wu Chiwu jumped to the ground as the tree cracked and fell, sending Gaara and Sasuke scrambling down after him.
• Naruto laughed at Gaara and Sasuke, while Sakura and the Sand siblings reacted with embarrassment and disdain.
• Wu Chiwu joked that Gaara’s gourd had crushed the tree, and Gaara glared at him with murderous intent.
• Naruto shouted that Wu Chiwu meant Gaara had been heavy enough to split the tree.

Wu Chiwu and his companions met Gaara’s team in the woods, where their ridiculous names and banter obscured their abilities. Sasuke persuaded Wu Chiwu to help train him, Naruto, and Sakura, while three hidden ninjas watched the group and discussed whom to monitor.

• Wu Chiwu claimed he had guessed what the others were thinking, and Gaara asked for his name before introducing himself.
• Wu Chiwu gave his full title, and Hozuki Kagetsu and Haku repeated it with the same deadpan formality.
• Gaara remembered Wu Chiwu’s name and left with Kankuro and Temari.
• Sakura reminded Sasuke about their training, and Sasuke convinced the reluctant Wu Chiwu to help train him, Naruto, and Sakura.
• After Wu Chiwu’s group departed, three hidden ninjas discussed watching Sasuke and Gaara while remaining uncertain about Wu Chiwu’s team.

Wu Chiwu attempted to teach Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura about chakra natures using an invented water test, but Kakashi arrived and corrected his explanation with the standard chakra induction paper test. Naruto’s paper was cut in half, confirming he had wind nature.

• Wu Chiwu tested Naruto’s chakra with water and called him a wind-nature Manipulation type.
• Sasuke’s chakra made the water surge, and Wu Chiwu identified him as a lightning-nature Specialization type.
• Kakashi emerged from hiding and challenged Wu Chiwu’s unfamiliar chakra categories and unreliable teaching.
• Kakashi explained the five chakra natures and demonstrated how chakra induction paper revealed each one.
• Naruto channeled chakra into the paper, which split in half, and Kakashi identified his wind nature.

Wu Chiwu joined Hozuki Kagetsu and Haku at the Chunin Exam venue, where their strange appearance drew attention and made Sakura wary. Kabuto Yakushi confronted their group, while privately noting their connection to people Orochimaru was watching.

• Wu Chiwu correctly identified Sasuke's chakra nature as lightning, and Kakashi grew suspicious of his motives.
• The next day, Wu Chiwu arrived at the examination room with Hozuki Kagetsu and Haku, where Naruto greeted him and Sasuke reacted coldly.
• The other examinees stared at the newcomers, and Shikamaru sensed danger from them.
• Kakashi had warned Sakura that the three were registered with Sweet Ninja Village and might have approached Naruto and Sasuke for ulterior reasons, so she agreed to watch them.
• Kabuto Yakushi told Wu Chiwu's group to quiet down and focus on the exam, while thinking that they were connected to people Orochimaru was monitoring.

Kabuto Yakushi used his Ninja Info Cards to share details about the Chunin Exam candidates, including Gaara and Wu Chiwu. When he revealed Wu Chiwu's village was called Sweet Ninja Village, Naruto blurted it out, drawing everyone's attention to the black-robed ninja.

• Kabuto Yakushi introduced himself as a seven-time Chunin Exam candidate and offered to share information using his Ninja Info Cards.
• He explained that the cards held information he had gathered over four years and could reveal it when he applied chakra.
• Sasuke asked for details about Gaara and Wu Chiwu, while Kabuto noticed Sasuke's interest in Wu Chiwu.
• Kabuto revealed that Gaara had completed a B-rank mission as a genin and returned from every mission without a scratch.
• Kabuto read Wu Chiwu's card and reacted with surprise at the name Sweet Ninja Village, prompting Naruto to shout it aloud.
• Sasuke immediately asked Kabuto what was wrong.

Kabuto Yakushi described Wu Chiwu’s sparse mission record and his involvement in an A-rank mission, a runaway princess, and multiple bounties, making the other exam participants wary of him and his companions. Wu Chiwu suspected Kabuto had spread the story to keep them away from Naruto, while Sasuke hid that his second brother had come to see him.

• Kabuto Yakushi revealed that Wu Chiwu had assisted on an A-rank mission, run off with the princess of the Land of Waterfalls, and been wanted by several countries.
• Kabuto Yakushi explained that the Sweet Ninja Village gathered wandering ninja and that its members would do anything to achieve their goals.
• The exam participants grew suspicious of Wu Chiwu and his two companions and moved away from them.
• Sakura warned Sasuke and Naruto to be careful around the group, while Sasuke concealed why his second brother had approached them.
• Hozuki Kagetsu asked whether people were treating them like bad guys, and Wu Chiwu suspected Kabuto Yakushi was trying to keep them away from Naruto.

Wu Chiwu and the other candidates passed Ibiki Morino’s first Chunin exam after facing its psychological final question. At the Forest of Death, Wu Chiwu sensed Orochimaru’s increased strength, and Orochimaru attacked Mitarashi Anko while disguised as a long-haired woman.

• Ibiki Morino explained the first exam’s scoring rules and warned that teams would be eliminated if any member scored zero.
• Wu Chiwu answered the written questions easily, while Sasuke used his Sharingan to copy Wu Chiwu’s solutions.
• After Ibiki Morino announced that everyone had passed, the candidates arrived at Training Ground 44 for the second test.
• Wu Chiwu spotted Orochimaru in disguise and sensed that he had grown stronger.
• Mitarashi Anko threatened Naruto, then blocked Orochimaru’s kunai attack and warned him not to stand behind her with killing intent.

Wu Chiwu intervened when Orochimaru threatened Naruto, then Anko explained the deadly rules of the second exam. Wu Chiwu, Haku, and Hozuki entered Training Ground 44, where a group of Otogakure ninja began hunting for Wu Chiwu.

• Orochimaru used his killing intent to frighten Naruto, but Wu Chiwu stepped in and mocked him.
• Orochimaru withdrew and left, while Anko prepared the examinees for the second exam.
• Anko explained that teams had to collect both the Heaven Scroll and Earth Scroll and reach the central tower together.
• Wu Chiwu entered Training Ground 44 with Haku and Hozuki.
• A group of Otogakure ninja entered the grounds and discussed killing Wu Chiwu or attacking whichever team they encountered.

Wu Chiwu, Haku, and Hozuki Kagetsu headed north and encountered Gaara fighting three Rain Ninja. After Gaara killed them and took their Heaven Scroll, he noticed Wu Chiwu's group and approached them.

• Haku and Hozuki Kagetsu dragged an unmotivated Wu Chiwu north toward Sasuke's group.
• Wu Chiwu's group came across Gaara, Kankuro, and Temari confronting three Rain Ninja over their scrolls.
• Gaara blocked the Rain Ninja's needle attack with sand, then killed all three with his sand techniques.
• Kankuro picked up the fallen Heaven Scroll and urged Gaara to head to the central tower.
• Gaara spotted Wu Chiwu, Haku, and Hozuki Kagetsu hiding nearby and walked toward them despite Kankuro's attempt to stop him.

Wu Chiwu fought Gaara while sending Hozuki Kagetsu and Haku to battle Temari and Kankuro, using his precise observations to guide their attacks. The fight continued as he turned his attention to Kankuro’s weapon and warned Haku about its hidden blades.

• Wu Chiwu faced Gaara again, dodging his sand attacks and testing his defense with shuriken and Fire Release.
• Wu Chiwu urged Hozuki Kagetsu and Haku to fight Temari and Kankuro, and they engaged their opponents.
• Wu Chiwu heated Gaara’s sand wall with his flames and concluded that sufficiently fast, powerful attacks could overcome the defense.
• Wu Chiwu identified the properties of Temari’s wind technique, allowing Hozuki Kagetsu to adjust her tactics and force Temari to retreat.
• Wu Chiwu watched Haku and Kankuro fight and warned Haku that Kankuro’s weapon likely concealed blades at the ends of its limbs.

Gorō Satoru outmaneuvered Gaara and secretly placed chakra on his head before retreating with Hozuki and Haku. As they fled, a massive electrical storm struck the clearing they had left behind.

• Gorō Satoru dodged Gaara’s sand attacks while considering his absent younger brother Sasuke and deciding he had to end the fight quickly.
• Gorō Satoru rushed Gaara, wore down his Sand Shield, and let Gaara trap him with Sand Binding Coffin.
• Gaara used Sand Burial, but Gorō Satoru vanished as a clone and appeared behind him after Gaara dismissed his Sand Armor.
• Gorō Satoru pressed special chakra onto Gaara’s head, ruffled his hair, and called for Hozuki and Haku to flee with him.
• Hozuki and Haku followed Gorō Satoru as a huge electrical net formed over the clearing and blasted the place where they had fought.

Temari, Kankuro, and Gaara realized Wu Chiwu had used Rain Village senbon and black umbrellas to build a lightning net that paralyzed them. Gaara deduced how Wu Chiwu had weakened his defenses and delivered the current, then became eager to fight him again despite the danger to their mission.

• Temari explained that Wu Chiwu had arranged the chakra-conducting senbon and black umbrellas into a lightning formation that trapped and paralyzed her and Kankuro.
• Temari noticed that Gaara was also immobilized and wondered why he had let them leave so easily.
• Gaara realized the black umbrella he had picked up was channeling current into him and preventing him from using ninjutsu.
• Gaara recalled Wu Chiwu's close-range attacks and deduced that he had mixed a special substance into Gaara's sand and touched his head to make the lightning affect him.
• Gaara's shock turned into fierce fighting spirit, and he vowed to remember Wu Chiwu and kill him.

Temari and Kankuro freed Gaara from the black umbrella’s current and discovered his hair had been made to stand straight up, provoking his murderous vow to kill Wu Chiwu. Elsewhere, Orochimaru attacked Sasuke and Sakura for their scroll, but just as he lunged at Sasuke again, an unknown ally’s shuriken interrupted him.

• Temari blew the black umbrella away from Gaara, ending the current that had pinned him in place.
• Temari and Kankuro laughed at Gaara’s spiked hair, and Gaara saw his reflection and vowed to kill the man who had done it.
• Wu Chiwu suggested splitting up to search faster, and Hozuki and Haku took a separate route.
• Orochimaru swallowed his team’s Earth Scroll and used his killing intent to freeze Sasuke and Sakura in fear.
• Sasuke stabbed his own thigh to overcome his terror, grabbed Sakura, and escaped, but Orochimaru emerged from a giant python and attacked him again.
• An unseen person’s shuriken blocked Orochimaru’s lunge, drawing the attention of Sasuke, Sakura, and Orochimaru.

Gorō Satoru, Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura confronted Orochimaru in the Forest of Death, where Orochimaru’s killing intent frightened Sasuke into surrendering the Heaven Scroll. Gorō Satoru intercepted the scroll, and Naruto angrily challenged Sasuke for giving in to the enemy.

• Gorō Satoru recognized Orochimaru’s grotesque snake-like appearance and met his killing intent with jokes and mockery.
• Naruto joined Gorō Satoru in accusing Orochimaru of picking on children and vowed to fight him.
• Fearing Orochimaru would kill them, Sasuke offered him the Heaven Scroll and threw it toward him.
• Gorō Satoru struck the Heaven Scroll out of the air with a shuriken, while Naruto called Sasuke a fake and condemned his surrender.

Wu Chiwu reassured Sasuke and faced Orochimaru, who attacked him in the Forest of Death as Sasuke awakened his Sharingan. Outside the examination grounds, Anko discovered three murdered Kusagakure ninja and ordered an urgent report to the Hokage and an ANBU deployment.

• Wu Chiwu told Sasuke not to let the past hold him back, and Sasuke resolved to survive and grow strong enough to defeat Itachi.
• Orochimaru targeted Wu Chiwu and attacked him with venomous snakes, then stretched his arms and tongue to continue the assault.
• Wu Chiwu dodged Orochimaru's attacks while Sasuke watched closely and activated his Sharingan to follow their movements.
• Mitarashi Anko learned that three registered Kusagakure ninja had been found dead with their faces dissolved.
• Anko recognized Orochimaru's involvement, ordered the Hokage informed and two ANBU units sent to the Forest of Death, then set off after him.

Gorō Satoru devised a plan to drive Orochimaru away without revealing his identity, then used a Transformation Technique to pose as Sasuke and fight him. Orochimaru recognized the Sharingan and became interested in the disguised Gorō, who left him wondering why the boy’s insults sounded familiar.

• Gorō Satoru stopped dodging and attacked Orochimaru with Shuriken, then trapped him in an electrical net and struck with Fire Release.
• Gorō Satoru used the smoke as cover to reach Sasuke, Naruto, and Sakura, explaining that they should plant Explosive Tags and make a commotion to draw in the examiners.
• Gorō Satoru returned to the battlefield and let Orochimaru approach his clone, then Sasuke knocked away Orochimaru’s Kunai as Gorō carried the clone off.
• Gorō Satoru transformed to look like Sasuke and challenged Orochimaru, who praised his apparent Sharingan skill and compared him to Uchiha Satoru.
• Gorō Satoru insulted Orochimaru as a pervert and human trafficker, leaving Orochimaru puzzled by how familiar the boy sounded.

Wu Chiwu used an Orange Clone and a carefully prepared trap to delay Orochimaru during the Chūnin Exam. He escaped with Sasuke, Naruto, and Sakura, while Orochimaru survived and became eager to meet him again.

• Orochimaru introduced himself to Wu Chiwu disguised as Sasuke, then lunged to bite him with his stretched neck.
• Orochimaru bit Wu Chiwu's Orange Clone, recoiled from its rotten-orange taste, and discovered it had turned into juice.
• Wu Chiwu trapped Orochimaru in a powerful Lightning Release net, then attacked with Fire Release as Sasuke, Naruto, and Sakura detonated Explosive Tags.
• Wu Chiwu explained that the attack was meant to delay Orochimaru and attract attention, not kill him, and led the others away.
• Orochimaru remained caught in the lightning, praised Wu Chiwu's plan, and vowed to meet the boy again.

Mitarashi Anko found Orochimaru apparently trapped in a lightning net, but he revealed he had never been restrained and threatened to claim a promising child during the exam. Meanwhile, Wu Chiwu led Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura toward the central tower, where a rustle in nearby grass interrupted their argument.

• Mitarashi Anko followed Orochimaru's chakra to the woods and found him standing amid a lightning net anchored to kunai.
• Orochimaru revealed that the lightning had not restrained him and told Anko he wanted a promising child from Konoha's exam.
• Orochimaru warned Anko not to shut down the exam, or the head of Konoha Ninja Village would soon be killed.
• Wu Chiwu joined Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura as they discussed his fight with Orochimaru and his conspicuously poor acting.
• Wu Chiwu suggested they head to the central tower for another scroll, while Sasuke insisted they rest and recover first.
• Naruto and Sasuke argued until a rustling sound from nearby grass made them turn toward it.

Sasuke, Naruto, and Sakura spotted an explosive-tagged squirrel, but Wu Chiwu ignored their warnings and triggered the trap while catching it. As the Sound Ninja attacked, Wu Chiwu survived and explained Dosu’s sound-based technique, helping Sasuke understand how to counter it; Sasuke defeated Dosu, leaving the Sound Ninja shaken by the team’s strength.

• Sasuke, Naruto, and Sakura noticed the explosive tag on a squirrel and tried to stop it, but Wu Chiwu rushed in and picked it up, setting off an explosion.
• Dosu and the other Sound Ninja attacked Sasuke, Naruto, and Sakura while they were stunned, and Dosu’s sound technique injured Sasuke despite his dodge.
• Wu Chiwu appeared unharmed, teased Sasuke, and declined to fight, pushing Sasuke forward to face Dosu.
• Wu Chiwu explained how sound vibrations disrupted Sasuke’s balance, and Sasuke recognized the technique while activating his Two-Tomoe Sharingan.
• Sasuke used a Phoenix Flower Fire attack to conceal shuriken, then struck Dosu from behind and sent him flying.
• Dosu’s companions helped him up and realized they had underestimated Sasuke, while questioning who Wu Chiwu was and how much he understood.

Dosu’s team surrendered the Earth Scroll and withdrew after Wu Chiwu and Sasuke proved too strong, while Wu Chiwu suspected Orochimaru had targeted Sasuke. The group then focused on Wu Chiwu’s hunger and his ridiculous struggle with a squirrel over a pine cone, ending with Sasuke offering to make regular grilled fish.

• Dosu admitted his team could not beat Wu Chiwu and Sasuke, left the Earth Scroll, and retreated with Kin and Zaku.
• Sakura asked why Dosu’s team had attacked, and Wu Chiwu suggested Sasuke had attracted their attention because of Orochimaru.
• Wu Chiwu fought a squirrel for its pine cone while Sasuke, Naruto, and Sakura watched in disbelief.
• Sasuke offered Wu Chiwu several unpleasant foods, prompting Wu Chiwu to reject them and settle for pine nuts.
• Sasuke suggested making grilled fish, and Wu Chiwu agreed to regular grilled fish.

Wu Chiwu coated grilled fish in rock sugar, leaving Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura horrified by the result before Kabuto Yakushi arrived. Meanwhile, Mitarashi Anko and the ANBU reviewed footage showing Haku and Hozuki Kagetsu reaching the central tower in record time without a scratch.

• Naruto caught a haul of fish with Wu Chiwu’s help, and the team discussed using their Heaven and Earth Scrolls to head for the central tower.
• Wu Chiwu coated the grilled fish in rock sugar and ate it, while Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura each recoiled after tasting the sickeningly sweet fish.
• Wu Chiwu sensed someone approaching, and Kabuto Yakushi arrived to check on the group as Sakura and Sasuke woke.
• In Konoha, Mitarashi Anko watched footage of Haku and Hozuki Kagetsu reaching the central tower ninety-seven minutes into the exam.
• Mitarashi Anko and the other ninja noticed that Haku and Hozuki Kagetsu had crossed the dangerous exam grounds without a scratch or even dirt on their clothes.