Chapter Summaries

Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura entered the Chunin Exams, where Naruto’s killing intent silenced the exam room as the first round began. Meanwhile, the Third Hokage told Jiraiya that Orochimaru and his organization might attack Konoha and that he had no choice but to rely on him.

• Sakura met Naruto and bandaged Sasuke at the Ninja Academy, where Sasuke challenged Naruto and Naruto warned him about the power of sages.
• Naruto and Sasuke saw through the Genjutsu at the Academy and led Sakura to the Chunin Exam registration room.
• Naruto encountered Shikamaru, Choji, Ino, and other Konoha examinees, while Hinata resolved to reach the finals after hearing Huayue might attend.
• Naruto released a wave of killing intent that silenced the exam room, and Morino Ibiki arrived to begin the first round.
• The Third Hokage asked Jiraiya to take the Fifth Hokage position, but Jiraiya refused, so the Hokage revealed that Orochimaru and his organization might attack Konoha.

Jiraiya learned that Akatsuki’s leader possessed the Rinnegan while the great ninja villages prepared to attack Konoha through Akatsuki. As the Chunin Exams’ written test ended, Anko arrived to lead the second examination.

• Sarutobi Hiruzen told Jiraiya that Akatsuki’s leader had the Rinnegan, leaving Jiraiya stunned as he thought of Nagato.
• Rasa, Ōnoki, the Fourth Raikage, and the Fourth Mizukage discussed sending their Jinchūriki toward Konoha, while Rasa diverted part of the other villages’ payments to Sunagakure.
• Konan challenged the black-haired man in the laboratory over his promise to spare Nagato, and he discussed the Rinnegan and the intelligence from Kaguya City.
• Morino Ibiki announced that the examinees who remained had passed the written test’s tenth question.
• Anko burst into the examination hall to announce the second examination, startling Naruto and Sasuke.

Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura entered the Forest of Death with an Earth Scroll, while Anko learned that Orochimaru had infiltrated the exam and rushed to confront him. Huayue stopped her, and Orochimaru appeared before Naruto and Sasuke, seemingly targeting them.

• Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura received an Earth Scroll from Anko and entered the Forest of Death, determined to finish the exam quickly.
• Anko discovered dead Kusagakure examinees whose faces had been removed and recognized Orochimaru's disguise technique.
• Anko charged into the forest to confront Orochimaru, but Huayue restrained her and warned that she could not defeat him.
• Huayue suspected Orochimaru had infiltrated the exam because of Naruto and Sasuke, and Anko wondered what he knew about their strength.
• Naruto and Sasuke sensed danger, attacked a hidden giant python with a Great Fireball Technique, and confronted Orochimaru as he emerged from behind a tree.

Sasuke and Naruto fought Orochimaru in the Forest of Death after he provoked Sasuke by mentioning Itachi. Naruto revealed his Sage Mode and summoned Gamaken, and the chapter ended with Naruto and Sasuke launching a powerful fire-and-water combination attack at Orochimaru.

• Orochimaru summoned a giant python and taunted Sasuke by comparing him to Itachi, prompting Sasuke to attack with shuriken and Fire Release.
• Orochimaru used an earth clone to ambush Sasuke, but Sasuke countered with Blut Vene and Chidori Current before Naruto warned him to retreat from another giant snake.
• Orochimaru revealed his true appearance, identified Sasuke’s technique as one taught by Uchiha Huayue, and challenged Naruto and Sasuke to fight for their lives.
• Naruto seized Orochimaru’s Heaven Scroll, entered Sage Mode, and summoned Gamaken to strike Orochimaru with his giant fork.
• Naruto and Sasuke combined Sasuke’s Great Fire Dragon Jutsu with Naruto’s Sage Art Water Formation Wall, amplifying the flames as they surged toward Orochimaru.

Sasuke used Kirin to unleash a devastating lightning attack against Orochimaru in the Forest of Death. As the other Chunin Exam participants reacted to the destruction, Gaara became fixated on killing Sasuke and Neji’s team headed toward the battlefield.

• Naruto explained how Sasuke’s Fire Release combined with his Water Release to intensify the flames, while the resulting steam gathered into storm clouds.
• Orochimaru urged Sasuke to join him, but Sasuke rejected him and asked Naruto to have Gamaken throw him into the air.
• Orochimaru summoned Triple Rashomon, but Sasuke struck it with Kirin, setting much of the Forest of Death ablaze.
• Hinata, Shino, and Kiba watched the aftermath and entered the Trial Tower to submit their scrolls.
• Gaara recognized Sasuke’s chakra and vowed to kill him, while Temari and Kankuro stayed wary.
• Neji identified Second Pillar as the one behind the jutsu and set off with his team.

Orochimaru escaped after confronting Naruto and Sasuke, then warned Sasuke that Uchiha Itachi might appear during the Chunin Exams. In Konoha, Hiruzen decided the exams would continue, while Orochimaru met with Danzo and cautioned him about the strain of using Hashirama Cells and the Sharingan.

• Orochimaru emerged from his charred outer layer, praised Sasuke’s lightning, and taunted him with the possibility that Uchiha Itachi would appear at the Chunin Exams before escaping.
• Naruto calmed Sasuke, and the team took Orochimaru’s Heaven Scroll and headed for the central Trial Tower.
• Gamaken sent Jiraiya a report about Orochimaru’s attack, and Jiraiya learned that Naruto and Sasuke had overwhelmed him.
• After reviewing surveillance footage, Sarutobi Hiruzen rejected calls to suspend the Chunin Exams and resolved to deal with Orochimaru separately.
• Orochimaru met Danzo at Anbu Root headquarters, discussed the Konoha Crush Plan, and warned him that his body might not withstand Hashirama Cells and the Sharingan.

Danzo renewed his resolve to become Hokage as Konoha prepared to cut the Chunin Exam field to twelve candidates. Huayue took charge of the exam, then met Orochimaru outside Konoha, where he revealed that he had succeeded with the Immortality Technique.

• Orochimaru warned Danzo about the danger of being discovered, and Danzo declared that Konoha's ruin would let him establish a new order as the Fifth Hokage.
• After the second stage ended, Gekko Hayate announced that the remaining candidates would fight to reduce the field to twelve, and Huayue arrived to silence their protests.
• Inuzuka Kiba, Shikamaru, Hyuga Neji, and Hinata reacted to Huayue's overwhelming presence and expressed their determination to prove themselves to him.
• Huayue left Genma to oversee the exam and took Orochimaru to a secluded training ground, where Orochimaru summoned Manda.
• Huayue immobilized Manda and challenged Orochimaru to show his true skills; Orochimaru declared that he had succeeded with the Immortality Technique.

Huayue demonstrated to Orochimaru that he could cast ninjutsu without hand seals and revealed his Rinnegan. After Orochimaru reported the revelation to Akatsuki, its members reacted with disbelief.

• Orochimaru revealed his youthful body and Immortality Technique, but Huayue dismissed it and challenged his ideas about ninjutsu.
• Huayue used several hand-seal-free techniques, including White Lightning and Shuriken Shadow Clone Jutsu, and explained that blood attire let him freely use ninjutsu.
• Huayue's eyes changed to the Rinnegan, shocking Orochimaru.
• Gekko Hayate reported to Sarutobi Hiruzen and Jiraiya that Huayue had taken an Otogakure squad leader suspected to be Orochimaru.
• Orochimaru entered Akatsuki's secret base and told its members that Huayue had awakened the Rinnegan, leaving them stunned.

Nagato agreed to confront Uchiha Huayue, while Itachi worried over Huayue’s apparent Rinnegan and Sasuke’s path. Huayue returned to Konoha without Orochimaru, revealed Naruto’s Sage Mode training, and left Hiruzen and Jiraiya preparing to defend the village.

• Orochimaru told the Akatsuki members that Uchiha Huayue had used Nagato’s gravitational technique, and Nagato promised to deal with Huayue while ordering the others to approach Konoha within a month.
• After the others departed, Orochimaru questioned Itachi about Huayue’s Rinnegan, and Itachi recalled the tablet at Naka Shrine and worried about Sasuke.
• Itachi resolved to make up for Sasuke’s shortcomings and turn him into Konoha’s hero before disappearing.
• At Konoha’s gate, Huayue told Sarutobi Hiruzen that Orochimaru had escaped and left Manda behind, then said he had sent Naruto to Mount Myōboku to learn Sage Mode.
• Huayue left, and Jiraiya suspected he had gained Ryūchi Cave’s sage inheritance while Hiruzen asked Jiraiya to protect Konoha.

The second Chunin Exam ended, and the finalists learned their third-exam matchups as Hinata reflected on her loss to Neji and secretly healed herself. Huayue arrived to review Lee’s severe injuries, while half a month later Rasa encountered the names Orochimaru and Sasori at the Land of Wind border.

• Shiranui Genma announced that Haku had won and that the second exam was over, then the candidates received their third-exam matchups.
• Ino and Sarutobi Asuma urged Shikamaru to face Naruto seriously, while Gaara focused on Sasuke and Temari and Kankuro worried about Haku and Neji.
• Hinata healed her injuries with emerald green chakra, resolved to impress Teacher Huayue, and left with Hanabi after Hyuga Hiashi visited her.
• A medical ninja warned Might Guy that Lee might never become a ninja, and Huayue arrived to examine Lee’s medical records.
• Half a month later, Rasa stood at the Land of Wind border and asked about Orochimaru and Sasori.

Orochimaru revealed himself as the Fourth Kazekage and launched an attack on Konoha during the Chunin Exams, while Nagato arrived to destroy the village over Yahiko and Konan’s deaths. The battle began with Jiraiya confronting Nagato and narrowly evading his attack.

• The Fourth Kazekage interrupted Sarutobi Hiruzen’s speech, then used a smoke bomb and the Four Violet Flames Formation to trap him and the spectators.
• Orochimaru revealed his disguise to Sarutobi Hiruzen and confronted Jiraiya as Giant Pythons attacked Konoha.
• Kakashi and Might Guy prepared to fight as Sasori unleashed hundreds of puppets on the village.
• Orochimaru said the assault had only begun as more attackers and summoned beasts approached Konoha.
• Nagato arrived above the Chunin Exams platform, told Jiraiya he would destroy Konoha for killing Yahiko and Konan, and used Banshō Ten'in to smash the ground where Jiraiya had stood.

Konoha came under attack as Naruto fought Kakuzu, Jiraiya confronted Nagato, and Orochimaru began using Impure World Reincarnation against Sarutobi Hiruzen. Sasuke remained behind to face Itachi, who appeared before him as the chapter ended.

• Kakashi ordered Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura to evacuate the crowd, but Sasuke chose to wait for Itachi while Naruto defended his decision.
• Naruto countered a wind-and-fire Combination Ninjutsu, then confronted Kakuzu and dodged his tendrils with a Lightning Release: Rasengan.
• Jiraiya faced Nagato outside Konoha and summoned Gamabunta while preparing to enter Sage Mode.
• Orochimaru used Impure World Reincarnation inside the Four Violet Flames Formation, alarming Sarutobi Hiruzen.
• Itachi appeared before Sasuke, who declared that he would kill him, as Kakashi, Might Guy, and Sakura reacted.

Sasuke confronted Uchiha Itachi, but Itachi used Genjutsu to evade him and distract Kakashi and Might Guy while the battle around them continued. Naruto faced Kakuzu with Sage Mode, and inside the Four Violet Flames Formation, Orochimaru revealed he had revived the First and Second Hokage and attained an Immortality Technique.

• Sasuke attacked Uchiha Itachi with shuriken and Lightning Release, but Itachi escaped by turning into crows and appeared on a distant rooftop.
• Might Guy attacked Itachi, but Kakashi broke Guy's Genjutsu and warned him that Itachi had manipulated his senses.
• Kakuzu attacked Naruto's Shadow Clone with Lightning Release, and Naruto countered with Sage Art: Scorch Release: Great Ball Rasengan and activated Sage Art: Silent Blood Armor.
• Jiraiya sensed Naruto's immense Sage Mode chakra, while Nagato watched without reacting.
• Orochimaru summoned the First and Second Hokage inside the Four Violet Flames Formation and controlled them with talismans.
• Orochimaru removed his face mask, revealing a young woman's face, and Sarutobi Hiruzen realized he had achieved the Immortality Technique.

Orochimaru's attack and a coordinated assault by four Tailed Beasts brought Konoha to the brink of destruction. Sarutobi Hiruzen died sealing away Orochimaru's ninjutsu, while Sakura watched the Tailed Beast Bombs approach and wondered who could save the village.

• Orochimaru revealed his plan to destroy Konoha, and Sarutobi Hiruzen summoned Enma and fought the reanimated Hokage as Anbu battled Akatsuki's puppets.
• Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura discussed the crisis, questioned Danzo's whereabouts, and worried about Uchiha Huayue and Sunagakure.
• Baki ordered Gaara to unleash Shukaku against Konoha, while forces to the west, north, and south prepared attacks with their Tailed Beasts.
• Four Tailed Beast Bombs gathered around Konoha, and Sarutobi Hiruzen used the Shinigami to take Orochimaru's ninjutsu before dying.
• Orochimaru collapsed as the Sound Four reinforced their barrier, and Sakura fell to the ground after seeing the Tailed Beast Bombs.

Nagato’s Tailed Beast Bombs nearly destroyed Konoha, but Uchiha Huayue shielded the village with a barrier while Naruto defeated Kakuzu. Nagato revealed to Jiraiya that destroying Konoha was not his real plan and insisted the devastation was a necessary sacrifice for eternal peace.

• Four Tailed Beast Bombs raced toward Konoha, and Naruto tried unsuccessfully to get Kurama to lend him chakra.
• Hinata’s Otsutsuki chakra began changing her Byakugan, while Neji prepared to defend the clan before Uchiha Huayue intervened.
• Uchiha Huayue used Binding Spell #81: Danku to protect Konoha from the blasts, which devastated the surrounding land but left the village unharmed.
• Sasori fled Konoha with two scrolls, Uchiha Itachi trapped Sasuke in Tsukuyomi and escaped, and Naruto struck Kakuzu down with Sage Art: Blaze Release: Rasenshuriken.
• Nagato told Jiraiya that destroying Konoha was not his true purpose and called the sacrifice necessary for eternal peace.

Nagato attacked Konoha with Wood Release, subdued several Tailed Beasts, and began extracting their chakra, but Huayue intervened and forced Nagato to retreat. Huayue then confronted Orochimaru, who revealed the Eight Branches Technique as a gift prepared for his former disciple.

• Nagato sealed Jiraiya in Chibaku Tensei and used Wood Release to cover the battlefield in vines and sleeping pollen.
• Shukaku and Matatabi fell unconscious, while Saiken tried to escape; a mysterious figure touched Saiken and vanished.
• Nagato captured Shukaku and Matatabi in the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path, while the Black Cloak stole Son Gokū's chakra.
• Black Zetsu summoned away the two captured Tailed Beasts, and Nagato retreated as Jiraiya broke free from the debris.
• Huayue gathered the fallen Tailed Beasts and confronted Orochimaru, who revealed the Eight Branches Technique.

Uchiha Huayue confronted his former master Orochimaru, who transformed into the Eight-Headed Giant Serpent and attacked Konoha. Huayue sealed Orochimaru and his escaping snake form, then descended into the village and revealed himself as the God of Shinobi.

• Orochimaru transformed into the Eight-Headed Giant Serpent and prepared to fire lasers at Konoha.
• Shikaku and Inoichi explained to the younger ninja that Huayue was Orochimaru’s disciple and that the two had a long history.
• Naruto helped Sasuke watch the battle as Konoha’s ninja cheered Huayue on.
• Huayue summoned Susanoo, deflected Orochimaru’s lasers away from Konoha, and attacked with Kamui Shuriken.
• Huayue restrained Orochimaru with Blut Arterie, sealed him away, and pinned the small white snake that tried to escape.
• Huayue descended into Konoha, removed his mask, and smiled as the young ninja recognized him as the God of Shinobi.

Nagato destroyed Kirigakure, killed Karatachi Yagura, and sealed the Three-Tails and Four-Tails before withdrawing to recover. In the aftermath, Mei Terumi called for a new era in Kirigakure, while Huayue interrogated Baki in Konoha and revealed that Orochimaru and Sasori had killed Rasa.

• Nagato summoned the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path and destroyed Kirigakure, forcing Karatachi Yagura to release Isobu.
• Nagato defeated Yagura and sealed Isobu and Roshi inside the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path.
• Black Zetsu persuaded Nagato to return to Akatsuki's base, while Ao and Mei Terumi found Yagura dead among Kirigakure's ruins.
• Mei Terumi proposed ending Kirigakure's bloody mist and building a new village, and Genji told Ao to arrange Yagura's burial.
• Kisame Hoshigaki fled with Samehada and Zabuza defected with Kubikiribōchō as Kirigakure's old order broke down.
• Huayue took over Baki's interrogation in Konoha and revealed that Orochimaru and Sasori had killed Rasa.

Huayue freed Kankuro and Temari after explaining that Orochimaru and Sasori had killed the Fourth Kazekage, and the siblings reunited with Gaara, who believed his mother had protected him. Huayue then obtained Kokuō’s chakra from Han and went to meet the Hokage Advisors as signs of Nagato’s plan emerged.

• Huayue told Kankuro and Temari that Orochimaru and Sasori had killed the Fourth Kazekage, and Baki confirmed Sunagakure had surrendered to Konoha’s demands.
• Huayue freed Kankuro and Temari, who went to the hospital to see Gaara.
• Gaara told his siblings that his Absolute Defense remained after Shukaku’s removal and that he believed his mother’s chakra had protected him.
• Huayue took Kokuō’s chakra from Han and sensed that Nagato was preparing to merge the worlds.
• Huayue released his Shadow Clone and met with the Hokage Advisors, asking what they needed.

After Jiraiya refused the Hokage position and left to confront Nagato, Huayue suggested Danzo as the next Hokage. Meanwhile, Akatsuki attacked Iwagakure and captured the Five-Tails, prompting Ōnoki to call for a Five Kage Summit.

• Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura proposed Jiraiya as Hokage, but Jiraiya refused and criticized Danzo before leaving to deal with Nagato.
• Danzo argued that he should become Hokage, and Huayue suggested giving him the position.
• Ōnoki learned that Akatsuki had taken the Tailed Beasts and flew after the escaping Five-Tails, Kokuō.
• Nagato used Chibaku Tensei against Kokuō and Han, but Ōnoki attacked him with Particle Style: Atomic Dismantling Jutsu.
• Nagato survived, and the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path absorbed Ōnoki's Dust Release attack.
• Ōnoki ordered Kitsuchi and Deidara to contact the other nations and demanded a Five Kage Summit.