Recaps

Lin Guang’s team defeated Gaara’s team, took their Earth Scroll, and agreed to collect payment after the Chunin Ninja Exams. After hearing a powerful Wind Release attack nearby, Lin Guang led his teammates south to investigate.

• Gaara used Quicksand Waterfall, but Lin Guang froze the ground across a wide area and trapped Gaara, Temari, and Kankuro.
• Lin Guang demanded their scrolls or payment, and Temari agreed to pay three hundred thousand ryo for an Earth Scroll.
• Lin Guang took an Earth Scroll from Kankuro and let Gaara’s team go, while Temari reprimanded Kankuro and Gaara mentioned their secret mission.
• Lin Guang explained that earning money was incidental and that he had accepted a minor blemish to lessen others’ envy of him.
• Lin Guang heard a destructive Wind Release attack to the south and led his team to investigate, warning them that its user might be as strong as he was.

Team 7 fought Orochimaru in the Forest of Death, but his killing intent overwhelmed Sasuke and he planted a Cursed Seal on him. Lin Guang and his companions arrived as Orochimaru turned to face them.

• Hyūga Jō spotted Team 7 in trouble, and Lin Guang led his group toward them.
• Orochimaru overwhelmed Sasuke with his killing intent and attacked Sasuke and Sakura while Naruto was blown away and swallowed by a giant snake.
• Naruto escaped the snake with Multiple Shadow Clones, returned to help Sasuke and Sakura, and joined Sasuke in fighting Orochimaru.
• Sasuke bound Orochimaru with threads and struck him with Dragon Fire, but Orochimaru re-formed and revealed his identity.
• Orochimaru bit Sasuke and planted a Cursed Seal on him just as Lin Guang and his companions arrived.

Lin Guang confronted Orochimaru after finding Sasuke weakened and Naruto missing, and drove Orochimaru away with powerful Ice Release techniques. The team regrouped with Naruto and a replacement Earth Scroll, but Sasuke remained unconscious with a suspected toxic cursed seal.

• Lin Guang had Hyūga Jō and Satō Maji search for the missing Naruto while he stayed with Sakura and Sasuke to face Orochimaru.
• Lin Guang killed Orochimaru's summoned snake with Ice Release and pierced Orochimaru with ice thorns, but Orochimaru escaped by shedding his body through a snake.
• Lin Guang detonated the ice around Orochimaru, sensed his chakra disappear, and reassured Sakura that he had left.
• Satō Maji returned carrying Naruto, and Lin Guang gave Sakura an Earth Scroll to replace the one Orochimaru had taken.
• Hyūga Jō reported that Naruto had fainted from exhausting his surface chakra and that Sasuke might have a toxic cursed seal.

Lin Guang’s team protected Team 7 overnight, then Satō Maji defeated three Sound Ninja who ambushed them. After Sasuke woke with Orochimaru’s curse mark and increased strength, Lin Guang hurried to report Orochimaru’s appearance to the Hokage.

• Lin Guang and his teammates kept watch over Team 7 through the night while Sasuke and Naruto recovered.
• Hyūga Jō spotted Dosu Kinata, Zaku, and Kin outside their shelter, and Lin Guang sent Satō Maji to confront them.
• Satō Maji used his sword’s back to knock out all three Sound Ninja and took their scroll.
• Sasuke woke with Orochimaru’s curse mark and realized his strength had greatly increased, while Sakura urged him to let Kakashi examine him.
• Lin Guang left with Satō Maji and Hyūga Jō to report Orochimaru’s appearance to the Hokage.

Lin Guang reported Orochimaru’s infiltration of the Chunin Exam to Hiruzen Sarutobi, then took Satō Maji and Hyūga Jō to Ichiraku Ramen. Team 7 also passed the second round and met them at the restaurant.

• Lin Guang’s team reached the Central Tower, handed in their scrolls, and passed the second round; Satō Maji said he had left a matching pair of scrolls for Naruto’s team.
• Lin Guang told Hiruzen Sarutobi that Orochimaru had attacked him and escaped two Ice Release killing attacks, and Hiruzen ordered him to watch the Sunagakure ninja during the exam.
• Lin Guang reunited with Satō Maji and Hyūga Jō outside the Hokage Building, praised Maji’s training, and invited them to Ichiraku Ramen.
• Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura passed the second round after summoning Iruka with their scrolls, then arrived at Ichiraku Ramen and met Lin Guang’s team.

Lin Guang treated Iruka and his teammates to a meal before the Third Round Preliminary Round began. He defeated Kankuro decisively and watched Sasuke struggle against Akado Yoroi, planning to leave after his friends' matches.

• Lin Guang introduced Satō Maji and Hyūga Jō to Iruka, then paid for their meal at Teuchi's shop.
• The Second Round Exam ended with twenty-four genin qualifying, and the Third Round Preliminary Round began.
• Lin Guang faced Kankuro, dodged his Three Great Puppets, and destroyed them with Ice Release.
• Kankuro surrendered, and Gekko Hayate declared Lin Guang the winner.
• Sasuke faced Akado Yoroi while Lin Guang found the match uninteresting and planned to leave after his teammates and Naruto competed.

Hyūga Jō defeated Shino Aburame quickly, and Satō Maji overwhelmed Rock Lee with a powerful Konoha Whirlwind. Naruto then began his match against Kiba Inuzuka by flooding the arena with shadow clones, leaving Kiba flustered as their fight continued.

• Hyūga Jō used his Rotation, Eight Trigrams Formation Palm, and Eight Trigrams Vacuum Palm to defeat Shino Aburame in less than a minute.
• Satō Maji fought Rock Lee without a sword and blocked Rock Lee's Konoha Whirlwind with his bare hand.
• Satō Maji revealed that he had learned and trained Konoha Whirlwind with guidance from an ANBU captain, then kicked Rock Lee into a wall and won.
• Might Guy carried the unconscious, severely injured Rock Lee to the hospital while Satō Maji returned to the stands.
• Naruto faced Kiba Inuzuka, activated the Multiple Shadow Clone Technique, and charged as Kiba became flustered.

After Naruto defeated Kiba Inuzuka, Lin Guang reassured him and took him to a bathhouse, where they encountered Jiraiya. Lin Guang told Jiraiya that Orochimaru had appeared in Konoha, leaving Jiraiya alarmed and eager to learn more.

• Naruto defeated Kiba Inuzuka with his improvised Naruto Combo, and Lin Guang helped him leave the arena.
• Lin Guang encouraged Naruto and learned that Naruto had mastered Wind Release: Vacuum Wave but had forgotten to use it in the fight.
• Lin Guang and Naruto went to a bathhouse, where they found Jiraiya peeping into the women's bath and claiming he was gathering material for a new work.
• Jiraiya summoned a huge toad, which blasted Naruto into the bathhouse with a jet of water.
• Lin Guang told Jiraiya that Orochimaru had appeared in Konoha, and Jiraiya released his Summoning Technique and pressed him for details.

Jiraiya invited Lin Guang and Naruto to learn ninjutsu, then had them sign a summoning contract and taught them the Summoning Technique. Naruto summoned only a tadpole, while Lin Guang’s first attempt ended in a huge cloud of smoke.

• Jiraiya warned Lin Guang that Orochimaru would stop at nothing to achieve his goals and invited him to train alongside Naruto.
• Lin Guang told Naruto that Jiraiya would teach them powerful ninjutsu, and the two went to meet him at the small waterfall.
• Jiraiya had Lin Guang and Naruto sign the Summoning Scroll and taught them the hand seals for the Summoning Technique.
• Naruto tried the technique and found a tadpole on his head, prompting Jiraiya to laugh at him.
• Lin Guang performed the Summoning Technique, producing an enormous cloud of smoke.

Lin Guang summoned Gamaken during training, then impressed Jiraiya with his ability to learn Wind Release techniques immediately. Jiraiya began teaching him more ninjutsu while Naruto practiced the Summoning Technique nearby.

• Lin Guang summoned Gamaken, who spoke with Jiraiya and the children before returning to Mount Myōboku.
• Jiraiya praised Lin Guang's talent and sent Naruto to practice the Summoning Technique while he taught Lin Guang ninjutsu.
• Lin Guang told Jiraiya that he had Wind, Water, and Ice chakra natures and listed the techniques he had learned.
• Jiraiya demonstrated Wind Release: Great Breakthrough, and Lin Guang used it to lift the entire waterfall.
• Jiraiya taught Lin Guang Gale Palm, explaining how it could boost the speed and force of thrown weapons.

Lin Guang watched Jiraiya teach Naruto the Summoning Technique, then joined them for ramen. After Jiraiya left Konoha to gather intelligence, the final round of the Chunin Ninja Exams began under the Fourth Kazekage’s announcement.

• Lin Guang declined Jiraiya’s offer to train him, and Jiraiya taught Naruto the Summoning Technique while Lin Guang rested nearby.
• Naruto used Multiple Shadow Clones to practice, learned to summon small frogs, connected with Mount Myōboku, and learned Walking on Water.
• Lin Guang, Naruto, and Jiraiya ate at Ichiraku Ramen, where Teuchi recognized Jiraiya.
• An ANBU ninja told Jiraiya that Hiruzen Sarutobi had asked why he returned, and Jiraiya decided to stay briefly because Orochimaru had infiltrated Konoha.
• Jiraiya left Konoha to gather intelligence, and the Fourth Kazekage announced the start of the Chunin Ninja Exams’ final round.

Lin Guang defeated Temari when she forfeited, and Naruto fought Neji Hyuga in the final-round match. Naruto used Vacuum Palm to break through Neji’s chakra-point seals, surprising him as their fight continued.

• Genma Shiranui began the first match, and Temari immediately forfeited against Lin Guang.
• Lin Guang won, then reminded Naruto to use Vacuum Wave and Vacuum Palm against Neji Hyuga.
• Naruto opened with shadow clones, but Neji quickly defeated them with Gentle Fist.
• Neji sealed Naruto’s chakra points and claimed his Byakugan had trapped Naruto like a caged bird.
• Naruto used Wind Release: Vacuum Palm to break through Neji’s chakra-point seal, leaving Neji astonished.

Naruto and Neji Hyuga fought fiercely in the Chunin Ninja Exams, but Neji’s dwindling strength led him to unleash the dangerous Eight Trigrams: 128 Palms. As Neji struck Naruto, Naruto lost consciousness and found himself in a dark, water-prison-like place.

• Naruto used Vacuum Palm to keep pace with Neji Hyuga, while spectators and fellow ninja watched as Neji’s stamina and chakra dwindled.
• Naruto challenged Neji’s belief in fate, but Neji remained driven by his belief that the Main Family had caused his father Hizashi Hyuga’s death.
• Rock Lee recognized Neji’s distinctive stance and warned that he was preparing a move that could badly injure them both.
• Neji unleashed Eight Trigrams: 128 Palms, striking Naruto with enough force to leave palm prints in the arena’s stone wall.
• Hyūga Jō explained that the technique could leave Neji severely injured, and Lin Guang offered to stop both fighters with Ice Release if necessary.
• By the thirty-second strike, Naruto’s consciousness faded, and he found himself inside a dim, water-prison-like place.

Naruto received some of the Nine-Tails’ chakra and defeated Neji Hyuga in the Chūnin Exam arena. After the fight, he learned that Sasuke would face Gaara next and revealed that Kakashi had secretly trained Sasuke in a powerful ninjutsu.

• Naruto discovered the Nine-Tails imprisoned inside his body and persuaded it to lend him chakra so he could break Neji’s chakra blockage.
• As Neji delivered his 128th palm strike, Naruto stopped him with the Nine-Tails’ chakra and was declared the winner.
• Naruto caught the unconscious Neji and left the arena, while Hiruzen Sarutobi and Rasa noticed the chakra fluctuations around the fight.
• Naruto reunited with Lin Guang, Satō Maji, and Hyūga Jō, then learned that Sasuke would face Gaara next.
• Naruto told his companions that Kakashi had secretly taught Sasuke a powerful ninjutsu, which Jiraiya had asked him to keep secret.

Sasuke fought Gaara in the Chunin Exams and pierced his cheek with Chidori, stirring the One-Tail sealed inside him. As a genjutsu and explosions signaled an attack on Konoha, Hiruzen Sarutobi confronted the Fourth Kazekage, Rasa, while Lin Guang and others headed to defend the village.

• Sasuke and Gaara began their match, and Sasuke used his Sharingan to evade Gaara’s sand before striking him with Chidori.
• Sasuke’s attack drew blood, enraging Gaara and causing the One-Tail sealed inside him to stir.
• Kankuro and Temari exchanged a glance as genjutsu put ordinary spectators to sleep and explosions erupted across Konoha.
• Lin Guang led Naruto, Satō Maji, and Hyūga Jō toward Kage Rock to investigate the attack.
• Hyuga Hiashi gave Neji Hizashi Hyuga’s final letter, explaining that Hizashi had sacrificed himself to protect the Hyuga Clan, then left to defend Konoha.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi confronted Rasa, accusing the Fourth Kazekage of being behind the attack.

Orochimaru revealed himself during the Chunin Exams invasion and trapped Hiruzen Sarutobi in a barrier while Sound and Sand forces attacked Konoha. As Sasuke pursued Gaara, Lin Guang rushed to Kage Rock and unleashed a massive Ice Release technique, drawing the attention of both Hiruzen Sarutobi and Orochimaru.

• Orochimaru exposed his disguise, and the Sound Four trapped him and Hiruzen Sarutobi on the roof with the Four Violet Flames Formation.
• A giant eight-headed snake smashed through Konoha's defensive wall as Sound ninja attacked the village guards.
• Baki ordered Kankuro and Temari to take Gaara for treatment, while Genma Shiranui blocked Baki from stopping Sasuke as he pursued them.
• Orochimaru told Hiruzen Sarutobi that Sasuke and Konoha were his targets and claimed victory, while Hiruzen vowed to fight him.
• Lin Guang sent Naruto and two others to report to Ibiki Morino and help defend the village gate, then went to Kage Rock.
• Lin Guang used Ice Release: Thousand-Feather Ice Phoenix Dance to create an enormous ice phoenix, causing Hiruzen Sarutobi and Orochimaru to pause and look.

Lin Guang’s Ice Phoenix helped Konoha suppress the invasion and opened a breach in the Four Violet Flames Formation, letting Jiraiya join Hiruzen Sarutobi against Orochimaru. Orochimaru then used Impure World Reincarnation to summon the First and Second Hokage, leaving Hiruzen and Jiraiya facing their revived predecessors.

• Lin Guang recovered chakra while his Ice Phoenix spread snow and weakened the Sunagakure and Otogakure ninja, helping Konoha quell most of the fighting.
• Jiraiya revealed that he had stayed in the village and explained that the Four Violet Flames Formation was difficult for him to break through.
• Lin Guang sent the Ice Phoenix crashing into the barrier, creating an opening that Jiraiya used to enter and confront Orochimaru with Hiruzen Sarutobi.
• Orochimaru performed Impure World Reincarnation and summoned the First and Second Hokage using living sacrifices.
• Orochimaru placed formula-covered kunai in the revived Hokage and set them moving against Hiruzen Sarutobi and Jiraiya.

Hiruzen Sarutobi and Jiraiya battled the reincarnated First and Second Hokage inside the Four Violet Flames Formation while Orochimaru watched. Hiruzen gained the upper hand with Enma’s Adamantine Staff, and Lin Guang moved into position to help when the barrier fell.

• Jiraiya and Hiruzen Sarutobi fought back against the First and Second Hokage with close combat and powerful fire, water, and earth techniques.
• Jiraiya struck the First Hokage with a Rasengan, and he and Orochimaru noticed that wind release seemed especially effective against the reincarnated bodies.
• The First Hokage bound Hiruzen Sarutobi and Jiraiya with Wood Release, but Hiruzen summoned Monkey King Enma to free them.
• Jiraiya used toad oil and the Dragon Fire Technique to engulf the forest in flames, but the Second Hokage extinguished them with Water Release.
• Enma transformed into the Adamantine Staff, allowing Hiruzen Sarutobi to match the First and Second Hokage and send them flying.
• Lin Guang recovered most of his chakra and moved beside the barrier, ready to support Hiruzen Sarutobi and Jiraiya if it broke.

Lin Guang left Hiruzen Sarutobi and Jiraiya to pursue Sasuke, who had gone after Gaara. Sasuke fought Gaara as the One-Tail’s chakra drove Gaara’s transformation forward, and the chapter ended with Sasuke badly injured and realizing he could not defeat him alone.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi sent Lin Guang to help Sasuke, and Lin Guang left Jiraiya to guard Hiruzen against Orochimaru.
• Sasuke caught up with Gaara, Kankuro, and Temari, then trapped Kankuro in Sharingan Genjutsu.
• Gaara began transforming under the One-Tail’s influence, and Temari released Kankuro from the genjutsu and moved him out of danger.
• Sasuke’s Great Fireball was swallowed by Gaara’s sand, but Sasuke then bound Gaara to a tree with wire.
• Gaara broke free, seized Sasuke with sand, and slammed him into a tree, leaving Sasuke severely injured as Gaara’s chakra continued to rise.

Naruto rescued Sasuke from Gaara and fought him after Gaara unleashed more of his tailed-beast power. Naruto shattered Gaara with a series of chakra-enhanced strikes, and Temari and Kankuro moved to attack before eerie laughter interrupted them.

• Naruto rescued the badly injured Sasuke from Gaara’s sand spear and said Lin Guang had dealt with most of the invading ninja.
• Naruto and his shadow clones used Vacuum Wave to blow away the sand Gaara dropped on them, leaving Gaara with little sand to use.
• Gaara sprouted a sand tail, while Naruto entered a Crimson Tailed Beast Cloak, and the two collided with enough force to snap trees.
• Naruto urged Gaara to stop the invasion, then shattered him with a chakra-enhanced Vacuum Palm and three follow-up strikes.
• Temari and Kankuro prepared to attack Naruto, but eerie laughter rang out.

Naruto, Sasuke, and Lin Guang faced Gaara after his sand transformed the forest into a deadly trap. With Sasuke immobilized and Naruto unable to summon a powerful toad, Naruto created two thousand shadow clones to confront Gaara, while Lin Guang stayed ready for further danger.

• Sasuke warned Naruto of the quicksand, and they escaped Gaara’s sand arms as Temari and Kankuro retreated.
• Lin Guang froze Gaara’s Sand Waterfall Funeral and joined Naruto and Sasuke, but Gaara shattered the ice and resumed his attack.
• Lin Guang told Naruto to summon a large toad, but Naruto produced only a small orange toad after his Nine-Tails cloak vanished.
• Sasuke’s Cursed Seal flared and left him unable to move, so he urged Naruto and Lin Guang to flee and get reinforcements.
• Naruto stepped forward to protect Sasuke, used the Multiple Shadow Clone Technique, and created two thousand clones as Lin Guang watched for danger.

Naruto and Lin Guang fought Gaara after Gaara transformed into Shukaku, summoning Gamabunta to help contain the Tailed Beast. Shukaku attacked Gamabunta with powerful wind techniques, and the chapter ended as one Drilling Air Bullet struck him directly.

• Naruto overwhelmed Gaara with shuriken and Shadow Clone attacks, but Gaara lost control and transformed into Shukaku.
• Shukaku destroyed Naruto's clones and bound Naruto, Sasuke, and Lin Guang with sand, while Lin Guang broke free using Ice Release.
• Lin Guang summoned Gamabunta and asked him to fight Shukaku, but Gamabunta refused until his son Gamakichi said Shukaku had bullied him.
• Gamabunta charged into battle and severed one of Shukaku's arms, while Gaara appeared atop Shukaku as his medium.
• Gamabunta explained that waking Gaara could suppress Shukaku, but Shukaku awakened fully when Gaara used the Feigning Sleep Technique.
• Shukaku and Gamabunta exchanged Drilling Air Bullets and Iron Cannonballs until a wind attack struck Gamabunta directly.

Naruto, Lin Guang, and Gamabunta fought Gaara’s transformed Shukaku and managed to end the transformation. After they landed, Naruto began trying to reach Gaara through conversation.

• Lin Guang suggested Naruto use the Transformation Technique to give Gamabunta sharp fangs and claws, and Naruto transformed him into a Nine-Tails-like beast.
• Gamabunta restrained Shukaku long enough for Naruto and Lin Guang to punch Gaara and wake him from the Feigning Sleep Technique.
• Gaara attacked with sand, but Lin Guang slowed him with ice while Naruto used more Nine-Tails chakra and headbutted him, breaking apart his tailed beast form.
• Gamabunta and Gamakichi returned to Mount Myōboku, and Lin Guang used an ice mirror to carry Naruto safely to the ground while Gaara fell into the treetops.
• Naruto stood with Lin Guang’s support and asked Gaara to stop fighting.

Sasuke returned to Konoha shaken by his weakness and began considering leaving the village to grow stronger. Meanwhile, Orochimaru overwhelmed Hiruzen Sarutobi and Jiraiya, forcing Hiruzen to use the Reaper Death Seal as he faced him.

• Sasuke headed back to Konoha after Gaara ran out of chakra, then regretted being unable to match Gaara and needing Naruto to save him.
• Sasuke punched a tree, considered leaving Konoha to become stronger, and heard that Orochimaru was still fighting Hiruzen Sarutobi.
• Orochimaru revealed his youthful body and told Hiruzen Sarutobi and Jiraiya that he had perfected a technique for taking another person's body.
• The First and Second Hokage blocked Jiraiya's attack and repeatedly recovered from damage, while Hiruzen Sarutobi realized ordinary attacks could not stop them.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi told Jiraiya he would use the Fourth Hokage's Sealing Jutsu, then created two Shadow Clones and began the Reaper Death Seal against Orochimaru.

Hiruzen Sarutobi used the Reaper Death Seal to devour the First and Second Hokages’ souls and sever Orochimaru’s hands, preventing him from using ninjutsu. Hiruzen’s soul was then devoured by the Death God, leaving Orochimaru alive but unable to form hand seals.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi used the Death God to devour the First and Second Hokages’ souls after they regained their senses and accepted his choice.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi fought to seize Orochimaru’s soul, while Jiraiya stood by and Lin Guang and Naruto returned but could not enter the Four Violet Flames Formation.
• Lin Guang learned that the barrier prevented the ninja from reaching Hiruzen, and Naruto found that his body could not withstand more Nine-Tails chakra.
• Sasuke reflected on the Konoha High Command’s seizure of Uchiha property and suspected it had hidden the clan members’ bodies to obtain their Sharingan.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi severed Orochimaru’s Soul Hands with the Death God, leaving Orochimaru unable to use ninjutsu, then had his own soul devoured.