Chapter Summaries

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.

After Hiruzen Sarutobi died sealing Orochimaru, Lin Guang awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan but hid its power, then helped drive Orochimaru’s group from Konoha. The village mourned and began rebuilding, while Lin Guang was promoted to chunin and agreed to train with Jiraiya and Naruto after the recovery effort.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi died after sealing Orochimaru’s hands and the former Hokage, and Lin Guang awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan while suppressing its power.
• Jiraiya attacked Orochimaru, but the Sound Four rescued him and fled; Lin Guang struck them with an enormous ice pillar before collapsing.
• Asuma Sarutobi and Konoha’s jōnin organized recovery, and the village buried Hiruzen Sarutobi and the other fallen the following day.
• Konoha promoted Lin Guang, Naruto Uzumaki, Sasuke Uchiha, Neji Hyuga, Hyūga Jō, Satō Maji, Shikamaru Nara, and others to chunin.
• Jiraiya told Lin Guang he would train him and Naruto after Konoha settled, then said he would leave the village to warn nearby troublemakers.

After the Third Hokage’s death, Jiraiya left Konoha for Amegakure while Lin Guang and Naruto helped with reconstruction and reflected on their loss. Meanwhile, Sand Ninja discovered the Fourth Kazekage’s corpse, and Orochimaru remained in hiding after escaping Konoha.

• Jiraiya met Kakashi at the cemetery, spoke with him about Obito and the dead, and said he was leaving to address discontent in Amegakure.
• Lin Guang examined his Mangekyō Sharingan, recognized its influence on Uchiha temperament, and resolved that Orochimaru had to die.
• Naruto joined Lin Guang in directing reconstruction work, and the two comforted Konohamaru by giving him Ichiraku Ramen vouchers.
• Two foreign ninja used genjutsu on a Konoha gate guard and entered the village unnoticed.
• Sand Ninja found the long-dead Fourth Kazekage, and Baki realized Orochimaru had killed him and impersonated him.
• Orochimaru discussed his escape with Kabuto and complained when Kabuto praised his killing of two of the Five Kage.

Orochimaru accepted his defeat, while Konoha’s advisors asked Jiraiya to become Fifth Hokage after Sunagakure surrendered. Jiraiya refused and offered to search for Tsunade instead, as two strange men overheard Kakashi mention Sasuke.

• Kabuto reminded Orochimaru that they had seen Sasuke Uchiha and Lin Guang’s potential, and Orochimaru lamented losing his hands and Ninjutsu while recalling Itachi and his former organization.
• Jiraiya returned from gathering intelligence in Kirigakure and met Advisors Mito and Koharu, who told him Konoha needed a Fifth Hokage and had chosen him.
• Jiraiya declined the position and proposed finding Tsunade, so Mito and Koharu agreed to consider it and assigned three ANBU to accompany him.
• Kakashi waited for Sasuke to take offerings to Obito, while two strange men wearing rings marked “Vermilion” and “South” overheard them mention Sasuke.
• Naruto could not find his free ramen coupon, so Lin Guang offered to pay for their meal.

Uchiha Itachi and Kisame Hoshigaki entered Konoha and fought Asuma Sarutobi and Kurenai Yuhi until Kakashi Hatake arrived. Meanwhile, Naruto ate ramen with Lin Guang, and Sasuke Uchiha sensed that someone had come to the village.

• Asuma Sarutobi and Kurenai Yuhi confronted Uchiha Itachi and Kisame Hoshigaki by the river and recognized them as wanted rogue ninja.
• Kisame Hoshigaki overpowered Asuma, while Uchiha Itachi saw through Kurenai’s genjutsu and sent her into the river.
• Kakashi Hatake arrived and copied Kisame’s Water Release: Water Shark Bullet Technique with his Sharingan, causing their water attacks to collide.
• Sasuke Uchiha felt a premonition that someone had come to Konoha.
• Naruto thanked Lin Guang for treating him to ramen after eating his fill.

Kakashi and his allies confronted Uchiha Itachi and Kisame Hoshigaki, who came to Konoha searching for something, while Sasuke investigated the Uchiha clan’s stone tablet. Jiraiya invited Lin Guang and Naruto to leave the village with him; Lin Guang agreed, but Naruto refused.

• Kakashi, Asuma Sarutobi, and Kurenai Yuhi faced Uchiha Itachi and Kisame Hoshigaki, and Itachi warned Kisame against prolonging the fight.
• Uchiha Itachi said they had come to look for something, then attacked Kakashi with Water Release and detonated a clone that Kakashi narrowly dodged.
• Sasuke Uchiha returned to the sealed Uchiha clan grounds and studied the stone tablet with his Sharingan.
• Jiraiya caught up with Lin Guang and Naruto after their walk and invited them to accompany him to find someone important.
• Lin Guang accepted Jiraiya’s invitation and planned to train outside the village, while Naruto declined.