Chapter Summaries

Team Seven found Karin being abused by her Kusagakure teammates, and Sasuke killed the two men so she could choose whether to leave the village. Kabuto Yakushi offered to help Karin settle in Konoha, then joined Team Seven on the way to the Central Tower while warning them about dangerous opponents in the Forest of Death.

• Sakura comforted Karin after Sasuke and Naruto stopped her Kusagakure teammates from biting her, and Karin explained that her blood could heal people because her mother was from the Uzumaki Clan.
• Sasuke killed Karin's two teammates and told her she could become a Rogue Ninja rather than return to Kusagakure.
• Kabuto offered to arrange for Karin to enter Konoha's Medical Department, and Karin agreed to stay in Konoha with Sakura.
• Kabuto told Team Seven that Orochimaru had scattered his team and that Examiner Anko was pursuing him, then showed them his scrolls and agreed to travel with them to the Central Tower.
• Kabuto helped the group evade traps and warned them about a terrifying presence in the Forest of Death, while Sasuke tried to keep Naruto's trump card secret and Naruto said he had plenty of trump cards.

Team Seven passed the Forest of Death and gathered at the Central Tower, where Kakashi explained that a preliminary round would decide who could enter the third Chunin Exam. Sasuke began the opening match against Akado Yoroi, who planned to draw out Sasuke’s full strength.

• Kabuto bid farewell to Naruto at the Central Tower, while Sasuke watched Gaara and Hinata congratulated Naruto on passing the exam.
• Team Eight, the Sand Village Squad, Team Guy, and Team Ten gathered in the tower after passing the second exam.
• Kakashi praised Team Seven, learned about Karin’s situation, and agreed to help while withholding their ramen treat.
• Kakashi explained that the preliminary round would use one-on-one matches and that only winners could enter the third exam; Kabuto withdrew before it began.
• Hayate announced Sasuke’s match against Akado Yoroi, and Sasuke entered the arena as Yoroi prepared to make him reveal his strength.
• Ibiki warned Anko that Hayate might be in danger if he tried to stop Naruto from using a dangerous jutsu.

Sasuke Uchiha defeated Akado Yoroi using Shisui Uchiha’s Body Flicker Technique, then watched the next Preliminary Round matches and gathered intelligence with Naruto Uzumaki. When Sakura Haruno was paired against Ino Yamanaka, Sasuke told her not to come back if she lost.

• Sasuke Uchiha used the Body Flicker Technique to overwhelm Akado Yoroi, who had been draining his chakra.
• Sasuke Uchiha and Naruto Uzumaki watched Shino Aburame defeat Sound Ninja Zaku while Naruto considered how to develop a new ninjutsu.
• Kankuro of Sunagakure won his match as Sasuke Uchiha declared he would inherit Konoha's White Fang's will and kill every Puppet Master.
• Hayate Gekko announced Sakura Haruno's match against Ino Yamanaka, and Sasuke Uchiha told Sakura not to come back if she lost.

Naruto provoked Temari by threatening Gaara, hoping to draw the dangerous Sand Shinobi into fighting him and protect the other contestants. Gaara stopped Temari and confronted Naruto, while Temari remained behind trying to explain herself to her brother.

• Tenten threw an array of ninja tools at Temari, but Temari used powerful Wind Release to defeat her without being hurt.
• Temari tossed the unconscious Tenten onto the scattered weapons, prompting Rock Lee to rescue his teammate and challenge Temari.
• Naruto stopped Lee and provoked Temari by claiming he would kill her younger brother, Gaara, if they met in a later match.
• Sakura, Sasuke, and Hinata realized Naruto might be trying to face Gaara himself to protect their friends from the deadly Sand Shinobi.
• Temari prepared to attack Naruto, but Gaara blocked her with sand and declared the next battle was his.
• Temari tried to assure Gaara she had never wanted to kill him, but Gaara angrily ordered her to leave.

Naruto Uzumaki challenged Gaara during the Chunin Exam preliminaries, and their opening clash badly damaged the arena. As the battle continued, Sasuke Uchiha warned that it had only just begun.

• Naruto Uzumaki proposed fighting Gaara, and Hiruzen Sarutobi approved the match.
• Gaara said he hated Naruto and attacked him with controlled sand while Naruto dodged.
• Naruto used Rasengan Punch to destroy the sand and tear apart more than half the arena roof.
• The spectators and other Genin reacted with shock, while Hiruzen Sarutobi ordered the ANBU to handle the damage.
• Sasuke Uchiha said Naruto's Rasengan Punch had become faster and declared that the battle had only just begun.
• At a later Jonin meeting, Hiruzen Sarutobi ordered Jonin to learn the Four Violet Flames Formation and told Kakashi Hatake to pay for the arena's reconstruction.

Naruto Uzumaki overwhelmed Gaara with his new Rasengan techniques, broke through Gaara’s defenses, and forced him to transform into a monster. As Naruto prepared to fight the transformed Gaara, Shukaku recognized the Nine-Tails and urged Gaara to surrender.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi’s Sealing Squad raised the Four Violet Flames Formation around the arena, and Kakashi Hatake said it could not withstand Naruto’s attacks.
• Naruto used Rasengan Impact Wave and Rasengan Hurricane to break Gaara’s sand defenses and counter his Sand Waterfall Imperial Funeral.
• Gaara trapped Naruto in sand and used Sand Burial, but Naruto’s Sealing Art: Devour drained the chakra from the sand and freed him.
• Naruto struck Gaara with Rasengan Impact Wave, shattering his defensive shell and leaving him badly injured.
• Temari realized Naruto had been waiting for an opening and sent Kankuro to find Baki before Gaara’s inner monster emerged.
• Gaara transformed and attacked Naruto, who answered with Rasengan Punch; Shukaku recognized the Nine-Tails and told Gaara to surrender.

Naruto Uzumaki overwhelmed Gaara and pushed him to awaken the One-Tail, Shukaku, during the Chunin Exams. Naruto continued fighting Shukaku while Hiruzen Sarutobi chose to let the battle continue.

• Temari and Kankuro watched Gaara’s rampage as Naruto’s allies discussed the power of the One-Tail and Naruto’s limits.
• Naruto Uzumaki absorbed the Chakra in Gaara’s sand attacks and defeated Gaara’s half-human, half-beast form.
• Naruto urged Gaara to awaken the One-Tail, and Gaara entered false sleep, transforming into Shukaku.
• Shukaku attacked Naruto with a Drilling Air Bullet, but Naruto met it with a Rasengan Impact Wave and taunted Shukaku about the Nine-Tails.
• Naruto dodged Shukaku’s attacks and punched the giant Tailed Beast back, while Hiruzen Sarutobi decided not to stop the fight.

Naruto Uzumaki created a powerful new jutsu by combining the Nine-Tails’ chakra with the Rasengan, then used it against Shukaku in the arena. Hiruzen Sarutobi and the other Jonin evacuated the spectators before the attack exploded.

• Shukaku’s attacks pressured Naruto Uzumaki, while Naruto realized he was running low on chakra and needed a stronger jutsu.
• The Nine-Tails lent Naruto its chakra, and Naruto compressed and spun it into a black sphere he named Spiraling Ring.
• Naruto returned to the arena and tossed Spiraling Ring toward Shukaku.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi raised Earth Flow Ramparts, and Might Guy and Kakashi Hatake rushed to evacuate their students.
• Spiraling Ring exploded with a blast that rang throughout Konoha.

Naruto Uzumaki used Adamantine Chains to restrain Shukaku after the battle destroyed the Preliminary Round arena. Hiruzen Sarutobi agreed to help Sunagakure contain Gaara, while Baki sought to keep the Jinchuriki in Konoha.

• Naruto Uzumaki's attack destroyed the arena's defenses and severely injured chief examiner Hayate Gekko, while ANBU rescued the wounded.
• Kakashi Hatake stopped Sasuke Uchiha from being struck by a Drilling Air Bullet, then the jonin rushed to the arena and found Naruto and Shukaku still fighting.
• Naruto Uzumaki and the Nine-Tails discussed his lack of strength and chakra, and the Nine-Tails suggested using the Uzumaki Clan's Adamantine Chains.
• Baki told Hiruzen Sarutobi that Gaara was the Kazekage's son and asked Konoha to help contain the One-Tail and prevent future rampages.
• Naruto's golden Adamantine Chains bound Shukaku, and Hiruzen Sarutobi recognized the technique as one he had not seen in a long time.
• Rasa advised Baki to cry poor and weak to persuade Hiruzen, and Baki agreed he could cry whenever he wanted.

Naruto Uzumaki defeated Gaara and revealed that he had mastered the Uzumaki Clan’s Adamantine Chains, then the Chunin Exam Preliminary Round concluded with eight matches advancing. The finalists learned their opponents, leaving Naruto and Sasuke intrigued by their upcoming fights against Neji Hyuga and Rock Lee.

• Naruto Uzumaki restrained Shukaku with Adamantine Chains, and Baki woke Gaara after the beast receded into him.
• Naruto taunted Gaara and knocked Baki aside when the jonin threatened him, until Hiruzen Sarutobi intervened and assigned Kakashi Hatake to oversee the remaining matches.
• Rock Lee defeated Kiba Inuzuka, Choji Akimichi faced Dosu, and Kakashi Hatake stopped Neji Hyuga from seriously injuring Hinata Hyuga.
• The Preliminary Round ended with Naruto Uzumaki, Sasuke Uchiha, Sakura Haruno, Neji Hyuga, Rock Lee, Shino Aburame, Shikamaru Nara, Dosu, Kankuro, and Temari qualifying.
• Naruto Uzumaki drew Neji Hyuga as his opponent, while Sasuke Uchiha drew Rock Lee, and both found their matchups interesting.

After the Chunin Exam preliminaries, Orochimaru and Kabuto moved to keep the Fourth Kazekage involved in their plan, while Naruto visited Hinata at the Hyuga compound and met her younger sister, Hanabi. The chapter ended with Hanabi challenging Naruto over his connection to Hinata.

• Might Guy urged Neji Hyuga and Rock Lee to prepare to defeat Kakashi Hatake's students, while Kakashi joked that they should worry about facing Naruto Uzumaki and Sasuke Uchiha.
• Baki decided to return to Sunagakure to discuss the plan with the Fourth Kazekage, but Orochimaru and Kabuto planned to hunt the Kazekage and keep him involved.
• Sakura Haruno took Karin to study medical ninjutsu, and Kakashi Hatake continued training Sasuke in Lightning Release and the White Fang Sword Style.
• Naruto Uzumaki visited the Hyuga Clan Compound to see Hinata, but Hanabi Hyuga ordered that he be allowed inside.
• Hanabi questioned Naruto about why Hinata was interested in him, then challenged him to fight.

Naruto visited the Hyuga compound with Hanabi and learned that Hinata needed time to recover from her injuries. He quietly waited with Hanabi until Hinata noticed them, then reassured her that they had not been waiting long.

• Hanabi led Naruto through the Hyuga compound and asked whether he expected to become a Chunin.
• Naruto told Hanabi that Neji would not become a Chunin because he would face Naruto in the finals.
• Hanabi defended the Hyuga clan and told Naruto she doubted he could defeat Neji.
• Naruto asked Hanabi about Hinata, and she said Hinata would need a lengthy recovery if she continued as a ninja.
• Naruto and Hanabi watched Hinata sitting alone in the courtyard and waited until she stood to leave.
• Hinata apologized for not noticing them, and Naruto interrupted Hanabi to claim they had only been waiting a few minutes.

Naruto Uzumaki visited the injured Hinata Hyuga, healed her, and gave her a scroll containing a Hidden Mist Ninja with a stolen Byakugan. After leaving the Hyuga compound, he noticed ANBU and several jonin moving through Konoha and wondered what trouble they were pursuing.

• Naruto Uzumaki gave Hinata Hyuga a scroll containing a Hidden Mist Ninja whose corpse bore a transplanted Hyuga Byakugan.
• Naruto Uzumaki used Yang Release to heal Hinata's injuries and chakra pathways, then promised to defeat Neji in the third exam's main round.
• Hinata Hyuga asked Hanabi Hyuga to give the scroll to Hiashi so he could handle the recovered Byakugan.
• Hanabi Hyuga reminded Hinata that Hyuga clan members were forbidden to marry outsiders, leaving Hinata worried about her feelings for Naruto.
• Naruto Uzumaki agreed to train in the Eight Gates Formation with Kurama, then spotted ANBU and Kakashi Hatake, Might Guy, Kurenai Yuhi, and Asuma Sarutobi moving through Konoha.

After Orochimaru ambushed Sasuke and Kakashi, Naruto offered to help Sasuke train while developing a faster way to enter Sage Mode using Sealing Art: Devour and the Nine-Tails. The chapter left Kakashi preparing to spar with Naruto as Sasuke watched, and Kakashi objecting to Naruto’s confidence in his Sage Mode.

• Sasuke told Naruto that Orochimaru had attacked him and Kakashi, and that their fight had ended in a draw.
• Naruto suggested training with Sasuke, who agreed to meet him and Kakashi at Konoha’s back mountain the next day.
• Sasuke wondered why Orochimaru wanted his body but had not targeted Naruto, and touched his eyes as he considered how to surpass his teammate.
• Naruto told Kakashi he was developing Sage Mode by using Sealing Art: Devour to draw in natural energy for the Nine-Tails to combine with chakra.
• Kakashi offered to spar with Naruto and advise him, but Naruto joked that Kakashi might end up hospitalized and leave Sasuke without a teacher.

Naruto Uzumaki activated a new Sage Mode by combining natural energy with the Nine-Tails' chakra, transforming his hair red and gaining immense power. The Nine-Tails and Kakashi Hatake considered the form's unusual nature, while Kushina Uzumaki celebrated Naruto's new Uzumaki Clan appearance.

• Naruto Uzumaki asked Kakashi Hatake to test his Sage Mode, and Kakashi agreed.
• Naruto Uzumaki used Sealing Technique: Devour to combine natural energy with chakra from the Nine-Tails and activate Sage Mode.
• Naruto Uzumaki's eyes turned blood-red and his hair became red as his power surged.
• Naruto Uzumaki smashed the ground with one punch, and Kakashi Hatake and Sasuke Uchiha reacted to his strength.
• The Nine-Tails speculated that the violent chakra and seal had caused Naruto Uzumaki's Sage Mode to differ from Sage Fox Mode.
• Kushina Uzumaki celebrated Naruto Uzumaki's red hair as proof of his Uzumaki Clan heritage, prompting comments from Minato Namikaze and others.

Naruto Uzumaki tested his Sage Mode against Kakashi Hatake, overwhelming him with enhanced speed, senses, and power. The sparring match ended with Naruto preparing a Sage Art: Wind Release: Ultra-Big Ball Rasenshuriken.

• Naruto Uzumaki entered Sage Mode and quickly gained the upper hand against Kakashi Hatake in a taijutsu exchange.
• Kakashi Hatake used the Hidden Mist Jutsu to hide, but Naruto sensed his position and kicked him out of the fog.
• Naruto explained that Sage Mode enhanced his perception and let him sense that Orochimaru had left Konoha.
• Kakashi Hatake tried the Demonic Illusion: Hell Viewing Technique, but Naruto resisted the genjutsu and counterattacked.
• Naruto unleashed a Sage Art: Ultra-Big Ball Rasengan that carved a massive crater, then began forming a Sage Art: Wind Release: Ultra-Big Ball Rasenshuriken.

Naruto Uzumaki demonstrated his devastating Ultra-Big Ball Rasenshuriken during Team Seven’s spar, alarming Kakashi Hatake and the newly appointed Chunin Exam chief examiner, Genma Shiranui. Genma left worried about refereeing Naruto and Sasuke Uchiha’s upcoming matches.

• Naruto Uzumaki used the Ultra-Big Ball Rasenshuriken, flattening the forest and destroying a distant hill before exhausting much of his senjutsu chakra.
• Sasuke Uchiha resolved to work harder at ninjutsu, swordsmanship, and Nintaijutsu, while Naruto teased him.
• Genma Shiranui arrived with ANBU after the blast and learned that the destruction had come from Team Seven’s routine sparring.
• Genma worried that Naruto and Sasuke’s upcoming Chunin Exam matches would put him at risk as chief examiner, and Kakashi Hatake warned him to be careful.
• Kakashi looked forward to Naruto and Sasuke standing out in the exams, then jokingly claimed that examinees in his day had been weak.

Might Guy, Rock Lee, Neji, and their teammates trained for the Chunin Exams, while Shikamaru planned how to get past his first opponent. The chapter ended with Might Guy urging Lee to defeat Sasuke and reclaim the dignity he had lost to Kakashi.

• Might Guy and Rock Lee ran laps as Lee prepared to face Sasuke, and Guy allowed him to use the Eight Gates Formation in battle.
• Tenten helped Neji train his Revolving Heaven by attacking him with volleys of ninja tools, and Neji told her to use her full strength so he could prepare to defeat Naruto.
• Asuma Sarutobi, Ino Yamanaka, and Choji Akimichi helped Shikamaru train and warned him that his first opponent from the Hidden Sand Village could be dangerous.
• Shikamaru explained that he planned to focus on winning his first match because he saw little chance of defeating Sasuke or Naruto in a later round.
• Asuma encouraged Shikamaru, who dismissed his reassurance and remarked that words alone could not change the outcome.

Shino Aburame met with his cousin Torune, who brought him insects and worried about his upcoming Chunin Exam match. Meanwhile, the Fourth Kazekage arrived early and tried to have Naruto barred from the exam’s main bracket, but Hiruzen Sarutobi challenged his reasoning about Sunagakure’s finances and missions.

• Torune Aburame visited Shino in the forest, gave him insects he had caught by the seaside, and encouraged him before the Chunin Exams.
• Torune asked Shino about his relationship with Naruto Uzumaki, and Shino recalled that they had been decent friends at the Ninja Academy.
• The Fourth Kazekage arrived in Konoha early, citing Gaara’s loss of control as a concern during the Chunin Exams.
• Rasa proposed barring Naruto from the main bracket to protect visiting officials from a possible Nine-Tails rampage.
• Hiruzen defended Naruto’s seal and questioned whether Sunagakure still received missions, leaving Rasa awkwardly unable to answer.

Orochimaru, disguised as the Fourth Kazekage, persuaded Konoha to send forces against him while concealing the real Kazekage’s death. Back at the inn, he promised the ailing Kimimaro that he would keep him alive for the plan, and agreed to use him as a sacrifice if necessary.

• Rasa asked Hiruzen Sarutobi to help Hidden Sand Village eliminate Orochimaru and urgently send ANBU and jonin to the Land of Rivers.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi agreed to discuss the number of Konoha forces to send after the Chunin Exams, and Rasa left the Hokage Residence.
• The disguised Orochimaru returned to the inn and reassured Kimimaro that Hiruzen Sarutobi would not dare kill him.
• Orochimaru promised to have Kabuto treat Kimimaro and agreed to use him as a sacrifice for Impure World Reincarnation if he could not survive until then.