Chapter Summaries

As the third exam approached, Sasuke Uchiha developed new Chidori techniques while Naruto Uzumaki lamented his lack of inspiration. Jiraiya returned to offer Naruto the Mount Myōboku summoning contract, but Naruto stopped at Minato Namikaze’s name and asked who he really was.

• Sasuke Uchiha showed off Chidori Blade and Chidori Stream, and teased Naruto Uzumaki for not developing new ninjutsu.
• Naruto Uzumaki and Sasuke Uchiha discussed Jiraiya’s absence and their unimpressive impression of Orochimaru, while Kakashi Hatake listened nearby.
• Jiraiya arrived, gave Kakashi Hatake a signed book, and said he had no time to help Naruto develop ninjutsu yet.
• Jiraiya opened Mount Myōboku’s summoning contract and asked Naruto to sign it in exchange for learning a new technique.
• Naruto did not sign and instead pointed to Minato Namikaze’s name on the scroll, asking Jiraiya who he was.

Jiraiya told Naruto Uzumaki that Minato Namikaze was his father and explained his connection to Mount Myōboku’s summoning contract. Naruto thanked him and left to continue training, while the Nine-Tails offered to tell him about Minato.

• Jiraiya presented Naruto Uzumaki with the Mount Myōboku summoning contract, and Naruto asked whether its sage clan could teach him more about Sage Mode.
• Naruto revealed that he had cultivated Sage Mode on his own, and Jiraiya concluded that he was the Child of Destiny from the Great Toad Sage’s prophecy.
• Jiraiya told Naruto that Minato Namikaze had been his teacher and was Naruto’s father, and Kakashi Hatake confirmed that Minato had been his jonin instructor.
• Naruto reacted with lonely laughter, said he was fine, thanked Jiraiya, and left to continue training.
• The Nine-Tails sensed Naruto’s troubled chakra and offered to tell him about Minato, then joked about Minato’s wedding night with Kushina Uzumaki.

Naruto Uzumaki learned that Minato Namikaze was his father and struggled with the revelation while Kurama accused Minato of abandoning him. Minato appeared before Naruto to explain himself, leaving their confrontation unresolved.

• Kakashi Hatake worried that Naruto Uzumaki might hate Minato Namikaze, while Jiraiya said he would discuss a Mount Myōboku contract with Naruto after hunting Orochimaru.
• Kurama told Naruto that Minato had been a bad father and had never considered Naruto’s future or the suffering he would face as a Jinchuriki.
• Kurama compared Naruto’s situation to Gaara’s and claimed that the Fourth Kazekage had sent assassins after his own son.
• Naruto struggled to reconcile his longing for a father with Kurama’s accusations that Minato had knowingly made him a target.
• Minato Namikaze appeared as a Chakra Soul Form and began telling Naruto that Kurama’s account was wrong.

Minato Namikaze appeared in Naruto Uzumaki’s sealing space and explained how the Nine-Tails had been extracted from Kushina Uzumaki and sealed inside their son. Naruto struck Minato and rejected his parents, declaring that he would become Hokage and unite the ninja world.

• Minato Namikaze confronted the Nine-Tails, and the Nine-Tails hinted that Minato knew the masked man behind the attack on the night Naruto was born.
• Minato Namikaze and Naruto Uzumaki suspected Shimura Danzō, while Naruto asked the Nine-Tails to explain what had happened.
• Minato Namikaze described Kushina Uzumaki’s capture, the Nine-Tails’ rampage, and the decision to seal it inside Naruto.
• Naruto Uzumaki punched Minato Namikaze and said he no longer needed his parents or hated his father.
• Naruto Uzumaki declared that he would become Hokage and unite the ninja world, leaving Minato and the Nine-Tails unsure how to respond.

Minato Namikaze tried to dissuade Naruto Uzumaki from pursuing his plan to change the ninja world, but Naruto insisted that he already had an answer to its problems. Minato released the seal to summon Kushina Uzumaki’s Chakra Soul Form, and she immediately chose to support Naruto’s dream.

• Minato Namikaze warned Naruto Uzumaki that his ambition to unify the ninja world could lead to another war, but Naruto argued that conflict and corruption already plagued the villages.
• Naruto told Minato that he had found an answer to the ninja world’s problems and intended to change it, while the Nine-Tails backed Naruto’s resolve.
• Minato suspected the Nine-Tails had influenced Naruto and began the Four Symbols Seal: Release to summon Kushina Uzumaki’s Chakra Soul Form.
• The Nine-Tails merged its Chakra with Naruto’s, covering him in a golden cloak as Kushina appeared in the Sealing Space.
• Minato asked Kushina to persuade Naruto to abandon his dangerous ideas, but Kushina supported their son and walked over to him with Minato.

Naruto Uzumaki met his mother, Kushina Uzumaki, but struggled to accept her and Minato Namikaze as his parents. Kushina told him how she and Minato met and married, but their attempts to discuss good father-son relationships ended awkwardly.

• Kushina Uzumaki apologized to Naruto for his lonely childhood, while binding the Nine-Tails with Adamantine Chains when it insulted her.
• Naruto admitted that he was unused to having a mother, and Kushina accepted his hesitation before offering to tell him a story.
• Kushina recounted how she became the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, was abducted by Kumogakure's ninja, and was rescued by Minato Namikaze.
• Kushina explained that she and Minato married and that he had been reluctant to have children because of his work and the dangers of her pregnancy.
• Naruto pointed out that the Third Hokage and Fugaku Uchiha were poor examples of fatherhood, leaving Kushina to conclude that she and Minato should not have had a child.

Naruto Uzumaki learned why Minato Namikaze and Kushina Uzumaki had sacrificed themselves to save him, and the family shared a heartfelt reunion. As their chakra forms began to fade, they saw that Naruto had accepted Kurama and could use its power without fear.

• Minato Namikaze suspected Shimura Danzō had played a role in the Uchiha Clan's upheaval, and Naruto Uzumaki explained that Danzō had twice sent people to attack him and Kakashi Hatake.
• Kushina Uzumaki told Naruto that an attacker had released the Nine-Tails during her childbirth and that Minato had sacrificed himself to preserve her chakra and save Naruto.
• Kushina Uzumaki comforted Naruto and assured him that she and Minato loved him, and Naruto hugged her and called her Mom for the first time.
• Naruto told Minato and Kushina that he trusted Kurama and could subdue it if necessary, so Minato agreed not to repair the seal.
• Kushina recognized that Naruto could use all of Kurama's chakra, and she and Minato prepared to leave as their chakra forms weakened.

After Naruto Uzumaki lost the chakra forms of his parents, the Nine-Tails planned to revive Minato Namikaze and Kushina Uzumaki with Orochimaru’s help. Later, Jiraiya got Naruto to sign the Mount Myōboku Summoning Contract, and Naruto began thinking about his father as he did so.

• Kushina Uzumaki and Minato Namikaze faded away, leaving Naruto Uzumaki grieving in the water prison as the Nine-Tails comforted him.
• The Nine-Tails realized Minato Namikaze had opened Naruto’s seal and planned to make Naruto a perfect Jinchuriki.
• The Nine-Tails devised a plan to revive Minato Namikaze and Kushina Uzumaki using the Death God Mask, Impure World Reincarnation, and Rinne Rebirth, with Orochimaru and Itachi Uchiha as possible helpers.
• Jiraiya visited Naruto Uzumaki with Mount Myōboku’s Summoning Contract scroll and explained why signing it would help him.
• Naruto Uzumaki signed the contract, saying his father’s summoned beast should still be useful.

Jiraiya taught Naruto Uzumaki the Summoning Jutsu outside Konoha, expecting him to summon one of Mount Myōboku’s powerful toads. Naruto instead summoned the Giant Rock Toad with Mount Myōboku’s entire Toad Clan aboard, including the Great Toad Sage, leaving Jiraiya stunned.

• Jiraiya explained Mount Myōboku’s hierarchy and introduced its legendary Great Toad Sage, its sages, and its powerful toads.
• Naruto recalled punching Gamabunta and then performed the Summoning Jutsu with a tremendous amount of chakra.
• Naruto summoned a huge section of the Giant Rock Toad, carrying Jiraiya and Naruto into the air.
• Jiraiya recognized the Toad Clan’s settlement on the Giant Rock Toad and saw the Great Toad Sage and the assembled toads looking at them.
• The Great Toad Sage asked Little Jiraiya whether he had run into trouble, while Gamabunta later explained that everyone on Mount Myōboku had been summoned along.

Naruto Uzumaki accidentally summoned the entire Mount Myōboku clan and impressed Sage Fukasaku and the Great Toad Sage with his Sage Mode and bond with the Nine-Tails. The Great Toad Sage identified Naruto as the Child of Destiny, while Jiraiya prepared to guide him and worried about his coming match with Neji Hyuga.

• Naruto Uzumaki's Summoning Jutsu brought the entire Mount Myōboku clan to him and Jiraiya.
• Sage Fukasaku discovered that Naruto had mastered Sage Mode and relied on the Nine-Tails to refine senjutsu chakra.
• The Great Toad Sage concluded that Naruto was the Child of Destiny, and Jiraiya resolved to focus on teaching him.
• After the toads returned to Mount Myōboku, Naruto prepared for the third round of the Chunin Exams and his match against Neji Hyuga.
• Jiraiya considered asking Hiruzen Sarutobi to impose rules that would keep Naruto from using Sage Mode in the exams.

The Chunin Exam finals began with Naruto Uzumaki’s strength prompting officials to ban Sage Mode, Sage Fox Mode, and Sage of Six Paths Mode. The eight candidates prepared for their matches, while Sasuke Uchiha remained angry that Naruto would compete under restrictions.

• The eight finalists gathered in the arena as Genma Shiranui announced the matchups, including Naruto Uzumaki against Neji Hyuga and Sasuke Uchiha against Rock Lee.
• Genma Shiranui read out a rule prohibiting Sage Mode, prompting Sasuke Uchiha to protest that it unfairly targeted Naruto Uzumaki.
• Naruto Uzumaki asked which kinds of Sage Mode were forbidden, so Genma Shiranui sought guidance from Hiruzen Sarutobi.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi ordered all three forms—Sage Mode, Sage Fox Mode, and Sage of Six Paths Mode—banned to prevent casualties.
• Sasuke Uchiha objected to Naruto Uzumaki fighting with restrictions, and Naruto tried to reassure him by pointing out Sasuke still had little chance of winning.

Naruto Uzumaki and Neji Hyuga began their tournament match after Sage Mode was banned, and Naruto quickly knocked Neji down with a chakra shockwave. As Naruto’s golden cloak appeared, Hiruzen Sarutobi recognized the Nine-Tails’ chakra and was stunned by how peaceful it had become.

• Genma Shiranui announced Naruto Uzumaki and Neji Hyuga as the first match, while Hyuga Hiashi and Hanabi Hyuga weighed their hopes for the two fighters.
• Might Guy expected Neji Hyuga to win, but Kakashi Hatake doubted he could handle Naruto Uzumaki; they learned Sage Mode was forbidden in the tournament.
• Naruto Uzumaki and Neji Hyuga exchanged rapid blows, and Neji tried to seal Naruto’s chakra pathways.
• Naruto Uzumaki struck Neji Hyuga with a Rasengan Impact Wave, then said he was taking revenge for Neji’s attack on Hinata.
• Naruto Uzumaki’s chakra surged into a golden cloak, and Hiruzen Sarutobi recognized it as peaceful Nine-Tails chakra.

Naruto Uzumaki overwhelmed Neji Hyuga with Kurama Mode, but Neji escaped the assault and countered with Eight Trigrams Palms: Revolving Heaven. Neji’s defense gave him hope, while Kakashi believed Naruto’s next ninjutsu would end the match.

• Naruto used Kurama Mode to outpace Neji and batter him with a relentless series of taijutsu attacks.
• Kankuro, Rock Lee, Sasuke, Tenten, and Might Guy watched Naruto dominate, while Kakashi pointed out that Neji had only managed to escape.
• Neji grabbed Naruto’s legs during a kick and threw him clear of the combo, though Naruto landed safely.
• Naruto charged again, but Neji used Eight Trigrams Palms: Revolving Heaven to repel him and draw cheers from the stands.
• Kakashi predicted that Naruto’s ninjutsu would defeat Neji, while Neji hoped Naruto would attack so he could keep defending with Revolving Heaven.

Naruto Uzumaki defeated Neji Hyuga with a Tailed Beast Bomb that devastated the Chunin Exams arena. Neji was left severely injured, while Might Guy rescued him and Naruto stopped before offering help.

• Sasuke Uchiha and Shikamaru Nara criticized Neji Hyuga and discussed how Naruto Uzumaki could break through Revolving Heaven.
• Naruto formed a Tailed Beast Bomb, and the Third Hokage and Rasa recognized the technique as a destructive battlefield weapon.
• Naruto pressed the Tailed Beast Bomb into the arena floor, and Neji's Revolving Heaven failed to stop the blast, leaving Neji severely injured.
• The arena's defenders used Earth Flow Rampart and the Four Violet Flames Formation to shield the spectators from the shockwave and flying debris.
• Might Guy opened the Sixth Gate, broke through the Four Violet Flames Formation, and carried Neji away as Rock Lee promised to defeat Sasuke.
• Naruto stopped before treating Neji after Might Guy and Rock Lee spoke about continuing their rivalry.

Naruto defeated Neji and used the Nine-Tails’ Yang Release to heal him, surprising Kakashi with its life-restoring power. As the second match between Sasuke and Rock Lee began, Sasuke vowed to beat Lee quickly so he could fight Naruto.

• Naruto defeated Neji, who questioned how his Eight Trigrams Palms Revolving Heaven had been broken.
• Naruto healed Neji with Yang Release, and Kakashi realized its effects surpassed ordinary Medical Ninjutsu.
• Genma announced Naruto as the winner of the first match and called Sasuke Uchiha and Rock Lee for the second.
• Naruto teased Sasuke from the stands while Team Guy cheered for Lee, and Kakashi worried that Lee might know the Eight Gates Formation.
• Sasuke charged at Lee and promised to defeat him within a minute so he could fight Naruto.

Sasuke Uchiha and Rock Lee fought an intense taijutsu match, but Sasuke gained the advantage with Shisui's Nintaijutsu. Rock Lee opened the first five of the Eight Gates, leaving Sasuke and Kakashi reacting to the sudden surge in his strength.

• Sasuke Uchiha and Rock Lee traded blows in a fierce taijutsu battle while Naruto Uzumaki and Kakashi Hatake watched.
• Might Guy allowed Rock Lee to remove his leg weights, and their release shook the ground.
• Sasuke and Lee resumed their clash, with Sasuke using Sword Leap Flame, Solar Eclipse Dance, and Lightning Release Chakra to pressure Lee.
• Naruto Uzumaki sensed danger from Rock Lee and urged Sasuke to end the match, but Sasuke refused to stop fighting.
• Rock Lee opened the first five gates, and Kakashi Hatake reproached Sasuke for underestimating him.

Rock Lee opened the Fifth Gate and fought Sasuke Uchiha with overwhelming speed, while Naruto received Yang Release from the Nine-Tails in case Lee needed healing. Both fighters were badly injured and Lee’s Eight Gates state ended, so Sasuke called for Naruto to heal the wounded.

• Kakashi Hatake learned that Rock Lee had opened the Fifth Gate, while the Nine-Tails gave Naruto Uzumaki Yang Release to treat the aftereffects.
• Rock Lee overwhelmed Sasuke Uchiha with rapid attacks, and Sasuke used Chidori Stream and the Body Flicker Technique to survive and buy time.
• Sasuke used Fire Style: Dragon Flame Release Song Technique, but Rock Lee endured the flames and struck him with Leaf Hurricane.
• Rock Lee’s Eight Gates state ended, leaving him unable to continue, while Sasuke staggered back to his feet after suffering internal injuries.
• Sasuke looked to Naruto and told him to heal the injured.

Naruto used Yang Release to heal Rock Lee after Sasuke surrendered rather than claim victory over his injured opponent. As Sasuke was carried away for emergency treatment, Kabuto offered to help, but Karin misunderstood his warning and tried to make Sasuke drink her blood.

• Naruto said he had enough Yang Release to heal only one of the severely injured fighters, while Sasuke and Rock Lee both needed treatment.
• Sasuke admitted defeat and surrendered so Naruto could heal Rock Lee, asking Lee to test Naruto's strength in their next match.
• Naruto healed Rock Lee, whose injuries quickly began to recover.
• Medical Ninja carried Sasuke away, and Sakura and Karin followed while they worried that his internal injuries were too severe for them to treat.
• Kabuto arrived and said Sasuke needed a nearby place for treatment, but Karin misunderstood and offered her arm for Sasuke to suck her blood.

During the Konoha Crush, Naruto Uzumaki transformed into a golden fox and knocked down the rampaging Shukaku, while Orochimaru confronted Hiruzen Sarutobi. Orochimaru then used the Impure World Reincarnation Jutsu to summon the princess of the Uzumaki Clan.

• Kabuto Yakushi and Dosu tried to abduct Sasuke Uchiha under a genjutsu, but Sasuke saw through it and learned that Kabuto served Orochimaru.
• Orochimaru began the Konoha Crush as Sound Ninja and Sand Shinobi attacked Konoha, while Shukaku rampaged through the arena.
• Naruto Uzumaki covered himself in a golden chakra cloak and leaped toward Shukaku after promising Kakashi Hatake he would limit casualties.
• Naruto transformed into a towering golden fox and struck Shukaku down, easing Hiruzen Sarutobi's concern about the tailed beasts.
• Orochimaru used the Impure World Reincarnation Jutsu and called forth the princess of the Uzumaki Clan.

Orochimaru used Impure World Reincarnation to summon Kushina Uzumaki and Hashirama Senju during the Konoha Crush, intending to counter the Nine-Tails. After erasing Kushina’s will to control her, he hinted that he would summon Hiruzen Sarutobi’s former teacher next.

• Orochimaru summoned Kushina Uzumaki, who recognized Hiruzen Sarutobi and began breaking free of the control seal.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi warned Kushina that Orochimaru was a rogue ninja using her to attack Konoha.
• Orochimaru erased Kushina’s will with a sealed shuriken before she could escape his control.
• Orochimaru summoned Hashirama Senju, who noticed the golden fox attacking the One-Tail.
• Hashirama Senju broke free of his coffin, but Orochimaru controlled him and drove a curse-mark shuriken into his head.
• Orochimaru told Hiruzen Sarutobi that he had considered how to deal with the Nine-Tails and hinted at summoning Hiruzen’s former teacher.