Recaps

After Haku took Zabuza Momochi’s body, Chiba led the team safely to Tazuna’s home while Kakashi Hatake recovered from the Sharingan’s chakra drain. The next morning, Kakashi woke and said it was time for Naruto Uzumaki to train.

• Haku revealed himself as a Kirigakure Pursuit Ninja, took Zabuza Momochi’s body after Kakashi Hatake confirmed his death, and vanished.
• Naruto Uzumaki asked Chiba to teach him how to get stronger and become Hokage, but Kakashi Hatake collapsed from exhaustion.
• Chiba took charge as the group continued their journey, and Naruto Uzumaki drove off several bandits.
• The team arrived at Tazuna’s home, where Tazuna explained that Gato would not attack them openly in town.
• The next morning, Kakashi Hatake woke, apologized for passing out after the Sharingan drained his chakra, and told Naruto Uzumaki it was time to train.

Kakashi Hatake began chakra-control training for Team 7, but Chiba quickly demonstrated that he could already climb trees. Kakashi tested Chiba’s chakra nature and decided to teach him two ninjutsu.

• Kakashi Hatake explained chakra control and demonstrated how to climb a tree using chakra attached to the feet.
• Chiba climbed to the top of the tree with ease, so Kakashi Hatake took him aside to discuss ninjutsu while Naruto Uzumaki and Sasuke Uchiha practiced.
• Chiba told Kakashi Hatake that he knew basic C-rank ninjutsu and mainly used Wind Release techniques.
• Kakashi Hatake gave Chiba Chakra Paper, which split and burned when Chiba channeled chakra into it.
• Kakashi Hatake identified Chiba’s chakra natures as wind and fire and decided to teach him two ninjutsu.

Kakashi Hatake taught Chiba two powerful ninjutsu, and Chiba quickly mastered Vacuum Great Sphere and demonstrated his Fire Release skill. The chapter ended with Chiba launching Fire Dragon Flame Bullet before Kakashi Hatake had finished explaining it.

• Kakashi Hatake offered to teach Chiba Vacuum Great Sphere and Fire Dragon Flame Bullet.
• Chiba quickly learned Vacuum Great Sphere and blasted a wide path through the trees.
• Chiba demonstrated Great Fireball Technique, creating a large crater and impressing Kakashi Hatake with its power.
• Kakashi Hatake began explaining Fire Dragon Flame Bullet, but Chiba performed it before he finished.
• Chiba's flames swept across the area, leaving everything in sight charred black.

Chiba quickly mastered the Fire Dragon Flame Bullet, impressing Kakashi, who asked him to supervise Naruto and Sasuke while he recovered. Chiba joined their training and warned them to prepare for a possible return of Zabuza, leaving Naruto fired up and Sasuke still troubled.

• Kakashi was astonished by how quickly Chiba learned the Fire Dragon Flame Bullet and said he had no more Fire or Wind Release techniques to teach him.
• Kakashi asked Chiba to guide Naruto and Sasuke while he recovered, explaining that he suspected Zabuza was still alive and working with the Kirigakure ninja.
• Kakashi began reading Icha Icha Paradise, and Chiba went to check on Naruto and Sasuke's tree-climbing practice.
• Chiba told Naruto and Sasuke that Kakashi had put him in charge of their training and warned them that Zabuza might return before the next battle.
• Naruto vowed to train hard, while Sasuke remained silent and weighed down by worries.

Chiba trained Naruto Uzumaki and Sasuke Uchiha while pretending to relax, teaching them to control their large chakra reserves. After they both reached the top of the trees, he carried them back to Tazuna's house, where he learned the Great Bridge was nearly finished and hoped his sign-in mission would soon be completed.

• Chiba lounged under a tree while urging Naruto Uzumaki and Sasuke Uchiha to train, and secretly molded his own chakra.
• Chiba compared their progress and explained that their large chakra reserves made controlling chakra use a major challenge.
• After several days of training, Naruto Uzumaki and Sasuke Uchiha reached the tops of the trees but were exhausted.
• Chiba carried Naruto Uzumaki and Sasuke Uchiha back to Tazuna's house, where Kakashi Hatake and Tazuna saw them arrive.
• Tazuna said the Great Bridge was almost finished and asked them to protect the workers the next day, prompting Chiba to hope his sign-in mission would soon be completed.

Kakashi Hatake and Chiba prepared for an expected confrontation as Team 7 set out to finish the Great Bridge. They arrived to find the workers incapacitated, and Zabuza Momochi appeared in a heavy mist.

• Kakashi Hatake told Chiba he expected a major battle when the Great Bridge was completed and warned that the Kirigakure Pursuit Ninja would also be present.
• The next morning, Kakashi Hatake and Chiba discussed Naruto Uzumaki's quick recovery and his Uzumaki Clan background, which caught Sasuke Uchiha's attention.
• Chiba woke Naruto Uzumaki, and the group of five left Tazuna's house for the Great Bridge.
• At the Great Bridge, Tazuna rushed to check on the fallen workers, and Chiba confirmed that their lives were not in danger.
• Thick mist and killing intent engulfed the bridge as Zabuza Momochi arrived.

Zabuza Momochi and Haku ambushed Kakashi Hatake’s team, forcing Chiba to guard Tazuna while the others fought. As Haku trapped Sasuke Uchiha and Naruto Uzumaki in ice mirrors, two samurai broke into Tazuna’s house and seized Tsunami as a potential hostage.

• Chiba protected Tazuna as Zabuza Momochi and Haku emerged from the mist to attack Kakashi Hatake’s team.
• Kakashi Hatake fought Zabuza Momochi while Sasuke Uchiha attacked Haku.
• Haku formed hand seals with one hand and used Thousand Flying Water Needles of Death, which Sasuke Uchiha dodged.
• Naruto Uzumaki joined Sasuke Uchiha, but Haku escaped their attacks and trapped them in Demonic Mirroring Ice Crystals.
• Two samurai broke into Tazuna’s house and targeted Tsunami as a hostage.

Chiba's shadow clone saved Tsunami and Inari from two samurai, while the battle on the Great Bridge continued. Zabuza Momochi attacked Tazuna, but Chiba intercepted him with glowing golden eyes.

• Chiba's shadow clone arrived as two samurai threatened Inari and defeated them with elbow strikes to their necks.
• Chiba's clone disposed of the samurai in the sea and told Tsunami and Inari to hide.
• The clone dispelled itself, sending its memories back to Chiba on the Great Bridge.
• Naruto Uzumaki, Sasuke Uchiha, Kakashi Hatake, and Chiba continued fighting Zabuza Momochi and Haku.
• Zabuza Momochi emerged from the mist behind Tazuna, but Chiba blocked his attack as his eyes shone gold.

Chiba entered Sage Mode and overwhelmed Zabuza Momochi with a senjutsu-infused Konoha Whirlwind on the Great Bridge. He left Zabuza to Kakashi Hatake, then sensed a surge of nine-tails chakra from the other battlefield.

• Chiba entered Sage Mode to protect Tazuna and struck Zabuza Momochi with a powerful Konoha Whirlwind.
• Zabuza Momochi survived the blow, questioned Chiba's strength, and charged back into the fight.
• Chiba told Kakashi Hatake that he could only use the attack once in a short period and left Zabuza to him.
• Kakashi Hatake and Zabuza Momochi resumed clashing in the mist on the Great Bridge.
• Chiba turned toward the other battlefield when chakra filled with malice surged across the bridge, recognizing it as nine-tails chakra.

Naruto Uzumaki defeated Haku’s Demonic Mirroring Ice Crystals with the Nine-Tails’ chakra, but stopped when Haku’s mask fell and he recognized the boy. Chiba learned Haku’s One-Handed Hand Seals method, while Haku asked to be buried with Zabuza.

• Naruto Uzumaki’s Nine-Tails chakra shattered Haku’s Demonic Mirroring Ice Crystals and knocked Haku onto the Great Bridge.
• Naruto Uzumaki froze when Haku’s mask fell and recognized the boy he had met during training; Haku explained his past.
• Chiba’s Shadow Clone asked Haku about training in One-Handed Hand Seals, while Chiba urged Naruto Uzumaki to check on Sasuke Uchiha.
• Haku taught Chiba how chakra flowed through the body when forming seals with one hand.
• Haku asked Chiba to bury him together with Zabuza.

Chiba honored Haku’s request to die protecting Zabuza, then killed Gato when he tried to desecrate Haku’s body. He left Zabuza alive and told him to deal with Gato’s men.

• Chiba agreed to take care of Haku’s body after the battle and Haku asked him to kill him.
• Kakashi Hatake used his Ninja Dogs to pin Zabuza and struck at him with the Lightning Blade, but Haku intercepted the attack and died.
• Overcome by Haku’s death, Zabuza fought erratically until Kakashi Hatake wounded both his arms and incapacitated him.
• Gato approached and moved to touch Haku’s face with his cane.
• Chiba struck Gato dead, then told Zabuza that protecting Haku’s body and Zabuza was his decision and left Gato’s men to him.

Chiba and the others witnessed Zabuza's final moments after Haku's death, and Chiba killed the samurai who threatened them. Zabuza died beside Haku, while Chiba received the Eight Gates as his Land of Waves mission reward.

• Zabuza gave up fighting Chiba after learning Gato was dead, then used his teeth to take a kunai and charged the samurai.
• Naruto arrived supporting Sasuke and learned that Haku had died after fulfilling his dream.
• Zabuza killed many samurai but collapsed before reaching Haku, so Chiba used Wind Release: Vacuum Great Sphere to defeat the remaining attackers.
• Chiba laid Zabuza beside Haku and shattered Zabuza's heart at his request, allowing him to die beside Haku.
• Chiba completed the Land of Waves sign-in mission and received the Eight Gates.

After burying Haku and Zabuza, Chiba encouraged Naruto to forge his own ninja way, and the team stayed in the Land of Waves until the Great Bridge was completed. Tazuna named it the Chiba Great Bridge, completing Chiba’s hidden mission and earning him doubled C-rank ninjutsu power before the team headed home.

• Chiba buried Haku and Zabuza with Kakashi and his teammates, honoring his promise to Haku.
• Naruto asked whether ninja had to become tools, and Chiba encouraged him to forge a path he would never regret.
• The bridge workers resumed construction under the team’s protection and completed the Great Bridge three days later.
• Tazuna named the bridge the Chiba Great Bridge, triggering Chiba’s hidden mission reward of doubled C-rank ninjutsu power.
• Kakashi led the team away from the Land of Waves, and Chiba remembered that the Chunin Ninja Exams were approaching.

After returning to Konoha, Kakashi Hatake learned from Hiruzen Sarutobi that the Land of Waves mission had served a diplomatic purpose and received a new low-risk assignment. Chiba, Naruto Uzumaki, and Sasuke Uchiha went to Ichiraku for ramen, where Naruto spotted a glutton challenge notice.

• Kakashi Hatake reported the Land of Waves mission to Hiruzen Sarutobi and distributed the team's payment.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi explained the mission's hidden diplomatic purpose and gave Kakashi Hatake a new assignment for Team 7 to undertake after resting.
• Chiba agreed to go for ramen with Naruto Uzumaki, who was excited about their B-rank mission reward.
• Chiba and Naruto Uzumaki brought Sasuke Uchiha along to Ichiraku Ramen Shop.
• Naruto Uzumaki noticed a notice advertising the Ichiraku Ramen Glutton Challenge.

Chiba joined Ichiraku Ramen’s eating contest with Naruto and Sasuke, then faced Choji and Team 8 among the competitors. Chiba won with sixty-eight servings and claimed the lifetime fifty-percent-off voucher.

• Chiba persuaded Naruto and Sasuke to enter the eating contest at Ichiraku Ramen.
• Choji arrived and challenged Naruto, then Kiba, Akamaru, Shino, and Hinata joined the contestants.
• Teuchi announced that the contest’s theme was tonkotsu ramen and that the champion would receive a lifetime fifty-percent-off voucher.
• Chiba ate at an increasing pace while Naruto and Sasuke wolfed down their ramen beside him.
• Teuchi announced Choji in third place with twenty-three servings, Hinata in second with thirty-one, and Chiba as champion with sixty-eight.

Chiba, Naruto Uzumaki, and Sasuke Uchiha received a mission to obtain Nekomata’s paw print from his castle. After Cat Granny briefed them, Tahibi and Hina led the trio to the castle and offered them cat-ear headbands to help them sneak in.

• Chiba won the Ichiraku Ramen eating contest and received a permanent half-price voucher from Teuchi.
• Kakashi Hatake gave Chiba, Naruto Uzumaki, and Sasuke Uchiha a mission involving ninja cats, then vanished after revealing he had been a Shadow Clone.
• Chiba led the team to the Empty District, where Cat Granny explained that they had to obtain Nekomata’s paw print from his castle.
• Cat Granny sent Tahibi and Hina to guide the trio to Nekomata’s Castle.
• Tahibi and Hina offered the team cat-ear headbands to help them sneak into the castle, leaving Chiba conflicted.

Chiba and Sasuke Uchiha infiltrated a castle to obtain Nekomata’s paw print, and Sasuke fought the giant cat alone while Chiba watched. After Naruto Uzumaki helped trap Nekomata, Sasuke took the print and Chiba offered to make Nekomata his summoning beast.

• Chiba made Sasuke Uchiha wear a cat-ear headband and photographed him before the team split up to enter the castle.
• Chiba infiltrated the castle from behind while Naruto Uzumaki and Sasuke Uchiha entered from the front, triggering alarms when Naruto’s headband fell off.
• Chiba found Nekomata in the attic and let Sasuke Uchiha face him alone, then watched as Nekomata’s genjutsu and attacks put Sasuke in danger.
• Naruto Uzumaki arrived and used explosive tags to bring down part of the roof, pinning Nekomata beneath the rubble.
• Sasuke Uchiha took an impression of Nekomata’s paw, and Chiba offered Nekomata the chance to become his summoning beast.

Chiba persuaded Nekomata to sign a Summoning Contract by offering silvervine and promising to help him grow stronger. After the group completed their mission and returned to Konoha, Chiba noticed signs that an important event was approaching.

• Chiba negotiated with Nekomata, who agreed to become his summoning beast in exchange for four sticks of silvervine a week.
• Nekomata explained that his strength was nearing chunin level but that he lacked resources to improve further.
• Chiba told Nekomata he would help him grow stronger, while joking that his main job was to look cute.
• Chiba, Naruto Uzumaki, and Sasuke Uchiha said goodbye to Nekomata and reported to Cat Granny before returning to Konoha.
• Chiba noticed unfamiliar faces and increased ninja guards in Konoha, and said something important seemed about to happen.

Chiba met Rock Lee during training, then intervened when Kankuro threatened Naruto and Konohamaru. The Third Hokage gathered the team leaders, and Kakashi recommended Team 7 for the Chunin Exams.

• Chiba met Rock Lee while training and introduced himself as a member of Kakashi’s Team 7.
• Chiba headed to report his departure to Kakashi and saw Naruto and Konohamaru get into a confrontation with Kankuro.
• Chiba stepped in, warned Kankuro against provoking a conflict between the villages, and intimidated him with his killing intent.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi gathered the team leaders, and Kakashi recommended Chiba, Naruto, and Sasuke for the Chunin Exams.

Chiba forced Kankuro to apologize and confronted Sasuke and Gaara before turning to preparations for the Chunin Ninja Exams. After Kakashi recommended Team 7 for the exams, Chiba received permission to leave the village and set out to visit Nekomata.

• Chiba demanded that Kankuro apologize to Konohamaru, and Kankuro complied while Gaara and Temari prepared to leave.
• Chiba noticed Sasuke hiding in a tree and revealed Gaara, warning him not to use ninjutsu freely in the village.
• Kakashi arrived late and gave Chiba, Naruto Uzumaki, and Sakura Haruno eligibility certificates for the Chunin Ninja Exams, which would begin in seven days.
• Chiba asked Kakashi for permission to leave the village to visit Nekomata, and Kakashi approved as long as he returned promptly and stayed safe.
• Chiba also asked Kakashi for Chakra Paper because he did not know Nekomata's chakra nature.

Chiba visited Nekomata at Ninja Cat Castle, gave him a ninjutsu scroll, and planned an intensive training program to prepare him for the Chunin Ninja Exams. After leaving the castle, Chiba went to Tenten’s Ninja Tool Shop to collect on the favor she owed him.

• Chiba learned that Nekomata could grow to about twenty meters as his chakra reserves increased, but he knew only one innate genjutsu.
• Chiba gave Nekomata a scroll containing ninjutsu and other techniques, and Nekomata gratefully embraced him.
• After watching Nekomata demonstrate his abilities, Chiba judged his strength comparable to an average chunin and ordered him to learn two ninjutsu techniques and one taijutsu technique within seven days.
• Chiba planned physical conditioning, fighting-spirit training, one-on-one combat practice, and custom weights for Nekomata before the Chunin Ninja Exams.
• Chiba left Ninja Cat Castle and went to Tenten’s Ninja Tool Shop to use the favor she owed him.

Chiba asked Tenten for training weights after Rock Lee inspired him to train with them. Tenten lent him the set reserved for Rock Lee’s next training stage, and she was stunned when Chiba lifted the weights, which totaled two thousand jin.

• Tenten grew irritable while thinking about Chiba and tried to hide her feelings when he approached her.
• Chiba told Tenten he had met Rock Lee and wanted training weights, and Tenten revealed that she had supplied Lee’s weights.
• Tenten explained that the remaining set was reserved for Rock Lee but offered to lend it to Chiba.
• Tenten led Chiba to the Ninja Tool shop’s storeroom and showed him the weights, which totaled two thousand jin.
• Chiba eagerly lifted the weights, leaving Tenten stunned.

Chiba showed Tenten that he could bear the thousand-kilogram Weighted Training Gear and revealed that he would take the Chunin Ninja Exams. After three days of adapting to the weights, he summoned Nekomata and learned that the cat had completed its ninjutsu training goals.

• Chiba put on Tenten's Weighted Training Gear, weighing about a thousand kilograms, and said he could barely walk in it.
• Chiba told Tenten that Kakashi-sensei had signed Team 7 up for the Chunin Ninja Exams and showed her his Candidate Certificate.
• Chiba reassured Tenten that he would be there for her, then returned to the residence Jiraiya had arranged and trained with the weights for three days.
• Tenten visited Chiba during his adjustment period, claiming she only wanted to check that her Weighted Training Gear was fine.
• After three days, Chiba had adapted enough to resume his usual training and successfully summoned Nekomata.
• Nekomata told Chiba it had completed its ninjutsu goals, while it was still practicing taijutsu.

As the Chunin Ninja Exams approached, Chiba trained with Naruto Uzumaki and Nekomata while trying to prepare for the costs of their daily life. He left for Ichiraku Ramen after persuading Nekomata to hand over his savings, while Nekomata returned to his castle still unable to learn the Reverse Summoning Technique.

• Chiba trained with Naruto Uzumaki and Nekomata, whose combat practice ended with Nekomata sprawled on the ground and Naruto claiming victory.
• Chiba told Naruto that they needed to recover and get into peak condition for the approaching Chunin Ninja Exams.
• Chiba realized his savings would only last through the exams and asked Nekomata for the money he had stashed away.
• Nekomata handed over his savings, and Chiba went to rinse off and change before heading to Ichiraku Ramen.
• Nekomata returned to his Ninja Cat Castle without having learned the Reverse Summoning Technique and grumbled that someone was plotting against him.

Iruka tried to test Naruto before the Chunin Ninja Exams but was knocked out by his student, then felt reassured by Naruto’s growth. On exam day, Team 7 headed to register, where Rock Lee challenged Naruto to a showdown.

• Iruka kidnapped Moegi to lure Naruto into the woods, but Naruto struck him from above and knocked him unconscious.
• At the Baiwei Dango Shop, Iruka told Chiba that Naruto’s rapid progress reassured him, and Naruto grew more determined to pass the exams.
• On July first, Team 7 gathered on the Great Bridge and Naruto boasted to Sasuke about the special training Chiba had planned for him.
• Team 7 went to the Ninja Academy to register for the Chunin Ninja Exams and encountered Rock Lee.
• After Naruto called him a bowl-cut guy who looked weak, Rock Lee challenged Naruto to a showdown.