Recaps

With the Chunin Ninja Exams ten days away, Xue Ge studied by day and trained at night. At Hokage Rock, he saved Karura, a Sunagakure Genin, from an explosion and let her continue practicing nearby, leaving them acquainted.

• Xue Ge found Karura attempting to develop a Kekkei Genkai at Hokage Rock and pulled her away when her experiment exploded.
• Karura told Xue Ge she was trying to create Scorch Release by combining wind and fire chakra, hoping to become like Pakura.
• Karura explained that she trained alone because she was frail growing up and struggled to make friends.
• Xue Ge introduced himself and told Karura that they knew each other, so she could keep training there.
• Xue Ge created shadow clones to train and planned to have one watch Karura in case another experiment exploded.

Before the Chunin Ninja Exams, Karura gave Xue Ge a bracelet that Jangu Muzi had helped her choose, and Danzo showed Xue Ge the exam procedures. Danzo demanded that Xue Ge defeat every opponent and finish first in the tournament.

• Karura arrived late to meet Xue Ge and gave him a green bracelet as a blessing of life.
• Karura explained that Jangu Muzi had helped her choose the gift and shown her around Konoha, and Xue Ge recognized Muzi from her appearance.
• Xue Ge accepted the bracelet and wondered whether he should give Karura a gift in return.
• Danzo showed Xue Ge the four-stage Chunin Ninja Exams procedures and answered his questions about injuries, safety, and promotion.
• Danzo told Xue Ge he expected him to defeat every opponent in the elimination tournament and finish at the top.

As the Chunin Exams approached, teams from Kirigakure, Sunagakure, Kumogakure, and Iwagakure arrived in Konoha, while Xue Ge, Kakashi, and Shisui headed to the Ninja Academy. The squad suspected the exams would force candidates to work together and might allow them to kill one another.

• Ameyuri Ringo and Kisame judged the arriving Kirigakure candidates unlikely to survive the exams and set out for the Ninja Academy.
• Baki warned Ameno that candidates could die in the exams, while another Sunagakure ninja promised to stay with her in the Forest of Death.
• Killer B rapped through Konoha as Motoi reassured a teammate that B was strong despite his antics.
• Gari examined blast damage near Konoha and warned Han not to dismiss the possibility that the village had abilities like Explosion Release.
• Xue Ge, Kakashi, and Shisui ran toward the Ninja Academy and reasoned that the exams could involve squadwork and candidates killing each other.

At the Ninja Academy, Ameyuri Ringo and Baki fought until Xue Ge intervened and stopped them. The gathered Genin then met Minato Namikaze, who announced that the Chunin Exams’ first stage would be a written test.

• Minato Namikaze and other Konoha ninja watched the gathered Genin and chose to observe when Ameyuri Ringo and Baki began fighting.
• Ameyuri and Baki exchanged attacks as Genin from several villages assessed their abilities.
• Just as the fight turned serious, Xue Ge stepped between them and redirected their weapons and momentum.
• Ameyuri dropped the quarrel after meeting Xue Ge, then told Kisame that she found him cute.
• Minato appeared before the crowd and introduced himself as the examiner for the written first stage of the Chunin Ninja Exams.

Minato warned the ninja against fighting during the exam, then gave them a coded card test that Xue Ge, Kakashi, and Shisui solved. The candidates learned that every correct solution led to exam room one, where Minato began the written exam and explained the lesson behind the trick.

• Minato forbade private fights, denied Ameyuri Ringo’s request to duel Baki, and read out the exam rules.
• Kakashi and Shisui pointed out that Ameyuri kept watching Xue Ge, but Xue Ge suspected she might target them in the next stage.
• Minato gave each team a coded card and ten minutes to find its exam room; Xue Ge, Kakashi, and Shisui decoded theirs as number one.
• Minato revealed that exam room one was the only written exam room and that the other room assignments had been a deception to test the candidates.
• Minato explained that Chunin needed to stay alert and question appearances, then officially began the written exam.

Minato began the written exam with strict rules that punished teams for disruptions and cheating, while Xue Ge struggled with the bizarre questions and realized the test was about gathering answers. Just as he was unsure how to cheat safely, a filled-out paper appeared in his vision and supplied an answer to the first question.

• Minato announced that teams would be eliminated together if their combined score was too low or a member was caught cheating, and he disqualified a Kusagakure Genin and his teammates after the Genin protested.
• Xue Ge began the exam and found the questions on ciphers, physics, probability, and trap-making baffling.
• Xue Ge reasoned that the exam tested intelligence-gathering and began searching for examinees who might have answers.
• Minato caught another Genin cheating three times and expelled that Genin's team.
• Xue Ge considered how to obtain answers without being caught and saw a completed exam paper that revealed the first answer: Ninja Way.

Xue Ge and the other examinees completed the first exam after Muzi used her kekkei genkai to share answers. When a black-clad figure appeared to kill Minato and threaten the room, the examinees prepared to fight, but Minato suddenly stood up and announced that the exam was over.

• Muzi confirmed through her Six-Mind Eye that three people in the room were planted Chunin and shared the answers with Xue Ge and the other examinees.
• Minato eliminated cheaters and failing teams, then announced that the remaining examinees had passed.
• A black-clad figure stabbed Minato and raised his blade toward the examinees, prompting some to flee and others to prepare for a fight.
• Ameyuri attacked the figure, Xue Ge tried to strike him with his Prosthetic Limbs, and Killer B, Han, Gari, Baki, Kakashi, and Shisui readied themselves.
• Minato suddenly rose from the floor and announced that the exam was over.

Minato revealed that the staged attack was the first exam’s final test and explained how it assessed intelligence gathering and composure. Hatake Sakumo led the candidates who passed toward the Forest of Death for the second exam, while Minato stayed behind and noticed an exception among the answer sheets.

• Minato revealed the fake blood and knife, disqualified candidates who had fled, and announced that the remaining Genin had passed the first exam.
• Minato explained the exam’s tests of codebreaking, cheating to gather information, and responding to danger, then warned Ameyuri for acting recklessly.
• Hatake Sakumo introduced himself as the examiner for the Forest of Death survival assessment and led the candidates to its venue.
• After the candidates left, Minato examined their papers and noticed that Jangu Muzi was the one exception among the Konoha Genin.

Sakumo explained the second exam rules in the Forest of Death, including a two-day limit that could randomly eliminate candidates if more than sixteen remained. The Genin prepared to sign liability waivers and be led blindfolded into the forest.

• Sakumo warned the Genin about the Forest of Death and demonstrated the danger of its venomous snakes.
• Sakumo announced that candidates would be separated, given signal flares, and required to avoid deliberately killing one another.
• Sakumo revealed that the exam would last two days and that excess candidates still present at the deadline would be eliminated at random.
• Xue Ge realized the time limit would pressure candidates to attack one another and make even alliances uncertain.
• Sakumo presented liability waivers, signal flares, and black cloth, then told the Genin to sign before being blindfolded and escorted into the forest.

Xue Ge collapsed in the Forest of Death, releasing purple chakra, while a snake in Orochimaru's laboratory broke free and grew into a giant. The creature's rampage shook the Naruto Building as Hiruzen met with village representatives and Princess Lilan.

• Xue Ge chose to find Kakashi and Shisui, but he lost consciousness and spread purple chakra through the Forest of Death.
• Sakumo dismissed most of the ANBU and waited outside the forest, worrying about Kakashi.
• Orochimaru found that the experimental snake had broken out of its reinforced incubation chamber despite being heavily anesthetized.
• The cursed seal on the snake melted away, purple chakra emerged, and the snake expanded dramatically inside the laboratory.
• Hiruzen shared the first-exam results with the village representatives as Princess Lilan arrived, and a giant snake's rampage shook the Naruto Building.

Xue Ge spoke with the purple dragon in a dream, which revealed that its power had leaked into other beings and that they were now close to meeting. In the Forest of Death, a giant snake attacked several Genin, forcing rival teams to cooperate to survive.

• Xue Ge asked the purple dragon why it had appeared, and it said it wanted to reclaim its leaked power and that they would meet soon.
• A giant snake ambushed a Kusagakure ninja by a stream and crushed him before he could fire a signal flare.
• Gari and Han agreed to work together and discussed which Genin they considered dangerous.
• The giant snake attacked Gari and Han, who struck it with Explosion Release and Water Release techniques without harming it.
• Kisame and Asuma attacked the snake with Ninjutsu, but Guy rescued them from its tail while Ameno treated their scrapes.
• Kisame, Asuma, Guy, and Ameno agreed to scatter as the snake attacked again.

Xue Ge discovered that Dragon Vein energy leaking from him might be connected to giant snakes attacking the Forest of Death. As the survival test spiraled out of control, Hiruzen and Orochimaru learned that powerful snakes were rampaging through the exam grounds.

• Xue Ge woke after losing half a day, then dodged a giant snake and wounded its eye with Imitation Water Release: Righteous Piercing.
• Xue Ge recognized Dragon Vein energy in the snake’s slime and headed off to find Shisui and Kakashi.
• Sakumo ordered ANBU to count casualties, summon Minato, and request reinforcements, then went out to hunt the snakes himself.
• Manda killed a giant snake for Orochimaru, demanded double sacrifices, and fled when Hiruzen approached.
• Hiruzen confronted Orochimaru, then learned from an ANBU that giant snakes were overwhelming the Forest of Death; Orochimaru agreed to lead a team there.

Shisui and Killer B fought a giant snake, while Kakashi, Aoba Yamashiro, and Muzi drove another one away. Karura was left alone in the path of a charging snake, but an unknown figure struck it with a Rasengan.

• Shisui and Killer B worked together against a giant snake, but Shisui's Sharingan genjutsu failed when purple chakra erupted from its body.
• Aoba Yamashiro and Kakashi used Muzi's warnings to coordinate attacks on another giant snake until it fled, and Muzi said its mind had seemed consumed by pain and killing.
• Karura and another Sunagakure Genin fled a giant snake, and Karura discovered that its eyes were a weak point after her wind release struck one by chance.
• The other Genin abandoned Karura, leaving her frozen as the giant snake lunged to bite her.
• A figure in tattered black clothes appeared atop the snake's head after blasting it into the ground with a Rasengan.

Xue Ge rescued Karura from a giant snake and drove it off, then stopped her from withdrawing from the exam. He encouraged her by sharing his hardships and giving her his prosthetic eye, leaving Karura with renewed support to continue.

• Xue Ge saved Karura from the giant snake, then used Overload and Righteous Piercing to injure its eye and force it to flee.
• Karura told Xue Ge that her teammate had abandoned her, and she decided to withdraw from the exam because she feared holding him back.
• Xue Ge stopped Karura from setting off her signal flare and told her that strength also meant resolve, perseverance, and knowing when to retreat.
• Xue Ge shared that he had lost an eye, an arm, and a leg as a child, then gave Karura his prosthetic eye with the character for “heart” carved into it.
• Xue Ge reminded Karura that she had trained tirelessly and faced danger without shame, urging her to be proud of herself.

Xue Ge and Karura joined Ameyuri’s fight against two giant snakes in the Forest of Death, helping drive them off. Sakumo arrived with Konoha’s Snake Suppression Squad and rescued the badly injured Motoi, leaving the exam’s danger apparent to some contestants but unknown to Ameyuri.

• Xue Ge and Karura rode Black Pine to the battle, where Aburame Ryoma, Baki, and Motoi struggled to restrain a giant snake.
• The giant snake struck Motoi and shattered many of his bones before Sakumo appeared, cut off its head, and carried Motoi away as Konoha’s Snake Suppression Squad arrived.
• Ameyuri fought one giant snake with her twin blades and lightning techniques, then found herself facing a second one.
• Xue Ge paralyzed the second snake and smashed its eye, while Karura’s fire techniques helped drive the first snake away.
• Ameyuri challenged Xue Ge to a fight, but he asked whether she was all right and then tried to leave.

Xue Ge joined Ameyuri in rescuing people as the Forest of Death’s snake rampage continued, while Orochimaru declared the second exam over for sixteen survivors. Just as Xue Ge’s group faced five giant snakes, a blond man arrived and destroyed them in an instant.

• Xue Ge chose to save people and persuaded Ameyuri to come with him, despite her warning that they might face each other in the third exam.
• Jiraiya crushed a giant snake and introduced himself to Kisame, Asuma, Ameno, and Guy.
• Orochimaru told Killer B, Shisui, Han, and Kari that exactly sixteen survivors remained and that they had passed the second exam.
• Xue Ge, Ameyuri, Kakashi, Karura, Muzi, and Aoba Yamashiro reunited and prepared to fight five giant snakes.
• A blond man arrived in a flash and crushed all five snakes’ heads before asking whether he was late.

After sixteen Genin survived the second exam, Hiruzen explained that the third exam would serve as a public contest of the villages’ strength and influence. He sent the candidates to rest before the third exam, scheduled for the following morning.

• Hiruzen and the village representatives reviewed the sixteen candidates who passed, noting the casualties and how many each village had advanced.
• Princess Lilan joined the representatives to visit the surviving candidates, while the Genin gathered in the hall and discussed the upcoming elimination rounds.
• Hiruzen entered with the representatives and examiners, congratulated the candidates, and announced that they would rest the next day before assembling at eight the following morning.
• Hiruzen explained that the joint exams promoted relations and developed Genin, but also acted as a proxy battlefield where candidates’ performances could affect their villages’ prestige and share of missions.
• Hiruzen urged the candidates to give everything in the third exam, while reminding them that friendship came first.

Orochimaru and Lin Yi studied the mutated giant snakes and connected their growth to Xue Ge’s unusual chakra, prompting Orochimaru to consider testing whether it could evolve kekkei genkai. That night, Orochimaru woke Xue Ge and asked him to come along for an experiment.

• Orochimaru and Lin Yi moved the laboratory equipment to Konoha Hospital and examined the mutated snakes.
• Lin Yi found that the snakes’ cells had grown larger and more numerous while their former vitality had disappeared.
• Orochimaru suspected that Xue Ge’s chakra had caused the snakes’ growth and wondered whether Xue Ge might be descended from the Uzumaki Clan.
• Orochimaru brought out a two-tomoe Sharingan and considered using Xue Ge’s chakra to evolve kekkei genkai.
• Orochimaru visited Xue Ge at night and asked him for help, and Xue Ge agreed to go with him.

Orochimaru anesthetized Xue Ge and collected samples from him, planning to prepare for a Cursed Seal transplant before Xue Ge’s upcoming exam. Lin Yi shared information she had copied from Danzo’s office, and Orochimaru began preparing the transplant while insisting that she protect Xue Ge’s experimental records.

• Orochimaru told Xue Ge that the snakes in the Forest of Death had been his and promised to handle the aftermath as he anesthetized him.
• After Xue Ge lost consciousness, Orochimaru collected tissue and plasma while Lin Yi assisted and explained that Xue Ge treated her with care because he cared about children.
• Orochimaru asked Lin Yi about her reports to Danzo, and she gave him a transcription of information concerning Xue Ge’s teacher.
• Orochimaru praised Lin Yi and reminded her to conceal everything about Xue Ge from Danzo in exchange for meeting her research needs.
• Orochimaru asked Lin Yi to bring the materials he had prepared so he could begin preparing for Xue Ge’s Cursed Seal transplant.

Shikaku Nara explained the lethal knockout rules for the third round and announced the first-round pairings. Xue Ge and Karura entered the arena for the opening match.

• Shikaku Nara told the sixteen Genin that they would fight in a knockout tournament where lethal force was allowed, though he would stop matches when death or serious injury was imminent.
• Shikaku Nara announced the eight first-round matchups, including Xue Ge against Karura, Asuma Sarutobi against Kakashi Hatake, and Might Guy against Kisame Hoshigaki.
• Asuma resolved to test himself against Kakashi, while Guy enthusiastically promised not to hold back against Kisame.
• Ameno grew frightened when she drew Ameyuri Ringo, but she decided she still wanted to try fighting.
• Kakashi revealed he had borrowed Hatake Sakumo's sword and was saving it for the final, while Shisui hinted that he had a surprise of his own.
• Xue Ge and Karura walked into the arena as the first match was about to begin.

Xue Ge faced Karura in the first exam match and urged her not to give up, reminding her of the Kekkei Genkai she had been developing. Karura awakened her power and prepared to show him what she could do.

• Pakura recognized Xue Ge as the Genin who had helped kill a Kumogakure Jonin squad, and Hiruzen confirmed that he was not yet eight.
• Xue Ge and Karura began their match, and he easily broke through her Fire Release and shuriken attacks.
• Xue Ge stopped himself from striking Karura when he realized she was not even trying to defend herself, then urged her not to give up.
• Xue Ge told Karura that he had seen her developing a Kekkei Genkai and insisted that she had already awakened it.
• Karura gathered her resolve, surrounded herself with orange-red flames, and told Xue Ge to remember that he had asked for this.

Xue Ge fought Karura as she revealed and wielded her newly awakened Scorch Release, drawing Pakura’s astonished recognition from the stands. After Xue Ge’s attack wounded Karura, she transformed her vortex of flames into a storm of fiery senbon, leaving him preparing to dodge.

• Karura released orange-red flames and used Scorch Release: Ghost Lantern to cancel Xue Ge’s Great Breakthrough, then attacked with Flame Flying Wings.
• Xue Ge shattered the fiery wings with a Wind Release: Vacuum Sphere and advanced, but Karura’s Flame Vortex Wall erupted from the ground and forced him back.
• Pakura confirmed that Karura had Scorch Release and realized Karura might inherit her legacy.
• Xue Ge increased the pressure with his chakra threads as Karura resolved to keep fighting and used the Flame Vortex Wall to defend against his aerial approach.
• Xue Ge pierced the wall with Strangling Line: Impalement, wounding Karura’s shoulder and thigh, and Karura reshaped the flames into fiery senbon with Scorch Release: Flame-Burst Fireworks.

Xue Ge survived Karura’s devastating Scorch Release ultimate and won their genin match. Karura revealed the name of her final technique, Dragon Head Jewel, before Shikaku Nara announced Xue Ge’s victory and advancement from the first group.

• Xue Ge blocked Karura’s Scorch Release flames with a Rasengan and sacrificed his prosthetic limbs to shield himself.
• Karura expanded her Flame Vortex Wall and formed a powerful Scorch Release technique while Xue Ge pursued her.
• Karura launched Dragon Head Jewel, and Xue Ge escaped its enormous blast with the Body Flicker Technique.
• Karura ran out of strength, and Xue Ge held his fingers at her neck to end the match.
• Karura asked Xue Ge what he thought of her ultimate move, and he praised its power before she named it Dragon Head Jewel.
• Shikaku Nara raised Xue Ge’s arm and declared that Waterbird River Xue Ge advanced from the first group.

Xue Ge defeated Karura in a brief, destructive match, and Pakura offered to train Karura after recognizing their shared kekkei genkai. Because the arena was badly damaged, Shikaku postponed the second match until two that afternoon.

• Xue Ge and Karura finished their match, leaving the arena badly damaged by their ninjutsu.
• Pakura recognized Karura's techniques and invited her to become her student; Karura eagerly agreed.
• Xue Ge rejoined the Konoha genin, where Muzi, Shisui, Kakashi, and Asuma discussed his victory and their upcoming matches.
• Shikaku announced that the second match was postponed until two that afternoon so Konoha could repair the arena.

Killer B defeated Aburame Ryoma in the afternoon match, advancing from the second group. Kakashi Hatake and Asuma Sarutobi then faced each other for the third match, but their fight had not yet begun.

• Killer B and Aburame Ryoma exchanged the Seal of Confrontation and began their match.
• Killer B overwhelmed Ryoma with his speed, strength, and lightning-enhanced swords, and Shikaku Nara stopped him just before the blades struck Ryoma's neck.
• Shikaku Nara declared Killer B the winner and advanced him from the second group.
• Dodai praised Killer B and predicted that he would win the combat tournament, while Hiruzen welcomed the challenge.
• Kakashi Hatake and Asuma Sarutobi exchanged the Seal of Confrontation and spoke about their old rivalry before preparing to fight.