Chapter Summaries

Anko explained the Forest of Death scroll battle, where teams had five days to reach the central tower with both scrolls and risked death or elimination. After Team 7 entered the forest, Sasuke exposed and defeated a Rain Ninja disguised as Naruto, and the group agreed to create a password to prevent another infiltration.

• Anko explained that teams had to survive for five days in the Forest of Death and reach the central tower with both the Heaven Scroll and Earth Scroll, while losing a member or opening a scroll meant elimination.
• Team 7 entered the forest, heard distant screams, and continued cautiously as Sakura grew uneasy.
• Naruto went into the forest to relieve himself, while Sasuke recognized that the Naruto who returned to them was an impostor because his ninja tool pouch was on the wrong thigh.
• The disguised Rain Ninja revealed himself and attacked, but Sasuke burned and knocked him unconscious before tying him to a tree.
• When the real Naruto returned, Sasuke and Sakura challenged him until he proved his identity, and Sasuke proposed that they agree on a password.

Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura were separated by a wind attack, and Naruto quickly defeated a giant snake before rejoining them. Orochimaru revealed himself and overwhelmed Sasuke and Sakura with killing intent, but Naruto struck him and then killed another giant snake, leaving Orochimaru shocked as Naruto moved to attack again.

• Sasuke gave Sakura and Naruto a long password to identify one another after they were separated by a wind attack.
• Naruto killed the giant snake that confronted him and returned to find Sasuke and Sakura facing a disguised second Naruto.
• Sasuke recognized Orochimaru beneath his Transformation Technique disguise, and Orochimaru unleashed killing intent that left Sasuke and Sakura unable to move.
• Naruto kicked Orochimaru into a tree, surprising him and freeing Sasuke and Sakura from the pressure.
• Orochimaru sent a giant snake at Naruto, but Naruto killed it with a powerful kick and vanished as Orochimaru sensed another attack coming.

Naruto battled Orochimaru in a fierce exchange of Taijutsu and Ninjutsu, impressing Sasuke and Sakura with his speed and enormous chakra reserves. Orochimaru’s explosive attack eliminated most of Naruto’s clones, and he appeared behind a dazed Naruto as the chapter ended.

• Naruto matched Orochimaru in close combat, alarming him and leaving Sasuke and Sakura unable to follow their movements.
• Naruto used the Multiple Shadow Clone Technique to produce hundreds of clones, stunning Orochimaru, Sasuke, and Sakura.
• Orochimaru’s Wind Release: Great Breakthrough failed to disperse Naruto’s unusually durable Shadow Clones.
• Orochimaru evaded the clones’ coordinated kicks with the Substitution Technique and summoned giant pythons to attack them.
• Orochimaru used Evil Snake Arm Explosion to destroy nearly all the clones, then emerged behind a dazed Naruto.

Naruto used Shadow Clones to overwhelm Orochimaru, then borrowed Kurama’s chakra and struck him with a devastating punch. Anko arrived at the battlefield after finding three Grass Ninja corpses with their faces removed, suspecting Orochimaru was involved.

• Orochimaru trapped one of Naruto’s Shadow Clones with snakes, but the Narutos freed it and beat him back.
• Orochimaru summoned the Kusanagi Sword and cut down Naruto’s clones, forcing Naruto to ask Kurama for chakra.
• Naruto’s Nine-Tails chakra cloak appeared, and he punched Orochimaru hard enough to flatten a stretch of forest and kill a nearby unconscious Rain Ninja.
• Sasuke and Sakura assumed Naruto had defeated Orochimaru, but Anko arrived to investigate the commotion.
• Anko had found three Grass Ninja corpses with their faces peeled off and feared Orochimaru had used his Face Copying Technique.

Anko rushed to the Forest of Death after sensing a disturbance and found Naruto rational despite his Nine-Tails chakra, while Orochimaru emerged from a body he had possessed. Orochimaru tried to lure Sasuke with the promise of power, and Sasuke stopped Naruto to hear him out.

• Anko remembered feeling abandoned by Orochimaru and rushed toward a disturbance in the Forest of Death after ordering the proctor to notify the Anbu.
• Anko found Naruto wrapped in Nine-Tails chakra, but Naruto explained that he could remain rational and made the chakra disappear.
• Naruto and the others pointed Anko toward the person in the crater, who transformed into a white snake and disgorged Orochimaru from its mouth.
• Orochimaru recognized Sasuke and mentioned Itachi, prompting Sasuke to demand to know where Itachi was.
• Sasuke stopped Naruto from attacking as Orochimaru promised to give him enough power if he came with him.

Naruto stopped Orochimaru from attacking Sasuke, forcing the rogue ninja to retreat without giving Sasuke the Cursed Seal. After Anko identified Orochimaru as a former elite jonin, Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura resumed the exam and set out to find an Earth Scroll.

• Orochimaru offered Sasuke power, but Sasuke doubted him after seeing that Naruto had beaten him.
• Naruto struck Orochimaru and then kicked his stretching head away when it lunged at Sasuke.
• Orochimaru summoned a giant snake and escaped after Anko confronted him about betraying Konoha.
• Anko told Sasuke that Orochimaru had been an elite jonin, and Naruto realized he had forgotten to check Orochimaru for a scroll.
• Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura set off with their Heaven Scroll to search for an Earth Scroll, while Rock Lee, Neji, and Tenten arrived at the clearing afterward.

Naruto and his teammates completed the second exam after finding the Earth Scroll, while Anko reported that Naruto had beaten Orochimaru and could control the Nine-Tails’ chakra. Hiruzen Sarutobi was left shocked and wondered how much power Su Yu possessed.

• Naruto and Sasuke defeated three Konoha examinees who had tracked them to their camp, and Naruto threw away their scroll.
• Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura found an Earth Scroll and reached the central tower as the fourth team; several other teams arrived before Kabuto Yakushi’s team, ending the second test.
• Anko told Hiruzen Sarutobi that Naruto had beaten Orochimaru, leaving Hiruzen stunned.
• Anko explained that Naruto had retained his consciousness while using the Nine-Tails’ chakra and could release and withdraw it at will.
• Hiruzen concluded that Naruto’s friend Su Yu had helped him reach an understanding with the Nine-Tails and wondered whether he had underestimated Su Yu.

Hiruzen Sarutobi announced the third Chunin exam and explained that the multinational exams were designed as a miniature war to display each nation's strength and influence. The candidates learned that their battles would affect national prestige and diplomatic pressure, even as they questioned the claim that fighting to the death represented friendship.

• A report informed Hiruzen Sarutobi and the others that twenty-one candidates had passed the second exam and that the third exam would use a format not seen in five years.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi set aside the discussion of Orochimaru for the moment and gathered the candidates to explain the third exam.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi revealed that the exams were a miniature war intended to replace costly conflicts between allied nations.
• Naruto asked why the exams had to serve that purpose if they were meant to select Chunin, and Hiruzen Sarutobi explained that the candidates also represented their nations' strength.
• Kiba Inuzuka questioned the need to fight to the death, and Hiruzen Sarutobi said the battles demonstrated a village's strength to visiting daimyo and prominent commissioners.
• Tenten asked why the exams were called friendship, and Hiruzen Sarutobi described peace maintained through killing as friendship between ninja.

Gekko Hayate announced that the Chunin Exam candidates would face preliminary one-on-one elimination matches, and Kabuto Yakushi withdrew. Naruto Uzumaki was paired with Kiba Inuzuka, who believed he had an easy victory ahead of him as the match began.

• Gekko Hayate took over from Hiruzen Sarutobi and explained that the candidates had to compete in preliminary matches to reduce their numbers.
• Kabuto Yakushi withdrew from the exam, prompting Hiruzen Sarutobi to suspect something was wrong and consider having the Anbu watch him.
• Gekko Hayate announced that the preliminaries would have no rules and revealed Naruto Uzumaki as Kiba Inuzuka's opponent.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi had arranged for Naruto to fight first so he could observe Naruto's strength and the Nine-Tails' influence.
• The candidates moved to the viewing galleries, leaving Naruto Uzumaki and Kiba Inuzuka alone in the arena to face each other.

Naruto Uzumaki defeated Kiba Inuzuka with a burst of speed and taijutsu that stunned the examiners and other candidates. As Gekko Hayate prepared to declare Naruto the winner, Kiba began to get back up.

• Kiba Inuzuka charged Naruto with the Four Legs Technique, but Naruto caught his elbow and kicked him into the wall.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi explained that Naruto had moved too quickly for most people to see, and said the match had been normal.
• Kurenai Yuhi and the other candidates reconsidered Naruto’s strength and suspected Kakashi had kept it hidden, while Kakashi knew Naruto’s growth had come from Su Yu.
• Gaara became eager to fight Naruto, while Temari, Kankuro, Sasuke, Sakura, and Hinata reacted to his unexpected performance.
• Gekko Hayate moved to announce Naruto’s victory, but Kiba stirred and slowly rose from the floor.

Naruto Uzumaki defeated Kiba Inuzuka in the preliminary match despite Kiba getting back up and fighting alongside Akamaru. Naruto became the first person to advance to the third exam.

• Kiba Inuzuka regained consciousness after Naruto knocked him down and insisted on continuing the fight.
• Naruto urged Gekko Hayate to honor Kiba's choice, and Hiruzen Sarutobi allowed the match to resume.
• Kiba and Akamaru used Beast Mimicry Ninjutsu: Beast-Man Clone and attacked Naruto together, but Naruto caught and threw them aside.
• Kiba and Akamaru launched Ninjutsu: Fang Over Fang, but Naruto stopped both spinning attacks with two kicks.
• Gekko Hayate declared Naruto Uzumaki the winner, and medical personnel carried Kiba and Akamaru away for treatment.

After winning his preliminary match, Naruto sensed Orochimaru’s malice with Kurama’s help and attacked the disguised Sōund ninja in front of the exam participants. The chapter ended with Naruto explaining to Hiruzen that the man was the rogue ninja they had encountered during the second exam.

• Naruto won his preliminary match, then grinned at Sasuke, Sakura, and Kakashi.
• Orochimaru considered capturing Naruto, and Kurama sensed his malice toward the boy.
• Naruto recognized Orochimaru’s disguise and, after Kurama warned that he was about to flee, borrowed Kurama’s chakra.
• Naruto formed a Tailed Beast Cloak, struck Orochimaru, and pinned him in a crater beneath the collapsed viewing platform.
• Hiruzen confirmed Naruto remained conscious, and Naruto told him the man was the rogue ninja they had encountered during the second exam.

Naruto and the Konoha ninja uncovered Orochimaru’s attack during the Chunin Exams, then discussed how Naruto had gained control of Kurama’s power. The preliminaries resumed with Sasuke Uchiha matched against Akado Yoroi.

• An impostor Sound Ninja burst into snakes, and Hiruzen Sarutobi recognized Orochimaru’s technique as the group destroyed them.
• Hiruzen explained that Orochimaru was still alive and likely targeting Konoha, while the examinees reacted to Naruto’s strength and Tailed Beast Cloak.
• Naruto told Kakashi, Sakura, and Sasuke that Su Yu had removed his seal and that Kurama now lent him power of his own free will.
• Sasuke resolved to ask Su Yu about becoming stronger after the preliminaries.
• After support ninja cleared the arena, Gekko Hayate announced Sasuke Uchiha versus Akado Yoroi.

Sasuke Uchiha fought Akado Yoroi, whose chakra-draining touch initially left Sasuke weakened and vulnerable. Sasuke recovered, used his Sharingan to evade another grab, and launched a counterattack that left Akado Yoroi unable to escape a Great Fireball.

• Akado Yoroi faced Sasuke Uchiha and believed his opponent’s ninjutsu-focused style gave him a chance to win.
• Sasuke hit Akado Yoroi with a Great Fireball, but Akado Yoroi dodged it and drained Sasuke’s chakra by grabbing his forearm.
• Akado Yoroi kicked Sasuke down, but Sasuke got back up and realized that contact enabled the chakra drain and weakened his will to fight.
• Sasuke activated his Sharingan, dodged Akado Yoroi’s next grab, and swept him into the air before striking him down.
• Sasuke followed with more attacks and fired a Great Fireball at the dazed Akado Yoroi, who could not dodge.

Sasuke defeated Akado Yoroi and asked Naruto to introduce him to Su Yu so he could seek training, while Sakura also wanted to meet Su Yu. Hinata faced Neji in the next match and began to doubt herself under his taunts, but Naruto shouted that people could change.

• Gekko Hayate split Sasuke's Great Fireball with his sword and declared Sasuke the winner over Akado Yoroi.
• Sasuke asked Naruto to help him meet Su Yu and request training, and Sakura asked to come along.
• The next match paired Hinata Hyuga against Neji Hyuga, who urged her to forfeit and insisted people could not change.
• Neji used his Byakugan and psychological interpretations to deepen Hinata's doubts, while Naruto grew angry and crushed the railing.
• As Hinata considered giving up, Naruto shouted, "People can change!"

Naruto urged Hinata to stand up for herself, and she fought Neji despite being badly outmatched. Hinata lost the match but proved she had begun to change, and Naruto appeared beside her as she was carried away.

• Naruto shouted that Hinata could change and urged her not to give up without trying.
• Hinata chose to fight Neji, but he struck her chakra points and repeatedly overwhelmed her.
• Neji used Gentle Fist: Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms, sealing Hinata’s chakra, but she stood up and charged at him again.
• Neji struck Hinata down with a blow to the chakra pathway near her heart, and Kurenai recognized that Hinata had still won in another sense.
• Naruto vanished from Sakura and the others and appeared beside Hinata on the stretcher; Hinata opened her eyes and saw him.

After Naruto encouraged Hinata and learned about the Hyuga Clan’s Main and Branch Families, Sakura and Ino fought in the next match, using it to settle their rivalry and renew their friendship. Both girls collapsed from exhaustion but woke beside each other, smiling and holding hands.

• Naruto praised Hinata after her loss, and Kakashi explained the Hyuga Clan’s family divisions and the circumstances surrounding Neji’s father’s death.
• The match display selected Sakura Haruno versus Ino Yamanaka, and Sakura asked Ino for a serious fight so she could prove she no longer needed to depend on others.
• Sakura and Ino’s memories revealed that Sakura had made them rivals over Sasuke Uchiha to protect their friendship, and Ino had understood her reasons.
• Sakura and Ino fought until both were exhausted and unconscious, and Kakashi and Asuma caught their students.
• Sakura and Ino woke, clasped hands, and shared words that confirmed their friendship and Sakura’s growth.

After Sakura narrowly won her match, Naruto brought Sasuke and Sakura to ask Su Yu for training, and Su Yu agreed in exchange for ramen. He asked them why they wanted to become stronger, and Sakura said she wanted to stop hiding behind her teammates.

• Sakura narrowly won her match against Ino, who fainted first, and returned to her team.
• Naruto recalled Su Yu saying that Might Guy was stronger than the Hokage, leaving Kakashi, Sasuke, and Sakura shocked.
• Naruto told Su Yu that Sasuke and Sakura wanted his help training, and Sasuke and Sakura bowed to ask him directly.
• Su Yu agreed to train them after Naruto offered to treat him to ramen.
• Su Yu asked Sasuke and Sakura why they wanted to grow stronger, and Sakura said she wanted to stop hiding behind her teammates.

Su Yu revealed the history behind Uchiha Itachi’s massacre, linking it to the Nine-Tails attack, Konoha’s treatment of the Uchiha, and the clan’s planned rebellion. He transported Sasuke and his companions to the Uchiha Compound on the night of the massacre, where Sasuke saw his parents and Itachi.

• Sasuke told Su Yu he wanted power to take revenge on Uchiha Itachi, and Su Yu revealed that he knew what had happened.
• Su Yu explained that Danzo had blocked the Uchiha from helping during the Nine-Tails attack, leading Konoha to distrust and isolate the clan.
• Su Yu revealed that Naruto’s parents died protecting Konoha and identified Naruto as the Fourth Hokage’s son.
• Su Yu explained that Uchiha Fugaku planned a rebellion and that Itachi chose to stop it to prevent the clan and village from being destroyed.
• Su Yu transported Sasuke, Sakura, Naruto, and Kakashi to the bloodied Uchiha Compound and led them to the room where Sasuke’s parents had died.
• Sasuke saw his parents kneeling in the room and recognized Itachi standing behind them.

Su Yu showed Sasuke and the others illusions revealing that Itachi had agreed to the Uchiha massacre to protect Sasuke and had asked Hiruzen to guarantee his safety. He explained Itachi may have pushed Sasuke to hate and kill him so Sasuke would awaken the Mangekyō Sharingan and accept Itachi’s eyes, leaving Sasuke shaken by the possibility that his brother had planned everything for him.

• Su Yu froze an illusion of Itachi about to kill Fugaku and Mikoto, then showed Itachi asking Hiruzen to protect Sasuke in exchange for dealing with the Uchiha Clan.
• Back in Naruto’s living room, Sasuke broke down and asked Su Yu why Itachi had hidden his protective intentions and treated him cruelly.
• Su Yu speculated that Itachi had given Sasuke a reason to live and wanted Sasuke to kill him, then explained how intense negative emotions awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan.
• Su Yu revealed that Kakashi’s special eye was a Mangekyō Sharingan and explained its power, physical cost, and risk of blindness.
• Su Yu explained that transplanting a close relative’s Mangekyō could awaken the Eternal Mangekyō, and suggested Itachi had wanted Sasuke to inherit his eyes.
• Sasuke realized Itachi might have arranged his own death so Sasuke could gain power, and grieved over the possibility that he had misunderstood his brother.