Chapter Summaries

Sunagakure’s delegation arrived in Konoha under the Fourth Kazekage, Rasa, whose plans included a secret attack on Konoha and a possible alliance with Orochimaru. Shinji noticed cursed spirit traces among the delegation, while Baki went to approach Mei Terumi and found Kirigakure’s external consultant with her.

• Kakashi arranged for a medical ninja to treat Sasuke and decided to teach him a move after Sasuke vowed to take first place in the Chunin Ninja Exams.
• Rasa and Sunagakure’s delegation arrived in Konoha, and Shinji noticed cursed spirit scents among several members.
• Rasa dismissed Kirigakure as weak, but Baki warned that Mei Terumi and Hozuki Mangetsu could complicate Sunagakure’s plan.
• Rasa told Baki to try winning Kirigakure over without exposing their objective, and ordered him to be ready to kill Orochimaru if necessary.
• Baki went to meet Mei Terumi and was surprised to find Kirigakure’s external consultant with her instead of Hozuki Mangetsu.

Baki tried to secure Kirigakure’s support for Sunagakure during the upcoming Chunin Ninja Exams by criticizing Konoha and promising aid. Mei Terumi agreed on the condition that Sunagakure protect her people, while Shinji interrupted with a report of a devastating cursed-spirit attack and an urgent request for supplies.

• Baki asked to speak privately with Mei Terumi, but she insisted that Shinji, her personal advisor, remain present.
• Baki praised the supposed friendship between Sunagakure and Kirigakure, then promised Sunagakure would provide better support than Konoha had.
• Baki asked Mei Terumi to side with Sunagakure rather than Konoha during the upcoming Chunin Ninja Exams, hinting that the villages might need to stand together against unfair treatment.
• Mei Terumi agreed on Kirigakure’s behalf, provided Sunagakure ensured the safety of the people she had brought to Konoha.
• Shinji announced that Kirigakure had suffered another large-scale cursed-spirit attack, leaving heavy casualties and widespread destruction, and said the village urgently needed supplies.

Shinji pressured Baki into seeking Sunagakure’s aid for Kirigakure, then warned Mei Terumi that neutrality would leave her village vulnerable after the Chunin Ninja Exams. He left Mei weighing whether Kirigakure should bet on Konoha or Sunagakure, with either choice carrying serious risks.

• Mei Terumi pretended Kirigakure faced an urgent shortage and asked Baki to arrange supplies so she could remain in Konoha until the exams ended.
• Shinji reminded Baki of his own promises about Sunagakure’s generosity, forcing him to agree to discuss aid with the Kazekage by the next morning.
• After Baki left, Mei Terumi laughed with Shinji, then asked whether the Kazekage would accept the demands.
• Shinji told Mei that Sunagakure was likely plotting against Konoha and that Kirigakure would have to choose a side or risk retaliation.
• Shinji explained that backing the winner could help Kirigakure recover, but losing or trusting the victor could lead to the village’s destruction.

Shinji advised Mei Terumi to secretly side with Konoha against Sunagakure while pretending to cooperate with the Kazekage’s plan. Baki arranged to deliver supplies to Kirigakure, while Rasa remained confident that he could take control of Konoha.

• Mei Terumi asked Shinji whether Kirigakure should support Sunagakure or Konoha, and he advised her to help Konoha defeat Sunagakure.
• Shinji told Mei Terumi to keep playing along with Sunagakure until she learned more about its plan, then strike at a decisive moment.
• Mei Terumi agreed to follow Shinji’s strategy and teased him about his supposed ocular jutsu training.
• Baki told Mei Terumi that Rasa had ordered supplies for Kirigakure, and she insisted on learning the delivery route.
• Baki returned to Rasa, who dismissed Shinji as a threat and remained confident he could seize Konoha.

During the Chunin Exams, Shinji warned Sasuke to be careful in the upcoming Forest of Death round, but Sasuke focused on learning Kakashi’s jutsu and winning. Kakashi confronted Shinji about approaching his student, yet Shinji’s relaxed response left Kakashi unsure of his intentions.

• While the written exam was underway, Shinji repeatedly beat Hidan, who then picked fights with Tobi and Hozuki Mangetsu and kept coming away worse for wear.
• After half of the 170 exam participants were eliminated, Sasuke told Shinji how Naruto had left the written test blank but passed the final question about teamwork.
• Shinji sympathized with Sasuke over having an troublesome teammate, then warned him to be careful during the next exam in the Forest of Death.
• Sasuke said Kakashi was teaching him a powerful jutsu and declared he would take first place in the exams.
• After Sasuke left, Shinji called Kakashi out from his hiding place, and Kakashi admitted he had been watching because he was concerned for his student.
• Shinji joked that Kakashi could visit openly next time, and Kakashi wondered whether he had misjudged Shinji’s intentions toward Sasuke.

Shinji arranged to join the Chunin Exam as an assistant examiner so he could watch Sasuke and stop Orochimaru from luring him away. As the second exam began, Orochimaru entered the Forest of Death in a woman's body to hunt his former student, while Shinji set out to hunt him.

• Shinji persuaded Mei Terumi to bring the Kazekage with her to request assistant examiner positions, using concerns about the exam's fairness as their justification.
• Mei Terumi and the Kazekage secured the two assistant examiner positions from the Hokage, and all three Kage left believing they had benefited.
• Mitaraishi Anko announced that the candidates had five days to collect both a Heaven Scroll and an Earth Scroll and reach the Forest of Death's finish.
• Orochimaru, disguised in a woman's body, killed a giant bear with venomous snakes and planned to visit his former student.
• Shinji entered the Forest of Death ahead of the candidates and set out to hunt Orochimaru.

Naruto, Sakura, and Sasuke encountered Rock Lee, Neji Hyuga, and Tenten in the Forest of Death, but Sasuke's demand for their scroll and Rock Lee's attack sparked a fight. Naruto joined in, and Neji defeated him, leaving the conflict unresolved.

• Naruto, Sakura, and Sasuke met Rock Lee, Neji Hyuga, and Tenten in the Forest of Death.
• Rock Lee confessed his feelings to Sakura, and Sasuke punched him before Rock Lee dodged and took a fighting stance.
• Sasuke demanded the scroll he wanted, and Neji showed them an Earth Scroll, prompting Rock Lee to attack Sasuke.
• Naruto used the Multiple Shadow Clone Technique to attack Neji, while Tenten fired ninja tools at the clones.
• Neji defeated Naruto's remaining clones and used Gentle Fist: Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms to seal Naruto's chakra points and knock him down.

Neji's team defeated Naruto, Sakura, and Sasuke during the Survival Trial, while Sakura resolved to protect her teammates. Shinji observed Sunagakure's Cursed Spirit puppets, and Orochimaru received and destroyed a message from the Kazekage before killing its messenger.

• Neji defeated Sakura after Naruto fell, while Rock Lee overwhelmed Sasuke until Sasuke used Chidori and knocked himself unconscious.
• Rock Lee narrowly dodged Sasuke's Chidori by opening the Gate of Opening, and Neji's team left the defeated trio behind.
• Sakura moved Naruto and Sasuke to a concealed spot and stood guard, relying on herself after her teammates fell.
• Shinji watched Sunagakure examinees eliminate opponents with puppets made from Cursed Spirit corpses and considered whether they had another hidden weapon.
• Orochimaru followed the Kazekage's signal to a Sunagakure messenger, read and destroyed the message, then had a giant snake swallow the ninja.

After Sasuke and Naruto defeated three Amegakure examinees, Orochimaru ambushed Team 7 and overwhelmed them. He revealed his interest in Sasuke as a future vessel, while Sasuke overcame his fear and attacked him.

• Sasuke and Naruto defeated the Amegakure examinees and took their Earth Scroll, then continued searching for opponents.
• Sasuke sensed someone watching him and used the Dragon Fire Technique to set the trees behind him ablaze.
• Orochimaru stopped Team 7, caught Sasuke's Chidori and kunai attacks, and revealed that he knew Kakashi had taught Sasuke the technique.
• Orochimaru's killing intent left Sasuke paralyzed, and he knocked Sakura away before pinning Naruto against a tree.
• Orochimaru used the Five Elements Seal to suppress Naruto's fox chakra, but Naruto attacked him and was knocked unconscious.
• Orochimaru removed his human-skin mask and decided Sasuke would make an excellent reincarnation vessel, while Sasuke overcame his fear and attacked him.

Anko confronted Orochimaru to protect the examinees, but he outmaneuvered her and knocked her unconscious. As Sasuke feared Orochimaru would kill them all, another familiar opponent appeared.

• Kotetsu Hagane and Izumo Kamizuki found murdered Grass Ninja, and Mitaraishi Anko recognized Orochimaru's forbidden jutsu and went to search for him.
• Anko found Orochimaru attacking Sasuke and shielded the injured examinee, then fought her former teacher with snake and fire techniques.
• Anko tried to use Twin Snakes Mutual Death, but Orochimaru revealed she had caught a clone and strangled her unconscious with a summoned white snake.
• Sasuke realized Anko could not defeat Orochimaru and feared for his and his teammates' lives.
• An unseen speaker called Orochimaru an old venomous snake and challenged him over their previous encounter in the Land of Water.

Shinji stopped Orochimaru from taking Sasuke and used his domain and blood manipulation to defeat him, while Sasuke saw the vast gap between their strength. The chapter left Sasuke more determined to follow Shinji, who told him to pursue his own path.

• Orochimaru prepared to place a Cursed Seal on Sasuke, but Shinji appeared and blocked him.
• Shinji activated Domain Expansion: Blood-Red Doomsday, trapping Orochimaru and Sasuke in a blood-red realm.
• Shinji severed Orochimaru’s hands and used Blood Manipulation: Maximum Technique: Blood Deception to tear him apart.
• Orochimaru tried to escape as a small white snake, but Shinji cut off its head and pinned it down with Blood Needles.
• Sasuke praised Shinji’s strength and asked him to teach him, while Shinji said Sasuke needed to follow his own path.

After Shinji reassured Sasuke and left him to conceal what happened, ANBU took the survivors away and Anko reported Orochimaru’s attack to Hiruzen Sarutobi. Worried that Orochimaru’s return threatened the Chunin Ninja Exams, Hiruzen welcomed Jiraiya back to Konoha, where Jiraiya had returned mainly for Naruto.

• Shinji encouraged Sasuke to believe in his future and coached him to say he had passed out and remembered nothing; Sasuke vowed to win the Chunin Ninja Exams.
• After Shinji left, Sasuke knocked himself unconscious, and ANBU arrived and found no obvious problems with the survivors.
• ANBU summoned Anko to report to Hiruzen Sarutobi and replaced her as proctor while they investigated Orochimaru’s intrusion.
• Anko told Hiruzen everything she knew and suspected Orochimaru had targeted Sasuke, though she found no Cursed Seal on him.
• Hiruzen sent Anko to rest under examination, then worried that Orochimaru’s return would disrupt the exams.
• Jiraiya arrived at Hiruzen’s office, and Hiruzen welcomed his former student back, knowing he had returned mainly for Naruto.

Shinji saved Karin from a giant bear in the Forest of Death, then shared honey-roasted bear paw with her. He left Karin with leftover honey and an invitation to seek him out in the Land of Water after the exams.

• Shinji killed the bear before it could attack Karin and claimed he was an examiner who had stopped to cook bear paw.
• Karin led Shinji to honey she used to soothe her wounds, and they returned with nearly all of it.
• Shinji roasted the bear paw with honey, shared the meal with Karin, and gave her the leftover honey.
• Shinji invited Karin to find him in the Land of Water after the exams if she wanted a change of surroundings.
• Shinji told Karin his name was Akagi Shinji and said she could give that name when she arrived.

The preliminary round narrowed the finals to six Konoha candidates and nine from Sunagakure, leaving the other villages eliminated. As the finals began, Shinji attended because he suspected Sunagakure would make its move, while Sasuke declared he would win first place.

• The Survival Trial results revealed that fifteen Sunagakure candidates had advanced, compared with nine from Konoha and three each from Kirigakure and the Sound.
• Rasa questioned Hiruzen Sarutobi about his missing contact, but Hiruzen concealed his suspicions about Orochimaru, and the two parted on bad terms.
• At the preliminary round, all Kirigakure and Sound candidates were eliminated, while Sunagakure secured nine of the fifteen final places and Konoha took six.
• The finals began before a crowd that included the Hokage, Kazekage, and Mizukage, and Shinji attended alone because he suspected Sunagakure would act.
• Shinji encouraged Sasuke to pursue first place and promised him an extra gift, though he privately believed Sasuke faced overwhelming opponents, especially Gaara.

During the Chunin Exam finals, Gaara defeated Rock Lee while the Kazekage waited for the invasion plan to begin. Kabuto and four cursed-seal users raised a barrier around the venue, trapping everyone inside and making Hiruzen Sarutobi’s assurances difficult to trust.

• Gaara defeated Rock Lee after Guy-sensei intervened to save Lee from being killed, and Sasuke realized how much Lee had held back against him.
• Rasa watched the matches while waiting for the planned attack to begin.
• Kabuto and Baki proceeded with their plan, and Kabuto signaled Kidomaru, Sakon, Jirobo, and Tayuya to activate their cursed seals.
• Kidomaru, Sakon, Jirobo, and Tayuya used buried devices to raise the Four Cursed Spirit Concealment Formation around the venue.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi suspended the exams and ordered Kakashi to investigate, while Rasa suggested Konoha might have trapped the other villages on purpose.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi denied responsibility and said the Barrier Team would open the barrier, though he suspected the attackers had another move planned.

Rasa launched a planned attack on Hiruzen Sarutobi during the exam, revealing his alliance with Mei Terumi and unleashing transformed Sunagakure fighters. Gaara awakened One-Tail Shukaku, and Rasa declared that everyone present would die.

• Rasa stabbed Hiruzen Sarutobi with a Gold Dust Spear, while thirty Sunagakure Ninja swallowed Orochimaru's defective pills and transformed into half-cursed spirits.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi's impaled body turned out to be an Earth Release Shadow Clone, and he revealed that he had suspected Rasa's collusion with Orochimaru.
• Mei Terumi attacked Hiruzen Sarutobi, while Kakashi confronted Shinji and the two began fighting.
• Rasa ordered Gaara to use the Feigning Sleep Technique, awakening One-Tail Shukaku and destroying the venue.
• Rasa announced that everyone there would die.

Rasa unleashed Shukaku inside the barrier while Sunagakure’s forces escaped, leaving Konoha trapped amid a massacre and a battle against Rasa and Mei Terumi. Shinji fought Kakashi and Guy, while Hiruzen Sarutobi launched his strongest five-element technique against the two Kage-level opponents.

• Rasa freed Shukaku and ordered him to kill everyone inside the barrier as Sunagakure’s subordinates and examinees escaped.
• Temari and Kankuro fled with the other Sunagakure ninja, leaving the Konoha forces trapped with Shukaku.
• Shinji used his Ratio Technique and Binding to attack Kakashi, but Guy intervened and joined Kakashi against him.
• Shukaku slaughtered Konoha ninja while Rasa and Mei Terumi overwhelmed Hiruzen Sarutobi, who then formed Shadow Clones and unleashed his Five Release: Great Combo Technique.

Shinji struck down Rasa as the Hokage and Mizukage fought him, while Guy woke Gaara just before Shukaku could fire a Tailed Beast Bomb. With Rasa defeated and Gaara captured, the crisis inside the barrier seemed contained, but screams continued outside and the barrier remained.

• Mei Terumi revealed that she had feigned agreement with Rasa and secretly warned Hiruzen Sarutobi, then joined him against the Kazekage.
• Rasa attacked Hiruzen Sarutobi and Mei Terumi, while Shinji vanished from Kakashi's side and maneuvered behind him.
• Shinji used Flowing Scarlet Scales: Load, Collapse, and Cloak-Breaking Strike to slash Rasa nearly in two.
• Shukaku began forming a Tailed Beast Bomb, but Guy kicked Gaara awake, causing Shukaku and the bomb to disappear.
• Konoha Ninja restrained the incapacitated Gaara, but screams continued outside and the barrier remained in place.

Rasa used a black pill to transform and unleashed a devastating Gold Dust attack after Hiruzen ordered him restrained. Shinji struck Rasa with a Petrification Curse, but Rasa detonated the gold dust before he succumbed, leaving the arena in ruins and only a few survivors.

• Mei Terumi explained that she knew little about the barrier and reaffirmed her support for Konoha, while Hiruzen promised to help Kirigakure.
• Rasa swallowed a black pill, transformed, killed a Konoha ninja who protected Hiruzen, and launched a massive Gold Dust Burial.
• Shinji's golden sword pierced Rasa and injected the Petrification Curse, but Rasa detonated the gold dust with his remaining strength.
• Rasa's explosion devastated the arena and killed many people, while a Blood Crystal protected Shinji and Mei Terumi.
• The barrier remained intact, but only about twenty people survived; Kurenai, Asuma, and Kakashi were severely injured, while Guy was lightly injured.

Jiraiya took command of Konoha’s response, defeated Baki and the Sunagakure monsters attacking the Hokage Building, then headed toward the Chunin Exam venue. Kabuto fled as he realized the invasion was going wrong, while Kidomaru and the others began detonating the barrier.

• Jiraiya ignored Danzo’s refusal to help and ordered ANBU to protect civilians and escort the Barrier Team.
• Jiraiya used his oil and fire techniques to kill several Sunagakure monsters, then trapped Baki and the others inside the Toad Mouth Binding Technique.
• Jiraiya entered Sage Mode with Fukasaku and Shima, burned the remaining monsters with Sage Art: Goemon, and killed Baki with an Ultra-Big Ball Rasengan.
• Kabuto noticed Orochimaru was absent and the battles were taking too long, so he gave a final order and fled before Jiraiya arrived.
• Kidomaru and the other three received Kabuto’s signal and began detonating the barrier.