Recaps

Naruto activated Machine Five’s rampage mode and overtook Minato and Kushina, who pursued him until he launched the Hashirama Number One Missile at his mother. The missile exploded against Kushina’s chains, threatening to destroy her mount as a golden flash appeared beside her.

• Hashirama and Kurama repaired their damaged machines while Minato and Naruto passed them.
• Minato used the Flying Thunder God Technique to propel Machine Four toward Kushina.
• Naruto activated Machine Five’s Rampage Mode and sped past his parents.
• Kushina chased Naruto and attacked him with her Adamantine Sealing Chains, prompting him to activate the Hashirama Number One Missile.
• The Wood Dragon missile became stuck to Kushina’s chains and exploded, and a golden flash appeared beside Kushina.

During the mech race, Naruto resonated with Kurama’s chakra and awakened a golden Tailed Beast Cloak, then won first place while Kushina finished second. The childhood stage ended, and the story moved on to the graduation stage.

• Minato rescued Kushina from the Wood Dragon’s explosion, but she took his Number Four Mech and continued racing while he headed for the finish line.
• Hashirama and Kurama abandoned the race to wrestle after Kurama caught Hashirama trying to lend chakra to his mech.
• Naruto dodged Kushina’s attack with Minato’s Flying Thunder God innovation, while Minato recalled his plans to find the masked man when Naruto was older.
• Naruto heard Kurama’s heartbeat, entered the chakra Kurama had prepared, and awakened a golden Tailed Beast Cloak.
• Naruto used his new power to win the race, with Kushina in second place and Minato having withdrawn; the graduation stage began.

Naruto and Hinata congratulated Neji on graduating and learned that Might Guy would mentor him. The chapter ended with Hizashi asking Hiruzen to persuade Might Guy not to make Neji wear his green training suit.

• Naruto and Hinata congratulated Neji after he graduated alongside Tenten and Rock Lee.
• Neji told Hinata he would train before having dinner with his friends, then left with Tenten and Rock Lee.
• The Hyuga elders objected to Neji studying Strong Fist under Might Guy, but Hiashi, Hizashi, and Hiruzen backed Neji's choice.
• Hiashi and Hizashi accepted Might Guy as Neji's mentor and asked Hiruzen to request that Neji not be made to wear Guy's green training suit.

Hiashi rejected the idea of marrying Hinata to Naruto, though he hoped the younger generation could change the Hyuga clan. Naruto left the Academy during lunch to visit the Third Hokage, then took Konohamaru up a tree toward the office window.

• Hiashi reassured Hizashi that Neji and Hinata might change the Hyuga clan, but emphatically rejected marrying Hinata to Naruto.
• Naruto told Hinata he would ask Grandpa about putting them on the same team, and decided to include Boar Slayer as well.
• Naruto asked Iruka for permission to leave the Academy and visit the Third Hokage, then exited through the gates.
• Mikoto and Fugaku spotted Naruto heading toward the Hokage Building and agreed to ask Sasuke about it later.
• Naruto met Konohamaru near the Hokage Building and took him up a tree toward the office window while Ebisu was away buying food.

Ebisu searched for Konohamaru while Kakashi explained his retirement from ANBU and discussed the students graduating that year. The chapter ended with Naruto and Konohamaru climbing through a tree and crashing into the Third Hokage’s office.

• Ebisu returned to the Hokage Building with ramen for Konohamaru and learned from Kakashi that the boy had gone with Naruto to see the Third Hokage.
• Kakashi told Ebisu that he had retired from ANBU because he was tired, and that he had declined to lead his previous Genin team because the students had not earned his approval.
• Kakashi said the Third Hokage had called him to discuss assigning him a team of graduating students, including Naruto.
• Kakashi explained that Karin had spotted him watching Naruto from a distance, while Ebisu asked how long Konohamaru had been upstairs.
• Ebisu and Kakashi saw Naruto and Konohamaru climbing a tree outside the window, and the pair burst through the Hokage’s office window.

Naruto and Konohamaru visited Sarutobi to ask about Naruto’s future team assignment, and Sarutobi reassured him before taking the boys out for barbecue. As they ate, Naruto shared his dream of becoming Hokage, while Sarutobi privately reflected on the burdens of his office and how long he could continue serving.

• Naruto and Konohamaru startled Sarutobi by breaking into his office, then asked whether Naruto could be assigned to a team with Sasuke and Hinata.
• Sarutobi promised to arrange Naruto’s team assignment and invited both boys to lunch at the Akimichi BBQ Restaurant.
• On the way out, Sarutobi told Ebisu to enjoy his lunch, while Kakashi watched Naruto and went to clean up the broken window.
• At the restaurant, Sarutobi asked Naruto about his dreams, and Naruto said he wanted to become Hokage.
• Konohamaru said he believed Naruto would become Hokage, and Naruto happily continued eating with him and Sarutobi.

With the graduation exam approaching, the students left the Academy and walked home in small groups. Ino reconsidered her feelings for Sasuke and worried about Sakura, while Shikamaru, Ino, and Choji headed home together before the exam.

• Ino invited Shikamaru to walk home with her after Sakura left with her parents, and Shikamaru agreed to wait for the classroom to empty.
• Naruto left with Hinata, while Sasuke went home with Karin.
• Shikamaru asked Ino whether she really liked Sasuke, and Ino insisted she did as Choji agreed.
• Ino reflected that Sakura had little chance with Sasuke and wondered what team assignments would mean for her friend.
• Shikamaru and Choji waited for Ino, then the three walked home together as they anticipated the graduation exam.

Naruto and Karin went to Naruto’s graduation exam, where Karin used her golden chain to pull Konohamaru out of a crowd. Tobirama recognized Karin as a child of the Uzumaki Clan and reflected on Mito’s return, while Itachi watched Sasuke from the shadows.

• Kushina woke Naruto for his graduation exam, and Naruto headed to school with Karin.
• Naruto and Karin arrived at the school gates, where Konohamaru got stuck in the crowd while trying to greet Naruto.
• Karin used her golden chain to lift Konohamaru out of the crowd as Ebisu and nearby parents watched in alarm.
• Tobirama recognized Karin as a child of the Uzumaki Clan and recalled learning from Hashirama that Mito had come to Konoha and left again.
• Tobirama considered Karin’s connection to Mito and Sasuke, while Itachi watched Sasuke from the shadows.

Naruto took the theoretical portion of his graduation exam and wrote an essay on the Will of Fire using things he had heard from his Hokage relatives. The essay left the teacher grading it unsure how to respond, since Naruto’s claims were all true.

• Hinata, Hiashi, and Neji watched Naruto arrive for his exam, while Konohamaru came to cheer him on and Ebisu took charge of him.
• Naruto met Sasuke and Hinata at school before the teachers led the students into their exam rooms.
• Naruto found the theory exam easy and wrote his essay on the Will of Fire using quotations and stories from Hiruzen, Minato, Hashirama, and Tobirama.
• Sasuke and Hinata also found the exam easy, and Iruka’s students finished without looking worried.
• A teacher grading Naruto’s essay struggled to mark it because its claims about Naruto’s family and Hokage relatives were true.

Iruka and Shizuko assessed Naruto and Sasuke’s Ninjutsu before graduation. Naruto amazed them by transforming into Minato and demonstrating the Three Basic Techniques, while Sasuke completed the assessment normally.

• Iruka and Shizuko reviewed the students’ files and called Naruto in for his Ninjutsu assessment.
• Naruto refused Iruka’s offer to pass him and transformed into Minato, using a kunai and a midair switch to demonstrate the Substitution Technique.
• Kushina and Minato discussed whether Naruto should learn the Flying Thunder God, while Kurama imagined how powerful Naruto might become.
• Iruka ruffled Naruto’s hair after he changed back and told him not to use his father’s face for stunts.
• Sasuke chose to take the assessment and demonstrated the Clone, Transformation, and Substitution Techniques.

After passing the graduation exam, Naruto and his classmates waited for their Forehead Protectors by playing cards, with Naruto persuading Sasuke to join. Iruka arrived to hand out the protectors and found the class engrossed in gambling, leaving him exasperated by how Naruto had led them astray.

• Naruto confirmed that his classmates had passed the exam, and Shikamaru explained that they were waiting for Iruka to bring their Forehead Protectors.
• Naruto started a game of Fight the Landlord, then persuaded Sasuke to join after Sasuke insisted he would play only if Naruto begged him.
• The students played cards for an hour while Iruka and the other teachers finished tallying the results.
• Iruka entered with the Forehead Protectors and found the students gathered in card-playing groups, including an excited Sasuke.
• Naruto stopped the game when Iruka began handing out the Forehead Protectors, frustrating Sasuke just as Sasuke was about to end his losing streak.
• Iruka scolded the class and privately blamed Naruto for leading so many classmates astray.

Naruto and his classmates graduated from the Academy, while Kakashi and Sarutobi watched Naruto’s exams and prepared to assign his team. Kakashi accepted that he would become Naruto’s teacher and visited Rin’s and Obito’s graves to tell them about Minato’s son.

• Iruka gave Naruto, Hinata, and Sasuke their forehead protectors and sent the graduating students on to have their ID photos taken.
• Kakashi and Sarutobi watched Naruto’s written and ninjutsu exams through a crystal ball, and Naruto impressed them with his writing and a display that reminded Kakashi of the Fourth Hokage.
• Kakashi confessed to Sarutobi that he did not know how to face Naruto, and Sarutobi reassured him that he should focus on teaching him well.
• Kakashi visited Rin’s and Obito’s graves, told them he would become Naruto Uzumaki’s teacher, and promised to keep them informed about Naruto as he grew up.

The graduating students took a group photo, received their Ninja Identity Files, and celebrated becoming Genin. Naruto wondered what came next and asked who would lead his team, but Minato kept his guess to himself as Naruto went to sleep expecting an exciting day.

• Ino suggested a graduation photo, and Iruka arranged the students for the picture as Naruto, Hinata, and Sasuke stood at the center.
• The students took their ID photos and added them to their Ninja Identity Files, becoming Genin of Konoha.
• Naruto and the others shared dinner and celebrated until late that evening.
• At home, Naruto asked Hashirama and Minato what he should do after graduation, and Minato explained how team assignments and promotions worked.
• Naruto asked who his team leader would be, and Minato guessed it would be Kakashi but told him to wait until tomorrow to find out.

As the other teams left with their instructors, Naruto, Sasuke, Hinata, and Karin waited all day for Kakashi, who remained at the cemetery. Karin revealed that she had persuaded Sarutobi to put her on Naruto’s team, and the children decided to prepare a grand gift for their late instructor.

• Asuma stopped Naruto from calling him “Gorilla Uncle” in public, while Sasuke wondered what nickname Naruto had given him.
• Kurenai called Kiba Inuzuka, Sakura Haruno, and Shino Aburame to join her team, and Naruto considered whether genjutsu might suit Sakura.
• Karin recalled that she had convinced Sarutobi to let her join Naruto’s team by threatening to tell Grandma he was bullying her.
• Naruto, Sasuke, Hinata, and Karin waited until afternoon for Kakashi, while Minato sensed him at the cemetery.
• Karin proposed giving Kakashi a grand gift, and Naruto and Sasuke agreed as Hinata hesitantly went along.

Kakashi arrived late to meet his new team at the Ninja Academy, where he discovered Karin had joined Naruto, Hinata, and Sasuke. After dodging their traps and deflecting their teasing about riding a black cat to school, he led them to the rooftop and began introductions.

• Kakashi visited the Ninja Academy and found that his students had set a trap behind the classroom door, which he evaded with the Substitution Technique.
• Karin recognized Kakashi as “Lonely Wolf” and explained that Sarutobi had promised she could join the team with Naruto and the others.
• Naruto and Sasuke questioned Kakashi about his lateness, and Sasuke joked that Kakashi must have ridden a black cat to school.
• Kakashi corrected the students about his name, led them to the rooftop, and introduced himself with an answer about liking black cats.
• Naruto stepped forward to introduce himself to Kakashi.

Kakashi heard Naruto, Sasuke, Karin, and Hinata introduce themselves, then announced a test at the No. 4 Training Ground the next morning. Naruto took the group to his forest cabin to train, while they wondered what Kakashi's test would involve.

• Kakashi listened as Naruto, Sasuke, Karin, and Hinata shared their likes and dreams, and he noticed Hinata and Naruto's closeness.
• Kakashi told the four students to meet him at the No. 4 Training Ground at five the next morning and warned them not to eat breakfast.
• Sasuke observed that he could see Kakashi's Body Flicker, and Naruto pointed out that all four students had sharp senses or keen eyesight.
• Naruto suggested conditioning practice and led the group to his cabin in a clearing on the Back Mountain.
• Naruto gathered the others to train at the cabin as they wondered what mysterious test Kakashi had planned.

Naruto and Karin woke before dawn to meet Kakashi at Training Ground Four, and Naruto accidentally ate Hashirama’s disastrous cooking before realizing why Kakashi had warned them they might throw up. As Naruto chased after Karin, her teasing about Hinata reminded him that he planned to announce their future together despite the Hyuga Clan’s marriage rule.

• Minato woke Naruto at four thirty, and Naruto began making breakfast before remembering Kakashi’s warning about training.
• Naruto ate a piece of Hashirama’s burnt fried egg and collapsed, while Minato also vomited after tasting Hashirama’s grilled steak.
• Naruto woke Karin with a burst of chakra, then gave her Nine-Tails Chakra to help her get to Training Ground Four.
• Karin teased Naruto about Hinata and urged him to make their relationship official, then ran ahead toward the training ground.
• Naruto remembered Hinata’s concern about the Hyuga Clan’s marriage rule and his promise to announce their plans before pursuing Karin.

Naruto, Sasuke, Karin, and Hinata waited for Kakashi at the training ground and decided to sleep while he was late. As Kakashi slept elsewhere too, the students settled into the morning together in the wooden house Naruto built.

• Sasuke told Naruto and Hinata that Kakashi was a chronic latecomer and would probably keep them waiting for most of the morning.
• Naruto used Wood Release to build a furnished wooden house at the training ground.
• Sasuke laid out sleeping bags, and Naruto and Karin went to sleep while Karin set her sensing system to alert her to Kakashi's chakra.
• Hinata ate buns from her sealing scroll and gave Sasuke two, which filled him up.
• Sasuke went to sleep, while Kakashi was also asleep elsewhere.

Kakashi arrived late at Training Ground No. 4 and found Naruto and the others rested in a wooden house Naruto had built. He began the bell test, leaving the team to compete for three bells, including a special captain’s bell.

• Kakashi enjoyed his quiet life after leaving the ANBU and headed to Training Ground No. 4.
• Karin spotted Kakashi arriving and woke the others, who had slept in the wooden house Naruto built with Wood Release.
• Kakashi tried to sneak up and kick open the door, but Karin and the others noticed him and teased him for being late.
• Kakashi told the four children to take three bells from him, explaining that only those who got a bell would pass.
• Sasuke noticed one bell was different, and Kakashi explained that the Captain’s Bell would designate the team captain.

Naruto, Sasuke, Karin, and Hinata challenged Kakashi during their team test, and Sasuke opened the fight with his chakra-metal sword, Moonlight. After Kakashi blocked his initial attacks, Sasuke trapped him in a strange genjutsu and launched a much faster strike, leaving Kakashi narrowly defending himself.

• Naruto and the others decided to challenge Kakashi together, while Naruto told Sasuke to attack first.
• Kakashi pulled out Icha Icha Paradise and claimed he could handle the four with one hand as they prepared to fight.
• Sasuke charged Kakashi with Moonlight, and Kakashi blocked his opening slashes with a kunai.
• Naruto, Karin, and Hinata watched the duel while sharing melon, surprising Kakashi with their relaxed attitude.
• Sasuke cast a genjutsu that trapped Kakashi among attacking, human-legged fish, but Kakashi broke free with his Sharingan.
• Sasuke rushed Kakashi with a strike three times faster than before, and Kakashi narrowly blocked the blade at his waist.

Sasuke fought Kakashi with a lightning-and-flame-enhanced sword, but Kakashi outmaneuvered him with Earth Release and defeated him. Karin then took her turn against Kakashi, who went underground as Naruto urged her to use her chains to lift herself into the air.

• Sasuke attacked Kakashi with Moonlight, and Kakashi switched to a white blade and activated his Sharingan.
• Sasuke charged Kakashi with lightning and blue flames coating his sword, but Kakashi used Swamp of the Underworld to trap him.
• Kakashi escaped Sasuke’s aerial strike with Headhunter Jutsu and pulled him from the mud after Karin rescued him with her Adamantine Sealing Chains.
• Karin attacked Kakashi with five chains, but he dodged her strikes and burrowed underground to approach her.
• Naruto told Karin to use her chains to prop herself up in the air.

Karin nearly lost to Kakashi after he tricked her with a Lightning Clone, but Naruto intervened and faced his former teacher. Kakashi activated the first three Eight Gates and readied his blade as Naruto took up a chakra-coated longsword for their next clash.

• Karin trapped Kakashi's Lightning Clone with her Adamantine Sealing Chains, but Kakashi's real body appeared behind her and moved to strike.
• Naruto blocked Kakashi's attack and told Karin to withdraw before declaring his own grand finale.
• Kakashi was struck by Naruto's golden Tailed Beast Cloak and was reminded of Minato's appearance.
• Naruto and Kakashi exchanged rapid blows, and Kakashi opened the first three Eight Gates to increase his power.
• Hinata tossed Naruto his longsword, and Naruto coated it in chakra and pointed it at Kakashi.

Naruto and Kakashi battled with swords and techniques until Kakashi disarmed Naruto with Chidori: Slash. Naruto then revealed Wood Release and unleashed Deep Forest Emergence, forcing Kakashi to flee behind an Earth-Flow Wall.

• Naruto and Kakashi exchanged sword strikes, and Kakashi used a Lightning Clone before trapping Naruto with the Yin-Yang Sealing Technique.
• Naruto escaped the sealing runes by sacrificing chakra, then clashed his chakra-coated sword against Kakashi's Chidori: Slash and lost his weapon.
• Karin and Sasuke hurried toward the battlefield, while Hinata had already gone to Naruto and Kakashi.
• When Kakashi asked if he would surrender, Naruto formed hand seals and used Wood Release: Deep Forest Emergence.
• Kakashi spent much of his chakra raising an Earth-Flow Wall, then used the moment to run from the wave of trees.

Kakashi ended the battle and declared Naruto, Sasuke, Hinata, and Karin had passed his test because of their teamwork, officially forming Team 7. He took the four to Ichiraku Ramen to celebrate.

• Kakashi used Lightning Blade to escape Hinata’s attack, then continued fighting the youngsters until his chakra was nearly depleted.
• Kakashi called a stop and told Naruto, Sasuke, Hinata, and Karin they had passed, though they pointed out they had not taken the bells.
• Kakashi explained that the test was meant to assess teamwork and that their coordinated fighting had exceeded his expectations.
• Kakashi revealed he had planned to make them choose who would be left out, drawing scorn from Karin, Hinata, and Sasuke.
• Kakashi officially established Team 7 and invited the four youngsters to Ichiraku Ramen, assuring Hinata he could afford her appetite.

After Hinata and the others finished eating at Ichiraku, Kakashi took Team 7 to the Hokage Building to choose their first mission. He picked a mysterious D-rank Garden Defender mission, leaving Naruto, Karin, and Sasuke excited while Hinata guessed what it involved.

• Hinata ate so much ramen that Kakashi's wallet shrank, and Naruto's attempt to help Teuchi with a Rasengan got him sent out of the kitchen.
• Kakashi led Naruto, Karin, Sasuke, and Hinata to the Hokage Building for their first mission, while Naruto asked Hashirama and Minato what kind of work to expect.
• Naruto spotted a mission about a green-skinned kappa, but a young woman took it down and explained that it should not have been posted.
• Kakashi chose a D-rank mission titled Garden Defender and kept its details hidden from Karin.
• Sarutobi called the mission dangerous for a D-rank assignment, exciting Naruto, Karin, and Sasuke, while Hinata recognized clues to its contents.
• Minato and Kushina suspected Kakashi and Sarutobi were exaggerating the danger, and Kurama suggested Naruto use the Number Five Mech if needed.