Recaps

Sasuke and Naruto confronted Zabuza in the mist while Kakashi guarded Tazuna, and they fought together using their distinct abilities. Naruto then revealed Wood Release by summoning a wooden dragon, leaving Zabuza stunned.

• Kakashi sent Sasuke to join Naruto and secretly followed him with a Shadow Clone while he stayed to guard Tazuna.
• Sasuke refused Naruto's offer of chakra and prepared to fight Zabuza using his Three-Tomoe Sharingan and lightning-enhanced Moonlight.
• Zabuza attacked the two boys, but Naruto dodged his sword and struck with giant golden Rasengan while Sasuke followed with a sword thrust and Great Fireball.
• Zabuza blocked Sasuke's fireball with Water Release, then used Water Dragon Bullet to destroy Naruto's golden chakra hands and counter his attacks.
• Naruto sensed Zabuza through the thick mist, formed hand seals, and summoned a golden-eyed wooden dragon with Wood Release, shocking Zabuza.

Naruto and Sasuke fought Zabuza, but Sasuke discovered they had been battling a Water Clone and rushed with Naruto to help Kakashi. Zabuza attacked the Small Wooden House with a Water Shockwave as Kakashi went out to face him, while Haku waited in a tree.

• Naruto's Wood Dragon devoured Zabuza's Water Dragon, but Zabuza escaped its pursuit with the Substitution Technique and used the building materials to obstruct it.
• Sasuke struck Zabuza's arm with Moonlight, then realized the Kubikiribōchō was fake and Zabuza had been a Water Clone.
• Naruto replenished Sasuke's chakra, and the two hurried toward the Small Wooden House to help Kakashi.
• Zabuza confronted Kakashi outside the Small Wooden House and demanded that he hand over Tazuna, while Haku hid in a nearby tree.
• Zabuza sent a Water Shockwave toward the house, and Kakashi blocked it with an Earth-Flow Wall before Zabuza retreated.

Haku attacked Karin and Hinata with his Ice Release techniques while Kakashi kept Zabuza occupied. After Karin drained Haku’s ice dragon with an Eight Trigrams Seal, Haku made a desperate rush for the wooden house, but Hinata blocked him at the doorway with glowing cyan eyes.

• Kakashi detected Haku and fought Zabuza, while Zabuza used water clones to keep him occupied.
• Haku attacked the wooden house with ice senbon and surrounded Karin and Hinata with Demonic Illusion: Ice Mirrors.
• Karin used her Adamantine Sealing Chains to break Haku’s mirrors, while Hinata shattered one with a chakra-infused punch and deflected senbon with Rotation.
• Haku launched an Ice Dragon Bullet at Karin, but she used the Eight Trigrams Seal to drain its chakra and shattered its frozen body.
• With little chakra left, Haku made a final rush toward the wooden house, but Hinata stopped him at the doorway with her eyes glowing cyan.

Karin and Hinata captured Haku, and Karin healed him before he passed out while Naruto defeated Zabuza with a giant Wood Human. Haku and Zabuza woke in a wooden house under Kakashi’s watch, where Naruto told Zabuza his mission had failed and he would have to stay and rest.

• Hinata repelled Haku, and Karin restrained him, discovered he was a boy, and used her blood and Medical Ninjutsu to treat him.
• Haku passed out after hearing that Naruto had used a Wood Human Technique against Zabuza.
• Haku woke bandaged beside Zabuza, and Kakashi teased them about their relationship as Zabuza insisted Haku was only his tool.
• Naruto entered with Karin and told Zabuza to stay and rest because his mission had failed.
• Naruto’s giant Wood Human had beaten Zabuza and broken the Kubikiribōchō.

After Zabuza revealed that a mysterious man had controlled the Fourth Mizukage, Kakashi promised to protect Zabuza and Haku while investigating Kirigakure. Naruto claimed his family ties gave him influence, and Minato appeared beside him, surprising Kakashi and Zabuza.

• Kakashi told Zabuza that Naruto had driven off Gato and his lackeys with Wood Release while Zabuza was unconscious.
• Zabuza refused to return to Kirigakure and begged Kakashi to keep Haku safe, explaining that the Fourth Mizukage had been controlled by a mysterious man.
• Kakashi said Konoha would protect Zabuza and Haku if Kirigakure was still compromised, and Zabuza offered to share what he knew.
• Naruto introduced himself as the son of Minato Namikaze and honorary grandson of Hiruzen Sarutobi, but Zabuza dismissed his influence as a child's.
• Minato appeared beside Naruto, and Kakashi dropped his book in shock as Minato greeted him.

Minato appeared before Kakashi and Zabuza, confirmed Naruto had fought Zabuza using his own strength, and vouched for Naruto’s promise. After encouraging Naruto’s dream of becoming Hokage, Minato returned to the sealing space, where Kushina lost his money at cards.

• Minato told Kakashi that he was a chakra remnant who had helped train Naruto, and Kakashi realized the Third Hokage already knew he was there.
• Minato confirmed his identity as the Fourth Hokage to Zabuza and assured him that Konoha would honor Naruto’s promise.
• Zabuza asked whether Naruto or Minato had fought him, and Minato confirmed Naruto had handled the fight himself.
• Zabuza told Naruto he looked forward to seeing him become Hokage, and Naruto boasted about his future title.
• Minato returned to the sealing space, where Kushina lost his money in a card game against Hashirama and Kurama.

After the Wood Human Bridge was completed, Naruto and Team 7 prepared to leave the Land of Waves. Zabuza gave Naruto Kubikiribōchō, and Naruto accepted it despite Zabuza’s displeasure.

• Kakashi divided Gato’s wealth between the people of the Land of Waves and his own wallet.
• Naruto and Team 7 went to the completed bridge, where the villagers celebrated and named it the Wood Human Bridge.
• Naruto placed a Wood Human model beside the bridge as a sign that he would protect the Land of Waves.
• Naruto and Team 7 said farewell to the villagers, and Inari promised to follow Naruto’s example and become a hero.
• Naruto asked Zabuza why he had wanted the broken sword pieces, and Kakashi explained Kubikiribōchō’s ability to regenerate by absorbing blood.
• Zabuza entrusted Kubikiribōchō to Naruto, who accepted the sword after Kakashi encouraged him to keep it.

Team 7 returned to Konoha with Zabuza and Haku as prisoners, and Naruto's playful teasing turned the journey into a spectacle. After Zabuza frightened Konohamaru, Kakashi revealed that the boy was the Third Hokage's biological grandson.

• Naruto carried the recovering Zabuza and Haku toward Konoha until Karin teased him, and Zabuza asked to be put down.
• At the gate, Izumo Kamizuki learned that Naruto had defeated Zabuza, checked Kakashi's entry documents, and let the group into the village.
• Konohamaru, Udon, and Moegi slid toward Naruto, and Zabuza stopped them before Haku steadied him when he lost his balance.
• Naruto told the children that Zabuza was a demon from the Bloody Mist Village, and Konohamaru retreated after Zabuza's fierce presence frightened him.
• Konohamaru regained his confidence when Naruto said he had beaten Zabuza, then asked the prisoner to explain the fight; Zabuza refused.
• Karin pulled Konohamaru away, and Kakashi told Zabuza that Konohamaru was the Third Hokage's biological grandson.

Kakashi brought Zabuza and Haku to meet the Third Hokage, while Naruto and his friends watched Ebisu take Konohamaru back to the Ninja Academy. Sarutobi agreed to let Zabuza remain in Konoha and told Kakashi to find them somewhere to rest, hinting that Might Guy could keep them under watch.

• Kakashi dismissed Team 7 and promised to treat them to barbecue before Hinata pointed out that Konohamaru should be in class.
• Ebisu found Konohamaru, Moegi, and Udon in disguise, scolded them for skipping class, and took them back to the Ninja Academy.
• Naruto suggested that he and Sasuke train Konohamaru together, then picked up the restored Kubikiribōchō and wondered what the Third would do with Zabuza.
• Kakashi explained Zabuza's situation to Hiruzen Sarutobi and said Minato had approved letting him stay in Konoha.
• Haku clarified that he was a boy after Sarutobi mistook him for a girl, and Sarutobi told Kakashi to find Zabuza and Haku a place to rest.
• Sarutobi mentioned that Might Guy was in the village and seemed to have free time, prompting Kakashi to recognize the implication.

Kakashi brought Zabuza and Haku to Might Guy and assigned him to watch them until Konoha communicated with Kirigakure. After Kakashi left, Zabuza agreed to stay at Might Guy’s house while considering how to leave Haku in Konoha.

• Kakashi led Zabuza and Haku to Might Guy’s training ground and told Might Guy to keep an eye on them.
• Might Guy recognized Zabuza as the Demon who had defected from Kirigakure, then tried to encourage him with a speech about Youth.
• Kakashi left for the mission hall, leaving Zabuza and Haku in Might Guy’s care.
• Might Guy offered them a place to stay, and Zabuza decided he might later ask Kakashi to help leave Haku in Konoha.

After Kakashi left, Naruto accompanied Hinata home while Karin joined Sasuke for lunch at his house. Hinata smuggled Naruto into the Hyuga Clan Compound disguised as a kitten, where Hanabi eagerly played with him until Hinata had to rescue him.

• Sasuke declined Hinata and Naruto's invitation and headed home, and Karin decided to join him for lunch.
• Naruto asked to eat at Hinata's house, so Hinata agreed but told him he could not enter directly.
• Hinata returned to the Hyuga Clan Compound with Naruto hidden in her bag as a little orange kitten.
• Hanabi discovered that the talking kitten was Naruto and reluctantly began petting him.
• Hanabi grabbed Naruto and tried to inspect him, so Hinata rescued him and scolded her.

Hinata told Hiashi that her supposedly C-rank mission had involved Demon Zabuza, whom Kakashi's team captured. Hiashi planned to challenge the mission ranking and considered how Konoha could use Zabuza to recover the Hyuga clan's stolen Byakugan.

• Hiashi welcomed Naruto, who had disguised himself as a cat, and invited him to lunch with Hinata.
• Hinata recounted how her mission had been misranked and involved the Demon-Man Brothers, and Hiashi worried that Kakashi had continued despite the danger.
• Hiashi teased Naruto about whether he could protect Hinata, while Naruto and Hinata agreed to spar again without holding back.
• Naruto told Hiashi that Kakashi's team had encountered and captured Zabuza and Haku, prompting Hiashi to recognize Zabuza as the famed Kirigakure missing-nin.
• After Naruto left, Hiashi considered using Zabuza to help retrieve the Hyuga's stolen Byakugan and told Hinata to ask Kakashi about the mission rank so he could appeal to the Hokage.

Naruto and Team 7 celebrated with barbecue before noticing an increase in foreign ninja in Konoha. Kakashi explained that Konoha and Sunagakure were jointly hosting multinational Chunin Ninja Exams.

• Karin woke Naruto for Team 7’s barbecue, where Naruto and Sasuke danced while Itachi watched through a crow and shared the scene with Izumi.
• Izumi and Tenzo arranged for Itachi to dance at their next get-together, embarrassing him.
• Naruto and Sasuke noticed unfamiliar ninja from other villages in Konoha and decided to ask Kakashi what was happening.
• Kakashi told Team 7 that Konoha and Sunagakure were jointly hosting multinational Chunin Ninja Exams.

Kakashi recommended Naruto, Karin, Sasuke, and Hinata for the Chunin Ninja Exams, prompting them to plan several days of joint training. Sasuke and Hinata got permission from their families to stay at the training house, while Hiashi resolved to seek Sarutobi’s help with the Hyuga clan’s situation.

• Kakashi told Naruto and Karin that Konoha would hold the Chunin Ninja Exams jointly with Sunagakure and handed Naruto their recommendation scroll.
• Naruto suggested the four of them train together until the exams, and Karin offered to set out their bedding at the training house.
• Sasuke told Fugaku and Mikoto he planned to stay away overnight to train, and they agreed while warning him to come home on weekends.
• Hinata asked Hiashi for permission to stay with Naruto and the others, and Hiashi reluctantly agreed.
• Hiashi decided to speak with Sarutobi that night about preventing Hanabi from facing the same fate as Neji, while Hinata privately suspected another eye transformation could remove her Caged Bird Seal.

Naruto rescued Konohamaru from Kankuro and faced the Sand siblings after Gaara appeared as Shukaku’s Jinchūriki. Hinata and the others learned that a powerful, violent chakra had emerged near Konohamaru, and the chapter ended with Gaara asking Naruto if he was a monster too.

• Hinata defeated Naruto in a sparring match, and she sensed Konohamaru was in danger.
• Naruto rushed to Konohamaru and caught him after Kankuro threw him aside.
• Naruto confronted Kankuro, whose fear grew when Kurama’s giant fox form appeared behind Naruto.
• Temari took a defensive stance as Gaara emerged from the sand and revealed himself as Shukaku’s Jinchūriki.
• Kurama identified Gaara, and Gaara’s inner monster reacted to Naruto’s chakra as Gaara asked if Naruto was a monster too.

Naruto confronted Gaara after Gaara attacked Konohamaru and then turned on his own teammates. Kakashi and Baki stopped the fight, and the chapter ended with Kakashi demanding that Baki explain his team’s actions after learning Konohamaru was the Third Hokage’s grandson.

• Naruto challenged Gaara for attacking Temari and dismissing his teammates’ lives, and the two clashed with their chakra and sand claws.
• Kakashi and Baki intervened before Naruto’s attack could hit Gaara.
• Naruto identified himself as Naruto Uzumaki and vowed to become Hokage, while Gaara said he would remember Naruto and kill him.
• Naruto and Konohamaru explained that Kankuro had grabbed Konohamaru and that Gaara had attacked Naruto; Temari confirmed their account.
• Kakashi told Baki that Konohamaru was the Third Lord Hokage’s grandson and demanded an explanation.

Naruto reflected on Gaara after a fight with Sunagakure ninja, then joined his friends for barbecue before the Chunin Exam. The next morning, Rock Lee confessed to Sakura, was rejected, and was dragged away by Tenten and Neji.

• Baki apologized to Kakashi and Konohamaru for the Sunagakure ninja who had attacked Konohamaru, and Kakashi warned him not to bring Sunagakure’s ways to Konoha.
• Naruto told Sasuke and Hinata that he had fought Sunagakure ninja, then privately wondered whether he might have become like Gaara without his friends and teacher.
• Karin got Kakashi to pay for the group’s barbecue, and Kakashi reminded them to bring their exam admission slips the next day.
• At Training Ground 4, Rock Lee confessed his love to Sakura, who rejected him because his eyebrows were too thick.
• Tenten punched Rock Lee after he vowed to win Sakura over, and she and Neji carried him toward the exam room.

Naruto reunited with fellow genin before the Chunin Ninja Exams, where Kabuto explained the exam’s political purpose and shared information about notable candidates. When Kabuto found Naruto’s mission record, he revealed that Naruto had completed an S-rank mission, stunning the examination room.

• Naruto greeted Kiba, Shino, and Sakura, then entered the examination room with Teams 7 and 8.
• Neji spoke with Hinata about the elders’ failed visit and promised to protect her and Hanabi.
• Kabuto Yakushi introduced himself and offered to share information, noting that this was his seventh time taking the exams.
• Kabuto explained that the joint exams let countries assess one another and help Konoha display its strength.
• Kabuto showed the candidates’ records, including Gaara’s B-rank mission, then searched for Naruto’s card.
• Kabuto read Naruto’s record aloud and revealed that Naruto had completed one S-rank mission, leaving the room stunned.

Naruto and the other candidates began the Chunin Exams’ written test, where Ibiki imposed harsh team-based rules and gave them an extraordinarily difficult paper. Naruto struggled with the questions until Minato suspected the test was really about gathering intelligence, and Naruto turned to look at Hinata.

• Kiba, Shikamaru, and the others questioned Naruto about his S-rank mission before Gaara arrived with Temari and Kankuro.
• Ibiki Morino introduced himself as chief examiner and explained that a team would be eliminated if any member failed or withdrew.
• Ibiki warned that failing the written exam would permanently bar candidates from taking the Chunin Exams, prompting several teams to leave.
• The candidates received a difficult exam, and Ibiki added that anyone caught cheating five times would be eliminated with their team.
• Naruto asked Minato for help deciphering a coded question, and Minato concluded that the test likely assessed intelligence gathering.
• Naruto considered Minato’s suggestion and turned to look toward Hinata.

Sasuke and the other examinees discovered ways to cheat on the impossibly difficult written exam, using their clan abilities, teamwork, and intimidation. As the exam continued, the students kept trading answers while trying not to reach the five-cheat limit.

• Sasuke used his Sharingan to copy the answers from a fast-writing examinee and planned to share them with his teammates through genjutsu.
• Naruto and Karin struggled to see the answers, while Karin stayed unconcerned about the threat of being stuck as a Genin.
• Kiba used Akamaru to help him copy answers, and Ino entered Sakura's body with the Mind Body Switch Technique to help their friends.
• Sakura willingly let Ino take control, while Shikamaru and Choji waited for her to pass them answers.
• Sasuke passed answers to Karin, then saw Hinata helping Naruto write; meanwhile, Gaara frightened an examinee into continuing to cheat rather than reporting him.

Naruto and the other candidates passed Ibiki’s first exam after enduring his final test of resolve, then followed Anko to the Forest of Death for the next stage. Anko explained the survival rules and scroll requirements before singling out Naruto, leaving the reason unclear.

• Naruto had answered the written exam questions with Hinata’s help and passed Ibiki’s final psychological test along with the other candidates.
• Anko arrived to announce that she would supervise the next test and led the candidates to the Forest of Death.
• Kiba called the training ground Camp B, and Naruto caught Anko’s Kunai when she threw it at him.
• Naruto and Karin noticed that Anko and a female ninja from Kusagakure had similar auras.
• Anko had the candidates sign Death Waivers and explained that squads had to collect both a Heaven Scroll and an Earth Scroll, survive for seven days, and reach the central tower.
• Anko revealed that there were only twenty scroll sets for twenty-one squads, then called Naruto forward.

Naruto's team received special permission to begin the Forest of Death exam with two pairs of scrolls, then headed to their old campsite to spend the seven days together. As Karin and Hinata gathered vegetables and Sasuke went hunting, Naruto began building an amusement park beside the camp.

• Anko announced that Naruto Uzumaki's four-person team would start with two pairs of Heaven and Earth Scrolls and that their location would be shared daily, while Sasuke silenced the protesting examinees with his Sharingan.
• Naruto's team entered the Forest of Death last and decided to camp at Camp B, where Naruto invited Kiba to visit.
• Naruto and his teammates collected snakes for soup and reached the old wooden house, which Naruto restored with his green light while Sasuke burned the old belongings for a fire.
• Karin took Hinata to gather vegetables, and Naruto asked Sasuke, the O mighty Boar Slayer, to hunt a wild boar; Sasuke instead slipped into the forest to search for other prey.
• Naruto decided to build a chakra-powered amusement park beside the campsite and got to work.

Naruto built a Ferris wheel in the Forest of Death and tested it by spinning it at extreme speed. Inspired by him, Hashirama made another Ferris wheel in the Sealing Space and trapped Kurama inside for an even rougher ride.

• Kiba, Sakura, and Shino noticed Naruto’s construction in the distance but decided to collect their scrolls without seeking help.
• Sasuke knocked away a charging boar with Lightning Chakra Mode and left it behind, determined not to bring back another boar.
• Naruto finished building a Ferris wheel, climbed into a cabin, and increased its speed until it spun rapidly through the darkness.
• Hashirama built a second Ferris wheel in the Sealing Space and locked Kurama into a cabin.
• Hashirama spun Kurama at four times Naruto’s chakra output, and Kurama staggered out demanding compensation before collapsing.

Naruto powered up his Ferris wheel and tricked Karin and Sasuke into riding it, accelerating it until Sasuke realized something was wrong. At the campsite, Akamaru heard Karin screaming and alerted Kiba.

• Sasuke returned with a wild boar, and Naruto teased him about being the Boar Slayer.
• Naruto explained the Ferris wheel to Karin and persuaded her to ride it with Sasuke.
• Naruto locked the cabin, secured its door with vines, and poured chakra into the Ferris wheel.
• The Ferris wheel lit up and began spinning faster, and Sasuke noticed that it was accelerating dangerously.
• Akamaru barked to tell Kiba that he had heard Karin screaming.

Naruto, Karin, Sasuke, and Hinata ate together, played cards, and prepared for their first night in the Sealing Space. The chapter ended with Sasuke waking after Naruto kicked him in the stomach in his sleep.

• Naruto ate wild boar messily, and Karin scolded him while Sasuke glared at him over their earlier ordeal in the wooden compartment.
• Naruto suggested playing Werewolf, but Karin, Sasuke, and Hinata rejected it and chose cards instead.
• Karin created a sensory barrier with her Adamantine Sealing Chains, using chakra from Naruto to extend it about a hundred and fifty meters.
• Karin tried to leave the card game with a bad hand, but Naruto stopped her until Hinata urged him to end the game for the night.
• Sasuke covered the fire, and Team 7 split into two rooms to sleep, with Naruto and Sasuke sharing the boys' room.
• Sasuke dreamed of fighting a huge yellow fox, then woke when Naruto kicked him in the stomach and shouted his name.