Recaps

Ya-ya, a talking crow from Konoha, found Sakura, Kiba, and Shino and told them where Naruto Uzumaki’s team was. He left after learning they already knew the location, while anticipating trouble at his next stop.

• A flock of crows arrived at Sakura, Kiba, and Shino’s camp, and Shino prepared his insects while Sakura readied herself for a possible attack.
• Ya-ya emerged from the foliage, complained about Shino’s insects, and argued with Kiba and Akamaru.
• Sakura recognized Ya-ya as a Konoha messenger, and he identified the group and teased them about their appearance and shampoo.
• Ya-ya told Sakura that Naruto Uzumaki’s team was beside a huge building, reachable by following a small river.
• Shino said they already knew the location, and Ya-ya flew off, thinking that his next stop would be tricky.

Ya-ya warned Gaara that Naruto Uzumaki's team was beside a huge structure, while Naruto, Sasuke, Karin, and Hinata waited in their shelter and discussed the case Naruto had solved. Orochimaru approached the shelter underground, and Karin prepared to confront him after the team detected his arrival.

• Gaara caught Ya-ya in a hand of sand, but released the crow after it reported Naruto Uzumaki's team's location.
• Naruto told Karin and Sasuke how Wufu had killed a woman and framed two other men.
• Karin sensed many snakes nearby, while Orochimaru disguised as a Kusagakure kunoichi slipped beneath her barrier toward the Small Wooden House.
• Kurama warned Naruto that a sinister chakra was approaching underground, and Hinata identified the intruder as the Kusagakure kunoichi.
• Karin sent out her Adamantine Sealing Chains and insisted on taking the lead against the intruder.

Orochimaru emerged from underground after Hinata detected him and confronted Karin, revealing that he wanted her. Karin attacked with her Adamantine Sealing Chains, but Orochimaru evaded them and launched a Wind Release: Gale Bullet before Sasuke intervened.

• Orochimaru recalled his deal with Madara, which had earned him ten White Zetsu to study in exchange for revealing Ryūchi Cave's location.
• Hinata warned the others that Orochimaru was coming, and he rose from underground disguised as a female Kusagakure ninja.
• Orochimaru told Karin that he wanted her, prompting her to attack him with her Adamantine Sealing Chains.
• Orochimaru evaded Karin's chains by diving underground and resurfacing elsewhere, then fired a Wind Release: Gale Bullet at her.
• Sasuke appeared in front of Karin with Moonlight and Lightning Chakra Mode and cut through the wind projectile.

Sasuke and Karin fought Orochimaru, who revealed his true identity and threatened to take Karin. Naruto joined the battle with Kurama’s chakra, but Orochimaru used Wood Release against him.

• Sasuke attacked the disguised Orochimaru with Moonlight while Karin shared her sensory perception to help him track their opponent.
• Orochimaru tore off his disguise and introduced himself, then threatened to take Karin as four giant snakes approached the wooden house.
• Minato warned Naruto that Orochimaru was a powerful former Konoha Sannin, and Kurama lent Naruto chakra for a golden Tailed Beast Cloak.
• Naruto attacked Orochimaru with two Rasengan, then boosted Sasuke and Karin with chakra and declared he would become Hokage.
• Orochimaru countered with Wood Release: Cutting Sprigs, and the spikes visibly weakened Naruto’s Tailed Beast Cloak.

Hashirama took control of Naruto to confront Orochimaru, who had targeted Karin and tried to absorb Naruto’s chakra. After Hashirama broke free and questioned Orochimaru about his Wood Release, Orochimaru launched another attack.

• Hashirama recognized Orochimaru as Tsunade’s former teammate and told Naruto that he would take over because Orochimaru was far stronger than Zabuza.
• Orochimaru dismissed Naruto’s claim that his teacher was nearby, then bound him with wooden strips and used a snake to absorb his chakra.
• Naruto opened his eyes with Hashirama in control, broke the wooden restraints, and asked Orochimaru where his Wood Release came from and whether he had harmed Tsunade.
• Orochimaru attacked with Multiple Hidden Shadow Snake Hands, then summoned a chakra-rich snake and used Wood Release: Deep Forest Emergence.

Hashirama took control of Naruto and unleashed a vast Wood Release technique against Orochimaru, overpowering him while demanding news about Tsunade. Orochimaru escaped using a substitution, leaving Hashirama and the young ninja to reckon with the scale of his power.

• Hashirama used Sage Art: Advent of a World of Flowering Trees to overwhelm Orochimaru's Wood Release and protect Naruto, Hinata, Sasuke, and Karin.
• Orochimaru realized that Naruto's possessor was Hashirama Senju and concluded that a passage between the Pure Land and the living world might exist.
• Hashirama asked Orochimaru about Tsunade, and Orochimaru said she was probably gambling and that he had not harmed her.
• Orochimaru explained that his Wood Release came from research on Hashirama's cells, then escaped by using the Orochimaru-Style Substitution Technique.
• Hashirama returned Naruto's body and the others marveled at the transformed terrain, while Izuna remarked on Hashirama's strength.

A massive chakra surge in the Forest of Death prompted an emergency response during the Chunin Exams. Sarutobi saw that the First Hokage was confronting Orochimaru, but cut off the view before Rasa could learn what had happened, leaving Rasa angry and suspicious.

• A barrier-monitoring Chunin detected chakra fluctuations comparable to the Nine-Tails and reported an S-rank emergency in the Forest of Death.
• An ANBU alerted Sarutobi, and Rasa insisted on seeing the situation because Konoha and Sunagakure were jointly hosting the exams.
• Sarutobi used the Telescope Technique and saw Naruto, controlled by the First Hokage, restraining Orochimaru with enormous tree roots.
• Sarutobi cut off the Crystal Ball and told Rasa the incident was an internal Konoha matter that had not affected the other villages' candidates.
• Rasa angrily left the Hokage Office to consult his subordinates, and Sarutobi slumped into his seat with a sigh.

Naruto, Sasuke, Karin, and Hinata resumed the exam after Hashirama’s appearance, while Sasuke’s Sharingan nearly awakened further. Elsewhere, Shikamaru noticed disturbances near Team 7 but stayed focused on finding a scroll, and Neji’s team chose to continue the exam on its own.

• Sasuke’s three-tomoe Sharingan spun as if nearing Mangekyō, but it stopped before awakening.
• Hinata, Karin, and Naruto descended from the tree root in different ways, and Naruto’s glowing wooden steps impressed Hinata while irritating Karin and Sasuke.
• Naruto and Sasuke teased each other, while Karin and Hinata talked about Naruto and then went to help tidy the damaged Small Wooden House.
• Ino tried to get potato chips from Choji, and Shikamaru noticed shaking pebbles and fleeing animals near Naruto’s location but decided not to investigate.
• Neji used his Byakugan to find and defeat another team, then declined Tenten’s suggestion to visit Naruto and the others so his team could continue the exam independently.
• Rock Lee praised Neji’s decision, then accidentally knocked an unconscious opponent out again.

Sarutobi wrote to Jiraiya that Orochimaru had appeared in the village, while Naruto's team and the other Konoha teams spent the exam days gathering scrolls and avoiding conflict. On the fifth day, Shikamaru deduced that the woman who attacked Naruto was likely Orochimaru transformed through self-modification, and Naruto explained that Kurama's chakra had helped him drive the attacker off.

• Sarutobi removed the claim that Orochimaru was dead from his letter to Jiraiya and asked him to return immediately.
• Sakura, Kiba, and Shino defeated three teams and obtained their needed scroll, while Ino-Shika-Cho easily won a scroll from another team.
• On the fifth day, the Konoha 12 except Team Three gathered at Naruto's wooden house and heard that Orochimaru had targeted Karin while disguised as a Grass Ninja woman.
• Shikamaru reasoned that Orochimaru's human experiments likely involved kekkei genkai and that he might have modified himself into a woman.
• Naruto said Kurama had given him enough chakra to unleash a powerful attack that drove Orochimaru away.

After surviving Hashirama Senju’s attack, Orochimaru changed his plans, ordered a White Zetsu to tell Madara that Hashirama had returned, and decided to abandon Otogakure for now. The story then shifted to a werewolf game, where Naruto claimed to be the seer again.

• Orochimaru escaped the destruction in a snake and emerged in his old laboratory in a new body.
• Orochimaru told a White Zetsu that the plan with Rasa would remain, but the Sound Ninja must retreat at the crucial moment.
• Orochimaru ordered the White Zetsu to tell Madara that Hashirama had returned, using the opportunity to test whether Madara was genuine.
• Orochimaru realized Hashirama Senju, Tobirama Senju, and Minato Namikaze were not in the Pure Land, and decided to abandon Otogakure temporarily.
• Naruto claimed to be the seer in the werewolf game, named Sasuke confirmed good, and said Hinata was good as Karin and Sasuke objected to his repeated claim.

Naruto and his group headed for the central tower on the final day of the Forest of Death, where they discovered deadly traps and encountered a team that had been caught by them. They continued toward the tower, expecting to confront whoever had laid the traps in the next stage of the exams.

• Naruto, Shikamaru, Ino, Sasuke, Karin, Hinata, and their companions set out for the central tower with their scrolls.
• Hinata spotted a leaf-covered pit, and Shikamaru triggered a trap that dropped a lethal wooden pillar into it.
• Naruto and the others carefully advanced, with Hinata scanning for danger, and destroyed around a dozen deadly traps.
• Konoha's sensory ninja exposed a three-person team hiding nearby, and the team said the traps had injured one of them.
• Shikamaru let the team move away, then reassured an angry Naruto that they might meet the trap-setters in the next part of the exams.

After passing the second Chunin exam, Naruto and his classmates reunited with Iruka, who told Naruto that the Hokage wanted to see him. Iruka took Team 7 to the Hokage Building, where they waited for an ANBU to notify the Hokage.

• Iruka appeared after the students opened their scrolls and scolded them for gathering together, but confirmed that they had all passed.
• Iruka told Naruto that the Hokage wanted to see him, and Naruto agreed to go with Team 7.
• Naruto arranged a barbecue dinner with his classmates, while Ino urged Iruka to invite Shizuko-sensei and plotted with Sakura to help the two of them.
• Naruto asked Iruka to treat Team 7 to Ichiraku Ramen, and Iruka agreed as a reward for passing the exam.
• Iruka led Naruto, Karin, Sasuke, and Hinata to the Hokage Building, where an ANBU went to notify the Hokage.

Team 7 reported their encounter with Orochimaru to Sarutobi, revealing that he had survived, could use Wood Release, and had become a woman. Sarutobi praised the team and credited them with an A-rank mission, leaving Naruto eager to collect the reduced payment.

• Sarutobi summoned Team 7 and asked Naruto for information about Orochimaru.
• Naruto explained that the Orochimaru they had seen was a strange substitute or clone, not the real one, and added that Orochimaru could use Wood Release.
• Sarutobi recalled Orochimaru's past experiments with Hashirama's cells and wondered whether he had continued them after defecting.
• Naruto revealed that Orochimaru seemed to have changed from a man into a woman, and Hinata confirmed it with her Byakugan.
• Sarutobi praised Team 7 for driving off the S-rank rogue ninja and awarded them credit for an A-rank mission.
• Naruto asked about payment, and Sarutobi sent an ANBU to take him to collect half the usual A-rank reward.

Shizuko and Iruka discussed his students passing the Chunin Ninja Exams and agreed to join their barbecue gathering. They arrived at the restaurant, where Aoi directed them to the students’ unusual private room A-520.

• Shizuko watched Iruka’s class while Iruka reported that all ten exam candidates had passed, though their methods had been somewhat dishonorable.
• Iruka invited Shizuko to the students’ barbecue, and she accepted after noticing he had spent his lunch money treating the students.
• Ino and Karin reviewed the gathering’s details with the group, then led everyone toward the barbecue restaurant.
• Iruka and Shizuko arrived together, and Aoi told them the students were upstairs in private room A-520.

Ino and the other students staged a romantic confession for Iruka and Shizuko, who admitted their feelings and kissed while Naruto and Hinata sang. The celebration ended with the group dancing and eating barbecue, while Hashirama spun Kurama around and Kurama escaped.

• Karin coordinated the students' preparations as Naruto and Hinata rehearsed a song, Kiba and Akamaru put on pink dresses, and the others arranged the room.
• Ino turned off the lights, and the students surprised Iruka and Shizuko with pink lighting, a song, and roses.
• Iruka gave Shizuko the roses and asked her to be with him, and Shizuko hugged and kissed him.
• Sakura made cherry blossom petals fall with a genjutsu, and the students joined Iruka and Shizuko in dancing.
• Hashirama grabbed Kurama and spun him around, but Kurama escaped after Hashirama mentioned Madara.
• Ino announced barbecue, and Shizuko fed Iruka grilled meat while the students teased them.

Jiraiya returned to Konoha after Sarutobi summoned him, but he detoured to investigate a popular hot spring and was caught spying by the Konohamaru Corps. He escaped Izumi using a Substitution Technique.

• Kotetsu Hagane and Izumo Kamizuki stopped a cloaked visitor at Konoha's gate and recognized him as Jiraiya after he showed Sarutobi's token.
• Jiraiya entered Konoha, intending to meet Sarutobi about Orochimaru's return, but stopped to investigate the hot spring.
• Jiraiya overheard visitors praising honey tea from Hikoneko's shop and became interested in trying it.
• Konohamaru, Udon, and Moegi caught Jiraiya spying and tried to summon help.
• Izumi confronted Jiraiya, who threw Konohamaru aside and escaped with a Substitution Technique.

Jiraiya returned to Konoha and was caught by ANBU and Root after fleeing a hot spring, then wrote a self-criticism at the Military Police Force. He reunited with Kakashi and Sarutobi and asked for news about Orochimaru.

• Tenzo trapped Jiraiya with Wood Release, and ANBU and Root members surrounded him at the hot spring.
• Izumi ordered the others to disperse and told Tenzo to restrain Jiraiya, but Jiraiya broke free after hearing he would be taken to the Root Base.
• An ANBU member told Jiraiya that Danzo had died after Root's leadership changed, and Itachi arranged to take Jiraiya to Kakashi and then the Military Police Force.
• Jiraiya wrote several thousand words of self-criticism at the Military Police Force and left with Kakashi.
• Jiraiya asked Kakashi to keep the incident from Sarutobi, then signed Kakashi's copy of Icha Icha Paradise.
• At the Hokage Building, Jiraiya declined Sarutobi's offer to become Hokage and asked what had happened to Orochimaru.

Hiruzen told Jiraiya that Orochimaru had infiltrated the Chunin Exams and planned to gather Konoha’s forces to capture him. He also revealed that Naruto was Minato and Kushina’s surviving child, leaving Jiraiya to accept why he had not been told and Hiruzen to add him to the operation roster.

• Hiruzen recounted Orochimaru’s attack on Team 7 and explained that Orochimaru had gained Wood Release.
• Hiruzen told Jiraiya he planned a large operation to capture Orochimaru, with Konoha’s top fighters joining him.
• Jiraiya summoned a messenger toad and prepared to leave, but Hiruzen told him that Naruto, Minato and Kushina’s child, was in Team 7.
• Jiraiya recalled his grief after Minato’s death and accepted that learning of Naruto’s existence then might have made his pain worse.
• Jiraiya left the Hokage’s office, and Hiruzen checked his name on the operation roster while reflecting on the surprise Jiraiya might face when he saw Minato again.

Naruto praised Konohamaru for stopping Jiraiya from peeping at the women’s hot spring and promised to teach him the Substitution Technique. Jiraiya recognized Tenzo as the Wood Release user and later saw Naruto at sunset, reminding him of Minato.

• Konohamaru told Naruto he had beaten a man sneaking around behind the women’s hot spring, and Naruto praised him.
• Konohamaru asked Naruto to teach him more ninjutsu, and Naruto said he would teach him the Substitution Technique when he had time.
• Jiraiya recognized Tenzo’s Wood Release aura at the Wooden Goods Shop and asked why he was selling wooden goods; Tenzo said he wanted to make money.
• Jiraiya heard Konohamaru speaking with Naruto and hid in the shadows to avoid them.
• Jiraiya saw Naruto in the sunset and briefly mistook him for Minato before realizing who he was.

Jiraiya visited Naruto and discovered that Minato could manifest inside him as chakra. After recognizing Minato’s condition, Jiraiya asked about Naruto’s progress and the Nine-Tails.

• Jiraiya came to Naruto’s door, introduced himself as the Toad Sage, and was invited inside as Naruto’s uncle.
• Naruto served Jiraiya honey tea and claimed that Minato had told him about Jiraiya.
• Jiraiya spat out his tea in surprise when Naruto mentioned Minato, and Naruto grew a wooden board to block the splash.
• Naruto called for Minato, who emerged from his stomach as a chakra manifestation, and Jiraiya recognized his condition.
• Jiraiya asked whether Kushina was present, then asked how Naruto was doing in the Chunin Ninja Exams and whether he had any problems with the Nine-Tails.

Minato told Jiraiya that Naruto had befriended Kurama and was the Child of Prophecy, prompting Jiraiya to offer him a chance to learn summoning at Mount Myōboku. Naruto became interested in the toads after hearing how large and powerful they could be.

• Minato assured Jiraiya that Naruto and Kurama were friends and that Naruto would soon be able to fight alongside the Nine-Tails.
• Jiraiya joked that Naruto might be the Child of Prophecy, and Minato confirmed that Kurama had identified Naruto as the one foretold by the Sage of Six Paths.
• Jiraiya said he would consult the Great Toad Sage and asked whether Naruto had a summoning contract or wanted to study at Mount Myōboku.
• Minato brought Naruto out from behind the couch, and Jiraiya offered to teach him about summoning beasts and Senjutsu.
• Naruto warmed to the idea of contracting with toads after Jiraiya said Mount Myōboku had toads as large as the Nine-Tails.

Naruto signed Mount Myōboku’s Summoning Scroll and tried the Summoning Technique, using a huge amount of chakra. Instead of a giant battle toad, he summoned the Great Toad Sage, leaving Jiraiya and Minato alarmed as Naruto reached toward him.

• Jiraiya summoned Gamachu and obtained Mount Myōboku’s Summoning Scroll for Naruto.
• Naruto signed the scroll in blood, and Jiraiya discovered that his thumb had healed almost instantly.
• Minato moved Naruto, Jiraiya, and Gamachu to the Back Mountain so Naruto could safely try the Summoning Technique.
• Naruto gathered a vast amount of chakra and summoned the Great Toad Sage.
• Minato and Jiraiya rushed to stop Naruto from reaching for the Great Toad Sage.

Minato invited Jiraiya to stay with his family so he could watch over Naruto and assess his strength. At Guy’s training ground, Zabuza warned Tenten, Neji, and Lee about Naruto’s team and advised them to give up if they faced Naruto in the Chunin Exam finals.

• Minato brought Naruto and Jiraiya home and invited Jiraiya to stay with the family, which Jiraiya accepted.
• At the Root Base, Ya-ya told Tenzo that Itachi wanted to see him, and Itachi handed Tenzo Lord Hokage’s plan concerning Orochimaru.
• At Guy’s training ground, Zabuza and Haku watched Guy train while Lee, Tenten, and Neji arrived after the second Chunin Exam.
• Zabuza described Naruto, Sasuke, Karin, and Hinata’s abilities to Tenten and the others.
• Zabuza advised them to give up if they faced Naruto and said that defeating his teammates would also be difficult.

On the morning of the Chunin Ninja Exams' final round, Gaara waited eagerly for a chance to fight Naruto while his siblings and Baki prepared to go to the venue. The chapter ended with Jiraiya waking Naruto at home.

• Konoha passersby discussed the final round and compared Gaara's imposing presence to wild boars.
• Gaara stroked a sparrow in a tree, then went with Kankuro back to the Sand ninja team's lodgings.
• Baki told Gaara to conserve his energy because their operation would begin within days, and Gaara replied that he knew.
• Gaara told Temari that he had killed Kankuro, then threatened to really kill him when Kankuro returned and spoke up.
• Temari and Baki led the Sand team toward the exam venue as Gaara said he wanted Naruto not to disappoint him.
• Jiraiya gently woke Naruto at home.

Naruto arrived at Konoha Arena with Karin and reunited with Sasuke, Hinata, and other examinees as the crowd gathered for the exam. The examinees assembled while Sarutobi and Rasa exchanged remarks in the stands, and Sarutobi remained wary of Orochimaru’s whereabouts.

• Jiraiya left with Tenzo after Tenzo arrived to take him somewhere, and Gamachu closed the door and resumed Jiraiya’s housework.
• Naruto and Karin spotted Hinata and Sasuke outside Konoha Arena, where Sasuke drew attention from the crowd with his confident entrance.
• Naruto called Sasuke “Boar Slayer,” prompting the crowd to laugh until Sasuke activated his Three-Tomoe Sharingan and silenced them.
• Naruto led Team 7 into the exam venue, where twenty-two examinees had gathered, including sixteen from Konoha.
• Rasa told Sarutobi that Konoha deserved its reputation as a cradle of genius, and Sarutobi praised the examinees while wondering where Orochimaru was.
• Naruto greeted Yugao and Hayate, then told Kiba that Jiraiya had taught him a lot; Akamaru looked ready to surrender before the exam began.