Chapter Summaries

Xia Mu defeated Neji by exploiting Rotation’s weakness, then sparred with Might Guy using the Third Gate. After celebrating with the others, Xia Mu and Tenten went on a date and ran into Team 7 playing cards.

• Rock Lee defeated Tatsuya Yamashiro, and the two exchanged promises to train harder before Tatsuya reunited with Megumi Kato.
• Tenten decisively defeated Megumi Kato, then Neji challenged Xia Mu to a rematch.
• Xia Mu used Shadow Clones and Earth Release to disrupt Neji’s attacks, break Rotation, and win the fight.
• Xia Mu opened the Third Gate and sparred with Might Guy, impressing Rock Lee and the other spectators.
• The group celebrated at a barbecue restaurant, where Rock Lee got drunk and demonstrated Drunken Fist before Might Guy took him home.
• Xia Mu and Tenten went for a date and encountered Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura playing cards.

Xia Mu teased Team 7 about Naruto and Sasuke’s accidental kiss before criticizing their handling of the Land of Waves mission as reckless and unsuccessful. Team 7 accepted that they had made serious mistakes, and Sasuke challenged Xia Mu to a fight.

• Xia Mu and Tenten met Naruto, Sakura, and Sasuke, who recounted Team 7’s Land of Waves mission and Zabuza and Haku’s deaths.
• Xia Mu jokingly claimed Zabuza and Haku were lovers and teased Naruto and Sasuke about their accidental first kiss, while Kakashi joined in and accepted a photograph as blackmail.
• Over ramen, Xia Mu criticized Team 7 for continuing the mission without adequate information and putting their comrades at risk; Kakashi admitted he shared responsibility.
• Xia Mu reminded the team that Sasuke had nearly died and argued they had succeeded only because Haku had spared him, then called the mission a failure.
• Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura accepted Kakashi’s view that they had room to improve, and Sasuke challenged Xia Mu to fight.

Xia Mu defeated Sasuke decisively, then sparred with Kakashi to improve his Lightning Body Flicker and swordsmanship. Sasuke and the rest of Team 7 resolved to train under Kakashi, while Xia Mu returned home to practice in his Gravity Training Room.

• Sasuke challenged Xia Mu at the training ground, but Xia Mu overwhelmed him and forced him to admit defeat.
• Kakashi explained that Xia Mu had trained hard and sought guidance from experienced ninja, while Tenten told Team 7 that Xia Mu had learned Hatake Clan swordsmanship.
• Xia Mu asked Kakashi to teach him Lightning Body Flicker, and the two exchanged fast sword strikes as Sasuke, Naruto, and Sakura watched in amazement.
• Kakashi told Team 7 that Tenten was also stronger than them, and Sasuke and Naruto asked him to teach them while Sakura planned to speak with him privately.
• Xia Mu walked Tenten back to the Ninja Tool Shop, returned home, and entered the Gravity Training Room to practice.

Xia Mu mastered Lightning Body Flicker and prepared for the Chunin Exams while planning to obtain the Flying Thunder God Technique through Aoba Yamashiro’s teammates. He entered the exam hall with Tenten and their friends, where Rock Lee abruptly confessed to Sakura.

• Xia Mu mastered Lightning Body Flicker and continued training with Might Guy’s Team as the Chunin Exams approached.
• Aoba Yamashiro gave Team 9 registration forms, and Xia Mu, Tatsuya Yamashiro, and Megumi Kato adopted green sunglasses as their team symbol.
• Xia Mu recognized Aoba Yamashiro’s teammate Namiashi Raidō and planned to ask him and Genma Shiranui about the Flying Thunder God Technique.
• Xia Mu told Tenten that Namiashi Raidō and Genma Shiranui had learned the technique, and Tenten became eager to pursue it because of her Space-Time Ninjutsu talent.
• Two days later, Xia Mu and Tenten arrived at the registration office with Tatsuya Yamashiro, Megumi Kato, Neji, and Rock Lee, where they spotted Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura outside a classroom disguised by genjutsu.
• Rock Lee stepped in front of Team 7, confessed his feelings to Sakura, and asked her to date him.

Xia Mu and his friends took the Chunin Exam’s written test, using their skills to gather answers while Hiruzen Sarutobi discussed the danger posed by Orochimaru. The group passed and learned the details of the next exam, then Xia Mu criticized Naruto for bragging after handing in a blank paper.

• Xia Mu and Tenten reunited with their friends from Team 8 and Team 10 before Team 7 arrived at the examination room.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi explained to Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu that he was letting Otogakure’s ninja enter the exams to draw out Orochimaru, and decided to summon Jiraiya.
• Ibiki Morino announced the written test, and Xia Mu copied answers from a planted examinee and relayed them to Tatsuya Yamashiro and Megumi Kato while the others used their own abilities.
• Ibiki Morino’s final-question ultimatum rattled some examinees, but Naruto’s declaration that he would become Hokage helped Team 7 stay in the exam.
• After Anko Mitarashi announced the second exam, Xia Mu exposed Naruto for boasting despite submitting a blank paper, and Shino explained that Naruto feared being looked down on.
• Shino declined Xia Mu’s invitation to visit, suggesting that they meet after the exams instead.

Xia Mu recognized Orochimaru disguised as a Kusagakure ninja and exposed him before the second exam began. He fought Orochimaru until his sword broke, and Tenten stepped in with a powerful weapon to help him withdraw.

• Xia Mu watched the disguised Kusagakure ninja and suspected Orochimaru had entered the exam to seek a vessel.
• Xia Mu attacked the disguised ninja, identified him as Orochimaru, and warned Tenten, Shino, Tatsuya, and Megumi to stay back.
• Orochimaru revealed his true face, causing Anko's curse mark to flare as Konoha examiners surrounded him and called for reinforcements.
• Xia Mu fought Orochimaru with the White Fang Sword Style, but Orochimaru survived a near-decapitating strike and countered with his Kusanagi Sword.
• Orochimaru broke Xia Mu's short sword and pursued him, but Tenten used her Dragon's Eye Retractable Sword to drive Orochimaru back and help Xia Mu retreat.

Orochimaru attacked the Chunin Exam, but Xia Mu, Tenten, and Shino resisted him while Anko confronted her former master. Orochimaru escaped before Hiruzen Sarutobi arrived, leaving the exam canceled and Konoha’s leaders impressed by the young ninjas’ strength.

• Tenten equipped her ninja tools and helped force Orochimaru back, while his killing intent left most examinees frozen or unconscious.
• Sasuke resisted Orochimaru’s killing intent, and Anko charged her former master with a forbidden technique before Orochimaru subdued her by triggering her curse mark.
• Xia Mu attacked Orochimaru with his Thousand Blades Demon Blade, and Tenten pulled Anko to safety as Orochimaru survived the strike and escaped.
• Neji, Shino, and Kiba confirmed Orochimaru had vanished, and Hiruzen Sarutobi arrived to assess the frightened examinees and injured Anko.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi praised Xia Mu, Tenten, Shino, and Sasuke for their performance, then canceled the exam and arranged medical care.

After Orochimaru’s attack halted the Chunin Exams, Xia Mu helped Megumi Kato overcome her guilt about failing to treat Anko by encouraging her to seek a summoning contract that could support her team. Megumi asked Kakashi to let her contract the Eight Ninja Hounds, leaving Sakura impressed and frustrated by Megumi’s growth.

• The teachers praised Xia Mu and the other candidates after Hiruzen Sarutobi dismissed them, while the village prepared to search for Orochimaru.
• Kankuro questioned Xia Mu about his Thousand Blades Demon Blade, and Xia Mu revealed Kankuro’s puppet hidden beneath his bandages.
• Xia Mu reassured Megumi that Anko’s cursed seal could not be cured and suggested she pursue a summoning beast to help her friends.
• Megumi decided to ask Kakashi for a contract with his Eight Ninja Hounds, and Tatsuya Yamashiro and Xia Mu accompanied her to Ichiraku Ramen.
• Megumi made her request directly to Kakashi, while Sasuke admired her determination and Sakura compared herself unfavorably to Megumi.

Megumi Kato learned the Summoning Jutsu, bonded with Pakkun, and began pursuing medical training, while Sakura decided to learn Medical Ninjutsu. Xia Mu asked Aoba Yamashiro for help learning the Flying Thunder God Technique, then listened as Neji began explaining the Hyuga clan’s Caged Bird Seal and his father’s fate.

• Kakashi helped Megumi Kato sign the ninja hound contract, and she summoned Pakkun on her first try.
• Pakkun befriended Megumi Kato, agreed to train her tracking skills, and offered the help of the other ninja hounds.
• After seeing Megumi Kato’s progress, Sakura asked Kakashi how she could improve and agreed to learn Medical Ninjutsu.
• Xia Mu asked Aoba Yamashiro to introduce him to Namiashi Raidō and Genma Shiranui so he could seek instruction in the Flying Thunder God Technique.
• Xia Mu trained with Might Guy’s Team and defeated Rock Lee and Neji before Neji asked to confide in him.
• Neji revealed that the Hyuga Branch Family was controlled by the Caged Bird Seal and began recounting how his father had been made a scapegoat.

Xia Mu helped Neji reconsider the Hyuga Clan’s cages and believe he could evolve his Byakugan and change his fate. At dinner, Xia Mu noticed Rock Lee’s poor nutrition was undermining his intense training and urged him to find a solution.

• Neji told Xia Mu about his despair over being trapped by his fate, and Xia Mu said Neji could create his own miracles through clear thinking, strength, and direction.
• Xia Mu proposed that the Hyuga Main Family might have avoided the Caged Bird Seal to preserve the possibility of Byakugan evolution, and Neji accepted the idea as a reason to seek freedom.
• Xia Mu encouraged Neji to pursue Byakugan evolution himself, and Neji thanked him and helped prepare dinner.
• Might Guy, Rock Lee, and Tenten joined Xia Mu and Neji for dinner, where Might Guy noticed Neji had become happier and Neji credited Xia Mu’s advice.
• Rock Lee praised Xia Mu’s cooking, and Xia Mu pointed out that Lee’s poor diet could harm him because of his demanding training.
• Might Guy blamed himself for being unable to provide Rock Lee with enough food, while Rock Lee reassured him and vowed to overcome the hardship.

Xia Mu helped Rock Lee with money, while Neji began planning how to uncover the Hyuga Clan’s history and learned to use his uncle’s concern to secure funds. Meanwhile, Namiashi Raidō and Genma Shiranui entrusted Xia Mu with a scroll containing the Flying Thunder God Technique.

• Xia Mu lent Rock Lee money to address his nutritional needs, and Rock Lee wrote an IOU before leaving.
• Neji considered investigating the Hyuga Clan through outside sources and realized he could pay others to gather information.
• Neji asked Hyuga Hiashi for money to buy food for training, and Hiashi promised him one million ryo each month.
• Aoba Yamashiro introduced Xia Mu to Namiashi Raidō and Genma Shiranui, whom Xia Mu asked to teach him the Flying Thunder God Technique.
• Namiashi Raidō and Genma Shiranui agreed to pass on the technique and gave Xia Mu a scroll.

Xia Mu studied the Flying Thunder God Technique while waiting for the Chunin Exam to resume, then entered the Forest of Death with Team 9. Pakkun tracked nearby teams and led them toward the route where Team 7 and Might Guy’s Team had entered, as Xia Mu worried Orochimaru might target Sasuke and endanger Tenten.

• Aoba Yamashiro gave Xia Mu the Flying Thunder God scroll, and Xia Mu practiced forming its formula but struggled with the precise Chakra control it required.
• Tenten returned, learned Xia Mu had received the technique, and memorized the scroll with him before they bathed together.
• Two days later, the examinees gathered for the resumed exam and underwent inspections to prevent Orochimaru from infiltrating in disguise.
• Xia Mu’s team entered the Forest of Death with the Scroll of Heaven, and Pakkun tracked the other rookie teams while Xia Mu arranged to keep watch for Tenten.
• Pakkun led Team 9 toward the distant route of Team 7 and Might Guy’s Team, and they found a team from a minor ninja village.

Team 7 faced Orochimaru, but Tenten, Neji, and Rock Lee arrived and interrupted his attempt to place a cursed seal on Sasuke. After Orochimaru survived Tenten’s lightning attack and destroyed their escape route, the group fought to stall him, leaving Orochimaru atop a giant summoned python.

• Xia Mu accepted an Earth Scroll from another team while Megumi Kato and Pakkun helped Team 9 search for Tenten.
• Neji sensed Orochimaru attacking Team 7, and Tenten’s team rushed to intervene.
• Orochimaru overwhelmed Sasuke and Naruto, sealed Naruto, and moved to place a cursed seal on Sasuke.
• Tenten struck Orochimaru with Falling Thunder, then summoned Badora to carry everyone away, but Orochimaru’s Kusanagi Sword pierced the eagle and forced them to fight.
• Rock Lee opened the first three Eight Gates as Tenten and Neji attacked Orochimaru, and Sasuke joined them to help stall him.
• Orochimaru summoned a giant python, blocking the group with him standing on its head.

Tenten and the others fought Orochimaru, using ten thousand Explosive Tags to destroy his giant snake but failing to stop him. Xia Mu arrived in time to save Tenten and began battling Orochimaru, who summoned Manda; Xia Mu prepared a spinning water disc to attack the giant snake.

• Pakkun sensed Orochimaru nearby, and Xia Mu learned that Orochimaru had wounded Badora and was fighting Team 7 and Might Guy's Team.
• Tenten covered Orochimaru's giant snake with ten thousand Explosive Tags, blasting it apart, but Orochimaru survived and continued attacking.
• Orochimaru overwhelmed Sasuke, Rock Lee, and Neji as they tried to protect Tenten, until Xia Mu arrived and struck Orochimaru with a powerful kick.
• Xia Mu fought Orochimaru with the Thousand Blades Demon Blade, gaining the upper hand before Orochimaru used a body replacement and summoned Manda.
• Xia Mu formed a spinning disc of water and hurled it toward Manda as the giant snake lunged to bite him.

Xia Mu defeated Manda and overwhelmed Orochimaru with the Sixth Gate’s Morning Peacock, forcing him to retreat. After Kakashi and Anko arrived, the teams rested, discussed their exam progress, and prepared to continue toward the tower.

• Xia Mu sliced Manda in half with Water Disc and fought Orochimaru, steadily suppressing him with his sword and jutsu.
• Tatsuya Yamashiro, Megumi Kato, and Pakkun arrived, and Megumi treated Tenten, Neji, Rock Lee, Sasuke, and Naruto.
• Xia Mu opened the Sixth Gate and battered Orochimaru with Morning Peacock until Orochimaru fled, then Tenten checked Xia Mu for injuries.
• Kakashi and Anko arrived, heard what had happened, and pursued Orochimaru while the teams hid, ate, and recovered.
• Xia Mu explained that Badora had been injured, and Team 9 and Might Guy's Team confirmed they had the scrolls needed to reach the tower.
• Sasuke and Sakura thanked Xia Mu and his companions, and Team 9 and Might Guy's Team left after resting while Xia Mu warned them to stay safe.

After the second exam ended, the candidates began the third exam’s selection matches, where Xia Mu’s allies and rivals fought their way forward. Xia Mu easily defeated Naruto, and Rock Lee’s battle against Gaara continued after Lee opened the Eight Gates.

• Team 8 and Team 10 reached the tower, and Shikamaru told Xia Mu that Sasuke had defeated the Sound Ninja Trio after Team 10 was badly beaten while helping Team 7.
• The second exam ended with twenty-four candidates passing, and Kabuto Yakushi withdrew before Hayate Gekko began the selection matches.
• Tatsuya Yamashiro defeated Kiba with a foul-smelling herring can, while Sasuke, Shino, Shikamaru, Dosu, Kankuro, Megumi, Neji, and Tenten won their matches.
• Xia Mu defeated Naruto by using Chakra Threads to bind him and his Shadow Clones, then pinned him down until Hayate declared him the winner.
• Rock Lee fought Gaara, but his attacks initially failed to break Gaara’s defense; after opening the Eight Gates, Lee broke through and nearly severely injured him.

After Rock Lee was gravely injured in his match against Gaara, Xia Mu secretly planned to heal him with a Senzu Bean after letting him learn from his recklessness. Once the preliminary round ended, Xia Mu warned Kakashi about Orochimaru targeting Sasuke and prepared to devote the month before the finals to researching the Flying Thunder God Technique.

• Tenten grieved over Rock Lee's condition until Xia Mu secretly told her that a Senzu Bean could restore him, but they agreed to keep it secret and let him suffer for a few days as a lesson.
• Ino received a bye, and the twelve finalists drew their matchups; Xia Mu was scheduled to fight Gaara in the sixth and final match, one month later.
• At the hospital, Might Guy urged Tenten and Neji to train for the finals while doctors cared for the unconscious Rock Lee.
• Kakashi questioned Xia Mu about Orochimaru, and Xia Mu explained that Orochimaru had come for Sasuke and had mentioned Itachi; Kakashi left to protect Sasuke.
• Xia Mu rested with Shikamaru, warned him that chaos was approaching, then told Tenten he would spend the month researching the Flying Thunder God Technique, and she offered to bring him dinner.

Xia Mu trained intensively and used the Special Laboratory to make his first progress with the Flying Thunder God Technique, learning to teleport small objects over a hundred meters. After demonstrating it to Tenten, he heard about Jiraiya's bathhouse peeping and decided he wanted to meet him and ask about absorbing natural energy.

• Xia Mu increased his daily gravity training and focused on mastering the Flying Thunder God formula before entering the Special Laboratory.
• Tenten told Xia Mu that Orochimaru had attacked Sasuke and left him with a cursed seal that Kakashi had temporarily suppressed.
• Xia Mu practiced the Flying Thunder God Technique in the Special Laboratory, gradually improving until he could teleport a small object more than a hundred meters.
• After sleeping off his overnight training, Xia Mu visited Tenten and her father, then heard that Jiraiya had been caught peeping into the women's bathhouse.
• Xia Mu showed Tenten how he teleported a shuriken to a marked kunai and offered to teach her the Flying Thunder God formula.
• Xia Mu wondered why Naruto was with Jiraiya and planned to ask Jiraiya about natural energy and Sage Mode.

Xia Mu and Tenten secretly fed Rock Lee a Senzu Bean, restoring him fully and prompting him to promise not to risk his health recklessly again. As the Chunin Exam finals began, Konoha’s hidden tensions grew, and Danzo received Orochimaru at Root.

• Xia Mu and Tenten hid a Senzu Bean in the beef Might Guy brought Rock Lee at the hospital.
• Rock Lee ate the bean, recovered from his injuries, and amazed the doctor and his friends.
• Tenten and Xia Mu warned Rock Lee about his recklessness, and he promised to take better care of himself.
• Rock Lee celebrated his recovery with Might Guy’s team and Xia Mu before Xia Mu resumed training the next day.
• Hayate Gekko’s suspicious death, Kabuto Yakushi’s disappearance, and Sand Ninja activity heightened tension in Konoha as Orochimaru met with Danzo.
• The daimyo of the Land of Fire and the Land of Wind arrived, and Xia Mu and the others entered the venue as the finals began.

The Chunin Exam finals began, with Shino, Megumi Kato, and Shikamaru winning their matches before Tenten defeated Dosu Kinata in a flashy performance. The chapter ended as Sasuke and Neji entered the arena for a highly anticipated Uchiha-versus-Hyuga showdown.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi opened the finals, and Shino Aburame defeated Kankuro after Tenten warned him about Shino's attack from above.
• Megumi Kato defeated Ino Yamanaka with her ninja hounds and Water Release, while Shikamaru Nara beat Tatsuya Yamashiro with his shadow technique and tactics.
• Tenten used her Double Rising Dragon and a Shadow Clone to break Dosu Kinata's bracer and defeat him, earning cheers from the crowd and praise from Xia Mu and her friends.
• Sasuke and Neji entered the arena, each determined to win the match and prove his clan's strength before the assembled spectators.