Recaps

Hiruzen Sarutobi confronted Danzo over his schemes involving Naruto Uzumaki and warned him to stay in line as the Chunin Ninja Exams approached. Hiruzen organized the exams and assigned the Uchiha Clan to help secure Konoha, then rejected Iruka’s objections to holding them so soon.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi summoned Danzo and showed him a Root ninja, but Danzo denied knowing the man.
• Hiruzen warned Danzo not to target Naruto Uzumaki and threatened to imprison him if he caused trouble; Danzo left in anger.
• Hiruzen ordered a meeting of the jonin to plan the Chunin Ninja Exams and said the Uchiha Clan would handle day-to-day security.
• Kakashi reunited with Guy, who invited him to spar, but Kakashi said he was too tired after his mission.
• Hiruzen explained the exam arrangements to the jonin, then told Iruka the exams would proceed despite his concerns about the new graduates' readiness.

Iruka planned to disguise himself as a Sunagakure ninja and attack Team 7 to test whether they were ready for the Chunin Ninja Exams, but Kakashi forgot to warn them. Sasuke, Naruto, and Hinata signed up for the exams, and Sasuke’s Railgun attack sent Iruka scrambling for his life.

• Iruka convinced Hiruzen Sarutobi to let him test the students by disguising himself as an enemy ninja.
• Kakashi gave Naruto, Sasuke, and Hinata Chunin Ninja Exams registration forms, and all three signed them.
• Kakashi forgot Iruka’s plan after returning to Icha Icha Paradise, leaving Team 7 unaware of the coming attack.
• At a dango shop, Naruto told Sasuke and Hinata to practice the ninjutsu he had taught them for the exams.
• Iruka, disguised as a Sunagakure ninja, provoked Team 7, and Sasuke fired a Railgun coin that narrowly missed him.

Naruto, Sasuke, and Hinata accidentally beat up Iruka, then wandered through Konoha until they found Kankuro confronting Konohamaru. Naruto stopped Sasuke from intervening when a Konoha ninja arrived to defend Konohamaru.

• Sasuke punched Iruka into a house, knocking him unconscious and ending his Transformation Technique.
• Naruto persuaded Hinata and Sasuke to keep quiet about beating Iruka, and the Konoha Military Police later took him to the hospital.
• The three wandered aimlessly through Konoha until Sasuke asked Naruto where they were going.
• Naruto, Sasuke, and Hinata found Kankuro holding Konohamaru, who refused to apologize after their collision.
• Sasuke moved to intervene, but Naruto stopped him and pointed out a Konoha ninja jumping down from a rooftop to defend Konohamaru.

Ebisu demanded that Team 7 rescue Konohamaru, but Sasuke rebuked him and knocked Konohamaru on the head after the boy insulted them. After Ebisu left with Konohamaru, Gaara introduced himself to Naruto and apologized.

• Ebisu ordered Naruto, Sasuke, and Hinata to free Konohamaru, while Kankuro held the boy and Temari objected to Ebisu insulting her.
• Sasuke called out Ebisu for his rude command, and Ebisu recognized Sasuke as Uchiha Fugaku's son and grew nervous.
• Naruto asked Temari and Kankuro to stop bullying Konohamaru, and Kankuro put the boy down.
• Konohamaru ordered Naruto to teach the Sand siblings a lesson, so Sasuke struck him on the head; Ebisu then threatened to report them and escaped with Konohamaru using a smoke bomb.
• Gaara appeared, spoke with Naruto, apologized, and introduced himself as Gaara of the Sand Waterfall.

Gaara introduced himself to Naruto and Sasuke, promised to kill them, and left with the Sunagakure team. Naruto then put Sasuke and Hinata through exhausting training, carrying Hinata home while Enma took the unconscious Sasuke back to the Uchiha Clan.

• Gaara apologized, introduced himself as Gaara of the Sand Waterfall, and told Naruto and Sasuke he would kill them when they met again.
• Temari looked back at Naruto and Sasuke, but neither showed fear as the Sunagakure team left for its Konoha accommodations.
• Naruto confirmed that the visitors had come for the Chunin Ninja Exams and took Sasuke and Hinata to train their ninjutsu until their chakra ran out.
• Naruto continued the training with physical exercises until Hinata collapsed and Sasuke fell asleep from exhaustion.
• Naruto carried Hinata home to the Hyuga Clan, while Enma took Sasuke back to the Uchiha Clan.

Naruto, Sasuke, and Hinata prepared for the Chunin Ninja Exams, then arrived at the exam site and passed its entrance test by noticing the Genjutsu. As the exam began, Sakura Haruno confessed to Sasuke, while Rock Lee was left heartbroken after Sakura rejected him.

• Kakashi reassured Naruto, Sasuke, and Hinata about the exams, then left after Sasuke teased him about Icha Icha Paradise.
• Naruto cooked dinner for Sasuke and Hinata before the three escorted Hinata home and went to sleep.
• Naruto, Sasuke, and Hinata arrived at the exam site and noticed that Genjutsu had altered the room number.
• Izumo Kamizuki and Kotetsu Hagane announced that the applicants who failed to notice the illusion had failed the entrance test.
• Rock Lee asked Sakura Haruno out, but she rejected him because of his thick eyebrows.
• Sakura Haruno confessed to Sasuke, and the heartbroken Rock Lee cracked apart in shock.

Sasuke publicly rejected Sakura’s confession, leaving her devastated as the others headed to the Chunin Ninja Exams. In the examination classroom, Kabuto Yakushi appeared and introduced himself as their senior, while Naruto anticipated that his arrival might lead him to Orochimaru.

• Sasuke failed to recognize Sakura, then bluntly rejected her confession in front of everyone.
• Ino caught the collapsing Sakura, then left with Naruto and Hinata for the exam classroom.
• Rock Lee tried to comfort Sakura, but she told him to get lost and fled; Tenten and Neji dragged the stunned Lee into the examination room.
• Naruto’s group chatted with the Ino-Shika-Cho trio about the Chunin Ninja Exams.
• Kabuto Yakushi interrupted the conversation, and Naruto recognized him and wondered whether Orochimaru would appear next.
• Sasuke asked who Kabuto was, and Kabuto pointed to his Konoha forehead protector as he called himself their senior.

Sasuke repeatedly mocked Kabuto Yakushi for failing the Chunin Ninja Exams and then provoked the other examinees with his arrogance. Ibiki Morino arrived to stop a fight, slammed one attacker into a wall, and announced that the exam was beginning.

• Kabuto Yakushi said he had failed the Chunin Ninja Exams seven times, and Sasuke taunted him for being unable to pass.
• Kabuto Yakushi tried to change the subject by offering information cards, but Sasuke accused him of being a fraud when he asked for Naruto's information.
• Sasuke declared that everyone present except Naruto and himself was trash, drawing hostile looks and prompting one examinee to charge at him.
• Ibiki Morino appeared, warned everyone that fighting would result in disqualification, and threw the attacker against a wall.
• Ibiki Morino ordered the examinees to find their seats and announced that the exam was beginning.

Naruto faced the bizarre written exam and helped Sasuke and Hinata choose to answer its final question. Ibiki Morino revealed that raising a hand to accept the risk was the test’s real measure, and Naruto’s team passed.

• Ibiki Morino explained the written exam rules, and the candidates received nine mind-bending questions before the tenth would be announced.
• Naruto suspected the Konoha Council of Elders had created the questions, answered them, and used the Mind Body Switch Technique to help Sasuke while Hinata copied with her Byakugan.
• Examiners caught several candidates cheating and escorted them from the room.
• Ibiki Morino announced that candidates who refused the tenth question would be disqualified, while those who answered incorrectly would remain Genin for life.
• Naruto raised his hand to answer, and Sasuke and Hinata followed his choice.
• Ibiki Morino declared that everyone who raised a hand had passed and disqualified those who had not.

After passing Ibiki Morino’s test, Naruto, Sasuke, and Hinata followed Mitarashi Anko to the Forest of Death for the second exam. Naruto revealed that he knew about Anko’s Cursed Seal of Heaven, then entered the forest with his teammates, wondering whether he could use Sasuke to draw Orochimaru out.

• Ibiki Morino explained that the first test had judged the examinees’ courage and announced that those who chose to answer had passed.
• Mitarashi Anko arrived and led the successful examinees toward the Forest of Death as the second test’s examiner.
• Naruto recognized the Cursed Seal of Heaven on Anko’s neck and told her he was curious about it, making her suspicious of how he knew.
• Anko explained that each squad needed to collect both a Heaven Scroll and an Earth Scroll within five days and reach the forest’s center.
• Naruto led Sasuke and Hinata into the Forest of Death, considering whether he could use Sasuke to bait Orochimaru.

Naruto waited in the Forest of Death for someone interested in Sasuke, joking about the mysterious threat before Kabuto Yakushi appeared. Before they could confront Kabuto, three Amegakure shinobi demanded their scrolls and made lewd remarks about Hinata and the boys.

• Naruto gave Sasuke the Heaven Scroll and said they should wait for someone to find them.
• Naruto teased Sasuke that the person seeking him wanted his body, leaving Sasuke and Hinata shocked by his description.
• Naruto sensed a familiar chakra, and Kabuto Yakushi arrived, but Naruto, Sasuke, and Hinata distrusted his friendly greeting.
• Three masked Amegakure shinobi emerged, demanded the team's scrolls, and made lewd comments about Hinata and the boys.

Naruto, Sasuke, and Hinata defeated three Amegakure ninja and took the Earth Scroll, but Kabuto Yakushi's presence raised their suspicions. Naruto revealed that Orochimaru was approaching, and the chapter ended as Orochimaru arrived disguised as a woman.

• Naruto attacked the Amegakure ninja who insulted Hinata, and Sasuke and Hinata defeated the other two.
• Sasuke took the Earth Scroll, completing their pair of scrolls for the Chunin Ninja Exams.
• Naruto confronted Kabuto Yakushi about Orochimaru's imminent arrival, and Kabuto realized Naruto had sensed his lord.
• Hinata used her Byakugan to spot Orochimaru approaching, while Naruto reassured her and Sasuke grew excited to meet him.
• Orochimaru appeared in a woman's disguise, leaving Sasuke shocked by Naruto's earlier remarks about his future appearance.

Naruto confronted Orochimaru, who had disguised himself and come to capture Sasuke, and attacked him with powerful ninjutsu. Orochimaru survived Naruto’s assaults and sent Kabuto Yakushi and a giant python after Sasuke and Hinata, leaving the fight with Naruto unresolved.

• Naruto recognized Orochimaru beneath his disguise, shocking Orochimaru and Kabuto Yakushi.
• Naruto struck Orochimaru with an enormous Rasengan, destroying his left arm and blasting a crater into the forest.
• Orochimaru shed his disguise and restored his body by vomiting up a replacement, then sent a giant python and Kabuto Yakushi after Sasuke and Hinata.
• Naruto unleashed Fire and Wind Release attacks, combining them into a tornado that Orochimaru stopped with Triple Rashomon.
• Orochimaru emerged from underground amid the burning wreckage, while Naruto’s confrontation with him continued.

Naruto overwhelmed Orochimaru with a barrage of jutsu and a devastating finishing combo, but Orochimaru survived by escaping through a snake. Naruto then revealed the Sharingan and Byakugan, leaving Orochimaru stunned and questioning everything he knew.

• Naruto immobilized Orochimaru with lightning, genjutsu, and sealing techniques.
• Naruto used Wood Release, summoned a shark to boost his attack, and struck Orochimaru with a powerful Strength of a Hundred punch that destroyed the forest behind him.
• Orochimaru escaped from his severed body through a brown python, and Naruto wondered whether the snake had emerged from an unpleasant route.
• Orochimaru asked how Naruto could use Wood Release, so Naruto showed him the Sharingan and then the Byakugan.
• Orochimaru stared in disbelief at Naruto's bloodline abilities and fell silent.

Naruto revealed that he could help Orochimaru pursue immortality, and Orochimaru accepted his price before Naruto suggested cloning himself and possessing the clone. The chapter ended with Orochimaru agreeing to withdraw from the Chunin Ninja Exams, disrupting Naruto’s plans.

• Orochimaru saw Naruto display both the Sharingan and Byakugan and wondered if he was a mutt.
• Naruto stopped fighting and told Orochimaru he had something he wanted: a way toward immortality.
• Orochimaru planted the Cursed Seal of Heaven on Naruto, but Naruto dispelled it immediately.
• Orochimaru agreed to Naruto’s price without asking what it was.
• Naruto explained that changing vessels damaged Orochimaru’s soul and suggested cloning himself and possessing the clone.
• Orochimaru agreed to withdraw from the Chunin Ninja Exams, leaving Naruto shocked because it disrupted his plan.

Naruto persuaded Orochimaru to abandon his original plan and assist with experiments, including cloning and Uchiha DNA research. They went to see Sasuke and Hinata battling Kabuto Yakushi, where the two Genin overwhelmed him with powerful Railgun attacks.

• Naruto offered Orochimaru a place in his experiments, promising to help obtain Uchiha samples and explore the possibility of producing Sharingan.
• Orochimaru became eager to work with Naruto, and Naruto shared some knowledge of future threats to discourage him from targeting Sasuke as a vessel.
• Naruto declined Orochimaru's offer to call Kabuto back, saying he trusted Sasuke and Hinata to handle the fight.
• Sasuke blasted the giant python's head apart with a Railgun, then he and Hinata attacked Kabuto with successive Railguns.
• Naruto and Orochimaru watched as Kabuto struggled to evade the Genin's attacks, and Naruto explained that their chakra control and training let them use powerful Ninjutsu repeatedly.

Orochimaru left the Forest of Death after agreeing on plans with Naruto, and the Chunin Exam’s third stage began after the examinees were evacuated. Sasuke defeated Akadō Yoroi in the first match, and Naruto stepped forward to face Kankuro.

• Orochimaru gave Naruto a white snake to use for communication, then left the Forest of Death to prepare for the Konoha Crush Plan.
• Anko discovered traces of Orochimaru near the end of the second exam and evacuated the examinees before searching the forest with others.
• Gekko Hayate announced the third exam, and Kabuto Yakushi withdrew, claiming exhaustion and injuries.
• Sasuke Uchiha knocked Akadō Yoroi unconscious with a single uppercut and won the first match.
• Naruto Uzumaki learned that his opponent was Kankuro, told Sasuke they would have hot pot for dinner, and entered the arena.

Naruto defeated Kankuro by smashing both of his puppets, forcing him to surrender and leaving him grieving over the wreckage. The next match began with Hinata facing Neji, and both activated their Byakugan.

• Naruto taunted Kankuro and waited for him to attack first.
• Kankuro summoned Crow, but Naruto destroyed it with one punch and Gekko Hayate stopped its dagger from reaching the spectators.
• Kankuro sent Black Ant after Naruto, but Naruto punched through it, leaving Kankuro unable to continue and forcing him to surrender.
• Kankuro cried as he collected the fragments of his puppets, and Temari came down to help him clear the arena.
• Naruto returned to Sasuke and warned Hinata to surrender if she could not beat Neji.
• Hinata and Neji entered the arena, apologized and exchanged words, then activated their Byakugan as Gekko Hayate started the match.

Hinata fought Neji evenly and used Railgun, but she surrendered rather than strike her older brother. Neji won the match, while Naruto realized Neji had tried to cripple Hinata and grew furious.

• Hinata and Neji exchanged Gentle Fist attacks, surprising Neji and Hiashi with Hinata’s strength.
• Neji used Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms to seal most of Hinata’s arm chakra points, but she forced them open and fired Railgun at him.
• Neji survived Hinata’s Railgun with Rotation, then Hinata fired multiple shots and pinned him with her fingertips at his neck.
• Hinata stopped herself from striking Neji, and Kakashi restrained Neji when he tried to attack her again.
• Hinata surrendered, Neji was declared the winner, and Naruto realized Neji had tried to cripple her.

After Hinata was injured in her match with Neji, Naruto took her home, where the two nearly kissed before Sasuke interrupted them. That night, Naruto met Orochimaru to ask for Kusanagi Swords and then brought up the Akatsuki.

• Naruto healed Hinata after Neji's brutal strikes and took her and Sasuke home for a meal.
• Naruto warned Hinata not to push herself so hard, and the two nearly kissed before Sasuke returned and interrupted them.
• Naruto cooked for Sasuke and Hinata, explained what to watch out for in the upcoming exam, and then went out to meet Orochimaru.
• Naruto asked Orochimaru for several Kusanagi Swords, but Orochimaru said he had no spares available.
• Naruto asked Orochimaru whether he knew about the Akatsuki.

Naruto told Orochimaru that the Akatsuki planned to gather the Tailed Beasts under the direction of Obito Uchiha, who was acting as Tobi, and explained Obito’s motives. Later, Naruto and Orochimaru encountered Baki fighting Gekko Hayate, but Naruto refused to intervene, and Hayate died.

• Naruto told Orochimaru about the Akatsuki’s plan to collect the Tailed Beasts and revealed that its true leader was Obito Uchiha, disguised as Tobi.
• Naruto explained that Obito was pursuing his plan out of one-sided love, leaving Orochimaru baffled.
• Naruto and Orochimaru walked together and discussed a range of subjects until they heard a fight nearby.
• They found Baki overpowering Gekko Hayate, and Naruto declined Orochimaru’s offer to save him.
• Baki threatened to kill Hayate, but Naruto walked away and Orochimaru left the matter to Baki.
• Gekko Hayate died, confused that neither Naruto nor Orochimaru had tried to save him.

After the Chunin Exams elimination round, Kakashi failed to find anything useful to teach Naruto, Sasuke, and Hinata, so the trio trained by fighting Naruto together. Naruto overwhelmed them with his Sharingan, copied Sasuke’s developing technique, and ended the spar with a teasing move that left Kakashi speechless.

• The elimination round ended with Sasuke Uchiha, Naruto Uzumaki, Neji Hyuga, Temari, Gaara, Shikamaru Nara, Shino Aburame, Dosu, Ino Yamanaka, and Kiba Inuzuka advancing.
• Kakashi admitted he had nothing left to teach Naruto or Sasuke and retreated to read Icha Icha Paradise.
• Naruto asked Sasuke and Hinata to attack him together, deflected Hinata’s Railgun coins, and disarmed Sasuke’s Chidori.
• Sasuke used Lightning Release: Chidori Sharp Spear, and Naruto copied it with his Sharingan, blasting a large hole in the ground.
• Hinata attacked Naruto’s chakra points, but Naruto’s Shadow Clone vanished and Naruto caught her with Love Stronger Than Gold Seven-Day Lock.
• Naruto used the same move on Sasuke, while Kakashi watched the destructive spar and questioned whether the genin should take the Chunin Exams.

Naruto Uzumaki overwhelmed Neji Hyuga in the first match of the Chunin Ninja Exams final rounds, using Shadow Clones, explosions, and mist to defeat him. Genma Shiranui stopped the fight and declared Naruto the winner.

• Genma Shiranui started the first match between Naruto Uzumaki and Neji Hyuga.
• Naruto used Shadow Clones and Earth Release: Headhunter Jutsu to evade Neji’s Rotation and counterattack with an explosion.
• Naruto filled the arena with clones, repeatedly exploding them as Neji tried to defend himself with Eight Trigrams Vacuum Palm and Rotation.
• Naruto hid his clones in a dense Hidden Mist Technique and had them swarm and beat Neji.
• Genma Shiranui and nearby Jonin dispersed Naruto’s ninjutsu, and Genma declared Naruto the winner.

Sasuke fought Gaara in the tournament and used carefully aimed shuriken to bypass Gaara’s automatic sand defense. After Gaara shielded himself with a giant sand sphere, Sasuke revealed a Rasengan, shocking Hiruzen Sarutobi and leaving him worried that events were slipping beyond his control.

• Naruto recognized Sasuke versus Gaara as a match that could signal someone was about to make a move.
• Gaara threatened to kill Sasuke, and Sasuke dismissed him as another nutcase before the fight began.
• Sasuke tested Gaara’s sand defense, then used shuriken that ricocheted through the air to attack from blind spots.
• Sasuke charged Gaara with Chidori, but Gaara used Shukaku’s power to form a giant sand sphere that resisted the strike.
• Sasuke formed a Rasengan, stunning Hiruzen Sarutobi as Orochimaru watched Sasuke with interest and then backed down after Naruto and Uchiha Itachi warned him with their stares.

Sasuke used the Rasengan to push Gaara toward a Tailed Beast Transformation, prompting the Sunagakure and Otogakure forces to launch the Konoha Crush Plan. As the village fell into chaos, Naruto sent Sasuke and Hinata after Gaara and watched the Four Violet Flames Formation with Uchiha Fugaku.

• Sasuke drove his Rasengan into Gaara’s sand sphere, and the terrifying sounds from inside made the spectators panic.
• Kabuto Yakushi cast the Temple of Nirvana Technique, and Sunagakure and Otogakure ninja attacked as smoke covered the stands.
• Baki signaled Kankuro and Temari to take Gaara away, while Sasuke left the arena and joined Naruto.
• Naruto told Sasuke and Hinata they could pursue Gaara, and both chose to go after him.
• Uchiha Fugaku assumed Naruto had orchestrated the attack to overthrow Hiruzen Sarutobi, but Naruto told the Uchiha to watch the Four Violet Flames Formation with him.