Chapter Summaries

After Sasuke obliterated the Demon Brothers, Kakashi checked that Hinata could continue the mission and confronted Tazuna for concealing its danger. Tazuna admitted he could only afford a C-rank mission and tried to guilt the team into carrying on, leaving Sasuke furious and Kakashi demanding the full truth.

• Sasuke killed the Demon Brothers with his Railgun, shocking Tazuna and Hinata while Naruto and Sasuke reacted casually.
• Kakashi reassured Hinata and offered to send her back to the village, but she insisted she could continue.
• Kakashi challenged Tazuna to explain why enemies had attacked during a C-rank mission, and Sasuke intimidated him with a series of slaps and color questions.
• Tazuna admitted he could not afford a higher-ranked mission and said his daughter and grandson would suffer if the team abandoned him.
• Sasuke threatened Tazuna after he tried to guilt the team, and Kakashi warned Tazuna to tell the truth before Sasuke attacked again.

After Tazuna admitted that Gato’s shipping company controlled the Land of Waves, Kakashi and Team 7 agreed to continue the mission for an increased fee. Naruto used his Rasengan to propel their boat to shore, where Tazuna arrived seasick and worried about what awaited him.

• Tazuna explained how Gato’s monopoly oppressed the people of the Land of Waves and begged Kakashi’s team to protect him while he built a bridge.
• Kakashi warned Naruto, Sasuke, and Hinata that the mission could be dangerous, and they chose to continue after Tazuna agreed to pay an A-rank fee.
• Sasuke questioned whether Gato might seize the bridge after its completion, but Naruto said their mission only covered protecting Tazuna during construction.
• Naruto used repeated Rasengans to propel the boat across the sea, terrifying Tazuna and leaving the vessel close to breaking apart.
• The team reached the Land of Waves, where Tazuna climbed ashore seasick as the boat broke apart behind them.

Naruto fought Zabuza Momochi, broke the Kubikiribōchō, and used his Byakugan to attack through the Hidden Mist. After Sasuke's blue beam nearly hit him, Zabuza decided the fight was going badly and fled.

• Kakashi warned the group about Zabuza's incoming Kubikiribōchō, and Naruto dodged it before identifying the attacker.
• Zabuza offered to spare Naruto if Kakashi let him take Tazuna, but Kakashi refused and Naruto challenged Zabuza.
• Naruto dodged Zabuza's attacks, stomped the Kubikiribōchō in half, and took the handle half for himself.
• Zabuza created a thick mist, but Naruto saw through it with the Byakugan and slashed Zabuza with the broken sword.
• Sasuke fired a blue beam that exploded against a tree, and Zabuza fled, telling Haku that things looked bad.

Naruto and Team 7 returned toward Tazuna’s home after Zabuza fled, leaving Kakashi and Sasuke stunned by Naruto’s strength. The team stopped when Tazuna warned that a large group of armed enemies was waiting ahead.

• Naruto and Kakashi decided not to pursue Zabuza, who escaped with Haku and planned to recover his Kubikiribōchō after healing.
• Kakashi asked Naruto how strong he was, and Naruto casually claimed he was a little stronger than Kakashi; Hinata privately worried about her weakness after noticing Naruto’s Byakugan.
• Naruto asked Hinata what was wrong and touched her cheek, while Sasuke teased Kakashi about not having a girlfriend and ran off after Kakashi hit him.
• Naruto wondered how to restore the broken Kubikiribōchō as Tazuna hurried back and warned that many enemies had appeared ahead.
• Kakashi told Team 7 to protect Tazuna, and a crowd of armed men emerged from the forest and called for the old man to be killed.

Team 7 fought off Gato’s attackers as Naruto’s Kubikiribōchō restored itself by drinking blood. At Tazuna’s home, Inari insulted Team 7, and Naruto confronted him after Sasuke had already struck him.

• Sasuke stopped Kakashi from acting and drove most of Gato’s attackers away with repeated Great Fireballs.
• Naruto let the broken Kubikiribōchō drink blood until it repaired itself, while Hinata fought alongside Sasuke and Naruto.
• The attackers’ boss was accidentally set on fire, and his underlings stomped out the flames, injuring him in the process.
• Naruto stored the restored Kubikiribōchō in his system space, and Tazuna brought Team 7 to his home, where Inari greeted him.
• Inari mocked Team 7, and Sasuke shoved Tazuna aside and rapped Inari on the head when he refused to apologize.
• Naruto pushed Sasuke aside and confronted Inari, asking whether the boy had a problem with them.

Naruto intimidated Inari into apologizing, then Team 7 trained in the forest while Kakashi guided Hinata toward learning ninjutsu beyond the Hyuga Clan’s techniques. Hinata met Haku, and Naruto arrived to find them chatting before taking her hand and leading her away.

• Naruto frightened Inari into apologizing to Team 7, and Inari ran into the house in tears.
• After Tazuna thanked them and they ate, Kakashi took Team 7 to the forest to train.
• Kakashi assigned Naruto to supervise Sasuke and encouraged Hinata to develop her chakra control and learn ninjutsu beyond the Hyuga Clan’s techniques.
• Kakashi tested Hinata’s chakra affinities and taught her a basic Fire Release Ninjutsu before leaving the three to train.
• Hinata met Haku in the woods, mistook him for a woman, and blushed when he said he was a boy.
• Naruto found Hinata chatting with Haku, took her hand, and led her away to eat.

Naruto worried that Haku might attract Hinata, then trained with Sasuke while Team 7 stayed at the bridge. The chapter ended with Naruto summoning three hideous creatures that sent Sasuke running.

• Naruto pulled Hinata along, while Hinata realized he was flustered about her meeting Haku.
• Zabuza killed two of Gato's men for gossiping about his teeth, then ordered Haku to stop wearing women's clothing and prepare to leave the next day.
• Kakashi watched Team 7 train as construction on Tazuna's bridge progressed, while Naruto secretly fought ranked arena matches.
• Naruto joined Sasuke for a sparring match and nearly knocked him into a tree with a powerful kick.
• Naruto summoned three hideous creatures using Tayuya [Impure World Reincarnation]'s skill, and Sasuke fled from them.

Naruto sensed Zabuza and Haku approaching the bridge, warned the workers, and faced Zabuza with Team 7. After Naruto knocked Zabuza down with Kubikiribōchō, Zabuza sent Haku to fight Sasuke and Hinata and claimed Kakashi for himself, leaving Naruto offended that no one had been assigned to fight him.

• Naruto ended his spar with Sasuke after sensing two approaching enemies, and Sasuke fired a signal flare to alert the others.
• Naruto told the bridge workers to flee and sent Shadow Clones to check on Tazuna's house.
• Zabuza and Haku arrived at the bridge, where Zabuza demanded that Naruto return Kubikiribōchō.
• Naruto tricked Zabuza into rushing him and struck him with the back of Kubikiribōchō, sending him flying and injuring him.
• Zabuza ordered Haku to fight Sasuke and Hinata while he faced Kakashi, leaving Naruto without an opponent.

Naruto battered Zabuza and severed Haku’s arm after Haku tried to intervene, while Sasuke forced Haku out of his ice-mirror technique. As Naruto prepared to finish them, he sensed a masked group of ninja approaching the bridge.

• Naruto repeatedly struck Zabuza with the flat of Kubikiribōchō, then used a Shadow Clone to bat him back and forth.
• Haku trapped Sasuke and Hinata among ice mirrors and attacked them with senbon, leaving both on the defensive.
• Sasuke predicted Haku’s next position and hit him with a Railgun, dislocating his shoulder and driving him from the ice mirrors.
• Haku ran to save Zabuza, but Naruto sent Zabuza flying into him and then severed Haku’s arm.
• Zabuza woke, saw Haku’s severed arm, and threatened Naruto as Naruto prepared to finish them.
• Naruto sensed a large group of animal-masked ninja rushing toward the bridge and wondered who they were.

Naruto and Team 7 faced Root, whose members falsely accused Sasuke and Hinata of abducting Naruto and plotting rebellion. As Kakashi stood against them, Zabuza and Haku tried to escape but were captured, leaving Shimura Agou demanding that Kakashi step aside.

• Naruto sensed more ninja approaching as snow began to fall, and Zabuza told Haku to escape while he stayed to fight.
• Konoha Anbu arrived, but their leader accused the Hyuga Clan and the Uchiha Clan of abducting Naruto and plotting rebellion.
• Naruto recognized the group as Root, and Kakashi stepped in front of Team 7 to stop Shimura Agou from taking his subordinates.
• Zabuza and Haku tried to slip away, but Shimura Agou spotted them and ordered them captured.
• Root bound Zabuza and Haku, severed Zabuza's wrist tendons when he struggled, and Shimura Agou demanded that Kakashi step aside.

Shimura Agou and Root attacked Team 7 to capture Naruto, but Naruto overwhelmed them while Kakashi restrained Agou. The battle left Root devastated, and Agou realized his plan had failed again.

• Shimura Agou ordered Root ninja to capture Naruto, and Naruto sent them flying with the Kubikiribōchō.
• Kakashi stopped Shimura Agou and demanded to know who had sent him, but Agou claimed the attack was a misunderstanding.
• Sasuke and Hinata watched Naruto fight and realized he had held back against Zabuza.
• Naruto used enhancement techniques and an Ultra-Big Ball Rasengan to blast a crater into the bridge, killing or disabling many Root ninja.
• Shimura Agou watched his forces fall and mentally admitted that he had screwed things up again.

Shimura Agou fled after fatally stabbing Haku, leaving Zabuza to grieve as Haku died in his arms. When Gato arrived to taunt Zabuza, Naruto used a mysterious healing technique on him.

• Shimura Agou charged past Naruto and stabbed Haku in the heart before escaping into the sea.
• Haku died after sharing a final moment with Zabuza, who begged Team 7 to save him and then mourned over his body.
• Naruto closed Haku's eyes and left Zabuza alone with his grief.
• Gato arrived with a crowd of subordinates and mocked Zabuza and Haku.
• Naruto used Mystical Palm Technique: Revive on Zabuza, and green chakra began healing his injuries.

Naruto secretly healed Zabuza to use him against Gato, while knowing the excessive Mystical Palm Technique chakra would eventually kill him. After Zabuza killed Gato and his men, he returned to Haku and died beside him.

• Naruto used the Mystical Palm Technique to restore Zabuza enough to fight, unaware that the healing chakra would later destroy his body.
• Zabuza asked Naruto for the Kubikiribōchō and confronted Gato, who ordered his men to attack.
• Naruto fended off a few attackers while Zabuza cut through Gato’s men and killed Gato.
• Zabuza returned the Kubikiribōchō to Naruto, then went to Haku and lay down beside him as the chakra inside him took its toll.

Naruto decided to kill the captured Root ninjas, while Kakashi argued that they should be handed over to the Hokage. After Naruto and Sasuke burned the bodies and Kakashi kept one survivor, the story shifted to Danzo’s Root Base, where a messenger reported that something was wrong.

• Naruto rejected Kakashi’s suggestion to hand the Root ninjas to Hiruzen Sarutobi and ordered all but one killed.
• Sasuke killed a Root ninja, and Hinata tried to kill another but struggled until Naruto finished the job.
• Naruto and Sasuke burned the Root ninjas’ bodies with Fire Style techniques.
• Kakashi decided to keep the last Root survivor and take him back to Konoha after the bridge was finished.
• At the Root Base, a messenger warned Danzo that something was wrong.

After Shimura Agou failed to capture Naruto in the Land of Waves, Danzo learned that his Root operatives had suffered heavy losses and tried to reassure himself that Hiruzen Sarutobi would understand. Team 7 returned to Konoha, where Kakashi presented a Root ninja to Hiruzen, who promised an investigation before angrily summoning Danzo.

• Shimura Agou told Danzo that he had failed to capture the Jinchūriki and recounted what happened in the Land of Waves.
• Team 7 supervised the bridge’s completion, and Tazuna named it the Wave Power Sea Bridge after Naruto rejected his suggestion to carve their names into it.
• Naruto and Sasuke returned to the Uchiha Clan, while Kakashi brought a Root ninja to Hiruzen Sarutobi and reported the attack.
• Hiruzen told Kakashi that the man was not one of his Anbu and promised to investigate who had targeted Team 7.
• After Kakashi left, Hiruzen angrily blamed Danzo for targeting the Jinchūriki and ordered someone to summon him.

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.