Recaps

Naoki Senju used Three-Tails-enhanced Water Release and powerful taijutsu to fight Root’s three elite Jonin while avoiding Wood Release. After regrouping, the combatants began a second round, and Naoki struck first by kicking Hyūga Hoheto away.

• Ryūhei Akimichi charged Naoki Senju with Human Bullet Tank, but Naoki knocked him flying with Monster Strength Fist.
• O Inuzuka and Hyūga Hoheto attacked together, but Naoki’s Three-Tails-enhanced Water Formation Pillar blocked the Air Palm and repelled Twin Piercing Fangs.
• Naoki sent a Water Dragon Bullet after O Inuzuka’s ninja dog, and O Inuzuka countered by transforming with his dog into a Double-Headed Wolf.
• Naoki turned the falling water into Water Flow Blade, forcing Hyūga Hoheto to use Rotation; Ryūhei and O Inuzuka then returned to the fight with injuries.
• Naoki began the second round with Wave Riding Strike, rushed between the three Jonin, and used Konoha Strong Whirlwind to send Hyūga Hoheto flying.

Naoki Senju fought Root ninja Ryūhei Akimichi, Hyūga Hoheto, and O as Ryūhei used Chili Pills to unleash the Akimichi Clan’s Butterfly Mode Technique. The chapter left Naoki under a coordinated attack from the transformed Ryūhei and a barely surviving Hoheto.

• Naoki battered Hoheto with a relentless taijutsu combo until Ryūhei intervened with Partial Expansion Jutsu, then broke Hoheto’s jaw as Ryūhei pulled him away.
• Ryūhei swallowed a Chili Pill and put another into the gravely injured Hoheto, while O attacked Naoki to buy time for the pills to take effect.
• Naoki used Water Severing Wave to defeat O’s Fang Over Fang, then delivered a finishing blow after O’s transformation ended.
• Ryūhei’s Chili Pill activated Butterfly Mode, giving him immense speed and strength as he attacked Naoki with Partial Expansion Jutsu.
• Hoheto rose again under the Chili Pill’s effects and struck at Naoki with Eight Trigrams, Air Palm while Ryūhei rushed in from the front.

Naoki Senju used the deaths of three clan-affiliated Jonin to inflame Konoha’s clans against Danzo and create an opening for Tsunade to gain their support. He left Naruto to gather the absent clan students and their families at the Senju Clan Compound.

• Naoki Senju used Nine-Tails chakra to kill Hyūga Hoheto, Ryūhei Akimichi, and an Inuzuka Jonin, then concealed the battle’s traces.
• Naoki Senju expected the three Jonin’s deaths to deepen the clans’ distrust of Danzo and create an opportunity to contact Hana Inuzuka.
• Two days later, many clan students skipped the Ninja Academy as unrest grew between Konoha’s clans and its leaders.
• Naoki Senju considered how Tsunade could ally with the clans and gain enough support to challenge Konoha’s older leadership.
• Naoki Senju promised to help Naruto win over Sakura if Naruto brought the absent classmates and their families to the Senju Clan Compound.
• Naruto agreed to gather them, insisting Naoki Senju keep his promise.

Naruto skipped the Ninja Academy to invite classmates to the Senju Clan Compound, where his big brother Senju planned to host them. Inoichi Yamanaka saw the invitation as a chance for the clans to build trust with Tsunade and went to seek Shikaku Nara’s advice.

• Naruto ate breakfast at Ichiraku Ramen Shop, skipped the Ninja Academy, and went to invite Ino Yamanaka to the Senju Clan Compound.
• Ino refused to go unless Sasuke came, so Naruto promised Sasuke would be there and then ran off to invite Sakura.
• Ino told Inoichi Yamanaka about Naruto’s invitation, leaving out the parts about Sasuke.
• Inoichi realized Tsunade’s initiative could let the clans form an alliance without provoking the Third Hokage, and he went to consult Shikaku Nara.
• Similar discussions took place in the Inuzuka Clan and the Hyuga Clan, while Naruto forgot to invite Shino Aburame.

Hyuga Hiashi decided to pursue an alliance with Tsunade’s faction and sent Neji and Hinata to make contact. As the clan alliance gathered at the Senju Compound, Shimura Danzō ordered Orochimaru to carry out the Konoha Crush Plan within six months and kill Naoki Senju and Tsunade.

• Hyuga Hiashi heard arguments over whether the Hyuga Clan should join Tsunade’s alliance and chose to make preliminary contact through Neji.
• Hyuga Hiashi added Hinata to the delegation, delighting her because she hoped to see Naruto.
• Naruto led young representatives of several clans to the Senju Clan Compound, where Shino followed close behind unnoticed.
• The Sarutobi and Shimura Clans sent no representatives, while Sakura stayed with Sasuke instead of attending.
• Shimura Danzō, furious at the alliance taking shape, ordered Orochimaru to execute the Konoha Crush Plan within six months and target Naoki Senju and Tsunade.

Naoki Senju welcomed representatives from the Hyuga, Nara, and Inuzuka Clans for a meeting with Tsunade about their clans’ relations. After catching Tsunade gambling before the meeting, Naoki helped her prepare, and Shikamaru Nara proved a capable negotiator who gave Naoki little room to gain an advantage.

• Naoki Senju sent Naruto and the other young guests to enjoy a barbecue while he spoke with Neji Hyuga, Shikamaru Nara, and Hana Inuzuka.
• Naoki led the three representatives to Tsunade’s courtyard, where they overheard Tsunade gambling with Shizune and Guren.
• Naoki entered and confronted Tsunade, who tried to pretend she had not been gambling and hurried to prepare for the meeting.
• Naoki invited the representatives inside after Shizune restored Tsunade’s appearance, and Tsunade sat silently at the head of the meeting room.
• Shikamaru responded smoothly during the discussion, leaving Naoki little opportunity to secure greater benefits for the Senju Clan.

Naoki Senju strengthened ties with Konoha's clans and grew closer to Tsunade, who asked him to have a child with her. The next morning, they woke together after an intimate night, and Tsunade revealed she had forgotten she was on her period.

• Shikamaru Nara discussed an alliance between the clans and the Senju Clan with Naoki Senju, while Hana Inuzuka left after talking with him about ninja dogs.
• Tsunade teased Naoki Senju about the women visiting him, and he carried her to her room.
• Tsunade told Naoki Senju she wanted a child, and they spent the night together.
• Tsunade woke late the next morning and told Naoki Senju she had forgotten she was on her period.

Jiraiya reunited with Orochimaru in the Land of Hot Water, learned that his former teammate was using a woman’s body, and admitted that he had lost hope of finding the Child of Destiny. Orochimaru persuaded him to consider returning to Konoha by warning of danger and reminding him that Minato’s son was about to graduate.

• Jiraiya sensed someone approaching while spying near a hot spring and tried to sneak away, but Orochimaru recognized him.
• Jiraiya punched Orochimaru and was startled when Orochimaru emerged from the rubble unharmed.
• Jiraiya deduced from Orochimaru’s body and scent that he was using a woman’s body, and Orochimaru moved away from him.
• Orochimaru asked whether Jiraiya had found the Child of Destiny, and Jiraiya recounted his hopes for Yahiko, Nagato, and Konan.
• Orochimaru claimed he had found a force that could sweep through the Shinobi World in Konoha and urged Jiraiya to return to protect the village.
• Jiraiya resisted until Orochimaru mentioned Minato’s son, then Orochimaru sank into the ground to continue his plans.

Naoki Senju improved Naruto Uzumaki’s appearance and coached him on winning Sakura’s attention while considering who could train him. The next day, Naruto and the major clans’ children returned to the Ninja Academy, where Umino Iruka discovered Naruto was missing.

• The Ino-Shika-Cho Clans opened their secret pharmaceutical laboratory to Konoha Hospital as a gesture of goodwill toward Tsunade.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi restricted Root after Shimura Danzō’s assassination attempt, and the two leaders disagreed over Danzo’s plan to destroy a clan as a warning.
• Naoki Senju persuaded Naruto Uzumaki to get a haircut and makeover by promising it would help him compete with Sasuke for Sakura’s attention.
• Naoki dressed Naruto in black, advised him to act less conspicuously, and considered possible teachers, rejecting the idea of Might Guy because he imagined Naruto wearing a green bodysuit.
• Naruto and the major clans’ children returned to the Ninja Academy, but Umino Iruka realized Naruto had skipped class again.

Naruto returned to class with a dramatic new look, drawing attention from his classmates and newfound interest from the girls. After Sasuke mocked Naruto’s attempt to ask Sakura out, Naruto challenged him to a ninjutsu spar, with Sakura’s affections as the prize.

• Choji woke Naruto during Iruka’s lesson, and Iruka struggled to restore order as the class reacted to Naruto’s changed appearance.
• The girls, including Hinata and Ino, noticed Naruto’s new looks, while Sakura stayed focused on Sasuke.
• After class, Naruto basked in his new attention, then invited Sakura to Ichiraku Ramen, but she repeatedly turned him down.
• Sasuke mocked Naruto for failing to see that Sakura did not like him, and Naruto challenged Sasuke to a ninjutsu spar, declaring that only the winner could pursue Sakura.
• Sasuke accepted Naruto’s challenge and called him the dead last.

Naruto sought Naoki Senju’s help to learn a technique before his Ninjutsu match with Sasuke, hoping to win Sakura’s affection. Naoki brought him to Might Guy for an intense training session, leaving Naruto regretting his decision.

• Naruto considered cheating to beat Sasuke, then decided to ask Naoki Senju to teach him a real Ninjutsu.
• Naoki told Naruto that he could not learn Ninjutsu in two days, but offered another way to prepare for the match.
• Naoki took Naruto to Konoha’s Training Ground Three, where Tenten was practicing and Might Guy and Rock Lee were completing grueling exercises.
• Naoki left Naruto with Might Guy and asked him to train Naruto hard, while arranging a VIP suite at Konoha Hospital in case he got hurt.
• Might Guy enthusiastically introduced himself to Naruto, who immediately regretted asking Naoki for help.

Naruto endured Might Guy’s intense training and received a ninjutsu scroll from him after Kakashi asked Guy to look after Naruto, whom he revealed was Minato Namikaze’s son. The scroll contained the Multiple Shadow Clone Technique, which Naruto hoped would help him defeat Sasuke.

• Naruto recovered overnight as the Nine-Tails’ chakra repaired his exhausted muscles and quietly increased his chakra.
• Naruto tried to skip training, but Might Guy persuaded him to train by promising a powerful ninjutsu that could help him beat Sasuke.
• Kakashi told Might Guy that Naruto was the Fourth Hokage’s child and asked him to keep Naruto active, while warning him to be careful around Naoki Senju.
• Might Guy trained Naruto for six hours, focusing on his conditioning, agility, and reflexes.
• Might Guy gave Naruto the scroll Naoki Senju had asked him to deliver, and Naruto read that it contained the Multiple Shadow Clone Technique.

Kimimaro wiped out a Sunagakure scouting force and was summoned to receive Orochimaru’s Cursed Seal. Naoki Senju met Orochimaru in the Land of Wind, where they discussed plans for Sunagakure and Orochimaru’s research into the Cursed Seal.

• Kimimaro killed a Sunagakure scouting squad, and Orochimaru praised his performance before ordering him to prepare for the Cursed Seal.
• Naoki Senju arrived at Orochimaru’s meeting place in the Land of Wind and learned Orochimaru planned to take Sunagakure and the One-Tail.
• Naoki told Orochimaru that Konoha’s major clans, including the Hyuga Clan, had nominally submitted to the Senju Clan.
• Orochimaru warned Naoki that Kirigakure planned to ally with Konoha and participate in the Chunin Ninja Exams.
• Orochimaru explained that Cursed Seal One could strengthen a genin to chunin level but had a low success rate and could shorten lifespan, and he sought Naoki’s help improving it.

Naoki Senju helped Orochimaru control natural energy during a Curse Mark Stage Two experiment, allowing the test subject to transform without losing control immediately. The subject escaped the operating table and ran into Kimimaro in the passage, where they began to fight.

• Orochimaru showed Naoki Senju cursed seal state one and asked how to improve it; Naoki learned that every state two experiment had ended in failure or monstrosity.
• Naoki agreed to help Orochimaru control natural energy as they began another experiment with Jūgo's cells, while Kabuto Yakushi prepared the test subject.
• The test subject developed state two mutations, and Naoki protected his brain by extracting the natural energy attacking it.
• The test subject used blue jets of flame to break free of his restraints and charged for the passage.
• Kimimaro blocked the test subject's escape, and the two clashed with their bone and arm blades.

Kimimaro recaptured an escaped Cursed Seal test subject, but Naoki Senju revealed that the subject was already dying from the seal's effects. After Naoki and Orochimaru developed a method to protect Cursed Seal bearers, Naoki prepared to return to Konoha, and Kimimaro challenged him to a potentially fatal spar.

• Kimimaro defeated the escaped test subject and brought him back to Orochimaru, only to discover that the subject had died.
• Naoki Senju explained that the Cursed Seal had already devastated the test subject's organs, and Orochimaru told Kimimaro to postpone receiving a seal until it was improved.
• Naoki Senju and Orochimaru spent three days developing a method using ninja tools and medication to limit a bearer's exposure to natural energy.
• Naoki Senju decided to return to Konoha, while Orochimaru continued preparing his plans for the village's leadership.
• Kimimaro challenged Naoki Senju to a spar, and Naoki warned that he might kill him; Orochimaru approved, and Kimimaro's fighting spirit surged.

Naoki Senju defeated Kimimaro while demonstrating his Three-Tails chakra, then discussed Kimimaro’s bloodline disease with Orochimaru. The chapter left Kimimaro loyal to Orochimaru and set to receive the stage-two Cursed Seal, while Orochimaru considered keeping him as a potential vessel for his plans.

• Kimimaro attacked Naoki Senju with Shikotsumyaku techniques, but Naoki countered his assaults and avoided his bone whip.
• Naoki used the Three-Tails’ chakra cloak to seize Kimimaro and throw him before Orochimaru, criticizing Kimimaro’s strength.
• Orochimaru acknowledged Kimimaro’s bloodline disease, and Naoki offered to have Tsunade examine it without promising a cure.
• Naoki and Orochimaru exchanged understanding glances as they maintained their wary alliance and discussed the Konoha Crush Plan.
• After Naoki left, Orochimaru spared Kimimaro and ordered him to recover before receiving the stage-two Cursed Seal.
• Kabuto Yakushi watched Kimimaro display his loyalty to Orochimaru and curled his lips in disdain.

Naoki Senju returned to Konoha and learned that clashes with Kumogakure had put the village on war readiness. Meanwhile, Mei Terumi prepared to lead Kirigakure to Konoha and invited Kumogakure and Iwagakure to join her in an attack.

• Naoki Senju returned to the Senju Clan Compound through Orochimaru's secret passage after finding thirty million in cash among bandits in the Land of Rivers.
• Naoki Senju found medical-nin treating casualties and asked Tsunade whether war had broken out.
• Tsunade told Naoki Senju that Konoha had clashed with Kumogakure scout teams and was on war readiness, and that she had kept his unexplained absence from being treated as treason.
• Mei Terumi prepared Kirigakure's mission to Konoha, intending to use a victory to restore her village's fighting spirit.
• Mei Terumi told Ao to notify Kumogakure and Iwagakure that they could join her in Konoha, with the last village to arrive losing its share.

Hiruzen Sarutobi led Konoha in mourning the forty-three ninja killed in a clash with Kumogakure, using the ceremony to reinforce the village’s unity. The chapter ended with Iwagakure, Kumogakure, and Kirigakure preparing for a much larger war, while Kirigakure planned to infiltrate Konoha during the joint Chunin Ninja Exams.

• Hiruzen Sarutobi recounted how forty-seven Konoha ninja had faced Kumogakure’s scouting force and forty-three had died protecting the Land of Fire’s borders.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi and the gathered Konoha ninja bowed, observed three minutes of silence, and laid white calla lilies at the Konoha Memorial Stone.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi rallied the mourners with the Will of Fire, and the crowd answered with cries of “Konoha.”
• Naoki Senju remained unmoved by the memorial’s patriotic fervor.
• The main forces of Iwagakure, Kumogakure, and Kirigakure began assembling as war approached.
• Mei Terumi planned to use the joint Chunin Ninja Exams to infiltrate Konoha and destroy its command center.

Might Guy secured Team 3’s place in the Chunin Ninja Exams, while Hiruzen Sarutobi and Shimura Danzō learned that several major villages were recalling their Jonin in preparation for a possible war. Hiruzen kept the exams in place and ordered a covert mobilization of Konoha’s forces.

• Might Guy recommended Rock Lee, Neji Hyuga, Tenten, and Naoki Senju for the Chunin Ninja Exams, and the Third Hokage approved Team 3’s participation.
• The Third Hokage selected Teams 1, 3, 5, 6, and 9 for the exams and warned Might Guy to keep his students near Naoki Senju.
• Shimura Danzō brought Hiruzen Sarutobi intelligence that Kumogakure, Kirigakure, and Iwagakure were recalling their Jonin.
• Hiruzen and Danzō recognized the recalls as preparations for a possible large-scale war against Konoha.
• Hiruzen refused to cancel the exams and ordered a secret recall of Konoha Jonin and some Chunin, along with an envoy to contact Ōnoki.

Might Guy prepared Team 3 for the Chunin Ninja Exams with a month of intense training, while Naoki Senju learned Naruto Uzumaki had been skipping training after getting into trouble. Naoki urged Naruto to prove himself by defeating Sasuke, and Naruto left Ichiraku determined to attend training the next day.

• Might Guy announced that Team 3 would stop taking D-rank missions and train intensely for the exams, while Neji's new responsibilities and access to Rotation showed his growing standing.
• Kakashi's concern about Naruto's trouble reached Naoki Senju, who agreed to handle the matter.
• Naoki found Naruto at Ichiraku Ramen Shop, where Naruto admitted he had beaten classmates who mocked him and asked how to make others like him.
• Naoki supported Naruto standing up for himself and told him to defeat Sasuke if he wanted to change how others saw him.
• Naruto regained his fighting spirit and decided he would not miss Team 3's training the next day.

Mei Terumi arrived in Konoha as the great shinobi villages prepared for war, while Naoki Senju and Danzo pursued their own plans. In the Land of Wind, Orochimaru confronted Rasa and summoned the Third Kazekage with Impure World Reincarnation, leaving Rasa enraged and ready to fight.

• Konoha quietly prepared for war as the Third Hokage and Tsunade welcomed Mei Terumi, Ao, and Chōjūrō to the Chunin Ninja Exams.
• Mei Terumi and Naoki Senju exchanged hostile looks, while Naoki resolved to kill Danzo and Hiruzen Sarutobi through the Konoha Crush Plan.
• Orochimaru intercepted Rasa's party in the Land of Wind and provoked Rasa by claiming he had brought an old acquaintance.
• Rasa attacked Orochimaru with Magnet Release: Gold Dust Spear, but Orochimaru escaped using a snake-like substitution technique.
• Orochimaru used Impure World Reincarnation to summon the Third Kazekage, and Rasa vowed to kill him.

Orochimaru used the Third Kazekage and Kimimaro to kill Rasa, the Fourth Kazekage, then fled with Kimimaro after collecting samples from the body. As tensions grew among the hidden villages, Orochimaru continued toward Konoha disguised as Rasa.

• Rasa attacked Orochimaru and the Third Kazekage with Gold Dust, but the Third Kazekage overpowered his Magnet Release and seized control of the dust.
• Rasa briefly regained control and sliced Orochimaru and the Third Kazekage in half, then unleashed Gold Dust Imperial Funeral to finish them.
• The Third Kazekage survived and overwhelmed Rasa with iron sand, while Orochimaru remained hidden and Rasa’s guards were trapped.
• Kimimaro stabbed Rasa from behind with a bone blade, killing the Fourth Kazekage.
• Orochimaru praised Kimimaro’s Cursed Seal State Two, collected samples from Rasa’s body, and escaped with him.
• Orochimaru continued toward Konoha disguised as Rasa while Mei Terumi was already there and Ōnoki and the Raikage remained in their villages.

Ōnoki and the Fourth Raikage weighed how to respond to the threat of war as Kumogakure, Iwagakure, and Kirigakure maneuvered against Konoha. The Chunin Ninja Exams began in Konoha, where the candidates were stopped at the entrance and told they had to answer a question to participate.

• Ōnoki considered whether Iwagakure should guard against Kumogakure or launch a preemptive strike, then chose to gather intelligence first.
• Mabui led Kumogakure's leaders to agree to leave shinobi behind to defend the village while the Fourth Raikage used Killer B's disappearance as an excuse to leave their meeting.
• The Fourth Kazekage arrived in Konoha, and the Chunin Ninja Exams began with teams from several villages, including Gaara, Temari, and Kankuro representing Sunagakure.
• Naoki Senju learned from Tsunade about the approaching war and joined Tenten, Rock Lee, Might Guy, and Neji on their way to the exam venue.
• Kotetsu Hagane and Izumo Kamizuki stopped the candidates at the entrance and announced that they had to answer correctly or fail the exams.

The examinees faced a truth-and-lie question at the Chunin Ninja Exams entrance, where both doors were illusions inside a large-scale Genjutsu. Naoki Senju worked out a question that revealed the correct door, and Neji prepared to use the same loophole to help Rock Lee.

• Kotetsu Hagane announced that examinees had ten minutes to identify the real door by asking one question of either him or Izumo Kamizuki, with one examiner telling the truth and the other lying.
• Oboro of Amegakure and Kifu of Sunagakure each chose the wrong door and were eliminated after discovering that both apparent doors were illusions.
• Kotetsu Hagane explained that the examinees were already inside a large-scale Genjutsu and that the truth-teller and liar could change each time.
• Naoki Senju asked Izumo Kamizuki whether Kotetsu Hagane would say the left door was correct, then opened the left door successfully.
• Tenten used Naoki Senju's method to identify the right door and entered the examination hall.
• Neji figured out the flaw in the test and told Rock Lee to ask him which door to choose.

Ibiki Morino began the first written test of the Chunin Ninja Exams, using impossible questions and strict team rules to test the candidates’ willingness to cheat. Neji and Tenten found ways to obtain answers, while Naoki Senju chose to wait for the final question and sleep.

• Temari recognized the loophole in the door test and saw the Konoha ninja who solved it as a future threat, but doubted Gaara would cooperate with her.
• Ibiki Morino began the written test for the eighty-one remaining candidates, and the proctors warned them against cheating.
• Ibiki Morino explained the team-scoring rules, causing a protesting candidate to be removed and four shorthanded teams to withdraw.
• Ibiki Morino announced that caught cheating cost two points, and candidates suspected that cheating was part of the test’s real challenge.
• Neji used his Byakugan to identify disguised chunin and copied answers, while Tenten used mirrors to find answers and signal Rock Lee.
• Naoki Senju concluded that the final question would test courage and decided to sleep instead of answering the earlier questions.