The Chūnin Exams, Concluded…!! (volume)

The Chūnin Exams, Concluded…!! ( 中忍試験、終了…!! , Chūnin Shiken, Shūryō…!! , Viz: The Chûnin Exam, Concluded…!!) is volume 13 of the Naruto manga.

## Chapter 109
" Tree Leaves, Dancing…!! " ( 木の葉、舞い…!! , Konoha, Mai…!! )

Naruto leaps into the arena to ask Shikamaru why he would forfeit a match he was clearly winning. The observing veteran ninja recognise that Shikamaru was fully aware of his abilities and was not willing to claim victory just to risk his safety in a later match, the true mark of a chūnin . Lee and Guy arrive at the stadium to watch the finals, but are surprised to learn that Neji was defeated by Naruto. Lee is happy for Naruto. With all of the other first-round final matches done, the audience wonders if the remaining match between Sasuke and Gaara will occur. Sasuke arrives with Kakashi at the last moment, allowing the match to proceed.

## Chapter 110
" At Last…!! " ( いよいよ…!! , Iyoiyo…!! )

The audience is glad to finally see Sasuke . Naruto warns him not to lose if they are to fight each other before leaving the arena with Shikamaru . Lee , seeing that Sasuke will get to fight Gaara and that Naruto got to fight Neji , feels jealous that they get to continue their lives as ninja. Gaara walks down to the arena but kills two Kusagakure ninja along the way. Seeing what he has done and knowing he would have killed them if he had come across them first, Naruto and Shikamaru are paralysed with fear as Gaara quietly walks past them.

## Chapter 111
" Sasuke vs. Gaara!! " ( サスケVS我愛羅!! , Sasuke Bāsasu Gaara!! )

As the fight between Sasuke and Gaara commences, Kakashi apologises to Sakura for worrying her by being late. He then remarks to Guy about the Anbu presence in the stadium, Konoha not knowing how or when they will be attacked. Naruto , knowing how dangerous Gaara is, realises that the only person who can currently satisfy his blood-lust is Sasuke. At the same moment, Sasuke begins attacking Gaara fast enough to bypass his Shield of Sand , oddly reminiscent of Lee 's fighting style.

## Chapter 112
" Sasuke's Taijutsu…!! " ( サスケの体術…!! , Sasuke no Taijutsu…!! )

Kakashi explains that, having seen Lee 's fighting style before with his Sharingan , Sasuke has been training this last month to reproduce his speed. Lee knows from prior experience that speed is not enough to defeat Gaara , but Guy recognises that the speed must serve some other purpose. After he continues to be pummelled by Sasuke, Gaara retreats into a Shield of Sand , which he shaped into a sphere, to give himself time to prepare. Sasuke is unable to break through this defence with speed alone. Naruto , worried that Sasuke will be killed, races to the arena to try and stop the match. Kakashi promises that there was a good reason for why they were late.

## Chapter 113
" The Reason He was Late…!! " ( 遅刻の理由…!! , Chikoku no Riyū…!! )

Sealed within his Shield of Sand , Gaara prepares for how he will kill Sasuke . Still unable to pierce it, Sasuke falls back to prepare his own attack. Naruto pleads with Kakashi to end the match, but Kakashi merely tells him to watch. Sasuke readies the Chidori , Kakashi's signature technique that he spent that last month teaching to Sasuke. Combining the Chidori's piercing potential with the speed mimicked from Lee , Sasuke charges at Gaara and breaks through the sphere, surprising all observers.

## Chapter 114
" Assault…!! " ( 強襲…!! , Kyōshū…!! )

Not only did Sasuke 's Chidori pierce the Shield of Sand , but it also managed to damage Gaara . This being the first time he has ever been injured, Gaara is distraught and ends the transformation he was working towards midway. Naruto , despite having worried for Sasuke's safety moments earlier, is suddenly envious. Since Gaara's injury has ruined their original plans, the Suna and Oto try a different approach. A genjutsu is placed over the stadium, putting most of the audience to sleep. The Fourth Kazekage attacks the Third Hokage , beginning the Konoha Crush .

## Chapter 115
" The Chūnin Exams, Concluded…!! " ( 中忍試験、終了…!! , Chūnin Shiken, Shūryō…!! )

Giant snakes begin assaulting Konoha 's borders. In the stadium of the Chūnin Exams finals, the Anbu try to come to the Third Hokage 's rescue. The Fourth Kazekage takes the Hokage hostage and has the Sound Four seal them in, preventing the Anbu's intervention. The Kazekage removes his disguise, revealing himself as Orochimaru , and promises to kill the Hokage, his old master. Meanwhile, the few Konoha ninja in the audience that were able to avoid the sleeping genjutsu prepare to defend the village. Gaara flees with his siblings, and Sasuke follows them to continue the battle they started.

## Chapter 116
" Konoha Crush…!! " ( 木ノ葉崩し…!! , Konoha Kuzushi…!! )

Sunagakure ninja begin invading Konoha , and Konoha's forces respond accordingly. In the Chūnin Exams stadium, the conscious Konoha ninja, despite wishing to try and help the Third Hokage in his fight with Orochimaru , engage the few Otogakure ninja that managed to infiltrate the village earlier. Since Sakura is also awake, Kakashi protects her. He instructs her to wake up Naruto and Shikamaru so that can take part in a mission vital to the village. Meanwhile, Orochimaru is elated that he finally has an opportunity to kill the Third Hokage. The two prepare to fight.

## Chapter 117
" The Mission Given…!! " ( 下された任務…!! , Kudasareta Ninmu…!! )

Kakashi tasks Sakura to pursue Sasuke and stop him from engaging the Three Sand Siblings . He summons Pakkun to guide her and has them wake up Naruto and Shikamaru (the latter of whom is only pretending to be asleep) before sending them on their way amidst an ongoing battle between Konoha and Oto . The Third Hokage prepares for battle. He attacks and Orochimaru summons three coffins . The Third attempts to stop them, but two of the coffins successfully open.

## Author's Note