Kankuro tries to tell Gaara that Naruto and the others started the entire incident. Gaara tells Kankuro to shut up or he’ll kill him. Gaara apologizes to Naruto and the others and takes note of Sasuke’s ability to stop Kankuro with a rock. As Gaara, Kankuro, and Temari leave Sakura stops them and tells they need permission to be in their village. Temari shows them some identification and says they’re from the land of wind. Naruto asks why they’re here and Temari explains they’re here for the chunin exams. Gaara and co. begin to walk away but Sasuke stops them to find out Gaara’s name. Gaara tells him and asks Sasuke’s name. Sasuke tells him and then Gaara and co. walk away. Naruto asks Konohamaru if he seems un-cool and Konohamaru says he isn’t as cool as Sasuke. From a distance, three ninja watch Naruto and co.

The Third Hokage tells everyone in his chambers that it is time to pick the genin who will take part in the chunin exam. He tells the jounin who are in charge of the rookie genin to step forward (Kakashi, Kurenai, and Asuma). The Hokage asks the three if there are any genin they recommend to take place in the genin exam. The Hokage tells them that any genin who has carried out eight or more missions can take place with their sensei’s approval. Iruka thinks to himself that it is way too early for the genin. Kakashi tells the hokage he believes Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura are ready for the exam and recommends them. Asuma and Kurenai go on to recommend all of their genin as well. Iruka tells the Hokage that it is too soon for the genin. Kakashi tells Iruka that when he became a chunin he was six years younger than Naruto is now. Iruka tells Kakashi that Naruto is nothing like him. Kakashi tells Iruka that wiping out on the exams may be good for his students. He then tells Iruka he understands how personal this is for him and is then interrupted by Kurenai who tells Kakashi to back off. Kakashi tells Kurenai that Iruka needs to understand that Naruto and the others are now his students. Iruka says the exams could destroy them. The Hokage says they will hold a preliminary test for the students.

Naruto, Sakura, and Sasuke are waiting at a bridge for Kakashi to show up like always. Kakashi eventually shows up saying he got lost on the path of life. He gives them application forms and says he recommended them for the chunin exams. He then says whoever is ready to take the exams needs to sign the application and come to room 301 at the academy, at 3:00 pm, five days from now.

Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura walk together. Naruto thinks about owning everyone at the chunin exams and becoming hokage. Sasuke thinks about fighting Gaara and Sakura thinks that she’ll never pass because she can’t keep up with Sasuke or Naruto.

Around the village, ninjas from foreign villages are arriving.

The next day, Naruto runs into Konohamaru, Moegi, and Udon. They ask Naruto to play ninja with them and he agrees. A mysterious ninja appears and kidnaps Moegi. The ninja runs away with Moegi and Naruto, Konohamaru, and Udon pursue the mysterious ninja.

Sakura is sitting alone stressing out about the chunin exams when Sasuke appears and says he wants to go on a walk with her.

Konohamaru and Udon get lost because they are unable to keep up with Naruto.

The mysterious ninja lands in an opening and ties Moegi to a tree. Naruto appears and asks him what he is doing. The ninja holds a kunai to Moegi and says if Naruto moves then Moegi will die. The ninja then says he wants the first Hokage’s scroll of sealing and then he’ll let Moegi die.

Sasuke leads Sakura into a foggy portion of the forest and tells Sakura that he wants her to give up on the chunin exams because there is no way for her to pass them. Sakura agrees and then believes that Sasuke is telling her that because he cares. Sasuke says that is true and then a ninja appears. The ninja throws some throwing stars at Sasuke who dodges them and then rushes the ninja. The ninja attacks Sasuke with a barrage of kunais. Sasuke falls to the ground with many kunais in his back. Sakura rushes to his side.

The ninja tells Naruto to hurry up and get the scroll. Naruto asks what will happen if he says no. The ninja says he’ll kill the girl. Naruto asks what girl and the ninja turns around to see straw where Moegi was. The ninja then looks up to see Naruto with Moegi at his side. The ninja goes to attack Naruto but Naruto uses his clones to trap the ninja under a net. Konohamaru and Udon appear and ask to see the ninja. However, the ninja has managed to escape.

Sakura cries over Sasuke’s corpse. The ninja tells Sakura she will end up like that if she takes the chunin exams. Sakura laughs and says she saw through the ninja’s genjutsu from the very beginning. She explains to the ninja that she knows Sasuke would never ask her out or care for her. She then tells the ninja she knows he is an illusion. The ninja laughs and throws an umbrella at her. Sakura walks through the umbrella. The ninja’s illusion then disappears.

Elsewhere, we see Sasuke finishing off another mysterious ninja.

It is now night time and Kakashi is sitting on a roof top. One of the mysterious ninja appears behind Kakashi and Kakashi asks him how it went. The ninja turns into Iruka and Iruka tells him that they have gotten a lot stronger.

In the forest, three genin are discussing the rookie genin taking place in the chunin exam.

It is now the day of registration for the chunin exams. Naruto and Sasuke wait outside the academy for a late Sakura who eventually shows up.

Inside the academy, two ninja are not allowing a boy and his team to enter room 301. The two ninja throw them to the ground and asks them how they are supposed to become chunin if they can’t get through them. Naruto and co. appear and Sasuke tells them to step aside. Sasuke also tells the two ninja that they can see through their genjutsu. Sasuke tells Sakura to explain. Sakura tells everyone that they are really on the second floor (so the room they’re guarding is 201, not 301). One of the ninja attacks Sasuke but the boy getting knocked down by the two ninja earlier intercepts both of their attacks. Sakura is shocked because she was led to believe the boy was a weakling because he was getting knocked around. The boy’s teammate asks him about the plan of not revealing their skill level. The boy introduces himself to Sakura saying his name is Rock Lee. Lee asks Sakura to be his girlfriend and Sakura says no because he is a weirdo.  One of the boy’s teammates walks up to Sasuke and asks for his name which pisses off Naruto. Sasuke says it is common courtesy for the other person to give their name first. Meanwhile, Lee and Naruto lean against the wall crying over how Sakura doesn’t like them and no one wants to know their names. Sakura tells her teammates to come on and the three leave.

From behind a door, the two ninja blocking the door transform into their real forms and say the genin passed their first test-turning in their applications.