Sony BMG, White Lion Records, Jiggiri Records, Bandidaje Records

Months prior to Sasuke defeating him, Orochimaru conducts an experiment where he used lightning to bring a robotic being to life. But he and Kabuto were forced to evacuate when the robot goes berserk and begins to destroy the building. The following day, the robot is found by Itachi and Kisame with Pain repairing it before he instructs Itachi to use the robot to capture Naruto. Sent into Konoha, the robot begins its search for Naruto while attacking several villagers and defeating Team Guy. Naruto himself shows up to stop the robot so that he can get back to training, his clones easily repelled yet manages to force the robot's cloak off. The robot is then revealed to be a mechanical replica of Naruto, whom is named Mecha-Naruto. Mecha-Naruto begins siphoning Naruto's Nine Tails chakra, causing Naruto to lose his strength. Kakashi and Yamato arrive with the former distracting Mecha-Naruto with his Lightning Blade, giving Yamato the opportunity to save Naruto. The trio manage to escape using a secret tunnel and Mecha Naruto responds by destroying the village in an effort to find Naruto. In the Hokage's office, Tsunade devises a plan to lure Mecha-Naruto away from the village: Naruto rides away from the village in a palanquin with Yamato while Choji, Kiba, Neji, and Shikamaru act as bearers and Kakashi as backup. The plan is put into action and Mecha-Naruto starts pursuing the palanquin. Shino, not wanting to be left behind like last time, attempts to distract Mecha Naruto before being defeated. The group decides to escape into the forest with Shikamaru switching places with Kakashi in a futile attempt to defeat Mecha-Naruto. Back at Konoha, Tsunade orders Shizune to request assistance from the Hidden Sand.
Though trapped by Hashirama with the Shinobi Alliance approaching to seal him, a grinning Madara has secretly set his plan into motion. With Yin Kurama explaining to Minato that Obito will survive the extraction process as he still linked to the Gedo Statue inside his body, Obito lies powerless while noting Rin was his only light and hope in life and that the world began to change after her demise. After remembering Nagato's act of betrayal towards him in reviving Konoha's people, Obito finally understands Nagato's reasons for helping Naruto are tied to the teachings of Jiraiya that gave them, hope for a better future. Obito, noting his mentor was also a student of Jiraiya's, resolves to sacrifice himself to revive those who died in the Great Ninja War with the Samsara of Heavenly Life. But Black Zetsu emerges from the ground and grabs Obito, engulfing the Uchiha's body to force him focus the technique on solely Madara as Sai fails to seal him. Though Madara is ecstatic to truly enjoy the thrills of war, his eyes crumble as their living counterparts were not present at the time of his death. Removing his armor after emerging unscathed from the flames of Sasuke's Amaterasu, Madara turns his attention to Hashirama as he activates the stakes he placed on his rival during their fight and siphons the First Hokage's sage chakra. Though Sasuke resorts fighting Madara with his katana, he is easily overwhelmed by the eyeless Uchiha who considers taking the youth's eyes before offering an alliance between them. But Sasuke refuses and Madara overpowers him and the others before setting his sights on the approaching Tailed Beasts. Elsewhere, Kakashi and Minato question just what had happened and Black Zetsu explains that Madara has been fully resurrected.
After Mecha-Naruto defeats Shikamaru, it intercepts the group by firing missiles, forcing them to take a detour into the forest again with Choji and Kiba each attempting to take out the robot but are defeated when their strongest attacks countered. Eventually, the palanquin falling over since no one was holding it in the front, Mecha-Naruto attacks with Neji fending off the robot with his Eight Trigrams Palm Rotation. But Mecha-Naruto uses its amassed speed to counter Neji's defense while knocking him and Yamato out. Though Kakashi decides to battle Mecha-Naruto, he finds himself at a disadvantage against an enemy he cannot copy and quickly defeated. With no more in its way, Mecha-Naruto proceeds to extract the Nine-Tails from Naruto before Gaara appears. However, Deidara appears and mocks Gaara into pursuing him to settle things. But things worsen when Orochimaru summons a snake's stomach around Naruto and his opponent, revealing himself as Mecha-Naruto's creator while reprograming the robot to obey him. But Jiraiya and Gamabunta arrive to free Naruto before Orochimaru takes the two out. Things appeared hopeless until Naruto states that he will not give in until he saves Sasuke, activating a program that Itachi secretly inserted into Mecha-Naruto. Now aiding Naruto, Mecha-Naruto turns on Orochimaru before his creator bisects him in half. Orochimaru then proceeds to activate a switch, summoning a giant robot version of the Nine-Tails to destroy Konoha. Mecha-Naruto encases itself onto Naruto like a suit and both of them fly to Konoha to defeat the Mecha Nine-Tails, but their attacks have no effect. However, ejecting Naruto prior, Mecha-Naruto decides to sacrifice itself to destroy the Mecha Nine-Tails by using the leftover Nine-Tails chakra to fire its Tailed Beast Cannon which destroys both robots. The villagers celebrate Naruto's victory and the side story ends with the village being comically drowned in Gaara's Sand Tsunami.
All the arriving genin wait in line for the first part of the exams, Neji catching Konohamaru posing as Naruto after learning the older ninja has not returned from his training with Jiraiya and would not be attending the Chunin Exam. Soon after, all the participating genin are separated from their teams and placed in three separate rooms to take the test that is concocted by Shikamaru: that those who score high or below average will fail. As the genin of each room try to deduce Shikamaru's test, Sakura and Neji come to the same conclusion that each team's members' points must collectively equal the required score to pass.
As Sakura, Ino, and Choji decide to take an alternate route to the center building to avoid being ambushed again, she collapses due to her ongoing chakra-storing for the Reserve Seal. Coming to after remembering her training with Tsunade, Sakura and her team find themselves confronted by the Hidden Sand's Team Saya. Saya makes it clear that she wants Ino and Sakura to herself, with her team mates Mamushi and Sana going after Choji. Saya quickly places the Leaf kunoichi in a corner when she uses her Puppet Imitation jutsu on Ino after the puppet gets her hair, later having her puppet get a hair sample from Choji as he was overpowering Mamushi and Sana. After deducing Saya's method to be an imitation of her clan's abilities, Ino uses her Mind Transfer jutsu to enter Choji's body to force Saya out of their team mate while Sakura attempts to figure out to hold Choji at bay while maintaining her chakra flow. Elsewhere, having an ulterior motive to test their skills, Sasuke frees Suigetsu so he and Karin can hunt him down. Ultimately, Suigetsu is put into a jelly-like state after being hit by Karin's Adamantine Attacking Chains.
Despite Naruto reaching out to him, Obito attempts to strangle the youth while claiming he has no regrets for the path he has chosen. Frustrated while breaking out of the Uchiha's hold, Naruto punches Obito while telling him not to underestimate the power of everyone. As Naruto forcibly pulls Obito's hand to his side within the Uchiha's mind, the Allied Shinobi Forces succeed in freeing the tailed beasts from the Uchiha's body. Lying on the ground, a defeated Obito looks up to the moon while grieving that he could not fill the hole in his heart. As the tailed beasts thank Naruto while regaining their corporeal forms, Sasuke and the Allied Shinobi Forces decide to kill the weakened Obito before Kakashi returns to their reality to kill his former friend. However, Kakashi is stopped at the last second by Minato who reveals Obito's sudden change of heart. Kakashi puts down his kunai as he tells a doubtful Obito that Naruto would have never ended up like him because he had friends who would help him whenever he faltered. At that time, Naruto proceeds to locate Madara and Hashirama in order to help in sealing the Uchiha. Standing atop the Shinju, Naruto starts to produce a Massive Rasenshuriken - one large enough to illuminate the footprints of his comrades.
As Sakura, Ino, and Choji were about to reach the oasis, they are stopped by Team Ameno. Ameno politely advises the Leaf ninja to hand over their scroll for access to the oasis and any needed medical treatment. But the Leaf gennin refuse with Ino taking initiative before being knocked unconscious by Shishio's sand lions. While Sakura and Choji respectively battle Ameno and Kōji, Shishio infused his chakra onto the ground to cloak his team mates to give them an advantage. Coming to as Sakura and Choji begin losing, Ino uses her sensing ability to alert her teammates of the enemies' location. But after Team Ameno were able to heal their injuries, Shishio creates a sensing barrier to render Ino unable to sense his group. While restrained, Ino forces herself to transfer her teammates' thoughts to one another to help enable to access each other's blind spots to warn each other of incoming attacks. This allows Sakura and Choji to defeat Team Ameno, the former revealing to Ameno that her group already has two scrolls. After the medical ninjas from both teams healed everyone, the two teams part ways with the promise to meet in the next round.
Yin-Kurama asks Minato whether he intended to let Naruto clean up after him, telling him to not to blame himself from his wife's death and that making his son the jinchuriki of Kurama's Yang half turned out good. Now seeing that he could not be careless now that Naruto found a means to injure him, Obito decides to casually begin Project Tsuki no Me by creating a giant flowering tree to wipe out the remaining Allied Shinobi with four Tailed Beast Balls. Furthermore, with Hashirama giving the Shinobi Alliance a plan through a wood clone as he cannot talk Madara into a momentary ceasefire to help them directly, everybody is fenced in by Obito's barrier so that they would not escape. Luckily, on a gambit, Naruto comes up with his own plan and asks Minato to bump fists with him so their respective Kuramas can connect through them. Obito wraps himself in a protective cloak, still berating Minato by reminding him that tomorrow is the anniversary of both his death and that of Kushina. But Naruto injects that the day is birthday while Minato marvels at his grown-up son's courage. Once Naruto and Minato fist-bump, the Allied Shinobi chakra cloaks are rekindled by Kurama's chakra in its entirety. After Naruto provides Sasuke and Jugo with chakra cloaks, Tobirama seeing the boy's chakra dispersal similar to the Shadow Clone Jutsu that he created in his lifetime, Minato uses his son's connection to everyone to teleport them all outside of the barrier. When Minato uses this reprieve so he can tell Naruto his feelings, the youth explains it not necessary as both his father and Kushina already conveyed their feelings to him through their chakra imprints.
Team 8 pursue Team Kazami who, upon realizing they are being followed, uses Burami to remove their scent so Kiba and Akamaru could no longer track them. Furthermore, Shino's insects prove unable to track down the Grass ninja as they left mirages of themselves. As his team-mates discuss their strategy to track down Team Kazami, Kiba is inspired by Naruto's unwavering determination as he vows to retrieve the scrolls the grass ninja have. Team 8's search takes them to the middle of the desert, facing Team Kazami. Despite being outmatched, Shino's plan to fake his teammates' deaths with his insects giving them the advantage as they defeat their respective opponents and gain both scrolls to advance.
As Allied Shinobi Forces watch the Ten-Tails burn, Naruto wanting to extract the Tailed Beasts from it, Sasuke reveals his intention to completely destroy the Ten Tails. But the monster severs the burning part of its body to escape death. Back in the other dimension, after his battle with Kakashi ends with them impaling each other with their attacks, Obito warps back to the battlefield. Seeing Obito return to their reality, lamenting not fighting Hashirama prior and that his apprentice outlived his purpose, Madara forces Obito to use the Samsara of Heavenly Life so he can be resurrected and become the Ten Tails Jinchuriki. Producing a Shadow Clone to help Naruto and Sasuke stop Obito while Hashirama and Tobirama deal with Madara, Minato learns his former apprentice was the masked ninja from the night of his death. But matters worsen when Obito reveals he retained control of himself as he frees the Ten Tails before absorbing it to become a Jinchuriki.
On the second day of the exam, the team of Sakura, Ino, and Choji lost that their provisions in a previous fight and decide to head towards an oasis to replenish themselves. But when Sakura gets into a heated argument with Ino, their group is ambushed by a giant scorpion with Choji overpowered. While Ino did not have enough time to use her clan techniques, Sakura easily kills the creature with a single punch. Afterwards, as they restock their provisions with scorpion meat, Ino heals Sakura's hand while remembering an event in her past after Naruto left the village. Having grown discouraged with the amount of time it would take to master her clan's secret ninjutsu, Ino decides to skip her father's training by using Choji's discharge from the hospital as an excuse. Ino attempts to ask Sakura to join her but is turned down as her friend wanted to train more. Meeting with Asuma and Choji, Ino learns that Shikamaru had turned down the celebratory party for training as well. Eventually, Ino decides to request Tsunade to train her to become a stronger kunoichi. Ino succeeds in becoming Tsunade's second pupil after passing her test to resuscitate an octopus within three months, her progress improving due to her continued rivalry with Sakura. Later, Ino hears Sakura's reason for training and decides to not let time bother her. In the present, after she uses her Medical Water Style: Water Mosquito to extract poison out of a wounded sand ninja out of respect, Ameno and her team decide to go after Sakura's group with knowledge that they are dealing with an apprentice of the Fifth Hokage.
As the Shinobi Alliance fall back when the tailed beasts proceed to fighting Madara head on, Gaara supports Shukaku by immobilizing Madara with their Grand Sand Mausoleum Seal. But Madara uses his Susanoo to escape before the sealing was completed. But Naruto and Kurama leads the counterattack on Madara with the tailed beasts using their tails as whips, forcing Madara to fall back while losing his right arm. A White Zetsu then emerges, giving Madara his original right eye as the Uchiha loops off the entity's arm to serve as a replacement limb while his injuries heal. After inserting his right eye back into its socket, Madara summons the Gedo Statue from Obito's body. Kakashi attempts to stop the statue but only manages to amputate one of its arms. Standing atop the statue, Madara uses his Rinnegan to repel the tailed beasts before having the Gedo Statue unleash its chains to restrain them with the intent to extract Gyūki and Kurama first. Attempting to fight the restraints alongside Killer Bee, Naruto finds he cannot cancel his Tailed Beast Mode. Deeming Naruto's efforts to suppress Kurama's chakra futile, Madara redirects his focus on Shukaku at the White Zetsu's inquiry. But Gaara attempts to use his Desert Hands to save Shukaku to the tailed beast's shock after what he put his former Jinchuriki through. This causes Shukaku to remember his previous Jinchuriki host, Bunpuku and realizes that Gaara is the person whom the One-Tail was told would teach him the meaning of "heart" and "acceptance". Seeing Madara about to use his Susanoo to kill Gaara, Shukaku deflects the attack with his Absolute Defense. But Madara breaks the chain Gaara was holding and reattaches them to resume sealing Shukaku.
Team 8 is ambushed by the Hidden Grass's Team Kazami, who need their Earth Scroll. Kazami takes on Hinata while his team mates Burami and Muyami deal with Kiba and Shino in a scheme to weed out which member of Team 8 has the Earth Scroll. Once Kiba is exposed as the holder of the scroll, Team Kazami lead a joint effort to successfully obtain the Earth Scroll with Burami using his unique Smell Sphere jutsu to immobilize their opponents. But Team 8 manages to fight Burami's jutsu through sheer willpower as Muyami summons a giant mole named Moguranmaru that he and his team mates escape on. Shino managed to plant one of his kikaichū on Moguranmaru so he and his team can pursue Team Kazami, only to nearly get killed in their quarry's quicksand trap. With Team Kazami now out of Hinata's vision, Kiba uses his sense of smell to track the Grass ninja down.

University of New South Wales and Australian Graduate School of Management

As Yōrō and Kegon attempt to convince Fu to go to the tower before Shibuki is brought up, Gaara creates his Third Eye to observe events in the Demon Desert before seeing Team Matsuri heading towards the tower, with Mikoshi informing his team-mates about a plan that would involve them getting the scroll they need. As the team rushes towards the tower, they get noticed by Hōichi. At the same time, Fugi recalls his meeting with Hōichi and their plan to seal Shukaku in a tea kettle, with Gaara being the necessary sacrifice for it, and creates a barrier that overwrites the village's Sensing Barrier with a sandstorm formed in the surrounding area. The headquarters notice the issue, with Kankuro and Temari quickly rounding-up the available troops and leaving to help out the genin who are taking the Chunin Exams in the desert. Meanwhile, two shinobi are seen standing guard in front of Gaara's office, checking up on him so that he wouldn't leave the room, only to be fooled by a Sand Clone. As the sandstorm rages on, many teams collapse from exhaustion, but are eventually saved by Kankuro, Temari and other Sand shinobi. Team Guy manage to shield themselves from the sandstorm. Meanwhile, Team Matsuri are seen struggling, with Mikoshi accidentally falling in quicksand. As his team-mates try to help him get out, Fu overhears them and rushes to their aid, recalling her past and friendship with Shibuki. As Matsuri and Yukata both fall into the sand alongside their team-mate, they are saved by Fu's Blue Joro Spider. Fu uses her healing ability to treat them before being approached by Gaara, who tells her about Naruto and notes her likeness to him. Fu tries to give Matsuri her scroll, but the kunoichi refuses to accept it, recalling the training she had with Gaara. At the same time, Hōichi notices the Kazekage and prepares to attack.

Prabuddha Dasgupta, (Indian Express Interview, 2010.)

As Sakura tries to keep Naruto alive after he lost Kurama, Tsunade remembers a time before the Fourth Great Ninja War when she arranged a meeting with the newly established Kazekage Gaara to stage a Chunin Exam event with Kankuro and Temari wary of the Fifth Hokage's intentions. After Tsunade explained that the new Chunin Exams are to lure out the Akatsuki, Gaara offers his help in her plan as it the event would also weed out conspirators among his people who are staging a coup d'état against him. After arranging the exams to first begin at the Hidden Leaf Village and then conclude at the Hidden Sand, Tsunade sends out the ANBU to deliver invitations to the other Kage. Though each received an invite, Ei, Mei, and Onoki all refuse to have their villages take part in the new Chunin Exams. Elsewhere, Kakashi arrives to the Hidden Rain Village where he encounters Hanzo.
Shukaku stops Susanoo's Sword but Madara sends it towards Gaara who is saved by his sand, which leads Shukaku to tell him not to overdo it but Gaara continues to fight declaring he is now the One-Tail's equal. The tailed beasts are then dragged into the Gedo Statue, Killer Bee severing one of Gyuki's tentacles while Kurama ejects Naruto after telling Gaara to catch the unconscious youth. After the tailed beasts have been sealed into the Gedo Statue, White Zetsu reports that preparations are done at their end, Madara faces Tobirama as Gaara flies Naruto away from the fight. As Madara overpowers Tobirama, Sasuke prepares to join the fray after Hashirama infuses a bit of his chakra in the young Uchiha along with a "technique" to counter Madara's Sage chakra. Though Sasuke attempts his attack with Tobirama providing a distraction, the young Uchiha finds himself suspended in midair before Madara impales him. Elsewhere, Tobi Zetsu appears to assault the Shinobi Alliance using a small version of Hashirama's Wood Style: Several Thousand Hands with Hiruzen fending off the attack. Meanwhile, Orochimaru and Taka take cover to plan a surprise attack while Karin bursts into tears after sensing Sasuke's predicament. At the same time, Gaara brings Naruto to Tsunade with Sakura attempting to keep Naruto alive. However, Tobi Zetsu and White Zetsu reveal that Naruto is on the verge of death since Kurama was extracted from him. As grief overtakes both Sakura and Karin, the two realize that Naruto and Sasuke will both die if things continue like this.
Asuma, Kurenai and Guy are seen observing the sandstorm, noting that postponing the Chunin Exams was a wise decision. As the three approach the desert, they are stopped by Sand shinobi. They try to deceive their way through, only for a respond that the second rounds of the Chunin Exam is under the Sand's jurisdiction. Despite their efforts, a large cloud of sand provides them easy coverage and they quickly run through into the desert. Meanwhile, as the other teams are safely waiting for the sandstorm to subside, Kankuro and Temari, alongside other Exploration Group members, manage to rescue many genin and lead them out to safety. At the same time, a shinobi enters Gaara's office in hopes of reporting the events that are happening in the desert, only for him to notice that the Kazekage had left a sand clone in his place. Meanwhile, the real Gaara encourages Team Matsuri to continue their way through the Chunin Exams. As the three head on, they hear a strange melody and realize that the terrain is not in their favour for an enemy attack. Hōichi animates their shadows, strangling Team Matsuri to call out Gaara. With the jinchuriki's arrival, Hōichi sets his plan in motion and uses his sealing jutsu to latch on to Shukaku in order to pull him out from his jinchūriki. As the Kazekage orders Matsuri, Yukata and Mikoshi to leave, the three decide to head out to the central tower to get help. Despite that, Yukata quickly collapses, leaving Matsuri to go on ahead alone, with Mikoshi staying with Yukata. Meanwhile, a carefree Fu senses Shukaku's plight and comes to Gaara's aid, getting herself electrocuted when she touches the chain. Hōichi realizes Fu is also a jinchuriki and proceeds to extract Chomei alongside Shukaku to test the power of his seal. As the sandstorm subsides, having not been able to tell his team mates prior, Neji finally informs Lee and Tenten that they have two heaven scrolls. Neji then uses his Byakugan to scout the surrounding area, catching the sight of a weary Matsuri. Team Guy reaches her with Lee mistaking Neji's intents and asking if he wants to steal the scroll from a shinobi in danger, only to be corrected by Tenten. As they approach Matsuri, she tells them that Gaara's in danger and asks them to go help the Kazekage in battle.
After learning the nature of the test, Neji devises using wall vibrations to contact Lee and Temari of how to answer. Everyone else soon follow, despite Neji having a confrontation with Sajin. Once genin finish their written tests, Shikamaru presents a second question where each team must name someone in their group who they would sacrifice in a situation that requires a decoy. He adds the decision must be unanimous among each team and that the selected would be disqualified. Meanwhile, after Homura and Koharu relay a warning from Danzō to be wary of the Rain genin, Tsunade becomes more suspicious when Kankuro informs the Hokage that they will look after their Sand genin during the second phase. Back in the test rooms, Neji saw through Shikamaru's trick and left it blank. This act allows Team Guy to pass alongside Team Kurenai, and the team of Sakura, Ino, and Choji when they reached the same conclusion. Sajin and his team are among those eliminated due to choosing Mijin as the decoy. Neji explaining to him that the trick question was to test a team's loyalty towards its members. Temari informs the remaining teams that they are to race to the Hidden Sand Village with the ten teams able to participate in the second phase of the Chunin Exams.
Arriving in the Hidden Rain village, Kakashi gives an Chunin Exam invite to who he believed to be Hanzo. But in reality, no one outside the Hidden Rain aware of the truth that he has been dead for years, "Hanzo" is actually Konan in disguise. Konan tells Pain of the Chunin Exams co-hosted by the Hidden Leaf and Sand villages as she is then ordered send a few genin teams to attend. Receiving "Hanzo's" reply, feeling something is not right, Tsunade tells Shizune to keep tabs on the Hidden Rain genin. At the same time, no longer wanting to live in seclusion, the seven-tailed jinchuriki Fu is allowed to join the Chunin Exam as a genin of the Hidden Water Village by Shibuki, who asks her to conceal her identity. As Gaara confides to Kankuro his intention to peacefully settle things with those conspiring against him, the Hidden Leaf begin to set up their genin teams with Ino, Choji, and Sakura among the hometown candidates before the genin from other villages participating enter Konoha, signifying the start of the Chunin Exams.
While still attending the Ninja Academy at the Hidden Leaf, Hinata is passionately welcomed home by her younger sister Hanabi. Though Hanabi wanted to play with her, Hinata told her she needs to train with their father. The next morning, Hanabi is accompanied by her caretaker Natsu Hyuga in a walk through the village before witnessing Naruto being scolded. Asking Natsu what is going on, Hanabi is told to stay away from Naruto before returning home to finish her work. Afterwards, she peeks on Hinata's training session with Neji before witnessing her father save her sister from their cousin by activating his curse seal. The Hyuga Clan's Elder, noticing that Hanabi was peeking earlier, approaches his granddaughter and explains what had happened as well as the destiny of the Branch Family to protect the Byakugan. Following this event, Hiashi becomes Hinata's sparring partner as it eventually becomes clear to the Elder that Hinata is not fit to be the clan's heiress. When Hanabi's own talents are realized by the Hyuga Elder, and fearing his oldest daughter's inabilities, Hiashi arranges a fight between the two sisters to determine which one of them would be the future heiress. This battle ultimately ends in Hinata's defeat and falling out with her father while Hanabi is declared as the clan's new heiress.
As the five Kage arrive to the battlefield, they note that this is no battle to be lost. Meanwhile, Naruto and Sasuke clash against Obito. As Sakura continues to heal Shikamaru, his treatment progresses little but Sakura promises not to let him die. Just then, Naruto's Version 1 cloak encases Shikamaru which Ino notes was being done subconsciously as an extension of Naruto's will. Shikamaru finally regains some strength and Tsunade arrives completely healing Shikamaru while praising Sakura that she has done well. After speaking briefly with her grandfather, Tsunade and the other Kage rally all the troops around them. Elsewhere in Kamui's dimension, Kakashi is almost ready to return to the battlefield once more. The Alliance then move out to destroy the Ten-Tails' tree form. Responding to his sensei's question, Orochimaru decides to take part as well and proceeds to attack the Ten-Tails with his snakes while Hiruzen destroys one of its branches with Enma's staff form. Tsunade and Sakura attempt to summon one tenth of Katsuyu to aid in the recovery of the Alliance by using their seals together. Naruto and Sasuke continue their clash with Obito who easily evades all of their attacks. Noting it's time for them to sleep, Obito grabs the duo using chakra arms. Naruto and Sasuke are forced out of their Sage Tailed Beast Mode and Susanoo completely. As Obito demands to know why Naruto still fights, he proudly states that never going back on his word is his nindō. Naruto declares that he will sleep tomorrow and dream on his own as Sasuke's Susanoo encases Naruto's Tailed Beast Mode. Elsewhere in Kamui's dimension, while realizing that Obito still possesses his Will of Fire despite his hatred, Kakashi prepares to return to their reality.
After falling into the ruins underground, the teams decided to have a ceasefire to find them. Tenten and Ajisai are forced to co-operate with each other to escape back to the surface. But the two encounter a giant ant that leads them to a giant ant nest where they can escape. But they find that their teams have been ambushed by the giant ants as Team Ajisai and Team Guy face the ant legion to rescue their team mates while simultaneously try to break the wreckage wall. Ajisai attempts to make the wall from her end by sealing big parts of it, but her efforts are not enough as she begs Tenten to help destroy the wreckage wall. Tenten, motivated by Ajisai's words, summons an big amount of water to take out the wall. Once on the surface and reunited with their respective team-mates, Team Guy and Team Ajisai agreed to not continue fighting and instead promised to meet each other in the third exam.
As the genin head into the Demon Desert, Asuma and Kurenai question Sunagakure's approach of forbidding them to enter the desert. Guy receives a message from Tsunade to protect Gaara upon receiving intelligence that the Kazekage's assassins are on the move. Within the desert, having came up a strategy with his team to counter their opponents, Neji is puzzled upon failing to detect the other teams before realizing that he and his team mates are caught in a genjutsu. After breaking free from the genjutsu, Neji detects a Sand team up ahead and Team Guy engages them. However, another Sand genin team led by teenage ninja named Shira arrives and enable their fellow Sand ninja to escape while Shira's teammate Sen places Team Guy in another genjutsu to cover their escape. His team rendezvous with two of the Sand teams with the intent to ensure all Sand Village genin pass, Shira finds himself and his teammates betrayed by Goji and his group. Luckily, Team Guy arrives to their rescue and drive Team Goji off. Questioning Team Shira's motives, Sen reveals to Team Guy that Shira had only recently become a shinobi. Lee sheds light to the mystery of why someone of Shira's calibre had only become a shinobi with an exchange of fists to reach the conclusion that they have a commonality: Both are limited to use only taijutsu.
As Naruto remains determined to convince him to see the error of his ways, Obito begins to reminisce more of his past with Team Minato and how Rin always looked after and truly cared for him. Naruto believes Obito still has bonds with his friends, proven when he remembered his old team-mates to maintain control of his consciousness when the Ten-Tails attempted to consume his mind. Obito is seemingly hesitant whether or not he is doing the right thing. Naruto notes that he won't allow Obito to drag everyone onto his path and continue his plan any longer. Naruto then reaches his hand out to Obito while telling him to accept himself as a shinobi of the Leaf once more and atone for his sins.
Shira accepts Lee's offer to an one on one battle, the appearing to equally on par with one another. But Neji notes that Lee will sustain more damage as Shira has a much superior physique. To make matters worst, Shira disabled lee's chakra flow to keep him using his Eight Gates while resorting to attacking silently to further place pressure on Lee. But remembering one of his training sessions with Guy, Lee is able to predict and counter Shira's moves. His chakra points are ultimately released by Shira, and thus, Lee is able to open the Eight Gates once more. Shira activates the Seven Heavenly Breaths, his own self-made equivalent of the Eight Gates, enhancing his lung capacity and his attacks to another level. Though both now seem evenly matched, Lee soon win activating the Fifth Gate of Limit. Elsewhere, Gaara is informed that Fu's teammates are actually jonin yet orders his people not to convey this information to anyone else as he uses his Third Eye to spy on Team Fu.

“I have no idea why people might like my photographs.

After evading Team Komugi as she considered fighting them below their standards, the Hidden Rain kunoichi Ajisai and her team mates Suiren, and Fuyo are revealed to be participating in the Chunin Exams on orders from Konan to capture a certain jinchuriki while getting intel on the other villages' skilled ninja. Elsewhere, Team Guy prepare dinner at nightfall when Tenten walks off in a huff after Lee unintentionally insulted her while complimenting her usefulness in sealing items. This causes Tenten to remember Guy also complimenting her as she wishes to have her own special technique. The next day, Team Guy and Team Ajisai cross paths with the latter forced to fight the Leaf ninja as Neji uses his Byakugan to track them down. In the ensuing battle, Tenten and Ajisai get trapped deep beneath the ruins with their teams having a ceasefire to find them. Tenten awakens to find herself and Ajisai trapped underground. Tenten walks up to a seemingly unconscious Ajisai to offer water, not knowing the Rain kunoichi plans to strike her with her guard down.

"This Life" by Curtis Stigers & The Forest Rangers

Connected to Obito through his Sharingan, Kakashi indirectly witnesses Sasuke's Susanoo equipping itself onto Naruto's Sage Chakra-enhanced Kurama construct. Obito responds by manifesting a gigantic shield and the Sage of the Six Paths' legendary Sword of Nunoboko. Naruto counters by creating nine Rasengan in Kurama's tails, instructing Sai, Lee, Tenten, Team Asuma and Team Kurenai to enter the tails where they manifest their own Tailed Beast Mode Mantles. As the nine ninja launch the Rasengan at him, Obito begins to have strange visions before the Susano-armored Kurama inflicts the final blow so the tailed beast and Naruto can start freeing the sealed tailed beasts. However, Obito struggles against Naruto in a tug-of-war as Gaara and Killer Bee assist Naruto to pull out the chakra of their respective tailed beasts. The remainder of the Konoha 11, Sasuke, and the Allied Shinobi Forces also join in the effort to pull out the tailed beasts with the Shinju losing its power. Within his subconscious, seeing himself alone against the entire Alliance, Obito begins to contemplate his life choices and what could have been while grappling to what he believed to be regret. Against Kurama's discretion, an empathic Naruto uses the connection to reach Obito's consciousness with the intent to unmask the real "Obito Uchiha."
As Obito lies in defeat, he watches on as Naruto uses his Massive Rasenshuriken to weaken Madara enough for Hashirama to immobilize the Uchiha with Wood Dragons while siphoning his chakra. With Naruto throwing his attack, with Sai escorting him soon after, the Shinobi Alliance march towards Madara's location to help in sealing him away. Meanwhile, Gaara asks Shukaku to aid in the sealing with the One-Tail only agreeing to prove his superiority over Kurama. As the sand-manipulating duo prepare to head out, Son Goku questions the young Kazekage if he is a friend of Naruto. As the tailed beasts begin to move towards the trapped Madara, Gaara recalls his painful childhood as a jinchuriki feared by his people and how that all changed when Naruto became his first friend.
Minato was about to teleport Naruto and Sasuke away from him when Tobirama uses a shadow clone to take the detonating Truth Seeking Ball back to Obito who shields himself from the explosion. Meanwhile, the Allied Shinobi are intimidated while witnessing the god-like battle between Madara and Hashirama until Shikamaru uplifts their morale while telling them that because no matter how little power they have in comparison to the legendary ninja, even the smallest opening could be exploited. After readjusting their plan of attack, Naruto and Sasuke combine their techniques to create an opening but Tobirama and Minato strategically use their Flying Raijin techniques so that the Scorch Style Nimbus Tempest instead hits Obito. But Obito emerges from the flames, unscathed as it is revealed that the Truth Seeking Balls contain Yin-Yang chakra that negates the regenerative abilities of reanimated ninja. Matters are worsened when Naruto's Nine Tails Chakra Mode runs out while Gamakichi makes an attack on Obito with his Starch Syrup Gun before the Summoning Jutsu expires. From there, Obito berates the title of Hokage. But having saw the effect of Gamakichi's attack on Obito's barrier while angered by Obito's words, Naruto, with the help of Tobirama, successfully lands a senjutsu Rasengan on Obito's back. Minato amazes on Naruto becoming a sage like Jiraiya before being suddenly contacted by Yin Kurama, who reminds him that Naruto did manage to befriend his other half.
As Hanabi continues her training with her father after Hinata is left in the care of Kurenai, she thinks to herself that she is destined to be stronger than her sister. A year later, Hanabi is informed by Natsu that Hinata will be participating in the Chunin Exams but notes that it is a waste of time. Later learning her older sister got heavily injured after her match with Neji, Hanabi rushes to the Hospital. Asking why she didn't withdraw, Hinata responds that she is not willing to give up and her ninja way of not going back on her word. Hanabi later attends the Chunin Exams's semifinals with her father to witness Neji's defeat by Naruto. She is later seen training to use the Eight Trigrams Palm Rotation under her father's supervision but fails to master it. When Hanabi watches Hinata train with Neji, she wonders why her sister is so confident despite being deemed a failure by their father. Later upon returning to the village from a trip years later, Hanabi and her father are informed of the Akatsuki's assault on Konoha and that Hinata stood her ground against Pain. Upon realizing Hinata's confidence and determination, Hanabi begins to admire her sister once more and is eager to train with her father to grow stronger herself.
As Naruto reaffirms Obito's existence, the Uchiha says it does not matter anymore as he had transcended into the "Second Six Paths". Refusing to accept Obito's insistence, Naruto tells him they are very similar in many ways yet explains to Obito that no one will accept him because his dream would rob others of their freedom. Obito retorts that it was because of the similarities that he wanted Naruto to see the world as he does and abandon his ideals before suffering from them. Obito also explains, despite Naruto saying he simply running away from life, that he is acting like Hokage to achieve true peace via a short cut. Still adamant in his beliefs, Naruto tells Obito that there was no shortcut to the dream of being Hokage who was a person who was supposed to go before everyone and make the way easier for them to follow.
On Gaara's sand as they make towards the battlefield, the Kage see the Shinju and Katsuyu proceeds to explain the current situation. On ground, as the medical ninja come to Shikamaru's aid after barely surviving the Shinju and all of Katsuyu's extensions have been killed off, Naruto mourns the numerous deaths as Obito attempts to break his will once again while offering to spare those among the surviving Allied Ninja who would no longer resist the Infinite Tsukiyomi. But as his wood clone tells the Allied Ninja not to give in as Orochimaru arrives alongside Suigetsu and Karin, Hashirama continue battling Madara as the Uchiha, intending to take Obito's place once the time comes, reveals that the Shinju will bloom within fifteen minutes. Hashirama then relays the information to everyone via Ino's Mind Transmission to booster the allied ninjas' morale and not to give up. After a Susanoo-clad Sasuke asks him if he had reached his limit while cutting off one of the Shinju's branches, Naruto enters Sage Tailed Beast Mode and his thoughts of not losing anyone else ever again are conveyed to everyone through Ino's jutsu. Not wanting to be outdone, Sasuke has Jugo infuse his Susanoo with natural energy to join Naruto in fighting Obito. But when Hashirama notices the Allied Ninja still having doubts, he has Ino show everyone his memories of the first summit of the five Kage where he told the kage of his time of his dream – to unite the shinobi world. With Hashirama renewing their determination, the allied ninja prepare themselves for battle as the five Kage arrive to the battlefield, all standing on a united front as the First Hokage's dream is realized.
Matsuri offers Team Guy her group's Heaven Scroll in exchange for helping her rescue Gaara from Hōichi, the Hidden Leaf team accepted her request without taking a reward. With Neji using his Byakugan to pinpoint the Kazekage's location, the four decide to go to his aid despite it resulting with them forfeiting the Chunin Exams by default. Meanwhile, Hōichi continues to pull the tailed beast chakra from both Gaara and Fu, the later creating a cocoon from chakra threads to suppress the chakra absorption. Despite Gaara believing no one will come to their rescue, he is astonished to see Fu as hopeful as Naruto that everything will work out. At the same time Kurenai, Asuma, and Guy notice the Kazekage's absence in the village, making them assured that their fear of Gaara setting himself as bait to lure out the enemy was fulfilled. The three then notice Yukata and Mikoshi, struggling in the desert. Meanwhile, Matsuri and Team Guy find the cocoon and Hōichi, playing his biwa. As Yōrō and Kegon arrive, looking for Fū, Neji uses his Byakugan on the cocoon, realizing that both Gaara and Fu's tailed beasts are being extracted. The two jonin ready their weapons against Neji, only for him to convince them to work together. As he devises a plan Yōro, Kegon, Matsuri, and Lee attack Hōichi only for the priest to block their attacks with his barrier. As Matsuri notes that their attacks aren't helping their current situation, Lee assures her that they are just buying Neji and Tenten time. At the same time, Neji uses a chakra sword to pierce through the cocoon. After the first attempt failed, Neji uses his Gentle Fist: Chakra Point Needle a second time to halt the chains. Despite his attempts to stop the chains because they would home on the tailed beast chakra he already obtained, they bound on Hōichi before Neji saves him at Gaara's behest. As Fu thanks Neji for his help, Kurenai, Asuma and Guy arrive to see they had no need to help.

* Shawn Mendes
* Ido Zmishlany
* Scott Harris

Ino manages to break Saya's hold over Choji, allowing him to redirect his charge on Sakura to Team Saya with Saya unable to dodge it. But it turned out that "Saya" is actually a puppet and the leaf gennin decide to continue towards the main tower, Sakura feeling that she is as weak as she was a few years ago to be protected by her team mates. Eventually regrouping with her team, not longer caring for the Chunin Exams, Saya wants revenge on the leaf gennin while they are still exhausted. Team Saya makes their move when Sana uses her Sandstorm jutsu to fence Sakura, Ino, and Choji in so Saya can overwhelm them with her Cursed Sand Puppets. As Choji fends off the dolls, he learns too late that one of them is Mamushi in disguise as he poisons both him and Ino. Sakura, recalling her surgery and the request to Tsunade for an acceptance in the Chunin Exams, manages to replenish her chakra and sends Team Saya flying off in one blow. She then removes the poison from her allies and thanks them for letting her join their team. Elsewhere, while training Naruto, Jiraiya asks Gerotora to weaken Minato's seal so the youth can harness the Nine-Tails's chakra. But this results in Naruto losing control and transforming into his four-tailed jinchuriki form for the first time. By the time Naruto came to on a hospital bed, he finds Jiraiya with a deep scar while assuring the youth that it was not his fault. Jiraiya then asks Naruto if he wishes to give up, Naruto tells him that he won't despite how impossible it seems right now.

International association football competitions hosted by Pakistan

At night in Sunagakure, a masked figure breaks into the Kazekage's office building. Kankuro confronts him and questions the figure's identity. Responding that he seeks to "reform" the Land of Wind, the figure evades Kankuro before forced to use a suicidal attack to take his pursuer down. Luckily, Temari saves her brother in time and the two inform Gaara of the events the following morning. Though his older siblings warn him that the rebel faction is stepping up its efforts against him, Gaara is determined to supervise the Chunin Exams. After reporting to Tsunade at Konoha of how he was unable to infiltrate the village, Kakashi suspects the state of things at Amegakure after having not met Hanzo in person. At the Demon Desert checkpoint in the Land of Wind, Team Kurenai, Team Guy, and the team of Sakura, Ino, and Choji are among those who safely arrive to secure their qualification, with latecomers disqualified and sent back to their respective villages. During dinnertime, a fight breaks out among the genin after the Konoha shinobi accidentally ruined the food with Fu attempting to make peace and friends before everyone left to her dismay. Later, Choji sneaks out to where the jonin are in hopes of getting food. Sakura and Ino follow him, and the three find themselves attacked by a giant scorpion that Fu dispatched. Arriving to the scene, Gaara is amazed that Fu rescued ninja who are not of her village, reminding him of Naruto. The next day, the second phase begins with the roles like the previous previous Chūnin Exam: Some of the teams are given an Earth scroll while the rest are given the Heaven scroll and must fight to possess both to pass.
After an exchange of fists with Shira, Lee reveals that Shira is like him: unable to use ninjutsu and genjutsu. Sen explains to Team Guy how Shira, who was not allowed to attend the Academy, trained on his own in taijutsu before she and Yome noticed him. When Shira accidentally destroyed a boulder that was set to prevent sand erosion, the recently appointed Gaara noticed him and tested his skill. Impressed by Shira's skills, Gaara decides to abolish his father's rule so Shira can become a shinobi from that day forth. After hearing Shira's story, reminding him of his own painful past, Lee runs off to face Goji and his group to demand an apology to Shira. However, Lee finds himself subjected to a genjutsu before his teammates save him. Lee was about to seetle thing when Shira intervenes, stating that he has only himself to blame for not having trained hard enough as he offers his team's scroll to Team Goji. But Goji declines the offer and instead gives Shira his team's scroll. As Team Goji departs, Shira accepts Lee's request for a match.
While Sakura uses Katsuyu to heal the injured members of the alliance, Naruto and Gamakichi jump over the Ten Tails' army of monsters while Sasuke and Aoda push through it. Combining two of their strongest techniques into one attack, the two manage to deal a powerful blow to the Ten-Tails. Meanwhile, Orochimaru, Suigetsu, and Karin arrive at the battlefield where Madara fought the five Kage, where Tsunade is using Katsuyu to heal the other Kage but is too weak from her own injuries to make much progress. Suigetsu and Karin reluctantly help Tsunade recover, and Tsunade is shocked to learn that Orochimaru is alive and helping to save her life. Orochimaru, Suigetsu, and Karin leave to join the main battle while Tsunade stays behind to revive the remaining Kage.

Occidental Studios, North Hollywood, California

With the Allied Shinobi teleported to safety, Kurama allows Naruto to use Sage Mode with his chakra and assumes Tailed Beast Mode as he and Minato attack Obito with renewed vigor. Under both Kuramas' advice, Naruto and Minato fully manifest the foxes as they use a senjutsu Rasengan on Obito. But the attack has no effect as Obito releases the Ten Tails and has it assume its true form: a giant tree whose roots fatally drain caught shinobi of their chakra. Shocked that Obito is actually carrying out Project Tsuki no Me, Madara reveals to Hashirama that the Ten Tails was originally the source of all chakra in the world: The Shinju. Madara proceeds to explain a legend of a princess named Kaguya Otsutsuki eating the chakra-rich fruit of the Shinju to end an epic war ages ago and that the once neutral tree transformed into an embodiment of its wrath after the birth of Kaguya's son: The first human born with chakra who would become the Sage of the Six Paths. As Naruto is saved from the Shinju's roots by Hiruzen, Madara tells Hashirama that he learned the legend from the stone tablet while explaining that the Shinju will could bring the Uchiha Clan's future as its time of blooming will be the moment the Infinite Tsukuyomi begins.
As the other Allied Shinobi wonder about the Ten-Tails's sudden disappearance, Hinata explains to Sakura that the monster's body and chakra were completely absorbed by Obito who became a Jinchuriki rather than perform the Rinne Rebirth for Madara. With him and Tobirama noting the new threat, Hashirama attempts to pin Obito. However, Hashirama's restraints prove useless against Obito as he destroys the Hokages' barrier with his chakra arms. As Minato tries to call out to his former student, and Hashirama unable to avoid an impatient Madara, the other reanimated Hokage start attacking the enemy by using their indestructible bodies to study Obito's power such as his ability to blend multiple chakra natures to produce a multipurpose substance. Minato goes on the front trying to exploit Obito's inability to suppress the Ten-Tails, only for Obito to dodge and grab Naruto and Sasuke by their necks. Luckily, Naruto uses his chakra arms to enable Minato to teleport him and Sasuke to safety as Obito begins to suffer the side effects of the Ten-Tails inside his body. Realizing Obito is open to attack, Minato decides to make his move with Naruto and Sasuke following. However, though his consciousness is being ripped apart by the Ten-Tails, Obito uses his memories of Rin and Team Minato to assert full control and assume a new form similar to the Sage of the Six Paths. Now in full control of himself, Obito forces Minato to teleport back after ripping the Fourth Hokage's arm off. But Sasuke and Naruto then noticed that Obito had attached some of the mysterious substance on Minato's person, which is about to detonate.

The Forest Rangers feat. Battleme & Slash