Episode Summaries

As Sakura works on keeping a dying Naruto alive, Tsunade remembers back to the previous Chūnin Exams when the youth gave everyone hope. Tsunade arranges a meeting with Gaara to prepare for the new exams. Kankurō and Temari are unsure of Tsunade's intentions and she reveals her motive behind it is to lure Akatsuki in the open. Gaara proposes the exams be held in Sunagakure, hoping to bring Akatsuki out of hiding, as well as exposing those who are staging a coup d'état against him. The first phase is then decided to be held in Konohagakure while the second phase is to be held in Sunagakure. Tsunade deploys her Anbu to deliver the invitations to the other villages as bait.

At Kumogakure, A is furious at Tsunade's invitation, and wants to keep this a secret from B, although he already found out through Darui. Meanwhile in Kirigakure and Iwagakure respectively, Mei rejects the invitation after consulting with the elder, while Ōnoki also declines, suggesting that the Hokage might be plotting a war. Thus, all of Tsunade's invitations are declined. Elsewhere, Kakashi approaches Amegakure, where he is to meet Hanzō face-to-face.