Episode 394
The story travels back to the time after Sasuke's defection from the Leaf and before Naruto's return from his two-year training journey with Jiraiya.
Episode 395
The Hidden Leaf begin preparing for the Chunin Exams. Ino and Choji ask Sakura to join their three-man team as a stand-in for Shikamaru, who is already a chunin.
Episode 396
The Chunin Exams finally begin and the proctor for Round One is none other than Shikamaru!
Episode 397
The genin are unable to figure out the answer and start to panic.
Episode 398
On the night before the Second Exam, the entrants gather in the cafeteria, and a brawl breaks out.
Episode 399
The Second Exam finally begins! To pass this stage, each team must take possession of both the Heaven and Earth scrolls and make it to the designated site in the center of the Demon Desert within 72 hours.
Episode 400
Noting the similarities of their circumstances, Lee is outraged at the ones who hurt and belittled Shira and sets out in pursuit!
Episode 401
Lee challenges Shira to a battle between taijutsu users!
Episode 402
Kiba and his team are in pursuit of Hidden Grass Ninja who have stolen their scroll!
Episode 403
Episode 404
As the team prepares for dinner, Tenten pulls out a scroll that contains all the ingredients for okonomiyaki.
Episode 405
An ancient ruin in Demon Desert comes crumbling down during the battle for the scrolls.
Episode 406
Ino, Sakura and Choji trudge across a desert under the blazing sun without any provisions. Ino and Sakura are arguing when a giant scorpion attacks and injures Sakura.
Episode 407
As Ino and her team head toward an oasis, they are attacked by a team of Sand Shinobi comprised of Ameno, Shishio, and Kouji.
Episode 408
Sakura and her team continue their trek across the desert towards the goal. Their continuous battles have depleted Sakura's chakra, so they stop to rest. Just then, they encounter a puppet manipulated by a rival team from the Sand and end up being discovered.
Episode 409
Ino and Choji fight to protect an immobilized Sakura although they have depleted most of their chakra due to the relentless fighting.
Episode 410
Sand Jonin Fugi sneaks into the Demon Desert and creates a massive sandstorm in order to assassinate Gaara, the Fifth Kazekage.
Episode 411
Gaara heads out to rescue Matsuri and the others but is attacked by a mysterious priest who binds him with a Chakra Chain to capture his Tailed Beast.
Episode 412
Neji and the team come across Matsuri collapsed in the desert and find out that Gaara is in danger. Meanwhile, the chains of a mysterious priest bind Gaara and Foo.
Episode 413
Gaara meets with Fugi, the mastermind behind the assassination attempt on his life. He confides that perhaps, after all the fear and pain he has wrought upon the Sand, he has no right to be their leader.
