A New Chapter Begins: The Chunin Exam!

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A New Chapter Begins: The Chunin Exam!
Premiere date:	20 February 2003
Episode Length:	24.5 minutes
Episode Code:	020
Episode Airdate:	20 February 2003 16 October 2006
Manga Arc:	Chūnin Exam

A New Chapter Begins: The Chunin Exam! (Japanese: 新章突入！中忍試験だってばよ, - Shinshō totsunyū! Chūnin Shiken dattebayo) is episode 20 of the anime series Naruto. The episode's storyline is from the Chūnin Exam manga arc.

[edit] Plot

It's just another day at Konoha. Naruto wakes up like normal, but his house is a mess. Scrolls and books are all over the floor and his table is cluttered with dishes and empty ramen cups. He has a single piece of toast for breakfast and checks his sour milk before drinking it (no doubt trying to avoid what happened in episode 3).

Meanwhile, both Sasuke and Sakura are waiting for him, a sure sign he's late. He finally arrives and Sasuke and him as usual don't get along although Sakura thinks it's strange behavior related to their last mission.

And as usual Kakashi is late, claiming he got lost on the path of life. Naruto starts raving about all the 'easy' missions they've had and how he wants a challenge. He starts fantasizing about finally beating Sasuke, but the rest of Team 7 leaves to go on a day full of missions.

Their first mission, as it turns out, is to pull up weeds from a woman's garden. Not wanting to be beaten, Naruto pulls up as much as he can...until it's discovered he pulled up all her herbs! The next one has them collecting litter out of a river, but Naruto slips and it's discovered they're not far from a waterfall! He falls off the waterfall but Sasuke manages to save him, annoying him further. The next mission is walking dogs, and Naruto chooses a giant one intent on heading for a trap field. The dog drags him into it but only Naruto is affected by the traps. All the while Kakashi is off to the side reading 'Make out Paradise', not contributing or helping.

After all the missions Sakura and Sasuke had to carry Naruto. Naruto gets ticked when Sasuke mentions how much trouble he causes and they square off. Kakashi mentions their team work is slipping and Naruto blames it on Sasuke. Kakashi says they should all call it a day before anything happens. Sasuke starts to head home but Sakura wants to spend some time with him and build their teamwork. He says she's the same as Naruto (inner Sakura holds up a boulder with 'same as Naruto' written on it). Sasuke then tells her that if she has so much time she should be training because her skill level is lower than Naruto's (the boulder grows larger and now says 'weaker than Naruto'). Sakura realizes that she's improved the least out of the three of them and does terrible on her missions. Naruto asks to train with her, which ticks her off, and Kakashi teleports out of there probably to get out of the crossfire.

Suddenly, a square rock with two eyes shimmies up to Naruto. Naruto tries to run away from it with no success and finally yells that rocks aren't square. It's obviously Konohamaru, who's impressed with Naruto. He appears without his usual helmet on but instead with a pair of goggles. Two friends of his, Moegi and Udon, are with him also wearing goggles. Striking poses, they introduce themselves as the Konohamaru Corps. Naruto inquires about the goggles and they freely admit they copied off of him. They want to play with him, but he'd rather train.

Sakura, who's still there, is giving Naruto a dirty look at the thought that he's better than her. Both Naruto and Konohamaru mistaken it for something else and Konohamaru assumes she's his girlfriend. Naruto agrees, but this incites Sakura's wrath who punches him into a fence. Moegi and Udon check on Naruto and Konohamaru insults her, inciting her wrath as well. She leaves them with Naruto and Konohamaru sporting lumps on their heads.

Konohamaru again comments that she is an ugly witch, which only makes her angrier. She chases after them and they all run away screaming. Konohamaru runs ahead of them and in his panic doesn't watch where he's going and run right into Team Baki's Kankuro and Temari of the Sand Village.

Meanwhile, Kakashi is handing in his latest report to Iruka and Iruka inquires about Naruto, asking if he's getting along fine on his team. Kakashi mentions the rivalry between Sasuke and Naruto but says that he's improving.

A bird with a white spot on its wing is out flying and calling. Asuma and Kurenai hear the bird's cry and wonder what's going on. Kurenai is in the middle of training her team (Team 8) and Asuma's on lunch break with his team (Team 10). Only Shikamaru notices how distracted he is.

Kankuro has lifted Konohamaru up by his scarf, complaining about what he did. Temari tells him to knock it off while looking around. Sakura takes responsibility for it while quietly wondering who they are and Naruto screams at him to let Konohamaru go. Kankuro notices that Naruto and Sakura are Genin but decides he wants to play around with Konohamaru. Naruto rushes at him, but Kankuro knocks him off his feet with a few flicks of his fingers, commenting on how weak Konoha Genin are. Naruto gets right back up and threatens him, only to be put in a headlock by Sakura who tells him to shut up.

Kankuro talks about how annoyed Naruto's making him and how he hates short people. He says he wants to break Naruto and Temari claims no responsibility over Kankuro's actions.

Kankuro is about to punch Konohamaru and Naruto rushes at him, but a pebble to the wrist makes Kankuro drop Konohamaru. It's Sasuke sitting on a nearby tree, chatising Kankuro for his actions in a village not his own (Temari admires Sasuke at this point, blushing slightly and thinking "Ooh local hottie!", despite the fact that she is 3-4 years older than him). Sakura cheers him on while Naruto gets annoyed. Kankuro gets annoyed too and starts unwinding Karasu. But then someone tells him to stop. It's Gaara and everyone, including Temari and Kankuro, are stunned by his sudden entrance.

The scene switches to the Third Hokage's chamber. He mentions the people who are arriving and officially announces the start of the Chunin exam.

[edit] Trivia

• When Naruto locks the door to his house his it is revealed that he has a Pakkun keychain.

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