Chūnin Exams, Vols. 4–13

Konoha's rookies enter the Chūnin Exams alongside genin from other villages. After a trick-filled written test comes the Forest of Death, where a disguised Orochimaru attacks Team 7 and leaves a cursed mark on Sasuke's neck. In the preliminaries, Rock Lee pushes Gaara to the limit and walks away badly broken, and Neji nearly kills Hinata. Naruto spends a month training with Jiraiya, learns to summon toads and reaches the finals determined. He beats Neji and even makes him rethink his belief in fate. Shikamaru forfeits against Temari despite having the edge. The arc ends with Sasuke arriving late, with Kakashi, to face Gaara.

1. Behind the scenesShikamaru was supposed to win

   Kishimoto wanted the Chūnin Exams to end with Shikamaru winning. His superiors asked for something to boost the series' popularity, so he dropped Orochimaru into the exam.

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2. Behind the scenesHis favorite to draw

   Kishimoto said Rock Lee is the character he enjoys drawing most. His editor, Kosuke Yahagi, drew the first draft, and some of it survived into the final design.

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3. Behind the scenesThe vetoed name

   Gaara was going to be called Kotarou Fuuma, but the editor shot it down. Kishimoto later said he still doesn't get why. The design was based on a tanuki, the opposite of Naruto's fox.

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4. ReferenceA volume named after a fight

   VIZ's volume 9 is titled Neji vs. Hinata, after the preliminary bout that defines the arc.

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