Naruto · Chūnin Exams

Kakashi enters Team 7 in the Chūnin Exams, open to genin from several villages. After the written test comes the Forest of Death, where Orochimaru, one of the Legendary Sannin, ambushes the team and leaves Sasuke with the Curse Mark. In the preliminaries, Sasuke beats Yoroi, Naruto beats Kiba, Neji ruthlessly injures Hinata, and Gaara of the Sand nearly destroys Rock Lee. During the month of training, Naruto meets Jiraiya, learns toad summoning, and calls up Gamabunta. In the finals, Naruto beats Neji and proves fate can be changed; Shikamaru forfeits against Temari. The arc stops as Sasuke arrives late, alongside Kakashi, to face Gaara.

1. ReferenceRock Lee has a movie star's name

   The taijutsu-only ninja has been compared from the start to Bruce Lee and Jackie Chan, in look and fighting spirit. Kishimoto meant him to stand for human weakness and said Lee was the character he enjoyed drawing most.

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2. Behind the scenesThe kanji on Gaara's forehead

   The red mark on Gaara's forehead is the kanji for "love" (愛). Kishimoto added it with the character's arc in mind. His name changed too: the first pick, Kotarou Fuuma, was vetoed by his editor.

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3. ReferenceJiraiya came out of kabuki

   The hermit who shows up while Naruto trains for the finals comes from a Japanese folktale popular in kabuki, "Jiraiya Gōketsu Monogatari," where the hero Jiraiya uses toad magic. The villain of that same story is named Orochimaru.

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