Kishimoto, Masashi

Even though Naruto is beginning to feel sympathy for Gaara, he still prepares for a fight against him.

While their village is attacked and the third hokage is imprisoned, Naruto, Sakura, and Shikamaru are out on a mission to find Sasuke and the Sand genin.

"Deep within the Forest of Death, Naruto, Sasuke and Sakura are still reeling from Orochimaru's attack. Now they must battle his minions, the mysterious Sound Ninja. As Sasuke struggles with the strange force growing inside him, time is running out to collect the scrolls the students need to pass the Ch?unin Exams!.:--From publisher.

Naruto faces off against Kimimaro, a mysterious foe with ties to the Sound Ninja Four, as he tries to get to Sasuke before Orochimaru can make him a part of his master plan.

Naruto continues to train under Jiraiya; and Orochimaru devises a plan which involves a legendary kunoichi.

Naruto, enraged when Sasuke is killed, seeks vengeance upon Haku, but he is not that sure he can finish the job.

Naruto, Sakura, and Sasuke have signed up for the Journeyman Ninja Selection Exams, which they must pass as a group; if the tests of skill, stealth, and battle prowess don't kill them, the other junior ninja just might.

Naruto is pushed to his limits while training under Jiraiya, and a mysterious shinobi appears who could change everything for the ninjas.

Naruto sets off with Shikamaru to save Sasuke--who is trapped in the Darkness under the control of Orochimaru--leaving Neji to face Kidomaru alone.