Short version
The team visits Shino's home, making a good impression on his parents, but also encountering Sabaku no Gaara on their way home and drawing his interest. They then begin the Chunin exam.
Longer version
At the team meeting, Kurenai gives her team the option to take the Chuunin Exam. While they are ecstatic, Kurenai emphasizes that it is unlikely they will pass, but it would be helpful to gain experience by testing in Konoha.
As the team recovers the Fire Daimyo's wife's cat again, Kurenai advises them not to train freely before the exam, to avoid injury or revealing their abilities. Shino then invites the team to a family dinner. Naruto and Hinata accept, but Kurenai has a jonin meeting called by the Hokage, and also wishes for Naruto and Hinata to get to know Shino's parents well. Naruto is uncertain of proper etiquette, but Hinata assures him that it will probably be an informal event.
Naruto and Hinata ring the doorbell at Shino's house, and are invited in by Shibi. Inside, they are warmly greeted by Misato, who introduces herself as a ninja from Kirigakure. She met Shibi there when he was the envoy to the village, and after conceiving and giving birth to Shino, they returned to Konoha. Over dinner, the party discusses Team 8's work and progress. Shibi then reveals Shino will start weapons training with Misato in the morning, and also that he has replaced Bataru as representative to the village council. After the dinner, Shibi thanks Naruto and Hinata for their work and competence in their border mission with Shino, and expresses his apologies and support for Naruto regarding the Nine-Tails.
Naruto is surprised to have a family accept him, and he joyfully starts a game of tag with Hinata across the roofs of Konoha. On the rooftops, the two encounter Gaara, and sense his intense killing intent. Gaara says Naruto is like himself, and reveals he will be taking the Chuunin Exam, and says he will fight and kill Naruto in it. Naruto and Hinata leave.
Shino and Kurenai learn of the encounter. Naruto ponders Gaara's words, and Hinata reveals she saw Gaara possessed some gold-colored chakra. They realize Gaara may also host a demon. Hinata and Naruto wonder if he was absolutely ostracized and turned murderous. Kurenai advises them to avoid Gaara and train at home. The genin head for Moritake's, and Naruto and Hinata decide to train in Naruto's apartment. Kurenai reports Gaara's nature to the Hokage, but it is impossible to have him removed from the exam.
On the day of the exam, the genin meet at the training grounds. Naruto recalls his recent training with Guy, which taught him, Lee, and Hinata important battlefield tactics to keep them safe in the exams. Guy warned them to be wary and support their fellow Konoha shinobi in the exam. He also recalls his chakra control exercises and Condensation jutsu practice with Hinata. The team arrive at the exam building, and witness the confrontation involving Team 7, Team Guy, and two elder genin. Naruto exposes the latter as chuunin and breaks the genjutsu with a chakra pulse.
Naruto notices Rock Lee's affection for Sakura, and interrupts his challenge to Sasuke. He advises Lee not to pursue her, describing her as unkind, single-minded, and selfish. The two leave, unaware that Sakura overheard them. She admits to herself she isn't very nice.
Naruto and Lee meet Kurenai and Guy outside the examination room. When Kurenai warns them their teams can only enter as a group, Naruto realizes she didn't tell them to ensure they all wanted to take the test. When the teams enter, Naruto is unsettled by the unfriendly crowd. He is calmed by the presence of Team 7, Team 10, and Team Guy. While the rookies discuss the hostility of the older genin, they are approached by Kabuto Yakushi, who offers them his accumulated information on the examinees with special cards. As Naruto suspects his motives, Sasuke asks for information on Gaara and Rock Lee. Kabuto reveals Gaara had already completed a B-rank mission and has never been injured on mission.
Sensing trepidation in the other Konoha rookies, Naruto boldly and loudly rallies them. He then senses Dosu and Zaku try to attack Kabuto, and he and his team stop them. Morino Ibiki appears to dispel the confrontation, and introduces himself as the first test's examiner.
In the author's notes, the results of a fan-submitted Omake contest are announced. The winner is a story by Wolfgang Beulen:
Tsume Inuzuka prepares a meal for Kiba and Akamaru, in the aftermath of their mission to the Land of Waves. Akamaru recaps the mission for Kuromaru, and Tsume questions Kiba about his team. Kiba explains that Sasuke and Sakura both feel disappointed in themselves. He describes Sakura as hiding her insecurities with aggression, comparing her to Hana, which results in a squabble between the siblings. Kuromaru notes that the year's genin, specifically Team 7 and Team 8, look promising. Tsume recalls her meeting with Team 8 at the borderlands, and details the events of their patrol mission to Kiba. Kiba is shocked that Naruto killed an enemy shinobi. Remembering how Naruto didn't brag about the mission earlier, he realizes Naruto is different from how he was in the academy, and ponders how he changed.
The author then announces the runner-up as a story by Alle:
Kiba and Akamaru return to their home after the mission to the Land of Waves. Tsume has a meal prepared for them, and she questions Kiba on the mission. Concerned by Kiba's disfigured state, she has him tell the whole story. When Tsume asks him why they didn't refuse the mission when they found they were tricked, Kiba emphasizes that he thought the village needed their help. Tsume reminds him that best thing about the Inuzuka clan is that each member knows their place in the pack. She then tells him about Team 8's mission to the borderlands, where they intercepted missing-nin, and Naruto killed two of them. Eventually, Kiba realizes Tsume's point is that Naruto knows his place on his team: to protect his teammates. Realizing it to be the same role as his own, Kiba decides that is enough.
Tropes:
- Child of Two Worlds: Shino's mother is from Kirigakure. His dad met her there, and after she birthed Shino in Kirigakure, they brought him back to Konoha.
- The Clan: The Aburame clan is situated in a separate neighborhood nicknamed "The Hive" by the rest of Konoha. Meanwhile, the Hyuuga is noted to be considered the greatest of Konoha's ninja clans.
- Human Weapon: Unsurprisingly, Gaara describes himself and Naruto as weapons.
- Jerkass Realization: Sakura overhears Naruto describe her as unkind and single-mindedly focused on Sasuke. After recognizing she's not very nice, she is later seen speaking with Ino more peacefully.
- Layman's Terms: Shino is about to explain an Aburame insect breeding project to Naruto, but when he remembers who he is talking to, he simply calls it "faster bugs."
- Literary Allusion Title: The chapter is named after My Dinner with Andre.
- Loophole Abuse: While Misato promised her teacher that she wouldn't teach anyone not of Kirigakure, Shino was technically born there.
- Making a Splash: Naruto continues to practice the Condensation jutsu. Interestingly, Hinata also seems to deflect spraying water, either through a jutsu or through the water-walking exercise.
- Never Tell Me the Odds!: Said word for word by Naruto about passing the chuunin exams.
- Ojou: As in canon, Hinata is knowledgeable of proper manners and etiquette, due to being the former heiress of her clan.
- The Rival: Lee declares Naruto his rival, like Guy and Kakashi. He then describes Neji as being cold as a rival.
- Savvy Guy, Energetic Girl: Naruto and Hinata are surprised to find Shibi and Misato Aburame are this.
- Slasher Smile: Gaara's smile is one of Naruto's most terrifying experiences.
