One Worthy as a Leader

When the genin grow suspicious of what Neji is doing, he taps out vibrations along the classroom walls to signal the correct answer to the others. Sajin, unwilling to see everyone advance, strikes the wall five times in protest, though Neji points out that the number of blows changes nothing. Sajin tries to provoke a brawl until Shikamaru steps in and reminds the room of the clock. As the candidates wrap up the written portion, Shikamaru reveals there is a second stage to come.

The second question asks each participant to write on the reverse of the paper who they would offer as bait should their squad be encircled, allowing only three minutes. Away from the exam, Kankurō tells Tsunade that the Sunagakure genin will be watched over during the next phase, which leaves the Hokage uneasy, while Homura and Koharu pass along Danzō's caution to keep an eye on the Amegakure entrants. With the first stage finished, everyone who passed is told to make for Suna. Sajin's team is cut for having named Mijin as their sacrifice, and Neji explains that a real answer was never expected, since no ally should be surrendered. Temari, acting as proctor, lays out the second phase in which combat between teams is permitted, and the survivors set off on a run to Sunagakure that will take at least three days.

The episode is part of the In Naruto's Footsteps: The Friends' Paths arc, an anime-original storyline. It premiered in Japan on January 29, 2015, and aired in English on June 27, 2017. The opening theme is Silhouette and the closing theme is Spinning World.