The Chunin Exams open with a grueling written test run by Ibiki Morino. The genin slowly realize the true challenge is not answering the impossible questions but cheating without being caught, and each candidate turns a personal skill toward stealing answers unseen.
Summary
Ibiki Morino steps in to introduce the exam's first stage, a written test bound by a strict no-questions rule, and explains that each team's marks are combined to decide who advances. Chunin proctors line the walls to catch anyone cheating, and a genin spotted five times fails along with the entire team. The questions turn out to be nearly unsolvable, and most candidates eventually grasp the hidden aim: they are meant to cheat without being noticed, each drawing on personal skills to lift answers.
Key Events
The methods differ from candidate to candidate. Gaara reads answers through his Third Eye after flinging sand into a rival's face, while Kankuro disguises his puppet Karasu as a proctor and later relays what it saw to Temari. Kiba leans on Akamaru, Shino on an insect, and Neji and Sasuke use the Byakugan and Sharingan respectively. Tenten tilts a ceiling lamp with wires to reflect answers toward Rock Lee, Dosu decodes the sound of a moving pencil, and Ino hijacks Sakura's body to feed answers to Shikamaru and Choji.
Notes
Notably, Sakura, Hinata, and Naruto complete the test without cheating at all. The episode adapts chapters 40, 41 and 42.
Related Reading
See all
The Most Popular Women of Naruto
We ranked the six most popular women of Naruto from worst to first, and our number one is going to start a fight. The official poll got it wrong....
Super Saiyan Pubes: The Song About Where Super Saiyan Hair Actually Goes
The transformation everyone knows, the follow-up question nobody would touch. Why we made a smooth R&B track about the golden glow Dragon Ball never talks about....
Frequently Asked Questions
What episode do the Chunin exams begin?
The Chunin Exams begin in Start Your Engines: The Chunin Exam Begins!, episode 24 of Naruto, which adapts manga chapters 40 through 42.
Who administers the first stage of the Chunin Exams?
Ibiki Morino administers the first stage, a written test bound by a strict no questions rule where each team's combined scores decide who advances.
What is the true goal of the written test in this episode?
The true goal is not answering the nearly unsolvable questions but cheating without getting caught, since a genin spotted five times fails along with their entire team.
How do the candidates cheat during the written exam?
Candidates draw on their own skills and jutsu to cheat: Gaara reads answers through his Third Eye, Kankuro disguises his puppet Karasu as a proctor, Kiba relies on Akamaru, Neji and Sasuke use their Byakugan and Sharingan, and Ino takes over Sakura's body to feed answers to Shikamaru and Choji.
Which candidates complete the test without cheating at all?
Sakura, Hinata, and Naruto complete the written test without cheating at all.
Sources & Information
Looking for more on Start Your Engines: The Chūnin Exam Begins!? The Naruto Wiki on Fandom has a dedicated page with community notes.
View on FandomThis content is original writing by Daddy Jim Headquarters based on the Naruto anime series, manga, and official materials. Episode and chapter references are cited where applicable.
Character and scene imagery on this site is original artwork by Daddy Jim Headquarters, not screenshots or licensed imagery. Official cover art is used on three types of pages for editorial commentary:
- Movie pages: theatrical posters and key visuals, credited to Studio Pierrot and Toho.
- Game pages: official box art for the Naruto: Ultimate Ninja Storm games, credited to Bandai Namco.
- Manga chapter pages: Jump Comics volume covers, credited to Shueisha and Masashi Kishimoto.
Official resources:
Help Us Keep This Wiki Accurate
Daddy Jim Headquarters maintains this encyclopedia. If you spot an error, a translation issue, or something that doesn't look right, let us know.