A fresh Chunin Exams opens with a written test devised by Shikamaru. As the genin puzzle over its scoring, Konohamaru sneaks in disguised as Naruto, and clever teams begin to sense the true trick behind the questions.
Summary
Genin from across the lands queue up for the first stage of a new round of Chunin Exams. Crushed that Naruto will sit this one out and afraid he will never earn the chunin rank, Konohamaru slips in wearing a disguise to impersonate him, but he is quickly found out and comforted by Neji. The applicants are then split among three separate rooms for a paper test that Shikamaru has designed.
Key Events
The scoring ties each team together: the marks of all three members combine into a single team total. Any team whose total climbs above 100 or sinks under the average of every team fails outright. The exam invites each candidate to answer just one of three prompts, worth 30, 40, and 50 points respectively, covering where to place a protected VIP in a formation, which nature transformation counters an enemy wielding fire and lightning, and the strengths and weaknesses of attacking from high ground.
Notes
Working through the puzzle, Sakura and Neji arrive at the same insight, that every member of a team has to land on exactly the required score to clear it. Neji then rises and paces the room, drawing the eyes of the other examinees. The episode is anime-original and forms part of the In Naruto's Footsteps: The Friends' Paths arc.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Chunin Exams written test about in The Three Questions?
In The Three Questions, Shikamaru designs a written test where genin teams are split into three rooms, and each candidate answers just one of three prompts worth 30, 40, and 50 points on formation strategy, elemental counters, and high-ground combat.
How is the written test scored in The Three Questions?
The scoring combines the marks of all three teammates into one team total; a team fails outright if that combined total climbs above 100 or falls below the average score of every team.
Why does Konohamaru disguise himself as Naruto in this episode?
Konohamaru is crushed that Naruto will sit out this round of the Chunin Exams and slips in disguised as him, hoping to take his place, but he is quickly found out and comforted by Neji.
What insight do Sakura and Neji reach about the test in this episode?
Sakura and Neji independently realize that every member of a team must land on exactly the required combined score for the whole team to pass.
What arc does The Three Questions belong to?
The Three Questions is an anime-original episode, numbered 396 in Naruto: Shippuden, that forms part of the In Naruto's Footsteps: The Friends' Paths arc.
Sources & Information
Looking for more on The Three Questions? 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.
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