Chapter 49 of the Naruto manga escalates the Forest of Death trial as Orochimaru, hidden among the exam field, cripples Naruto and provokes Sasuke into a fight that ends with a fateful cursed brand.
Main Characters (5)
Summary
Examiners come across three slain Grass ninja, and Anko instantly reads the killings as Orochimaru's handiwork before rushing into the Forest of Death to hunt him. Wearing the face of a Grass competitor, Orochimaru identifies Naruto as the boy who carries the Nine-Tailed Demon Fox. He blocks Naruto's link to the beast, snatches the team's scroll, and casts the boy aside.
Sakura catches the falling Naruto as Sasuke, spurred on by Naruto's earlier bravery, launches a counterattack. His Sharingan carries him to a hard-won victory over the disguised foe. Rather than punish him, Orochimaru ruins the team's scroll and sears a cursed seal onto Sasuke's neck before slipping away.
Key Events
Orochimaru severs Naruto's access to the Nine-Tails, Sasuke's Sharingan repels the intruder, and Orochimaru marks Sasuke with the cursed seal that will shape the rest of his path.
Related Reading
See all
Naruto vs Luffy: Does the Fight Change if Luffy Tickles Hinata?
Naruto vs Luffy with the twist nobody asked for: Luffy tickled Hinata on date night, and she kind of liked it. We break down the whole fight and commit to a winner....
Who Is Naruko? What Naruto's Transformation Jutsu Does to the Whole Hidden Leaf
Naruto built the transformation jutsu himself, and the Hidden Leaf has been quietly not talking about it ever since. The story behind our 90s R&B record about the Naruko question everybody dodges....
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens in the "Coward…!!" chapter of Naruto?
Chapter 49 finds examiners discovering three slain Grass ninja during the Forest of Death trial, prompting Anko to identify Orochimaru as the killer and rush after him.
What does Orochimaru do to Naruto in this chapter?
Disguised as a Grass ninja, Orochimaru recognizes Naruto as the host of the Nine-Tailed Demon Fox, blocks his connection to the beast, steals the team's scroll, and casts him aside.
How does Sasuke respond to Orochimaru's attack?
Spurred on by Naruto's earlier bravery, Sasuke counterattacks the disguised Orochimaru and wins the fight with the help of his Sharingan.
What does Orochimaru do to Sasuke at the end of the chapter?
Rather than punish Sasuke for the fight, Orochimaru destroys the team's scroll and sears the cursed seal onto Sasuke's neck before slipping away.
What arc and volume does "Coward…!!" belong to?
"Coward…!!" is chapter 49 of the Chunin Exams arc, collected in volume 6, released in Japan on October 16, 2000.
Sources & Information
Looking for more on Coward…!!? 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.
Rights holders
- Created byMasashi Kishimoto
- Published byShueisha
- Animated byStudio Pierrot
All rights belong to their respective owners.
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.
