Chapter 94 pairs a quiet moment of the aging Third Hokage reflecting on his duty to the village with Jiraiya's reckless training gambit, in which he hurls Naruto into a deep ravine to force out the Nine-Tails' chakra.
Main Characters (5)
Summary
Uneasy about whatever Orochimaru is scheming, the Third Hokage climbs the Hokage Rock to gather his thoughts and stumbles onto the Academy class of his grandson Konohamaru as they study the village's four leaders. When the children question whether someone his age still belongs in the role, he tells them he would sacrifice his own life to shield each of them, exactly as they would protect the people they love.
Key Events
Elsewhere, Naruto's slow headway with the Summoning Technique pushes Jiraiya to an extreme lesson. He pitches the boy off the edge of a deep ravine, betting that the panic of a fatal fall will make Naruto instinctively draw on the fox's chakra to save himself.
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Notes
Portraits of Hashirama and Tobirama can be glimpsed briefly during the chapter. Published as Kagi…!!, it is chapter 94 of volume 11, set in the Chūnin Exams arc, and first ran in Japan on October 8, 2001.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Third Hokage tell Konohamaru's class in The Key…!!?
In The Key…!!, chapter 94, Hiruzen Sarutobi tells Konohamaru's Academy class that he would sacrifice his own life to shield each of them, just as they would protect the people they love.
Why does Jiraiya throw Naruto into a ravine?
Jiraiya throws Naruto off the edge of a deep ravine as an extreme training method, betting that the panic of a fatal fall will force Naruto to instinctively draw on the Nine Tails' chakra to save himself.
What is troubling the Third Hokage at the start of the chapter?
The Third Hokage is uneasy about whatever Orochimaru is scheming, and he climbs the Hokage Rock to gather his thoughts before encountering Konohamaru's Academy class.
What is Naruto struggling with in this chapter?
Naruto is struggling with slow progress on the Summoning Technique, which pushes Jiraiya to resort to the risky ravine training method to force out the Nine Tails' chakra.
What arc and volume does The Key…!! belong to?
The Key…!! is chapter 94, collected in volume 11 as part of the Chunin Exams arc, first published in Japan on October 8, 2001.
Sources & Information
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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.
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