NARUTO Quiz | Episodes 38–51: Chunin Exams Preliminary Matches

The Hokage describes the Chunin Exams as a miniature version of war among allied nations, where villages display the strength of their ninja and preserve a balance of power and friendship. The preliminary round is added immediately because 21 people is too many for the next stage, and the competition now changes from teams to one-on-one matches.

Because the curse mark reacts to chakra, Sasuke cannot safely depend on his usual Sharingan and ninjutsu. He adapts the taijutsu he previously saw Lee use, resists being consumed by the mark, and completes the Lion Combo. The key is his switch to a less restricted way of fighting, not stealing Yoroi's ability.

Zaku appears to have only one usable arm after Sasuke injures him, but he can actually use both. In a separate match, the figure Misumi seizes with his flexible body is not Kankuro himself but a puppet, allowing puppet master Kankuro to reverse the situation. The hidden factors belong to two different matches.

Ino only appears to respond emotionally to Sakura's taunt; the reaction creates an opening for Mind Transfer Jutsu. Her objective is to take control of Sakura's body and make Sakura declare her own withdrawal. The tactic uses her opponent's expectations rather than relying on a direct test of strength.

Temari's ninjutsu with the giant fan repels the weapons launched by projectile specialist Tenten and gives Temari the victory. In the other match, Kin initially has the advantage until Shikamaru uses Shadow Imitation Jutsu to change the course of the bout. Each fighter counters an opponent's strength with a different category of technique.

Kiba is confident that his nose can distinguish Naruto from deceptive copies. Naruto combines Shadow Clone and Transformation to confuse that process and counterattack. Rather than overpowering the same sensory ability, he turns the strength on which Kiba relies into a cause of mistaken identification.

Even after Neji uses the Byakugan to strike her chakra points and obstruct her chakra flow, Hinata remembers Naruto's encouragement and his refusal to abandon his own nindo. Her admiration for Naruto, not only the Hyuga family conflict, motivates her to stand again and become different from her former self.

Lee specializes in taijutsu rather than ninjutsu or genjutsu. His speed and physical techniques pressure Gaara, penetrate his sand-based defense, and force away the Sand Armor. Lee challenges the so-called absolute defense with the discipline he has trained, not by copying Gaara's sand techniques.

The Reverse Lotus is a dangerous forbidden technique that requires opening at least three of the Eight Gates; opening all eight can mean the user's death. Lee opens through the Fifth Gate and attacks with a life-risking high-speed combination, but Gaara answers with Sand Coffin. Unleashing the strongest attack does not itself establish victory.

Choji attacks with Human Boulder, but Dosu responds with a sound-based attack and wins. This is the final bout of the preliminary round, so the one-on-one preliminaries end here. Episode 52 moves into training for the finals rather than beginning another preliminary match immediately.