Naruto practices his summoning technique religiously, though with little improvement, as Sakura sits alone in her room concerned for Sasuke.
The Hokage alerts the Konoha nins that Hayate’s body was found near Kikyo Castle. Kakashi suspects that Hayate was spying on Kabuto and that Orochimaru probably has something to do with this. They debate whether they should stop the Chuunin exam, but decide that continuing would be in their best interest after Orochimaru’s warning. They also realize that some of their ally countries must be working with the Sound. The elders explain that an alliance treaty is equivalent to a verbal agreement, like the Ninkai Taisen (Great Ninja War) was… however, if someone was to betray them… They decide to send out some of the higher level nins to find out more.
Meanwhile, Sakura worries herself sick over Sasuke. She wonders if she should have stopped him… Later, Sakura visits Ino’s flower shop to buy flowers for Sasuke and Lee-san on her way to the hospital. Ino chooses a rose, while Sakura chooses the Narcissus, the brave flower that stands valiantly even in the coldness of winter and waits for the spring.
As Sakura and Ino head to the hospital, they hear Choji gobbling down Yakiniku for lunch with Shikamaru and Asuma. Asuma explains that they are preparing Choji to help Shikamaru train. Elsewhere, TenTen helps Neji practice while Kuronai works with Shino, and Naruto is still summoning tadpoles.
Ino and Sakura enter Sasuke’s room at the hospital only to find he is nowhere to be found. All his clothes are gone. Sakura immediately is concerned that he went to Orochimaru. Elsewhere, Kakashi trains himself by climbing a cliff one handed. When he reaches the top, he finds Sasuke waiting.
The girls then check on Lee, who also is not in his room. A badly injured but determined Lee is outside pushing himself to the limit with a series of one armed pushups. When the nurse finds him, she severely reprimands him. Sakura remembers what Ino had told her earlier - that Lee is seriously injured and with his body, he will have to give up being a ninja. Meanwhile, Lee continues his pushups until he falls to the ground wearily. The nurse runs for a stretcher as Sakura and Ino watch over his unconscious body. Sakura asks Ino why boys always push themselves too far.
Back in the hospital, Lee looks over to see the flower that Sakura left for him. Meanwhile, a frustrated but determined Naruto summons a tadpole with hind legs.