Naruto Vol. 9: The Scroll's Secret gives us several first glimpses into various character's true strengths and special abilities. It is in this volume that Gaara's skills are first revealed; Ino, Chouji and Shikamaru show just how far they have come since the academy and we see where Kabuto's real loyalties lie.

This collection continues the Chunin exams with Naruto and the rest of Kakashi's team still in the Forest of Death trying to get a Heaven Scroll to match their Earth one. The first episode in this volume, "Battle Formation: Ino-Shika-Cho!", has another one of the rookie squads protecting Sakura while she tends to the unconscious Sasuke, Naruto and Rock Lee.

This episode is the first time we get any kind of glimpse into Ino's team's special abilities. We see how Ino uses her soul-swapping power that she touched on in the first exam to take over the body of one of the enemy Sound Ninja. We also get a look into Shikamaru's Shadow Possession Jutsu and why you shouldn't call Chouji fat.

After the Sound Ninja are no longer a threat for Squad 7 and the two rookie teams split up again, we get to see what the third rookie squad is up to in "Akamaru Trembles: Gaara's Cruel Strength." Here Kiba, Hinata and Shino have both scrolls and are on their way to the central tower to end their second exam. That is until they run across a battle between Gaara's team and a squad of Rain Ninja. With this episode, it becomes real clear that Gaara of the Sand is no ordinary ninja and anyone hoping to stand up to him would have to be really, really strong.

The last two episodes follow Naruto's team as they try to get the second scroll they need in order to finish the exam. First Naruto comes up with the crazy idea of faking the second scroll, but when he gets ready to open the Earth scroll they have, he is reminded by Kabuto (the ninja who has attempted to pass these exams six times) of the warning their teachers gave them before starting this phase of the tests. From that point, Kabuto and Squad 7 team up and make their way to the central tower together, with the hopes of finding a Heaven Scroll along the way.

This collection brings the second Chunin Exam to a head as the final day within the Forest of Death draws to an end. What is in store for Naruto, Sasuke and Sakura once they get to the temple? What will the third exam consist of? How many teams survived the second test? Unfortunately, we will have to wait for the next volume for those answers.