Enter: Naruto Uzumaki
Welcome to the Hidden Leaf Village, where deadly serious ninja roam the land and the seriously mischievous Naruto Uzumaki causes trouble everywhere he goes. But when he steals the ancient scroll of sealing, he unleashes a rare power rarely seen in a 12-year-old boy!
My Name is Konohamaru!
Naruto finally graduates from the Ninja Academy and claims to know it all. Well, at least that's what he tells Konohamaru, the village elder’s pint-size grandson.
Sasuke and Sakura: Friends or Foes?
On the way to becoming a ninja, Naruto must team up with his classmates, the pretty Sakura and the pretty serious Sasuke, whose only common bond is that they both hate Naruto. So Naruto tries to win Sakura over by pretending to be her life-long crush ...Sasuke!
Pass or Fail: Survival Test
Now that Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura are a team, they meet with their sensei, the enigmatic and aloof Kakashi. He presents to them a survival challenge where only two of them will pass, sending the failing student back to the Ninja Academy! Too bad they don’t know that Kakashi’s never passed anyone...ever!
You Failed! Kakashi’s Final Decision
With the threat of failure hanging over their heads, Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura try everything they know to pass the grueling survival test. But it will take some wise advice from Kakashi to teach these selfish ninja a thing or two about teamwork!
A Dangerous Mission! Journey to the Land of Waves
Naruto and his squad start their first ninja missions with boring and menial tasks. Weary and angry, Naruto vents his frustration at the Hokage. Amused by Naruto’s excitement, he gives them a new mission, to protect a grumpy old man named Tazuna as he returns to his home!
The Assassin of the Mist!
Naruto and his squad arrive in the Land of the Waves and learn that an evil businessman named Gato has taken over the land. Zabuza Momochi appears, hired by Gato to kill Tazuna. Excited and ready to attack, Naruto can’t wait to take on this powerful ninja assassin. Will he be up to the challenge?!
The Oath of Pain
Kakashi has the upper hand in his battle with Zabuza. But the tide turns when Kakashi is trapped inside Zabuza’s Water Prison! Kakashi urges the squad to flee, but Naruto remembers the pledge he made—to never run away again—and holds his ground!!
Kakashi: Sharingan Warrior
Thanks to Naruto’s ingenious plan, Kakashi is freed from the water prison. He defeats Zabuza, leaving him critically injured. But in the blink of an eye, a mysterious tracking ninja shows up and kills Zabuza before Kakashi can. Naruto is shocked that a boy, not much older than he, was able to defeat Zabuza so easily.
The Forest of Chakra
Recuperating at Tazuna’s house, Kakashi is dissatisfied with the outcome of the battle. He concludes that Zabuza isn’t dead and the young tracking ninja helped Zabuza escape! Kakashi decides to implement some interesting training that will allow Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura to better control their chakra!
The Land Where a Hero Once Lived
Sakura goes into town with Tazuna and sees the hardships that the people of the Land of Waves suffer under Gato’s rule. This is the reason Tazuna is risking his life to build a bridge that crosses the ocean. With a bridge that gives everyone access to other lands, people will no longer have to rely on Gato, who controls all imports. Meanwhile, Naruto and Sasuke continue to train, using chakra to climb a tree.
Battle on the Bridge! Zabuza Returns!!
While Naruto concentrates on the training to control his chakra, a mysterious person suddenly appears before him. The person tells Naruto that as long as one has the desire to protect what he loves, there is no limit to becoming stronger. The mysterious figure echoes the sentiment inside Naruto and the two feel a sense of connection.
Haku’s Secret Jutsu: Crystal Ice Mirrors
Once again, the time has come to fight Zabuza, and this time he’s got company—the tracking ninja who supposedly killed him. Zabuza and his companion take notice of Sasuke’s abilities, and Sasuke in turn realizes the immense power that the masked ninja holds. As if they were meant to fight each other, Sasuke and the masked ninja begin to battle.
The Number One Hyperactive, Knucklehead Ninja Joins the Fight!!
Sasuke finds himself in a pinch inside of Haku’s Crystal Ice Mirrors, but Naruto comes to the rescue. But Sasuke has a plan to counter Haku's jutsu with attacks from both the inside and outside the Crystal Ice Mirrors, and Naruto’s unexpected action ruins Sasuke’s strategy. Eventually, both young ninja are trapped.
Zero Visibility: The Sharingan Shatters
Realizing time is of the essence, Kakashi decides to use the Sharingan once again to defeat Zabuza. But Zabuza is a ninja that has also experienced many killing battles, and from his first encounter with the Sharingan, Zabuza has devised a strategy against it.
The Broken Seal
Naruto and Sasuke continue to receive punishing attacks from within Haku’s Crystal Ice Mirrors. Naruto can no longer stand on his feet. But during the intense battle, Sasuke starts to realize the power of his own Sharingan and gradually starts to elude Haku’s assault. Haku decides to finish them off immediately. Sasuke is caught off guard by Haku’s action and uses his own body to shield Naruto...
White Past: Hidden Ambition
Naruto finally explodes! His anger against Haku, who defeated Sasuke, unleashes the power of the Nine-Tailed Fox. Naruto’s chakra becomes so intense that even Kakashi and Zabuza, fighting in the distance, take notice. Haku is unable to do anything in the face of Naruto’s hidden power.
The Weapons Known as Shinobi
Haku tells the hesitant Naruto to finish him off. Naruto strongly questions Haku’s philosophy of existing only to fight and win. Meanwhile, the battle between Kakashi and Zabuza approaches its climax. Zabuza’s movement is restrained by Kakashi’s Summoning Jutsu. With victory within his grasp, Kakashi unleashes his most devastating maneuver.
The Demon in the Snow
Thinking of Haku, Naruto angrily confronts Zabuza. Even though he appears to have no emotions, Zabuza is devastated by the loss of Haku, the only person he could trust in the world. Naruto learns that this kind of cruel reality is indeed the fate of a ninja.
A New Chapter Begins: The Chunin Exam!
Naruto and his team return to the Village Hidden in the Leaves after their battle in Land of Waves. Even though they complete new missions that are assigned to them, Naruto is not satisfied with the daily routine. But soon he learns that outsiders are gathering in the Leaf Village.
Identify Yourself: Powerful New Rivals
Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura are among those chosen to take the Chunin Qualification Exam. But Iruka vehemently opposes the participation of Naruto and his team. He argues that the members are too young and lack the adequate level of experience and skill for the challenge. But Kakashi believes that they have grown and are more than ready.
Chunin Challenge: Rock Lee vs. Sasuke!
As Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura prepare for the examination, a ninja with short bobbed hair and thick eyebrows named Rock Lee appears. Lee wants to fight Sasuke, who holds the power of the Uchiha tribe. Sasuke accepts Lee’s challenge, but his opponent attacks with such quickness that he can only stay in defense mode.
Genin Takedown! All Nine Rookies Face Off!
Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura officially register for the Chunin Exam. In this examination, three ninja form a team, and in order to pass, not a single member is allowed to fail. Teamwork becomes absolutely vital for success in this test. When they enter the exam room, Naruto and his team are almost overwhelmed by the atmosphere, as they encounter many others who are chasing a dream just like theirs.
Start Your Engines: The Chunin Exam Begins!
Naruto and his team begin the first exam, a written test. The exam proctor is a special jonin (upper rank ninja) named Ibiki Morino, who is an infamous expert in interrogation. At the sight of Ibiki, the participants become nervous. The passage or failure of a team will depend on the combined score of the three members. Sasuke and Sakura are worried that if Naruto answers all of the questions wrong, they themselves will fail the test. The examination finally begins...
The Tenth Question: All or Nothing!
The hardest part of the first exam comes in question 10. Before the ninja hear the question, Ibiki declares what seems like a harsh and unreasonable rule for that problem: if this question is answered incorrectly, not only will it result in the failure of the first exam, but the team will be denied the right to take any future Chunin Exams.
Special Report: Live from the Forest of Death!
Konohamaru, the grandson of the Leaf Village’s Third Hokage, shows up at the Chunin Exam site, along with Moegi and Udon, to cover the events for the Ninja Academy’s school newspaper. Konohamaru looks up to Naruto like an older brother, and through interviews with the characters, recaps their adventures thus far.
The Chunin Exam Stage 2: The Forest of Death
Naruto and his fellow participants arrive at the Forest of Death, the site of the second part of the Chunin Exam. To begin, each team will be given one of two types of scrolls. A team must gain possession of the other type of scroll by stealing it from another team and reach the goal point at the tower with both scrolls in hand. Anko, the proctor, offers only one piece of advice to the participants—“Don’t get killed!”
Eat or be Eaten: Panic in the Forest
The second exam starts in the Forest of Death. Sasuke notices that an enemy has disguised himself as Naruto. Sasuke pursues the intruder but is unable to capture him. Sasuke rescues the bound Naruto and the three teammates decide on a password in case they are split up again.
Naruto’s Counterattack: Never Give In!
The Grass ninja that attacks Sasuke and Sakura has more power than the two can handle. Although Sasuke considers giving away their scroll to survive the assault, Naruto stops Sasuke by hitting him. As his anger escalates during the heat of the battle, Naruto starts to display his hidden powers. Meanwhile, examination proctor Anko receives a report about a problem regarding the participants in the exam...
The Sharingan Revived: Dragon-Flame Jutsu!
Seeing Naruto furiously fight back against the Grass ninja, Sasuke realizes that he was wrong to think about fleeing the scene of a battle. Taking over for Naruto, who runs out of energy, Sasuke uses his Sharingan to its full potential to drive back the enemy. The Grass ninja introduces himself as Orochimaru and disappears, leaving a curse mark on Sasuke's neck. Shortly thereafter, Sasuke collapses in pain...