The Best Episodes Directed By Hayato Date

#1 - Naruto Uzumaki!!

Season 20 Episode 479 - Aired 10/13/2016

"I'll be a better shinobi than Lord Hokage! Then all the villagers will have to acknowledge my existence at last!" True to his word, Naruto has walked his own path until there are none who do not recognize that he's become a great shinobi and a hero who has saved the world. But what path will Naruto take now? How will the world of the shinobi change? This is the story of the boy who blew through the hearts of all like a "shippu," an irresistible gale. This is the story of Naruto Uzumaki.

Director: Hayato Date

Writer: Toshiyuki Tsuru

#2 - Danzo Shimura

Season 10 Episode 211 - Aired 5/12/2011

As the fight between Sasuke and Danzo comes to a close, the latter will do whatever it takes to finish off the former. Meanwhile, Sakura and her team close in on Sasuke.

Director: Hayato Date

Writer: Katsuhiko Chiba

#3 - Original Resident

Season 1 Episode 7 - Aired 5/20/2019

Director: Hayato Date

Writer: N/A

#4 - The Angelic Herald of Death

Season 12 Episode 252 - Aired 3/1/2012

Tobi heads to Hidden Rain Village to retrieve Nagato's Rinnegan. Konan, now a former member of Akatsuki, recollects her past until Tobi arrives. Tobi asks Konan where is Nagato's Rinnegan and Konan replies that it is not located in the village. Their battle started and Tobi tells Konan that he encouraged Yahiko to form Akatsuki and he gave the Rinnegan to Nagato. Konan transforms into thousands of pieces of paper to self-destruct against Tobi, yet it fails and both survives. Konan unleashes a powerful paper technique that looks like a sea of paper beneath their feet.

Director: Hayato Date

Writer: Katsuhiko Chiba

#5 - The Destined Encounter: Surface

Season 1 Episode 1 - Aired 4/2/2002

Director: Hayato Date

Writer: Katsuyuki Sumisawa

#6 - April

Season 1 Episode 1 - Aired 7/7/2017

Director: Hayato Date

Writer: Sayaka Harada

#7 - The Secret Weapon is Called...

Season 1 Episode 15 - Aired 5/24/2007

Granny Chiyo and Sakura rescue Naruto from Itachi’s genjutsu. Without a moment’s delay, Kakashi begins a counterattack.

Director: Hayato Date

Writer: Satoru Nishizono

#8 - Lee's Hidden Strength: Forbidden Secret Jutsu!

Season 1 Episode 49 - Aired 9/10/2003

As the battle between Lee and Gaara continues, Gai remembers how hard Lee used to train and how Lee has pretty much no ninjutsu or genjutsu skills. Lee is also a dropout, like Naruto. In order to defeat Gaara, Lee will have to use the move Gai forbade him to use.

Director: Hayato Date

Writer: Satoru Nishizono

#9 - Bushy Brow's Jutsu: Sasuke Style!

Season 2 Episode 66 - Aired 1/14/2004

Sasuke's match against Gaara finally begins! Gaara seems to have the upper hand at the beginning, until Sasuke shows off his newly found taijutsu techniques. Gaara is reliving the battle against Rock Lee all over again, only this time he's facing an opponent who can use more than simple taijutsu attacks.

Director: Hayato Date

Writer: Akatsuki Yamatoya

#10 - Late Night Roof Diving

Season 1 Episode 3 - Aired 7/21/1999

In the new semester, Onizuka was able to become a teacher at Seirin Gakuen on a sunny day, but the first class he was in charge of was not the high school he admired, but the middle school. Onizuka is disappointed to hear that he is a homeroom teacher for junior high school students, but rumor has it that the class that Onizuka is in charge of, the 4th class in the third grade of junior high school, was a problem class in which there were three homeroom teachers who had quit school due to mental stress.

Director: Hayato Date

Writer: Satoru Nishizono

#11 - Enter: Naruto Uzumaki!

Season 1 Episode 1 - Aired 10/3/2002

Welcome to the Village Hidden in the Leaves, where deadly serious Ninja roam the landscape 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!

Director: Hayato Date

Writer: Katsuyuki Sumisawa

#12 - He Flies! He Jumps! He Lurks! Chief Toad Appears!

Season 2 Episode 57 - Aired 11/5/2003

Overjoyed at his success, Naruto manages to enrage Gamabunta. With him not willing to accept that Naruto was able to summon him, Naruto challenges Gamabunta to accept him as his subordinate if he is able to stay on his back until sundown.

Director: Hayato Date

Writer: Satoru Nishizono

#13 - Bungee Jumping Made Easy

Season 1 Episode 8 - Aired 9/8/1999

　Onizuka, Murai, Fujiyoshi, and Kusano who will be bowling at the setting of Juria. However, on the way, Juria, who was urgently needed, disappears and the game continues in a terrible mood. 　Meanwhile, Murai's mischief prevents Onizuka's fingers from coming out of the ball. Murai and his friends left the impatient Onizuka and left the bowling alley as they were, and on their way home, they were entangled by the Yankees and fell into a big pinch.

Director: Hayato Date

Writer: Satoru Nishizono

#14 - Narrowing the Field: Sudden Death Elimination!

Season 1 Episode 38 - Aired 6/18/2003

With so many participants still left, the groups are told that they will be pitted against each other in preliminary matches. Kabuto leaves, then Sasuke is told he has to fight. They know that Sasuke was given the cursed seal and if it takes over they will stop him. Can Sasuke stop the seal from taking over again and still win?

Director: Hayato Date

Writer: Satoru Nishizono

#15 - The Top 5 Ninja Battles!

Season 4 Episode 202 - Aired 9/27/2006

Naruto and Sakura host a special recap episode featuring the top five battles so far! There are also interviews with some of the team, and perhaps even some of the enemy....

Director: Hayato Date

Writer: Yuka Miyata

#16 - Special Report: Live from the Forest of Death!

Season 1 Episode 26 - Aired 4/2/2003

Konohamaru, the grandson of Leaf Village's Third Hokage, shows up at the Chunin Exam site. He comes 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.

Director: Hayato Date

Writer: Katsuyuki Sumisawa