The Best Episodes Directed By Hiroshi Kimura

#1 - The Successor's Wish

Season 7 Episode 146 - Aired 2/4/2010

As Naruto heads back to the Tsuchigumo Clan village, Akaboshi and his group find Hotaru with the help of Hotaru's uncle. Hotaru manages to escape but the ninja bandits surround her in the forest. Utakata comes to her aid and manages to take her and escape from the ninja bandits. Akaboshi and his group are about to chase after them until their boss arrives and reveals to them that Utakata is in the Hidden Mist Village's Bingo Book.

Director: Hiroshi Kimura

Writer: Yuka Miyata

#2 - Kakashi Hatake, The Jonin in Charge

Season 9 Episode 179 - Aired 9/30/2010

Kakashi has a flashback back when he was assigned to be the sensei of Team 7. In a bid to know his students, Naruto, Sasuke & Sakura, better, Kakashi spies on them and to see how they would all get along as a group. Angered by Sakura's talk about calling Naruto a brat and that he has no family to tell him right or wrong, Sasuke tells Sakura she is annoying. Realizing Sakura's sadness, Naruto goes to battle Sasuke, but gets defeated. It then goes back to the present and Kakashi claims that it is up to him to stop Sasuke.

Director: Hiroshi Kimura

Writer: Junki Takegami

#3 - Sasuke's Paw Encyclopedia

Season 9 Episode 189 - Aired 12/2/2010

In the past, Naruto and Sakura joined Sasuke on a mission to collect the paw print of Nekomata, a large and powerful two-tailed ninja cat that ruled over all of the ninja cats.

Director: Hiroshi Kimura

Writer: Masahiro Hikokubo

#4 - Drive Towards Darkness

Season 9 Episode 196 - Aired 1/27/2011

Sasuke has a flashback while traveling to Konoha with his team, Taka. He once saved a girl named Naho not knowing that she's a relative of the Feudal Lord. Meanwhile, Naruto and Sakura are sent on a mission to accompany Naho and act as her bodyguards while Kakashi and Sasuke are sent to discover the reason why internationally wanted bandits have entered their border. Kakashi and Sasuke later find out that the bandits intend to abduct Naho. Naruto and Sakura are defeated by the bandits and are taken hostage. Sasuke finds them first and proceeds to defeat the leader and mercilessly punches him because of his jealousy for Naruto's growing power. A cut to the present reveals Naruto contemplating on his promise to have Sasuke return to the village.

Director: Hiroshi Kimura

Writer: Daisuke Watanabe

#5 - Infiltration

Season 1 Episode 8 - Aired 8/27/2016

Houhou goes to the Tengekai to take back Soran. She defeats one outsider after another, but then she is stopped by Ja Jongu. He is on a different level than the other foes, and she can’t even touch him. Meanwhile, Soran is with Saen, who has been told by her father to date him. The seal doesn’t respond to Saen! Saen is serious about dating him so Soran runs away. Saen says if he’s serious about running, she’ll stop him with everything she has. She uses her teleportation powers to attack him and he has no way to fight back. Both he and Houhou are losing the fight. Two battle take place inside the Tengekai Building. What will happen to Soran and Houhou?

Director: Hiroshi Kimura

Writer: N/A

#6 - To the Future

Season 1 Episode 12 - Aired 9/24/2016

Jo Shou’s father is killed, and his mother begs Houhou to take revenge. Houhou kills the bandits without emotion. It is a terrifying sight. She saved the village, but the villagers treat her like monsters and drive her away. She separates from Jo Shou and is left alone deep within the mountains. Several years later she lives a lonely life, and decides to go find her family. Jo Shou finds a picture of Houhou. It’s been decades since he last saw her, but she hasn’t changed at all. What happens to her when she arrives in town? What does Jo Shou do? What will Soran do now that he is a part of the outsider world, and knows the truth? His destiny continues from the past. But what will his future be?

Director: Hiroshi Kimura

Writer: N/A

#7 - The Third Man

Season 1 Episode 3 - Aired 7/29/2020

Director: Hiroshi Kimura

Writer: N/A

#8 - Blind Attack

Season 3 Episode 6 - Aired 8/21/2004

The Toudou School's driver knows all about exploiting a challenger's blind spot. If Takumi hopes to win, he'll have to find a way to leave his opponent in the dark.

Director: Hiroshi Kimura

Writer: Nobuaki Kishima

#9 - Fateful Battle of FDs

Season 3 Episode 8 - Aired 10/16/2004

Keisuke meets a girl named Kyoko, who happens to be a fellow FD driver. Their first encounter is pleasant and leaves her weak in the knees. Their second encounter is a race on her turf.

Director: Hiroshi Kimura

Writer: Nobuaki Kishima

#10 - Rainy Downhill Battle

Season 3 Episode 11 - Aired 2/19/2005

Takumi struggles to keep up with the Northern Saitama Alliance's Cappuccino. As the rain soaks the course, both teams find their confidence wavering - it seems the race could go either way.

Director: Hiroshi Kimura

Writer: Nobuaki Kishima

#11 - Straightaway of Struggles

Season 3 Episode 12 - Aired 2/19/2005

Takumi is locked in the toughest race of his career! With Ryosuke's odd advice echoing in his mind, and the Cappuccino still leading, his decision in the last straightaway will be the difference in victory or defeat.

Director: Hiroshi Kimura

Writer: Nobuaki Kishima

#12 - Motivation

Season 3 Episode 13 - Aired 4/16/2005

Keisuke and Wataru's grueling race continues in the pouring rain. Meanwhile, the Cappuccino driver picks Takumi's brain, trying to better understand his amazing abilities behind the wheel.

Director: Hiroshi Kimura

Writer: Nobuaki Kishima

#13 - 4WD Complex

Season 3 Episode 15 - Aired 4/18/2005

Takumi continues wrestling with the differences in his Eight-Six and the Impreza. Later, when Keisuke falls prey to a trap set by Project D's next opponents, the upcoming race could be over before it begins.

Director: Hiroshi Kimura

Writer: Nobuaki Kishima

#14 - The Saitama Area's Final Battle

Season 3 Episode 17 - Aired 4/20/2005

The Lan EVO drivers have proven to be Project D's shadiest opponents yet. They've already shown their willingness to cheat - and now they've threatened Takumi's team with physical violence.

Director: Hiroshi Kimura

Writer: Nobuaki Kishima

#15 - God Foot and God Arm

Season 3 Episode 19 - Aired 10/15/2005

Project D's next match is against a pair of legendary racers. The veteran drivers of Purple Shadow may be a lot older than Takumi's crew, but they aren't rusty. In fact, their skills are as sharp as polished blades.

Director: Hiroshi Kimura

Writer: Nobuaki Kishima

#16 - Dogfight

Season 3 Episode 21 - Aired 10/17/2005

The battle between the FD and GT-R continues, however the real battle has just begun. Now, Hoshino demonstrates his unique driving skills that people call the impossible earning him the name Godfoot. This makes Keisuke’s true racing abilities appear when it’s pushed beyond his limits as both drivers begin to drive recklessly forcing the battle to be settled in more than just one battle.

Director: Hiroshi Kimura

Writer: Nobuaki Kishima

#17 - Endless Battle

Season 3 Episode 23 - Aired 10/18/2005

Takumi's greatest strength is his greatest weakness in the match with God Arm. The race has become an endurance test, and both drivers are wearing thin. Something's got to give - and soon.

Director: Hiroshi Kimura

Writer: Nobuaki Kishima

#18 - Nine-Tails, Captured!

Season 8 Episode 165 - Aired 6/17/2010

Pain's God Realm finally enters the battle. As Naruto's toad allies fall one by one, the situation begins to look grim. Can Naruto defeat Pain?

Director: Hiroshi Kimura

Writer: Shin Yoshida

#19 - The Hero of the Hidden Leaf

Season 8 Episode 175 - Aired 8/26/2010

Deciding to believe in Naruto, Nagato uses the Gedo Art: Rinne Rebirth jutsu, expending the last of his chakra, and thus giving his life, to revive every person in the village who died in the attack, saying that it's the least he can do. With Nagato dead, Konan leaves Akatsuki, taking Nagato and Pain's God Realm (who is actually the body of Yahiko) with her, parting with Naruto saying that since Nagato believed in him to achieve true peace, she will as well. As Naruto returns to the Leaf, he is astonished to find the entire village awaiting his return, hailing him as a true hero. After all these years, Naruto has finally received the acknowledgment he's always wanted.

Director: Hiroshi Kimura

Writer: Yuka Miyata

#20 - The Eye of the Hawk

Season 6 Episode 114 - Aired 6/18/2009

Orochimaru reveals the true, hideous form his body has taken from years of experimenting on his body. Can Sasuke defeat this menacing form, or does Orochimaru still have a few tricks up his sleeves?

Director: Hiroshi Kimura

Writer: Masahiro Hikokubo

#21 - The Man Who Became God

Season 6 Episode 130 - Aired 10/8/2009

Having suspicions about the Nine-Tails' attack on the Hidden Leaf Village years ago, Jiraiya tells one of his frogs that the time may come when Naruto will need to access the fox's full power. His interrogations finished, Jiraiya sets out in search for Pain, but winds up encountering Konan instead. Is there a connection between Jiraiya, Konan, and the mysterious Pain? Elsewhere, one of Naruto's shadow clones runs into Team Hebi.

Director: Hiroshi Kimura

Writer: Shin Yoshida

#22 - The Mystery of Tobi

Season 6 Episode 139 - Aired 12/10/2009

As Sasuke has finally fulfilled his goal in killing Itachi and avenging his clan, he collapses from exhaustion. The news of his victory reaches the Leaf ninja and Tobi, who both race towards Sasuke's location. What does Tobi plan to do with him and who will reach Sasuke first?

Director: Hiroshi Kimura

Writer: Shin Yoshida

#23 - Two Fates

Season 10 Episode 215 - Aired 6/9/2011

Naruto reproaches Sasuke for attempting to kill Sakura. Then Sasuke reveals that he killed Danzo with his own hands. He goes on to declare his intent to purify the Uchiha clan’s name by annihilating the Hidden Leaf.

Director: Hiroshi Kimura

Writer: Shin Yoshida

#24 - Your Words

Season 2 Episode 15 - Aired 1/24/2011

Midnight fights a battle with Erza and Jellal; being weakened from the destruction magic, Jellal loses the fight easily. After initially being overwhelmed, Erza figures out the true form of Midnight's magic and prepares to fight him again. Meanwhile, Wendy searches for Jellal in order to find the necessary information that will help Natsu and the others stop Nirvana.

Director: Hiroshi Kimura

Writer: N/A

#25 - Death-Trap Maze

Season 2 Episode 16 - Aired 5/5/2018

An elaborate trap-laded deadly maze constructed by Drole begins to weed out the weaker challengers that have gathered for the Great Fight Festival.

Director: Hiroshi Kimura

Writer: N/A