The Best Episodes Directed By Masaaki Kumagai

Episode Rankings

1. #1 Fan Favorite
   

   9.5/10(8 votes)

   #1 - The Tale of Jiraiya the Gallant

   S6:E13310/29/2009

   Jiraiya realizes that the six Pains are all ninja he's met before. Putting various pieces of information together, Jiraiya figures out Pain's true identity, but Pain doesn't intend to allow Jiraiya to leave with that information alive. Elsewhere, the fated meeting between Itachi and Sasuke arrives, and Sasuke foresees Itachi's death.

   Director:Masaaki Kumagai

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2. 

   9.0/10(6 votes)

   #2 - The Fourth Hokage's Death Match!

   S12:E2482/9/2012

   Minato is forced to use his Flying Raijin jutsu and leave his wife Kushina behind to save their newborn son, Naruto, from a masked assailant.

   Director:Masaaki Kumagai

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3. 

   9.0/10(7 votes)

   #3 - Pain to the World

   S8:E1625/27/2010

   Pain confronts Tsunade and questions her about Naruto's whereabouts. Tsunade argues with Pain about his motives, but Pain soon gets the info he needs from another source. Before preparing to depart, Pain unleashes a devastating attack on the village! Meanwhile, Naruto prepares to return to the Leaf Village, but he may be too late.

   Director:Masaaki Kumagai

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4. 

   9.0/10(5 votes)

   #4 - Something to Fill the Hole

   S17:E3728/14/2014

   Ten Tails is on the brink of its final transformation and begins to form a massive Tailed Beast Bomb.

   Director:Masaaki Kumagai

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5. 

   8.8/10(5 votes)

   #5 - The Secret of the Transportation Technique

   S15:E34212/12/2013

   Having absorbed the chakras of all nine Tailed Beasts, the Gedo Statue begins its transformation into Ten Tails. Naruto, Killer Bee, Kakashi, and Guy try to destroy the Gedo Statue but are stopped by the masked man.

   Director:Masaaki Kumagai

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6. 

   8.8/10(5 votes)

   #6 - Connecting Thoughts

   S20:E4708/4/2016

   Before Naruto and Sasuke can attempt to seal Kaguya away, she transports Sasuke into a different Time-Space. Obito realizes that Kaguya’s ability to travel through Time-Space is similar to Kakashi’s and his own Visual Prowess. Obito and Sakura team up and begin the search for Sasuke.

   Director:Masaaki Kumagai

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7. 

   8.6/10(5 votes)

   #7 - The Ties That Bind

   S17:E3646/5/2014

   The Allied Shinobi Forces begin their onslaught against Obito and Madara. But Ten Tails suddenly transforms and hurls powerful Tailed Beast Bombs toward distant towns.

   Director:Masaaki Kumagai

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8. 

   8.4/10(10 votes)

   #8 - Three Minutes Between Life and Death

   S1:E258/16/2007

   Sakura destroys the Third Kazekage puppet thanks to a secret antidote she had taken.

   Director:Masaaki Kumagai

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9. 

   8.4/10(5 votes)

   #9 - Madara Uchiha Arises

   S18:E39112/11/2014

   Naruto and the Allied Shinobi Forces successfully extract the Tailed Beasts from Obito. Only Madara remains, and Naruto heads out to tackle this foe.

   Director:Masaaki Kumagai

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10. 

    8.4/10(8 votes)

    #10 - Naruto's Ninja Handbook

    S2:E784/7/2004

    Naruto and Gaara continue their fight. Naruto begins to get an advantage, and Gaara transforms into the final form of Shukaku of the Sand. As he begins to put the squeeze on Naruto, Naruto summons Gamabunta Oyabun, and his comeback begins. Once again, Naruto begins to get an advantage, but Gaara casts the technique of fake sleep, releasing the full power of Shukaku. Now that the demon is free, what will Naruto do?

    Director:Masaaki Kumagai

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11. 

    8.3/10(10 votes)

    #11 - The Death of Gaara!

    S1:E176/7/2007

    Teams Kakashi and Guy take a short rest. Granny Chiyo watches Naruto dozing off and is reminded of Sasori as a child. The pursuit resumes, and when Chiyo wonders why Naruto puts such effort into...

    Director:Masaaki Kumagai

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12. 

    8.2/10(12 votes)

    #12 - Homecoming

    S1:E12/15/2007

    A figure passes through the gates. It's an older Naruto, who has returned from a long training journey with Jiraiya. Naruto Uzumaki is back!

    Director:Masaaki Kumagai

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13. 

    8.2/10(4 votes)

    #13 - Orochimaru's Test Subject

    S16:E3533/6/2014

    While pursuing Orochimaru, Kakashi wanders into a village inhabited by the Iburi Clan, a group of people with the unique ability to turn into smoke. Kakashi is soon captured and learns that the villagers all serve under Orochimaru.

    Director:Masaaki Kumagai

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14. 

    8.2/10(4 votes)

    #14 - Pursuing Hope

    S18:E38310/23/2014

    Naruto's past, thoughts, and feelings flow into the consciousness of every shinobi, unifying their hearts.

    Director:Masaaki Kumagai

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15. 

    8.2/10(5 votes)

    #15 - War Begins

    S12:E2625/10/2012

    Kankuro’s commando unit enters enemy territory to set up a stronghold for the Allied Shinobi Forces. They are immediately ambushed by the Akatsuki’s own commando unit comprised of the reanimated Deidara and Sasori.

    Director:Masaaki Kumagai

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16. 

    8.1/10(7 votes)

    #16 - Following the Master's Shadow

    S8:E1533/25/2010

    Shikamaru tries to decipher the dying message Jiraiya left before his death but cannot figure out what it says. Shikamaru asks for Naruto's help, thinking he might know the code. Can the saddened Naruto decipher Jiraiya's dying message?

    Director:Masaaki Kumagai

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17. 

    8.0/10(4 votes)

    #17 - The Unbreakable Mask and the Shattered Bubble

    S15:E3248/8/2013

    Naruto and Killer Bee face off against the masked man originally thought to be Madara Uchiha, in addition to the reanimated Jinchuriki. Naruto is shocked when he recognizes one of the Jinchuriki.

    Director:Masaaki Kumagai

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18. 

    8.0/10(3 votes)

    #18 - Everyone's Feelings

    S5:E1013/26/2009

    Naruto runs into Guren while trying to find Yūkimaru. Yamato and Kakashi find Naruto and bring him back to the group. Kabuto tells Guren that Yūkimaru is only a tool to control the Three-Tails, which upsets Guren. Meanwhile, Shizune, Ino, Tenten and Lee meet up with the team and tell them that their new mission is to rescue Yūkimaru and capture the Three-Tails before Orochimaru's group can capture it.

    Director:Masaaki Kumagai

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19. 

    8.0/10(3 votes)

    #19 - Connecting Hearts

    S5:E931/22/2009

    Naruto runs into unexpected difficulties as he trains with Gamakichi and Gamatatsu. While Kakashi's group searches for Guren and her gang, Yukimaru seems to develop interest in Naruto.

    Director:Masaaki Kumagai

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20. 

    8.0/10(7 votes)

    #20 - Zero Hour! The Destruction of the Hidden Leaf Village Begins!

    S2:E681/28/2004

    Sasuke's match is interrupted when Orochimaru puts his plan into action. Temari and Kankuro are ordered to get Gaara to safety until he recovers, leaving Sasuke to chase after them. War has begun!

    Director:Masaaki Kumagai

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21. 

    8.0/10(1 votes)

    #21 - Things that Go Bang in the Night

    S1:E391/1/1991

    In the middle of the night, the inhabitants of Moominvalley are awakened by distant explosions. At the same time, a pretty young girl appears in the valley, completely exhausted. Snufkin carries her to Moominmamma's house. One of the following nights, when the explosions can be heard from the sea, the Moomins try to get to the bottom of the matter. From the beach, they see a rowboat on the horizon with someone sitting in it who looks very much like Mr. Hemul. But what is Hemul doing in a rowboat at night?

    Director:Masaaki Kumagai

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22. 

    8.0/10(1 votes)

    #22 - Moomin Builds a House

    S1:E452/14/1991

    The Moomins' house has collapsed because the ten children that Mula's mother brought with her have been running riot. There is no peace and quiet to be found anywhere, and Snufkin convinces Moomin to build his own house. But Moomin soon realizes that building a house is easier said than done. Everything that can go wrong does go wrong, and in the end, the ten whirlwinds find the spot where Moomin is building his new house.

    Director:Masaaki Kumagai

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23. 

    8.0/10(1 votes)

    #23 - The Treasure Hunt

    S1:E524/4/1991

    A treasure hunter wants to find a gold vein. But after several attempts, he realizes that there are no gold deposits in Moominvalley. He decides to move beyond the lonely mountains. But before he can put his plan into action, he comes down with a high fever. Moominpappa nurses him back to health. When he wants to move on after his recovery, he gives the Moomin family an old treasure map as a thank you. The Moomin Valley is depicted on it, and there is a mark at one point. Could there really be treasure hidden in the peaceful Moomin Valley? The Moomins want to put it to the test.

    Director:Masaaki Kumagai

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24. 

    8.0/10(1 votes)

    #24 - The Secret Dish

    S1:E565/2/1991

    Is Moominmamma's family really getting tired of her cooking? It seems impossible, but Little My unabashedly claims that she is getting very bored with always having pancakes, and Moominpappa at least implies that the best dish he ever had was one not cooked by his beloved wife. As always, when in a quandary, Moominmamma consults Grandma's book of recipes and cures and, sure enough, finds "What To Do When Your Family Grows Tired of Your Cooking". Taking Snufkin along, she embarks on the journey that the recipe calls for, to find the secret ingredient necessary for the Irresistible Dish.

    Director:Masaaki Kumagai

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25. 

    8.0/10(1 votes)

    #25 - Witch-Walking

    S1:E626/13/1991

    Great things are happening in Moominvalley. Snorkmaiden's brother, the Snork, has finally completed the model of his new flying ship and it seems to work, being a bit more sensibly constructed than the first one. On the not-so-scientific front the witch's granddaughter, Alicia, has graduated to her first instruction in real witchcraft, a stunning feat which the Snork immediately tries to emulate. And finally Snufkin and the Hemulen try to catch the Mameluke, a fish that is not only very, very large, but also very, very hungry.

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