The Best Episodes Directed By Rion Kujo

#1 - The Sword and the Way

Season 1 Episode 24 - Aired 3/18/2008

Kirino attempts and fails to prevent Tamaki from resigning from the kendo club, the latter already having decided to give up. Neither she nor Miyako decide to attend kendo club, and nobody knows Miyako's whereabouts. Eventually even Kirino decides not to attend, and the only members left are Satori, Yūji, Danjūrō, and Sayako. Satori manages to convince Miyako to keep up with kendo, while Sayako dissuades Kirino from quitting kendo. Yūji comforts Tamaki, telling her that losing is not as bad as she thinks, and Tamaki decides to learn jōdan to help improve her kendo skills. Eventually she decides to come back to kendo club, and the members are reunited.

Director: Rion Kujo

Writer: Hideyuki Kurata

#2 - Once upon a time

Season 1 Episode 16 - Aired 7/25/2021

2 years ago, Mikey, Draken, Baji, Mitsuya, Pah-chin, and Kazutora had their gang uniforms made and they all took a trip to Kanagawa on their motorcycles. Meanwhile, their commander Mikey rode his moped, Street Hawk. They get surrounded by a local biker gang, but Mikey shows no fear and tells the older gang members that he'll kill them if they lay a finger on his Street Hawk.

Director: Rion Kujo

Writer: Yasuyuki Muto

#3 - Settling the Score

Season 1 Episode 17 - Aired 10/27/2023

Yutaro sustains a heavy injury from Raijuta's sword, and it is so severe that he will never be able to swing a sword with that arm ever again. Although Yahiko was constantly disagreeing with Yutaro until now, he understood very well what swordsmanship meant to him. He takes Yutaro's hand and leads him out of the medical room, so they could witness the final battle between Kenshin and Raijuta. Deep in the night on a woodland path, Kenshin and Raijuta's duel begins.

Director: Rion Kujo

Writer: Kaoru Kurosaki

#4 - Regret

Season 1 Episode 6 - Aired 5/16/2021

Because Pah-chin's friend was brutally attacked by Moebius, the Tokyo Manji Gang decides they're going to fight Moebius. According to Naoto, Draken doesn't die because of the conflict with Moebius, but rather, an internal conflict between the Tokyo Manji Gang. Takemichi returns to the present to talk to Osanai, the leader of Moebius, to find out what really happened that day.

Director: Rion Kujo

Writer: Yasuyuki Muto

#5 - Sensei and Student: The Bond of a Shinobi!

Season 2 Episode 100 - Aired 9/8/2004

As Lee decides whether or not to go through with the operation, Gai decides to give him some motivation. Meanwhile, Tsunade frantically struggles to increase the operation's success rate.

Director: Rion Kujo

Writer: Michiko Yokote

#6 - Seven Colored Pigeon

Season 1 Episode 3 - Aired 4/22/2019

Director: Rion Kujo

Writer: Chuji Mikasano

#7 - Assassin of the Moonlit Night

Season 2 Episode 76 - Aired 3/24/2004

As Sasuke is about to be defeated, Naruto and Sakura show up to save him. With this Gaara begins to have flashbacks of his childhood. What happened in Gaara's past to make him experience so much suffering?

Director: Rion Kujo

Writer: Akatsuki Yamatoya

#8 - Eye to Eye: Sharingan vs. Sharingan!

Season 2 Episode 82 - Aired 5/5/2004

Kakashi takes on Itachi, with both of them using the Sharingan. However, Kakashi soon realizes that he stands no chance against the legendary ninja. Itachi reveals that he has not come for his little brother, but instead he's come to do something else...abduct Naruto, and Kyubi as well!

Director: Rion Kujo

Writer: Yuka Miyata

#9 - New Game Plus

Season 1 Episode 1 - Aired 7/6/2012

Having vanquished the Demon Lord Garius, Akatsuki Ousawa bids farewell to the world of Alazyard and returns to his home world. His epic adventure has actually only just begun, though…

Director: Rion Kujo

Writer: N/A

#10 - The Oath of Pain

Season 1 Episode 8 - Aired 11/21/2002

With Kakashi captured, Naruto, Sasuke and Sakura must defend against Zabuza's attacks. Naruto realizes that working together with Sasuke may be the only way to save Kakashi. Will the combined effort of the two be enough to free Kakashi and defeat Zabuza?

Director: Rion Kujo

Writer: Akatsuki Yamatoya

#11 - The World is Watching You

Season 1 Episode 12 - Aired 9/21/2012

Akatsuki and Miu face off with Zahhak in a final battle. Meanwhile, the truth behind Phil is revealed in Alayzard and COCOON takes further notice of Akatsuki.

Director: Rion Kujo

Writer: N/A

#12 - Chunin Challenge: Rock Lee vs. Sasuke!

Season 1 Episode 22 - Aired 3/6/2003

Rock Lee challenges Sasuke to a one-on-one fight. Naruto grows angry and attacks him, only to be beaten in one attack. Sasuke realizes the challenge and eagerly accepts. But will Sasuke be defeated just as easily by this mysterious ninja? Sasuke's only advantage seems to be his Sharingan, but what happens when not even that will work?

Director: Rion Kujo

Writer: Akatsuki Yamatoya

#13 - Club Room Go Boom!

Season 1 Episode 4 - Aired 10/29/2017

Arisu explains to Minoa about anime prodution and business. In order to to prove their club is productive, the club is asked by the Drama Club to help with the costumes for their play. However Erika hits a roadblock when designing the costumes.

Director: Rion Kujo

Writer: Kenichi Yamashita

#14 - Byakugan Battle: Hinata Grows Bold!

Season 1 Episode 46 - Aired 8/20/2003

Kiba alerts Hinata, as he's being taken away, that there are only a few fighters left. He warns her that if she fights Gaara, she has to give up immediately or she could be killed. He also tells her to give up if paired against Neji, because Neji already has issues with her. Just then, the board shows the next fight...Hinata vs. Neji. Just how far will Hinata go to prove herself?

Director: Rion Kujo

Writer: Akatsuki Yamatoya

#15 - Ebisu Returns: Naruto's Toughest Training Yet!

Season 1 Episode 52 - Aired 10/1/2003

Naruto wants Kakashi to train him, but Kakashi has other plans. Ebisu arrives to an unhappy Naruto and makes a deal with him. If Naruto can get away from Ebisu, he'll make Kakashi train him. Naruto decides to accept Ebisu's challenge, but can he win?

Director: Rion Kujo

Writer: Akatsuki Yamatoya

#16 - A Shirker's Call to Action: Layabout No More!

Season 2 Episode 70 - Aired 2/11/2004

Naruto, Sakura, Shikamaru, and Pakkun are being chased down by several Sound ninja. Shikamaru decides to stop and try to hold them off so the others can catch up to Sasuke without fear of pursuit. Shikamaru is the logical choice because of his Shadow Possession Jutsu...needless to say, Shikamaru's not too thrilled by this.

Director: Rion Kujo

Writer: Michiko Yokote

#17 - Spiritual Summoning: Shrine Maiden of Life

Season 1 Episode 2 - Aired 4/9/2002

The episode starts out with Rumina taking Ruri out to see a real ""botanical garden"". The garden that he takes her to is at the back of their house but unfortunately, it's overgrown with weeds and most of the flowers are dead due to neglect. Rumina promises Ruri that he will take her to as many gardens as she wants. In the meantime, the bad guy that we saw in the first episode, Seki, has found Chelsea and Ruri. Chelsea first defeats all of Seki's soldiers but this has sapped her strength. At a crucial moment in her fight with Seki, she ran out of gravity power. Seki surrounds her in a high-burning ring of fire, intending to suffocate her. Rumina challenges Seki but was killed in one blow. Ruri decides that it's all her fault and uses her abilities as the Shrine Maiden of Life to cast a spiritual summoning and restore Rumina's life. Once revived, Rumina appears to have also gained the power to manipulate wind. He sends Seki flying and the latter decides to take off, but not before warnin

Director: Rion Kujo

Writer: Katsuyuki Sumisawa

#18 - Kakashi and Orochimaru: Face-to-Face!

Season 1 Episode 40 - Aired 7/9/2003

While Shino and Zaku finish their fight, Kakashi works on Sasuke's cursed seal. However, someone sinister shows up to ruin things, will Kakashi be able to protect Sasuke from this skilled foe?

Director: Rion Kujo

Writer: Kouhei Urasawa

#19 - The Legendary Hero Is Dead?!

Season 1 Episode 1 - Aired 4/7/2023

Touka Scott doesn't care much about the devils supposedly ravaging the world... until a visit from the legendary hero changes everything.

Director: Rion Kujo

Writer: N/A

#20 - Hospital Besieged: The Evil Hand Revealed!

Season 2 Episode 58 - Aired 11/12/2003

Due to the events with Gamabunta, Naruto is now stuck in the hospital. Shikamaru unexpectedly pays him a visit, saying the two of them are the types who never get girls to visit them. Meanwhile, Gaara approaches an unconscious Rock Lee, with the full intention of taking his life. Luckily for Lee, Naruto and Shikamaru are there to protect him. However, can they save even themselves after learning Gaara's shocking secret? What is it that Naruto has realized about Gaara?

Director: Rion Kujo

Writer: Kouhei Urasawa

#21 - Zero Motivation: The Guy with Cloud Envy!

Season 2 Episode 64 - Aired 12/24/2003

Shikamaru takes on Temari, only he doesn't want to fight. Can the lazy Shikamaru even last the round? Or is there more to Shikamaru than meets the eye?

Director: Rion Kujo

Writer: Michiko Yokote

#22 - My Name Is Konohamaru!

Season 1 Episode 2 - Aired 10/10/2002

Naruto finally graduates from the Ninja Academy and claims to know it all. Well, at least that what he tells Konohamaru, the Village elder's pint-size grandson. Much to the dismay of Ebisu, Konohamaru's teacher and mentor, Naruto teaches him the hormonally lethal "Sexy Jutsu!"

Director: Rion Kujo

Writer: Akatsuki Yamatoya

#23 - Battle Formation: Ino-Shika-Cho!

Season 1 Episode 33 - Aired 5/14/2003

With Sakura defeated and facing certain death, more reinforcements step into the fray. However, they sense an even bigger level of power, and its not coming from the sound trio! Meanwhile Sasuke wakes up with an ominous dark aura surrounding him and the mysterious seal spreading over his body. He has but one goal....make his enemies pay!

Director: Rion Kujo

Writer: Katsuyuki Sumisawa

#24 - One for all

Season 1 Episode 22 - Aired 9/5/2021

Two years ago, Mikey learns that Kazutora is beefing with the motorcycle gang, the Black Dragons, and decides he'd fight them as well. But he wanted a valid sense of purpose to take on a motorcycle gang. Baji then suggests they make their own motorcycle gang. They want to create a gang where they can all put their lives down on the line for each other. Baji had been fighting all alone to protect the promise they made the day they created their gang and put their money together to buy a traffic safety charm.

Director: Rion Kujo

Writer: Yoriko Tomita

#25 - Focal Point: The Mark of the Leaf

Season 2 Episode 88 - Aired 6/16/2004

After passing stage one of the training, Naruto moves into stage two: power training. Jiraiya realizes that, like him, Naruto has a hard time concentrating, so he paints a spiral in the palm of Naruto's hand to help him to focus. With the aid of the spiral and a quick flashback to Iruka-sensei, Naruto completes stage two. Meanwhile, Tsunade's luck has become uncommonly good, which worries her. After being talked into sightseeing by her assistant, Tsunade meets Orochimaru...and she doesn't look at all pleased.

Director: Rion Kujo

Writer: Satoru Nishizono