The Best Episodes of Naruto
Every episode of Naruto ranked from best to worst. Let's dive into the Best Episodes of Naruto!
Naruto Uzumaki, a mischievous adolescent ninja, struggles as he searches for recognition and dreams of becoming the Hokage, the village's leader and strongest ninja.
Top Episode Ratings Summary
The best episode of "Naruto" is "Gaara vs. Rock Lee: The Power of Youth Explodes!", rated 9.2/10 from 2359 user votes. It was directed by Toshiyuki Tsuru and written by Satoru Nishizono. "Gaara vs. Rock Lee: The Power of Youth Explodes!" aired on 9/3/2003 and is rated 0.0 point(s) higher than the second highest rated, "The Fifth Gate: A Splendid Ninja is Born".
9.2/10 2,359 votes#1 - Gaara vs. Rock Lee: The Power of Youth Explodes!
Season 1 Episode 48 - Aired 2003-09-03
The second-to-last match finally arrives! Rock Lee must face down the mysterious and dangerous Gaara, a ninja who is said to have never been truly injured in a fight before.
Director: Toshiyuki Tsuru
Writer: Satoru Nishizono
9.2/10 1,908 votes#2 - The Fifth Gate: A Splendid Ninja is Born
Season 1 Episode 50 - Aired 2003-09-17
The match between Gaara and Lee draws to an end as Lee unleashes his ultimate move. But will even this be enough to defeat Gaara? Even if Lee does make it out in one piece, even more shocking news awaits him.
Director: Mitsutaka Noshitani
Writer: Satoru Nishizono
9.0/10 1,981 votes#3 - The Demon in the Snow
Season 1 Episode 19 - Aired 2003-02-13
Zabuza is no longer Kakashi's enemy, and thanks to a little speech by Naruto about how ninja are, Zabuza takes on Gato's men single handedly. The Demon of the Hidden Mist takes his vengeance on Gato and all of those dumb enough to follow him, and apologizes to Haku for what he did to the kind little boy. After the group takes care of the rest of Gato's men, Zabuza asks Kakashi one final request, to see Haku one final time. This is Zabuza's requiem.
Director: Toshiyuki Tsuru
Writer: Akatsuki Yamatoya
9.0/10 2 votes#4 - Raiga's Counterattack
Season 3 Episode 156 - Aired 2005-10-19
Ranmaru is determined to bring Raiga back from the dead and appears to suceed! An enraged raiga now goes on the offensive, starting with Tenten. Karashi runs back to the Curry House to tell the others what has happened, but who's side is he really on?
Director: Hayato Goda
Writer: Yasuyuki Suzuki
8.9/10 1,526 votes#5 - Lee's Hidden Strength: Forbidden Secret Jutsu!
Season 1 Episode 49 - Aired 2003-09-10
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
8.5/10 1,138 votes#6 - The Sharingan Revived: Dragon Flame Jutsu!
Season 1 Episode 30 - Aired 2003-04-23
Sasuke is still stuck in his trance and even Sakura's pleas can't get him back to normal. Meanwhile, Anko searches for the grass ninja fake. When the team appear to get the upper hand the question begs to be asked. Are the ninja truly defeated, or is there more to them than meets the eye?
Director: Atsushi Wakabayashi
Writer: Kou Hei Mushi
8.3/10 1,257 votes#7 - The Broken Seal
Season 1 Episode 16 - Aired 2003-01-23
Naruto and Sasuke continue their rigorous battle against Haku. When Haku targets a vulnerable Naruto, Sasuke risks everything to save him. Seeing his friend lie before him, a powerful force awakens inside Naruto. Has Kyubi been set free. If so, can anyone stop him?
Director: Masaaki Kumagai
Writer: Katsuyuki Sumisawa
8.3/10 3 votes#8 - A Plea from a Friend
Season 3 Episode 133 - Aired 2005-05-04
Naruto proves to be too much for Sasuke to handle as Naruto fights back with renewed vigour. Finally acknowledging Naruto's strength, Sasuke puts on his forehead protector, symbolizing both as equals. But when Sasuke's Sharingan is upgraded to level 3, the tables turn on Naruto. Just when all hope seems lost for Naruto, he undergoes a startling transformation, but will it be enough?
Director: Atsushi Wakabayashi
Writer: Katsuyuki Sumisawa
8.3/10 3 votes#9 - Infiltration: The Set-Up!
Season 4 Episode 171 - Aired 2006-02-08
After Isaribi escapes, Naruto and his team decide to go to the forbidden island and confront Orochimaru and his subordinates. They soon discover that Orochimaru is not the man behind the curtain, but a man known as Amachi. Amachi is the one responsible for turning Isaribi into a monster, so why is she helping him?
Director: Yuki Kinoshita
Writer: Yuka Miyata
8.2/10 1,071 votes#10 - Naruto's Counterattack: Never Give In!
Season 1 Episode 29 - Aired 2003-04-16
Sasuke is about to give up and give their scroll to the enemy, when Naruto stops him and accuses him of being a fake. Naruto then turns his attention to the Grass Ninja.... The battle is intense and when the Grass Ninja appears to get the upper hand, can Sasuke muster up the courage to fight?
Director: Takeyuki Sadohara
Writer: Michiko Yokote
8.2/10 1,062 votes#11 - Battle Formation: Ino-Shika-Cho!
Season 1 Episode 33 - Aired 2003-05-14
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
8.1/10 1,251 votes#12 - White Past: Hidden Ambition
Season 1 Episode 17 - Aired 2003-01-30
Naruto takes out his rage on Haku, who doesn't stand a chance. However, Naruto realises that Haku is the boy he met back at the forest. Haku tells Naruto the story of his past and asks for Naruto to do him one favour..... Will Naruto do the one thing he could never do just as Haku wishes?
Director: Toshiyuki Tsuru
Writer: Michiko Yokote
8.1/10 1,008 votes#13 - A Failure Stands Tall!
Season 1 Episode 47 - Aired 2003-08-27
Hinata will not give up so easily, especially with Naruto watching her. Will Hinata be willing to give up her own life in order to prove herself, or will the match be stopped before Neji can connect a killing move?
Director: Hiroshi Kimura
Writer: Akatsuki Yamatoya
8.0/10 1,422 votes#14 - You Failed! Kakashi's Final Decision
Season 1 Episode 5 - Aired 2002-10-31
With the threat of failure hanging over their heads, Naruto, Sasuke and Sakura try everything they know to pass the grueling survival test.
Director: Yasunori Urata
Writer: Michiko Yokote
8.0/10 1,154 votes#15 - The Weapons Known as Shinobi
Season 1 Episode 18 - Aired 2003-02-06
Kakashi prepares to stop Zabuza once and for all, but Haku has other plans. Zabuza's employer shows up and he's decided to take matters into his own hands...
Director: Yasunori Urata
Writer: Akatsuki Yamatoya
8.0/10 1,037 votes#16 - Eat or Be Eaten: Panic In the Forest
Season 1 Episode 28 - Aired 2003-04-09
To prevent further problems, Sasuke thinks up a password to determine friend from foe, but will it be that simple? Meanwhile Naruto has his hands full with a giant snake. Can he handle this on his own and what about Sasuke and Sakura, can they survive the ordeal?
Director: Masahiko Murata
Writer: Satoru Nishizono
8.0/10 1,033 votes#17 - Sakura Blossoms!
Season 1 Episode 32 - Aired 2003-05-07
Lee in his weakened state is having trouble defeating Dosu. Sakura realises everyone has been protecting her until now and that its her time to protect them! Can Sakura succeed where even Lee failed?
Director: Masahiko Murata
Writer: Michiko Yokote
8.0/10 4 votes#18 - Sasuke's Decision: Pushed to the Edge!
Season 2 Episode 75 - Aired 2004-03-17
Sasuke struggles to keep up with Gaara's monstrous capacity. Only able to use Chidori twice in normal circumstances, Sasuke remembers that tragic day when his family died and realises he must risk the use of Chidori beyond his limit if he is to defeat Gaara. That is, if he can...
Director: Mitsutaka Noshitani
Writer: Akatsuki Yamatoya
8.0/10 3 votes#19 - Roar, Chidori! Brother vs. Brother!
Season 2 Episode 84 - Aired 2004-05-19
Sasuke remembers the day that Itachi single-handedly wiped out the entire Uchiha clan as he desperately searches for Naruto. However, Itachi and Kisame have already found him.
Director: Tsuyoshi Matsumoto
Writer: Satoru Nishizono
8.0/10 3 votes#20 - A Dubious Offer! Tsunade's Choice!
Season 2 Episode 92 - Aired 2004-07-21
While Naruto continues to try and master the third step, Tsunade continues to think about Orochimaru's offer. Jiraiya tries to convince her by taking her out for a drink, only she slipped a paralyzing potion into his drink while he wasn't looking. Will Tsunade agree to Orochimaru's offer? And will Naruto master the Rasengan before the week is up?
Director: Masahiko Murata
Writer: Michiko Yokote
8.0/10 3 votes#21 - Sensei and Student: The Bond of a Shinobi!
Season 2 Episode 100 - Aired 2004-09-08
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
8.0/10 1 votes#22 - Hidden Jutsu! The Price of the Ninja Art: Kujaku
Season 4 Episode 180 - Aired 2006-04-12
The Konoha team continue to investigate the star's theft and start to realise everything is not quite as it seems. Everything seems to be leading to a final battle, but who is the real enemy behind all this?
Director: Toshiya Niidome
Writer: Junki Takegami
8.0/10 1 votes#23 - Ino Screams! Chubby Paradise!
Season 4 Episode 192 - Aired 2006-07-05
When the daughter of a Feudal Lord calls for a double, Ino is brought in to take her place. The only problem is they look nothing alike, the princess has become big boned because she had a lot of stress and ate a lot. Now Ino must stand in for her and arrange a marriage with a man from Udon Country. Can Ino arrage the marriage without problem?
Director: Kiyomu Fukuda
Writer: Yuka Miyata
8.0/10 1 votes#24 - The Supposed Sealed Ability
Season 4 Episode 207 - Aired 2006-10-26
Naruto and the members of Team 8 head into Yakumo's house to find her with Kurenai. It is revealed that a mysterious entity might be behind all this. Can the group discover the truth in time?
Director: Yuki Kinoshita
Writer: Junki Takegami
7.9/10 1,300 votes#25 - The Oath of Pain
Season 1 Episode 8 - Aired 2002-11-21
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