The Best Episodes of Naruto Shippūden Season 19

The story travels back to the time after Sasuke's defection from the Leaf and before Naruto's return from his two-year training journey with Jiraiya.

Director: Naoki Horiuchi

Writer: Junki Takegami

The Hidden Leaf begin preparing for the Chunin Exams. Ino and Choji ask Sakura to join their three-man team as a stand-in for Shikamaru, who is already a chunin.

Director: Taisuke Mamori

Writer: Junki Takegami

The Chunin Exams finally begin and the proctor for Round One is none other than Shikamaru!

Director: Kazuya Iwata

Writer: Katsuhiko Chiba

The genin are unable to figure out the answer and start to panic.

Director: Atsushi Nigorikawa

Writer: Katsuhiko Chiba

On the night before the Second Exam, the entrants gather in the cafeteria, and a brawl breaks out.

Director: Tsuneo Tominaga

Writer: Shin Yoshida

The Second Exam finally begins! To pass this stage, each team must take possession of both the Heaven and Earth scrolls and make it to the designated site in the center of the Demon Desert within 72 hours.

Director: Tokuji Kaneko

Writer: Shin Yoshida

Noting the similarities of their circumstances, Lee is outraged at the ones who hurt and belittled Shira and sets out in pursuit!

Director: Kentaro Fujita

Writer: Shin Yoshida

Lee challenges Shira to a battle between taijutsu users!

Director: Kazunori Mizuno

Writer: Shin Yoshida

Kiba and his team are in pursuit of Hidden Grass Ninja who have stolen their scroll!

Director: Tsuneo Tominaga

Writer: Yasuyuki Suzuki

Kiba and his team are in pursuit of Hidden Grass Ninja who have stolen their scroll!

Director: Masayuki Yamada

Writer: Yasuyuki Suzuki

As the team prepares for dinner, Tenten pulls out a scroll that contains all the ingredients for okonomiyaki.

Director: Akira Shimizu

Writer: Katsuhiko Chiba

An ancient ruin in Demon Desert comes crumbling down during the battle for the scrolls.

Director: Atsushi Nigorikawa

Writer: Katsuhiko Chiba

Ino, Sakura and Choji trudge across a desert under the blazing sun without any provisions. Ino and Sakura are arguing when a giant scorpion attacks and injures Sakura.

Director: Kazuya Iwata, Fukutarou Hattori

Writer: Masahiro Hikokubo

As Ino and her team head toward an oasis, they are attacked by a team of Sand Shinobi comprised of Ameno, Shishio, and Kouji.

Director: Tokuji Kaneko

Writer: Masahiro Hikokubo

Sakura and her team continue their trek across the desert towards the goal. Their continuous battles have depleted Sakura's chakra, so they stop to rest. Just then, they encounter a puppet manipulated by a rival team from the Sand and end up being discovered.

Director: Tsuneo Tominaga

Writer: Yuka Miyata, Hideto Tanaka

Ino and Choji fight to protect an immobilized Sakura although they have depleted most of their chakra due to the relentless fighting.

Director: Yoshinori Odaka

Writer: Yuka Miyata, Hideto Tanaka

Sand Jonin Fugi sneaks into the Demon Desert and creates a massive sandstorm in order to assassinate Gaara, the Fifth Kazekage.

Director: Kentaro Fujita

Writer: Junki Takegami

Gaara heads out to rescue Matsuri and the others but is attacked by a mysterious priest who binds him with a Chakra Chain to capture his Tailed Beast.

Director: Masayuki Yamada

Writer: Junki Takegami

Neji and the team come across Matsuri collapsed in the desert and find out that Gaara is in danger. Meanwhile, the chains of a mysterious priest bind Gaara and Foo.

Director: Tsuneo Tominaga

Writer: Junki Takegami

Gaara meets with Fugi, the mastermind behind the assassination attempt on his life. He confides that perhaps, after all the fear and pain he has wrought upon the Sand, he has no right to be their leader.

Director: Kazunori Mizuno

Writer: Junki Takegami