8.2/101,537 votes#1 - Homecoming
Season 1 Episode 1 - Aired 2/15/2007
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
Writer: Satoru Nishizono
7.8/101,135 votes#2 - The Akatsuki Makes Its Move
Season 1 Episode 2 - Aired 2/15/2007
Naruto and Sakura team up and challenge Kakashi to a survival challenge to show off their progress.
Director: Atsushi Nigorikawa
Writer: Satoru Nishizono
7.9/101,011 votes#3 - The Results of Training
Season 1 Episode 3 - Aired 2/22/2007
Naruto’s and Sakura’s combined skills force Kakashi to use his Sharingan right off the bat. Naruto masterfully unleashes his jutsu one after another.
Director: Yuki Sugihara
Writer: Satoru Nishizono
8.2/101,012 votes#4 - The Jinchuriki of the Sand
Season 1 Episode 4 - Aired 3/1/2007
Gaara is quick to detect Deidara’s presence, and an aerial battle ensues with Deidara on his giant bird and Gaara atop sand.
Director: Kiyomu Fukuda
Writer: Satoru Nishizono
8.1/10959 votes#5 - The Kazekage Stands Tall
Season 1 Episode 5 - Aired 3/15/2007
Naruto and Sakura defeat Kakashi in the survival challenge. Tsunade assigns them to a three-man squad led by Kakashi, who tells them they are now his equals.
Director: Yuki Kinoshita
Writer: Satoru Nishizono
8.1/10943 votes#6 - Mission Cleared
Season 1 Episode 6 - Aired 3/29/2007
In order to protect his village from Deidara’s explosive clay, Gaara uses his chakra to create a giant sand shield.
Director: Mitsutaka Noshitani
Writer: Satoru Nishizono
7.6/10889 votes#7 - Run, Kankuro
Season 1 Episode 7 - Aired 3/29/2007
Gaara, his strength completely exhausted, is whisked away by Deidara. Kankuro ignores Baki’s efforts to stop him and immediately sets out in pursuit with a platoon to rescue Gaara.
Director: Hayato Goda
Writer: Satoru Nishizono
7.6/10855 votes#8 - Team Kakashi, Deployed
Season 1 Episode 8 - Aired 4/12/2007
An urgent message from the Sand Village detailing the Akatsuki’s kidnapping of the Kazekage reaches the Hidden Leaf Village. Tsunade wastes no time in ordering Team Kakashi to the Sand Village.
Director: Hiroshi Kimura
Writer: Satoru Nishizono
7.5/10848 votes#9 - The Jinchuriki's Tears
Season 1 Episode 9 - Aired 4/12/2007
On her way to the Sand Village, Temari encounters Kakashi and his team. Kakashi admonishes Naruto when he tries to rush ahead…
Director: Masaaki Kumagai
Writer: Satoru Nishizono
7.4/10834 votes#10 - Sealing Jutsu: Nine Phantom Dragons
Season 1 Episode 10 - Aired 4/19/2007
The Sand ninja fight against time to treat Kankuro. Even the Sand’s poison expert, Granny Chiyo, is baffled. The only hope lies with the reinforcements sent by Tsunade.
Director: Akitaro Daichi
Writer: Satoru Nishizono
7.6/10831 votes#11 - The Medical Ninja's Student
Season 1 Episode 11 - Aired 4/26/2007
Sakura treats a critically ill Kankuro. After extensive training she’s now a full-fledged Medic Ninja, and Sakura amazes everyone with her sure, steady hands.
Director: Atsushi Nigorikawa
Writer: Satoru Nishizono
7.8/10822 votes#12 - The Retired Granny's Determination
Season 1 Episode 12 - Aired 5/3/2007
Pakkun finds the hideout of the Akatsuki. Team Kakashi and Temari prepare to set out to get Gaara back, but Temari is ordered to stay behind and help guard the village.
Director: Kiyomu Fukuda
Writer: Satoru Nishizono
8.0/10845 votes#13 - A Meeting With Destiny
Season 1 Episode 13 - Aired 5/10/2007
Guy prepares to use a forbidden secret jutsu. Meanwhile, Naruto falls under Itachi’s genjutsu, and all the anti-genjutsu training he underwent with Jiraiya races through Naruto’s mind.
Director: Neko Okuma
Writer: Satoru Nishizono
8.3/10869 votes#14 - Naruto's Growth
Season 1 Episode 14 - Aired 5/17/2007
Guy prepares to use a forbidden secret jutsu. Meanwhile, Naruto falls under Itachi’s genjutsu, and all the anti-genjutsu training he underwent with Jiraiya races through Naruto’s mind.
Director: Mitsutaka Noshitani
Writer: Satoru Nishizono
8.3/10872 votes#15 - The Secret Weapon is Called...
Season 1 Episode 15 - Aired 5/24/2007
Granny Chiyo and Sakura rescue Naruto from Itachi’s genjutsu. Without a moment’s delay, Kakashi begins a counterattack.
Director: Hayato Date
Writer: Satoru Nishizono
7.5/10787 votes#16 - The Secret of Jinchuriki
Season 1 Episode 16 - Aired 5/31/2007
Chiyo and Kakashi realize that the attack was just a diversion, and that the Akatsuki have already begun the process of extracting the Tailed Beast from Gaara.
Director: Hiroshi Kimura
Writer: Satoru Nishizono
7.6/10782 votes#17 - The Death of Gaara!
Season 1 Episode 17 - Aired 6/7/2007
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
Writer: Satoru Nishizono
7.5/10782 votes#18 - Charge Tactic! Button Hook Entry!!
Season 1 Episode 18 - Aired 6/21/2007
Teams Kakashi and Guy reach the Akatsuki hideout. They hurry to infiltrate but are thwarted by a five-seal barrier. The only way to break the barrier is to remove all five seals at once.
Director: Akitaro Daichi
Writer: Satoru Nishizono
7.6/10771 votes#19 - Traps Activate! Team Guy's Enemy
Season 1 Episode 19 - Aired 7/5/2007
Breaking the five-seal barrier set off a trap, which now has Team Guy battling amazingly accurate copies of themselves. Back at the Akatsuki hideout, Deidara and Sasori struggle to take the Nine-Tail Jinchûriki.
Director: Atsushi Nigorikawa
Writer: Satoru Nishizono
7.9/10807 votes#20 - Hiruko Vs. Two Kunoichi!
Season 1 Episode 20 - Aired 7/19/2007
At last, the showdown between the old woman and her grandson begins. Sakura is confused by Sasori’s strange appearance, and Granny Chiyo explains that this is Hiruko…
Director: Kiyomu Fukuda
Writer: Satoru Nishizono
7.9/10797 votes#21 - Sasori's Real Face
Season 1 Episode 21 - Aired 7/26/2007
Granny Chiyo and Sakura manage to expose Sasori, who amazingly looks no older than he did twenty years earlier.
Director: Neko Okuma
Writer: Satoru Nishizono
7.7/10782 votes#22 - Chiyo's Secret Skills
Season 1 Episode 22 - Aired 8/2/2007
Sakura is caught by Sasori’s tactic and surrounded by a poison cloud.
Director: Mitsutaka Noshitani
Writer: Satoru Nishizono
7.7/10784 votes#23 - Father and Mother
Season 1 Episode 23 - Aired 8/2/2007
Chiyo and Sakura take cover, and Sasori wastes no time unleashing a ruthless attack.
Director: Masaki Takano
Writer: Satoru Nishizono
7.9/10794 votes#24 - The Third Kazekage
Season 1 Episode 24 - Aired 8/9/2007
Sakura counters the Iron Sand attack of the Third Kazekage puppet with superhuman strength.
Director: Hiroshi Kimura
Writer: Satoru Nishizono
7.7/10797 votes#25 - Three Minutes Between Life and Death
Season 1 Episode 25 - Aired 8/16/2007
Sakura destroys the Third Kazekage puppet thanks to a secret antidote she had taken.
Director: Masaaki Kumagai
Writer: Satoru Nishizono
The Best Episodes of Naruto Shippūden Season 1
Every episode of Naruto Shippūden Season 1 ranked from best to worst. Discover the Best Episodes of Naruto Shippūden Season 1!
After 2 and a half years Naruto finally returns to his village of Konoha, and sets about putting his ambitions to work. It will not...
Genres:AnimationAction & AdventureSci-Fi & Fantasy
Network:TV Tokyo
Season 1 Ratings Summary
"Homecoming" is the best rated episode of "Naruto Shippūden" season 1. It scored 8.2/10 based on 1537 votes. Directed by Masaaki Kumagai and written by Satoru Nishizono, it aired on 2/15/2007. This episode is rated 0.4 points higher than the second-best, "The Akatsuki Makes Its Move".