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The Best Episodes of Naruto Season 1

Every episode of Naruto Season 1 ranked from best to worst. Discover the Best Episodes of Naruto Season 1!

Binge this in 10h 0m•Peaking at 9.4/10

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.

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Episode Rankings

  1. #1 Fan Favorite
    Naruto Season 1 Episode 50 - The Fifth Gate: A Splendid Ninja Is Born
    9.4/10(3804 votes)

    S1:E50

    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

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  2. Naruto Season 1 Episode 48 - Gaara vs. Rock Lee: The Power of Youth Explodes!
    9.3/10(4583 votes)

    S1:E48

    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

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  3. Naruto Season 1 Episode 19 - The Demon in the Snow
    9.1/10(3960 votes)

    S1:E19

    Thinking of Haku, Naruto angrily confronts Zabuza, but he learns that cruel reality is the fate of a ninja.

    Director:Toshiyuki Tsuru
    Writer:Akatsuki Yamatoya

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  4. Naruto Season 1 Episode 49 - Lee's Hidden Strength: Forbidden Secret Jutsu!
    9.0/10(3160 votes)

    S1:E49

    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

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  5. Naruto Season 1 Episode 30 - The Sharingan Revived: Dragon-Flame Jutsu!
    8.5/10(2203 votes)

    S1:E30

    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:Kouhei Urasawa

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  6. Naruto Season 1 Episode 16 - The Broken Seal
    8.4/10(2420 votes)

    S1:E16

    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

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  7. Naruto Season 1 Episode 33 - Battle Formation: Ino-Shika-Cho!
    8.3/10(2004 votes)

    S1:E33

    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

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  8. Naruto Season 1 Episode 17 - White Past: Hidden Ambition
    8.2/10(2402 votes)

    S1:E17

    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

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  9. Naruto Season 1 Episode 29 - Naruto's Counterattack: Never Give In!
    8.2/10(2019 votes)

    S1:E29

    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

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  10. Naruto Season 1 Episode 47 - A Failure Stands Tall!
    8.2/10(1945 votes)

    S1:E47

    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

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  11. Naruto Season 1 Episode 5 - You Failed! Kakashi's Final Decision
    8.1/10(2718 votes)

    S1:E5

    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

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  12. Naruto Season 1 Episode 18 - The Weapons Known as Shinobi
    8.1/10(2229 votes)

    S1:E18

    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

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  13. Naruto Season 1 Episode 8 - The Oath of Pain
    8.0/10(2456 votes)

    S1:E8

    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

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  14. Naruto Season 1 Episode 28 - Eat or Be Eaten: Panic in the Forest
    8.0/10(1955 votes)

    S1:E28

    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

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  15. Naruto Season 1 Episode 1 - Enter: Naruto Uzumaki!
    7.9/10(4148 votes)

    S1:E1

    Welcome to the Village Hidden in the Leaves, where deadly serious Ninja roam the landscape and the seriously mischievous Naruto Uzumaki causes trouble everywhere he goes. But when he steals the ancient scroll of sealing, he unleashes a rare power rarely seen in a 12-year-old boy!

    Director:Hayato Date
    Writer:Katsuyuki Sumisawa

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  16. Naruto Season 1 Episode 9 - Kakashi: Sharingan Warrior
    7.9/10(2444 votes)

    S1:E9

    With Kakashi free, the fight between him and Zabuza resumes. Kakashi decides to show Zabuza what the Sharingan is really capable of. Can Kakashi's Sharingan defeat Zabuza? And who is the mysterious person watching the fight?

    Director:Harume Kosaka
    Writer:Satoru Nishizono

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  17. Naruto Season 1 Episode 25 - The Tenth Question: All or Nothing!
    7.9/10(1981 votes)

    S1:E25

    Ibiki declares what seems like a harsh and unreasonable rule for the hardest part of the first exam.

    Director:Masaaki Kumagai
    Writer:Kouhei Urasawa

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  18. Naruto Season 1 Episode 32 - Sakura Blossoms!
    7.9/10(1939 votes)

    S1:E32

    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

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  19. Naruto Season 1 Episode 45 - Surprise Attack! Naruto's Secret Weapon!
    7.9/10(1855 votes)

    S1:E45

    The battle between Naruto and Kiba draws to a close, with each of them giving it everything they've got. After being tricked by Naruto, Kiba can no longer rely on Akamaru's help. Naruto decides now is the time to release his new jutsu, only Kiba won't give him time to prepare it!

    Director:Takeyuki Sadohara
    Writer:Akatsuki Yamatoya

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  20. Naruto Season 1 Episode 4 - Pass or Fail: Survival Test
    7.8/10(2628 votes)

    S1:E4

    Now that Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura are a team, they meet with their sensei, the enigmatic and aloof Kakashi.

    Director:Kyosuke Mikuriya
    Writer:Michiko Yokote

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  21. Naruto Season 1 Episode 24 - Start Your Engines: The Chunin Exam Begins!
    7.8/10(1987 votes)

    S1:E24

    The first test of the Chuunin Exam is just that, a written test. When Ibiki issues a strict set of rules, Naruto fails to realize the true objective of the test. Can Naruto realize the truth before time runs out? And what about the tenth question?

    Director:Mashu Itō
    Writer:Satoru Nishizono

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  22. Naruto Season 1 Episode 39 - Bushy Brow's Jealousy: Barrage of Lions Unleashed!
    7.8/10(1803 votes)

    S1:E39

    The preliminaries of the third exam consist of one-on-one combat, and the first match is between Sasuke and Orochimaru's minion Yoroi.

    Director:Hiroshi Kimura
    Writer:Akatsuki Yamatoya

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  23. Naruto Season 1 Episode 7 - The Assassin of the Mist!
    7.7/10(2420 votes)

    S1:E7

    Naruto and his squad arrive in the Land of the Waves and learn that an evil businessman named Gato has taken over the land.

    Director:Masayuki Iimura
    Writer:Michiko Yokote

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  24. Naruto Season 1 Episode 13 - Haku's Secret Jutsu: Crystal Ice Mirrors
    7.7/10(2202 votes)

    S1:E13

    Round two with Zabuza has started, but this time...Zabuza has Haku fighting along side him. Haku and Sasuke go at it with Sasuke falling behind until he manages to get a kick in. Meanwhile Naruto deals with some of Gato's henchmen. Back at the bridge Haku uses his secret jutsu, Demonic Ice Mirrors. What does this jutsu hold in store for Sasuke? Will Naruto make it to the bridge in time and save Tsunami and Inari as well?

    Director:Masayuki Iimura
    Writer:Satoru Nishizono

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  25. Naruto Season 1 Episode 34 - Akamaru Trembles: Gaara's Cruel Strength!
    7.7/10(1820 votes)

    S1:E34

    Kiba, Shino, and Hinata decide to try and eliminate their opponents by taking more scrolls. They arrive upon a battlefield where three Rain ninjas are battling Gaara, Kankuro, and Temari. They remain hidden and observe the battle, thinking one of the Rain ninjas is a dangerous foe. After realizing Gaara's amazing abilities, they discover who is the really the dangerous one, and will be lucky if they can sneak away with their lives!

    Director:Mitsutaka Noshitani
    Writer:Akatsuki Yamatoya

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Season 1 Ratings Summary

"The Fifth Gate: A Splendid Ninja Is Born" is the best rated episode of "Naruto" season 1. It scored 9.4/10 based on 3804 votes. Directed by Mitsutaka Noshitani and written by Satoru Nishizono, it aired on 9/17/2003. This episode is rated 0.1 points higher than the second-best, "Gaara vs. Rock Lee: The Power of Youth Explodes!".