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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!

The Best Episodes of Naruto Season 1

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.

Seasons4

  1. Background image for Gaara vs. Rock Lee: The Power of Youth Explodes!
    8.7/10(11 votes)

    #1 - Gaara vs. Rock Lee: The Power of Youth Explodes!

    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.

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  2. Background image for The Fifth Gate: A Splendid Ninja Is Born
    8.5/10(8 votes)

    #2 - The Fifth Gate: A Splendid Ninja Is Born

    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.

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  3. Background image for The Demon in the Snow
    7.9/10(14 votes)

    #3 - The Demon in the Snow

    S1:E19

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

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  4. Background image for You Failed! Kakashi's Final Decision
    7.8/10(12 votes)

    #4 - You Failed! Kakashi's Final Decision

    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.

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  5. Background image for A Dangerous Mission! Journey to the Land of Waves!
    7.8/10(6 votes)

    #5 - A Dangerous Mission! Journey to the Land of Waves!

    S1:E6

    Tired of doing lame missions, Naruto asks the Hokage to give them something challenging. The Hokage caves and gives them a C-rank mission. They will be bodyguards for a bridge builder. It appears to be a simple mission, until the group is attacked by something more than common thugs...other ninja!

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  6. Background image for Pass or Fail: Survival Test
    7.7/10(12 votes)

    #6 - Pass or Fail: Survival Test

    S1:E4

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

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  8. Background image for Lee's Hidden Strength: Forbidden Secret Jutsu!
    7.7/10(7 votes)

    #7 - Lee's Hidden Strength: Forbidden Secret Jutsu!

    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.

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  9. Background image for The Sharingan Revived: Dragon-Flame Jutsu!
    7.5/10(13 votes)

    #8 - The Sharingan Revived: Dragon-Flame Jutsu!

    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?

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  10. Background image for The Oath of Pain
    7.4/10(5 votes)

    #9 - The Oath of Pain

    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?

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  11. Background image for A Failure Stands Tall!
    7.4/10(8 votes)

    #10 - A Failure Stands Tall!

    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?

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  12. Background image for Sasuke and Sakura: Friends or Foes?
    7.3/10(11 votes)

    #11 - Sasuke and Sakura: Friends or Foes?

    S1:E3

    On the way to becoming a ninja, Naruto must team up with his classmates, the pretty Sakura and the pretty serious Sasuke...

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  13. Background image for The Assassin of the Mist!
    7.3/10(9 votes)

    #12 - The Assassin of the Mist!

    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.

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  14. Background image for Kakashi: Sharingan Warrior
    7.3/10(10 votes)

    #13 - Kakashi: Sharingan Warrior

    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?

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  15. Background image for Naruto's Counterattack: Never Give In!
    7.3/10(12 votes)

    #14 - Naruto's Counterattack: Never Give In!

    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?

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  16. Background image for Bushy Brow's Jealousy: Barrage of Lions Unleashed!
    7.1/10(8 votes)

    #15 - Bushy Brow's Jealousy: Barrage of Lions Unleashed!

    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.

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  17. Background image for Enter: Naruto Uzumaki!
    7.0/10(34 votes)

    #16 - Enter: Naruto Uzumaki!

    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!

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  18. Background image for Chunin Challenge: Rock Lee vs. Sasuke!
    7.0/10(13 votes)

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

    S1:E22

    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?

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  19. Background image for Eat or Be Eaten: Panic in the Forest
    7.0/10(13 votes)

    #18 - Eat or Be Eaten: Panic in the Forest

    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?

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  20. Background image for Sakura Blossoms!
    7.0/10(12 votes)

    #19 - Sakura Blossoms!

    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?

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  21. Background image for Byakugan Battle: Hinata Grows Bold!
    7.0/10(7 votes)

    #20 - Byakugan Battle: Hinata Grows Bold!

    S1:E46

    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?

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  22. Background image for Killer Kunoichi and a Shaky Shikamaru
    6.9/10(7 votes)

    #21 - Killer Kunoichi and a Shaky Shikamaru

    S1:E43

    Temari of the Sand Village battles against Tenten from the Leaf Village. After the battle its Shikamaru's turn, but can he defeat an opponent who has already seen his moves once before?

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  23. Background image for Surprise Attack! Naruto's Secret Weapon!
    6.9/10(7 votes)

    #22 - Surprise Attack! Naruto's Secret Weapon!

    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!

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  24. Background image for The Weapons Known as Shinobi
    6.8/10(13 votes)

    #23 - The Weapons Known as Shinobi

    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...

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  25. Background image for Battle Formation: Ino-Shika-Cho!
    6.7/10(12 votes)

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

    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!

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  26. Background image for My Name Is Konohamaru!
    6.6/10(24 votes)

    #25 - My Name Is Konohamaru!

    S1:E2

    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!"

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Season 1 Ratings Summary

"Gaara vs. Rock Lee: The Power of Youth Explodes!" is the best rated episode of "Naruto" season 1. It scored 8.7/10 based on 11 votes. Directed by Toshiyuki Tsuru and written by Satoru Nishizono, it aired on 9/3/2003. This episode is rated 0.2 points higher than the second-best, "The Fifth Gate: A Splendid Ninja Is Born".