The Best Episodes of Naruto Season 1

#1 Fan Favorite
9.4/10(3879 votes)
#1 - The Fifth Gate: A Splendid Ninja Is Born
S1:E509/17/2003
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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Director:Mitsutaka Noshitani
Writer:Satoru Nishizono
9.3/10(4644 votes)
#2 - Gaara vs. Rock Lee: The Power of Youth Explodes!
S1:E489/3/2003
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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Director:Toshiyuki Tsuru
Writer:Satoru Nishizono
9.1/10(4024 votes)
#3 - The Demon in the Snow
S1:E192/13/2003
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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Director:Toshiyuki Tsuru
Writer:Akatsuki Yamatoya
9.0/10(3220 votes)
#4 - Lee's Hidden Strength: Forbidden Secret Jutsu!
S1:E499/10/2003
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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Director:Hayato Date
Writer:Satoru Nishizono
8.6/10(2245 votes)
#5 - The Sharingan Revived: Dragon-Flame Jutsu!
S1:E304/23/2003
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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Director:Atsushi Wakabayashi
Writer:Kouhei Urasawa
8.4/10(2459 votes)
#6 - The Broken Seal
S1:E161/23/2003
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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Director:Masaaki Kumagai
Writer:Katsuyuki Sumisawa

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The 20 BEST Episodes of Naruto

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8.3/10(2039 votes)
#7 - Battle Formation: Ino-Shika-Cho!
S1:E335/14/2003
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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Director:Rion Kujo
Writer:Katsuyuki Sumisawa
8.2/10(2441 votes)
#8 - White Past: Hidden Ambition
S1:E171/30/2003
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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Director:Toshiyuki Tsuru
Writer:Michiko Yokote
8.2/10(2056 votes)
#9 - Naruto's Counterattack: Never Give In!
S1:E294/16/2003
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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Director:Takeyuki Sadohara
Writer:Michiko Yokote
8.2/10(1982 votes)
#10 - A Failure Stands Tall!
S1:E478/27/2003
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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Director:Hiroshi Kimura
Writer:Akatsuki Yamatoya
8.1/10(2761 votes)
#11 - You Failed! Kakashi's Final Decision
S1:E510/31/2002
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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Director:Yasunori Urata
Writer:Michiko Yokote
8.1/10(2265 votes)
#12 - The Weapons Known as Shinobi
S1:E182/6/2003
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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Director:Yasunori Urata
Writer:Akatsuki Yamatoya
8.0/10(2499 votes)
#13 - The Oath of Pain
S1:E811/21/2002
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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Director:Rion Kujo
Writer:Akatsuki Yamatoya
8.0/10(1991 votes)
#14 - Eat or Be Eaten: Panic in the Forest
S1:E284/9/2003
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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Director:Masahiko Murata
Writer:Satoru Nishizono
7.9/10(4216 votes)
#15 - Enter: Naruto Uzumaki!
S1:E110/3/2002
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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Director:Hayato Date
Writer:Katsuyuki Sumisawa
7.9/10(2483 votes)
#16 - Kakashi: Sharingan Warrior
S1:E911/28/2002
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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Director:Harume Kosaka
Writer:Satoru Nishizono
7.9/10(2017 votes)
#17 - The Tenth Question: All or Nothing!
S1:E253/27/2003
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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Director:Masaaki Kumagai
Writer:Kouhei Urasawa
7.9/10(1972 votes)
#18 - Sakura Blossoms!
S1:E325/7/2003
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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Director:Masahiko Murata
Writer:Michiko Yokote
7.9/10(1894 votes)
#19 - Surprise Attack! Naruto's Secret Weapon!
S1:E458/13/2003
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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Director:Takeyuki Sadohara
Writer:Akatsuki Yamatoya
7.8/10(2669 votes)
#20 - Pass or Fail: Survival Test
S1:E410/24/2002
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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Director:Kyosuke Mikuriya
Writer:Michiko Yokote
7.8/10(2024 votes)
#21 - Start Your Engines: The Chunin Exam Begins!
S1:E243/20/2003
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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Director:Mashu Itō
Writer:Satoru Nishizono
7.8/10(1836 votes)
#22 - Bushy Brow's Jealousy: Barrage of Lions Unleashed!
S1:E397/2/2003
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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Director:Hiroshi Kimura
Writer:Akatsuki Yamatoya
7.7/10(2460 votes)
#23 - The Assassin of the Mist!
S1:E711/14/2002
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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Director:Masayuki Iimura
Writer:Michiko Yokote
7.7/10(2238 votes)
#24 - Haku's Secret Jutsu: Crystal Ice Mirrors
S1:E1312/26/2002
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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Director:Masayuki Iimura
Writer:Satoru Nishizono
7.7/10(1853 votes)
#25 - Akamaru Trembles: Gaara's Cruel Strength!
S1:E345/21/2003
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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Director:Mitsutaka Noshitani
Writer:Akatsuki Yamatoya