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Naruto S1E44 — Akamaru Unleashed! Who's Top Dog Now?

7.6

Naruto•Season 1•Episode 44

Akamaru Unleashed! Who's Top Dog Now?

7.6/10 · 1,800 votesAug 6, 200324 min

Ranked #29 of 52 in Season 1•matches the season avg

The match between Kiba and Naruto kicks off, with Kiba immediately proving he has the upper hand in the battle. Everyone still believes Naruto is the weak ninja he's always been, everyone except for Hinata, Kakashi, and Sakura. Now it's Naruto's time to shine, and

Directed byMasaaki Kumagai

Written byTamotsu Mizukoshi

Previous episodeE43 · Killer Kunoichi and a Shaky Shikamaru Next episodeE45 · Surprise Attack! Naruto's Secret Weapon!

Seasons4

Season 1 Episodes52

Enter: Naruto Uzumaki! still

Enter: Naruto Uzumaki!

My Name Is Konohamaru! still

My Name Is Konohamaru!

Sasuke and Sakura: Friends or Foes? still

Sasuke and Sakura: Friends or Foes?

Pass or Fail: Survival Test still

Pass or Fail: Survival Test

You Failed! Kakashi's Final Decision still

You Failed! Kakashi's Final Decision

A Dangerous Mission! Journey to the Land of Waves! still

A Dangerous Mission! Journey to the Land of Waves!

The Assassin of the Mist! still

The Assassin of the Mist!

The Oath of Pain still

The Oath of Pain

Kakashi: Sharingan Warrior still

Kakashi: Sharingan Warrior

The Forest of Chakra still

The Forest of Chakra

The Land Where a Hero Once Lived still

The Land Where a Hero Once Lived

Battle on the Bridge! Zabuza Returns! still

Battle on the Bridge! Zabuza Returns!

Haku's Secret Jutsu: Crystal Ice Mirrors still

Haku's Secret Jutsu: Crystal Ice Mirrors

The Number One Hyperactive, Knucklehead Ninja Joins the Fight! still

The Number One Hyperactive, Knucklehead Ninja Joins the Fight!

Zero Visibility: The Sharingan Shatters still

Zero Visibility: The Sharingan Shatters

The Broken Seal still

The Broken Seal

White Past: Hidden Ambition still

White Past: Hidden Ambition

The Weapons Known as Shinobi still

The Weapons Known as Shinobi

The Demon in the Snow still

The Demon in the Snow

A New Chapter Begins: The Chunin Exam! still

A New Chapter Begins: The Chunin Exam!

Identify Yourself: Powerful New Rivals still

Identify Yourself: Powerful New Rivals

Chunin Challenge: Rock Lee vs. Sasuke! still

Chunin Challenge: Rock Lee vs. Sasuke!

Genin Takedown! All Nine Rookies Face Off! still

Genin Takedown! All Nine Rookies Face Off!

Start Your Engines: The Chunin Exam Begins! still

Start Your Engines: The Chunin Exam Begins!

The Tenth Question: All or Nothing! still

The Tenth Question: All or Nothing!

Special Report: Live from the Forest of Death! still

Special Report: Live from the Forest of Death!

The Chunin Exam Stage 2: The Forest of Death still

The Chunin Exam Stage 2: The Forest of Death

Eat or Be Eaten: Panic in the Forest still

Eat or Be Eaten: Panic in the Forest

Naruto's Counterattack: Never Give In! still

Naruto's Counterattack: Never Give In!

The Sharingan Revived: Dragon-Flame Jutsu! still

The Sharingan Revived: Dragon-Flame Jutsu!

Bushy Brow's Pledge: Undying Love and Protection! still

Bushy Brow's Pledge: Undying Love and Protection!

Sakura Blossoms! still

Sakura Blossoms!

Battle Formation: Ino-Shika-Cho! still

Battle Formation: Ino-Shika-Cho!

Akamaru Trembles: Gaara's Cruel Strength! still

Akamaru Trembles: Gaara's Cruel Strength!

The Scroll's Secret: No Peeking Allowed still

The Scroll's Secret: No Peeking Allowed

Clone vs. Clone: Mine Are Better Than Yours! still

Clone vs. Clone: Mine Are Better Than Yours!

Surviving the Cut! The Rookie Nine Together Again! still

Surviving the Cut! The Rookie Nine Together Again!

Narrowing the Field: Sudden Death Elimination! still

Narrowing the Field: Sudden Death Elimination!

Bushy Brow's Jealousy: Barrage of Lions Unleashed! still

Bushy Brow's Jealousy: Barrage of Lions Unleashed!

Kakashi and Orochimaru: Face-to-Face! still

Kakashi and Orochimaru: Face-to-Face!

Kunoichi Rumble: The Rivals Get Serious! still

Kunoichi Rumble: The Rivals Get Serious!

The Ultimate Battle: Cha! still

The Ultimate Battle: Cha!

Killer Kunoichi and a Shaky Shikamaru still

Killer Kunoichi and a Shaky Shikamaru

Akamaru Unleashed! Who's Top Dog Now? still

E44 7.6Now viewing

Akamaru Unleashed! Who's Top Dog Now?

Surprise Attack! Naruto's Secret Weapon! still

Surprise Attack! Naruto's Secret Weapon!

Byakugan Battle: Hinata Grows Bold! still

Byakugan Battle: Hinata Grows Bold!

A Failure Stands Tall! still

A Failure Stands Tall!

Gaara vs. Rock Lee: The Power of Youth Explodes! still

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

Lee's Hidden Strength: Forbidden Secret Jutsu! still

Lee's Hidden Strength: Forbidden Secret Jutsu!

The Fifth Gate: A Splendid Ninja Is Born still

The Fifth Gate: A Splendid Ninja Is Born

A Shadow in the Darkness: Danger Approaches Sasuke still

A Shadow in the Darkness: Danger Approaches Sasuke

Ebisu Returns: Naruto's Toughest Training Yet! still

Ebisu Returns: Naruto's Toughest Training Yet!

Cast18

Junko Takeuchi

Junko Takeuchi

Naruto Uzumaki (voice)

Noriaki Sugiyama

Noriaki Sugiyama

Sasuke Uchiha (voice)

Chie Nakamura

Chie Nakamura

Sakura Haruno (voice)

Kazuhiko Inoue

Kazuhiko Inoue

Kakashi Hatake (voice)

Hidekatsu Shibata

Hidekatsu Shibata

Hiruzen Sarutobi (3º Hokage) (voice)

Koichi Tochika

Koichi Tochika

Neji Hyuga (voice)

Masashi Ebara

Masashi Ebara

Might Guy (voice)

Yōichi Masukawa

Yōichi Masukawa

Rock Lee (voice)

Yukari Tamura

Yukari Tamura

Tenten (voice)

Ryoka Yuzuki

Ryoka Yuzuki

Ino Yamanaka (voice)

Unsho Ishizuka

Unsho Ishizuka

Zabuza Momochi

Showtaro Morikubo

Showtaro Morikubo

Shikamaru Nara (voice)

Crew12

M

Masaaki Kumagai

Director

Hideto Komori

Hideto Komori

Key Animation

H

Hiromi Okazaki

Animation Director

K

Koji Yabuno

Key Animation

T

Toshihisa Kaiya

Key Animation

H

Hisako Sato

Key Animation

E

Eiji Abiko

Key Animation

K

Kei Oikawa

Key Animation

J

Jun Yoshida

Key Animation

T

Tsutomu Takei

Key Animation

A

Akinori Fudesaka

Key Animation

T

Tsutomu Kikuchi

Key Animation

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Episode Summary

"Akamaru Unleashed! Who's Top Dog Now?" is episode 44 of Naruto season 1. It scored 7.6/10 from 1,800 votes, ranking #29 of 52 episodes this season (season average 7.6). Directed by Masaaki Kumagai and written by Tamotsu Mizukoshi, it aired on August 6, 2003.

Next: E45 · Surprise Attack! Naruto's Secret Weapon!Best of Season 1