The Best Episodes Written By Masahiro Hikokubo

Atsui, Samui, and Darui face off against Kinkaku and Ginkaku, the legendary brothers from the Hidden Cloud, feared even by the Raikage.

Director: Katsumi Ono

Writer: Masahiro Hikokubo

Shikamaru, Neji, Choji, and Kiba succeed in defeating the Sound Ninja Four. But the enemy uses the Underworld Transfer Jutsu to trap the Leaf shinobi’s souls inside a barrier.

Director: Yoshihide Ibata

Writer: Masahiro Hikokubo

Hiruzen assigns Kakashi to be in charge of Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura, three genin that bear a striking resemblance to the former Team Minato.

Director: Masayuki Yamada

Writer: Masahiro Hikokubo

As Ino and her team head toward an oasis, they are attacked by a team of Sand Shinobi comprised of Ameno, Shishio, and Kouji.

Director: Tokuji Kaneko

Writer: Masahiro Hikokubo

Team 7 joins forces and succeeds in sealing away Kaguya, and the Tailed Beasts that Kaguya absorbed are also freed. Black Zetsu escapes the seal to lie in wait for another time to resurrect his mother, but Naruto is not about to let him go!

Director: Masahiko Murata

Writer: Masahiro Hikokubo

The Allied Shinobi Forces are on standby, ready to confront Madara’s army of reanimated shinobi and 100,000 White Zetsu. But distrust still exists among the Allied Shinobi Forces, who were once sworn enemies until recently.

Director: Naoki Horiuchi

Writer: Masahiro Hikokubo

Kakashi discovers a strange connection between the masked man’s Transportation Technique and his own Kamui Jutsu. Naruto throws everything he’s got against the masked man and breaks his mask, finally revealing his identity!

Director: Kazuya Iwata

Writer: Masahiro Hikokubo

As they continue their voyage towards the Land of Lightning, Naruto, Aoba, Guy and Yamato sail through a thick fog. To pass the time, Yamato tells Aoba and Naruto some ghost stories (much to Naruto's dislike).

Director: Yutaka Kagawa

Writer: Masahiro Hikokubo

Might Guy recalls their "visualization" training with Lee in order to avoid learning the Drunken Fist and forgetting an incident which Might Guy apologizes to the restaurant owner with humiliation. Lee, who is determined to train to be stronger than Naruto, follows Might Guy's orders and resemble animal fighting styles which represent on a restaurant menu. However they failed, until they tried on training on a moving boat. Like Guy who has seasickness, Lee also suffers from seasickness but he uses it to balance the boat which resembles exactly as the Drunken Fist fighting style. Guy lately realizes that Lee is also aware of the restaurant incident and Lee was only protecting Guy from a drunk man which causes the restaurant to be totally damaged.

Director: Hiroyoshi Kishikawa

Writer: Masahiro Hikokubo

As Team Asuma considers the impending war, they encounter Kosuke Maruboshi who reminds them of the time that they rescued him while they were still genin. With this, Kosuke retells the tale of the time their fathers saved him during the Invasion of Konoha with their Formation Ino–Shika–Chō. Somewhat rattled by this story, Kosuke reminds them that great shinobi weren't made in a day. As the team contemplates everything, they decide to perfect their own formation, insisting that they'd be fine because they were not alone.

Director: Kiyomu Fukuda

Writer: Masahiro Hikokubo

Fourth Great Ninja War is about to begin, ninjas are going through their formations, medical supplies are being checked and restocked. The title of this Naruto Episode is "Assemble Allied Shinobi Forces". The headbands are done. Let's go! Tsuchinage saves Nine Tails and Eight Tails, but Yamato gets captured.

Director: Hisashi Ishii

Writer: Masahiro Hikokubo

Darui manages to seal away Ginkaku. Fueled by the rage of losing his brother, Kinkaku transforms into a monster that resembles a jinchuriki’s Tailed Beast State.

Director: Shigeki Kawai

Writer: Masahiro Hikokubo

With Izanami activated, and Kabuto trapped within its infinite loop, Sasuke uses this time to question his brother about the technique. Itachi tells Sasuke about the history behind Izanami's creation as well as the Uchiha clan's use of the technique.

Director: Kazunori Mizuno

Writer: Masahiro Hikokubo

The Ten Tails morphs into its final form, "The Divine Tree," and attacks the shinobi, absorbing their chakra one after another.

Director: Takuma Suzuki

Writer: Masahiro Hikokubo

Ino, Sakura and Choji trudge across a desert under the blazing sun without any provisions. Ino and Sakura are arguing when a giant scorpion attacks and injures Sakura.

Director: Kazuya Iwata

Writer: Masahiro Hikokubo

Upon graduating from the Academy, Itachi becomes a genin and joins a team that includes Tenma, Shinko, and their Jonin Leader, Minazuki Sensei. They accept a mission from Granny Cat to look for a missing feline who's a skilled Ninja Cat!

Director: Maki Kodaira

Writer: Masahiro Hikokubo

Kaguya Otsutsuki suddenly emerges from Madara’s body. She is the mother of Hagoromo, the Sage of the Six Paths who entrusted his powers to Naruto and Sasuke. Kaguya’s power is immense and instantly sends Naruto and Sasuke to an alternate dimension. Naruto and Sasuke are the only ones who can seal away Kaguya, but they can’t find a jutsu that works against her!

Director: Hisashi Ishii

Writer: Masahiro Hikokubo

Black Zetsu reveals that he masterminded and influenced all the events from the end of Ashura and Indra's era to the current Fourth Great Ninja War. Naruto rejects Black Zetsu’s claim that the entire history of shinobi was solely for the resurrection of his mother, Kaguya. Naruto and Sasuke work together to seal away Kaguya, but they can't find a way to counter her.

Director: Toshiro Fujii

Writer: Masahiro Hikokubo

As Sasuke rests from his battle with Deidara, the Leaf ninja pick up on his trail. Noticing that they're being followed, Karin tries to send them in the wrong direction while the members of Team Hebi head to the nearest Akatsuki hideout in hopes of finding Itachi. What will happen when Naruto and Sasuke have separate encounters with Itachi?

Director: Kiyomu Fukuda

Writer: Masahiro Hikokubo

The Fourth Hokage appears in Naruto's mind and prevents him from foolishly setting the Kyubi free. Will this confrontation between father and son give Naruto the confidence he needs to stop Pain once and for all?

Director: Kiyomu Fukuda

Writer: Masahiro Hikokubo

As Darui and his First Company engage an army of White Zetsu, the remaining forces must deal with reanimated shinobi.

Director: Hisashi Ishii

Writer: Masahiro Hikokubo

Kakashi races to the scene where the Seven Ninja Swordsmen Kushimaru Kuriarare and Jinpachi Munashi were last sighted. Enraged by the carnage they’ve left behind, Kakashi teams up with Might Guy.

Director: Kiyomu Fukuda

Writer: Masahiro Hikokubo

All the Tailed Beasts are freed, and old friends Kakashi and Obito come face to face with each other. What will Obito's response be? Meanwhile, the Tailed Beasts and the Allied Shinobi Forces shift their focus onto their greatest foe, Madara Uchiha. Gaara is reunited with his former Tailed Beast, Shukaku. When Gaara asks Shukaku to lend his power to seal Madara, he refuses. Will their history of animosity prevent them from working together?

Director: Yoshihiko Iwata

Writer: Masahiro Hikokubo

Itachi accompanies his friend Shisui on a three-part training exercise. The two come across a battle between the Hokage’s ANBU and the Foundation. Itachi is confused by their motives and can't discern which side is right or wrong. But Shisui is unwavering in his determination to stop the fighting.

Director: Yusuke Onoda

Writer: Masahiro Hikokubo

At Mount Myoboku, Naruto prepares to store Gerotora within himself, but hesitates as it also holds the potential risk of unleashing the Nine Tails on the world.

Director: Naoki Horiuchi

Writer: Masahiro Hikokubo