• Air date: 04 Jun '03 48 episodes
      A powerful beast known as the Nine-Tails attacks Konoha, the hidden leaf village in the Land of Fire, one of the Five Great Shinobi Nations in the Ninja World. In response, the leader of Konoha at the time, the Fourth Hokage, seals the fox inside the body of the new born Naruto Uzumaki, making Naruto a host of the beast; During this process it cost the fourth Hokage his life, requiring the Third Hokage to return from retirement in order to become leader of Konoha again. As a child, Naruto is shunned by the Konoha community, who treat Naruto as if he were the Nine-Tails that attacked the village.
  • List of Episodes (48)
    • 26. Ultimate Defense: Zero Blind Spot!

      03 Dec '03
      Naruto begins his assault with his Shadow Clones but Neji analyses Naruto's actions and determines what he believes to be the real one. Unable to figure out why Naruto won't admit defeat, he takes off his headband and reveals a mysterious mark on his forehead. What is the truth about his hatred towards the main family of the Hyuuga Clan?
    • 27. A Failure's True Power

      10 Dec '03
      When it looks as if Naruto can't win, Neji continues to tell him that he cannot change his fate and that he has no idea what it feels like to carry a seal that cannot be removed. Naruto thinks back about his childhood and how he was treated because of the Nine-Tails sealed inside him. However, that same curse may prove to be his only chance at winning...
    • 28. Hit It or Quit It: The Final Rounds Get Complicated!

      17 Dec '03
      With Sasuke still absent, and everyone anxiously anticipating his match against Gaara, the tournament is forced to move on to the next round. Meanwhile, Neji learns the shocking truth about his father.
    • 29. Zero Motivation: The Guy with Cloud Envy!

      24 Dec '03
      Shikamaru takes on Temari, only he doesn't want to fight. Can the lazy Shikamaru even last the round? Or is there more to Shikamaru than meets the eye?
    • 30. Dancing Leaf, Squirming Sand

      07 Jan '04
      It's time for Sasuke's match against Gaara, only Sasuke has yet to show up. Normally they'd disqualify him, but everyone's anxiously awaiting the match. Therefore, they give Sasuke a time limit before disqualifying him. As time slowly begins to run out, only one question remains on everyone's mind...where's Sasuke?
    • 31. Bushy Brow's Jutsu: Sasuke Style!

      14 Jan '04
      Sasuke's match against Gaara finally begins! Gaara seems to have the upper hand at the beginning, until Sasuke shows off his newly found taijutsu techniques. Gaara is reliving the battle against Rock Lee all over again, only this time he's facing an opponent who can use more than simple taijutsu attacks.
    • 32. I Wasn't Late for Nothing! Ultimate Move - Chidori Revealed!!

      14 Jan '04
      With Gaara's ultimate defense in place, Sasuke's only hope of winning lies within the move Kakashi taught him...Chidori. But, how will Gaara react when Sasuke causes him to bleed?
    • 33. Zero Hour! Destruction of Konoha Commenced!

      28 Jan '04
      Sasuke's match is interrupted when Orochimaru puts his plan into action. Temari and Kankuro are ordered to get Gaara to safety until he recovers, leaving Sasuke to chase after them. War has begun!
    • 34. Village in Distress: A New A-Ranked Mission!

      04 Feb '04
      Knowing that Sasuke is in over his head, Kakashi sends Naruto, Sakura, and Shikamaru, being guided by a dog named Pakkun, to stop Sasuke from pursuing Gaara.
    • 35. A Shirker's Call to Action: Layabout No More!

      11 Feb '04
      Naruto, Sakura, Shikamaru, and Pakkun are being chased down by several Sound ninja. Shikamaru decides to stop and try to hold them off so the others can catch up to Sasuke without fear of pursuit. Shikamaru is the logical choice because of his Shadow Possession Jutsu...needless to say, Shikamaru's not too thrilled by this.
    • 36. Absolutely Incomparable! A Hokage-Level Battle!

      18 Feb '04
      The battle of kings has begun as Orochimaru has summoned some unexpected help. How can the Third Hokage handle this uncomfortable situation? Meanwhile, Sasuke finally catches up with Kakurou, Gaara and Temari...
    • 37. A Mistake from the Past: A Face Revealed!

      25 Feb '04
      While Naruto and Sakura continue to catch up to Sasuke, Temari trys to stall Sasuke long enough for Kankuro to get Gaara to safety, but Sasuke doesn't have time to waste on her! Meanwhile, The Third Hokage continues his battle with Orochimaru and is ready to use a move that not even he knows...
    • 38. Forbidden Secret Jutsu! Shiki-Fujin

      03 Mar '04
      An unlikely ally appears to help Sasuke and allows him to continue to pursue Gaara. Meanwhile, the Hokage prepares to make the ultimate sacrifice to rid his village of Orochimaru!
    • 39. Astonishment! Gaara's True Identity!

      10 Mar '04
      While Shino and Kankuro fight the match they should've fought back during the Chuunin Exam, Naruto, Sakura, and Pakkun slowly catch up to Sasuke. Meanwhile, Sasuke has finally caught up with Gaara and Temari, but is he ready to face true horror when Gaara reveals his demon form?
    • 40. Over the Limit! Sasuke's Decision

      17 Mar '04
      Sasuke struggles to keep up with Gaara's monstrous capacity. Only able to use Chidori twice in normal circumstances, Sasuke remembers that tragic day when his family died and realises he must risk the use of Chidori beyond his limit if he is to defeat Gaara. That is, if he can...
    • 41. An Assassin in the Moonlight!

      24 Mar '04
      As Sasuke is about to be defeated, Naruto and Sakura show up to save him. With this Gaara begins to have flashbacks of his childhood. What happened in Gaara's past to make him experience so much suffering?
    • 42. Light and Shadow: The Name of Gaara!

      31 Mar '04
      Gaara continues to talk about his past. When Gaara states that Naruto can't become stronger when he fights for everyone else, Naruto recalls that if he didn't meet his friends, he would be the same as Gaara. Realizing that he has to protect his friends, Naruto overcomes his fear and decides to take on Gaara.
    • 43. Naruto's Ninja Handbook

      07 Apr '04
      Naruto and Gaara continue their fight. Naruto begins to get an advantage, and Gaara transforms into the final form of Shukaku of the Sand. As he begins to put the squeeze on Naruto, Naruto summons Gamabunta Oyabun, and his comeback begins. Once again, Naruto begins to get an advantage, but Gaara casts the technique of fake sleep, releasing the full power of Shukaku. Now that the demon is free, what will Naruto do?
    • 44. Beyond the Limit of Darkness and Light

      14 Apr '04
      Transformed into Kyubi, Naruto and Gamabunta prepare to stop Shukaku by waking Gaara up. Though they succeed, the battle is far from over as Gaara won't stop until Naruto is dead. Naruto and Gaara prepare for their final attacks. Meanwhile, Sarutobi continues trying to defeat Orochimaru. And even though Sarutobi isn't strong enough to kill Orochimaru, he does have enough strength to take away Orochimaru's most prized possession...the use of his arms!
    • 45. The Third Hokage, Forever...

      21 Apr '04
      As the war draws to a close, Gaara admits his defeat to Naruto, and Orochimaru is forced to retreat as Sarutobi took away his arms. Now, all of the Konoha shinobi gather together to pay their respects to the person whom they respected the most...Sarutobi, the Third Hokage.
    • 46. Coming Home in the Morning Mist

      28 Apr '04
      Two mysterious ninja infiltrate Konoha, and one of them bares the Sharingan. Just what are these two after? Why has Itachi Uchiha returned to Konoha?
    • 47. Sharingan vs. Sharingan!

      05 May '04
      Kakashi takes on Itachi, with both of them using the Sharingan. However, Kakashi soon realizes that he stands no chance against the legendary ninja. Itachi reveals that he has not come for his little brother, but instead he's come to do something else...abduct Naruto, and Kyubi as well!
    • 48. Jiraiya: Naruto's Potential Disaster!

      12 May '04
      Jiraiya and Naruto begin their search for Tsunade, but are constantly sidetracked by Jiraiya's peeping and hitting on pretty girls. Jiraiya tells Naruto some stories about the 3rd and 4th Hokages. Meanwhile, Sasuke learns that his brother, Itachi, is after Naruto and goes to warn him.