Series · 2002
Naruto
NARUTO -ナルト-
Naruto wants to become Hokage so the village that rejects him will recognise him. Training and missions place him alongside teammates he competes with and must learn to trust. The original series builds its ninja battles around deception, coordinated attacks and a rivalry that becomes increasingly personal.
Iruka, Naruto's academy teacher, scolds his daily mischief but also believes in him. Before difficult missions or rival ninja enter the picture, even graduating is uncertain because he has fallen behind in his studies. The wish to be recognised begins on that small scale, with a struggling pupil and an adult willing to take him seriously.
Early missions put that need for trust under pressure. In the Land of Waves, the enemy ninja Zabuza traps Kakashi inside a sphere of water. Kakashi orders the younger ninja to flee, but Naruto refuses to abandon his promise not to run away. The experienced teacher cannot simply take over: the pupils have to decide how to act while he is trapped.
Original series · Approx. 88 hours · 220 episodes
Original Naruto television run, 2002–2007; excludes Shippuden, films and Boruto.
