Highlights

• Naruto's training to learn the summoning jutsu introduces the beloved character Jiraiya and showcases the ninja's determination to become Hokage. (Episode 56)
• Gaara's backstory reveals his transformation from a sadistic ninja to a more sympathetic character, leading to an intense fight with Naruto. (Episode 77)
• Tsunade's struggle to overcome her fear of blood culminates in her becoming the Fifth Hokage, showcasing her willpower and character growth. (Episode 95)

Naruto is among the most popular shonen anime of all time. The legendary rivalry between Naruto and Sasuke, along with other character arcs and excellent stories, makes for a riveting watch. Most fans have no problem binge-watching to the end.

Naruto and Naruto Shippuden are full to the brim with some of the greatest episodes ever. Given that the focus right now is on the former, it's time to take a trip down memory lane and look at some of the best episodes present in the original run of Naruto.

Updated December 30, 2023, by Ritwik Mitra: Naruto is one of the greatest shonen anime ever made, captivating fans from all over the world despite the series having its fair share of problems that became even more prominent during the Fourth Shinobi World War. This arc alone is why so many people find pre-timeskip Naruto to be superior to the events that followed. But no matter one's opinions on where the story went, the original run of the anime featured some masterful episodes that are memorable to this day.

20 "Live Or Die: Risk It All To Win It All!"

IMDb Rating: 7.7/10

• Episode Number: 56
• Japanese Title: "Sei ka shi ka!? Menkyo kaiden wa inochi gake!"

The arc in which Naruto trains to learn the summoning jutsu is riveting, showing just how much the ninja needs to learn if he truly wishes to be Hokage. This training also introduces Jiraiya, one of the most beloved characters in Naruto despite being a pervert who crosses the lines.

After getting exasperated in his quest to teach Naruto, Jiraiya decides to take it one step further and throw Naruto down a cliff, hoping that he will finally be able to channel the Nine-Tails' power and summon a powerful creature to do his bidding. This is precisely what happens, with Gamabunta's introduction being one of the best parts of the entire show.

19 "Light Vs. Dark: The Two Faces Of Gaara"

IMDb Rating: 7.9/10

• Episode Number: 77
• Japanese Title: "Hikari to yami Gaara to iu na"

Gaara is one of the most fascinating characters in the entire series. He starts as a rather sadistic ninja before the truth about his tragic backstory comes to light.

This leads to Gaara being viewed as more sympathetic in the eyes of viewers, although that doesn't change the fact that he was actively trying to harm Naruto and his friends. Thankfully, this fight was far from over...even if Naruto had botched up his summoning technique.

18 "A Cry On Deaf Ears"

IMDb Rating: 8.0/10

• Episode Number: 128
• Japanese Title: "Todokanai sakebi"

The first fight between Naruto and Sasuke is one of the best moments in Naruto. It was a faceoff that audiences had been eager to see for the longest time, so it was satisfying to see both these characters finally communicate through their fists alone.

At the start of the fight, Naruto tries his hardest to convince his friend to see the light. However, Sasuke doesn't change his mind. The escalation leads to a battle that was in the making from the very start of Naruto.

17 "White Past: Hidden Ambition"

IMDb Rating: 8.1/10

• Episode Number: 17
• Japanese Title: "Shiroi kako: Himeta omoi"

For an arc that comes pretty early on, both Haku and Zabuza make for a fearsome duo. Viewers quickly understand that they can easily take out Kakashi and his trio of genin if they aren't sharp enough to deal with this threat. However, while Kakashi is busy tending to one of the legendary Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist, Sasuke and Naruto are trapped by Haku, who pierces them with needles over and over again until Sasuke has to sacrifice his own body to save Naruto.

This causes Naruto to awaken his fury, unleashing the power of the Nine-Tails on Haku and breaking his mask in the process. It's only after he does this that he recognizes the person he met in the forest during his training, finally causing him to calm down. Haku implores Naruto to kill him, with the revelation of his backstory making for a truly tragic tale.

16 "The Fifth Hokage! A Life On The Line"

IMDb Rating: 8.3/10

• Episode Number: 95
• Japanese Title: "Godaime Hokage, Inochi o Kaketa Tatakai!"

This is the episode where Tsunade finally becomes the Fifth Hokage, overcoming her fear of blood and saving Naruto from death. It takes a ton of willpower on her part, making her a powerful character indeed.

Witnessing Tsunade's struggles and how she manages to overcome them is a blast. It's a great character-focused that ends on a high note, with all three members of the Sannin unleashing their summons.

15 "Eye To Eye: Sharingan Vs. Sharingan!"

IMDb Rating: 8.3/10

• Episode Number: 82
• Japanese Title: "Sharingan tai Sharingan!!"

This is the first time viewers properly see Itachi in action, and who better to have this duel with other than Kakashi? Both Sharingan users flex their skills, but Itachi shows why his natural right over this eye technique made him such a greater threat.

This leads to Kakashi being caught in a powerful genjutsu that sounded positively nightmarish. It was clear that Itachi's powers were in a league of their own.

14 "The Third Hokage, Forever…"

IMDb Rating: 8.6/10

• Episode Number: 80
• Japanese Title: "Sandaime yo, towa ni......!!"

The Chunin Exams ended on an epic note, with the series gradually showing the legacy surrounding the Leaf Village near the climax of the battle between Gaara and Naruto. However, the ending of this arc is pretty sad. The Third Hokage passes away after using the Reaper Death Seal to stop Orochimaru's plans.

His death had a resounding effect on the events of Naruto, leading to the introduction of Jiraiya and Tsunade, members of the Legendary Sannin along with Orochimaru himself. It was an emotional moment that showed just how much the Leaf Village lost in this assault, despite coming out victorious.

13 "Good-bye Old Friend…! I'll Always Believe in You!"

IMDb Rating: 8.7/10

• Episode Number: 114
• Japanese Title: "Saraba Tomo yo…! Soredemo Ore wa Shinjiteru"

One of the many reasons most people aren't huge fans of post-time skip Naruto is how shamelessly the side cast is pushed aside in favor of spectacle, new personalities, and the two main heroes. There was a time when Naruto's friends were just as useful as he was, and this could be seen during the Sasuke Retrieval arc.

Choji has always seemed like a good-for-nothing glutton, a fact that even he's aware of. So, watching him down a bunch of pills to put Jirobo in his place makes for a great moment. Thankfully, his life is saved before he could pass away from exerting his body so much.

12 "A Failure's True Power"

IMDb Rating: 8.7/10

• Episode Number: 62
• Japanese Title: "Ochikobore no sokojikara!"

The fight between Naruto and Neji during the Chunin Exams is one of the best in the series, allowing the protagonist to show just how much he's grown as a ninja. The sheer volume of emotions in this battle makes it one of the best that viewers get to witness.

Most people assumed Neji would easily overpower the Number One Hyperactive Knucklehead Ninja in this contest. However, Naruto's unrelenting resolve and strong force of will allowed him to overpower his opposition near the end of the fight.

11 The Beast Within

IMDb Rating: 8.8/10

• Episode Number: 124
• Japanese Title: "Yajuu sakuretsu! Hajikero futtobe tsukinukero!"

Rock Lee is one of the best characters in Naruto. His powerful mastery of taijutsu and infectious personality made him a major highlight of the Chunin arc.

"The Beast Within" explores a goofier side of his character when he unwittingly drinks some alcohol and shows a surprising mastery of the Drunken Fist. His attacks look incredible, making his fight with Kimimaru entertaining indeed.

10 "For A Friend..."

IMDb Rating: 8.8/10

• Episode Number: 132
• Japanese Title: "Tomoyo!"

After activating his Cursed Seal, Sasuke manages to gain the upper hand in this battle. Naruto ends up on the receiving end of a beatdown — but not for long.

The chakra of the Nine-Tailed Fox awakens in him, and Naruto's resolve strengthens as a result. He decides to bring Sasuke back to the village, even if it means that he has to break every bone in his best friend's body.

9 "Attack! Fury Of The Rasengan"

IMDb Rating: 8.7/10

• Episode Number: 94
• Japanese Title: "Kurae! Ikari no Rasengan"

The Rasengan is one of Naruto's most iconic moves, and in this episode, he pulls off this attack for the first time. Considering this, it goes without saying that this episode ranks among the most legendary in the series.

Watching Naruto land this ultra-powerful attack on Kabuto is an incredibly satisfying moment, with the music reaching a satisfying crescendo as he does so. It's one of the best moments in Naruto and serves as a turning point for the protagonist.

8 "Lee's Hidden Strength: Forbidden Secret Jutsu!"

IMDb Rating: 8.8/10

• Episode Number: 49
• Japanese Title: "Nekketsu ochikobore! Tsuini sakuretsu, kindan no ogi!"

Any Naruto fan who doubted Lee's taijutsu's abilities would be singing a different tune by the end of this episode. After showing the power that can be unlocked by opening part of his Eight Gates, Lee shows exactly why he's a force to be reckoned with.

The fact that he even managed to scare Gaara by opening the Gates makes this episode endlessly watchable. It was during this episode that fans thought Lee could overpower and defeat Gaara once and for all.

7 "The Demon In The Snow"

IMDb Rating: 9.0/10

• Episode Number: 19
• Japanese Title: "Zabuza Yuki ni Chiru…"

The duo of Zabuza and Haku made a stellar impression during the first major arc of the show. It was a great moment that expanded on the bond between Team 7 and showed Naruto's latent potential.

At the end of this battle, a wounded Zabuza realizes that he was nothing more than a pawn in the larger scheme of things, and treated Haku unfairly. Thankfully, he performed one final act of atonement before passing away.

6 "Naruto’s Ninja Handbook"

IMDb Rating: 9.0/10

• Episode Number: 78
• Japanese Title: "Bakuhatsu! Korezo Naruto Ninpocho!!"

For a long time, it seemed that Naruto could never useful in battle. After all, he had a penchant for doing some truly careless things in his fights. However, it's a testament to the amazing zeal and power of this character that he remained headstrong against unfair odds during his battle against Gaara.

From using his patented Shadow Clones to summoning Gamabunta in a moment of desperation, how Naruto manages to even the odds are truly incredible. Though he delivers the final blow to Gaara in the following episode, the fight between both these adversaries is extremely entertaining regardless.

5 "The End Of Tears"

IMDb Rating: 9.0/10

• Episode Number: 134
• Japanese Title: "Namidaame no ketsumatsu"

The battle between Naruto and Sasuke finally reaches its end in this episode. Both fighters are somewhat evenly matched, although one could argue that Sasuke's Cursed Seal Transformation gave him a greater advantage.

Regardless, the battle ended with a resounding clash between the Chidori and the Rasengan. Ultimately, Sasuke emerged victorious and defected from Konoha once and for all. It's an unforgettable episode, one that fans often find themselves returning to over and over.

4 "Beyond The Limit Of Darkness And Light"

IMDb Rating: 9.1/10

• Episode Number: 79
• Japanese Title: "Rimitto bucchigiri!: Hikari to yami"

The fight between Gaara and Naruto is a tale for the ages. It shows just how far the bumbling shinobi has come from the time when the only thing he relished doing was carrying out silly pranks. His training with Jiraiya has paid off by leaps and bounds, allowing him to get the upper hand on Gaara and enlist the help of Gamabunta to wake Gaara up.

What makes this battle so epic is the legacy that is shown in the village. The previous holders of the Ino-Chika-Sho formation and the rest of the shinobi's parents show just how strong-willed the people of Konoha are. It's hard not to get goosebumps as Gaara's fight against Naruto draws to a close, showing just how incredible the world-building of the series is.

3 "The Fifth Gate: A Splendid Ninja is Born"

IMDb Rating: 9.2/10

• Episode Number: 50
• Japanese Title: "Aa Rokku Ri! Kore ga otoko no ikizama yo!!"

In a final bid to defeat Gaara once and for all, Lee opens the Fifth Gate. The strain it puts on his body is enormous, and he becomes well aware of what he must do to defeat Gaara in one quick stroke to win the match.

However, Gaara ended up being way too smart and resilient to be taken down, even with such a powerful technique. His subsequent attack could have halted Lee's progress as a ninja, had it not been for the character's resilience and dedication to become a strong shinobi.

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

IMDb Rating: 9.2/10

• Episode Number: 48
• Japanese Title: "Gaara funsai!! Wakasa da! Pawa da! Bakuhatsu da!"

Of course, it would be impossible to talk about Gaara without mentioning his excellent fight against Rock Lee. Many fans of the show consider this episode's fight to be a standout highlight of the Chunin Exams arc.

At the start of this episode, it's clear that Gaara has the upper hand. However, Rock Lee is no pushover and decides to go past his limits to defeat this powerful fighter. It's an exhilarating battle to watch.

1 "A Plea From A Friend"

IMDb Rating: 9.3/10

• Episode Number: 133
• Japanese Title: "Namida no Hoko! Omae wa Ore no Tomodachi da"

Naruto finally gets the upper hand. However, this wasn't to last, since Sasuke developed a matured Sharingan in the middle of this battle. This allows him to read the movements of his opponent, and dodge them with ease. Finally, he decides to defeat Naruto with a resounding piledriver.

However, the Nine-Tailed Fox has other plans, as he envelops Naruto's body with his chakra and lays down a spectacular beatdown of his own. Caught between a rock and a hard place, Sasuke decides to up the ante by using the second form of his Cursed Seal to even the odds.