Naruto

Naruto is a Japanese animated television series adapted from Masashi Kishimoto’s manga, which was serialized in Weekly Shonen Jump. Produced by Studio Pierrot and Aniplex, the anime premiered on TV Tokyo on October 3, 2002, and concluded on February 8, 2007, after 220 episodes. It follows Naruto Uzumaki, an orphaned ninja of Konohagakure, the Hidden Leaf Village. Before Naruto’s birth, the Nine-Tailed Fox, Kurama, attacked the village. Fourth Hokage Minato Namikaze sealed the beast inside his newborn son, causing many villagers to fear or resent Naruto. At the Ninja Academy, Naruto graduates after learning the Shadow Clone Technique and joins Team 7 under jonin instructor Kakashi Hatake. His teammates are Sakura Haruno, whose affection initially centers on Sasuke Uchiha, and Sasuke, the last surviving member of his immediate clan after his older brother Itachi massacred the Uchiha. Naruto’s stated ambition is to become Hokage, the village leader, and earn acknowledgment from people who had treated him as a troublemaker. The early missions establish the team’s bonds and rivalries. In the Land of Waves arc, Team 7 protects bridge builder Tazuna from mercenary ninja Zabuza Momochi and Zabuza’s young companion Haku. The Chunin Exams bring competitors including Gaara of Sunagakure, Rock Lee, Neji Hyuga, and Orochimaru, a former Leaf ninja seeking Sasuke’s body and abilities. Orochimaru’s invasion coincides with the death of Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi, after which legendary medic Tsunade becomes Fifth Hokage. A central conflict is Sasuke’s decision to leave Konoha for Orochimaru, believing power is necessary to kill Itachi. Naruto, Sakura, Shikamaru Nara, Kiba Inuzuka, Choji Akimichi, and Neji pursue him in the Sasuke Retrieval Mission. Naruto and Sasuke fight at the Valley of the End, where Sasuke defeats Naruto and continues to Orochimaru. The original series’ later episodes largely follow anime-original stories while Naruto trains with Jiraiya, one of the Sannin and Minato’s teacher. The next television series, Naruto: Shippuden, began in 2007 and adapts Naruto’s return after training. It continues the conflict with Akatsuki, an organization pursuing the tailed beasts, and eventually resolves Naruto’s struggle with Sasuke. Naruto was broadcast in Japan with Japanese dialogue; Viz Media licensed the television anime for North America. Its English-language version aired on Cartoon Network’s Toonami block beginning in 2005. The franchise later received sequel series Boruto: Naruto Next Generations, centered on Naruto’s son, Boruto Uzumaki, after Naruto has become Hokage. The original anime’s score was composed by Toshio Masuda throughout its Japanese run.