Episode list

No. 1 "Enter: Naruto Uzumaki!"

Naruto Uzumaki is a 12 year old boy with yellow hair and blue eyes in the Ninja Academy who has a strong ambition to become the best Hokage of all. After failing to graduate from the Ninja Academy for the third year in a row, Naruto Uzumaki is approached by Mizuki, an instructor at the Academy, who instructs him to steal a scroll. Naruto, ambitious to graduate, gets it after his successful robbery against the 3rd Hokage with a special technique. Iruka Umino finds Naruto and protects him from Mizuki, but in the process Mizuki tells Naruto the reason nobody seems to likes him; The Nine-Tailed Fox Demon that attacked the village twelve years ago was defeated when The Fourth Hokage sealed the Demon inside Naruto, giving his own life in the process. Using the special technique from the scroll, Naruto defeats Mizuki. Due to the act of saving his life and making an outstanding performance proving him worthy of being a ninja, Iruka allows Naruto to graduate.

2 "My Name Is Konohamaru!

Naruto befriends Konohamaru, the Third Hokage's grandson, and teaches him one of his techniques. Ebisu, Konohamaru's special teacher, comes to take Konohamaru away from Naruto. But Naruto easily defeats him with the Sexy Jutsu. Through Naruto's influence, Konohamaru is able to accept that he cannot follow in his grandfather's footsteps by his name alone.

3 "Sasuke And Sakura: Friends or Foes?''

To officially obtain the rank of Genin, Naruto is put into Team 7 with Sakura Haruno and Sasuke Uchiha. Naruto Uzumaki has a crush on Sakura Haruno, who has a crush on Sasuke Uchiha. When Naruto and Sasuke have their 1st conflict as teammates with a pointless ambush by Naruto, the two quickly become rivals.

4 "Pass or Fail: Survival Test''

Team 7 meets their Jōnin team leader, Kakashi Hatake, who administers the Genin qualification test requiring them to get a pair of bells from Kakashi. Naruto performs everything he can to get the bells. Although he almost recovers them, but fails, and Sasuke steps in to fight Kakashi.

5 "You Failed! Kakashi's Final Decision"

Sasuke attempts to fight Kakashi, and although he performs much better than Naruto, he is defeated. Kakashi then defeats Sakura by trapping her in a genjutsu while she tries to win Sasuke's affection. Meanwhile, Naruto sneaks to the two lunches and gets caught by Kakashi. Kakashi lectures the three on their inability to work together and forbids them from feeding Naruto. Despite this, Sasuke says they should feed Naruto. Sakura ends up doing this too as well. Kakashi reappears and passes them after a lecture of disobedience. Shocked, they are told by Kakashi that those who disobey the rules are considered trash, but those who risk the lives of their comrades just for rules are considered even worse.

6 "A Dangerous Mission! Journey to the Land of Waves!"

After Team 7 completes a few miscellaneous missions, they are assigned to escort Tazuna back to the Land of Waves. The group is attacked by two enemy ninja that supposedly kill Kakashi. While Naruto panics, Sakura does her best to protect Tazuna and Sasuke deals with the attackers efficiently, taunting Naruto in the process saying that he was absolutely useless. Kakashi reveals the illusion of his death.

7 "The Assassin of the Mist!"

After the attack, Tazuna admits that the mission is much more dangerous than originally intended, but after Team 7 hears of Tazuna's desire to build a bridge to save the impoverished Land of Waves and the threat from the wealthy criminal mastermind Gato, they agree to go through with the mission regardless for humanitarian reasons. The group is soon stopped by Zabuza Momochi, an opponent dangerous enough for Kakashi to reveal his Sharingan eye.

8 "The Oath of Pain"

Kakashi is eventually caught off guard and is captured in a prison of water. Despite Kakashi's insistence for the others to flee, Sasuke and Naruto try to free him. Using Naruto's transformation skills and Sasuke's expertise at shurikenjutsu, they succeed at deceiving Zabuza, forcing him to release his prison in order to dodge their attack.

9 "Kakashi: Sharingan Warrior!"

Kakashi and Zabuza resume their fight. Due to his Sharingan, Kakashi is able to take the upper hand and he defeats Zabuza by copying his own attack. Before Kakashi can finish him, a masked Kirigakure hunter-nin apparently kills Zabuza and leaves with him. Kakashi then collapses from fatigue.

10 "The Forest of Chakra"

Kakashi rests and recovers at Tazuna's home. Once he awakens, he concludes that Zabuza is alive, as there were numerous inconsistencies with the hunter-nin's actions. The hunter-nin is revealed to be Haku, a boy under Zabuza's wing. To prepare the group for their next fight, Kakashi continues their training by teaching them how to climb trees without using their hands.

11 "The Land Where a Hero Once Lived"

Sakura, who easily finished the tree-climbing exercise, is left in charge of protecting Tazuna while Naruto and Sasuke continue their training. During dinner on one night, Sakura asks about a torn picture that Inari, Tazuna's grandson, had been looking at. Tazuna explains that the man in the missing portion of the picture was Kaiza, Inari's idol, and the hero of the village, who was brutally killed by Gato. Kaiza's death destroyed any hope or happiness the village had and caused Inari to lose faith in heroism. Naruto rushes off to continue his training with renewed determination.

12 "Battle on the Bridge! Zabuza Returns!"

In the woods, Naruto encounters Haku. The two discuss their dreams, and Haku comments that one's strength is at its greatest when protecting a loved one. Sasuke and Naruto soon master tree-climbing, but Inari deems their training as pointless, enraging Naruto. The two engage in a heated dispute, which Kakashi resolves when he comforts Inari, revealing that Naruto wanted him to regain his hope and courage. The next morning, Kakashi, Sasuke, and Sakura escort Tazuna to work. Upon arriving at the bridge, they find Tazuna's workers unconscious and the air getting thicker with mist. Zabuza and a masked Haku reveal themselves.

13 "Haku's Secret Jutsu: Crystal Ice Mirrors"

At Tazuna's house, two of Gato's thugs arrive to kidnap Inari's mother. Inari attempts to stop them, but is saved when Naruto defeats them, and leaves to join the others at the bridge. Meanwhile, Sasuke fights Haku, his newfound speed giving him an advantage. To counter this, Haku traps Sasuke in a cage of ice mirrors.

14 "The Number One Hyperactive, Knucklehead Ninja Joins the Fight!"

Naruto arrives and manages a sneak attack on Haku. Although Zabuza tries to attack Naruto, Haku asks to be the one to fight him, and Zabuza agrees. Trying to help Sasuke, Naruto enters the cage of mirrors, becoming trapped as well.

15 "Zero Visibility: The Sharingan Shatters"

Naruto and Sasuke both attempt to destroy the ice mirrors. Naruto uses his Kage Bunshin Shadow Clone Jutsu Technique and Sasuke tries his Fire Ball Jutsu Technique, though both are unsuccessful, leading Kakashi to believe that Haku has a kekkei genkai. He once again reveals his Sharingan. Zabuza reveals that he is able to counter the Sharingan through hiding himself in mist, and he lands a strike on Kakashi.

16 "The Broken Seal"

Naruto and Sasuke are both injured severely from Haku's Crystal Ice Mirrors attack. Soon after that Sasuke performs his own Sharingan to encounter Haku. Haku launches an assault on Naruto, but Sasuke dives in to sacrifice his life for him and Naruto thinks Sasuke has died in his arms. Naruto tries to avenge his death and unconsciously taps into the Nine-Tailed Demon Fox's chakra and charges up to kill Haku, while Kakashi worries about his supernatural powers.

17 "White Past: Hidden Ambition"

Kakashi senses that Naruto has released the demon fox's chakra, and decides he needs to end the fight quickly. With his new power, Naruto overwhelms Haku. Haku's mask breaks away, revealing the boy Naruto had previously conversed with. Haku asks Naruto to kill him, as he cannot be of any more use to Zabuza- the only person that ever valued Haku. Meanwhile, Kakashi summons a number of dogs to find and restrain Zabuza. With Zabuza immobilized, Kakashi prepares his Lightning Blade.

18 "The Weapons Known as Shinobi"

In the village, Inari attempts to rally support amongst the villagers against Gato. Disappointed in the fear from the villagers, Inari sets out alone, explaining that he must be brave and says "I am my father's son." Elsewhere, Naruto agrees to kill Haku, who instead stops Naruto, and moves in the way of Kakashi's attack, saving Zabuza at the cost of his own life. Zabuza attempts to cut through Haku to reach Kakashi, but is soon overpowered by Kakashi. Before the battle can end, Gato arrives with his men, and reveals he will kill everyone present.

19 "The Demon in the Snow"

After learning of Haku's death, Naruto berates Zabuza for his indifference. Zabuza rebuffs the remarks- labeling Haku as a weapon, however- Naruto is shocked when Zabuza begins to shed tears. "In the end, we shinobi are just people too, with flaws all to human". He asks to allowed to try and slay Gato as a final act To repent. In his final moments, Kakashi urges Naruto to keep watching out of respect for Zabuza. Frightened by the ninja's ferocity, the mercenaries panic and Gato is slain. Sasuke awakens, as Haku had not intended to kill him. The bridge is completed, and Team 7 leaves. Tazuna proclaims to the village that the bridge will be called the Great Naruto Bridge to signify the strength that Naruto gave Inari, who in turn gave to the whole town.

20 "A New Chapter Begins: The Chunin Exam!"

Team 7 were doing some small jobs. Naruto states that he will beat Sasuke in the missions, but end up getting into trouble, and is even saved by Sasuke from falling down a waterfall. As the missions for the day are finished, Sasuke leaves his two teammates. Sakura and Naruto meet Konohamaru and his new friends. After insulting Sakura, Konohamaru is forced to run for safety, but ends up running into Kankuro. Despite his sister Temari's advice, Kankuro threatens Konohamaru.Just as Kankuro was about to finish Konohamaru, Sasuke saves him by pelting Kankuro with a rock. Kankuro prepares to counterattack, but is stopped by a command from his brother, Gaara, much to everyone's surprise. At the end it is revealed that the Chunin exams are coming soon.

21 "Identify Yourself: Powerful New Rivals"

Everyone present is startled by Gaara's sudden appearance. As the siblings walk away, they explain that they came to Konohagakure from Sunagakure to take part in the Chunin Exam, a test to promote them to the next ninja rank. Kakashi reveals that he has nominated Team 7 for the exams. As Team 7 proceeds to the site of the Chunin Exam, they meet Rock Lee and his teammates. Lee asks Sakura to be his girlfriend, and she refuses. Neji asks Sasuke for some personal information about himself, which Naruto sees that people are more interested in Sasuke that in himself, which makes him jealous. Sakura pulls the two away and leaves Team Guy.

22 "Chunin Challenge: Rock Lee vs. Sasuke!"

As they leave, Rock Lee appears again and challenges Sasuke to a battle, saying that he is the best Genin. At first, Sasuke cannot be bothered, but Sasuke changes his mind when Lee is challenged by Naruto, who effortlessly defeats him. He beats the living daylights out of Sasuke forcing him to get serious on the battle. Even Sasuke's Sharingan is no match for Lee's taijutsu. Before any serious harm can come to Sasuke, Lee's sensei and self-proclaimed eternal rival of Kakashi Hatake, Might Guy, appears and stops the attack. After assigning Lee a punishment, Guy leaves. Lee tells Sasuke that there was another top ninja that he wanted to fight and that Sasuke was meant to be a test for him, but labels Sasuke as a target from then on. Lee leaves, and Naruto pressures Sasuke about not being able to defeat Lee. Sasuke is angered by this but calms down as Team 7 leaves.

23 "Genin Takedown! All Nine Rookies Face Off!"

The remaining Genin receive their exams to become Chunin. Upon arriving at the location of the first part of the exams, Team 7 meets with Team 10 members Ino Yamanaka, Shikamaru Nara, and Choji Akimichi, as well as Team 8 members Shino Aburame, Hinata Hyuga, and Kiba Inuzuka. The group is befriended by exam veteran Kabuto Yakushi, who offers the nine information on their competitors. His remarks about the Land of Sound, however, touch a nerve with the Sound Genin present, and is attacked as such. Before the fight can progress, Ibiki Morino and several Chunin appear.

24 "Start Your Engines: The Chunin Exam Begins"

As everyone takes their seat, Ibiki explains that the first phase of the exam will be a written test. Cheating results in the deduction of points, which in turn eventually leads to that person and their team being ejected. Everyone present realizes that cheating is necessary to pass the test, and many are ejected for cheating, while others use their unique abilities to successfully cheat. Naruto, unable to answer any of the questions, puts all his faith in the final question, which will be given fifteen minutes before the test's end.

25 "The Tenth Question: All or Nothing"

They are told that they do not have to take the final question, but if they don't take it,they will fail the exam.However if they take the question, and they don't answer correctly, then they will never be able to take the exam again. Many teams leave, but Naruto gives an inspiring monologue that gives the remaining teams the courage to stay. Ibiki reveals that the question itself was a test, and those who stayed automatically pass. The remaining Genin are left to the next instructor, Anko Mitarashi, who takes them all to the Forest of Death.

26 "Special Report: Live From the Forest of Death"

The episode is an anime-exclusive episode for Konohamaru and his classmates news report starring the Chuunin in training. Before the second exam can begin, Konohamaru and his friends pull the members of Team 7 aside for interviews, where they retell the storyline to this point. They discuss the Hokages, the Rogue Ninja etc.