This first edition covers Masashi Kishimoto’s global phenomenon Naruto and its direct sequel Naruto Shippuden. With 750 episodes of high-octane ninja action to sort through, these 10 fights are chock full of intense ninjutsu, flying kunai, and of course, extremely emotional moments that always hit just right. In general, Netflix has the best user experience, with skippable intros and the ability to switch between dubs and subs on the fly. But they’re not currently streaming Shippuden, so you’ll have to switch over to Hulu or Crunchyroll to keep the action going. Hulu has dubs up to a certain point, but you have to pick a different episode to change languages. And if you don’t have a subscription to any of those, Pluto TV has you covered with the first series on-demand with ads. But there are lots and lots of ads. Here are just the hits of Naruto in chronological order.
Naruto and Sasuke vs. Haku
Series: NarutoRuntime: About 2 hoursBest Place to Stream: NetflixNetflix’s Season and Episode: Season 1, Episodes 13-18Hulu’s Season and Episode: Season 1, Episodes 13-18Crunchyroll’s Season and Episode: Season 1, Episodes 13-18Pluto TV: Season 1, Episodes 13-18 The first iconic battle on this list belongs to Naruto and Sasuke’s life-or-death fight against Haku, a rival ninja about their own age who is outclassing them in every way possible. Naruto has always been about toeing the line between silly antics and monumentally important clashes, but you can point directly to this fight as the moment when shit started to get real. Early in the fight, Haku’s unique Ice Release ninjutsu serves as the introduction to Kekkei Genkai, or hereditary techniques passed down from generation to generation. We also learn that at the root of this tremendous power is a horrible burden. Haku’s childhood was violently destroyed by those afraid of his inborn power. It’s not an unfamiliar concept to Naruto or Sasuke, both defined by their own set of tragic circumstances, which makes this match up even harder to watch. But what good would this fight be without some classic turnarounds? In the heat of battle we get not one, but two great awakenings, with Sasuke activating his Sharingan, his own inborn technique, and Naruto’s first taste of the demonic power sealed inside his own body. But ultimately, this fight is most memorable for its tragic ending where Naruto learns that being strong isn’t always enough to win.
Rock Lee vs. Gaara
Series: NarutoRuntime: About 45 minutesBest Place to Stream: NetflixOn Netflix: Season 2, Episodes 22-24On Hulu: Season 1, Episodes 48-50On Crunchyroll: Season 2, Episodes 48-50On Pluto TV: Season 1, Episodes 48-50 Anyhow, this fight from the middle of the Chunin Exam arc is notable for how simple and hard-hitting it is. There’s not much on the line for anyone except for pride and the want to succeed. We get a nicely animated look at Rock Lee’s taijutsu, or straight physical attacks, as he pounds away at Gaara’s freakishly strong defense. Gaara commands a gourd full of sand, sending it flying through the air and packing it tightly over his own body. There is a big dip in the action after the initial bout with a lengthy flashback to Lee’s start as an untalented ninja-in-training. It’s not a very exciting sequence, but it does establish yet another character determined to succeed no matter their circumstances. Those are always fun to root for! Lee’s crushing defeat is all the more tragic and sets up Gaara as a major force to be reckoned with.
The Third Hokage vs. Orochimaru
Series: NarutoRuntime: About 3 hoursBest Place to Stream: NetflixOn Netflix: Season 3, Episodes 19-28On Hulu: Season 2, Episodes 71-80 On Crunchyroll: Season 3, Episode 71 – Season 4, Episode 80On Pluto TV: Season 2, Episodes 71 – 80 The season and episode order isn’t the only thing getting more confusing at this point. With the Orichimaru launching a terrorist attack durin the Chunin Exams and mounting a large-scale invasion of Naruto’s hometown, the series itself starts to become more complex. Multiple fights take place simultaneously, with the episodes cutting back and forth. As a result, you can actually skip two of the episodes (“Astonishing Truth! Gaara’s Identity Emerges” and “Sasuke’s Decision: Pushed to the Edge”) to reach this fight’s thrilling conclusion. It’s one of the first high-level duels we see in the series, with the Third Hokage, an old-but-not-out leader of the Hidden Leaf village, facing off against Orochimaru, a nasty ninja who deserted the Hidden Leaf in search of forbidden power. We are treated to a slew of impressive ninjutsu, like Orochimaru’s bringing people back from the dead and also a giant monkey king that the Third summons.
Naruto vs. Sasuke
Series: NarutoRuntime: A little under 3 hoursBest Place to Stream: NetflixOn Netflix: Season 5, Episodes 22 – 29On Hulu: Season 3, Episodes 128 – 135On Crunchyroll: Season 5, Episode 128 – Season 6, Episode 135On Pluto TV: Season 3, Episodes 128-135 It can be hard to truly enjoy Naruto’s fight with Sasuke at the Valley of the End toward the end of the first series because of how high the stakes are and how hard the ending hits. Sasuke has just defected, essentially leaving his entire life behind, to acquire more forbidden power from Orochimaru, who we hate. After a long and bloody journey, Naruto catches up to Sasuke and is dead set on bringing him home. Their spectacular fight is on full display starting at “The End of Tears”, but you can start earlier with “A Cry on Deaf Ears” to get the full picture, albeit with some flat animation. The conclusion of this fight sets up yet another long-lasting obstacle for Naruto to overcome, which is tragically Sasuke himself. Their dueling ideologies will form the backbone of everything to come in Part 2.
Chiyo and Sakura vs. Sasori
Series: Naruto ShippudenRuntime: About 2 hours 30 minutesBest Place to Stream: HuluOn Hulu: Season 1, Episodes 21-27On Crunchyroll: Season 1, Episodes 21-27 Up to this point, the dreaded Akatsuki’s mission to forcibly gather the tailed beasts is mostly incidental to each arc’s main story. That each member is an overwhelmingly powerful foe has been cause for concern, but never the driving force for Naruto to take action. That is until they target Gaara. Even though Naruto’s newfound strength is on full display, the highlight of this arc actually goes to Sakura as she heroically takes down a member of Akatsuki. Sakura, it turns out, trained intensely during the timeskip and gained immense strength, allowing her to finally bring something to the table. Even though she is outmatched against Sasori, she never gets rescued by Naruto. Instead, Sakura teams up with Chiyo, an experienced elder no longer proficient in combat, to strategically take down someone well above her level.
Jiraiya vs. Pain
Series: Naruto ShippudenRuntime: A little over 1 hourBest Place to Stream: HuluOn Hulu: Season 3, Episodes 130-33On Crunchyroll: Season 6, Episodes 130-133 For the longest time, Jiraiya was seen as a cringey old man first and a heroic ninja second. His prowess as a ninja was often overshadowed by his creepy perversions, but it is against Pain, his former pupil, that his legacy is cemented as a true warrior. Jiraiya’s best ninjutsu comes up short against the legendary Rinnegan, an ocular technique so powerful that its existence was questionable. And it’s not just one person with the special eyes he’s up against, there are six Rinnegan users working in perfect harmony and countering his every move. As the fight gets more desperate, it’s clear that things aren’t going Jiraiya’s way, and while characters certainly have died in the series, his defeat and death are one of the series’ most shocking moments.
Sasuke vs. Itachi
Series: Naruto ShippudenRuntime: A little over 1 hourBest Place to Stream: HuluOn Hulu: Season 3, Episodes 135 – 138On Crunchyroll: Season 6, Episodes 135 – 138 Sasuke has been talking about trying to kill his brother all the way back to the day we met him. Behind every one of Sasuke’s actions is the hidden motivation to grow stronger and take his revenge. His tragic betrayals have all been in service of this singular goal. Through bits and pieces dropped over the series, we come to learn that Sasuke is not only avenging the loss of his mother and father. He is also mourning the loss of his childhood. He believes that the Itachi he knew before the massacre is who Itachi really is. He also believes that the Itachi who killed everyone he ever loved must be stopped. The fight that ensues is cathartic and thrilling, but also deeply sad. After a decisive blow from Sasuke, a dying Itachi presents one further wrinkle to his story. It makes Sasuke and everyone at home question if what just happened was right. Or if the fact that it happened even matters at all. More on this question from Kabuto during the Fourth Shinobi World War.
Madara Uchiha vs. The Allied Shinobi Forces, Naruto and B vs. Obito and the Tailed Beasts, Sasuke and Itachi vs. Kabuto
Series: Naruto ShippudenRuntime: Over 12 hours…Best Place to Stream: HuluOn Hulu: Season 6, Episodes 322-342; Season 7, Episode 362 – 375On Crunchyroll: Season 16, Episode 322 – Season 17, 342; Season 17, Episode 362 – Season 18, 375 You’re in for a real ride with the Fourth Shinobi World War. Not only are big questions getting answered, there are legendary ninja clashing left and right in a seemingly endless series of climactic battles that push the limits of what a shinobi can accomplish. The main fights intersect with each other, which means there’s no good way to jump straight to any one of them. If you’ve got a good weekend lined up with nothing to do, you might just be able to make it through three of the best fights yet. Meanwhile, Kabuto, having just resurrected and enslaved history’s most powerful ninja, faces off against Sasuke and a freshly reincarnated Itachi. Kabuto is one the many big bads attempting to outmaneuver every other big bad and is on the verge of achieving godhood. It’s crazy stuff! Ultimately, the Uchiha come out on top, all the while adding even deeper layers to how Sasuke sees and understands his brother. And finally, everyone who’s left standing is fighting Obito and/or Madara. And just when you think the war is won, there is always another sudden twist and sharp turn to raise the stakes. And it is iconic all the way.
Naruto vs. Sasuke
Series: Naruto ShippudenRuntime: A little over 1 hourBest Place to Stream: HuluOn Hulu: Season 9, Episodes 476 – 479On Crunchyroll: Season 17, Episodes 476-479 After an unbelievable number of ever-escalating fights, and with the dust settling from Cell 7’s scrappy triumph over Kaguya, all that’s left is for Naruto and Sasuke to clash one last time. 10 fights be damned, the conclusion to their legendary rivalry makes 11. While Sasuke is focused on fixing and reshaping the world, Naruto resolves to bring Sasuke home once and for all. After world-endingly destructive techniques, brutal bare knuckle taijutsu, and a slew of last-ditch attacks, they reach an impasse. The physical fight is over without a clear winner, but for Naruto this never was a fight to be won with might. His words finally reach Sasuke and succeeds in his series-long mission to bring Sasuke home.
