Naruto delivers some of the best moments in the entire anime genre throughout its acclaimed television run of over two hundred episodes, and the beloved series remains a pillar of influence among the many series that have succeeded it. The popularity of the Naruto franchise's inaugural installation has been further elevated by its 500-episode sequel series, Naruto: Shippuden, which expertly capitalizes on what makes this story a classic.

Beloved protagonist Naruto Uzumaki guides viewers through his journey to master control of the Nine-Tailed Fox, the most powerful of the nine Tailed Beasts roaming the world, sealed within him as he trains alongside the other shinobi of the Hidden Leaf Village. Naruto's coming-of-age tale is accented by inspiring characters and transformative encounters that embody the heart of the narrative in peak moments throughout the franchise.

10 The Nine-Tailed Fox First Emerges From Naruto in the Fight Against Zabuza & Haku

Naruto — Episode 16: "The Broken Seal"

Naruto Uzumaki's status as the Jinchuriki of the Nine-Tailed Fox closely ties the protagonist's narrative to the Tailed Beasts in the series, and the presence of these creatures is a defining element of the franchise. Naruto's rival, Sasuke Uchiha, is a clever shinobi who awakens the Uchiha clan's Sharingan, a powerful Jutsu capable of rivaling the Tailed Beasts' formidable strength. Naruto and Sasuke's distinct forms of power are unleashed during an unforgettable mission as Team Kakashi fights against the fearsome rogue shinobi Zabuza and his servant Haku.

Zabuza confronts Kakashi while his loyal pupil, Haku, hosts an intense battle against the joint forces of Naruto and Sasuke. Haku's strength pushes the young shinobi to their limits, forcing them both to rise to the occasion in a major test of their will and talent. Sasuke unintentionally reawakens his long-dormant Sharingan defending a downed Naruto from Haku until he's also immobilized by a brutal attack that leaves his body pierced with weapons throughout. Naruto rises, enraged that his friend may be dead, and the influence of his hateful emotions creates an opening for the Nine-Tailed Fox to partially escape its seal, introducing a totally new level of power to the battle that brings it to an end in his favor.

9 Gaara & Rock Lee Have an Unforgettable Battle in the Chunin Exams

Naruto — Episode 50: "The Fifth Gate: A Splendid Ninja Is Born"

Entrance exams in anime present entertaining opportunities for new character interactions, and the Chunin Exams sequence in Naruto peaks when the battle between Gaara and Rock Lee reaches its fateful conclusion. A test between Gaara's raw strength and Rock Lee's grit ensues, and both shinobi showcase their distinct strengths in full swing in the most exciting match-up of the Chunin Exams.

Gaara is the vengeful One-Tailed Jinchuriki from the Hidden Sand Village, led by the Kazekage, who possesses a unique sand Jutsu that provides him with incredible defenses. He's a stark contrast to the Hidden Leaf Village's kind-spirited Rock Lee, who's an inspiration to all for becoming a shinobi using a strictly physical form of combat called Taijutsu. Rock Lee surprises Gaara by removing his leg weights to reveal his true speed, outmatching Gaara's strength with his movements until the Jinchuriki lands a devastating attack that severely injures Rock Lee's arm. The devastating strike causes alarm throughout the audience, and bloodthirsty Gaara is separated from Rock Lee before he can further harm the fallen ninja.

8 The Third Hokage Attacks Orochimaru With the Forbidden Reaper Death Seal

Naruto — Episode 73: "Forbidden Secret Technique: Reaper Death Seal!"

The lineage of the Hidden Leaf Village's Hokage is central to the plot in Naruto, and one peak Hokage encounter during the early sequences of the series happens when Orochimaru, a major antagonist of the franchise, attacks the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi. Orochimaru, one of the three legendary Sannin, was once Hiruzen's pupil before his obsession with acquiring Jutsu drove him into dark pursuits, giving their battle significance beyond the fast-paced encounter.

The Third Hokage is forced to confront his mentors, the first two Hokage, when the villainous Orochimaru summons their reanimated bodies during his attack on the Hidden Leaf Village. The Reaper Death Seal, a powerful Forbidden Jutsu, summons the spirit of death itself to seal away the Hokage and grievously wounds his former pupil Orochimaru at the great cost of his life. The teased return of the Fourth Hokage, the Third Hokage's sacrifice, and the masterful demonstration of Jutsu techniques in the battle that preceded it make this fight a top Naruto sequence.

7 The Rivalry Between Sasuke & Naruto Reaches New Heights During Their Final Valley Fight

Naruto — Episode 134: "The End of Tears"

The iconic rivalry between Naruto Uzumaki and Sasuke Uchiha is a major driving conflict of the Naruto plot, and their relationship makes a volatile transition from teammates to enemies during the battle at Final Valley. The rivals, who are at their peak power in the series during the epic Naruto series finale, do not hold back on each other in their long-anticipated fight.

Sasuke's advanced Sharingan, the Triple Tomoe, makes its sensational debut during this battle. With refined strength and an intense conviction to defeat his rival once and for all, Sasuke is presented as the dominant force in the fight against Naruto, who struggles far more with the idea of harming his corrupted former teammate. The tone of the encounter shifts dramatically when Kurama, the fearsome Nine-Tailed Fox, awakens to protect his fallen host from Sasuke, who only realizes he's outmatched by the power of the strongest Tailed Beast when its partial manifestation strikes true terror into his heart.

6 Jiraiya Sacrifices His Life in the Name of Peace Against the Six Paths of Pain

Naruto: Shippuden — Episode 133: "The Tale of Jiraiya the Gallant"

Many beloved Naruto: Shippuden characters continue their stories in the third installation of the franchise, Boruto: Naruto Next Generations, giving viewers a chance to enjoy the ensemble following the Fourth Great Ninja War. However, the story of fan-favorite Jiraiya, the comical mentor to Naruto Uzumaki, ends after a fatal encounter with the notorious Six Paths of Pain, who lead the treacherous Akatsuki.

Jiraiya, one of the three legendary Sannin of the Hidden Leaf Village, confronts two of his former pupils, Konan and Nagato, in a fast-paced encounter where the truth behind the Akatsuki's leadership is finally revealed. An ideological battle ensues with Pain fighting for his vengeful vision to inspire suffering worldwide and Jiraiya fighting in the name of peace. Even with the power of Sage Mode and the expert use of various Jutsu techniques, Jiraiya fails to withstand the combined force of all Six Paths of Pain — but not before sending word of his discovery of Pain's true identity as his former pupil, Nagato, to the Hidden Leaf Village.

5 The True Nature of the Bond Between Sasuke and Itachi Uchiha Is Revealed in Their Final Fight

Naruto: Shippuden — Episode 138: "The End"

The brutal massacre of the Uchiha Clan is a significant historical marker in the timeline of the Naruto franchise, and the rogue shinobi behind the attack is originally thought to be only Sasuke's older brother, Itachi. However, Itachi reveals the painful truth of a greater conspiracy to his little brother during the final fight between the talented Uchiha brothers.

Sasuke demonstrates incredible growth as a shinobi during the battle by drawing on the power of Orochimaru's curse mark and his refined Sharingan, and he even impresses Itachi, a master of Genjutsu, with his use of the advanced Jutsu. He's finally grown into an appropriate opponent for Itachi, but Itachi's Mangekyo Sharingan, fearsome Susanoo, and Amaterasu push both characters to their limits. The brothers' battle ends with Itachi having revealed Madara Uchiha's involvement in the Uchiha Clan massacre and his true wish for the safety of Sasuke and their home in the Hidden Leaf Village.

Naruto: Shippuden — Episode 162: "Pain to the World"

Pain, leader of the Akatsuki, brings forth the Fourth Great Ninja War with the most devastating attack on the Hidden Leaf Village since the release of the Nine-Tailed Fox, which changed history by claiming the Fourth Hokage's life. Nagato, the true figure behind Pain's identity, carries out the attack with the deeply misguided intention of creating a state of peace in the world by bringing it to its knees with suffering.

Using the unforgettable Almighty Push, Nagato unleashes unforgiving destruction across the Hidden Leaf Village, reducing it to a barren crater in the earth. The haunting image remains burned in the minds of viewers years later and illustrates in painful detail what it's like to witness the eradication of one's home. Even with the lives of the attack's victims restored, the damage to the Hidden Leaf Village demands an intense reconstruction effort post-war.

3 Naruto Finally Learns the Truth About the Fourth Hokage's Death

Naruto: Shippuden — Episode 249: "Thank You"

The legend of the Fourth Hokage's death sets the scene for Naruto from its debut episode. The Fourth Hokage, Minato, chose to sacrifice his life to the Hidden Leaf Village from the Nine-Tailed Fox in hopes that his son, Naruto Uzumaki, would become their home's next great protector from threats yet to pass.

However, Naruto isn't aware that his father was the Fourth Hokage until Kurama the Nine-Tails threatens to escape his seal. Naruto almost succumbs to the influence of the Tailed Beast, but Naruto's parents manifest to save him. Kushina Uzumaki, Naruto's mother, explains to her son what happened to her and Minato on the night of the Nine-Tails' attack. The truth frees Naruto to forgive his parents for his lonely upbringing, instilling a refreshed sense of determination within him. After reinforcing Kurama's seal, Minato bids his son a heartfelt goodbye, bringing closure to one of the saddest sequences in the series.

2 Kakashi Confronts His Former Teammate Obito at the Peak of the Fourth Great Ninja War

Naruto: Shippuden — Episode 375: "Kakashi vs Obito"

Rivalries like that between Kakashi Hatake and Obito are a major driving force behind the conflicts of the Naruto franchise. The face-off between these two former teammates has a significant impact beyond the characters, extending to the outcome of the Fourth Great Ninja War. Obito, who previously masqueraded as Madara Uchiha, is revealed as the man behind Tobi's trademark orange mask by the time he and Kakashi finally confront each other.

Both characters are talented Jutsu users with the power of the Kamui. Still, Obito overpowers Kakashi with a special ability, pulling his opponent into an alternate realm away from the battleground. Kakashi epitomizes the series' theme of grit when he manages an impressive escape from the Kamui realm in time to join the rest of the Allied Shinobi Forces, who all have gathered to launch a massive coordinated attack on Madara and Obito.

1 The Epic Rivalry Between Sasuke and Naruto Comes to an End

Naruto: Shippuden — Episode 478: "The Unison Sign"

The tumultuous relationship between Naruto Uzumaki and Sasuke Uchiha is at the heart of the Naruto franchise, making each of their battles a highly anticipated event. However, the stakes are never higher than when the two rivals finally square off using their powers at peak strength during the Fourth Great Ninja War sequence. This fight is the most emotional encounter between the teammates throughout the series.

The epic demonstration of Sasuke's Susanoo and Naruto's Asura Kurama Mode, one of the strongest forms of his Nine-Tailed Chakra Mode forms, among other impressive Jutsu, culminates in a much quieter interior battle. Completely drained of their stamina, the two characters lose face and have a sincere conversation that reveals how much they inspired each other growing up. Sasuke yields as the pair lie bleeding after losing an arm each, convinced he can't be trusted to serve the Hidden Leaf Village even after releasing his grudge against their home. In classic Naruto form, he convinces his friend that he's worthy of redemption and trust, and they finally move forward as the allies they had always been destined to become.