Naruto is an anime and manga series by Masashi Kishimoto. Its main character, Naruto Uzumaki, is a loud, hyperactive, adolescent ninja who constantly searches for approval and recognition, as well as to become Hokage, acknowledged as the leader and strongest of all ninja in the village.
The manga was first published by Shueisha in 1999 in the 43rd issue of Japan's Shonen Jump magazine. As of volume 36, the manga has sold over 71 million copies in Japan. VIZ Media publishes a translated version in the American Shonen Jump magazine. Naruto has become VIZ's best-selling manga series. To date, the first fourteen volumes are available. In order to catch up to the translated anime, VIZ plans to release volumes 16 to 27 three at a time over the months of September to December 2007.
The the first of two anime series, produced by Studio Pierrot and Aniplex, premiered across Japan on the terrestrial TV Tokyo network and the anime satellite television network Animax on October 3, 2002, and is still being aired. Viz also licensed the anime for North American production. Naruto debuted in the United States on Cartoon Network's Toonami programming block on September 10, 2005, and in Canada on YTV's Bionix on September 16, 2005. Naruto began showing in the UK on Jetix on July 22, 2006. It began showing on Toasted TV on January 12, 2007 in Australia, although it could be watched on Cartoon Network in 2006. The first series lasted nine seasons, while Naruto: Shippuuden began its first on February 15, 2007.
Plot Information
A long time ago, a demon fox with nine tails appeared. When a tail was swung, it would destroy a mountain and cause a tsunami. To counter it, the people gathered ninjas. One ninja sealed the monster in a life or death battle and died. That ninja was known as the Fourth Hokage... and with his death, he sealed the powers of the Nina-Tailed Demon Fox into the body of a young boy...
This young boy's name is Uzumaki Naruto. Naruto hopes one day he can become Hokage. Most people in the village dislike him and consider him a pest. Naruto causes havoc in order to get attention; he is ignored because people think he is the actual demon fox. After failing the Genin exam, Naruto is tricked into stealing a scroll to become Genin. He ends up in severe danger but Iruka, his teacher, comes to saves him. However, it ends up being Naruto saving Iruka from possible death and for that, he is upgraded to an official ninja where he begins his journey to become Hokage!
Throughout the series of Naruto, there are many rivalries between characters. Below you can find information on some of the main rivalries that extend throughout the series.
Naruto & Sasuke
Since the moment they saw each other in the academy, they've despised each other. Sasuke was popular with all the girls and didn't care; Naruto wasn't popular with any of the girls and did care. Naruto always thought Sasuke was trying to show off, and Sasuke was basically annoyed with Naruto until he saw him in his first true battle with Zabuza. Then Sasuke acknowledged that Naruto wasn't just an annoying ninja and gained a little more respect for Naruto. Now instead of just resenting Naruto, he made it his goal to defeat him. Naruto and Sasuke train intensively to beat each other in combat.
Gai & Kakashi
Since they were in the academy, these two current Jounins have been fighting to top the other. Their record in any kind of competitive game, match, or whatever (which include games of "Rock-Paper-Scissors"), is 49-50, with Gai in the lead by just one. Their rivalry is quite intense, and they are constantly holding various competitions, which range widely, to see who is the best. Another way they express their rivalry is through their team of Gennins. Whenever their pupils go into battle with each other; they urge them on to beat the other because of their rivalry. Many times however, this rivalry is used for comical purposes.
Ino & Sakura
When these two were in the ninja academy, Ino was a more popular girl who helped Sakura gain more confidence in herself and become better at many things. They were best friends and got along really well. But then they both found out that the other liked Sasuke. Because of this, they became rivals, debating who would win the love of Sasuke. Their greatest battle was in the preliminaries of the 3rd part of the Chunnin Exam and it was a tie. During the fight, they stated that this fight wasn't about Sasuke and each of the Shinobis showed their true power.
Neji & Rock Lee
Although this rivalry is not as obvious and doesn't show as often as others, it is there. Neji believes that when a person is born, their fate is decided and cannot be changed. Rock Lee believes that through hard work, anyone can persevere. Rock Lee has always wanted to defeat the genius Neji, but Neji doesn't really accept Rock Lee as being a good Shinobi until Lee's fight with Gaara.
Orochimaru & The Akatsuki
Ever since Orochimaru left The Akatsuki, he has not been looked upon kindly by the members of Akatsuki. Orochimaru has been tracking down the location of The Akatsuki along with his right hand man Kabuto. He met with Sasori and was planning on killing him after finding Akatsuki's location.
Itachi & Sasuke
Itachi completely destroyed the whole Uchiha clan, leaving Sasuke as the only survivor. He told Sasuke to hate him and try to kill him someday. From then, it has been Sasuke's goal to achieve this. However, the only way Itachi stated that Sasuke could defeat him was to have the Mangekyou Sharingan, which he can only obtain by killing his best friend: Naruto. Instead of doing this, Sasuke believes that he can defeat Itachi with his own personal training. He forms the Hebi in order to try to slay his brother.
Suigetsu & Jugo
The extent of Suigetsu and Jugo's past encounters are unknown. It is known that both were subordinates of Orochimaru. They are both part of Sasuke's group called Hebi. Suigetsu and Jugo have previously fought before and were very eager to fight again when Sasuke released Jugo from Orochimaru's containment, having to be separated by Sasuke.