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Naruto Info: Ninja Missions

The economy in Naruto's village centers around ninja missions. People from around the world come to Konoha to request jobs for the ninjas to carry out. The Hokage carefully assigns missions to ninjas who are qualified to complete them. When missions are accomplished, Konoha is paid, and the ninjas are also compensated for their efforts.

Missions are categorized according to their difficulty, and assigned to capable ninjas. The ranks of missions starting from lowest to highest are D, C, B, A, and S Rank missions.

Genins tend to be limited to more mundane and safe missions, and are almost exclusively restricted to D and C Rank missions.

Chuunins are more capable, and therefore have access to B and C Rank missions.

Jounins are elite ninjas and almost exclusively run the challenging and dangerous A Rank missions.

S Rank missions are very rare, and usually require teams or whole armies of ninjas.

Naruto Info: Ninja Ranks

Ninjas in the Naruto Anime are classified based on their skill level. This determines the kinds of missions they are assigned, as well as their social status. The ninja ranks in Naruto are Academy (Ninja Students), Genin (Ninja Cadets), Chuunin (Common Ninjas), Jounin (Elite Ninjas), and Hokage (The Leader of the Village). Some examples of these that we are familiar with are:

Academy: Konohamaru
Genin: Naruto, Sasuke, Sakura
Chuunin: Iruka
Jounin: Kakashi
Hokage: Sarutobi

Naruto Techniques: Sasuke's Blazing Fireball

Sasuke is a master of many fire elemental techniques that have been passed down through the Uchiha family line. The first technique we see him use is the Blazing Fireball technique. This allows him to shoot a massive ball of fire from his mouth that will scorch a wide area. As a genin and new graduate from the ninja academy, there is no way he should have the power to do such a technique. He is a true prodigy and his mastery of this technique is proof of this.

Naruto Techniques: Types of Techniques

The techniques in Naruto can be grouped into three main categories: Taijutsu, Ninjutsu, and Genjutsu. Taijutsu is physical hand-to-hand combat. Ninjutsu is ninja techniques, and usually composed of elemental and bloodline abilities. Genjutsu refers to illusionary techniques that trick the mind into seeing things that aren't really there.

Kakashi uses all three types of techniques in the survival training. He uses the style that fits each teammate best to defeat them. He beats Naruto with simple taijutsu techniques, outmaneuvering him in hand to hand combat. He uses genjutsu against Sakura who is said to be the smartest and most controlled of the group. He makes her see Sasuke dying to quickly make her pass out. With Sasuke, he uses ninjutsu, sporting a variety of elemental attacks.

Naruto Techniques: The Replacement Technique

The replacement technique is a very common technique used by ninjas in the Naruto anime. It is an excellent way to trick the enemy and get them to drop their guard. It also is a great way to escape tough situations. To perform the replacement technique, the user will quickly switch places with an inanimate object nearby and transform the object to look like them.

When the object gets hit, the enemy often assumes they have won the battle and drops their guard. During the confusion, the user can either hide, flee, or mount a surprise counterattack.

Watch Naruto Episode 5

Naruto Episode 5 is the final episode of Naruto's survival training. This final test will determine if Naruto will pass and go on to be a great ninja, or fail and be sent back to the ninja academy.

Naruto Info: Ninja Groups

In the world of Naruto, ninjas always travel in groups. A ninja group consists of teams of three ninjas who have trained together for most of their lives. Once a group is decided, they remain together and develop their skills and teamwork to compliment each other. Naruto's group is made up of Sakura, Sasuke, and Naruto. While training, the three-man groups are always accompanied by their teacher. Kakashi's job is to guard the group and train them to become better ninjas. In Naruto's case, his job is especially difficult because he has to help his group to get along as well.

Naruto Info: Naruto's Group Dynamics

From the very beginning we can see some serious problems rising up in the midst of Naruto's group. Naruto has a big, obnoxious crush on Sakura, but she can't stand him. She finds him noisy and obnoxious (actually just about everyone feels that way about him). Naruto really doesn't Sasuke, and sees him as a bitter rival. He is determined to prove himself to be better than Sasuke. This is a hard task considering Sasuke is by far the most promising young rookie in all of Konoha.

Sakura is madly in love with Sasuke, and is constantly trying to get his attention. She spends more energy trying to impress him than she does in her training, and it really shows. She is also constantly blowing up at Naruto and beating him to a pulp as need arises.

Sasuke couldn't care less about either of them and sees them both as a bother. He is extremely powerful by himself and wants nothing more than to gain enough power to destroy his brother.

Naruto Characters: Kakashi

Kakashi is by far my favorite character in the whole Naruto series. He is the leader of Naruto's group, and the one who is responsible for teaching and protecting his unit. He has a very laid back and comical personality most of the time, but if he ever has to get serious, he is extremely powerful.

Much about Kakashi is a mystery. He keeps his face hidden behind a mask at all times, despite repeated attempts to reveal what's underneath. We know little about Kakashi's past but we do know that he was personally trained by the Fourth Hokage. Kakashi was once an elite member of ANBU and is still greatly revered among their ranks. He has also reached worldwide renown for his unique abilities.

Kakashi keeps his left eye covered by his forehead protector most of the time. When he is in a jam, he uncovers the eye to reveal his Sharingan. One of his eyes possesses the bloodline limit of the Uchiha clan. This eye allows him to read the movements of his opponents and perfectly mimic their abilities. This is why he is known as the Copy Ninja. He can learn a technique by seeing it just once, and is said to know over 1,000 techniques.

Watch Naruto Episode 4

Naruto Episode 4 is really where Naruto starts to get good. In episode 4, we get to meet Naruto's teacher, Kakashi. After a brief introduction to the group, Kakashi takes them out to the training area for survival training. Their mission is to steal a pair of bells from him and use any means necessary. This is part one of the survival training exercise. Be sure to watch Naruto Episode 5 next Monday for the conclusion.

Naruto Characters: The Fifth Hokage

2Sarutobi is the Fifth Hokage of Konoha. He is regarded as the most powerful ninja in the entire village, and is also their leader. The Hokage manages many aspects of Konoha, including military strategy, commerce, and education. He is old and wise, and sometimes comes off as stern. He actually has a very kind and loving heart. He reaches out to offer kindness and moral support to those in need. He is like a father to the entire village, especially those who have no parents. While his will is strong and his decisions are rooted in logic, he is kind and compassionate. He understands the feelings of those in the village. He is a master of many elements, and an incredible fighter when he actually has to fight.

A Nerdy Ninja in Naruto

As I watch Naruto again, I have been paying more attention to some of the background characters. There are some really strange Naruto characters mixed in there that I never noticed before. For example, here's a fat, nerdy ninja kid. This isn't something you commonly find in a ninja village. I mean Chouji is big boned, but he's got some muscle to him. This kid looks more like he spends his time playing video games while the rest of the kids are playing outside. He just doesn't have a physique that goes with training your physical skills night and day for years.

Naruto Episode 3 Summary

Watch Naruto Episode 3

Naruto Episode 3 revolves around the explanatory meeting where Naruto learns who will be part of his team. This is extremely important because the people Naruto is partnered with now will be his teammates for the rest of his life. Naruto starts his morning with the usual bowl of ramen and some sour milk. Being an orphan he never learned important things like checking milk before you eat it. This could prove problematic later on.

We are then introduced to Sakura and Ino. These two girls live next door and were once friends. Now they are bitter rivals vying for Sasuke's attention. They race into the classroom where Naruto is already causing trouble with Sasuke.

We find that Naruto has a very big crush on Sakura. When he sees that she is only interested in Sasuke, it makes him really mad. He sits on top of the desk glaring at Sasuke until someone accidentally bumps him and knocks him right into Sasuke's unsuspecting lips. Everyone is shocked and disgusted, especially Naruto and Sasuke.

When groups are announced, Naruto finds out he is with Sakura and he is thrilled. Sakura can't stand Naruto and is disappointed. Then they find out Sasuke will be the third group member and Sakura is thrilled, but Naruto is disappointed. When he complains about being in a group with an idiot like Sasuke, Iruka explains that they put the best student (Sasuke) in the group to balance out the worst student (Naruto).

The meeting is adjourned and they all get a lunch break. Naruto asks Sakura to eat with him, but she only wants to eat with Sasuke. Naruto happens to notice Sasuke eating by himself and jumps into the window. He surprises Sasuke and ties him up. Then he transforms into Sasuke to go find out what Sakura thinks of him.

While Naruto is disguised as Sasuke, he talks to Sakura. She tells him how annoying Naruto is, but how she just wants Sasuke to like her. Sakura leans in to kiss who she thinks is Sasuke, but suddenly Naruto gets a bad stomach cramp and has to run away. After running to the bathroom, he decides to turn into Sasuke again and be mean to Sakura.

Meanwhile the real Sasuke bumps into Sakura and asks where Naruto is. She talks about what a pain Naruto is, and goes on about how it's because he is an orphan and grew up with no parents. Sasuke gets mad at her and tells her off because he also grew up with no parents.

When Naruto leaves the bathroom, Sasuke is right outside waiting for him. Naruto tries to attack again with his shadow clones but gets more stomach cramps. All the clones race for the bathroom but can't all fit. Sasuke is just plain creeped out by the whole display.

Back at Naruto's house we see our first glimpse of Kakashi, their teacher. He immediately notices that the milk is expired and says Naruto will get sick if he drinks that.

Naruto Characters: Sakura

Sakura is the third member of Naruto's group. She is intelligent and good natured. She also lacks much of the physical strength and skill of her other teammates. She has incredible control and precision of her energy, and can quickly master techniques that require intense self-control.

In combat, she often finds herself unable to fight well, and this drives her to improve herself. Like Naruto, she has a strong spirit and is very determined. She is in love with Sasuke and completely obsessed with him. She also can't stand Naruto at first, but he grows on her.

Naruto Info: Love Triangle

The relationships in Naruto are complex and always changing. At the very beginning of the series we see some interesting love triangles already forming. I have put together a flow chart to illustrate this. Hinata seems to harbor a secret crush for Naruto, but is too shy to tell him. Naruto obviously loves Sakura and is constantly vying for her attention. Sakura is totally obsessed with Sasuke and her whole purpose in life seems to be wrapped around him. Ino is also competing with Sakura for his affections. Actually Sasuke is the popular guy in school and all the girls love him. But Sasuke doesn't like anyone at all. He is a loner and wants nothing to do with all the attention. He just wants to kill his brother, and doesn't want to be slowed down by trivial things like love.

Naruto Characters: Sasuke

Sasuke is Naruto's eternal rival. Although he is admired by all, he is a quiet and withdrawn individual. He is known as a prodigy, and is praised as the top of his class. He is an exceptional ninja and thought to be one of the most powerful genins in Konoha. Sasuke specializes in fire attacks, but is skilled at just about everything.

Sasuke is the last remaining member of the fabled Uchiha clan. This clan was once one of the most powerful families in Konoha, but it was completely wiped out by Sasuke's evil older brother, Itachi. Sasuke's sole goal in life is to become powerful enough to kill his brother and avenge the death of his parents. This obsession for revenge drives him and rules him. He is determined to kill Itachi at all costs, and will make any sacrifice to do so.

Watch Naruto Episode 3

In Naruto episode 3 the students are split up into groups which will be their teams for the rest of their ninja training. Naruto is placed in a group with Sakura and Sasuke. We learn that Naruto has a huge crush on Sakura and will do anything for her love. He even beats up Sasuke and impersonates him to try to have a chance with Sakura. In the end, some spoiled milk ruins his fun.

Naruto Info: Hokage

The Hokage is the leader of Konoha. Becoming Hokage is the highest honor and greatest responsibility a ninja can attain in its respective village. The title of Hokage is an almost legendary title, requiring a ninja to prove his power not just in battle, but as a leader as well. The Hokage oversees the entire village, and serves as the head of military strategy, as well as the political leader. When the village is threatened, it's the Hokage's duty to put his life on the line to protect them at all costs.

Naruto is absolutely determined to become Hokage one day. We hear him ranting about this over and over throughout the Naruto anime. While this seems like wishful thinking, and Naruto is about the least likely candidate for future Hokage, he actually has the power within him to realize his dream. While it is not directly said in the anime, Naruto bears a striking resemblance to the fourth Hokage, and I personally believe he is the son of this great leader. He also has the Kyuubi sealed within him, allowing him to harness unimaginable power... or go completely out of control. One of the main reasons I like the Naruto anime so much is we get to see a total loser slowly growing through his life into a true hero, much like real heroes do.

Naruto Info: Konoha Forehead Protector

All ninjas in the Naruto Anime wear forehead protectors of some sort. A ninja's forehead protector is a symbol of his allegiance to his village. All the ninja villages in Naruto's world have their own unique symbol. The Konoha forehead protector symbolizes a leaf, designating the hidden leaf village. The spiral in the symbol was once used as a target for ninjas to focus their energy and hone their techniques.

The forehead protector is not necessarily worn on the forehead. Many ninjas wear their forehead protector in different places on their body, showing their individuality. All display their forehead protectors with the dignity that comes with being a ninja. Naruto is overjoyed to have his forehead protector as it designates his status as a real ninja.

Naruto Episode 2 Summary

Watch Naruto Episode 2

Naruto Episode 2 opens with Naruto having his picture taken for his ninja license. He paints himself in a ridiculous manner because he thinks it will make him look cool. The Hokage lectures him about taking the whole ninja business seriously. Suddenly Konohamaru, the grandson of the Hokage, bursts in to try to ambush him... and falls on his face. He constantly tries to defeat his grandfather so he can become the Hokage, and he doesn't want to wait until he grows up to do so. Konohamaru gets into a fight with Naruto but assumes he will be afraid to hurt him because of his powerful and esteemed grandfather. Instead Naruto beats him down as the Hokage watches.

Konohamaru's teacher, Ebisu, lectures them only to find that Naruto had left, with his pupil right behind him. After failing miserably to stalk Naruto, Konohamaru admits that he wants to follow him and learn from him. So Naruto agrees to teach him his techniques. He teaches him the only thing he is really any good at... getting into trouble. He trains Konohamaru to do the transformation technique and take on the appearance of a girl.

Konohamaru reveals that he wants to defeat the Hokage so badly because he wants desperately to come out from under his shadow. Everyone sees him as simply the grandson of the Hokage and not an individual. Naruto is also desperate for recognition and this becomes a common bond between them. Naruto challenges him that before he can defeat the Hokage, he must become strong enough to defeat Naruto. This becomes a goal for his young admirer to aspire to.

When Ebisu finds them, he tries to get his student to leave Naruto and return to his normal training. Naruto combines his Shadow Replication technique and the Transformation Technique to turn into a crowd of scantly clad girls. Ebisu passes out and is defeated. Naruto and Konohamaru agree to be rivals. In this way, Naruto forms a bond with someone else, and Konohamaru starts a change in his own attitude that will eventually change the course of his life.

Naruto Characters: Ebisu

Ebisu is an elite ninja teacher. He is a high level Jounin who is a very capable fighter. He has been assigned to train the Hokage's grandson, Konohamaru. He is a bit cocky and egotistic, and this causes him to have a major personality clash with Naruto. In their first encounter, Naruto transforms into an army of girls and knocks him out before he can use his first move. Despite the attitude of his pupil, he continues to train Konohamaru in the way of the ninja.

Naruto Techniques: Shadow Replication

The Shadow Replication Technique is one of Naruto's main techniques. It allows the user to create copies of himself in large numbers. Unlike the Replication Technique, which creates harmless illusions, the Shadow Replication Technique creates real physical copies. It splits the user's energy evenly between them, making it a bad technique for most ninjas. Because of Naruto's incredible stamina, he can create huge numbers of copies and use them for long periods of time.

The Shadow Replication Technique is a Jounin level technique. Naruto should not have been able to come close to using it. Because he was so determined to pass the Ninja Academy, he studied and practiced the technique from the Scroll of Sealing until he had mastered this move. Most of Naruto's battles include some clever use of his many copies. He becomes a one man army, and a force to be reckoned with.