As Naruto Shippuuden is moving along, let us look back at ones of the most outstanding fights in Naruto, before Shippuuden, when the brat Uzumaki Naruto was just 12.

These are my personal preferences. If you got yours, feel free to let us all know!

TOP 11

1. NARUTO vs. SASUKE in Valley Of The End

Naruto fought Sasuke to bring him back to Konoha, after Sasuke left the village to go to Orochimaru to seek for power. Naruto said he was rather breaking Sasuke’s arms in order to bring him back to Konoha than to see him fall in the hands of the evil Orochimaru. Sasuke got serious in the fight as well and said after all, he had reason to kill Naruto, that is to wake the “Mangekyo Sharingan”, the next ultimate level of Sharingan that Itachi (his older brother) has. The condition to waking this level of Sharingan, is to kill your own bestfriend. Relating to this, however, Kakashi has developed “Mangekyo Sharingan” in Naruto Part II without following this condition (how he developed it is still unknown).

The fight followed Naruto using the Kyuubi’s chakra, and Sasuke’s using the new power that he obtained from Orochimaru. Towards the end of the fight, both of their attacks clashed, with Naruto using his Rasengan technique, and Sasuke using his Chidori technique towards each other. It is assumed that Sasuke won the battle, as Naruto lay on the ground consciousless. Sasuke left the place for Orochimaru without killing Naruto. Kakashi arrived at the place after Sasuke had gone.

2. Neji vs. Kidomaru in ‘Sasuke Retrieval Arc’

This battle took place on Sasuke retrieval arc, that is when the four Genin; Naruto, Chouji, Kiba, and Neji, led by Shikamaru (he was a Chuunin by that time) was ordered by Tsunade-sama (Fifth Hokage) to pursue Sasuke and bring him back to Konoha after he left the village.

Neji was the second one voluntereed to stay back to allow the other three (Chouji was the first to volunteer to stay back) keep going in pursuing Sasuke while he took a fight with one of the enemy, the Orochimaru’s people, Kidomaru. Kidomaru was quoted as one of Orochimaru’s best people and the strongest in the group they were going against. The guy, indeed, was strong and quickly learnt Neji’s weak points, thus avoided close combatts. Neji almost lost to this guy but he gambled his last fate and luck by letting himself getting hit by the enemy’s shot. He then hit the enemy’s chakra by the enemy’s string connected to his body. He won the battle at last, but leaving himself in a very critical condition.

3. Chouji vs. Jirobo in ‘Sasuke Retrieval Arc’

This battle also took place on Sasuke retrieval arc when Konoha 5 (Chouji, Neji, Kiba, Shikamaru, and Naruto) were pursuing Sasuke to bring him back to Konoha after he left the village.

Chouji was the first one before Neji to volunteer to stay back to allow the other four to keep going in pursuing Sasuke, while he took a fight with one of the enemy, Jirobo, who was left by the enemy’s group behind to stop them from pursuing Sasuke. Jirobo easily stopped every attack Chouji tried on him. This made Chouji took the three pills which he would then obtain a miraculous power when he took each of them. The last of the three pills, though, which he saved to last, would give him a power ten times stronger, but in return would cost him his life if he had taken it. He almost lost to Jirobo even he had taken the first two pills. He thought about how Shikamaru had always believed in him even when he didn’t himself. He decided to take the last pill even it would cost him his life. He won by a single punch on Jirobo after taking the pill, but like Neji, left himself with no power at all and a very critical condition.

4. The battle on the bridge, KAKASHI vs. ZABUZA and NARUTO/SASUKE vs. HAKU

This is the battle which took place on the half-finished bridge in Wave Country while Team 7 and Kakashi were in a mission of protecting the person who was incharged in the development of the bridge. The opponents were missing-nins who were hired to stop the development of the bridge and to kill the person Team 7 and Kakashi were protecting.

A very interesting and emotional fight took place, as both sides had to figure out the weak points of the corresponding opponents very carefully as not to do the same mistake twice. Zabuza had been observing Kakashi’s fighting style and planned his attacks carefully. While Haku was far too strong against both Naruto and Sasuke. In the end, Kakashi attacked Zabuza with his technique Chidori, but Haku was in time to shield Zabuza, causing himself to take the hit and died eventually. The fight ended with both the opponents died on the bridge.

5. GAARA vs. NARUTO on Konoha’s Assasination

This was when Orochimaru allied wiith Sand in assasinating Konoha. Gaara had become more unstable as the monster inside of him slowly awakened. He was stopped by Temari and Kankurou from his fight with Sasuke on Chuunin Exam Part III. Temari and Kankurou took him away to give him time to recover. Though, Sasuke wasn’t satisfied with the unfinished fight and pursued Gaara.

Kakashi ordered Sakura, Naruto, and Shikamaru to stop Sasuke from taking a fight against Gaara as it would only harm him. Shikamaru left behind to stop some enemies from Sound Country who sensed their presents. This left only Naruto and Sakura pursuing Sasuke. When they arrived at the scene, Sasuke had already started a fight against Gaara. Though, he realized Gaara was too difficult to beat. What’s more, the curse seal mark given by Orochimaru on his neck had started to take control of him, and Naruto had to defeat Gaara to save everyone. Naruto, who first was terrified of Gaara (who said the purpose of his existence was just to kill other people and fight for himself), then found the true strength, as he realized the real meaning of being strong is when you fight to save important people of your life; not to fight only for yourself as what Gaara did. Naruto won the battle and made Gaara realized what the meaning of being strong is really about. Gaara quit the fight and apologized to both Temari and Kankurou as they took him away.

6. “The Legendary Sannin” Battle

This was the fight between The Legendary Sannin; Orochimaru, Tsunade, and Jiraiya. This fight took place when Jiraiya was searching for Tsunade to bring her back as a new Hokage of Konoha, and at the same time, Orochimaru was also after Tsunade to make her cure his injured arms from his battle with The Third Hokage.

Along with the Sannin, were Naruto, Shizune, and Kabuto. As Orochimaru could not fully use his hands, Kabuto helped him to summon Manda (the big snake), while Jiraiya summoned a big frog (Gamabunta), and Tsunade summoned a giant slug. The fight turned emotional when Naruto, who never learnt to give up, tried all he could to save Tsunade, who then could not move because of her fear of blood (blood reminded her of her brother’s and her boyfriend’s death). The fight ended with Naruto defeated Kabuto with the Rasengan technique he just learnt from Jiraiya, and Tsunade, who later found new strength hit Orochimaru back to back until Orochimaru and Kabuto retreated.

7. Third Hokage vs. Orochimaru on Konoha’s Assasination

Orochimaru allied with Sand Country in assasinating Konoha when this battle took place. He tried to take on The Third Hokage as to conquer Konoha.

A great battle took place, as Orochimaru, using his forbidden technique, called out the dead body of The First and Second Hokage’s to fight The Third Hokage. The Third noted that he had done a mistake in the past not to kill Orochimaru when he had the chance to, but said he won’t make that same mistake again this time. He used the same technique The Fourth Hokage used to seal The Monster Fox inside Naruto, to take away all the jutsus Orochimaru had ever learnt. He died sacrificing his soul to the Death God for the seal technique he performed on Orochimaru’s techniques and The First and Second Hokage’s souls. Orochimaru could not used his hands anymore because of the seal, and terminated his assasination against Konoha. The Third died, but he died with dignity.

8. ROCK LEE vs. GAARA in Chuunin Exam Preliminary Match

Chuunin Exam Preliminary Match was conducted to eliminate half of the remaining examinee left in the exam. Rock Lee was matched up against Gaara from Sand on this match.

Lee was very determined to win the battle as he did not want to be the only one losing, when compared to the others who had won before his match (Sasuke, Neji, Naruto). Though, it wasn’t easy to win against Gaara, as Gaara used an absolute defense, with the sand he carries in his gourd guarding him automatically against any possible attack. Lee, who could not use ninjutsu or genjutsu, had to rely fully on his taijutsu (hand-to-hand combatt). He used two forbidden techniques which worn out his body very badly against Gaara for the last chance to win. Unfortunately, though he was able to make Gaara get serious, and was able to move at a very high speed that Gaara’s sand could not keep up with his move in order to protect Gaara, he lost the battle as his body was very badly worn out and Gaara crushed his arm and leg with Desert Coffin technique.

9. NARUTO vs. NEJI in Chuunin Exam Part III

This is the match that took place while the Genins were in Chuunin exam. This was the final part (Part III) of the Chuunin Exam, and Naruto was matched up against Neji. In Preliminary Match, where Neji arrogantly made claims that fate had it that he was the one to win the battle against Hinata, Hinata was badly beaten and Naruto made a promise to beat Neji.

In this battle, once again Naruto reclaim that he would win against Neji. At the start of the battle everyone was firmed that Naruto was nowhere near Neji and no one could beat Hyuuga’s genius (Neji). Though, everyone was surprised when Naruto used Kage Bunshin technique, a technique which only a high-class ninja could master. Neji wasn’t impressed though, saying a dropout like Naruto was bound to lose the battle the moment the battle ever started. Naruto, who never learnt to give up, used and tried all he could, but only to end up gotten hit by Neji’s technique which emptied out all of his chakra. Neji kept on lecturing him about fate that cannot be changed the moment you were born. Naruto, who wanted to show how wrong Neji was about it, tried to call up the Kyuubi’s chakra. Everyone was surprised that he could use Kyuubi’s chakra without losing himself.

At the end of the fight, we see both had sanked into the earth, and we see Neji crawled up one of the two holes from the earth. At the other hole, Naruto was seen lying unconscious. Neji continued to say a dropout will always be a dropout as fate had it. But as he spoke, Naruto, who actually left his Kage Bunshin (clone) on top of the hole, appeared from the ground and hit Neji hard from the ground, making Neji thrown aback and lay on the ground not able to move his body. Naruto won the battle, as what he promised.

10. Kakashi vs. Zabuza BEFORE ‘the battle on the bridge’

This battle took place in the Wave Country, when Team 7 and Kakashi were on a mission of escorting and protecting Tazuna-san on his journey from Konoha back to his home country the Wave Country. Zabuza was hired to kill Tazuna-san they were protecting.

This was the first time in the series we see Kakashi fought with enemy, and the first time Kakashi was introduced as “Sharingan” user. Kakashi copied every jutsu Zabuza tried to perform (and even the words Zabuza was about to say) perfectly with his Sharingan. Zabuza was shocked as he wondered if Kakashi could see the future. The fight ended with Zabuza got hit by a missing-nin hunter and died. Though, we then learnt that this missing-nin hunter was Haku, his ally, who disguised himself in order to save Zabuza.

11. Hinata vs. Neji in Chuunin Exam Preliminary Match

Hinata was matched up against Neji in Chuunin Exam Preliminary Match, which in this level of match, the winner will advance to the final part (Part III) of the exam.

Hinata had a very tough time against Neji, who is from the same Konoha’s noble clan, “Hyuuga”. Neji, who is from Hyuuga’s branch family, had grudges against Hyuuga’s head family, which is what Hinata is from. He was saying that fate that had been sealed cannot be changed and thus Hinata should give up the fight as her fate was to lose the fight to him. Hinata, who first was frightened, then became motivated of Naruto’s cheer and remembered how Naruto had never given up on tough situations. But as the difference in power is far greater, Neji won the battle without much of an effort.

So there you go! Got anything to say? Drop a comment or two!