Naruto has earned its place as a member of the Big Three, and for good reason. The series has produced several phenomenal arcs that perfectly capture what the entire series is about. This is one of the reasons Masashi Kishimoto is regarded as one of the best mangakas in the world today. Each Naruto arc was crafted to progress the story in one way or another, leaving fans with an exciting moment in every arc. With that said, here are the best Naruto arcs.
The Tales of Jiraiya, The Gallant
The Tales of Jiraiya is undoubtedly the most emotional arc in the entire Naruto. Following Jiraiya’s decision to infiltrate the hidden rain to gather more information about the Akatsuki. The arc saw him come face to face with the people he had once called his students. The battle between Jiraiya and Pain was painful as the fight revealed his former students’ power. Although Jiraiya put up a worthy fight, Pains Rinnengan and numbers were enough to put the Sannin down. However, Jiraiya’s final moments stole everyone’s attention as he decided to call the sequel of his life “The Tale of Naruto Uzumaki.”
Sasuke Retrieval Arc
The Sasuke retrieval arc is one of the best Naruto arcs and one of the best anime arcs in Shounen history. It follows Sasuke’s decision to follow Orochimaru to acquire power that would help him kill Itachi. Naruto and his friends then set out to return their comrade to the village. However, the mission proved deadlier than they thought as they came up against the ruthless sound four. The battles were amazing, and they shined a light on the potential of the other shinobi in the village. The fast-paced arc culminates in the riveting fight between Sasuke and Naruto.
The Pain Assault arc
The arc occurs after Jiraiya’s death, resulting in Naruto going to Mount Myokbu to learn Sage mode. Pain launches a devastating attack on the hidden leaf, claiming the lives of several characters, including Kakashi. However, the arc’s best moments were Uzumaki Naruto’s arrival and his high-stakes match against Pain. The arc showed how much of a different level Naruto was on compared to the rest of the village. It also saw the protagonist confront Nagato’s ideals and decide the kind of Ninja he wants to be.
The Fourth Great Shinobi War
The Fourth Great Shinobi War was one of the most anticipated arcs in the series, with the story teasing it from the beginning. The war was entirely different from the previous ones as it saw the formation of the shinobi alliance. It also saw the previous Hokage return to help settle the fight with Madara. The war featured a lot of riveting moments like Kakashi vs. Obito and Naruto and Sasuke vs Obito. However, Might Guy’s battle against Madara stole the show. Their battle captured the high stakes present as Guy was ready to give up his life to take down Madara.
The Chunin Exams
Despite being earlier than all the other arcs on the list, the arc makes a strong case for the best arc in the series. The chunin exam bought different shinobi from all five villages to compete against each other. The riveting arc also introduced some fascinating characters like Rock Lee and Gaara. The arc also saw many side characters establish themselves in the series. It featured a lot of exciting battles, like Sasuke vs. Gaara and Naruto vs. Kiba. However, Rock Lee’s match against Gaara captured the hearts of fans with its emotional yet sensational fight scenes. The Chunin exam is still regarded as one of the best tournament arcs in anime history.
Kaguya Otsutsuki Arc
During Naruto and Sasuke’s battle against Madara, Black Zetsu abandons Madara and uses him to summon an even more terrifying existence, Kaguya Otsutsuki. Kaguya proved to be the series’ most difficult foe, as the entire Team 7 had to deal with her. The battle showed how far Team 7 had grown over the years. However, the arc’s most exciting moment was Naruto’s fight against Sasuke. Their fight is regarded as one of the best fights in anime history.
