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Amazon.com The 11th Box Set of Naruto encompasses most of Season 6 of the runaway hit ninja adventure. Although he was badly wounded by Sasuke when they fought at Final Lake, Naruto insists he will find his former teammate and bring him back to the Hidden Leaf Village. With that aim in mind, he, Sakura, and "Pervy Sage" Jiraiya search for Orochimaru's lair near the Hidden Sound Village. Although they fail to find the headquarters, they help restore the honor of the Fuma Clan of ninja. Unhappy with her performance on the battlefield, Sakura decides to become a medical ninja and begins studying as Lady Tsunade's apprentice. A second adventure brings back Naruto's old teacher and nemesis Mizuki, who tried to steal the Sealing Scroll: New evidence reveals that Orochimaru was behind that scheme. Mizuki escapes from prison with two grotesque brothers who resemble Sumo wrestlers. Naruto, Kakashi-sensei and Pakkun the summoning dog pursue Mizuki, who ultimately receives justice at his own hand. While Sakura pursues her medical studies, Naruto joins Hinata, Shino, and Kiba in an expedition to find the extremely rare Bikoshu Beetle that might be able to track down Sasuke--no one in the Hidden Leaf Village has any clue as to where he's gone. In these episodes, Orochimaru may remind viewers of Naraku in Inu-Yasha: an evil mastermind who seems less threatening that he should because he uses subordinates to fight theheroes, rather than engaging them himself. The Special Edition comes with a collectible figure of "Minininja Naruto." (Rated T+ Older Teen; suitable for ages 12 and older: violence, grotesque imagery, nudity, alcohol and tobacco use) -- Charles Solomon

(136. Deep Cover?! A Super S-Ranked Mission! 137. A Town of Outlaws, The Shadow of the Fuma Clan, 138. Pure Betrayal and a Fleeting Plea, 139. Pure Terror! The House of Orochimaru! 140. Two Heartbeats: Kabuto's Trap, 141. Sakura's Determination! 142. The Three Villians from the Maximum Security Prison, 143. Ton Ton! I'm Counting on You!" 144. A New Squad! Two People and a Dog?! 145. A New Formation: Ino- Shika-Cho! 146. Remaining Ambition: Orochimaru's Shadow, 147. A Clash of Fate: You Can't Bring Me Down! 148. The Search for the Rare Bikochu Beetle, 149. What's the Difference? Don't All Insects Look Alike?)

Amazon.comGuardians of the Crescent Moon Kingdom is the closest in spirit to the popular TV series of three Naruto features. Under the guidance of Kakashi-sensei, Naruto, Sakura and Rock Lee are assigned to guard Michiru, the fabulous wealthy Prince of the Moon Kingdom, and his spoiled son Hikaru. Michiru is so rich, he buys an entire circus so Hikaru can have the saber-toothed tiger that catches his fancy. A storm at sea and a revolt in the Kingdom provide Naruto with the opportunity to teach Hikaru valuable lessons about friendship. Although Naruto manages to slurp down some ramen, he doesn't crack raunchy jokes or pull pranks. This kinder, gentler knucklehead makes a surprisingly touching teacher. Guardians of the Crescent Moon Kingdom is more satisfying and more entertaining than Ninja Clash in the Land of Snow or Legend of the Stone of Gelel. Director Toshiyuki Tsuru uses rapid intercutting effectively to pump up the energy in the climactic battle that puts Sakura, Naruto, Rock Lee, and Hikaru to the test. The most interesting extras on the second disc are the footage of the voices of the main characters dubbing the film together (anime voice actors normally record their lines alone) and a Ninja Quiz that cleverly re-purposes footage from the movie. (Rated T+ Older Teen; suitable for ages 12 and older: violence) -- Charles Solomon

Amazon.comAlthough some otaku (hardcore fans) have complained about the editing of the English dub of the popular ninja fantasy-adventure Naruto, the Uncut Box Set reveals the edits were quite minor. There's a little more blood in some of the fight scenes, and the opening and closing titles are the Japanese originals. In episode 3, Naruto's stomach problems are presented more vividly, and Kakashi delivers a more explicit jab to Naruto's butt in episode 4. More revealing differences turn up in the subtitles: In the English dub, Naruto declares he wants to become a great ninja so the whole village "will start treating me like somebody important"; in the original, it's "will acknowledge my existence." The three-disc Uncut Box, which includes the bound storyboards for Episode 8 (in Japanese), is a good buy. The first 13 episodes include Naruto's graduation from the Ninja Academy and his assignment to a team with Sakura (on whom he nurtures a crush) and Sasuke, his arch-rival. The reluctant trio begins to learn how to work as a team on their first mission under the supervision of Kakashi. The exotic jutsu (ninja techniques), stylized fights and slapstick comedy will keep any Naruto fan happy. (Unrated, suitable for ages 12 and older: violence, tobacco use, risqué and toilet humor) --Charles Solomon

Amazon.comEpisodes No. 121 through No. 135 of the hit ninja fantasy Naruto bridge the end of Season 5 and the start of Season 6, concluding one arc of the story. Shikamaru's mission to retrieve Sasuke from Orochimaru's henchmen falters, but Rock Lee and three familiar ninja from the Sand Village come to the rescue. The combatants employ fantastic jutsu, especially when Gaara battles Kimimaro, who creates weapons from his own bones. Rock Lee mistakenly drinks some sake and performs his own version of the "drunken fist" martial arts style in an homage to Jackie Chan. But the story also falters: the first seven episodes focus on the same fights, which drag on and on. The plot reaches its climax as Naruto confronts Sasuke at Final Lake, atop the enormous carved guardians of a waterfall. In flashbacks, the viewer learns that Sasuke desires the power to avenge his brother's murder of their family--regardless of its cost. The friendship he shares with Naruto makes their duel more meaningful and intense. As the strength of Orochimaru's curse mark intensifies, Sasuke transforms, sprouting hand-like wings; some of the chakra of the Nine-Tailed Fox-Demon imprisoned within Naruto's body emerges. A new storyline begins when Jiraiya a.k.a. "Pervy Sage," comes to the hospital and announces he has three years to train Naruto to the level of Shinobi. Three years must pass before Orochimaru can take possession of Sasuke's body--and in three years' time, the sinister Akatsuki organization plans to strike at Naruto to obtain the Fox-Demon's power. (Rated T+ Older Teen; suitable for ages 12 and older: violence, grotesque imagery, toilet humor, alcohol) --Charles Solomon

(121: To Each His Own Battle, 122: Fakeout: Shikamaru's Comeback! 123: The Leaf's Handsome Devil! 124: The Beast Within, 125: The Sand Shinobi: Allies of the Leaf, 126: Showdown: Gaara vs. Kimimaro, 127: Vengeful Strike! The Bracken Dance! 128: A Cry on Deaf Ears, 129: Brothers: Distance Among the Uchiha, 130: Father and Son, the Broken Crest, 131: The Secrets of the Mangekyo Sharingan! 132: For a Friend, 133: A Plea From a Friend, 134: The End of Tears, 135: The Promise That Could Not Be Kept)

Amazon.com As the runaway hit fantasy Naruto nears its midpoint, the tone continues to darken and the stakes grow higher. The Fourth Hokage sacrifices his life to save the Hidden Leaf Village fromOrochimaru, and removes the evil ninja's ability to employ jutsu. But even those measures don't completely eliminate the danger he poses, and a new, more dire threat appears: Sasuke's rebel brother Itachi and his follower Kisame covet the power of the Nine-Tailed Fox Demon imprisoned within Naruto's body. The sinister pair is already strong enough to defeat Kakashi-sensei and Sasuke. To protect Naruto, Jiraiya takes him on a training journey to find the designated next Hokage: the formidable Lady Tsunade. But Orochimaru is also seeking Tsunade, as she alone can remove the seal that limits his powers. Naruto remains as irrepressibly rambunctious as ever, devouring ramen and addressing Jiraiya as "Pervy Sage" (a title he richly deserves). But the young ninja is being to grow up. To master a powerful new jutsu, he has to learn to concentrate his latent powers and develop some discipline. Naruto is willing to apply himself so he can grow strong enough to protect his friends and the Hidden Leaf Village, something he is destined to do. The potential is there: Believe it! The Special Edition comes with a "limited edition collectible" of another summoning creature, Gamakichi the Toad.(Rated T+ Older Teen; suitable for ages 12 and older: violence, toilethumor, risqué humor, grotesque imagery, alcohol and tobacco use) --Charles Solomon

Amazon.comThe 8th set of the hit ninja-fantasy Naruto spans the end of Season Four (2004) and the startof Season Five (2004-2005). The first episodes conclude the battle between Jiraiya, Lady Tsunada (who will become the Fifth Hokage), and Naruto on one side, and Orochimaru and his henchman Kabuto on the other. The combatants invoke numerous jutsu and summon three animals often linked to supernatural warriors in Japanese folklore: a toad, a snail or slug, and a serpent. This duel between good and evil includes some of the most dynamic fight sequences in the Naruto continuity. A subsequent visit to a hot spring turns into a farce as Jiraiya lives up to hisnickname of "Pervy Sage," and Naruto mistakenly tries help a pair of would-be bill collectors. The battle against Orochimaru has left the Hidden Leaf Village short of trained ninja: Naruto, Sasuke and Sakura are sent to protect a runner in a high-stakes race in the Land of Tea without Kakashi-sensei to supervise them. Naruto proves his growing strength and maturity, not through his use of battle techniques or magical jutsu, but by demonstrating his dedication to his friends and to completing his mission. Everyone's favorite ninja-in-training remains a knucklehead, but he'sa knucklehead with some admirable qualities. It all adds up to one of the most satisfying installments in this popular series. (Rated T+ Older Teen; suitable for ages 12 and older: violence, toilet humor, grotesque imagery, tobacco and alcohol use) --Charles Solomon

Amazon.comAs Season Five (2004-2005) of the runaway hit Naruto gets underway, the magical jutsu grow more powerful, the chakra flies, and minor characters come to the fore. Wounded pride and a thirst for revenge lead Sasuke to accept an offer four ninja from the Sound Village bring from Orochimaru. To strengthen the power of curse mark on his neck, Sasuke swallows a potentially deadly drug and enters a trance. The Sound Ninja seal him in a drum-like coffin and take him away. Naruto is joined on the rescue mission not by Sakura--whom Sasuke cruelly rejects when she tries to persuade him to stay in the Hidden Leaf Village--but by Shikamaru, Choji, Kiba, and Neji. The quintet pursues the Sound Ninja, who employ exotic, deadly techniques, including an army of supernatural spiders. During a confrontation, Naruto and Shikamaru learn how Sasuke fits into Orochimaru's schemes: having mastered the jutsu of immortality, the evil ninja needs to find a new body before his old one decays completely. Sasuke, with his exceptional talents, is the ideal vessel for Orochimaru's soul. Season Five has a more somber tone than the previous episodes: Naruto has little time for jokes, ramen, or boasting. But fans of the series won't want to be without this set. The Special Edition includes a Special Limited Edition Collectible Figure of the Summoning Creature Manda. Rated T+ Older Teen; suitable for ages 12 and older: violence, grotesque imagery) --Charles Solomon

Amazon.comThe Legend of the Stone of Gelel (2005) follows the cast of the popular comedy-adventure Naruto on what should be an extremely simple mission: returning a missing ferret to its owner. But no mission is simple when knuckle-headed ninja-in-training Naruto Uzumaki is involved. Soon, he, Sakura, and Shikamaru (not Sosuke) are battling Temujin, a mysterious young warrior in Western medieval armor. At the behest of his lord Master Haido, Temujin is seeking the legendary Stones of Gelel, which bestow unimaginable power on the possessor--power the ninjas can't allow Haido to have. The second Naruto movie suffers from an underdeveloped story: the viewer never learns the source of the Stones' power, nor the origins of Master Haido and his nefarious crew. Although Naruto wins out through a mixture of determination, integrity, and mule-headed stubbornness,the most exciting jutsu are employed by Gaara of the Sand Village, a former enemy who becomes an ally. Legend of the Stone of Gelel is more satisfying than the incongruous Ninja Clash in the Land of Snow (2004), which moved the characters to modern Hollywood. But neither film captures all the fun of the broadcast series. The disc of extras includes some rather standard making-of mini-documentaries, the storyboards for the film, the Japanese trailers, and a trailer for the third Naruto feature, Guardians of the Crescent Moon Kingdom.(Rated T+ Older Teen; suitable for ages 12 and older: violence, grotesque imagery) --Charles Solomon

Amazon.comNaruto, everybody's favorite hyperactive knucklehead, and his fellow ninja-in-training Sakura and Sosuke complete their first major mission in this popular martial arts comedy-adventure. While Sakura defends the bridge builder and Kakashi grapples with renegade assassin Zabuza, Naruto and Sosuke have to put aside their personal animosity to tackle Haku, Zabuza's super-fast, needle-throwing cohort. Haku employs a secret jutsu to conjure a mirrored structure of ice that enables him to shift among multiple reflections, like Rita Hayworth in The Lady from Shanghai. The filmmakers suggest that Naruto may have the resources to achieve his dream of becoming Hokage (head ninja) when a seal leaks some of the power of the nine-tailed fox demon trapped within his body. Once the fight on the bridge ends, Naruto, Sosuke and Sakura must prepare for the Chunin exams, which will allow them to advance to the next stage of training. Junior ninja from the Hidden Nations of Sound, Rain, Water Fall, Sand, and Wind assemble in Leaf Village. All the other candidates have much more experience than the home-town rookies, but Sosuke's icy excellence immediately attracts challengers. Annoyed at the attention Sosuke's receiving, Naruto reverts to his trademark mixture of braggadocio and clumsiness. The exams are designed to eliminate all but the most promising ninja, and the candidates must figure out just what they're being tested on. Only the best will survive: Believe it! (Unrated, suitable for ages 12 and older: violence, alcohol and tobacco use) --Charles Solomon

14. The Number One Hyperactive, Knucklehead Ninja Joins the Fight, 15. Zero Visibility: The Sharingan Shatters, 16. The Broken Seal, 17. White Past: Hidden Ambition, 18. The Weapons Known as Shinobi, 19. The Demon in the snow, 20. A New Chapter Begins: The Chunin Exam! 21. Identify Yourself: Powerful New Rivals, 22. Chunin Challenge: Rock Lee vs. Sasuke, 23. Genin Takedown! All Nine Rookies Face Off! 24. Start Your Engines: The Chunin Exam Begins! 25. The Tenth Question: All or Nothing!)

Amazon.comThe second season of the popular comedy-adventure Naruto begins with the second round of the Chunin exams. To reintroduce the main characters, the eternally impatient Naruto Uzumaki starts the show "27 minutes early--in the time slot of The Prince of Tennis"--so everyone has to scramble to fill the time until the videotape arrives. But once this very silly introduction concludes, the tone of the series darkens and the relationships grow more complicated. Brooding, beetle-browed Rock Lee reveals his affection for Sakura, just as she's coming to terms with her former best friend (and rival for Sasuke's affection) Ino. Sakura and Sasuke grudgingly gain a little respect for Naruto--when he's not annoying them by shooting off his big mouth. But the most significant development is the emergence of the villain Orochimaru, a reptilian character with a prehensile tongue Gene Simmons would envy. One of the most notorious and deadly criminals in ninja history, Orochimaru is drawn to Sasuke's extraordinary abilities, and he plans to ensnare the young ninja as an accomplice. Naruto, Sakura, and Sasuke fail to grasp the seriousness of Orochimaru's plot, although the Hokage and his lieutenants are on the alert. This dire threat infuses the often slapstick antics of Squad Seven with a menace the first season lacked. Naruto may still be everybody's favorite knucklehead, but he's up against much tougher foes. The three-disc comes with the bound storyboards (in Japanese only) of Episode #29, "Naruto's Counterattack: Never Give In!" (Rated T+ Older Teen; suitable for ages 12 and older: violence, brief nudity, toilet humor) --Charles Solomon