Naruto, Vol. 01: Uzumaki Naruto Summary

Naruto, Vol. 01 Plot Summary

Covers the whole plot, including the ending.

1. Naruto Uzumaki!

   The story opens with Naruto Uzumaki, a prankster from the Hidden Leaf Village, painting on the Hokage Monument. His instructor, Iruka-sensei, catches him and brings him back to the Ninja Academy for a lecture. Naruto's classmates, Sasuke Uchiha and Sakura Haruno, react with annoyance or indifference. Iruka, despite his frustration, shows concern for Naruto, understanding his need for attention. Naruto's loneliness and his wish to be recognized by the village are immediately clear, setting up his goals throughout the volume.

2. Naruto's Failed Graduation Exam

   During the Ninja Academy's graduation exam, students must perform the Clone Jutsu. Naruto fails repeatedly, unable to create a proper clone. This failure crushes him, making him believe he will never be accepted. Mizuki, another instructor, approaches a dejected Naruto, pretending to be sympathetic. He promises a secret way to pass: by stealing the forbidden Scroll of Seals from the Hokage's office. This act uses Naruto's desperation to prove himself and gain recognition.

3. The Scroll of Seals Heist

   Naruto, driven by Mizuki's false promise and his own desire to graduate, infiltrates the Hokage's office and steals the Scroll of Seals. The theft causes panic in the village as the Hokage and other ninja realize the scroll's power and danger. Naruto, unaware of Mizuki's true intentions, believes he is completing a special exam. He flees to a forest, diligently trying to learn a jutsu from the forbidden scroll, oblivious to the chaos he has caused.

4. Iruka Confronts Naruto

   Iruka-sensei, realizing Naruto is involved, tracks him down. He finds Naruto struggling with a new jutsu from the scroll. As Iruka tries to explain Mizuki's deception, Mizuki appears, revealing his true nature. Mizuki attacks Iruka and tries to take the scroll, exposing his plan to betray the village and use the forbidden techniques for his own gain. He also reveals the truth about Naruto's past: that Naruto holds the Nine-Tailed Fox, a secret the village had kept from him.

5. The Nine-Tailed Fox Revelation

   Mizuki's cruel revelation shatters Naruto. He learns that the reason villagers have avoided and feared him is because he contains the monstrous Nine-Tailed Fox, which attacked the village twelve years prior. This truth, hidden his whole life, devastates him. Mizuki taunts Naruto further, emphasizing the villagers' hatred and fear, trying to turn Naruto against the Hidden Leaf. Iruka, however, defends Naruto, expressing his belief in him and seeing beyond the demon fox to the boy he teaches.

6. Naruto's First True Jutsu

   Moved by Iruka's faith and protection, Naruto uses his hidden abilities. He masters the Multiple Shadow Clone Jutsu, a forbidden technique from the Scroll of Seals, creating hundreds of physical clones. This powerful jutsu overwhelms Mizuki, who is quickly defeated by Naruto's strength and resolve. This moment is a turning point for Naruto; he proves his strength and gains the respect and recognition he wants, especially from Iruka.

7. Graduation and the Headband

   After Mizuki's defeat, Iruka-sensei proudly gives Naruto his own ninja headband, symbolizing his official graduation from the Academy. This is an emotional moment for Naruto, marking his acceptance and the start of his journey as a shinobi. He has achieved his first goal, not through trickery, but through effort and by protecting someone he cares about. The headband shows his growth and the validation of his dream to become a recognized ninja.

8. Team 7 Formation

   Naruto, now a genin, is assigned to Team 7, a three-person squad led by the elite jonin, Kakashi Hatake. To Naruto's dismay, his teammates are the popular and talented Sasuke Uchiha, his rival, and Sakura Haruno, his crush who likes Sasuke. This grouping immediately creates rivalry and unrequited affection, setting the stage for their future interactions and growth as a team. The awkward introductions highlight their differing personalities and goals.

9. Kakashi's Bell Test

   Kakashi Hatake introduces their first challenge: the bell test. The goal is to take two bells from Kakashi, with only two of the three genin passing. The test is for teamwork, not individual skill. Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura initially struggle to cooperate, each using their own strategy. Naruto's impulsive nature leads to him being easily caught, while Sasuke's arrogance prevents him from considering teamwork. Sakura, focused on Sasuke, is largely ineffective, showing their individual flaws.

10. The True Meaning of Teamwork

    During the bell test, Kakashi reveals its true purpose: to teach them the importance of teamwork and cooperation. He says that individual strength is secondary to working together. Despite their earlier failures, a moment of shared struggle, when Naruto is tied to a post and forbidden food, prompts Sasuke and Sakura to consider sharing their lunch with him. This act of empathy and defiance against Kakashi's orders shows their growing understanding of camaraderie, leading Kakashi to declare them a passing team.

11. The Bridge Builder's Request

    Team 7 is assigned a series of routine D-rank missions, such as catching pets and weeding. Naruto, frustrated by the lack of exciting ninja work, demands a more challenging mission. The Third Hokage, after some thought, assigns them a C-rank mission: escorting a bridge builder named Tazuna to his home in the Land of Waves. This mission, initially presented as low-risk, quickly becomes more dangerous, hinting at the true threats ahead for the newly formed Team 7.

12. Ambush on the Road

    While escorting Tazuna, Team 7 is ambushed by two rogue ninja, the Demon Brothers. Kakashi quickly defeats them, but the encounter reveals that the mission is more dangerous than stated, as Tazuna had lied about the threat level. Soon after, they are confronted by Zabuza Momochi, a rogue ninja from the Hidden Mist Village. Kakashi must activate his Sharingan eye to counter Zabuza's techniques, marking their first real battle against a high-level opponent and exposing the genin to actual combat.

13. Kakashi vs. Zabuza

    Kakashi battles Zabuza fiercely, showing his 'Copy Ninja' abilities by replicating Zabuza's Water Style jutsu with his Sharingan. Zabuza, using his Hidden Mist Jutsu, creates a dense fog to obscure the battlefield, isolating Kakashi and gaining an advantage. Kakashi is eventually caught in Zabuza's Water Prison Jutsu, leaving Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura to face the rogue ninja. This situation forces the genin to confront their inexperience and the realities of the ninja world, as their sensei is incapacitated.

14. Naruto's Resolve

    With Kakashi trapped, Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura must defend themselves against Zabuza. Naruto, remembering his dream and his resolve, motivates Sasuke to work with him. Together, they plan to free Kakashi. Naruto, using his newfound courage, charges at Zabuza, creating a diversion. Sasuke then throws a shuriken, which Naruto transforms into a clone, surprising Zabuza and allowing Kakashi to break free from the Water Prison. This teamwork and bravery show Naruto's growth and leadership potential.

15. The Hunter-nin's Intervention

    Kakashi, now free, quickly turns the tide against Zabuza. Just as Kakashi is about to deliver a finishing blow, Zabuza is seemingly killed by a mysterious hunter-nin named Haku, who uses senbon needles. Haku claims Zabuza's body for disposal, leaving the scene quickly. Kakashi, suspicious of the hunter-nin's methods, collapses from chakra exhaustion. The team realizes the mission is far from over, as Zabuza's 'death' feels too convenient, hinting at future encounters.

Principal Figures

Themes & Insights

Plot Devices & Literary Techniques

Quiz

Naruto, Vol. 01 FAQ