Naruto (manga) facts for kids

Naruto (ナルト) is a super popular Japanese manga and anime series. It was created by Masashi Kishimoto. The story is about an orphaned ninja named Naruto. He dreams of becoming the "Hokage." The Hokage is the strongest ninja and leader of his village, Konoha. Konoha means "leaf" in Japanese.

As the story goes on, Naruto and his friends learn about the ancient history of the ninja world. His best friends are Sasuke Uchiha and Sakura Haruno. Their teacher is Kakashi Hatake. The Naruto manga was first published in 1999. It appeared in a Japanese magazine called Shonen Jump. It was also translated into English. The anime series started in Japan in October 2002. In the United States, it began in September 2005.

Naruto's Story and Adventures

Twelve years before the story starts, a giant Nine-Tail fox spirit attacked the Hidden Leaf Village. Naruto's parents, Minato Namikaze and Kushina Uzumaki, gave their lives to seal the monster inside baby Naruto. No one told Naruto about the fox inside him. Because of this, the villagers treated him badly. When Naruto found out the truth, he decided to become the next Hokage. He wanted to earn everyone's respect.

After becoming a genin (a lower-level ninja), Naruto joined Team 7. This team included Naruto, Sasuke Uchiha, Sakura Haruno, and their teacher Kakashi Hatake. They had many adventures, like defeating Zabuza and Haku in the Land of Waves.

Big Challenges and New Powers

Later, a bad guy named Orochimaru caused trouble during the Chunin Exam. He killed the Third Hokage. Orochimaru tricked the Hidden Sand army into fighting the Leaf Village. Naruto was trained by Jiraiya, a powerful ninja. Tsunade then became the Fifth Hokage. Sasuke left the village to get revenge on his brother, Itachi. Naruto tried to stop Sasuke but couldn't.

Two and a half years later, Naruto continued his training. He learned a special power called Sage Mode. He also recruited new teammates, Sai and Yamato. A group called the Akatsuki started kidnapping ninjas with special powers. Sasuke defeated Itachi and became even stronger. Naruto fought and defeated Nagato, who had caused a lot of damage to the village.

The Great Ninja War

A mysterious person named Tobi started the Fourth Great Ninja War. His plan was to bring back a legendary monster called the Ten Tails. He wanted to control everyone and create "world peace" his way. Naruto learned to control the Nine-Tail fox spirit's power. He helped the Allied Shinobi Forces fight against a huge army of White Zetsu.

Tobi was revealed to be Obito, a ninja thought to be dead. He had special eyes called Rinnegan and Sharingan. Then, Madara Uchiha, another powerful ninja, came back to life. He stole Obito's power and became the Sage of Six Paths. Madara used a forbidden power to trap almost everyone in the Ninja World.

Saving the World and Peace

Black Zetsu, a mysterious creature, betrayed Madara. This freed an ancient being named Kaguya Otsutsuki. Kaguya was the main enemy. Naruto and Sasuke, who were like ancient ninja heroes reborn, worked together. After Kaguya killed Obito, Kakashi also helped. Naruto and Sasuke finally sealed Kaguya and Black Zetsu away. Madara died for good.

Sasuke tried to use a forbidden power, but Naruto defeated him and convinced him to stop. The world became peaceful. All the spiritual beasts were freed. Kakashi became the Sixth Hokage. Sasuke realized his mistakes and helped bring peace.

Naruto's Future as Hokage

Years later, Naruto achieved his dream! He became the Seventh Hokage. He married Hinata Hyuga, and they had two children: a daughter named Himawari and a son named Boruto. Boruto has a special eye and a body mark. Boruto forms a new Team 7 with Konohamaru Sarutobi, Sasuke and Sakura's daughter Sarada, and Orochimaru's artificial son Mitsuki. Boruto helps Naruto and Sasuke fight new enemies. A new group called "Kara" uses similar marks. Kawaki, a boy with one of these marks, is adopted by Naruto's family.

Ninja Ranks and Training

In the ninja world, ninjas have different ranks based on their skills and experience.

Ninja Student

• This is the very first step. Beginners learn basic ninja skills at an academy.

Genin

• This means "lower ninja." Genin ninjas go on easier missions, usually D and C rank.

Chunin

• This means "middle ninja." Chunin ninjas take on more difficult missions, like C and B rank.

Jonin

• This means "high ninja." Jonin ninjas are very skilled and go on tough missions, including B, A, and S rank.

ANBU

• ANBU ninjas are like secret agents or special forces. They work directly for the village leader (Kage) and handle dangerous missions.

Main Characters and Allies

Meet the amazing ninjas who make up the world of Naruto!

Naruto Uzumaki

• The main character of the series. Naruto is a member of Team 7. He has a powerful fox spirit, Kurama, sealed inside him. Naruto wants to become Hokage to gain everyone's respect and protect his village. He becomes very famous for helping many people. He eventually achieves his dream and starts a family with Hinata Hyuga.

Sasuke Uchiha

• The second main character and a member of Team 7. Sasuke is one of the last members of the Uchiha clan, known for their special Sharingan eyes. At first, Sasuke only wanted revenge for his clan. He even left the Hidden Leaf Village. Later, he helps save the world during the Fourth Great Ninja War. In the Boruto series, he helps protect the village.

Sakura Haruno

• One of Naruto's friends and the female member of Team 7. Sakura becomes a skilled medic ninja after training with Tsunade. She was once annoyed by Naruto but grew to see him as a true friend. She eventually marries Sasuke and they have a daughter named Sarada.

Kakashi Hatake

• The wise leader and teacher of Team 7. Kakashi was a student of Naruto's father, Minato. He has a special Sharingan eye that he got from his friend Obito Uchiha. After the Fourth Great Ninja War, Kakashi became the Sixth Hokage. He later retired, allowing Naruto to become the Seventh Hokage.

Sai

• A ninja who joins Team Kakashi in the second part of the story. Sai can bring his drawings to life. He was raised to have no emotions, but he learns to be more social and becomes friends with Naruto and Sakura. He later marries Ino Yamanaka and they have a son, Inojin.

Yamato

• An ANBU member who sometimes leads Team Kakashi. Yamato has special wood-style powers because of experiments done on him as a child. He helps control the Nine-Tail fox's power when Naruto is in danger.

Important Hidden Leaf Village Characters

Iruka Umino

• A kind teacher at the Ninja Academy. He lost his parents to the Nine-Tail fox. Iruka is the first person to truly believe in Naruto and becomes like a father figure to him.

Konohamaru Sarutobi

• The grandson of the Third Hokage. Konohamaru looks up to Naruto as a mentor and wants to become Hokage too. He learns many of Naruto's techniques. Later, he becomes a jonin and a teacher to Naruto's son, Boruto.

Hinata Hyuga

• One of Naruto's friends and a member of the Hyuga clan, known for their Byakugan eyes. Hinata was shy but became more confident because of Naruto's determination. She eventually tells Naruto she loves him. They get married and have two children.

Jiraiya

• Naruto's mentor and one of the "Three Legendary Sannin." Jiraiya is also known as the "Toad Sage" because he learned special jutsu from toads. He was told that his student would become a savior of the world. Naruto calls him "pervy sage" because he writes romance novels. Jiraiya trains Naruto and later sacrifices his life fighting the Akatsuki to protect the Hidden Leaf Village.

The Hokage Leaders

The Hokage is the leader of Konohagakure, the Hidden Leaf Village. There have been seven Hokage throughout the series. Their faces are carved into a giant rock formation overlooking the village.

• Hashirama Senju: The First Hokage and co-founder of Konohagakure. He wanted peace and became friends with Madara Uchiha, though they later became rivals.
• Tobirama Senju: The Second Hokage, Hashirama's younger brother. He created many of the Hidden Leaf's buildings and ninja techniques, like the Shadow Clone Jutsu.
• Hiruzen Sarutobi: The Third Hokage, and the first Hokage shown in the series. He was a wise leader and treated Naruto kindly. He was also the teacher of the Legendary Sannin.
• Minato Namikaze: The Fourth Hokage and Naruto Uzumaki's father. He was Kakashi's teacher and Jiraiya's student. He sealed the Nine-Tail fox into Naruto.
• Tsunade: The Fifth Hokage and a member of the Senju clan. She is known for her superhuman strength and healing abilities. She trained Sakura. Tsunade retired and passed the Hokage title to Kakashi.

Dangerous Villains and Groups

Orochimaru

• A main villain in the first part of the series. Orochimaru was Hiruzen's student. He wanted to live forever and learn all jutsu. He did many experiments on ninjas and created his own village, the Hidden Sound Village. He later stopped fighting Konoha and created Mitsuki.

Kabuto Yakushi

• Orochimaru's helper and spy. Kabuto is skilled in medical ninjutsu. After Orochimaru was defeated, Kabuto gained snake-like powers and perfected a forbidden jutsu to bring people back to life. He was defeated but later helped save Sasuke.

Itachi Uchiha

• A rogue ninja from the Hidden Leaf. He joined the Akatsuki after seemingly destroying his own clan. Itachi was later revealed to be loyal to the Hidden Leaf. He secretly spied on the Akatsuki and planned for Sasuke to defeat him.

The Akatsuki

• The main enemy group in the second part of the series. They were first formed to bring peace but later became a group of powerful rogue ninjas. Their goal was to gather all the tailed beasts to control the world.

• Nagato (Pain): The leader of the Akatsuki. He had special eyes called Rinnegan. Nagato used six different bodies to fight. He attacked the Hidden Leaf Village, but Naruto defeated him and changed his mind.
• Konan: The only female member of the Akatsuki and Nagato's childhood friend. She used paper-based fighting techniques. She was killed fighting Tobi.
• Kisame Hoshigaki: A powerful ninja from the Hidden Mist Village and Itachi Uchiha's partner. He used a special sword called Sharkskin that could absorb chakra.
• Sasori: A puppet master from the Hidden Sand Village. He was known for his poisons and for turning people into puppets. He even turned himself into a puppet.
• Deidara: A ninja from the Hidden Stone Village who used clay bombs as art. He was forced to join the Akatsuki.
• Hidan: An immortal ninja who used a scythe. He was part of a death cult and could hurt his opponents by hurting himself.
• Kakuzu: A ninja who could have up to five hearts, making him very hard to defeat. He was the Akatsuki's treasurer.

Obito Uchiha (Tobi)

• The true leader of the Akatsuki for most of the second part of the series. Obito was thought to be dead but was saved by Madara. He wanted to create a perfect world by controlling everyone. He had special Sharingan eyes that allowed him to become untouchable and teleport. He later died protecting Team 7.

Madara Uchiha

• One of the founders of the Hidden Leaf Village, along with Hashirama Senju. Madara and Hashirama were like ancient ninja heroes reborn. Madara fought Hashirama and tried to destroy the Hidden Leaf. He faked his death and later came back to life to try and complete his plan to control the world. He eventually made peace with Hashirama before dying for good.

Kaguya Otsutsuki

• The final main enemy of the Naruto series. Kaguya was an alien ninja who came to Earth long ago. She wanted to protect the world but lost faith in humanity. She fought her own sons and was sealed away. She later tried to return but was defeated and sealed again by Naruto and Sasuke.

• Zetsu: A mysterious Akatsuki member who acted as a spy. There are two parts: Black Zetsu, created by Kaguya, and White Zetsu, made from former humans. Black Zetsu secretly worked to bring Kaguya back.

Naruto in Comics and Books

The Naruto manga series has 72 volumes. These are like big comic books. There are also many light novels and regular novels about Naruto in Japan. In the US, there are chapter books with pictures from the manga.

Popularity and Anime Series

The Naruto manga and anime became incredibly popular around the world! Many fan websites were created with lots of information, guides, and games.

The first part of the anime aired from 2002 to 2007, with 220 episodes. The second part, called Naruto Shippuden, aired from 2007 to 2017, with 500 episodes. Some episodes and movies are original stories not found in the manga.

Naruto Video Animations

Twelve Naruto original video animations (OVAs) have been released. These are special short anime stories.

• Find the Crimson Four-Leaf Clover! (2003): Team 7 helps Konohamaru find a magic clover.
• Mission: Protect the Waterfall Village! (2004): Team 7 escorts a ninja home.
• Konoha Annual Sports Festival. (2004): Ninjas compete in a sports event for a break from missions.
• Finally a clash! Jonin VS Genin!! (2005): A competition between high-level and low-level ninjas.
• Shippū! "Konoha Gakuen" Den (2008): Naruto and friends in a high school setting.
• Naruto: The Cross Roads (2010): Focuses on Team 7 after a big battle.
• Naruto, The Genie, and The Three Wishes!! (2010): Naruto finds a genie at the beach.
• Naruto x UT (2011): A flashback story about Naruto and Sasuke.
• Chūnin Exam on Fire! Naruto vs. Konohamaru! (2011): Naruto and Konohamaru fight in the Chunin Exams.
• Hashirama Senju vs. Madara Uchiha (2012): The story of how Konoha was founded.
• Naruto Shippūden: Sunny Side Battle!!! (2014): Sasuke dreams about his brother Itachi.
• The Day Naruto Became Hokage (2016): The day Naruto officially becomes the Seventh Hokage.

Movies There are 11 Naruto movies that follow the anime and manga stories. There are also plans to make a live-action Naruto movie!

Video Games

More than 50 Naruto video games have been released! Many of them are fighting games based on the anime and manga.

Online Games

Some websites used to have online Naruto games, like Ninja Classic and Naruto-Arena.

Images for kids

• 

  The Naruto run.

See also

In Spanish: Naruto para niños