Naruto is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Masashi Kishimoto. It tells the story of Naruto Uzumaki, a young ninja who seeks recognition from his peers and dreams of becoming the Hokage, the leader of his village. The story is told in two parts—the first set in Naruto's pre-teen years, and the second in his teens. The manga was adapted into an anime television series produced by Pierrot and Aniplex, which broadcast 220 episodes from 2002 to 2007.
Twelve years ago, in a world populated by powerful ninja, a legendary beast known as the Nine-Tailed Fox attacked the village of Konohagakure, taking hundreds of lives. To save the city, the village's leader, the Fourth Hokage, sacrificed his life to seal the Fox into a newborn child. That child became Naruto Uzumaki, a hyperactive and optimistic but emotionally torn boy who has been abused and neglected by the very village that he lives in. Vowing to gain their respect, Naruto sets off on a journey to become the Hokage himself, and joins a ninja team alongside his new friends - the taciturn Sasuke, the kind-hearted Sakura, and the mysterious leader Kakashi.