Narutois one of the most successful manga and anime franchises ever, standing as the mighty ninja face of the Shōnen Big Three. While its main series concluded in 2014, its legacy continues in the present. Since its 1999 manga debut, the series has sold over 250 million units worldwide and become an internationally recognized multimedia presence to rivalDragon BallandOne Piece. While its latest sequel series,Boruto: Two Blue Vortexcontinues to gather momentum,Narutotakes stock with a heartwarming 25th Anniversary tribute video commemorating the manga’s greatest moments.

Iconic moments inNarutoinclude its protagonist overcoming adversity and isolation as a shunned orphan living in Konohagakure,mastering his potential as a shinobi, while giving space for other incredible supporting characters. Massive victories are showcased in a striking animated manga format, and the high-energy soundtrack elicits tones of celebration and hype, appropriate sentiments for such a beloved series. The 25th Anniversary celebration is not the end forNarutobut a commemoration of its legacy and affirmation of pride in its future.

Naruto Surprised

Naruto’s 25th Anniversary Is Filled With Some Of the Series' Greatest Moments

From Zero to Hero

TheNaruto25th Anniversary manga video is loaded with moments from some of the greatest arcs in the series, fittingly focused on formative instances and interactions of its protagonist, Naruto Uzumaki, with key supporting characters throughout.This includes animated versions of frames dating as far back as chapter #1 and extending intoPart 2orShippudenfor the anime fans, along with glimpses ofBoruto: Naruto Next Generations. It’s a touching tribute to one of anime’s most prized franchises, with some of the greatest moments shown below:

The animated montage hardly captures all the moments in theNarutofranchise, but among those featured are the most beloved,fitting to commemorate the series' 25th Anniversary through the growth and trials of its hero.Naruto entered the series as a class clown and a chronic disappointment compared to his cohort, but he honed his worst technique, Shadow Clones, into his definitive signature move andbefriended the vengeful Kurama sealed inside him. It’s a beautiful showcase that will be a touching tribute forNarutofans, and many crucial featured characters are worth individual mention.

Naruto (2002) TV Show Poster

Naruto’s 25th Anniversary Video Officially Declares Which Ninjas Impacted the Future 7th Hokage The Most

The Real Ones of the Shinobi World

The story ofNarutooften revolves around themes of redemption, salvation, and reconciliation for the fractured peoples of the shinobi world, with the 25th Anniversary video commemorating key players in Naruto’s development. These include long instances like the painful parallels of loneliness for Naruto and Gaara or short glimpses of characters like Kabuto or Tsunade, whose roles were also vital in his development. But of the many characters to touch Naruto Uzumaki’s life, some stand above the rest ascrucial to his growth as a ninja, Hokage, and father, such as the following:

While some characters like Shikamaru Nara or Sakura Haruno are more conspicuously absent, the most vital moments for Naruto as he grows up feature the aforementioned characters. Of the characters shown above, however, key people are quoted and featured the most prominently in Naruto’s development. These includeIruka, Zabuza and Haku, Neji, Gaara, Sasuke, and Jiraiya,each of whom eitherdefended, fought alongside, or even against Narutoas he grew up to become a great ninja and his village’s future Hokage.

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These instances includeHaku reminding Naruto to fight for loved onesin his life and Iruka’s heroic defense of Naruto, hailing him as more than the demon fox within him. The fact that it’s bookended by glimpses of Naruto with his father, Minato, and mentoring his son, Boruto, in the final frames speaks beautifully ofNaruto’s25th Anniversary. It speaks of a lauded past and an exciting future for how it continues to carry forward with a new generation of characters and readers.

Naruto

Naruto is a franchise spawned from the manga series penned by Masashi Kishimoto that began in 1999. Generating several tv series, games, movies, and more, Naruto follows the exploits of a young outcast ninja harboring the spirit of a demon fox who seeks to become the Hokage, the leader of his ninja village, to break the stigma against him. Upon the conclusion of the initial series, Naruto expanded into Boruto, following many series protagonists' children and returning faces.