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Naruto is an anime filled with arcs that evoke a wide range of emotions, from the funniest to the most touching and epic moments. While deciding on the best arc of the series is a tough debate, there’s one that delivered more than the audience could have ever anticipated. The Fourth Great Ninja War in Naruto Shippuden is one of the anime’s high points, packed with monumental battles that either made or broke the characters. As the arc that helped close the series’ final chapter, it offered a grand spectacle of action and emotion that left a lasting impact on fans.
The Fourth Great Ninja War is packed with intense moments that fans still remember vividly to this day. It became the centerpiece of reunions, revelations, heartbreaking deaths, and some of Naruto's most heroic sacrifices. Including the fillers and significant flashbacks intertwined into the storyline, the war spanned over 200 episodes, beginning with Naruto Shippuden episode 261 and ending in episode 479. Despite the sheer volume of content to process and enjoy, certain episodes stood out, setting a standard that resonates with fans.
10 Shikamaru's Leadership After His Father's Death
The Greatest Strategist of Konoha
Shikamaru Nara has always been seen as lazy, avoiding anything requiring too much effort. However, more of his potential was unleashed under immense pressure during the Fourth Great Ninja War. His father, Shikaku Nara, along with Inoichi Yamanaka and others, died when a Tailed Beast Bomb hit the Allied Shinobi Forces' headquarters. Shikamaru had only seconds to grieve before immediately stepping into his father's role to carry out the plan he left behind to win the war.
After realizing his father's death, Shikamaru confidently said, "We're in the middle of a war. Like father said, we have to do what we have to do." The success of Naruto as the Seventh Hokage is deeply rooted in Shikamaru's intellect and personality, as he never let his emotions cloud his judgment. After his father's death, Shikamaru proudly took on his father's role, proving himself the Nara clan’s true prodigy.
9 Naruto's Arrival in the Battlefield
The Hope of the Shinobis During the War
As the series's main character, Naruto Uzumaki had many pivotal moments, including his arrival on the battlefield. The Allied Shinobi Forces were on the frontlines while Naruto prepared to ensure victory. His arrival was not only anticipated by the audience but also by the shinobi fighting for their lives. In Naruto Shippuden episode 321, Naruto arrives to lend help using Nine-Tails Chakra Mode.
The battles were scattered, and due to White Zetsu's ability to imitate anyone, the shinobi were pushed to the edge, unintentionally hurting their fellow comrades. However, with Naruto's help, they could identify the fake shinobi. In this mode, Naruto gained heightened sensory perception, allowing him to sense the chakra signatures around him. This was an epic moment, as it showcased Naruto's growth as a leader and a powerful shinobi, turning the tide of battle and increasing the audience's excitement.
8 Naruto and Sasuke Vs. Obito Uchiha
The Infamous Rival Brothers Finally Unites
As soon as Sasuke's path went astray, his jealousy and hatred towards Naruto deepened, making the thought of them working together seem impossible. However, during the Fourth Great Ninja War, Sasuke came forward to lend a hand for his own reasons. The battle between the three spanned Naruto Shippuden episodes 379 to 384, where Naruto manifested the Kurama Chakra Mode while Sasuke utilized the Susanoo.
Together, they worked to end Obito's plans, showcasing a remarkable evolution in their relationship. This was an epic moment because Naruto, in his Kurama form, could lend his chakra to others like Shikamaru, Tenten, and Neji, empowering them with chakra cloaks as he unleashed a massive Rasengan. The combined strategies and skills of Naruto and Sasuke proved that, despite their complicated past, they could unite for the greater good.
7 The Battle Between Kakashi and Obito
A Heartfelt and Touching Reunion in Another Dimension
Kakashi Hatake also had a past that needed closure, particularly in his relationship with Obito Uchiha. In Naruto Shippuden episode 375, Kakashi and Obito finally faced each other, fighting in isolation away from the main battlefield of the Fourth Great Ninja War. Through Obito's Mangekyō Sharingan, they battle in the Kamui Dimension.
The fight featured necessary flashbacks that explored their deep bond, the trust they once shared, and the impact of Rin's death to both of them. The hand-to-hand combat, reminiscent of their training as kids with the Fourth Hokage, made the battle even more heartbreaking as their blows conveyed pain, regret, and Kakashi's hope to save his friend. While their fight didn’t fully redeem Obito, it helped shed light on the goodness within him, showing that, like a few other characters in the series, Obito was a broken hero and a victim of tragic tragedy and circumstances.
The Power That Helped Protect the Allied Shinobi Forces
The Fourth Great Ninja War saw countless shinobi lose their lives, leaving the survivors with no choice but to continue fighting. After the sacrifices of Shikamaru and Ino’s fathers, along with Neji Hyuga’s death, Naruto was on the verge of breaking down. However, with words of encouragement from his future wife, Hinata, he found the strength to push through his grief and keep fighting. To protect Hinata and all Allied Shinobi Forces, Naruto shared Kurama’s chakra through human contact to create a connection.
This empowered everyone with Kurama’s chakra, giving them a cloak of protection that boosted their speed, strength, and resilience. Naruto’s gesture also unified the forces. His sincerity and memories resonated deeply with the shinobis. It provided them with the hope and strength they needed to continue the battle.
5 The Previous Hokages Joined the War
Orochimaru's Greatest Contribution During the Fourth Great Ninja War
The Allied Shinobi Forces already consisted of powerful shinobi, from Naruto Uzumaki to the Kage of various villages. However, before Sasuke joined the battle, he made one final request to Orochimaru: to use Edo Tensei to revive the previous Hokages—Hashirama, Tobirama, Hiruzen, and Minato. This moment was one of the series' most entertaining and engaging parts, as fans finally saw the legendary Hokages in action beyond flashbacks. Their arrival gave insight into their incredible strength and character, showing what they were like when they once led Konoha.
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Though they didn’t immediately head to the battlefield due to Sasuke seeking answers, they arrived just in time as the Ten-Tails were about to wipe out the shinobis. Minato swiftly rescued the forces, and together with Hashirama, Tobirama, and Hiruzen. The previous Hokages performed the Four Red Yang Formation—a powerful barrier requiring the strength of four Hokage-class shinobi.
4 Kaguya's Ascends and Brought a New Level of Threat
Her Presence Made the Fourth Great Ninja War Feel Like a Losing Battle
Kaguya Otsutsuki's arrival during the Fourth Great Ninja War was considered an epic moment because it marked the appearance of the most powerful antagonist in the series. Her arrival, in Naruto Shippuden episode 458, completely shifted the battlefield as she emerged from Madara's body, which was manipulated by Black Zetsu. Kaguya’s presence brought a new level of threat that surpassed all previous enemies. As the progenitor of the chakra, her god-like powers overwhelmed Naruto, Sasuke, Sasuke, and Kakashi.
What made it even more intense was that Kaguya's arrival symbolized all the conflicts and the history the shinobi world had endured since the beginning. The stakes were higher than ever, and the following battles were about strength and survival against a being that transcended time and space. Her arrival tested and made Naruto and the rest of Team 7 push beyond their limits to protect the history and future of the shinobis.
3 Madara Declares Guy as the Strongest
The Shinobi That Almost Killed Madara
The battle between Madara Uchiha and Might Guy in Naruto Shippuden episode 421 was undoubtedly one of the most epic moments of the Fourth Great Ninja War. Guy, known for his relentless spirit and exceptional taijutsu, pushed himself beyond his limits by opening the **Eighth Gate of Death**, the most dangerous and powerful of all gates. This unleashed a tremendous surge of power, and for the first time in the series, Madara Uchiha, one of the most feared shinobi in history, declared, "I, Madara, declare you the strongest."
This iconic moment highlighted the results of Guy's lifelong dedication to his training and the emotional weight of his decision to sacrifice himself for his comrades. Although it nearly cost Guy his life, the intensity of the battle and the courage he displayed solidified this fight as one of the greatest in the entire franchise.
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2 Naruto and Sasuke Awaken the Sage of Six Paths Power
The Reincarnations of Asura Otsutsuki and Indra Otsutsuki
The victory of the shinobi during the Fourth Great Ninja War didn’t solely rely on Naruto Uzumaki, Sasuke Uchiha, or the shinobi of Konoha. While Naruto and Sasuke played pivotal roles, their success was bolstered by Hagoromo Otsutsuki, the son of Kaguya Otsutsuki, who gifted them godly powers through the Sage of Six Paths. In Naruto Shippuden episode 421, Naruto inherited half of Hagoromo’s chakra, while Sasuke received the Rinnegan.
This moment was crucial as it symbolized the deep, evolving bond between Naruto and Sasuke despite their complicated past. As reincarnations of Hagoromo's sons, Indra and Asura, they realized their connection ran deeper than blood. The Sage of Six Paths' power boosted their strength and solidified their partnership, enabling them to defeat Kaguya and restore peace to the shinobi world.
1 Team 7 Fights Together and Seal Kaguya Otsutsuki
The Moment That Made Kakashi The Proudest Sensei
Team 7 reunited before Kaguya Otsutsuki entered the battlefield. While their first reunion was nostalgic, nothing could surpass the moment when Sakura, Naruto, and Sasuke fought together against Kaguya. This battle showcased the results of years of training, each becoming the best version of their masters, the Legendary Sannin.
As the new Legendary Sannin, Sakura, Naruto, and Sasuke, along with Kakashi and Obito’s support, proved themselves as three of the greatest shinobi of their generation. Without their combined strength, Kaguya and the other villains might have wiped out the entire shinobi world. The battle spanned several episodes, but in Naruto Shippuden episode 473, Team 7 finally sealed Kaguya, cementing their legacy. This victory made Kakashi the proudest sensei, witnessing how far his students had come together.
Set two and a half years after the events of Masashi Kishimoto's original anime, Naruto Shippuden continues the titular hero's attempts to become the best ninja in the Hidden Leaf Village and bring his former friend Sasuke Uchiha back to the light. The 500-episode series features the return of allies such as Sakura Haruno and Naruto Uzumaki's mentor Jiraiya, as well as the villainous organization Akatsuki.
Cast Junko Takeuchi , Kazuhiko Inoue , Noriaki Sugiyama , Chie Nakamura , Shoutarou Morikubo , Hideo Ishikawa , Nana Mizuki , Houchuu Ootsuka
Release Date February 15, 2007
Seasons 22
Network Adult Swim
Writers Junki Takegami , Satoru Nishizono , Yasuyuki Suzuki , Yasuaki Kurotsu , Masanao Akahoshi
Directors Hayato Date , Masaaki Kumagai , Yasuaki Kurotsu , Osamu Kobayashi , Chiaki Kon
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