Major Story Arcs

Introduction Arc

Naruto, born as an orphan, was always shunned and looked down upon by the villagers of the Hidden Leaf.  As a boy who has been largely ignored and resented, Naruto always tried to get other peoples attention by acting out through shenanigans and committing foolish and delinquent activities.  For example, he spray-painted the Stone Head Statues of Konoha's Hokages at the front and foremost area of the village, as is shown in the opening scene in the  Naruto series.  Although Naruto successfully misleads two ninjas   who chase him down for his disrespectful and offensive acts, his sensei, Iruka, manages to catch him.  After he gets lambasted for what he has done, Iruka decides to take Naruto out for their favorite meal-- ramen at the Ichiraku (一楽ラーメン) stand.  It should be noted that the word "Naruto" signifies the small swirling spirals of fish cakes usually found in ramen from Japan.
 

Graduation

The next day, Naruto is getting ready to pass his graduation exam from the Ninja Academy.  He also believes that he would finally get a start on missions to "prove" himself to the villagers.  He is certain that one day, he would become Hokage-- the most powerful ninja in the village, as well as its leader.  Interestingly, Naruto wants to lead and help Ko-no-Ha's villagers despite the hated and resentment he has experienced throughout his life for reasons unbeknownst to him.  In addition, his determination to become the greatest ninja and Hokage is unwavering, no matter the strife and obstacles he has to endure.  

The "Sexy Jutsu"

When the time came for his exam, Naruto makes a sorry attempt at cloning himself, thus failing the transformation test and the graduation exam.   As the only examinee to fail the transformation test, Naruto decides to redeem himself by being a class clown.  This time, he transforms successfully into an "adorable" naked girl, accompanied with strategically placed smoke.  All the while, "she"  blows kisses at everyone, resulting in Iruka getting the traditional anime "nose bleed."  After clogging his nose up, Iruka told Naruto that the latter has failed the test  and is not going to receive the coveted ninja head band, which signifies a true shinobi.  Soon thereafter, Naruto is seen seated on the swing set outside of the Ninja Academy.  Naruto is further saddened when he looks at the parents who showed affection and approval to their children for passing the graduation test.  Such as offering to take the graduates out to wherever the they wanted, etc.  To add insult to injury, Naruto can also make out the slurs the parents say about him.  He ignores what he hears as Naruto stares at the ground in front of him.  Naruto is feeling hopeless and lost, until Mizuki, a Ninja Academy instructor (who has been kind to Naruto in the past), offered to help Naruto pass the graduation exam with the teaching of one trick. 

Naruto listens intently, as what is perceived as a  kind older boy, tells him has to be done.  Naruto is told to sneak into the Hokage's mansion and steal a certain secret scroll.  According to Mizuki, by merely reading the scroll, Naruto will be able to learn a jutsu that guarantees the passing of the graduation exam.  Naruto is fully prepared to steal the scroll and successfully infiltrates the Hokage's mansion.  When seen by the Third Hokage, Naruto uses his Sexy Jutsu and escapes with the scroll in hand and heads back to Mizuki.  

While hiding in the forest, Naruto reads and a learns a jutsu from the scroll.  The first happens to be the Multiple Shadow Clone Technique (Taiju Kagebunshin no Jutsu). Later, the Hokage notifies several other shinobi to find Naruto and bring him back with the scroll. Although the sent shinobi are all outrun by the Kyuubi boy, Iruka, who knew Naruto the best, is able to catch him with Mizuki.  Mizuki tells Naruto to hand him the scroll, but Iruka warns him not to do so.  An argument ensues, resulting in Mizuki telling Naruto that the latter has the Nine-Tailed Fox contained in him, which is the why he is hated and resented in great depths by the village.  Shocked by the unexpected revelation, Naruto runs off, leaving Iruka to face off against Mizuki.  Meanwhile, Naruto, who initially watches from afar,  interferes in the battle just in the nick of time, as Mizuki is about to kill Iruka.  After warning Mizuki to keep his hands off his sensei, Naruto uses his newly learned Multiple Shadow Clone technique and defeats Mizuki to a bloody pulp.  Being Impressed that Naruto is able to master a difficult jutsu, such as the Multiple Shadow Clone technique, Iruka takes Naruto out to ramen for lunch.  Iruka then proceeds to give Naruto his own Konoha Headband, signifying that the latter has indeed become a true ninja he has strove hard to become. 
 

Formation of Team 7

Team 7's  Genin Formation

Later that month, Naruto learns that he is to be part of a three-man team, consisting of Uchiha Sasuke and Haruno Sakura, Kakashi Hatake. Naruto is not thrilled at the thought of being in the same team as Sasuke, who he deems nothing more than a pretty boy and an arrogant jerk.  He is excited, however, at the opportunity of spending more time with Sakura, his crush.  Unbeknownst to him, Sasuke is the object of Sakura's affection, and she can careless about Naruto. 

The teammates first met Kakashi as he enters a classroom and walks into Naruto's blackboard eraser booby trap.  Although neither Sasuke nor Sakura condones Naruto's mischievous behavior, they are amused by the outcome.  The two wonder if their new instructor is capable at all.  Though such assumptions are later proven to be mistaken.  
 

Naruto's sensei, Kakashi Hatake

Kakashi takes the team into the Leaf Village.  As an ice breaker before setting out for any mission assignments, he asks them to tell the rest of the group a little bit about themselves.  Naruto states that he aspires to be a Hokage--the greatest ninja and leader of Konoha--one day, which has piqued Kakashi's interest.  Kakashi listens on to Sakura's introduction, followed by Sasuke's.  Sasuke declares that there is a specific person in mind that he is determined to kill.  Naruto, who has all the while been goofing around, is shuddered into seriousness, hoping that Sasuke's target is not him. 

Kakashi tells the team members to return home, with the additional instruction that they are not to eat any breakfast the next morning, when they return for their training.   He explains that the physical exertion might cause stomach discomfort, ending in the regurgitation of any contents in it.  As the teammates head home, they ponder at what awaits them the next day, while following Kakashi's directions.
 
The next morning, upon reaching the training ground, Kakashi explains that the team will train on teamwork.  The objective is to work together and obtain the bells tied to Kakashi's waist, in anyway possible.  Kakashi adds that the team is bound for failure, unless they attack him with the intent to kill.  In addition, the team members that successfully capture the bells are to have lunch boxes.  Given that the three members have arrived empty-stomached, it is a huge incentive.  However, there is an additional caveat--although there are three team members, there are only two lunch boxes. 

Konoha's most sacred technique,  the 1,000 Years of Death.

Naruto, being headstrong, as always, attacks Kakashi before the teacher can officially commence the training session.  Although Naruto's attempts are quickly foiled by the White Fox of the North.  However, Kakashi compliments on Naruto's spirit and his attack with intent to kill.  Kakashi then announces the commencement of the training session successfully.  Naruto proceeds to  attack his teacher with shadow clones.  Kakashi foils Naruto's attempt easily.  He did so, this time, by turning into Naruto and mingle with the student's many shadow clones.  This induced the kage bunshins to attack one another while yelling that they should be attacking Kakashi's imitation in aggravation, Naruto realizes too late that he could have isolated Kakashi's bunshin by simply ending his kage bunshin jutsu.  Kakashi interrupts the youth's revelation by appearing from behind and attacking Naruto's rear with a kunai.  Kakashi calls this Konoha's most "Sacred" Technique--The "One Thousand Years of Death"  jutsu.  Sakura comments that while she has previously taken Kakashi seriously, this assault on Naruto is ridiculous and over the top.

Sasuke attempts to face Kakashi with Taijutsu, and forces the latter to stop toying around with the genins, i.e., not reading his novel, Ichaicha Paradise (Flirt Paradise), while fighting them.  On the other hand, Naruto thinks he has a better idea as he sees one of the bells lying on the ground.  He figures that Kakashi must have dropped it during the fighting, as an incompetent fool would.  As Naruto walks over what he perceives to be a fallen bell and proceeds to pick it up, he is caught in a trap and hangs upside down by the ankle from a tree on a rope.  Naruto considers giving up at this point.  However, as he wonders what the Fourth Hokage would have done, he is determined to fight his way out.  He escapes from the trap, briefly.  Unfortunately for Naruto, he is soon caught by another rope by the ankle, and is back to hanging upside down from the same tree.

After declaring the three ninja are hopeless, Kakashi reveals the meaning of the exercise--teamwork--and tells Sasuke and Sakura to eat the lunch in front of Naruto, as punishment for trying to eat without permission.  Kakashi then leaves so that the three team members are alone.  Feeling sorry for Naruto, Sasuke offers some of his food to Naruto.  Seeing that his crush has done so, Sakura follows suit.  Kakashi, who has been hiding behind the tree while observing his team, reappears to charge at them.  He stops at the last second, in front of his team members and announces that they have passes. The lunch was actually a test to see if they would share the food with their teammates. He explains that “those who violate the rules and fail to follow orders are lower than garbage; however, those who neither care for nor support their fellows are even lower than that.” Naruto is touched by his words.  Kakashi also declares that Team 7’s first mission shall begin the next day.  Kakashi, Sasuke, and Sakura begin to leave.  However, Naruto is left behind while still tied to a tree stump.  
 

Land of the Waves Arc

Team 7 is next seen following an unidentified figure.  Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura are then told to capture it.  Naruto, of course, pounces on the figure.  It is revealed that their target is a cat, Tora, belonging to the Fire Daimyo’s wife.  After Team 7 returns for their pay, Naruto complains about the lack of excitement in their missions.  After a bit of wearing down, the Hokage gives Naruto a C-rank mission.  The mission is to guard a bridge builder named Tazuna.  Soon after leaving the village, they are attacked by two ninjas. During the battle Sasuke holds off the ninjas but Naruto freezes and is cut by one of their claws.  
 

 Sasuke, Naruto, & the Demon Brothers

After Kakashi subdues them, he looks at Naruto’s wound and says that the claw was poisoned.  Naruto panics and Kakashi tells him that the wound needs to be bled to release the poison.  Naruto then stabs very deeply into his wound, vowing never to freeze up again and that he will protect the old man.  Kakashi tells him that, though he has extracted the poison, he has overdid it and Naruto is very likely to bleed to death.  Naruto panics again.  However, as Kakashi observes the wound, he discovers that it has already started to heal.  Kakashi then reassures Naruto the he will be fine. 

Tazuna reveals that he has misled Team 7 with the mission parameters.  Instead, He is actually being hunted by a billionaire named Gato, who makes his money by Marine transportation.  The ninja's they just fought are sent by Gato to assassinate him to prevent the bridge from being completed.  Tazuna has, in fact, been on Gato's bad side.  The bridge in construction connects to the mainland, which would decrease the need for Gato's transportation operation.   This in fact has upgraded the mission from a C-rank to an A-rank.  Tazuna has to trick them because he could not afford an A-rank Mission. Team 7 reluctantly agrees to continue. 

Zabuza's approach

Team 7 then takes a rowboat to the land of the  waves.  As they begin walking, Naruto attempts to outdo Sasuke, eventually stunning a rabbit with a projectile.  Suddenly, Kakashi alarms his team to duck.  Sakura does so by pushing Naruto down as a rapidly spinning sword flies overhead and into a tree with Zabuza standing on it's hilt.

Naruto sees Zabuza as a chance to prove himself and attempts to attack Zabuza.   Kakashi holds him back in time. He tells Naruto that Zabuza is way out of his league, and proceeds to reveal his Sharingan eye.  As the fight between Zabuza and Kakashi rages on, Team 7 realizes that they may be in a more dangerous predicament than they had realized.  With the three of them in formation, they attempted to protect Tazuna.

During the bout, Zabuza sent out a water clone Jutsu to kill Tazuna.  Naruto and Sasuke's quick thinking has barely saved them.  Naruto barrages the psychotic killer with all his might and shadow clones, while Sasuke devises a deadly plan.  With Kakashi being captured, all that the three could do was hope that they could save him with this plan or else, they were dead meat.  No one has any clue of how dangerous Zabuza really is, though.  He has captured Kakashi with his water prison Jutsu and proceeds to make the latter sedentary during the fight.  With Sasuke's plan, however, they managed to get Kakashi out of the prison, thus turning the tides of the battle.  Sasuke launched two demon wind shurikens, one being a Naruto clone.  Zabuza dodges them both while Naruto freed Kakashi.  Team 7 managed to win but Zabuza got away with Haku's help.  Later they confront Zabuza again on a bridge.  Kakashi fights Zabuza while Naruto and Sasuke barely manage to fend off Zabuza as he killed himself and Gato all at once. 

The Chuunin Exam Arc

The first test of the Chunin Exam is a paper and pencil test. The objective is  to cheat on every question without getting caught.  Naruto has a hard time deciding whether or not to stay for the test.  If he gets the last question wrong, his entire team will fail as a result.  Subsequently, the Team 7 members is never be permitted to take the Chuunin Exams again.  Naruto decides to stay.  It is shown later that he has gotten every question wrong on the test.  However, everyone who stays for the test passes and moves on to the next test.  As a result, Team 7 continues to the next stage.  

The second part of the test takes place in the Forest of Death.  Every team starts with one of two scrolls--the Earth scroll or the Heaven scroll.  The teams to complete the set by stealing the missing scroll from other teams pass the test.  However, there is one little caveat, i.e., the teams have to do so without reading the contents of either scroll.  The teams that cannot contain their curiosity fails the test.  During the test, Team 7 encounters Orochimaru in the Forest of Death.  Although everyone manages to survive the encounter, Sasuke pays a heavy price with a curse seal placed on his shoulder by Orochimaru. 

Towards the end of the second test, Naruto and Sakura decide to fake one of the scrolls. The plan is to figure out the contents of the other scroll by reading the scroll they have started out with.  Fortunately, Kabuto stops them from reading the contents just in time. Sasuke returns to his teammates dissapointed.  Kabuto decides to help Naruto and his team.  He tells them of ways to get the missing scroll.  After a fight with some Rain Nin, they make it to the designated tower, where the next section of the test is to commence.  

 Naruto vs. Kiba,   Chuunin Exam

The third test, the tournaments, starts.  Naruto's is to fight Kida, in order to advance.  Although Kiba has thought it it would be a piece of cake to pass the test, he soon realizes that he is mistaken.  Stunny Kiba with a fart, Naruto and his shadow clones use a new technique, the "Naruto Uzumaki Barrage"--a blatant rip off of Sasuke's "Lion's Barrage"--to impress Sakura and successfully defeat Kiba.  When Hanata is faced off with Neji, a cousin from a branch of the Hyuuga family who has defeated her continuously in the past, Naruto cheers her on.  Naruto encouraged Hinata by letting her know that Neji does not think that she is weak, useless, or undeserving to be in the main branch of the Hyuuga family at all.  However, despite Naruto's best efforts, Hinata is defeated. 

Before Part II of the Chuunin Exam
Before the final Chuunin Exam, every ninja has one month to train for their respective matches.  Naruto is assigned to Ebisu as his trainer.  Naruto tries his best to get out of training under Ebisu.  However, Kakashi is too busy teaching Sasuke.  In addition, as the only instructor who is willing to train Naruto in Konoha, Naruto is stuck with Ebisu. 

As the teacher and student pair's first training exercise, Ebisu and Naruto head off to a spa.  There, Naruto is to learn chakra control to the point where he can easily walk on water.  To focus Naruto's attention and concentration, Ebisu has chosen the training location above a body of boiling water at the spa.  Ebisu hopes that as Naruto's survival instinct kicks in, he would master the jutsu speedily.  Needless to say, Ebisu has to catch Naruto many times to prevent certain death.  

Jiraiya's here!

As Naruto is just grasping the concept of chakra moulding and walking on water, he spots a big man peeping though a hole on a wall on the other side of the room into the women's section of the spa.  Ebisu is enraged by the behavior of the peeping Tom.  He continues to admonish the peeper, stating the obvious unacceptability of such lewd behavior, especially during a training session.  Ebisu then asks the large man to leave.  Not getting any response, Ebisu charges at the man with a kunai and is easily defeated, even thought the man has barely paid any attention to him.  Interestingly, the giant toad that the man has been standing on has done all the work. 

Noticing that the stranger is infinitely stronger than his currently assigned instructor, Naruto asks the man, who he has dubbed the Pervy Sage (Ero Sennin), to be his teacher.  At Naruto's persistent begging, the Pervy Sage brushes him off, saying that he is busy with his "research" and does not have any time to deal with brats like Naruto. 

However, upon seeing Naruto's Sexy Jutsu, the Pervy Sage quickly changes his mind.  He agrees to train Naruto as long as he stays in the female form throughout the training sessions.  At Naruto's refusal, the Pervy Sage introduced himself as the great "Toad Sage Jiraiya."  He further explains that he is no run of the mill pervert, but a "Mega-Perv."  He requests that Naruto should leave him alone. 
 

Naruto, nevertheless, continues to pester Jiraiya.  Finally, after Naruto's incessant begging, Jiraiya decides to train the Hokage-aspiring youth.  Jiraiya instructs Naruto on chakra that Ebisu has barely touched upon.   As Naruto almost completes the water-walking jutsu, Jiraiya asks the student to use up every bit of chakra in him.  Naruto does so for several day by beating himself up with his shadow clones.  As Naruto ponders the purpose of chakra draining, Jiraiya responds that Naruto needs to expand his chakra everyday, in order for the teacher to observe something.  

 Shiki Fuujin & Five-Element Seal

One day, Naruto's shirt is ripped and Jiraiiya notices the seals on the youth's stomach.  In addition to the original Shiki Fuujin which seals the Kyuubi within Naruto, there is an additional Five-Element Seal (Gogyou Fuuin) around the first seal.  Jiraiya realizes that  the mismatch of even (Shiki Fuujin, 8) and odd (Gogyou Fuuin, 5) numbers is disrupting Naruto's ability to manipulate his chakra.  Jiraiya is pleasantly surprised that Naruto has managed to manipulate his chakra thus far, even with the disturbances from the seals. Jiraiya discreetly removes Orochimaru's seal with Five-Element Unseal (Gogyou Kaiin).  

Naruto's abilities to mold chakra dramatically increases after the removal of Orochimaru's seal.  As Naruto masters walking on water, Jiraiya decides to teach the eager student a very special art--the art of summoning creatures with ninja abilities.  Although Naruto is initially disappointed at only being able to summon toads and frogs, he trains with zeal to become a better ninja. 
 

Chuunin Exam Continued 

 Naruto vs. Neji

In the finals, Naruto's opponent is Neji--the perfect opponent.  Naruto  is enraged at what Neji has done to Hinata during an earlier part of the Chuunin Exam.  Despite what Neji has said about how everyone's destiny is sealed and predetermined, Naruto defeats Neji, thus proving to Neji that destinies can change. 
 

When Sasuke's match commences, before it is finished, almost everyone in the audience is asleep, due to a genjutsu performed by Kabuto Yakushi.  Kakashi, Guy, and Sakura release their chakra to create a barrier to protect themselves from the genjitsu.  Sakura and Naruto wake up Shikamaru, according to Kakashi's instructions.  The three of them are to find Sasuke with the help of Kakashi's ninja dog, Pakkun.  Shikamaru voluntarily stays behind to fed off a group of sound ninjas so the rest of the group can move ahead. 
 

 Gamabunta,  the Chief Toad

When they find Sasuke,  Gaara sticks Sakura to a tree after fighting with Sasuke.  Naruto then fights Gaara.  After a few minutes, Gaara transforms into his true form, the One Tailed Shukaku.  Naruto tries to summon the Chief Toad, Gamabunta.  However, to Naruto's disappointment, Gamakichi appreas, instead.  On the second attempt, he summons Gamabunta successfully.  The Chief Toad fights Shukaku with a short sword, tantou, with difficulty.  Naruto and Gamabunta use a Combination Transformation into the form of a giant fox--the Nine-Tailed Demon Fox (Kyubi).  This transformation allows Naruto to approach Gaara while Gamabunta limits the mobility of Shukaku.  The combination allows Naruto to wake up Gaara, thus ending the rampage of Shukaku. 

Search for Tsunade Arc

 Naruto practicing Rasengan

Naruto travels with Jiraiya to find Tsunade to offer her the position as the Fifth Hokage.  During the interval, Jiraiya teaches Naruto the Rasengan, a justu that the fouth Hokage created. Later Jiraiya and Naruto find Tsunade, who is with her former apprentice and current assistant Shizune.   

Tsunade disparages the position of the Hokage, insisting that only a fool would want to be one.  Naruto is infuriated at Tsunade's comment, as he aspires to be one one day.  Naruto challenges Tsunade to a duel, which she easily wins with using only one finger.  Being Intrigued by Naruto, Tsunade wagers that if the boy can master the Rasengan withing the week, she will award him with the treasured necklace from the First Hokage.  However, Shizune shudders at the suggestion, for the only two people who Tsunade has given the same necklace to in the past have died the very next day after receiving it.  Naruto having found out the interesting, albeit tragic, history of the necklace, is even more determined to obtain it.  He trains, without rest or returning to the inn until exhaustion, to master the technique.  As the winner of the wager, Tsunade rewards Naruto with the necklace.
 

 First Hokage's Necklace

Naruto also finds out that Tsunade is meeting Orochimaru and tries to stop the meeting with the help of Shizune and Jiraiya.  Orochimaru, with Kabuto as his intermediary, has taunted Tsunade with the offer of reviving her loved ones for the price of fixing his arms.  Tsunade has been on the fence.  However, in the end, she has decided to not help Orochimaru and become the Fifth Hokage to protect Konoha.

Sasuke Retrieval Arc

 The Sasuke Retrieval Team

When Shikamaru is assigned to retrieve Sasuke from the Sound Four, Tsunade says that he must bring Naruto with him.  Shikamaru is also assembles with Kiba & Akamaru, Choji, and Neji.  The team tracks down the Sound Four and Sasuke.  With Neji's help using Byakugan, the team discovers that Sasuke is currently inside a coffin that the Sound Four is carrying.  In an unsuccessful attempt to ambush the Sound Four, the team from Konoha is trapped inside a rock prison, set forth by Jiroubou.  Shikamaru, using his clever strategies, with Choji's help, escapes from the rock prison and saves the entire team from chakra exhaustion.  Choji decides to leave behind to fight and defeat Jiroubou, while the rest of the team pushes ahead to catch up with the rest of the Sound Four and rescue Sasuke.   

Shikamaru uses this opportunity to disguise as the defeated Jiroubou in hopes to retrieve Sasuke.  The rest of the Sound Four immediately picks up the changes in demeanor and moves on, leaving Kidoumaru to deal with the Konoha group.  Neji decides that his abilities of the Byakugan and Gentle Fist is better suited to dealing with Kidoumaru's persistent webs.  The rest of the group moves ahead in pursuit of the Sound Four.  

With Naruto's shadow clones and clever planning on Shikamaru's part, the team is able to secure the coffin with Sasuke inside, and be on their way back to Konoha.  However, the appearance of Sakon & Ukon and Tayuya catches up quickly to the group.   Being irritated at Akamaru's barking and setting off bomb tags, Sakon & Ukon tied Akamaru to a tree trunk right next to a bomb tag.  In saving Akamaru from the imminent explosion, Kiba, while holding on to Akamaru, falls off a cliff with Sakon & Ukon.  All the while, Tayuya approaches closer.  Just before Shikamaru can have his plan take action, Kimimaro appears and gets possession of the coffin with Sasuke in it right away.  Kimimaro takes the coffin towards Orochimaru, while Tayuya is left to do as she pleases with Shikamaru and Naruto.  

Shikamaru tricks Tayuya to let Naruto catch up with Kimimaro.  Naruto confronts Kimimaro, still holding the coffin, in an open field just out of the woods.  Unbeknownst to Shikamaru, Kiba is fighting Sakon & Ukon at the bottom of the cliff.  At the same time, Shikamaru faces new tough opponents summoned by Tayuya.   

 Kimimaro vs. Naruto

Naruto fights Kimimaro with all his might, pulling out his trump card, the Multiple Shadow Clone Jutsu (太重陰分身の術 Tajuu Kage Bunshin no Jutsu) in Kyuubi form.  However, Kimimaro, who can manipulate his bones into weapons and moves with agility, eliminates Naruto's clones without breaking any sweat.  Kimimaro handles Naruto with ease with a combination of his bone manipulation and dance repertoire.  When Kimimaro has eliminated everyone of Naruto's shadow clones, Sasuke appears from the coffin.  When he is asked by Naruto what he is up to, Sasuke replies with maniacal cackle.  Sasuke leaves Naruto and heads towards Orochimaru's hideout.  Naruto's persuit after Sasuke is stopped short by Kimimaro, who is about to deliver the final blow that would end Naruto's life.  Rock Lee appears in the nick of time and saves Naruto from the brink of death.  Rock Lee keeps Kimimaro occupied, so that Naruto can continue on his persuit of Sasuke.  
 

Naruto finds Sasuke and fights him with all his might in hopes of bringing Sasuke back to Konoha.  Naruto draws power from the Nine-Tailed Demon Fox, while Sasuke from Orochimaru's curse seal.  Despite Naruto's best efforts, Sasuke defeats him and continues his path to Orochimaru's hideout.  
 

 Sasuke vs. Naruto

Kakashi finds the seriously injured Naruto and brings him back to Konoha, where the lad is to convalesce at the hospital.  Jiraiya visits Naruto at the hospital, informing the injured that he has three years to save Saasuke, before Orochimaru needs to take a new body.  In addition, the Pervy Sage adds that Naruto is not safe staying at one place for too long, since the Akatsuki is after the Kyuubi inside him.  Jiraiya offers Naruto the opportunity to train and travel with him for the time being, aiming to strengthening the lad and increase his chances of rescuing Sasuke and surviving encounters with the Akatsuki.  Naruto takes up on the offer.  Naruto is seen leaving Konoha with the Pervy Sage and starting their journey, thus ending the first part of the series.  Naruto is not to be seen again, until two-and-a-half years later--the Naruto Shippuden Era.