Episode 1
Homecoming
Feb 15, 2007
8.7 Rating
Arc: Kazekage Rescue
Episode Overview
Naruto returns to the Hidden Leaf after 2.5 years of training with Jiraiya. His reunion with Sakura and Kakashi immediately leads to a Chunin exam bell test — a callback to the original series — where Naruto proves how dramatically he has grown. The episode sets the tone: same world, different stakes.
What Fans Think
A satisfying continuation opener. The bell test callback is warmly received. Most fans agree Naruto returning as a noticeably stronger character is handled well without over-explaining the time skip.
Aggregated fan sentiment from community discussions.
Episode information is collated from multiple community sources and may contain inaccuracies.