Words cannot describe how utterly cool and fluid this episode is. Even though the details may have been sacrificed in the drawings, the motions that Sasuke and Naruto make while battling each other rivals that of any Rock Lee fight. Going into 9-Tails mode level one, Naruto just blitzes Sasuke with taijutsu moves that we never thought that Naruto is capable off, and Sasuke’s level 2 sharingan just couldn’t keep up with Naruto’s bullet-like speed. Even when Naruto knocked Sasuke deep into the water, he is able to just rip past Sasuke like a shark. But seemingly out of the blue, Sasuke magically gains the third “comma” in the Sharingan, and the tables are turned against Naruto as Sasuke is now able to predict Naruto’s movements. As he tries to battle back, Naruto pulls off one of the most interesting Kage Bushin moves as he chains a bunch of himself together to tornado and smash Sasuke into the wall. However, Sasuke counters with the fire jutsu that burns up all the Bushines, followed by a piledriver that would make Zangief from Street Fighter proud 
Naruto is seemingly defeated once again, but the 9-tailed Fox steps in and seemingly takes over Naruto’s body by surrounding it with red chakra, and mini-kuubi appears! 
In this mode, Sasuke is still able to see Naruto’s motions, but the red chakra just seemingly moves at will as Sasuke is beaten around once again like a rag doll. With no other option left, Sasuke now moves to the level 2 cursed seal form, which makes him look quite girly in my opinion o_O.
Although I took a bunch of screenshots, it probably doesn’t do this episode much justice, so definitely check this episode out for brutal action 
This post was written by...
Kungfucius – who has written 275 posts on Sea Slugs! Anime Blog.
One of the original founders, and a fan of long-running shounen series.
{ 30 comments… read them below or add one }
Between the Naruto flying fish attack and the various Sasuke face skin ripples, this fight really had it all. One thing I really like about Sasuke is his taijutsu style. Naruto has power, but the way he fights is so damn ugly! I like the way Sasuke’s efficient style counters Naruto’s attacks, so kudos to whoever choreographed Sasuke’s various action sequences.
Naruto skipped Sasuke like a rock in this episode T_T.
Ack, I haven’t watched a Naruto ep since last year but for that ‘knuckle sandwich’ I’d gladly take time out from abstinence and view this one.
I can almost savor nifty animated gifs that can be made with that ep alone. ^____^
Is it just me or has to drawing style changed?
Good Episode, but I don’t see it as the best.
I am kinda pissed off that they did not include how the sharingan actually worked! It showed a dramatic difference on how Sasuke can preceive
P.S. I forget the e-mail I used to associate with my nick
your right they did take out how the sharingan works with the three dots, we still got the jist of it though.
Sasuke can now see how chakra flows in muscles and is dipensed just like Neji so he can predict movements before they’re even made.
makes you see how much of an unfair advantage Itachi had over the rest whenever he fought in the previous eps.
This is what I wish Naruto was all about! Awesome episode. It’s almost a shame that the next episode looks like it will end it. But still, I’m eager to see how it will end.
i have to say this about this episode
KICK ASS!!!
finally after all the boring flashbacks fight that we all wanted to see
Yes, Sasuke in makeup =D.
This is the best animation of any Naruto episode, hands down. My brother was telling me that it reminded him of FLCL, and its true– everything seems different. If you notice, even Kakashi is running instead of the usual lofty tree jumping the ninjas do. I’m guessing they got a new animator, but the credits are undiscernable to me. Anyhow, I hope they keep this up–very cool aesthetic.
I doubt it was a new animator. This being the climatic event of this long story arc (and the first part of the Naruto series), I figure they just put a lot more effort and money into this (and prolly the next) episode. After this battle is complete, it’ll prolly go back to normal.
Normal, as in bad? Awwww….
Well I think that actually a lot of people of here know how this will end, and it will be a surprise for those who haven´t read the manga. I would like to see their faces. muajaja well I think that is true that they didn’t show very well how does the sharingan works now ( it is better explain in the manga) well I like how the battle was done. and I don’t think that the flashbacks of the family os Sasuke was boring, actually I think It was pretty interesting. I’m waiting for the next chapter hoping that it will be very well done, just like this. bye ^_^
whenever there’s a big fight with a lot of movement, they draw them differently (with less quality kinda) to make it easier on them. there are other episodes where you can notice it… like the one where it was Sasuke vs Orochimaru in the chuunin exam.
I’ve been waiting for this episode. But the most awaited for me is when Sasuke is beaten up by Naruto. Go Naruto.
i loved those naruto missiles
definitely something you can use when fighting for konoha
CALL IN THE NARUTO ARTILLERY!!!!
133 is by far the best Naruto episode I have seen.
I love the part at time 3 minutes, 45 second when Naruto nails Sasuke into the click. The pile driver was also excellent on Sasuke’s part. I also noticed the different drawing style.
awsome naruto has the power of the 9 tail fox woohoo lol
why doesn’t sasuke unleashed his cursed seal stage 1?that way he can hurt naruto more!!!!!!!!!vrey cool when sasuke kicks ass with his new sharingan.
yea sasuke *squeels like a girl* hehehe i love him i swear that him and nruto are lovers sexy combo and kakashi and sasuke are lovers
hehehhaha geez sasuke looks soo like a girl but once his curse seal is done he looks even weirder am i right?
The animator of this episode totally ROCKED! From what I can tell, he’s done two other Naruto episodes before this one. Episodes 71 and 30 both had a similar coloring, drawing style, and kick-butt fighting scenes. I always look forward to this animator’s next episode.
The animators of episodes 17 and 48 are different, but still compete in terms of coolness and fluidity of the animation.
best naruto anime episode ever released… ever! i still dont get bored watching it. Since its release i’ve watched it 100+ times (no joke… probably alot more O_O its the sad truth :/) The part when Sasuke fights off the kage bunshins is amazing, i cant sit still watching it. The choreography for that part in particular deserves an academy award :O. Leaving the music out of the first part of the fight put great emphasis on the rest of the fight and the audio track was spectacular. I’ve shown this episodes to friends who have never watched or even heard about Naruto and they were amazed by it and have asked to watch it again on separate occasions. I can’t wait for future climatic fights like this, i think this will be hard to follow. Naruto 4 life!…thats sad …o well xD
lol its funny cause now sasuke has longer hair than sakura when he is in his second stage seal. shes going to hate that >__<
yeah,i liked this episode a lot!too bad there are only filler episodes now…CANT WAIT FOR THEM TO FIGHT AGAIN!:D
I love Sasuke in all but, Naruto is kicking Ass. It is by time that Sasuke gets a beat down for someone. I love him and all but it is the truth. “It is what it is” ^-^ but 4 eva I will be sasuke girl no matter what ^_^”
GOD DAMN,,, thats what i like…
As you guyz said no flash back.. all new stuff….
I know its not the best anime but it remind me of the fighting scene in
Samorai Shamploo
I did’nt watch all the episode.. but this one is by far the best one
are there any others like this…??
From my point of view this is defenatly a different animator… sasuke and naruto faces are completly different even with the same stence of any other episode…
It looks like they use some Vector design… very nice for fighting scene
GO NARUTO!!!!! You kick major sasuke butt.
* this is kinda hard to do with a sasuke freak right next to me! OW*
GOOOO NARUTO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
for Episodes 30 & 133 (the best of all)
storyboard/animation director : Norio Matsumoto
key animation : Atsushi Wakabayashi
Work also for : Arjuna, Ninku, Ranma, Haibanei Renmei, You’re Under Arrest, Popolo Crois, Noein, Blood The Last Vampire, and more…
.
Masters of animation..
respect !!
.
-Y_
you can actually learn how to draw sasuke!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
THIS WAS THE BEST EP YET I AM STILL WAITING ON SASUKE VS ITACH.THAT IS GOING TO ROCK!!!!!!!!!!