By Masashi Kishimoto.
Twelve years ago, a giant fox demon with seven tails attacked the ninja village of Konohagakure. Defeated by the Hokage, the village champion, the mighty demon's soul was sealed into the body of an innocent orphan child: Naruto Uzumaki. Now, Naruto is a 12-year-old ninja-in-training, struggling to be the best, together with his classmates Sasuke and Sakura. Naruto, Sasuke and Sakura have passed the final test to become junior ninja - but now the real challenge begins. Tired of finding stray cats and doing day care, the young ninja ask for a tougher assignment, and find themselves - together with their teacher, Kakashi - bodyguarding a cranky bridge builder from the faraway Land of the Waves. But Tazuna the bridge builder is in more danger than anyone realizes: he's the target of elite ninja assassins, including Zabuza, "the demon," the most murderous of the Mist Ninjas. And to even have a chance of defeating Zabuza, Kakashi will have to use the secret power concealed in his always-hidden left eye…