Naruto Shippuden is one of the most beloved TV shows, let alone anime, within the hearts of families around the world as well in the US. As the show received an English Dub it became a cult classic with kids after school.
Two of the most infamous characters within Masashi Kishimoto’s world are the best friends, and rivals, Naruto Uzumaki and Sasuke Uchiha. Both have awesome character design and cool independent storylines.
When their two storylines intertwine and as Sasuke goes rogue from the shinobi who protect Hidden Leaf Village, he becomes Naruto’s rival and someone has to stop Sasuke’s power from being turned sour by the draw of revenge.
As Sasuke and Naruto have a final showdown it is the ultimate and most epic fight and anime character arc that became an immediate classic.
Watching Sasuke and Naruto fight was a poignant moment in the collective childhood memory of those who watched Naruto, but who won, why did they fight, and in which episode does the fight occur?
Read on to learn more about the epic battle between Sasuke Uchiha and Naruto Uzumaki.
Naruto Uzumaki is the titular character within Naruto Shippuden, and Masashi Kishimoto’s main character. As the show begins we watch Naruto’s father, the Fourth Hokage, attempt to protect Hidden Leaf Village from a Tailed Beast.
The Tailed Beasts are ancient god-like creatures who hold immense power found in their large reserves of chakra.
In order to defeat the demon that attacked Hidden Leaf Village, the Hokage had to sacrifice himself with a Jutsu that sealed the power of the Tailed Beast within a newborn child.
This new born child was the Hokage’s son, Naruto. Unbeknownst to Naruto he carries around the Nine Tailed Fox within him and as a result most of the older villagers avoid him and ostracize him from Hidden Leaf Village in fear of the potential power he holds.
As Naruto has the Nine Tailed Beast sealed within him, he becomes a Jinchuriki.
A Jinchuriki has one of the Tailed Beasts sealed within him, which means that as host he gets access to the beast’s immense chakra reserves and power which the Jinchuriki must hone and train, this is part of what makes Naruto such a formidable shinobi in his future.
We are introduced to a bumbling, impish Naruto who causes chaos in the village in order to get attention, he claims his destiny is to become the next Hokage and is dead set on joining the shinobi Ninja school.
Naruto is technically part of the Uzumaki clan, this clan was once prominent across the land but as a result of death the clan reduced significantly and during Naruto’s time as a shinobi he is the main ninja of that clan, the clan later regains its significance after Naruto becomes Hokage.
Who Is Sasuke Uchiha?
Sasuke Uchiha is a member of the Uchiha clan, he is the same age as Naruto and they become friends, alongside Sakura Haruno, as they share time in the ninja academy in Team 7, under the watchful eye of Kakashi Hatake, their mentor.
Sasuke is part of the Uchiha clan which is one of the most important clan’s in Hidden Leaf Village’s history until its downfall.
The Uchiha clan was originally one of the main military clan’s of the Hidden Leaf Village due to their direct ancestry from Otsutsuki which afford them their chakra.
The clan came into disrepute as Sasuke’s brother, Itatchi, slaughtered their whole clan leaving only Sasuke alive and rendering himself an international criminal.
Since this happened a spiritual curse fell upon the clan, from which Sasuke can draw a great amount of chakra from, and Sasuke swore to avenge his clan by killing his brother Itatchi – this is what drives him to become a powerful shinobi.
Why Do Naruto And Sasuke Fight?
As the pair get older and progress through their life as a shinobi their destinies seem to pull them apart.
On the one hand Naruto is dedicated to becoming the Hokage and the best ninja, while on the other, Sasuke is motivated by revenge and wants to become the most powerful ninja in order to defeat his brother Itatchi.
While still young and working under Team 7 together, Sasuke’s brother comes to Hidden Leaf Village in order to find Naruto. When Sasuke learns his brother has returned to Konoha he too seeks out Naruto in order to find his brother.
Sasuke and Itachi cross paths and Sasuke chooses to engage his brother who is much stronger and older than Sasuke, he easily defeats Sasuke and breaks his arm telling him that he is weak.
Itiachi uses a chakra power to force Sasuke to witness his parents murder over and over againa and sends him into a comatose until he is saved by Naruto’s actions.
While reflecting on his encounter with his brother Sasuke is annoyed at how much stronger his brother is then him, and also thinks about how much stronger Naruto has become even though he was bottom of the same ninja class Sasuke was in.
As a result of his anger, Sasuke challenges Naruto to a fight while still recovering in hospital. When Naruto begrudgingly agrees the two fight but before they can hurt each other Kakshi deflects their attacks.
Upset, confused, and pushed away from his friends by his search for revenge, Sasuke is approached by a group of other ninjas who convince him to leave Konoha so that he can learn how to hone his anger into chakra and become the powerful ninja he needs to be in order to defeat his brother.
Soon after Sasuke leaves the Hidden Leaf Village.
Naruto eventually catches up with Sasuke and tries to convince him to return home, Sasuke refuses and Naruto engages him physically so as to bring him back to the village by force.
A fight commences in which Sasuke seeks to kill Naruto in the knowledge that killing his best friend will unlock another level of his rasengan powered by the chakra curse on the Uchiha clan.
Sasuke eventually overpowers an erratic Naruto by reaching a new level of ninja as he is enveloped by anger and revenge. He chooses not to kill Naruto as this is what Itactchi would want him to do, and Sasuke refuses to be controlled by his brother.
Two and a half years after leaving Konoha, Naruto and Sasuke cross paths again as a ninja from the village tries to reunite their relationship.
At this point Sasuke has progressed greatly under his new ninja clan and sensei Orochimaru and neutralises Naruto with some ease as Naruto hasn’t mastered the Nine Tailed Beasts chakra yet.
Sasuke spares Naruto once more as Sasuke and the shinobi Naruto represents have the same enemy in the Akatsuki, whom Itatchi serves, and sparing Naruto will help him defeat his brother.
Sasuke soon defeats his brother after a series of trials and quests make him a stronger shinobi. After he successfully kills Itatchi, he is greeted by ghosts of the Uchiha clan who reveal Itatchi’s true intentions when he slaughtered his clan.
Itatchi actually had to kill his clan in order to save Konoha from a coup, in protecting the village and taking the fall Itatchi demanded that his brother (Sasuke) remained alive so the Uchiha clan could continue.
When Sasuke realises his brother was acting in order to save his village and his brother, turns his anger to the Hidden Leaf Village and their unfair use of the Uchiha clan’s power.
Now intent on avenging his brother and clan, Sasuke turns his sights on the Hidden Leaf Village. Blinded by anger Sasuke invades Konoha himself and attacks his old sensei Kakashi as well as his love interest Sakura.
As he attempts to kill Sakura, Naruto intervenes and the two fight for a third time. As they both clash they are both sent flying and they realise they are now equal in their powers.
Agreeing that the next time they fight, they will both die, Sasuke resigns from the battlefield and vows to kill Naruto first.
When Do Sauke And Naruto Have Their Final Battle?
In the final episode of Naruto, well, over the final four episodes, the events of the Fourth Shinobi World War and Naruto and Ssuke’s rivalry comes to an epic and final end.
During the Fourth Shinobi World War, Sasuke, through a series of events, chooses to defend Konoha from the Akatsuki as he decides this is the best way to honour Itachi and the Uchiha Clan.
For a moment Kakshi’s Team 7 (Sakura, Naruto, Sasuke) is reunited and the three take on the Ten-Tailed beast in order to protect Konoha.
The three are successful in defeating the beast but Sasuke’s supposed mentor reveals himself as the spirit of Obito Uchiha and before it can be stopped becomes the Jinchuriki of the Ten-Tailed Beast.
Once Sauke and Naruto reluctantly combine their powers they defeat the Ten-Tailed beast. After multiple other battles with Uchiha clan members and Tailed Beasts they eventually defeat the powers and end the Fourth Shinobi World War.
Sasuke, now confused as to what it means to be a ninja, becomes convinced that ending all the Tailed Beasts will bring peace and finally avenge his clan and brother’s death and make Sasuke the Hokage.
Naruto, convinced that Sasuke has become blinded by trauma and constant revenge, feels that he must defeat Sasuke in order to protect the villages and the shinobi way of life which Sasuke, now deluded by anger, seeks to destroy.
In order to settle their differences and to finally decide who is the most powerful ninja they engage in one final, epic battle.
Who Wins The Fight?
Sasuke, in Susanoo form, and Naruto, in Nine Tailed Fox form engage in a battle after a fist fight on land. Sasuke berates Naruto for not attacking with an intent to kill. Naruto resigns saying that he won’t kill Sasuke as they must stay together, but he will overpower him.
As their avatars engage in battle for a serious amount of time, both their chakras become seriously depleted and, unable to hold their avatars any longer, they both begin fighting with fists and kicks instead.
With the last chakra that Naruto can muster, he finally overpowers Sasuke. Sasuke tries to absorb the chakra that Naruto uses but it doesn’t work and with one final attack from the Nine Tailed Fox, Naruto defeats Sasuke and they both pass out from exhaustion.
Both having lost an arm and being depleted in chakra, they lie there going in and out of sleep and dreaming.
Once they both are awake Sasuke asks Naruto why he refuses to give up on him, Naruto replies that they both share the same pain, being orphans and that Naruto feels empathy for the familiar pain they share.
Sasuke thinks about all the pain that Naruto has been through and how he was never there for Naruto. Sasuke has an epiphany where he feels ashamed for how he has treated his friends.
The following day when they awake, surprised they are still alive, Sasuke wishes to give his life in order to atone his sins, which Naruto rejects saying that he will always be there for his friend. As the two attone and Sasuke finally concedes defeat to the powerful Naruto.
Final Thoughts
Naruto and Sasuke have one of the most epic battles in all of Naruto which is the dramatic end of the Naruto Shippuden series.
Many fans wondered who would win, but as Sasuke is always blinded by his desire for revenge and trauma, Naruto could always remain the more powerful ninja and it is Naruto who eventually becomes the Seventh Hokage.
While Naruto wins the final battle, there are certainly moments in their previous fights where Sasuke could have killed Naruto but chose not to.
There is no winner in this fight, while Naruto eventually gains the upper hand, the point is that they need each other to survive and that together they are more powerful than any ninja alive.
