A Chunin Exams preliminary match pits Naruto against Kiba and his partner Akamaru. Outmatched at first, Naruto turns the bout into a battle of wits, though the Inuzuka pair's beastly teamwork proves overwhelming.
Summary
Naruto quickly finds himself on the back foot once he realizes Kiba fights alongside his dog Akamaru. A charging blow to the stomach floors him, and Kiba assumes victory until Naruto rises to taunt him. Using thrown smoke bombs for cover, Kiba lands more hits, but the body left on the ground turns out to be only a shadow clone. When he calls Akamaru over, the dog clamps onto his arm, and Naruto reveals he transformed into Akamaru while his clone restrains the real one.
Key Events
Kiba flicks a food pill to Akamaru, turning the dog's fur red and savage, then swallows one himself. Powered up, the pair blend the Four Legs Technique with the Beast Human Clone to press Naruto from two directions, capping the assault with Fang Passing Fang that leaves him flat on the ground. Even beaten and mocked, Naruto renews his vow to become Hokage.
Related Reading
See all
The Most Popular Women of Naruto
We ranked the six most popular women of Naruto from worst to first, and our number one is going to start a fight. The official poll got it wrong....
Super Saiyan Pubes: The Song About Where Super Saiyan Hair Actually Goes
The transformation everyone knows, the follow-up question nobody would touch. Why we made a smooth R&B track about the golden glow Dragon Ball never talks about....
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens in the Naruto episode "Akamaru Unleashed! Who's Top Dog Now?"
In "Akamaru Unleashed! Who's Top Dog Now?", Naruto Uzumaki faces Kiba Inuzuka and his dog Akamaru in a Chunin Exams preliminary match. Naruto is outmatched by their beastly teamwork at first but wins by using a shadow clone and transforming into Akamaru to trick and restrain the real dog.
How does Naruto beat Kiba in this episode?
Naruto leaves a shadow clone on the ground to look defeated while transforming himself into Akamaru. When Kiba calls his real dog over, the clone restrains it, and Naruto, disguised as Akamaru, is able to turn the tables on Kiba.
What technique do Kiba and Akamaru use to power up?
Kiba and Akamaru power up using a food pill, which turns Akamaru's fur red and savage while Kiba swallows one himself. The pair then combine the Four Legs Technique with the Beast Human Clone and finish with the Fang Passing Fang attack.
What arc does this episode belong to?
This episode belongs to the Chunin Exams arc of the original Naruto series and adapts manga chapters 75 and 76.
Does Naruto give up after losing to Kiba and Akamaru?
No. Even after being beaten and mocked, Naruto renews his vow to become Hokage.
Sources & Information
Looking for more on Akamaru Unleashed! Who's Top Dog Now?? The Naruto Wiki on Fandom has a dedicated page with community notes.
View on FandomThis content is original writing by Daddy Jim Headquarters based on the Naruto anime series, manga, and official materials. Episode and chapter references are cited where applicable.
Character and scene imagery on this site is original artwork by Daddy Jim Headquarters, not screenshots or licensed imagery. Official cover art is used on three types of pages for editorial commentary:
- Movie pages: theatrical posters and key visuals, credited to Studio Pierrot and Toho.
- Game pages: official box art for the Naruto: Ultimate Ninja Storm games, credited to Bandai Namco.
- Manga chapter pages: Jump Comics volume covers, credited to Shueisha and Masashi Kishimoto.
Official resources:
Help Us Keep This Wiki Accurate
Daddy Jim Headquarters maintains this encyclopedia. If you spot an error, a translation issue, or something that doesn't look right, let us know.