The 209th episode of Naruto opens a guarded prisoner transfer, tasking three young ninja with delivering a captured rogue while the escort captain nurses a private grudge against the very man they are sworn to protect.
Main Characters (5)
Summary
Naruto, Sakura and Lee take a job escorting a criminal ninja named Gantetsu to prison, part of a loose band known as the Ninja Dropouts. Their charge must be kept alive because his former comrades are expected to come for him. Along the way the team learns that Todoroki, who leads the guard detail, carries a bitter personal history with Gantetsu tied to the fate of his parents and his younger brother Akio.
Key Events
One of the Ninja Dropouts launches an assault during the journey, and in the chaos the group is split apart. Naruto, Todoroki and Gantetsu end up cut off from Sakura, Lee and the rest of the guards, leaving the captain alone with both the prisoner he despises and the boy sworn to keep that prisoner safe.
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Notes
The episode belongs to the Gantetsu Escort Mission, an anime-original arc, and first aired in Japan on November 9, 2006. It holds a footnote in broadcast history as the final episode of the English dub to air on Cartoon Network, following the shutdown of Toonami Jetstream, while YTV's Bionix block carried the series onward into late 2009.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is The Enemy: Ninja Dropouts about?
The Enemy: Ninja Dropouts follows Naruto, Sakura, and Rock Lee as they escort a captured criminal ninja named Gantetsu to prison, guarding him from his former allies in the Ninja Dropouts gang.
Who leads the escort mission in The Enemy: Ninja Dropouts?
The escort team in The Enemy: Ninja Dropouts is led by Todoroki, who harbors a bitter personal grudge against the prisoner Gantetsu tied to the deaths of his parents and younger brother Akio.
What happens when the Ninja Dropouts attack in The Enemy: Ninja Dropouts?
During the prisoner transfer in The Enemy: Ninja Dropouts, one of the Ninja Dropouts launches an ambush that splits the group, leaving Naruto, Todoroki, and Gantetsu cut off from Sakura, Lee, and the rest of the guards.
What arc does The Enemy: Ninja Dropouts belong to?
The Enemy: Ninja Dropouts is episode 209 of the original Naruto anime and belongs to the anime-original Gantetsu Escort Mission arc.
Is The Enemy: Ninja Dropouts significant in Naruto's broadcast history?
The Enemy: Ninja Dropouts holds a footnote in broadcast history as the final Naruto episode to air on Cartoon Network's English dub before Toonami Jetstream shut down, after which YTV's Bionix block carried the series onward.
Sources & Information
Looking for more on The Enemy: Ninja Dropouts? 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.
Rights holders
- Created byMasashi Kishimoto
- Published byShueisha
- Animated byStudio Pierrot
All rights belong to their respective owners.
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:
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