Naruto Anime Analysis

Season 1: Episode 8

Source: Wikipedia

"The Oath of Pain"

"Kakashi is eventually caught off-guard and captured in the Water Prison Technique. With Kakashi immobilized, Zabuza creates a water clone to go after the rest of Team 7 and Tazuna. Though Kakashi tells his students to run, Naruto remembers the promise he made to himself and decides to fight to save Kakashi and keep Tazuna alive. With Naruto using his transformation skills and Sasuke's expertise with a Fuma Shuriken, the two youths succeed in forcing Zabuza to release Kakashi to avoid Naruto's kunai."

Analysis

Naruto has matured as a ninja in the sense that he remembered his promise when he stabbed his hand. Therefore, this compelled him to save Kakashi and keep Tazuna alive. There is a valid reason Naruto has matured as a ninja. For instance, he used his Shadow Clones to fight Zabuza. Not only that, he used one of his shadow clones to transform into a Fuma Shuriken. Naruto throws the "Fuma Shuriken" at Sasuke. At that moment, Sasuke instantly knew it was Naruto and threw the "Fuma Shuriken" at Zabuza. As supported by Wikipedia, "the two youths succeed in forcing Zabuza to release Kakashi to avoid Naruto's kunai."

Naruto is shown to be a true genius. He came up with a brilliant plan to save Kakashi by using the Shadow Clone to transform into a Fuma Shuriken. This left Sasuke impressed. Therefore, due to the recent events, Naruto is on the right path to getting people to acknowledge him as a ninja. Thus, the theme of change is evident on the part of Naruto.

The lesson from this episode is that one should never give up on accomplishing their goals. Just like Naruto when he stabbed his hand to make "The Oath of Pain," he refused to be the victim, and now he's on the right path to becoming a strong ninja.