Naruto: Shippu-den tells the story of a matured and older cast from the original series. After training for 2½ years with Jiraiya, Naruto Uzumaki, now fifteen, returns to Konohagakure, reunites with the friends he left behind, and reforms the original Team 7, excluding Sasuke Uchiha.

Unlike the original series, the organization of Akatsuki, which played a minor role earlier, takes on the main antagonist factor in their attempts of world domination. All of Naruto’s classmates have matured and improved in the ranks, some more than others.