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Naruto first directly fights Pain in Naruto: Shippuden episode 163, “Explosion! Sage Mode.” The confrontation continues through episode 169; the Nine-Tails escalation happens in episode 167.
How the Naruto vs. Pain fight unfolds
The familiar Shippuden episode sequence places Naruto’s arrival at the devastated Leaf Village and his first direct clash with Pain in episode 163. NarutoHQ’s episode guide and TV Guide’s synopsis identify that episode as the start of the confrontation.
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| 1 |
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Naruto Shippuden: Anime Series Complete DVD Box Sets 1 - 5 Collection Episodes 1-65 Uncut | $109.36 | Buy on Amazon |
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Naruto Shippuden: Set One | $14.99 | Buy on Amazon |
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Naruto Shippuden: Set Four | $19.22 | Buy on Amazon |
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Naruto Shippuden: Set 11 | $24.13 | Buy on Amazon |
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Naruto Shippuden: Set 13 | $19.97 | Buy on Amazon |
| Episode | What happens |
|---|---|
| 163, “Explosion! Sage Mode” | Naruto arrives in the Leaf Village and confronts Pain. |
| 164–166 | The battle continues, with Naruto using Sage Mode and Pain countering. Episode 166, “Confession,” leads into Hinata’s intervention. |
| 167, “Planetary Devastation” | Naruto loses control and the Nine-Tails emerges. Crunchyroll’s clip identifies the escalation as episode 167. |
| 168–169 | The story moves from Naruto’s conversation with Minato toward his pursuit of the real Pain. |
Does Naruto fight Pain or Nagato?
“Pain” can refer to the bodies used in battle—the Six Paths of Pain—or to Nagato, the person controlling them. Episode 163 begins Naruto’s fight against Pain’s bodies. The later pursuit of the real Pain is a distinct story beat: the Naruto Official Site’s synopsis for “The Two Students” says Naruto heads to where the real Pain is hiding. That site labels the entry episode 389.
Why episode numbers can differ by service
The familiar Shippuden guide numbers the confrontation 163–169, but the Naruto Official Site uses different numbers for related entries, including 385 for “Nine Tail, Captured!” and 389 for “The Two Students.” The official site also notes regional variation. If a streaming catalogue’s number does not match, look for the episode title and synopsis rather than relying on the number alone.
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