Naruto the Movie: Guardians of the Crescent Moon Kingdom

Naruto the Movie Guardians of the Crescent Moon Kingdom , Dai Kfun Mikazukijima no Animaru Panikku Dattebayo? , lit. Great Excitement The Animal Panic of Crescent Moon Island is a 2006 Japanese anime film written and directed by Toshiyuki Tsuru. It is the third film based on the popular Naruto anime and manga series by Masashi Kishimoto. It is the last of the original Naruto series films before the Naruto Shippden series and Naruto Shippden the Movie started the following year. It was announced on August 6, 2005 at the opening of Naruto the MovieLegend of the Stone of Gelel. TVTokyos website states that Great Excitement The Animal Panic of Crescent Moon Island was released in DVD format on April 25, 2007. The movie takes place after episode 196, during the animes post Sasuke era. Footage of this movie is seen in the opening and ending credits for episodes 197 through 199. In the United States the film was first shown on Cartoon Network on November 8, 2008 and was released on DVD on November 11, 2008.

Naruto Uzumaki, Kakashi Hatake, Sakura Haruno and Rock Lee are assigned to protect the prince of the Land of the Moon, Michiru, during his world trip other escorts had been hired, but quit due to being treated poorly. The Land of the Moon is a very wealthy nation, so Michiru tends to buy whatever he wants and has a very materialistic worldview. His son, Hikaru, also acts in much the same manner, annoying Naruto. During the trip, the caravan stops at a circus, during which Hikaru shot an apple that was in one of the circus acts. Amused, the ring master said if he can hit the apple with the monkey holding it moving he will get a prize. Hikaru made the shot. Hikaru took a liking to a rare sabertoothed tiger, Chamu, featured there, so he asked for it. The ringmaster claimed it to big and dangerous to take as a prize. Michiru ended up purchasing not only the saber toothe, but the whole circus as well, placing it under the teams protection. Before heading to the docks, they stop at the house of Michirus exwife Amayo. At the docks, Hikaru attempts to befriend the tiger, but finds that it dislikes humans. He loses interest in the circus and during a sea voyage, when a storm hits, he appears unconcerned about the animals wellbeing, causing Naruto to become disgusted at his lack of value for them. Upset by Narutos view of him, Hikaru goes out to help Chamu get to safety, and Naruto saves both of them after they wash overboard. The next day, Naruto and Hikaru become friends.After returning to the Land of the Moon, the team finds that the country has been taken over by Shabadaba, one of the nobles and a former friend of Michirus father Kakeru. Having hired three powerful ninjas to assist him, Shabadaba has disposed of Kakeru and plans to do the same with Michiru and Hikaru, the remaining heirs to the throne. He orders the military forces to kill them all, but the team is able to escape with the help of Korega, a soldier captain who leads the soldiers that are still loyal to th

Source: Wikipedia