On September 10th, 2005, the successful anime-series "Naruto" went on the air for the first time on Cartoon Network during their "Toonami"-programme. However, to receive a lower rating for the series they had to alter several scenes of each episode.
However, the changes are rather moderate. Even though several cuts and edits seem rather strange (especially for non-Americans who probably won't see the problem with scenes where one of the characters smokes) the American TV version is still quite watchable. The blood retouchings are also not that noticeable - most of the time they just reduced the amount of blood and if you don't know the original version you probably won't notice it. Other "problematic" things (such as "mean" slurs or mentioning death) didn't have to be altered.
However, they produced a separate opening as well as separate credits for the US version (which is quite the standard for anime-releases in the USA). They are quite different and in terms of music one could describe it as a mixture of Rock and Rap.

Altered Characters: After the first run in Japan several changes were made in order to make the characters look more like in the comics. This will be mentioned, however, not always that detailed. E.g. in Episode 41 Sakura and Ino were completely re-drawn for a flashback scene where you see them as kids. As you can imagine it would simply be too much footage to show if you were to illustrate all of these scenes. Therefore, edits like this will only be listed once (especially when the following edits are similar/identical to this one). Other edits/alterations - of course - will be mentioned.

The images will be shown as follows:
On left side: Japanese Version
On the right side: US Version


About this episode: besides a few minor modification, there's a very confusing difference in this episode. The dust cloud when Shino gets knocked out has been used in several episodes before (even in the US Version) to illustrate the K.O. or death. I don't know why this particular scene has been censored here. Besides the credits, there's no difference in this episode.

0:01:46
The text box has been translated.

no difference

0:07:38
Blood retouch.

no difference

0:12:02
Just like in episode 22, the transition from Sharingan to Rock Lee's reflection has been modified. While the transition in the Japanese Version is quite smooth, the eye flickers several times in the US Version until it's suddenly there (the transition rougher in general).

no difference

0:14:53
Correction: in the Japanese Version, it looks like Kakashi isn't wearing a mask. But he usually wears it, that's why the color has been changed in the US Version.

no difference

0:15:07
Different image section of Kakashi and Sasuke leaving.

no difference

0:16:21
The text box has been translated, as usual.

no difference

0:17:12
The color filter in the flashback of Sasuke breaking Zaku both arms has been changed from red to green.

no difference

0:18:45
The cloud dust has been modified to cover Shino lying on the ground.

no difference

0:19:33
The letters that are used for sealing have been modified.

no difference

0:19:38
So has this part of the ceremony.

no difference

0:20:35
The Japanese Version only contains Orochimaru's silhouette, the US Version contains a few more deets.

no difference

0:20:47
While Orochimaru is totally covered by his aura in the Japanese Version, she only covers his sides in the US Version.

no difference