The hugely successful anime series Naruto follows the trials and tribulations of an orphaned adolescent boy as he progresses through the Ninja Academy. Along the way, he struggles with his own inadequacies -- both in his physical skills as a ninja and his social interactions with other academy students. As an infant, Naruto wound up carrying the spirit of the demon who attacked his village, killing many -- including Naruto's parents. The spirit's presence caused Naruto to be singled out and ostracized by the other villagers. His one friend, ninja instructor Umino Iruka, helps Naruto overcome his feelings of inadequacy and pursue formal ninja instruction.