I'll start - the Naruto Chuunin exam arc was on another level of greatness. Between Rock Lee, Neji, and Hinata, the character development was ridiculous. Shikarmaru turns his persona from lazy student to genius shinobi. You had Orochimaru turn out to be not some pesky villain, but a major threat to the Leaf Village. Kabuto coming out of nowhere pretending to be a happy-go lucky student when he was really a trained assassin. You know your jaw dropped when you saw him hang with Kakashi. Gaara was the GOAT arch-rival in this, he was murking students in the tournament like it was nothing. Sasuke developing a new technique, but Naruto saving the village, and the 4th Hokage dying. Not to mention the goat battle between Naruto and Neji. The list goes on and on.
Honorable mention - Yu Yu Hakusho Dark tournament. Greatest moment - Yusuke's final test having to absorb Genkai's spirit energy for 3 days.
