Kanashimi wo Yasashisa ni (悲しみをやさしさに)

"Kanashimi wo Yasashisa ni" is a song by the Japanese pop duo little by little that became the third opening theme for Naruto (ナルト). Released on March 17, 2004 as the duo’s third single, it accompanied the Studio Pierrot television series after its 2002 debut and sits in the show’s early run.

The track is built as bright J-Pop, with a brisk beat, clear guitar-led momentum, and a chorus that opens outward rather than turning heavy. Its clean melodic lift gives the vocal line a steady forward push, balancing wistfulness in the title with a more encouraging, resilient tone.

That mix suits Naruto’s opening stretch, where loneliness, rivalry, and the drive for recognition all sit close together. The song frames the series with movement rather than introspection, matching a story of persistence and growing bonds. Its single also included the B-sides "Orange" and "Do You Believe In Magic?", and the song later appeared on little by little’s first album Sweet Noodle Pop.