Naruto Shippuden Episode 397: One Worthy As A Leader
Filler/LOW
OSHIMETER
6.6
54 Fans
5
4
3
2
1
PacingVisualWritingEmo ImpactSoundtrack
OSHIMETER
6.6
54 Fans
5
4
3
2
1
PacingVisualWritingEmo ImpactSoundtrack
QUICK TAKES
vasto_lorde_void
Neji using the Byakugan to cheat in the exam was such a throwback and it felt like the original series. He actually struggled with the teamwork aspect instead of just being a genius
chaos
I gotta say, seeing Neji use his Byakugan to send those signals through the floor really made me genuinely smile; it showed he's truly come into his own as a leader for Lee and Tenten. It feels like he's totally shed that old fatalistic attitude, which is awesome to see from him.
sawyer
That "me" rule for disqualification is just brutal; I can totally picture myself making that exact mistake under pressure, it's such a cheap shot to be kicked out for something so minor after all they've been through. It honestly feels like a really messed-up psychological game by the proctors, just adding to the impossible stakes.
raphtalia_raccoon
How are we supposed to believe the Chunin Exam is a serious test when they can just smash holes through walls to talk to each other? That whole separation rule just gets tossed out the window, and honestly, it makes me question the proctors' intelligence for not seeing that coming.
rickert_the_smith
The genin figuring out that communication trick between the rooms was pretty smart, but Neji actually choosing to genuinely help everyone there, not just looking out for himself, was what really stood out to me. I couldn't help but connect it back to his cold, fatalistic worldview during the Chunin exams, and seeing him act so selflessly now makes me feel incredibly proud of his journey.
inu_no_taisho
I seriously loved how Shikamaru pulled that three-minute question out of nowhere, it was so him to come up with something sneaky just to see everyone panic. It actually made me think back to his chunin exams, where he was always observing and figuring people out under pressure, and I totally got why he did it here.
dendra
When those exam rules practically encouraged everyone to just smash through the walls, I couldn't help but wonder if Ibiki or Anko were just bored and wanted some chaos. It's wild how blatantly those loopholes were laid out, almost like they were inviting mass destruction. I figured it had to be a way to test their resourcefulness under pressure, not just their smarts.
sailor_lead_crow
I actually thought it was pretty neat seeing the Chunin Exams again, but honestly, it feels like such a bizarre time to bring them back when everyone's supposed to be worried about a world-ending war. I can't help but feel like it totally throws off the intensity the main story had built up.
hakudoshi
When Neji decided to help everyone else instead of just using his Byakugan for his own team, I just couldn't believe it—it felt so out of character for the old Neji, and honestly, a super risky move that could've cost him and Tenten the whole exam. I mean, I get he's come a long way from his fatalistic days, but my stomach dropped thinking about what if it all went wrong.
ichigo_inoue_67
It felt so good to watch Neji really step up and lead the others, especially knowing how much he learned from the Sasuke retrieval mission; you can tell he genuinely puts his comrades first now after seeing things go south before. But seriously, the exam logic with the writing on paper totally threw me for a loop, and I'm still trying to figure out how those rules actually worked.
rosa_sisters_276
I was actually so surprised to see Neji step up like that in the middle of all the chaos during the exam, especially thinking back to how he was in the chunin exams in the original series. It really makes me appreciate his journey and how much he's changed for the better since then.
robin_reader
Shikamaru really got me with that last-minute three-minute question; I totally felt the panic alongside everyone else when he pulled that at the very end. It was such a classic move from him, though, making sure they were truly tested under pressure, and honestly, I kinda respected the sneaky brilliance of it even as it made me groan.
dr_zager_349
Shikamaru's tough question about who to sacrifice immediately made me flash back to Kakashi’s team test, and I kinda braced myself, half-expecting Neji to still be stuck on his old fatalistic crap. But Neji just penned "none" with such conviction, and honestly, my heart swelled seeing that defiant act; it proves he’s truly shed that cold, 'fate dictates all' kid from the Chunin Exams.
theanimewarlord
Neji, just naturally taking charge of the entire room during those intense mental games, completely threw me for a loop; I seriously wasn't expecting him to step up like a proctor, and it really highlights how much he's grown since his early days. The tension was palpable even without any fighting, and when Shikamaru's final question brought it all back to teamwork, it hit me as such a classic Naruto move that it reminded me of those vital early lessons.
rukongai_ronin
I really liked seeing Neji keep his head during all that chaos, it just showed how much he'd grown as a shinobi. But man, those scenes with Danzo and Tsunade were a bit of a snooze for me; I just kept thinking, "We know how this whole Hidden Rain thing ends, can we get back to the current timeline already?"
jet_black_177
I honestly didn't expect an episode with zero fighting to be so captivating, but Neji seriously blew my mind using those walls for communication. It just made me appreciate how much cleverness goes into being a ninja, and that exam felt like a genuinely intense, strategic challenge for them.
jolyne_cujoh
I actually really enjoyed the change of pace this episode; it took me back to the original Naruto series where strategy was just as important as strength, which I sometimes miss. Seeing Neji show such calm leadership by sensing everyone through the walls was impressive, and Shikamaru designing that perfect psychological trap with the final question totally got me – I didn't expect him to corner them so brilliantly!
zenitsu_zap
I was genuinely shocked by Danzo's ruthlessness in that flashback with Hanzo; seeing him so casually manipulate events for his own power, even during the Chunin Exams, really solidifies my disdain for him and makes me wonder how much more of the village's history he secretly orchestrated. It's frustrating to think about how many lives were likely ruined just for his twisted vision of peace.
reiner_ronin
When they decided to leave that last answer blank, a wave of relief washed over me, affirming that their teamwork and bonds truly outweighed just passing the Chunin Exam, something I know Naruto himself would've championed. Neji stepping up and commanding respect like he did was genuinely surprising, especially seeing Shikamaru finally acknowledge his leadership—it felt like a real turning point for those two.
m1ndc0mm4nd3r
Why, oh why, did they decide now was the perfect time for filler? I was completely invested in the war, and suddenly everything screeched to a halt, leaving me just staring at the screen feeling like my hype got stolen.
EPISODE CONTEXT
Falling deep into Shippuden's filler stretch in the high 390s, this episode continues the anime-original Chūnin Exams arc that expands on events between major canon storylines. It follows directly from 'The Three Questions,' transitioning the exams from their written phase toward more practical trials. It sets up the next stage of competition while giving extended spotlight to side characters who rarely get this level of focus in the main plot.
QUICK TAKES
vasto_lorde_void
Neji using the Byakugan to cheat in the exam was such a throwback and it felt like the original series. He actually struggled with the teamwork aspect instead of just being a genius
chaos
I gotta say, seeing Neji use his Byakugan to send those signals through the floor really made me genuinely smile; it showed he's truly come into his own as a leader for Lee and Tenten. It feels like he's totally shed that old fatalistic attitude, which is awesome to see from him.
sawyer
That "me" rule for disqualification is just brutal; I can totally picture myself making that exact mistake under pressure, it's such a cheap shot to be kicked out for something so minor after all they've been through. It honestly feels like a really messed-up psychological game by the proctors, just adding to the impossible stakes.
raphtalia_raccoon
How are we supposed to believe the Chunin Exam is a serious test when they can just smash holes through walls to talk to each other? That whole separation rule just gets tossed out the window, and honestly, it makes me question the proctors' intelligence for not seeing that coming.
rickert_the_smith
The genin figuring out that communication trick between the rooms was pretty smart, but Neji actually choosing to genuinely help everyone there, not just looking out for himself, was what really stood out to me. I couldn't help but connect it back to his cold, fatalistic worldview during the Chunin exams, and seeing him act so selflessly now makes me feel incredibly proud of his journey.
inu_no_taisho
I seriously loved how Shikamaru pulled that three-minute question out of nowhere, it was so him to come up with something sneaky just to see everyone panic. It actually made me think back to his chunin exams, where he was always observing and figuring people out under pressure, and I totally got why he did it here.
dendra
When those exam rules practically encouraged everyone to just smash through the walls, I couldn't help but wonder if Ibiki or Anko were just bored and wanted some chaos. It's wild how blatantly those loopholes were laid out, almost like they were inviting mass destruction. I figured it had to be a way to test their resourcefulness under pressure, not just their smarts.
sailor_lead_crow
I actually thought it was pretty neat seeing the Chunin Exams again, but honestly, it feels like such a bizarre time to bring them back when everyone's supposed to be worried about a world-ending war. I can't help but feel like it totally throws off the intensity the main story had built up.
hakudoshi
When Neji decided to help everyone else instead of just using his Byakugan for his own team, I just couldn't believe it—it felt so out of character for the old Neji, and honestly, a super risky move that could've cost him and Tenten the whole exam. I mean, I get he's come a long way from his fatalistic days, but my stomach dropped thinking about what if it all went wrong.
ichigo_inoue_67
It felt so good to watch Neji really step up and lead the others, especially knowing how much he learned from the Sasuke retrieval mission; you can tell he genuinely puts his comrades first now after seeing things go south before. But seriously, the exam logic with the writing on paper totally threw me for a loop, and I'm still trying to figure out how those rules actually worked.
rosa_sisters_276
I was actually so surprised to see Neji step up like that in the middle of all the chaos during the exam, especially thinking back to how he was in the chunin exams in the original series. It really makes me appreciate his journey and how much he's changed for the better since then.
robin_reader
Shikamaru really got me with that last-minute three-minute question; I totally felt the panic alongside everyone else when he pulled that at the very end. It was such a classic move from him, though, making sure they were truly tested under pressure, and honestly, I kinda respected the sneaky brilliance of it even as it made me groan.
dr_zager_349
Shikamaru's tough question about who to sacrifice immediately made me flash back to Kakashi’s team test, and I kinda braced myself, half-expecting Neji to still be stuck on his old fatalistic crap. But Neji just penned "none" with such conviction, and honestly, my heart swelled seeing that defiant act; it proves he’s truly shed that cold, 'fate dictates all' kid from the Chunin Exams.
theanimewarlord
Neji, just naturally taking charge of the entire room during those intense mental games, completely threw me for a loop; I seriously wasn't expecting him to step up like a proctor, and it really highlights how much he's grown since his early days. The tension was palpable even without any fighting, and when Shikamaru's final question brought it all back to teamwork, it hit me as such a classic Naruto move that it reminded me of those vital early lessons.
rukongai_ronin
I really liked seeing Neji keep his head during all that chaos, it just showed how much he'd grown as a shinobi. But man, those scenes with Danzo and Tsunade were a bit of a snooze for me; I just kept thinking, "We know how this whole Hidden Rain thing ends, can we get back to the current timeline already?"
jet_black_177
I honestly didn't expect an episode with zero fighting to be so captivating, but Neji seriously blew my mind using those walls for communication. It just made me appreciate how much cleverness goes into being a ninja, and that exam felt like a genuinely intense, strategic challenge for them.
jolyne_cujoh
I actually really enjoyed the change of pace this episode; it took me back to the original Naruto series where strategy was just as important as strength, which I sometimes miss. Seeing Neji show such calm leadership by sensing everyone through the walls was impressive, and Shikamaru designing that perfect psychological trap with the final question totally got me – I didn't expect him to corner them so brilliantly!
zenitsu_zap
I was genuinely shocked by Danzo's ruthlessness in that flashback with Hanzo; seeing him so casually manipulate events for his own power, even during the Chunin Exams, really solidifies my disdain for him and makes me wonder how much more of the village's history he secretly orchestrated. It's frustrating to think about how many lives were likely ruined just for his twisted vision of peace.
reiner_ronin
When they decided to leave that last answer blank, a wave of relief washed over me, affirming that their teamwork and bonds truly outweighed just passing the Chunin Exam, something I know Naruto himself would've championed. Neji stepping up and commanding respect like he did was genuinely surprising, especially seeing Shikamaru finally acknowledge his leadership—it felt like a real turning point for those two.
m1ndc0mm4nd3r
Why, oh why, did they decide now was the perfect time for filler? I was completely invested in the war, and suddenly everything screeched to a halt, leaving me just staring at the screen feeling like my hype got stolen.
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