Naruto Shippuden Episode 409: Their Backs
Filler/LOW
OSHIMETER
7.0
55 Fans
5
4
3
2
1
PacingVisualWritingEmo ImpactSoundtrack
OSHIMETER
7.0
55 Fans
5
4
3
2
1
PacingVisualWritingEmo ImpactSoundtrack
QUICK TAKES
setsuna_meioh
Sakura standing in front of Ino and Choji was nice to see and she really held it down for her team
matsumoto_melon_467
This felt a bit slower than the episode with Sasuke and Karin but at least we got to see some Team 7 progress
kikwi_294
Another week of filler when the war is literally happening in the background makes it so hard to care about these chunin exam flashbacks
sheikah
Jiraiya showing up again always gets me a little choked up, especially seeing him train Naruto like old times on the road. I guess that's why even though this whole filler arc feels kinda pointless, his guidance makes it feel like it matters, at least for a bit.
eudial
I totally loved watching Sakura take charge when everyone else was down; it felt like such a huge moment for her, finally getting to show off her medical training under serious pressure. Honestly, I've been waiting for her to get a spotlight like this, and seeing her confidently handle everything made me so proud of how far she's come.
ghosthardware
I actually thought the sand ninja controlling people with puppets was a super clever and creepy move, making those dolls look absolutely unsettling. But man, it was so frustrating to see Ino and Choji just floundering around, I really expected more from them given their past teamwork.
tengen_tempo_131
I seriously wasn't expecting Sakura to just wipe out that entire sand team like it was nothing, especially after all the times she felt helpless earlier in the series. It was such a satisfying moment, showing just how far she's come, and honestly, it made me forget I was even watching a filler for a bit.
kunzite
Ugh, another filler episode, I swear it barely pushed the main story forward at all! But seeing Naruto really struggle with trying to control the Nine-Tails power felt so real, it honestly reminded me of his earliest, toughest training days trying to get a handle on something way too powerful.
reiner_ronin
I was seriously amazed watching Sakura refuse to back down from the Hidden Sand squad, pouring all her focus into extracting that poison while keeping everyone else safe. Seeing that flashback to Naruto and Jiraiya just solidified it for me—she's been underestimated and now she's absolutely desperate to prove her worth, which makes her defiant stand against Lady Saya feel incredibly earned.
viral_187
Ugh, I was so frustrated when Ino and Choji just walked right into Lady Saya's trap, I mean, come on, you'd think they'd be more careful by now. But honestly, that creepy doll animation was really well done and kinda unnerving, which kept me from totally checking out on this episode.
guts_the_swordsman_189
When Sakura watched Naruto and Jiraiya, I felt that familiar ache for her, that deep-seated need to finally stand shoulder to shoulder with them and not just be left behind. But then watching her absolutely demolish that puppet user, I was seriously beaming with pride, seeing all her relentless training pay off and knowing she *is* closing that gap.
igos_du_ikana
Whoa, I was seriously surprised when Sakura just *punched* through that puppet to save everyone from the poison, like, finally! It's so good to see her not just standing there, you know? She's really stepping up and proving herself, and I love seeing that after all this time.
billen
Ugh, another filler episode, I just really want to get back to the main story already, you know? That creepy doll from the Sand Village felt so out of place and honestly gave me the shivers, but at least the new opening theme is a total banger and made me smile a little.
corkus_the_cynic_192
I was seriously so proud watching Sakura step up and shield Ino and Choji like that; it really highlighted just how far she's come from being the girl who always felt overshadowed, and honestly, I felt my heart swell a little bit seeing her take charge.
ai_hayasaka
Ugh, I totally felt for Sakura when Tsunade was basically telling her she couldn't be both a medic and a fighter. It’s just so clear that all Sakura wants is to finally feel truly valuable to her team, and that pressure must have been immense, especially after feeling like she was always behind Naruto and Sasuke.
sheik_263
I was genuinely so surprised by how much Sakura stepped up to protect Ino and Choji; it made me realize just how far she's come as a medic since the early days. She's definitely not just standing on the sidelines anymore, and her strength is seriously something else.
fireblight_ganon
My eyes just kept twitching watching those Sand shinobi try to pull off hand signs with their elbows; I couldn't wrap my head around how they thought that looked anything but totally awkward for a serious ninja fight. I spent most of the episode just mentally fast-forwarding, desperate for the actual story to pick back up.
sleepysquishs
I'm seriously over this filler, especially since it feels like we've been stuck in these Chunin Exam flashbacks forever when I know the real story is so much more intense. Honestly, even Mecha Naruto was a more entertaining distraction than watching them try to stretch this out even further; I just wish they'd get back to the manga plot already.
mitsuri_mochi_132
Ugh, this filler arc has been such a drag, I swear, but honestly, seeing Jiraiya training Naruto again was such a welcome surprise. It just made me so nostalgic for their original journey, and I always feel like I'm seeing a real mentor and student when they're together, even if it's just a flashback.
hunterxhunter_
Sakura really blew me away in this episode, actually using her medical ninjutsu to protect everyone in the desert. I've always thought she was capable, but seeing her take charge and practically lead that squad was a true moment of growth for my girl.
EPISODE CONTEXT
Sitting at episode 409 of 500, this filler installment follows 'The Cursed Puppet,' where Team Asuma clashed with Hidden Sand adversaries during Chunin Exams-era events. 'Their Backs' pivots from team combat to individual character development before leading into 'The Hidden Plot Set Into Motion,' which begins steering back toward broader narrative threads. This stretch of episodes falls deep in the filler-heavy back half of Shippuden, well removed from the main Fourth Great Ninja War storyline.
QUICK TAKES
setsuna_meioh
Sakura standing in front of Ino and Choji was nice to see and she really held it down for her team
matsumoto_melon_467
This felt a bit slower than the episode with Sasuke and Karin but at least we got to see some Team 7 progress
kikwi_294
Another week of filler when the war is literally happening in the background makes it so hard to care about these chunin exam flashbacks
sheikah
Jiraiya showing up again always gets me a little choked up, especially seeing him train Naruto like old times on the road. I guess that's why even though this whole filler arc feels kinda pointless, his guidance makes it feel like it matters, at least for a bit.
eudial
I totally loved watching Sakura take charge when everyone else was down; it felt like such a huge moment for her, finally getting to show off her medical training under serious pressure. Honestly, I've been waiting for her to get a spotlight like this, and seeing her confidently handle everything made me so proud of how far she's come.
ghosthardware
I actually thought the sand ninja controlling people with puppets was a super clever and creepy move, making those dolls look absolutely unsettling. But man, it was so frustrating to see Ino and Choji just floundering around, I really expected more from them given their past teamwork.
tengen_tempo_131
I seriously wasn't expecting Sakura to just wipe out that entire sand team like it was nothing, especially after all the times she felt helpless earlier in the series. It was such a satisfying moment, showing just how far she's come, and honestly, it made me forget I was even watching a filler for a bit.
kunzite
Ugh, another filler episode, I swear it barely pushed the main story forward at all! But seeing Naruto really struggle with trying to control the Nine-Tails power felt so real, it honestly reminded me of his earliest, toughest training days trying to get a handle on something way too powerful.
reiner_ronin
I was seriously amazed watching Sakura refuse to back down from the Hidden Sand squad, pouring all her focus into extracting that poison while keeping everyone else safe. Seeing that flashback to Naruto and Jiraiya just solidified it for me—she's been underestimated and now she's absolutely desperate to prove her worth, which makes her defiant stand against Lady Saya feel incredibly earned.
viral_187
Ugh, I was so frustrated when Ino and Choji just walked right into Lady Saya's trap, I mean, come on, you'd think they'd be more careful by now. But honestly, that creepy doll animation was really well done and kinda unnerving, which kept me from totally checking out on this episode.
guts_the_swordsman_189
When Sakura watched Naruto and Jiraiya, I felt that familiar ache for her, that deep-seated need to finally stand shoulder to shoulder with them and not just be left behind. But then watching her absolutely demolish that puppet user, I was seriously beaming with pride, seeing all her relentless training pay off and knowing she *is* closing that gap.
igos_du_ikana
Whoa, I was seriously surprised when Sakura just *punched* through that puppet to save everyone from the poison, like, finally! It's so good to see her not just standing there, you know? She's really stepping up and proving herself, and I love seeing that after all this time.
billen
Ugh, another filler episode, I just really want to get back to the main story already, you know? That creepy doll from the Sand Village felt so out of place and honestly gave me the shivers, but at least the new opening theme is a total banger and made me smile a little.
corkus_the_cynic_192
I was seriously so proud watching Sakura step up and shield Ino and Choji like that; it really highlighted just how far she's come from being the girl who always felt overshadowed, and honestly, I felt my heart swell a little bit seeing her take charge.
ai_hayasaka
Ugh, I totally felt for Sakura when Tsunade was basically telling her she couldn't be both a medic and a fighter. It’s just so clear that all Sakura wants is to finally feel truly valuable to her team, and that pressure must have been immense, especially after feeling like she was always behind Naruto and Sasuke.
sheik_263
I was genuinely so surprised by how much Sakura stepped up to protect Ino and Choji; it made me realize just how far she's come as a medic since the early days. She's definitely not just standing on the sidelines anymore, and her strength is seriously something else.
fireblight_ganon
My eyes just kept twitching watching those Sand shinobi try to pull off hand signs with their elbows; I couldn't wrap my head around how they thought that looked anything but totally awkward for a serious ninja fight. I spent most of the episode just mentally fast-forwarding, desperate for the actual story to pick back up.
sleepysquishs
I'm seriously over this filler, especially since it feels like we've been stuck in these Chunin Exam flashbacks forever when I know the real story is so much more intense. Honestly, even Mecha Naruto was a more entertaining distraction than watching them try to stretch this out even further; I just wish they'd get back to the manga plot already.
mitsuri_mochi_132
Ugh, this filler arc has been such a drag, I swear, but honestly, seeing Jiraiya training Naruto again was such a welcome surprise. It just made me so nostalgic for their original journey, and I always feel like I'm seeing a real mentor and student when they're together, even if it's just a flashback.
hunterxhunter_
Sakura really blew me away in this episode, actually using her medical ninjutsu to protect everyone in the desert. I've always thought she was capable, but seeing her take charge and practically lead that squad was a true moment of growth for my girl.
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