Naruto Episode 21: Identify Yourself: Powerful New Rivals
Canon/MED
OSHIMETER
9.4
60 Fans
5
4
3
2
1
PacingVisualWritingEmo ImpactSoundtrack
OSHIMETER
9.4
60 Fans
5
4
3
2
1
PacingVisualWritingEmo ImpactSoundtrack
QUICK TAKES
izzuddinfaiz6
VerifiedThis episode was so intense, Tsunagakure shinobi's are so arrogant
uncultured_bovine
Verified
hellozaworldo
VerifiedAnother solid episode 🤯 they cookin now with these character introductions. Great way to build hype for the new arc
nicholas9547481273
VerifiedSeveral introductions from ninja candidates from other villages enrich the plot. While Iruka possessed doubts about the Chunin exam candidate introductions, it was not the case. The animation of the flow is the story helps the audience to look forward to the Chunin exam.
nunnally_lamperouge_174
Naruto getting ignored by Gaara actually hurt my soul and he was just trying to be friendly but that desert kid is terrifying and he barely even did anything yet
professor_sada
I honestly thought Sasuke was going to be the strongest kid around but Rock Lee just completely changed the game for me and he looks like a total dork with that bowl cut, but he moved so fast that nobody even saw him jump in to stop that kick and it was hilarious how he basically told Sasuke to watch out, and he even hit on Sakura
breemx1
My heart actually hurt for Naruto when Gaara just told him to shut up because he only cared about Sasuke and he keeps getting overlooked even though he works just as hard as everyone else
vicious_179
Rock Lee asking Sakura out right after showing off those insane moves was the funniest thing and her face when she saw those bushy eyebrows was absolutely priceless even if he did just save them
ptilol_385
You can really tell the exams are going to be tough when even the door number is a trick to catch people off guard
bloo_balloon
Seeing those hidden sound ninja watching everyone from the bushes makes me think this exam is going to turn into a total bloodbath and they seem like they have some really nasty plans for Sasuke
impa
Rock Lee really showed up and made Sasuke look slow, which is wild after everyone spent the whole series saying Sasuke was the top guy in the class.
ein
I am obsessed with Rock Lee already because his design is so weird and he just appeared out of nowhere to stop the fight before it even started which was such a cool entrance
kiawe
Gaara hanging upside down from that tree was so creepy and he literally threatened to kill his own brother without even blinking and he definitely feels way more dangerous than any villain we have seen so far
daboruto
Gaara just ignoring Naruto to ask for Sasuke's name made me realize how scary he is. He made Kankuro look like a total joke just by hanging from a tree
tracey_sketchit_337
Iruka trying to protect the kids by testing them in disguise was sweet, but it also shows how much the stakes are jumping up for the exams
miyuki_shirogane
I felt so bad for Naruto because every time a new strong guy shows up they only want to talk to Sasuke and they just act like Naruto does not even exist but I know he is going to prove them all wrong during these exams because he has that drive to win no matter how much they ignore him
professor_elm_330
It was actually cool seeing Sakura be the one to figure out the genjutsu on the second floor before anyone else and she really needed a win like that to show she belongs there
kaolinite_382
Gaara hanging upside down from that tree and threatening his brother actually gave me chills
yiga_clan
That moment Sakura spotted the fake Sasuke and stood her ground made me feel like she is finally starting to trust her own eyes
sailor_uranus_397
The tension between Kakashi and Iruka in the office felt real, especially since they both just want what is best for the kids in their own way.
EPISODE CONTEXT
Directly following episode 20's introduction of the Chunin Exam concept, this episode functions as the critical bridge between Team 7's early missions and the exam's brutal challenges. It resolves the question of participation while establishing the emotional groundwork — particularly the Kakashi-Iruka tension — that gives the upcoming trials personal weight. From here, the series accelerates into the exam proper, one of Naruto's most iconic and sustained arcs.
QUICK TAKES
izzuddinfaiz6
VerifiedThis episode was so intense, Tsunagakure shinobi's are so arrogant
uncultured_bovine
Verifiedhellozaworldo
VerifiedAnother solid episode 🤯 they cookin now with these character introductions. Great way to build hype for the new arc
nicholas9547481273
VerifiedSeveral introductions from ninja candidates from other villages enrich the plot. While Iruka possessed doubts about the Chunin exam candidate introductions, it was not the case. The animation of the flow is the story helps the audience to look forward to the Chunin exam.
nunnally_lamperouge_174
Naruto getting ignored by Gaara actually hurt my soul and he was just trying to be friendly but that desert kid is terrifying and he barely even did anything yet
professor_sada
I honestly thought Sasuke was going to be the strongest kid around but Rock Lee just completely changed the game for me and he looks like a total dork with that bowl cut, but he moved so fast that nobody even saw him jump in to stop that kick and it was hilarious how he basically told Sasuke to watch out, and he even hit on Sakura
breemx1
My heart actually hurt for Naruto when Gaara just told him to shut up because he only cared about Sasuke and he keeps getting overlooked even though he works just as hard as everyone else
vicious_179
Rock Lee asking Sakura out right after showing off those insane moves was the funniest thing and her face when she saw those bushy eyebrows was absolutely priceless even if he did just save them
ptilol_385
You can really tell the exams are going to be tough when even the door number is a trick to catch people off guard
bloo_balloon
Seeing those hidden sound ninja watching everyone from the bushes makes me think this exam is going to turn into a total bloodbath and they seem like they have some really nasty plans for Sasuke
impa
Rock Lee really showed up and made Sasuke look slow, which is wild after everyone spent the whole series saying Sasuke was the top guy in the class.
ein
I am obsessed with Rock Lee already because his design is so weird and he just appeared out of nowhere to stop the fight before it even started which was such a cool entrance
kiawe
Gaara hanging upside down from that tree was so creepy and he literally threatened to kill his own brother without even blinking and he definitely feels way more dangerous than any villain we have seen so far
daboruto
Gaara just ignoring Naruto to ask for Sasuke's name made me realize how scary he is. He made Kankuro look like a total joke just by hanging from a tree
tracey_sketchit_337
Iruka trying to protect the kids by testing them in disguise was sweet, but it also shows how much the stakes are jumping up for the exams
miyuki_shirogane
I felt so bad for Naruto because every time a new strong guy shows up they only want to talk to Sasuke and they just act like Naruto does not even exist but I know he is going to prove them all wrong during these exams because he has that drive to win no matter how much they ignore him
professor_elm_330
It was actually cool seeing Sakura be the one to figure out the genjutsu on the second floor before anyone else and she really needed a win like that to show she belongs there
kaolinite_382
Gaara hanging upside down from that tree and threatening his brother actually gave me chills
yiga_clan
That moment Sakura spotted the fake Sasuke and stood her ground made me feel like she is finally starting to trust her own eyes
sailor_uranus_397
The tension between Kakashi and Iruka in the office felt real, especially since they both just want what is best for the kids in their own way.
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