Naruto Episode 38: Narrowing the Field: Sudden Death Elimination!

Canon/MED

OSHIMETER

8.5

59 Fans

5

4

3

2

1

PacingVisualWritingEmo ImpactSoundtrack

← Prev: EP 37 Next: EP 39 →

Naruto Episode 38: Narrowing the Field: Sudden Death Elimination!

Canon/MED

← Prev: EP 37 Next: EP 39 →

OSHIMETER

8.5

59 Fans

5

4

3

2

1

PacingVisualWritingEmo ImpactSoundtrack

QUICK TAKES

Sakura's worry is valid af but of course Sasuke would push thru lmao. What's wholesome too is Kakashi showing care in his own way :')

Yo this sudden death thing definitely made things heavier. On top of that, new techniques arise with the first fight. The justus in this world is so creatively written aaaa

uncultured_bovine

The dialogue in the first half felt a bit too long, but nice narrative still. Who knew that Kabuto and this Yoroi guy could be more interesting than before

sanemi_storm_133

Kabuto dropping out after all that work makes zero sense and he looked way too calm about failing for the seventh time so he is definitely hiding something for Orochimaru

Wait I can't believe Kabuto just walked away like that after helping them so much and it feels way too suspicious for a guy with his skills, I actually felt for Sakura when she tried to get Sasuke to stop because that mark on his neck looks genuinely painful and seeing him struggle against Yoroi's chakra drain was hard to watch

aqua_archpriest

Kabuto just quitting out of nowhere is the shadiest thing and you can tell he has some crazy secret motive for leaving early

You can really see Orochimaru pulling the strings from the shadows and he just wants to see Sasuke suffer until he gives in to that mark

The proctor needs some cough medicine or something and it was honestly hard to focus on the rules while he was hacking up a lung

I am so hyped for these 1v1 fights, but honestly, the way they just sprung this on everyone right after the forest is brutal. Sasuke looks like he is barely holding it together and Sakura crying for him to stop was actually heartbreaking because he is too stubborn to listen. It is going to be rough watching him fight without his sharingan though

schtzstaffel_scythe_481

Everything felt so high stakes the moment that giant scoreboard started spinning, and realizing we are getting one on one matches now, it is just awesome

I feel so bad for Sakura watching Sasuke struggle like that and her face when she was begging him to quit really got me man

Wait, so Kabuto just leaves right when things get interesting, and nobody thinks it is suspicious that he quit on the spot

Sakura wanting to stop the fight for Sasukes sake hit me hard because she is the only one who really sees how much he is suffering right now

My heart sank when Sasuke started coughing and the mark began spreading during the start of the match because it looks like he might actually lose

microwaved_dave

Sasuke is basically fighting with one hand tied behind his back and seeing him struggle against a guy who absorbs chakra is honestly terrifying

Orochimaru is still ruining everything even when he isn't on screen and Sasuke can't even use his eyes now

The look on everyone's face when they saw Gaara standing there with that sand gourd was so intense after the forest massacre

diablo_demon_155

I really thought Kabuto was a decent guy but his face when he left the room was so shady and now I don't trust him at all

Seeing Sakura get so upset and try to stop Sasuke from fighting actually got to me because he is clearly in so much pain

kagamine_twins_495

Tournament arcs are always the best part of these shows and having everyone fight one on one right now is exactly what the story needed

EPISODE CONTEXT

Coming off the grueling Forest of Death survival arc where Team 7 faced life-threatening challenges as a unit, episode 38 pivots the Chūnin Exams toward individual combat. This is the critical transition point—team dynamics give way to personal trials, rivalries, and hidden vulnerabilities that will define the next stretch of episodes. The preliminary matches announced here set the stage for some of Naruto's most iconic early fights.

AnimeOshi.com refers to anime titles, character names, logos, and other trademarked or copyrighted materials to identify and describe the works being reviewed, discussed, ranked or otherwise referenced on this site. This usage is believed to be nominative fair use or non-infringing and is not intended to imply any affiliation with the respective rights holders.

All trademarks and copyrights remain the property of their owners. If you are a rights holder and have concerns about any content on this site, please contact us at legal@animeoshi.com

EPISODE CONTEXT

Coming off the grueling Forest of Death survival arc where Team 7 faced life-threatening challenges as a unit, episode 38 pivots the Chūnin Exams toward individual combat. This is the critical transition point—team dynamics give way to personal trials, rivalries, and hidden vulnerabilities that will define the next stretch of episodes. The preliminary matches announced here set the stage for some of Naruto's most iconic early fights.

QUICK TAKES

Sakura's worry is valid af but of course Sasuke would push thru lmao. What's wholesome too is Kakashi showing care in his own way :')

Yo this sudden death thing definitely made things heavier. On top of that, new techniques arise with the first fight. The justus in this world is so creatively written aaaa

uncultured_bovine

The dialogue in the first half felt a bit too long, but nice narrative still. Who knew that Kabuto and this Yoroi guy could be more interesting than before

sanemi_storm_133

Kabuto dropping out after all that work makes zero sense and he looked way too calm about failing for the seventh time so he is definitely hiding something for Orochimaru

Wait I can't believe Kabuto just walked away like that after helping them so much and it feels way too suspicious for a guy with his skills, I actually felt for Sakura when she tried to get Sasuke to stop because that mark on his neck looks genuinely painful and seeing him struggle against Yoroi's chakra drain was hard to watch

aqua_archpriest

Kabuto just quitting out of nowhere is the shadiest thing and you can tell he has some crazy secret motive for leaving early

You can really see Orochimaru pulling the strings from the shadows and he just wants to see Sasuke suffer until he gives in to that mark

The proctor needs some cough medicine or something and it was honestly hard to focus on the rules while he was hacking up a lung

I am so hyped for these 1v1 fights, but honestly, the way they just sprung this on everyone right after the forest is brutal. Sasuke looks like he is barely holding it together and Sakura crying for him to stop was actually heartbreaking because he is too stubborn to listen. It is going to be rough watching him fight without his sharingan though

schtzstaffel_scythe_481

Everything felt so high stakes the moment that giant scoreboard started spinning, and realizing we are getting one on one matches now, it is just awesome

I feel so bad for Sakura watching Sasuke struggle like that and her face when she was begging him to quit really got me man

Wait, so Kabuto just leaves right when things get interesting, and nobody thinks it is suspicious that he quit on the spot

Sakura wanting to stop the fight for Sasukes sake hit me hard because she is the only one who really sees how much he is suffering right now

My heart sank when Sasuke started coughing and the mark began spreading during the start of the match because it looks like he might actually lose

microwaved_dave

Sasuke is basically fighting with one hand tied behind his back and seeing him struggle against a guy who absorbs chakra is honestly terrifying

Orochimaru is still ruining everything even when he isn't on screen and Sasuke can't even use his eyes now

The look on everyone's face when they saw Gaara standing there with that sand gourd was so intense after the forest massacre

diablo_demon_155

I really thought Kabuto was a decent guy but his face when he left the room was so shady and now I don't trust him at all

Seeing Sakura get so upset and try to stop Sasuke from fighting actually got to me because he is clearly in so much pain

kagamine_twins_495

Tournament arcs are always the best part of these shows and having everyone fight one on one right now is exactly what the story needed

AnimeOshi.com refers to anime titles, character names, logos, and other trademarked or copyrighted materials to identify and describe the works being reviewed, discussed, ranked or otherwise referenced on this site. This usage is believed to be nominative fair use or non-infringing and is not intended to imply any affiliation with the respective rights holders.

All trademarks and copyrights remain the property of their owners. If you are a rights holder and have concerns about any content on this site, please contact us at legal@animeoshi.com

AnimeOshi.com refers to anime titles, character names, logos, and other trademarked or copyrighted materials to identify and describe the works being reviewed, discussed, ranked or otherwise referenced on this site. This usage is believed to be nominative fair use or non-infringing and is not intended to imply any affiliation with the respective rights holders.

All trademarks and copyrights remain the property of their owners. If you are a rights holder and have concerns about any content on this site, please contact us at legal@animeoshi.com