Naruto Episode 43: Killer Kunoichi and a Shaky Shikamaru

Canon/MED

OSHIMETER

8.9

65 Fans

5

4

3

2

1

PacingVisualWritingEmo ImpactSoundtrack

← Prev: EP 42 Next: EP 44 →

Naruto Episode 43: Killer Kunoichi and a Shaky Shikamaru

Canon/MED

← Prev: EP 42 Next: EP 44 →

OSHIMETER

8.9

65 Fans

5

4

3

2

1

PacingVisualWritingEmo ImpactSoundtrack

QUICK TAKES

uncultured_bovine

I like how Lee is such a chad :') so thoughtful! Can't wait to see how the next match goes

Solid episode! Even if it's focus is on the side characters, the world-building expands so much more, especially with Tenten, Temari and Shikamaru's spotlights

Pacing is great! Love that we're seeing a showcase of our rookies. But aaaa I feel so bad for Tenten here 😭 unfortunately a bad match-up

I can't believe how badly Tenten lost since she seemed so prepared with all those scrolls, but Temari is just on another level with that wind and seeing Shikamaru outplay Kin by using her own strings against her was really something because it proved he doesn't need huge flashy moves to win a fight when he has that big brain

Temari closing her fan to reveal that third star and then just ending Tenten was cold and I felt bad for Lee watching his teammate get tossed onto a fan

Watching Tenten get absolutely demolished like that was rough because she had all those cool weapons and still couldn't land a single hit against Temari wind jutsu

tsuyu_tsunami_125

I think Shikamaru using that wall to force Kin to hit her head was such a smart move and it shows how much he can do without even standing up

kagamine_twins_495

Shikamaru is such a sleeper pick because he barely moved an inch and still made Kin knock herself out on the stone wall

farnese_de_vandimion

Weapons were flying everywhere but Temari just blew them away with one fan swipe, and that landing on the fan at the end looked painful

monk_maz_koshia_296

I liked the shadow move Shikamaru used because it proved you do not need huge explosions to win

Poor Tenten really got the short end of the stick, because she barely did anything before Temari just ended the whole thing with one big gust of wind, and it felt way more brutal than the other fights so far while seeing her get tossed onto that fan at the end was really sad even if she was barely in the manga

takerofsouls321

Kin using those bells to mess with Shikamaru head really had me worried for a second and then he just pulled that strategy out of nowhere

The gap in power between the Leaf and the Sand is scary after how easily Temari handled those weapons

Tenten got completely shut down by that giant fan and Temari really just dropped her onto the metal like trash

uryu_archer_102

I honestly wasn't expecting much from Shikamaru since he always complains about things being a drag, but the way he tricked Kin using her own thread was genius. It's cool seeing a fight that relies on actual thinking instead of just screaming. Poor Tenten though, she got completely destroyed by Temari and that final move looked like it actually broke her spine

Kin thought those bells and needles were enough but Shikamaru really turned the whole room into a trap for her

sailor_galaxia_390

I can not believe Tenten got folded that fast and it makes me wonder if she even had a chance against that giant fan

hitsugaya_hyoton

My brain couldn't believe it when Shikamaru won without needing some massive explosion or secret power because he just connected his shadow to the thread

soei_shadow_153

I honestly felt so bad for Tenten because she got absolutely humiliated by Temari and it wasn't even close. Seeing her land on that fan like that was brutal to watch. But then Shikamaru totally saved the episode by outsmarting Kin with that shadow trick. It is so cool seeing a character win by being smarter instead of just having more raw power

Shikamaru saying what a drag and then outsmarting Kin so easily proves he is way ahead of everyone else in that room

EPISODE CONTEXT

Picking up immediately after the emotionally charged Sakura vs. Ino bout, episode 43 maintains the Chūnin Exam preliminaries' momentum by shifting focus to supporting cast members and their combat philosophies. This episode broadens the tournament's scope beyond Team 7, establishing key fighters and rivalries that will matter later. It directly sets the stage for the highly anticipated Naruto vs. Kiba matchup in the episodes ahead.

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

Picking up immediately after the emotionally charged Sakura vs. Ino bout, episode 43 maintains the Chūnin Exam preliminaries' momentum by shifting focus to supporting cast members and their combat philosophies. This episode broadens the tournament's scope beyond Team 7, establishing key fighters and rivalries that will matter later. It directly sets the stage for the highly anticipated Naruto vs. Kiba matchup in the episodes ahead.

QUICK TAKES

uncultured_bovine

I like how Lee is such a chad :') so thoughtful! Can't wait to see how the next match goes

Solid episode! Even if it's focus is on the side characters, the world-building expands so much more, especially with Tenten, Temari and Shikamaru's spotlights

Pacing is great! Love that we're seeing a showcase of our rookies. But aaaa I feel so bad for Tenten here 😭 unfortunately a bad match-up

I can't believe how badly Tenten lost since she seemed so prepared with all those scrolls, but Temari is just on another level with that wind and seeing Shikamaru outplay Kin by using her own strings against her was really something because it proved he doesn't need huge flashy moves to win a fight when he has that big brain

Temari closing her fan to reveal that third star and then just ending Tenten was cold and I felt bad for Lee watching his teammate get tossed onto a fan

Watching Tenten get absolutely demolished like that was rough because she had all those cool weapons and still couldn't land a single hit against Temari wind jutsu

tsuyu_tsunami_125

I think Shikamaru using that wall to force Kin to hit her head was such a smart move and it shows how much he can do without even standing up

kagamine_twins_495

Shikamaru is such a sleeper pick because he barely moved an inch and still made Kin knock herself out on the stone wall

farnese_de_vandimion

Weapons were flying everywhere but Temari just blew them away with one fan swipe, and that landing on the fan at the end looked painful

monk_maz_koshia_296

I liked the shadow move Shikamaru used because it proved you do not need huge explosions to win

Poor Tenten really got the short end of the stick, because she barely did anything before Temari just ended the whole thing with one big gust of wind, and it felt way more brutal than the other fights so far while seeing her get tossed onto that fan at the end was really sad even if she was barely in the manga

takerofsouls321

Kin using those bells to mess with Shikamaru head really had me worried for a second and then he just pulled that strategy out of nowhere

The gap in power between the Leaf and the Sand is scary after how easily Temari handled those weapons

Tenten got completely shut down by that giant fan and Temari really just dropped her onto the metal like trash

uryu_archer_102

I honestly wasn't expecting much from Shikamaru since he always complains about things being a drag, but the way he tricked Kin using her own thread was genius. It's cool seeing a fight that relies on actual thinking instead of just screaming. Poor Tenten though, she got completely destroyed by Temari and that final move looked like it actually broke her spine

Kin thought those bells and needles were enough but Shikamaru really turned the whole room into a trap for her

sailor_galaxia_390

I can not believe Tenten got folded that fast and it makes me wonder if she even had a chance against that giant fan

hitsugaya_hyoton

My brain couldn't believe it when Shikamaru won without needing some massive explosion or secret power because he just connected his shadow to the thread

soei_shadow_153

I honestly felt so bad for Tenten because she got absolutely humiliated by Temari and it wasn't even close. Seeing her land on that fan like that was brutal to watch. But then Shikamaru totally saved the episode by outsmarting Kin with that shadow trick. It is so cool seeing a character win by being smarter instead of just having more raw power

Shikamaru saying what a drag and then outsmarting Kin so easily proves he is way ahead of everyone else in that room

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