Naruto Shippuden Episode 71: My Friend
Filler/LOW
OSHIMETER
8.6
69 Fans
5
4
3
2
1
PacingVisualWritingEmo ImpactSoundtrack
OSHIMETER
8.6
69 Fans
5
4
3
2
1
PacingVisualWritingEmo ImpactSoundtrack
QUICK TAKES
remotadifa
VerifiedThis is a must-watch. This episode feels like canon; if it's given a separate arc, that will be impactful. Naruto uses talk no jutsu on Sora, but also Naruto makes a change to Sora.
darkness_defender
Focusing on Asuma makes this whole arc feel worth it and his connection to Sora is actually pretty sad to watch
michiru_kaioh_370
Yamato having to hold everything together while Naruto talks Sora down shows why he is so important to the team and the animation during that whole sequence was sharp
sakurafan
Sai showing up at the end was alright but the pseudo fox power feels way less threatening than the actual nine tails and the pacing is dragging a bit
rangiku_rider
I usually hate filler arcs because they feel like a waste of time, but this Sora stuff has been decent enough to keep me around. Watching Asuma get more screen time and seeing how Naruto handles someone who is basically a mirror of his own struggle was actually moving. It is rare for a filler character to feel this human and relatable
kanarazu_kami_72
Naruto connecting with Sora through their shared pain felt very authentic and it shows how much he cares about people who are suffering just like he did
krillin_ki_59
Sora struggling with that fake fox power highlights how much Naruto has grown since he is the one acting like the mature one now
sailor_neptune
I think Sora having that pseudo chakra is such a weird idea but seeing Naruto deal with him using words instead of just punching him worked so well for me and the shading on Sora's face looked great too
kamaitachi_killer_60
The pseudo-jinchuriki idea is a bit of a stretch, but the way Naruto manages to connect with Sora despite all that dark chakra was a solid way to end this fight
prince_demande_379
I normally skip filler but I stayed for Asuma and Yamato and seeing Sora turn into that knockoff version of the fox was actually kind of cool even if he is weaker than Naruto
yellow
The shading during the fight with Sora looked way better than usual and it was cool to see Sai finally show up when things were looking bad
fukase_firefly
I really liked how Naruto got through to Sora, making him feel like he had a brother; it was actually super touching. But honestly, I couldn't help but feel a little impatient since I know the Akatsuki stuff is the real main plot, and it felt like this whole arc just took too long.
usagi_tsukino_372
Naruto's earnest farewell to Sora at the gate just affirmed for me how truly special his ability to reach out to people is; I found myself getting choked up watching him connect so deeply, and I'm really curious to see if that genuine bond will ever bring Sora back into their lives.
zenitsu_zap
I was seriously so glad to see Naruto pull out the talk no jutsu again; it really showed how much he's grown and how he understands people like Sora, who are struggling with their own inner demons, just like he did before. It's truly his strongest move, not just some fancy jutsu.
malon
I know a lot of people weren't feeling this arc, but honestly, seeing Naruto just be his usual loud, caring self and actually connect with Sora really warmed my heart; it's so typical of him to barge in and just make things better with sheer earnestness. Plus, those red chakra effects? They looked so much better than I expected, and now I'm just itching for Hidan and Kakuzu to finally show up.
flat
Finally, the pseudo jinchuriki saga is over, and I seriously couldn't be more relieved to jump back into the main Akatsuki action. Watching those slick claw animations was a personal highlight, reminding me how much I've missed the primary conflict and the sheer power these villains bring.
kushina_kunoichi
Yamato trying to keep the Nine-Tails in check while Naruto was just yelling at Sora felt so unfair to me; he always has to be the one holding it all together. I just wonder how much longer he can keep up that stoic facade with all the crazy stuff he has to handle.
monk_maz_koshia_296
It was tough watching Sora leave, but I really think he needed his own path to figure things out after all that went down. Honestly, it's just so Naruto to be the only one who could truly keep that kid from going full demon mode, which makes me think about how many people Naruto's saved just by being himself.
nicol_ascart_166
I was actually kinda relieved to see Asuma and Sora finally put their differences aside; it made that whole pseudo-jinchuriki subplot feel genuinely important to me, especially since we're about to dive back into the main action. Seeing Asuma handle Sora with so much patience, even when Sora was being a total hothead, just reinforced why he's such a great sensei, kinda like how he always knows what to do with Shikamaru.
meowth
I was honestly so surprised Naruto's "friendship" shouting actually got through to Sora; it totally shows how his sincere approach can just cut through all the anger. And seriously, that final clash animation looked way too good for a filler episode, I was pretty impressed.
EPISODE CONTEXT
Sitting at episode 71 of 500, this filler lands in the early stretch of Shippuden between major canon arcs, following the escalation of 'Resonance' and bridging toward 'The Quietly Approaching Threat,' which introduces new antagonists and rising stakes. It functions as a cooldown episode, using its standalone story to reinforce Naruto's character philosophy before the next wave of canonical threats arrives. Skippable for canon-only viewers, but a worthwhile pause for fans invested in the show's emotional texture.
QUICK TAKES
remotadifa
VerifiedThis is a must-watch. This episode feels like canon; if it's given a separate arc, that will be impactful. Naruto uses talk no jutsu on Sora, but also Naruto makes a change to Sora.
darkness_defender
Focusing on Asuma makes this whole arc feel worth it and his connection to Sora is actually pretty sad to watch
michiru_kaioh_370
Yamato having to hold everything together while Naruto talks Sora down shows why he is so important to the team and the animation during that whole sequence was sharp
sakurafan
Sai showing up at the end was alright but the pseudo fox power feels way less threatening than the actual nine tails and the pacing is dragging a bit
rangiku_rider
I usually hate filler arcs because they feel like a waste of time, but this Sora stuff has been decent enough to keep me around. Watching Asuma get more screen time and seeing how Naruto handles someone who is basically a mirror of his own struggle was actually moving. It is rare for a filler character to feel this human and relatable
kanarazu_kami_72
Naruto connecting with Sora through their shared pain felt very authentic and it shows how much he cares about people who are suffering just like he did
krillin_ki_59
Sora struggling with that fake fox power highlights how much Naruto has grown since he is the one acting like the mature one now
sailor_neptune
I think Sora having that pseudo chakra is such a weird idea but seeing Naruto deal with him using words instead of just punching him worked so well for me and the shading on Sora's face looked great too
kamaitachi_killer_60
The pseudo-jinchuriki idea is a bit of a stretch, but the way Naruto manages to connect with Sora despite all that dark chakra was a solid way to end this fight
prince_demande_379
I normally skip filler but I stayed for Asuma and Yamato and seeing Sora turn into that knockoff version of the fox was actually kind of cool even if he is weaker than Naruto
yellow
The shading during the fight with Sora looked way better than usual and it was cool to see Sai finally show up when things were looking bad
fukase_firefly
I really liked how Naruto got through to Sora, making him feel like he had a brother; it was actually super touching. But honestly, I couldn't help but feel a little impatient since I know the Akatsuki stuff is the real main plot, and it felt like this whole arc just took too long.
usagi_tsukino_372
Naruto's earnest farewell to Sora at the gate just affirmed for me how truly special his ability to reach out to people is; I found myself getting choked up watching him connect so deeply, and I'm really curious to see if that genuine bond will ever bring Sora back into their lives.
zenitsu_zap
I was seriously so glad to see Naruto pull out the talk no jutsu again; it really showed how much he's grown and how he understands people like Sora, who are struggling with their own inner demons, just like he did before. It's truly his strongest move, not just some fancy jutsu.
malon
I know a lot of people weren't feeling this arc, but honestly, seeing Naruto just be his usual loud, caring self and actually connect with Sora really warmed my heart; it's so typical of him to barge in and just make things better with sheer earnestness. Plus, those red chakra effects? They looked so much better than I expected, and now I'm just itching for Hidan and Kakuzu to finally show up.
flat
Finally, the pseudo jinchuriki saga is over, and I seriously couldn't be more relieved to jump back into the main Akatsuki action. Watching those slick claw animations was a personal highlight, reminding me how much I've missed the primary conflict and the sheer power these villains bring.
kushina_kunoichi
Yamato trying to keep the Nine-Tails in check while Naruto was just yelling at Sora felt so unfair to me; he always has to be the one holding it all together. I just wonder how much longer he can keep up that stoic facade with all the crazy stuff he has to handle.
monk_maz_koshia_296
It was tough watching Sora leave, but I really think he needed his own path to figure things out after all that went down. Honestly, it's just so Naruto to be the only one who could truly keep that kid from going full demon mode, which makes me think about how many people Naruto's saved just by being himself.
nicol_ascart_166
I was actually kinda relieved to see Asuma and Sora finally put their differences aside; it made that whole pseudo-jinchuriki subplot feel genuinely important to me, especially since we're about to dive back into the main action. Seeing Asuma handle Sora with so much patience, even when Sora was being a total hothead, just reinforced why he's such a great sensei, kinda like how he always knows what to do with Shikamaru.
meowth
I was honestly so surprised Naruto's "friendship" shouting actually got through to Sora; it totally shows how his sincere approach can just cut through all the anger. And seriously, that final clash animation looked way too good for a filler episode, I was pretty impressed.
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