TV.com

Naruto

A Shirker's Call to Action: Layabout No More!

Season 3, Episode 17, Aired Jan 20, 2007

Next
Episode Previous
Episode

Episode Summary

EDIT

Crunchyroll (Subtitled)

9.4

EPISODE RATING: Superb

96 votes

Your Rating: 10

"Perfect"
Your Rating: 9.5

"Superb"
Your Rating: 9

"Superb"
Your Rating: 8.5

"Great"
Your Rating: 8

"Great"
Your Rating: 7.5

"Good"
Your Rating: 7

"Good"
Your Rating: 6.5

"Fair"
Your Rating: 6

"Fair"
Your Rating: 5.5

"Mediocre"
Your Rating: 5

"Mediocre"
Your Rating: 4.5

"Poor"
Your Rating: 4

"Poor"
Your Rating: 3.5

"Bad"
Your Rating: 3

"Bad"
Your Rating: 2.5

"Terrible"
Your Rating: 2

"Terrible"
Your Rating: 1.5

"Abysmal"
Your Rating: 1

"Abysmal"

Rate Now!

Naruto, Sakura, Shikamaru, and Pakkun are being chased down by several Sound ninja. Shikamaru decides to stop and try to hold them off so the others can catch up to Sasuke without fear of pursuit. Shikamaru is the logical choice because of his Shadow Possession Jutsu...needless to say, Shikamaru's not too thrilled by this.moreless

WRITE A REVIEW FAN RECAP

Cast & Crew

See All EDIT

Tom Gibis

Shikamaru Nara
JB Blanc

Pakkun
Yuri Lowenthal

Sasuke Uchiha
Wendee Lee

Moegi
Tara Platt

Temari
Steven Jay Blum

Orochimaru

Watch Online

Fan Episode Reviews (12)

See All

Badass!

8.5

"Great"

By ZaleIsBackAgain, Nov 02, 2008

After Rock Lee, Shikamaru is probably the most interesting character in the whole anime. Something about his laidback lazy character that really makes him appealing despite being a genius. Him going through his life plan before his then inevitable death, it was actually kind of thought provoking. What was even better was when Asuma came out of nowhere and pounded on all the sound ninja single handedly while smoking a stogie. This has been the best Naruto episode in a while ever since, well, Shikamaru's fight with Temari. I'm thinking they should just change the main character to Shikamaru, or maybe even Rock Lee.moreless
DO YOU AGREE?
0 0

Flag
Share Hide
It's Shikamaru's time to shine.

10

"Perfect"

By stitch069917, May 29, 2008

Pakkun tells Naruto, Shikamaru, and Sakura that there are nine ninjas following them. Naruto thinks they should ambush their followers before they gt ambushed. Shikamaru thinks that the idea is good, but that it probably wouldn't work. Shikamaru tells them that what they really need is for one of them to create a diversion. They agree. That way at least two of them plus Pakkun can keep on the trail of Sasuke. Shikamaru volunteers to stay behind and be the decoy even thought he might get killed doing it. Sakura can't believe it, but Naruto has faith in Shikamaru. Shikamaru proceeds to set his trap when....moreless
DO YOU AGREE?
0 0

Flag
Share Hide
Shikamaru shows his true colors.

8.8

"Great"

By Crcullen3916, Mar 27, 2008

This was a great episode. To be honest, nothing really happened in this episode, there were no amazing battles or anything. What this really focuses on is character development. It was said in an earlier episode that Shikamaru is a genius, yet until this there wasn't any evidence that that was true. He shows himself to be very analytical and cautious, unlike Naruto (who is hyper and impulsive) or Sakura (who has no particular skills and is extremely timid when it comes to fighting). Shikamaru seems ages older than those too. It was a funny episode also because Shika had some funny quotes. Sakura is "a kunoichi with no particular talent" LOL Shame on Sakura for doubting Shika!moreless
DO YOU AGREE?
0 0

Flag
Share Hide
Shikamaru Shows His True Nature.

9.2

"Superb"

By TheBunnySage, Feb 15, 2008

Sakura, Pakkun, Naruto and Shikamaru are chasing Sasuke when Pakkun senses 9 ninjas tracking them so Shikamaru decides to stay behind and stall them. Shikamaru knew he was the only one that could do it right. I knew he had to go. Shikamaru captures 8 with his shadow possession but he doesn't have enough chakra to get the last ninja. I was actually wondering where that ninth ninja was but anyways it was bad that he didn't have enough chakra. Shikamaru doesn't have enough chakra to still have the 8 ninjas captured in the shadow any longer. I didn't think it was the end of Shikamaru at all. Asuma comes by and saves his life which is great because I wanted Shikamaru alive still. Overall, this episode had a lot of fighting and action which was good.moreless
DO YOU AGREE?
0 1

Flag
Share Hide
Shikamaru decides to let his group go on while he stalls 9 ninjas that are tracking them.

9.3

"Superb"

By glostlover, Nov 12, 2007

Sakura, Pakkun, Naruto and Shikamaru are chasing Sasuke when Pakkun senses 9 ninjas traking them so Shikamaru decides to stay behind and stall them. Shikamaru knew he was the only one that could do it right. I knew he had to go. Shikamaru captures 8 with his shadow possession but he doesn't have enough chakra to get the last ninja. I was actually wondering where that ninth ninja was but anyways it was bad that he didn't have enough chakra. Shikamaru doesn't have enough chakra to still have the 8 ninjas captured in the shadow any longer. I didn't think it was the end of Shikamaru at all. Asuma comes by and saves his life which is great because I wanted Shikamaru alive still. Overall, this episode had a lot of fighting and action which was good.moreless
DO YOU AGREE?
0 0

Flag
Share Hide

WRITE A REVIEW

Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions

See All

FILTER BY TYPE

TRIVIA (1)
ADD TRIVIA
- When Shikamaru raises his right arm, to show the 8 Sound ninja what he used to fake Pakkun's paw prints, the Sound ninja do not copy his movements even though they are caught in the Shadow Possession Jutsu.
  EDIT SHARE
QUOTES (6)
ADD QUOTES
- Sound Ninja: His foot prints are irregular. Anxiety is probably increasing his fatigue. Hmm? (The sound ninja can't move. They're caught in Shikamaru's Shadow Possession Jutsu) Shikamaru: Oops, sorry. I was supposed to be the guy who didn't want to get involved, but I guess I'm not quite what you expected, am I?
  EDIT SHARE
- Naruto: (Speaking about Shikamaru) He's lazy and always complaining, but he would never betray us.
  EDIT SHARE
- Sakura: (Thinking) When did Shikamaru become this dedicated? Be careful, Shikamaru.
  EDIT SHARE
- Shikamaru: Besides, our enemy is a special unit that was specifically put together just for this operation. And what are the four of us? A fool... (Naruto glares) A Kunoichi with no particular talent... (Sakura glares) A mutt... (Pakkun growls) And, me the shirker who doesn't even want to be here!
  EDIT SHARE
- Shikamaru: I wanted to grow up, marry a girl who is neither pretty nor ugly, have two children, a girl then a boy, retire when my daughter gets married and my son is a successful ninja, die of old age before my spouse. Just a plain old regular life.
  EDIT SHARE
- Pakkun: Hey, you guys! Increase your speed. Naruto: What is it? Did you find Sasuke? Pakkun: No. Two platoons, a total of eight people, are behind us. No, I sense another one... So nine guys are coming after us. Naruto: What? Shikamaru: Hey, man... Already? You've got to be kidding. ~Japanese version
  EDIT SHARE
NOTES (10)
ADD NOTES
- Poland Aidate: May 15, 2008
  EDIT SHARE
- Jetix UK Airdate: July 6, 2007
  EDIT SHARE
- YTV Airdate: March 2, 2007
  EDIT SHARE
- The Shadow Possession Jutsu was once called the Shadow Paralysis Jutsu in the past.
  EDIT SHARE
- With the airing of this episode, the English dub of the anime officially surpassed the English version of the manga being released in the American Shonen Jump by Viz.
  EDIT SHARE
- Original Airdate: February 11, 2004
  EDIT SHARE
- Original Episode Title: Coward No. 1! It's Troublesome, But I've Got to Do It!! Romaji Episode Title: Nige Koshi No.1 Mendokusee gayarukkyanee!! Kanji Episode Title: 逃げ腰NO.1 めんどくせーがやるっきゃねえ!!
  EDIT SHARE
- When the eight Sound ninja stopped, one of them would mark a tree. This mark would keep the nine on the trail of the eight ninja in order to prevent any ambushes.
  EDIT SHARE
- Two platoons plus one, to stop any ambushes on the platoons, which total nine people, are following Naruto's group.
  EDIT SHARE
- Asuma's weapons are called "cestuses", a combination of daggers and brass knuckles.
  EDIT SHARE
ALLUSIONS (0)
ADD ALLUSIONS
- ADD ALLUSIONS from this episode.