25 Naruto Memes for Nostalgic Ninjas Who Miss the Chunin Exam Arc

Ely Bulnes • Writer and Editor

Nov 29, 2024 11:30 AM EST

Welcome, anime fans and stans. The year is 2008. You just got home from an exhausting day of middle school. You've had a handful of Gushers and have vaguely glanced over your homework — what else does a 12 year old kid in the mid 2000s do to pass the time before dinner? You hop on the family computer, click on Internet Explorer, and make your way to YouTube. You scroll over early internet classics such as Charlie the Unicorn and Harry Potter Puppet Pals, but soon something different catches your eye. It's a scene from that weird Japanese Cartoon Network show about ninjas.

You click out of curiosity, and your ears are instantly hit with the iconic string style synth intro of Linkin Park's "Numb." Even though you have no idea who this red sand guy and green boy are, you are instantly locked in by the insane visuals. How is the music so in sync with the characters' movements and with their emotions? Was this song made specially for this scene? You have no idea but when the chorus drops and Rock Lee lands his first punch on Gaara, your fate as a weeb is forever sealed, and now you're still looking at Naruto memes as an adult. Scroll down for a fine selection!