Ep 23. Laughing Shino

Naruto season 7 episode 23, titled "Laughing Shino," follows the story of Shino Aburame, a member of Naruto’s team who is usually quiet and reserved. In this episode, we see a different side of Shino as he suddenly starts laughing hysterically and acting out of character.

Naruto and his team are on a mission to protect a caravan transporting an important artifact known as the "Teacup of the Sun." When they arrive at their destination, they find that the caravan has been attacked and the Teacup of the Sun has been stolen. The team splits up to search for clues, with Shino partnered up with Kiba.

As they search, Shino suddenly starts laughing uncontrollably, much to Kiba's confusion and annoyance. Shino's laughter becomes infectious, and soon everyone around him, including Naruto, starts laughing as well. The team is unable to find any clues while they're busy laughing, and their mission seems to be in jeopardy.

As the team tries to figure out why Shino is laughing, we see flashbacks to Shino's childhood. Shino was always a quiet and serious child, dedicated to his studies of insects. However, he was constantly teased and bullied by other children for his weird interests. One day, Shino stumbled upon a group of butterflies who had all died from a disease. Instead of being disgusted like others might have been, Shino felt a deep connection to the dead insects and wanted to somehow honor them. He decided to hold a funeral for the butterflies, complete with a eulogy and ritual incense burning.

This event marked a turning point for Shino, who found solace in the simplicity of insect life and learned to appreciate the beauty in death. He started to see the humor in things and began to laugh more easily. However, the other children didn't understand his sudden change in behavior and continued to tease him.

Back in the present, Shino explains to his team that he has been infected by a rare type of insect called the "Laughing Bug." The Laughing Bug infects its host with a toxin that makes them laugh uncontrollably for several hours. Shino had inadvertently come into contact with the bugs while searching for clues, and the toxin had taken effect.

The team tries to find a cure for Shino, but their efforts are unsuccessful. Shino's laughter eventually subsides on its own, and the team is able to continue their mission. They discover that the Teacup of the Sun was stolen by a group of rogue ninja, who were planning to use its power to create chaos and destruction.

The team engages in a battle with the rogue ninja, with Shino using his skills to control insect swarms to attack and defend. The battle is intense, but the team is ultimately successful in defeating the enemy and retrieving the Teacup of the Sun.

After the mission is over, the team has a moment to reflect on their experiences. Shino explains that despite the inconvenience of the Laughing Bug, it was a reminder that life is unpredictable and full of unexpected surprises. He also realizes that his laughter had brought the team together and helped them to be successful in their mission.

"Naruto" season 7 episode 23 is a lighthearted episode that explores the character of Shino in a new way. It is a reminder that even the most serious and reserved people have a silly side, and that humor can be a powerful tool in bringing people together. The episode also highlights the importance of appreciating life's simple pleasures and finding beauty in unexpected places.