Naruto Manga 317: The Nightmare Begins

-WitherWings says:
Wah! Just read the new chapter. You were right Naruto did go and get help from another wind user. Guess who? And I must say that the three-tails is not so good looking. Get off work soon and read it.

-SnowyOwl says:
That was Asuma! I was surprised that he was a wind type. I think my conception of the characteristics of wind-type chakra is off from Kishimoto's. My first reaction is that wind-type would be ethereal (invisible?), fluid (have you seen the breeze swirl around leaves?) and would cover a lot of area and distance. Which is why I guessed Neji and Shikamaru were wind-types. Seems it's the opposite: wind-types bite and cut at concentrated levels -- which makes sense too I guess.

I think it's interesting that no one expected Naruto to be a wind-type. Thus far, his signature move is the Rasengan, which is really just shoving a blunt object with a lot of power behind it. I think Naruto will struggle with wind, because his style will have to become focused and precise, which is not Naruto-like at all. This seems counter-intuitive, because you are suppose to be a natural at your type. Also, I predict that his technique will involve cutting really hard things in half. So, he'll be bleeding people instead of bruising people - which won't sit well with him either.

And poor Yamato just sitting there doing some long-distance Kyuubi chakra suppression. He wouldn't be so tired if he didn't use up all his chakra making that waterfall.

-WitherWings says:
Does it really say that you should be a natural at your element? Maybe it's just something that you would be really good at and therefore be the master of. I wouldn't think that wind would be fluid and purdy because it's always used for cutting in anime, like Temari. I don't think you're suppose to use it to disorient people and stuff. Like haha you wanted to walk this way but I attack you with my subtle-ness and make you walk another direction.

Good ol' Yamato. Maybe he wanted to make the waterfall so he'd have something soothing to listen to while he chakra supressed. How did he ever learn to do it? He can't have really trained unless he's be doing it on Naruto all his life...

-SnowyOwl says:
Good point about Temari. I did think about her as an afterthought, and like I said, my first gut reaction was wrong. About the different chakra natures: Ninja wouldn't 'naturally' have a dominant chakra nature without it being 'natural' to them. It seems to follow that if you have a huge potential for one type and not others, then it should come naturally. If one didn't lean naturally towards one form, then you might as well be able to choose the one you want and just learn it.

And very interesting observation about Yamato. Either he's totally winging it or (more interestingly but more improbable), he's been practicing on Naruto in secret ... from afar ... unseen.