Naruto Manga 321: Smooth...Talker

Witherwing writes:
I'd like to copy and apply last post's Shikamaru comment to this chapter. Kanoha's ace.

Kakashi-the-smooth: I never knew Kakashi to be the smooth talker but he does it too well. He even did the ping. Poor Yamato.
He's like Banji from PoT who knows just what to say to get his students to work their hardest. And he actually believes in Naruto. Too sweet.

The Jutsu: How awesome was Kakashi to pull the rasengen out of nowhere. So what I gather is that Naruto has to do something like put the chidori and rasengen to-geh-tha. Not like that, together! Except it won't be the chidori but some wind-cutting twister or something. If no one teaches him, how will he ever come up with anything by himself?

Shika-the-observant: I wonder how many people in the village actually know that Asuma and the third are related. How come it seems like nobody has mothers? I don't know whether Asuma was saying that everyone in the 12 gaurds were close or that he and Chiriku were especially. But by telling Shikamaru that it was like him and Chouji, that makes them the closest kind of friends.
And how can ninja's smoke? It has to be bad for their lung capacity since they jump and run all the time. Can you just feel his end drawing closer?

SnowyOwl Says

This chapter...was awesome! Ah! What wonderful insight into several student-teacher relationships. Plus, we're really starting to see more sides of Kakashi, almost to the point that he seems out of charater. See Below.

Kakashi-the-Smooth: Kakashi never pulled that before (smooth talking out of a bill), though he does has colorful late excuses. He certainly didn't know how to communicate with Sasuke. But then, Sasuke's not exactly normal now izzy? It's been hinted in the past that Kakashi doesn't treat his students either. Who knew he was such as cheapskate? Or maybe he really felt the pay-cut when he went from ANBU to jounin instructor. I bet he copied the 'ping' from Gai, though I think it's hilarious that he has to 'ping' with his eyes because that's the only facial feature he can be expressive with. (Gah! ending with a preposition!)

Kakashi-the-faithful: So...when before part II did Kakashi ever expressed such faith in Naruto? On what basis can he say Naruto will surpass the Fourth? In strength? We know that Kakashi doesn't see him as a genius or as bright. The only explanation is that Kakashi is drawning some relation between Yondy and Naruto -- he knows something we don't -- and that's the basis of his faith maybe?

Kakashi-the-mysterious: I love Kakashi because I think he's a lot stronger and knows a lot more than he lets on (of course he would know the Rasengan! But interesting that the sannin don't know). He plays cool, dumb, goofy, pervy - but to what end? What's his motivation? That mask on his face is definitely a physical manifestation of a metaphorical disguise. I'm so curious but I dread the day when the real Kakashi is revealed, because you know that the day the mask comes down is the day Kakashi DIES! NOOOO!

I really liked Naruto's determined face. Oh, and you know that Yamato is really sweating because he Naruto's about to Super Bunshin and he'll be chakra supressing for the next day.

Quick notes on Team Asuma scene:
-I can't see him all chummy with Chiriku. That guy seemed to square for Asuma. The guy was a monk!
-The ciggies? Well, Asuma is a wind-type. Maybe his super air control purifies the death fumes. (*aheh* *aheh* I think I've got the black lung pop)
-I think the team knows Asuma is related to the Third. They all dot dot dotted when Shika mentioned him.

Naruto Manga 320: Prized Bounty

Witherwing writes:
Late post. So on first look I didn't think that there was much to comment on this chapter but upon a second, closer reading, there are some things to ponder about.

I believe that Team Asuma is at the monk-y temple,
so what's with the desk-like structures?
You know what? On second thought I think they all might be coffins. Heh. ^_^!

The birds that Izumo sends as carrier pidgeons, is that a note sending jutsu? or did they just happen to have birds that they carry around in case the occasion arises to use them? (I must also add that Shikamaru is Awesome.)

The old monk says that the sash on Asuma is from being a prized bounty of the 12 gaurds. Is that right? Or is there another diffinition of Bounty that I'm not aware of? Asuma got the hanky after getting a lot of money placed on his head? Hmm... I also enjoyed Asuma's bragging rights about being worth a lot.

Poor Yamato must be exhausted. He doesn't get to rest unless Naruto does but Naruto keeps on using his stamina attack on the waterfall. I never noticed how much Naruto looked like Gaara when he's hungry. The new workers at the ramen shop have to be spies. I mean, look at how sinnister they look. I wonder why Yamato can't eat ramen. Do you think it's undignified? And what's with Kakashi's uncanny ability to reveal information at a cut-away? Amazing...

Last note: I enjoyed the fact that the bounty station is really in the Chamber of Secrets. Who knew? And just wondering if Chiriku was dead. For some reason I thought he wasn't.

SnowyOwl says:
Sorry for the late post. WitherWings and I were in the same location and neither of us could put up a post. Meh.

Yeah, so this chapter seemed unremarkable (literally, I had no remarks after I read it) bit literary analysis is all about reading what's not there, so there MUST be something revealed here that will be significant in the future.

The Hanky: I think something is lost in translation, because its moronic to wear something to mark one as having a bounty on thier head. It's like having a huge neon sign pointing at your head reading 'Kill me, I'll make you rich!' We've never really seen Asuma in action. I think all this build up of how great he is is setting us up with one Asuma fight sequence soon.

The New-Hires: Oh please let them be spies or something undercover, because they were much too moronic in a Laurel and Hardy kind of way. And if they're there just for comedic effect, why, Kishimoto? Why!?

Jounin at the Ramen Stand: Did anyone else catch Kakashi ask about 'cute' Ayame? What's this? A social connection outside of ninja-dom? Or maybe the new-hires were just that intolerable. And Yamato's distain for ramen. It could be an insight into a hoity-toity attitude (only fine foods for me please, I'm mutant royalty) or it could be an aversion developed by something more tramatic in his past (I vote for this reading, even though it's more unlikely because I like angst. ANGST!)

Bounty Station: Was it just me, or did the keeper of the Chamber of Secrets look like an alien in a human's skin (ala Egger in MIB). It's the eyes man. Creepy.

Responses to WitherWing:
-Birds: summoning jutsu
-Shikamaru: He didn't do or say much this chapter to warrent such a strong he's Awesome statement, but I think we both agree that he just is.
-Naruto: No sleep + over-exertion = bags under eyes.
-Chiriku: Door nail.

Oh, I think it's really sweet that Kakashi was all concerned and scared that Naruto might be hurt. He does care!

Naruto Manga 319: The Source of the Commotion

Witherwing writes:
Woot! New chapter.

Questions: What's with Asuma and Kuranai? Hm....
What is Sakura crying about now? Random

Training: So if Kakashi said that making more clones is usless, why did he ask Yamato to make uber-fall so Naruto could make more clones? Poor Yamato, he must be so tired just trying to control Naruto and then with the jumbo-fall. Where does all that water come from? I loved the gasping and wheezing.
I wonder if Kakashi mentioned Sasuke on purpose cause he knows it will work. I like how Sasuke is still Naruto's motivation for hard work. Now more then ever.
That's all for now.

SnowyOwl Says:

This...was a very random chapter. It didn't feel like it went anywhere and left a...strange after tastes. Flavorless.

Anyway, Asuma and Kuranai? You just KNOW it's one of those relationships-but-not because ninja's can't have relationships kind of thing. Ah yes, the look of goodbye from afar. I feel some regret coming in the future.

Kishimoto is totally stalling with that random FULL page of Sakura crying. You could lift that entire page out and no one would notice. The only thing it did was deminish her growing credibility. Just when she was getting cool and respectable, we find that nothing's changed. Naruto trains. Sakura cries.

I would like to point out though, the wetness of Naruto. Heh.

And now Yamato's getting ridiculous. Are you telling me he can chakra-suppress all day and still made a Gi-normous waterfall? With water that comes from nowhere and goes nowhere (It must be genjutsu and Naruto hasn't noticed). I don't care if he's all panty after he's done, this guy is changing the landscape on Gaara-like proportions. And he's not a jiinchuriki...right?

Naruto Manga 318: So far, so good with the training

Witherwing wrote:
I'm not really sure what the chapter title is called so I'm just taking a guess with the last chapter. The new naruto movie came out. I love how Naruto can get mentally fatigued. It's just not something I think he can do because he's not much with the mental.

Really liked the fighting that's going on with Deidara and the thumb-print guy. The super angry look and then the Wah! What does he mean by the three tail not being a jinchuuriki? Was he saying that it didn't have a human host. I mean, it's a jumbo clam with monster arms.


Last, I would like to point out that Shikamaru is part of the search and destroy group. Always doing the grown-up stuff. He's just so cool and aloof.

SnowyOwl Says:
You beat me at posting again! And commented on everything I wanted to too!

-On the Movie: Can Naruto's fashion sense get any worse? Maybe it's Kishimoto's way of making us appreciate the character's clothes in part two. Gah!


-On training: Oh...so I guess the waterfall served some purpose after all. Or Kakashi was just being a good senpai and made up a reason for Yamato's ridiculous waterfall to save face. :o) Actually, it's kinda neat seeing Kakashi and Yamato so synchonized. I wonder if this progession of lessons is standard for wind-types and if all instructors/high-level ninja know the training procedure. I like the idea that Naruto is passing out from training too. Wouldn't want leveling-up to seem so easy.

-On Akatsuki: I really love the different team dynamics between Hidan/Kakuzu and Deidara/Tobi. Members from both teams seem somewhat incompatible. There's definately a growing tension between Hidan and Kakuzu because of their different life philosphies and priorities. Seems like they work on a purely profession level. Deidara and Tobi, on the other hand, are hilarious. Tobi seems really green and childish and if he had a face, he would definately have exaggerated expressions (the Naruto/Obito of the baddies if you will). I completely understand Deidara's annoyance at the newbie as a more senior member. But I think this kind of senpai-kouhai relationship can become a positive one, and it makes the Akatsuki members seem a little more human. Which is a scary thought.

It occured to me that Tobi's face may well be a mask.

-On the Twenty Small Brigades: 20 teams of 4. And my heart leapt a little when I saw the back of Shikamaru's head. The fact that he's in the special forces seems fitting somehow and ups his cool factor a lot. And he was already pretty awesome in my book. And I am very, very excited that more tertiary characters such as Kotetsu (bandaged-nose guy) and Izumo (Hair-covers-eye guy) are going to get more screen time. Oh. You know Asuma's brigade will be featured. They did the whole, dramatic, here-are-shots-of-everyone's-feet-as-we-start-our-mission trick. If you need a reminder, we first met these two chuunin when they cast genjutsu on the 2nd floor of the Chuunin Exam and beat up Lee. Poor Lee.

Questions to ponder: How do you differentiate visually between a chuunin and a jounin? And, what kind of awesome jutsu or display of brain power will Shikamaru reveal to explain why he's on these super-special brigades at such a tender age? The others are all over 27.

Witherwing says:
-On 20 brigade: I did know where bandage-nose and hair-covers-eye guy were from even if I didn't know their names. I don't know if Shikamaru will display any super brain jutsu because it's already known that he is the smartest ninja in Konoha. Maybe it's like Kakashi's time where he got promoted really fast because Konoha needs man power and they're running low on capable ninjas.

-On Tobi: I don't know. That mask just isn't natural, but then again, look at the other members. I seem to recall that it dialates and contracts, and the hole just isn't where his eye(s?) should be. Maybe it's meant to confuse people he fights.

-On waterfall: I don't know if the senseis thought that far ahead. Maybe they were like 'well, we have this really big waterfall. What do we do with it? Let's make Naruto think it's part of the training.' Who really knows?