Naruto Chapter 351: A Man to Man Talk

Summary: Juugo attacks Sasuke, who just wants to convince him to join him. Suigetsu intervenes, stating that Juugo can only be convinced through force. Sasuke breaks up the fight between Suigetsu and Juugo as Juugo returns to normal and retreats back into his cell.

SnowyOwl Says: Everyone was awesome!

Karin: What's with the narrator on the cover page? She's not exactly what I call a "sublime beauty".... The line 'For Sasuke to have chosen her, she must be the strongest kunoichi' forshadow tension and confrontation later with Sakura; the parallels being Sakura is a (physically) strong kunoichi whom Sasuke chose to protect, long ago...I'd never thought I'd say this, but I'm rooting for Sakura. I did get a chuckle out of the 'I hope they kill each other' comment though.

Suigetsu: He did come in swinging his sword! Gosh, he's such a punk. I can see him as someone who grew up on the street, covering up for his shortcomings by talking tough and taking more than he can handle. He does seem to have genuine deference towards Sasuke though. I see either him betraying Sasuke later, or demostrating a different kind of loyalty when he gets between him and Naruto.

Sasuke: was...cool. I don't have words, but reading this chapter took me back to the first couple of volumes when Sasuke was cool. It's interesting that much of the fandom see Sasuke as stoic, when he really is an emotional guy. Or rather, he tries to stay in control (being clever, strategic, precise, distant) so when he feels strong emotions, he explodes. Here, he feels in control.

Juugo: Oh the guilt, remorse, and fear when he came back to himself. Poor, angsty, conflicted, Juugo. I think this is love.

So: Three kids, two who hate each other, all the products of experiments and (presumably) unhealthy childhoods, and a broken adult. This is going to be fun.

Witherwing writes:

Sasuke-the-cool: it's been a long time since we've seen not poopy Sasuke. I gotta say though, it must be so hard to not show emotion all the time. Unlike Sai who doesn't know how, Sauske chooses not to. Emotions make you weak? And where did those two gi-normous snakes come from?

Juugo: I must say that his coming back to himself and locking himself back in the room was rather anticlimatic. I thought it was funny yet felt sorry for him at the same time.

Suigetsu: It seems like his actions could be him trying to prove his strength to Sasuke. In his killing the man, it could be either he is defying Sasuke's orders because he doesn't respect him, or he sees Sasuke as a friend (equal?) and doesn't really mind not doing what he says.

Sidenote: I just wanted to point out the look-alike-ness of Suigetsu and Riku from Kindom Hearts I.