Naruto Chapter 354: Making Their Move

**Updated 6-1-07**

Summary: Sasuke repays a debt to a clan of cats before heading out. Team Kakashi teams up with another to go capture Itachi. Deidara has a bone to pick with both parties and heads out with Tobi.

SnowyOwl Says: What the fug?!?

-Cats? Sasuke owes cats? Who knew that the Sasuke-neko associations fan writers and artists have been making had some weight. Or maybe Kishimoto is reacting to it.

-Juugo would rather wear a curtain than the shirt he already has?

-Team Kuranai?!? Granted, they are a top-notch tracking team, and Shino's got some mad skillz, but I don't see the two teams gelling well, especially with Kiba and Naruto butting heads and Hinata's infatuation with Naru. In other words, each of the two teams are good as their own unit, but for this mission, I think two teams that work well together as a whole is imperative. In this scenario, I think Team Gai is more qualified, or just Shikamaru. It feels a little like Kishimoto is just trying to pair up our main characters with all the major players in Part I again. But we'll see. It has been 3 years after all.

But Deidara is back in the story! Yay! And he's dragging Tobi along this time. They'll run into Team Konoha (while Hebi battles Team Ita-same) and Kakashi and Tobito will meet again. And it will be emotional and angsty and oh Tobito which side will you choose when you get your memory back? ^_^

Capes are cool. It hides Sasuke's shirt, Karin's hotpants, and Juugo's curtain.

Witherwing writes:

Where the heck did the cats come from? When did Sasuke have time to visit them. I mean, he's been glued to Orochimaru for 3 years and before that he was doing missions and in the hospital. So random...but look at Suigetsu play with the cats. (page 8 middle frame)

You'll have to give Juugo a break with the curtain thing. He's been trapped in a cellar for a lot of years. I can't help but think that he'll regret not wearing a shirt during one of the fights.

Yay! The return of Kiba. It really will be interesting to see how these teams work out. If they're only planning on tracking the akatuski then team Kuranai is the best but for detaining them, wouldn't ex-team Asuma be better?

Naruto Chapter 353: Akatsuki Gathers

**Updated 6-1-07**

Summary: The Akatsuki gather to extract the four-tail from its jinchuuriki. The leader informs everyone that Hidan, Kakuzu, and Orochimaru are dead and warns Itachi to stay alert.

SnowyOwl Says:

Please allow me to fan-girl for a moment: Kyaaaa! Akatsuki daisuki!

Lot's to love in this chapter. Not only was Itachi wet, he was pouting! I find it interesting that Kisame's comment implied that Itachi doesn't really fight (taijutsu vs. genjutsu) and even more interesting that Itachi seemed affected by it. Also note worthy is the concern over Itachi's welfare. Thus far Itachi has been portrayed as something of a god (or demon, however you want to look at it); something not quite human, untouchable. The others' concern shows that he's fallible and vulnerable. And not only is he defeatable, but the others are asking about his feelings in regards to Sasuke ('are you alright with this?'), implying that he may still have emotional ties to the world. In short, Itachi is actually human. It doesn't mean that he's not psycho, but I predict that we'll finally find out more about Itachi, from his perspective.

Itachi and Kisame's interactions were pretty awesome. Goes to show that even crazy baddies can bond as teammates.

And Dei and Tobi. Love! I love how Tobi totally rubs Deidara the wrong way. To think that Deidara use to be so cool when he was unorthodox one in the Dei-Sasori team. Now he's the miffed senpai that can't stand his cheeky kouhai. The tables have turned. And I've convinced WitherWings that Tobi is Obito. Heh.
But Suigetsu knowing Kisame from 10 years ago? Was he some psycho kindergarten killer? Or does he just not age because he's made of water? I love his smile though. Can someone put a word to it? It's not psycho, or altogether genuine, but not completely fake either...

Witherwing writes:

Just a few quick notes:
Aboslutely loved Tobi pissing off Deidara. Too funny. I especially loved the picture with his hand raised. You can just picuture him saying: hai, hai, Gomen-esai. (page 12 bottom left)

Hebi: Did you notice that the akatsuki have all heard of all of them? Well, minus Karin. They're like famous. They were impressed with Sasuke and acknowledge that the rest would be problematic. Dude, the akatuski thinks that they will be a problem. I guess Sasuke chose wisely

Suigetsu: He must have been some baby killing machine. That makes him an Juugo opposites. Sui-kun doesn't seem to feel remorse for his gift in the art of murder while Juugo is haunted by his.
Karin mentioned that Sui was like a Kappa. Good thing we all read Harry Potter book 3.

Naruto Chapter 352: The Purpose!

Summary: It is revealed that the only one who could placate Juugo was Kimimaro. After finding out that Sasuke is the reason Kiminaru sacrified himself, Juugo joins the unit now known as 'Hebi'. Their purpose is to find and kill Uchiha Itachi.

Witherwing writes:

The calm: So the only person who could calm Juugo was Kimimaro. They were like best friends. how sad. Even knowing that Sasuke is the reason Kimi died, Juugo is so chill about it. Karen only said that Kimi was the only person that never rebelled or tried to escape. Could this mean that Juugo feels no loyalty towards Orochimaru?

The purpose: -face palm- I guess I should have seen this one coming a mile away. I just never expected that Sasuke would recruit people to help him fight. He always seemed like he wanted to do that alone.

'Two lives, Two paths, both converging on the same man!!'
Thank you narrator. Well so begins the next arc, I think. I half expected Itachi to sneeze or something. Looks like a storm is approaching indeed.

Oh my gosh! Suigetsu got his faced punched off. Well that confirms the theory that he's made of water. What I'm wondering is what was he going to say?
'I know the truth. A long time ago, you did something to Sasuke...'

What was it?!

SnowyOwl Says:

Water-kun: So can you or can't you hurt Sui physically? Does Sasuke have power over him because he can get in his head?

Juu & Kimi: Not only does this new info make it seem as if Juu's loyalty was solely towards Kimi, but that a very small percentage of Sound nins stayed of their own volition. This is a very different picture than what we were led to believe during the chuunin exam and the Sound Five. This changes how future battles will pan out should/when Orochi comes back.

I agree that Sasuke wanted to do it alone. Perhaps he realized he couldn't. Perhaps he grew up a little after all. But he's still a jerk for the way he's treating Naruto-tachi.

Karin reacted so strongly to Sui's suggestive comment. Sound's like it might be something *ahem* adult. Ohohohohoho.

Lastly, I still don't understand Naruto's motivation for going after Itachi. What was and is his objective? Did it change? I always thought his mission was to ultimately keep Sasuke from dying at the hands of Orochi. Perhaps I gave him too much credit, and he's taking his 'I will bring Sasuke back' mission literally. Taken that way, it seems more immature, and that Naruto is ultimately doing this for himself (how can he face himself if he can't keep his promises?) instead of looking at the big picture and considering Sasuke's motivation for leaving in the first place. Now Naru just seems a little meddlesome.