Naruto Chapter 359: Those Eyes...

Summary: Deidara is reminded of the first time he met Itachi and was defeated with the Sharingan while fighting with Sasuke. Indignant, Deidara prepares to attack Sasuke with the C4 explosive.

SnowyOwl Says:

Quick note: As expected, there was a good turn out of Naruto cosplayers at AX this year. Didn't look like the guy that came as a very convincing Obito last year reprised his role, but there was a disproportion of Akatsuki, probably due to all the awesome Akatsuki action this past year. Oh, and there was a Suigetsu. I love Suigetsu!

*ahem* Ok, so we got some Deidara insight after all! And he's got Itachi-issues too. Dang it, Itachi! quit screwing with everyone. Dei is definitely going to let his latent feelings of inferiority push him to act rashly. Like eating clay. I'd throw up too if I ate clay.

I take back my comment about Kishimoto making Deidara's art pieces ugly. After some reflection, Deidara's art probably isn't that great. He just thinks it is. He's high on his own ideals of art (I found it amusing that the other Akatsuki called out how Deidara talks a lot) and anything that shakes it is unbearable to his pride. Still, I can't help but be a little sad that Deidara could have avoided this whole Akatsuki mess if the big boss didn't want to recruit him. And it makes me wonder what did the boss really see in Deidara; was it just that he could animate explosives? Or is there more?

(Deidara please don't die.)

Witherwing writes:

'Those eyes' indeed. So we see now that the true motivation that Deidara has for gunning for Sasuke is to get revenge for losing to Itachi. I guess he's using this as warm up for the bigger version.

Now well get to see if Sasuke's creepy wing will grow back next time. And what's with the snakes that come out of his body? Is that something he could do before he ate Orochimaru or after?

Oh Deidara and his art. He's so happy with it, but it makes me question his sanity. He's like some mad scientist:
'Behold, aren't you impressed?' Um... Dei-kun it's an ugly spider...

Oh Sasuke better watch out. Deidara's pulling out the big guns with the up-chuck attack!

(I don't think he can die until he gets reunited with his long lost sister, Ino.)

*art by sasorisama

Naruto Chapter 358: Cornered By C2!

**Updated 6-25-07**

Summary: Deidara drops bombs from the sky while Tobi sets landmines, trapping Sasuke with explosives. Although Sasuke is forced to activate the cursed seal and injures one of his 'wings., he uses his sword to test that ground and use as a foothold to launch an attack on Deidara. Deidara, pinned to his clay dragon by large shurikens, crashes into the landmines below.

SnowyOwl Says: I spoke too soon. Dei-sama don't diiiie!

I know Deidara is one of the baddies, but it would be so unsatisfying if Sasuke killed him. He's likely going to be one of those 2-dimensional characters that learn a lesson as they take their last breath but I don't want the lesson to be from Sasuke, because whatever he says will probably annoy me. He and Tobi are much too amusing to let it end here.

-Did anyone else feel ShikaTemChuuninFight vibes from this battle?
-By the Law of Conservation of Mass, those baby dragon bombs really shouldn't be that big.
-Do cursed-seal parts regenerate? This is the first time it seriously dawned on me that those abominable 'wings' are made of flesh (rather than clay? I don't know what I thought).

Witherwing writes:

I don't think that Deidara is destined to die by any particular ninja's hand. I mean, he went to find Sasuke by his own choice. Not sure why. Pride?

I hope Sasuke's wing grows back because, as much as I hate them. Having just one is too loppy. The fight was like the temashika fight. Does that mean that Sasuke's planning ability is on the level of Shikamaru's? I don't think that he was there to watch it so he couldn't have copied.

Tobi's a phaser. Like Kitty Pride. That makes a little more sense then the floating head theory.

SnowyOwl Says:

Fine, fine. Phaser does make more sense. I was just a little caught up on the Tobito theory - in which case, Obito's body was squished to smithereens. But this is Tobi, not Obito, we're talking about...

Naruto Chapter 357: Deidara vs. Sasuke

**Updated 6-25-07**

Summary: It's revealed that Kabuto grafted part of Orochimaru's old body to his own and that the 'Orochimaru part' is taking over quickly. Kabuto tells Naruto that he is his target after he avenges Orochimaru. Sasuke holds his own against Deidara and Tobi, forcing Deidara to use his C2 explosives.

SnowyOwl Says: Some quick notes so I can go read the next chapter.

Kabuto is so useful! With his declaration to go after Sasuke, Naruto's mission suddenly has meaning again. Save Sasuke from Oro...er...Kabuchimaru instead of mindlessly trying to convince Sasuke to come home or whatever. So in Kabuto's record, he's gotten Team 7 through the 2nd chuunin exam, prevented Jiraiya and Tsunade from defeating Orochimaru, healed Sakura, told Team Kakashi (lead by Yamato) where Sasuke was, dropped off a book of Akatsuki info, and became the incarnation of Orochi to target Sasuke and Naruto. I wonder if he feels used as a plot device.

I thought it was Neji when I saw the Byakugan. Wishful thinking that he was there rather than Hinata I guess.

But loving the action of the DeiTobi/Sasuke side. I was struck by Deidara's comment about Sasuke: That Sasuke is not strong due to his own power, but by virtue of his heritage. I don't totally agree; while Sasuke's gift did grant him the potential to be much stronger than your average shinobi, he actually took advantage of that gift and pushed it as far as it will go (minus the Mangekyou). What does irk me about Sasuke (and Deidara brought this to light) is that Sasuke doesn't seem to acknowledge his hereditary gift as a gift and his arrogance stem from his solipsism.

And oh Tobi. So melodramtic! [falls to knees. NOOOOO! shakes fist in air] I love it. He was so distraught thinking Deidara was gone. Oh ye of little faith: Dei-sama is much too pretty to be killed so quickly. But I wish Kishimoto was a more creative with character design. Dei's art pieces have so much potential and Kishimoto just lets these design opportunities pass.

So...Tobi can be sliced in half and regenerate? He's also immortal? He has no body because a boulder crushed him as a young teen and he's really a floating head!?! And he's a lot taller than I thought next to Deidara.

Witherwing writes:

Just a few quick notes since I seem to have fallen behind once again. (But now that schools out, maybe I'll be more on time.)

Oh Kabuchimaru, Does anyone else thinks it's gross that he has somehow absorbed Orochi's flesh? skin cells? scabs? and that it is now trying to take over his body tuning him into the Thing from Fantastic Four? He doesn't seem too concerned that he's becoming all deformed and growth-ful. He seems to want to surpass Orochi but will his hero worshipping of his stop him? Maybe he's just trying to harbor Orochimaru in his body so that one day the dark lord will rise again. Quick find unicorn blood, Kabuto!
The way I see it, the flesh cells have to choose between Kabuto or Orochi and in the end I think that Kabuto will be like Kadaj from Advent Children. He can't win.

Hehe. Tobi cracks me up.

::sob sob:: He was a strict sempai, but still a good one.

I can't tell if he's just immature or hiding something more behind the jokes. Like Chichiri from Fushigi Yuugi. Maybe there's more to him behind the mask. A troubled past? A lost friendship *cou-kakashi-gh*?

note: Sasuke looks really cool in action.

Now we wait for 'that'.

Naruto Chapter 356: Engagement

Summary: Tobi and Deidara target Sasuke. Kabuto confronts Naruto's team and confides in Naruto that he was inspired to find his own identity. Kabuto then reveals that Orochimaru is integrated in his body and he'll seek to be more powerful than the sannin.

SnowyOwl Says: O.o;;

Holy mother of a mackerel! The more trivial points first, then I'll get to what we all want to talk about.

Sakura and Karin meets but not really. Oh yeah, we're being set up for a confrontation later. Man, Sakura's dogs suck (sorry Kakashi!). The source of the scent was right next to you! Oh darn, the scent is now moving away. Follow it! Don't just stand there, doggie!

Love what a coward Tobi is! Makes you wonder how he ever got into the Akasuki. Sasuke, don't kill your relative! BTW, what does Tobi mean 'apologize to Itachi'? Is he implying that Itachi will be upset if Sasuke is hurt?

Ok, now Kabuto.

I very literally gasped when he appeared. 1. It was so unexpected. 2. I was so happy! I've been wondering about him and I thought we would finally get a little insight into his role, his motivations, or at the very least get some sort of contrary action/enigmatic statement to ponder about. Oh, did we ever. I was seriously creeped out in the last panel. I'm squirming just thinking about it.

So, I was right that Orochi is not dead (point for me!) - but so not in the way I imagined. But unless the Orochi that Sasuke killed wasn't really him, then there might still be a chance there will be a Sasu-chimaru like how there's a Kubu-chimaru.

Is anyone else a little disappointed? I always imagined Kabuto to be some smart, manipulative, master-mind that had his own agenda. But now it seems like he was content just being Orochi's minion and is lost without his master. He's so lost that the only way to anchor himself is to fuse with his old master's body. Yup, he's lost it completely - but at least he conveniently left Naruto-tachi with helpful information about the Akasuki!

Witherwing writes:

OMG!!! So creepy! Yup, Kabuto has officially lost it. He's got that insane grin on. Not the evil one like Orochi had but the CRAZY one. Now we have to find out what exactly integration with Orochimaru means. I mean, I always thought that Kabuto was stronger that Orochi but now what? Is Orochi's conscience still alive or did Kabuto just such out the abilities and what his their plan now? Maybe losing his identity finally cracked him. ::shudders::

Kakashi's dogs: Well, maybe they're a little out of practice because the only one that really get's out regularly is Pakkun. But, yeah, the fight between the two girls is so coming on. Although I don't think that Sasuke will care very much if either die as long as it doesn't interfere with his plans.

I love this. ^_^
Sasuke: Glares
Tobi: runs and hides behind a tree.

Naruto Chapter 355: Which Way?

Summary: Team Konoha separate in search of Sasuke. Team Hebi split to gather information about the Akatsuki. Tobi and Deidara find one of the teams.

SnowyOwl Says:

This is one of those chapters that will define how the rest of the arc will pan out as far as who is with who and will meet who. I suspect there's a lot of misdirection, so I won't take this at face value. To note:

-Love how Kakashi tells Sakura to take a chill pill.
-Naruto and Hinata teamed up. Fans of this popular pairing are probably cheering victorious now. I, personally, am still not a fan unless something drastic happens ... soon.
-Dude. Sakura's doggies caught Sasuke's scent within 5 kilos. He's been right under your nose the whole time!
-Suigetsu is still cool and Juugo talks to birds (aaw!). Fly away before he eats you!
-Shino makes me laugh.

My thoughts exactly Tobi-kun.

Witherwing writes:

What's with the cloaks, man? Snowyowl and I have discussed that the author is probably getting lazy and the cloaks are a good way to not have to draw arms. I also like them for the uniformity. Maybe the weather's getting cold and we don't know it. Also not how Konoha ninja's are in white while everyone else is in black.

The mission: I'm not really sure what the mission is anymore. If they put Sasuke before the Akatuski it's because they want him back? Now I'm thinking that if he doesn't want to be a Konoha ninja, you can't really make him. Or maybe they want to detain him so that they can offer help? What's going on?

Note: on page 13 they were able to cover forest, plains, ocean and desert all in a 5 kilo radius. What a small world.