Naruto Chapter 373: The Student/Teacher Era

**Updated 10-21-07**

Summary: Jiraiya discovers that Negato possesses the Rin'negan, the greatest of the eye techniques, but decides to teach the kids ninjutsu regardless. Negato is shaken by his own actions (killing a hostile nin) and explains that he wants to protect Yahiko and Konan no matter what. After three years of training, Jiraiya expresses his confidence in the kids' ability to fend for themselves and leaves for Konoha. (read 373 here)

SnowyOwl Says:

I really love flashbacks. Here we see the Rain kids before their convictions and paths were set and a glimpse of what could-have-been. Now I'm really, really curious as to what happened to them. What betrayal, what tragedy or cruelty did they go through to make them so distrustful of 'outsiders' and so protective of themselves? Where is Yahiko?

[Of Yahiko]
As much as he looks like Juugo, I don't think that Juugo and Yahiko are the same person. Juugo's affliction is genetic, and there was no indication in the flashback that Yahiko ever goes into crazy-killer-mode. But goodness, he was the Naruto of the last generation. Checkout his eager face and his cry face. Give the kid some whiskers and a headband and there you go.

[Of Negato and Konan]
Does anyone else think they're siblings? Same dark, limp hair, same build. They were together even before they met Yahiko and are together still. There's unquestioning loyalty (both ways). Maybe the Rin'negan is recessive and only Negato got it.

[Of Jiraiya]
He spent 3 years out there! While I admire his humanitarianism, didn't he have duties in Konoha? Konoha really sucks at keeping track of their nins. His heart-to-heart with Negato was really sweet (did you notice that he was the only one that said thank you when Jiraiya left? They totally had a special bond) but what a terrible exit. He didn't give the kids a chance to prepare emotionally for his departure -- I bet this second experience of abandonment is what screwed them up!

[Of the Rin'negan]
Take that Sasuke! You have the lowest form of eye techniques!

Witherwing writes:

Yes, that's right, an update here too, albeit a short one.

Nagato and Konan being siblings, I can see that. I just hope that he didn't go all crazy and kill Yahiko. That would really stink. Man, that two of them have no emotional ties to Jiraiya at all. I mean, they are ready to kill him. Do you think it's because he left them so long ago?

I really want to know what Nagato's eye-jutsu does. Is it the reason that he could change into other bodies with lots of piercings on it? Or maybe it's just used to make him really crazy looking so that nobody will mess with him.

I like the flashbacks too. I really like seeing what the older generations were like before Naruto took place. But I guess if the story was set earlier, then the manga would be called Jiraiya or something...