Naruto Chapter 394: Sasuke's Victory

Summary: Zetsu is in disbelief that Itachi had lost the battle. Smiling, Sasuke collapses next to his brother. Meanwhile, Team Konoha figures out that their offensive attacks are going through Tobi/Madara and Shino prepares to counter. (Read 394 here)

Serenphoria* (aka SnowyOwl) Says:

After two months in real-time we see Naruto and co. again, but not without having gone through a really exciting battle with the Uchiha brothers. There was both a sense of closure and continuation; a conclusion to a chapter, but not the story. We were giving some significant answers, but more questions arise:

Is Itachi dead?:

I hope so, it was a fantastic send-off. However, Zetsu's words and word choice make me nervous:

"Itachi is dead? That Itachi isn't dead?"
"His movements are completely different. He even looks different..."**

Though in any other reading this could be interpreted as Zetsu's utter disbelief that the peerless Itachi had been defeated, I wouldn't put it past Kishimoto to use this as misdirection and use this as a clue that there is another, or a real Itachi elsewhere. We've already seen that it was possible for Akasuki members to channel a percentage of there power and fight by proxy.

What I'm hoping for is more insight into the speculated pre-injury. As suggested by zapenstap, the deterioration of Itachi's eyes (and perhaps even more) drove Itachi to seek Sasuke's eyes even though it hadn't matured to its Mangekyou form. At this point, I'd really like any new information to make Itachi's character more human and vulnerable, rather than finding out the real him is out there somewhere and 10x more powerful.

What's happening with Sasuke?

I don't think Sasuke is dead. Based on the fight, the more likely scenario is that Itachi is dead (or close to) and Sasuke is just exhausted. Sasuke pushed himself until he was out of chakra, but was saved from being trounced because he had two trump cards: Cursed Seal level-2 and Orochimaru. Yes, CS2 does cause some damage to the body, but he's been in that state before and it's never come close to killing him. Itachi, on the other hand, was very obviously suffering from internal injury.

The battle is over, the adrenaline dies down, and exhaustion takes over. Anyone who gets sick after an intense week of finals knows how it feels to have your body fall apart when you finally let it.

So what's with the bleeding eye and creepy smile?

I think the bleeding eye is symbolic, since it closely mirrors the effect of Itachi's Amaterasu but clearly Sasuke's not performing any jutsu in particular right now. I don't know of what yet though... (Okay, so actually my gut reaction was: Kyaa! he's achieved a form of Mangekyou! He thought of Itachi as his closest friend! because the blood dripping from the eyes didn't quite match the blood from Itachi's hands). And the smile is a combination of him being really glad it's over and letting exhaustion take over (or him realizing he just evolved his eyes and smiling at the irony).

Of course, if I was to offer a conspiracy theory, I'd say that Itach had somehow transfered into Sasuke's body >.<

[Transitions]
The transitions were very deliberate, expecially the one from the Uchiha battle ground to Madara's eyes. Transitions and juxtapositions are usually important and this one especially gave me the creeps. Seems like Madara is keeping an eye out on the Uchiha battle, if not having a direct hand in it. Or perhaps it's just another reminder of how terrifying the Uchiha bloodline is and there are still powers we have yet to realize.

Again, zapenstap has a very interesting theory that I wish I came up with!***

[Team Konoha]
Glad to see them again, and I look forward to a slightly more light-hearted fight (no crazy emotional burdens and history to worry about. Unless, of course *cough*Obito*cough*)

Wow, it took a lot of people a long time to figure out Tobi's a phaser. Didn't we discuss this in the post for chapter 358? They obviously don't read X-men in Fire country. Except Shino. He seems like a guy who would.

And when did Kakashi start using the Sharingan?!? On no, already? I have more anxiety over Kakashi than anyone else in the group. I blame you for my rising blood-pressure! (please don't die!)

And Shino looks like he's about to unleash some awesomeness. I can't wait!


*SnowyOwl will now be posting as serenphoria for consistency. Sorry for any confusion.
**Binktopia's translation is much more colloquial: "Itachi passed out? No, you don't think Itachi's dead?!" This would make any speculation of a real!Itachi moot, but from the deliberate emphasis on "That" Itachi in FrankyHouse's translation makes me think they did a more accurate job expressing the ambiguity offered by the original Japanese, whereas Binktopia took some liberty in interpreting.
***I'd like to disclaim that I wrote most of this post before reading zapenstap's analysis. Similarities are coincidental, or the product of us both reading into the same things :)

Naruto Chapter 393: My Eyes

Summary: Itachi's Susano'o deflects all of Sasuke's last-ditch attacks and backs Sasuke into a corner. In great pain, Itachi approaches to take Sasuke's eyes, but pokes him on the forehead instead and collapses. (Read 393 here)

Serenphoria*(a.k.a SnowyOwl) Says:

Still in a bit of euphoria over this chapter. It's narrative and drama pushed to the limit: Our boy Sasuke backed so far into a corner, his chakra spent such that he has to resort to throwing things in a desperate attempt to just get Itachi the *bleep* away from him, scared but probably resigned that he's lost, and then...

Completely and utterly DENIED!

In every way, whether or not Itachi is dead, Sasuke has been denied his vengeance, purpose, identity and hope of peace.

If Itachi is dead: Though Sasuke pushed Itachi to the limit, he did not kill Itachi. It was the side-effects of the techniques Itachi used (to great effect, I might add) that killed him. Sasuke was not on the offensive when Itachi collapsed. This is not vengeance.

If Itachi is not dead: Itachi is still in a state in which he can not defend himself. What will Sasuke do now? Kill him in cold blood? This is just murder and will not taste of vengeance at all.

Not unless Sasuke pulls a Grimmjow** and bring his opponent back to life/health to fight again will it feel like vengeance. This is unlikely.

What of Sasuke's identity? He's defined himself as an avenger, and now that has been denied. He has worked and convinced himself that he's the strongest (with a string of high profile victories to substantiate this self-view) and Itachi came out clearly the stronger of the two. Sauske's surprise and resistance to the cursed seal and Orochimaru manifesting tells me he wanted to win by his own power. The fact that they did manifest is a clear sign that Sasuke, by himself, was out of the game long before it was over.

And realizing his limitations, what is his purpose now? His resolve to go after Madara next would be futile at his current level. His options for new mentors are next to nil. Aside from team Hebi, he's estranged himself from his allies (at least, he'd never ask the Leaf for help). What now?

Throw in a parting gesture from Itachi that is reminiscent of a time when Sasuke viewed it as affection, and you've got one stunned and confused Sasuke.

As much as I want to read it as Itachi admitting a little regret and affection, it really can't be anything more than him being a royal jerk and messing with Sasuke's head for life. There's no doubt Itachi really did want those eyes; it would hardly make sense for him to risk so much self-injury for anything else, but he knew the moment before he smiled that he wasn't going to live and made a deliberate decision to poke Sasuke's forehead.
He's proved that he's not a caring brother, but a gesture that has such a powerful association with botherly love for Sasuke, it's going to pit Sasuke's heart against his head and drive him batty.

So the future? Hard to say what Sasuke's next step is going to be now that probably every outcome he's envisioned has been upturned. Hebi could help him clear his head, but I hope not before we see what goes on between Suigetsu and Kisame. And there's still Team Konoha vs. Madara. I see that battle as a quickie with Madara testing them out and then leaving. That scenario doesn't lend itself to another long, drawn out battle worthy of following the Uchiha confrontation because it doesn't have the emotional drive behind it. Unless, of course, there is a reunion. You know of what I speak.

This post is getting long. The last thing I want to say is, what's up with that snake? I'm hoping that the white snake is a metaphor for healing and not Orochimaru escaping. (The markings on the eyes make me think the latter.)

*this is SnowyOwl's moniker for other fandom related things. I'll be using serenphoria here starting now to keep some consistency. Feedback on the change is welcomed. **From BLEACH. Sorry for the spoiler.

Naruto Chapter 392: Susano'o

Summary: With Sasuke out of chakra, Orochimaru manifests himself to confront Itachi. However, Itachi seals Orochimaru with Totsuka, the spiritual sealing sword that Orochimaru has been searching for his whole life.

SnowyOwl Says:

I so called it. Orochimaru appears andI think Zetsu said it best: "Always barfing stuff up and coming out of snakes' mouths...he grosses me out."

Interesting move by the author: Orochimaru's relationship with Sasuke now parallels Kyuubi's and Naruto's relationship (their exchange about power deliberately similar). While it irks me that Naruto is becoming less and less 'special,' juxtaposing different reactions to similar situations may prove useful for characterization. Or, as this has already been done with Gaara, this is setting up for an opportunity in the future Naruto to mature and help Sasuke through this situation. Assuming that Orochi lives (most likely, as I don't see what else Sasuke has up his sleeves) his parasitic relationship with Sasuke is still nascent, whereas Naruto has already conquered Kyuubi's temptation for power.

If nothing else, perhaps it will give Sasuke some empathy for Naruto's circumstance.

Naruto Chapter 391: With the Thunder

Summary: Sasuke channels lightning from a storm he incited and attacks Itachi. Itachi survives by summoning what he claims to be his last weapon, Susano. Itachi acknowledges that Sasuke, who has activated the second level of the cursed seal, has become very strong. (Read 391 here)

SnowyOwl Says:

This chapter was both epic and funny. Leave it to Sasuke to use nature to boost his own power, which is both resourceful and ridiculous. But at least his method was slightly more explainable than Pein's super-natural powers.

Moment 1: Itachi was BLOWN out of his muumuu!

Moment 2: Sasuke's I-did-it! happy dance (oh Sasuke, you know the they're never really dead until you kill them with your own hands)

Moment 3: Whoa, that's the first time we've seen Itachi without the Sharingan

And finally we see Susano, the last of the trio of deities (is it still an eye-jutsu? I wonder what it does?). Itachi just announced that this was his last resort. I guess it runs in the family.

And if cursed-seal two is any indication, Sasuke's out of his own natural chakra. I guess it's time for Orochi to come out and play.

(and where there's Orochi, there's Kabuto...and when Kabuto and Sasuke are together, Orochi can put himself together again...oh...this could be fun...)