Naruto Chapter 414: Bull on the Rampage

Summary: Naruto is progressing in his training as a frog sage. Meanwhile, Killerbee attacks Sasuke's team in his full form as the Eight-Tail Bull. Sasuke, recovered after Juugo transfers his flesh and chakra, unleashes the Amaterasu. (Read 414 here)

Serenphoria Says:

Wheeee!

What a jam-packed chapter. On Sasuke's side, the pace and energy was frenetic - you could feel the urgency and hear the chaos of the battle. No time to reflect much, no time for anyone to think hard about the consequences of their actions. Just go go go or perish. I can't wait to see this chapter animated.

[Camaraderie]

Seems like Team Sasuke was especially cohesive in this battle to lead up to drive Sasuke to use the Amaterasu. I'm not sure the technique itself requires an emotional trigger, though its design points in that direction - I mean, its physical manifestation is tears of blood! (And our emphatic narrator says so). I'm hoping that the technique alone isn't enough to defeat the tailed-beast, but I'm interested to see how it might be different from Itachi's.

I also want to clarify that I don't think that the team's cohesion is purely a plot point to get Sasuke to think of Team Seven. There is a reason camaraderie is the single most important force in times of war (and I thought reading All Quiet on the Western Front was pointless in AP English!). You live together, breath together, and hold each other's lives in your hands. It's a bond stronger than steel that can be forged in an instant in battle. That's where our team is now. They may seem a little rag-tag, and individually they may be a bit lacking, but in the thick of it, they'll die for each other, and it's beautiful.

(It's also interesting to note that by this point, Sasuke has experienced more quality time with this team than with Team Seven. Team Seven really only had Wave Country, the second chuunin exam, and the battle with Gaara together.)

Alright, enough sap.

So Juugo did loss mass! Well, at least he did it in a healthy way and didn't stay the same size, but have weaker bone density or something. I don't think he's turned back time, as silly Karin says, he just looks it. Good choice, because now his looks match his childlike mental state and demeanor.

Suigetsu. I'm so confused. What is that state he's in? Is gelatinous his natural state? Is he only in that in-between state of matter because of some reaction to hachibi's attack? And I don't care if he is a water ninja, where in the world did all that water come from?


[The Other Side]

I had completely forgotten that Mr. Host was named Killerbee and I hadn't made the connection that Nibi was from the same village until the random expendable characters said it. I find it interesting that their village 1) had two full-grown jinchuuriki and 2) seem to regard them with respect. The latter I say because the cloud-nin referred to the Two-Tails and Eight-Tails by name (Yugito and Killerbee) and because they ran towards the battle rather than away (unlike with old Gaara).

Cloud-nin: Hey Killerbee, Raikage told you not to transform.
Killerbee: Oh yeah, sorry ::shrinks::
Mostly-Dead Team Sasuke: ...

Wouldn't that be sweet? I half expect it. For Team Sasuke, it's become life or death, but for Killerbee, it was always a bit of a game. That'll teach'em to underestimate their opponent.

Sidenote: Naruto + warts + frog eyes = do not want. :(

Naruto Chapter 413: Crash

Summary: The eight-tails jinchuuriki channels his biju's power and critically injures Sasuke. Juugo attempts to save Sasuke by offering his chakra and flesh as the eight-tails appears in it's full form. (Read 413 here)

Serenphoria Says:

Whoa.

I wanted Sasuke to be taken down a couple of notches and get beat by the eight-tails and not only did Kishimoto deliver, he blew open Sasuke's chest.

The injury was a little too real for me to rejoice. It didn't involve screwing up internal chakra systems, or genjutsu, or anything strictly in the Narutoverse, but blood, guts, and bones. Too serious for it to just be embarrassing. Curse you Kishimoto, why can't you let me enjoy Sasuke's setbacks?

I haven't commented much on Juugo, but he's actually been helpful, a real team player. Still not a lot of personality, but reliable. I wonder if the deformities from the cursed seal is created from the person's existing body or there's some voodoo physics that creates mass from elsewhere. What are the consequences of Juugo giving up his 'flesh?' Is he going to be shorter? Lose some muscle mass? And if Itachi purged Sasuke of the cursed seal, will Sasuke's body reject the foreign parts? Does his teammates even know what came out of the Uchiha showdown?

With all the bits of people in Sasuke's body and the summons in Naruto, they have a team with them where ever they go. Guess it goes right along with Kishi's value of teamwork - there's no escaping it! It also means Naruto and Sasuke will never truly face each other on their own.

Other observations:
- Mr. Host's brother. Will he factor into the story? Do we already know him?
- Mr. Host and his biju are partners. Does this serve as a contrast to Naruto, or as a goal?
- More support that Sasuke is using this opportunity to learn about Naruto or validate what he knows.
- Karin's markings: not scars.

So Suigetsu. Does he only turn into water when he's thinking about it? Does it take a lot of effort or take a toll on his body when he does? Seems like a really handy power, but I haven't really thought about the price.

Just because it's got eight-tails, doesn't mean you have design an octopus hybrid, Kishimoto. *facepalms*

Naruto Chapter 412: Fear Like They've Never Known Before

Summary: Team Sasuke finds fighting the Eight-Tails a challenge. Naruto continues to train to become a sage. (read 412 here)

Serenphoria Says:

You know, there have been times when I've wanted to say 'Bite me, Sasuke,' but I never ever meant it the way Karin meant it. I'm thinking those oval-shaped dashes on her arm are old bite marks. Ew.

(Sakura gets points for having a much more sophisticated and civilized medi-nin skills.)

Other than the vampire thing, many nice moments in this chapter:

First, very nice team work from Team Sasuke. And I'm very glad to see they are struggling against the eight-tails. It gives the Tailed Beasts the credibility they've been denied thus far because the Akatsuki seem to have such an easy time catching them.

Then there's more endearing froggy master and pupil moments. Whack-a-mole was exactly what I was thinking before Naruto said it! And Naruto gets another indirect bit of acknowledgment (I'm training you because only people who don't give up can become sages. Way to manipulate the boy Yoda Frog!)

Naruto threw himself into the frog oil! He's turning froggy just from the little bit on his arm, so this can't be good. I wonder what he's going to look like when he's using Sage skills and channeling Kyuubi. I'm thinking that his body will get really confused and turn him into a blob or implode or something.

Sigh, and he was growing up so well too.

Naruto Chapter 411: The Eight-Tailed Beast vs. Sasuke

Summary: The Eight-Tails jinchuuriki evades Sasuke's attack and cuts Sasuke with his swords. (read 411 here)

Serenphoria Says:

Erm...over-dramatic much? And here I thought most skilled ninja were experienced with swords. Or maybe Sui's been in a tank too long to notice every ANBU carries a sword. I'd hate to burst the kid's bubble, but being a sword master isn't all that rare. Time for a new dream.

Cut Sasu for realz, 8T! No more fake-outs and illusions. I want a good'ole fashion brawl!

One nice thing from this chapter is that Sasuke is trying to understand the concept of the jinchuuriki, and the soft part of my heart is hoping that it's a sign that he's trying to understand Naruto. To hurt or help, remains to be seen. (I'm leaning towards helping, but indirectly, because Sasuke would never admit to caring).

I'm just sayin'...