Summary: Sasuke attacks the kages and is rescued by the Akatsuki. Madara reveals to the kages his plan to unite the tailed beasts in order to complete a technique that will allow him to cast the whole world into his illusion. He declares war against the ninja world when the kages refuses to hand over the eight- and nine-tailed beasts. Meanwhile, Naruto is troubled by the news that Sasuke is working for the Akatsuki and that even his peers are planning to assasinate Sasuke.
Serenphoria Says:
Super-long post here.
First, on a personal note, you’ve no doubt noticed that I’ve decided to update much more rarely. However much I’d like to stay current, my life’s schedule demands otherwise, so unfortunately, my impressions now will be in much broader strokes.
That said, it doesn’t seem like much has happened in the past three months and there weren’t too many moments that would have had me flailing if I had followed week after week.
First things first: Samurai are about as useful as the Storm Troopers they resemble, which is to say, useless. The word Samurai by itself exudes bad-assery and yet this group was grossly mistreated by the author as mere speculators and commentators to the action, which is a role any random nin or civilian could have filled. I’m disappointed that the introduction of the Samurai in this ‘verse didn’t live up to its potential.
And I’m getting really confused with all the new characters. Too many ‘feelers’ and rogue Hyuugas for my liking.
Now, on to the main course:
Madara: My, this man likes to hear himself talk. Was he really having such a hard time nabbing 8 and 9 tails that he’d reveal his plan in order to “negotiate”? By the way, if that’s your negotiation strategy, Ur doin’ it WRONG. Did he seriously think he could cause so much grief and then have the kages cooperate because he’s doing it in the name of peace? He has not earned any trust and yet expects everyone to entrust him with the power over all the earth. Silly megalomaniac.
Given this ridiculous situation, and Madara’s history as an unreliable source in the past, it seems probable that the plan he revealed is a strategically manipulative move to get the kages to react – perhaps taking him straight to the remaining tailed beasts or something more.
In fact, manipulation seems to be the over-arching theme of the past dozen chapters. To the kages, as unconvincing as he is, he feeds them a message of desiring peace. To Naruto, he speaks of the Uchiha’s destiny of hatred and vengence. I’m convinced that Madara NEEDS Naruto and Sasuke to fight – it’s the key to accomplishing his true plan, whatever that may be. Otherwise, his interest in Sasuke developing his doujutsu and Naruto accepting that it’s his fate to fight Sasuke (Naruto, who has otherwise rejected the idea of predestination with all his firey passion) would be hard to justify.
Sakura, I’m disappointed to see, chose manipulation to get Naruto to abandon his mission. No matter if her feelings have changed, the reason she confessed at this time negated any credibility to them. The characters justify her actions as an act of mercy, but really, she’s allowed to because they believe that the path of least resistance is to take away his motivation. Only they got his motivation wrong. Putting down Sasuke as part of her tactic proves as much. It isn’t just about his promise to Sakura and it isn’t about his bid for Sakura’s love. It hasn’t been for a very long time.
Yet Sakura operated under these assumptions because she herself is driven by her feelings for Sasuke, is projecting her solipsic mindframe onto Naruto. The differences in their growth is stark here: Naruto’s driving force is his concern for others (don’t use Sasuke as your puppet!) and rarely do we hear him flaunting his development. Sakura’s focus is herself. She thinks she is the center of Naruto’s world and therefore devises the love confession tactic to manipulate him. In part II she frequently voices how much Naruto has changed, as if to say look! I’ve noticed. I’ve matured. Sorry Sakura, not nearly as much as Naruto.
Okay, enough with the heavy.
Squee moments:
Gaaaaraaaaa!!!! OMG loving him and his sibs holding their own at the kage conference. But Gaara especially. Good to see that his age is acknowledged in his naïve/idealistic vision (and who’d have thunk that Gaara would be the idealistic one?!). And he suggested Kakashi as the interim kage! And reaching out to Sasuke? You know he did it for Naruto.
Killerbee and his brother. They are soo…brothers. Loving it!
WTF moments:
Danzou’s eye arm. WTF, Kishimoto. Are you not thinking about how chakra pathways work in your world? How many Uchiha body’s did you have to mutilate to get that going?
If you’ve made it this far, sorry for the text heavy post. Until next time!
