Naruto Manga 484 Breakdown and Manga 485 Spoiler Discussion: Team Seven Reunited – As Enemies

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She heals! She cries! She falters! It's Sakura!

Oh yeah, she cries uhgain…

She falters in her resolve not once but TWICE uhgain…

And, yes, like usual, Sakura gets bailed out by Naruto and Kakashi uhgain…

This predictability is like Princess Peach’s kidnappings by Bowser/resulting rescues by Mario that happen practically every other week (if you aren’t into Nintendo – my apologies).  However, this time, Sakura’s rescue was in very dramatic, very Naruto-esque fashion when NO ONE was expecting it – least of all, Sasuke.  Epic!  Wasn’t this glare priceless?

Well, Naruto? Methinks you have a decision to make and you'd better make it fast...

I, TsunadesTwin,  have returned yet again to dazzle with brilliance (or baffle with a lot of BS) on a Naruto Breakdown.  And, there was much rejoicing!  Yay!!!  (Ok, Mandi, you can stop galloping with the play pony and, Trek,  you can knock off the clapping of coconuts in the background – refer to Monty Python and the Holy Grail).  I have come back from my self-imposed exile (ok, being a responsible adult in RL) to entertain/inform/enlighten/confuse you all.  If you believe THAT then my alter ego is out of her coma on her own…

My new icon for postings. Fits my mood these days...

So here I am, reeling like all of you are, over the long-awaited meeting between Kakashi and Sasuke.   Two Sharingans and two lightning types (add earth and water for Kakashi – yes, I HAVE seen that discussion on affinities).  One is full of himself, full of crap, exhausted, bleeding (as is par for the course for Sasuke) and maniacal; the other, at full strength, somber, resolute, and pure awesomeness as usual, in his duty to protect his teammates and the recovering Konoha from the wrath of yet another Uchiha.  As always, Kakashi takes on the Emo burden as the team captain, for this very Emo former student.  Makes me wish he’d just give himself a break – geez!  He had no way of knowing that his former student would be going THIS far off the end of the pier.    Anyway, our remorseful Hokage by Acclamation, that non-Uchiha member of the Sharingan User Society, Hatake Kakashi, is now faced with the realization that there’s little to no chance of rescuing that Emo King, Sasuke.  I’m certain that Kakashi’s thinking much like Shikamaru says in the English translation from Japanese, “What a drag…”

The days of the old Team 7 have long passed...

We all wondered:  Who has what moves?  Who wins this one?  Does Kakashi have something other than the Sharingan under that headband/eyepatch?  Who has the missing eye tech, Tsukiyomi?  Who is smarter/dumber, stronger/weaker, destined/unlucky between these two?  Well, the answer came fast…

Does anyone get the impression that Kakashi REALLY doesn't want to do this job?

Talking??? Yup, Kakashi pulls a Naruto and begins by trying to convince his former student to return to the “good side” of the Ninja Force.  So much for showing off his strength for the most part.  In response, Sasuke mocks his Sensei, mocks his fellow Konoha 12, mocks his Sensei’s possession of  a Sharingan (now, Sasuke, that’s a low blow…) and mocks the whole concept of a “happily ever after” by saying that Itachi was the fall guy for all the peace in the Ninja World that his former shinobi brethren are enjoying.  Oh, by the way…Did anyone happen to mention to him that Konoha is being re-built??? Or, that there is now a Fourth Ninja War going on??  Someone is soooooo not keeping up on their “current events.”

The door snapped of it's hinges...Emo Boy has completely lost it!

Meanwhile, the two women who are currently in competition for Sasuke’s top jilted wannabe girlfriend, Sakura and Karin, bond over some tears and some healing.  Problem is, both are initially being administered by the same person:  Sakura, of course.  However, Karin struggles to not find any sympathy for Sakura’s tears – with an epic fail on that count by adding her tears to the newly formed Hatake/Uchiha River of War.  Wow!  we have Epic Fail all around us here – a new record as it isn’t just Sakura anymore!  However, it does bring to mind a question:

As all of this is happening, Naruto still approaches in Sage Mode (not for fighting – yet – but for tracking Kakashi’s chakra to locate him).  Yes, he’s still struggling to find an answer to the question of:  What do I do about Sasuke?  I noted that someone mentioned how moody and brooding Naruto has become since the Pain attack.  Well, it had to happen sometime – he’s growing up!!!  He’s had some rather earth-shattering (literally) experiences that have left a huge impression upon him – and resulted in an embarrassing panic attack (hey, better than him going to full Kyuubi mode with no assist available from Daddy Hokage).  Good grief, the kid is 16, been declared the hero of Konoha for defeating one of the worst disasters to cross Konoha’s borders, revealed jutsu that is incredibly advanced beyond his years, dealt with the brutal death of his Master and still mourns over not being able to save one friend – the one holdout idea from his childhood.  On top of that, he’s made promises that he may not be able to keep, including to the one now-dead ninja that is the focus of Sasuke’s new job as Avenger-in-training, Itachi.  Man, what a drag!

With all of this brain wave activity, the Kyuubi's cramped rental space and Daddy lurking about in the ol' noggin, I'd be having some major headaches...

Itachi’s little bro’s mental canvas has now been painted black and red for darkness and blood.  And, that one fact, leaves Naruto in an impossible situation.  On top of that, the humiliation of his meeting with the Raikage, the beating by the Kumo nins, the lecture by the Kazekage – his old friend, Gaara – and add the lie from the love his young life, Sakura,  have all added to the incredible weight this guy’s carrying.  But, he does make a decision:  wait until he gets to see him and evaluate the situation carefully.  Personally, I think that is a smart move and shows his incredible growth as a shinobi.  Sakura didn’t think this one through and pulled one Epic Fail after another.

Speaking of Sakura, it’s not bad enough that she faltered once but…she faltered TWICE.  She decided that she didn’t have enough humiliation, torture and the thrill of a near-death experience so she goes after Sasuke – kunai drawn yet again – only to change her mind as the kunai practically hits Sasuke’s Uchiha crest (now THAT would have pissed him off, I’m certain).

And, for her second attempt, she runs from behind - the so-called Sharingan blindspot...

Again, she wavers...man, this is getting old

Sakura, maybe it's just me but this kinda looks like we took a step backwards...

Now, don’t think I forgot about what Sasuke’s been doing.  He’s been doing far more than merely Going Emo.  Like I said before, Sasuke’s initial reaction to Kakashi’s pleas was to absolutely dis his former teacher – a definite no-no.   What’s this?  Her again?  Speaking of things getting old…Sasuke brings back his newest weapon of mass destruction that has been used far too much of late, Lady Susanoo.  With the anger building in Sasuke, she raises her head – and her weaponry – and strikes at Kakashi.  However, much to the absolute rage of Sasuke, Kakashi reveals HIS newest weapon, the Mangekyo Sharingan and HIS eye’s ability, Kamui.  Man, what a baby!  I hear “YOU can’t have that because YOU aren’t special like I am.”  OMG, just like a three year old not wanting to share his toys.  Oh, grow up, Emo Boy!

OMG, Sasuke. Just shut up already! You deserve to be beaten...

Now that Kakashi shot off Susanoo’s arrow into another dimension (too bad it didn’t hit Madara in HIS dimension…), Sasuke tries to bring Susanoo to life once again with a look of panic from Kakashi (and some snow for dramatic effect).  Oh, Sasuke has her completely formed this time, which is a scary thought for Kakashi who wonders if this time he’s going to be permanently exiled to the creepy dead man campfire afterlife.

But, as seems to be the theme of this chapter – which should have been titled “Epic Failures All Around” – Sasuke encounters some technical difficulties in being able to follow through on annihilating Kakashi.  The one thing that he was warned about, the one thing that could happen that was a fate worse than death for an Uchiha,  finally happened:  Blindness.  Wow!  He’s actually terrified and feels powerless.  What a concept!    Finally, Emo Boy stops raising his “You aren’t an Uchiha so you aren’t worthy” battle cry.  Serves you right for being a spoiled Uchiha brat.

He's probably thinking right now, "I wish I could start this day over again..."

Sasuke’s reaction to Sakura’s attempts to off him were particularly brutal and cruel.  First, he dares her to kill a near-dead teammate – then tries to nail her with a chidori at point blank range.  His reaction to her second attempt was just about as heartless:  grabbing her by the neck and raising her high above him (he had to be pretty pissed off, uh strong to pull that off), stealing her kunai and prepares to stab her.  Sasuke’s been an incredibly busy guy in this chapter.

As usual, you pulled off the dramatic entrance of the chapter. Question is, what are you gonna do next (other than send Crybaby Sakura packing)?

Then, the Dynamic Action entry of the last few chapters that only Guy could muster (too bad Lee was put to sleep), while still battling that migraine headache of a decision, comes Naruto for the save.  Problem is, did he win this?  We don’t know that as we don’t know what Naruto’s gonna do about Emo Boy.  Gaara tried to talk some sense into him; Kakashi, as well.  Both to no avail.  However, the difference this time is that Naruto saw that Sakura was in danger of being offed by the one guy he’s been trying to rescue for much of this manga; the one Sakura loves desperately.  Then…that glare.  Hmmmm…though Sasuke had almost completely lost his vision, apparently he didn’t lose it to the point he couldn’t see the look in Naruto’s eyes and it’s bad news for Sasuke.  Or, is it?

Well, well.  So much to review/dis/rave/cheer/groan about this chapter and so little writing time.  But, hey!  That’s what discussions are about, right?  I will leave you now with a few bones to pick and ideas to chew on until the next chapter comes out.  And, that leads to one more item – spoilers.

Tenrai brought up a good idea in the past few days and I think I should put it into effect immediately.  From here onwards, in consideration of those who do not wish to be spoiled/wish to be surprised, when posting spoilers (either confirmed or unconfirmed – preferably confirmed), please post spoiler LINKS, not the actual text.  If you have never posted/never posted a link before, your comment will be put into the spam filter once but one of the admins will clear the comment for posting (after checking the link for spam).  After that first time, it won’t happen again and you can post links galore – such as when Super gets on a roll during a debate.  So…there you have it.  I’m off for now…

Until next time,

Penny

~ by 綱手-Tsunades Twin on February 26, 2010.