Naruto Chapter 694 – 695 Breakdown: It’s a Pein0Avenue and Tenrai Senshi collaboration!

Chapter 694 – Naruto and Sasuke (1)

Never noticed till now… Hashirama is Left Handed and Madara was Right handed… I mean, this wouldn’t of worked if they where both right handed…

Awe WRA. It’s bittersweet this week as it has been confirmed now that the Naruto as we know it will be over in just over a month. This being my last official breakdown on Naruto makes it feel so final, a series that has been in our lives for a long time and for me personally a series that I felt I grew up with.

I think WRA can survive though, this is a site that thrives on manga readers and debates and discussions, but there is a great new group of manga making their way up. Seven Deadly Sins was mentioned and Attack on Titan has been a revelation to me in the ‘darker’ manga category. In the end the survival of the community will not depend on Naruto but on our members. When I first arrived, Pickles, SuperTrek, Kizu, where the three covering the Big 3, Naruto, One Piece and Bleach. FMA had just finished and Soul Eater was getting a breakdown every now and then.

So to those of you that haven’t begun, now is as good time as any to start Seven Deadly Sins 😀 and this is also your time to shine WRA, give suggestions of good manga that aren’t currently on the map and let’s start discussing it and getting others to read it…

Now finally to the actual breakdown.

Naruto and Sasuke

The chapter is dubbed, Naruto and Sasuke… and this is a clear distinction to me. The two are going to fight, but there is no hatred or jealousy that was so prevalent in their first encounter. It’s almost as if Kishi wants us to understand that this is not just the battle we have all been waiting for since the end of part 1. There is something deeper here, the distinction of saying ‘and’ instead of ‘vs’ tells me that there may not be one winner and the other a loser. This is not meant to be final, but instead represents the two being able to understand where each one is and how each side’s experiences have led them to their answers.

They don’t seem to even want to battle, there is a feeling of unwillingness in it, even Sasuke’s tone just seems like his heart isn’t in it, or at least not truly. This of course may change but it does highlight what Hagoromo’s intentions, to not only focus on the one brother, but to give both equal power, which would remove that anger and resentment and would in a sense create the yin yang effect while maintaining a balance.

The True Hokage

…and the only Uchiha that didn’t go completely crazy… then again he did kill his entire family so crazy is relative here….. <___<

The ultimate question in the Naruto universe since the Pain Arc has been how do you stop the cycle of hatred. This is of course very difficult to answer, we had…

Nagato believe that fear would end all conflict and created a sort of Mutually Assured Destruction policy that would eventually become a system that would continually remind people of the effects of war and the suffering it brought.

Obito believed that people couldn’t be fixed and that the world he knew was much better than the one he was living in and believed that by controlling people he could create a utopia, but this would remove free will. To do this he was willing to become nothing but a tool to achieve his dreams.

Sasuke has taken these two approaches and tried to mix them together, that with his own idea of what a Hokage should be, has created this almost Dark Hokage mantel in his mind (someone that is willing to do what is necessary, not needing the peoples approval to do the right thing.) Now while this seems completely conceited and vain (which it is) I think sometimes we as the reader forget what type of world Naruto takes place in. The Kage’s are not super heroes, each one is a killer. The Bijuu aren’t just friendly portions of chakra but weapons that can be used to cause countless people to die. These are facts and while we have seen into the Kage and Bijuu hearts, Sasuke hasn’t and he is making his assessments from his own experiences, which have been tough to say the least. The Kage’s where on the brink of war not long before the 4th Shinobi war broke out and if it hadn’t been for Obito’s intervention there may have been a much darker turn to this story. If in fact, Obito allowed the Kage’s to continue their meeting and just push each more and more into conflicting against each other, there would of been a much more gritty war than the one against the faceless Storm Troopers white Zetsu.

So by using the powers given to him Sasuke would accept all the darkness in the world onto himself, make himself this hated figure that will live in solitude and can pass judgement on others. In doing so create peace through a totalitarian society. This is of course like trying to keep cool by setting fire to your surroundings, this would make your past cooler than your present but doesn’t really fix the problem since all it does is compound it. Sasuke will rule but in doing so may create more hate but what is your opinion? Would you trust people that literally trained from childhood to be killers to turn around and begin living in peace together. Weapons with almost unlimited power wondering around waiting to be captured. Do these really seem like ‘safe’ assumptions to make? It would be like leaving Nuclear weapons laying around trusting that the right people with the right skills wouldn’t come round to pick it up and use them for evil…

I will keep the remainder short and to the point. This of course being Hogoromo’s flashback and Naruto’s response to Sasuke’s dark Hokage. This was the best parts of the chapter to me, which is very strange for me, as I normally live for the villains monologues and dark ideology but as a fan of Naruto seeing his response to Hagoromo and Sasuke really showed how he has matured and yet stayed the same at the same time.

Firstly in his answer to Hagoromo he shows the old Naruto, with his almost child like faith in people and his unwillingness to give up on others and even more so, himself. It was of course touching to see both (Sasuke and Naruto) answers be similar while at the same time be so completely different. Naruto’s answer to Sasuke to me showed his growth through this war, when the war began and just before it. Naruto would try take up the solo hero mantle, being the person that would take on all the worlds problems alone and being the only one that can shoulder them. Over the course of the arc he has seen that he cannot do everything. He needs help and is stronger when others are stronger. He is not alone and by being part of a group they can all achieve peace. I just want to point out how completely different this view must be to him… He was completely cut off from society for being the jinchuriki, hated and despised by the world, yet he has been able to look past this and accept those that hated him from the start. He is not letting only his own experiences guide him (like Sasuke is doing) but instead learning from everyone’s flaws and weaknesses putting him in a better position to lead.

This of course all lead to the final moment when the two Yin and Yang finally crossed swords/kunai, the final battle is here and we can debate all we want in the end there is only 5 Chapters to go till it is finished. We will see some epic jutsu I am sure but for me personally, I am hoping that the two being weakened will mean that this battle is gritty and personal. Maybe they will gain understanding through that and like before only when two equals face each other on battlefield can they see into each others hearts. 🙂

Debate – Who is stronger entering the battle?

It was going to be Naruto but Sasuke pulled some jutsu out his @$$ so he is stronger. 😛

On your marks…. Get Set….. Go!!!!

I will leave it to Tenrai to propose a new debate or caption contest, though I think it will be tough to find bubblitions with the series coming to an end…

Thanks again for reading, it has been an honor knowing you all here and will miss the intense debates and laughs we had about Naruto but lets make the final 5 chapter memorable :D.

Kakashi vs Itachi? Who ever won that one…. <__<

>__>

Chapter 694 – Naruto and Sasuke (2)

I’m not sure who looks more creepy in this image at this point.

*Notices everyone staring at me expectantly…* O__O

Oh yes… *Cough*

Well, I guess it’s my turn then. Thanks for that breakdown Pein, and for helping me cover for a double. It has always been a pleasure having you on this blog, helping me out and supporting myself and others every step of the way. Also, thanks to Kevin for the previous breakdown. It’s always good to get a fresh perspective now and then from other writers.

Oh yes, of course. Where are my manners? Hello everyone, it’s Tenrai Senshi here, covering the second half of this double breakdown! ^ ^

If this was a baseball game, Sasuke would be out.

I think the most notable feature regarding this chapter, is that the battle between Naruto and Sasuke is in many ways a reflection of their previous battle at the Valley of the End, near the conclusion of Part One, only on a much larger scale. It also appears to be a very evenly matched battle from the offset, with both Naruto and Sasuke pulling out their big cards – from Susanoo to Naruto’s Bijuu cloak mode – pretty much from the get go.

However, despite this seemingly shallow, destructive mayhem, I did pick up on what could be a bit of symbolism in this chapter as well, hidden within the imagery.

For one, when I think back to very first battle Naruto and Sasuke had at the Valley of the End, I can’t help but think of how, during the finale, both took on monstrous forms that bought out the peak of their power at the time, with Sasuke’s second stage Cursed Seal on the one side and Naruto’s one-tailed chakra cloak on the other. This time around, it almost feels like Kishi is paying homage to those earlier incarnations of Naruto’s and Sasuke’s power, through the visual representation of Susanoo and Naruto’s Bijuu form. Susanoo’s wings are visually very reminiscent of his second stage Cursed Seal form, which also sported wings, while Naruto’s Bijuu form is obviously reminiscent of his chakra cloak.

In a way, this visual representation of power, brought up to a much larger scale, could be seen as a representation of the growth that both of these two “brothers” have undergone since the last time they faced each other in a battle to the death. In a way, it’s a reminder for us readers as to how far they’ve come, even following their own paths, and how, despite coming around full circle back to where they had first clashed with their lives on the line, they have come with hearts that have grown more mature and understanding of the world, and even of each other as well.

The final battle between light and darkness…

As we can see in the spread above, we also have a brief moment where Naruto’s and Sasuke’s fists clash, which also brings us back to a peculiar power that some Jinchuuriki seem to have, where they are capable of transmitting thoughts and feelings through fist bumping, as first displayed by Bee. With that in mind, this scene made me wonder what kind of emotions were flowing through Naruto and Sasuke at this time, and how they perceived each other. What did they feel or see within each other as their fists clashed?

In a way, we do get an answer to that question. What most people perceived as nothing more than a mere flashback, was, in fact, more than likely a visual representation of the emotions currently being exchanged between Naruto and Sasuke at the time their fists touched, and the memories of their individual pasts being shared.

To walk in someone else’s shoes. To see as their eyes see. To feel as their heart feels. That is what it means to understand…

As Pein0Avenue mentioned in his breakdown as well, this also brings me back to how, in part one, Sasuke mentioned that when two master shinobi trade blows, they also exchange thoughts and feelings and can come to truly understand each other. At the time he said those words, Sasuke looked down on Naruto and saw him as someone who was beneath his own level of skill, so I don’t think he believed that Naruto could truly understand him at the time. However, this time around I think both Naruto and Sasuke are well aware of the fact that their thoughts and feelings are reaching each other.

In a way, I think Sasuke might even be glad that Naruto understands him now, as well as the reasoning behind his actions. Likewise, Naruto must feel that this strange phenomenon, where people can share their emotions, is his only way of truly getting his own feelings through to Sasuke as well. Having shared their thoughts and feelings, only the raw, emotional reality remains. Both know what it feels like to lose loved ones. Both have shared the agony of being alone. And as someone who understands that unbearable reality, Naruto believes he needs to stop Sasuke from walking a path that would lead to that hell of loneliness once more.

Sasuke is trying to cut his bonds again, just like he did during Naruto’s and Sasuke’s first clash at the Valley of the End. Naruto doesn’t want to allow that to happen.

Wouldn’t we all want a friend like Naruto? T__T

In any case, to avoid making this breakdown any longer than it already is, I’ll end on the closing note that it does, indeed, seem as though Naruto’s feelings have finally gotten across to Sasuke, going by the chapter’s rather abrupt ending. Even Sasuke himself admits that Naruto doesn’t have to be “so loud”, because he truly does understand what Naruto is trying to do for him. Likewise, he also finally admits that Naruto must understand him as well, which, in a way, is an admission that the two of them are now truly equals in every way.

The only question remaining is, what will Sasuke’s answer to that revelation be? I definitely sense a talk-no-jutsu coming up, but it will be interesting to see whether or not Naruto and Sasuke resolve this final clash of fists and feelings with violence, or with words. I guess only time will tell, but hopefully, whichever way Kishi decides to spin it, it will be a great ride all the way to the end.

They couldn’t just settle this over a game of chess, could they? <_<

Well guys, that’s it from Pein0Avenue and I. I hope you all enjoyed this double breakdown, and thank you to everyone for riding out this truly epic journey with us until the very end. It really is a joy to finish this long-running, memorable series with friends that I’ve gotten to know here on WRA over the years, even dating back to the old IRA days.

I honestly wouldn’t have it any other way.

Just for the fun of it, and to commemorate the fun times we’ve had, I decided to include what will be one of the last Bubbliton Contests we might ever have for this series. It’s a bit of a tough one but I hope you guys enjoy it all the same.

*Insert caption here.*

See you in the comments! ^ ^

~ by pein0avenue on October 14, 2014.