Thanks for mentioning Yamato connected to the statue of the first Hokage! I completely missed the panel, probably because I read the chapter in a hurry. It's a bit like taken from one of the Alien-movies.
I have reread the chapter now, and another thought that crossed my mind was why they think that they have to ship the jinchuuriki to Kumogakure instead of the head quarters. Would that not have been safer? Of course they did not know the location of Madara's hideout at the time... And why do they have to evacuate the countries? When friendly armies pass through a place they are normally not evacuated, as far as I know. Or do they fear that these countries won't just be a place to march through, but become a battle field? They should hurry then, I think.
victory will be determined by who makes the first moveI sense that this will go wrong
( ... )
I am neither really keen on seeing the dead characters again: Curtain calls make sense on stage, but not in a book or manga where it's always possible to get one of the early volumes from the shelf and meet your beloved characters again. It takes from the reality of death - but on the other hand, meeting your beloved characters as Zombies is not great either.
Maybe Kishimoto plans to make Kabuto lose control of them?While Kabuto's dickishness and fondness for mind games should never be underestimated, I have to wonder if his summoning of so many dead characters that hold loyalty to Konoha was done not only for the mind-game potential , but so that at some point he can indeed "lose" control of them
( ... )
So you think Sasuke was supposed to take Orochimaru's place after defeating him and become Madara's partner in crimes? Interesting and not so out there. The manga would have gone in a completely different direction for sure.
I never really saw Kabuto as a main villain, so I was surprised that he became Madara's somewhat ally. I'm really enjoying Kabuto's antics now. He's free from Orochimaru and he's definitely his own man. Always knew he had some skills, but now they are presented front and center.
He's really doing a great job of messing with Madara. I'm dieing to find out what he is really up to. Madara is not going to know what hit him...
Have to admit even now, Orochimaru's final end seemed a little off. I was looking for a more definitive ending and yet he still lives (sort of) in Kabuto, who is looking mighty creepy.
Maybe Kishimoto plans to make Kabuto lose control of them?
I'm hoping for something like this. It's a nice twist of poetic justice, to see a villain done in by his own evil. But I think the main reason the plot device has me so excited is because I enjoy the potential angst for characters like Neji and Tsunade. (I can be kind of sadistic toward fictional characters, I admit.)
What keeps me reading the manga is the fact that Naruto is still outside the general plot. He does not participate in the general excitement about the battle. Neither is Sasuke, who is still waiting to be allowed to put down his blind. Yes, and I think this is crucial. As I said in my review, they really do come across as "above it all" here. I don't really consider myself a pacifist per se, BUT I would like to see an outcome for this story in which a non-violent solution--one that represents a real reconciliation, not a fake peace--is shown to be superior to the clash of armies. That's not to say that I don't think Naruto and Sasuke will probably have some
( ... )
At the moment the problems with the manga from a pacifist point of view are manifold. I will try to make notes and write some short meta about it. What's my problem with the clash Naruto versus Sasuke is that by a lot of people it is considered emotionally satisfying and vital to the plot that they clash, while for me neither is the case. I mean - they clash, and what then? Naruto first defeats Sasuke and then uses his Jesus no Jutsu on him? It would be just cheesy.
Naruto first defeats Sasuke and then uses his Jesus no Jutsu on him? It would be just cheesy.
I doubt Naruto will defeat Sasuke. If anything, I expect them to fight just long enough to show off all their pretty jutsus (thereby hitting up the target demographic) and come to a stalemate. At which point that crucial Something Else will be needed to resolve the central conflict of the series. Exactly what that Something Else is, I don't know, and I don't really want to know until the moment comes. When it does, only then will I know whether or not it's something I can appreciate from a thematic standpoint or not. Like you, I don't anticipate much emotional satisfaction from a clash between Naruto and Sasuke (but we're not in the target demographic, after all). But I also don't feel that it will be "cheesy" or will ruin the story in any way. What will make or break the story for me is that Something Else. That's what I'm waiting for.
I don't think the war or the conflict between Naruto and Sasuke will be averted either. The build up for both these events to happen has reached critical mass and is unavoidable at this point. Just think of the fan rebellion (not us, the target demo who are probable chomping at the bit) if no fighting happened? Torches and pitchforks anyone?
I'm actually looking forward to the fight between Naruto and Sasuke, plus add in all the potentially epic fights between the zombies and ninja.
"At which point that crucial Something Else will be needed to resolve the central conflict of the series."
Agree. Naruto and Sasuke are evenly matched right now. IMO, a stalemate is inevitable. Is that "something else" related to Itachi's "gift" or not? That whole sequence of events between Itachi and Naruto has always been at the back of my mind. It has to mean something, though it wouldn't be the first time I gave an event more importance than it actually had.
Whatever that "something else" is I can't wait to find out what it is and be surprised.
What's Naruto's ideology? Love? What about the people Sasuke loved? Naruto is the only character in the story who even thinks of this, so I have still some hope left, and also some hope left that this won't end with Sasuke's humiliation
( ... )
But Kakashi seems rather insensitive, or maybe incapable of saying what needs to be said to Sasuke. What he said, before Sasuke's defection about being alike and not seeking vengeance seems almost misguided. Their scenarios are simply NOT similar (if what we learned about Kakashi's past is all that there is) and I really thought that Kakashi would atleast try to say something to appease Sasuke, regardless of whether they could trust Madara's story or not; how about 'Don't believe what Madara said to you'? but not even that was attempted
( ... )
I have reread the chapter now, and another thought that crossed my mind was why they think that they have to ship the jinchuuriki to Kumogakure instead of the head quarters. Would that not have been safer? Of course they did not know the location of Madara's hideout at the time... And why do they have to evacuate the countries? When friendly armies pass through a place they are normally not evacuated, as far as I know. Or do they fear that these countries won't just be a place to march through, but become a battle field? They should hurry then, I think.
victory will be determined by who makes the first moveI sense that this will go wrong ( ... )
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Maybe Kishimoto plans to make Kabuto lose control of them?While Kabuto's dickishness and fondness for mind games should never be underestimated, I have to wonder if his summoning of so many dead characters that hold loyalty to Konoha was done not only for the mind-game potential , but so that at some point he can indeed "lose" control of them ( ... )
Reply
I never really saw Kabuto as a main villain, so I was surprised that he became Madara's somewhat ally. I'm really enjoying Kabuto's antics now. He's free from Orochimaru and he's definitely his own man. Always knew he had some skills, but now they are presented front and center.
He's really doing a great job of messing with Madara. I'm dieing to find out what he is really up to. Madara is not going to know what hit him...
Have to admit even now, Orochimaru's final end seemed a little off. I was looking for a more definitive ending and yet he still lives (sort of) in Kabuto, who is looking mighty creepy.
Reply
I'm hoping for something like this. It's a nice twist of poetic justice, to see a villain done in by his own evil. But I think the main reason the plot device has me so excited is because I enjoy the potential angst for characters like Neji and Tsunade. (I can be kind of sadistic toward fictional characters, I admit.)
What keeps me reading the manga is the fact that Naruto is still outside the general plot. He does not participate in the general excitement about the battle. Neither is Sasuke, who is still waiting to be allowed to put down his blind. Yes, and I think this is crucial. As I said in my review, they really do come across as "above it all" here. I don't really consider myself a pacifist per se, BUT I would like to see an outcome for this story in which a non-violent solution--one that represents a real reconciliation, not a fake peace--is shown to be superior to the clash of armies. That's not to say that I don't think Naruto and Sasuke will probably have some ( ... )
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I doubt Naruto will defeat Sasuke. If anything, I expect them to fight just long enough to show off all their pretty jutsus (thereby hitting up the target demographic) and come to a stalemate. At which point that crucial Something Else will be needed to resolve the central conflict of the series. Exactly what that Something Else is, I don't know, and I don't really want to know until the moment comes. When it does, only then will I know whether or not it's something I can appreciate from a thematic standpoint or not. Like you, I don't anticipate much emotional satisfaction from a clash between Naruto and Sasuke (but we're not in the target demographic, after all). But I also don't feel that it will be "cheesy" or will ruin the story in any way. What will make or break the story for me is that Something Else. That's what I'm waiting for.
Reply
I'm actually looking forward to the fight between Naruto and Sasuke, plus add in all the potentially epic fights between the zombies and ninja.
"At which point that crucial Something Else will be needed to resolve the central conflict of the series."
Agree. Naruto and Sasuke are evenly matched right now. IMO, a stalemate is inevitable. Is that "something else" related to Itachi's "gift" or not? That whole sequence of events between Itachi and Naruto has always been at the back of my mind. It has to mean something, though it wouldn't be the first time I gave an event more importance than it actually had.
Whatever that "something else" is I can't wait to find out what it is and be surprised.
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