Naruto 587 - Kishimoto Made Me Feel Sorry for Kabuto (and some thoughts on Itachi)
I haven't written a Naruto essay in awhile. It's difficult because I have so many other things I am trying to write. Also, I can't go back and look at past chapters anymore. But I remember once saying...in the distant past...that Kabuto was somehow a character I just didn't like and wondering idly if Kishimoto would ever make me feel sympathetic toward him.
Kishimoto is a genius (and a really empathetic and compassionate person...seriously)
Kabuto was always just kind of "there." His design wasn't interesting, nothing he said was that interesting, his motivations and alliances have always been unclear...he just wasn't easy to like or even understand. I can't believe that I didn't see the twist!
Kishi did such a good job of explaining Kabuto. He is a kid who has been a double-agent so many times he has no idea who he is anymore, and thus WOULD BE incredibly boring. He is seeking to find himself... somewhere...somehow...and strives to remake himself into something really powerful (however gross) just to be acknowledged for existing.
I still don't really "like" Kabuto but Kishimoto made me want to help him out or at least give him some good advice (which would be to "go home" lol).
For people who didn't pick up on the 9:00pm thing... The latest chapter in the Naruto Manga (587) is called Once It Becomes 9pm. I was wondering why it was called this all throughout the chapter...until a random Shinobi somewhere out in the war zone talks about how it's 9pm and wishes it was time to go to bed. We don't see his face, but he talks about how he hopes the war will finish with the nations still being friends and so that all Shinobi on missions can go home. Maybe he can see his brother again, who has been away for a very long time.
The we see the guy's face. The random Shinobi is the kid from Kabuto's orphanage who explained the importance of the curfew to Kabuto (everyone who belongs there goes to bed at 9pm!) It was a strict rule in the household and part of the identity of the household. This guys still remembers Kabuto, thinks of him as a brother, wonders if he will come home.
So basically, Kabuto's mission to be acknowledged by any means necessary (like mutating himself into a dragon/Oorichimaru) is not only completely unnecessary, but counterproductive to his goals since he is waging war on his family. He has a family. He just doesn't realize it.
GAWD
Of course, the Kabuto history was very frustating to wade through since I am eagerly awaiting a chat between Itachi and Sasue. I am excited about Naruto again because Itachi is back. So far he has said some interesting things that shed further light on his character. Like acknolwedging that he is a liar (to himself apparently as well as others) and also arrogant...right up until his death. Now he is telling Sasuke to look at him and try to see what he doesn't have.
Itachi wants to stop the Edo Tensei, but I think Sasuke will prevent it as Sasuke still hasn't satisfied his "mountains of questions".
I suspect that we might hear Itachi say that he regrets killing his family. He might apologize to Sasuke. He might cite that the reason he did it, and the reason it was a mistake, was because he couldn't rely on anyone but himself. The problem of the Uchiha's rebellion was too big of a problem for him to solve, and thus he thought no one could solve it (because he is arrogant and believes he is perfect, so if he can't fix it, who can?) and therefor the only decision he could make was a hard one.
Sasuke shares this same flaw. Arrogance. Trying to do everything himself. Not trusting in anyone or relying on anyone because his powers are so great. To hear Itachi--the person Sasuke has striven his whole life to "measure up" to--tell him that everyone has flaws and that complete self-reliance is the wrong way to go might have a very heavy impact on Sasuke.
We shall see.
Kishimoto is a genius (and a really empathetic and compassionate person...seriously)
Kabuto was always just kind of "there." His design wasn't interesting, nothing he said was that interesting, his motivations and alliances have always been unclear...he just wasn't easy to like or even understand. I can't believe that I didn't see the twist!
Kishi did such a good job of explaining Kabuto. He is a kid who has been a double-agent so many times he has no idea who he is anymore, and thus WOULD BE incredibly boring. He is seeking to find himself... somewhere...somehow...and strives to remake himself into something really powerful (however gross) just to be acknowledged for existing.
I still don't really "like" Kabuto but Kishimoto made me want to help him out or at least give him some good advice (which would be to "go home" lol).
For people who didn't pick up on the 9:00pm thing... The latest chapter in the Naruto Manga (587) is called Once It Becomes 9pm. I was wondering why it was called this all throughout the chapter...until a random Shinobi somewhere out in the war zone talks about how it's 9pm and wishes it was time to go to bed. We don't see his face, but he talks about how he hopes the war will finish with the nations still being friends and so that all Shinobi on missions can go home. Maybe he can see his brother again, who has been away for a very long time.
The we see the guy's face. The random Shinobi is the kid from Kabuto's orphanage who explained the importance of the curfew to Kabuto (everyone who belongs there goes to bed at 9pm!) It was a strict rule in the household and part of the identity of the household. This guys still remembers Kabuto, thinks of him as a brother, wonders if he will come home.
So basically, Kabuto's mission to be acknowledged by any means necessary (like mutating himself into a dragon/Oorichimaru) is not only completely unnecessary, but counterproductive to his goals since he is waging war on his family. He has a family. He just doesn't realize it.
GAWD
Of course, the Kabuto history was very frustating to wade through since I am eagerly awaiting a chat between Itachi and Sasue. I am excited about Naruto again because Itachi is back. So far he has said some interesting things that shed further light on his character. Like acknolwedging that he is a liar (to himself apparently as well as others) and also arrogant...right up until his death. Now he is telling Sasuke to look at him and try to see what he doesn't have.
Itachi wants to stop the Edo Tensei, but I think Sasuke will prevent it as Sasuke still hasn't satisfied his "mountains of questions".
I suspect that we might hear Itachi say that he regrets killing his family. He might apologize to Sasuke. He might cite that the reason he did it, and the reason it was a mistake, was because he couldn't rely on anyone but himself. The problem of the Uchiha's rebellion was too big of a problem for him to solve, and thus he thought no one could solve it (because he is arrogant and believes he is perfect, so if he can't fix it, who can?) and therefor the only decision he could make was a hard one.
Sasuke shares this same flaw. Arrogance. Trying to do everything himself. Not trusting in anyone or relying on anyone because his powers are so great. To hear Itachi--the person Sasuke has striven his whole life to "measure up" to--tell him that everyone has flaws and that complete self-reliance is the wrong way to go might have a very heavy impact on Sasuke.
We shall see.