Thanks Kish for pointing it out YET AGAIN. You didn't have to but cool.
Sasuke's fire nature being made even stronger with Naruto's wind nature, Naruto really being compatible with Sasuke. They work seamlessly together, like an instinctive, well oiled machine, like they weren't separated for years at all, the perfect duo, the real team, the Main Act.
Hinata and Sakura just being witness to their natural and instinctive partnership from a distance, seeing them laughing with each other in the midst of a gruesome battle. Them having each other's undivided and intense focus that the ladies themselves desire and attempt to get so bloody much but to no avail...
Kishi, you never miss the mark, do you? After writing a chapter called 'team seven' only a few chapters before this one, where he wrote Sakura to righteously show off her new-found strength to Sasuke and Naruto as an equal part of team seven, he Had to make sure that it is made clear to the reader through show AND tell that the real act is really Sasuke and Naruto. No third party warranted or required, like always. The real team seven dynamic. We gotchu Kish. We knew it already but well, reiteration doesn't hurt, heh.
Hero isn’t born, they are made. At least, that’s the saying goes for those who believe it. The true question is, is that what you’re looking for? Is it really necessary to build a hero from someone you know? Could it be that making that person a hero is unnecessary to please yourself? The answer lies within this gripping and intense chapter that boils down to one thought: survive and live as friends.
Sorachi understands the fundamental of tension. I am very well convinced that I can’t foresee on what the path lies next for characters that are next to the door of death. I can’t tell if Sorachi is truly going to pull the trigger to kill off not one but two named characters. It has me on the edge of my seat and I truly mean that. I was reading this while talking to my friend, and I lost focus when every passing panels show the sign of end has come upon that character. This is what I have been asking for a War Arc to contain and it continues to deliver.
The last chapter has me terrified with Takechi about to engage to what appears to be a suicide mission. This chapter got me in a much worse state than before. The speech from Takechi about risking their life for a doomsday delay got me in awed. It’s sad that their ally fleet is protecting them by taking all the hit and destroyed in the process. It’s the only way to distract the enemy from noticing Takechi, but it won’t be long before they catch him on sight. That said he brought in a speech that basically says that they will rather risk all of their lives to save countless lives back at Earth. I don’t even know if Kihetai will live after this arc. Everyone is dying out there.
As if Sorachi isn’t satisfied enough, this chapter resumes the thought of Bansai’s death and sadly, this one really got me thinking that this is his swan song. I was tore enough with Takechi’s highly potential sacrifice, but now we have gone back to Bansai. Every word from him sends me nothing but bad feelings. He understands that the enemy will keep on spawning, which ultimately slow them down a lot. So he practically suggested that he will be the distraction and already you can tell he’s planning to sacrifice for them. Although he said that he will be by their side, it gradually becomes clear that he wants them to not to worry.
The action is so intense and so emotional. Usually, the latter is missing from the action scene in other series, but here, it’s profoundly done well. Not only is the action intense with great display of teamwork and characters coming off very impressive, but the awestruck monologues and real sense of tension made this moment highly compelling.
Bansai is awesome in here. I love how he traps everyone with his string and pulls their weapons to fire at their own men; then pulls them together to get killed in one slash. There are some great action scenes, like how Takasugi grabs a shield and ram at them like a mad man. It’s all around brutal stuff. The excitement stops when a dying enemy got up and shot at Bansai. It doesn’t let you know if he did get shot or narrowly missed him and Sorachi play that tension well.
Now I have to comment on the monologue because this is what got me awestruck and absorbed the emotional ride from this potential end of Bansai. It’s all about his thought on Takasugi and what makes one as a hero. One of the best strengths of this series is the storytelling for an action scene and the more you continue, the more you are attracted to its moment. Bansai once had a death flag back in the last arc, but it was short lived since it happened all in one chapter. Although that one got nearly convinced of his time is up, this one is much worse and feels finalized.
His monologue is based on the reflection of a hero and Takasugi as a person. Hero doesn’t look back. No matter what happens, they must push forward and continue to strive until it is won. It draws me when he begins to recite the memories of Takasugi and how in the end, despite making him to be seen as a hero, he is always a weak man. In fact, he can’t be a hero because he is a man that felt the pain and misery that often continues on with each passing sacrifices. It’s rather deep to separate the thought of a hero and a man, especially this is Shounen, so this got me. It separates from the title and a being.
The scene with Bansai looking at his enemy while Takasugi watches him from the distance is saddening. It’s like a farewell without realizing one. To make matter worse, we find out that he did get shot and it looks really bad. Even talking about a defined hero, he believes people still needs one, so he can’t let Takasugi to die. The action continues and it pains me further to see Bansai getting shot and each of them gains closer to his death door.
The presentation is nearly great. Choreograph is Gintama greatness level with its well display of trickery as well as plenty of badass acts from each character. There are a lot of movements going on, yet clear enough to read the motion. The only unfortunate part is that there are some panels that seem to be in the last draft before printed. While it is not very sketchy like a second draft stage, you can tell some of the jagged lines are presented. It’s minimum, though I wonder if Sorachi got a bit weak at certain point. I’m surprised that it took this long enough after drawing tons of action panels with a lot going on.
It all tops it with his and Takechi’s goal to create Takasugi a hero and willing to risk their life. It was their wish to achieve, but something has changed. By that point, he now realizes that he no longer wants to fight along with a hero, but with a friend. Watching both Takechi and Bansai did it for me. This whole moment was outstanding that captures the intention of what Shounen genre tends to portray.
The chapter is awe-inspiring. I can’t tell on what direction it’s heading to but make no mistake, I am well invested to the story. It has great written lines, great action display, and characters that have you invested for what’s to come in the next chapter. I don’t know if their fate will be shown next, but I am ready….I hope…
