#naruto 629

[everynarusaku]

That smile

[narutoreviews]

NARUTO chapter 629 REVIEW

"WIND HOLE"

I've heard of being heartless.... BUT DAMN! Leave it to Obito to take it to the next level!

So, after a break for both publisher and translators, this eagerly awaited chapter opens up to the raging chaos of earth and sky unleashed by the Juubi at the end of chapter 628. We can only assume this power is the TENBEN CHII that Kurama warned Naruto of as the tempest around them swells violently, driving bolts of lightning towards the Juubi’s form that illuminate the massive boulders and raging currents of water suddenly amassing towards it as well. With the force of an Atomic Bomb the pressure of the storm releases, casting itself across the land and forming a large mushroom cloud above the Juubi as the clouds around it continue to thunder and roll.

As the dust settles we see that Madara has thrown up his Susanoo to protect himself from the blast, and looking at the newly formed crater around him, he assumes that the explosion has finally done in the Alliance. But despite the strewn debris and torrents of water rushing to fill in the crater, the Alliance is scattered but alive thanks to the Chakra Cloaks Naruto continued to surround them with. Once again, everyone recognizes that they would have perished it it wasn’t for Naruto’s protection, but even Juubi seems to be getting tired of this old trick. 

The scene focuses on Naruto and it’s clear from his hunch stance, bleeding arm and torn clothes that he took the biggest hit from the blast. But despite his ragged breath and beading sweat, the passion to fight continues to burn in his eyes as a confidant smirk lights his face.

    Naruto may have finally reached the limit of his chakra, but as Juubi’s gaze locks onto its only standing opponent, we get a view of what it sees in Naruto.

(Okay, even if Disco is dead, if you don't understand this Sister Sledge reference, for goodness sake get some culture and listen: http://youtu.be/eBpYgpF1bqQ)

As the Rinnegan eyes of the Sage of Six Paths stare down Juubi through Naruto’s equally determined gaze, it is made clear to us that our hero truly embodies the second coming of this shinobi god. Though Madara, Nagato and Obito eventually evolved to posses the powers of the Sage through combining Senju and Uchiha DNA, it is Naruto who has been entrusted with the name and thus souls of the Bijuu. In this way Naruto possess the true will of the Sage, and if it’s one thing we’ve learned from this series so far, it’s that will is ultimately stronger than physical power. 

The fact that Juubi focuses on Naruto and is able to recognizes the will of the Sage with in him lead us to believe that it is becoming more sapient and aware of its surrounds, for if it can respond to a threat then surely it is becoming more intelligent. With a mighty roar that is finally something other than “GIIIIIIIIIIIIII!!”, Juubi’s muscles begin to bulk up as it enters what may be the transformation into its final form. 

With a curse, Naruto drops to one knee as his body gives out in exhaustion and with this the Chakra Cloaks protecting the Alliance flicker and snuff out like the flame of a candle. Not sounding unimpressed, Madara notes that this appears to be the limit of Naruto’s strength, but because something else *coughHASHIRAMAcough* has caught his attention now, he will make Naruto and his comrades’ death mercifully quick and painless then move on. 

I found this statement by Madara to be very insightful to his character because it shows he does not seek pleasure in killing as a pain “evil villain” in a story might. This illustrates Kishimoto’s great ability at placing his antagonists in a gray moral ground; Madara may be our “bad guy” and though his actions are questionable his ultimate goal is peace, something we all wish. This makes Madara’s character dynamic and sympathetic to us and speaks to Kishi’s ability as a good storyteller as he has applied this rule to virtually every villain in his series.

Despite Madara’s suggestion of victory, he is taken by surprise as Naruto’s equally tired comrades come to stand in a protective formation in front of their hero. With Hinata in the front, she gives a spirited shout for her fellows to show Madara their continued solidarity to the war and as a cry of assent goes up Naruto can’t help but smile as Sakura begins to heal his wounds.

It’s at this point the chapter turns its focus to Obito and Kakashi as they spiral out of KAMUI and into Obito’s box dimension, and despite being the person who uses KAMUI the most to transport himself, Obito lands on his ass while Kakashi immediately springs from his fall into an attack. But before Kakashi can deliver a finishing move with RAIKIRI, he jerks to a stop mere inches from Obito’s surprised face, and to Obito the reason for this is clear for Kakashi has had several opportunities to kill him up to this point. In choosing not to, Obito begins to question Kakashi’s motives, asking if the guilt of breaking his promise to Obito still keeps him up at night, and if Kakashi still harbors hope that Obito could have a change of heart.

The latter statement, I believe, is directed specifically towards us the reader because up to this point the majority of boss characters in NARUTO underwent a change of heart, notable examples being Zabuza and Nagato. Redemption is a running theme in this series and as fans we have come to expect it, and Obito having once been so similar to Naruto in will and dreams, begs us to wonder if he will “see the light” as well. From Kakashi’s reaction, it’s clear he holds on to the hope that his former comrade and friend can return, that the old Obito still resides within the scared man before him, but Obito only laughs and mocks Kakashi for the pain and guilt he has suffered over the years.

        Activating his sharingan, Obito freezes Kakashi to the spot and begins to walk into his former comrade’s arm, allowing RAIKIRI to piece into his chest the same way it did into Rin’s. In a sick twist Obito turns this scene into the actual event it mimics and in this way forces Kakashi to relive one of his most painful memories. It is here Obito reveals that he actually knew the reason behind Rin’s death, and FINALLY, FINALLY we learn that Kakashi DIDN’T willingly kill Rin against her will, she actually chose to die by Kakashi’s hand.

To explain the reason behind her decision, the chapter enters into a mini flashback during which Obito explains that Rin had been kidnapped by Kirigakure where she was forcibly MADE INTO A JINJUURIKI.

HKJHSJKhdjkasdahsdkjhdjkSAHKJHSADAsdhsdhdghghghjdhfjhfdfdfkkjfkk

Now, I have to take a moment as a reviewer to say.... I SO F**KING CALLED THIS!!!

Let’s take a trip back to my review of chapter 608 in October:

Now granted, as we learn the truth, my exact reasoning for why Rin became a jinuuriki does not stand up, but every fan has to enjoy these moments when they predict something even partly correct. :) Except Tobi=Obito fans - because some still won’t shut up.

We learn that Kirigakure intended for Rin to be rescued and returned to Konoha where they then planned to (somehow) unleash the Sanbi within her thus causing chaos and destruction on their enemy village. However, I find it odd that Kirigakure honestly believed Rin would not recognize their plan and try to take her own life by some means to prevent it. Perhaps she hammed up the “I’m a dumb, scared girl” act, but even if she allowed herself into Konoha and the Sanbi was released, Kirigakure risked Konoha gaining control of Sanbi and keeping it for themselves. Was the temporary destruction of Konoha worth that loss? Perhaps only if they were planning to follow it up with a war while Konoha was weak? Hard to say, but it was a very risky move so they shouldn’t have been surprised it didn’t work.

As we see young Kakashi aiming his RAIKIRI at a Kiri shinobi, Obito explains how Rin perfectly timed her death by dropping in from above to fall into Kakashi’s unwavering blow. It’s made clear Kakashi knew Rin wanted to die by his hand but he refused, due to his promise to Obito, so she resorted to the Yahiko approach. The question that comes to my mind though, is was Rin acting selfishly in this moment or not? Though dying by the man you love’s hand is romanic, forcing Kakashi to unwillingly aid in her death forced him to both kill his last teammate and break his promise with Obito. Granted, one could argue that by being a martyr for her village Rin was preforming the most selfless of acts and could be excused this one selfish wish. But really, she could have taken care of business on her own without the romance. I would prefer to wonder if she knew that Kakashi killing her would evolve Obito’s sharingan and thus make him stronger because of the act, which would give her character even more depth in foresight and selflessness. But for now, it seems more evident that Kishi wanted her character to be romantic just because she is a girl. SIGH, Kishi, sigh.

After expressing his knowledge of the truth and imparting it to us, Obito concludes the flashback by stating that because Kakashi failed to protect Rin he is an “impostor” of the friend who made that promise. If the world was not governed by an “eye-for-an-eye” philosophy, Rin would not have needed sacrifice herself, and as Obito steps away from Kakashi’s hand, he states that he views the Rin who lay dead that day as an “impostor” because people are only themselves when they are alive, naturally. Obito concludes by clarifying his character's resolve: That it wasn’t Rin’s death but the fact that she had to die at all that broke his heart and shattered his faith in the Shinobi World and allowed him to see it for all its faults.

Still frozen in place, Kakashi returns to the fact that Naruto’s words embody the passion Obito once felt because Kakashi passed this will onto his pupil, and he believes that something of it must still exist inside his former comrade. But Obito is having none of this TALK NO JUTSU and instead indicates to the dramatic, freshly made hole in his chest.

The chapter concludes with a dramatic view of Kakashi through the other side of the hole in Obito’s chest who states that Kakashi need to feel guilty about the past, that his former friend’s actions were merely apart of the sh!t storm that is the Shinobi World. And really, I think that should have been the title of this chapter, “Shit Storm” but I can see how that wouldn’t fly with the parents.

Overall, this chapter serves to clarify what drives Obito to complete the Moon’s Eye Plan, revealing that is it not just because the girl he loved died, but that rather her death brought to light his disgust with the whole Shinobi system that would allow such an act to occur. Uncoincidentally, the questions Sasuke posed to Hashirama help us gain more incite into Obito’s hatred because we as readers now posses a clearer knowledge of the Shinobi World through its founding. Sasuke has every right to be as disenfranchised with the world as Obito, but where Sasuke rampaged in pursuit of truth that lead to Hashirama, Obito rampaged and received a different idea of truth from Madara that resulted in the nurturing of his pain, rather than the healing of it. 

Obito will be a tough nut to crack in terms of returning him to the light, but the fact remains that there is a good chance he eventually could because it would be a RETURN to the light, not a TURN. The evil Emperor of Star Wars could not be turned to the light because he had never been good to begin with, but Darth Vader RETURNed because he had once be young Anakin before pain and suffering broke his body and heart. So there is a chance Obito could return to his old beliefs but I’m not sure Kakashi has the TALK NO JUTSU chops to do it alone. 

This chapter also serves to indicate that the Hokage’s arrival may be close at hand because Naruto is in desperate need of a power up and we know that Minato has the other half of Kurama’s chakra which would do the trick beautifully! The question is, will Kishi let things become more desperate first? Then at the last possible and most dramatic moment let the Hokage (and possibly other Kage) arrive to save the day? 

I have a feel the next chapter will continue to focus on Kakashi and Obito as they come to an impasse in philosophy and perhaps will have a good fight finally. If the experience of Obito walking into Kakashi’s arm was not entirely a genjutsu, it suggests that more of his body than just half is made up of Zetsu/Hashirama cells, which would explain why his left arm fell of during his fight with Minato when it was only right side of his body that was crushed beneath the boulder. This makes him a very difficult opponent to kill because his body can sustain great damage without incurring death, except for headshot of course. We’ll just have to see how it all goes down!!

As always, what did YOU guys think of this chapter?? Were you let down because you expected more after a long break? Was everything Obito did all a genjutsu? Were you surprised about the truth of Rin’s death? Do you think the Juubi is finally regaining intelligence? 

I give this chapter a RATING of:

It finally revealed the mystery of Rin’s death, featured some dramatic back-and-forth between Kakashi and Obito, reestablished the connection between Naruto and the Sage, and Juubi blew more stuff up. Not too bad.

PREDICTIONS:

Juubi will continue to improve its vocabulary from “Giiiiiii” to include “Gaaauhhhgh,” “Huuuuuughhh,” and “Uuuuuuughimhungy.”

Hashirama and group will run into Tsunade and Kage and lend a hand so they can all arrive together on the battlefield together. 

Hinata will finally propose to Naruto before Sasuke get’s a chance.

Till next time!!

Le Blog Review:

[dixdafne]

Coincidence?

First we have the Juubi (Ten-tails):

then we have Slendy:

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.

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  Yeah...I'm reaaally bored right now, But seriously you just put the Juubi on a nice suit and you got Slender xD

[marayu9]

Work in progress. :D

[pennyofthewild]

I'm late to the party, but ... I'm glad Rin got some development.

I never cared much for her character; she always seemed to be a placeholder, for me (thank you, Kishimoto-sensei -_-) - but it's good to know there was more going on - 

- I wish, however, that this wasn't wasn't a common phenomenon in fiction: turning female characters into placeholders/plot devices aka this object right here is why it all happened - p.s. you're supposed to care - 

- because, speaking as a girl (woman, I guess?) who is proud of being female, I'm tired of it - I understand why,  of course, writers do this, but that doesn't mean I have to like it - and it doesn't mean I have to be quiet about it - 

- and coming back to Rin, I hope Kishimoto takes the opportunity to flesh out her character a little more - probably a vain hope, but whatever; this is tumblr and nobody is reading this anyway. 8D

[itsmechino]

[gooeybuttercake]

BOTH KAKASHI'S FATHER AND GIRLFRIEND COMMITTED SUICIDE DO YOU NOT UNDERSTAND

[gooeybuttercake]

Ok, Kakashi, you can cry now.