Naruto Anime/Manga (Manga Spoilers Not Tagged) [WSJ]

[X-SOLDIER]

So we get to see the Sound 5 again, by having Kabuto utilize Sakon's technique to merge his body with someone elses. It was especially fantastic for Tayuya fans, because of how her Genjutsu technique managed to tie up both Itachi AND Sasuke. The fact that they then used Tsukuyomi on each other to break it was equally bad ass.

Also, Kabuto's motivation and past keep getting better and better. I love how Itachi doesn't place value in his clan name, and that small bit infuriates Kabuto. Also, the single tear flowing out of Kabuto's eye when it looks like he's been beaten. Up until Page 13 (on mangatream), you can see the kunai with the ofuda on it in Kabuto's left hand. When he swaps bodies and attacks Itachi, his attack is completed with an empty left hand, so unless Itachi's Izanami managed to go off already, there's a possibility that he's repossessed Itachi with that attack.

Either way, it's an incredibly intense moment to leave it on.



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[Obsidian Fire]

It's interesting how much of Kabuto's identity is wrapped up in trying to be like other people. He's a lot like Tobi in that way. I almost want to ask him if he has any original Jutsu or if they're all taken from other people. He strikes me as being a people person, so much so that he always has to have their approval. He's kinda a foil to Kakashi in that way. They both copy other people's jutsu, but one of them adds his own ideas to the mix and one doesn't.

He's a sharp contrast to Itachi, who came up with most of his own jutsu and Sasuke, who improved upon Kakashi's chidori. And Naruto beats them all by a landside.

 

[X-SOLDIER]

It's worth noting that the anime started the War last week (after a 4 episode recap of all of Naruto and Sasuke's past together, which wasn't bad for embellishment filler).



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[Xinda]

http://www.mangapanda.com/naruto/586


http://mangastream.com/read/naruto/97464374/1

 

[Alex Strife]

Huh? I wonder how this Izanami works...

 

[Kai Schulen]

Izanami is just basically Itachi trolling Kabutochimaru over and over and over again.

I'm glad that Itachi didn't get seriously hurt and that he does get a chance to talk with Sasuke.

 

[Alex Strife]

Yeah, that was funny

 

[X-SOLDIER]

First of all, SUPER close call with Itachi almost getting reprogrammed, and a really good opening. Also, I friggin loved Kabuto's "shoot himself out of his own mouth like 5 times" attack.


Interesting, apparently Izanami creates an cyclic redundance loop that the target experiences (or perhaps that's just how Itachi's implementing it). As far as a Jutsu that robs the user of an eye, it doesn't really seem like one that's typically worth the cost, but in this case, it's a good stalling tactic, and one that would typically make a target vulnerable, but that doesn't seem like it's the entire technique. It seems in a lot of ways like an enhanced Mangekyo Sharingan.

It's supposed to be a technique that decides fate (unlike Izanagi which alters fate). What's interesting is that we don't yet know how Itachi's planning on using this to stop Edo Tensei, but there may be a clue in the dialogue. Itachi says a few intersting things when they're first in the Izanami reality: "Your fate is within my grasp, but you are the one who decides it. Remember what I said, and think about it." and "He who forgives and acknowledges himself- that is what it truly means to be strong"

It seems like Itachi's attempting to force Kabuto into a particular situation by keeping him in Izanami, which is likely releasing Edo Tensei, but we don't yet know anything about the mechanics of how that's supposed to function.

Either way, I'm intrigued for next week.



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[Rumpelstiltskin]

Well in the Previous genjutsus it's hi made it seem like an eternity of torture was occurring when in fact it was seconds. Imagine a technique you cannot escape from and do that scenario time after time. It wouldn't surprise me if he is just waiting to make kabuto insane and then going to rip the info out of him with the sharingan afterwards.

 

[Makoeyes987]

Not worth the cost?

Omg, dude. The guy's basically stuck in Hell. A Hell of his own making. He'll never be able to escape that genjutstu because he refuses to change his destiny and admit his wrongdoing or change his twisted philosophy. He'll forever be trapped in this illusionary temporal loop where he constantly fights Sasuke and Itachi and then it restarts from where his horn was cut.

This is just. Fucked up. Basically from what I understood, the entire fight from when Itachi disappeared into crows and cut off Itachi's horn and made brief eye contact with Kabuto...it was all the illusion of Izanagi.

Basically, from chapter 581...it's all been illusion. Itachi said on page 15 of 581 the preperations had already been in place, and where does Kabuto's illusionary hell keep restarting from? The moment after his horn was cut, and he attempts to charge at Itachi while he guards it with his sword.

Kabuto was already done for, and he didn't even fucking know it.

I think Itachi may be able to either control Kabuto's mind/body with Izanami since Kabuto's...really not in control of it anymore, or like you said, he can create a situation in the illusionary world that forces him into undoing it.

But either way, this technique, which can apparently hit you, regardless of if you make eye contact or not, is extremely powerful. It reminds me of Kurama's "Sinning Tree" ability where after Kurama plants its seed, the victim is thrust into an illusion of them playing out all their wicked deeds and them experiencing the fear and anguish they caused on others until they die in reality. Except when Kurama used it on Elder Toguro, who could just continuously regenerate and not die...it trapped Elder Toguro in the illusion for eternity.

Kabuto is at the mercy of his own hubris and lack of understanding. He's completely unwilling to see the error of his ways or world view, and thus he'll continue to apparently...stay trapped there or something.

 

[Obsidian Fire]

It looks like Itachi has to be conected to Kabuto for it to work. That could prove problematic.

Interseting note on Izanagi vs. Izanami. In Japanese mythology, Izanagi and Izanami both are major creation god/goddess respectivly. Izanami dies (giving birth to the god of fire interstingly enough) and becomes one of the rulers of the land of the dead. (Very short version, look up a more detailed version and there are some very intersting events/people referenced in Naruto in that story.) Anyway, I find it interseting how the jutsu named after the creation god has to do with creation and altering fate and Danzou is alive when he casts it. Itachi is dead when he casts Izanami and that jutsu has to do with deciding fate. I'm thinking that there is another aspect to the jutsu we haven't seen yet.

Anyone notice how many parralles there are to the Sauske vs. Itachi fight? Light ninjutsu, then crazy genjutsu... is the over-the-top ninjutsu fight coming next?

 

[Xinda]

http://www.mangapanda.com/naruto/587

Will update this post with mangastream's version later/once it's out.

Edit: http://mangastream.com/read/naruto/71160243/1

 

[X-SOLDIER]

Now it makes sense why it's a kinjutsu, as it's only applicable to a very specific type of person under very specific criteria, and it's a pretty high cost for losing eyesight in one eye. either way, it's a REALLY interesting way to create a Jutsu, and probably one of the more interesting techniques that Naruto's shown in a while. Also, it's nice to see a nod to the old-school copying uses of Sharingan, even if it's within Kabuto's Genjutsu with the Suiton Suiryuudan no Jutsu being copied and cancelled.

Also, other people's pasts have provided a lot for their characters, but holy shit - when I saw Kabuto's brother out in the trenches of the war, still hoping that he'd come home. /gutted. TT___TT


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[Makoeyes987]

Kabuto won't be waking up anytime soon, that's for sure.

I seriously hope we can see the end of this Edo Tensei crap, next chapter. Kabuto finally being stopped was a big relief.

 

[X-SOLDIER]

Minor art nitpick: Shouldn't they be wearing Shinobi alliance headbands, rather than Konoha ones?


I wonder how definitively Edo Tensei is ended. Does it just ash everyone that was summoned? Do they just no longer regenerate? How's Itachi going to manage to cancel the Jutsu? Also - it'll be interesting to see what Sasuke takes away from all of this, especially with the rather longer conversation that Itachi's been having with him about the idea of achieving perfection, and choosing the right path to walk.



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[Alex Strife]

I know right??

I was confused with the Konoha headband thing, actually. Like, genuinely confused.

 

[Mwynn]

Am I the only one here not touched by Kabuto's story at all? Like, seriously.

I'm just glad the whole Kabuto business is done, now I'm anticipating a lot for the next chapter and hopefully we'll finally know which path Sasuke will take now that he has talked with Itachi.

 

[Makoeyes987]

I love how Kabuto asks himself genuinely, "Where have I failed?! Where is there failure in what I've done thus far?!"

I just wanna go... Hmmm, would you like me to list it in alphabetical order, or numerical order? Cause its a rather long list.

 

[Obsidian Fire]

This chapter was a dozy. The idea that there were multiple Uchiha out there who were all doing Izanagi at the same time... scary. The idea that the Uchiha were the best ninja clan out there is a well founded claim. It makes me wonder how the Senju kept up with that. Especially as it looks like anyone could do Izanagi/Izanami. Yeah, they'd loose and eye, but haveing reality come out whatever way you wanted it too more then makes up for the loss. That this was a big enough problem that a jutsu was developed to specificly counter it makes me wonder why the Uchiha have survived this long; if any other clans learned of it, they would probably want to kill them imedietly.

I think the saddest part about Kabuto is that his motivation are identical to Naruto's at the start of the series. They both want to be seen and acknoledged by people. The only difference is how they go about doing it. Naruto's path diverges from Kabuto's durring the wave mission when Naruto decides that he'll make his own ninja way. Kabuto just keeps taking bits and peices from everyone's else's ways.

 

[X-SOLDIER]

Kabuto's got a really interesting juxtaposition of his situation against that of the Jinchuriki. Naruto and Gaara have their existences denied by those around them. This sense of being cut out from everything gives them an exceptionally well defined sense of self-identity.

Kabuto doesn't have this sense of self-identity at all, but he still craves the same acknowledgemet. That's why he's directly copying everyone powerful, because it's the most direct path towards achieving that sort of attention, especially after living as a Spy with no real self-identity for such a long time. It also explains why he followed Orochimaru's ambition of understanding everything to devotedly. One, Orochimaru focused on giving him a sense of feeling like he could control who he was. Two, if he can know/understand/define everything else, the only thing that remains unknown to him will be what he can define as himself.

I think that what makes him hopeful is that Kabuto's persona is entirely defined by those who he's emulating, and those he sees as powerful. Especially with Itachi's history, it'll be interesting to see how this encounter affects him psychologically, especially after being forced into Izanami. What Itachi's doing to him may just shake his little Etch-a-sketch self into a place where he can find a path to be himself, and not just a reflection of everyone he's looked towards for power.

Itachi's emulating Naruto in trying to understand and save his opponents, rather than just destroy them. After seeing Gaara attempt the same thing when he spoke with Sasuke at the Kage Summit, it'll be interesting to see how all of this pans out for Kabuto & Sasuke's character arcs.


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[Dark and Divine]

Chapter 588, with some nice Kage action....

@Mangastream

@Mangahere

@Mangareader

 

[X-SOLDIER]

The Itachi / Sasuke bit has come to a place where I'm very satisfied with how it's ending. I wonder what'll happen with Kabuto after Edo Tensei is released. Also- Kage teamwork was fucking great, especially in the final move, but now we're left to ponder what sort of unholy wrath Sasuke's potentially gonna gain with the Perfect Susano'o.


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[Dark and Divine]

Madara's Susano'o already gives me the creeps.

It's appeareance makes me think immediatly of a personification of Death itself.

 

[X-SOLDIER]

Also, the fact that Tsunade is THROWING Susano'o to the ground is nothing short of bad ass. Despite the fact that Edo Madara is holy-shit-ridiculously powerful, it's utterly mindblowing how tough the Kage are, especially when they properly team up. Tsunade powering Onoki's Disentegration Technique, and Mei creating a giant Water Dragon fused with Gaara's sand, and Ay's electricity, AND a sealing tag was a wicked smooth attack.


This all being said, this week's chapter of Bleach starting its own war made me miss when it felt like some of the familiar characters were in more conceivably immediate danger. The last seriously grevious injury by a familiar party was... really when Sasuke got his chest ripped open by Bee. The last one by a non-new ally that I can recall was Hinata's near death, then back to Kakashi's temporary death, Jiraiya's death, Asuma's death, Neji/Chouji's near Death, the 3rd Hokage's death, and Lee's disfiguration. For being a rather enormous war, it hasn't felt as personally devastating towards our familiar characters as I'd thought it would. I was kinda hoping to see some more of the medical team having to step in and save some of the characters we cared about from really devastating injuries (plus, it'd do a lot for Sakura's character to have a place to show up and pitch in).

A fight to save the world is intense, but it doesn't connect nearly as strongly as a fight for the people we care about. The dead being back was emotionally taxing on a number of them, though most of that's passed now (unless Dan & Hizashi actually make an appearance in the next few chapters before Edo Tensei dies out). There's still conflict going on, but I have a hard time seeing it moving into any serious personal casualties now that Kabuto's pretty much been stopped. I wouldn't put it past Tobi to pull some crazy shit still, and I'd really love to see it happen still, but I'm kinda thinking that it's past the prime time to focus on it, ya know?



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[Dark and Divine]

Yes, the war could be much more violent than it was.

But somehow i get the feeling that Onooki might be killed by Madara.

Madara seems to be developing a certain fixation on Onooki's resolve and a certain need to break his will.