So, here we go:
One, I have to say that the way the whole chapter was done without dialogue was amazing, and is something that I don't think they'll be able to do in the anime when it gets there. It's one of those things that makes me really appreciate the medium for storytelling.
On to the storyline itself. The whole chapter serves as an INCREDIBLY tense framing device for Kakashi Gaiden, with very specific emphasis on Obito's relationship with Rin. Especially given the fact that the last time that Kakashi & Obito officially spoke, it specifically involved taking care of Rin, which - as far as we know (especially given Kakashi's quote to Sasuke about all his precious comrades being dead) - ended in some kind of tragedy. I'm actually more curious about what happened with Rin than I am with anything else right now.
There're some specifics that bear looking in to that I'm interested to see about Obito's own history which cover the following:
1) How Zetsu recovered Obito and took him up as a pupil (hence their relationship when "Tobi" joins Akatsuki).
• Zetsu is
STILL A FUCKING WILDCARD who we know nothing about, despite him being revealed in the original series. We need to start getting some details on what he's doing, and how closely he's connected to both Madara & Obito, because there's just way too much that could be going on with him for me to really speculate at all.
2) What exactly caused Obito to start developing the Moon's Eye Plan, follow Madara and eventually "become him" and generally turning bitter towards the world.
• It's clear that Tobi was a pupil of sorts under Madara, although there are some specifics that remain to be seen about why and how that took place. It's clear that he was using Obito as a proxy body for himself in some scenarios, and that Madara was behind everything that's been taking place. It's not clear if the Moon's Eye Plan is Obito's own ambition that he set into motion when Madara died, and he completely adapted the identity, or if it was a part of Madara's original ambitions.
• While I had been wondering about Obito's level of talent when going against the 4th Hokage, his apparent ability to turn Kyubi into a thrall, and how he managed to fool people like Kisame from behind a mask, I came to a conclusion on how this all came out. I'm almost certain that he would have used his Sharingan to copy Madara's mannerisms and techniques. Itachi was known to have been
capable of forging Shisui's handwriting because of his Sharingan (even though he didn't), but I don't think I've ever
really thought about the Sharingan's application in mimicing someone until he was juxtaposed against the Copy Ninja Kakashi.
3) How often Obito was masquerading as "Madara" and how often Madara himself was involved, and why/when that started. Here's my speculation on that matter:
• I'm assuming that the
REAL Madara gave up his Rinnegan to Nagato (in order to achieve something involving Rinne Tensei, and
possibly connected to the Uzumaki's chakra), since he has a LOT of long-term goals. This was also his first step in setting up Akatsuki. This meant he was was forced into becoming,
"a shadow of his former self" after giving up his Doujutsu. That makes Itachi's statements still true, as he was hiding behind Akatsuki, and he was stopped by the 4th (when Tobi was defeated), which makes the statement indirect, rather than direct confrontation.
•
Madara was seemingly also responsible for controlling the Mizukage, because
the dialogue between Tobi & Kisame makes it seem like Kisame would have known the real Madara (plus there's the long hair), and Tobi said that Kisame was the closest to him, and apologized for his deceit in pretending to be Madara. Interestingly, Kisame apparently still knew Obito.
• Obito was
clearly responsible for the attack on Konoha, although I have a suspicion that Madara may have been present.
• Obito was also responsible for involvement with the Uchiha Massacre, although I
DO believe that Itachi also
met the real Madara during this time, which is
why we see Madara's long hair when they're talking. (I also think that there's
LOTS more to this plan then is being shown now, because Obito still has his cache of Sharingan from that event hidden in his dimension that hasn't been used yet).
LASTLY: Age/Art Comparison:
Kakashi & Guy at the Academy vs.
Kakashi & Guy during the Konoha Attack. (I'll try to see if I can make sense of any of the Age oddities later, but Trainer Red sums it up pretty well). Not that I mind HORRIBLY, but still...
X 
