blackjack612
June 30, 2011, 12:18 AM
http://i1119.photobucket.com/albums/k640/blackjack612/Profile%20Banner%20and%20Signature%20Pics/Killer%20B%20Sig%201/Bee_banner.png
Welcome all to another Naruto review. Last chapter, Naruto finally received permission from the Raikage to join in the fight, to the delight of many fans, and the cliffhanger revealed that Madara has industriously created a new Six Paths of Pain from the former jinchūriki. I also asked the readers what they though of Madara’s overall strategy which can be summed up as follows:
Whittle down the enemy forces by attacking with a force of white zetsus.
During the attack, have the zetsus absorb the chakra of various enemy fighters.
After the initial barrage, while the enemy is recovering, have the zetsus use the chakra they absorbed to transform into perfect clones of the enemy and infiltrate their camp.
Stealthily assassinate the enemy to further whittle down their forces and breed chaos and mistrust so that the enemy begins attacking itself.
The majority of you were impressed by Madara’s overall strategy, and I have to say it’s been pretty effective so far. Now for the chapter review ...
Naruto 545: An Immortal Army!!
Images in this review credited to mangastream/binktopia
http://i1119.photobucket.com/albums/k640/blackjack612/Naruto%20Review/Naruto%20545/Naruto54503.png
Second coming of the First
An Immortal Army begins with Madara contemplating the state of the war from a remote location. He is a man sure of his victory because his plan has been successful thus far. The white zetsus have infiltrated the Allied Shinobi Force and he knows that this distraction will lure Naruto out into the open because only Naruto can eliminate their threat. Madara also reveals in his musing that Naruto’s ability to sense hostility also belonged t the Shodai Hokage’s wife, Mito Uzumaki.
At Shinobi HQ, Shikaku and the Raikage’s aide receive some good news when they realize that Naruto, the linchpin of the counter attack, has been allowed to fight. Though the Raikage’s aide can’t believe the usually stubborn Raikage would be so permissive, Shikaku realizes that it was likely Naruto’s ability to turn the hearts of whomever he encounters that had a hand in this new development. The aide points out that it’s possible that the enemy is purposely using the white zetsus to lure out Naruto given Naruto’s singular ability to deal with the problem. Uncharacteristically, Shikaku states that they have no other choice but to leave it to Naruto, when really, the aide brings up a good point and he should be planning for the contingency when Naruto is ambushed. Although, when you don’t yet know who to trust, it might be difficult sending help Naruto’s way.
Things are going quite so well in the field. Sakura and Shizune are hunkered down in a medical tent while the corpses of comrades or infiltrators litter the battlefield. In a desperate attempt to protect the medical ninja, one of the Allies’ most valuable resources, anyone who has attempted to approach the tent has been slain. Both Sakura and Shizune have been using their time to run tests on samples from a white zetsu and they discover the truth behind the zetsus: they’re plant clones grown from the Shodai Hokage’s cells. The data reveals:
The zetsus are weaker than the Shodai.
They can use mokuton.
They’re being powered up by Yamato’s DNA.
What’s most interesting about this revelation is what it implies about Zetsu’s abilities. Either this was not an original ability of Zetsu and he was spliced with the Shodai’s cells, or the original (white) Zetsu was cloned from the Shodai’s DNA obtained by Madara. If the latter is true, though, what do we make of Black Zetsu’s existence?
http://i1119.photobucket.com/albums/k640/blackjack612/Naruto%20Review/Naruto%20545/Naruto54504.png
Raise the dead!
The top brass arrive back at HQ and soon they’re pouring over the newly obtained intel from the Sakura and Shizune. While reading the intel, Tsunade makes a connection the others missed. If the zetsus have been spliced with or cloned from her grandfather’s cells, then Madara definitely possesses Hashirama’s DNA, which explains how he’s been able to live so long. Hashirama’s bloodline limit revolves around the ability to manipulate life itself, possibly making Madara immortal. Elsewhere, the immortal man himself rushes through the forest with his Six Paths of Pain.
http://i1119.photobucket.com/albums/k640/blackjack612/Naruto%20Review/Naruto%20545/Naruto54509.png
Against superior forces...
Our erstwhile heroes, Naruto and Bee, are updated on the situation by Shikaku while they head to the battlefield. However, after filling Naruto in, Shikaku warns Naruto that Madara can’t be reasoned with. Naruto was able to turn Nagato’s heart because Nagato had truly desired peace, but Madara’s motivations are far darker and more selfish. Like Sasuke, Madara is a true avenger, only the target of his vengeance is the world itself. Naruto understands and remains resolved to defeat Madara, but Naruto being Naruto, he doesn’t fully agree with Shikaku’s pragmatic view of the situation. Knowing the history of the Uchiha and Senju, it’s likely that Naruto sees Madara as a victim of a cycle of hatred that’s lasted generations, perhaps what Sasuke could become if Naruto fails to save him.
http://i1119.photobucket.com/albums/k640/blackjack612/Naruto%20Review/Naruto%20545/Naruto54513.png
Go forth and plant a forest of death!
Naruto and Bee encounter a large group of shinobi and Bee recognizes one of them as a ninja from his own village. However, Naruto knows better and dropkicks the fake who reveals himself to be a zetsu before turning into a tree. It turns out each and every one of shinobi is an enemy, so Naruto wastes no time in getting down to business, revealing a wealth of new techniques as he pummels the infiltrators, creating a forest of fallen enemies.
http://i1119.photobucket.com/albums/k640/blackjack612/Naruto%20Review/Naruto%20545/Naruto545Techniques.png
It slices, it dices, and it comes with a brand new yellow coating!
What new techniques does Naruto demo for us? First up (top left) is the Rasengan Riot. Without using any of his own hands, Naruto can use multiple chakra arms to create multiple Rasengan and then pummel multiple enemies. But hey, maybe that’s too showy. Say you’re surrounded by enemies but you want to conserve your energy. You don’t really feel like creating a tiresome amount of Rasengan. Well that’s where Rasengan Vacuum (bottom right) comes in handy. Just create one giant Rasengan and use chakra arms from your tailed beast to drag every troublesome enemy from whatever it is they’re doing and smash them into it. Or better yet, are you faced with a particularly large or nasty enemy and a normal Rasengan won’t do. Then maybe the Mini Rasen-shuriken (top right) is for you. Just use some miniature chakra arms on a finger to form a miniature Rasen-shuriken and fire away. Now I know what you’re saying. But blackjack612, all this Rasengan whatnot sounds like a load of trouble. I don’t really want to put in the effort to stomp out enemies myself.” Then you might be better suited to our Home Destroying Technique (bottom left). All that requires is for you to sign a contract with the toad Gamahiri, summon him, and watch as he drops from the sky and squashes whomever it is you need squashed.
http://i1119.photobucket.com/albums/k640/blackjack612/Naruto%20Review/Naruto%20545/Naruto54516.png
Army of one.
I kid, but seriously, Naruto demonstrated surprising skill in how he was able to manipulate what were already S class jutsu and apply it to battle. The Mini Rasen-shuriken was particularly impressive since he needed only one finger to form it and he could control the scale of the jutsu. It was cool to see him try out a new summon. Sure, we’ve seen Gamahiri before, but he’s been previously summoned by Jiriaya or Shima (Ma Toad). At the end of the chapter, Naruto demonstrates that he’s learned to use Shadow Clones with Kyūbi chakra mode and so he splits up to all the battlefields to defeat the remaining zetsus. But is he making a big mistake in separating from Bee? Madara knows that Naruto will be busy dealing with the zetsus, and he does need to seal the Eight-tails before he can seal the Kyūbi. Had the real Naruto stayed with Bee, they would have been a formidable team-up. But now that they’re separating, what danger lurks around the corner?
Art Corner
http://i1119.photobucket.com/albums/k640/blackjack612/Naruto%20Review/Naruto%20545/Naruto545Art02.png
The art this chapter was well executed as usual, both as a visual eye candy and as a signaler of plot developments. Consider the above panel. We hadn’t checked on the status of the infiltration for a few chapters and arrive this chapter in the aftermath. The above panel tells the story of the chaos with the many corpses littered around the medical tent. The corpses are small in scale and indistinct, so we the readers are left wondering how many of those corpses belonged to actual shinobi and how many were disguised zetsu.
http://i1119.photobucket.com/albums/k640/blackjack612/Naruto%20Review/Naruto%20545/Naruto545Art06.png
http://i1119.photobucket.com/albums/k640/blackjack612/Naruto%20Review/Naruto%20545/Naruto545Art10.png
Kishimoto seemed to favor short wide panels this chapter and sweeping shots of surrounding landscapes. Naruto and Bee were in transit too, which means there were also lots of panels of shinobi running. Everyone was in motion, giving a sense of urgency to the action in the story.
http://i1119.photobucket.com/albums/k640/blackjack612/Naruto%20Review/Naruto%20545/Naruto545Art07.png
Speaking of things there were a lot of, we got some great group shots of the mass of disguised zetsus.
http://i1119.photobucket.com/albums/k640/blackjack612/Naruto%20Review/Naruto%20545/Naruto545Art05.png
In my opinion, the best panel from the chapter is the above in which the assembled jinchūriki head to some unknown destination from Madara. It’s an intimidating group of individuals made more intimidating by the unity of their movement, pushing home the idea that these really are Madara’s Six Paths and so these dangerous human weapons have become like new limbs for him.
Impressions
http://i1119.photobucket.com/albums/k640/blackjack612/Profile%20Banner%20and%20Signature%20Pics/Impressions%20Banner/ImpressionsBanner.png
Naruto 545 was quite the chapter. Kishimoto fired on all cylinders. The plotting was tight, the characters moved briskly through establishing and sharing what they know with each other. It was efficient writing, but Kishimoto was still able to fit in a couple of character touches, such as Naruto realizing that peace can’t always be brokered between two parties and resolving to take down Madara. Shikaku also had a nice moment where he remembered what his son once said about Naruto’s ability to make others want to follow him. Madara’s also beginning to display a bit of emotion as he’s getting close to avenging the fate of his clan. But what was one of my favorite moments was when Tsuande realized how lasting an impact her grandfather had on the ninja world. It makes sense for Madara to almost idealize the man as his bitter rival, but Orochimaru’s fascination with the First is more interesting. In seeking an ideal body, Orochimaru has shown a fascination with two particular bloodline limits: Mokuton belonging to the Senju and the Sharingan belonging to the Uchiha. In a time when the Sage of the Six Paths is considered a myth, and the secret of history’s strongest clans remains buried, Orochimaru intuitively was drawn towards those two abilities as ideal. It’s also worth noting that of the two, it was Hashirama’s ability he first sought out (given Yamato’s age).
Kishimoto also dispensed with interesting details on the sidelines, like the revelation of Mito Uzumaki’s ability or the infiltration induced chaos and slaughter implied by the corpses laying around the medical camp. Yet, along with the brisk plot development and thematic and character flourishes, the chapter also delivered on the action, and how. We finally got to view the results of Naruto’s training, which pays off big when Naruto skillfully creates new attacks based off of familiar standbys. The action was tight and the art was polished as always. Overall, there’s little to complain about in An Immortal Army, which is why I’m giving it a ...
5 out of 5.
Predictions
I was partly correct with my predictions last week. Naruto coordinated with Shinobi HQ to begin the counterattack on the infiltrators, although contrary to what I predicted, Naruto demonstrated the ability to split into shadow clones while in Kyūbi chakra mode. As for Madara, there’s no knowing yet how he plans on using his Six Paths, but for now it seems that hasn’t split them up.
I still predict that eventually, he’ll split the Six Paths up to compliment his Zetsu forces. Since the jinchūriki are Madara’s Six Paths, this should give him a greater ability to monitor the battle in real time and communicate with the Zetsus he sends to the front lines. More and more it’s looking like Kabuto was never needed for Madara’s plan, and while Kabuto has provided the revived jinchūriki for Madara, I think soon we’ll begin to see Kabuto’s machinations, though probably not until Madara has begun his personal assault on the Allied forces. Perhaps Kabuto will unsummon the jinchūriki at an opportune moment and then assault Madara with Nagato and Itachi. Supposedly, Kabuto has a secret jutsu up his sleeves, and given how easily he subdued Yamato, I’m guessing he’ll use the fact that Madara relies on the Shodai Hokage’s cells to his advantage. Lastly, now that Bee's trained Naruto and the two have separated, I think it can't be long until Bee is captured by Madara.
That’s all for this week and thanks for sticking around. See you next week space cowboy...
Stray Observations
“Today, the Senju’s will of fire shall be no more.”
“But we don’t have any options other than to leave it to Naruto...”
“I never thought Madara and Orochimaru’s attachment to the 1st Hokage would turn into something like this.”
“There’s not one normal human being among them...”
“Mini Rasen-shuriken”
From this review onward, I’ll be using an un-capitalized ‘zetsu’ to refer to the plant clones, and capitalized ‘Zetsu’ when referring to the main white or black Zetsu.
For another week, Naruto had the standout chapter of the big three as One Piece continued to set pieces on it’s board for a big confrontation. Bleach was pretty entertaining this week, but the motivations behind the main conflicts (Tsukishima’s plan and the Isshin and Urahara teamup) remain unknown, so it’s hard to judge that arc without knowing where it’s headed. Luckily though, Bleach seems to be headed quickly towards a resolution.
Welcome all to another Naruto review. Last chapter, Naruto finally received permission from the Raikage to join in the fight, to the delight of many fans, and the cliffhanger revealed that Madara has industriously created a new Six Paths of Pain from the former jinchūriki. I also asked the readers what they though of Madara’s overall strategy which can be summed up as follows:
Whittle down the enemy forces by attacking with a force of white zetsus.
During the attack, have the zetsus absorb the chakra of various enemy fighters.
After the initial barrage, while the enemy is recovering, have the zetsus use the chakra they absorbed to transform into perfect clones of the enemy and infiltrate their camp.
Stealthily assassinate the enemy to further whittle down their forces and breed chaos and mistrust so that the enemy begins attacking itself.
The majority of you were impressed by Madara’s overall strategy, and I have to say it’s been pretty effective so far. Now for the chapter review ...
Naruto 545: An Immortal Army!!
Images in this review credited to mangastream/binktopia
http://i1119.photobucket.com/albums/k640/blackjack612/Naruto%20Review/Naruto%20545/Naruto54503.png
Second coming of the First
An Immortal Army begins with Madara contemplating the state of the war from a remote location. He is a man sure of his victory because his plan has been successful thus far. The white zetsus have infiltrated the Allied Shinobi Force and he knows that this distraction will lure Naruto out into the open because only Naruto can eliminate their threat. Madara also reveals in his musing that Naruto’s ability to sense hostility also belonged t the Shodai Hokage’s wife, Mito Uzumaki.
At Shinobi HQ, Shikaku and the Raikage’s aide receive some good news when they realize that Naruto, the linchpin of the counter attack, has been allowed to fight. Though the Raikage’s aide can’t believe the usually stubborn Raikage would be so permissive, Shikaku realizes that it was likely Naruto’s ability to turn the hearts of whomever he encounters that had a hand in this new development. The aide points out that it’s possible that the enemy is purposely using the white zetsus to lure out Naruto given Naruto’s singular ability to deal with the problem. Uncharacteristically, Shikaku states that they have no other choice but to leave it to Naruto, when really, the aide brings up a good point and he should be planning for the contingency when Naruto is ambushed. Although, when you don’t yet know who to trust, it might be difficult sending help Naruto’s way.
Things are going quite so well in the field. Sakura and Shizune are hunkered down in a medical tent while the corpses of comrades or infiltrators litter the battlefield. In a desperate attempt to protect the medical ninja, one of the Allies’ most valuable resources, anyone who has attempted to approach the tent has been slain. Both Sakura and Shizune have been using their time to run tests on samples from a white zetsu and they discover the truth behind the zetsus: they’re plant clones grown from the Shodai Hokage’s cells. The data reveals:
The zetsus are weaker than the Shodai.
They can use mokuton.
They’re being powered up by Yamato’s DNA.
What’s most interesting about this revelation is what it implies about Zetsu’s abilities. Either this was not an original ability of Zetsu and he was spliced with the Shodai’s cells, or the original (white) Zetsu was cloned from the Shodai’s DNA obtained by Madara. If the latter is true, though, what do we make of Black Zetsu’s existence?
http://i1119.photobucket.com/albums/k640/blackjack612/Naruto%20Review/Naruto%20545/Naruto54504.png
Raise the dead!
The top brass arrive back at HQ and soon they’re pouring over the newly obtained intel from the Sakura and Shizune. While reading the intel, Tsunade makes a connection the others missed. If the zetsus have been spliced with or cloned from her grandfather’s cells, then Madara definitely possesses Hashirama’s DNA, which explains how he’s been able to live so long. Hashirama’s bloodline limit revolves around the ability to manipulate life itself, possibly making Madara immortal. Elsewhere, the immortal man himself rushes through the forest with his Six Paths of Pain.
http://i1119.photobucket.com/albums/k640/blackjack612/Naruto%20Review/Naruto%20545/Naruto54509.png
Against superior forces...
Our erstwhile heroes, Naruto and Bee, are updated on the situation by Shikaku while they head to the battlefield. However, after filling Naruto in, Shikaku warns Naruto that Madara can’t be reasoned with. Naruto was able to turn Nagato’s heart because Nagato had truly desired peace, but Madara’s motivations are far darker and more selfish. Like Sasuke, Madara is a true avenger, only the target of his vengeance is the world itself. Naruto understands and remains resolved to defeat Madara, but Naruto being Naruto, he doesn’t fully agree with Shikaku’s pragmatic view of the situation. Knowing the history of the Uchiha and Senju, it’s likely that Naruto sees Madara as a victim of a cycle of hatred that’s lasted generations, perhaps what Sasuke could become if Naruto fails to save him.
http://i1119.photobucket.com/albums/k640/blackjack612/Naruto%20Review/Naruto%20545/Naruto54513.png
Go forth and plant a forest of death!
Naruto and Bee encounter a large group of shinobi and Bee recognizes one of them as a ninja from his own village. However, Naruto knows better and dropkicks the fake who reveals himself to be a zetsu before turning into a tree. It turns out each and every one of shinobi is an enemy, so Naruto wastes no time in getting down to business, revealing a wealth of new techniques as he pummels the infiltrators, creating a forest of fallen enemies.
http://i1119.photobucket.com/albums/k640/blackjack612/Naruto%20Review/Naruto%20545/Naruto545Techniques.png
It slices, it dices, and it comes with a brand new yellow coating!
What new techniques does Naruto demo for us? First up (top left) is the Rasengan Riot. Without using any of his own hands, Naruto can use multiple chakra arms to create multiple Rasengan and then pummel multiple enemies. But hey, maybe that’s too showy. Say you’re surrounded by enemies but you want to conserve your energy. You don’t really feel like creating a tiresome amount of Rasengan. Well that’s where Rasengan Vacuum (bottom right) comes in handy. Just create one giant Rasengan and use chakra arms from your tailed beast to drag every troublesome enemy from whatever it is they’re doing and smash them into it. Or better yet, are you faced with a particularly large or nasty enemy and a normal Rasengan won’t do. Then maybe the Mini Rasen-shuriken (top right) is for you. Just use some miniature chakra arms on a finger to form a miniature Rasen-shuriken and fire away. Now I know what you’re saying. But blackjack612, all this Rasengan whatnot sounds like a load of trouble. I don’t really want to put in the effort to stomp out enemies myself.” Then you might be better suited to our Home Destroying Technique (bottom left). All that requires is for you to sign a contract with the toad Gamahiri, summon him, and watch as he drops from the sky and squashes whomever it is you need squashed.
http://i1119.photobucket.com/albums/k640/blackjack612/Naruto%20Review/Naruto%20545/Naruto54516.png
Army of one.
I kid, but seriously, Naruto demonstrated surprising skill in how he was able to manipulate what were already S class jutsu and apply it to battle. The Mini Rasen-shuriken was particularly impressive since he needed only one finger to form it and he could control the scale of the jutsu. It was cool to see him try out a new summon. Sure, we’ve seen Gamahiri before, but he’s been previously summoned by Jiriaya or Shima (Ma Toad). At the end of the chapter, Naruto demonstrates that he’s learned to use Shadow Clones with Kyūbi chakra mode and so he splits up to all the battlefields to defeat the remaining zetsus. But is he making a big mistake in separating from Bee? Madara knows that Naruto will be busy dealing with the zetsus, and he does need to seal the Eight-tails before he can seal the Kyūbi. Had the real Naruto stayed with Bee, they would have been a formidable team-up. But now that they’re separating, what danger lurks around the corner?
Art Corner
http://i1119.photobucket.com/albums/k640/blackjack612/Naruto%20Review/Naruto%20545/Naruto545Art02.png
The art this chapter was well executed as usual, both as a visual eye candy and as a signaler of plot developments. Consider the above panel. We hadn’t checked on the status of the infiltration for a few chapters and arrive this chapter in the aftermath. The above panel tells the story of the chaos with the many corpses littered around the medical tent. The corpses are small in scale and indistinct, so we the readers are left wondering how many of those corpses belonged to actual shinobi and how many were disguised zetsu.
http://i1119.photobucket.com/albums/k640/blackjack612/Naruto%20Review/Naruto%20545/Naruto545Art06.png
http://i1119.photobucket.com/albums/k640/blackjack612/Naruto%20Review/Naruto%20545/Naruto545Art10.png
Kishimoto seemed to favor short wide panels this chapter and sweeping shots of surrounding landscapes. Naruto and Bee were in transit too, which means there were also lots of panels of shinobi running. Everyone was in motion, giving a sense of urgency to the action in the story.
http://i1119.photobucket.com/albums/k640/blackjack612/Naruto%20Review/Naruto%20545/Naruto545Art07.png
Speaking of things there were a lot of, we got some great group shots of the mass of disguised zetsus.
http://i1119.photobucket.com/albums/k640/blackjack612/Naruto%20Review/Naruto%20545/Naruto545Art05.png
In my opinion, the best panel from the chapter is the above in which the assembled jinchūriki head to some unknown destination from Madara. It’s an intimidating group of individuals made more intimidating by the unity of their movement, pushing home the idea that these really are Madara’s Six Paths and so these dangerous human weapons have become like new limbs for him.
Impressions
http://i1119.photobucket.com/albums/k640/blackjack612/Profile%20Banner%20and%20Signature%20Pics/Impressions%20Banner/ImpressionsBanner.png
Naruto 545 was quite the chapter. Kishimoto fired on all cylinders. The plotting was tight, the characters moved briskly through establishing and sharing what they know with each other. It was efficient writing, but Kishimoto was still able to fit in a couple of character touches, such as Naruto realizing that peace can’t always be brokered between two parties and resolving to take down Madara. Shikaku also had a nice moment where he remembered what his son once said about Naruto’s ability to make others want to follow him. Madara’s also beginning to display a bit of emotion as he’s getting close to avenging the fate of his clan. But what was one of my favorite moments was when Tsuande realized how lasting an impact her grandfather had on the ninja world. It makes sense for Madara to almost idealize the man as his bitter rival, but Orochimaru’s fascination with the First is more interesting. In seeking an ideal body, Orochimaru has shown a fascination with two particular bloodline limits: Mokuton belonging to the Senju and the Sharingan belonging to the Uchiha. In a time when the Sage of the Six Paths is considered a myth, and the secret of history’s strongest clans remains buried, Orochimaru intuitively was drawn towards those two abilities as ideal. It’s also worth noting that of the two, it was Hashirama’s ability he first sought out (given Yamato’s age).
Kishimoto also dispensed with interesting details on the sidelines, like the revelation of Mito Uzumaki’s ability or the infiltration induced chaos and slaughter implied by the corpses laying around the medical camp. Yet, along with the brisk plot development and thematic and character flourishes, the chapter also delivered on the action, and how. We finally got to view the results of Naruto’s training, which pays off big when Naruto skillfully creates new attacks based off of familiar standbys. The action was tight and the art was polished as always. Overall, there’s little to complain about in An Immortal Army, which is why I’m giving it a ...
5 out of 5.
Predictions
I was partly correct with my predictions last week. Naruto coordinated with Shinobi HQ to begin the counterattack on the infiltrators, although contrary to what I predicted, Naruto demonstrated the ability to split into shadow clones while in Kyūbi chakra mode. As for Madara, there’s no knowing yet how he plans on using his Six Paths, but for now it seems that hasn’t split them up.
I still predict that eventually, he’ll split the Six Paths up to compliment his Zetsu forces. Since the jinchūriki are Madara’s Six Paths, this should give him a greater ability to monitor the battle in real time and communicate with the Zetsus he sends to the front lines. More and more it’s looking like Kabuto was never needed for Madara’s plan, and while Kabuto has provided the revived jinchūriki for Madara, I think soon we’ll begin to see Kabuto’s machinations, though probably not until Madara has begun his personal assault on the Allied forces. Perhaps Kabuto will unsummon the jinchūriki at an opportune moment and then assault Madara with Nagato and Itachi. Supposedly, Kabuto has a secret jutsu up his sleeves, and given how easily he subdued Yamato, I’m guessing he’ll use the fact that Madara relies on the Shodai Hokage’s cells to his advantage. Lastly, now that Bee's trained Naruto and the two have separated, I think it can't be long until Bee is captured by Madara.
That’s all for this week and thanks for sticking around. See you next week space cowboy...
Stray Observations
“Today, the Senju’s will of fire shall be no more.”
“But we don’t have any options other than to leave it to Naruto...”
“I never thought Madara and Orochimaru’s attachment to the 1st Hokage would turn into something like this.”
“There’s not one normal human being among them...”
“Mini Rasen-shuriken”
From this review onward, I’ll be using an un-capitalized ‘zetsu’ to refer to the plant clones, and capitalized ‘Zetsu’ when referring to the main white or black Zetsu.
For another week, Naruto had the standout chapter of the big three as One Piece continued to set pieces on it’s board for a big confrontation. Bleach was pretty entertaining this week, but the motivations behind the main conflicts (Tsukishima’s plan and the Isshin and Urahara teamup) remain unknown, so it’s hard to judge that arc without knowing where it’s headed. Luckily though, Bleach seems to be headed quickly towards a resolution.