Naruto in 2012 - Predictions and Expectations

[Lydiara]

Well I know I'm a little late to this post, but here goes...
I was kind of expecting this year's Naruto Shippuden to be full of Kakashi, with further development on his leadership backround, him maybe having the title of Hokage. I also thought it would be epic if through this war, Kakashi battled it out with Sakumo. Sad, but epic, and then we'd get to see more of Sakumo's abilities.
What The_Drunk said about the manga is true, too. It is an exceedingly complex plot to the point where I wonder if Masashi understands it sometimes! The intensely large masses of characters added to the series create a hard to follow story which at times is an exciting whirlwind full of spontaneous duels and surprising situations, but I think it has been taken too far in the series at some points. With the Shinobi World War, I think that the complicated trail of new scenarios and characters has been left behind however, helping former characters grow (such as Gaara, for example,) into new backrounds. I'm sill really hoping to see some outstanding Kakashi moments, since a richly thought out character such as him is important to the series. I think I'm not the only one who would like to know about Kakashi's mother but I think that will have to wait for very late in the year or next year. For now, I look forward to the Shinobi World War producing new and creative events, especially concerning Sai, who in my opinion, definitely deserves more of a spotlight in the chronicles. That being said, those were mainly hopes, and realistically seeing the series now I expect a horrific defeat for Madara and Kabuto becoming the number one antagonist very soon.

[benelori]

Well I know I'm a little late to this post, but here goes...
I was kind of expecting this year's Naruto Shippuden to be full of Kakashi, with further development on his leadership backround, him maybe having the title of Hokage. I also thought it would be epic if through this war, Kakashi battled it out with Sakumo. Sad, but epic, and then we'd get to see more of Sakumo's abilities.
What The_Drunk said about the manga is true, too. It is an exceedingly complex plot to the point where I wonder if Masashi understands it sometimes! The intensely large masses of characters added to the series create a hard to follow story which at times is an exciting whirlwind full of spontaneous duels and surprising situations, but I think it has been taken too far in the series at some points. With the Shinobi World War, I think that the complicated trail of new scenarios and characters has been left behind however, helping former characters grow (such as Gaara, for example,) into new backrounds. I'm sill really hoping to see some outstanding Kakashi moments, since a richly thought out character such as him is important to the series. I think I'm not the only one who would like to know about Kakashi's mother but I think that will have to wait for very late in the year or next year. For now, I look forward to the Shinobi World War producing new and creative events, especially concerning Sai, who in my opinion, definitely deserves more of a spotlight in the chronicles. That being said, those were mainly hopes, and realistically seeing the series now I expect a horrific defeat for Madara and Kabuto becoming the number one antagonist very soon.

First of all welcome to MH!...and what a good thread to post in first...

Second...I agree fully...Kakashi has been at the sidelines too much...and he has soo much potential...I mean he is an important leader of the Alliance, he is the teacher of former team 7, which is a good base to develop his character, and last but least, he is just a very skillful shinobi a legend in fact...

That's why it was so said for me to see him get pushed aside when team 7 has met again, or when his so called rampage was just dropped...

So that is why I will go ahead and say that my expectations from the war(which is year 2011) weren't answered...my major complaint is related to the pace and how this entire day 1 was handled...I think Kishimoto had difficulties in adding war-related elements in contrast with the pace and excitement that happens around the main character...

For instance, I would've expected more screen time for the effects of both strategies...some random appearances here and there, and some off panel action...I just didn't like that...which resulted in some pretty anti-climatic defeats of really hyped shinobi...basically I would've loved a longer more detailed 1st day...
Of course that kinda works against Naruto's screen time, and the fast pace that his appearances produce...

We're past the half of this year, and I think by the end of it we might see an end to this war...my expectations are basically related to some of the plot-lines that haven't been exploited, yet...Yamato's capture and possible rescue, Kakashi fighting against the 7 swordsmen, and the most interesting for me is probably the daimyou scene...

[benelori]

So I edited the title a bit, and it speaks for itself...what are your expectations of 2012 in the light of the events in 2011? Did some of your predictions or expectations came out to be true?

Naruto finally getting around and proving he is still smart is a relief so the start of this year is pretty good IMO...the focus on the Bijuu-Jinchuuriki relationship is also something very interesting...

I think the main expectations, albeit short term, are:
-an explosive and full of plot development finish of the Kages vs Madara fight...I don't want it to be just a generic good guys win scenario, at least let it be revealing
-Itachi defeated by Kabuto...I think this would put Kabuto in a better light, and make him a serious threat to Tobi
-Sasuke...well we know Kishimoto likes Sasuke, so his involvement should be pretty spectacular...at least the fights...if Taka turns out to have some more screen time, then some character development might come along...maybe foreshadowing the change(or not) in Sasuke, in the light his future interactions with Naruto...a more pivotal role in the war is out of the equation, but since Zetsu was dealing with Daimyous, maybe Sasuke could take his place?(wishful thinking FTW )

As for the 2011 expectations...well it seems another Kakashi's Year just went by

[enmymiguel]

if sasuke new power is the only 1 that can stop madara and and save the world. and he become the hero. can other village forget hes act of violent. i mean if they all going to die and sasuke save then. i guess they need to pay him back with something. but as we all mike know. team kakashi will be the 1 talking about hes forgiveness.

or the village dont care about what he did, and they all try to attack him. but team kakashi hump in front of sasuke and say. if u going to kill him. u need to kill all of us first.

sasuke. hes go back to the village and start a relationship with sakura and make the police team again.
naruto.before he become hokage he need to go around the world like j-man and when he come back. he fight for the tittle
kakashi. leader of anbu.
sakura. leader medical nin team.
juugo. he go back to the village he kill ppl. and become the hero.
karin. stay in konoha with the police or something, also to be watching sasuke.
suigetsu. go back to the water village and become the leader of the 7.
sai. he start a getting in love with ino.
yamato. as always, protecting the hokage.

well cool end. for all my character. thats my prediction for the end.

[Jammin]

Expectations

- I expect Naruto will continue on the course it's on now. Black and white, good verses evil. Focusing much more strongly on what Naruto and Sasuke represent rather than who they are as individuals.

- I expect Naruto to run around defeating his opponents with overwhelming physical strength and by throwing amateur philosophy at his opponents until they fall victim to a flashback.

- I expect less than 5 total named character to die in this war.

- I expect the series to wrap up this year.

Hopes

- That I am wrong about everything.

- That Kishi will re-adopt a character centric narrative. Meaning drop this whole ideological thing in favor of a much more personal angle. Like One Piece does with Luffy and Bleach does with Ichigo. Having Naruto stop worrying about the broad philosophic implications of his actions actions and focus instead on living his own life in the way he chooses to.

- That the Kyuubi and Naruto will be separated. He's too strong and Kyuubi mode is just not something I'm a fan of. I would be much happier if Naruto lost power and was forced to rely on cleverness and the skills that are truly his own.

- That the series will shift focus off of this whole Uchiha's and Senju thing. There are other interesting clans out there and these two have drown them out almost entirely. I'm tired of Sharingan's, Rinnegans, and Rikoudo stuff. I wish this series could find a way to move past it.

- That Naruto would show real leadership potential. Meaning show the ability to utilize other shinobi as cleverly as he has always lead his shadow clones.

[narutotheory]

Expectations

- I expect Naruto will continue on the course it's on now. Black and while good verses evil. Focusing much more strongly on what Naruto and Sasuke represent rather than who they are as individuals.

- I expect Naruto to run around defeating his opponents with overwhelming physical strength and by throwing amateur philosophy at his opponents until they fall victim to a flashback.

- I expect less that 5 total named character to die in this war.

- I expect the series to wrap up this year.

Hopes

- That I am wrong about everything.

- That Kishi will re-adopt a character centric narrative. Meaning drop this whole ideological thing in favor of a much more personal angle. Like One Piece does with Luffy and Bleach does with Ichigo. Having Naruto stop worrying about the broad philosophic implications of his actions actions and focus instead on living his own life in the way he chooses to.

- That the Kyuubi and Naruto will be separated. He's too strong and Kyuubi mode is just not something I'm a fan of. I would be much happier if Naruto lost power and was forced to rely on cleverness and the skills that are truly his own.

- That the series will shift focus off of this whole Uchiha's and Senju thing. There are other interesting clans out there and these two have drown them out almost entirely. I'm tired of Sharingan's, Rinnegans, and Rikoudo stuff. I wish this series could find a way to move past it.

- That Naruto would show real leadership potential. Meaning show the ability to utilize other shinobi as cleverly as he has always lead his shadow clones.

Those are true words of inspiration but, it wouldn't be Naruto if you had all these things that you desire in it. It'd be a boring love story of a benevolent leader.

- It will change eventually into what your thinking of, but only after the current Ninja War Arc


# Expectations

- Naruto and Kyuubi will become Partners, fully.

- Naruto will eventually save all the bijuu and have them brought into his Rikudou body to be safe.

- Naruto will eventually gain some random eye power never seen before.

- Naruto will kill Sasuke.

- Naruto will become overall leader of all ninja villages, not hokage.

# Hopes

- None of this happens.

- I miss the old Ninja fights back in the first Naruto, like when he and sasuke worked together to defeat Zabuza.
That was truly an epicly told story by Kishi.

[Jammin]

Those are true words of inspiration but, it wouldn't be Naruto if you had all these things that you desire in it. It'd be a boring love story of a benevolent leader.

- It will change eventually into what your thinking of, but only after the current Ninja War Arc

The core of what I'm wishing for is a return to roots; as opposed to something new. I'd say what I'm wishing for is the direction the series was on right up until Nagato showed upand Naruto starting trying live an ideal instead of living a life.

I, from the bottom of my heart hope you are correct that it will return to those roots a little after the war, but I don't truthfully believe it will. I believe Kishimoto polarized Naruto to the avatar of an ideology for the sake of lending the epic ideological impact to the ending. Which, I feel, in hindsight has cut deeply at the quality of his character and the character of those who believe and follow him; which, in turn, damaged the story.

What I wish for is a return to a point where Naruto isn't so different from everybody else. Where he succeeds because of his spirit and not his heritage. Where he tries to work out the right thing for himself, instead of assuming it's whatever his pre-established ideology tells him. Where people place faith in him because of friendship, trust, and respect for him as a ninja, instead of some nebulous concept of him being a savoir or his power as a Jinchuriki.

I realize that I'll probably never get what I'm wishing for but a guy can dream....

[enmymiguel]

well if naruto lose the 9 tail. any ninja can take him on. no problem.
well hes power will be sage mode. clone ok but when he realize that the 9 tails was the 1 who give him the chackra to make clone over clone. maybe he stop doing span clone over and over. sage mode. use genjutsu on him. and boom it over.
wow pein didnt use a single genjutsu.

[Kisame Hoshigaki]

biggest question for me is will sasuke interrupt tobi and naruto's fight to let tobi get away, or will sasuke possibly turn his back on tobi and just try to wipe everyone out

honestly i dont think sasuke is loyal to anyone but himself

but i dont think his power level or fighting ability is anywhere CLOSE to naruto at this point, naruto is slowly approaching DBZ type power (well maybe not but he is way stronger than anyone else in this story)

[mattiaildivino]

in my opinion,the wa will go on for the whole year,but perhaps it will end in the last months. I think that all of the zombies will be defeated,madara too. naruto and sasuke will fight at the end of the year,while kabuto,tobi and itachi...dunno what will happen to them

[Airgrimes]

Hmmm...
My expectations of 2012...

I firstly, dont think Kishi will end the manga this year. I feel it may just of hit him, that he has tons of loose ends to tie up.

Naruto gaining a new element feels out of the window for this atm. Why would he need an element with the intense power he has now lol.

The Romance aspect of this manga, I expect to be heavily dwelled on towards the end of this year too. In other words NaruHina VS NaruSaku.

I was hoping we would see Kakashi get a kid who could continue his legacy and be just 1 year younger than Asuma's kid like Kakashi is to Asuma. But Kishi doesnt care too much for Kakashi

And last of all, Konohamaru's improvement might be shown. Despite Genin's not being allowed in World Wars, hopefully a little plot no jutsu will kick in to bring him in somehow. I see him stronger than some Konoha 11 members lol.

[blade5468]

I am calling it now -- there has been /way/ too much symbolism throughout the series about the future generation taking over, there is absolutely no way a konoha rookie (aside from Sasuke, anyway) is getting killed. Not Tenten, not Neji, Hinata, no one. If anyone, it's Sasuke. But ignoring that possibility, Konoha's future is in the hands of the Konoha rookies and the series has been saying that this whole time, they're not just going to kill them off. I will bet anything in the world they won't, it would go directly against the series' theme.

[mattiaildivino]

oh yeah,I forgot to say that this year will surely involve kakashi a lot! kishi ensured us that this year will be the decisive one to him,although he stated that so many times... I still don't know why I still believe him,will it be cause he is a genious?