Blackjack612's Review of Naruto 554: The Rasenshuriken's Limit...!!

[blackjack612]

Welcome all to another Naruto review, my 30th actually. I can barely believe I've been doing this for the better part of a year now. Before we get to the review, I want to take a moment to go over last week's poll. After Naruto 552's Sasuke centered cliffhanger, I asked the readers whether they thought Sasuke would still follow Madara's guidance or if he was now in it for himself. You guys unanimously voted that Sasuke would be following his own plans and it certainly seems that way. He unceremoniously dispatched White Zetsu just to test out his new abilities and now that he has an Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan he's not going to be easy for Madara to rein in. Now for the chapter review...

Naruto 554: The Rasenshuriken's Limit...!!
As always, images in this review are credited to mangastream/binktopia.


Dodgeball with Life or Death Stakes

Arrival at the Main Battleground begins with Naruto preparing to unleash a Rasenshuriken against the Raikage. Temari and her support squad stands back in awe since this is the first time any of them have seen Naruto's technique. Temari quickly recognizes it as a powerful Wind Release jutsu and believes it may be enough to take down the Raikage, as it should be, but the question still remains because we've seen Nagato, another Edo Tensei summon, recover from the similarly devastating damage of Amaterasu. First, though, Naruto must manage to actually hit the Raikage whose Lightening Release Armour makes him fast enough to dodge two successive Rasenshuriken techniques. Naruto anticipates that difficulty and uses his first two attacks as a distraction for him to get in close behind the Raikage, redirect his attack with chakra arms, and hit the Raikage at point blank range.

Direct Hit

The Raikage directly takes the full force of Rasenshuriken and the sealing team uses that opportunity to seal the Raikage. For the briefest of moments, victory looks assured. Then the Raikage recovers enough to slice through the sealing tape and free himself. By all rights, Rasenshuriken should have shredded him at the cellular level, but the Raikage has but a few quickly recovering scrapes to show from Naruto's efforts. Kabuto is playing up the Raikage's protective instincts to hold the line and so the Raikage makes the most of his abilities to survive. Next, the Raikage goes on the offensive, activating his strongest jutsu which puts the fear of god in Dodoi who immediately orders the Earth Release users to construct a large earthen wall.

If the Mountain won't come to the Raikage...

The technique the Raikage activates is Hell Stab: Four-Finger Kutike, a Lightening Release jutsu similar to Chidori. Where Chidori concentrates Lightening Release chakra in the hand for great penetrating effect, Hell Stab focuses that chakra in the fingers. By providing a smaller focal point for the chakra, the penetrative ability of the thrust is proportionally increased, which the Raikage can take advantage of by reducing the number of fingers used. With Hell Stab, the Raikage easily busts through the barrier the Allies erected, including the rubber support Dodoi added with his Lava Release. Dodoi cautions everyone to fall back, but some of the braver ninja ignore his advice believing that they should focus all their energy at the Raikage's point of entry. The Raikage's Lightening Release Armour combined with Hell Stab allows him to easily cut through all those who were foolhardy enough not to retreat. The already diminished forces of Fourth Division continue to shrink in an instant since no one can stand against the Raikage.

The Fruits of Training

As they witness the onslaught from a safe place, Dodoi informs Naruto that the Third Raikage possesses a uniquely resilient body that came to be known as 'The Strongest Shield.' His body, combined with Lightening Release Armour and the regenerative abilities that Edo Tensei grants him, is what allowed the Raikage to survive Naruto's previous attack. However, Naruto notices that the 'The Strongest Shield' was scarred sometime during the Raikage's life. Dodoi reveals a rampaging Eight-Tails caused the wound that Naruto referred to. It was the only visible scar the Raikage ever received and he never spoke a word of how he attained it. Naruto has a hunch and decides to finally give the Tailed Beast Ball a shot. And thus the chapter ends.

This week's chapter was centered around the intense fight between Fourth Division and the Raikage and the action held up well. The Raikage was especially dynamic as he darted around the fight. The entrance he made by busting through the Allies' barrier was impressively done. It was an entrance that his son A would be pround of. Kishimoto also made inventive use of Naruto. Naruto's maneuvering also allowed for dynamic shots where Naruto would occupy the background and his lengthy chakra arms or jutsu would occupy the foreground, giving the impression at the beginning of the chapter that he was everywhere at once. I thought speedlines were used judiciously this chapter. They weren't just haphazardly thrown in. They highlighted the focus of movement and curved to follow the action where appropriate.

The supporting ninja were also featured heavily this chapter either in providing supplementary jutsu or filling the background with dead or wounded with a variety among the ninja among them. The sealing team obviously made a play this chapter, but we also saw the an Earth Release team whose discipline was demonstrated by tight, structured formations and well synchronized actions. Likewise, the ninja who chose to intercept the Raikage's blitz had wilder hair styles, war paint, and large, sharp weapons. In addition, the large cast of supporting players affected the panel composition such that about half the panels featuring them opt for wide angles or eagle eye views. Since these fodder-nin are drawn at the extremely small scales such angles deman, they appear as ants in a desert (or a sandbox). It's an apt visual metaphor because these ninja are powerless against superior foes like the revived Kage or compared with allies like Naruto.

This chapter was another in a series of very enjoyable entries, albeit a lighter offering than the last couple of weeks. There wasn't much in the way of plot progression aside from this week's surprising cliffhanger. Actually, this entire chapter was surprising. I had expected the fights with the remaining Kage to wrap up quickly and cleanly. Instead, the Raikage survived what I assumed would be a one-kit K.O. and was still standing by chapter's end. We didn't even see how the Kazekage and Tsuchikage were faring. But I enjoyed the twist because this chapter strengthened the Raikage's growing mythology. His Hell Stab technique in particular raises the question of what influenced Kakashi's creation of Chidori. The cliffhanger also means we'll see the results of Naruto's training sooner than I anticipated. I had expected that he could get through the Revived Kage fight without the Tailed Beast Bomb.

Otherwise, the dialogue wasn't noteworthy and there wasn't much thematic exploration. The art was solid, but it could have been made clearer whether the Raikage's scratches were the result of a slow acting regenerative ability or whether those lines denoted that the Raikage's body was being pushed to it's limits to act as his 'Strongest Shield.' If it was the former, which makes more sense, it's strange that those minor injuries were still visible at the end of the chapter. Also, while there wasn't much character development for Naruto himself, the ancillary characters had some great moments. Temari and Dodai had plenty of reaction shots to the chapter's action and the supporting ninja got more to do. That some of the ninja would break with command authority in the heat of an intense fight was a nice touch.

Overall, Naruto 554 The Rasenshuriken's Limit …!! was a lite but enjoyably unexpected chapter, which is why I'm giving it a...

5 out of 5.

Predictions

My predictions last week were mostly incorrect. There was no further development on Sasuke's character and both remaining revived Kage are still active at the end of the chapter.

Next week, I don't expect this fight to conclude. In the mangastream translation at least, the teaser for Naruto 555 mentions "The First Raikage's Conclusion" (can anyone provide verification from another scan/translation) which leads me to believe the mythology concerning the Third Raikage was setup for a revelatory flashback to come. Then he'll be dispatched shortly thereafter. And since the revived Kage conflict wasn't wrapped up neatly in the last tankōban worth of material, I expect there'll be at least a few more chapters of it left. The Mizukage hasn't had a real fight yet and only one of his abilities have been displayed. If the Raikage couldn't be taken out in a chapter, I doubt the Mizukage will. Mu's last words also lead me to believe that we'll be seeing more of him in the future. In fact, it wouldn't surprise me if one of the revived Kage killed the Onoki before this is finished.

My long term predictions for where Naruto is headed can be found in a previous review here.That’s all for this week and thanks for sticking around. See you next week space cowboy...

Stray Observations

• "This time we've really managed to stop him."
• "If we know where he's going to burst through, we can concentrate all our energy right there."
• "Those fools.."
• From Naruto of all people: "What is that technique...it's way too powerful."
• The rest of the Big 3 were entertaining this week. While both One Piece and Bleach were enjoyable, neither was as interesting as last week's offerings. Bleach had me worried about how prolonged the current arc might get, but the ending hopefully indicates that the current fights won't drag on too long.

[LanderZ]

The big question in my mind: Where is a Raw, so we can establish which Youton Dodoi has?

Roshi and Kitsuchi have the standard physical-Lava release, whereas Mizukage Mei has chemical-'Lava' release, or some kind of acid release (the kanji is different for the 2 Youton styles). So I'm curious to see where Dodoi stands.... and more to the point, why 3 different nations have the same/similar Kekkei Genkai (I know Jiton was apparently in both Suna and Kumo, but this is getting rediculous).


Good review for a good chapter.

[mattiaildivino]

thank you Black

The big question in my mind: Where is a Raw, so we can establish which Youton Dodoi has?

Roshi and Kitsuchi have the standard physical-Lava release, whereas Mizukage Mei has chemical-'Lava' release, or some kind of acid release (the kanji is different for the 2 Youton styles). So I'm curious to see where Dodoi stands.... and more to the point, why 3 different nations have the same/similar Kekkei Genkai (I know Jiton was apparently in both Suna and Kumo, but this is getting rediculous).


Good review for a good chapter.

no,the 5th mizukage has got 2 kekkei genkai.she used the lava as does dodai. http://www.mangareader.net/93-33750-...apter-465.html http://www.mangareader.net/93-34416-...apter-466.html and especially look at this http://www.mangareader.net/93-34416-...apter-466.html the acid is another kekkei genkai: the boiling element or something like that.

[LanderZ]

thank you Black

no,the 5th mizukage has got 2 kekkei genkai.she used the lava as does dodai. http://www.mangareader.net/93-33750-...apter-465.html http://www.mangareader.net/93-34416-...apter-466.html and especially look at this http://www.mangareader.net/93-34416-...apter-466.html the acid is another kekkei genkai: the boiling element or something like that.

*sigh*

I'm well aware of this.

But the kanji for Mei's Youton is different from Kitsuchi's and Roshi's. I want to know which Youton Dodoi has.

[mattiaildivino]

*sigh*

I'm well aware of this.

But the kanji for Mei's Youton is different from Kitsuchi's and Roshi's. I want to know which Youton Dodoi has.

well I don't think they are different.the yoton (magnetism element) is different because the 4th kazekage manipulated the gold,toroi the iron (?) and the 3rd kazekage the iron sand. but mei terumi,kurotsuchi and dodai make a material very resistant.kurotsuchi made this http://www.mangareader.net/93-58215-...apter-514.html ,dodai rubber,and mei...it looked like true magma.

[blackjack612]

But the kanji for Mei's Youton is different from Kitsuchi's and Roshi's. I want to know which Youton Dodoi has.

well I don't think they are different.the yoton (magnetism element) is different because the 4th kazekage manipulated the gold,toroi the iron (?) and the 3rd kazekage the iron sand. but mei terumi,kurotsuchi and dodai make a material very resistant.kurotsuchi made this http://www.mangareader.net/93-58215-...apter-514.html ,dodai rubber,and mei...it looked like true magma.

I think he's referring to the Kanji that comprises the name of the nature release and not the actual jutsu themselves. What is commonly referred to as Lava Release has been spelled two ways in the manga. A page at Narutopedia goes into more detail, but to sum it up Lava Release has two spellings depending on the radical used in the first character (the 'lava' of 'lava release'):

• The fire radical version denotes the techniques used by Kurotsuchi and Dodoi (to answer Landerz question).
• The water radical version denotes Mei's techniques.
• Roshi's have been spelled with either (for the fire then the water then the fire radical) in the manga and both versions in the fan/data books.
• From the above link:
  

  Nowadays, the two kanji are synonyms and used interchangeably, with 溶 being the more common variant. However, there seems to be a subtle difference in meaning between the two. The kanji with the fire radical seems to be used more often in words relating to metal and other solids, whereas the kanji with the water radical is more often used in words relating to liquids.

  So the kanji with the fire radical seems more suited to Dodoi and Kurotsuchi's techniques which take on solid, physical form in a congealed mass or rubber, while the water radical refers to the liquid lava of Mei's jutsu. Roshi can likely use both given how interchangeable the two kanji have been used for him.

[mattiaildivino]

I think he's referring to the Kanji that comprises the name of the nature release and not the actual jutsu themselves. What is commonly referred to as Lava Release has been spelled two ways in the manga. A page at Narutopedia goes into more detail, but to sum it up Lava Release has two spellings depending on the radical used in the first character (the 'lava' of 'lava release'):

• The fire radical version denotes the techniques used by Kurotsuchi and Dodoi (to answer Landerz question).
• The water radical version denotes Mei's techniques.
• Roshi's have been spelled with either (for the fire then the water then the fire radical) in the manga and both versions in the fan/data books.
• From the above link:
  
  So the kanji with the fire radical seems more suited to Dodoi and Kurotsuchi's techniques which take on solid, physical form in a congealed mass or rubber, while the water radical refers to the liquid lava of Mei's jutsu. Roshi can likely use both given how interchangeable the two kanji have been used for him.

maybe the kanjis are different because once it has spelled "lava style" another time "magma style" another time "fusion style",or fusion element.but they are synonyms then there is no difference IMO.

[blackjack612]

maybe the kanjis are different because once it has spelled "lava style" another time "magma style" another time "fusion style",or fusion element.but they are synonyms then there is no difference IMO.

In this case, the literal translation of both is Lava Release (although Viz translates it differently) so they mean the same thing for the most part and are interchangeable spellings. There are just subtle connotations. Lava can be fresh and liquid like when it's flowing, but it could also be a very slow, thick, metallic/rocky sludge. And of course, after it finishes flowing, lava hardens and congeals. So the connotations reflect moreso the state of matter, but regardless it's still lava in both cases. So I don't know if I'd term them synonyms. Rather than being differing words with a similar meaning, they are one word with similar meaning for the most part. The differing characters use different radicals but the pronounciation of the word itself doesn't change.

[mattiaildivino]

anyway this chapter should be the last one of volume 58,but I'm sure it isn't.finally since volume 52 there is a volume with more than 11 chapters.

[M3J]

The big question in my mind: Where is a Raw, so we can establish which Youton Dodoi has?

Roshi and Kitsuchi have the standard physical-Lava release, whereas Mizukage Mei has chemical-'Lava' release, or some kind of acid release (the kanji is different for the 2 Youton styles). So I'm curious to see where Dodoi stands.... and more to the point, why 3 different nations have the same/similar Kekkei Genkai (I know Jiton was apparently in both Suna and Kumo, but this is getting rediculous).

Dodoi probably has gum gum no youton or something, based on what his lava did (stretched like a rubber).

[mattiaildivino]

yeah! I was right,the fight against the previous kages takes more than a chapter!