Blackjack612's Review of Naruto 556: Gaara vs Mizukage!!

[blackjack612]

Before we jump into this week's (admittedly late) Naruto review, I'd like to share some personal news and go over the poll results. Part of why this review was late in coming is because I gave priority to the wonderful Joint Bleach 465 which you can find linked here. I've also been busy in my personal life because I was finally made an offer of employment! Woot! Some of you who have followed my earlier review may remember that I recently graduated university. I've spent the summer trying to escape the miserable wasteland of unemployment and I now have a cool job as a Software Engineer for a company in San Diego. What does this mean for us? I"m not sure yet. I've enjoyed reviewing Naruto and discussing the chapter with you guys week in and week out and I'd like to continue doing so. But my free time will become more limited now that I have a job, so it's likely that my reviews will go up later in the week. So over the next couple of weeks, expect to see a transition from these posting Wednesdays and Thursdays to reviews going up on the weekend with an occasional Friday review.

That's enough of that, though. On to Naruto. Last week I asked what you thought of Naruto's improvement as a strategist and the vast majority of you (]22 to 4 at the time of writing) were satisfied with his growth. With a long running serial like this, it's easy to become dissatisfied. Plot turns and story structure that once seemed fresh becomes predictable and characters that once were exciting become one-note. Yet I think Naruto has grown significantly from the upstart punk he was at the manga's beginning into an insightful and intelligent young shinobi carrying far more burdens than he should. It's not easy being king kage, but we'll get to that in the chapter review...

Naruto 556: Gaara vs Mizukage!!
As always, images in this review are credited to mangastream/binktopia.


Like Water for Sand

Gaara vs Mizukage!!, like the title states, focuses on the struggle between the young Kazekage and the revived Mizukage. Picking up from last week's cliffhanger in which Naruto praised Gaara's defensive capabilities as being greatest among all shinobi, we're shown the reverse. Gaara is struggling against the Mizukage's attacks which use a viscous liquid to destroy Gaara's sand. The Mizukage gloats at being untouchable despite informing the Allies of his weaknesses. Naruto and the living Kages took down Mū first because he seemed like the biggest threat with his highly destructive Dust Release techniques. Yet, the Mizukage has had the least trouble out of the four revived Kage against the Allies, which says a lot considering their skill levels. Gaara doesn't rest on his laurels , though, because he understands that you can't judge an opponents strength based on their appearance.

A Lethal Game of Hide and Seek

Of course, the Mizukage that Gaara converses with is an illusion that's part of a cloaking genjutsu that the Mizukage's summoned clam is generating. Gaara uses their conversation to bide for time while he uses his sand to track the location of the clam. Onōki spots the clam from the skies above, but he doesn't have enough chakra left to use a Dust Release technique, so he launches at the clam with an Earth Release technique and brute strength. Onōki puts all his strength into the attack and injures his back again, while the Mizukage continues to watch and critique the Allies battle strategy.

This ain't your Squirtle's Water Gun

Onōki smashes the clam and ends the genjutsu, but his back leaves him vulnerable. The Mizukage gives him a warning, but it's too late and the Mizukage pierces through Onōki with his Water Gun technique. It's a shocking scene and for a brief moment I thought Kishimoto was giving me exactly what I wanted, for the Allies to take casualties among even the highest level shinobi. Due to his initial disposition and age, I thought Onōki would be the Kage most likely to die, perhaps redeeming his earlier actions in his death, but Onōki turns out to have been a Sand Clone. We also learn from the attack that the Mizukage is from the Hōzuki clan and that he likely used Hydrification to weaken Gaara's sand. As Gaara surrounds the Mizukage in sand, coming to the Tsuchikage's rescue, the Mizukage deduces that Gaara watched over Onōki with Third Eye and swapped in a clone of the old man at the soonest opportunity.

The Beast Awakened

As the sealing team moves in to finish up the fight, the Mizukage looks glad that he didn't kill Onōki and happier that he has a worthy opponent to fight. To combat Hydration, Gaara entombs the Mizukage within a massive pyramid with Desert Tiered Imperial Funeral. The sealing team uses sealing tags attached to kunai to begin the sealing process, and the Allies take a moment to breathe a sigh of relief. Their celebration is short-lived, though, as the Mizukage breaks out of his sand prison using a technique (that the either Mū couldn't counter or Mū's ancestors created depending on the translation) of infinite explosions called Steaming Danger Tyranny. And thus the chapter ends with the Allies staring in the face of a seemingly unstoppable foe. Will Naruto have to defeat yet another revived Kage or can he rely upon his comrades to end this fight?

Kishimoto produces yet another artistically strong chapter, continuing an excellent run. One of this week's most impressive touches was the way that Kishimoto used the characters faces to portray complex emotions and ideas as the subtext under the dialogue. Gaara displayed calm when addressing the threat before him, concern for Onōki when the genjutsu ended, and pure awe at chapters end. Likewise, Onōki's determinism showed while he was in attack mode and the relief on his face afterwards was that of a boy facing a nightmare he thought once ended. Yet the highlight of the chapter was without a doubt the Mizukage. When the Allies struggled against his early attacks, he played the amused genius picking apart strategy. When Onōki was cornered, he seemed generally concerned that he would kill his one-time enemy against his will. Finally, when that lethal attack proved ineffective he switched from relieved to grateful to face such strong opponents. The Mizukage doesn't display the unmasked bloodlust of Zaraki Kenpachi from Bleach. His bloodlust is deeper, more considered, and devious. But the chapter wasn't all danger and seriousness. Faces and body language were also used for comedic purposes to lighten up the chapter, such as the look of extreme pain that lights up the Tsuchikage's face when he once again injures his back.

The chapter also made great use of sand of differing textures for different situations. The damaged sand looked appropriately thick and goopy due to the Mizukage's attacks. Later, the sand looked light and airy as dust particles outlined the hidden illusion generating clam. In fact, all the jutsu looked great this chapter and there were a few. Gaara, Onoki, and the Mizukage were in top form today. Even the sealing squad had a couple of decent panels of them stylishly throwing kunai and of the sealing process taking effect.

However, my favorite attack, and my favorite set of panels, were of Onōki's Rock Fist technique which split a page to illustrate the impact of the attack. First, the Tsuchikage comes flying down directly from above, with speed demonstrated by the speedlines. Then, in the shock-wave of the attack, sand comes flying off of the clam and the clam itself sinks deeper into the desert while Onōki is now still. It's a great shot and utilizes paneling in a way that Kishimoto rarely does.

Overall, this was a great chapter. It was centered around a fight, so there wasn't much plot progression, but the fight itself was phenomenal. The Mizukage exudes menace and reveals that he is a complicated individual. The action, art, and jutsu were in fine form, and we learned a little more about the Mizukage's background and just how he was able to stand up against a master of Dust Release techniques. Naruto 556 Gaara vs Mizukage was pure fun, which is why I'm giving it a...

5 out of 5.

Predictions

My predictions last week about Mū making a return haven't come true yet and at the rate this fate is going, I'd be surprised if it ended next week.

I see this battle ending up one of a few ways.

1. Mu makes a return and the revived Kage fight lasts a few chapters more to fill up a tankōban.
2. The Mizukage is the last revived Kage and his fight ends (with or without Naruto's help) followed by few chapters following Itachi or Sasuke.
3. Or instead of following Itachi or Sasuke, we double down on the remaining revived shinobi which includes the remaining Swordsmen of the Hidden Mist, Kakuzu, and Dan, whose secret technique has yet to be shown. I'm hoping for this one. With Gaara and Onōki exhausted, and the rest of the ninja (including Kakashi) tired from the constant fighting, Tsunade would have a good excuse to join the battle and demonstrate her abilities for the first time since the Three Sannin fight.

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

Stray Observations

• "Even though I told them all my weaknesses...they still can't do anything.."
• "I'm the stronger one!! Right? Looking at him, he was just some raggedy mummy left out to die!"
• "Stop messing around and attack me!"
• "I'm not the same little kid you used to be able to pick on anymore."
• Onōki i's back: "Ah...there it goes..."
• "See you fool? You're just a useless old man, now..!!"
• "This battle has gotten way too fun!!"
• "Fantastic..this is our victory.." And then Onōki had to jinx it.
• One Piece and Bleach were both good (not great) and suprisingly similar. Both chapters continued to set up fights between the heroes and villians, although Kubo seems determined to keep this arc as short as possible which means a lot of quick battles against the SS warriors who have spent the time skip training, which adds to the value of the timeskip (which I know some people don't like).

[Black God]

Congratulation on getting a job awesome review

[blackjack612]

I'm surprised. The reviews barely been up a couple of hours and someone's already voted that none of the revived Kage were impressive when I thought all of them had abilities worthy of their office: the Raikage's ultimate sword, the Kazekage's Magnetic Release and gold making ability (better for administration than battle...but he did single-handily face Shukaku), Mu's Dust Release and invisibility, and the everything the Mizukage's shown this chapter. For those that disagree, what didn't you like about the revived Kage?

[mattiaildivino]

Black this review is excellent! but mangastream translated the chapter very bad,I'd like to post what I said in the prediction thread

guys,an italian site has translated the chapter,and I'm sure that's the right version.first of all in the 2nd page http://mangastream.com/read/naruto/21768706/3 gaara says "and so we did" in the next page the first picture isn't gaara's speech,it's mizukage's,the next page the 2nd mizukage says "you have sensed the CLAM(not the sand)". and above all
the last picture says "this is the technique which even Muu-sama could nothing against, mizukage's infinite explosion technique,JOOKI BOUI(tyranny of the dangerous steam)

[hdiuy]

I'm surprised. The reviews barely been up a couple of hours and someone's already voted that none of the revived Kage were impressive when I thought all of them had abilities worthy of their office: the Raikage's ultimate sword, the Kazekage's Magnetic Release and gold making ability (better for administration than battle...but he did single-handily face Shukaku), Mu's Dust Release and invisibility, and the everything the Mizukage's shown this chapter. For those that disagree, what didn't you like about the revived Kage?

One thing i love about battle mangas are the super-powered, title holding characters and their predecessors. Which in this case would be the Kages. At the beginning i always wished that we get to see the different kages of different generations. In this war i got my wish and we got to see more Kages, but when too many goodies are revealed in one instance it gets stall. Its like there are too many goodies and i don't know what to focus on.

Secondly the war greatly affects my thoughts about the Kages. Considering how the war isn't exactly to my tatse(to cut things short,it feels like many of the revived characters are 'destined' to fail or to be stepping stones ), my impression of the Kages have been greatly reduced.

Don't get me wrong though, i'm not saying that all of them are boring. Its just that i feel that they don't have "Wow" factor to them in their scenes, but then again there probably isnt enough time to add in more panels for the Kages. But then again i'm not sure if i would be impressed even if more time are allocated to the Kages.

[juUnior]

Great review, I was waiting for this one especially because of Gaara's fight..

I voted for the Second Mizukage dude - firstly, when the previous kages where 'introduced', I was thinking that Muu is soooo cool. Then.... then the Second Mizukage dude started to talk xDXDXDXD Not only that, he has a 'unique' design which makes fun with what his character is, not to mention that by hyping Muu, Kishi hyped Mizukage by saying that they fought ones and killed each other in that fight <3 Now, when the fight got serious with Gaara & Oonoki, I even more like Mizukage dude, hyhy ^^ He's just badass.

About the rest of the previous kages:
- Muu is still cool and dandy and all, but he seems.. 'normal' <in character department at least xP> Still, one of my favourites amongst them.
- The Third Raikage is just a 'stronger' copy of his son.. and the first previous kage shown to be able to really put in my mind sth like "now thats what I'm talking to be a kage" feeling xD
- The Fourth Kazekage - random, random and once more random. And his abilities were just.. meh, another 'copy' and whatnot. I expected sth.. waaaay different. Nonetheless, he served his purpose for some emotional skirmish with his son and some nice info about automatic sand defence. BUT from all the previous kages, I'm not impressed with him the most.

[jorped]

Great reviews as always and congratz for getting a job
Don't really have anything to say about the chapter .... though i am pretty curious like you to see what Kishi is going to do next.

Also someone important has to die

[Shinomori Aoshi]

Nice review bj. Did you notice the figure of the Mizukage just being visible in the first panel of the two in which the clam is destroyed? I thought that was pretty impressive from an artistic point of view!

[mattiaildivino]

Nice review bj. Did you notice the figure of the Mizukage just being visible in the first panel of the two in which the clam is destroyed? I thought that was pretty impressive from an artistic point of view!

you are right,but the best picture of the chapter is the one where the 2nd mizukage shoots oonoki. the only thing I would suggest kishi is that the mizukage's hand sould have been more moved.

[ashher]

Congratz

Nice review as usual.

My personal fav were the water gun panel and the steam tyranny panel though.