Phew. Now that’s more like it. Following of last week’s rather lackluster chapter, we get a bit more in terms of action this week, and it’s all about combination tactics. Of course, the latter’s been expected for a while now, but even then, I didn’t quite expect the result we got here. As it turns out, we not only get Sasuke and Naruto combining for an epic Rasenshuriken x Kagutsuchi strike, but also the Second and Fourth Hokages combining multiple techniques in order to ensure the hit lands.

And I gotta say, it was quite fun to read, as it demonstrated both how ridiculous the Hokages can be now that they don’t have to worry about their bodies taking damage and how in the end, it’s the current generation’s ninja that should be the “main stars” instead. Since the arrival of the former Konoha Hokage, there hasn’t been much of a chance for anyone else from the current generation to really shine since, and it was nice to see that they’re actually still being kept somewhat relevant (even if it’s pretty much only Naruto x Sasuke at this point in time).

With that said, the bit about potential Hokage material comes into play once again in the form of Shikamaru and his ability to “change people’s hearts,” and Konoha really has no shortage of candidates at this point in time. Still, until Obito (and Madara) end up vanquished, all this candidacy stuff’s for naught… and I’d be quite surprised if Obito takes any kind of serious/fatal damage from this transaction. It definitely feels like there’s more to be done in terms of power-ups before our protagonists are going to be able to do anything significant, but one wonders if Madara’s going to get involved sooner rather than later. It’s still a bit up in the air exactly what he’s trying to do by holding the First Hokage back, but there’s definitely a lot of questions and a lack of answers to them at this point, and Kakashi’s whereabouts is one big one too. Guess it’ll be a “look and see” for the next few weeks.

44 Comments

    1. Who? 😉

      Forget Tenten, I think Tonton has had more screen time lately. Clearly the pig has Hokage potential and the support of the people – who doesn’t love bacon?

      7godeohs
  1. after seeing the power levels of goku, vegeta and buu.. err i mean the hokages, juubi and the ‘main stars’ (naruto, sasuke), i dont think anyone from other villages can match up to them at this point which tells that the one on top should draw a clear line between normal people.

    i think obito can still get out of that kagutsuchi+rasenshurin since he still have the powers of rinnegan that can disperse any jutsu.

    Ryuuzaki
  2. Tobirama trolls. “Dropped something?” also, “The Yondaime’s the one who’s copying me!” He’s definitely become my favorite hokage in the last 30 chapters. We finally get to see his Hirashim version as well, and it seems to work identically to Minato’s. The only difference seems to be that he never put the seals on kunai. Another interesting tidbit is that Minato stole the Bijudama that were floating behind Obito… perhaps we’ll finally get to see that ridiculously named technique of his using them.

    Madara’s confusing the hell out of me. If he had another trump card all along and is rushing to use it now, why the hell did he sit around twiddling his thumbs for so long?

    The whole speech just highlighted the “fodder nin are fodder” situation. Yeah, it kinda reverses the “new generation surpasses the old” theme, but I’ve always been a bigger fan of “the decline of the West” a ‘la Tolkien. Minato saying that Naruto and Sasuke are the main stars is a slap in the face to Sakura after her “I’m a heroine too” moment. I’d be more disappointed about her sitting around the background like always if I hadn’t expected it. Speaking of her though, Kishi’s continually highlighting how she and Hinata are keeping an eye on the boys… I can’t help but wonder if they’ll jump in to save the day when things get desperate like Hinata did with Pain.

    Hochmeister
      1. That’s not quite right as far as using them as a rasengan.

        Seems Obito has to “ignite” them first. I don’t think they just explode on impact or Obito couldn’t have stuck it on Minato in the previous chapter.

        Tez
    1. Madara’s trump card? He just want’s to fuse with Hashirama so they can be like Gogeta and beat Majin Juubito.

      In all seriousness the Moon’s Eye plan is still the ultimate goal of Obito and Madara; it’s just that they’re fighting on who’s going to take the driver’s seat.

      Quervo
    2. I think Sakura will die next.
      That will force Sasuke & Naruto to attack Obito seriously.

      Her death, can force Team 7 boyzband (Naruto, Sasuke, Sai, Kakashi) go on “John McClane sure-kill mode”.
      Just like Shikamaru did when Asuma killed.. activating “Die Hard” mode to kill Hidan, lol 😀

      alberto
  3. Kakashi’s probably just recuperating in the other dimension. I mean, if Obito was defeated, all he would have to do is successfully warp away Madara and the world is saved. Really, with his Kamui, it’s a rather cheap device plotwise for now, so perhaps he’ll have his time soon.

    jn99y4
    1. No way to know that.

      After all, compared to the Sharingan, the Rinnegan is still a very largely unknown variable because I highly doubt we’ve seen everything it can do and considering it can transcend even the limits of life and death, a mere dimension warping from a watered down version of it would probably seem like nothing.

      HalfDemonInuyasha
      1. Yeah, that’s true. But still, I still stand by the fact that Kakashi’s just regaining his strength in the other dimension. It’d be nice if somehow, one of Minato’s kunai got warped there by Obito, so that Kakashi can just pick it up and have a good feel of what is going on. There’s always that faithful reunion of student and pupil that we’re all looking forward to…

        jn99y4
      1. well, It’s not just the Amaterasu, Sasuke created the bloodline limit called Enton or Blaze Release, which he uses to control the flames of Amaterasu and not just burn everything, it’s useful coz he can cotrol it’s shape like chidori. and the technique is called Enton: Kagutsuchi. not Amaterasu

        Jeth
  4. I would like to find out what happened in the span of like 3-4 generations to make such a gap between powers. Was it the constant war? Nay! The great Ninja war was still going on even during Nagato’s time, yet almost everyone are just cannon fodder when you put them next to the old generation. 5 current Kage couldn’t take down Madara, and when he and Hashirama start fighting all other ninjas can just stand there and be awed by the techniques they use. Madara and Hashirama were not jinchuurikis, aside from his sage techs all of Naruto’s power as the main character comes from Kurama and Sasuke only got this far because he had a Sharingan, not to mention he even took had to take Itachi’s eyes in the end.

    gawrshness
    1. 1.) That was during the Second Great Shinobi War, IIRC (where Jiraiya, Tsunade, and Orochimaru were given the Sannin title by Hanzo the Salamander).

      2.) To be fair, Madara was (and still is, obviously) under Edo Tensei, so he had a HUGE advantage over them by that standard alone (near-instantaneous regeneration of damage and unlimited chakra), but he was also STRONGER than he was before with Hashirama’s DNA (allowing him to use Hashirama’s Mokuton techniques as well as his own) and the Rinnegan. That, and unlike his later days, not confined to being stuck to the Gedo Statue and being in a “healthy body” again.

      HalfDemonInuyasha
    2. Well, let’s make it simple. Do you think you can take out a knight from generations ago? Times change, requirement changes, people change. Large power no longer necessary.

      Silentrax
  5. I’ve had trouble reading this manga ever since Sasuke switched back to team Konoha. Totally unbelievable that it would happen so easily and quickly. I think the author is cutting corners as we approach the finish line.

    leesigh3
  6. Am I the only one who thinks that Kishi had completely forgotten about the techniques he gave the main characters, like the sage mode, or Sasuke’s 1000 kinds of chidori?

    Nyaa
    1. Naruto did use Sage Mode (albeit very briefly) not TOO long ago, IIRC. Not for any sort of big fighting or anything, but yeah…and I doubt any of Sasuke’s presumably far weaker Chidori-based techniques would do them any good at this point. Especially since getting the Mangekyo Sharingan in general, Sasuke has been shown to be extremely reliant on it, much like Naruto is on Kurama’s chakra.

      But now we’re seeing that even that doesn’t make up for the gap of at least experience between them and the previous Kages and Madara, and the power of even an incomplete Jubi and all.

      HalfDemonInuyasha
  7. GUYS I’VE DECIDED TO READ THE MANGA CHAPTERS AND WATCH THE ANIME EPISODES EVERY 4 WEEKS/1 MONTH. I MAY NOT BE COMING AROUND EVERY WEEK BUT I’LL DEFINITELY BLOG EVERY MONTH. GOOD DAY AND GOOD NIGHT GUYS.

    K C M
  8. Minato….should just stop naming these attacks….lol. I just love the subtle humor in these chapters.

    But WTF is Sasuke thinking already?! First we get the fact that he wants to protect Konoha. Second we get all this speculation of Sasuke’s true motives. Then, he wants to “erase” the past as if he were Vegeta who wants to kill his rival himself and not let anyone else do it.

    And right after I thought I knew what to expect, they seem to be enjoying themselves all of a sudden…

    Prediction for Next Chapter?

    Naruto: We did It!
    Sasuke: *Hmph*
    Minato: Great Job!
    Tobirama: Job well done…


    …*Smoke Clears*
    Obito: LOLNOPE!!!!

    swordhack4
  9. I find it funny how Sakura said some junk about being albe to keep up with Naruto and Sasuke
    but is like a mile away form the action. Well i guess it would be impossible for a normal person to keep up with a jinjuriki and an Uchiha.

    poseidonhands
  10. and no one noticed the first page last panel where sasuke clearly try to protect naruto from certain doom he perceived …
    No matter what he said in the past, but clearly sasuke think of naruto as an important friend , we might as well call this emo sasuke as tsundere sasuke

    sasuke : its not like i did this to protect you , ba ba ba BAKAAAAAA!!!
    naruto : ……….

    m4g1c14n
    1. It’s just as likely that Sasuke also sees Naruto as “too useful” to let die yet. Even Sasuke can see that he alone could never hope to beat Jinchuriki Obito, especially if even the undead Kages can barely do much against him, so for now, he NEEDS Naruto to win and survive.

      HalfDemonInuyasha
  11. It’s funny to think that Minato has marked thousands of his Kunai with his Hiraishin to use it for speedblitz. But thinking that he would’ve been more teacher-like if he marked his students too, and with that, he can save his Kakashi now that he’s warped in the Kamui dinmension.
    but with the Kakashi Gaiden, we know that Minato gave Kakashi one of those, and it would be surprising to know that Kakashi always brings that Kunai with him and Minato would be like, Yo! Gai! Where’s yo brotha? and Gai would be, Minato-sensei, is this Kakashi yo talking bout? he’s warped with Sagebito somewhere, but Sagebito’s here an he’s not. and Minato would be. oh i left him one of those Kunai, I’ll check on him, GTG !!

    Jeth

Leave a Reply to HalfDemonInuyasha Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *