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…we still don’t quite have the answer! We’re close at least, and judging from Itachi’s words both then and now, I’m starting to wonder if the crow he left in Naruto is intended to stop himself instead of Sasuke. Given how far ahead Naruto’s parents planned, it seems highly probable for Itachi to take into account the possibility that he’d be used by Madara someday. Back in chapter 403, he also mentioned that he hopes Naruto will never have to use “it”, and considering how the technique activated now, one way to interpret what he said is that he hoped he’ll never be trying to kill Naruto. The other possibility is that it’s a Sharingan counter in general, in which case it was intended to protect Naruto from Sasuke or Madara and activated prematurely here.
In both cases, “hoping that Naruto will never have to use it” would still fit, but in the latter one, I like the idea that Itachi’s technique was intended for Madara, just like the Amaterasu he left with Sasuke. As revealed in this chapter, Itachi believed Sasuke returned to the village after killing him, having exacted his revenge and never learned the truth, and may have anticipated that Naruto and Sasuke would have to face Madara one day. There was also further indication that Itachi hoped his death would free Sasuke from an endless cycle of hatred, and that he believed in Naruto because he desperately wanted to save Sasuke as well, suggesting that Sasuke was never the intended target. Coincidentally, Itachi’s surprise from learning that Sasuke decided to seek revenge on Konoha and sided with Madara to that end made me open up to the possibility that story is building up to a climactic finish where Naruto does save Sasuke somehow and together they stop Madara, ending generations of strife between the Senju and Uchiha.
Naruto and Sasuke are the descendants of those clans after all, so ridding the world of Madara would be a rather symbolic way of putting the past behind them. The sound of that has a befitting, climactic shounen feel to it too, and while I agree it may be a bit cliche, it does bring together the entire story that’s been told so far — from the very first moment that Team 7 was formed. I’m clearly getting ahead of myself, but I do want to see the above scenario happen simply because it seems to fit and I can picture it quite clearly. 🙂 For now, it’s just a matter of which route the story will take, depending on Itachi’s explanation of his technique next time.
Lastly, I know it doesn’t seem like much of a fight when Pain and Itachi are purposely warning Naruto and B of their attacks and explaining how to counter their techniques, but that hasn’t taken away from the scale of their battle for me. That’s mainly because it has the whole sentimental aspect going for it, and the fact that chakra limits don’t seem to apply for resurrected ninjas.
It’s a strange feeling to see Naruto fighting Nagato again only this time with the lack of tension in their battle despite Naruto having upgraded enormously and Nagato using all of his powers without Rikkudo Pain. But I am sure looking forward to the function of the ‘gift’
It would be awesome if this technique Itachi gave Naruto is some kind of ‘mock Sharingan’ to help protect Naruto against other Sharingan techniques. Maybe even something to help fight against Tsukuyomi and Amaterasu…
wtf
@ Divine so how long did it take you to count that many chapters? lol
I’m seriously left wondering if Kishi really planned this far ahead for the whole crow debacle or he just winged it as he proceeds each chapter. Somehow it doesn’t feel right for me.
I believe that the author has planned A LOT in advance. Bleach gives me the feeling Kubo pulls stuff out of his ass as he goes along but Naruto is different. So many things fit into place so well that he has to have a long term game plan for most stuff.
Look how team 7 mirrors the 3 great Sanin? Jirayah/Naruto loves Tsunade/Sakura and Sasuke/Orochimaru turned evil and tried to destroy the village. History repeats itself in the next generation. That kind of thing has to be well thought out way in advance.
I sometimes think the author uses people’s delusions or predictions in his advantage. Think about it, when you feel that this idea is good you might just twist the plot or use the very idea your self to get more readers.
Croos: I wish Kubo listened to his fans every now and then; the manga wouldn’t have fallen as low as it did if so.
I’m with KarmaFan on this one: while not perfect, Naruto is getting damn good enjoyable. It’s clear that some planning was done to create this final part…And I hope it keeps up like this!
…I also really digged this chapter: we had some good talk and fights between characters (there was even some space for humor with Nagato too…Didn’t expect that one lol). I like the fact Naruto is effortlessly killing Nagato’s dog summon, the same which gave Jiraya lots of trouble back when he fought it, with its hydra-like ability to respawn heads…Talks a lot about how much the main character has surpassed his sensei.
I don’t think Naruto has thinks planned out in great detail. I think Both Bleach and Naruto only had very loose ideas planned out from the beginning.
I am pretty sure the reason Naruto seems more coherent is because Kishmoto is just significantly better at writing/ thinking of clever way of adding onto his old ideas.
Oddly enough, even though i can plainly Naruto is more coherently put together, I still find bleach more enjoyable. I guess I just enjoy the sheer randomness/idiocy of the events that happen.
I can see some stuff being planned out in advance, like Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura mirroring Jiraiya, Orochimaru, and Tsunade, but I don’t doubt that certain developments are “planted” in advance with no set use for them yet. There are probably some potential uses in mind, but just injecting something like the crow early on in the story gives it something to utilize later on. This approach works well for long-running series where not everything can be planned that far ahead.
Unless you’re Eiichiro Oda, who seems to be able to plan and keep track of everything years and years in advance.
^Bass.EXE +10
I think the return of the undead spell Kabuto uses is pretty much the only thing he didn’t plan.
^ agree’s with Ramen Fighter here.
The 4th World War is interesting and I don’t hate on the sentimental values but I kinda felt that the whole “crow in Naruto” plot was just a way for Kishi to buy time. I seriously don’t think Itachi planted the crow and expecting to be revived to use it….way too much of a reckless plan.
Been waiting on this post ALL DAY.
And that’s all you have to say about it?
I think he was expecting on how you will say about this episode, Divine.
Hmm, I always wondered what that crow Itachi left in Naruto meant.
Looks like Kishi really did plan far ahead this time.
wow, some of the prediction were right after all.
“the possibility that story is building up to a climactic finish where Naruto does Sasuke somehow and together they stop Madara”
I always knew there was something going on between those two, they were always a little too close for my tastes. 🙂 Anyway, it will definitely be interesting to see how this plays out.
I sometimes wonder if my posts are being edited without my knowledge for comedic sake.
It’s even funnier because you used the word climactic.
well they were each other’s first kiss. kishimoto plans things out like j.k. rowling!
I’d wager that it’s either an anti-Itachi weapon (so if Naruto was able to save Sasuke before he fought Itachi, he’d be able to carry out Sasuke’s revenge) or a general Sharingan stopper to interfere with Madara’s plans or as insurance in the Sasuke redemption plan.
I thought Kishimoto did a good job of keeping the story moving through their conversations even though it was an action-packed chapter.
As long as Naruto doesn’t receive a sharingan for himself, I’l be fine. Hopefully its a sharingan blocker like everyone hopes for.
Ahaha, they’d be handing out sharingans like super saiyans.
But yeah, please let that not happen.
I’m not so certain it is a block as much as it is some way for Itachi to break Kabuto’s control. That would be interesting indeed.
I have never seen Naruto XDD
Then why are you here?!
Nagato: Oh hey, Naruto! What’s up, man?
Naruto: Not much, bro-in-training. Just saving the world an’ all. You know, usual stuff.
Nagato: Cool, cool. Listen, I gotta try to kill you now. No hard feelings?
Naruto: Totally fine, man. Do what you gotta do.
That’s what I got out of their whole conversation…and for some reason, I had no problems with it. Furthermore, I found it hilarious.
You are so right! I believe that’s the power of shonen.
I don’t really understand what happened. Itachi said “let’s see what happens” but isn’t his whole body under Kabuto’s control? Kabuto wouldn’t know about the technique.
That would imply that the technique is responding to Itachi activating his Mangekyou Sharingan, and it’s not something that he has to activate himself lending credibility to the idea that its a anti-sharingan or whatnot.
Nagato as himself fighting against Naruto is something I’ve been waiting to see (even though I lost that hope after I thought he was taken out of the plot and all). I didn’t get the “expression” he was talking about to Naruto and why would Nagato be surprised about Itachi’s hidden agenda back then. I could understand that Itachi doesn’t want the people from the village know his secret about the Uchiha clan’s revolution, but he should still confirm it with Naruto that it was the truth. But then B was there so having him know would be bad. How can you be sure that genjutsu is the same one Itachi put on Naruto back in the past? It could be just another attack Kabuto made Itachi do. Anyways, I think there will be a big twist coming soon.
Iatchi is like, “wait– he still didnt go back to Konoha?! You mean he’s actually trying to destroy the village?!*facepalm*
I failed to calculate the sheer emo of my brother, I have failed!”
This made made LOL. That’s exactly what it was.
If Naruto is a descendant from the Senju clan, does that mean Lady Tsunade is sort of like his relative?
I know it’s been said that he’s a descendant of the Senju but I really don’t comprehend how. I mean Tsunade is easy, her grandfather was one of the Senju.
I’m pretty sure Naruto’s mom was from outside of Konaha cos they had their own village and i’m not sure how Minato is related to the Senju ;/
Maybe i’ve missed something somewhere.
If Naruto gets a sharingan(as unlikely as that may be) I am gonna tattoo his face on my chest… Imagine sage mode – with the fox chakra eyes | making a + like in that one episode! And then throw •o• that on there! That’s gonna look bada*s! THE POWER!!!!!!
•
lol!
Kyubi power + Sharingan + Toad Art…
hhhmmmm….
I think naruto will become an iguana!
———
Jokes…
I really would love to know what thing did Itachi gave to Naruto.
Cant wait…