Recent Naruto Manga (Chapters 400+)

[KeybladeWarrior]

This week's chapter: Tobi's mask comes off!!!

[LadyRushia]

Indeed it does. I feel like Naruto is coming to an end, which is good because it needs to end.

[Doubleshadow]

Naruto still has some loose threads I would like to see addressed first, such as Kabuto and Danzo's fate.

[uc pseudonym]

I definitely think it is coming to an end as well - far too many of the loose ends have been tied for it to be otherwise. We have only a few Akatsuki left and two fairly clear main antagonists (Madara and Pain). Perhaps two large arcs would be enough to finish things.

That having been said, I don't like how Madara took Sasuke. This manga needs to get over the whole "Naruto vs Sasuke" thing and I think this is just going to prolong it.

[LadyRushia]

Yeah, I was really hoping Naruto and Sasuke were going to meet again at this point, but I guess not.

What I think is nice is that we'll be getting another side of Itachi in the next chapter, which is good because I think that his reasons for killing off his whole clan go a lot deeper than "lol i wanted kool eyez."

[Sae-chan]

I think the latest chapters are pretty dark, too. Not that I don't like Naruto - far from it - but the thing with Sasuke and stuff, well, it's just so depressing. I liked Sasuke before the timeskip; afterwards, he seemed so completely brainwashed by Orochimaru.

The manga's probably coming to an end, like some others have said. (After forever and a half!)

Can't say I'll be happy or sad when it ends. Naruto's just... strange nowadays.

[LadyRushia]

Yeah, I'd say overall that the first half of the series is better than the second half.

[theanimeguy]

The first half is a tad bit better.

[AJV]

Interesting chapter.
I wonder if the next one will confirm that Tobi is Marada inside of Obito's body or not.

As said before,It seems that Naruto is coming to an end, but I wonder why Sasuke hasn't died yet. Has he become totally super powerful or something?

[LadyRushia]

Sasuke isn't going to die because he's a main character. I'm very interested in seeing what he does now.

Given the brief glimpse we saw at the end of the last chapter, I'd say that Madara is inside Obito's body. If that's the case, then I wonder how the anime will handle that when it gets there.

[Mave]

Ppl in Naruto need to quit the habit of taking over other ppl's bodies. Bad bad no good. XD

I'm not sure if Obito is still in the game but with Itachi's death, the story sure moves forward a lot more. I always had the impression that Itachi was only used to make Sasuke stronger although I still don't understand the focus on Sasuke. Maybe he has some special ability that he himself isn't aware of.

If Sasuke were to die ultimately, I don't think it'll happen so soon. Everyone still wants him for whatever reason. Sasuke drives the whole Naruto series.

[LadyRushia]

He does drive the whole series, though I think Naruto's ambition to become Hokage will eventually replace Sasuke as that force because Sasuke's story seems to be wrapping up.

[Mave]

I know what you mean but I have this nagging feeling that Naruto will only become Hokage after Sasuke's part is done.

Like, as in the last panel - End of Naruto.

Let's hope that I'm wrong. XD

[uc pseudonym]

I always had the impression that Itachi was only used to make Sasuke stronger although I still don't understand the focus on Sasuke. Maybe he has some special ability that he himself isn't aware of.

Didn't Madara take Itachi's eyes as well? It seems possible he needs multiple sets for whatever reason.

He does drive the whole series, though I think Naruto's ambition to become Hokage will eventually replace Sasuke as that force because Sasuke's story seems to be wrapping up.

While I can hope, I suspect not. If there's anything driving the series, it is the rivalry between Naruto and Sasuke. This may well go to the very end - a double showdown with Sasuke vs Madara at the same time Naruto vs Pain seems very possible.

[Mave]

I'm sure that some of us saw this coming.

[spoiler]
"Sasuke, the truth is Itachi was trying to protect you. Pls feel free to be racked with more guilt and angst than ever." [/spoiler]

Something tells me that Itachi's character is going to be redeemed with the next flashback chapter. But then it'll be too late 'coz he's dead. D:

[MasterDias]

I'm not quite sure what to make of this one.

I'd always thought there was something else going on behind the Uchiha Massacre, but I hadn't though a 180-degree turn was going to happen in Itachi's character after he was already dead. However, I think there is also the possibility that Madara is lying to get something from Sasuke...

[LadyRushia]

Everything we know about Itachi is probably going to be spun.

"The Uchiha clan was actually planning to take over Konoha with their power so Itachi killed them so everyone would be safe."

I knew Itachi wasn't just a psychopath, though. The next chapter will be interesting.

[uc pseudonym]

This is probably the largest plot twist that was ever so heavily predicted. Lots of people were calling this one. Not that I disapprove, actually - it undermines the first main subplot of the series and that's never a bad idea.

Personally, though, I would love for Kishimoto to reveal that Madara is lying and Itachi was actually just pure evil. That would be like spitting in the face of thousands of Itachi fangirls who are squeeing over this chapter.

[Doubleshadow]

*spots the squeeing fangirls, grabs the water hose and turns it on them full blast*

Hey! You simpering saps go 'squee' somewhere else!

Back to the chapter.

Oh, no.

This calls for a quote from an authoritative source:
Sephiroth Memorial Escape Clause
Any misdeed up to and including multiple genocide is forgiveable if you're cool enough.

I was afraid this would happen. I was so hoping for an actually evil villain, with no hidden redeeming motivation, because that would be something non-cliche, add a sense of gravity, allow for some justification (depending on your sense of justice) for Sasuke's behavior and choices, and provide some credibility for the mechanisms of the Naruto universe. But no, everything has to work out 'happily' in the end. Sunshine and rainbows all around! Yipee!

[LadyRushia]

I always find it interesting when evil characters has an another side to them. It makes them feel more human.

[uc pseudonym]

I was afraid this would happen. I was so hoping for an actually evil villain, with no hidden redeeming motivation, because that would be something non-cliche, add a sense of gravity, allow for some justification (depending on your sense of justice) for Sasuke's behavior and choices, and provide some credibility for the mechanisms of the Naruto universe. But no, everything has to work out 'happily' in the end. Sunshine and rainbows all around! Yipee!

Things would be a lot darker if they dwelt on the fact that Sasuke has spent most of his life in a mad quest for revenge against an innocent person and then succeeded. Not that I expect to see this.

[Doubleshadow]

Things would be a lot darker if they dwelt on the fact that Sasuke has spent most of his life in a mad quest for revenge against an innocent person and then succeeded. Not that I expect to see this.

Precisely. Even if should be a horrible devastating moment, it will be either glossed over, or retconned so it doesn't have any impact after all.

[Mave]

Guess Naruto is really wrapping up, as you guys say.

Personally, I want some justification on Sasuke's actions because I still firmly believe that, even if Itachi was really innocent, so what? Everything Itachi has done has made Sasuke the way he is now. Itachi has always done everything to prove that he's evil and that Sasuke should kill him. Going by the Itachi-is-really-a-good-guy outcome- let's see if Kishimoto can pull off a solid case that Itachi has no other option left but to play the evil villian/heartless monster act. I guess that there's a reason Sasuke has to get stronger than Itachi and hopefully, it's a good reason.

Tobi irritated me when he said "So you know your brother but you don't really know everything about him."

Whatever. It's not like Sasuke and Itachi play chess, sing songs, share ramen and run over fields of flowers giggling happily on a daily basis, like what most brothers should be doing to get to know each other very well.

[MasterDias]

So, Itachi did kill his clan, but all on Konoha's orders apparantly.

And now, we appear to be entering a flashback about Konoha's beginnings. I'm a bit of a sucker for exposition, at least if it advances the plot or gives backstory, so this is keeping me interested.

[Doubleshadow]

Flashback! Whoa, okay! Everybody buckle in boys and girls, this is going to be a big one!

Other than that, between Madara's enigmatic statements and multiple panels of Sasuke doing nothing but panting, I didn't find this chapter overly enthralling.

[LadyRushia]

Well, I didn't expect a conspiracy to be the reason for the massacre. I think I'll be okay with this long flash back, though; I like knowing the history of events and people in the stories I read.

[uc pseudonym]

Alright, I'll admit I'm somewhat interested now. Itachi is good? Sure, whatever. Itachi really did kill everyone but did it on Konoha's orders? Now it has my attention.

This relates back to killing your heart and the true definition of a shinobi, something we haven't seen since the Zabuza arc. I always thought that element should be fleshed out and dealt with in a more serious fashion, and I just might be getting my wish.

[Doubleshadow]

It's an interesting study in contrasts. Shinobi survival has by past trial and error indicated that emotionless ruthlessness was required for maximal efficacy. Itachi demonstrates adherences to this type of thinking. Whereas, Naruto has rejected this modus operandi in favor of heartfelt emotions and attitudes towards both allies and enemies. Now look where they've ended up.
I wonder why Sasuke didn't buy the farm with rest of clan. If Itachi couldn't bring himself to kill him despite orders, I wonder if that means someone found Sasuke before he could be eliminated by someone who was behind the conspiracy. It also partially explains just why Danzo was so eager to kill Sasuke versus Orochimaru or Kabuto.

[Mave]

It's interesting to point out that Konoha/Leaf Villages aren't always the good guys. Time to dish out the dirt on our hokages.

[MasterDias]

So, the Uchiha clan was planning a coup d'etat after years of being discriminated against and being blamed for the Kyuubi's attack, so the council elders and Danzo recruited Itachi as a spy...

I'm not buying Madara's claim that Kyuubi's attack was a "natural disaster" however. Too convenient. I'm going to hazard a guess and say that Madara was behind Kyuubi's attack and was manipulating Konoha and the Uchiha clan against each other.