Naruto Chapter 699 – “Shinobi”

This chapter took me a journey through Sasuke’s heart and allowed me to open up and gain a deeper appreciation for Sasuke as a character

It is quite unbelievable but prior to this chapter I was feeling detached and uninspired by the way Naruto was concluding and how the Naruto and Sasuke battle fitted in with the rest of the story, but just through this chapter, all those mixed emotions I had concerning the end of the Naruto came together and connected. This chapter dispelled the confusion I had towards the way Naruto was ending and put me in a state of mind where I could do nothing else but love the way Naruto was concluding. Sasuke expressing his true feelings was definitely the highlight for this chapter for me, it revealed a whole new dimension to his character I had never seen before and I found myself loving how he came around full circle again after his journey through the story of Naruto.

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Some content on this page was disabled on September 6, 2021 as a result of a DMCA takedown notice from Viz. You can learn more about the DMCA here:

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Some content on this page was disabled on September 6, 2021 as a result of a DMCA takedown notice from Viz. You can learn more about the DMCA here:

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Naruto Chapter 696 – The Fated Battle: Loneliness

Does he really believe he can save the world by destroying himself?

Sasuke truly was deeply scared by the mechanisations of the Shinobi villages built upon the fear of war and desire for power. Itachi had to bear such a burden, but it was through Itachi’s sacrifice and him being abused by Konoha did Sasuke come to see the consequence of nations being left to operate on their own. In order to prevent another person from suffering the way he did, Sasuke intends to cast himself back into the darkness of loneliness, all the while manipulating the Shinobi nations from conflicting with each other by directing all their hatred and grudges to himself, and he intends to bear with it for eternity.

Naruto Chapter 693-694 – The Fated Battle: Hokage

The fated battle finally begins… – colour by Desorienter

Beyond the madness that has gotten a hold of Sasuke and twisted his perception of the world and what he deems “necessary”, there is some logic to the method he has proposed in bringing about a revolution for the shinobi world. Regardless of Sasuke only focusing on the negatives the current shinobi model has brought about, centralising evil onto oneself in order to unite a world does hold a certain potential to reduce conflict, but at the same time it also opens the gates of uncertainty and insanity. Does Sasuke really believe that inducing negativity in others and having it directed at himself will truly save the world and lead it to lasting peace? Just like Madara and Kaguya, Sasuke fails to see the overarching effects his actions will have on the individual and the world they will perceive themselves living in.

Naruto Chapter 665 – The Path Obito Has Chosen

Yeah you tell him Obito! Finally you snapped out from your despairing self!

I was hoping this would happen, finally Obito has come to terms with himself as well as what he has done and has seriously evaluated it all against what he really wants. I never really got the ‘fake Madara’ development and why Obito wanted to be Madara so badly, I guess it was because of desperation (to create a world in which Rin is alive), Obito’s desire to want to ‘save the world’ and Obito’s perception that he was giving his life in order to aid a comrade. Well all that doesn’t really matter now, Obito has chosen to kick all that to the curb and abandon the “Madara” name he had hidden behind for so many years, Obito has finally chosen to embrace who he is and continue walking a new path which he has just discovered as Uchiha Obito, the man who wanted to be called Hokage.

Naruto Chapter 651 – These Are My Bonds

The bonds shared between friends

The artwork this chapter was spectacular, beyond the usual goodness we are to treated to. Seeing Naruto and Sasuke merge chakra and engage Obito as a united unit rather than two separate individual’s was just awesome. Having the rest of the Konoha crew join in to help create an opening for Naruto and Sasuke added to the grand nature of the counterattack and seeing it pulled off with the collective feelings of the characters drove home one of the most relevant themes in Naruto. I admit it was cheesy, but the situation called for it and this is exactly what Naruto is about; bonds and overcoming adversity TOGETHER. The images flashing through Obito’s mind as he crossed blades and chakra with Naruto was a surprise, but it was fitting, it represented exactly what the differences between Obito and Naruto are. Obito poisoned by Madara’s influence and hatred deviated from the path he would have normally gone down – turning to his friends for help.

Naruto Chapter 629-637 – When The End Comes Knocking

Team 7 reunited! – colour by i-azu

One man’s desperation exasperated by intense turmoil can sure turn into something quite frightening, especially when equipped with a world destroying and creating being. This despair and fear afflicting Tobi is something much more deeply rooted then I thought, especially with him going so far as to break free from Madara’s control to become the Juubi Jinchuuriki. Has Tobi really given up hope or is he just waiting for someone to save him from the spiraling drop of loneliness?

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Naruto Chapter 618-628 – Curses And Dreams

Two shinobi torn between friendship and the paths of their dreams – colour by Tremblax (http://tremblax.deviantart.com)

So we finally get to see a flashback of Senju Hashirama and Uchiha Madara and find out just how those two are connected and how they ended up on such opposite ends of “peace“.

War wrought suffering, suffering led to pain and pain opened up the wounds to dreams desperately wished to become reality. The story of Hashirama and Madara was a much more unfortunate one than I expected.

Naruto Chapter 544-545 – His Saviors

The Suns that power him, the people who saved him, the parents which love him...

Great chapters, especially chapter 544 – Naruto reveals the weight behind his resolve and determination and expresses just how much belief he has in himself thanks to his father and mother. You can tell Naruto has attained a harmonious balance in himself since meeting his father and mother (for the first time). Now that he understands how much love was surrounding him and how much faith they have put in him, he has begun to see and accept the role he must play. The role of savior, the role handed to him by the previous savior who left everything to Naruto. It’s heartwarming to see the overwhelming and overflowing love present between Naruto and his parents. They left him on a path filled with pain and suffering, but Naruto doesn’t blame them and isn’t angry at them, instead he understands their decision and realises the sacrifice they made for him. The love they have for him and the faith they put in him, that is all Naruto can see. Two Suns, Suns that shine on him and power him to go to any length to protect the things precious to him. A relationship so radiant, it’s moving…

Naruto Chapter 542-543 – The Strongest Tag-Team

"Through these fists, we understand each other, and that's what makes us "brothers"!!"

Glad I decided to wait last week and read both of these chapters together this week, because they were both really good, especially when read together. The story of A and B was pretty awesome, interesting to see how different A was before he became Raikage. A took to heart the words Killer B’s cousin told him and gave B that “something” to fill the hole in his heart which the 8-Tails would have exploited. A back than really did act like a big brother to Killer B and gave B that support which Jinchuuriki desperately need to keep on living as themselves.