Naruto Chapter 697 – The Fated Battle: Sasuke

Farewell my one and only friend – colour by HikariNoGiri

I am going to be honest here, but I seriously can’t come to like this battle, be it because it is a battle between friends or just because it feels so dam forced or both, I really am not enjoying it. I would have enjoyed it much more if the final antagonist of the series was the Shinju and the Naruto and Sasuke conflict was settled much earlier. The Naruto and Sasuke battle may have been fated, but relative to the weight the Shinju fight held, this battle feels so weak and forgettable. It doesn’t feel like it connects with the rest of the story, I just can’t help but feel that it is only included in the story because Kishimoto-sensei forced it in rather than it arising naturally through the flow of the story.

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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 684 – The Core Dimension

What is this “plan”? Tell me please!

Despite the immense power and ability Kaguya embodies, she was still outplayed by the randomness of Naruto and the sheer audacity his character and actions convey. Not once through the story of Naruto has a villain ever been able to read Naruto and understand exactly what he thinks. Because Naruto goes against the flow of the world so expressively, only until they look in the same direction as Naruto are they able to understand him and once they understand him they realise they have no reason to fight him. Black Zetsu and Kaguya are beginning to understand just how dangerous Naruto is given his unique and gutsy personality.

Naruto Chapter 663 – Sakura And Karin

I believe in your medical skills, Sakura! Do it! Save Naruto! – colour by pollo1567

By far, Sakura and Karin were the stars of this chapter and their actions in trying to save the ones they care for are what made this chapter so awesome for me. Sakura finally getting the opportunity to perform the medical ninjutsu she is so adept in and Karin finally getting the opportunity to unleash her Uzumaki power, for those two reasons and seeing them so determined, I absolutely love this chapter. Madara may have absorbed the Bijuu he captured and transformed in the “Rikudou Sennin”, but I really didn’t care much for that, it just signaled the beginning of his defeat now that he has attained that form. I’m more interested in seeing Naruto and Sasuke being saved.

Naruto Chapter 660 – Heart and Acceptance

The concealed heart of others…

The hand that gives and the hand that receives, “heart” and “acceptance”, what an amazing chapter filled with symbolic meaning and themes. Excellent chapter for Naruto to end 2013 on.

I was not expecting the Shukaku and Gaara to be further fleshed out, so seeing them still develop in such a significant way, I was surprised and excited. That Suna Priest, who exactly is he and why do I get the feeling that he is connected to the Rikudou Sennin in a big way? His wisdom, those tears, and the inscriptions on his hand written by his master, the mystery surrounding his character makes me want to believe that he was Senju shinobi and knew Hagoromo Outsutsuki in some way. Having the story of the Suna Priest also link back to Gaara was amazing, I didn’t expect Gaara to continue being a relevant character this fight with Madara being so powerful, but a new door has opened in the story of the Jinchuuriki with the revelation of this Suna Priest.

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 647 – “I Won’t Let It All Go To Waste!!”

He decided to move Forward – colour by i-azu

Reflecting and anguishing over moments in a life that uncontrollably replays itself over  and over within the mind, feelings of regret and sorrow reactionary begin to explode within the confines of the heart leaving behind scars that linger on emotionally. Those moments that cause us to lose spirit are the very moments that help support the courage we build up to tackle future moments. Naruto quite significantly expresses in this chapter how those moments in his life and all that he has endured have paved the path to the decision he has chosen to make. It was beautiful. I teared up and cried at the amazing journey Naruto has had up to this point and at the inspiring guts and determination he held continuously throughout those moments.

Naruto Chapter 645 – Unification

Naruto’s Sage Bijuu Mode – colour by i-azu

Amazing chapter once again. This time we get to see the silly sides of Naruto and Kurama interacting with one another as they both begin to open their stubborn hearts up to each other. This is probably a first for Kurama, having someone interact with him in a manner devoid of any resentment, fear and negativity and I guess this is the exact reason why Kurama opened up to Naruto and why he was able to get over his angry self burdened by centuries of ill-will of negativity.

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Some content on this page was disabled on September 7, 2021 as a result of a DMCA takedown notice from VIZ Media LLC. You can learn more about the DMCA here:

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Naruto Chapter 643 – The Hero Uzumaki Naruto

The Most Powerful Duo – by EspadaZero

I love it, I love it intensely; the way the scene is set-up for Naruto to epically rebut Obito’s war-ending attacks, ah it sends shivers of excitement and happiness down my spine and across my body =D. It’s obvious I’m biased towards Naruto but I just find his character so incredibly inspirational and once again in this chapter he has affirmed why I admire his character so much. That belief in himself and his ability to stop negativity from growing to a point of inducing hesitation and doubt, it’s incredible how much control over his being he has at such a young age.

Naruto Chapter 642 – The Power Of Senjutsu

You just got owned Obito, badly – colour by belucEN

Another great chapter of Naruto, even with Obito negating the attack from the previous chapter and revealing that he is utilising dark and light jutsu to nullify any and all ninjutsu, including the Edo Tensei jutsu, Naruto still managed to knock this poor excuse of an antagonist down a few notches with his perfected Rasengan that he can now perform without the aid of a Kage Bunshin or Bijuu Mode hands. Naruto quite frankly rocked this chapter, he is such a badass. Love it!