Recent Naruto Manga (Chapters 400+)

[Lady Arianrod]

I really disliked this chapter. Not to say that it was bad, but people who are insane in the manner Itachi is really get on my nerves. Frankly, I had hoped for better with him, but it works. By the end of all this, however, I am very much waiting for the battle between Naruto and Sasuke...

And the (theoretical) battle between Sasuke and Itachi. While I like Sasuke, the fact that he's a bit of a brat has been obnoxious. But between him and Itachi I'd go for Sasuke any day.

I can't wait for that fight either.

Anyway, onto the chapter--- I don't necessarily like Itachi, but I find that this storyline is making him far more interesting than the stone-faced villain that he once was. And, while I don't sympathize with him at all, I do find that a little look into his past/personal life does give him another dimension as a person. He isn't just the bringer of evil... He once suffered as well.

Ok, I'll admit it. I didn't read the chapter too deeply, but after the first viewing, I did feel a slight spark of remorse for the older Uchiha brother when they blamed the guy's death on him.

Maybe I'm trying to find the good in this endless string of uchiha flashbacks while I impatiently wait for Sasuke's decision.

I don't like Sasuke at all anymore... he hogs the spotlight and character development. It's nice to see the background of someone else like Itachi rather than constant Sasuke-angst....

But I too would root for Sasuke in the final Uchiha battle, I suppose. Itachi is evil, after all.

[Mave]

dang, why can't I find this new chapter? *waits impatiently*

Anyway, I finally watched that anime episode where Sasuke encounters Itachi (and where Sasuke gets mentally tortured). Gah, that scene pls the recent manga chapters has made me reconsider my opinions of Sasuke.

I'll comment again once I read Chap 222.

[Psycho Ann]

Mave, where do you get your chapters? I remember you're going to Thienz's page as well...

About them blaming Itachi for the murder... I can't really blame the other Uchiha's as well. It seems Itachi been acting weirdly for some time now and they're naturally protective of the clan's safety (if they only knew...).

I think everyone's rooting for Sasuke, though I'm doubtful he'll actually exact the revenge. A bit too predictable IMHO...

[uc pseudonym]

But has Naruto ever been unpredictable? Particularly in regard to shonen-styled dreams? Though personally I would like to see the final battle with Itachi involve Sasuke getting over his obsession to the point of forgoing killing his brother for the sake of doing something more important.

Regarding chapter locations: The organization known as Inane is generally swift and accurate in their translations. I haven't seen too many others, but I like their work.

I will begin to consider giving Itachi remorse when I'm more certain he didn't kill Shisui.

[Sephiroth]

In mangas 221 & 222 i liked getting more background on the Uchiha clan in general, and Sasuke, Itachi and their father in particular, its pretty cool, and of course more cliffhangers, i seem to have a disliking for some of the other Uchiha members already, they seem really arrogant, and i like how were getting to see more of how itachi got the way he did, though it does seem like there stretching a bit with the mangas, maybe there wanting the anime to catch up with the mangas.

[Mave]

Yeah Ann, I do get the scans off from Thienz's page. OK, my thoughts on Chap 222.

It seems like the Uchiha clan downfall was due to pride and hatred. Everyone is so cold and hostile to each other. Makes me almost glad that the whole clan got eliminated. >_<;;;;; Sorry, no offense intended. Everyone's just so nasty. I suppose Itachi couldn't stand being limited by the "prison" the clan tried to form over him. Which is what Sasuke is doing right now apparently, leaving the Leaf clan so that he can be stronger. They're brothers indeed.

I like the way the story is going so far, predictable or not. I can't help feeling bad for Itachi and Sasuke now that I understand their background. Bleh, I'd hate to grow up in such an environment.

[Lady Arianrod]

Good point, mave. Now I do feel a bit more remorse for Sasuke (and perhaps Itachi) after these chapters. It must have been very hard for them to grow up in a home that stressed power and fighting over any sort of emotional relationship. This alienation makes the characters of Sasuke and Itachi a bit more realistic... Even if I don't always like the "cold, dark" characters in anime, this backstory helped me understand/like the Uchiha brothers more.

[Psycho Ann]

223.... *pulls hair in frustration* Okay. There's no way around it. THAT is a filler chapter...

Though one interesting question arises: indeed, what's up with Itachi's Sharigan? Don't tell me there's another 'level' beyond the 3 koma Sharigan....

But still... the last 3 pages could be nothing but a recap. Argh. Even if Itachi is drool-worthy and chibi-Sasuke is huggable, Kishimoto-san is really, really, dragging this...

[uc pseudonym]

And there has to be at least one more flashback issue... if I were the betting type I would put my money on two more. Frankly, I have little to say, because it is simply starting to get old. At least Sasuke's father wasn't being a complete jerk.

Would you explain about the sharingan, however, Ann? As far as I knew there weren't really levels... just incomplete, complete and bloodline (ie, what Itachi has).

[Lady Arianrod]

223? Bah. Filler. Naruto is a high-quality manga, but for some reason, I'm losing interest in it (and the anime as well). Maybe it's the current arc, maybe it's the all-too-familiar plot elements that are weaved throughout the story, or maybe it's just Sasuke. Or it could be because I've found another anime to indulge my free time in--- One Piece

[Psycho Ann]

Maybe 'levels' isn't a suitable word. Like Sasuke only has two 'koma' (thinking back, are they called koma? I mght have to check back this since I'm going by memory) in his Sharigan, signaling he hasn't developed them fully. The full ones we see in Kakashi, Itachi, and the rest of the Uchiha clan all have 3 koma. Who knows, maybe Itachi found a new 'level' or was a freak, or something else that made his Sharigan go all creepy. Personally, my guess was that he found a new level to his Sharigan being such a insane genius and all. We'll have to see.

Hehe, I was into OP before Naruto, I still follow the manga now (chapter 360+) but I lost much of my interest since things were getting too weird and at a point it seems Eiichiro-san was going nowhere. Recent chapters are getting interesting again though. And so, I end my OOT.

[MasterDias]

I was glad that Sasuke finally seemed to get respect from his father, but Kishimoto really needs to hurry it up.

I just hope that the Naruto/Sasuke battle or whatever doesn't take twenty chapters to finish. I want to see what happens with the other characters.

[uc pseudonym]

Agreed.

Meanwhile, I understand what Ann means now. I would call Sasuke's two koma version (and notice the first time he uses it he has fewer, and uneven numbers) merely an underdeveloped version. But Itachi probably has fond something new...

Off topic: I like One Piece fairly well. But I've only read what Shonen Jump has, so I can't see how the series extends over time.

[Roland-shin]

I think the hole Sasuke/Uchiha flashback in the last chapters is pretty good but...
c'mon guys we are dying to see the Naruto vs Sasuke battle!!!
still having my doubts though whether the battle will finish properly...
i have this feeling that it will be interupted somehow in the middle...

[Lady Arianrod]

I don't think the fight will finish properly either... I hope it's not too anticlimatic though...

[uc pseudonym]

Actually, after all of this, I could go for an anti-climactic ending. That feeling is difficult to describe, but it fits my position. Unless the Sasuke vs Naruto battle takes as long as the Zabuza fight, it can't be climactic any more. Too little, too late. Personally, I hope it's a good fight that doesn't go that long.

Though I could really go for a reason for these flashbacks...

[Roland-shin]

Though I could really go for a reason for these flashbacks...

I think that the flashbacks help us understand how the relationship between Sasuke and his brother developed, thus giving us the opportunity to understand Sasuke's phsycology towards his brother.

In the end Sasuke is going to Orochimaru to obtain power, he wants this power to defeat his bro, it is good to know and understand why Sasuke hates his bro so much...

At least that is how I justify this flashback.

To be honest I wouldnt like Naruto so much if it werent for these flashbacks
(and I am not refering to this recent flashback only).
Of course the flashbacks could have less length but what can you do about it...

[Psycho Ann]

I personally would like the flashbacks better if they weren't inserted right between the pending climatic battle between two main characters that fans have been anticipating since the first page of the whole series that is potentially the mother of all turning points.

For me, it's all about WHERE Kishimoto inserted the flashback, not why he did them or what they are about...

[Roland-shin]

I think that this is the ideal point to insert the flashback exactly before the battle...
The flashbacks should be inserted in these points because the reader will read them for sure since he is waiting for sth big to happen later on.

The flashback in this point completely fills the reader with agony and this is sth which makes the plot really interesting.

I agree with Kishimoto completely concerning the content and the position of the flashbacks.

[Psycho Ann]

"Fills the reader with agony"... if he was going for that, he sure nailed it XD XD

[Roland-shin]

Anyway the only thing that I dont like concerning the flashbacks is their length.
Kishimoto shouldnt strech the flashbacks so much, a 4 chp flashback that still hasnt finished is too farfecthed...

[uc pseudonym]

I think that the flashbacks help us understand how the relationship between Sasuke and his brother developed, thus giving us the opportunity to understand Sasuke's phsycology towards his brother.

Actually, I meant my statement in quite a different sense. Previous flashbacks have taken place when a character is remembering a specific event that applies to the situation. This flashback stands on its own; there is no indication or reason for Sasuke to be remembering it.

[Roland-shin]

Yeah I see your point this flashback is kind of out of the blue but it still has a good reason for being there...

[glitch1501]

the flashback is out of no where, but its very interesting

[uc pseudonym]

It has a reason, yes, just a meta-manga one. It exists solely for the reader, not in the story. Not that I really mind it, though I do mind its length, much as yourself.

Do you know what I would have found interesting? If this flashback had been strewn through the (presmably lengthy) battle between Naruto and Sasuke. It would not have felt so much like filler, yet it would have lent a quality tone to the battle.

[Psycho Ann]

Yes, probably if it was inserted in breaks between the battle it would come off more dramatic. Though, when it is in tankubon form, the flashback might not seem so long. It's just that we have to wait a week or so between chapters that make the wait so painful.

Off topic for a moment... I was going through my May 2004 Shonen Jump 'researching' different assistant styles in drawing extras (very rarely does a mangaka draw extras or even complicated background themselves) and paid more attention on the extras in Naruto since they got some awesome extra designs and details. Well, on page 253 of Shonen Jump just after we realize Sasuke's alive I was going through the extras in the first top panel and noticed something I missed.

To the left of the foreground guy is... Juurokugou. Or as many known him as: Android #16 of DBZ.

HAH!!! XD I don't recognize any others (though those chinese chars are reminiscent of HK Kung Fu comics) but the big guy right under the "!!" in the second to last panel on the same page looks suspiciously like Kenshiro from Hokuto no Ken or Fist of the North Star... but I think I was just being hopeful.

Okay sorry for that off-topic thing... I just wanted to get it out of my system... >_<

[blkmage]

224. I think the last page sums it up pretty well.

[Psycho Ann]

224... at least the last part is worth the wait since we kinda get to know why Itachi did what he did. And my questions on Itachi's Sharigan are answered. And I'm personally wondering about the "there is no Naruto since the author is collecting data". Huh?? I'll read it more in depth later.

[Fireproof]

I have a little question. Do you have to own the original media so you can download the tranlations, or can you jsut read the translations online as much as you want? I read two chapters online a minute ago, but since they'll be in Shonen Jump this month there's not much harm done, but what about reading further ahead? Is it okay?

[Roland-shin]

concerning 224... I got nothing to say...
I am just glad the flashback finished... we will get to see the battle at last!