3406 replies to this topic

[James S Cassidy]

To be fair, writing-wise, I think Naruto's reaction to Neji's death was valid. Yes, he fought Pain and felt despair then when he learnt so many people, even Kakashi had died. He also had to cope when Jiraiya died.

But, like for soldiers, it is NOTHING like watching and SEEING your friend bleeding to death and dying in your arms, as what happened with Neji and Naruto. Especially since Naruto had just earlier declared he wouldn't let anyone die, BELIEVED he could prevent anyone from dying. In earlier occasions, even when Pain stabbed Hinata, he didn't see the actual act. He didn't see Kakashi die in the Pain invasion. He didn't see Jiraiya die. He knows that he had no power to do anything when Minato and Kushina died for him. With Neji, it's different. Neji was RIGHT there with him, he probably was beating himself up for not being able to do something.

So IMO to talk about Naruto for a change, aside from all this pairing thing , I think it was a perfectly normal for Naruto to freeze up in shock, because he hasn't seen a friend die like this before, really.

Fair enough.

You know though, his reaction to being in shock is not what felt out of place, but the fact that he was willing to give up until Hinata slapped him. That felt really weird to me. It felt forced for him to just lose hope so easily like that. I would think he would be more pissed than depressed seeing how previous time he let his anger take control rather than give in to hopelessness.

I will say this, it would have been much better if he lost hope after Sasuke dies and Sakura snapped it out of him. Not just pairing wise, but emotional-wise. I just felt that a moment like this was wasted on this scene. It would have created much more drama if he lost hope over Sasuke dying.

Sasuke is closer to Naruto than Neji ever could be.

[Nefertieh]

I'm sure everybody is feeling the same here, lets not fight.

Any predictions for the next chapter?

[lord287]

There was nothing much in the manga except for NH panel time and I now am having full faith in kishi that he is going to sunk my most awaited pairing and make NH and SS canon in the end. Their is no thought I am having of how Ns can become canonin the end now. Just like in chapter 572 or 573 i think, Hinata said she is going to be holding hands with Naruto(already a hint for NH) and sakura said all of them were going to be together(anti-NS) and this is what exactly both of them are doing. Hinata is hokding Naruto's hand with Narutogladly accepting Hianata and sakura is ewith everyone else except for Naruto.

Believe it guys, NS is dead and if not completely than atleast 99% and NH and SS since gets powered up side by side both of them have gotten into better position than NS, with NH having the best probabiltity!

[neoshadow]

You know this is really just be me being biased but I'm wondering if Naruto even realizes the romantic implications. I definitely think Hinata and the audience are meant to perceive the cheek holding and hand holding as romantic because lets face it they are but Kishi has a habit of bringing up Naruto's stupidity in important moments, I could very easily see Kiba teasing him after all this is over about his interactions with Hinata and Naruto just responds with "huh?..."
Naruto's never been the sharpest tool in the shed and there is still no proof that he even thinks of Hinata in a romantic light even after her confession. But on the other hand he could be implying in this chapter that he would one day be willing to think of her romantically after he saves Sasuke and then confesses to Sakura (because that's the order he said he'd do it in) and she rejects him.

[Qia]

Is it weird that I don't feel threatened by any of this...at all? Maybe at first I was, but then I read over the chapter and I was like "meh". . That's probably weird right?

[Nefertieh]

So it's all going to lead to sasusaku and naruhina btw.
And more for some reason kishi give up on Sakura after watching this chapter i could see a hinata boosting naruto's confidence and protecting him, it closes the war arc as Hinata being the main heroine, i knew something was coming after i re-read some chapters.

Not sure why Sasuke is even mentioned.

[xxRomanceGirlxx]

No, Kishimoto wasn't surprised at all. It was him who brought up Hinata in response to the question about Sakura not being heroine enough. He didn't say Sakura was the heroine, he said, "because you say 'Hinata, Hinata,' I say 'she's not Hinata.'"

In a related note, I think we need to stop speculating that some editor is 'pulling the strings,' so to speak.

But he did say he was gonna make Sakura more heroine-like. If that was the case, Hinata would not shine so much to the point of heroine right now. So either Kishimoto is failing terribly at showing Sakura more heroic or he was talking bullsh*t.

[CloudMountainJuror]

But he did say he was gonna make Sakura more heroine-like. If that was the case, Hinata would not shine so much to the point of heroine right now. So either Kishimoto is failing terribly at showing Sakura more heroic or he was talking bullsh*t.

Or he lost his mind.

[rocci]

Not sure why Sasuke is even mentioned.

to make everybody happy when sasuke redeem he will acknowledge sakura love and ss magically happen like a chlice bad shoujo genre

[Nefertieh]

But he did say he was gonna make Sakura more heroine-like. If that was the case, Hinata would not shine so much to the point of heroine right now. So either Kishimoto is failing terribly at showing Sakura more heroic or he was talking bullsh*t.

True -- I was just saying he was never surprised Hinata was more popular.

As for why he hasn't kept his promise, there was a transcript on a Japanese blog where he said he forgot about her. I don't think he's even putting any effort into his excuses anymore.

[Sakamaki Izayoi]

Well Naruto did not take the whole holding hands as something romantic but my concern was hinata acted way more heroish than sakura and pratically hinata until this chapter she took the "main-heroine" title.

[kirabook]

I was actually pretty pleased with Hinata's general behavior in this chapter. At last, she does something useful instead of jumping into sure death. I was hoping to god she wouldn't sit there crying until Naruto had to cheer her up yet again, and I'm glad she didn't. I was disappointed that Hinata was able to give him a quick pep talk and he snaps out of his shock just like that. I suppose on the battlefield you do have to put that kind of stuff behind and move forward to complete your mission, and I guess that's what I should expect from a ninja, but I don't know, I was hoping for a bit more angst before coming to his own conclusion.

He was actually about to agree with Obito there! I was shocked about that the most actually. Naruto is supposed to be both talk and bite, but apparently up until this point, he was just talk? Urg, I think Kishi severely weakened Naruto's character with that, especially if he needed Hinata, the one who previously did nothing but take had to give Naruto the encouragement.

The NH stuff in this chapter, again, is not what upsets me. It's the fact that Kishi does know how to write a proper heroine. But you know who looks like a main character heroine in this chapter? Not Sakura, a key part of team 7, one of Naruto's important people, Naruto's love interest who has been there all this time. No, not her at all, it's Hinata, a side character. I understand that this is indeed her development, but if after this chapter Kishi continues to give her screen time and hardly any of the other rookies, then I just don't know what to say.

NEJI JUST DIED! I don't even recall seeing Ten Ten's reaction! Gai and Lee looked on as if it was just any other random person who died to me. I was expecting a lot more reactions, or at least Neji's team coming closer, but already he's being spoken about as if he died years ago.

Lastly, as for the hand holding, for Hinata, that was definitely romantic for her, though I am surprised she didn't blush (How can she feel safe from holding his hand when she can't even trust him to defend himself though?). Her speech wasn't really romantic at all and I'm glad instead of focusing on her relationship with Naruto, she spoke about everyone that cared for him. I hoped she would speak more of Neji or something, but again, it's like he's already been dead for a few years or something. :/

From Naruto's perspective, I don't think it was a romantic gesture. I don't know, I don't think this is NS bias talking, but when I look back at how he's behaved in the past with friends and even his enemies, it seems platonic. For some reason when I saw him holding her hand, I had a mental flashback to when he was holding Sasuke's. I feel that he held her hand, firstly, because it was on his face, to give her chakra, and for reassurance.

Edited by kirabook, 27 December 2012 - 08:48 AM.

[neoshadow]

So if the entire war arc was just an excuse to transfer the heroine title from Sakura to Hinata then what the hell was the point of Road to Ninja, a movie that features Sakura as a main character, was written, designed and developed with Kishi's direct involvement, and a movie that featured Hinata heavily in the pre-release footage only to feature her for 2 scenes then have her disappear for the remainder of the film's length.

I don't think it was to give Sakura one last hurrah.

@kirabook Tenten is in the back of the Gai and Lee panel, it took me a while to notice her. Poor Tenten.

Edited by neoshadow, 27 December 2012 - 08:49 AM.

[fireandice]

So it's all going to lead to sasusaku and naruhina btw.

Eh guys, I can see why this chapter is a win for NaruHina but let's not get too depressed at the thought of SasuSaku happening. L

I don't even see how SasuSaku is possible unless the next 50 chapters have ALOT development.

Has SASUKE even shown to be thinking about Sakura as of late? Other than trying to KILL her with that crazed expression, where Naruto saved her? He hasn't even been THINKING about her. Only Itachi -__- They haven't interacted with any hint of less-than-homicidal intent. I mean, if we were still in Part I, the times when Sakura hugged Sasuke and snapped him out of cursed seal and when he knocked her out on the bench with that bizarre "Thank you" might count. BUT, for the most part of Part 2, we have seen Sasuke not even bother about Sakura, except trying to kill her thus far. If there's anyone he's thought of more, it's Naruto.

"But Sakura still loves Sasuke!"

IMO she's confusing her 12-year old self's crush and attachment for love- just like Ino was when she started crying when they found out Sasuke would be declared a wanted missing-nin. BUT, even in that scene Sakura treats the ninja in the tent who tells her the guy she loves must be a really good guy, when she thought of Sasuke she looked pretty unhappy. There was no "that's right, I'll try to redeem him, I don't think he's beyond hope." She just looked upset. And this was even after that chapter when Naruto did rekindle some hope in her that Team Seven could possibly be together again. That seemed to me more like an obituary for SasuSaku.

Edited by fireandice, 27 December 2012 - 08:51 AM.

[Nefertieh]

to make everybody happy when sasuke redeem he will acknowledge sakura love and ss magically happen like a chlice bad shoujo genre

Sasuke's redemption =/= suddenly having feelings to a girl that he can't relate to.

[xxRomanceGirlxx]

Or he lost his mind.

Equally as likely. Kishimoto is really pissing me off with all his NH hints and "Hinata is the heroine, not Sakura!" undertones. I have not been this angry and wondering what the hell Kishi is smoking in a long, long time ....

I wanna to have faith in Kishimoto but with this chapter, it really makes it hard.


@Nefertieh: All the more reason why I'm furious with Kishimoto right now. Sure, forget about your heroine. That's awesome. While your at it, make the shy girl the heroine/love interest as well. That's perfect. /sarcasm

[rocci]

Well Naruto did not take the whole holding hands as something romantic but my concern was hinata acted way more heroish than sakura and pratically hinata until this chapter she took the "main-heroine" title.

i think the treatment almost same with naruo when sasuke arc begin, to the point when people doubt naruto status "main character".

this is kishi way to highlight a character neither side line sakura, make naruto dumb so the other character can shine.

yes this is indeed nh moment and naruto the one who hold her hand.

i don't know but i think sakura will play role in this arc. after hinata done

[Sakamaki Izayoi]

i think the treatment almost same with naruo when sasuke arc begin, to the point when people doubt naruto status "main character".

this is kishi way to highlight a character neither side line sakura, make naruto dumb so the other character can shine.

yes this is indeed nh moment and naruto the one who hold her hand.

i don't know but i think sakura will play role in this arc. after hinata done

If was not not romantic of naruto's part is still a nh moment what i'm saying is hinata taking the main heroine spot theorically from "Sakura".

For me there's two ways, or he will continue like that or he will troll everyone at the end of this arc.

Edited by Dαrkrєrsŧ, 27 December 2012 - 08:57 AM.

[chouzu_tao]

Bolded: I think, to be honest, Kishi's editor may have forced his hand to make NH canon.

I believe this to be true as well. Why else has a secondary character, who barely did anything outside of playing a role in comic-relief in the first series, been force-fed to us since the Pain-arc. There was absolutely no character growth that suggested she should/would get time for her feelings in Shippuden. Unless Kishi had been dead set on SasuSaku from day one, and panicked at all the NS questions and decided to make his move to block us all. Whether any of this is true or not, that doesn't change the fact that I still believe Sakura's a better romantic interest for Naruto and Naruto is a better person for Sakura. I understand NH, it's appeal and now it's theoretical proof, and to a certain degree SasuSaku, but NS is my favorite and is my WIN. But honestly this all seems like a bit too much Hinata for it to just be simply for her character's own good. She wasn't given enough in the first half to justify us needing to see things happen for her own good.

If N/S is actually the end pairing however, when he's just released this chapter, then I think Kishi shall truly deserve the title of Troll Grand Master.

And a good boop on the noggin.

As for Sakura's wide-eyed reaction, it is placed too late in the chapter for it to simply be a reaction to Hinata's slap. But honestly I have no guess as to what it's about. It makes no sense in relation to the context of what Hinata's saying. It's weird, because it's an expression that looks like Hinata just said the worse thing ever to Naruto, so that confuses me further. I don't think it's jealousy, as some have said, because it's too horrified of an expression to be within character and not have a thought bubble tied to it.

On a positive note: I love the new Kyubi. He's so ornery. "Stop blabbering or I'll beat you up and eat you for real."

But Neiji...

I wonder if the Jyubi will be injured and they'll have to retreat. Maybe this quasi-victory will give Naruto time to think on Obito's words more and Hinata's affections.

[rocci]

If was not not romantic of naruto's part is still a nh moment what i'm saying is hinata taking the main heroine spot from "Sakura".

yeah at this point i don't know how sakura can fit in this arc. the way i see it she will be the key to tnj obito(perhaps her similiarity with rin will come to play).

poor sakura just because she is a natural GENJUTSU user doesn't mean she need to put in the sideline