3406 replies to this topic

[VTamer Taichi]

I read the whole series after liking the first movie, but I was disappointed and confused to see Harry and Ginny hooked up, despite them not interacting with each other.

"Get over it."

That was my main reaction to this chapter, "Oh, Hinata and Naruto held hands? Okay." Over it after clicking the next page.

*claps hands* Best thing I read all day on this thread and I'm a HHr fan also. Too bad I had no reaction but laughter when I read this chapter though.

I thought to myself, "About time Hinata did something useful for a change. Now how will pairing fans take this. Time to go to NF!"

Edited by VTamer Taichi, 03 January 2013 - 04:23 AM.

[Zatheko]

Lol, I also have some canon pairings, EdxWinry is the biggest. InuyashaxKagome, too.

I love those two pairings as well, another canon pairing im absolutely in love with is RentonxEureka form Eureka Seven (Dunno if any of you have seen it but its one of my favorites)

Sakura, stereotypical Tsundere love interest, doomed to remain as such or as an annoying fan-girl type character. Instead, she grew out of that, to the point that I don't even consider her tsundere. She's become wise, caring, understanding, and she doesn't even hit Naruto all that much!

True, she has kinda grew out of the tsundere category a bit, and yeah she is a lot more caring and everything.

[shadow_Uzumaki]

*claps hands* Best thing I read all day on this thread and I'm a HHr fan also. Too bad I had no reaction but laughter when I read this chapter though.

I thought to myself, "About time Hinata did something useful for a change. Now how will pairing fans take this. Time to go to NF!"

Lol, first step to "Get over it" Therapy regarding fictional stories?

Repeat, "It's just fiction, it's just fiction," whenever you get riled up.

[Derock]

Lol, I also have some canon pairings, EdxWinry is the biggest. InuyashaxKagome, too.


Anyway, the first thing that attracted me to Naruto was that Kishi did manage to write a shonen-type manga that doesn't exactly conform to the Shonen-type characters.

Naruto, the stereotypical 'Idiot Hero' had a reason for being a stereotypical 'idiot hero,' he was being an idiot to hide the loneliness he felt. Naruto has more depth, than most. He was also smarter and VERY emphathic. He's even grown out to be a wiser teen, than the loud-mouthed brat he was. He kinda has more in common with Commander Shepard or Silly!Hawke, than his spiritual predecessor, Goku.

Sakura, stereotypical Tsundere love interest, doomed to remain as such or as an annoying fan-girl type character. Instead, she grew out of that, to the point that I don't even consider her tsundere. She's become wise, caring, understanding, and she doesn't even hit Naruto all that much!


Kishimoto really did tell a good story-line that promised great character development and made me want to cheer on Naruto to become Hokage, but I just think that Kishimoto's maybe over-reached a little. It may be better if he worked with a smaller world, slowly expanding it, instead of "Okay, here's several countries' worth of people and I'd like you to meet them all at the same time!"

Heck, he could've probably even kept Obito's major plot mostly secretive, with Naruto fighting and encountering him in small skirmishes, like a hero uncovering a secret plot in bits and pieces, instead he did, "OKAY, BIG WAR SEQUENCE!" That would've been a lot more engaging, especially with how he always ends with cliffhangers.

Last sentence on 4th paragraph: Agreed. Hell, as I said before when we were introduced to all of the characters in the Kage Summit arc, he should had introduced majority of them during the Chuunin Exam arc. It was the only downside from Part 1 because from there, he gave out information (I think from Hiruzen, if I'm not mistaken) about the other countries before the exam actually begun and could had introduce at least one or two 3-man cell teams from all of those countries. Instead, the arc was about the Sand (Sand Siblings), Sound (Orochimaru's "pets"), Grass Ninjas, and the rest of the Konoha ninjas, including Rookie 9 and Team Guy, which the ratio was about 70% of Konoha ninjas (major and foddler) and 30% other. Not only that, it could have balance the story flow better, Naruto could've met new people from various countries each arc, good and bad. It can also help introduce the other jinchuriki besides Gaara, Killer Bee and Yugito.

I don't know about the final paragraph, though. It will be a wild goose chase by meeting up with Tobi/Obito all the time, since he wasn't that much hinted as the big bad guy. Remember, we had thought Pain was going to be the final antagonist back then? Or at least Orochimaru.

[Don-kun]

*claps hands* Best thing I read all day on this thread and I'm a HHr fan also. Too bad I had no reaction but laughter when I read this chapter though.

I thought to myself, "About time Hinata did something useful for a change. Now how will pairing fans take this. Time to go to NF!"

@shadow_Uzumaki
I thought you were always on the losing side, that was the impression I got reading your post, about Anime not manga I seen a lot but I never before got cut up debating over pairing this is my first time, so I don't have much experiences in that area, I normally go by what other experts says about other stories and their formula. The only I find with NH is that the always try to twist series I watched like 40 times.


@VTamer Taichi
I really don't want to go to that place, that place is the living hell for NS fans, worst with the last event where people bash NS fans but they aren't banned by the Mods, for right know NS FC might be the only place I visit on NF.

[shadow_Uzumaki]

Last sentence on 4th paragraph: Agreed. Hell, as I said before when we were introduced to all of the characters in the Kage Summit arc, he should had introduced majority of them during the Chuunin Exam arc. It was the only downside from Part 1 because from there, he gave out information (I think from Hiruzen, if I'm not mistaken) about the other countries before the exam actually begun and could had introduce at least one or two 3-man cell teams from all of those countries. Instead, the arc was about the Sand (Sand Siblings), Sound (Orochimaru's "pets"), Grass Ninjas, and the rest of the Konoha ninjas, including Rookie 9 and Team Guy, which the ratio was about 70% of Konoha ninjas (major and foddler) and 30% other. Not only that, it could have balance the story flow better, Naruto could've met new people from various countries each arc, good and bad. It can also help introduce the other jinchuriki besides Gaara, Killer Bee and Yugito.

I don't know about the final paragraph, though. It will be a wild goose chase by meeting up with Tobi/Obito all the time, since he wasn't that much hinted as the big bad guy. Remember, we had thought Pain was going to be the final antagonist back then? Or at least Orochimaru.

Good point, but when we encountered Akatsuki for the first time, I thought it would be like some kind of secretive/spy-type stuff. The mysterious organization plotting some cruel plot, and the hero must uncover what it is before it's too late. Then he'd be encountering a member of Akatsuki in each country or something, gaining allies in the process. I should've said Akatsuki, instead of Tobi. XD

You know, ninja actually acting like ninja.

Then we could've spent time getting to know all of his new allies, heck, by the time this type of story is done, he'd have allies in every country to help him and developed interelationship skills needed when he becomes Hokage!

[Derock]

Good point, but when we encountered Akatsuki for the first time, I thought it would be like some kind of secretive/spy-type stuff. The mysterious organization plotting some cruel plot, and the hero must uncover what it is before it's too late. Then he'd be encountering a member of Akatsuki in each country or something, gaining allies in the process. I should've said Akatsuki, instead of Tobi. XD

You know, ninja actually acting like ninja.

Then we could've spent time getting to know all of his new allies, heck, by the time this type of story is done, he'd have allies in every country to help him and developed interelationship skills needed when he becomes Hokage!

You're right. It will be a much more awesome story. But instead, majority of the story was about Sasuke... Oh, and the story will be as long as One Piece.

[Chucky-kun]

Remember, we had thought Pain was going to be the final antagonist back then? Or at least Orochimaru.

And then suddenly, the comic relief turns into número uno.

[KnS]

inb4 sakura turns out to somehow be narutos sister

Funny, but during an interview someone asked JK Rowling if it might turn out that Voldemort was Harry's relative (uncle or something) and JKR said, "I'm laughing... that would be a bit Star Wars, wouldn't it?

I've a habit of liking non-canon pairings.

I have a lot of friends who are that way, but I'm the opposite. I only ship canon pairings, or at least what I perceive to be canon pairings. I assume I would stop shipping them if they were proved not to be canon, but that hasn't happened to me yet. We'll see if Kishimoto is the one to spoil my record.

I took offense to the fact that she called her fans (and by extension, me because I ship HHR), delusional. That's a bit insulting, calling us that because we didn't like the canon pairing.

I should be more precise. Emerson Spartz, founder of Mugglenet, prompted Rowling with the word delusional. Transcript behind the cut.

JKR Quote --Click here to view--

ES: Harry/Hermione shippers - they're delusional!
JKR: Well no, I'm not going to - Emerson, I am not going to say they're delusional! They are still valued members of my readership! I am not going to use the word delusional. I am however, going to say — now I am trusting both of you to do the spoiler thing when you write this up — I will say, that yes, I personally feel - well it's going to be clear once people have read book six. I mean, that’s it. It’s done, isn’t it? We know. Yes, we do now know that it's Ron and Hermione. I do feel that I have dropped heavy - hints. ANVIL-sized, actually, hints, prior to this point. I certainly think even if subtle clues hadn't been picked up by the end of “Azkaban,” that by the time we hit Krum in Goblet...

So JKR didn't actually use the word delusional herself, if that helps any.

Personally, even reading the books, the HG pairing wasn't foreshadowed at all. Harry and Ginny didn't interact in any meaningful way until either the 2nd, then the 5th or (the abysmally bad) 6th book. Ginny usually just cameo-d infrequently at best, aside from Chamber of Secrets.
Even my friend, who didn't mind the HG pairing, said that the 6th book seemed to have been written to justify the HG pairing.

I can only disagree, with both your charge that it lacked foreshadowing and that it was poorly executed. I interpreted it very differently; that Ginny was endgame for Harry, but that Rowling felt both needed other experiences first (Harry with Cho, Ginny with a string of boyfriends) besides the fact that Harry was too preoccupied with his role in saving his world to be focused on the girl he would marry. For what it's worth, Rowling confirmed all this in interviews.

So the lack of development, as so many call it, was intentional by Rowling. She set the relationship up and then purposely shelved it. I guess I can see why some people might not care for it, but it was always visible and planned. And since Ron/Hermione was so completely obvious, who was Harry going to end up with if not Ginny? Some hoped for Luna, but for me that was shudder-worthy.

I read Harry Potter before the movie, so I guess I didn't get the effect of the shipping stuff. It wasn't that much of a war to begin with anyway. But what's new to me is that the author actually made a comment about the pairing and fans. I didn't know that at all. Even Kishi is not that low, and he's the guy who manipulated answers to more questions.

First bold: Obviously you weren't part of the fandom. There were two major shipping battlefields -- H/Hr vs. R/Hr and R/S vs R/T. OMG. Even after all these years I'm still not sure all the flames have been put out. NS vs. NH doesn't have anything on those fandom wars.

Second bold: Actually, I think it's unfair to call Rowling "low" for making a clear comment. She was always extremely concerned about her fans, and worried about how seriously people were taking it all. She made an effort to gently set them straight, rather than letting them mislead themselves. I don't think that's low at all, personally.

Kishimoto, by contrast, seems to purposely fan the flames and intentionally create confusion. His approach comes across as very different than Rowling's was. She was as straightforward as she could be without spoiling the details for her readers.

Back on topic:

I asked a question (last night, I think) that quickly got ignored/buried. I wondered if anyone thinks there's any chance at all we'll switch back to the Kage scene now? If not, when does it seem likely?

[shadow_Uzumaki]

You're right. It will be a much more awesome story. But instead, majority of the story was about Sasuke... Oh, and the story will be as long as One Piece.

Oh my god, someone should totally use my idea as a fanfic! I'd write it myself, but I don't have the skills nor the patience, especially the lacking skills part!

@KnS: If It really was intentional, then I still think it worked to the detrimental of the pairing.

I never saw any signs that it'll lead to HarryxGinny, it always seemed like Ginny was that shy girl that squeaked and ran when she saw Harry, then it led to them as good friends to the same level as Neville and Luna. Them getting together at the 6th book came as a total surprise since Ginny randomly became so prominent when she hasn't received much focus before.

But whatever, I'm really, really tired of arguing the Harry Potter ships, shouldn't have brought it up the first place. Sorry

Last note about the Harry Potter ships, despite my 'Get over it' thing, that still really gets my attention and riles me up. A remnant of my old fanboy "I FEEL BETRAYED BY TEH AUTHOR!" attitude towards that otherwise, pretty awesome book series that I never really got over. That's why I take a moderate stance on a lot of things, nowadays, because it's a pretty childish attitude to have.

Edited by shadow_Uzumaki, 03 January 2013 - 05:01 AM.

[Codus N]

Last sentence on 4th paragraph: Agreed. Hell, as I said before when we were introduced to all of the characters in the Kage Summit arc, he should had introduced majority of them during the Chuunin Exam arc. It was the only downside from Part 1 because from there, he gave out information (I think from Hiruzen, if I'm not mistaken) about the other countries before the exam actually begun and could had introduce at least one or two 3-man cell teams from all of those countries. Instead, the arc was about the Sand (Sand Siblings), Sound (Orochimaru's "pets"), Grass Ninjas, and the rest of the Konoha ninjas, including Rookie 9 and Team Guy, which the ratio was about 70% of Konoha ninjas (major and foddler) and 30% other. Not only that, it could have balance the story flow better, Naruto could've met new people from various countries each arc, good and bad. It can also help introduce the other jinchuriki besides Gaara, Killer Bee and Yugito.

I don't know about the final paragraph, though. It will be a wild goose chase by meeting up with Tobi/Obito all the time, since he wasn't that much hinted as the big bad guy. Remember, we had thought Pain was going to be the final antagonist back then? Or at least Orochimaru.

I agree. Some of the characters in the Kage Summit arc could easily be right in Naruto's age group. We've got Chojuro, Karui, Omoi, C, and Kurotsuchi. If Kishi had introduced them earlier, it probably would've left a more lasting impact.

[RikutoShika]

I doubt most of you all would remember me, i have been MIA for a veeery long time. When i saw this chapter i rememberd this forum and came to see how you guys are holding up.... And im sad to say im embarresed of most of your shippers crumble
Yes things look ugly for us at the moment, but I still have hope, this manga is not F@&%-ing OVER.

[MangaReader]

I doubt most of you all would remember me, i have been MIA for a veeery long time. When i saw this chapter i rememberd this forum and came to see how you guys are holding up.... And im sad to say im embarresed of most of your shippers crumble
Yes things look ugly for us at the moment, but I still have hope, this manga is not F@&%-ing OVER.

You must have read only the first few pages XD People aren't really all that upset anymore, they pretty much came to terms about two-three days after the release. In fact, most see this more as a development chapter then a ship wrecker and pairing confirmer

[RikutoShika]

oatjsgzO ... >.> I was looking at the older replies and got pissed, thats y i replied earlier, i didnt notice u guys have calmed down

Edited by RikutoShika, 03 January 2013 - 05:28 AM.

[Canadian_DJ]

I want to say this because I feel I must. I want to say this because I want the integrity of NS to remain in a positive light. I am going to criticize some of you, but not here to put you down. Merely to try and talk some sense into some of you.

Note to the mod and admins: I'm sorry, but I need to say this. Something needs to be said.

First of all, I want to say that some of you are acting like children. I have been reading the comments and while jokes have been said, some of it is just plain childish. It's like a group of kindergarteners fighting over a toy. I was in a discussion with some of the older members of this forum and we are watching this entire thread turn into such garbage. By "older," I don't just mean in age, but in time here.

I have been reading the posts over and over and watching how people interact with each other. It is out of control. I have to say something. I want to say something because I am very close to leaving this forum myself until some of you start acting right. I don't mean everything has to be super serious, but some of you are taking things way too far and it is disgusting me to be apart of this website. I don't blame the mods because I know they are trying to keep things civil. I know how hard they are working, but each member has a responsibility too.

First of all, stop egging people on. Some of you are egging other members on and trying to manipulate people into losing their cool. That is called being a troll. It's not funny and the next person who tries I will report them. I will consider you starting trouble and I will report it.

Second, these matters of opinions are getting ridiculous. Yes, you have the privilege to voice your opinion whether in a positive or negative light, but some of you are playing this double standard card of criticizing people on the other side of the fence. EVERYONE has an opinion. EVERYONE has the PRIVILEGE to voice your opinion. It is not a right to have an opinion, it is a privilege. Which means you have responsibility to act right. To behave in a manner that reflects your ideas. If you want to be negative and feel this is the end, that's fine. You can think whatever you wish, but you have NO RIGHT to criticize those who wish to remain positive or want to keep a higher viewpoint. Likewise for the other side: You can remain positive and wish for something better, but as I said if the other people want to be negative let them. This is getting absolutely ridiculous watching people argue back and forth on this. Here is where some of you are saying "well, I am just voicing my opinion." I know you are, but you have to respect the other side too. You have to respect the people who disagree with you.

And stop with this "I don't want to hurt people's feelings" or some asinine tone of acting like you're superior and you know better. Even worse when I see people say "Well, you're bashing because you won't let me have my opinion." I don't see people discussing, I am seeing a bunch of crybabies who can't take criticism. I am seeing a bunch of crybabies argue back and forth on who is right and wrong.

Third, just because people want to be positive does NOT mean they are ignoring facts. It does NOT mean that people refuse to see the truth because what is the truth huh? You know as much of truth as the next person. Some things could be very significant and some things could be not. You don't know. No one knows, but Kishimoto. It has been shown that even he can take a situation that seems very significant and make it insignificant. It has been done before and he will do it again. We don't know what makes an importance in the story and what gets pushed aside. At best for now there is only speculation, not fact. Not yet anyway.

Fourth, people need to stop confusing bashing for criticism. When I made my post about Hinata, it was not some hate crime or some conspiracy theory about how I secretly want Hinata to die. I made my post to show how disappointed I was in thinking that Kishi could make her character more than just canon fodder. Halfstar, stop criticizing people who wanted more from her. You are purposely trying to piss people off like a troll and trying to insult their intelligence. That is member bashing and I will report you if you do that again. In fact, I will report anyone who calls another member delusional or makes a post about insulting their intelligence. I wanted Hinata to be more than canon fodder. I wanted her to be something more than just a throw away character. Kishi could have done that and he didn't. I voiced my disappointment. I don't hate Hinata, I am just disappointed on how Kishi uses her. It's NOT wrong to expect something different. In fact, I am disappointed in how every character has been treated lately. Not just Sakura, not just Hinata, not just Naruto, but every character.

You want to disagree with me, that's fine, but you do not insult me by attacking my intelligence or attacking my reasoning like that.

For once, I am being serious this time. For once, I am going to stand here and tell you all that this...this behavior is NOT what NSFC stands for. I am not talking about differences of opinion, I am talking about the behavior of the members in this thread. Yeah, I like to joke and have fun. Do not get me wrong, but some of you are taking it too far. Some of you want so much attention you are willing to make a fool of yourself to get it. All I want is for this forum to go back to the way it used to be. Before all this started. You know who you are and you know what you do. I am not telling you this to pick on you or to make you feel bad. I am telling you this so you can improve. So some of you can lighten up and calm down.

If some of you need to take time off away from the forum, do it.

I respected all of you. I respected every single one of you and in one chapter some of you betrayed everything you once stood for. No, not about pairing choice, but why we like this forum in the first place. It is not about who wins or loses or who is right or wrong, but to have fun. To enjoy Naruto as a manga and to exchange ideas on what we think is going to happen and what we like to happen. I hope some of you realize what you have done and try to better yourselves from it. We all make mistakes, but true ignorance is never learning from them.

When the next chapter comes out I am not going to be on here because I am afraid things will get worse around here, not better. I am afraid that it will be even more chaotic than now. That's why I am staying away until something different happens.

Please. Please think about it. Think about this thread and go back to the way it used to be around here. Fun.

-Scott (James S Cassidy)

PS. I almost forgot. Some of you need to take a chill pill. Not everything has to be so serious all the time.

I agree 100 % with you james, thi i not bashing, thi ia the sad truth.

Kudo to you once again James.

[MangaReader]

@RikutoShika I've been guilty of that plenty of times

No hard feelings what so ever. It's true though, people shouldn't have over reacted to begin with

Edited by MangaReader, 03 January 2013 - 05:31 AM.

[Canadian_DJ]

No not at all, I just remember having some fierce discussion with members who say that Sakura will never fight anyone of Team Taka members and worst the two guys and even if she does she is sure to lose, while we (because we were many with that mentality) were trying to point out that if by any chance she fights in a life or dead situation against Suigetsu or Juugo she will win, do to the fact that she is a main character and main character and they always wins, but that person was so critical about Sakura that he kept calling her useless.

@James S Cassidy

Great post. I feel that people just like my past self are forgetting what is the purpose of the NS fan club in the first place, lately I'm trying to ignore negative view points, but it get on my nerves when the person is trying to force that negative view point on all the rest.

I believe mod correct me if I'm wrong that the purpose of the NS FC is to talk about NS and if we do need to talk about another pairing we only use it to address a point not to be the start of a topic.

Yeh exactly, back in my lurker days there was none of this going on, it was all about NS but now a you could see its totally different.

[Derock]

I agree. Some of the characters in the Kage Summit arc could easily be right in Naruto's age group. We've got Chojuro, Karui, Omoi, C, and Kurotsuchi. If Kishi had introduced them earlier, it probably would've left a more lasting impact.

OMG! I just realized something. Naruto could've been development for Chojuro! He can look up to Naruto, like Konohamaru (and Hinata) did as a a kid with guts and determination. It can help him with his confidence issues, especially helping Mei.

Omoi would be the same person.

Karui, however, would had been another tsundere character to watch out, except I hardly doubt she'll crushing on Sasuke. She probably rub it off and may cause a rift between her and Sakura. Come to think of it, Kishimoto screw it up with her because on that cover page, Sakura and Karui stared at each other like there will be an upcoming rivalry. And yet, nothing happened between them. Sakura could have another rival besides Ino. Sort of like, Karui is more outspoken and tell everything off she sees fit and Sakura just doesn't like her attitude.

C... well he could fit as the third member, and then became the Raikage's right hand man during the timeskip... though I wonder if Samui would had been the jounin leader of the Kumo instead of Killer Bee.

Kurotsuchi, I think she'll be interesting as if she, at first glance, was to be another "villain", getting revenge on Konoha for the previous wars, but then she'll have a heel face turn moment. A little hard to get through, though.

[harry4e]

To me, Naruto/Sakura is just as clear as Harry/Ginny and Ron/Hermione were, although it's funny how many Naruto fans seem to be H/Hr if they're into Potter at all. I was really surprised to discover that a lot of NS fans were H/Hr fans. Maybe it's people who think that the lead guy and lead girl automatically belong together...?

Same here, after reading the platform 9 1/2 and the following train ride scene I knew it was going to be Harry/Ginny and Ron/Hermione, and after the finishing the first book, I got the feeling the relationship between Harry and Hermione was one of two siblings, and honestly the two pairings were probably the most obvious pairings i've ever read.

I also found it surprising how many NS fans were H/Hr fans, and many seem to bash Ginny allot maybe they think Ginny is like Hinata when in reality they are nothing alike. She might have been a shy girl around the boy she liked but we got clues that she herself was nothing like that she was a firecracker, who even her brothers were scared of when angry. Ginny always reminded me allot of Kushina if i'm honest, a fiery Redhead.

The reason why I see Naruto a little difference from the regular story formula and especially when people are making comparisons with DB or Harry P that I usually tend to ignore, is because like Naruto Harry never held any romantic feelings for Hr and Goku never held any romantic feelings for Bulma. Most of the type of anime s does not focus on the main character feeling for when is time to hooking up with someone the writers does not have much explanation to give the readers: With Naruto it's completely different because he stated that he liked a girl and Kishi just kept nailing that fact to us.

So even if you being on the non-canon side I have a feeling this will finally change.

Very true, (not sure about DBz as i've never read it) but agree with you about Naruto and Harry, the main difference is that Harry never liked Hermione more than a friend/sister where Naruto always liked Sakura, and never once thought that Naruto looked at Hinata romantically, and never felt Kishi even considered her anything more than a ltot device, but ever sinse the invasion Kishi seem to like to send mixed signals about the pairings, not sure if it's because he changed his mind about pairings if he's discovered fanforums and likes reading fandom warfare so ignites pairing wars every six months or so...or maybe he wants to show Hinata and Naruto getting close and actually kill her off, making him even more like Jiraiya from team Saratobi, and (old) Obito from Team Minato, or Yahiko from Team Ame (or maybe it's Konan?) Not sure what it was but since that point i've not been 100% certain how the pairings will go with this manga.

I'd still prefer NaruSaku as I find NaruHina a bit dull.

[Codus N]

OMG! I just realized something. Naruto could've been development for Chojuro! He can look up to Naruto, like Konohamaru (and Hinata) did as a a kid with guts and determination. It can help him with his confidence issues, especially helping Mei.

Omoi would be the same person.

Karui, however, would had been another tsundere character to watch out, except I hardly doubt she'll crushing on Sasuke. She probably rub it off and may cause a rift between her and Sakura. Come to think of it, Kishimoto screw it up with her because on that cover page, Sakura and Karui stared at each other like there will be an upcoming rivalry. And yet, nothing happened between them. Sakura could have another rival besides Ino. Sort of like, Karui is more outspoken and tell everything off she sees fit and Sakura just doesn't like her attitude.

C... well he could fit as the third member, and then became the Raikage's right hand man during the timeskip... though I wonder if Samui would had been the jounin leader of the Kumo instead of Killer Bee.

Kurotsuchi, I think she'll be interesting as if she, at first glance, was to be another "villain", getting revenge on Konoha for the previous wars, but then she'll have a heel face turn moment. A little hard to get through, though.

For Kurotsuchi, I think it wouldn't be in her character to be the "villain". I think of her as a fairly happy go-lucky girl with a tendency to lean to extremist views. She might be closer to Neji in character, I think. Another reason why I probably like Kurotsuchi is the anime. The anime personality grafted on her seems to be just about what Kishimoto has in mind for her. That, and you gotta admit her interaction with Naruto was kind of funny in the fillers .