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[Hokage Sennin]

"The jinchuuriki whose bijuu is drawn out will die."

 

Tears, lots of tears.

 

A lot of them fell from Sakura upon the realization of the one thing she dreaded has finally come to pass.

 

"No, it doesn't have to come to this..."

 

How long she buried her face in Naruto's face in defeat and dejection, she cannot tell. It felt that an eternity or two has passed. All that she thinks of is the here and now.

 

Time stands still.

The surroundings stands still.

The person in which her arms wrap around lies still.

The same person she laughed and bled with.

The same person who stubbornly moves forward towards his destiny.

The same person who gave hope and strength to her...

 

"Nnnnnhhhh...."

 

Sakura: "???"

Whether it is some work of sorcery or the will of the divine, no one can tell. But what is certain is a certain Uzumaki Naruto, deprived of his beast within, defied death himself by giving out this sign of life.

 

Naruto croaked very slowly, eyes closed, as if he's talking to someone who's not there.

"You sure... have a large... charming... forehead... Makes... me want... to kiss it..."

 

!!!

 

 

Anyways, that chapter sure gave us a lot of feels. Brilliantly executed, Kishi. Well played.

Edited by Hokage Sennin, 22 January 2014 - 03:41 PM.

[James S Cassidy]

I liked the chapter — loooooved the last page illustration — but I still am holding back from the ship-ending/ship-winning declarations.
 

 

No offense, but what would it take to really make you see the end of the shipping wars? I have seen harem's with more drama and still can pick out the final pairing couple from a mile away even before half the manga series was finished. So, let me ask what would make you see the end or do you feel that only the final note of Naruto and Sakura kissing the only end to it?

 

Hinata — *sigh* No matter what role she plays, I just get irritated that in the manga now, if Sakura shows up then so does Hinata. Remember when it wasn't like this? And Sakura could stand alone without have a secondary character balancing out every appearance she had?!

 

I feel sad for her. She was once the shy girl in the background trying to be strong, then she turned into nothing, but weak pairing fodder, and now here she is a laughing stock. Sure, the NH are not laughing, but really that was pathetic of her to just trip like that. I am actually more sad for her than laughing at her. It's like watching a girl get bullied in school.

I wish Kishimoto treated her better too.

 

Karin — Although her feelings are touching, I just can't take her seriously. Especially when Sasuke is soooo serious and dark. But it looks like Kishimoto is sticking with their pairing (our resident SK shippers will be thrilled! :) ), even though it still feels a little weird and forced to me. 

 

Umm....I actually have given up on Karin a long time ago and frankly, not surprised by this outcome. As weird and as forced as it is, it is what it is and we cannot change that. So we kind of knew this was going to happen. Might as well accept it and move forward.

 

Coming chapters — So, while I'm buoyed by the NS moment, I have full faith in Kishimoto's ability to rip the rug out from underneath his audience and leaving us falling on our faces like.... Well, you get the picture! I think the potential for a true NS moment is there for the next chapter, but I just have a feeling Kishimoto is going to throw in a wrench somehow.

 

You may not agree, but this is an NS moment for me. Honestly, what do people expect after this? Sakura just turning around and saying "Oh Sasuke is dying? Well, Screw Naruto, let's go help Sasuke." Sad part is, people really are expecting this to happen.

 

The only things confirmed by this chapter is that SK and NH are still very fully alive in the minds of the girls. And though I think SS has some basis in the manga, I don't know how it could still stand under this chapter. The split panel of Sakura/Karin is a pretty clear statement of Kishimoto's direction on those two pairings. 

 

 

So....business as usual?

[ramenanmitsu]

Yeah, that was my read. It sucks to. Any happiness I felt for NS is consumed by my hatred of SK. Side by side, the best and worst developed pairings in the series. So, it was a wash for me.

I might sound like I'm in denial but where was this SK moment people is talking of? It was a Karin moment, sure. But I didn't necessarily think it was a Sasuke x Karin moment. Karin's panel was necessary because she had to show that Sasuke is in a nearly dead state and she is the only one who can sense him AND make it look tragic.

At the same time, I didn't really think this was a NaruSaku chapter either. It could be a setup chapter but the chapter itself wasn't really pairing related.

Please tell me if I'm missing something.....

[TouKen4Life3g]

So... it seems that Bee was killded off screen?

I think he was absorbed along with 8-Tails because he did transform and it's not the same as Naruto's, where his is like a user and a beast. Killer Bee can only be one, so in this case, it's Bijuu itself. Sadly, he got sucked in with him. That's why you don't see the body.

 

Some little thoughts.

1. Am I the only one who felt a Kishi x Sasuke vibe this chapter? BOTH Naruto and Sasuke were dying and yet he didn't show any Naruto's inner emotion, which made me a little disappointed.

2. Hinata was so out of place, it should have been better for her character if Kishi didn't include her at all. "Oniisan, please protect Naruto"? I can't be the only one who felt angry to that inner dialogue. Neji has died protecting Hinata, and not only has she totally moved on from it and kept her focus on Naruto, she is now asking for that exact person who died for her to protect Naruto because she can't stand it if Naruto died like Neji did. It looks like she is totally cool when Neji is dead but loses all the cool when it's Naruto. It was Neji who protected her, trained with her, fought with her, and encouraged her. Yet she completely dismisses Neji and gives all the credit to Naruto. Neji doesn't deserve this treatment.

Also it would've been better if she had prayed, "please save Naruto, Sakura" instead of relying on some spirit in the heavens.

Sasuke needed to establish his plan in a way, so we got that. Naruto is weaken but hope is not all gone yet. If Sakura can't maintain her chakra to heal Naruto and they haven't reached the destination, then yeah, time to worry heavily. I think we see the last of Sasuke until help arrives, so Naruto will get a bigger focus since we need to know how he's going to be healed and get back to fight with or without Kuruma. There's more mystery surrounding Naruto since it's very questionable on how he will survive. Sasuke is a normal death blow, while Naruto can't be done by medic, so it's more interesting to find out the solution.

 

Just read the chapter and whoa that ending! And How do you guys think Sasuke will get saved? I thought he will use Izanagi or something.

I don't think he learned it. I thought he would have with the thought of Itachi, since love can activate, but nope, he couldn't, so he's going to die unless someone shows up now.

[MangaReader]

I might sound like I'm in denial but where was this SK moment people is talking of? It was a Karin moment, sure. But I didn't necessarily think it was a Sasuke x Karin moment. Karin's panel was necessary because she had to show that Sasuke is in a nearly dead state and she is the only one who can sense him AND make it look tragic.

At the same time, I didn't really think this was a NaruSaku chapter either. It could be a setup chapter but the chapter itself wasn't really pairing related.

Please tell me if I'm missing something.....

It really comes down to the matter of what you consider a true pairing moment to be. A lot of people have their own opinions on things like this. If anything though, you correct that this is a set up.

[TouKen4Life3g]

I might sound like I'm in denial but where was this SK moment people is talking of? It was a Karin moment, sure. But I didn't necessarily think it was a Sasuke x Karin moment. Karin's panel was necessary because she had to show that Sasuke is in a nearly dead state and she is the only one who can sense him AND make it look tragic.

At the same time, I didn't really think this was a NaruSaku chapter either. It could be a setup chapter but the chapter itself wasn't really pairing related.

Please tell me if I'm missing something.....

For your sake, I'll explain only NS.

 

Here's the thing. Hinata is no longer the case because she is literally out of the picture. We don't know where Gaara and Sakura with Naruto are going but the idea is that they're alone. No one can interfere. This is like many other stories where only the protagonist and the love interest are alone, which to begin with, shocked that this is happening. The setup chapter is right but it's setting up for a drastic moment for Sakura to witness. Sakura doesn't know why he's in that condition, so this is only the beginning of her nightmare. Looking back at the chapter, she looks heavily worried to the point she has to tell him (and herself) that he's strong to escape death, but the condition continues to get worse. I mean look at her when he asked why Naruto is in that condition or how Hinata saw Sakura taking a look at him, she looks devastated. The idea is that she's playing a role where the love interest becomes extremely scared to face the reality that he's dead (if we come to that part), but now, she's getting there. You see this in many other media, including bad ones, so this is something we are bound to get. Just didn't think she and Naruto (and Gaara) would be alone. Heavy stuff.

[James S Cassidy]

I might sound like I'm in denial but where was this SK moment people is talking of? It was a Karin moment, sure. But I didn't necessarily think it was a Sasuke x Karin moment. Karin's panel was necessary because she had to show that Sasuke is in a nearly dead state and she is the only one who can sense him AND make it look tragic.

At the same time, I didn't really think this was a NaruSaku chapter either. It could be a setup chapter but the chapter itself wasn't really pairing related.

Please tell me if I'm missing something.....

Well, to be fair technically ALL moments have been nothing, but setup, but here is the thing to think about and something I brought up a few times.

Can't a setup be a moment too? If the combined setups show the course of where something is being taken, then technically they are all moments. Look at harem's and how many setups they have and have the characters either completely deny it or refuse to accept it as something more until the very end. Yet, we all know and sometimes even lampshaded by the characters themselves that eventually they will be together.

"Well, It's about time"
-Cyborg

Edited by James S Cassidy, 22 January 2014 - 03:59 PM.

[Inferno180]

I will give NH fans one thing:

 

The wait of a one week break is more agonizing when you are hoping for a potential pairing moment rather than hoping to avoid one from the opposition, I mean it was agonizing for us between 2012 and 2013 to see if NH really occured, but this time its really a funny situation for us, we waited 3 weeks for what we thought would be a potential moment, we got it after 4 weeks, today, only for the need to wait another 2 weeks to see what we happens.

 

So yeah we waited a month to see if our moment came only for it to take its first phase in this chapter and now we wait to see if it actually occurs next chapter after 2 weeks.

 

I see kishi like this in his office a few months ago:

 

Naruto Manga worker: So Kishi what shall we do next?

 

Kishi: I think I'll have Madara rip out Kurama

 

Naruto Manga worker: Really? Well it will rile the fans won't it?

 

Kishi: Of course, they will be drawn in to see Naruto's fate.

 

Naruto Manga worker: Okay so when should this chapter go around?

 

Kishi: End of the year.

 

Manga Worker: !!! Kishi thats the 3 week break, do you realize how much it will antagonize the fans.

 

Kishi: Yes So?

 

Manga Worker: Well okay then it will be a dramatic ending this year...

 

Kishi: Okay lets plan early for next year

 

Manga Worker: What are you thinking?

 

Kishi: Lets have Sasuke stabbed by his own sword from Madara

 

Manga worker: Im not following, he gets stabbed where?

 

Kishi: The heart.

 

Manga Worker: Okay so what happens, a genjutsu, hashirama's healing ability, he endures it?

 

Kishi: Nope real sasuke, in the heart like he did to karin. No escapes.

 

Manga Worker: Really? Sasuke gets harmed too? What about naruto?

 

Kishi: The fans need to wait and see, this chapter, 661 will be on sasuke getting wounded.

 

Manga Worker: So essentially we leave the fans with a 3 week break of Naruto going down, only to come back in and see Sasuke go down?

 

Kishi: Yep.

 

Manga Worker: Okay so what about 662?

 

Kishi: Oh lets just have Sakura join Gaara  moving Naruto and they go elsewhere and sasuke collapses from the pain.

 

Manga worker: so they both appear dead?

 

Kishi: Yep

 

Manga worker: so you basically made it seem like they are both dead right now?

 

Kishi: Of course, and I have the perfect plan to end this one, show a dual panel with sakura to the left and karin to the right both saying how naruto and sasuke will die soon.

 

Manga worker: That will really rile up the fans wont it?

 

Kishi: Yep

 

Manga Worker: So when should we schedule chapter 663?

 

Kishi: 2 weeks later.

 

Manga worker: !!! Again? You realize this would get fans anxious more than anytime in your series right?

 

Kishi:

Edited by Inferno180, 22 January 2014 - 04:03 PM.

[MangaReader]

I think he was absorbed along with 8-Tails because he did transform and it's not the same as Naruto's, where his is like a user and a beast. Killer Bee can only be one, so in this case, it's Bijuu itself. Sadly, he got sucked in with him. That's why you don't see the body.

I don't think it works like that regardless... maybe, but we know the 8-Tails cut off one of his tentacles before getting sucked in and then internally said "Sorry Bee" 

 

I don't think he learned it. I thought he would have with the thought of Itachi, since love can activate, but nope, he couldn't, so he's going to die unless someone shows up now.

Not like Sasuke would use it anyway... no way would he sacrifice one of his eyes (his brother's eyes no less) to save himself, even if it's for Itachi's sake.

[六道仙人]

Inferno I only hope that we won't get the same kitten as 616 happened for NH after 3 weeks of waiting

[Ausakura]

So... Mangastream's translation for Hinata "Nii-san... Please protect Naruto" is "Brother... Asked me to protect Naruto".

 

If it's the right translation, it has a total different meaning and no doubt it can be a foreshadowing to a future event. If that's so, a 90% of chance of that occuring. 

But who asked Hinata to protect Naruto and when this happenned?

I can't remember anyone saying "Hinata, protect him."

[六道仙人]

So... Mangastream's translation for Hinata "Nii-san... Please protect Naruto" is "Brother... Asked me to protect Naruto".

 

If it's the right translation, it has a total different meaning and no doubt it can be a foreshadowing to a future event. If that's so, a 90% of chance of that occuring. 

But who asked Hinata to protect Naruto and when this happenned?

I can't remember anyone saying "Hinata, protect him."

 

for that better to wait the raw for friday. Usually Mangapanda is more accurate....

[MangaReader]

Inferno I only hope that we won't get the same kitten as 616 happened for NH after 3 weeks of waiting

Let's hold hands with everybody

[Ausakura]

And what you people are talking about 2 weeks? It's only next week when we'll not have a chapter. February 4 Naruto is back, they say it on the scans...

[FoolishYoungling]

Is it just me or did this chapter push for us to get some future NaruSaku and SasuKarin?

[六道仙人]

And what you people are talking about 2 weeks? It's only next week when we'll not have a chapter. February 4 Naruto is back, they say it on the scans...

 

in fact it's 2 weeks of waiting for the next chapter, not 2 weeks of break

 

 

Meanwhile Hashirama, about the failed plan with Sasuke

 

[Kster95]

Meanwhile Hashirama, about the failed plan with Sasuke

 

 

lolololololol For some reason I feel he would do this. 

[megi]

Did Neji ask her to protect Naruto? I don't remember that. I only remember him dying.

[六道仙人]

Did Neji ask her to protect Naruto? I don't remember that. I only remember him dying.

 

I only remember that Neji was willing to protect Hinata which was willing to protect Naruto in turn. Like a conga line xD No promise here as far I remember...

[Kster95]

Did Neji ask her to protect Naruto? I don't remember that. I only remember him dying.

 

That was sort of like what went down. He didnt actually ask her but he sacrificed his life for Naruto so she sort of feels like she needs to protect naruto so Neji's death wasnt for nothing. At least thats what I thought of the panel. 

Edited by Kster95, 22 January 2014 - 04:22 PM.