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Really good chapter. A lot happened and yet nothing was resolved.
You and I are normally on the same page, but not this time. I think this chapter was one his worst. It's not mass-resurrection bad, but not for lack of trying.
About Orochimaru's team. That Karin was taken to heal Tsunade -- no surprise. Karin and Suigetsu still arguing -- no surprise. That Karin is a damaged girl with masochistic tendencies who is still in love with Sasuke -- no surprise. That Orochimaru is cooling his heels and willing to watch and see what happens with Sasuke? Not much of a surprise, considering that Sasuke has always been his goal.
There is the usual, I hate Team Not Seven stuff and me not liking it when they do...well, anything. However, I understand they will continue to exist and that Suigetsu is one giant comedy sketch at this point. I'm in the minority, but I don't find him funny. Still, I generally don't let it determine the quality of a because he can't make me like them at this point.
If it had been Suigetsu just screwing around that it would be fine, but it's not.
This biggest issue I have with what you say about Karin is the same as before. Perhaps she is all those things, but if that's the case that is not the message he is sending or the character he is portraying. Seriously? She's embarassed to admit she likes Sasuke? Perhaps, she thinks none knows and I can't recall if she ever vocalized it to anyone. But, come on, she has to use the fact that he tried to murder her (and uses that word) as proof she doesn't like him and does so while (1) blushing and (2) in the midst of perhaps the most cliche' reaction in mordern entertainment when someone is called on feelings they think other don't know about.
The moment that was meant to show Sasuke's descent into darkness and one of the most callous acts he has ever committed is being used a joke. I'm sure she's really broken up about it and stuff...I guess. Hurting deep down. The real kicker is not that she utters it as a sad defense to the obvious, it's that he uses it the midst of the Suigetsu comedy hour. The statement was bad, but that context of the whole thing just absolutely kills it.
As for Tsunade...I have no issue with Orochimaru saving her. It's self-serving. If Obito and Madara win it's a loss for him. For those reading it as good...it's the same as good Sasuke. You know it won't last and he hasn't suddenly seen the light.
Now, I do take great issue with her survivial. As a general matter, I don't take issue with her surviving the battle, but the method...well, I am trying to think of the last time I read something so contrived. It's stuff like this that earned him his rep for being unable to kill people that weren't old, mooks, or villains.
If I were Neji, I would be having a cosmic hissy fit over this. I get run through by a spike and I'm totally done for in the few seconds it takes to make an inspiring speech. Sakura (based on subsqeunt events) doesn't appear that far away. But she doesn't activate her seal or summon a slug to try and save him? If Tsunade can surive being split in two with no lasting damage at least it was worth a shot, right?
But the real kicker is the rather fortuitious chain of events that saves her. In real life people experience lucky breaks all the time, sometimes many times in a row. It happens. However, in writing where the universe is 100% controlled such things raise eyesbrows and the longer the chain of luck the more people are ask to suspend disblief. They more of that that is asked, the harder it becomes to do. And that's where I am.
It sounds like without the Byakogou she'd be a dead duck. If you recall, it had been nearly used up before, but by a stroke of good timing Itachi just happens to disperse the edo tensei, Dan is somewhow able to pull a rabbit out of his rear and avoid being dispelled long enough to give closure (that the story really didn't need), and he gives her a power boost that does almsot nothing to help with the fight (they end up defeated and nearly dead anyway).
But because of that power boost she is able to have the energy to not only summon Katsuyu despiste massive bleading (and avoid going into shock), but keep her active to avoid dying until she is found by just the right person who can perform just the surgery she needs. And he's equiped with regenerative healer no less!. Oh yeah, she has enough enery to save everone else too and stand with apparently no ill effects from having split in too.
It. Was. Bad.
Did Sakura also someone Katsuyu or was that a typo and it's a different slug? If it was Katsuyu...so she summoned a piece when the slug was already summoned or something? And if that happened it didn't cause in adverse effects to Tsunade trying to keep herself and the Kage's alive, I guess?
Everything after the Team Oro nonsense was pretty good, and unless the entire Kakashi/Obito confrontation is going to be talk no jutsu, I am not ready to count Kakashi as dead yet. Besides, he needs his chance to cheat death in a spectacularly fortuitous way like Tsunade just did.
I mean who does Kishimoto think Kakashi is, Neji?
that really cracked me up!
