Well its been 3 weeks since this volume ended. But looking at the entire span of those 10 chapters which make up volume 66, chapters 628-637 altogether made up personally some of the greatest moments in recent time since the 4th shinobi war arc. This was a great volume for many reasons, not simply for speaking as a NS fan, it was good for mainly the central story elements and just due to its position for the setting, it was one of those good volumes that not only brings forward elements we already knew but it also set up some of the most immense events we have yet to see or are starting to. There is a lot to explain so I'll get started:
Since this volume occurred, my previous favorite was volume 48, this was the volume covering chapters 443 to 453, the main plot of this volume was when Naruto encountered Nagato, listened to his story and made his decision over killing him or not. This is the type of volume I loved, not because it was not stuck up in action, rather it was a pivotal situation and moment for Naruto's character for the story overall. The main reason I liked this volume was following what Nagato did to the village and Naruto's friends and especially Jiraya, Naruto knew there was more to Nagato then just killing for the hell of it, he saw there were reasons Nagato had his own sense of justice just as Naruto did, that they were different and the same at all times. What I liked in this chapter following the action of the previous, Naruto's ultimate situation from this book was how he was given a situation like Sasuke, loosing stuff or nearly everyone he cared for and what would he do when he faced his aggressor? Naruto rather than focus on revenge like Sasuke, faced Nagato, saw him in the face, listened to his story, and chose to not kill him, not to forgive him, but rather to stick to what Jiraya taught him about just believing in other people. This was enough to turn Nagato and Konan, as a realization Nagato was able to revive all those harmed in the attack on the leaf. The purpose of this was yes, Naruto faced a similar situation as Sasuke and chose the right path rather than dark one. This was also the volume in which everyone recognized him and he became known as a hero, basically setting him up for a role everyone would acknowledge. This volume also set up the suspense of the 5 kage summit with Danzo starting to become the 6th hokage canidate. Like volume 66, this was one that ended on a high note but also started a suspenseful event with Danzo (who we hated doing no good) and Tsunade being out cold.
Now for volume 66, just what was it that made this my favorite volume? Oh well just too much:
1. The characters: There was so much that happened in this sect of chapters, its almost too much to say, not focusing solely on Naruto who increases every little time these are the characters that tended to stand out more or less if anything:
Sakura: Obviously guess we should start here, if anyone had a big role, it was Sakura this volume, after being absent for the majority of 2012 after chapter 573 and making a small amount of appearances at the end, Sakura was kinda laying low, but since 628 occurred, for about the first half of the volume, Sakura took on a bigger role than in any recent time. Lets see what exactly Sakura did, in chapter 628-, she really just noted a setup of Naruto being injured from using his energy too much but also displayed her concern and support for him, even though it was internally. Chapter 629 she only began to heal Naruto. But in 630 the action really kicked off, it was her speech in chapter 630 and her own experience of knowing not to depend on just Naruto hit it for me. She told the allaince how even when it seemed hopeless they all had to do what they could for each other, saying how even how all she was doing was healing Naruto. Basically what I liked about this speech was that Sakura herself not only displayed she knew Naruto, that she could speak his mind, it was showing how she believes in him and how Naruto considered everyone a comrade. It was Sakura's speech that felt as a build off of not only her own experience from the land of iron, but also what Itachi told Naruto about how Minato only became hokage because he had Kushina and all his friends by him. Sakura was speaking just that to everyone, to believe and support Naruto. The speechs and their exact relation can be debated but it still seems to fit the case here, believe in him who believes in everyone else. Chapter 631 gave us a high moment with Sakura meeting Minato and we got the Sakura-Kushina stuff but I liked in this chapter how not only we got a short NS moment, it was during the reunion of team 7 that Sakura didnt act all foolish as many haters claimed she would, in this chapter she was cautious and confused over Sasuke's actions considering what happened last time. But the high mark this chapter was Sakura revealing she had more power and how she herself stepped up to fight alongside her team, basically advocating to Naruto to fight, not Sasuke again. Sakura has been focused more on Naruto if anything in this chapter. The scene I liked was when she simply stares at Naruto and he smiles knowing she can do it and thus reuniting team 7 for a full fight. Chapter 632 was her highest mark in this volume as she recollected her past experience of always being behind her teammates but showing her white strength seal and unleashing a greater portion of power she had not yet displayed, also loved the reaction Naruto had. This power unleashing from her was one of her high moments showing that she did become stronger in her own way. Sakura also basically showed that she could fight alongside her team in a tougher situation. Her power was not equal to her teammates but it was still an increase of merit to help pummel the jubbi clones. Sadly this is where Sakura's high moments ended this volume, 633 she revealed she can summon, 634 she could use remote healing. Sakura's last major part in this volume was somewhat of a shocker to many fans, in chapter 635 something many did not see coming, it was Sai's input on how she felt about Sasuke and his worthiness as an ally, though Sakura said she was okay with him, the fake smile set it off that she does not trust him. Something with Sasuke was hinted in earlier chapters by Orochimaru, Jugo, and Sai, Sakura only brought it to a higher level that something bad was coming. But overall, Sakura had a great part in this chapter, on a character development point she did do well in 630, 631 and 632 were also great but she did have a bigger role this volume than any other in recent time, last big role she had was the land of iron, but now this role was good because of the development for her and the power-up which we still have yet to see if this is her full capability.
Kakashi: My favorite character, sadly there is not much to say here. Kakashi's role was very short this volume, but still had impact. One part on Kakashi I liked was trying to see what Obito was up to involving Naruto's answers and just what was it that set them apart. Kakashi's role however took place with Obito in the kamui dimension. Kakashi's highlight was when he gave Obito a speech that hit him where it hurt, about how the only thing worse than friends who abandoned other friends, was those who didn't acknolwdge what their friends felt or thought. Basically saying in a way, "Rin would never approve of this, it would make her ashamed." Kakashi's time with Obito in the dimension though was revealed near the end of the volume in chapter 636, Kakashi had to come to terms with what Obito was like in the past and how he was now. Kakashi saw the similarities in young Obito and Naruto and how Naruto was doing things the right way as Obito was doing them the wrong way. Kakashi knew that to protect the image of the Obito he knew, he had to kill him now because of what he became, a similar situation to what Naruto make face with Sasuke. Though Kakashi wounded and defeated Obito, Obito left him there wounded and possibly trapped within the dimension, no clue about Kakashi until later.
Minato: Not much on Minato's part being shown this volume, save how he was proven to be awesomely overpowered having a chakra mode like Naruto. Minato was also on gate duty with the other edo hokage to keep the ten tails down. But there was a heartfelt moment at the final chapter when he sees that the one who attacked the village on the night Naruto was born, was his own student. That scene right there was one in which you don't how Minato should react, sad or confused. Even both.
Sasuke: Sasuke Sasuke Sasuke, one minute its seems he is on their side, another time it seems he is just being a jerk. Sasuke's part was a pretty dyanmic one, he wanted to be hokage but for the wrong reasons. He agreed to help the alliance but also as noted by Jugo, Sai, and Sakura, he was setting up for something bad. Sasuke remained more action focused this time though. It was a nice highlight to see his unified attack with Naruto and at the same time display how he thought he could simply destroy what lead to the problem with the ten tails. Sasuke also has a new summon with that small snake, but this summon along with Naruto and Sakura was to complete the new sannin generation, Sasuke did show some stuff but I feel the best part of his role this volume was more of a set up for the later conflicts and more or less displaying the reunification of team 7, new gen sannin, and showcasing his power with the others. But the results of Sasuke's actions and him seeing Naruto's new power as Naruto did to him, this goes along with part of that inevitable future conflict we shall soon see. What really makes an interesting note for Sasuke is what Orochimaru and Taka are up too, they are following Sasuke but for what purpose and where did they go after healing Tsunade? Sasuke I felt left us with a good mystery this volume, not only setting up for a future conflict but also just something seems wrong in the shadows. Though Sasuke displayed his usual he does not care attitude in cooperating, he did try to strike down Obito when Madara forced the rinne tensei, but now he is fighting with Naruto and Minato on part of a stronger crisis. We have only seen a bit of that crisis.
Obito: Same pit as Kakashi being in the back for most of this volume, but he did open many interesting parts on his plot, being the villain and now jinchurki of the ten tails. Obito pressing Naruto for why he fought was an interesting one, kinda an evaluation between hero and villain to see who had the motives and will to push themselves. We see that Obito is doing that now considering the most recent chapter. Obito's conflict with Kakashi was a shocker, knowing why Rin died, and most of all, how it was not simply due to her death or Kakashi failing to protect her, it was the system he was angry at. The confrontation with Kakashi, the genjutsu stuff before Kakashi told him the scum speech in 630, this revealed part of just how twisted Obito became in his quest for the dream world and how much he was suffering too, he didn't even have a heart anymore, he was just a human/zetsu creature unable to feel pain. It was a moment like this you don't know if you should be sad or freaked the hell out at what he became. In the later chapter near the end, Obito facing Kakashi again, Obito was frustrated and just wanted to beat Kakashi but could not physically, though defeated we see many images of Rin going in Obitos head in 636 and 637. Rin is important to him but how far is Obito going to go just for his own desire? Thats what made him a villain. When Obito was forced to use the rinne tensei, this was just a sad part for him, Madara's ruthlessness knowing no bounds, Obito also faced Minato before "dying" was a sorrowful encounter on his part too, the reunion was just heartbreaking on both ends, Minato to see who set everything in motion and Obito for all he was suffering from in the past. Obito however set up the best cliffhanger in any volume to date, when he became the ten tails Jinchurki, or Jubbito as the fandom has nicknamed him. Obito became a high time villain and now in control of the ten tails currently, I cannot wait to see where this goes.
The characters were the biggest parts of this volume, but there were also many moments that made this volume great:
1. The pure power of the ten tails causing natural disasters, this was just the creature on its own, what can Obito do with this type of power?
2. Sakura and Kakashi's speeches, they were impactful so much, it was great on both ends of the battlefield.
3. The reunions, mainly Naruto and his father and team 7. The save at the end of 630 and reunion in 631 were some of the best culminations of interaction in the past few years of the series.
4. Minato meeting Sakura, I really loved this part, humorous and Minato gets reminded of Sakura, a short funny moment that will resurface again.
5. The edo hokage sealing the ten tails and Minato nine tails mode.
6. Madara getting friendzoned and told to shut up by Hashirama that he will fight him later.
7. Madara acting like a spoiled brat to not fight a clone of Hashirama.
8. Sakura's burst of power, enough that it earned praise by Hashirama and gave Naruto a quick reminder to never annoy her like he has, another funny moment in why we love NS.
9. Naruto and Sasuke's wind-fire attack to bring down the ten tails.
10. The new Sannin, team 7 having followed their masters.
11. Tsunade and the other kages healed and coming to the battlefield.
12. Madara's ruthlessness knowing no bounds and trying to kill Obito.
13. Obito-Minato reunion, a tearfelt moment indeed.
14. The Sasuke factor, just what is going to happen with Sakura not even trusting him as she used too? Its going to be bad.
15. Jubbito, biggest drama cliffhanger since Itachi was revealed to have been a good guy.
Honorary: Team 10 human yo-yo jutsu, the most awesome teamwork jutsu known to the world. Stylish and effective
These were the best moments I enjoyed, there are more but this is what I liked. However I felt that there were a few shortcomings with the volume:
Sakura's power has not been seen enough, either its a max or its not, she did however still unleash it recently so she may get more time or not, maybe in the final conflict with Sasuke, but if anything this remains a possibility if she has more power.
Chapter 633 felt like filler, it was mainly about the other K11 and how they grew too, but after seeing the thrill of Sakura's growth, seeing how Kiba could become a Cerberus, Shino could place bugs into and grow them in other bodies, and Hinata only accomplishing a technique Neji knew for years, it felt like filler. Even with team 10's teamwork, and their neat jutsu, this chapter felt like the odd one out, you don't see much relevance with it towards the other 9. The only value this chapter set up was the team 7 summoning in which it lead to the solutions the alliance needed to impair the ten tails.
Kakashi's fight cut short: I was really hoping for a longer Kakashi vs Obito fight, not a simple talk and then mind game of genjutsu, though the time was well spent for these scenes, I wish we had a longer conflict between them.
Everyone wants to be hokage! It was a funny joke at first but please let it die down, I mean Hashirama was thrilled with so many candidates but its not like Tsunade is dead.
The Kage were just guard posts for the majority of this volume, now they are fighting, its nice to see Naruto and Minato fighting side by side at last though in the current volumes.
I really wished Sakura had a different slug, but Katasyu is still good, least she told the current kage whats up with the battlefield.
Other than that, this is my new favorite volume, many events rose, many others began, a big cliffhanger, many conflicts and reunions, had drama, action, and humor, this was a volume that nearly had it all. Its this type of volume I call a bridge volume because it brings so much together, and it was after these chapters, I hope kishi brings a great conclusion to the series in the future.
Overall I would give it a 9.6 out of 10 if I had to.
Edited by Inferno180, 27 July 2013 - 02:42 AM.
but yeah, Kakashi's speech and Sakura's speech were some of my favorite moments.
Not to mention my never ending frustration about Sakura's seal. 
