SQUEEE!!! Another amazing chapter!
I'm kind of amazed that the predictions many people made for this chapter were spot on...Sasuke asking Sakura to kill Karin as proof of her loyalty - I was really unconvinced about this one, but there it is... Sakura actually about to attempt to kill Sasuke, Sasuke attempting to kill her, Kakashi arriving, all of it was right on the money. I was hoping that Sakura was not actually serious about joining Sasuke, and I am very glad that Kakashi finally meets Sasuke for the first time in four years...and I liked that it brought up the third-orochimaru dynamic and compared it to Kakashi and Sasuke. Obviously Naruto, Sasuke and Sakura are supposed to be mini Sannin...but until now it never occured to me that that would make Kakashi a mini Sarutobi until now.
Speaking of Kakashi...I <3 him in this chapter!!! I've long suspected that he blamed himself for Sasuke betraying Konoha, especially considering how he blames himself for other events in his past, and he's just confirmed that in words. The "I've been a terrible sensei" line just tugged on my heart strings...Kakashi may not be a model sensei, but he certainly cares for his students and that's what counts the most, and its kinda sad to see how little he thinks of himself. Now is his time to shine, and I look forward to seeing what will become of him. I can't wait to see him as Hokage, whether it is just acting or official. I doubt that this battle will be a decisive one...Kakashi has just been made acting Hokage, so I doubt he will die, and Sasuke still has too much importance as a character in the plot of this thing to die now. As others have said, it will probably be a short battle and will be quickly interrupted by Madara and/or Naruto.
Sasuke has officially gone off the deep end...that maniacal laughter was just...almost scarily ridiculous, but actually scary at the same time. He really has become heartless since Itachi's death. It wasn't that long ago that he was going out of his way to save Karin, and now he's ready to kill both her and Sakura. He is seriously messed up...now he cares about Itachi?! Geez...make up your mind Sasuke. I hope when Naruto arrives we get to see the gift Itachi left him, and hopefully it will make an impression on Sasuke and make him a bit more sane, cuz right now he belongs in the looney bin!
I am also totally impressed by the fact that, despite how heavy this and the last few chapters have been, there have also been some ridiculously hilarious moments. Kakashi slapping Kiba awake, asking him where Sakura went, and then leaving them all asleep in the woods? Great!! Especially the fact that Kiba answered and promptly fell back asleep!!
Next chapter: Kakashi vs Sasuke, hopefully Yamato realizes Naruto has given him the slip (and I hope that he has a freak out because Kakashi-senpai told him to bring Naruto back to Konoha and he couldn't do it...that would make my week!), Sakura starts healing Karin (I am SO glad she is not dead), maybe talking to her (maybe they will become friends...) Naruto finds Sai, Lee and Kiba, probably leaves them in the woods too, and at the end of the chapter Naruto arrives on location where Sasuke and Kakashi are duking it out, and chapter ends with an epic Sage Naruto pose.
