5 for versuvio this time! it seems to be a great first skirmish of the war.
the reasons:
1. omoi’s balanced outlook towards the coming events.
2. kankuro’s validation of edo tensei.
3. sai’s opposite sides of reactions to be unveiled.
4. a great face off of two “ambush squads”
5. kabuto’s coming of age.
6. shinobi alliance’s underdog status.
1. omoi showed “anxiety” in the first page then “eagerness” in the last page. his doubt regarding kankuro’s leadership is also disturbing. but his doubt vanished after kankuro demonstrated his strategies and judgment.
2. kankuro punctuated the “edo tensei’s “meaning. it isn’t my claim, or shall I put it- one of my claims.
kankuro got me here. but like an errant shinobi – i stand corrected. i put that claim of mine to rest. my bad, my bad…
kankuro’s character is credible enough for the purpose – to clarify the 3rd’s first script.
…and hats off to my bro…omni. peace bro, peace.
3. we have known sai to be emotionless or shinobi of less if not fake expressions. in this chapter, his emotions will be tested as he comes face to face with his elder brother.
4. two ambush squads…get to meet “first” in the initial encounter!!! great thought!!! bravo! this one is for the records.
5. kabuto…damn…he overpowered anko. is anko dead, or is she half dead? if she still has a life in her left, then kabuto will subject her to experimentations.
man…kabuto is a scene to remember in this chapter’s single frame.
ah, aye mate alkad…could you tell me what is the “symbol” in kabuto’s temple part of the hood about? thanks mate!
i already begin to dissect kabuto’s entry as a great role player in the manga. his skills are being saved for better chapters. and kabuto has earned my wait.
i am eager, though, to see him in action more…
my eyes are itching to witness how kabuto would fare against;
1. ibiki
2. shikaku
3. gen. kakashi, and…
4. the triumvirate of shikamaru-ino-chouji or a shinobi of higher caliber than that of anko.
…but kabuto is definitely a powerhouse now…he won’t be easy to kill…so are his summons.
5. the shinobi’s ambush squad is definitely the underdog in this situation. the immortal-zombie-summons are really powerful. i think we will get to see deidara’s garuda and sasori’s deadly metal dust again.
…but the zombies must not underestimate sai’s power to bind them with the serpentine-ink-binding jutsu. i remember when sai bound sasuke with it, sasuke had to blow up the cave to be free…and sasuke didn’t readily engaged sai then. a testament that sasuke respected whatever powers sai possessed that time. i believe that we could get to see those powers now. sai is not a survivor of a 'grueling fight to the end test' for no reason at all.
kankuro will surprise us with his skills as well. and the other squad members…i just have a feeling that they were not assigned to this ambush group if they are not powerful themselves. “the power unknown” to us is very much ‘the trend’ of the manga. a good example is kabuto…
…and how would the shinobi squad handle it?...
a. sai or kankuro binds and/or immobilizes the zombies;
b. omoi slices them to pieces
c. the earth guy buries them deep in the ground.
d. if attacked, the byakugan guy will defend them.
two shinobi casualties so far and an injured one…and zero casualty?(is this correct?!!—i guess this will remain as 'zero' since the zombies are already dead!!!he he) for the bad guys…
my prediction for the next chapter would be…
…the initial encounter will end to a draw. shinobi reinforcements will arrive soon
…I think darui and co. will arrive or temari or gaara and battalion…
Omoi and darui tandem will be great…so is kankuro and temari…much more a powerful gaara…
..deidara-sasori plus company will wisely retreat waiting for some back up…
btw yukimaru yoshi...
you've got good theories back there, let's discuss them with a relevant chapter soon..