OMG that was an epicly awesome chapter. Probably the most information loaded chapter since Madara revealed the moon's eye plan. Not a single moment of wasted time.
I am amazed at how many things in this chapter were predicted by people on this forum. Kudos to all of them. I was unconvinced of many of those predictions, and yet, they were right, so congratulations are certainly in order.
Sakura has certainly reverted hasn't she? She was kickasss for awile at the beginning of Part 2, but now she's reverted to the crybaby who can't do anything for herself. So much for female power. The poison part was hilarious. And I don't think it was unbelievable - Naruto has been poisoned before, and he just heals quickly, he is not impervious - he has had more than one close call. I love the facial expressions in this manga...Kakashi's when he said "That's what I was getting at" was especially epic (pg 10). I honestly can't believe she didn't even notice that Sasuke used her poisoned kunai...wasn't she trained by one of the Sannin? I often wonder how that can be possible.
Sasuke wanting Itachi's eyes was pretty obviously going to happen, but I thought his reasons were interesting, especially the "nothing more, nothing less" - that suggests to me that there is another reason or reasons that Madara wants Sasuke to take the eyes and he has already tried to convince him using those reasons - I don't remember him pushing too hard earlier on though...interesting in any case. I also can't wait to see Itachi's gift to Naruto...and how it stacks up to EMS.
I want to give kudos especially to those who said Kisame was alive. I was convinced he was gone forever. But apparently Zetsu has some awesome abilities...this explains Kisame's less powerful fighting during the fight with Killer Bee - it also seems that Kisame and Samehada never separated, Zetsu simply took his place. Freaky. I am almost afraid of what this means for Lightning Country and the eight-tails...its seeming all the more likely that the eight tails will be captured soon.
And Kabuto showing up at the end was awesome...its been way too long, no matter how much I hate his guts. I'm glad we at least have some indication of what he's up to. Whoever said he looked like an evil Harry Potter was so correct!!
Honestly, just the fact that Kisame and Kabuto, neither of which we have seen in awhile, showed up in this chapter, and epicly for both, makes it deserve a five. The addition of the poison episode, and Kakashi piggy-backing Karin...laughter just makes it even better.
I can't wait to see what will happen next. We seem to be approaching the end of an arc here, so its really hard to say what is coming. I cannot wait until the Leaf nin return to Konoha...I am anticipating it being really interesting. I hope that we will get a better idea of what has befallen Tsunade. And see Shikamaru. I miss him. And Hinata. She and Naruto have a long-awaited conversation to have. I also am eagerly awaiting the events in Lightning...I anticipate a blood-bath, which is sad, but I feel like at least one of the great nations aside from Konoha needs to have an epic disaster and most of their village destroyed. I am also really curious to see what Kabuto has up his sleeve...
Anyway, it was a great chapter, and I cannot wait for the next one. I literally walked twenty minutes to campus to use the internet when my friend told me it was up because I couldn't wait! It was definitely worth it!!