Oh, Kishimoto. You're really getting along with this awesome character development, aren't you? In just this one fight we're learning so much about all three of the contenders. I love it. Doesn't everyone love it? So overdue :<
Anyway, I think it's needless to say I liked this chapter practically from beginning to end. The first page was great, although most of my attention was on Sai. He had me laughing~ I found the little introductory message on the actual cover page a bit weird, though, considering there wasn't any actual fighting in this chapter until the very last panels. Still, I suppose one could look at it from a physical confrontation — at the moment — to mental/emotional resistance on Sasuke's part, although he really isn't having to think twice about staying on Itachi's side as Kabuto tries to persuade him to go against Itachi and team up with him. Eh...
I feel like Kabuto is really playing some weird mind game and failing epically at it in this chapter, with the way he's restating what we all know about Sasuke wanting to destroy the Leaf because of Itachi and yadda yadda. In this respect, even though I'm sure it contributes to the story in some way, I really just wanted Kishi to make Kabuto shut up and get to the point. Maybe it was just me. I like the facial expressions Sasuke made throughout this chapter as Kabuto spoke, though. But I didn't like how, in some panels, we could sort of see Kabuto's eyes even though they were shut. I know mangaka's do that on purpose, but still.
PAGE 7. WAIT, WAIT, WAIT. I didn't exactly get this. Are they in the Hidden Leaf? Like, those are obviously Hidden leaf shinobi sitting around behind them, dissing Itachi, and some people on here may call me stupid for asking, but they don't have to be in Konoha. But if they are — are you telling me Tobi and Sasuke snuck into the village, sitting there right under everyone's noses? Whoa man :< Guhh~
*something I like about that is that, if they were in the Leaf like I'm assuming they are, it would be before Pein's Invasion. Makes me kind of happy, because I still wanna see Sasuke's reaction to the state of the Hidden Leaf now, as it is.
Anyway, I wanted to slap those idiots silly myself while they were dissing Itachi, but like I said before — I really like how Sasuke was reacting in this flashback. Needless to say, I was glad Tobi stopped him so easily, however. I just liked the flashback in general; Kishi's throwing ones at us we've never seen before, thankfully.
Page 11. First panel. Oh, there's our psycho Sasuke, back for just a second. Yikes. I was hoping that part of him was slowly being killed off. May still be, but I don't like that Kishimoto threw it in there :<
*random: page 11, panels 3 and 5. I just love Sasuke's face and little Kabuto. And with the latter, that's really saying something on my part as a Kabuto hater.
Kabuto trying to liken himself to Itachi and telling Sasuke he'd be his big brother on page 12 is just sad. Kabuto, you can't even compare to Itachi. You're in different hemispheres, on different planets, so to speak. Don't even attempt to liken yourself to him. Don't. Even. I don't care how alike you may kinda-sorta be. Just don't.
Page 13 — Itachi FINALLY speaks up. M'glad. And I like what he says. He calls Kabuto a liar indirectly, telling Sasuke that Kabuto can lie better than he can, and then says something about how he was the one that made Sasuke become the way he is. He took responsibility — owned up to his actions. Makes me love Itachi even more. Good going, Kishi. Good going.
I love another panel on page 13, too. Where Itachi says that he's still Uchiha Itachi of the Hidden Leaf. He's basically saying that no matter what the Leaf thinks of him because of the big web of lies he's caught in, he is still fighting for the Leaf. He's still a shinobi working to protect his village, missing nin or not. Love it. And Sasuke's face just after~ < 3
*I wonder what Itachi has to say to Sasuke, if nothing else, after all this is over? I have an idea of what I'd like it to be~ won't say for now, though.
I'm not big on fights, so I'll have to leave the rest out for the action-lovers here to talk about. I kind of facepalmed once Itachi introduced Izanagi's sister jutsu Izanami, though. "Of course, Kishi. Of course." I do think it'll be an interesting concept, but I just feel like those of us who didn't see something like this coming really should have.
Last note: last panel. Itachi. Looks. Fierce. Me gusta.
Anyway, my little weekly quote deal and yadda yadda:
"He's dead after all, just a wooden doll." Kabuto to Sasuke, page 6.
"This is what he wanted. If you're unhappy with it, what do you plan to do?" Tobi to Sasuke, page 10. /flashback.
"The village does have its dark side, and its inconsistencies. But I'm still the Leaf's Itachi Uchiha." Itachi, page 13.
"It's not Izanagi. It's another one, that forms a pair with it." Itachi to Sasuke, page 16.
"If Izanagi is a jutsu that changes destiny, Izanami can decide it!" Itachi, page 17.
"Sasuke, stay close to me." Itachi to Sasuke, page 17.
Prediction: To be honest, I never have real predictions for chapters. I'm just not good at deciding what I actually think will happen; I prefer to read other's thoughts. But I do typically try and guess where the next chapter will be setting-wise. I'll be truthful and say that last week and thought Kishi would switch to a different scene with Chapter 581. I was wrong. Now I don't know whether I want to say he'll switch with 582 or not. I'll say he won't, but watch me be wrong now xD
My Overall Chapter Rating: 5/5. Although it was almost 4/5.
Also: I hope that little flashback and parts of Kabuto's speech help people to understand Uchiha Sasuke a little better. Most of us need to.
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