Naruto Chapter 483 Review

[zapenstap.livejournal.com]

I haven't reviewed any Naruto chapters in awhile, though I have been reading them. Mostly, I have just been letting the conflict play out. But I was inspired by this chapter, so without further ado...


Character Round-up

Danzou: Before his death, Danzou was shown to have been working for the good of the village, in his own way. However, he was also shown to have chosen to protect from the 'shadows' in part because he is too weak a person to do so openly. Danzou was fearful in his youth, and perhaps still is, which is why he protected Konoha through such methods as beguile, deception, and sacrifice. In the end, he admits he was never quite 'Hokage' material.

Sasuke: Sasuke has gone to the Dark Side of the Force. He has been there for quite some time, but we are seeing increasingly damning evidence of it. He not only killed Danzou out of vengeance (didn't seem to slake his hate any), but did so through mortally wounding Karin, a comrade.

Karin: It was interesting that Karin was shown to be in the same Forest of Death Chuunin trials as Sasuke. It makes me wonder if failing that exam led to how she ended up with Orochimaru. She wanted to see Sasuke's face again, and we are shown the Sasuke of the past beside the Sasuke of the present--very different people. Sasuke seemed to be about to put Karin down for good at the end of last chapter...when Sakura shows up.

Sakura:: Oh, Sakura. She's been racking up enemies in fandom, but I think the character development is interesting myself, if only because the extreme choices she has made--though not very pleasant ones--are believable in a highly pressurized, militant, and emotional situation such as this.

In Chapter 482, Sakura announces to Sasuke--who processes her arrival with detachment--that she has chosen to leave Konoha and join him. This is not little-girl whimsy. We know that Sakura is there to kill Sasuke, and that she has even practiced lying to people she loves to prepare for this (i.e. Naruto). Only in this ccase, the reason for the subterfuge is obvious. Sakura knows she can't take Sasuke head on. Not even she, Lee, Sai, and Kiba together could manage it, so she ditched them to try a different tactic (and thereby keep them safe, putting all the burden on herself--classic Sakura). Does she mean to stab Sasuke in the back? Yes. Is it the wrong choice? I can't really say. Sakura is a ninja. Subterfuge, seduction, and stabbing is sort of traditional female ninja tactic, and it's painfully obvious that someone needs to do something to stop Sasuke.

What makes Sakura's method poignant rather than despicable (though still not honorable) is that Sakura loves Sasuke. She wants to save Konoha, but more than that, she wants to save Sasuke...from himself, or rather, what he has become.



Chapter 483 Recap with Analysis:

Chapter 483 opens with an (albeit weird looking) picture of Sakura and the caption "Both she and her friends are changing...just like the drifting clouds."

What does this mean? The protagonist characters are finally growing up. But what does this mean for a ninja? They are growing up dangerously, callously, becoming hardened because their environment (the ninja world) demands it.

In Part 1 of Naruto, back when they were kids, friendship and goodness, defined as the desire to protect, conquered evil, often through pure determination. The characters believe in these ideals despite the warnings of adults that the ninja life is hard and sometimes hopeless (e.g. Jiraiya giving up on Orochimaru, etc). In Part 2, the ideals of Team 7 are put under a great deal of strain.

In coming to grips with the realities of the ninja life, Sasuke rejects everything but his own hatred, since the ninja way has destroyed everyone he loved. Sasuke's hate and suffering then infects everyone else. When Naruto realizes that Sasuke cannot be changed, and possibly not be saved, Naruto faints (though he gets back up--purpose unclear). Sakura reacts by hardening her heart. She attempts to do the necessary thing, despite that it is gritty and repulsive, and do it with betrayal and deceit if she has to.

Sakura lies to Sasuke, promising to help him, but Sasuke sees through her bluff. He notes that she has nothing to gain and asks her directly what she is plotting. He has no need to trust her. He has no reason to give a damn about Sakura, especially where his mind is at now. Sakura is aware of this too. Her strategy isn't to fool Sasuke into allowing her to accompany him, but to trick him--momentarily--with his own arrogance. She is hopes that Sasuke will dismiss her as weak and desperate, but not without taking a chance to mock or expose her first, and in doing so, give her an opening.

It sort of works out that way, but it sort of doesn't too.

Sasuke tests Sakura. He hits her between the eyes (metaphorically), telling her what he is really after--the destruction of Konoha. The extent of his rage is a shock, and the real Sakura quails, but she steels herself and agrees. She has to know she sounds false, but that doesn't mean her strategy isn't working. Sensing her subterfuge, Sasuke gives her a more immediate test: Kill Karin.

This testing business really isn't important. All Sakura needs is an opening. Asking her to kill Karin effectively gives Sakura the opening she needed. She approaches, stalling for time by asking who Karin is and then rejecting the need to kill her, all the while gripping a kunai knife she no doubt means for Sasuke. Internally, she is thinking that this is her chance to kill Sasuke--or sedate him; whatever she planned. But Sakura's will wavers. She hesitates, not quite as hard or cold blooded as she thinks she is.

What she doesn't expect is for Sasuke to not only predict that she is untrustworthy, but to stab her in the back (with a Chidori, but same thing) while 'giving' her an opening.

Sakura unexpectedly gets a small warning before impending doom...from Karin, who (with her sensory abilities) has been analyzing the situation, deducing that Sakura is an old friend of Sasuke's. Karin begs Sasuke to stop (likely for his own sake, but there's no way of knowing).

Sasuke does not stop. He really is going to kill Sakura. The warning Karin gives supplies only enough time for Sakura to realize it is going to happen.

Fortunately, Kakashi arrives in time to stop it.

Kakashi tells Sakura that she shouldn't take the burden of Sasuke onto herself. He apologizes for contributing to her guilt by filling her with false hope and making her think that if they just don't give up, Sasuke will return and things will be like they once were. He conveys that he has let her down as an instructor. Sakura kindly assures him that he is not a bad teacher. Kakashi then addresses Sasuke. He tells him, as he has said before, to not let himself be consumed by revenge.

Sasuke finds this advice...hilarious. Looking a bit crazed, he tells Kakashi that if he wants him to stop, he needs to give back Itachi, his parents, his clan...

Kakashi vocalizes regret at any necessity at having to kill Sasuke. Sasuke dismisses this sentiment with the implication that he believes Kakashi is too weak to do this (whether pysically or emotionally is not clear). He then returns that he is 'dying to kill' Kakashi.

Kakashi wonders internally if this is Madara's influence on Sasuke. Possibly because he is not sure, he tells Sakura to use her healing to save Karin, as she might have valuable intelligence on the enemy (again, not clear if he means Sasuke or Madara). He then announces that he will take care of Sasuke, thus relieving Sakura of that burden. Sakura seems troubled and does not respond.

Meanwhile, Naruto is shown racing toward the scene.

Kakashi reflects outloud that now he knows how the Third Hokage felt while facing Orochimaru, who was the Third's student and a person he still loved until the hour of his death.

Sasuke remarks that Kakashi will share the Third Hokage's fate.


What it means and where is may go:

The confrontation between Sasuke and Team 7 is long overdue. It is poignant because there is no easy solution. As has been said before, Sasuke has a right to anger and bitterness and a demand for compensation for the loss of his family (punitive damages?). The problem is that there IS no compensation in this kind of society, especially given the secrecy surrounding the Uchiha massacre. And even if there were a way to compensate Sasuke, who would be responsible for paying? Sasuke thinks it is Konoha--everyone from Konoha, and personally. For this reason, Sasuke has transformed his hate and rage into a desire to kill everyone from Konoha as much as he has been hurt, starting with the Elders. Although his old teammates want to help Sasuke, it is not possible for Kakashi, or anyone in Konoha, to return Sasuke's family to him (as far as we know; Pain brought people back from the dead, so...who knows...maybe Itachi can be resurrected). Indeed, the fact that Konoha even bears any responsibility is a revelation still not fully believed. So as it stands, no one is going to lie down and die to ease Sasuke's pain. After all, doing so serves no purpose, as hurting/killing people from Konoha will not bring Sasuke's family back or ease his pain, either one.

So Kakashi and Sasuke will fight one another instead. And Naruto is on the way, having come to terms (after fainting) that Sasuke must be stopped.

Will this story end by Chapter 500 as was once rumored?

I doubt it. I would be unsurprised if a Naruto/Sasuke battle is postponed. Sasuke's battle with Kakashi might be cut short. Either Sasuke will lose because he is so worn out after fighting Danzou, or Madara will interefere. It would be unsurprising if Madara whisks Sasuke away before Naruto can do much.

If Sasuke loses, will he accept Itachi's eyes? It seems very possible.

I suspect that Karin WILL be saved, and her intelligence will prove very interesting, supposing she shares it with Konoha-nin. So will the interaction between Sakura and Karin.

The reaction of the rest of Team Hawk when they learn that Karin was taken by the Leaf will also be interesting. They may or may not also learn that Sasuke planned to kill her. Not sure how they will react. I privately suspect that Suigetsu at least has grown rather fond of Karin (despite professing that he can't stand her). Will they try to rescue her? If Sasuke admits to almost killing Karin, will the loyalty of the others weaken?



All in all, a very interesting development! I look forward to the next chapter.

As for my fics and other projects... I am SWAMPED. See my journal entry for notes about White Rain. Hopefully, it will be a productive weekend! I crave progress...

Otherwise, please forgive mistakes as I am VERY tired. Do please comment!

Comments

[candysweett.livejournal.com]

cool! i can't wait to see the battle between naruto and sasuke :D
thanks for posting this^^

[dark-moon-angel.livejournal.com]

Very good analysis!! And I don't think Naruto will end at chapter 500... that'd be way too early! I do believe Karin will survive though, her and Sakura can have a little chat :D

[hot-jupiters.livejournal.com]

Interesting... but is anyone left wondering how the hell could Sakura think that stabbing Sasuke would kill him?

It's a kunai. He practically shoots lasers out of his eyes these days.

[voldy06.livejournal.com]

It should be sharp enough for a throat cut.

[hot-jupiters.livejournal.com]

True, that's a good point. Snuff out those lasers, Sakura! Although, you know. Madara does have a jar of them, but she doesn't know that.

[hot-jupiters.livejournal.com]

Also true. I'm looking at the panel, though, and I'm just irritated that she even dared to get that close and not pay attention to him.

I'm not annoyed with her for going the subterfuge route -- yay ninjas! -- I'm annoyed with her for not expecting him to return the favor.

[voldy06.livejournal.com]

Yeah that was stupid. I mean, she's there to kill him because he's gone to the dark side but then does not expect him to act accordingly? O_o

I guess we are supposed to assume that deep down Sakura wasn't ready to truly believe who he has become.

[hot-jupiters.livejournal.com]

I can go with that -- I mean, it's really, really not an easy, trivial reality to have to accept as much as readers want it to be.

And although they've heard of Sasuke's battles, they really don't know how he fights anymore because they haven't seen him in action in a long time... so yeah, I'm going to go with that line of reasoning. Makes things more acceptable to me that way.

[toboe-lonewolf.livejournal.com]

I really don't think Naruto is going to end at chp 500. There are too many loose ties to deal with: what about the other kages? What about the rest of the rookie 12 and their decision to deal with Sasuke? What about Madara's dark moon plan, and his (presumably) single Akatsuki member left? What about Juugo and Suigetsu? What about Tsunade, dammit

There is no way Kishimoto can wrap that all up in 20 chapters. Battles themselves can take up to 5-10 chapters, and unless Kakashi REALLY SUCKS for who knows what reason, this confrontation is going to take at least that many chapters. At least, if they don't get interrupted. :/

Plus, this is a shonen manga, and while I have not read every single one in existence, I am fairly certain that in the end there will be a mostly happy ending. At worst I think we'll see a redemption for Sasuke like Danzo's -- knowing he was wrong, in a way. However, we have seen absolutely NO remorse from Sasuke, NO second guessing, and no longass flashback before conversion no hesitation. If this is going to be a happy manga ending, it will require in some way Sasuke's redemption, which will require a megaload of chapters as we still have all of that other stuff to deal with.

[wings-on-fire.livejournal.com]

Poisoned kunai, maybe?

[wings-on-fire.livejournal.com]

Sasuke and Naruto seem like shades of Danzou and Sandaime, don't they? One too consumed by negativity and drowning in darkness, the other shining with positive energy and reaching for the light.

Pain was able to resurrect only those who had'died' in that battle. He wasn't able to resurrect Jiraiya. So, I guess Itachi isn't likely to come back.

[zamkenobi.livejournal.com]

I'm beginning to think that whatever Karin did to Sasuke, provided it wasn't just a kiss or something lame like that, will be coming to light soon. It seems important considering that she probably won't be on his side anymore, since, you know, he was planning on killing her.

I picked this icon because I miss that Sasuke so badly :'(

[a-windybreeze.livejournal.com]

Lol. This may be irrelevent, but I think everyone has just forgotten about poor Kurenai. She hasn't had a panel in... forever. Just cause she can't fight in *her condition* doesn't mean she should go so darn unupdated. She's PREGNANT for chrissakes.

[akapiratequeen.livejournal.com]

Actually, the kid is probably 12 by now. This has been going on forever.

[zapenstap.livejournal.com]

but Sasuke's so hot, though. *mezmerized by your avatar* i meam... ::delirious from working too hard::

[zapenstap.livejournal.com]

that was my thought, but maybe it doesnt matter,

[zapenstap.livejournal.com]

Yin and Yang, yah. Only, Naruto has to find a way of making it end differently.

I wasn't implying that Pain would bring Itachi back (Pain is dead too...) just that we've seen unbelievable things happen before.

Would kinda ruin my Fanfic though, which a reader painfully reminded me I've been writing for two years so even though Itachi is my favorite character, maybe it's best he stays dead! :)

[zapenstap.livejournal.com]

::loves that Sasuke::

it's the same Sasuke too! sorta... I mean, same guy technically.

I forget when Karin did something to Sasuke...?

[zapenstap.livejournal.com]

I didn't forget! In terms of time passing, it really HASN'T been that long. If you read all the chapters in novel form you would realize that things are moving wicked fast. It just FEELs like forever. And in the anime, the filler arcs make it seem even longer.

Kurenai WILL have a baby!

[centimetre.livejournal.com]

Your analysis is spot on!

LOL HURRY UP NARUTO COME USE YOUR JESUS POWERS (or that crow-thingy) AND MAGICALLY REDEEM SASUKE

honestly I can't see how Kishimoto can convincingly redeem Sasuke at this point since it's not like Sasuke isn't acting of his own free will... but... I doubt he'll have the balls to kill him off =_=

[dlvr.livejournal.com]

I believe the original quote from Kishimoto was that he would like to end the manga in the 500's, so...could be 599.