Naruto manga 443

[askerian]

Chapter *here*


First, I don't like how this translator strips off all the honorifics. I don't know if Hinata calls Sakura -san or -chan and that's an important distinction (also I need to know for fic-writing damn it); most importantly, there's no -sensei with Gai and Gai is one of the only people Neji is actually polite to! It bugs me. Also last chapter they translated "Hinata, for Naruto" into "Hinata it's because you love Naruto." We all know that's true, but she might just have wanted to say "Hinata, you did that for Naruto"... I don't like it much when the translator tries to guess too far.

But nevermind all that.

-Page one: ... wtf pain's elongated D: face. Oh Kishi.

-Page two: Lots of broken rocks! Also Naruto, if you go to the pool, never try to dive, you'll get hurt belly-flopping that way. Most unimpressive and undramatic way to fall ever. XD

-Page three: I am surprised to see myself enjoying Nagato and Konan's interaction.
I am not surprised to find myself enjoying the hell out of Naruto manipulating Yahiko's rods. *is shot* ... Not even in a phallic way! Well -- not an obvious one. But there's something that makes me *__* about Naruto hesitating not a bit while he takes them out and impales himself with them to track down his enemy. It's smart, first thing, and second thing, it's badass. He doesn't even flinch much even though it must hurt, because it's the fastest way to find his target, and therefore pain (urgh, never using that word again) and impalement gross-out factor aren't allowed to get to him. Oh Naruto. *_*

-Page four and five: You keep flashbacking but all I hear is blahpainblah.

-Page six: Dead Jiraiya looks so strange from that angle, I almost didn't recognize him. And is that Kakashi? :O I almost took it as confirmation he's dead, but Hinata isn't dead! Also d'aww he flashbacks about people he doesn't know in the broken village. He really does love it. *squishes*

-Page seven: middle panel of that sidelong look really reminds me of some art for Jiraiya's "the gutsy ninja". N'awwwww.
Sakura: "you shouldn't have done that..." I'm not sure how to take it. It sounds as if she either doesn't agree with Hinata's motives (saving the guy she loves) or doesn't agree with her method (being too weak or too unprepared to make it a real fight). Both of them would make her a hypocrite because she threw herself between Sasuke and Gaara without thinking with only a kunai AND she threw herself at a rampaging four-tails Naruto without thinking and with zero weapons. I'm going to take it as a generic "You worried me, that was way too dangerous" comment that she didn't think about much because she didn't know how necessary the risk was or wasn't. The other way to take it would be that she is trying to belittle Hinata's opinion that Naruto's life places higher than hers, but thankfully there's not enough facial and body language closeups for that to be Kishimoto's intended meaning.
Either way, this and the following panels and previous chapter totally kill the idea it might be jealousy to me, thankfully. I didn't like the idea that Sakura would be of the "I didn't want him but I don't want anyone else to have him either" type. It would seem petty and even kind of ugly.

-Page eight: N'aww Hinata. ... I wonder if it's the last meaningful thing she'll really get to do in this arc. *suspicious of Kishi*

-Page nine: Neji is still in love with Naruto. Awww. u.u No seriously, I got shipper pings from his active worry and that facial expression of D: there are the bottom.

-Page ten: ... anyone remember the name of that Hyuuga? if he's got a name. (... he has Sai lips. Crackpot theories commence in three... two... one...) Mighty convenient, that Hyuuga clan -- we haven't seen one for years apart from Neji and Hinata, but kick over their anthill and they come crawling out all over the place like particularly pureblooded binoculars on legs.

-Page eleven: Inodaddy: if you're here then does it mean that you beat Pain? (and saved the village from more damage? And taken revenge for all the dead comrades? And we might start to regroup, finally?)
Naruto: Winning, losing... None of that matters... *look ma, i can do emo teen too.*
Shikaku, please just slap him over the head.

-Page twelve: poor Inodaddy still trying to get Naruto to just friggin TELL THEM what happened! Instead he's all "yeah... i'm emo... I'll mope in front of you but not tell you why... It validates me when you ask... proves you care, you know? but I still won't tell you because i want to see when you give up. like everyone else gave up. woe." Oh Naruto. Superior officers? Chain of command? respect for adults? hah. XD He's the man who beat Pain, man. He's got no authority to bow to. (okay i know this scene is supposed to symbolize how he's starting to grow up into an equal instead of a kid. ... it's still funny. Poor Inodaddy.)

-Page thirteen: "I'm grateful you defeated pain, but talking won't solve anything now!" "so what then? should I just destroy pain and his cronies and his whole village and that'll solve everything?"
I'm torn between "ohhh Naruto i'm so proud of you" and "... the village, you can leave alone. but Pain and his cronies? They're not open for negotiations. You're not gonna talk them into repenting." In this at least Inoichi isn't wrong -- talking with them is probably only gonna prove how much Nagato's mind is made up. (unless naruto somehow realizes that madara was manipulating him all along even tho nagato and konoan had no idea omg poor guy totally redeemed now!! which, ummmm. >___> Kishi, I'm watching you there.)

-Page fourteen: Some more n'awwwwww.
Shikadaddy: "I'm sure he has a plan." At least one of us is? XD His plan is probably "go there and then wing it." But hey, it works for him.

-Page fifteen: Naruto jumping away looks fat. Stupid clothes. Stupid Kishi. mesh shiiirt damn it.
Shikaku is wise and smart and he totally let Naruto go in an effort to see for himself why his beloved son is so totally in love with Naruto respects Naruto so much. Don't disappoint Shikadaddy, Naruto. He'll cut you if you fail the trust and admiration his beloved son placed in you. and then he won't let you place anything in him. Yeah. be good, Naruto. Impress your future inlaws.

-Page sixteen: Paaaapertreeeee~ I loved how Naruto parted Konan's folds. Of paper.
So Pain has penis-replacement rods, and now Konan has vertical openings to be spread open and entered. You wonder why the fuck she bothered to paper the whole tree if her legs it can be open so easily. (... okay that joke was easy too. sorry.) I mean... What was the point? maybe camouflage, because it sure didn't seem to even slow Naruto down. (that cad.)

-Page seventeen: ... I like that Nagato still seems to care about Konan. Bet your ass she'll sacrifice her life to shield him or otherwise kill herself when he does too -- it seems to fit the japanese archetype of the woman who has no other goals that to support her man's dreams. Their whole relationship gives me pings of Shishio Makoto and Yumi in Rurouni Kenshin, actually. (Yumi threw herself in the middle of a fight to protect Shishio and then he killed her to get to Kenshin through her body -- and she was happy, because she'd been useful.) Maybe less sexual, because there's Yahiko's ghost between them, but... Hrrn.



Anyway. I liked this chapter well enough, even though i wish Sakura had a more important role than healing machine -- I suppose with all the characters crammed into that arc, no one can really claim a bigger spot. It's mostly about Naruto's growth. ... Still.

I really miss Sasuke. Also, WTF are Sai and Anko doing? apart from her teaching him about life and birds and bees and facesitting, I mean.

Comments

[venia.livejournal.com]

Ohohoh~ XD I'm so amused. Yes, we agree to many points it seems.
I like your page-to-page commentary better *_* and lol, Shikamaru is so totally in love with Naruto! As also are Neji, Hinata, Sakura, Sasuke, Sai, Gaara...did I miss anyone? wtf, the hero takes the harem, that's what it is. XDD Makes me wanna write something.

[askerian]

Hareeeeeeeem *__*

So are you writing something? Got a plot yet?

[leahnari.livejournal.com]

I kinda now want to read a ficlet for: Shika/Naru, Anko/Sai, Naru/Neji, actually, every single pair you alluded to. Harem indeed.

Thank you so much for the page-by-page commentary. Made my night ^_^
I also like Naruto's look on page 7 (ICON), but you're right about the whole emoteen shpiel. Child, just explain yourself. Or, go be badass, whatever. Fine.

I kinda miss Sasuke too. I expected him to come waltzing back in when Konoha exploded, just to pile on the mayhem. T'was not to be, I guess.

Again, this made my night. Or morning. Thanks!

[leahnari.livejournal.com]

Also, to add: I love your observations of the Hyuuga clan, and Shikaku as Naruto's inlaw. How I would love to see that ^^;

[askerian]

... So tempted to write them, too. XD But... Ahh. Writer's block again. *hate*

I never really expected Sasuke to destroy Konoha for real, but it still makes me want to see his reaction so badly. Also now it's gonna be even harder to prove to the Sasuke bashers that he never did mean it. *sigh*

[rosalui.livejournal.com]

You made me lol. ^_^ Repeatedly.

As soon as you started talking about "Japanese stereotype" I thought of Yumi in RK too. >.>

NarutoHarem is growing larger all the time. o.o

[askerian]

Glad to amuse you, dear. u.u~

Naruto is a pimp, son of the ultimate pimp, growing up to be the pimpest pimp that ever pimped. Konoha? Only there to provide his concubines. And even then he still goes and poaches in the other villages. He won't rest until the whole world calls him daddy.

[book-people.livejournal.com]

...I really need to stop reading your commentary in public places. ^_^;;

-Page sixteen: Paaaapertreeeee~ I loved how Naruto parted Konan's folds. Of paper.
So Pain has penis-replacement rods, and now Konan has vertical openings to be spread open and entered. You wonder why the fuck she bothered to paper the whole tree if her legs it can be open so easily. (... okay that joke was easy too. sorry.) I mean... What was the point? maybe camouflage, because it sure didn't seem to even slow Naruto down. (that cad.)

That right there is total win of winning. I'm just saying. XDDD

So, in this arc we have had several things confirmed: Hinata does actually have a backbone, if she doesn't have the strength to do anything with it at the moment. Neji wants to have Naruto's babies. Not only does Shikamaru want to have Naruto's babies, his daddy approves of the match. Kishi greatly enjoys including ridiculous subtext in all his characters' techniques/actions.
Did I miss anything? XDDD

Adi

[askerian]

♥

Did I miss anything? XDDD
Doesn't look like it. XD Oh, NaruHarem. ♥

heh... necrophiliacs..

[(Anonymous)]

remember the one rant you wrote on Sasuke, where you ended by saying that, if he dies in the end, you'll have to make Naruto and Sakura necrophiliacs?

Well, that plot might not be so far from cannon, what with Konan and Nagato having Yahiko's reanimated corpse around...

Re: heh... necrophiliacs..

[nekokriszty.livejournal.com]

OMFG, that is just twisted... Love it!! =DD

Re: heh... necrophiliacs..

[askerian]

... DX DX DX mean. Now my brain is trying to come up with plot for it.

[fonsetorigo.livejournal.com]

-Page three: I am surprised to see myself enjoying Nagato and Konan's interaction.
I am not surprised to find myself enjoying the hell out of Naruto manipulating Yahiko's rods.

SO MUCH WIN ON BOTH THESE PARTS. I loved how he just starts pulling them all out and then how they started leaking blood. o.- that was some what ew and cool at the same time. More so that Naruto was just so... he wasnt vicious with it? It was sort of respectful? to me at least. He could of been all Deidara over Gaara-esq and just ripped them out, but he wasn't, that really touched me some how.

(I am going to miss Deva Pein. so much fail but true)

(unless naruto somehow realizes that madara was manipulating him all along even tho nagato and konoan had no idea omg poor guy totally redeemed now!! which, ummmm. >___> Kishi, I'm watching you there.)

If that happens. I am going to shoot myself. Crazy Idealists should be crazy all the way through, and not hide behind 'OH BLAHBLAHBLAH MADE ME DO IT' If you are going to be insane and blow up a freaking village, do it on your own terms. >.<

What was the point? maybe camouflage, because it sure didn't seem to even slow Naruto down. (that cad.)

I guess it was camouflage, because Naruto only knew where they were because he had the rod.

-Page seventeen: ... I like that Nagato still seems to care about Konan. Bet your ass she'll sacrifice her life to shield him or otherwise kill herself when he does too -- it seems to fit the japanese archetype of the woman who has no other goals that to support her man's dreams. Their whole relationship gives me pings of Shishio Makoto and Yumi in Rurouni Kenshin, actually. (Yumi threw herself in the middle of a fight to protect Shishio and then he killed her to get to Kenshin through her body -- and she was happy, because she'd been useful.) Maybe less sexual, because there's Yahiko's ghost between them, but... Hrrn.

I oddly, want her to kill herself? Dx Fail. But I don't want it to be like Hinata, cause it'll lose its novelty. Konan and Nagato are so obviously entrenched in each other (she looks after him in that state, that takes a lot and he evidently holds a great deal of caring (or at least confidence) in her, wish he would express more often though D:) I wish Manga would show that. >.

[askerian]

that was some what ew and cool at the same time. More so that Naruto was just so... he wasnt vicious with it? It was sort of respectful? to me at least. He could of been all Deidara over Gaara-esq and just ripped them out, but he wasn't, that really touched me some how.

Ooh, now that you point it out, yes, that was pretty neat as well. He wasn't brutal with the pulling out thingie. *squishes naruto*

yeah, it would be pretty lame if after destroying a whole village and killing so many people -- plus what he did to secure his rule over his country... he doesn't get to hide behind "it wasn't my fault, madara manipulated me." I mean it might account for a little of it at the beginning, but the rest is all his own decision. >:/

yeah, killing herself would also work... Hm.

[sowell.livejournal.com]

Page six: Dead Jiraiya looks so strange from that angle, I almost didn't recognize him.

At first I was like, "what is Inuyasha doing in this manga?" But question: were those, like, Naruto getting Pain flashbacks via black chakra rod? Because he didn't actually see any of those things except Hinata.

Sakura: "you shouldn't have done that..." I'm not sure how to take it.

Me neither. There was a little too much Tsunade in that comment for my liking.

*look ma, i can do emo teen too.*

Heee hee hee.

Paaaapertreeeee~ I loved how Naruto parted Konan's folds. Of paper.

Ahahahaha, I love how your mind works.

Bet your ass she'll sacrifice her life to shield him or otherwise kill herself when he does too -- it seems to fit the japanese archetype of the woman who has no other goals that to support her man's dreams.

That DOES sound like Kishi. And, um, has already happened once this arc. If it happens, I'm mostly interested in whether Nagato will be all, "nooooooooooooo!" or just, "oh, well. she feels pain no more."

I have nothing to add, except: Bye bye Yahiko!Pain. Like Itachi, you were just too pretty to die.

Oh, and JESUS, can we finally find out how Yahiko died?

[askerian]

But question: were those, like, Naruto getting Pain flashbacks via black chakra rod? Because he didn't actually see any of those things except Hinata.

You know, I didn't think of that at all with my first reading, but it would make things very interesting. Gotta read over! *__*

Ahahahaha, I love how your mind works.
*is pure and innocent* *no, really*

Yeah, another girl sacrificing herself for her man = bleargh. If that happened and Nagato went "oh well she feels pain no more" then he'd officially be relegated to the blandest villain ever for me. At least if he still is human enough to care for her that much then it'd make things vaguely more interesting. >__>

And yes! Goddamnit, what happened to Yahiko already? (tho I sure hope it's not going to be presented as a Get Out Of Bad guy Corner Free card. I'm already annoyed that Itachi's reasons are used to make him look white and shiny and pure instead of grey. Granted all that Itachi redemption thing was from Sasuke's POV and if he's not allowed to idolize Itachi, then who is... >___>

[akapiratequeen.livejournal.com]

Win to have Naruto pierce himself with Pain's rod (gah) and head off to the gangbang (showdown) through Konan's folds.

Fail to have him not even tell anyone else where the real Pain is located. Like, maybe, just in case?

Filler chapter is filler.

[askerian]

Yeah, that fail was rather faily. Oh Naruto. You're not the only one with a legitimate grievance here. Also I know it goes against his "i refuse to loe!" thing, but srsly. as a hokage he's got to learn to plan for the worst, because even if he's wrong then his people still have to be protected somehow. -___-;;;

[nothri.livejournal.com]

That last panel....

"So, Peace has arrived?"

Okay, okay, no. If the whole lets-kill-every=sensei-ever-nuke-Konoha plot has just been an extended plea by Pain for something to give him "peace", I'm gonna be pissed. Seriously now, can't you just kill yourself like a good little emo psychopath and stop giving everyone else so much grief?

Otherwise, a pretty good chapter. Not spectacular, but a fun read. I'm wondering if Sakura isn't actually saying "Hinata, you shouldn't have done that...trust me, I've totally tossed myself in front of people I've loved, and not once has it ever ended well". Maybe a "those who can't....teach!" moments? I'll ask about on the forums (shudder) about the honorifics. In the meantime, I think we should all just assume Hinata is saying "Sakura-sama".


So you think Naruto is being clever and tracking Pain with the chakra spike things? That's actually an explanation I prefer to my first impression- that he'd become so emo he needed to cut on himself. Okay, my actual first impression was more "ah, so they're going for a bad metaphor for 'feeling someone else's Pain'". Which, I suppose, still might be true- but its much more awesome if said metaphor happens while tracking Pain down to his tree.

Well, it is nice to see Ino's dad displaying an iota more sanity than everyone else- so yes, its awesome to see people in the village respecting naruto and not treating him like garbage anymore...but right now he's acting kinda strange and frankly a little bit like a wanker. I once again find myself thinking Naruto's heart is in the right place, but priorities are a little ascue. Case in point- please grapple with the issues of world peace after you've dealt with the freaking invaders at your doorstep!

And then there's Konan...aka the main reason its a good idea to send in reinforcements instead of one poor guy who's totally exhausted from fighting the other super akatsuki and now has to be in the same room with an untried fresh one. I know, Konan being a woman likely means she's no match for any male character in this series (::sigh::) but the fact that Naruto is unconcerned about this....alarms me.

By the way...tree folds? That was terrible. And awesome. I will therefore hate and love you forever for it, because I'd never have though of it.

Nothing to do now but wait for the next chapter, it seems....

[askerian]

Seriously now, can't you just kill yourself like a good little emo psychopath and stop giving everyone else so much grief?

Shrgk yes, that's why I really can't manage to give a damn for Pain -- for such a badass he's so damn WHINY. He's even worse than Madara and his "well you didn't like me and validate me! it's your fault that now i'm gonna plot your doom for the next three bazilion centuries."

Maybe a "those who can't....teach!" moments?
... XDDDD

Yeah, Inodaddy was actually acting like a responsible and logical adult who operates on real world parameters! (well, kinda. More than shikadaddy. XD) I was pleasantly surprised, even though it's probably only so that Naruto had a reason to explain his decision for the audience somewhat.

I'm not sure Naruto even remembers Konan exists. -__-;; (Konan/Neji fight, though? Sounds likely to you? Might be kinda interesting, since the only other good guy I remember fighting girls is Shikamaru. >__> ...what does that say about Neji's masculinity, though. XD okay, so the guy wears skirts, he's got no right to say anything. ♥)

*yay! is lovehated! muahahaha*

[midnigh-unicorn.livejournal.com]

I love the page by page commentary and totally agree about Neji ~_~

The only thing I wanted to really comment on was the him flashing to people he doesn't even know are injured? Can't really confirm it, particularly since Hinata had already been removed and healed, but it's like since the rods connect via chakra back to Pain/Nagato, maybe they also connect to the people impaled by the rods, so Naruto /does/ know. To be in the Network of Pain *_*


....or something

[askerian]

XD i'll try to keep the page by page habit since people seem to find it entertaining, but mmm laziness. We'll see. it was fun to write though.

mmmm yes, the network of pain is kinda neat. prrrt. *__* like i said higher *quotes self, lazy* I just read it over and the fact that he gets those flashbacks just after sticking it in himself (*snerk* *is twelve*), AND there's a "!!" bubble speech and a little startled-flash-thing really make me lean toward the "seeing Pain's memories" theory. Shinyyyy.

[ktoth04.livejournal.com]

want moar now

*sigh*

[sum-solus.livejournal.com]

I hate it when they leave off the honorifics, too.

http://mangahelpers.com/t/hisshouburaiken/releases/11218

HisshouBuraiKen translated it as Sakura-san.

[askerian]

Ohh, thanks for the link. *read read*

[kittychan1986.livejournal.com]

This chapter was the chapter for the odd NarutoXsomeguy to come out of the wood and squeal. Neji, Lee, Shikamaru. All of them have decided that they too, want Naruto's body. I died a little over Neji's concern. My BF, who doesn't get the same pings that I do (Odd reason, no idea why.) was insistent that no one else get involved because Naruto needed to kill Pein.

Also, how many new Hyuuga's have we seen? Seriously, I swear we've seen more with speaking roles than showed up in any more of the Clan shots to this point. (While some Named characters don't get to say a single word! WTF!)

You know, while I was incredibly proud of Naruto for parts of the exchange between him and the Daddy Team - 1, I really really want him to end Pein. Kishi will kill off good guys, but all the bad guys (Save Haku who really deserved it) get redeemed? What the HECK Kishi?

*Also misses Sasuke terribly* In Saskue chapters we got flashes to what Naruto was doing...why not get Sasuke Flashes in Naruto's chapters? ;.;

I love your commentaries.

[askerian]

XD yeah, the only things missing are narukiba and narushino, I swear. (your BF is weird. the naruneji was especially visible! XD)

*misses sasuke with you* T^T

[nekokriszty.livejournal.com]

NO EFFING WAY!!!!! I THOUGHT I WAS THE ONLY ONE WHO WAS REMINDED OF YUMI BY KONAN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I can't believe I share some thoughts with the great Askerian. :D

[askerian]

I dunno, it's in the elegance as well, I think they have that womanly sophistication in common...

... DX great what? I'm exactly 5 feet tall. Also my head doesn't need to be any bigger.

[nemi-chan.livejournal.com]

I like your comments re: Shikadaddy.

I think the paper tree is cameo

But my question is...Why does Neji have a bag on his back? (And what's in it?)

[askerian]

Gai and Lee are also carrying their backpacks. I assume Tenten is carrying her stuff too, maybe in the big scroll at her hips. It's their standard traveling gear, they had it during the Gaara arc too.

[uminohikari.livejournal.com]

*sigh* I hate when honorifics aren't on the translation--it's such an important part about how the characters feel about each other! You would think that someone who knows japanese enough to translate would realize that..

[askerian]

especially for more formal characters like hinata or katsuyu. x__x most naruto characters are really not that polite, but srsly. Hn.

[editrixfox.livejournal.com]

I had to stop reading the comments. I think i was about to explode with laughing. ..Good Lord the things people come up with. yea what have Sai and Anko been up to? Think they might be tailing Danzo? After all, as part of ROOT Sai would have access to their plans. My guess is that's where Sasuke is going to come back in at. Maybe while Naruto is dealing with Nagato and Konan......Hey wait a sec ... isn't one of Sasuke's buddies named Konan too? or is it different? nevermind.
Loved your commentary, as usual.
Why is Neji not so surprised that Hinata risked her life for Naruto? Better yet, why isn't he freaking out? And why didn't his curse seal force him o protect her like it should have?

[askerian]

Sai and Anko have said what they're up to; they're trailing Kabuto.
Konan is an Akatsuki from the start. if you mean the perv who thinks Sasuke's sweat and blood is sexy, you're thinking of Karin. Though now Sasuke is nominally an Akatsuki I guess Konan is also his coworker.
Neji's curse seal isn't forcing him to protect anyone; IF someone from the main house decides to punish him (or just fuck with him) activates it deliberately then it causes him pain (it doesn't do anything else), it's not automatic (and considering the only one around at the moment seems to be Hinata and she'd never do that to him...) Besides he wasn't in Konoha, he only just arrived. He hasn't learned to teleport yet. ;p