Song Of The Week 118 – SIGN by FLOW

Uh… Kind of rushed for time this week. Again. Another meeting, you know? Busy, busy, busy… So tough being a Biology graduate/otaku… Anyway.

Naruto Chapter 508 – A Death Befitting A Shinobi

I knew that sooner or later, Naruto would 'jump the shark'...

Last week, Kisame bit his own tongue off to stop Aoba from getting information on Akatsuki, and this week he breaks free from his shackles. Everyone is forces back, and Yamato is surprised Kisame broke free even though he strengthened the shackles with wood-style jutsu. Aoba tells everyone to take Kisame alive, as they may never have a good opportunity for information like this, and Might Guy says he knows. Kisame starts to pour water out of his mouth, encircling himself in a Water Prison Technique. The prison halts Guy’s attack, but he escapes before Kisame summons some sharks into the prison with him. Naruto points out that Kisame used a Water Prison jutsu (obviously, he said it when he used it) and Yamato says not to worry, as there’s nothing Kisame can do in the current situation. Kisame then remembers back to when he and Itachi became partners in Akatsuki. He introduces himself, how he was formerly of the Hidden Mist and the Seven Swordsman of the Hidden Mist. He also says that he knows all about Itachi, and that is why he was chosen as Itachi’s partner. Kisame then says it is impossible to describe how it feels to slaughter your comrades, and asks Itachi if he felt the same. Itachi replies that he talks too much. Itachi then says that Kisame doesn’t know himself, having been a wandering rogue in the mist.

Naruto Chapter 507 – A Living Lie!

Tiger beats Shark.

Might Guy’s ‘Daytime Tiger’ V Kisame Hoshigaki’s ‘Giant Shark Missile’. Who will win? Let’s see. Kisame explains in thought that his missile absorbs the opponent’s chakra to grow stronger and bigger, and that the stronger the enemy’s attack is, the stronger it will be. He theorises that Guy’s attack has a lot of chakra making it up, so feels like he has won. The shark swallows the tiger, but the shark doesn’t grow. Instead, Guy yells for his youth to howl, and then the tiger explodes inside the shark. Naruto’s group notice the explosion, and Yamato explains it is Guy’s ‘Daytime Tiger’ attack, and that they should brace themselves for immediate impact. At the impact point, Guy stands triumphant over Kisame, who asks what Guy’s move was. Guy explains that the tiger is a combat move, and is a simple punch. However, the punch is so fast that it focuses a blast of concentrated air at the opponent, which explodes on impact. He also explains that the blue aura he has is because of the Gate of Wonder being opened, which produces blue sweat from every pore on his body, which is then evaporated by his heat energy. Kisame understands, as he thought it was shrinking because it was chakra. He states that this is the third time they have fought, yet Guy still had an ace up his sleeve. Kisame twitches, and Guy punches him, saying that he told him not to move.

Later, Kisame is tied up and Aoba says he will look into Kisame’s mind to learn some more about Akatsuki. He goes into Kisame’s mind and arrives in Kisame’s past as a member of the secret intelligence squad of Kirigakure, being a subordinate to a Seven Swordsman of the Mist member. As they are having lunch, and one member tries to become friendly with him, which fails, they are attacked by Ibiki Morino. Kisame remembers his commander’s words, about never letting the codes get taken, under any circumstances. He protects the codes by killing all of the other members of his squad, and when asked why he did it by Ibiki, he states that there are times when information is more important than lives, and his teammates would have told the information easily. Later, he kills his former commander, who was selling information to outsiders, taking Samehada from him. He is then congratulated by the Fourth Mizukage, Yagura, and is told he will work under Yagura personally. Kisame says that he will until Yagura has him killed, and Yagura says that he can trust people like Kisame, who carry out ugly missions for the welfare of the village and country, and that he knows nothing of the world but lies. Kisame says he knows this anyway, when he was killing his fellow Kiri ninja, and asks what that makes him, saying his life has been one big lie. Then Madara Uchiha appears, saying that he will lead Kisame out of the lies, and he will work for him from now on. Kisame is cautious, but then Madara opens his eye, revealing his Sharingan. Kisame understands that Madara has been controlling Yagura the whole time, and is impressed. When Madara tells Kisame his name, he is unconvinced, and asks to see him. Before Aoba sees this, Kisame bites his tongue, breaking the mental connection in order to protect Madara’s plans. He then breaks free, stating that a world of truth is where he wanted to go.

Whilst this last Kisame/Guy fight was very short, I think the way it finished was rather brilliant. Guy can now use concentrated air as a weapon. That’s why he’s one of the best Jonin ever, I suppose. Kisame’s backstory was revealed, and whilst a part of it was a mere reason to cameo Ibiki, the rest was a good backstory, which is something I don’t really see that often in manga anymore. Kisame wants to protect information at all costs, and does so at the end by biting his own tongue off. Commitment. And because of that Konoha still don’t know Madara’s plan, or even what he looks like, properly. This might be a ‘last stand’ sort of fight next, where Kisame reveals some ultimate move, or something. Who knows? He’ll probably die eventually, leaving only Zetsu and Madara as the last Akatsuki members. Though there is still Kabuto, with Orochimaru’s power, who resurrected the other Akatsuki members… Oh well, we’ll read next week anyway.

Naruto Chapter 506 – Guy VS Kisame

So all this time the Saiyans were merely using the Flames Of Youth? Or is Guy secretly an alien?

Might Guy really is an idiot. It takes him a few minutes to realise that Kisame isn’t his inner self created by the Waterfall of Truth. And those few minutes to us were actually 2 weeks. Exactly. Anyway, Aoba and Motoi tell him that Kisame isn’t his inner self, and Guy muses that he may recognise him. Oh no, that’s right. Guy is too stupid to recognise Kisame, instead calling him a giant blowfish. Ah, the old ‘Guy never remembers Kisame’ joke. Never gets old. It’s only funnier since Aoba agrees with him, making Motoi comically overreact. Kisame then plainly insults Guy, whilst Bee tells them that Kisame is an Akatsuki spy who has information on the village. Only in rap form. Samehada then suddenly separates itself from Kisame, dragging itself to Bee. Aoba then recognises Kisame, as he has separated from Samehada, but notes he looks weaker than last time. Samehada warms up to Bee and his chakra again, but then Kisame grabs Samehada from under the water, forcing it to clamp down on Bee’s shoulder. Aoba and Motoi go into action, running to Bee, with Aoba warning Motoi that Kisame specialises in water jutsu, and he’s in the water. Motoi tells Bee to run, and Aoba brings up a very good point that all the strong people around there are stupid. Aoba tells Guy to back him up, and uses his Stone Needles technique, attempting to paralyze Kisame, but Kisame reverses the chakra flow, absorbing Aoba’s chakra. Then suddenly, Guy comes in with a Leaf Whirlwind, which Kisame blocks and counters with a Water Shark Missile technique. He uses it as a distraction and gets away.

Guy gets serious, and opens the Sixth of the Eight Gates – the Gate of View, allowing him to go all angry and make a water spiral. Anyway, then Bee makes a giant Hachibi hand grow out of his own, allowing Guy to be launched after Kisame, saying he’ll throw him to the East, to rhyme. Motoi points out Kisame went North. Rapping fail. Guy is then thrown after Kisame, whilst Aoba asks if Naruto and Yamato are still behind the waterfall. Inside, Naruto has hurt his ankle, so Yamato makes some wood to act as a splint. Meanwhile, in mid-air, Guy is losing pace and altitude, so he summons Ningame for the first time in Part II, who shows irritation at the fact he summons him for the first time in years and in the air, no less. Guy borrows Ningame’s shell as a platform, and launches off of it to catch Kisame up. Poor Ningame. Still, at least Guy gets there just when Kisame summons a shark and gives it a scroll. He notes how persistent Guy is, whilst Guy asks if the scroll has the info from his spying. Kisame uses his Five Man-Eating Sharks jutsu, then increasing it to a Thousand Feeding Sharks jutsu. Guy sees no other option, and uses Morning Peacock to counter them all, attempting to find which shark has the scroll. Guy still hasn’t finished them all off however, and sees no other option but to box them in. He dives into the water and releases the Seventh Gate – Gate of Wonder, setting the water sharks on fire and destroying them. Guy then says he’ll use a one-hit KO move, and that he doesn’t show it to just anyone. Kisame then releases a Giant Shark Missile and Guy uses his Daytime Tiger move.

Well, I guess we’ll find out who wins next week. Pretty good this week, I’ll admit, and I don’t usually like Naruto chapters. Maybe because there was actual fighting in this. We get another Guy v Kisame match, which I think we need more of. Kisame is still pretty awesome, even though he’s weaker than usual, and Guy finally has the chance to show why he’s one of the best Jonin in Konoha. Motoi and Aoba are still pretty useless. As is Naruto, now that he hurt his ankle. Nothing much to say except I hope this fight goes on for longer, but it most probably won’t. Let’s see who wins then Kishimoto, bring it on.

Naruto Chapter 505 – The Nine-Tails’ Chakra Unleashed!

I thought Kisame was a shark, not a thorny devil...

We start this week off with Naruto thinking about all the things his mother said to him back when he was a newborn, Kushina having just disappeared from his inner world. He promises to eat more than ramen, and says he loves hot baths and sleep, so that’s fine. He then moves onto his friends, and that he has many, even Shino, who is in the background, and that he wishes she could have met them, but there is one that is giving him grief, being Sasuke. He says she was right about school, but he doesn’t let it get him down, and that whilst it wasn’t smooth sailing, he now respects his teachers. Even Ebisu, who is in the background. He then goes on to say that Jiraiya taught him about the vices of a shinobi, but that he was a great man who taught him how to be a true shinobi. He then finishes saying that he will become the greatest Hokage. Haven’t heard that before. Naruto then finally wakes up from his inner world and is greeted to a fist bump from Bee. Yamato is pretty tense, and asks Naruto continuously if he was able to control the Kyuubi. Yamato then freaks out completely when Naruto and Bee discuss the whole thing using “this” and “that” as description. Meanwhile, outside, Might Guy is told about Naruto’s training gets very hyped up, and Aoba Yamashiro tells Motoi that that is just the way he is. Inside, Naruto tells Yamato and Bee that the Kyuubi’s chakra is sealed away inside him somewhere else, and he isn’t automatically using it all of the time. He then draws it out and becomes his sparkling fox boy mode, for lack of better words, to show them. Yamato’s Wood Style techniques then react to Naruto’s chakra, growing rapidly, and Yamato notes how full of energy Naruto is.

Naruto then senses someone inside with them, and tracks it down to the Samehada on Bee’s back. He says that it isn’t a chakra, more of an evil presence. Kisame, who is hiding in Samehada, is surprised to say the least, and tries to escape in his fused Kisame-Samehada form. However, he looks more monstrous now, more like how an Akatsuki member should look. Bee is confused, since he thought he killed Kisame, but Kisame replies that Bee beheaded a clone, thinking of Zetsu. He then compliments Naruto’s sensing abilities, then escapes, but Naruto chases after him with an extremely quick “Yellow Flash” and knocks him down. However, Naruto gets stuck at the same time, so Kisame attempts to escape. Yamato tells Bee to chase after him, whilst he helps Naruto. Outside, Aoba dares Guy to go under the same ‘Dark Side’ training that Naruto did. Guy does, and his ‘Dark Guy’ side starts to tell him that his “youth” is starting to get old, and that no-one wants to hear about it anymore. Guy gets irritated, and orders his dark side to attack, but instead, Kisame jumps out from behind the waterfall. Guy takes Kisame as his ‘Dark Guy’, and attacks anyway, even though he is disgusted. Even though Aoba tells Guy that Kisame isn’t his dark side, Guy uses Konoha Kaiganshou to blast Kisame away. Suddenly, Bee jumps out too, just as Kisame hits a cliff.

This is getting fun, Kishimoto. Good work. I was wondering when Kisame would reveal himself, and now that he has, this arc may get a little more interesting. Naruto shows off his uber form, which I’m still not impressed with. He looks pretty stupid, to be honest. I was expecting something a little more badass, like the Six-Tail form was. Well, not exactly like that, but you know what I mean. Nice little comedy moments with Guy too. The running gag of him not remembering Kisame is still active I assume. Anyway, nice use of a random Konoha ninja in Aoba. Well, I say nice use, but he did just magically appear out of nowhere didn’t he? Naruto also seems to have picked up his father’s speed and “Yellow Flash” technique, or a variety thereof, but he isn’t that good at it yet. Anyway, this is interesting, and I’m assuming Kisame will actually die this time around, so that the only two Akatsuki left will be Zetsu and Madara. Let’s see how this goes then…