Naruto 139-140

[cerusee]

The story for this arc makes no sense, but I've noticed these episodes looked pretty nice. Primo icon material all over the place. Lots of hilarious or dramatic, striking images. Someone is having fun.

Unfortunately, by the end of 140, I was hollering at Sakura for being useless. By this point in the manga, she'd decided for once and for all to stop sucking and to get strong enough not to be left behind in a fight, and she actually did something about it. And after the time skip, lo and behold, she was strong enough not to be left behind in a fight. But since this is a filler arc, she hasn't yet made the decision to go to Tsunade, or told Naruto that next time he goes after Sasuke, she'll be strong enough to go with him, and we have to drag everything out.

On the other hand, aside from some occasional "Sasuke-kun...Sasuke-kun wa..." moments, she's being charmingly attentive to and affectionate towards Naruto. So I forgive her for being useless (she's seriously trying, too), because it's not her goddamn fault she's stuck in a filler arc.

Comments

[chibipoe.livejournal.com]

I think we'll find that the pay off for this arc will make her decision that much more effective. Like, in the manga, she sees that Naruto's in the hospital, but doesn't -see- what caused him to be hurt so bad. Here, she's seeing Naruto bust ass to save hers, and her having about as much effectiveness as a rag doll.

I like that, even against Faux!Kabuto, Naruto wins the fight, but it's a pyrrhic victory, because Faux!Kabuto gets the last word in with the actual winning blow.

Plus, I really liked him using Kage Bunshin so effectively. The room they were in was one of the places where that technique would -really- get nasty.

[cerusee.livejournal.com]

I'm glad Kabuto turned out to be a fake, because even if he were a match for Kabuto, he shouldn't be able to win against him easily. But yeah on the bunshin thing. That made up for how useless it was in the bamboo pit trap. XD

Sakura and Naruto's interactions in this arc have proved to be the big selling point for me besides the Sannin. Sakura being nice to Naruto makes me happy.

[chibipoe.livejournal.com]

Yeah. I started wondering if that was -really- Kabuto when Naruto dogpiled him and he was HAVING TROUBLE. The last time they fought, Kabuto -easily- dealt with the KB. Though, it was funny that it prompted Kabuto to express frustration about that, because it drives home how utterly IRRITATING such a technique really is.

And yes, the Sakura & Naruto scenes -have- been nice... Makes me almost forget how much of a useless troll Sakura can be.