Naruto Manga 352: Sasuke’s Team Hebi

jhay — Sat, 28 Apr 2007 22:54:29 +0000

Finally breaking the unexpected blog hiatus on The Four-eyed Journal, I’m back with more commentary on the Naruto Manga series. This time around, it’s all about the latest Chapter, Chapter 352: The Purpose. (This post’s title is for this post and a reflection of what I think of the chapter, the chapter’s original title is different and would be mentioned here instead.)

Picking up from where Chapter 351 left off, Sasuke has finally managed to complete his platoon with the much dreaded Juugo as the last piece. He did so after showing “who’s the real boss” now that Orochimaru is gone. Using his newly acquired skills and techniques from Orochimaru’s training, he exerts his dominance and control over his volatile team through a suave combination of diplomacy backed up by his raw powers, especially the Sharingan.

In the latest Chapter, Chapter 352 Sasuke convinces Juugo to join his team by referencing himself to Kimimaro and his words during his last stay with Juugo.

Juugo and Kimimaro goes way back, the two of them having some amazing yet horrifying powers and abilities found themselves a company and friend in each other. A bond has been forged between them. Something that is not taken lightly in the world of Naruto.

Of course friendship and bonds take on a new meaning or looked up from a different angle when a shinobi puts down his ‘professional’ foot. In chapter 352, Juugo only decides to join Sasuke because Kimimaro sacrificed a lot, even his life for him and that he is curious as to what Sasuke can really do.

Once everything has been settled, Sasuke proceeds immediately to brief his newly formed team of his intentions and plans.

This chapter contains lots of revelations; like why Kimimaro was willing to lay down his life just to bring Sasuke to Orochimaru, why Sasuke is not coming back to Konoha and instead formed a team of shinobi to aid in his goal; to kill his older brother Uchiha Itachi.

Even Naruto, Sakura and the rest of the Konoha shinobi has decided to join in the fray. They are now more focused on Akatsuki and in particular, removing another threat specific to Konoha; Uchiha Itachi. Of course, you can download the chapter here.

If this segment of the manga series has been exciting, the next chapters would be even more. Who will kill Itachi? Sasuke or Naruto?

Naruto Manga 350: Sasuke faces Juugo

jhay — Sat, 14 Apr 2007 01:31:07 +0000

The latest chapter of the Naruto Manga series has just been released and that’s what we’ll talk about today. From Chapter 349, Sasuke, Karin and Suigetsu finally got to the much feared Northern lair where the late Orochimaru conducted his experiments on human subjects with the sick goal of discovering new justus, hidden abilities and testing his own concoctions.

It is from this lair that the source of the ‘cursed seal technique’ of Orochimaru, apparently his signature technique in which he gives his chosen “hopefuls” a serum that will turn them into powerful monstrous beings – Uchiha Sasuke being one of them, is located. That source is Juugo, a mysterious person with a unique ability, a deranged mind, and a very notorious killing record.

What connects Sasuke and Juugo is the cursed seal. Sasuke probably thinks that he has grown so strong and powerful he no longer needs the cursed seal. Besides if killing Orochimaru is not a measure of your abilities and power, I don’t know what else is. Anyways, that is the reason Sasuke has sought out Juugo, he’d probably use him to find a cure for the cursed seal. Heck, if Sasuke does succeed in this objective, he’d be an instant hero or an instant millionaire, lots and lots of victims would sought that cure too.

This is just an analysis of my own, the clues in the manga are few yet they are all there. At the moment, it’s pretty obvious Sasuke wants Juugo in his group in order to complete the typical shinobi team of 3-4 ninjas. Once Sasuke has successfully recruited Juugo into his group, I’m certain he’d go and seek out his ultimate goal; killing his brother Uchiha Itachi and avenging his clan.

Sounds simple isn’t it? But we know how Kishimoto is and I’m sure there’s one heck of a twist in the plot in the not so distant future of the series.

However, things are not always what they seem in the world of Naruto. So considering Sasuke does find a cure for the cursed seal and manages to kill his brother Itachi, what will he do next? Would he go back to the Hidden Leaf Village and make amends with Naruto, Sakura and the rest of the Konoha family? Or would he really pursue the path of replacing Orochimaru and become the series’ villain, after all he still does have an unfinished business with Naruto. Some of my friends think so and even said that Sasuke would end up marrying Karin instead of Sakura, remember Sasuke has two goals in his life; 1) to kill his brother and 2) revive his clan.

I do not agree with them 100%. Going back some chapters, Orochimaru always notes that Sasuke is still weak because despite of his powerful abilities and vast improvement, he has not killed a single person yet in combat. Orochimaru is the exception and that he was killed not in combat but for Sasuke’s survival. These are the clues that underneath that stone cold attitude beats goodness and a good ninja trait of being faithful to one’s goals and missions. This is again given notice by Suigetsu in Chapter 350.

Once the first goal is done, Sasuke would now be less hostile and unreceptive to girls and ‘be open for business.’ This would be one great news for all the girls in the Naruto universe, especially Sakura and Ino. However, Karin appears to be a strong contender, so what do you Naruto fans think?

So many things have cleared up in the story of Naruto and his friends, on the other more and more questions pop up, they will be answered soon enough but for now, one immediate question remains; what would become of Sasuke’s encounter with Juugo himself?

You could download this chapter here

The Four-eyed Journal » Juugo

Naruto Manga 352: Sasuke’s Team Hebi

Naruto Manga 350: Sasuke faces Juugo