Shonen Beam

[scanlation by Binktopia]

Fairly average Jump cover despite the celebration of the milestone. Despite already knowing when Naruto began, it’s still surprising to reflect on eleven years of the series.

Madara wastes no time in taking back the Rinnegan. Unfortunately, that isn’t a segue into plot progression in this chapter; instead, we’re being treated to a flashback to finally put this trio to rest. While I appreciate knowing that we’ll be finished with these three for good, I have to question just how much was left unanswered as of last chapter. I don’t particularly dislike any of these characters, but I don’t feel they’re worth a full chapter postmortem flashback.

Of course Jiraiya wore a toad suit and forced his three students to do the same. Why wouldn’t he?

It's impossible not to miss him

Great couple pages of silent storytelling. The last few panels of page 11 are an example of Kishimoto making good use of the imagery he created within this same chapter.

The remaining pages dealing with the Amegakure trio are somehow simultaneously touching and out of place. Again, the imagery used is evocative, but it still feels as though devoting an entire chapter to these characters at this point in the story is counterproductive. Yes, this is the last sensible chance Kishimoto will have to do so, but even now it feels too detached from the original plot involving these characters.

Madara’s new mask looks pretty good. It’s an appropriate evolution of his previous mask. Zetsu is still around, playing the information expert, but most importantly, Kabuto is back in the picture. It’s no understatement to say that the enjoyment and legitimacy of much of the remaining plot relies entirely on the way in which Kabuto is used.

Final Flash: A suitable end to a what felt like a diversion from the main plot. The last few chapters have been enjoyable as a standalone read, but have felt awkward in context.

[scanlation by Binktopia]

As well as Kishimoto has been drawing lately, even he has to be called out for excessive use of speed lines.

The 'speed line to detail' ratio is off

The limitations of Madara’s dimensional transfer ability go a long way to bring some sense of balance to his otherwise seemingly-overpowered nature.

Konan has prepared impressively for this showdown with Madara. Even considering her recent tendency towards trite idealism, she’s easily one of the best females in this series.

Of course, it’s not unexpected that Madara survived Konan’s attack, but it is unfortunate that he’s done so by revealing just how much power he really has. The positives of the limitations on his intangibility are clearly outweighed by his possession of Izanagi.

No, just approaching "broken"

The one-panel mention of Danzou does provide some hope for a logical defeat of Madara: If the “this is not actually Uchiha Madara” theory is true, then this impostor could be another example of someone who boasts “only an incomplete form of Izanagi.” Barring that scenario, though, Kishimoto will be fighting an uphill battle to keep realistic the possibility of someone in the Naruto universe defeating someone with complete control over the power to turn imagination into reality.

On a lighter note, Konan made a rainbow.

The more you know?

Final Flash: Konan is enjoyable, but unfortunate confirmation of Madara’s ridiculous strength makes for a ‘good’-at-best chapter.

[scanlation by Binktopia]

Naruto is “light personified”? That’s taking an interesting character and boiling him down into something decidedly less interesting.

Madara being behind Yahiko’s creation of Akatsuki is such a cliché. Not only that, but Madara also apparently gave Nagato the Rinnegan. Just because a series has a supremely powerful villain does not mean that said villain should be involved with every last plot detail. It seems that while Naruto has improved immensely over the last several weeks, Madara hasn’t.

His eye is too talkative

Aside from how generally disappointing it would be for Konan to be offed here, it would also specifically be unfortunate because it would eliminate the possibility of seeing more of these beautifully-drawn paper-based attacks.

Odd timing for a flashback with these characters. The excellent recent action has provided a launching point from which the series could have continued to progress current plot; to instead feature a flashback of out-of-focus characters seems to be counterproductive.

Madara took some serious damage from Konan’s attack. That’s both gratifying (because Konan is an interesting character who shouldn’t become villain fodder) and unnerving (because it likely means she doesn’t have much left to offer). Still, for Kishimoto to allow his ultimate villain to suffer such damage is a huge positive, as it helps to build Madara’s credibility.

A sign of a confident author

Yet another excellent large-scale attack, as Konan swallows up Madara within an ocean of paper. Great artwork by Kishimoto.

Final Flash: Not a bad chapter, but an unusual choice of direction after the past couple arcs.

[scanlation by Binktopia]

Bizarrely noble cover page.

Typically, I am against speed lines, but Kishimoto has used them well within the first several pages of this chapter. Instead of making them the focal point (or the entirety of the background, in some cases), he has used them to complement the action without overpowering the detail in the art. Sometimes, they’re even used as a style of shading, actually embedded in the rest of the art. Very nicely done.

Itachi signals a major test: Is the recently-improved Naruto still tolerable with the presence of one of the Uchiha brothers?

Interesting conversation between Itachi and Kisame. There are a couple of odd moments, but overall, it’s a nice look at what was hinted at being a curious relationship.

Very good, Itachi

Kisame ends up killing himself with his own sharks, and the title of the chapter ends up completely suitable. What a great way for him to go.

It seems Killer Bee will get Samehada after all. The only worry there is the prospect of an increased role for Killer Bee, who has been enjoyable only as a support character.

Nice closing words from Guy, but in this shot he looks remarkably like Catherine from Gintama.

Unusually reminiscent

Kisame having one last trick up his sleeve is completely appropriate, given the recent emphasis placed on his control over information. This is an acceptable compromise between an outright Guy victory and a Kisame escape.

Stunning last page. Madara faces off with Konan, but calls her Nagato? I’d be very happy to see Konan in action, as she was one of the more interesting Akatsuki members, but I worry this may further cheapen Nagato and Konan by using them as fodder for the decidedly uninteresting Madara.

Final Flash: An appropriately strong end to Kisame’s active role in the series.

[scanlation by Binktopia]

“The long grudge match enters its final chapter!” It seems this will be the true conclusion of the Guy/Kisame rivalry. This will be good timing for it.

As with so many recent Naruto chapters, the grand scale of the artwork is excellently pulled off by Kishimoto.

Excellent massive attacks

It’s so completely satisfying to see Guy standing over Kisame like this, and it’s even better to see him taking absolutely no nonsense from Kisame, either.

What an amusingly direct visual metaphor for mind-reading.

Not exactly subtle

A Kisame flashback likely means that this truly is his last stand.

Morino Ibiki is in Kisame’s flashback. It’s a little puzzling that we haven’t had more exposition of Morino, since the more we learn about the inner workings of Naruto, the more relevant he seems to be.

While I still strongly dislike the Uchiha Madara character, it’s interesting to learn specifics about where he’s been behind the scenes. Seeing him in control of the Mizukage helps to develop his credibility.

If Kisame had the proper awareness and energy to bite his own tongue, why wouldn’t he have done so before leaking as much information as he already has? The flashback establishes him as a character whose priority is the protection of information, and yet he lets so much slip before dramatically cutting the link right as Madara is about to reveal himself. That’s a little too Hollywood to feel consistent with his character.

Final Flash: Good, interesting chapter, and a great fight in full.