Naruto Chapter 307 Review

Summary
Now Sasuke-hime has been found and fully revealed, he and Team Naruto spend a little time to chat. Sasuke enquires after Kakashi and Yamoto steps up, explaining their intention to bring Sasuke back to Konoha. Sai whips out a weapon and Sakura drops another bollock, but Sai quickly explains his position of support for the team, reiterating his curiosity about the bonds between Naruto, Sasuke and Sakura. Sasuke-hime poo-poos Sai and writes him off as another weakling (like most of the audience have). He then goes on to further stick the boot in by explaining why he discarded the friendship of Naruto and Sakura; he viewing the bonds they shared as another form of weakness. He admits to one bond, however - in the form of his hatred for Itachi, his brother. Flashbacks abound as we are reminded of Itachi's advice to Sasuke, that being his need of hatred to become stronger. Naruto counter-attacks with even more flashbacks to the now-generic Touching Moment when he explains his bonds to Sasuke, then demanding to know why Sasuke didn't kill him in their previous showdown. The princess flippantly explains he merely decided not to do so on a whim. Then immediately appearing beside Naruto, Sasuke reminds him of what most the audience have been screaming out loud about during this whole arc: Naruto's quest of becoming Hokage and his lax in its pursuit. With this Sasuke draws his sword and states he will now kill Naruto on a whim. Seemingly unperturbed, Naruto explains that a person unable to save their best-friend is not worthy of becoming Hokage.

Thoughts
This chapter had two halves. The first consisted of the regurgitation of the same old dialogue we've been getting for the past month, and the second consisted of unanticipated awesomeness. Sadly this latter part only counts for the last four pages, but it saves chapter 307 from being entirely pointless.

The amount of flashbacks in this chapter was somewhat silly. Fair enough, Kishimoto wants to reestablish all the past rivalry and so forth, but Naruto hasn't been shutting the hell up about this for the past seven or eight chapters . . . well, more like the past hundred chapters, but regardless we know exactly how each side feels. Sasuke-hime is perhaps more entitled to a flashback because we haven't seen him for so long, but surely 2.5 years would've given him more perspective, or at least better articulated reasons for hating Itachi. Some signs derangement or insanity would've been great, but no, we get the same-old same-old without any hint of growth or festering. Perhaps the coming (implied) fight between he and Naruto might provide a better-developed degree of insight, but I'm not holding my breath.

Sai is a total write-off this chapter, too. Is he physically able to say anything other than 'I want to understand your bonds more' these days? The deprogramming he went through obviously destroyed any hope of future personality as well as whatever it removed in the present. I'm still holding out for the martyr-like death just so he develops a purpose now all the mystery has been quashed.

Anyhow, enough about the exhaustively boring aspects of this chapter; thankfully we have those last four pages to pull it up from needless filler. Sasuke decides to bank on the opportunity to murder his best mate and appears beside Naruto, drawing his sword. Of course a fight in some respect was to be expected, but Sasuke's immediacy comes as a surprise; almost suggesting the long-winded blather before it was done for a reason. Almost. Either way, Naruto seems shocked initially but not scared as he responds to Sasuke's question. I, like most of fandom, am ready for a gritty dogfight between the two, with 2.5 years worth of extra arse-kicking experience respectively. But how much do you want to bet that Orochimaru will show up and interrupt the fun? Seriously, how much? The maxims of long-running Shonen Jump manga must be obeyed and any of that kind of immediate gratification is a naive dream.

Oh and I still really like Sasuke's new look, jim-jams or not!

Comments

[Lupus]

Sasuke's cloths are in line with Orochimaru's Sound ninja uniform, so that's cool. Even though I was hoping for something more flippant, looks like Kishimoto's down to earth design wins again.

And it's nice to see the Uchiha fan on Sasuke's back, glad to see that little detail thrown in.

I don't think there would be another Naruto versus Sasuke fight so soon, they'll probably trade one or two hits then stop. I wonder if Sasuke will be surprised to how strong Naruto has become or not.

[bakaboobie]

Considering that Orochimaru wants them to alive is proof enough that he will have to stop any impending fights that might spell the doom of Naruto (and his company). Naruto, to Orochimaru, is a fresh bait for any Akatsuki-related issue (having Gaara more or less "failed" to live to his expectations).

As for Sasuke/Sai, the main problem with these two are that both are pawns with no firm footing of identity. The long-awaited revelation of a replacement since Sasuke's departure, and then the long-awaited revelation of the new & improved Sasuke were all too hyped and didn't provide any new dimension to the existing ones (particularly, the Sasuke-spot in Team7). In the end, we really didn't get to know anything new since the timeskip as far as these characters are concerned.

[Hige]

Lupus - Glad to hear someone else appreciated that, too. I really like Kishimoto's sense of design when it comes to his characters; anything too flamboyant just wouldn't fit well in the world he's created. And I'm curious to Sasuke's response as well, although Naruto's new strength has been choppily demonstrated since the New Start. I want to see him fight in complete control without any Kyūbi mishaps.

bakaboobie - Some good points. This lack of progression is my main complaint with Nu-Sasuke and as you say, his lack of a concrete identity might be why. From the point of view of the audience that Kishimoto writes for, any major change in Sasuke's ethos might be too much and cause upset. Still, Naruto and Sakura have grown enough to honour the time skip while still retaining their personality (well, as much as Sakura had a personality by the end of Part One) so the same could've happened with Sasuke. I guess it has only been two chapters since he's been reintroduced - perhaps we'll learn more in the coming weeks.

[sandy]

nothing lol

[Me]

Sasuke looks wonderful. Kishimoto doesn't run out of ideas in costumes, does he? I was expecting Sasuke to wear something like those four of the Sound Five (goosebumps). Well, Kishimoto is a great writer, isn't he?

And personally, I don't think Sasuke is really thinking of killing Naruto. I mean, to Sasuke, Naruto is still his best friend, right? And Sasuke isn't a cold-hearted bastard like his brother - well, not so much of a cold-hearted bastard, anyway.

And did I mention? Nice belt, Sasuke.

[Yukina-chun]

Sasuke's clothes are so HAWT!! (even if they are gay lookin') Kishimoto-sensei is a brillant artist and I am glad Sasuke's back to kick ass!! (Sasuke fangirl then and now!)And of course Sasuke-kun is gonna have the Uchiha symbol on his back cuz he's an avenger and he still loves his clan =^^=

I am not a Naruto fan so I don't care if Sasuke kills Naruto...BUT I don't think he will cuz they were like bros...y'know! And I STILL hate Sai cuz he is so GAY!!

Anyway! SASUKE-KUN FOREVER!!!!

[Nednarb]

I want to know why there is video of that story but it is not finished and i dont know where is falls in with the show there subbing now

[Momoko Ichigo]

I firmly belive that Sasuke will not kill Naruto because they are Best Friends, and if he wanted to, he wouldve killed him in the first major fight they had! I hope they can form that bond again that was cut before, they just have too!

On a happier note I LOVE Sasuke's outfit! It fits his personality nicely!
I am also a beliver of Naruto and Sasuke and i think Sai is a great character! ^.^

[lupi]

andate a a chucha

[money]

sasuke is so fucking retarded he is weak,stupid,and very anoyying always acting so cool.Naruto can kick his ass anyday.ITACHI RULES!!!!p.s(sasuke look even gayer with that gay outfit)

[Daisy]

errr out of all the time skip out fits sasuke's is the worst.. no offence. he looked way cooler when he was younger, and personlay i do believe sasuke would have killed naruto if the apportunity(sp?) persented itself, and it did,but if it werent for orichimaru interfering he would have. i love old fashioned outfits like sasuke's wearing but it doesnt go with him.. it doesnt suit his arrogant,cold,i-can-can-kick-your-ass-style. So thus saskes looks absolutly horrendously gay although i dont dought he can go back to being the hottie he was if he changed his outfit, but its whatever.

[Hazel]

Hey there.
Sasuke can't kill Naruto, Coz he's the main character for starters.
Secondly, he won't because Itachi told him to get Mangekyou sharingan, And to get that Sasuke would have to kill his closest friend.
His closest friend is Naruto, I suppose, And Sasuke doesn't want that dojutsu [Eye technique]

-SPOILER-SPOILER-SPOILER-SPOILER-SPOILER-SPOILER-

Orochimaru is using Sasuke so he can hack into his body and gain the poor guys powers.
However, Sasuke is going to stop him

Orochimaru will be sitting randomly in bed, suddenly Sasuke will jump through the wall and stab him, crash, bang, boom, bleh, dead.

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[marjore middleton]

what up

[kabuto]

sasuke will fuck sakura once he goes back after killing itachi SASUSAKU FAN!

[tuidfhp54]

I Love

[Hells Guardian_ a.k.a Itachi's Older Brother]

Sasuke Should Have Killed That damn Naruto Heres Why: 1. He Doesn't Know When To Shut The Hell Up. And 2. He Thinks Hes Stronger then Sasuke When He Clearly Has Flaws In His All Mighty Power Of His And That Flaw Is FriendShip. With That I Leave You With This My Friends Or PeeOns If You Like Naruto Uzumki Find A Better Person Then Naruto Cuz He Sucks Ball Sacks. o_O , =D, XD, =P, =C, =|, =]!!!!!!!!!!!!!