Naruto Chapter 311 Review

Summary
Sai sits in Konoha library reading up on how to interact with others, learning about honourfics and pet-names in the hopes he can become closer to his new teammates. Sakura arrives and notices his reading material, surprised at his interest in such things. She invites Sai to join herself and Naruto in visiting Kakashi, who is still bed-ridden in the infirmary. They go to meet a reflective Naruto, who continues to ponder over his encounter with The Princess. Sakura explains that she and Sai were at the library and Naruto dismisses such activity as pointless. Sakura takes her cue to launch a fullfrontal lecture in the time-honoured fashion and Sai interrupts, awkwardly asking if he could be apart of the conversation. He explains that the books he's read instructed that pet names are an effective way of gaining familiarity with those important to you and he admits he's finding it a struggle. Naruto shrugs it off as unimportant and Sakura is once again impressed by the consideration Sai is taking, and how different he seems from the first time they met. Then Sai reveals his petname for Sakura (the different translations came up with 'hag' or 'ugly' - you get the idea. I would've gone with the classic 'forehead' myself). Cut to Kohoha hospital. Kakashi enquires about the new teammate as both Sai and Naruto rub their sore faces and Sakura smiles brightly. He pulls Sakura to the side and quietly asks if the two boys have been fighting and Sakura quickly dismisses such thought, reassuring him of the general peachy-keenness in the group. The conversation quickly moves on to more pressing matters - those, of course, relating to young Sasuke-hime. Naruo and Sakura explain Sasuke's massive power spike and how Tsunada predicts that forbidden jutsu or some kind of drug may have been used to give him a boost. Kakashi explains that the only theasable way to capture Sasuke is to become exponentially stronger. Both Sakura and Naruto are at a loss at how to do this, and Kakashi explains he has been strategising while bedridden. It is simply a matter of Naruto becoming stronger; perhaps to the point where he would even surpass Kakashi (cue dramatic ending).

Thoughts
Before I address the murky, confusing topic that is Who Is Stronger Than Who, I want to express my happiness over the convincing amount of pathos Sai got this chapter. First and foremost, he has lost the heinous midriff-revealing costume; for something quite sharp and dapper, in fact. Thank god. Do you know how much easier it is to hate a male character when you can see their svelte little tum? Kuja from Final Fantasy IX is a very strong case-in-point. Forget beady, dangerously close-together eyes or menacing facial hair; midriffs instill hatred and loathing like few others. But it's over now, or at least while he remains in his civies. Instead we get lots of sweet, humourous moments involving the trio and somehow, the new Team Kakashi line-up doesn't seem so worrying.

This chapter was also brilliant for underlining the new familiar, sibling-like friendship Sakura and Naruto have in Part Two. I'm happy Kishimoto hasn't continued the love interest Naruto had for our favourite mondo-brow. Story-wise it makes sense that both characters would have matured beyond it (although they obviously haven't got past spraying their pants at the sight at Sasuke) and it was obviously wearing thin at the end of Part One. Yeah, one of the best aspects of this second part has been the tactile, sweethearted relationship both Sakura and Naruto share. It also went a long to underpin the 'comrade' angle Kishimoto took with their desperation over getting Sasuke back.

In regards to the whole power situation, I wasn't as shocked as I probably should have been when Kakashi revealed his plan to make Naruto stronger than him. Actually, I squinted slightly, turned my head to the right and asked, 'Well, isn't he kinda already?' I'm not even going to attempt to begin a graphing out of the power levels in Naruto - too much of my youth was wasted on Dragonball Z forums arguing that - I think with such long-running series like these it becomes very difficult to pinpoint who is where and at what point. Part of me wants to start making comparative judgments ('if Kakashi and Kabuto are equally matched, and Sasuke could probably defeat Kabuto, and Naruto is potentially Sasuke's equal but note quite yet. . . but then Kakashi could have easily been training in the 2.5 years, too . . .' *head explodes, Deidara style*) and the other, more rational part just wants to let Kishimoto do his thing. Apart from all that nonsense, I'm very curious to see what Kakashi has in store for young Nar, and perhaps how much it involves the Kyūbi inside him.

Out of the two transitional chapters we've had, this was much more productive. I don't follow the chapter-to-tankobon process, but this smacked of the first of a new volume (with 310 very much being the end of the last one). Characters are relaxing in their down time and interacting in typically charming Naruto fashion. Sai becomes less and less detestable with each chapter, and I can happily see him as legitimate character in his own right after a few missions out from under Sasuke's far-reaching shadow. He will need to get a clue fairly quickly though, as the grace period on this social ignorance angle will grow tired incredibly quickly. And anyway, even if you disagree: Kakashi is back! Fangirls rejoice! *runs to get a spare set of undies

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Author: Masashi Kishimoto
Scanslation: Shiraku

Comments

[kaitin agosh]

i love kakashi hatake very much i went to put him in a cage he is hot and cut and funny and coolest ninja in the hidden leave village the grangst fighter in the woild my love boy friend kakashi hatake my love boy friend that i think abut at school alost time on my free time i wrigt to kakashi hatake love note me for ever togeter my little sent say bady . love kaitlin agosh my e-mail kagosh@cny.rr.com

[nickie]

i really like this pic

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