Naruto Chapter 314 Review

No summary (in the traditional sense) this week due to home-ness and time saving measures. I've got a connection here but not on the maptop, so transferring data from one to the other is pretty laborious. My poor wee iPod shuffle is being worked to death with the Honey & Clover II episodes alone. I'd do it all on the connected laptop but it doesn't have the software I need and it doesn't belong to me, so I'd rather avoid annoying the owner and deal with the hassle.

So, another decent chapter this week. Hidan and Kazuku continue their crusade for Jinchūriki in the Fire Country and come across a monastery full of ninja monks. Weirdly, the character development this chapter switches to a stronger focus on Kazuku, who turns out to be a raging capitalist pig. Hidan, conversely, comes across as even more genuine in his religious beliefs and less of an obnoxious cock. It's refreshing to see a reversal in tone like this and it goes a long way in undermining the initial criticism over their flimsy characterisation, even if it is a little confusing. They've certainly grown into something more than I was cynically expecting and it fleshes them out nicely. I still don't like them, though. I think their role as 'destructive force' lacks the subtly I love from Itachi's 'implied menace'. They serve their purpose and all that, but it's just not what I want from a bad guy. That and we still don't bloody see the pair in action! We get yet another cut-away as they storm into battle with the head monk without the slightest hint of their actual powers. Again, this is probably Kishimoto being economical with his time and I suppose in the long run it will make their inevitable battle with Konoha/Naruto all the more special. It's an infuriatingly massive tease, though, and I'm sure if I saw some uber l33t move0rz etc. it'd be easier to appreciate them and their over-arching bad-assness.

Meanwhile, we get a typically drawn out introduction from Kakashi on this spangly new move he intends to teach Naruto. No new information is given other than it involves two techniques, both of which entail chakra manipulation of nature and shape. Kakashi likens it to creating the electric-like Chidori in methodology but suggests nothing of how or what. It's not massively disappointing, because immediately after we get a genuinely surprising and touching moment from Asuma as he visits the Hokage memorial site.

It turns out the 3rd (Sandaime) was Asuma's pops! The scallywag. I literally had no idea and I hope that was the point, rather than some blatant ignorance on my part. How this will effect future plot developments? It's hard to say. Perhaps the conflict between the new Akatsuki will cause unrest in the Konoha ranks and result in some dramatic revelations and exciting reshuffles. Asuma may even whip out some hidden bloodline techniques and live up to the awesomeness we've known he's had all along. It's actually quite tricky to reasonable predict what Kishimoto is up to with this. It's certainly intriguing, nonetheless. Plus: more Asuma~~ He just better not die. It is quite suspicious, isn't it?

We come back to the now-standard scene of total destruction and appropriate body count, and seemingly no Jinchūriki. Kazuku enforces his greed for money by scooping the fallen monk with the intention of collecting the bounty on his head and Hidan does his ritual thing again, exclaiming disgust at Kazuku's hypocritical time-keeping standards. A lone surviving monk hides in the wreckage with the intention of informing Konoha and the chapter comes to a close. I wonder how much time Konoha will get to prepare now Kazuku wants to make a few bucks on the side? And will it even matter? Part of me likes to think Konoha are special and will put up a better fight than the previous targets, but Kishimoto has always been eager to underpin the general equality of power between the villages. Also, we haven't actually seen the Ataksuki face an entire village before - just to the Bijū, who had no support. And reason suggests that with hindsight, Tsunade will pre-empt any kind of infiltration of the village by sending out a team to intercept. Perhaps this is where Asuma will factor in? Lots of interesting potential, as usual. Hopefully Kishimoto won't drag it out too painfully. All in all: another meaty, highly enjoyable chapter.

Comments

[Hinano]

I just realized something...
If the 4th is Asuma's dad...
and Konohamaru is the 4th's grandson...
Konohamaru = Asuma x Kurenai's LOVECHILD?? XDXDXD
If not then wouldnt he be Asuma's nephew? Yet they never had any contact with each other....or did i just find a Kishimoto loophole

[Hige]

Hinano: Asuma is the 3rd's son! I made three mistakes with the numbering there (I can never keep track of these bloody Hokages). But yeah, Asuma is Sandaime's son is what I meant and I know that's what you mean, too. I wondered about Konohamaru as well! It's all got a bit scandalous, hasn't it? XD

[monkeypox]

there's always the possibility that konohamaru is actually asuma's nephew, though. I noticed they had the same surname way back when, but I guess everyone (including me) just figured it was a coincidence, since there was never a mention before.

I think konoha will be different in that there will be support from the village. with the other jinchuuriki, it was more-or-less a 2-on-1 battle.

[Hige]

monkeypox: Yeah, it's a possibility. Konohamaru hasn't really been given much of an 'update' since the 2.5 year fast-forward, so perhaps this Asuma development will fix that.

And I agree: Konoha seem much better equipped to deal with Hidan and Kazuku. However, we still don't know how the pair will approach the situation. It'd be pretty idiotic to storm the village with only two people, Akatsuki or not.