User Reviews

The war arc begins on this episode. The plotline follows after Kabuto captured Yamato, and now the Tsuchikage Onoki, is carrying the giant turtle island where Naruto, B and the others are, to Kumogakure for safety. Akatsuchi and Kurotsuchi (Onoki's granddaughter), accompany him flying through the air. Meanwhile, inside the turtle island, Naruto becomes suspicious of what's going on outside after Yamato's disappearance and the island strange movements. Motoi and Aoba calm him down and hide the truth from him to prevent an escape. After the animals leave, Killer B, aware of everything, convinces Naruto to stay and continue his training to control the Kyuubi's chakra. B shows him how he can easily use the Hachibi's tentacles to build a tower of big stones, one above the other. He tells Naruto to try by using the Kyuubi's chakra, but fails. Naruto realizes that he must be careful by controlling such power, when using the Fox forepaw to grab a big stone. Motoi and Aoba are glad that B could find a smart and useful way to keep Naruto distracted from the upcoming war outside, and Yamato's fate. This part was good, as the way to keep Naruto distracted is more convincing and logical than the stupid mission from before (gathering animals like if he was a five year old child). He is aware that Sasuke wants to attack Konoha, and that the war is coming, so he doesn't want to waste time. He intended return to the village until B convinced him to keep training. This works because Naruto knows he needs to master this new mode in order to protect his village from Sasuke and Tobi. That if the war didn't exist. About Onoki, is unusual to see an old man comfortably lifting a giant turtle island, but I guess it's explainable given he is the Tsuchikage from Iwagakure. A shinobi from the Hidden Rock village should be able to lift giant rocks regularly I guess.

The second part focuses on the Alliance and their operations. Anko and her team keep watching near Tobi's hideout, and with the techniques from a Hyuga and an Aburame shinobi, they discover the enemy army of Zetsus. They quickly report to the headquarters at Kumo, where a meeting between the Kages is being held. By learning the army of 100 000 enemy warriors, the Kages organize different divisions for the war. Outside, thousands of shinobi gathered and the groups are created. Shikamaru, Choji and Temari are on the same division, the 4th, whose task is long range battling, and is led by Gaara. Shikamaru enumerates the other divisions: the 1st, led by Darui, especialized in mid range combat (which includes Tenten, Choza, Samui). The 2nd, led by Kitsuchi (Kurotsuchi's father and hence the son or son in law of Onoki), especialized in short range techniques (including Neji, Hinata, Kurotsuchi, Karui). The 3rd division, led by Kakashi, especialized in both short and mid range techniques (including Lee, Sakura (who in the future will be in charge of hospital), Gai, and later Sai). The 5th division, led by Mifune, a squad including different special shinobi with the task of reinforcements (Shino, Kiba, Ino). Gaara is the commander in chief of all. Then, there are formed special and smaller groups: Kankuro will lead a group of ambush including Sai, Omoi. Inoichi leads a group of Intelligence. Ao will lead a group of sensors, including Shee. And the last, the logistical support and Medic division led by Shizune, which will include Sakura in the near future, as the war advances. I have to admit that all this was well organized, as each character was assigned to a division. Still, it's questionable that Sakura doesn't start on the Medic division, or that Choji is not in the same group with his father. Gaara being a commander might not be a great idea, as he is the youngest of all the all the division leaders. But well, the writer wanted to give protagonism to important characters. Putting together Shikamaru and Temari was a good idea, they have been a long time separated, it's good to see their reunion. They always get along well, even if she is a little harsh. Then, was strange not to see Ibiki, Genma, Raido, Izumo or Kotetsu on the war groups. Anyway, all this Alliance seems nice, happy, every village united on the same flag, with the same headband. But this raises a question: Where is the hatred in the shinobi world Jiraiya and Nagato referred to? Does exist a cycle of hatred? Do they know why they are going to a war? It's like all the past arguments have been forgotten. And the logic of the storyline collapsed. The Kages are preparing themselves for a battle with "Akatsuki", when the called organization only has two remaining members. And it doesn't exist anymore, Akatsuki died with Konan. And now they know about the army of Zetsus, thanks to Anko's team, but so, is this a real war? It's just weird. I insist, a real war would have been between the five nations fighting against each other.

At the enemy's hideout, Kabuto returns with the captured Yamato. He has poisoned him to supress the Mokuton technique, preventing him to escape. He plans to use him, and so Hashirama's cells, to give more power to the white Zetsus. Obito still realizes that Kabuto can poison the Zetsus anytime he wants, and is surprised by Orochimaru's investigations about them. Meanwhile, Sasuke is still blind, adjusting to Itachi's eyes, while black Zetsu orders him to keep waiting. Sasuke is eager to attack Konoha and doesn't give a coin about the war. Later, the poor Yamato is connected to a machine so Hashirama's cells can be processed and replicated in order to be transplanted to the white Zetsu army. Kabuto performs the Edo Tensei, and resurrects several deceased characters, including: the former Akatsuki Kakuzu, Sasori, Deidara, Itachi, Nagato. The dead jinchurikis Yugito, Yagura, Roshi, Han, Utakata, and Fuu. The third Raikage, the second Tsuchikage Mu, the second Mizukage, the fourth Kazekage (Gaara's father), Hanzo. And also Zabuza, Haku, the other swordsmen of the Mist, Chiyo, Kimimaro. From Konoha, Kabuto recollected Asuma, Dan, Hizashi Hyuga. There are others unseen yet, and so Obito declares the beginning of the 4th ninja war. The first comment to make is about the resurrected people. How far did Kabuto (and so Kishimoto) go? The Edo Tensei requires a dead body and the DNA from the person to revive so the implications are very difficult to be coherent. Itachi and Nagato's bodies were in the hideout, so no problem to acquire them. The dead jinchurikis were on the hideouts of Akatsuki (sadly). But what about the rest? When did Kabuto desecrate the tombs of such characters and without anyone to notice? How did he got DNA samples of Deidara who exploded himself? What about Kakuzu? When did he enter Konoha's graveyard, or Suna's? All this plotline is made for entertaining purposes, to produce "reunions", to paint a war which looked grey from the moment it was announced. Makes no sense. Why bring Dan and not Nawaki? Because Kishimoto didn't want to disrespect Tsunade's little brother surely. I know, some episodes will be better because of this, it's going to be interesting but still, it's incoherent. The war arc will be extended a lot because of this. Then Kabuto turns out to be a surprising character. Orochimaru's was a Sannin, and lived enough years studying and experimenting, so it's hard to explain how his student surpassed him in the Edo Tensei technique. If Orochimaru could only control two Kages at the same time, then I don't understand how Kabuto can use and control so many resurrected persons. Besides, given the snake features he now presents, is a more dislikable character than before.