Brilliant episode. Outstanding, dark, dramatic, attempting tragedy against the life of the protagonist, and a main character. The way it happened could have been better, but the results are amazing. An incredible cliffhanger at the end. Heartfelt moments here and then. Following last episode, Shukaku is being taken by the Gedo Mazo. Gaara says he's not a jinchuriki anymore and recognizes Shukaku as an equal. This moves the Ichibi, who remembers Bunpuku the priest before being sealed inside the Gedo Mazo. Soon, the remaining tailed beasts suffer the same fate. Gyuki tells B he's sorry. Kurama gives a last words to Gaara before being pulled inside the statue. In the moment this happens, Naruto is left frozen, eyes wide open, and begins to fall unconcious. Gaara screams his name and saves him with sand (What a moment). He then carries Naruto's body on his back, now is his moment, and while he flies away, promises not to let him die. Meanwhile, Madara asks White Zetsu an update about the other front, but suddenly, Tobirama appears using Hiraishin to attack him. He evades it, takes a black metal bar, and the 2nd dodges, but later, the fight follows off screen, ending up with Tobirama on the ground, paralyzed with the metal bars. He recalls how Tobirama usually takes advantage when the opponent think he won, and the other think Madara has done the same. The old Uchiha teases him now, and says that there's a reason of why they can't fight with full power (Edo Tensei restrictions), so there's a huge difference between their current abilities. He's even preparing new eyes, but doesn't know if they will adapt. The scene switches to Sasuke, who had a talk with the paralyzed Hashirama. The 1st Hokage wanted to give him a jutsu to counter Madara's senjutsu that he stole from him. When Sasuke asks why he doesn't go himself, Hashirama says that the bars are stopping his chakra system in points of pressure, and that he shouldn't touch them (they will tie him too). He tells him to stop Madara, as he is similar to Izuna Uchiha, adding that Madara once was a good man who loved his brothers and his clan. That's why he didn't kill him yet. Sasuke finally agrees to receive the jutsu, and flies away on the hawk. In the meantime, Madara tells Tobirama that truth being said, he waited for this moment a long time, to see defeated the man who killed his brother Izuna. Still, he knows that he's already dead. Tobirama asks why he wanted to resurrect, given their time finished long ago. So Madara tells he will achieve what Hashirama could not, a country, a new world, as this one is a failure created by the 1st Hokage. This world is full of contradictions, people wish for peace while also ask for war. To protect someone, other must be sacrificed. Madara remembers the last words Hashirama told him in their last battle. Tobirama then tries to surprise him by spitting needles, but Madara blocks them, and at the same time, perceives Sasuke coming from the air. He keeps saying that Hashirama's world is full of inconsistencies, and stops Sasuke in the air with the reppeling power of the Rinnegan. He repeats the words his rival told him, he'll kill anyone, a friend, a brother, even a son, to protect his dream. And then, Madara stabs Sasuke's heart with the sword, despite Tobirama's protests. He tells Sasuke that his Mangekyo Sharingan means that he lost several things, and that he is looking for something. But that doesn't matter anymore, he will lose himself. This is the real end. Sasuke resists while on the ground, thinking he can't die yet, he must survive, and remembers Itachi's words about the village. He thinks he must create a new village, and show the true meaning of a Kage, but slowly gives in, and loses conciousness.
This part was very good. The talk between Madara and Tobirama, showing old wishes of revenge he could never achieve in life given Hashirama's presence. The flaw was that the way Tobirama ended defeated was not shown. The Nidaime didn't give up easily. About Hashirama and Sasuke's talk, it gave the crucial detail that Sasuke looks like Izuna, something previously noticed by any viewer. Hashirama's idea was good, but he understimated Madara's cruelty, just like Naruto always understimated Sasuke's. And this leads to the apparent tragedy surrounding Sasuke. As Shippuden was advancing, I gradually got convinced that he had to die at the end. And looking at the story, Madara as the real villain, the Uchiha who threw a curse on his clan, and indirectly led to its practical extinction, seems a perfect ending. The last Uchiha, resembling Madara's brother Izuna, helping to defeat the villain guilty of the clan's darkest times, and dying in the process. The cursed clan is extincted by their last two members, and showing Sasuke's redemption to save the world. Naruto, Sakura, and Kakashi present during Sasuke's last moments. That was the ideal scenario I imagined for the end of the story. Would have been poetical, tearful, heartbreaking. Instead, Kishimoto brought up this idea. Madara stabbing Sasuke, sacrificing him even though he looks like Izuna. Yet the way, with no one present but Tobirama, is implying that is not the end. If Sasuke dies, needs a deserved farewell (like Asuma), an apology, redemption words, a heartfelt scene. Sasuke's words while resisting, about creating a new village, changing the way the Kages rule, at the end is not far from how Madara thinks. His redemption is incomplete. In any case, I sustain the idea that Sasuke should die. His goal is unreachable, he has no fate since his family and clan were killed, since he lost Itachi. He said it himself to his brother, he should be dead, he should have been killed along his parents, why he was alive, why? Those heartbreaking moments when he found the revived Itachi, told that Sasuke wished he had died the day of the massacre. He suffered a big trauma, bigger than Obito's in many ways, so the end of his life is appropiate. I don't know what was Hashirama's plan to counter Madara's stolen powers. I wished things were different, Sasuke getting stabbed but making a crucial move to stop Madara, using Hashirama's jutsu. Then, I can't forget Killer B. He died apparently, but his death was never shown. In later episodes is revealed that he survived because he hid inside a slashed tentacle, so the Hachibi wasn't entirely extracted from him. I can't believe how simple it was.
The other part, shows the Spiral White Zetsu using Hashirama's wood statue to attack the remaining allies. The statue supresses chakra, and the only one able to defend the group is Hiruzen. Orochimaru, notices that this Zetsu is different, and waits. The cloaks are still active, Shikamaru and Onoki realize that their chakra reserves are low. Tsunade is exhausted, same as Sakura and Shizune, for using so much the medical ninjutsu. Karin panics as she senses Sasuke's state. Then, Gaara arrives, and goes directly with Tsunade, Sakura and Shizune. The people see Naruto unconcious, and a worried Sakura rushes next to him. Gaara demands medical assistance for Naruto, and asks Tsunade's help, but she says she's out of energy for medical ninjutsu, and tells him to take Sakura, who still has some. She's shocked, asking what happened to Naruto, but Gaara urges her to go, he'll explain in the road. Shizune tells her to get in the sand cloud. Onoki sees this, is horrible. Kiba tells a concerned Hinata to use the Byakugan, and she sees that Naruto's heart is beating slowly (while Sakura touches his forehead). When Gaara and Sakura leave, she runs in their direction, but stumbles, and begs Neji to protect Naruto. In the sand cloud, a desperate Sakura uses both hands to heal Naruto, telling him to resist, he's strong, he will survive. She feels her chakra reserves decreasing, and thinks that at this rate, Naruto is going to die. In the meantime, Karin feels Sasuke close to death as well, and both situations are mirrored. These parts were incredible, touching, showing crucial moments. The deal with Spiral Zetsu (poor Yamato) was weird, hard to understand, clueless, but wasn't the most relevant side. Naruto's state was the real deal. White Zetsu said that for being an Uzumaki, he can resist a while after the extraction of the Bijuu, but his death is inevitable. Seems logical. Then, what I liked most was Sakura's whole reaction. Tsunade didn't seem desperate for some reason, she should have. But Sakura was anguished, despairing, just like when you feel the closest person to you is dying or dead. I didn't see that deep feeling not even in Hinata. She was shocked, saddened, but not with the same passion or depth like Sakura. That's why it was perfect, the drama and tragedy carried over a sand cloud, with two of the most beloved persons of Naruto accompanying him, desperate to save him. Gaara became the real best friend, and Sakura the girl of Naruto's life. Despite the ending, I think Kishimoto planned this on purpose, given the special relationship between them. Was a nice idea, that contradicts the final pairings, and Boruto.
This part was very good. The talk between Madara and Tobirama, showing old wishes of revenge he could never achieve in life given Hashirama's presence. The flaw was that the way Tobirama ended defeated was not shown. The Nidaime didn't give up easily. About Hashirama and Sasuke's talk, it gave the crucial detail that Sasuke looks like Izuna, something previously noticed by any viewer. Hashirama's idea was good, but he understimated Madara's cruelty, just like Naruto always understimated Sasuke's. And this leads to the apparent tragedy surrounding Sasuke. As Shippuden was advancing, I gradually got convinced that he had to die at the end. And looking at the story, Madara as the real villain, the Uchiha who threw a curse on his clan, and indirectly led to its practical extinction, seems a perfect ending. The last Uchiha, resembling Madara's brother Izuna, helping to defeat the villain guilty of the clan's darkest times, and dying in the process. The cursed clan is extincted by their last two members, and showing Sasuke's redemption to save the world. Naruto, Sakura, and Kakashi present during Sasuke's last moments. That was the ideal scenario I imagined for the end of the story. Would have been poetical, tearful, heartbreaking. Instead, Kishimoto brought up this idea. Madara stabbing Sasuke, sacrificing him even though he looks like Izuna. Yet the way, with no one present but Tobirama, is implying that is not the end. If Sasuke dies, needs a deserved farewell (like Asuma), an apology, redemption words, a heartfelt scene. Sasuke's words while resisting, about creating a new village, changing the way the Kages rule, at the end is not far from how Madara thinks. His redemption is incomplete. In any case, I sustain the idea that Sasuke should die. His goal is unreachable, he has no fate since his family and clan were killed, since he lost Itachi. He said it himself to his brother, he should be dead, he should have been killed along his parents, why he was alive, why? Those heartbreaking moments when he found the revived Itachi, told that Sasuke wished he had died the day of the massacre. He suffered a big trauma, bigger than Obito's in many ways, so the end of his life is appropiate. I don't know what was Hashirama's plan to counter Madara's stolen powers. I wished things were different, Sasuke getting stabbed but making a crucial move to stop Madara, using Hashirama's jutsu. Then, I can't forget Killer B. He died apparently, but his death was never shown. In later episodes is revealed that he survived because he hid inside a slashed tentacle, so the Hachibi wasn't entirely extracted from him. I can't believe how simple it was.
The other part, shows the Spiral White Zetsu using Hashirama's wood statue to attack the remaining allies. The statue supresses chakra, and the only one able to defend the group is Hiruzen. Orochimaru, notices that this Zetsu is different, and waits. The cloaks are still active, Shikamaru and Onoki realize that their chakra reserves are low. Tsunade is exhausted, same as Sakura and Shizune, for using so much the medical ninjutsu. Karin panics as she senses Sasuke's state. Then, Gaara arrives, and goes directly with Tsunade, Sakura and Shizune. The people see Naruto unconcious, and a worried Sakura rushes next to him. Gaara demands medical assistance for Naruto, and asks Tsunade's help, but she says she's out of energy for medical ninjutsu, and tells him to take Sakura, who still has some. She's shocked, asking what happened to Naruto, but Gaara urges her to go, he'll explain in the road. Shizune tells her to get in the sand cloud. Onoki sees this, is horrible. Kiba tells a concerned Hinata to use the Byakugan, and she sees that Naruto's heart is beating slowly (while Sakura touches his forehead). When Gaara and Sakura leave, she runs in their direction, but stumbles, and begs Neji to protect Naruto. In the sand cloud, a desperate Sakura uses both hands to heal Naruto, telling him to resist, he's strong, he will survive. She feels her chakra reserves decreasing, and thinks that at this rate, Naruto is going to die. In the meantime, Karin feels Sasuke close to death as well, and both situations are mirrored. These parts were incredible, touching, showing crucial moments. The deal with Spiral Zetsu (poor Yamato) was weird, hard to understand, clueless, but wasn't the most relevant side. Naruto's state was the real deal. White Zetsu said that for being an Uzumaki, he can resist a while after the extraction of the Bijuu, but his death is inevitable. Seems logical. Then, what I liked most was Sakura's whole reaction. Tsunade didn't seem desperate for some reason, she should have. But Sakura was anguished, despairing, just like when you feel the closest person to you is dying or dead. I didn't see that deep feeling not even in Hinata. She was shocked, saddened, but not with the same passion or depth like Sakura. That's why it was perfect, the drama and tragedy carried over a sand cloud, with two of the most beloved persons of Naruto accompanying him, desperate to save him. Gaara became the real best friend, and Sakura the girl of Naruto's life. Despite the ending, I think Kishimoto planned this on purpose, given the special relationship between them. Was a nice idea, that contradicts the final pairings, and Boruto.
