Kishimoto Masashi - Naruto, vol. 28-29

[oyceter]

Kakashi Gaiden

I shouldn't let so much time pass between reading volumes; I can't quite remember what happened in the first half of Kakashi Gaiden. On the other hand, the ending was so good that I didn't really have to remember. This series is going to kill me with its trios of teams and how they all bond and interact. And oh, I hadn't been expecting that someone would actually die, though I should have.

So that's how Kakashi got the sharingan and the scar.

That is awesome.

And I now fanwank it into an explanation as to why he sucks at training Team 7 equally; maybe Naruto and Sakura remind him too much of his old teammates, and he cannot bear to see them hurt.

Part 2

I emailed rachelmanija twice when I was reading these because I was so excited. The emails largely consisted of:

"EEEEEEEE! Sakura is so cool! Rock Lee! EEEEEEE!!!"

I am so glad to see them all back again! And they're older! I am so impressed by how the art ages them just a bit, even as they look exactly like their old selves and sometimes act like that as well! And it was just so awesome to see everyone welcoming Naruto back. Even though I haven't been away from the manga for so long, it feels like I've been away from Konoha, just like him.

There are so many cool bits: Shikamaru and Temari! ROCK LEE! Tsunade!

I adored the echo of Team 7's first training moment, except this time with Sakura and Naruto working together and being even smarter and more ninja-y. Also... EEEEE!!! Sakura blows things up! That is SO COOL! She finally has powers! I have to admit, I was a little afraid when she ended up being Tsunade's apprentice for medical ninjutsu, just because I didn't want it to be that the majority of women in the series had stereotypically feminine type powers, with the exception of Temari.

But no. She has medical jutsu AND she blows giant holes into the ground!

Rock.

And EEEEEE! Gaara! Gaara is Kazekage! Gaara gets kidnapped OMG! And Kankurou! I have to admit, I didn't have much of an impression of Kankurou before, but he looks so wee and vulnerable without his usual bunraku outfit. And I absolutely adored the flashback of him and Gaara, of Gaara deciding to try and connect with people because of Naruto. This is why I love the series so much.

It was especially great with the cut from young!Gaara telling Kankurou and Temari that he didn't think of them as siblings at all to Kazekage!Gaara, trying to help out the village who hurt him so badly.

And oh, the parallels with Naruto! Those panels of wee!Naruto and wee!Gaara by themselves kill me, especially since Naruto's family grows and grows in the panels, while Gaara remains alone.

Also, have I mentioned just how cool Sakura is, what with the saving Kankurou and stuff?

And Rock Lee! Rock Lee is back! I loved the look between Tenten and Neji: "Guy and Rock Lee are insane. Yup."

Besides all the awesome character moments, the plot also kicks into high gear, with a revelation of why Itachi's Sooper Sekrit Organization wants Gaara and Naruto.

In conclusion: EEEEEEEEE!