This chapter brought many good moments, and awaited reunions. Besides, provided some ideas that could and should have been performed before. The Juubi, now standing on four legs, slowly begins to create a huge ball of dark energy. The Hachibi warns B that if the monster keeps transforming, all will be over (this line is getting old). They have to take a chance while Kurama and Naruto recover. The Fox cloak is gone for everyone, and the shinobis begin to lose hope. They see the huge energy ball, and Choji thinks if is aiming towards Naruto. But Sakura, decides to raise the allies, and talks for her partner. They can't doubt after everything that happened. Naruto is doing as much as possible in any way he can. His words were clear. A shinobi thinks that Naruto is putting so much effort in simple ninjas like them, but Sakura corrects him. He meant that he is considering everyone a comrade, a fellow, a friend. She will heal Naruto, and get him as good as new. "We all have to our part. If we are going to die here and now... Rather than die cowering... Let's all perish with out heads held high!". Everyone is inspired by the speech, even Shikamaru, who gets an idea. He asks Ino's help to contact Kitsuchi: he wants him to teach them the most simple hand signs to create a rock wall, for anyone outside Iwagakure. If they build several walls, and stronger the ones from Iwa, instead of a big one, they can hold on. They have to counter quality with quantity. Kitsuchi agrees, so Shikamaru then contacts B, and tells him to send many Bijuu damas to deflect the energy ball as much as possible. Then, Ino manages to reach all the remaining survivors, and with Shikamaru each one makes the signs to produce the walls, just as the Juubi throws the energy ball. Many walls are shattered, but the velocity gets lower. After throwing the bijuu damas, Gyuki gets in the way to hold the menacing energy bomb. This first part was excellent. Shikamaru's idea was something I reclaimed much sooner, when the Juubi threw the spikes. Using a huge wall, or several rock walls, should have been planned from the beginning by Shikaku or Shikamaru. The ninjas from Iwa were always there to do it. I'm not sure if is possible for a common shinobi to create a simple wall, but there's no doubt that the larger amount, the better chance to slow down the bomb. About how Ino managed to contact all the shinobi, I'd explain it because many died, so there are not so much after all. And, what I loved was Sakura's speech. While healing Naruto, right behind him, she gave the needed words of inspiration. On one side, she not only stood up and talk for him, she also translated what he meant before to everyone around. He is not a good speaker, as he is not used to face so much people. Sakura neither, but she has the bravery and personality inherited from Tsunade, so is able to speak like the 5th Hokage would. In other words, I'd like to think that she behaved as the future Hokage's wife. She understands him better than anyone, she knows what he feels. Shinobis started to lose hope, so she had to defend his efforts and remind that despite the cloaks disappeared, he is doing everything in his power. She will heal him until he recovers, and is able to pass the protecting cloaks to everyone again. On other side, the last words faced reality (something Naruto wouldn't do), which is great. If they are going to die, they'll die fighting, doing their best, with heads high.
On the other dimension, Obito questions Kakashi for not accepting the cruelty of the world. Things don't always go as planned, and no everyone can be helped, like what happened to him. How he can fill the hole on this world? Kakashi tells that the hole can be filled with other persons. If he keeps rejecting the feelings of his friends, running away without caring for people, the hole will never be filled. Obito dismisses his words, and insists that true happiness resides on his new dream. So Kakashi counters with the old Obito's words: a shinobi who breaks rules is scum, but if he abandons his friends he is worst than scum. He will never reject the old Obito, even if the actual one forgot him. The conversation was well written, yet seemed like Obito stayed without arguments. I know what is inspiring Kakashi, but he doesn't really know what Obito went through after the accident. He doesn't understand his old friend, so I wished Obito could have said something more, to explain and justify his pain, that cannot heal.
The last part was about reunions. The energy bomb disappears, just as the 4th Hokage appears, right in front of his son and Sakura. He asks if he was late, but Naruto gladly says "right in time, dad". Sakura doesn't know who he is, so Minato introduces himself. He tells them to prepare for the blast, and while the impact wave reaches everyone, he says he sent it to the sea. Sakura sees the black eyes, realizes of the Edo Tensei. But Minato calms her, he is on their side, thanks her for healing Naruto, and asks if she is Naruto's girlfriend. For some reason, he answers for her, and despite some doubting, says yes, moreless. She knocks him with her head, angry, telling him to shut up and save energy. He complains that she is hurting instead of healing, so she calm now, says she will cure him faster. Minato chuckles, as Sakura reminds him of Kushina, and tells her to take care of his son. Sakura smiles, agreeing, and tells Naruto how sudden it was, and how did he knew his father was coming. He tells her that he sensed him while on Nine Tails Fox mode, and that the others are coming. This reunion was beautiful. Naruto finally got to see his dad again, and he welcomed him like if he saw him yesterday. He surely knew he'd have time with him, and processed the joy from the moment he sensed him. The talk with Sakura was really nice. Minato was polite as usual, and he wanted to introduce each other. Sakura probably got angry because Naruto answered for her, but still, she never denied the answer he gave. Was good to see her smile when Minato told her to take care of his son, like he entrusted his son to Sakura, and she accepted gladly. Minato only needed to see that she was close to Naruto, kindly healing him during the war, her personality like Kushina, to realize that she was the girl for his son. And this should imply the future, as now Sakura has met Naruto's father formally, gaining his trust, approval.
Then, the other three Hokages arrive. Sakura recognizes Hiruzen, and guesses the others. Tobirama praises Minato's flash technique, while Hiruzen explains that Orochimaru summoned them. Naruto tells a confused Sakura that more are coming, late. Madara excited exclaims Hashirama that he was waiting for him, but the 1st Hokage tells that first he must deal with the Juubi. Madara is unsurprised, bored, they won't get along (great reunion). Minato tells his son that he did well, to take a rest, his friend is coming and is on their side. Naruto, surprised thinks, Sasuke?. The Hokages prepare, Minato enters Kyuubi mode, surprising Sakura as he looks just like Naruto, who looks proud of his father (Kurama says he knows well). Minato had already placed the sealed kunais, so the four Hokages set a barrier, Four Red Suns around the Juubi. Hashirama then adds ten seals to restrain the ten tails. Right then, Sasuke and Jugo appear. Sakura is shocked unlike Naruto, who tells him he's late. Ino and the others come in, Shikamaru and Choji tell her to stay away. Kiba questions him, while Sasuke simply says how loud they are. When Sakura asks why he is there, he says that a lot of things happened, and he decided to protect the village, and... intends to be Hokage. These words stun everyone, only Naruto remains serious. Kiba, Shikamaru and Shino question Sasuke, as nothing will erase what he did as a fugitive. Sasuke knows, but he doesn't care what they think. The Hokages created this situation, so he will change the village. Naruto remembers Itachi's words and realizes Sasuke's mistake (the people acknowledge the Hokage, not the reverse), so he stands up, and confirms his dream. The 1st is glad there are so many candidates, but asks them to take it seriously, they'll need chakra to make a combined attack. Naruto thanks Sakura but tells her to rest, and joins Sasuke. Still, she joins them, and tells she's not weaker, Tsunade trained her and she accumulated enough energy to use her real power. She is also a Sannin's disciple and part of team 7. Naruto accepts, and claims the team is reborn. Ino feels nostalgic like Choji. Shikamaru admits they need him to defeat the Juubi, but struggles to recognize it. Kiba says he'll be Hokage, Shino tells the moment passed, while Hinata considers the comment (she should have been surprised before like the others). This reunion was good, but lacked an apology. Yet, given Sasuke's attitude, it's going to be hard. He knows that most of his former classmates won't forgive him. His desire to be Hokage may be misdirected. He wishes to change the village, but people won't approve him, just like Madara wasn't. He'd need 20 years of good behavior at least. Then, Sakura's reaction was of glad surprise, but in the question she denoted mistrust. She joined them because she trusts Naruto, and was good that she reminded him of her strength as Tsunade's pupil. Naruto instinctly tried to let her safe and behind, but this is the mistake of overprotection, mistrust the other's strength. To finish, I stay with Shikamaru's thought. He is decisive on a decision to allow Sasuke in the group or not. His past reasoning was clear.
On the other dimension, Obito questions Kakashi for not accepting the cruelty of the world. Things don't always go as planned, and no everyone can be helped, like what happened to him. How he can fill the hole on this world? Kakashi tells that the hole can be filled with other persons. If he keeps rejecting the feelings of his friends, running away without caring for people, the hole will never be filled. Obito dismisses his words, and insists that true happiness resides on his new dream. So Kakashi counters with the old Obito's words: a shinobi who breaks rules is scum, but if he abandons his friends he is worst than scum. He will never reject the old Obito, even if the actual one forgot him. The conversation was well written, yet seemed like Obito stayed without arguments. I know what is inspiring Kakashi, but he doesn't really know what Obito went through after the accident. He doesn't understand his old friend, so I wished Obito could have said something more, to explain and justify his pain, that cannot heal.
The last part was about reunions. The energy bomb disappears, just as the 4th Hokage appears, right in front of his son and Sakura. He asks if he was late, but Naruto gladly says "right in time, dad". Sakura doesn't know who he is, so Minato introduces himself. He tells them to prepare for the blast, and while the impact wave reaches everyone, he says he sent it to the sea. Sakura sees the black eyes, realizes of the Edo Tensei. But Minato calms her, he is on their side, thanks her for healing Naruto, and asks if she is Naruto's girlfriend. For some reason, he answers for her, and despite some doubting, says yes, moreless. She knocks him with her head, angry, telling him to shut up and save energy. He complains that she is hurting instead of healing, so she calm now, says she will cure him faster. Minato chuckles, as Sakura reminds him of Kushina, and tells her to take care of his son. Sakura smiles, agreeing, and tells Naruto how sudden it was, and how did he knew his father was coming. He tells her that he sensed him while on Nine Tails Fox mode, and that the others are coming. This reunion was beautiful. Naruto finally got to see his dad again, and he welcomed him like if he saw him yesterday. He surely knew he'd have time with him, and processed the joy from the moment he sensed him. The talk with Sakura was really nice. Minato was polite as usual, and he wanted to introduce each other. Sakura probably got angry because Naruto answered for her, but still, she never denied the answer he gave. Was good to see her smile when Minato told her to take care of his son, like he entrusted his son to Sakura, and she accepted gladly. Minato only needed to see that she was close to Naruto, kindly healing him during the war, her personality like Kushina, to realize that she was the girl for his son. And this should imply the future, as now Sakura has met Naruto's father formally, gaining his trust, approval.
Then, the other three Hokages arrive. Sakura recognizes Hiruzen, and guesses the others. Tobirama praises Minato's flash technique, while Hiruzen explains that Orochimaru summoned them. Naruto tells a confused Sakura that more are coming, late. Madara excited exclaims Hashirama that he was waiting for him, but the 1st Hokage tells that first he must deal with the Juubi. Madara is unsurprised, bored, they won't get along (great reunion). Minato tells his son that he did well, to take a rest, his friend is coming and is on their side. Naruto, surprised thinks, Sasuke?. The Hokages prepare, Minato enters Kyuubi mode, surprising Sakura as he looks just like Naruto, who looks proud of his father (Kurama says he knows well). Minato had already placed the sealed kunais, so the four Hokages set a barrier, Four Red Suns around the Juubi. Hashirama then adds ten seals to restrain the ten tails. Right then, Sasuke and Jugo appear. Sakura is shocked unlike Naruto, who tells him he's late. Ino and the others come in, Shikamaru and Choji tell her to stay away. Kiba questions him, while Sasuke simply says how loud they are. When Sakura asks why he is there, he says that a lot of things happened, and he decided to protect the village, and... intends to be Hokage. These words stun everyone, only Naruto remains serious. Kiba, Shikamaru and Shino question Sasuke, as nothing will erase what he did as a fugitive. Sasuke knows, but he doesn't care what they think. The Hokages created this situation, so he will change the village. Naruto remembers Itachi's words and realizes Sasuke's mistake (the people acknowledge the Hokage, not the reverse), so he stands up, and confirms his dream. The 1st is glad there are so many candidates, but asks them to take it seriously, they'll need chakra to make a combined attack. Naruto thanks Sakura but tells her to rest, and joins Sasuke. Still, she joins them, and tells she's not weaker, Tsunade trained her and she accumulated enough energy to use her real power. She is also a Sannin's disciple and part of team 7. Naruto accepts, and claims the team is reborn. Ino feels nostalgic like Choji. Shikamaru admits they need him to defeat the Juubi, but struggles to recognize it. Kiba says he'll be Hokage, Shino tells the moment passed, while Hinata considers the comment (she should have been surprised before like the others). This reunion was good, but lacked an apology. Yet, given Sasuke's attitude, it's going to be hard. He knows that most of his former classmates won't forgive him. His desire to be Hokage may be misdirected. He wishes to change the village, but people won't approve him, just like Madara wasn't. He'd need 20 years of good behavior at least. Then, Sakura's reaction was of glad surprise, but in the question she denoted mistrust. She joined them because she trusts Naruto, and was good that she reminded him of her strength as Tsunade's pupil. Naruto instinctly tried to let her safe and behind, but this is the mistake of overprotection, mistrust the other's strength. To finish, I stay with Shikamaru's thought. He is decisive on a decision to allow Sasuke in the group or not. His past reasoning was clear.
