Fixed that for you.

 

And another optimistic soul is crushed.

 

Sturgeon's Law.

Also, why in the hell would you want to be optimistic? That's just setting yourself up for disappointment. Cynics have no real expectations, and it is impossible to disappoint a pessimist because they see the bad in everything.

 

I gave up optimism years back (on a summer's day, waiting by the window...).

No expectations -> no disappointment -> satisfactory lifestyle

 

Of course almost all stories in the fandom are atrocious, but there are a few decent ones around, and a creative, talented writer can take even poor canon material and utilise it in quality storytelling... once in a while.

 

Sturgeon's Law always applies, but just because the vast majority of fanfiction is crap doesn't mean there aren't good stories in there. Heck, a big chunk of DLP's entire raison d'etre is to filter through all the crappy stories to find the good ones.

 

New chapter is up. I think this fight will be over next issue.

 

I sure hope it gets done next issue. Kabuto's powers have become utterly ridiculous.

 

Kabuto's just an improved version of Orochimaru. If hadn't been so focused on Sasuke, I'd bet we'd have seen Orochimaru pulling off those abilities himself (assuming he didn't already have them).

 

Actually, I think they've followed a fairly logical sequence.

Kabuto started out at around Kakashi's level of skill, but with a heavy emphasis on medical ninjutsu. In addition to that, we know he was an excellent spy and infiltrator, caught up in multiple espionage webs. He learned this trade from Root, Sasori, and Orochimaru - all three of whom were exceptionally crafty and manipulative.

When he revealed his true allegiance as Orochimaru's right hand man and went to live in Otogakure, he would have devoted his considerable talents to working on Orochimaru's various projects, which involved gruesome human experimentation in order to push the limits of ninja biology. Since Orochimaru's entire motif was snake-related, it's really unsurprising that Kabuto got involved in that. We also know that Orochimaru's cells could be used for all manner of things, so it's reasonable that Kabuto could inject himself with them to enhance his abilities.

He would have gained access to Edo Tensei while in Otogakure, before or after Orochimaru's death.

The toads have access to senjutsu, so why not the snakes, with whom they're about equal in prestige and power? Of course a snake's Sage Mode is necessarily a bit different from a toad's, so the abilities aren't exactly the same.

I quite like Kabuto's skill set, really. The mix of spy, mad doctor, necromancer, and snake is pretty cool. Also, Kabuto's detached sadism is a lot more unnerving than most villainous characters' cliché personalities.

 

I think that Sage Mode for Kabuto is a bit of a stretch. I just don't see him being able to pull it off in the same way that Naruto was able to. However, Kishimoto needed a reason for Kabuto to have speed and power greater than the Uchiha brothers', so that's the route he went.

 

He couldn't pull if off the way Naruto does, hence why he took advantage of Juugo's abilities instead.

 

As much as things in Naruto piss me off, and Kabuto pulling everything but the kitchen sink out his arse is one of them, I/we can't complain much since we ain't paying for 'em. Though I am fucking bored of this now. Am not arsed about Kabuto, or Sasuke and Itatchi is losing my intrest too.

 

I don't really mind Kabuto's weird powers; I expected some odd shit... but surely he doesn't think Itachi is done? The fuckers regenerate, or has he forgotten that little tidbit about his own technique?

 

I'm wondering if he's about the use that tagged kunai he's been holding onto.

 

The anime is back on track, at least for now.

We'll probably only get 10-15 episodes or so before they have to cut back to filler.

 

Well, for once I have a small hope for the next filler episodes. There is so much going on in the war that we haven't seen in the manga, like for example full fight between Kakashi and the Seven Swordsmen. It should be more than enough to actually make fillers that people want to watch instead of usual made-up weird stuff. But the question is if the creative team will think of it.

 

when I've watched lately..

Naruto defeat pein...

 

Naruto is a go.

 

What a boring chapter. It's like this manga is going around in circles.