Hadn't put all of that until just now, but you're right; Naruto got a cut on his cheek from Sakura's kunai, which we now know was poisoned (which makes her "stab Sasuke with a kunai" plan slightly less idiotic). That might be important, especially since the cut stays in place for the entirety of the issue instead of going away a few seconds later like a lot Naruto's minor injuries tend to do.

With the direction things are going in currently, I suspect Madara's going to show up and spirit Sasuke away, Sasuke will get Itachi's eyes to deal with his impending blindness and get a bit of recovery time, and then we have a final battle. Naruto beating the crap out of an exhausted, half-blind Sasuke would not be the sort of epic finish most fans are expecting.

 

Next chapter everyone rages at Sakura.

Naruto passes out and Sasuke escapes.
Sasuke kills Kakashi.
Madara comes and steals Naruto.

I feel like something stupid like that would happen.

 

^ Ugh, don't jinx us.

 

I don't know, and maybe it's just the lackluster quality of the last 100 chapters or so, but I get the feeling Sasuke might be going for an Itachi-style send off.

You know, maybe he realizes that, despite what people thought of him before, the fact that Kakashi and even Sakura want to kill him means he wouldn't ever have a place in Konoha, therefore he's trying to do for Naruto what Itachi did for Sasuke; that is, perform the ultimate sacrifice for someone (a brother?) he loves.

Meh, probably not. I just want something out of left field to happen at this point. Sasuke dying to a hero Naruto, or Sasuke being redeemed by a hero Naruto just don't do it for me.

 

Dude! I bet SmileoftheKill is right about at least 2/3. I went back and read the chapter and the scratch on his face is in every fucking frame. Oh shit, the poison is super effective.

 

I also think SmileoftheKill is right, but deep down inside, I hope Naruto redirects his rasengan again...

Only to aim for Sasuke's legs and maim him horribly for life. Sure he'll take a chidori to the chest again but it's likely he won't die.

 

I would aim slightly higher than Sasuke's legs; sure, it might not cripple Sasuke, but it would be much more painful, and it would put an end to Sasuke's deam of ever rebuilding the Uchiha clan.

 

Prediction: Sasuke dies next chapter.

 

Fixed it for ya.

With Kishi's pace, the battle would last that long. Thanks you guys for pointing out the poisoned kunai business since I actually didn't even think about that. That effectively gave Sasuke the out he desperately needs to survive his battle with Naruto.

Favorite part: Karin's resignation.

 

Spoiler

source : NF
credits : vered
Status : Confirmed

in short, Naruto says Sasuke is his friend, Sasuke claims no-one understands him, Kakashi tries to persuade Naruto to let him do the dirty work, Sakura cries
Same ol', same ol'
The last sentence is: "what kind of option is 'I'll kill Sasuke and die myself, as well' "
That's basiclally the option Naruto chose, it seems. He's going to fight Sasuke and if he can't bring him back, he'll kill him while dying himself

It seems a bit iffy, but if this is true then :

 

Buck's post is 100% confirmed

Spoiler

Hahahahahhahahahhahahahahahahahahahahhaha Legit spoilers
Naruto: "I understand it now, if we both fight seriously, we'll both die." The rest is ommitted (I'm an idiot~ He preaches, but to no avail.)
Naruto: "Because you're my friend, that's why I'll bear your hatred with you and why I'll die with you.
When she hears that, Sakura cries and says Naruto's name
Sasuke: "I don't intend to let you understand my pain. I'm not going to die, you'll die alone"

Kakashi: "Aren't you supposed to become Hokage? Let me handle Sasuke!"
Naruto: "I can't become Hokage if I can't even save a single friend! I'm going to fight Sasuke!!!"

what kind of option is "I'll kill Sasuke and die myself, as well"

:awesome

 

My predictions still stand!

Also, while Naruto may be stupid this chapter, nothing too hard to rage about

 

Wow if that spoiler is legit, then wtf man. Not being able to save some nutjob psycho avenger does not make you unfit to lead a village. Sometimes you just have to accept that crazy exists and that the only cure for it is ball rippage.

 

If that's legit then Sasuke's redemption has been confirmed, it seems. No way Naruto's going to die, so obviously Sasuke has no choice but to be redeemed. And Sasuke saying Naruto's the only one to do the dying is hilarious considering his physical condition.

But I'm surprised that Naruto sets killing Sasuke as an option for himself.

 

You forget what the writer has done so far. Just since the end of the battle with Itachi we have seen Sasuke:
• Beat a fully grown Jinchuriki (even if it was a trick)
• Go toe to toe with multiple kages
• Defeat Danzo, who was supposed to be using an unbeatable technique
• Upgrade what can only be called a 'super technique'

It is almost a certainty that Naruto is going to get beaten to a bloody pulp, and then survive by using Itachi's little gift.

And there is on confirmation that Sasuke will not die. He's just about used up as a character. Heck, he's closer to a mary-sue dreamed up by some half-cocked wannabe fanfic writer.

Nice to meet you all.

 

You realize that Sasuke's chakra exhausted and blind now, right? You realize that he had help during all of those other fights? You realize that Naruto managed to fight against Pein- who is stronger than Jiraiya, a Kage-level ninja- without help and is currently refreshed? The only reason(s) that Naruto wouldn't steamroll Sasuke is himself and maybe the poison.

 

Yes, but this is a Shonen Jump manga/anime. And more then that it is what I like to call the big three (Naruto, One Piece, Bleach) all of which don't mind bending their own rules, even occasionally breaking them outright, just because the author feels like it.
Plus, why would everyone's favorite 'good boy' Madara let his puppet be killed?

 

Oh, I'm not saying Sasuke will be killed. Just that in his current state, he doesn't stand a realistic chance against Naruto. That being said, I do think Madara will intervene.

 

Agreed; it seems quite likely that Sasuke will get his ass kicked, then Madara will intervene to save him and Sasuke decides he wants Itachi's eyes after all.

As for the spoilers, I suppose it is consistent with the way Naruto generally thinks; Naruto has never been capable of accepting that he has failed at anything, but at the same time he knows Sasuke has to be stopped.

I'm still holding out hope that, if Sasuke has to get redeemed (and it looks like he probably will), it will be via Redemption is Death; there's just no way Kishimoto could have Sasuke go back to Konoha like nothing happened after everything Sasuke's done.

 

Is the scratch near his eye still prominently there?