Spoilers are out, not sure if they're confirmed. Sound... interesting, could go either way.

Spoiler

Bee accepts Naruto. Naruto states that his dark self is also him (?!), and next week is Naruto vs. Kyuubi

 

No real shockers there.

Spoiler

Naruto having to accept his own anger and resentment makes a lot of sense; as long as he does not deal with it that will leave him vulnerable to the Kyuubi. Presumably his acceptance will go something like "Yeah, I was treated like crap and deep down I'm still kind of pissed off about it, but shit happens and it's time to move past that."

 

Kishimoto either needs to play more video games or less. I can't really say which.

 

I'm glad I'm not the only that got Persona 4 vibes from those spoilers, now the only question is, what will his persona be?

 

Is anyone really expecting anything good by now?

 

Naruto 495 is up on Mangastream

No real surprises since the spoilers EsperJones posted were right on the money. Looking forward to the next issue, though I have to admit I was a little disappointed that Evil!Naruto did not get more exploration and development.

 

And read 3-5 weeks of Evil!Naruto kicking ass but never delivering a fatal blow then things magically being at the same point we're at? Pass. That's what the anime's for. And that's why I don't watch it.

Story needs to keep moving, he's actually still managing that so I appreciate it.

 

Nice mural.

Other than that? His evil clone was pathetic. It should have tried harder.

While I hope that Kyuubi will obliterate Naruto, we've been getting hints for a long while that Naruto has potential to surpass the fox's power.

 

Evil clone was pathetic, but Bee is still epic. I actually lol'd when I saw "it's too early to celebrate, MOTHERFUCKA!"

 

I don't really think his clone represented his "evil" side anyway, more like the side that was hurt and got bitter and mistrusting. Still lame but marginally better than Darth Naruto.

But the rapping is seriously getting on my nerves and I hope Kisame comes out of his damn sword soon enough unless he choses to wait until Naruto mastered his kyuubi form.

 

Is it just me or the whole "Master the bijuu" progress just screams Deus ex machina? A entire chamber built for the purpose of controlling huge beings capable of wiping villages is a bit of a stretch here?

I also got the impression judging from the flashback that Kyuubi was so much stronger then the Hachibi. They used select dozen of elites in order to subdue the 8 tails, while the Kyuubi just plowed through everyone & everything.

 

true but Kishu has been setting Naruto up for this for the longest time. He's Bern giving Naruto large and difficult obstacles to overcome with or without the Kyuubi. Mostly without the Kyuubi to make Naruto a strong and powerful character independenly (Senjutsu, the Rasengan Series, and Shadow Clones) but with some other important obstacles like Sasuke and Madara to emphasize that Naruto should use the Kyuubi if he wants a definate chance at winning. It's obvious that he could try defeating them by himself ( a more physically and harder path) but it would make the Kyuubi pointless.

 

Not necessarily, the Kyuubi could also be seen as this evil, corruptive power that Naruto is better of not to use it as it is evil, easy and dangerous. Kind of like cheating if you will with the risk of losing your soul/self.

So Naruto defeating his enemies without depending on the kyuubi could also be seen as a mark to his "greatness".

I don't mind it as much, I just think it is unnecessary since it won't be that much different from Sage Mode and we spend a lot of time learning that so another training montage seems redundant and boring. The rapping makes it annoying.

 

I just don't understand how Naruto would even have a chance against the kyuubi. I don't see how rasengan or kage bushin could save him, except possbily his rasen shurikan, which he can't use. Maybe sage mode can help, but he can only use it for five minutes. I just feel the authors going to have to pull something out of his ass to get Naruto to control Kyuubi. Maybe ' the power of love'

 

Well, whatever stunt Kishi pulls with this, I seriously hope Naruto doesn't start going bijuu-mode for every fight from now on the way Killer Bee does (though we've only seen him in two fights...). Control of the nine-tails to me, has always/or should always have been about preventing Sasuke/Madara crippling him using the mangekyou and as a back-up where all else fails. Ah well, whatever. As long as we don't have to see another long drawn out training.

 

From what we've seen so far, it seems far more likely to be a contest of willpower than an actual, physical battle between Naruto and the Kyuubi.

 

If it was a physical battle, why exactly couldnt he use the rasen shurikan? Worked very well against Pain. And all he would need to do to sustain sage mode is summon a couple clones and send them to the mountain.

But I agree with Qordath, I think it will be a contest of will, seeing as how the kyuubi doesnt actually have a body.

 

It still seems stupid, I mean who is going to win, the fifteen year old, not so bright kid with issues or the age old demon who is the strongest of its kind?

I think it is more of a temptation thing where he just has to block out the "evilness" rather than to overpower the kyuubi in any way.