What Did I Miss?

I'm back from my holiday, and I'm afraid that I was sorely disappointed in the lack of manga action. I was expecting to miss something hugely awesome. Instead, I came home, downloaded the chapters eagerly, only to find that nothing had friggin' happened!

Expect a super-long synopsis in this update. Sorry, but it's been awhile.

**Chapter 319, 320 & 321 Spoilers!**

So what did happen? Sakura and Naruto angsted over their lost pal (Sasuke) again. Naruto cut the waterfall with wind chakra, motivated to keep trying by his memories of Sasuke. It was all very sweet, if a little rushed.

Kurenai had a whole page to herself for some unknown reason. She's probably going to pull a Temari and 'sense' that Asuma's in danger. Although she may actually have a significant role in upcoming events... I rather doubt it though.

Naruto ate ramen at Ichiraku's with Yamato and Kakashi. They were clumsily served by two bumbling idiots from the 3rd Naruto Movie. It's obvious that Kishimoto was paid to add them in. I guess not too many people are keen on watching the 3rd filler movie, after a year of filler episodes.

Hidan and Kakuzu arrived at a bounty station. They entered through a secret door in a smelly old toilet. Reminded me of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets... An ugly, and suspiciously filler-looking character took the body of Chiriku off their hands. Hidan couldn't give a shit, and just wanted to leave the bounty station to get away from the stink of rotting flesh and piss.

All in all, the toilet scene was the only real highlight of chapter 320. I mean, c'mon! Who can take Hidan and Kakuzu seriously after seeing that?

Chapter 321, started off rather boring. Kakashi giving Naruto another of those 'complicated explanations'. I was almost yawning, and then it suddenly got interesting. So Kakashi knows the Rasengan. I'd always wondered if he did, actually. It seemed rather strange that the 'copy-ninja' wouldn't even know the famous technique of his sensei.

Naruto was suddenly confident that having mastered both 'nature manipulation' and 'form manipulation', he would be able to create a new technique incorporating the two very soon. Alas, this is not so... (Although we all wish to god it was so the training could end and Naruto could kick some butt already!) But Naruto will have to face many more grueling chapters of hard training, as he attempts to fuse wind chakra with form manipulated chakra. A feat, by the way, that even the Yondaime Hokage could never achieve; granted he died young.

Oh yeah, and Kakashi's expectations of Naruto have risen once again. Now it's not just "You may even surpass me", it's the more impressive; "I believe the one to surpass the Yondaime Hokage will be you."

Geez, what's Kishimoto up to anyway? We haven't even seen Naruto's 'that jutsu' yet ... if it even exists. And as far as I know, after three years with Jiraiya, Naruto still has to create a Kage Bunshin, or use both hands, to form a Rasengan. If this is so, how long is it going to take for him to merge freaking wind chakra into a Rasengan? Assuming a windy Rasengan is what Naruto is striving for. Either way, it's clear that we're in for long wait.

Personally, I kind of wish that this kind of training could be done behind the scenes. Like the time-skip training (in which it seems Naruto learned practically nothing, ironically). But I suppose this is all necessary. Hey, as long as it doesn't go on for too long, I'll be okay with it. I'm just anxious for some real action already!

As it is, things seem to be moving slowly. Too damn slowly!

**End of Spoilers**

While I was away my good friend Sasha did this adorable picture of chibi Kyuubi Naruto for me. He's just so cute ... and at the same time strangely scary... It's those eyes!

http://sasha2999.deviantart.com/

Sasha was also kind enough to save me the link to this very hilarious Putfile of the sound of Naruto and Sasuke having sex - Naruto and Sasuke Should Lock Their Doors. I've gotta tell you, if you haven't heard it yet then you are really missing out! Listen to the whole thing. Oh, and be sure that your either very much alone, or you're wearing headphones, because... Well, you get it. Heh heh!

I frequent the Rahly_Furverted LJ Community, there is some truly spectacular art there ... And a whole lot of it is slashy! ^^ Last time I went, I was amazed (and I mean really it) to see a beautiful picture of Yondaime and baby Naruto by Red_Rahl. There is just so much power in this picture. But you have to see it to believe it - Precious to Me

Whew! That's it for this week. I'll be back again next week with another update with my opinion of chapter 322 and more... Perhaps a good healthy rant on something. Heh heh!

Later!

Ja Ne!

It's A Summer-Themed Slideshow!

Disclaimer: None of this art is mine. It's just for sharing/viewing.

There's no manga chapter this week, so we're all a little peeved. On top of that, I'm going away for two weeks starting tomorrow. This means, of course, that I won't be updating here until after the 26th of August.

Avs by me, art not, use freely.

In case you're interested, my family and I are travelling to the North of England, the Lake District, where we'll be staying in a luxury caravan on a farm. I've been there many times before, so I know I'll have fun. ^^

Avs by me, art not, use freely.

When I return, I'll compose an update on the latest manga chapters as soon as I can. I'm going to miss my fandom, but some time away from it will probably do me some good. Hopefully, there'll be plenty of shiny new fanart and fanfiction awaiting my return. But for now...

ItaNaru Fansite

Update: 03/05/08
Some decent ItaNaru links for any visitors to this page:
My ItaNaru photobucket album
A Japanese ItaNaru fansite
Fanfiction.Net ItaNaru Community
Fanfiction.Net Akai Kitsune Community
LiveJournal ItaNaru Rantplace

I apologise for the extreme lateness of this 'Thursday' update. My Internet connection was non-existant for most of Thursday, and I had my hair dyed a shocking red. o_0;; On top of that I had to move all of my stuff out of my bedroom yesterday. And today I've been decorating. So I've been busy.
Anyway, moving on...

**Spoilers for Ch318 of the Naruto Manga**

I really loved this chapter.

The training method that Kakashi devised for Naruto seems to be working brilliantly. It's practical, doesn't require much thought-power. Perfect for our fox-boy. By slashing the leaf in two with his wind chakra, he's taken the first step to mastering chakra nature manipulation. Next he'll be slashing a waterfall, after that he'll be ready to use wind chakra in combat, according to Kakashi.

This'll make for a good KakaNaru icon! Heh heh!

Of course, what really made chapter 318 so great was the hilarious Deidara/Tobi interaction. Poor Tobi keeps jokingly provoking Deidara into an explosive rage - literally.

It also turns out the the Sanbi wasn't a Jinchuuriki. It was merely a Biju, and a dumb one at that, unlike the Kyuubi. Thus it lacked the capacity to use it's power to its full potential, and was easily brought down.

I noticed how Kishi kept switching from Naruto's training to the Akatsuki rather abruptly. This is probably to emphasize the feeling of impending trouble. Akatsuki are getting close, they're progressing with their mission to collect the Biju swiftly. Naruto will once again be a target very soon.

It may just be my scanlation, but this just cracked me up.

Hidan and Kakuzu seem as argumentative as ever. Seriously, those guys just need to admit their deep feelings for each other and jump in the sack together! If nothing else, perhaps it'd calm that air of potent sexual frustration around those two.

Finally, the chapter ended on a more serious note. It turns out that Asuma and Shikamaru are a part of the "Twenty Small Brigades", and are going Akatsuki hunting. More specifically; Hidan and Kakuzu hunting. So the hunters are about to become the hunted. Oh, the sweet irony!

Overall, this chapter is the funniest in a long time. While I didn't get my angst, the Akatsuki hilarity more than made up for it. I hope the next chapter will be as good.

Incidentally, I've heard that there will be no manga chapter released next week.

**End of Spoilers**

This week I was going to do a rant on pairings and the typical type of bad fanfiction that is written about them. But I'm in too good a mood to rant effectively, so you'll just have to settle for a happy post. ^^

I've been going through a big SasuNaru stage recently. But I've finally grown a little bored with it, and have retreated back into ItaNaru, and my other favourite pairings, for my entertainment.

After searching unsuccessfully for any new ItaNaru fanart, I told my good friend Sasha about the lack of ItaNaru fansites. She did a search, and found a Japanese ItaNaru fansite.

An important thing to remember is that most Japanese fansites have affiliates. In other words; if you check the "links" section of each fansite, you are liable to find links to many other similar websites. So be sure to do so! I've found so many fansites through doing this.

Just so you know, I'm going away on holiday on Friday the 11th of August. I'll be away for two weeks, so I'll be skipping a couple of updates here. I'll try to cook up something special for when I return. Since there will be no manga chapter next week, I'll do a special update with a Summer Slideshow on Thursday.

Later!