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[timepiececlock]

Naruto 77: ... That's some messed up shit his village put him through. And yet, I can understand their behavior, because they're only human, and they feared the threat he posed. But saaaaaad!!!!

I loved Naruto's thoughts through all this. He identifies with Gaara so much, and that's why he fears him. Because he sees how easily he could have become Gaara. In fact, how close to that he did come when he stole the scroll and heard Mizuki's words.

The image of Naruto moving his head forward into the reflection of Gaara and having the cracked surface then reflect Naruto's own face as his blood drips down his forehead.... that has to be one of my favorite images in the whole series. Right up there with the thousands of Naruto clones in episode one, and the demon-eyed Naruto stopping the giant snake in the 2nd chuunin exam, and the credits montage of all the teams in the chuunin exams in the second season opening. I'll have to icon it.

Also very cool was the connection shown between Naruto's eyes and Gaara's eyes. Eyes were a huge motif and thematic symbol in this episode, and with the theme of eyes = soul (emphasized by the mirror images), it firmly cemented the parallel of Naruto=Gaara.

On a happier note... I adored Kakashi coming in through Naruto's window to try and force him to eat vegetables. How cute! I was rereading volume 2 of the manga (the only one I have) and I noticed on the chapter cover page with Naruto studying ninja stuff in his room, there is a beaten-up Kakashi doll that he punches twenty times every morning. ::snicker::

Iruka's relationship with Naruto is one of the things I like the most about this series, though I rarely ever think about it. But whenever I do, I like it because it's obvious that Naruto loves Iruka so much, and that Iruka's kindness and compassion has had such a profound effect on Naruto. It's incredibly sad that Gaara's uncle could not feel the same way, even though Iruka's loss was just as great as Gaara's uncle's loss, probably greater because it orphaned him.

Comments

[spikespeigel.livejournal.com]

That's some messed up shit his village put him through. And yet, I can understand their behavior, because they're only human, and they feared the threat he posed. But saaaaaad!!!!

No to village mentality. He was just trying to fit in. Stupid humans.

The image of Naruto moving his head forward into the reflection of Gaara and having the cracked surface then reflect Naruto's own face as his blood drips down his forehead.... that has to be one of my favorite images in the whole series.

Seems to be following the manga. Trust me. Things get a lot better in terms of symbolism if it continues following the manga. I'm still content to call Naruto/Gaara the best fight in the series barring the recent development with a certain character that we all adore. Haven't seen how that plays out, but could be the stuff of legends.

[rashaka.livejournal.com]

If you're hinting at what I think you're hinting, that means I'm spoiled partially now, and while I'm not going to offer up a name to be confirmed or unconfirmed, the fact that I've instantly come up with only a few very likely possibilities for the phrase "we all adore" I'm irked. Really. I read into EVERYTHING. I was unintentionally spoiled for Wolfwood's death by this line from a fanfic summary on ff.net, "Late in the night, Milly sends Wolfwood the goodbyes she never had a chance to give." Now, that doesn't mean death at all, and yet I guessed death immediately and guess what. He died. I've also inferred other accurate spoilers from just as vague of descriptions. It's an uncanny ability I have and so I try to go completely without spoilers. By reading some fanfic I know a few things, but even so I don't know which is fanfic and which isn't, and I stopped visiting Naruto fanfic on ff.net except for a few specific stories, and so I have no idea of "recent developments." Don't tell me recent developments. I don't want to know recent developments. I don't want to know _any_ developments, even the vaguest of vague ones.

Things get a lot better in terms of symbolism if it continues following the manga.

Now that, see, that's cool. That has no commentary on any character or plotline whatsoever.

[spikespeigel.livejournal.com]

Well, you caught me. Don't know how you could have implied that Kakashi and Sasuke go at it, but your powers of deductions are superior to mine. Sorry if I spoiled anything.

Waitaminute? Wolfwood dies? Well, no reason to finish watching my Trigun DVDs now :p

[rashaka.livejournal.com]

Well, you caught me. Don't know how you could have implied that Kakashi and Sasuke go at it, but your powers of deductions are superior to mine. Sorry if I spoiled anything.

Are you lying now? Because that seems like an awfully deliberately constructed sentence.

Wolfwood dies? Well, no reason to finish watching my Trigun DVDs now :p

You own them and haven't watched them? ::gasp:: Besides, I remember you telling me a long time ago that you'd seen Trigun.