Kita ze Inbou! - キタぜ陰謀!

[ Episode 53: The Leaves Sprout! Naruto Shippuuden Special ]

So this episode pretty much wraps up the arc. Sasuke flips off Naruto, Sakura, Sai, and Yamato and leaves with his best buddies Orochimaru and Kabuto. The animation was pretty good in certain areas, especially when Sasuke was looking down at Naruto just before he disappeared. Ah yes, their disappearance using flames was awesome. I don’t quite recall that in the manga but it was a nice effect nonetheless. I also liked the ending of the episode with Sai. I liked the chapter where it came from as well and wondered at that time if they would convey the feelings from Sai and the overall scene well enough. Thankfully they did and closed out the arc on a feel-good note despite failing to capture Sasuke.

As for some of the random bits, good god, Tsunade can be terrifying when she’s ULTRA-PISSED. I wasn’t expecting her reaction to finding out that Danzou gave out secret ANBU info to be so intense though it is understandable. Stay tuned for the second half of the special which was split for a reason!

A subpar arc ended in a nice tone as the series shifts gear to what holds next. Even though the arc ended, nothing major really happened. Sasuke fled with Orochimaru and Naruto returned with the rest of the gang to Konoha to report what happened to Tsunade. Jiraiya and Kakashi discuss Sasuke immense growth compare to Naruto’s. Sai requests Danzou (who still has his own mysterious agenda) to remain a member of Team Kakashi and after reminiscing all that happened to him, he joins Naruto and the rest to their next mission.

Although it was a somewhat uneventful episode, it was still fun to watch. The only part that was slow moving is Sasuke’s departure and Naruto’s depression of how weak he has gotten ever since the time skip. Ironically, the episodes I like the most in this arc where the ones who took place in Konoha and re-introduced the rookie nine and well the initial confrontation between Naruto and Sai. After they left Konoha, it went downhill pretty quickly. Even the Kyuubi vs. Orochimaru fight felt uninspired and uninvolving. It’s funny this entire arc was about 15 chapters and it was extended to 20 episodes in the anime, and one can tell, it was too much. I do have to comment the writers though, the ending was a lot less sentimental than the last one, which had the longest goodbye scene since The Return of the King.

All in all, it was a nice ending to a mediocre arc, I know that the next one is going to be a filler one, and those have been mediocre at best, but I got to the point I have nothing to expect from Shippuuden so… let’s see what’s in store.

6.5/10