Good times!

So the chapter starts off with the mighty Raikage and little Uchiha picking up where they left off, after it seems Raikage kills Jugo, at least in this manga people die!

Sasuke vs Raikage Fan Art

So Sasuke hits the big angry black shinobi with a Chidori and it doesn’t seem to leave much of an impression, as the Raikage goes on to body slam/suplex him in some good old fashioned WWF-esque way, possibly rivaling the green-clad Bruce Lee look alikes for best Taijutsu move.

Sasuke somehow survives, then it goes a bit weird – he gets some sort of ribcage-like cocoon around him and releases his Mangekyo Sharingan. Our little Uchiha appears to have been practicing his Amaterasu as he makes a little shield out of the black flames, making him untoucable – or so he thinks – till the Raikage bashes his face in, and pretty much gives up on either his left arm/his whole body.

Sasuke's Amaterasu

So he will either go all out and do some sort of super Hadouken or some sort of lightening punch/knee combo and hope for a double K.O, or he will rip his arm off and call it quits. Its Naruto anyway, he’ll probably get an arm donor and it’ll be stitched on in no time.

And Madara appears to be goading the Konohan’s into what he reckons is an inevitable fight with Sasuke, continuing from his revelation about the eternal struggle between heart and might. A bit Matrix-esque – starring Madara as the architect and Uzumaki-san as Mr Anderson, I guess that makes Sasuke an agent… and Sakura/Hinata trinity? I digress. When it dawns on Neo that he is not the first ‘One’ and the fight he was fated to have is not the first, and was not intended to be the last.

Maybe Konohamaru will get a go as well!

Not sure what Madara stands to gain, he is a bit difficult to gain. He seems immortal, and in fine health – maybe he just likes the entertainment.

OK Predictions – in chapter 589 [or whenever this ends ] either Sasuke or Naruto will have died, and I think Shikamaru might have a cunning hand in it.

Also it appears that apart from Sasuke, only the girl from Hebi looks like she’ll make it through the meeting of the 5 Kages. Bring on 464!

Mangekyou Sharingan Fan Art

So what do you guys think will happen? Do you agree that it will end with either Naruto or Sasuke dying? Speak your minds below:

This chapter continues with the fight going on between the Raikage and his ninjas from Kumogakure (the Hidden Village of the Land of Lightning) against Taka/Hawk, comprised of Sasuke and his band of rogues.

Sharingan by Giostigma

With Jugo in a killing frenzy, the Raikage makes the first move smashing him into a wall. Team Hawk continue their attempt to deal with the Kumogakure shinobi, Shī, that has the ability to sense people as he poses a particular threat for discovering Karin who remains hidden from the fight as she attempts to track and locate Danzo.

Jugo displays his own power as he gives the Raikage a massive point blank blast which seems to have little damage as he reappears seemingly unscathed to return the favour. Shī ends up being caught by Sasuke’s Genjutsu and is quickly overwhelmed, falling over unconscious (or possibly even dead).

Uchiha Madara by Mikutashi

The focus then returns to Naruto,  Kakashi Hatake, Yamato/Tenzo and Tobi/Uchiha Madara where more of Sasuke’s motives are revealed to the Konohagakure shinobi. They are told by Madara that Itachi, Sasuke’s elder brother, died trying to save Sasuke and Konoha, despite Konoha’s involvement with the extermination/genocide of the Uchiha clan.

Madara continues to suggest that Sasuke chose the path of vengeance against Konoha on his own and that he has been fated to take this path from the very beginning, essentially suggesting that it is simply because he is a true Uchiha, that he is doing what he is doing.

Madara then goes on to tell the story of the origin of the blood lust of the Uchiha clan from the beginning of the ninja world. The story of two brothers who turn against one another because of jealously is not a new theme, it’s effectively Biblical — see Cain and Abel) , but this fierce rivalry causes the split in the ninja world between the Uchiha and Senju.

Naruto by ekoputeh

There is clear inference throughout the chapter that Naruto and Sasuke embody these contrasting dogmas/ninja ways and just as before. They too are seemingly destined and fated to repeat history, just as the two brother did so many years ago.

The chapter closes with Sasuke heading into battle against the Raikage, one on one. I for one will be interested to see how the Raikage copes against Sasuke Mangekyo Sharingan. Next weeks chapter should be a big one as the two go head to head.

What do you think will happen to Sasuke? How does Naruto intend to avert the course of destiny? Share your thoughts below:

Hawk/Taka formally known as Hebi

What is their purpose there? Well their new mission is plain and simple, the complete destruction of Konoha as vengeance for the Uchicha genocide, as Sasuke believes they were the ones who gave the order.

Upon arriving at the summit, they waste little time getting noticed. Although everyone in the summit was tipped off by the Akatsuki member, Zetsu who appears right in the middle of the summit between all five Kages. After hearing that Sasuke was nearby, the Raikage is the leader of Kumogakure immediately heads out to stop him at all costs.

Raikage Fan Art

Chapter 461 opens with this fight and we see that this won’t be an easy fight for Hawk, as the Raikage and his team are skillful enough to hold their own. Not to mention the Raikage, being the younger brother of Killer Bee, the jinchūriki of the Eight-Tailed beast, is quite strong – strong enough to battle without a weapon and utilises his brute strength to even snap Suigetsu’s sword in half.

Meanwhile back at the summit, amongst all the commotion going on outside, the conspiracy continues as Danzo is revealed to be controlling another Kage with his Sharingan which was an eye transplanted from the body of Shisui Uchiha. As the other Kages seemingly continue the infighting between each other in deciding whether or not to have a single overall leader for all the hidden villages and then who exactly that should be, as they attempt to band together to destroy Akatsuki.

Here, Gaara, steps forward with wisdom that belies his years and challenges the other Kages by asking them how and when they lost themselves. It seems like he remains the only honourable person amongst all these leaders with their own hidden agendas. Will he join them and lead them forward?

The conclusion of this chapter is when we see Jugo enter his ultimate transformation that essentially turns him into a crazed killing machine. We are then left to wait to discover whether or not the Raikage and his team have the ability to stop Jugo in his blood thirsty mode and what exactly will happen if Hawk, lead by Sasuke break this first line of defence.

Let me know what you thought of this chapter below. Things are really picking up. Who will be facing Hawk next and who will lead the hidden villages against Sasuke and Akatsuki?