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REVIEW: Naruto, Vol. 72

Unfortunately this series does take the concepts of "there's no black and white/good and evil, only greys" to it's breaking point. It does seem to consistently espouse "if you do something bad, it's not 100%" or fault. It's because of the "cycle of hatred", or a "tragic background" or "you're manipulated by someone". Really just answering for your actions and owning your mistakes, and paying for your crimes seems to be a rarity.

I mean...so much seems to be blamed on behind-the-scenes string and passing on of blame that it all culminates on everything being the work of a Kaguya, a being who's concept of morality seems completely alien, or at least not really explored at all.

Funny you should mention Rurouni Kenshin. I seem to recall in his between-chapter notes, the author said that after writing the Kyoto arc he was just tired of writing so many villains who had either engaging personalities or sympathetic motivations and backgrounds...

...so in the final story-arc he intentionally set out to make the villains as irredeemable as possible. Even if Enishi was doing it all to avenge his sister, his actions are treated by everyone as monstrous, petty and beyond redemption.

Overall, this is a satisfying ending. I will agree that Sakura's decision to stick with Sasuke left a bad taste in my mouth. I've never thought she should end up with Naruto, but like the reviewer said, after everything Sasuke has done to the village and the fact that he never showed interest in her, I would think she would have moved on.

I lost interest in Naruto when it came over to the states (Before that I was really into it; but then everyone else was and the hype just ruined it for me),

(Even Kakashi mentioned that normally banished him from the village for all the stuff he did which begs the question: WHY THE HELL DIDN'T YOU BANISH HIM?!)

Honestly, it would have made more sense if Naruto and Sasuke ended up together.

Considering how many war crimes Sasuke committed

Part 1 of Naruto was really good, Part 2 had it's ups and downs but was mostly enjoyable, but these last 100 chapters of Naruto, starting with the Obito reveal, were such garbage. Asspull after asspull, Obito being such a terrible character (and wholly unnecessary), a complete betrayal of the themes and morals of the series, and above all, Sasuke gets off the hook with nothing more than a half-assed apology.

All the shipping in the last chapter was weird too, though not necessarily upsetting.

As a self-proclaimed Naruto fanboy throughout my late childhood and early teenage years, this ending was offensive.

Nothing about Sakura was weak in this vppme. It takes a strong person to forgive after all the pain you've been put through.

Especially Sasuke promise to return by one special simple gesture share between his beloved brother Itachi, the fingertap to the forehead.

What the hell happened? Ino and freaking SAI of all people? How, why, what, who, when, where?

Ambimunch wrote:

It's a shame that the final chapter is in black and white. Viz cheaped out again. I heard a SJ: Yearbook will be out this fall with a the full color of the final chapter and chapter 1 of Gaiden..buuuut it's for subscribers only and can't be purchased by regular readers. Even though Naruto ended last year, I am still being hit by reality hard. Can't believe it's finally over.

of course viz went into cheap mode instead of going full color. if they had any decency for the series they would have given this one volume the full color treatment considering how die hard fans are.

Ino/Sai has a logic to it, but it's so bad that it'll make you reach for the bottle when you figure it out. Remember that in Kishimoto's world, the boy you have a crush on when you're twelve is the boy you're deeply in love with for the rest of your life, even if you've never had a conversation with them and then they fudge off for three years and turn into a complete murderous asshole. And remember, Sai is in every single way (appearance, narrative role, in-universe role) a replacement for and cut-rate version of Sasuke.