Another great episode. A desperate battle to protect the Bijuus is about to reach a tragic end. The plotline follows Madara facing the Tailed beasts. Shee leads the remaining shinobis to retreat, they cannot interfere with the big Bijuus. Gaara is next to Shukaku, and when Madara charges at them, they shoot several sand bullets to him, paralyzing his body. Taking advantage of the moment, the Nibi and the other tailed beasts one by one hit Madara. As the final strike, Gaara and Shukaku form a sand pyramid imprisoning Madara, to seal him. But they don't know that he is alive, so the seal won't actually work on him. He breaks free with Susanoo, surprising everyone. He won't let them escape. Suddenly, Naruto and Kurama strike him from behind, and Gyuki returns, he was taking away the last injured shinobis. The Nibi says there won't be more injured, and then, starting with Shukaku, the Nine beasts hit Madara with their tails. The old Uchiha survives though he loses an arm, and white Zetsu appears to deliver him the right Rinnegan. The blind Madara puts it in the right socket, recovers the sight, and also gets a right arm from White Zetsu. He is wounded, with blood on his left arm, but laughs maniacally after tasting the savour. He is excited to feel the injuries on a real fight, and uses his blood to begin a summoning sign. Kurama gets a bad sensation, the same horrible sensation after being summoned in the past with that blood. This surprises Naruto and Shukaku, the Fox says that Madara is not any human, he must not be understimated. Suddenly, Madara invokes the Gedo Mazo statue, which starts to leave Obito's body. Minato and Kakashi see this stunned, so the latter uses Kamui against it, but then disappears. He realizes they failed. At the other battlefront, Madara sees that the Gedo Mazo lost an arm, and says that the alliance has someone with good eye, but it doesn't matter. While seeing the Gedo Mazo, the Bijuus realize that the Rinnegan is real, but wonder how Madara was brought back to life. Naruto remembers when Madara thanked him, and realizes that Obito was forced to use the Rinne Tensei, and that he is going to die. In the meantime, Black Zetsu tries to take the left Rinnegan, but Obito doesn't let him. Zetsu tells that the eye must return to Madara, only the Rikudo Sennin and him were able to awaken the Rinnegan. Obito says he hid the right Rinnegan, and that Kakashi must destroy the left one. But Black Zetsu says that the White Zetsu has found that eye and already delivered to Madara. He calls him useless scum, who would be dead if it wasn't for him. Obito then tells him to let him die and take the Rinnegan, but Black Zetsu knows that if he does that, Kakashi and Minato will eliminate him. Madara realizes that will take time to get the other eye. White Zetsu sees Madara bleeding, so he tells that Hashirama's powers accelerate his regeneration. But now, with the Rinnegan, his fight style will be more elegant, effective. This part was good in some ways, but also frustrating. Seeing Madara fight with the Nine tailed beasts at the same time, with a vulnerable body, seems easy. The victory was certain. But turns out that he survived the sand bullets and every strike because of the regeneration powers he took and Hashirama's cells. For what Madara said on last episode, this was Kabuto's fault. It's hard to believe. For instance, in Dragon Ball Z, the invulnerability of the main characters was justified since they were aliens. But here, is different. Madara can do this just because Kabuto experimented on his body, which was somehow kept without rot who knows how. Too convenient. Also, the job of Akatsuki during more than 200 episodes, years of wait, efforts, is undone because the seven Bijuus were freed. Only to be recovered by Madara. All for nothing. Leaving aside that, I liked the interactions between Gaara, Shukaku, Kurama. Really looked like there was some rivalry and respect between the Fox and the sand racoon. Gaara shows how well he knows Shukaku, they combined their attacks very well. And then, Obito somehow seems to have a deserved but sorrowful end. It's sad because Madara led him to the dark path, saved him when he was ready to die, made him live a black hell just to use him because he couldn't live any longer. Obito was used, and lived the life Madara wanted, to reach the Infinite Tsukuyomi. But his end is deserved because he gave in to hatred, caused the death of Minato, Kushina, and many others in the Kyuubi incident, was partially responsible for the Uchiha massacre, allowed years of blood and death in Kirigakure while controlling Yagura, manipulated Nagato and Sasuke, provoked the 4th great ninja war, etc. Still, for some reason, Kishimoto wrote things in such way, that one can feel pity for Obito here. But he doesn't, he knows well what he did, that's why he wants to die, and doesn't wish to reunite with Rin or live to pay for crimes. Obito wants to die like a man, and at least keep fighting Madara until the end. He opposed him because he knew that Madara didn't make a favor by saving him, wasn't selfless, and that he never considered him a friend. He knew very well how evil and selfish was Madara. They only shared the same goal, the Tsukuyomi. That's why Black Zetsu's words are hurtful, Obito did what he had to. It's not like he had anyone else to help him. He didn't want anyone. This is his deserved end.
Madara uses the power of the Rinnegan, seemingly a special technique from the Rikudo Sennin, to knock out the Nine Bijuus with a certain hit. Then, he uses the long chains from the Gedo Mazo to strap them all, and intends to extract first the Hachibi and the Kyuubi from their jinchurikis. Naruto feels the pulling, and tries to leave Kurama mode to send back the Fox inside him, but it doesn't work given the chains. White Zetsu reminds Madara that he should start with the Ichibi, so he agrees. But Gaara is still there to protect Shukaku, and uses sand to hold back the chains. Shukaku then remembers past times: when Gaara was little, he warned him not to fall asleep because he'd take control of his mind and body to wreak havoc and kill humans. The little Gaara asked if he hated humans, he is supposed to protect his village, and the Shukaku said he did hate them, he didn't have to protect them. The next flashback shows surely the first jinchuriki of Shukaku, an old priest who was locked on a special prison. The Ichibi reminds the priest that nobody called him by his name, but he didn't care as long as he knows. Shukaku questions if he's sad for being locked with a beast that hates humans,hated by everyone. The priest says he'd die if the beast is extracted anyway, and as long as he has one real friend, he can have true peace. Shukaku, moved, says he is strange and there won't be no one like him. The priest wasn't sure, the human heart is like the surface of water, the mouth can say the contrary to what the heart feels. And actually, the heart wants to be accepted, even in the case of beasts. Shukaku tells him that he is like the Rikudo Sennin. The priest thanks him, those are the kindest words he ever said to him. While the guards order him to eat the delivered food, Shukaku says that really there won't be other like him. The priest says that one day there will be someone to guide and save him, once he accepts the hidden heart, and the meaning of the words his master left on his hands (heart and acceptance). Back to present, Shukaku sees the word on Gaara's forehead (love), and remembers when he said he used to hate him, but also thanked him because he was able to meet a fellow jinchuriki. But then, Madara throws a weapon from Susanoo aiming at Gaara, and Shukaku protects him, with the definitive defense. Sadly, Madara had other intentions, and uses the weapon to slash the chains held by the sand, and regenerates it to take the Ichibi. Gaara is shocked to see that he can't save Shukaku. This part was great, dramatic, emotive, stunning. Madara is bringing tragedy to the story. The flashbacks were interesting, extended the story of Shukaku captive in Suna, and the reasons of his hatred. The way the priest was treated was terrible, yet he was quiet, peaceful. It's possible that his master was the Rikudo Sennin, as he respected the beasts, like animals, beings with conciousness. His words were wise, and is the truth actually. The surface doesn't always show what the heart feels. Words deceive people. I can think how this apply to Sakura sometimes, Hinata (her called love isn't based on strong motives), Sasuke (who is lost without a clear goal), the Raikage (hiding emotions), even Naruto (who usually denies reality). Then, Gaara really has become an honest, good hearted, strong person, worthy of Shukaku's respect.
Madara uses the power of the Rinnegan, seemingly a special technique from the Rikudo Sennin, to knock out the Nine Bijuus with a certain hit. Then, he uses the long chains from the Gedo Mazo to strap them all, and intends to extract first the Hachibi and the Kyuubi from their jinchurikis. Naruto feels the pulling, and tries to leave Kurama mode to send back the Fox inside him, but it doesn't work given the chains. White Zetsu reminds Madara that he should start with the Ichibi, so he agrees. But Gaara is still there to protect Shukaku, and uses sand to hold back the chains. Shukaku then remembers past times: when Gaara was little, he warned him not to fall asleep because he'd take control of his mind and body to wreak havoc and kill humans. The little Gaara asked if he hated humans, he is supposed to protect his village, and the Shukaku said he did hate them, he didn't have to protect them. The next flashback shows surely the first jinchuriki of Shukaku, an old priest who was locked on a special prison. The Ichibi reminds the priest that nobody called him by his name, but he didn't care as long as he knows. Shukaku questions if he's sad for being locked with a beast that hates humans,hated by everyone. The priest says he'd die if the beast is extracted anyway, and as long as he has one real friend, he can have true peace. Shukaku, moved, says he is strange and there won't be no one like him. The priest wasn't sure, the human heart is like the surface of water, the mouth can say the contrary to what the heart feels. And actually, the heart wants to be accepted, even in the case of beasts. Shukaku tells him that he is like the Rikudo Sennin. The priest thanks him, those are the kindest words he ever said to him. While the guards order him to eat the delivered food, Shukaku says that really there won't be other like him. The priest says that one day there will be someone to guide and save him, once he accepts the hidden heart, and the meaning of the words his master left on his hands (heart and acceptance). Back to present, Shukaku sees the word on Gaara's forehead (love), and remembers when he said he used to hate him, but also thanked him because he was able to meet a fellow jinchuriki. But then, Madara throws a weapon from Susanoo aiming at Gaara, and Shukaku protects him, with the definitive defense. Sadly, Madara had other intentions, and uses the weapon to slash the chains held by the sand, and regenerates it to take the Ichibi. Gaara is shocked to see that he can't save Shukaku. This part was great, dramatic, emotive, stunning. Madara is bringing tragedy to the story. The flashbacks were interesting, extended the story of Shukaku captive in Suna, and the reasons of his hatred. The way the priest was treated was terrible, yet he was quiet, peaceful. It's possible that his master was the Rikudo Sennin, as he respected the beasts, like animals, beings with conciousness. His words were wise, and is the truth actually. The surface doesn't always show what the heart feels. Words deceive people. I can think how this apply to Sakura sometimes, Hinata (her called love isn't based on strong motives), Sasuke (who is lost without a clear goal), the Raikage (hiding emotions), even Naruto (who usually denies reality). Then, Gaara really has become an honest, good hearted, strong person, worthy of Shukaku's respect.
