Naruto Shippuden Episode 478

In stark contrast to previous week's action-packed tour de force, the latest Naruto Shipp? den is essentially a relaxed character part that examines the complicated relationship between the series' two main characters. In spite offeaturing its share of poignant occasions and significant imagery, episode 478 endures from multiple cases of padding--as is often the case when this show attempts to stretch a single dialogue-light manga section across 24 minutes. Although this episode closes the book on Naruto and Sasuke's rivalry, a lot of| their exchanges this week  similar to conversations they have already had many times in the past.

Having completely worn the other person out, Naruto and Sasuke both fall from blood loss and awaken in a dreamscape consider to be the afterlife. While there, the boys are transported to a number of familiar locales, including the Concealed Leaf Village and the sites of their most significant battles. They're shown images of their respective early years, prompting them to echo how much they discuss in common. As Sasuke points out, both kids were orphaned at an early age and ostracized by the Leaf's populace--though in Naruto's case, the ostracization was a lot more overt. Sasuke also reveals that watching young Naruto play pranks on the villagers in an effort to elicit their attention helped bring him good cheer during a time because it was frantically needed.

 

After coming to, Naruto proclaims (for the umpteenth time) that this individual and Sasuke are kindred spirits--brothers, even--and reveals that their latest fight {was not|had not been|has not been} a matter of {earning|being successful|receiving} and losing, but instead one friend trying to bring another to his senses. Despite this, Sasuke declares himself the loss and no longer looks to have any affinity for fighting Naruto or interfering with his plans to become Hokage. As the physically-drained combatants pause to reflect, it's revealed that the blows they treated one another at the end of the earlier episode resulted in Sasuke losing his left supply and Naruto losing his right. (Of course, if you've {see the|browse the|look at the} manga or watched either of the feature films set after its conclusion, this {will not|refuses to|will not likely} come as a great deal of shock. ) By episode's end, the stubborn genius finally provides in to the benefits of Naruto's friendship and agrees to live for him rather than trying to take him out from the picture or dying himself.

Heading into this episode, I had formed no expectation that it would merit much assessment to the previous two, as those represented an impossibly tough act to follow. However, that isn't to say that I'm inclined to overlook its distante pacing and reliance on repeated information. When Naruto and Sasuke aren't informing the audience things they have found that, they're showing them clips they've already seen. While I'm glad all of this was not loaded over the course of a single episode rather than being interspersed with previous week's action, all the meaningful portions {of the|with this|on this} latest installment could have pleasantly encompassed half the runtime.

Episode 478 features some interesting artistic choices, especially during the lucid fantasy segments. The desolate, deserted versions of old struggle sites help convey a sense of finality while emphasizing how much Naruto and Sasuke have recently been through together. Furthermore, when paired with the images, the boys' lengthy exchanges help illustrate how much both characters have produced, as well as how small business relationship has matured. The episode {starting|beginning} with prepubescent Naruto and Sasuke refusing to form the Unison Sign after a practice match at the Academy and stopping with them laughing off their blood feud like old friends gives the proceedings a distinctly full-circle feel.

It's been a long time coming, but Naruto Shipp? den has practically exhausted its availability of source manga. Aside from a few additional moments and an epilogue, coming from nearly reached the end of the queue as far as the Kishimoto-penned material is concerned, so I can certainly understand why they chose to draw this episode out--I'm just not thrilled with the results. Nevertheless, this episode holds a lot of relevance, as Sasuke finally understands what the rest of the cast has known for some time: Naruto has the power to move hearts and combine people.