TwistedChick

I can understand wanting pain to go away, whether it be physical or emotional, wanting it to be gone so badly that you'd rather feel [I]nothing[/I] than experience what you're going through. Every waking moment is agony for some people. Several of my friends suffer from chronic pain, unimaginable suffering to all that don't experience it themselves. One in particular will go days on end where all he can do, noon to night, is grind his teeth against the excruciating agony radiating from his leg. He'll wake up with his hand bloody from where he bit into it during the night from the pain he was experiencing even while asleep. But, as long as he can speak, he can be an encouragement to those around him, brightening their lives, and that alone is reason enough for him to still be alive in this world. I love John. He's a great guy, intelligent, strong, with a wonderful since of humor. He has a loving wife and many dear friends. If John killed himself because he "couldn't take it anymore," I don't know if I could forgive him. [I]We[/I] haven't given up on him yet. He shouldn't either. Running away from life when so many people are rooting for you and are there to support you [I]is[/I] cowardly. You don't have the strength to fight through difficulty to save your own life? Fine, fight for the lives of those that love you. Fight for [I]their[/I] happiness. Suicide, when carried out by someone that is fully aware of the consequences and the effect it has on others, is the ultimate act of selfishness. It's placing your own condition before the lives of everyone you know, trading the relief of your own personal suffering for the suffering that your loss will inflict upon all of those that know and love you. It's saying that you're too weak to keep trying for their sakes. True friends are there for the sake of one another, to see that the [I]other person[/I] is happy even if the one putting forth the effort isn't. If you have even one decent friend in this world, one person you'd rather see happy than sad, then fight to live. It's pretty obvious I wouldn't support someone's decision to end his life, nor would I aid in any efforts to do so.

[quote name='Magus'][FONT="Franklin Gothic Medium"]Hehe. I have him pegged as the most arrogant ninja in this series.[/FONT][/QUOTE] Being determined to be the strongest one day and walking around like you're hot snot are two very different things. One takes extreme motivation and a willingness to work hard towards your goal, all the while being aware of your current deficiency; the other just makes people hate you. I wouldn't classify Naruto as arrogant. Presumptuous and bull-headed, but not arrogant. He lacks insolent pride, something Sasuke has in spades.

After reading the chapter, the visual effect on Naruto's body with each successive tail forming makes a bit more sense and semi-excuses the strange look of 6-tails, bones and all. I'm very pleased with the final page. Me is a Minato fangirl. XD

There's nothing to substantiate this possibility, given Kishimoto's recent character-killing spree, but it's not 100% that's Hinata's dead, at least not yet. Yeah, Pein said she died. He believed the same thing about Kakashi, but that wasn't the case, at least not at the time. Then there's the fact that Tsunade is fairly nearby. She's drained and whiny at this point, but still, she might prove useful. We can't forget that once upon a time Kishi had characters pull through really terrible injuries. Do we remember the other Hyuuga that was completely impaled and lived with Tsunade's treatment? Hinata could very well be dead, but we haven't seen her beheaded, so anything's possible. *shrug* And by no means am I arguing that Kishimoto is not an idiot.

Through the hands is sick. I [I]love[/I] it. XD What's the significance of "killed Jiraiya, [B]stolen[/B] Kakashi" supposed to be? Just didn't want to repeat the word? o_O

*would be guessing but doesn't know much about teh comic books* >.<

Other than my phone in my back pocket when I'm going places, I never carry anything on my person. That's what purses are for. (though I hate them >.

Soul for soul, I say. It has nothing to do with money or politics, but equivalence. If a life has been taken, another life is the only thing of equal value.

A chick can't raise itself. It would simply die if it were alone, before ever leaving the shell. That's the way it is with so many animals it's ridiculous.

I must "ditto" the last few posts - FMA due to the upcoming new series. I've been following all five of these series, so I'd have to say, the featured franchises over on theO are right on target. ^.^ Death Note has finished. Fruits Basket, other than a few manga volumes to be released, is said and done. Naruto and Bleach have a ways to go, especially the anime, but the hype around a [I]new series[/I] overshadows the mid-end section of something else for me. I'd do my best to support all of them, though. ^_^

Just yesterday, my mother sent me a series of text messages, the first remarking on the abridged dictionary she'd just looked at which didn't include "travesty" (which she said, of course, was one) and the last stating "all dictionaries that are not complete, comprehensive, should be burned." I agree. Any word that is still commonly used, in speech, literature, or otherwise, shouldn't be dropped from any dictionary, and so-called "Junior" dictionaries shouldn't exist at all. Pocket dictionaries are different, since those aren't educational tools but quick aids when you're on the go. Any dicitonary expressly aimed at youths, those still in their formative years when what they are exposed to will have the most impact on them, should be as comprehensive a representation of the English language as is possible. Terms that have an unsightly connotation should not be removed lest we forget the issues that they represent. It isn't a case of life and death, but it isn't a direction we want to be moving in either.

[B]Kurozuka[/B], though very keen on flashbacks, is intriguing me to no end. It's just coming out, and I've only seen the first 4 episodes, but it definitely caught my attention right away. The episodes don't drag, that's for certain. Tidge bloody, but what are you gonna do?

[quote name='Gavin'][SIZE="1"]I think now Kakashi and/or Jiraiya may be revived to replace the bodies Pein has lost so far, given his art of necromancy.[/SIZE][/QUOTE] :catgirl: Nice to see some people are coming around to my early prediction. Flipping between so many Peins should quit pretty soon, if not immediately, since they've realized Naruto's elsewhere. But, if they skip town before killing Tsunade, I'll be mighty disappointed. If the only real character of interest to have died in this village-wide battle is Kakashi, I'll be rather put out. [SIZE="1"](I have this mental projection of how awesome Kakashi really [I]should[/I] be and always judge him as a character based on that. So what if Kishimoto lost his little brain and forgot how awesome a character with such room for growth and improvement he'd created, going on to let him improve in stamina only (and apparently that stamina only comes into play under certain non-mangekyou using circumstances). That won't mar Kakashi in my opinion.)[/SIZE] I don't particularly dislike Tsunade as a character, I just want it to be verified that Kakashi really was too out of his league against Pein. I still won't be satisfied, but it'll be closer to what I could accept. (and we all know Kishimoto is writing precisely to satisfy my wishes (or any other fan's for that matter)) XP

[quote name='Gavin'][SIZE="1"]Oh and lastly I LOLed at the ANBU who used the word "only" when referring to a five second gap considering these guys can move hundreds of meters in a few milliseconds.[/SIZE][/QUOTE] Heck, [I][B]I[/B][/I] could kill someone in 5 seconds. Open drawer. Grab knife. Stab. I hope to God it was a mistranslation, or Kakashi really [I]was[/I] lame in that battle, and I (unlike you) would hate to see that. He persists in being my favorite character, despite the faults of his creator. As for Chouza's apparent survival - THE UBER LAME. Enough is enough. Someone seriously needs to slap some sense into that man.

BANANA!! ...(to keep this from being complete spam)... Any bets on how many other named characters will die before Naruto returns to the village? Me's guessin' 2.

[quote name='chibi-master']I think I'll go burn something...like a sock...[/QUOTE] Shucks, I thought you were gonna say Kishimoto. I was planning on rooting for you and everything. [I]"Burn that bad-word!! That'll teach him to kill Kakashi!!" [/I] XP

Anyone else get the inkling that Kakashi's body will be claimed by that freakazoid he just saved Chouji from? the Pein personality that just popped one of those chakra transceivers out of his forehead in Kakashi's general direction? His body is in better condition than Schizo Pein's, so it made me wonder. And boy, wouldn't that be wonderful: Pein uses Kakashi's corpse (seeing as no one knows he died), either to get to Tsunade or grab Naruto once he makes it into the picture. It would be an acknowledgement of Kakashi's skill if Pein decided to use him. I must be sick, cause I'm actually [I]wanting[/I] this to happen just so I can see more of Kakashi. Wow, I need help.

And the world mourns his passing. [I]*moment of silence*[/I]

I'm going to assume voting is open to everyone. ^_^ [B]Indi[/B]: This poem gets better with each verse. I particularly like the imagery of broken rakes. The feel mirrors that of Solomon's cry “All is vanity!” I really enjoyed this. [B]Allamorph[/B]: I love this refrain. Those are three very powerful words. This poem has a rather Raven-esque feel to it, like Sun pointed out. The expert command of the English language in these 15 lines brilliantly portrays the darkness held in those eyes. It doesn’t feel as if a single syllable is wasted. Nicely done. [B]Aaryanna_Mom[/B]: It’s obvious this subject matter came naturally, something only one with experience can properly accomplish. There are a few lines that remind me of Shakespeare, as may very well have been intended. I like how the refrain, a phrase used flippantly nowadays, retains all its true meaning and impact in this poem. My vote goes to [B]Allamorph[/B]. Poetry to me is as much about the words used as the things said. When a poem is high-quality on both fronts, it’s hard for me to ignore. Edit: I apologize for misspelling one of our lovely authors' names. ^_^'

[quote name='Gavin'][SIZE="1"]"Eagle/Hawk's" new mission feels as if it's just being written for the inevitable repeat Valley of the End fight between Sasuke and Naruto, as opposed to develop a new storyline.[/SIZE][/QUOTE] This is something that really disappoints me. Kishimoto has pushed me to the edge a few times in past months, but [I]this[/I]... Sasuke's 'conclusion' feels forced, rushed, completely contrived, goes against all logic and isn't even close to how an established character should act. Claiming to seek the deaths of those responsible for Itachi's hardships is one thing, but rashly proclaiming an [I][B]entire[/B][/I] hidden village has to be destroyed to satisfy him is a little extreme, not to mention retarded. Just because Sasuke has been given this new Sharingan (which is a [B]complete rip-off[/B] of the 'atom' symbol) doesn't mean he could master it in the blink of an eye (pun intended). His group isn't strong enough to boast the overthrow and demolition of Konoha - unless, of course, he fully embraces Akatsuki and in exchange for help in destroying the village, he'll hand the kyuubi over to them. Even this doesn't fall into place easily, since he's always been craptastic at cooperating or taking orders. Having Madara as a direct superior would chafe his britches, big time. Just give me some Kakashi. Please?

[B]Monster[/B] and [B]Hunter x Hunter[/B] both grabbed me right away. They also both stayed just as amazing throughout their 70+ episode long series.

Well, 399 was interesting, to say the least. It gets less and less likely that Madara is lying, if for no other reason than Kishi can't afford to waste so much time just to throw us off. The glimpses of Konoha's inner struggles are intriguing. What's the deal with the kyuubi and Madara on page 11? How would he utilize the kyuubi in combat? What kind of dangerous ******** was he pulling? They're saying he used the kyuubi in his fight against the First, thus forming the Valley of the End, and then after an undefined period, the kyuubi felt like popping out of wherever Madara had left him and had a heyday in Konoha? Where was he being contained? How would an Uchiha "summon" him? And why would that sealing or whatever fail? I.am.confused. Does.not.compute. Someone more coherent than I please enlighten me. Also, even if the Uchiha were planning a coup, why kill the non-ninja members of the clan? What harm were they? I'm irritated. I need Kishimoto to explain his confusing self, but at the same time, I want the story as a whole to push forward. We can't so much get both. Unless after this little "chat" Sasuke joins Madara's cause and goes on an all out offensive against Konoha. Too many innocents involved, but who cares, right? Akatsuki's already killed plenty of them. What's several thousand more? Burn 'em all.

[quote name='Gavin'][SIZE="1"]...which you know funnily enough makes Sasuke look even more pathetic than he already did.[/SIZE][/QUOTE] All of this dialogue must be making him feel absolutely worthless. He's utterly shown up by his brother, loses the enormous power boost the cursed seal gave him, leaving him to face everyone else in the 'diminished' state he should actually be in, and now Madara tells him he's betrayed everyone he knows and detested the man he was so close to all for the wrong reasons. We can of course assume Itachi needed Sasuke to grasp frantically at becoming as powerful as possible, explaining why he encouraged him to fiercely to do so. It's rather twisted, whatever the reason. One possiblity my brother threw at me - Itachi saw firsthand in Madara the evil that curses the Uchiha clan back when he first met him, and in an attempt to save Konoha from eventual destruction at his hand, 'groomed' Sasuke to be capable of overthrowing him. That much seems obvious from amaterasu triggering at Madara and we all get that part. But, to explain Itachi's cooperation in slaughtering the rest of the Uchiha, my brother suggests perhaps he did it, not to remove powerful opponents and potential rival mangekyou users like Madara was doing, but to end the scourge of a cursed house, cutting the evil influence of the mangekyou from the flesh of Konoha. Note that when saying who Itachi had risked his life to protect, Madara doesn't mention the Uchiha, for although Itachi helped kill the majority of them, he could have had in mind the clan's eventual return through himself and Sasuke's line. We can see from Itachi's life that he himself didn't try to do that at all (unless he left little Itachi-babies throughout the countryside, which would be hi-larious - I'm guessing no). All of this is strange, since, when you're working against someone as insightful as Madara, your plans might as well be laid out before you for him to see. 'Secrecy' doesn't seem to be very useful when around him. How much water this theory holds (more like a random guess, really), I'm not sure. It would be interesting to have a character kill his own family and still manage to have the welfare of others in mind. That's a tricky one to pass off as believable. Kishi will need to really work on this one for me to buy it.

[quote name='Gavin'][SIZE="1"]Yes, I'm one of those people who always wanted Itachi to turn out to be a good guy, and I've got my wish hopefully, but I think it actually does make him a more interesting character.[/SIZE][/QUOTE] It never even entered my mind that he could be anything but evil, so this is quite the surprise for me. You're right that it would give him more depth as a character. Strictly evil people are typically quite predictable, but someone that is conflicted, besides the risk of coming off as emo, can surprise you left and right. A shame we only find this out [I]after[/I] he's dead, though this does have its perks. It doesn't overdo the moment of revelation, like some mangaka might be tempted to have happen. We don't have to worry about the whole "Luke, I am your father" followed by subsequent Emporer-killing kind of situation that's been parroted far too many times. How far his "goodness" goes, though, we'll have to wait and see. Were his actions still mostly selfish, even if they did happen to include protecting Konoha in one way or another? Let's see how long Kishi takes to explain himself.

[quote name='Gavin'][SIZE="1"]On a side note, Bleach 166 ranks as the best episode of the anime ever produced. I knew it the Ichigo/Grimmjow was going to be good, but God damn, that was awesome.[/SIZE][/QUOTE] I completely agree. Aside from Orihime's inner-conflict, it was nonstop badass action for 20 minutes. They did an amazing job portraying the level of power output we were seeing. Grimmjow's 'demonstration' of how devastating those explosives Ichigo absorbed were was awe-inspiring. There were several of those "dear [I][B]gawd[/B][/I] that was frickin' sweet" moments. Very well-done. And to keep this a manga thread... Mayuri assisting with the hougyoku could be a serious possibility. He definitely has the brains to be of help with something like that. He still creeps me out though, regardless of how talented he is.