Chapter 319 *spoilers*

[ffl]

Missing a couple of pages at the moment... but it was still good.:)

Naruto's driving his way through it. MUCH faster than when he took around a month to learn and master Rasengan.:P Which is fine to me. Will we get to see the final form of this jutsu in the next chapter though?!:O

Interesting to see that Sakura's room there looks just the way it did in one of the anime closings.

[DarkNataku]

well is his jutsu going to be wind only. or is he going to combine or once he gets better at it he will throw in another element.

[Denisa]

^ That's a given. Can't have only Sasuke getting two elements. At worst, the Kyuubi should give him fire. But right now this jutsu seems to be Naruto running up to something with his hand and trying to cut it. We were promismed something unique and have never seen before. I still think he'll get Kakashi's blade since we got a hint with Asuma's knives. Yamato might be wearing down. Interesting if something bad happens before the end of the training.

The chapter was pretty boring though. I guess it needed to be with coming chapters likely to be chocked full of fights, huge plot points, and deaths. The NaruSaku fans are going to hate this because it looks like Sakura is still in love with Sasuke. I hope Kishi doesn't ruin her Part II character development by making her the weepy girl again.

The one thing though, a falling star fell in the background when Sakura was crying. Naruto saw the same star and thought Sasuke. So maybe he is beyond saving and this predicts his death?

The only part that really interested me was when Asuma and Shika were near Kurenai's window before they left. Asuma looked toward it and Kurenai noticed them and gave this really sad face. Clue number 800 that Asuma is going to die. After the scene, I am also leaning toward the "King" from chapter 316 being loved ones/Konoha instead of Naruto.

[DarkNataku]

maybe naruto will lean more to taijutsu and use his lil cutting trick. just cut sasuke's arms and legs, put them in a bag of ice and drag him back to konoha. lol. if sakura turns into that lil girl that cried all the time i think she should be the one to bite the dust. but if asuma dies that is sad no "on screen kiss" for kurenai.

[Jinto117]

Missing a couple of pages at the moment... but it was still good.:)

I'm gonna have to disagree with you on that one ffl. This chapter after waiting an extra week wasn't satisfactory in my opinion. Kishimoto wasted panels he could of used for something else on Sakura crying. And it was hard to tell if Naruto cut the water fall in half or not. The only cool thing about the chapter was how Yamato spread out the bridge Naruto and his kage bunshins were on.

[Hara!]

The missing pages?
http://img156.imagevenue.com/img.php?image=36724_page039_122_314lo.jp g
http://img109.imagevenue.com/img.php?image=36733_page040_122_350lo.jp g

Yeh, He's gonna die.

[blackknight]

This chapter was not worth waiting two weeks for. I'm starting to get really f*cking bored with this.

And Sakura once again proves that she's dead weight. She could be using this time to train, but what does she do? Stares at pictures and cries. Someone knock some sense into her, please.

[ffl]

As long as it's Naruto, it's still good.:)

About the "falling star" thing, that was Sakura's tear falling from her face, and then transitioning over to Naruto seeing a falling star. It was difficult to discern from the raw, but you can fill in the blanks.

And yeah... got the missing pages... don't really know what to think of that... Maybe inspiration for a certain character? Which character though, I don't know.

[Big Shot]

Some of the guys at the Stop Tazmo forum are saying that Kurenai might be Asuma's baby momma. It would be cool if they such a mature relationship. Also, if Asuma's to die soon, the best possible way would be in a fight against Oro. Imagine Asuma going all out against Oro to avenge his dad, just awesome.

[Denisa]

^ But a very unlikely one in a shonen manga. We haven't even seen people kiss(outside of the infamous SasuNaru one) and now we are going to learn Asuma knocked up Kurenai? Remember who is writing this. Asuma and Kurenai are just slowly coming to understand they love each other. She's the "king" in his life he has to protect. Too bad it looks like it will never happen.

Asuma won't be around long enough to go after Oro. His team will, but not him. I wonder what jounin will take over for him on Team 10?

[DarkDestiny]

The chapter was pretty boring though. I guess it needed to be with coming chapters likely to be chocked full of fights, huge plot points, and deaths. The NaruSaku fans are going to hate this because it looks like Sakura is still in love with Sasuke. I hope Kishi doesn't ruin her Part II character development by making her the weepy girl again.
I know! I was all happy because Sakura was doing something useful. Then the first time we see her after how many chapters...she cries. Wasted panels on crying. She should be kicking some *** somewhere! Where did Inner Sakura go? I miss her.

Maybe she is crying for Naruto.... or maybe she is crying for loosing Sasuke's wonderful friendship rather than her stupid "love" thing. Obviously, I'm trying to ignore the obvious...<_<

[Punnchy]

Some of the guys at the Stop Tazmo forum are saying that Kurenai might be Asuma's baby momma. It would be cool if they such a mature relationship. Also, if Asuma's to die soon, the best possible way would be in a fight against Oro. Imagine Asuma going all out against Oro to avenge his dad, just awesome.
I'm not thinking he's going to be living that long.

It sadened me not to see any progress on the search for the akatsuki team members this chapter, I mean they're really pushing the whole mass clone training technique.

[Brill]

I'm not thinking he's going to be living that long.

It sadened me not to see any progress on the search for the akatsuki team members this chapter, I mean they're really pushing the whole mass clone training technique.

Well Naruto is the last one, They're builiding to the climax with at least some of the Akatsuki. My question is how many will Asuma take out when it's all over?

[Naster]

i suspect that asuma will be wounded to the point where he cannot fight anymore.. then kurenai will finally realize how much she loves him after seeing him in this battered shape. blah blah blah they getting together and make babies.

[Jinto117]

Asuma won't be around long enough to go after Oro. His team will, but not him. I wonder what jounin will take over for him on Team 10?

The only person I can think of is Yamato.

[Denisa]

Well Naruto is the last one, They're builiding to the climax with at least some of the Akatsuki. My question is how many will Asuma take out when it's all over?
I can't see him taking out more than one. I think Asuma and Shikamaru will have some tag team type moves they worked on. I would love to see Shikamaru break out a new jutsu too. It should be fun to watch.

My guess is Asuma takes out Hidan in a bloody death scene. Maybe killing yourself is the only way to reverse Hidan's death jutsu. Kakuzu is about to kill Shikamaru when Naruto shows up through his Hero no Jutsu. Shikamaru saving Asuma can happen too, but everything looks to be leading to Asuma's death.

I hope we get more Akatsuki vs Team Asuma in the upcoming chapters and less Naruto training. Naruto should fade into the background for a while until his big fight with his new jutsu.

[blackknight]

The only person I can think of is Yamato.
Nah, Yamato has to hang around Naruto to make sure Kyuubi doesn't emerge again. Course, you know Yamato's going to die at some critical point and that's just what will happen. I'm pretty sure that Kyuubi is royally pissed by now, so as soon as the restrictions are gone he's going to go wild.

[Mikadzuki Tatsu]

The NaruSaku fans are going to hate this because it looks like Sakura is still in love with Sasuke. I hope Kishi doesn't ruin her Part II character development by making her the weepy girl again.
I actually didn't interpret Sakura's tears as a sign of her still being in love with Sasuke (although it's possible that she is). My first thought was that she was crying because she was recalling the way things used to be when the old Sasuke - the Sasuke she loved - was still around, and that brought back painful memories, just as it does for Naruto.

It would be a really bad move on Kishimoto's part to revert Sakura to the weepy little adolescent (whom most people hated) that she was back in Part I, and I hope he would know better than to do that. Her Part II character is much more pro-active, in part because she doesn't act like a lovesick little girl anymore.

[Punnchy]

I don't think it was a weepy little girl, but a young woman who knows the hardships of life, maybe this could be forshadowing tears shed for the death of another character?

[Hara!]

I don't think it was a weepy little girl, but a young woman who knows the hardships of life, maybe this could be forshadowing tears shed for the death of another character?
Facking SIGNED.

[Denisa]

I don't think it was a weepy little girl, but a young woman who knows the hardships of life, maybe this could be forshadowing tears shed for the death of another character?
Hmmm. I guess Ino, Shika and Kurenai better get their tear ducts ready.

I guess I am coming around to that she shed a tear thinking about the old Team Kakashi and nothing more should be read into it.

[appletini]

dissapointng chapter, nothing but naruto.

[Brill]

I actually didn't interpret Sakura's tears as a sign of her still being in love with Sasuke (although it's possible that she is). My first thought was that she was crying because she was recalling the way things used to be when the old Sasuke - the Sasuke she loved - was still around, and that brought back painful memories, just as it does for Naruto.

It would be a really bad move on Kishimoto's part to revert Sakura to the weepy little adolescent (whom most people hated) that she was back in Part I, and I hope he would know better than to do that. Her Part II character is much more pro-active, in part because she doesn't act like a lovesick little girl anymore.


The only problem is that Sasuke hasn't changed. He's still the same Sasuke, he just chose a different path.

[Mikadzuki Tatsu]

The only problem is that Sasuke hasn't changed. He's still the same Sasuke, he just chose a different path.
When I said the "old Sasuke," I meant the Sasuke from Part I, before he let the other characters see the full extent of his darker side.

[DarkDestiny]

The only problem is that Sasuke hasn't changed. He's still the same Sasuke, he just chose a different path.

Very well said.

[likenewbie]

na, he's changed twice so far. from a neutral character, not caring about anyone and wanting to kill a certain someone...to a positive character, caring about his friends and still wanting to kill a certain someone...to a negative character, wanting to kill anyone especially a certain someone.

[SonRyu]

I just hope that when Naruto finally gets his technique going, it won't be _dependent_ on having bunshin's around (like always needing one to make the rasengan). Then again, if he perfects his elemental technique, it would certainly suck for an opponent if he's surrounded by numerous Naruto bunshin's that can all do the same thing. I would have to assume of course that once he _can_ manipulate his elemental chakra at will, creating a rasengan sans bunshin should be a piece of cake...

[ffl]

Naruto's bunshin are a major part of Naruto kicking butt.:) Without those, Naruto would kick significantly less butt.

[DarkDestiny]

na, he's changed twice so far. from a neutral character, not caring about anyone and wanting to kill a certain someone...to a positive character, caring about his friends and still wanting to kill a certain someone...to a negative character, wanting to kill anyone especially a certain someone.
Eh, I believe that shows that he did not really change at all. He still is, and always was, driven to kill that certain someone. Not caring, then caring, then abandoning his friends doesn't change the fact that his whole exsitence is driven by revenge.

[Punnchy]

Eh, I believe that shows that he did not really change at all. He still is, and always was, driven to kill that certain someone. Not caring, then caring, then abandoning his friends doesn't change the fact that his whole exsitence is driven by revenge.

I don't think he's changed either, he's going about things a little differently in obtaining what he wants, but he still wants the same things. Power and Itachi's Death.

[Mikadzuki Tatsu]

I don't think he's changed either, he's going about things a little differently in obtaining what he wants, but he still wants the same things. Power and Itachi's Death.
I'm beginning to wonder if it's possible at this point for anyone to get Sasuke to realize the error of his ways. Ever since he was orphaned, he has wanted nothing but power and his brother's death, and by now those desires have become so fixated in his mind that even the Church of Naruto might not be able to do anything to save him.

But something just occurred to me... I think there might be a part of Sasuke that does not want to have to resort to killing his best friend in order to obtain the Mangekyou. (This is based off of his fight against Naruto pre-time skip.) So while the Church of Naruto may be helpless to do anything...what about the Church of Kakashi? Kakashi obtained his Mangekyou somehow, and he certainly didn't kill his best friend to do it.

[DarkDestiny]

I'm beginning to wonder if it's possible at this point for anyone to get Sasuke to realize the error of his ways. Ever since he was orphaned, he has wanted nothing but power and his brother's death, and by now those desires have become so fixated in his mind that even the Church of Naruto might not be able to do anything to save him.
I think it is going to take something drastic to snap him out of his revenge driven world. Most likely someone sacrificing themself for his ungrateful sake. And I doubt Naruto will be the one to do it. He already had his chance and Sasuke still left. I think Sakura will be the one to prove her usefulness.

[Denisa]

I'm beginning to wonder if it's possible at this point for anyone to get Sasuke to realize the error of his ways. Ever since he was orphaned, he has wanted nothing but power and his brother's death, and by now those desires have become so fixated in his mind that even the Church of Naruto might not be able to do anything to save him.

But something just occurred to me... I think there might be a part of Sasuke that does not want to have to resort to killing his best friend in order to obtain the Mangekyou. (This is based off of his fight against Naruto pre-time skip.) So while the Church of Naruto may be helpless to do anything...what about the Church of Kakashi? Kakashi obtained his Mangekyou somehow, and he certainly didn't kill his best friend to do it.
I wouldn't put anything past Jesus!Naruto. If he can't bring Sasuke home, then he failed. Even if he becomes Hokage, he still broke his promise. I don't think Kishimoto is going to let his hero fail.

No one knows how Kakashi obtained the Mangekyou and that throws a huge monkey wrench into everything. He might have done it through pure training. In that case, why didn't Sasuke simply stay and learn from Kakashi? It can't be that simple.

Kakashi might have obtained the Mangekyou through Obito's death. Of course, he didn't kill him, but Obito sacrified himself to save Kakashi. If Obito didn't die and just gave his eye to Kakashi, then he could use the Sharingan, but never the Mangekyou. So I guess his best friend's death somehow met the requirements. Under that theory Naruto would still have to die in order for Sasuke to obtain the Mangekyou.

New theory. Sauske is making himself so heartless and cold so he can forget everything about team 7. Why? To get a new best friend. Orochimaru. If Oro becomes his best friend than Sasuke can kill him to obtain the Mangekyou. Then he can finish off Itachi. Kill two birds with one stone. It just seems odd that Sasuke is willing to let Oro have his body. I think a part of Sasuke still belives in reviving his clan and he might be setting Oro up.

[Punnchy]

I wouldn't put anything past Jesus!Naruto. If he can't bring Sasuke home, then he failed. Even if he becomes Hokage, he still broke his promise. I don't think Kishimoto is going to let his hero fail.

No one knows how Kakashi obtained the Mangekyou and that throws a huge monkey wrench into everything. He might have done it through pure training. In that case, why didn't Sasuke simply stay and learn from Kakashi? It can't be that simple.

Kakashi might have obtained the Mangekyou through Obito's death. Of course, he didn't kill him, but Obito sacrified himself to save Kakashi. If Obito didn't die and just gave his eye to Kakashi, then he could use the Sharingan, but never the Mangekyou. So I guess his best friend's death somehow met the requirements. Under that theory Naruto would still have to die in order for Sasuke to obtain the Mangekyou.

New theory. Sauske is making himself so heartless and cold so he can forget everything about team 7. Why? To get a new best friend. Orochimaru. If Oro becomes his best friend than Sasuke can kill him to obtain the Mangekyou. Then he can finish off Itachi. Kill two birds with one stone. It just seems odd that Sasuke is willing to let Oro have his body. I think a part of Sasuke still belives in reviving his clan and he might be setting Oro up.

Which abilites of the shingaran can each of the 3 users use at this point?

[Mikadzuki Tatsu]

I think it is going to take something drastic to snap him out of his revenge driven world. Most likely someone sacrificing themself for his ungrateful sake. And I doubt Naruto will be the one to do it. He already had his chance and Sasuke still left. I think Sakura will be the one to prove her usefulness.
I hope Kishimoto doesn't decide to have Sakura sacrifice her life for Sasuke's sake. Really, that idiot doesn't deserve to have anyone do anything for him, and it would break Naruto's heart if Sakura died. Maybe she'll come close to death and Naruto will perform a miracle in order to save her, and then she'll realize she really loves Naruto and not Sasuke.

New theory. Sauske is making himself so heartless and cold so he can forget everything about team 7. Why? To get a new best friend. Orochimaru. If Oro becomes his best friend than Sasuke can kill him to obtain the Mangekyou. Then he can finish off Itachi. Kill two birds with one stone. It just seems odd that Sasuke is willing to let Oro have his body. I think a part of Sasuke still belives in reviving his clan and he might be setting Oro up.
It hadn't occurred to me that Sasuke might be trying to kill two birds with one stone, but that actually is a possibility. It would be very convenient if obtaining the Mangekyou just meant killing Orochimaru. It's almost too convenient...

[DarkDestiny]

I hope Kishimoto doesn't decide to have Sakura sacrifice her life for Sasuke's sake. Really, that idiot doesn't deserve to have anyone do anything for him, and it would break Naruto's heart if Sakura died. Maybe she'll come close to death and Naruto will perform a miracle in order to save her, and then she'll realize she really loves Naruto and not Sasuke.
I was thinking more along the lines of Sakura sacrificing herself for Naruto, not Sasuke. I am one of those Naruto/Sakura fans :) If she sacrifices herself for Sasuke, that would be reverting back to her younger Sasuke-obssessed self, which would not be a good move on Kishi's part. She's actually doing stuff now!

New theory. Sauske is making himself so heartless and cold so he can forget everything about team 7. Why? To get a new best friend. Orochimaru. If Oro becomes his best friend than Sasuke can kill him to obtain the Mangekyou. Then he can finish off Itachi. Kill two birds with one stone. It just seems odd that Sasuke is willing to let Oro have his body. I think a part of Sasuke still belives in reviving his clan and he might be setting Oro up.
I was thinking more along the lines of Sakura sacrificing herself for Naruto rather than Sasuke. I am one of those Sakura/Naruto fans. Her saving Sasuke would be her reverting back to her pre-time skip self. That would be a very bad move for Kishi to make. She is acutally trying to do things!

That's a good pt. I didn't think of Sasuke trying to make Oro his friend to obtain the Mangekyou. But I can't see Oro being anyone's friend. If anything, Oro and Sasuke are more then friends at this point....if you know what I mean :P

[DarkNataku]

sasuke will find a way to obtain the mangekyou, be it killing sakura or oro. now if he kills sakura lets say by accident, maybe she jumps in on the next naru vs sasu fight and protects naruto and sasuke's chidori or a new technique hits her and kills her then he could obtain it that way and at the same time realized that he killed the person that he loves. now the oro one seems a bit iffy, oro doesnt seemed the kind of guy to make friends. but i guess it could be a one way friendship, i mean after all that training he has to be grateful right?

but if sakura does die then naruto might go 4 tails if not more. im pretty sure the kyubi is just waiting to get out, waiting for some blood. but with naruto's new tech then his opponents will need to stay away when fighting him. i think with the use of the bunshin it might increase his chances of landing a fatal hit on his opponent and it will be a lot harder to avoid if there are more narutos to worry about. and since the rasengan is a wind element i would think it be easier for him to perform. and if he uses kyubi's chakra then he can do it with one hand.

[Mikadzuki Tatsu]

sasuke will find a way to obtain the mangekyou, be it killing sakura or oro. now if he kills sakura lets say by accident, maybe she jumps in on the next naru vs sasu fight and protects naruto and sasuke's chidori or a new technique hits her and kills her then he could obtain it that way and at the same time realized that he killed the person that he loves.Err...something tells me that Sasuke doesn't love Sakura, and has never loved Sakura. Her love for him has always been unrequited. He cared about her as a friend cares for a friend, but he never loved her the way she loved him; she is not even his best friend (Naruto is - or was - Sasuke's best friend).

now the oro one seems a bit iffy, oro doesnt seemed the kind of guy to make friends. but i guess it could be a one way friendship, i mean after all that training he has to be grateful right?I don't think I'd be grateful if I were in Sasuke's shoes. After all, Orochimaru is only training him in preparation for taking over his body - the more he trains Sasuke, the more powerful a vessel the boy's body will be - and Sasuke knows that. (He knew that when he agreed to join Orochimaru in the first place.)

But you're right, Orochimaru isn't really the kind of person to make friends. He might pretend to be your friend, but only if he really wants something out of you - your loyalty, or, in Sasuke's case, your body. (NOBODY TAKE THAT THE WRONG WAY!)

[Denisa]

If Sasuke believes that Oro is his best friend, I wonder if that will be enough to obtain the MS? Certainly Oro only sees Sasuke as a tool. But a small part of me thinks Oro did slightly care for Kimimaro. Then there is the Kabuto/Orochimaru love affair that I don't want to even touch. :P Sasuke has now spent more time with Orochimaru then he had with his old team. Maybe he can trick himself into believing that Oro is his new best friend.

It does fit that Sasuke kills Oro. The AL is now the main villain. Sasuke vs. Itachi and Naruto vs. Sasuke should be two of the most important fights at the end of the manga. So Orochimaru has almost outlived his usefulness as a major villain.

[DarkNataku]

but think about it with sasuke's sharingan he can beat oro when he tries to take over. bc if oro takes over than its not sasuke that gets the revenge its really oro. but yeah sakura's love is one way. but kishi being a fan of akira toriyama and the sharingan is a sorta SS transformation then he can obtain it by the lose of someone or anger and enough training which i think is how kakashi got his mangekyou.

or how about this; kakashi gets in the way of naruto/sasuke next fight and he dies. but did sasuke ever care about kakashi. maybe a student/teacher but a friend. the only other sharingan user in the village and he taught sasuke the chidori. but do you guys think that before the end of naruto the three sannin will be dead aswell as kakashi. i mean obito is dead and maybe rin too. so somehow naru/sasu/saku all make it in the end.?

^wishful thinking

[Mikadzuki Tatsu]

It does fit that Sasuke kills Oro. The AL is now the main villain. Sasuke vs. Itachi and Naruto vs. Sasuke should be two of the most important fights at the end of the manga. So Orochimaru has almost outlived his usefulness as a major villain.I think Sasuke plans to kill Orochimaru before the latter takes over his body. Although he told Naruto and Sakura that if letting Orochimaru have his body is the only way to avenge his clan, then he'll let Orochimaru have his body, I don't see Sasuke as the kind of person who'd let someone else have his/her way with him like that. And I don't think he's stupid enough to believe that Orochimaru is actually going to kill Itachi for him and leave it at that.

[DarkNataku]

want something done right, you got to do it yourself. lol. and i think by the time oro is ready to take over sasuke's body, sasuke will probably have enough power to stop/kill him

[Aquastorm]

Oro: It is time I took over your body.

Sasuke: No

Oro: Hmm? I trained...*herkk,...cough cough... dead* x_x

Sasuke: *walks off to find and kill Itachi*

...Well, this is how I thought it would go if Oro was preparing to take over Sasuke's body.

[abomination]

Damn internet company. Says it's only going to take a few hours to a day to fix "minor" technical problems, but in the end it takes a whole week to get them fixed, and it still not cooperating properly. But I digress.

Not much of a chapter if you ask me. Naruto finally cutting the waterfall was pretty much going to be a given within sometimes between 318 and 321.
The only thing that made this one decent is the Asuma factor. It's another brick in the wall towards the Asuma x Kurenai relation and another clue that Asuma, unfortunately, is going to die.

I think Sasuke plans to kill Orochimaru before the latter takes over his body. Although he told Naruto and Sakura that if letting Orochimaru have his body is the only way to avenge his clan, then he'll let Orochimaru have his body, I don't see Sasuke as the kind of person who'd let someone else have his/her way with him like that. And I don't think he's stupid enough to believe that Orochimaru is actually going to kill Itachi for him and leave it at that.
My sentiments exactly. I mean Sasuke may be a self absorbed prick, but he's no idiot. After living with Oro for 2 1/2 years, he's probably got a good look at what he's really like and what his plans for him really are. I don't see Sasuke as the type that would willingly go along with them. Sasuke had his own motives for going to Oro in the first place, and he's not going to let anything happen to him until his plans come to fruition. Sasuke probably does have a contingency plan for when that time eventually comes for Oro to put his plans into motion.

[blackknight]

I do think people are giving Asuma the short end of the stick. He is (probably) Special Jounin, plus the fact that he is one of the protectors of the Fire Lord. He must have something up his sleeve that we haven't seen. Both Kakashi and Gai are skilled and dangerous warriors, so why not him as well? I have the feeling that Kurenai is weak, simply based on past knowledge of Kishi's women, but nevermind.

[Denisa]

We only are really learning about Asuma these past 6 chapters. Now we know he's the son of the 3rd, a guardian of the fire lord, and has wind chakra which is great for offense and up close fighting.

He always had really high stats(higher than Gai and just behind Kakashi) in the databook. That's why it was weird that he didn't really do much in the manga til now. If he goes out, it should be with a bang.

I am also interested in how well he trained Shikamaru. People never seemed to think much of Asuma as a sensei. He seemed to be no better than Kurenai. Considering his background, he turned out to be a pretty powerful guy to train under.

[Mikadzuki Tatsu]

I'm actually starting to wonder, Why did Kishimoto wait so long to reveal to us just how great a ninja Asuma is? Was it simply because he didn't have a means through which to convey Asuma's hidden talent - no reason before now to put him in the spotlight? If he has always had high stats in the databook, then I doubt Kishimoto just suddenly decided, "Hey, why don't I give Asuma all these cool techniques and put him in the spotlight!"

[blackknight]

Why did he wait so long reveal Naruto's element? Because he makes stuff up on the fly. Same thing with Asuma's power and/or skill.

You don't become a guardian of the Fire Lord without a whole feces load of power and skill.

[ffl]

He had his mini-spotlight moment when he took on 8 Chuunin and knocked out a Sound Jounin as if he was only a flimsy ragdoll. People figured that he was a close-combat guy, but with the Fuuton stuff and his background, he's risen higher.

[abomination]

You could say the same for Gai. We didn't see much on what he was capable of and some of his skills until Part 2. Until then we had only really seen just a glimpse of his techniques. It was either just him and his team during training, coming in and doing a Konoha Senpuu at the last moment, or him hitting and lecturing Lee while displaying odd and hilarious mannerisms. The most fighting Gai ever done before part 2 was during the attack on Konoha. But that's where any similarities end. Gai, unlike Asuma, was one of the more prominent Jounin; always in the foreground along with Kakashi. Asuma was always in the background not really doing anything. So revealing things about Asuma now must mean something.

We already knew Asuma was strong, but now with alot of information now being shown, there's no doubt a meaning for it. There's a reason why Kishimoto is just now giving him some more major spotlight. Kishi definitely has something planned for Asuma.

[ffl]

Oh, you guys are talking about a meaning for it. Well, I wasn't talking about that.:) I was just speaking in general.