Naruto 487

Naruto and Sasuke part ways before their big battle, and a bunch of other things happen.

Confronting Sasuke was too much for Naruto's heart to take... oh, it's just Sakura screwing up again. Never mind.

Summary:
Sasuke agrees to Naruto's challenge and vows to kill Naruto first. On the sidelines, Sakura realizes that she's completely useless. Kakashi attempt to attack Madara, but Madara tells Kakashi not to bother and teleports away with Sasuke. After returning to Madara's hiding place, Sasuke asks Madara to transplant Itachi's eyes into him because he wants to crush Naruto with his full power. Meanwhile back under the bridge, Naruto faints after the standoff with Sasuke and Kakashi realizes Naruto has been poisoned by Sakura's kunai. Sakura quickly revives Naruto, and together with Kakashi and Karin they head back towards Konoha.

Elsewhere, Raikage, Killer Bee and entourage have returned to their village and Killer Bee brings back Sameheda as the souvenir. Back at the forest where Killer Bee fought Kisame, White Zetsu meets up with Black Zetsu, and it reveals that Black Zetsu actually doubled in for Kisame in the last moment. The real Kisame is hidden with Sameheda in a mission to infiltrate Kumogakure.

In a tunnel somewhere, three ninjas are strangled to death by Kabuto.

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Interesting chapter I suppose, although the Naruto/Sasuke drama from last chapter still left a bad taste. At least the two are taking an intermission for now before their final date. Initially I thought Naruto fainted after talking to Sasuke because of his fainting spell, but it turns out Sakura was responsible. Way to make Sakura even more useless, Kishi. Well, at least Sakura realized she was useless earlier in this chapter and self-awareness counts for something.

With the Naruto/Sasuke meeting over, the bad guys are on the move again. As expected, Sasuke is getting Itachi's eyes so he can give Naruto the most love possible. I guess Madara will implant that Rinnegan he has into himself or someone else too. Kisame is also back again, having sneaked into Kumogakure through Sameheda. I would have preferred that Kisame stay dead since he is just not that interesting, but I suppose someone has to capture Killer Bee for Madara. Finally, Kabuto has shown himself again. Looks like we can never truly get rid of Orochimaru's influence from this manga, even if Orochimaru himself is sealed away forever. Kabuto would make up a third faction in the upcoming ninja war since he neither supports the villages nor Madara, so let's see if he'll do anything notable.