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First of all, if you're going to bash Sasuke (even if you think it's justified), then anyone else has the right to bash Orochimaru. Especially if it's justified bashing, and there's plenty of that in Orochimaru's case, in my opinion. But I won't go into that, because you're a fan and I respect that. Kind of like how I wish a lot of people would respect the fact that I am a Sasuke fan, and keep the bashing to at least a certain level of politeness.

Second of all... first you're complaining because Sasuke isn't heartless/petty enough to kill, and then you're complaining because he's too heartless/petty in killing Orochimaru? You can't have it both ways.

As for what the ******** is up Sasuke's a**? Huh. Probably the fact that his brother murdered his entire family, then tortured him with the memory, and he's still a bit traumatized. Most people emo more than he does, and make more bad decisions than he does, when their girlfriend/boyfriend of two weeks breaks up with them. Granted, as a ninja, Sasuke has access to more monumental bad decisions, but, in a sense, they're logical bad decisions. Itachi has warped him to the point that all he can see is the path to his goal, and he follows that path.

I don't think that Sasuke is 'too good' to kill. I think that, first of all, he didn't feel the need to kill just because Orochimaru told him to. Neiji, Chouji, and Shikamaru killed enemies on a mission. They didn't go out and kill hundreds of men just because Tsunade told them to. They did it in an effort to save a member of their village, or, in Shikamaru's case, to avenge someone they cared about. I think it shows a lot about Sasuke that he didn't kill needlessly. Everyone likes to complain about how heartless Sasuke is, and the second Kishimoto tries to show that there IS still a heart somewhere inside of him, people complain about that, as well. ^^; Poor Kishimoto, I've said it before and I'll say it again: nothing that he does is going to make the fans happy.

As for what Sasuke is doing with Orochimaru... I kind of liked the twist. I wasn't expecting it, I was expecting him to be willing to turn his body over. As for Sasuke actually killing Orochimaru... I don't think that it'll happen. But, if it does, it's going along the theme that has been present in the manga lately: the new generation will be the strongest. It will probably not be a sannin who kills Orochimaru, because the sannin are a dying breed. They are a part of the past, and it is up to the ninja that we are all most familiar with, the kids who started the series that we know and love, to continue their legacy. That's been the theme that Kishimoto has been perpetuating lately, and personally, I like it. It is realistic.

I wanted to go into Sasuke's reasoning for trying to kill Orochimaru, but there's really not much to say there. I don't find it very likely that Orochimaru would allow Sasuke to just walk out of Sound, after he's spend years grooming him as his container. Sasuke, being the logical person that he is, realizes that the only way to leave is to fight and kill Orochimaru. Once again, logical, he also realizes that the best way to do that is to surprise Orochimaru, instead of trying to escape Sound, and getting caught, then forced into a battle of Orochimaru's choosing. He recognizes that Orochimaru is not a simple opponent, and he plans accordingly.

I'm not trying to start an argument; I think that this could turn into a very interesting debate. If any hostility came out in my post, it's probably because I've spent a while now listening to everyone and their mother b***h about Sasuke, and it's just finally started to get to me. I'm not saying you're doing this, because I honestly don't think that you are, but it seems like the popular thing in the fandom lately to jump onto the "I hate Sasuke" bandwagon without bothering to really think much about Sasuke's character. I don't think that's the case with you; I think your anger at Sasuke right now probably has to do with you being an Orochimaru fan, and I respect and understand that. I'm just explaining this, in case I seemed overly annoyed or hostile. ^^; I honestly didn't mean to come off that way.

::EDIT:: Also, I just have to add this. ^^; As for Sasuke killing off his weak, sickly teacher... Orochimaru killed off his old, tired teacher. Really, as far as the paths they've taken, Orochimaru and Sasuke are like... the same person. Both even abandoned their 'friends' and village (though, technically Sasuke had much more reason for doing so than Orochimaru did). So... loving Orochimaru and bashing Sasuke is just... very funny and ironic to me.

Oooookay. Wow. Well. Uh. Let's see. I, personally, am speaking from the point of view of both a Sasuke and Orochimaru fan, so really... this whole thing... ^^; Really.

Anyways, I haven't quite read the chapter yet (it's still downloading), but I've a rather... decent idea of what's going on IN the chapter, and I've seen the page in question. First of all, I'd like to agree with both Chieira and Rose Koneko, because they both brought up really great points! heart

Now, a few points of my own that I'd like to bring up are the fact that… it seems like ¾ of the Naruto fandom have forgotten WHO exactly Sasuke is. I mean, everyone’s mad at him because he’s not fitting into this stupid box they’ve fit for him (the heartless cold b*****d, who has nothing else but his brother on his mind all the time), and while a lot of that is true, don’t forget that Sasuke was unable to kill Naruto at the Valley of the End, and maybe, just maybe, the reason he did that (I believe he rationalized it by saying he was different from Itachi) is the reason he hasn’t killed a whole shitload of people. I mean, Sasuke’s life since the massacre has been him trying not to become Itachi, but to surpass him in his own way, and then destroy him. It’s the reason he went to Orochimaru in the first place, and if he kills Orochimaru (which hasn’t actually been said yet) it will probably be for the same reason.

Actually… Kishimoto could have a thousand reasons for doing what he did. Sasuke simply couldn’t have found anyone else to kill who he found worthy of his first kill, maybe he just wants to leave, maybe its his way of proving that he’s grown, learned everything Orochimaru could have taught him… there are countless reasons, really.

Really, all everyone needs to remember is that Sasuke is still, in essence, Sasuke. If he’s finished with Orochimaru, then he’s finished with him. What better, logical, time would there be to kill him? Should have called him up on the phone and been all ‘Dude, I’m going to kill you…. Thursday, so remember to have clean underwear!’ Would that satisfy everyone else?

Because really… wars, battle, revenge… all of it… people see, to think there should be rules. Why should there be rules? It’s a ******** war, and God only knows what Orochimaru has done to Sasuke. And come to think of it… would Orochimaru particularly appreciate Sasuke taking pity on him just because he’s frail or whatever? Seriously. I doubt it.

But… winding down a moment (I’m pretty sure I strayed a hell of a lot off topic) I think… the whole thing where people bash any characters (whether I like them or not) is really irritating. Mostly because… it’s redundant. A character is a character no matter how much we complain about them. How would we rather them? Seriously. And as an Orochimaru fan… I would assume you notice this already ^^; I know I get a hella annoyed when people just shove him into a category as a ***** (I mean, it’s fine to joke around about, just like the Sasuke = emo thing is all right in passing fun or something), but when they’re serious, and they honestly think that’s who he is… I’m sure it irritates you as well.

Anyways, I really didn’t mean for this to come off as a personal attack or anything, because it wasn’t meant as such, but I just thought it as important to point out that things really… always can go both ways, but it’s unfair to simply get upset with a character for being himself.

~Lyn

^^;;; No, you don't have to love everything to be a good fan, but really... it's frustrating when people harp on every single thing Kishimoto does. There's nothing he can do that will satisfy everyone, so it's really not fair to harp on him all the time.

And I'm sure Rose Koneko was mostly referring to the fact that you made it sound like Sasuke was going to kill Orochimaru, and it didn't say that anywhere ^^; He simply attacked him (I doubt he'll die this way, it just would probably not happen so randomly, but it was a goodn plot twist).

And it did really seem like you were bashing Sasuke, and saying that him not killing people seemed to degrade him, so it's not illogical that we'd all have come to that conclusion ^^;

Since I changed it 100 times. sweatdrop

OR surprised What if Sasuke can manipulate it himself? Like... remember before, in the chuunin exams, how he could push it back a bit? Well... not only is Orochimaru weak right now, but Sasuke is substantially stonger, probably having surpassed Orochimaru. Will a seal work on someone stronger then you? surprised

Sasuke is obsessed with power.

Don't take that lightly.

Obsessed.

Now it might be genetic - obviously it was a trait that his older brother shares in to an almost incredible degree - or it might just be that it's what Itachi's forced him to become. Itachi is amazingly powerful, especially for his age, and Sasuke has been in his shadow for a long time.

Itachi has obviously made Sasuke what he is in many more ways than one.

...you might also remember that Sasuke is Kishimoto's favorite character.

It's very likely that he's saving him.

You're not bashing him needlessly.

That's pretty hard to do.

By God if Sasuke doesn't get enough bashing. What is he, a ******** prophet?! HE'S IN THE WRONG AND I CANNOT WAIT FOR HIS OH SO INEVITABLE a**-WHOOPING.

But there's reasoning behind it.

I want to cry but.... I don't know whta to do...... Neji and Chouji are..... are you serious? I gotta go see......