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They were probably too focused on the Sasuke and Naruto scene.

They could easily add in Sakura strangling Sai when the time comes.

At least they had better. >.>

Plus, that entire intro was NOT regular episode animation. [It was, like, movie quality!] I doubt anything will look the same when the episode finally airs for real. They'll probably change the scene to where it fits the manga more.

Juuust be patient~

Feel free to shoot me if I end up being wrong.

When I went to YouTube and waited for it to load for about thirty minutes, I couldn't help but spout nonsense in a hyper fast squeaky voice, my trademark "FANGIIIILLLIIIIINGGGG" mode.

The intro - I loved it. It was a teaser thing, and I pretty much loved the fact that they left lots of stuff out. Gawd. It had me squealing - especially when Sasuke looked evil when he was talking to the Kyuubi. *points to 9th picture in Kairi-san's collection* It was total fanservice.

Sai... looks like a zombie. 'Nuff said.

The opening was cute and upbeat. As soon as NarutoFan has the full version, I am SO downloading it. "Return of the Hero's" is the title - how appropriate. It should be. Seeing that opening made me grin and squeal more.

The part where the Konohamaru Corps was chasing the cat as genin was so cute! Konohamaru's grown up quite well - he actually looks hawt for a 12-year-old. Plus I like their interaction with Sakura. Though it's not canon, it certainly was fodder for my teacher!Sakura fantasies.

The fact that the introductions didn't stay true to the manga for the most part bothered me a bit, but it's a good change since I didn't want the anime experience to be just the same as my manga experience. It would've taken out the excitement factor for me.

I love their voices! Naruto's voice became deeper. I wonder how Takeuchi Junko managed it. And when kid!Naruto and teen!Naruto were compared in height, then introduced the "keyword," well, that's where I really noticed the difference in their voices. Watching Sakura's training is funny too - Tsunade must love ball sports so much. Sakura's voice became more mature too, sound something like her "smart" voice when she was younger. I suppose it's now her regular voice.

But what truly disturbed me was all that blushing from Sakura! Gawd. I can hear the NaruSaku-ers screaming "Canon!" in our ears right now.

I find the meeting with Shikamaru and Temari endearing. Naruto's still so Naruto - he has no idea who Temari is. And when they found Kakashi... YES! I love the way Icha Icha Tactics was given to him. With the lightning bolts and the hand-twitching and the magical opening of the book. I truly love KakaxIcha.

Gaara, Deidara, and Sasori. Whoohoo! Gaara can still make me fangirl no matter what he wears - he's wearing the Kazekage robe, but in the manga he's wearing his own clothes. Gaara doing deskwork - that was the best. Deidara sounds so cool, and Sasori's voice... well... didn't think it'd sound that way.

I love the animation. They've definitely better than usual - sometimes the backgrounds looks so real, meaning they're more 3D than usual, though still fakey in color. The soundtrack doesn't need getting used to - I love it anyhow. The style of the music doesn't sound like the central sound theme of the old soundtrack, but it still sounds great. I can't wait till NarutoFan releases them. I especially like the music when Naruto enters the village. I wonder if they'll use the old soundtrack some time. But the art... well, I still think that the limbs are sometimes drawn too thick sometimes, and their eyes seem smaller. Which isn't very good to me.

My favorite scene was the one where Sakura and Naruto are remembering their last moments with Sasuke. Yet another total fanservice when the animators snuck those in au contraire to the manga. It's kinda a SasuSaku moment, isn't it, when Sakura remembers that time? Meaning... she might be feeling the same way still? Gawd, I better not look too much into it - I might get disappointed. And it's not canon anyway... but the animators have got to be onto something...

Can't wait to download the subbed version (seeing as how I only understood 60% of what was going on because of what I read in the manga) and watch the next eppie.

At the end where naruto was talking about the Hokage and then he said that tsunade had a "slammin' body. I couldn't help but laugh it was too cute. blaugh

It seems like Naruto is up- to -date with our 'today' slang words cool

It has been a while.

But OH. The first episode made me squeal.

aksndfkl;jdlkj. <333333 SASUKE. && Sakura && TEAM 7.

Sai does look sickly white, but he was intended to be a bit feminine so eh. (I was also initially annoyed at how they didn't add the part where Sakura catches Sai by the throat. -_- )

Anyhow. I'm looking forward to more. b; I loved their choice of voice actors. (Yes.) I will agree, however, that the animation seemed a bit sloppy at times (maybe the artists are getting over their filler penmanship), but I didn't mind it so much after I had seen the episode.

Now, I shall await the next. b; <333

Was.. I the only one who held their breath when Sakura mouthed Sasuke's name?

Because, seriously.. I was fascinated with that. You could totally tell whose name she was saying.

I loved that scene. I didn't hold my breath, but believe me, I was HYPERVENTILATING. I loved the way she mouthed his name. (A classmate of mine, who's a NaruSaku-er, went, "The -kun's still there?!" I was so tempted to yell at her, "SasuSaku FTW!!!!")

I loved the slow-mo when she turns to face Sasuke. It was so dramatic. Plus when Sasuke says Sakura's name, it was exactly like I imagined it. Hey, you people who stay at twinbells' Simply Love forums - remember those debates wherein there was a dispute on how Sasuke said Sakura's name? This scene truly reminded me of that.

That flashback. YESSSSS. I'm not the only one who thinks it's SasuSaku love.

AMV material that is in the new AMV I posted in the AMV thread razz

And yes, I remember those debates on SL razz

XD Yes, AMV.

But the one thing we haven't seen yet is when she charges at him (and if they don't put the Sai-neck-wringing in, I will be royally pissed). I'm curious... if Orochimaru knows that they've already taken out an Akatsuki member, do you think he'll tell Sasuke that it was Sakura who did it?

I wonder what he'd think if he heard that (especially if for some reason Oro had details and told him that it was his ex-partner, and basically told him she was able to fend him off even with a sword in her stomach).

"You're lucky you didn't have to fight her, Sasuke-kun."

"Who's her?"

"That little cherry is a bit more vicious than you remember. Akatuski is a member short because of her."

"..."

"Surprised?"

"Of course not, but you're underestimating me by saying I'm lucky we didn't fight."

"No, you're underestimating her."


Hahahahahaha. Yeah. That will never happen. But I love it all the same heart