Just because some readers might accept an out of the blue level up doesn't mean the story should cut corners. If Shikako is going to keep up with Naruto and Sasuke, she is going to have to ninja the fuck out of her available skills, and cheat like mad with her stone of Gelel. I am enjoying the way DoS is showing her progression, even if I would also like to see some more Plot related chapters.

 

I just meant that I didn't realize she was going to go this way with the Kisuke plot. I mean, it made sense after the next chapter came out. But before, I was somewhat puzzled. It's just great plotting by Silver Queen.

Well, I think there's a difference between leveling up in powers and abilities, especially if it was already foreshadowed (i.e. a basic attack being upgraded in some way), and gaining new knowledge (here, potentially Edo Tensei and the Curse Seal). The second is much harder to explain if it's skipped over, and I do think it can very easily be viewed as a betrayal of the reader if the character is acting on information the reader doesn't know she has. When it gets pulled out in the relevant spot, it would feel pretty deus ex machina.

Although, just in general, I'm liking the chapters we are getting.

 

Usually I don't like self inserts but this one is actually rather gripping and is making me rethink my view of the genre a little.

 

Updated again, with more filler, but it was fairly entertaining. Shikako and Kankuro snarking at each other makes for a fun scene.

 

Yeah, love the rapport and relationship she has with the whole cast, really. You can tell they are all friends and it just works to convince us that these people really wouldn't give up on each other, no matter what.

The manga tells us that they are friends and allies, DoS builds and shows it.

 

Also, a sneaky line during Shikako's show indicating that Shikako can now set seals with her shadow.

 

Yeah, hinting and build up to that has been on point. When it eventually gets out that she can kill anything her shadow falls on shit is going to be hilarious, especially in diplomatic settings.

 

Spoiler

So, uh, Shikamaru's going to need a new arm. And hand. Jeez. I don't... can that even be fixed? I mean, even Tsunade needs ... grafts? Something to attach to? She doesn't just create mass out of nowhere, does she?

And Shikako steals tricks from her opponents again, this time from the Sound 4. She's a one woman barrier sealing team!


Edited by CheddarTrek...
Added spoiler tags. Chapter had been out for <8 hours when you posted the 'big thing' at the end of the chapter. Common courtesy to add a spoiler tag when it's that new.

 

Got it. Sorry!

 

Spoiler

Well, Shikamaru's ninja career just ended. At least as a field combatant.

The only way I think that Shikamaru could possibly get his arm back with the means currently available to Konoha is if Tsunade uses the Strength of a Hundred Seal Jutsu on him the way Sakura did with Obito in canon. Assuming that would give him the same level of regeneration which is questionable. Otherwise he'll stuck with a prosthetic such as a puppet arm.

It's not too much of a loss in the grand scheme of things since Shikamaru's intelligence is far more valuable than his combat skills (which is everything Shikako can do better anyway), he's just more limited in where he can apply it.

 

Spoiler

I've also seen it suggested that the Gelel stone fragment Shikako still has could possibly help. It could (previously) heal and regenerate people.

Shikamaru's never been a big taijutsu user and his shadow jutsu doesn't really need hands or hand seals. Shadow Possession will be harder to use, that is, to force someone to do what you want (i.e. Shikako's problems in her attempt on Kidomaru with his two extra limbs). You're right that Shikamaru's intelligence and grooming for, presumably, Chief Tactician is the most important though.

Spoiler

Or sage mode. She's already musing that the petrification seems like an influx of natural chakra into a limb, used offensively.

I took a quick look at the Naruto wiki. Sakura was able to fix petrification in the movie (how?) so... presumably, petrification can be healed by Tsunade. Well, in the case where the petrified limb wasn't actually shattered.

I did find it interesting that for all of Shikamaru's worries about serious injuries to Shikako (and Shikako's retort that it could happen to him too - just once needed), it's Shikamaru who got seriously injured. Of course, this happened on Shikako's watch / mission...

As for the actual fight, Konoha's team is in a bind: Shikamaru's injury is obvious, Akamaru is down, and Shikako just got nailed with a presumably poisoned kunai to her back. Unless Shikako or Sai pulls out something, not sure how they can retreat fast and/or force the other group to back off.

 

Spoiler

I'm expecting Shikako to pull out her shadow form and go to town.

That, or we'll discover that the entire scene has been staged somehow. It didn't feel like the Konoha team was fighting at top capacity for some reason, but whether that is deliberate or a consequence of a chapter more sparse in details than other we'll have to see.

 

I think the ink clones are playing as the royals, unless they're all ink clones somehow and this is all one big trick on both the enemy ninja and the reader.

 

Updated.

Spoiler

That was brutal of Shikako. I like it.

 

New chapter. Really liked how the author portrayed Shikako's helplessness, desperation, and anger. I can't help but feel Karenbana will come back to get revenge. Though I always get that feeling when an enemy is allowed to survive.

 

On the one hand, that was great.

On the other,

Spoiler

why would she bother with staring at the enemy while they faltered and do the whole "run" thing? Should have thrown a kunai the moment she knew her explosion didn't kill her. I mean, she had no trouble snapping the dude's neck literally moments earlier.