Is it common in other mangas besides Dragonball (talking cat/tower) to have talking cats who give some sort of powerup to the hero? Kinda cute that the first two have their village symbol branded into their foreheads.

I think Itachi is okay (reponseless to Kisame's question) with Deidara going after Sasuke because Itachi knows Deidara is digging his own grave.

I wonder if the "thing" when Karin says "These things" on pg 6 are the same as the "few other things" Sasuke refers to in the panel before. I dont think the things are Suigetsu getting excited over the ninja cats (lol thundercats) in the panel after.

I think the weather is lousy because Suigetsu is about to get warp status (shoe tapping on puddle) and chop some limbs in the upcoming battle.