Naruto Shippuden Episode 35

[Buffalobiian]

The social skills thing is funny. Most of us don't learn to call other people "dickless pansies" and such from a book. You mostly get that through social encounters. What makes him different from other swearing characters is that he acts all polite, and it come out of nowhere (as well as very provoking). It's interesting that someone mentioned Yamato was actually spying in that tree when the kunai hit. I had the impression that he thought Tsunade's suspicion was too much. But he's ANBU, so following orders is his job.

Another reason that Naruto might seem more mature now is what he's doing around the village. In the older seasons, we was seen running around all the time, and talking about training and stuff, kind of like a kid with an obsession. Now he's seen walking, not running, mostly, and is socializing like older teenagers. Lazy was correct in a sense.

[Abdula]

Yeah that was me and I'm pretty sure it was Yamato especially since Tsunade and Shizune were waiting for him and he showed up late without a reason and she just shrugged it off indicating that she might have actually sent him to spy on Sai or he might have just done it on his own. Naruto is still a kid with an obsession he just believes now for some reason that he has gotten so much better because of his training with Jiraiya but as we've all seen he hasn't and he definitely has a rude awakening coming his way.

[iMUSTbeTHEdevil]

Maybe sai just likes seeing the reactions people make, considering that he himself is devoid of emotions.

So you are saying that he is a typical teen hellbent on shock value? Sounds like any artist of that age that I know. Works for me.

[DarthEnderX]

I think he does it to prove what terrible ninjas they are. If Danzou controls root and he's "emotionless and logical" then Sai probably is too.

And by insulting them he's proving what shitty ninjas they are compared to him by showing how they let their emotions control their actions.

[Killa-Eyez]

It kinda is my idea of a real ninja though. Not even like Sai, cause he's socializing to much and having a opinion. But real ninja's are trained to do what others aren't capable of, physically and mentally. So the no emotion, logical attitude is fitting for what they're meant to do. At least that's my idea. We obviously see a happier side of ninja's (which is unlikely) in Naruto, but it seems that Root is producing more ninja-like ninja's then the others I've seen in the series so far. When Sai was in his room with the other Root member I kinda felt that long lost sinister ninja feeling...

[Buffalobiian]

The "devoid of all emotions" part may be a common aspect amongst all the ANBU departments, though variation is bound to occur. We've been pretty much lead to believe that these "masked shinobi" do all the work that you'd not want to be recognized for. The expressionless masks also lead us to believe that they're the more emotionless, indistinguishable, stereotypical ninjas, though their mission success rates have shown otherwise.

I was more focused on the other stuff they Sensi said to Sai about root, how they're unseen, underground and forever supporting the great tree known as Konoha. Drilling that stuff into you makes you feel your actions are correct in every way.

[ASSpirine]

The social skills thing is funny. Most of us don't learn to call other people "dickless pansies" and such from a book. You mostly get that through social encounters. What makes him different from other swearing characters is that he acts all polite, and it come out of nowhere (as well as very provoking). It's interesting that someone mentioned Yamato was actually spying in that tree when the kunai hit. I had the impression that he thought Tsunade's suspicion was too much. But he's ANBU, so following orders is his job.

Another reason that Naruto might seem more mature now is what he's doing around the village. In the older seasons, we was seen running around all the time, and talking about training and stuff, kind of like a kid with an obsession. Now he's seen walking, not running, mostly, and is socializing like older teenagers. Lazy was correct in a sense.

Well, it won't be the first one who didn't do that. One great name echo's in my ear. Uchiha Itachi.

At first I had my doubt about Yamato being a spy for root in ANBU, but after the encouter with Kakashi that doubt vanished. I just had that feeling. He could have easily been a team member once, or his subordinate as he says senpai to Kakashi.

[Narasho]

At first I had my doubt about Yamato being a spy for root in ANBU, but after the encouter with Kakashi that doubt vanished. I just had that feeling. He could have easily been a team member once, or his subordinate as he says senpai to Kakashi.

Tsunade handpicked Yamato for the assignment with the clearest of intentions to have him watch Sai carefully. I see no reason for her to pick someone she didn't have complete trust and faith in. Of course, I may be giving her a bit too much credit here, but I always thought of her as being a reliable leader. I think Yamato can be trusted based on that alone.

[ASSpirine]

Tsunade handpicked Yamato for the assignment with the clearest of intentions to have him watch Sai carefully. I see no reason for her to pick someone she didn't have complete trust and faith in. Of course, I may be giving her a bit too much credit here, but I always thought of her as being a reliable leader. I think Yamato can be trusted based on that alone.

The possibility is that since his youth Yamato has infiltrated the ANBU for the root. Since the root only use skilled shinobi's it's not that weird. Maybe far fetched, but at first I really had that feeling.

[Abdula]

The Anbu are the hokage's personal ninja they are all hand picked by the hokage so it is very unlikely that someone would be able to infiltrate it. When Yamato was young root would have still been in action so I don't think there would have been any need for root to infiltrate the anbu.

[iMUSTbeTHEdevil]

The Anbu are the hokage's personal ninja they are all hand picked by the hokage so it is very unlikely that someone would be able to infiltrate it. When Yamato was young root would have still been in action so I don't think there would have been any need for root to infiltrate the anbu.

Where does it say that they are all the Hokage's Personal Ninja? Cuz as far as then being ANBU, "special ops", they could just be higher trained in stealth and smaller groups, I know the Hokage does have a say in the rankings, but never heard anything about them being hand picked directly from the Hokage.

[Abdula]

I can't remember exactly when it was said, it was very early in the series though. The anbu work directly under the hokage and follow his/her orders.

[Yukimura]

I don't know if they are each hand selected by the Hokage but the organization itself definately answers directly to that position. This fact makes the Root situation somewhat confusing since it was supposedly a branch of the ANBU but it wasn't under the direct control of the Hokage, my guess would be it was given to Danzou to appease him since he lost out on becoming Hokage or some such.

[Abdula]

That makes sense but for them to do that then they must have viewed him as a possible threat of some kind, and I don't know if you would want to give someone who you view as a threat a bunch of elite and completely loyal ninja. He could have just formed the group by himself since it appears that the members are very young he could have just chosen some exceptional ninja to raise and train using his own methods, similar to what Orochimaru did, while I doubt anyone in Konoha would've liked that it seems more plausible.

[masamuneehs]

finally got around to watching this. Sai is as eerie and emotionless as you'd expect a life-long trained ninja to be. I really liked his conversation with the other Root guy.

Good feel to this episode. The tracks fit and there wasn't a lot of action, but the animation did seem better than normal. What I really liked was the use of shadows and darkness, gives the show a serious tone that fits what is supposed to be a more 'adult' show now in Shippuuden.

[DarthEnderX]

I can't remember exactly when it was said, it was very early in the series though. The anbu work directly under the hokage and follow his/her orders.

Everyone in the village does that.

Naruto is just a Gennin but every mission he's ever gotten has been from the Hokage.

[Janusz]

Everyone in the village does that.

Naruto is just a Gennin but every mission he's ever gotten has been from the Hokage.

Well, obviously they don't or else Tsunade wouldn't have to debate with those two gran's about who to add to Team Kakashi. If she could have overruled them, she probably would have, because she wasn't the least bit happy with Danzou picking someone. My guess is there's some sort of council that has some authority as well (like in the sand; see the beginning of the previous arc when we saw Gaara in some sort of debate).

[Kraco]

Obviously there is, because at least the "good" countries (villages) don't seem to be autocracies. I guess it wouldn't be too far off the mark to say Tsunade is the supreme military commander but not necessarily the supreme political leader of the village. So, there's some sort of a government she belongs to but is not the exclusive member of. I suppose in Konoha the atmosphere is such that she can't just dictate everything but has to listen to the council, lest there'll be some sort of a counterreaction.

[Yukimura]

When Jiraya was approched to be Hokage the two old farts implied that some sort of council made the decision that he should be the next one. From this I gather that the council shares authority with the Hokage in a sort of Legislative vs Executive relationship. I would guess that the council is also the go between for people coming in and requesting the services of the village while the Hokage who is the person in charge of actually getting those missions carried out. I think the difference between ANBU and regular ninja though is that while all missions are assigned to ninja by the Hokage, ANBU missions don't necessarily have to be justified, or even reported, to the council since they may not always be in line with the public face of the village. Things like assassinations and infiltrations are not suited for being discussed in open council.

[Abdula]

Just to add my two cents. The villages are part of countries, specifically they are the primary military force of a country, the country is ruled by the feudal lord. So while the hokage may be able to make decisions about what missions ninjas take she is not the leader and there is a council of elders above her who make decisions. Tsunade is more of a general her mission is to protect and do what is in the village’s best interest but the village is there to protect the country so while she may be able to make some military decisions she is not involved in the politics.

I think the difference between ANBU and regular ninja though is that while all missions are assigned to ninja by the Hokage, ANBU missions don't necessarily have to be justified, or even reported, to the council since they may not always be in line with the public face of the villiage. Things like assassinations and infiltrations are probably not suited to be talked about in open council.

Yeah, that would be the difference, the anbu perform covert missions that the hokage would not necessarily want the public or the other villages to know about.