Naruto: Episode 82

Sharingan versus Sharingan. Guess who won this round? As expected, Kakashi along with Asuma and Kurenai were no match for Itachi. Obviously, Itachi sealed his fate as a villain once he slaughtered his kinsmen yet I find him an appealing antagonist even though he is more sinister than Oro. Unlike Oro, he shows no emotions but always wears a calm expression as if he’s detached to everything around him. His business-like sensibilities when it comes to his mission gives him the calculated advantage.

The Kakashi-Itachi confrontation has its perks but I’d rather watch the interaction between Jiraiya and Naruto. Before the final chuunin examination, it was Jiraiya who advised Kakashi to train Sasuke’s sharingan while he would mentor Naruto. No one can fault Kakashi for spending time more time with Sasuke during that period. Their similar abilities mean he is the logical choice to teach Sasuke. A very good decision, indeed. Jiraiya and Naruto together certainly pique my interest. The easy chemistry between them usually provides a delightful exchange.

Also, not only do we see Ero-sennin, we also get to see Gai in this episode. Not bad at all.