Anime [David Anime] Naruto 102

Without a doubt, this episode marks a monumental change in the Naruto storyline -- not only are our genin protagonists allowed to perform a mission without Kakashi's guidance, they're also given a B-rank mission, which is usually reserved for experienced ninjas. While this new responsibility is a testament to the strong technical skills of Sasuke and Naruto, this new arc seems hurried, audacious, and altogether anti-climatic.

While one would traditionally defer to Ten's excellent review, it's impossible to watch this episode without feeling a twinge of disappointment. On one hand, one is heartened by the fact that Naruto's strength is recognized by the new Hokage. However, one can't help but notice that our protagonists show a startling lack of character depth -- Naruto appears to have lost the impressive maturity he exuded while saving Tsunade, Sasuke shows an almost-boorish inclination to brute force, and Sakura seems to exist solely for the purpose of comic relief.

While this arc currently seems sub-par, there's no doubt that it has the potential to blossom into a stellar series. In an echo to the first chuunin exam, the Tea Country's champion Morino Idate shares the same surname as Morino Ibiki, Konoha's chief of torture and interrogation. Additionally, from the previews, it seems that we'll have an opportunity to see rivals from the past and witness how their new skills compare with our heroes, which will definitely be a treat for fans that have been watching this series from the start.

When all is said and done, it's simply too early to judge how the next few episodes will turn out. Given the absence of Kakashi as a protector / teacher figure, this arc has a *ton* of potential for developing the competence, cohesion and self-sufficiency of our genin team. However, if character development remains stagnant, this series will inevitably remain mediocre.

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