10 Second Anime - Naruto Shippuuden - Episode 389 - 390

Naruto Shippuuden - Episode 389 - 390



Filler episodes explore the relationship of Hinata and Hanabi, the Hyuuga sisters, and how it was influenced by duty and destiny.

Heh.

Neji was such a little shit before Naruto falcon punched him.

Hanabi was cute as a button, but when we first saw her in Naruto, she seemed a little creepy. Trying to be aloof from your beloved older sister probably had a hand in that.

Hinata always got knocked for being "too kind" to protect the Hyuuga clan, but here they showed that it was not lack of talent. We had been told that they made Hinata and Hanabi duel for the role of heir, so it was a nice touch to throw in the filler episode that Hinata had superior skills, but she just couldn't go for the finishing shot on her little sister.

The Sharingan of the Uchiha always got so much more attention than the Byakugan of the Hyuuga, naturally because of Sasuke's part in the story and then Madara and Obito, but we'll see later in the series that the white eyes have their own place in ninja lore.

Hmm.

The second episode of the double feature was flashback heavy, but that was fine because it was meant to show to Hanabi that she was wrong about Naruto and Hinata's feelings for him. Hanabi had been warned to stay away from Naruto, because all the adults knew he was the Jinchuuriki but none of the kids did, and felt that her sister's crush on him not only took Hinata away from her, but was also somehow a source of weakness, which ultimately placed Hanabi in the role of heir. With Naruto kicking ass (Ino's little visit to the Hyuuga compound was hilarious) and Hinata helping him save the village from Pain's attack, Hanabi could return to the feelings of adoration and respect she used to have for her older sister.

Destiny was made into a big deal with Neji, who held resentment for the clan, which he placed onto Hinata, because he was a genius, but being from a branch family in the clan, he could never wield the power the ruling family had over their curse marks. One thing that was never stressed is that although destiny may have one path in one's life, it doesn't mean one always knows what it is. Sometimes one is sure they're on the path of destiny. Sometimes one is still searching for it. Sometimes, one changes one's mind and realizes one's idea of destiny was wrong all along. Destiny can only be seen in the past tense, because it is the sum of everyone's choices up until that moment one considers one's path. Forging a path through one's convictions may seem counter to destiny, to something preordained, but destiny is a dialectic with one's will. One can change destiny, in a sense, by directing their lives in a certain direction. Destiny, after that, is in the details.

Seeing Hinata face Pain all by herself was one of the most powerful moments in the whole Naruto story. Until then, I don't think Naruto ever really was aware of Hinata, or the depth of her feelings, or that she even had feelings for him. That was Hinata's moment of destiny and that moment made certain moments in the rest of the manga and what we've seen so far in the anime, very satisfying. Suck it, NaruSakutards! Ahem.

Anyway, this was a good way for the Naruto media empire to let us know what's at stake in the Naruto movie coming out. Hanabi wasn't just that creepy little girl we saw at the Chuunin exams. She got better.