christiansavin 's review for:

Naruto, Vol. 54: Viaduct to Peace by Masashi Kishimoto

4.0

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This volume concludes the Ame orphans' story with a final flashback chapter and the last stand of Konan against Akatsuki's real enemy. Unfortunately, it was too soon for Tobi to die, so of course Kishimoto had to save his sorry ass with plot armor. But even so, Konan managed to push him more than anyone else in what still is (arguably) one of the most underrated fights in the entire series. One of its best, too. And despite being the de jure second-in-command within Pain's iteration of the Akatsuki, as well as its sole female member, Konan herself was one of the most underused characters in the entire series. The fandom's response to the writing of her character, her only full-fledged fight, and untimely demise speaks for itself. Amegakure's angelic herald of death still had so much more potential that could have been explored in the War Arc, but she definitely drew the short end of the stick compared to every other major character around her. Which is why I can't help but still feel bitter about the unceremonious way she went out.

I'd also like to mention the problematic way Kishimoto seems to erase accountability with certain characters' deaths. 'The measure of a shinobi's life is determined by his manner of death' shouldn't really apply to criminals and terrorists like Kisame. Sure, he was a great antagonist and had a strong sense of loyalty, albeit misplaced. But he was also fucked up in the head and committed a lot crimes.

Spoiler

Fulfilling his final mission and then killing himself to not allow the enemy to access intel from him

does not absolve him of any of that. In his defense, tho, the War Arc is going to be full of that kind of shit, so this is still tolerable, I guess.