One Piece 742: Well...if it turns out that Usopp's moment of triumph was actually unintentional, his face being so scary that it made Sugar faint, rather than it being planned all along, I'll be a bit disappointed, but I'll take it. The flashback was nice, too - but balanced with some of the main story, which is what's important (take note, Kishimoto). 

Naruto 670 was tedious - Kishimoto is trying to justify his telling the same story over and over and over again, I think, through going back to yet another retelling of that story, this time the first time it happened. Wasting half a chapter on the lame joke of talking funny...that was a mistake, too. 

Naruto 669: I'd love for Guy's actions to be decisive, but in story terms it's so unlikely as to be absurd, so this is mostly just a very artificial way of giving a supporting character a moment to shine...while also rather uncomfortably glorifying suicide in combat. Though I guess only for superpowered magical heroes. 

One Piece 741: On the good side, Usopp did the right thing...and even did so telling the truth all the way. On the downside, this wasn't the time for a Kyros flashback. Interesting, but just not the right time for the pacing of the story, leaving the whole thing a bit anticlimactic. 

Naruto 668: I would probably have enjoyed this chapter very much in 2006. But now? Angsty Gai flashback before a ridiculously easy save-the-day kamikaze attack that story rules dictate will certainly not bring the arc to its actual conclusion? Feels so hollow. 

One Piece 740 - Oh Usopp! Everyone needs you! I have every faith he will actually save the day. But it will be interesting to see just how. I hope Luffy gets some more action soon, too, and wonder what will happen when the toy soldier turns back into the huge gladiator...

Naruto 667 - I thought I'd been spoiled to elements of this, but luckily I was wrong. Gai shows some admirable resolve, though since in story terms he has no hope of doing anything but stalling it seems a shame, and it turns out that Itachi's ultimate jutsu is actually self-reflection-and-redemption-no-jutsu, which I suppose suits the series these days. Meh. 

One Piece 739 has Usopp's operation go badly awry. Will he and Robin be able to salvage it? We also get more information about the toy solider...but this was still only an average sort of a chapter. 

Naruto 666 - much as I like Gai showing up - and it happened in two totally different timeframes here - I'm still too annoyed by the idea of Obito's daft switcheroo to enjoy this part. 

One Piece 738 wasn't a very exciting chapter. Robin's part was simplistic but worked well, but the part around Sugar was just not very interesting. Would have preferred some brief check-ins with the other characters, too. 

Naruto 665 was horrible. Another stupid reversal based on Naruto's platitudes. If this actually contributes to the arc's conclusion I'm going to be extremely unsatisfied. 

One Piece 737 wasn’t exciting like the last chapter, but Luffy’s childhood friend is pretty badass in the arena. I don’t find this silly toy-power girl very interesting, so I look forward to that part being dealt with.

Naruto 663 had the plainly unpleasant image of Sakura sticking her hand into Naruto’s ribcage to manually pump his heart – as though regular CPR wouldn’t do it just fine. Predictably, we’re moving towards fixing the whole issue of the main characters dying, but at least the bad guys get another chance to look good, and Orochimaru is finally contributing.