[james0246]

Originally Posted by Yoko Takeo

While there would be no point in hiding Madara's Sharingan if Tobi really is Madara (a point I will further back later in this post), there could be various reasons why Madara's hiding his face. Perhaps he sustained too many injuries after his battle with the Shodai Hokage.

Once again. It could be a simple red herring to add more depth to an otherwise somewhat simplistic character.

Originally Posted by Yoko Takeo

But you are right that it is otherwise pointless to hide his face as well. And the fact that he's even hiding it when he's stated in front of the entire ninja world that he is Madara is even more a reason to suspect he isn't in fact Madara,

Actually, Madara has taken off his mask several times to confirm his identity (to other characters). He was going to do it to Sasuke (until Itachi interfered), he did it with Kisame, and obviously Zetsu knows his face. While Zetsu addressing Madara as Tobi is some evidence supporting the claiming that he is someone else, the fact that Kisame directly addressed him as Madara is clear evidence that the person under the mask is Madara (or at least someone that has called himself Madara for quite a long time).

Originally Posted by Yoko Takeo

Well, I never really meant to say he was afraid. However, the fact that he is extremely aversive to direct confrontation also lends more to the suspicion that there is something Tobi is hiding.

Madara explained his aversion based on resources. To defeat Kabuto and his zombies would require too much effort, consequently Madara's war effort would suffer just to defeat a potential, if short term, ally.

"What's in the Box?!" obviously surprised and agitated Madara/Tobi, but it needn't be a sinister as you imagine (then again, it could be worse than anyone imagined ).

Originally Posted by Yoko Takeo

Not once has he actually tried killing anyone, even after Deidara's death.

So what? Zetsu hasn't actually killed (or tried to kill) anyone, but I expect he could kill most of the lower tier fighters with little problem. Technically Kisame hasn't killed anyone, but he can still whop ass. Sasuke, and so many others haven't, technically, killed anyone either.

Originally Posted by Yoko Takeo

Madara has the power to absolutely control the Kyuubi, and with his power, he could easily have captured Naruto when they first met.

How does Madara controlling the Kyuubi in any way reflect on his times with Naruto? Naruto is not the Kyuubi, so there is no reason to assume that Madara can control Naruto.

Originally Posted by Yoko Takeo

However, he did not do that even when Naruto attacked him close. He did not send him to his private dimension. Instead, he phased through him.

And Zetsu could have taken both Naruto and Sasuke 3 years ago when they were both exhausted after the VotE battle.

Whatever Akatsuki's final plans are, Naruto is not needed yet, so they do not focus on him.

Originally Posted by Yoko Takeo

This is only valid if we're to say that Tobi is Madara. If Tobi really is Madara, then there wouldn't be a reason for Kishi to have Tobi hide his real powers.

That is completely false. We do not know what happened in the battle with Hashirama, for all we know Madara's chakra was sealed; or maybe, for whatever reason, he only has a limited amount left; or because he lost an eye most of his powers vanished; or any number of other explanations. Simply because Madara isn't a God anymore, doesn't automatically mean he isn't still Madara, nor does it necessitate that Tobi be anyone else.

The only solid piece of evidence that Tobi might be someone other than Madara is found in the scene with Kabuto. Obviously "What's in the Box!?" is the key, but until we see a glimpse of the contents, we must be content with Tobi being Madara.

Originally Posted by Yoko Takeo

if he really is Madara, hiding his MS (and his face) would be quite pointless.

Unless there is a reason.

Anecdote: Just last chapter (491), I called the autograph scene between Naruto and some shinobi pointless, because it potentially added nothing to the plot and it served as filler. But, once 492 rolled around, all of a sudden what I once thought to be pointless immediately became central to the story.

Kishimoto need supply only an explanation to explain why Madara is not a God anymore, then everything would be cleared up.