Naruto Chapter 505 – The Nine-Tails’ Chakra Unleashed!

I thought Kisame was a shark, not a thorny devil...

We start this week off with Naruto thinking about all the things his mother said to him back when he was a newborn, Kushina having just disappeared from his inner world. He promises to eat more than ramen, and says he loves hot baths and sleep, so that’s fine. He then moves onto his friends, and that he has many, even Shino, who is in the background, and that he wishes she could have met them, but there is one that is giving him grief, being Sasuke. He says she was right about school, but he doesn’t let it get him down, and that whilst it wasn’t smooth sailing, he now respects his teachers. Even Ebisu, who is in the background. He then goes on to say that Jiraiya taught him about the vices of a shinobi, but that he was a great man who taught him how to be a true shinobi. He then finishes saying that he will become the greatest Hokage. Haven’t heard that before. Naruto then finally wakes up from his inner world and is greeted to a fist bump from Bee. Yamato is pretty tense, and asks Naruto continuously if he was able to control the Kyuubi. Yamato then freaks out completely when Naruto and Bee discuss the whole thing using “this” and “that” as description. Meanwhile, outside, Might Guy is told about Naruto’s training gets very hyped up, and Aoba Yamashiro tells Motoi that that is just the way he is. Inside, Naruto tells Yamato and Bee that the Kyuubi’s chakra is sealed away inside him somewhere else, and he isn’t automatically using it all of the time. He then draws it out and becomes his sparkling fox boy mode, for lack of better words, to show them. Yamato’s Wood Style techniques then react to Naruto’s chakra, growing rapidly, and Yamato notes how full of energy Naruto is.

Naruto then senses someone inside with them, and tracks it down to the Samehada on Bee’s back. He says that it isn’t a chakra, more of an evil presence. Kisame, who is hiding in Samehada, is surprised to say the least, and tries to escape in his fused Kisame-Samehada form. However, he looks more monstrous now, more like how an Akatsuki member should look. Bee is confused, since he thought he killed Kisame, but Kisame replies that Bee beheaded a clone, thinking of Zetsu. He then compliments Naruto’s sensing abilities, then escapes, but Naruto chases after him with an extremely quick “Yellow Flash” and knocks him down. However, Naruto gets stuck at the same time, so Kisame attempts to escape. Yamato tells Bee to chase after him, whilst he helps Naruto. Outside, Aoba dares Guy to go under the same ‘Dark Side’ training that Naruto did. Guy does, and his ‘Dark Guy’ side starts to tell him that his “youth” is starting to get old, and that no-one wants to hear about it anymore. Guy gets irritated, and orders his dark side to attack, but instead, Kisame jumps out from behind the waterfall. Guy takes Kisame as his ‘Dark Guy’, and attacks anyway, even though he is disgusted. Even though Aoba tells Guy that Kisame isn’t his dark side, Guy uses Konoha Kaiganshou to blast Kisame away. Suddenly, Bee jumps out too, just as Kisame hits a cliff.

This is getting fun, Kishimoto. Good work. I was wondering when Kisame would reveal himself, and now that he has, this arc may get a little more interesting. Naruto shows off his uber form, which I’m still not impressed with. He looks pretty stupid, to be honest. I was expecting something a little more badass, like the Six-Tail form was. Well, not exactly like that, but you know what I mean. Nice little comedy moments with Guy too. The running gag of him not remembering Kisame is still active I assume. Anyway, nice use of a random Konoha ninja in Aoba. Well, I say nice use, but he did just magically appear out of nowhere didn’t he? Naruto also seems to have picked up his father’s speed and “Yellow Flash” technique, or a variety thereof, but he isn’t that good at it yet. Anyway, this is interesting, and I’m assuming Kisame will actually die this time around, so that the only two Akatsuki left will be Zetsu and Madara. Let’s see how this goes then…

K-ON!! – Episode 18

Hello? Anyone in there?

Nice artistic skills with that turtle…

There’s a tree behind you

That’s some nightmare…

Don’t be afraid now…

The Reaper!

Due to a majority vote in their class, Mio is selected to be Romeo in the class’s play. And also by vote, Ritsu is selected as Juliet. Obviously they both reject to the decision, but they don’t have much choice. They’re a pair so best suited for this, or so the rest of the class thinks. For costumes, you guessed right, Sawa-chan automatically volunteers. Yui’s playing tree G, and Mugi is screenplay.

With some nicely chosen words from Nodoka, Mio decides to give the Romeo role a chance since everyone is looking forward to it.

So, they start practicing lines and after a while Ritsu has problems with how cheesy the story is and Mio’s way too shy for the role.

At practice, Yui suggests that Ritsu should act more feminine and Mio more masculine. Whilst they walk home Ritsu is tired of everyone teasing them and making fun of them, so brimming with determination she decides to practice and work hard.

That night at Ritsu’s house they find a perfect way to act, by Mio pretending to be Ritsu acting as Romeo and Ritsu pretend to be Mio to act as Juliet. The next day they do this and Ritsu is quite on the mark with her acting, but due to Mio’s stage fright her voice is still quiet and shy. Ritsu and Mugi come up with a plan to help her get over her shyness.

Next day, they visit Mugi’s friend’s café and work there as maids. To get over Mio’s shyness she needs to work with strangers.

After one day of forced labour and waitressing, the next morning Mio comes in with a perfect smile. Though, even with all that help, she still doesn’t think she can do it as serving is different to acting. But Ritsu doubles their practice hours to hopefully get ready by the time the play arrives.

And Yui stands there like a tree…

After all that, no play. That was rather dragged. Although I did get a few laughs, especially that last scene where Yui just edged away as a tree… and that nightmare Ritsu scene. There’s been so many maid themes going round this season, quite funny to see.

Play next episode I guess. Hmmm, maybe I expected too much from this slice of life anime. Yeah, probably did, so I’ll just try to enjoy it as a none story gag type anime for now.

Oh and after a few listens I’m starting to like both the opening and ending now. They’re growing on me.

Bleach Chapter 415 – Deicide 17

A little experiment. Lucretia asked me to do separate manga blogs this week. I’ll comply. I’ll probably do the same from now on.

Butterfly wings haven't been this badass since Chouji Akimichi.

This chapter starts off with a little bit of a flashback on Gin’s part. He was outside and came upon Aizen with three shinigami through a clearing in the bushes. Aizen then took the Hougyoku and placed it inside a glass, looking around to make sure no-one was watching. Then, we go back to the present, as Gin reaches for the Hougyoku inside Aizen’s now-dissipating chest. Deicide 17. I don’t care about the title anymore. Anyway, however, just as Gin reaches for the Hougyoku, Aizen grabs his arm and throws him away before falling to the ground. Gin takes the Hougyoku anyway, but has wounds where Aizen grabbed him. Aizen then actually gets angry for the first time ever, and rises to his feet, yelling. Then, energy erupts from Aizen’s back.

Gin meanwhile looks at the Hougyoku, noticing his wounds, and thinks that it is all over now that he has the Hougyoku. How wrong you are Gin, as at that moment, Aizen appears with some badass butterfly wings and a gaping hole in his chest where the Hougyoku should be. Aizen looks pissed, but confident, and says that it is his victory, as if the Hougyoku is in him or not, it is already his. Just as he says this, the Hougyoku glows in Gin’s hands, and Aizen teleports to it instantly. Owned. Gin then flashbacks again, to where he gets slightly closer to Aizen and the three shinigami, and finds Rangiku collapsed on the ground near them. He goes over to her, as in Rangiku’s flashback, presumably, but not before he labels Aizen as the leader of the group, and the man he has to… To what we don’t know, but we probably could imagine what it is, as Gin is cut off when Aizen wastes him with an attack in the present, almost cutting him in half. Owned.

Well, this was fairly natural chapter for Mr. Kubo. After a while of little to no development, he brought a giant plot twist down on us like a sledgehammer, only to make the next chapter the slowest in history. We find out a bit about Gin’s past, and whilst it shows that he is actually pretty much a protagonist now, its all for nothing, as he’s most likely going to die soon, if Ichigo or some other shinigami doesn’t save him. I’m thinking Urahara and Yoruichi are up by now. And where’s Tessai in all this? He was the former Kidou Corps Captain, he should be able to do something… Anyway, I was displeased. After all that buildup and an awesome previous chapter, Kubo let me down. Still, Aizen got some ownage. And lastly, can Aizen actually be killed now? Because it seems to me if Kubo continually makes him be stronger, there won’t be a character to kill him…