天下制覇

And by action, I mean exposition.

Impressions:

Well, after last week’s awesomeness, I guess we were due for everybody sitting around a table and laying out the plot for the series. That doesn’t mean that I have to like it though. At least we got a few seconds of quality Sareba vs Raimei sparring. At least the exposition is out of the way… and hoo boy was that a lot of talking for what basically amounts to a gigantic ninja fetch quest. At least if there’s ever a Nabari video game, they can just use the exact same plot. Hell, if you replace ‘ninjas scrolls’ with ‘crystals,’ you basically already have a Final Fantasy game.

I’m joking a bit since the episode wasn’t that bad, but the ugly exposition with pictures of maps (MAPS!) really made the bile rise in my throat towards the end. And when I get full of bile, I can’t help but mock as much as possible. There were a few funny moments… Kotarou teasing Miharu and Miharu teasing Kumohira as usual, but that’s about it. Well, that and the sounds Yoite makes when eating. It sounded like he was using a weedwhacker on a pig. Hopefully it just means more action next week as the walking wounded shed their bandages and emerge from their chrysalises as beautiful ninja butterflies.

Alright, I think I’ve lost control of this post entirely. Episode contained a lot of talking. A lot of talking. LOTS AND LOTS of talking. Let’s just leave it at that.

Fingergun kiddo leaves. Blah blah, same as end of last episode. The Fuuma ninja scramble to recover their wounded.

Kouichi is all bound up and the medic girl tells Miharu that his eye should recover, but his sight may not. Kumohira is also knocked out, but he should make a full recovery.

Kotarou checks in with the wounded, but Raimei’s moping outside. Isn’t it sad, Raimei?

He formally introduces himself to Miharu and apologizes for the troubles at Fuuma. Kotarou explains Yoite’s technique a little more, saying that even he might have had to risk his life if they had fought. What a good thing that the enemy retreated, eh? Kotarou tells them that he’d like to hear the whole story from them and understand what’s happening.

Saraba shows Miharu and Kouichi through the village. They look on all the wounded and dead, but she says they were prepared for it and will make arrangements. Raimei’s scream echoes out. She’s had enough! She’ll definitely win!

Saraba shows the three students to their room. Raimei wants Kouichi to come with her for training. He tries to protest that he’s wounded, but gets dragged along anyway. Raimei invites Miharu, but he’s sulking and doesn’t answer. The two leave Miharu by himself.

Miharu thinks about all the Fuuma ninjas that were yelled by that boy that looked pretty similar to himself. What is the Power of All-Nature that is worth all this?

At night, a huge dinner is held in honor of those that fell and for their guests. This is a declaration of war between the Ash Wolves and the Fuuma. Rarr! Kotaro shows Miharu to the entire clan, saying that he has the Power.

They’re surprised that it’s just a boy like this. Miharu says a few words about not wanting all the fighting and the like and the Fuuma clan all thinks that he has a peaceful heart… but Miharu thinks to himself that they misunderstood.

Miharu wonders if Kotarou is really able to help him or if he’d just use the power for himself. Kotarou looks downcast for a moment, but then cries out that of course he’d want that power. He goes into a frenzy talking about all the things that you could do with the power. Of course he wants it, he could be a god among men, beloved by all women, etc etc.

The Fuuma ninja are used to his antics and just giggle at him.

Kotarou tells Miharu that he would love the power, but it’s Miharu’s and Miharu’s alone. Of course he’ll help in any way he can.

At night, Raimei tells Miharu to not mind Kotarou. He’s just screwing around most of the time. Miharu asks Kouichi what he’d do if he had the Power. Kouichi gets serious and tells him to not joke around like that. Miharu wonders if Kouichi was really trying to save Miharu when the former stabbed him. Miharu wanders off.

The Fumma scroll is picked up by a deliveryman. Yoite is watching a cartoon in the background. The delivery guy thinks that Yoite is far too adoreable (don’t we all?) and wonders if Yoite is just a little kid. Yoite suddenly gets pissed and attacks the delivery man with his finger gun. Yukimi calms him down and Yoite releases the guy, but passes out. Yukimi getting stuck with crazy Yoite and reminds him that the power costs him some of his own life as well. He then logs on to his computer onto the Ash Wolf network. Yoite pants on the ground and struggles to get up. The call to the Ash Wolves goes out over the internet. NINJAS FOR THE MODERN ERA. The head of the Ash Wolves addresses his clan via video feed.

Kumohira wakes up.

Raimei spars with Saraba. Kouichi watches on, vaguely horrified.

Kumohira notices that Miharu is sitting next to his bed reading a scroll. Kumohira brings himself up to date, the village was saved, etc. Miharu’s not much of a conversationalist at the moment. Miharu gets up and says that he’s going to gain power. It’s good that Kumohira was saved, but next time, he’s going to be the one

As Miharu starts to leave, Kumohira asks if Miharu’s alright. Miharu is noncommital, but says that he’s not going to lose anymore. Kumohira is confused, but Miharu turns around and says with a girlish smile that Kotarou’s been bullying him.

Kumohira confronts Kotarou demanding to know what Kotarou was doing to Miharu. Kotarou basically says "the usual." Kumohira starts to get angry, but then passes out from his wounds. Devilish Miharu and Raimei watch from the doorway.

Kotarou has a meeting with the main characters. He’ll take questions. Miharu is first… he’d like to know what would happen if the Power of All-Nature is removed. Kumohira interrupts and says that it’d kill Miharu. That power is too much for a human.

HISTORY LESSON TIME. HERE COMES THE MAP. The 5 clans decided to detroy the Power. They thought if they killed the holder, it’d vanish as well, but it kept reincarnating itself into new people. Eventually, time passed and the 5 clans scattered.

So, therefore, in order to seal the Power forever, they need… A NEW NINJA TECHNIQUE! GADZOOKS!

Miharu slips away while Kotarou is ranting. As Raimei drags him back, he says that it has nothing to do with him and hopes that Kotarou tries his best.

Yoite and crew chow down as they receive their pep talk from the Ash Wolf leader. THEY WILL RULE THE WORLD! They will seize the Power of All-Nature. Blah blah blah. I was honestly laughing at the noises Yoite was making while eating more than paying attention to the old man. They will conquer the other ninja clans and bring peace and evolution to the ninja world. I think Kyouka made this exact rant yesterday.

Kotarou continues, He admits that the best way to understand how to seal it away would be to gather all the other ninja clans’ scrolls. The classcrew is shocked! Shocked I say! Then they’d be the same as the Ash Wolves. Duh. You’re all ninjas. Your mission, find all the elemental crystals ninja scrolls and save the world!

DRAMATIC ZOOMOUT!

Preview:

Uh. I don’t even know. They go home to regroup first maybe?