Naruto #209: The enemy is "Shinobazu"

Night time when several ninjas emerged from a pond into a mansor silently. The killing begun. Then, they pierced a locked door. One of them left off to finish off a crying child. After finishing everything, they burnt the mansor. Next day in Konoha, Tsunade was watching a few kids at play through her office when Shizune passed her some requests. One of them was to escort a criminal. Only a few were left while others were on missions. In the field, Naruto used shadow replication to duel Rock Lee when Sakura went looking for them as Tsunade was going to assign them the mission. They were instructed to escort a criminal ninja-Gentetsu with Sakura. They went to a port where they met their client. The criminal ninja was locked in a suspended cage. One of the escorts was unhappy to see ninjas being engaged in the task. The ship was started. Naruto and Lee were restless and Sakura was bored. Along the forest, some people were watching them. Meanwhile, Naruto and the rest were ignored throughout the journey. Naruto went off to guard Gentetsu. In the silence cage, he saw someone besides Gentetsu, it was the escort member who had been unhappy with the inclusion of the ninjas. He reflected back when he saw Gentetsu with his younger brother-Akio in his burning house. He wanted to kill Gentetsu to avenge his dead younger brother. Naruto leaped to stop him. From the top, a ninja from Gentetsu's criminal gang begun his mission and sent water via a drilled hole away from the ship. In the cage area, Naruto questioned the escort guard who insisted Gentetsu killing innocent people. Outside, Sakura saw the ship being pulled into the river fork. The ship started to tilt. Naruto, the escort guard and Gentetsu's cage were dragged out from the ship towards the ninja criminal gang-Shinobazu. Naruto and the escort guard faced them.

COMMENT: Oh wow, Sakura is finally sent on mission with Naruto and Lee in the filler episode.

Naruto #210: The forest of bewilderment

The escort guard was glaring very hard and Naruto activated shadow replication. The Shinobazu leader shot needles at them and Naruto fought him. Other place, Lee and Sakura and the others swam to the shore. Meanwhile, Naruto and the rest were faced with a waterfall and all of them landed on a river near a forest while the cage ship blasted to the ground. The fire reminded the escort guard-Todoroki's destroyed home when Shinobazu attacked his house. He saw Gentetsu and prepared to kill him before he joined his gang. But Naruto's appearance stopped him. Just then, the rest of the Shinobazu gang arrived. Todoroki wanted to kill Gentetsu before he rejoined them. But Naruto objected and pulled Gentetsu away from the approaching gang. Todoroki followed them. They entered a forest. Naruto wondered if Sakura was alright. Other place, Sakura and Lee were running towards Naruto's direction when she sensed enemy who struck them but missed. The enemy ran off and they followed. Naruto realised something was wrong and Gentetsu told them that it was the Forest of the Lost where the Shinobazu's base was located. Getetsu volunteered to lead them out but Todoroki did not believe his words and wanted to kill him. Gentetsu took off his shirt and told them that he had been stealing from Shinobazu and had been whipped each time. His gang members were not interested to get him back but only wanted their money back. Naruto suggested taking Gentetsu's words once. Next day, they were still walking when a snake approached them. Gentetsu protected Naruto with his hand as he was used to its poison. Todoroki still doubted his intention. Gentetsu was looking at a giant tree and realised something. Just then, the ground gave way and three of them fell into a pit. One ninja attacked them with his swirling clawed hand. But all of them were on the surface. Naruto had used shadow replication to trick him. Naruto sent resengan at him but he escaped through a tunnel. He got out and attacked Naruto who started to run. On the surface, Gentetsu ran to listen to the ground. Todoroki followed him. Gentetsu hit a ground and broke it to help Naruto out of the tunnel. From outside, Naruto struck the ninja with resengan. Naruto thanked Gentetsu. Todoroki was suspicious. In the forest, Sakura and Lee were ambushed by a group of ninja. Other place, Naruto, Gentetsu and Todoroki were walking. Naruto believed in Gentetsu while Todoroki was shivering with rage at the sight of him. He suddenly ran forward to attack Gentetsu. Naruto pushed the latter in time so that only his arm was slashed. Naruto tried to stop Todoroki who stated the Gentetsu was the one who killed his family members and burnt his house.

Naruto #211: Memory of flames

Todoroki recalled the incident which was five years ago when he returned home to see it on fire from afar. He rushed into the yard to see Gantetsu struggling with his younger brother-Akio within the house. He tried to get into the house but it collapsed. That next day, he watched the ruins of his house. Since then, he had been training hard and one day, he was told of whom had attacked his house. It was a gang named Shinobazu. Akio's corpse was not found, but his parents' bodies were retrieved. Gantetsu finally recalled whom Todoroki was. Todoroki wanted to kill Gantetsu but was repeatedly stopped by Naruto. Todoroki was planning to silence Naruto so that he could kill Gantetsu. Other place, Lee questioned the people who were kids. They demanded the return of Gantetsu who had been kind to them. The kids attacked them and they ran as the kids were not ninjas. Other place, Naruto used shadow replication to stop Todoroki. Gantetsu approached them to be caught by a web trap. Naruto and Todoroki were bound by ropes. A ninja-Monju appeared. He took Gentetsu away, leaving Naruto and Todoroki to die. Naruto believed Gantetsu and knew he was in danger while in the hands of his gang members. He had the feeling that Gantetsu was a good person. Other part of forest, Sakura and Lee tried to talk with the kids who told them that Gantetsu had saved them from Shinobazu behind his gang members' backs when the gang attacked the children's home and family. Secretly, he stole things from his gang members to ensure their survival. The kids started to develop bonds with one another. One day, Gantetsu told them that he was going to leave as he could not stand staying in Shinobazu anymore. The kid leader was more concerned with saving Gantetsu. Sakura and Lee decided to help them. Other place, Naruto and Todoroki were still struggling with the ropes. Naruto discovered the liquid could soften the ropes and they started to work on it. He thought of the time when Gantetsu helped him throughout the time and was convinced that Gantetsu was not an evil person. They managed to free themselves and ran after Gantetsu and Monju. Through the trees, Monju and Gantetsu saw the group of kids with Sakura and Lee. He blasted out of the cage to the kids. Monju confronted the kids and Gantetsu. The one of the kids wanted to fight Monju to avenge his dead family. Sakura and Lee fought Monju but were bound instead. Monju tortured the kid-Akio to force answer from Gantetsu who finally told him that he had saved the kids from the homes they had destroyed. Naruto came to fight Monju. Todoroki arrived and saw a kid resembling Akio-his younger brother.

Naruto #212: Each one's way

Naruto admitted he could break Mouju's net and tried to break his net shield but was bound instead. The real one broke through the ground and attacked Monju and sent him into the ground. Another ninja-Shanjuu arrived to take Monju away on his umbrella. He overheard Todoroki calling Akio who was also taken away. Todoroki questioned Gantetsu who admitted that Akio was still alive. The other kids defended Gantetsu. Five years ago, Gantetsu had taken Akio out of the fire without thinking. To prevent more victims, he planned his own capture. Todoroki realised his mistake and wept. Gantetsu got up to get Akio back from his base. Todoroki told him to lead him to his base so that he could save his own brother. He still insisted Gantetsu as a criminal who caused his parents' death. Naruto, Lee followed them. Todoroki told Naruto that over the five years, he had lived hating Gantetsu and was completely at a loss now. In the base, Akio was beaten on his back as the Shinobazu questioned him the whereout of their treasures which he remained silence about it. Meanwhile, Gantetsu pointed Shuura's mansor and Todoroki ran towards it. Naruto and the rest ran after him, accidentially triggering the alert traps as they did so. In the mansor, they fought through while Lee held back most of the guards back for them to proceed. They saw Akio on the ground and Todoroki ran towards him. The trap door fell and Gantetsu pushed Todoroki and Naruto out in time. Shuura came and burnt the cage that trapped Gantetsu. Gantetsu pulled apart the bars while Naruto ran after Shuura. In the burning room, Todoroki watched on as Gantetsu carried Akio out of the cage. Todoroki was shivering as a bar fell to block the widened gap. Outside, Naruto and his clones attacked the flying Shuura with rasengan successfully. In the burning place, Todoroki finally understood that Gantetsu had covered Akio's mouth back then to prevent him from taking in the smoke and soot in the fire. He ran forward to break the bar, carrying Akio and leading Gantetsu out of the burning room. Outside, Lee and others watched the house being burnt. The Shinobazu base was destroyed. Naruto joined them with Shuuzu's umbrella. Next day, Naruto and the others joined Sakura and the kids. Todoroki told Gantetsu that he was not pursuing him anymore as he was no longer a part of Shinobazu. He rejoined his younger brother and asked him to leave together with Gantetsu and the other kids as he was a useless brother. He passed him the gift he had always wanted to give 5 years ago. Todoroki left with Naruto, Sakura and Lee, waving farewell as they did so.

In the forest, Naruto and the rest were lost as there was no Gantetsu to lead them out.

Naruto #213: Lost Memory

There was a fire and killing in a settlement and someone flee from the scene. He was slashed and a kid tried to protect him. One gang member killed the man and the kid cried over her dead father. The other gang member killed his fellow gang member before he could kill the girl. He picked up the necklace and handed to the girl. He tried to save the girl from falling and fell down instead. Next day, Naruto was tasked by Tenchi to obtain some bamboo shoots for his ramen. He almost fell into the cliff and saw a man submerged in the river. Naruto took him back to Konoha. In hospital, Sakura saw Naruto who tasked her with a patient and ran off to Tenchi with the bamboo shoots. Sakura arrived and dragged him back. In the hospital, the man was being observed and attended to check his memory. Sakura told Naruto that the man had lost his memory. There was only a broken flute on him. Sakura told Naruto to sign a release form for taking outsiders into Konoha hospital. At night, the man woke to look at the broken flute. A lightning struck and burnt the hospital. Sakura evacuated the patients. Along the corridor, the man walked towards the fire, recalling screams and cries. He wept and knelt on the ground. Just then, Sakura was looking for any abandoned patient when Naruto came along to find the man missing in the evacuated group. One mother stated that her baby was still in the building. Meanwhile, the man heard cries and found the baby, he played the flute which started to calm the fire and broke out of the window with the baby. Naruto used clones to soften the falling impact. The mother was glad to have her baby back. Next day, Tsunade was informed of the hospitalised outsider. She told Naruto off but allowed Naruto to take care of the man in Konoha. Naruto treated the man to ramen and named him Menma as he had no recollection of his past. Naruto allowed Menma to stay in his messy house for time being while he tried to regain his memory. Next day, Naruto woke to see Menma cleaning his house throughout the night. Later, he took him to the street, checking out food from different country in a food stall as a start. Menma wanted to help Naruto with his cleaning of stone faces on the mountain statue. Along the way, Menma helped an old lady carrying things and clearing her yard weeds. Naruto went to help. In the end, they helped a number of elderly who lived in the area. The elderly in turn passed gifts to Tsunade to pass to Naruto and Menma. Later, Naruto and Menma cleaned the statues when they were faced with attacks that injured one Konoha guard. Naruto ran to track the source of attack. Menma ran to find Naruto and played his flute to alert Naruto. Naruto suddenly sensed Chakra moving fast within him and he moved fast towards the attacker who escaped. Menma ran to Naruto who wondered his identity as his flute had helped him.

Naruto #214: Recovered reality

Naruto told Tsunade that Menma's ninjatsu was the flute music. She told them she had heard such technique from rice country. Tsunade allowed them to go there to seek Menma's memory. Tenchi promised that the bamboo shoot would be done when Naruto was back. Tenten and Neji were assigned to travel with Naruto and Menma. Flashback, Tsunade told Naruto that Menma could be a spy as Rice and Sound countries used to be a place where Orochimaru had stayed. Therefore, additional help was given to him in case. Along the way, Neji observed that Menma was able to keep up at any pace. Neji suggested rest. Naruto questioned Neji who told Naruto that Menma was swift enough to keep up with Neji's fastest speed. Menma was playing his flute again when Naruto went to chat with him. Neji told Menma to stop playing the flute as it could lure the earlier villian who attacked Konoha 1-2 days earlier. Menma asked Naruto what he wanted to be if he reborn again and Naruto couldn't answer. Just then, they smelled something burning and followed to a ruined settlement. Menma recalled a masscre in a village he and his people had attacked before he lost his memory. Just then, people came out of the ruins and surrounded them. They told them to leave and they did. Neji knew someone was following them and called them out. It was a girl and a younger child. She told them that she needed someone to save her. Her country was forced to demilitarised by neighbouring countries. Thieves had targetted their gold mines and their village was always attacked. She asked them to help them but Neji refused as they were still on mission and this was not an official request. The man who confronted them earlier told them that the last attack was done by ninjas. They could not leave their ancestors' land. Menma wanted to stay on to help the people. Naruto wanted to stay with him in the ruined village. Neji and Tenten protested. Menma proposed several measures to protect the village and they begun by building walls around it using the nearby trees. The man came again and told them off. He left them be. Neji and Tenten sat on a tall tree and watched Naruto and Menma at work. Frustrated, Tenten went to help them. The little girl-Fuki brought them water while the older girl brought them food. They went to help them. The other villagers came out and help too. Together, they built a wall across the border. On the tree, a man watched. Tenten noticed and signalled the villagers. Naruto attacked the man whom he recognised was the attacker days ago. Neji went to help. Naruto fell and Menma used his flute to circulate his Chakra with his sound. Naruto ran after the attacker with Neji again. The head villager tried to attack but was shot instead. Menma shielded him and born the attack instead. While healing, the villager recognised the mark on Menma's arm that belonged to a group of ninja bandits who had attacked their village last time. He refused to heal Menma.

Naruto #215: A past I want to erase

The villager recalled the last attack to Neji and the rest. He had seen similar mark on other attackers' arm then. The villager wanted to finish off Menma and Naruto stopped him as Menma had lost his memories. Neji suggested letting him recall his memories before he decided to do anything with him. The villager decided to heal him first. Naruto saw the little girl-Fuki running away from the hut after placing a pail of water. Same time, the villager started his operation. Later, Naruto was surprised that Menma was part of the ninja bandits. Menma overheard their conversation and Neji told him to focus recovering for time being. Later, he went around patrolling. In the middle of the night, Menma made his way out of the hut and the villagers watched him. Menma continued his work building the wall around the border. Fuki threw a stone at him and he knelt in apology. The other villagers came out of hiding wanting revenge. Naruto shielded Menma but was stoned as well. Tenten and Neji suggested leaving. Menma told them that he was staying. Suddenly, someone attacked them with arrows. Neji saw ninjas moving their way and they activated their defense structure. Neji told the villagers to hide. Fuki's necklace dropped. Neji told Menma to return to the hut and he did. Neji, Naruto and Tenten faced the upcoming attacks. The attacker they met earlier confronted them and refrained them with his flute. Menma counterattacked with his music. The man called Menma a traitor. Naruto attacked him and broke his flute. Tenten regained her energy to fight other ninjas. Fuki ran past Menma to pick her necklace but a ninja ambushed her. Menma hit him and passed the necklace back to her. She finally found her voice and warned Menma of attack which he dodged. Naruto came to inform that all bandits except the leader were captured. Menma told Naruto to blow up the mountain to prevent a flood which the leader was planning to create. Along the way, Menma told Naruto that he had never lost his memory. He had lost his parents and raised by Shin clan that set sight on the gold mine in the village. He had gotten cold feet and tried to stop the killing of a child and fell down a cliff instead. He was part of the criminal group and had hoped to die then. He had used a technique that allowed temporally memory loss. It had only returned days ago. Naruto was angry and threw him off his back. Menma continued faking memory loss so that he could save the villagers with the Konoha ninjas as he knew what Shin clan was planning. He wanted to finish everything and he thanked Naruto for giving him meaning to life, passing his flute to him. Menma proceeded to the mountain knowing there's explosive tags there. He threw Naruto down a cliff so that he was saved from the impact as the explosive tags activated. Within the mountain, Menma smiled as the place exploded around him. Naruto tried to run to him through the smoke. The villagers knew the explosion prevented the flood. Same time, Naruto knew Menma was dead and he ran after the leader angrily. Naruto sent his resengan at him to stop him in Menma's place. Later, the villagers bound the bandits and finally understood that Menma was a good person. Naruto did not tell anyone that Menma had never lose his memory. In Konoha, Naruto ate ramen with an invisible person in memory for the late Menma. Shizune and Tsunade watched him behind the trees.

COMMENT: End of the 3-episode serial plot which is pretty touching, involving a main cannon character dead and Naruto holding memory for him. 5 more episodes left before 'Naruto Shippuden' series.

Doctor Pepper fans: today only, get a coupon for free Dr. Pepper!

Today I wrote two pages of a new, shortish, post-S4 fic. Donna is involved. More will be written soon.

One week until jolly good fun, yes? Starting as of tomorrow, we're going to sign on with the temp!SNs, to get the hang of it. Wish there was a trillian for Mac, so we wouldn't have to fuck around with these things =/ but it's still under construction.

More comics arrived, updated my list, scanned things for Kai today; continuing tomorrow, since I lost about an hour's worth because guests were over.

Continuing the bat-a-thon with Kef at my place; I really need to get more doritos. And maybe popcorn. I haven't had buttered popcorn for fucking ages.

I'll end up doing what Wolfie's done, which is set up a testimonials!entry; since she made one, missing that feature back on GJ, so I'm going along with it too =D I miss that add on. It was great; IJ should look into having the same thing, but minus the icons since it'll just make the site slower.

Nothing really else to update on or muse about, hence this short entry.

1. Anonymous commenting is on, IP logging is off. (If you want to use this option... you don't have to, of course.)

2. Give me a topic to write about. Can be fannish. Non-fannish. A "Five Things" list. About sex. About family. A question. Something you always wanted to know my thoughts on. Something you pulled out of your ass right this second for the lulz.

3. No promise on the final length or tone of the result, but my self-imposed rule is that the texts must be at least drabble-length, i.e. 100 words minimum.

4. If everything else fails, I might resort to macros or drawings, but I'm only allowed to do this 3 times.

I call it the tiny "Write About That" meme, a.k.a. miniwatme. Please no hitting with blunt objects.

As I suspected, lots of neg reviews about SGA floating around on several journals. To certain fans, if the show isn't all about McShep, it sucks. *eye roll* That's just silly, IMO. I mean, COME ON! Billy Nye and Dave Foley were in the ep. Enjoy it for that, at least!

I didn't read any of the reviews, but most of them gave it all away when they put the subject and mood in. (When you see a subject title 'Brain Storm review' and the mood is 'disappointed' or 'aggravated' you can sort of guess what's in the review!)

Ack! I took a break to farm some more *wink* and now it's 11 pm. Need to get this posted! Would hate to fail this close to the end!! *eep*

More tomorrow~

Naruto #199: Out of focus, The seen target

Naruto and Chaoji collected the building blueprints that fell from the sky and Naruto activated shadow replications while Chaoji extended his arms. Shikamaru tried to track down the bird that delivered the scrolls but failed. Shizune reported Tsunade of the situation. The ANBU team reported nothing suspicious of the HIdden Waterfall village. She was confused of Gennou's intention and blew up. Sakura reported that the corpse was not Gennou. Naruto and the rest were also informed by Ino. Meanwhile, Neji detected something under the bush, it was an escape tunnel. Akamaru was unable to trace the scent. Shikamaru suspected Gennou was still in Konoha and told Tsunade that the villagers were probably in any kind of danger anytime. Ino suggested checking Academy as it was the only location the blueprints had not fall on. Hinata used her ability to check the school but found nothing. Neji checked other part of school with Kiba and found nothing as well. Meanwhile, Naruto was arguing with the little kids with Chaoji as company in class. Chaoji extended his body and frightened the kids off so that he and Naruto could check the classes. Lee went to ask Naruto on where the kids were going. He was suspicious. They went to check and found nothing suspicious. Naruto recalled sneaking there with Shikamaru, Chaoji and Kiba when they were young. Chaoji found the practicing pole suspicious as it was never there before. Naruto leaped down to check. Naruto went to get Neji or Hinata to check. Neji found an explosive seal within a wall. Meanwhile, Naruto found Hinata and Sakura and asked Hinata to go with him. Hinata blushed at his request, mistaking it as a request for date. Impatient, he went to ask Neji instead. Neji was tracing the explosive thread which led somewhere outside to a pole. Naruto approached Neji and Kiba to dojo and he told them that it was an explosive remote. They rushed to the location as the kids aimed the bull eye which was the activator. There was an explosion when Neji and Lee tried to stop the activator. The sound was caused by Tenten's weapon. In the dojo, Neji stopped the activator in time. Shikamaru and the rest were gathered around the pole. Naruto asked the kids who told them that one teacher had asked them to play there and Sakura suspected someone had used illusion technique to do that. Hinata informed that there was more than one thread and Neji found that it was difficult to track. Hinata ran with Neji to check from the top. They discovered that the threads led to many places in the village. Hinata and Neji were shocked. Naruto and the rest were horrified.

Naruto #200: Working hard on active duty, The strongest helper

Naruto thought of Gennou while Tenten tried to deactivate the explosive tag. Shikamaru told the kids to act as per normal so that Gennou would not be alert. Meanwhile, Tsunade and Shizune were alerted. He told them not to alert the others and Gennou so that the latter would not activate the tags in the midst of evacuation. Meanwhile, Naruto and the rest set off and extracted the explosive tags in the village. Ino and Shikamaru requested more helpers from Tsunade who refused flatly but the elderly entered arguing with Tsunade. Meanwhile Guy was making his way back to Konoha with the others. Shikamaru was wondering whom Gennou had engaged to help in the removal of the explosive tags. Neji and Lee were watching from the top for Gennou but unable to trace. Meanwhile, the two elderly were discussing about Gennou and his motive as they set about helping to remove the explosive tag. They showed it to Tsunade and Shikamaru and the rest. It was an old version explosive tags. According to the stated location, all tags were planted in the old shopping estate 30 years ago. Shikamaru started to realise something and ran off followed by Ino and Chaoji. Other place, Hinata was overexhausted and Naruto touched her forehead and she blushed. Naruto went to pass the tags to Tsunade while Hinata rested. He watched the place where he had first met Gennou. He saw the stone statues of the late Hokages and ran up there, suspecting that he was actually looking at the statues. There, he found an explosive tag and found Gennou who was not planning to let Naruto leave. Shikamaru, Chaoji and Ino went to the head carpenter for more information on the letter of introduction. Shikamaru knew Gennou had worked in Konoha 30 years ago to hide the tags. In the mountain, Gennou told Naruto that he was from Dragonfly village which was at war with Konoha 30 years ago. Gennou went to work in Konoha a week after the invasion of Dragonfly village 30 years ago. He had tried to wait for the arrival of allies back then but they did not arrive. He left, planning to return shortly but never received another mission from Dragonfly village since as it was attacked by other village which took advantage of the former's weakening stage after the war with Konoha. Back in the mountain, Gennou told Naruto that he wanted to use the explosive tags he had planted before he died. Naruto told him off but he explained he had other plans for the tags. Meanwhile, Lee asked Shikamaru for permission to dismiss the kids who were still acting the play. Shikamaru suddenly remembered something important. He knew Gennou was planning something else.

COMMENT: Finally seeing the original scenes of OP & ED. Sigh... The excellent and suspensing plot starts to remind me of Detective Conan and Kindaichi. The story is not about fightings but plots and schemes.

Naruto #201: Multiple traps, Countdown to destruction

Tsunade was informed that the tags were for diversion and not the main purpose. Shikamaru tried to figure out the real intention of Gennou. He saw the Hokage statues and realised something. In the cave, Naruto saw more of the explosive tags. He had planted to explode the stone faces so that its collapse would bury the village underneath it. Shikamaru commanded Chaoji to go to Tsunade. Lee and Kiba informed that Guy and the rest had returned. Hinata reported that Naruto was missing. In the cave, Naruto tried to talk Gennou out of getting revenge. Gennou's luring Naruto into the cave was already a success as the moment Naruto left the cave meant the activation of the explosion. Meanwhile, Asuma and Kurenei and the rest had returned to Konoha. Naruto and Naruto fought. Kiba entered to aid Naruto as Hinata had warned them in advance. He told Naruto that Shikamaru had figured out. Shino entered the cave and trapped Gennou who escaped. Outside, Gennou prepared to activate the main seal but Shikamaru's shadow stopped him in time. Gennou escaped again with Chaoji chasing him. He pierced the tag but it did not activate as Tenten had deactivated it in advance. Sakura and the rest surrounded him. Gennou activated a smoke and ran to other tag to pierce it. The face stone exploded, sending the buildings apart. Sakura recognised it as illusion technique and deactivated it. Everything was alright. Gennou attempted to escape but Ino restrained it with her technique. She pulled her soul back as she sensed great pain within his body. He attempted escape again and Lee tried to stop him. Naruto ran to the fallen Gennou. Shikamaru looked for the bird and it had an explosive tag on it. Gennou told them that there was a crack on the 3rd Hokage's face and the bird was flying towards it. Tenten sent arrows at the bird which dodged them. Naruto attempted resengan but the face was too slipperly. Chaoji's extended hands saved him. Hinata leaped to guide Naruto's shot with her Byukugan. Naruto leaped at it. Sakura used a rock to divert it so that Naruto's resengan hit it. Later at dusk, Gennou was disappointed that he could not get his name in history and stated that it was fun. His grandson's photo fell from it. It wrote that it was satisfactory to see on his grandson's face in treasure hunt which resembled Naruto. Tsunade told Shikamaru that the photo belonged to that of his son's who had died in the war against Konoha. Shikamaru told Tsunade that Gennou's intention was not to destroy Konoha. Shikamaru showed them Gennou's words. At his meal of ramen with Naruto and the rest, he analysed that he had done that probably to enjoy his last treasure hunt game with someone who looked like his son and that was when he saw Naruto. Chaoji concluded that Gennou was not a bad person as he liked ramen. Naruto was thinking of Gennou as he ate his ramen. Sakura and Naruto and the rest knew it was a good practice to train in case there was real attacks in Konoha in future.

COMMENT: Finally the end of the end of the 5-episode serial plot which is highly suspensed and unusual.

Naruto #202 - #204: The Ninjas' Best 5 Battles of sweat and tears! Enjoy this extra compilation" Special

It was a new day in Konoha, when Naruto was training feeling bored by himself. He thought of Jiraiya who had tossed him aside for self training when Naruto saw a girl painting. He went to her and praised her good drawing. But the sky in the painting was dark. Just then, the clouds gathered. She slashed a lightning across and the lightning struck the Hokage building. Tsunade commanded for water to put out the fire. The guards quickly helped. Kurenai had a bad feeling about it. In the woods, Naruto ran after the girl who was restrained by the medic team. Naruto demanded to know what happened but was hindered by ANBU member who told him to keep his mouth shut over the incident and to return to the village. Naruto was confused. In the office, Sakura helped with the drenched documents. Kurenai went to talk to Tsunade and Shizune. She wanted to leave Konoha to finish the unfinish business. In the street, Naruto heard Hinata and Kiba demanding Shino to explain the details. Kiba told Naruto that Kurenai was abandoning team 8 (Hinata, Kiba, Shino). No reason was given. Kiba wanted to appeal to Tsunade. Shino felt it was Kurenai's idea. Naruto decided to help them and went to Kurenai, trying to persuade her. She told him that she was not going back. Naruto went to Tsunade instead. Sakura was drying the documents when he arrived. Sakura suspected a reason and Naruto tried to persuade her to disclose to him as she had eavedropped during their conversation. It was something to do with a person Yakumo who was being monitored by ANBU soldiers. Naruto recalled of the incident at the mountain and ran off. Other place, Guy and Lee were practicing as usual. Kurenai was watching them. She recalled the past when the 3rd Hokage assigned Kurenai to take care of Yakumo with powerful ability but was declared by her clan that she could bring disaster. Since then, Yakuno had been training under Kurenai who tried to persuade her from being ninja. But she insisted her dream despite her physically ability. Back to present, Guy continued to encourage Lee as he ran off happily. Guy asked Kurenai about his hearing that she was giving up on team 8. He told her that he had given Lee confident and belief so that Lee could go on his goal. Kurenai left. Other place, Naruto was moving through the woods, planning to check on Yakumo who lived in a mansion. Just then, an alarm was set off for intruder. Kurenai went to ask the ANBU team so that she could talk to Yakumo. She entered a dark room full of disturbing paintings. There was one with Kurenai being stabbed through her chest by lightning. In her mind eyes, she saw Yakumo's grinning dark face. Kurenai screamed and crashed out of the room, reverting back to Naruto. ANBU put him to sleep as Yakumo watched from above. Naruto woke to find himself in the academy's basement. He heard someone begging someone. He saw Yakumo begging Kurenai to let her to become a ninja but she rejected. Kurenai wanted to seal Yakumo's ability. Naruto tried to talk to them but was woke by Sakura who woke him in a pail. He was sleeping on a bed. She told him off for attempting to sneak into a mansor guarded by ANBU team.

Naruto ran out of the room to look for Kurenai but met Guy instead. He told him that she had left to visit someone. Naruto left and ran after her to ask her something. He told her about Yakumo and her strange ability. Kurenai walked off. Naruto tried to stop her. She told Naruto that she had did it a year ago, preventing her from becoming a ninja when she was supposed to train her into ninja. She told Naruto not to interfere and bound Naruto with her illusion techique before leaving. Meanwhile, the medic and ANBU teams had surrounded a hut but were bound by plant roots. One of them sent a message to Tsunade via a pigeon. In the room, Yakumo was painting. Two people entered to fetch Yakumo. Out in the open, the next day, Sakura was still drying the documents when she saw a pigeon shit on her face. In office, Shizune was forcing Tsunade to finish up the paper works when Sakura passed a letter from pigeon to them. Guy, Sakura and team 8 rushed to the scene. Yakumo had been kidnapped for her latent ability. Sakura was relying on this mission to show how much she had improved when she trapped over Naruto's legs. Akamaru pissed over Naruto and barked on him. But he did not response. Sakura released the illusion technique on him and he woke to see Sakura and the rest. He told them about his following of Kurenai. Guy knew Kurenai was in danger. Meanwhile, Kurenai was monitoring the area and knew someone was there, probably the rebels. Just then, she was trapped by roots. A plant ninja planned to silence her but she caught him instead with her illusion technique. Kurenai sneaked into the room. She sensed some aura and found the rebels sitting on the ground, under the illusion technique. She heard Yakumo's weeping and found her sitting on the ground, crying. She hugged Kurenai and wept. She suddenly smiled darkly. Other place, a group was entering the mansor to get Yakumo. Other place, Hinata analysed the situation with her Bykugan with the others following her.

In the dark room, Kurenai was surprised to see Yakumo's clan people were planning to take Yakumo. They fought with illusion techniques. On the route, a ninja blocked Naruto and the rest's path with roots. Shino cleared the roots with his insects. Akamaru tracked the enemy under the ground and with Kiba, they dug the enemy out who was kicked by Guy instantly. Sakura cleared the illusion technique bound on Naruto again. Naruto rushed into the room but Kurenai and Yakumo were already gone. Hinata knew they had left the room. Outside, Kurenai and Yakumo were trapped by the Kurama elderly's roots. She released themselves and went into illusion technique. Naruto came along to help her. Sakura and Hinata caught up. Hinata warned Naruto of danger. Later, Yakumo was taken to rest while Kurenai's wound was attended to. The others went to talk to Kurenai. Guy wanted the rest to go to the village while he checked the place first. In the medical room, Yakumo woke. Naruto asked her if she was still holding grudge against Kurenai. She told him that it was Kurenai who hated her. In open, Kiba demanded to know the truth and Kurenai told them. Yakumo who had weak body was unable to accomplish her family's hope. Kurenai had been assigned under order of 3rd Hokage did not train her as she wish. Instead, she sealed Yakumo's ability against her wish. Kiba was aghast when she told them. Naruto was shocked when Yakumo told him. Kiba suspected Kurenai was hiding something else. Shino believed so as he saw her shaking hand. He knew she was covering up for someone. Yakumo had overheard a conversation between 3rd Hokage and Kurenai. The 3rd Hokage had planned for the wipe out of Kurane clan as it could result to downfall of Konoha. After that, Yakumo's parents were killed by home fire. Yakumo told Naruto that the 3rd Hokage had ordered the killing of her clan. Naruto was shocked, disbelieved and horrified.

COMMENT: A new opening and also the last opening in 'Naruto'- 'Yura Yura' and new ending. From a number of episode till now, I think Naruto's greatest weakness is against illusion technique since he always needed Sakura to release for him while Hinata to alert him. Great... the fillers are so suspensing that they should be applied into the main plot. Like, the star clan idea should be integrated into Naruto's family background. Like his mother watching him outside Konoha? Yakumo's clan incident also reminds me of Sasuke's Uchiha clan.

Naruto #206: Genjutsu or reality? Those who control the five senses

In the forest, Naruto carried Yakumo on his back, still disbelieving that 3rd Hokage was ordering something so cruel. Behind, Sakura was helping Kurenai, followed by Kiba, Hinata and Shino. Ahead, Naruto and the rest saw Konoha being destroyed into ruins. Hinata used Bykugan to check. She could not see anyone within the village as they entered it. Someone was painting as the group moved. They entered the ruined hospital to rest. Yakumo had slipped into unconsciousness. Naruto went to look for medication for Yakumo. Kiba, Hinata and Shino went to check the area under Kurenai's order. Same time, Sakura and Naruto were walking in the hospital. They saw someone running past and Naruto went to check. It was the Kurana ninja. Naruto was shocked to find his shadow technique could not work. The Kurama elderly told Naruto that he was not here to fight and that if they did, they would all die. Sametime, someone was painting. Kiba, Hinata and Shino saw the Hokage building collapsing. The elerly told Naruto that all of them were trapped in Yakumo's illusion technique and that was why her latent ability would cause disaster when awakened. Same time, Shino knew it was not a real disaster based on his insects' sense right now. The lightning on Tsunade's building had been caused by Yakumo who was also capable of killing people with her technique. Other place, Kiba and others were faced with a giant snake. Other place, Sakura was faced with outer space. She screamed. Naruto begun to realise the real reason for 3rd Hokage's intention to get rid of Yakumo. Other place, Yakumo lured Kurenai through a door. The elderly told Naruto that Yakumo's subconsious controlled the situation as she couldn't. Same time, Naruto opened the burning door to see volcano lava. He told Naruto that the 3rd Hokage wanted to kill the monster within Yakumo which had been the reason for the sealing of her ability. Naruto was reminded of his monster sealed within himself and wanted to do something. He told Naruto to close off his five senses. He put Naruto to sleep and threw him down. Naruto found himself on a tree. He found the elderly burnt as if he was burnt by the lava. Nearby, he saw Hinata and the rest still under the spell. Naruto told Sakura to help the elderly. Naruto knew it was his help that they escaped from the illusion. He told them that Yakumo's real enemy was Kurenai. In the illusionary space, Yakumo was drawing and she trapped Kurenai with her space of paintings. Yakumo wanted to settle her matter with Kurenai before getting rid of Konoha. She started to torture Kurenai with her painting while demanding to know if the 3rd Hokage was really asking her to destroy her clan and herself. Other place, Guy was doing push-ups after subduing the soldiers. He saw ANBU and medical teams who had been deceived by Yakumo's technique earlier. Naruto ran past them with Sakura and the rest following behind him. They entered the hut and Hinata tracked Yakumo and Kurenai. Yakumo sent flames at Naruto, Kiba, Shino and Hinata.

Naruto #207: Abilities that should have been sealed

Kiba was engulfed in flames as Naruto went to save him. Shino sent his insects through as they were not affected by the illusionary technique. In the meantime, Shino's insects arrived and distracted Yakumo. Naruto got his clones to kick him to sleep so that he could go through the flames. He told Yakumo that she had mistook everything. Kurenai had sealed her ability because she cared for her. Other place, Kiba ran to Guy to inform him of Naruto and Kurenai's situation. The Kurana elderly wanted to tell the truth and he informed that Yakumo was the one who had sent her inner wild beast within her and it burnt her house with her parents. Yakumo sensed something within her. Her paintings started to melt. She knew she was missing something. Naruto was trapped by the oil paint as one of the painting showed her drawing of her own burning house. She had been depressed during that time and her parents' advice against her becoming ninja made her inner beast appeared to attack her parents and burnt her house. Yakumo remembered that it was she herself who killed her own parents. She thanked Kurenai and tried to kill herself. But a hand stopped her, it was another her in the painting. Outside, the elderly told Sakura and the rest that the monster was created by Yakumo's subconscious that was thinking of erasing Kurana clan and Konoha. The 3rd Hokage rejected the elderly's request to kill Yakumo as there was one incident of sealing Nine tailed fox within a baby. The 3rd Hokage had to burden Kurenai with the painful decision to seal Yakumo's monster. Outside, Hinata detected something bad. In the illusion world, Yakumo's inner monster wanted to stop Yakumo's suicial and introduced himself as Idou. He came out of the painting. Kurenai had discovered the presence of Idou when she examined Yakumo's subconsious. He was eating flesh. The 3rd Hokage wanted to kill the monster and not Yakumo. Kurenai had wanted to kill the monster at the cost of her life and that was why she resigned as teacher. Naruto broke free and fought Idou. Kurenai told Yakumo to tame her inner monster. She stabbed Idou on his forehead. He vanished. Yakumo released her bound on Kurenai and collapsed. Kurenai praised her for defeating her own darkness. Naruto saw the painting of the stabbed Kurenai melted to show Kurenai hugging Yakuno painting. The space vanished to reveal the room. Shino and the others entered and Kurenai told team 8 that she was returning to them as their teachers. Naruto was thinking about team 7, Orochimaru and the monster within him.

COMMENT: Sigh, why can't there be plots on stories of different characters who had monsters sealed within them before Akutsuki clan's sealing of them? Anyway, end of the 6-episode series for Yakumo's inner monster.

Naruto #208: Rare artifact, The importance of the Beauties of Nature (One-shot episode)

It was a day at the workplace when Naruto and Kiba were to escort a man who carried an important artifact. They were to assist an unpleasant client who commanded Naruto and Kiba around rudely, commenting that it was alright for ninjas to die in missions. Naruto and Kiba followed him as he made his journey. Along the bridge, he begged Naruto to retrieve the dropped safe into the river below. He threw Naruto down the river to grab the safe. Naruto fell down the waterfall. Disregarding Naruto, the client took the safe. Naruto wanted to beat up the client but Kiba stopped him. As they passed a settlement, the client was nervous against the dangerous looking people in town. A number of them confronted them. The client told everyone that he was carrying a treasure and this invited robbers. Naruto, Kiba and the client ran for their lives. Naruto tried to divert their attention. Kiba blocked the rest while the client ran and took a nice break at a tea house. Naruto and Kiba returned to him in dust but the client was not appreciating their efforts at all. A hawk flew off to four ninja robbers who were after the treasure. On the way, Akamaru detected intruders. Naruto and Kiba faced them off. One robber caught hold of the client and took away the treasure. In the cave, the robbers were examining their prize when Naruto and the rest arrived. Kiba and Naruto got rid of three robbers while the client ran after the fourth who set the cave collapsed. The client told Naruto and Kiba to take the artifact to safety, ignoring his own life. The artifact fell and smashed to the ground. The client was dumbfound as he fell down the cliff. He thought of the time when he ridiculed Naruto and Kiba as well as his past mentality over the artifact. He finally realised that he did not want to die at all. Naruto grabbed his hand in time and saved his life. Naruto told him that nothing was more important than life and he understood. Later, Kiba remembered that he needed the treasure and the client told them that he was planning to make another treasure. They then realised that the client was the maker of the treasure. He stated that they were doing a good job to save a living treasure instead of the material treasure. Naruto and Kiba were lost for words.

COMMENT:............. I'm also dumbfound. Anyway, it's end of season 8. And now, I'm left with the final season before I can watch Naruto Shippuden.

http://rusty-halo.com/wordpress/?p=2740

I’m posting this from my new mobile phone. I feel like I’ve finally entered THE FUTURE.

Originally published at rusty-halo.com. Please click here to comment.
(Anyone can comment on public entries.)

In a conscious effort to eat healthier, I've been packing my lunch. However I wants a bento box so much. There is this one that I'm pining over and well I just want it. I'm in love with it, all green blue and tier-esque. Mmmm I shall get it, I promise.

So does anyone else have anything that their just pining away for?.. it can be a simple thing of course.

The power on my laptop is ded.

*WOE*

Why All the Great Depression Analogies Are Wrong

Back then, we were cursed with a feckless Federal Reserve, and a wealthy Treasury secretary, Paul Mellon, saw the downturn as a force for good. "Liquidate labor, liquidate stocks, liquidate the farmers, liquidate real estate," he said. "People will work harder, live more moral lives."

Newsflash: Zimbabwe Traumatizes Carpetblogger

"To steal from Tolstoy, all functional countries resemble each other, but every fucked up country is fucked up in its own way. [..] Zimbabwe blows them all out of the water."

Sundown Towns: When Signs Said 'Get Out'

"Most read 'Nigger, Don't Let the Sun Set on You in -- ,' " says James Loewen, the Washington-based author of a controversial new book called "Sundown Towns." But sometimes, he adds, the sign makers tried to get clever. "Some came in a series, like the old Burma Shave signs, saying, ' . . . If You Can Read . . . You'd Better Run . . . If You Can't Read . . . You'd Better Run Anyway.' "

If you're on my flist and like making icons, please check out our new nsfw_icons icontest! You have to be a member to see it, and if you'd like to be a member but aren't, please have your birthday visible in your profile (especially the year, plz) when you request membership. :D

Okay, so I did it! I made h8homeskool here and at LJ, just to be annoying and whiny! I am going to have to scrounge around for some Jessica caps to make more icons, because there are just about zero pics of that actress. :\

Also: Monday is endocrinologist time! YAY only not. I am hoping the reason for being so tired is that my thyroid is really crapping out even more so that it'll be an easy, quick fix with moar drugz.

But most importantly, the True Blood season finale is tomorrow night, YAAAAAAAAAAY!!!

Someone who knows of my depression suggested this exercise several months ago. It's basically listing 5 things you're grateful for each day/night. She got the idea from a community on LJ called 5gratitudes. I looked up "gratitude" as an interest on LJ and several communities came up, including the aforementioned one, and 5_gratitudes which isn't as membered, daily_gratitude which is good if you're hard-press to think of/look for 5 things a day and thinkpositive30 which is where you think of one positive thing a day for 30 days (and of course you're welcome to do it longer). According to this last community's info page, "it takes 21 days to change a habit." Agree or not, I suppose this is something that I should think about, especially with these past hard days/weeks where my emotions have become severely depressed and thoughts have been of self-harm, though I haven't gone back to that stage after September. *knocks on wood*

I guess I'll try to think of 5 things today, without my usual qualifying comments.

1. I saw "Twilight" tonight with my boyfriend and a good friend. (See below for my review.) Not a favorite/great movie, but it was good to lose myself in fluff and the occasional snarky remarks.
2. The Christmas gift for my brother-in-law arrived in the mail today.
3. The library had more books and CD's on hold for me that I requested.
4. I wrote and finished a poem after the one I started several weeks ago stalled and died on me.
5. Some confusion was cleared up directly with someone on AIM about a tense moment Wednesday night.

Sorry, couldn't resist!

Nathaniel and a friend of mine (and myself, of course) went to watch Twilight tonight. I gotta say I was surprised Nathaniel readily agreed! Neither of them have read the book, but I've read all four. I'm not a diehard fan of them, or that big a fan, actually. I used to believe in that kind of love when you meet someone you're going to be with forever, you just know and anybody before them was just inconsequential, or they didn't even exist. But now, with the relationships I've been through, I think it's harder work than a lot of YA books show it to be, or even grown up romance novels. I do think there's an initial connection between someone I eventually end up in a relationshp with and myself, but I don't expect myself to be swept off my feet all the time, or somehow know that person so well so quickl I'm intuitive around them and practically a mind-reader. (This in part because I'm not really that intuitive/perceptive with anybody!)

( Thoughts )

I finally reached level 20 on my "main" character in Warhammer Online today. That means I get a mount! \o/ I have been playing a Magus for the past few weeks to complement the NK's Goblin Shaman, and though we hadn't been able to play together until recently because I had to catch up with him, the past week or so we have been an awesome team. He heals, I kill everything with magic. I wasn't sure I would like playing a Magus due to the fact that their straight damage output isn't as good as a Sorceress, and I do so like to blow things up with magic. But I feel pretty effective and a lot less squishy with my demon summons hurling fireballs at my enemies from afar, and my demon summons that blow up when someone steps too close, and my demon that I ride around like an unholy Chaos skateboard.

So, in other words, my Magus is the kind of caster I think I've fallen in love with. :D

This week also is the live Heavy Metal event for Warhammer, with daily tasks to be done and rewards based on the points you get for doing them. Today we got a trophy to wear on our armor, and at the end of the event, we'll get early access to the two new classes being added to the game.

NK and I want to play the new class Knight of the Blazing Sun when it's added and try to model it after Claymores (since you can wield a two-handed sword, glee. And by the way, I would sell my ovaries for that figurine). We're such nerds. The Warhammer website even has some fiction explaining the birth of the class and everything.

We are having SO MUCH FUN OMG.

Some orders arrived yesterday. They better had, because if they didn't, AusPost would be hearing from me!

But enough about bashing AusPost, because my (the first) copy of Azzarello's Joker arrived. Fuck yes, a first printing too.

My analytical review and fanboy gibberish behind the 'cut. Please don't click if you don't want any spoilers, because I'm not holding back on them :D This is a personal opinion/analytical thing of the graphic novel, not a review</i>.

But it does deserve a quick review, first, for those who were unsure about it; because there's people bashing it for 'copying' Nolan's/Heatho's Joker, among other things, which is incorrect.

Azzarello's JOKER graphic novel is right up there with Morrison's Arkham Asylum, and Moore's The Killing Joke. You buy the book and fucking read it right now.

Righto, I'll get onto it :D

( Read more... )

Naruto #187: Open for Business: The Leaf Moving Center

Some people were watching Nano country, planning complete compensation from it. In office, Tsunade was depressed that only Naruto, Hinata and Chaoji were left to accept a bodyguard mission. On the route, a group of peddlars were travelling. In the woods, Naruto, followed by Chaoji and Hinata, was delighted for a mission at long last. They ran to meet the peddlars from Nano country and informed that they were sent to protect them. Tsunade had passed an embarrassing coat to prove their identity to the peddlars. Along the way, Chaoji ate and Mommji praised him for being strong. Naruto was not happy with the bossy Shuu who stated Naruto was weak. Irritated, he pushed the cart all by himself. At rest, Mommji gave Naruto water as her grandmother knew the art of water finding with two metal poles. Naruto asked them why they were leaving Nano country and Shuu stated that it was foolish to trust people in Nano. He sulked when the old granny told him off. Mommji went to a cliff, followed by Chaoji and she pointed out the flame and smoke to him and Naruto. Naruto went to check while others continued to travel. Shuu lured Mommji to tell him what happened and she told him that she saw smoke from Nano. Near Nano, Naruto was attacked by ninjas and he left off to report the situation to Chaoji and Hinata. Hinata was surprised that ninjas were after the peddlars. Chaoji suggested diverting from original path and they informed the peddlars of the change. In Nano country, the villians could not find the girl they wanted as the feudal lord was too poor. One insider had aided the villians into taking over the castle with a promise for wealth. Renga-one of the villain slained the insider. Other place, Naruto and the rest continued their route. Three of the peddlars were whispering plans while Hinata went setting traps for enemies. Naruto was surprised to see one of the peddlars missing. Somewhere, he was fighting a ninja, hoping to hold him back so as to protect Haruna who was the girl the villians wanted and had disguised as one of the peddlars. He used fire flowers to attack the enemy who shielded using his water protection. Other place, Naruto, Hinata and Chaoji sensed the battle.

Naruto #188: Mystery of the Targeted Merchants

Hinata tried to think of a plan while Naruto and Chaoji argued over the truth of the situation. Hinata wanted to listen to Shuu's situation. He suggested two ninjas protecting the slower group while one protected the faster one. Naruto was impressed. Naruto and Chaoji followed one group while Hinata followed Shuu and the rest. Naruto told Chaoji to go ahead while he went to check the traps. He was not planning to get attacked. Chaoji was bemused. Naruto went through the shortcut to investigate and reached the scene of a recent battle. He found the fallen peddlar with injuries. Other place, Chaoji and his group were moving. He could sense someone with thirst for blood around. Water bubbles rose in the air around him and he alerted all people to stay close to him. Water started to gather and he told them to hide under the cart. Naruto arrived to help Chaoji by breaking the technique with his explosive seal. The granny told them that the pursuers had no interest with their group's items and Chaoji knew Hinata was in danger. Other place, Hinata asked the group to rest for the night as it was dangerous to travel by dark. Naruto and the others caught up with them. Naruto and Chaoji told Hinata of their suspicion in HInata's group. Naruto told them about the death of one peddlar and knew Shuu and his follower was hiding something from them. Shuu's follower could no longer stand and disclosed that Shuu was actually the princess of Nano country-Haruna. He told Naruto and the rest about the three brothers who created havo in Nano country. Haruna was sneaked out of the country with two bodyguards. Naruto was displeased as Haruna's man wouldn't have die if she had disclosed earlier, but Haruna would not care less on safety of people around her as she felt it right for people to die for her. Naruto wanted to punch her but her follower accepted the punch on her behalf and begged for Naruto's forgiveness. Hinata told them that the protection rank had changed from D to A due to the nondisclosure of information as they had been informed to protect peddlars and not someone important in other country. Later at resting time, Haruna's follower told Naruto that Haruna had been betrayed by being held hostage in other country before. Eversince, she lost trust in people. The other group went on separate ways with Chaoji while Hinata and Naruto protected Haruna and her follower. Her follower told Naruto about his dead companion and that he never got the chance to defeat him. Naruto encouraged him to defeat his companion's murderer. He sent attacks to the hidden enemy who revealed himself and searched for Haruna who was not around. He leaped away with Naruto and the other man on his pursue. They fought. He sealed Naruto in a water bubble with killer fishes within it.

Naruto #189: Limitless Supply of Ninja Tools

Chaoji blasted the water bubble, saving Naruto. He tried to attack the enemy but his water technique crept over Chaoji. Haruna's follower used fire technique to get Chaoji from the difficulty. Naruto, Chaoji and Haruna's follower fell back for a while as the enemy sent water bubbles after them. Naruto noticed his tonfa-a metal rods the granny had shown them 1-2 days earlier. They thought of destroying the tonfa to break his technique. Naruto did but he still managed water technique without it. Chaoji ran and saw Naruto and Haruna's follower running from a flying shark. Chaoji was trapped in water bubble and the shark went at him. Naruto called Chaoji to drink the water which he did. The enemy was shocked that the water had stopped coming out for him. The shark was left struggling and vanished. Haruna's follower had figured out something and Naruto had knew something when he inspected the other areas. He had planned everything right from the beginning. Chaoji attacked the enemy and succeeded instantly. Haruna's follower told Naruto to go and help Haruna who was with Hinata. Hinata wanted to wait for Naruto and the rest but Haruna insisted continuing on their ways to protect herself. Hinata was horrified when she criticised Naruto for believing in everything. Haruna could tell that Hinata liked Naruto and knocked her unconscious so that she could continue on her own. Other palce, Ruiga was confronted by Jiga-his brother. Jiga had no mercy on his brother and killed him with clashing rocks. Naruto ran on and found Hinata. She was shocked to see Haruna not around and apologised to Naruto. Hinata had no confident in defeating Jiga and Renga. Moreover, it was not an official mission. Naruto asked Hinata to help Chaoji take care of Haruna's follower while he went to find Haruna. Jiga confronted him with magnetic technique. Naruto's headband was seized and he fell down a cliff with Jiga after him. In the pit, the headbandless Naruto fought Jiga. Hinata meanwhile could not find Chaoji. She saw Naruto's forehead protector and was worried. Hinata called Naruto from above. Jiga decided to torment Naruto who told Hinata to stay out of it as he fainted. Hinata cried out for Naruto.

Naruto #190: The Byakugan Sees the Blind Spot

Haruna laid unconscious in an isolated place. In Konoha, Shizune told Tsunade about Nano country and estimated Naruto's situation. Tsunade suspected that Naruto's mission timing was too coincidence with the rebellion in Nano country and told Shizune to gather Konoha villagers who were still present to help Nano country. Meanwhile, Naruto had regained consciousness and was fighting Jiga. Hinata ran down the cliff to save Naruto who was buried alive under the rocks. Naruto told her to run and she refused. She was determined to rescue Naruto and fought Jiga with Byakugan. Jiga threatened Hinata with Naruto's life in return for Haruna's whereout. Hinata ran off injured with Jiga hot on his pursue. She planned to return to rescue Naruto once she was done with Jiga. As she ran, she analysed Jiga's technique. They fought again and she pushed him down a cliff after hitting his weakest spot. Jiga was aghast to see iron dust accumulating around his body as Hinata had interfered his electric field. Hinata fainted. Other place, Chaoji freed Naruto from his rocky bound. Haruna's follower helped him up. Naruto updated them and tried to go after Hinata. Other place, Hinata was sucked into the dust quicksand and Naruto saved her using his shadow replica. She woke to see the three of them around her. She told Naruto that she had defeated Jiga and Naruto was impressed, praising her. She returned his forehead protector to him. She asked him to go and protect Haruna and he promised not to lose to Hinata while Chaoji and the other took care of Hinata. Renga and his men were watching them. Naruto ran through the woods and found Haruna unconscious by the steam. She woke and told him that she did not care as long as she was alive to become the feudal lord. Naruto told her off that he wouldn't want to protect a selfish feudal lord like her. She shook him, demanding his answers about her suffering when her parents abandoned her. Naruto told Haruna that Hinata had gotten injured during a battle because of her and he had promised her to protect Haruna. With that, Naruto pulled Haruna in a run. Other place, Chaoji, Hinata and Haruna's follower were surrounded by Renga and his men. They were taken as hostages. Meanwhile, Naruto and Haruna were running and saw Nano country. They set off when Haruna was tripped. Someone had ambushed them. It was Renga.

Naruto #191: Forecast: Death! Cloudy with Chance of Sun

Renga attacked Naruto with air and told him that Hinata and the rest were held captured unless Naruto handed Haruna over. Renga had been planning to dispose his brothers-Jiga and Riga in the very beginning eventhough they were brothers. Naruto refused to surrender Haruna to him and fought him. Naruto tested Renga's defense from a distance and saw him protected by air cystals around him. Renga sent light explosive attacks via ice crystal lens at them. Naruto shielded Haruna with his body, his blood dripping onto her. Naruto decided to divert Renga as decoy so that Haruna could escape. Naruto faced off Renga. Renga taunted Naruto being similar to the lord of Nano country who begged the brothers not to have his people suffer. Naruto understood the past peacefulness of Nano country. 15 years ago, the lord had let Haruna being sent as hostage so that his people could be spared. Haruna was shocked that her father was killed by Renga. Renga did not care whom he was using as long as he could gain power. He attacked Naruto. Naruto insisted that Haruna would be the successor of Nano country. Haruna ran out of her hiding place to face Renga bravely. Naruto used his forehead protector to deflect the light attack from the lens onto Renga. Shizune came along with Shikamaru to retrieve Naruto. Hinata, Chaoji and Haruna's follower were saved by Konoha troop. Haruna's father had been kind to Tsunade and Shizune in the past but they were unable to save him in time. Haruna was to succeed her father's throne. Haruna wanted to stab Renga but changed her mind as she did not want to follow Renga's idea. She wailed in Naruto's chest over her father's death. Later, she visited her father's throne and apologised to her follower. Shizune took Naruto and the rest back to Konoha as they bidded Haruna and the rest farewell. She asked Shizune to lend Naruto to her to restore Nano country. Hinata was aghast and anxious. Naruto rejected. Haruna promised that she would not sacrifice any single of her people again as she bidded them farewell.

COMMENT: End of the 5-episode series. It's like watching a slightly longer Naruto movie with more fightings. Feel so, so tempted to watch the first episode of Naruto Shippuden.. Arghhhhh~~~

Naruto #192: Ino Screams! Chubby Paradise! (One shot episode)

Tsunade told Ino to act as a princess's double in her mission. Naruto was to be Ino's assistant. Ino was not happy. They set off. Naruto was mistaking it for a big mission. They met the princess who was extremely plump but other than that she looked similar to Ino. She had been eating a lot due to marriage stress. Therefore, Ino had to go on behalf of the princess for the wedding arrangement. Naruto was disappointed. Ino understood her feeling. The princess showed Ino all information she was supposed to know and asked Ino to make her future husband like her. The prince met them with flashing effects when Naruto and Ino went to look for him. He was fat. Ino was shocked. The prince-Chikara presented Ino with a rose with American accent. Ino had to stuff Naruto's mouth whenever he commented on Chikara. The princess emphasized that Chikara must loved her and Naruto converted her message to Ino as mission. Ino had to act as though she loved everything he presented her. Naruto and Ino were not amused with his tip-tap dance. Ino was on her verge of hair pulling and had to punch a wall in private to vent her irritation and disgust. Naruto asked her to imagine Chikara as Chaoji but failed. He decided to take things in his own hands. Ino went to ask the princess to give up on Chikara but she refused. Ino was shocked to learn that Naruto had disguised as her to seduce Chikara. Ino dragged Naruto under the ground and shook him while distracting others. She tieed Naruto to the tree and punched him. Other place, the frustrated princess went over to the other side. Ino returned to the house. Meanwhile, Naruto escaped from the bound. Back in the hut, Ino tried to act innocent. She opened the door to see the disguised Naruto. She kicked him off to the stream and resumed her 'acting' with Chikara. She got herself into the tough situation having to kiss the fat Chikara. The princess banged in time to pull Ino out as she refused her to kiss Chikara. Meanwhile, Chikara and his men looked for the 'princess'. The disguised Naruto climbed out of the water and ran to piss in man way. The princess saw it and went chasing him. Back 9in the hut, Ino continued her 'acting' with Chikara. There was noise on the rooftop and they opened the door to see rainbow. The disguised Naruto and the real princess fell down the roof. Ino went to beat Naruto up. The real princess apologised to Chikara. Chikara was delighted to see his princess to be of his ideal type and begged her to marry him. Ino and Naruto were confused. On their way back, Ino was planning to put on more diet.

COMMENT: Funny episode and the background music normally for success in battles makes everything even funnier. Oh, and a new cute ED which is light hearted and wacky one than 'Yellow Moon'. Naruto and five animals are the main focus this time.

Naruto #193: Viva Dojo Challenge: Youth is All About Passion (One-shot episode)

Naruto had returned to Konoha from a solo mission to deliver a letter for Tsunade. He saw a giant handsign for dojo into a small isolated hut. He peeked inside and saw Rock Lee attacking him until he told him who he was. But Lee kicked him. Naruto told him that he was only here as observer but Lee had not given him time to explain. Lee even showed him his poster. Lee had been depressed because of lack of fighting partners for training. During his mission with others, he had observed the challenges of dojo. Unfortunately, no one had came to challenge Lee. Lee asked Naruto to challenge him. Naruto used Tsunade as excuse and ran off. Guy overheard Naruto's mummering about Lee's dojo and got information from him. He was moved by Lee's determination. Guy decided to challenge Lee's dojo to cheer him up as his first opponent. Guy disguised his hair and added beard but Sakura recognised him straight away for an urgent mission. Someone was planning to borrow Guy's weird outfit to enter Konoha. Other place, Naruto told Lee about someone planning to challenge his dojo. The imposer entered Konoha and Naruto ran to pull him to Lee's dojo. The imposer planned to get information of Konoha from Naruto who was not impressed of his outfit. Naruto pulled Guy to Lee who challenged the imposer. The imposer decided to attack softly since Lee was a child. He overestimated Lee's ability and was beaten badly by Lee. Naruto was confused that 'Guy' was not fighting back at all. The imposer gave up but Naruto changed his interpretation stating that the imposer still wanted more fight. Lee beated the imposer again. Other place, the real Guy was irritated because Shikamaru, Chaoji and Ino were only attacked by monkeys. Chaoji and Ino started quarrelling with the helpless Shikamaru watching. Guy remembered his duel with Lee and ran off. In the dojo, the imposer was blasted out of dojo by Lee. Naruto splashed him awake and asked him to continue his fight with Lee. Same time, Guy rushed into Konoha to look for Lee. The disguised Naruto as Guy entered to challenge Lee who was impressed with his lack of injuries. He used shadow replication and Sakura's appearance to confuse and beat Lee. The imposer was shocked of the fighting ability of the kids in Konoha and decided to escape in form of Lee. As he left, he met the real Guy who planned to fight him. In the dojo, the disguised Naruto and Lee saw the fake Lee blast into the dojo by the real Guy. Naruto reverted to his true form. Guy's disguise fell off as he hit the imposer out of the dojo. He reverted to his real look. In the office, Guy carried the imposer to see Tsunade who told them to capture the imposer. They showed the imposer to her on the spot. She demanded for explaination from them.

COMMENT: This episode is making me laughing my head off. Especially when there's two Guys and Lees in the dojo. And Naruto's Sakura-disguise shadow replication makes me laugh.

Naruto #194: Bizarre! The Haunted Ghost Castle (One-shot episode)

Some people were carrying a carriage with a lady sitting in it. The sky turned dark and misty as they sought for shelter. Something bright stormed before them, howling loudly. From the sky, the remains of the carriage fell to the ground. Next day, Tsunade assigned Kiba, Hinata and Naruto to find the lady and her followers who had went missing eversince. Hinata was unable to recall Naruto's good points to Tsunade. Naruto was warying if there was ghost involved in the mission and she told them the location which Naruto had bad feeling about it. She yelled them off. Shizune knew there was castle ruins in that area. Naruto and the rest reached Kibisaki Ridge as it started raining heavily. They reached a grand and deserted castle. The door opened to them by itself and closed abruptly. There was light on and Akamaru ran to it. The others followed it and saw warm food on the table. A protrait of an old man was on the ceiling. Akamaru smelt the food and barked. Naruto watched and saw the eyes of the protrait moved. Hinata saw the food set for seven people which was exactly the number of the people who went missing the day before. They went to check. Naruto saw an armor and ran from it only to see more. He ran looking for Kiba and Hinata in fear. Other place, Akamaru smelt human presence and Kiba investigated a room. A voice called and the things moved within the room followed by a fanged mouth. Hinata in the meanwhile entered a library and read an old record about a grudge of the owner of the castle who sought to devour anyone who entered the castle. A protrait came at Hinata and she was devoured into red flesh like material. Other place, Naruto was trapped by fangs and flesh like material. When he came to, he found himself lying in a basement and found Hinata. Akamaru and Kiba ran to join them. Hinata told the others of the record she read and Naruto came across a corpse soldier 50 years ago. Kiba and Hinata saw more. They reached the castle owner's corpse which melted. Hinata used her ability to check the surrounding and saw Chakra all over the walls. Hinata tried to hit the wall and was bounced back. Naruto recalled Jiraiya's flesh wall ability and knew it was almost the same somehow. Somewhere, a lady screamed and they ran towards it. They found the seven missing people being sucked by the wall. Naruto tried to pull them. Hinata and Kiba tried to help. Kiba and Akamaru blasted through the ground and Naruto and Hinata followed him out of the basement. The unseen enemy sent tenacles at them. Hinata, following Naruto's instruction, detected the source of the Chakra and the attack vanished. The door opened and the castle owner entered the room and walked up the staircase. He glanced and hinted them to follow him. He vanished but they found a scroll. The wall turned wild again. Naruto opened the scroll and found the summoned beast true form in its record. Naruto slashed the scroll and stabbed the wall. He activated resengan against the wall. Hinata, Naruto and Kiba were sucked out of the building. The building vanished, leaving the missing people lying on the ground. Naruto guessed the castle owner's grudge was released.

COMMENT: Unusual episode about ghost and grudge.

Naruto #195: The third Great Beast, The strongest rival

Naruto was being examined by Tsunade as he had been feeling sluggish lately. She concluded that he was fine but not Rock Lee. She sent him out. He told the conclusion to Tenten and asked her of Lee who was practicing in his dojo house. They saw him collapsed from over practice and Naruto told him to see Tsunade. Tsunade forbidded Lee to practice for a while due to after effect of his injuries inflicted by Gaara during the Chuunin exam. Especially the Lotus technique. Naruto ran to ask Lee who did not seem to notice Naruto and Tenten. At the high area, Guy went to see Lee. Guy recalled the time when Lee had been crying over his possibility of not able to become a ninja until Guy talked him into accepting the operation. He believed Lee could still become strong without Reverse Lotus technique and Lee regained his confident. With that, he practiced with Guy. There was another person practicing in the room with them. Guy told Lee that he was Yagura-a friend's son who wanted to know if he could become a ninja. Yagura had knew Lee through Guy's word of mouth. Naruto and Tenten entered to see Yagura and Lee together with Guy. Lee and Yagura duelled. Lee was injured in the leg. Guy was not happy with Yagura. But Lee wanted to continue with the practice. In the end, Lee was sent to Sakura who bandaged his leg. She demanded him to rest for a while. On the way, Lee overheard Naruto and Tenten and Neji's conversation about his and Yagura's duel. Neji was the one who understood Lee most. Tenten felt thankful to Lee as he had showed the most interest during the initial training period. Lee even took the green tights offered by Guy. Neji was glad that Lee had taken the tights on behalf of them. Later, Guy was assigned a mission. On the street, Yagaru was not interested to fight Lee anymore and stated that Guy had abandoned Lee. He told Lee that Guy was taking him for the mission instead of Lee. Lee witnessed Guy taking Yagura out for mission. Tsunade was having wine when Shizune banged in telling her that the Yagura Guy took was a fake as the real one was found injured outside Konoha. Tsunade sent Neji, Tenten and Naruto after Guy and the fake Yagura while Sakura watched over Lee. Other place, 'Yagura' fell down a cliff and Guy ran after him into a misty place. Several pole like things faced him. The things moved on their own and attacked Guy. Sametime, Neji had difficulty tracking Guy. Other place, Guy was fighting the practice poles which could rejoin themselves. Same time, Lee was practicing hard in his dojo. Sakura watched him in concern. Meanwhile, Guy found the battle never ending as the poles started trapping him.

Naruto #196: Clash of Tears! Hot-blooded teacher and student showdown

Flashback, Guy was fighting another ninja who manipulated the practice poles. Back to present, Guy tried to break out of the pole prison but failed. 'Yagura' confronted the prison and revealed his form-Ryuudoin. His father had sustained heavy injuries in Konoha and died shortly. Ryuudoin was accompanied by his brothers who had been plotting for Guy's downfall. In the past, Guy had used reversed Lotus technique and defeated Ryuudoin's father. In his dojo, Lee continued to train himself. He knew Sakura had been watching him and knew she was hiding something. Other place, Ryuudoin attacked Guy via the poles within the prison when Naruto, Neji and Tenten arrived. Neji saw Guy's situation and Tenten tried to brea