Darknives Anime & Manga Blog

Asuka

Just noting, I initially though that Kuromistu had been given immortality by that strange ritual in the beginning of each episode but, now I’m remembering that it was the boy in her past, probably her lover.

It’s also a little strange how Kuromitsu can just look defenseless and just scream and then in a similar scene she just looks evil and ready to kill. Like the two time where she met assassins.

Well, so much for the answers. This episode starts right at the future and continues there.

It’s seems not everything has been destroyed. Society still exists. The government doesn’t mind some casualties to get it’s work done.

There’s some kind of group working to uncover all this Clan/Vampire thing. One of them meets Kuro who seems to have no memories about anything besides Kuromitsu.

He tells him about what’s been happening. The world was destroyed because of an asteroid and the great nations mistakenly destroying each other.

The new government belongs to the Clan that has been searching for immortality from the past. Maybe they were the ones behind the world war that happened in The Great Disaster

Kuro, hearing this, remembers how Kuromitsu was captured by The Red Imperial Army.

They all hide in the group’s hideout, Sakafune. But, Kuro recognizing the troop’s origins, attacks them.

He kills them but then, a much stronger warrior appears and beats Kuro. He then leaves. I was happy for now that neither Rai nor the man who helped Kuro are dead, because they are the second most interesting characters right now.

But, why all this manhunt if they already got Kuromitsu? Is it because they want Kuro too? Then, why not capture him when they got Kuromitsu or why are they just leaving him be for now?

I can’t really explain why but, I’m loving this show for now. It’s really surprising me.

• Personal Enjoyment: 5/5

The Antagonizer

So, we’re really back to Hueco Mundo. The Exequias have all been defeated and only their leader remains. Although it doesn’t seem like he’s Espada level, we really don’t know anything about him or his power level. He releases his zanpakutou.

Meanwhile, Ichigo seems stronger. He’s almost at Ulquiorra’s level without his mask but, Ulquiorra still has the advantage and will probably still have if he releases and Ichigo goes into Vaizard mode.

For now, things don’t look good in this battle. Also, Sado and Renji are busy with all the hollows appearing and Rukia is fighting the Exequias leader alone.

But, I still think that they will easly become victorious, because there’s still three captains out there.

As for what Ulquiorra said about Orihime, doesn’t make much sense. Just because she kind of went with him of her own choice and probably feels guilty in now way makes her belong to their side. Even if she helped them. But, he still made it look cool when he said "You’re right, it was Aizen decision" lol

• Personal Enjoyment: 4/5

Naruto Returns!

Here it is after some delay. The chapter starts right with Naruto being summoned to Konoha. No more fooling around.

He gets back with a lot of backup. Gamabunta, Gamaken, Gamakichi, Shima and Fukasaku. They appear right as Pain is heading towards the ground after using his technique. The Konoha survivors begin to comprehend the magnitude of what happened.

The remaining Pain bodies get themselves patched and summoned to near Hell’s Realm body. He and Naruto face each other.

Tsunade loses it and runs to Pain enraged. One of Pain’s bodies goes to kill her and Naruto destroys him in one go with an instantaneous Rasengan, just like that. It even seems like it was to easy, seeing how hard Jiraya had to fought just to kill one. But, Naruto is supposedly even stronger than him now and.. really, who cares, Naruto is back and I really hope he’s gotten the strongest shinobi there is so he can kick major ass.

No matter what happened, every one has got their hopes back.

Only now I realize that Inata’s father is also away from the village. He would have been of the most important characters, had he been around, he could maybe even have stop Kakashi’s death and win if he had fought together with him.

I really can’t wait to read more. Knowing the author is probably going to make this one, the second best battle the Naruto series will ever see (taking in mind that it’s his fated battle of the promising child and that Naruto Vs Sasuke will probably be the very best one lol). I hope their’s a new chapter this week, no matter the New Year stuff lol

• Personal Enjoyment: 5/5

The Tomb Of Karma

An excelent episode, I’m really likking this series now.

The story-line gets a little confusing in this episode. There’s basically three parts, all happening in diferent times chronologically.

First, there’s a robber that attacks Kuromitsu and Kuro, cutting Kuro’s head off. As they are immortal, Kuromitsu goes back to her house and brings Kuro’s body who is alive but, still separated lol. This scene seems to be chronologically some time after what happened in the first episode.

The rest of this part was really cool and well done. There’s also some parts with Benkei being brainwashed or something.

Then, we bo back to following where the first episode left off. Kuro is in the process of becoming immortal. He is supposed to suffer for one hour after becoming a vampire. Too bad assassins appear.

They attack him and Kuro. Although he’s heavly injured, he goes to help Kuro, using his new vampire powers, although it’s hard to tell where his powers begin, because everyone in this series seems really powered up.

Anyway, in this scene we learn that searching for Kuro and Kuromistu have achieved some kind of "immortality" but, they still get old and look like mummies.

Kuro kills everyone. Then Benkei appears and deceives them killing Kuro by cutting his head. lol if this continues he’ll get some serious neck problem.

Then, the third scene shows Kuro waking up in the future and it seems that the last thing he remembers is being killed by Benkei. This doesn’t make much sense because the first scene of the episode only makes sence to have happened in between the other two scenes.. Which means that scene number 2 wouldn’t be the last in his memory.

There’s also the possibility that Kuro, in the future, has lost his memory and is remembering some stuff, not sequentially. And the last scene is simply the first time ever that he woke consciently in the future. Although, him woking up exactly in the same place that he died in scene 2..

..well, the next episodes will probably answer some questions :)

• Personal Enjoyment: 4/5

The Frightening Banquet
Szayel Aporro’s Theater

This episode is again filled with major re-caps of what happened with Szayel’s battle.

Ishida and Renji can’t run from Szayel. They have to defeat him to move on.

But, it seems they don’t have any more trumphes and to worsen that, Szayel releases.

Although his released abilities aren’t very cool. He starts by doing clones of his enemies. With some nice production values, it could be cool to see some fights with clones but, the following battles won’t be that good.

  
^{Yes, you’re all perverts :p}

There’s also a lot of filler comedy in those scenes.

Meanwhile, Nnoitra’s battle with Ichigo progresses a little.

Overal it was a rather slow episode. All that really happened was hinting that Nel and her servants have some sort of secret and setting the stage for the next part of Ishida and Renji’s fight.

• Personal Enjoyment: 3/5

The Plain Of Adachi-ga-hara

Studio: Madhouse

Length: 12 Episodes

Year: 2008

Genre: Supernatural, Mystery, Action

Synopsis: Fleeing to the mountains from many attempts in his life, the young Kuro takes refuge in the home of a strange woman named Kuromitsu, who promises to shelter him for as long as he wants on the condition that he does not peek into her room. However, shortly thereafter, they both fall in love with each other, and in another assassination attempt where they both are grievously injured, Kuro discovers Kuromitsu’s secret: she is immortal. And in order to save the dying Kuro, Kuromitsu bestows immortality upon him as well, now to be her companion into eternity. (taken from anime-source.com)

Opening #1: Wagdug Futuristic Unity by Systematic People

Ending #1: Shigi by Hanarebare

So, the episode starts with a very weird scene about some ritual that doesn’t make any sense. The animation is cool with some strange coloring technique where it seems like some really colorful image is being overlayed on top of the scene, seems like some underwater thing.

This was probably the ritual that made Kuromitsu immortal.

I liked the OP, it’s weird and uses that same strange art of the episode. The music won’t probably be to everyone’s pleasure but, I liked it. Reminds me of Death Note.

Talking about Death Note, the main character has the some voice-actor as Light.

After the OP, there’s a scene that’s probably from the future after civilization has come to our days and got destroyed. Yoshitsune has become immortal too then.

Then, it’s back to the past where Yoshitsune and Benkei are running from some demon/zombie samurai. It seems Yoshitsune is wanted dead by a lot of people.

They survive the attack and find rest for the night at a strange woman’s house.

I really liked this episode. The art, color pallet and music are so strange. It seems like this is taking place on some other reality. There’s always a sense of mystery although you have no ideia what it could be because you don’t even know how this world the story is taking place in works.

Anyway, Yoshitsune and the girl get in love almost at first sight.

But, Yoshitsune finds out that this girl is some kind of immortal vampire. He doesn’t mind that. That’s when some cooler assassins show up.

The animation shows itself. The action ios fluid and original, in a sense that the characters have some strange way to move. It’s cool and fits with the anime very well.

The episode ends with Kuromitsu offering Yoshitsune immortality. Meanwhile, Benkei is with the attacker’s clan. It seems they are also looking for Kuromitsu to try and find the secret of immortality.

• Personal Enjoyment: 4/5

The Roars Of Collapse

Nishi’s classmates panic and try to run but, Nishi gets there first.

One of the boys volunteers to take care of him. Nishi lets himself get hit and then, uses the "explosion gun" he’s got hidden inside his bag.

The boy’s head explods and chaos runs over. Nishi starts killing everyone. He only leaves the girl who was in love with him alive.

By the time he finishes, the cops are already outside. Kurono learns of Nishi’s doings from the TV.

Meanwhile, Sakurai and Tonkotsu are on their date. It’s funny that they are thinking that it seems impossible that such a peaceful world will just disappear when Kurono is thinking exactly the opposite as if the world is already going towards the apocalipse.

Doesn’t seem like Nishi planned ahead about causing to much noise and getting surrounded by the cops.

While he’s thinking about his next move, the window close to him shatters.

Well, it seems to far up for some SWAT team to come in busting through the window. It wasn’t a shot at his life too, since nothing hit his head or body.

I think it’s either something like gas grenades or someone like Kurono.

• Personal Enjoyment: 4/5

One’s Last Words

Shikamaru is exhausted, Izumo and Kotetsu are trapped and Asuma seems about to be gone.

Reinforcements arrive just a little to late.

They help get everyone out of Akatsuki’s reach for some time.

Although the animation wasn’t so great and Aoba looked rather silly, specially when he fought it out with Kakuzo, the scene was well done. Raidou and Aoba’s technique combination is really good for a surprise attack. Kakuzo would have been done without his hardening technique.

Kakuzo doesn’t want to let his prize go and is going to attack again right away.

Although they are more, I’m not sure Konoha can take them. Anyway, Akatsuki’s leader calls the other two back.

It’s Pein’s first appearance in skin in the anime, not matter how little was shown. I was expecting his voice to be deeper.

So, they are saved for now but, Asuma’s finished. He accepts that he’s going to die and says his last words to his students. It’s true what he says about Shikamaru being Hokage material. He would certainly be the best chosen one, although Naruto is probably going to be the future Hokage if it ever comes down to it.

Asuma tells a secret to Shikamaru but, we’ll have more on that in a few episodes.

Overall, it was a decent episode, with a low budget and some filler but, still a good episode that managed to give Asuma some deserved spotlight in his death. Note, the drawing quality rises a lot in the last scenes, probably influence from the next episode.

• Personal Enjoyment: 3/5