^{Pledge 5}
Kurohami

Hibiki and Kirisa are summoned by the Kumo Village Branch Chief Garon. When they get there, we learn that Hibiki has already met him before, due to something special that happened in his past. It was some kind of incident in Kamikuro Village, where Hibiki lived after losing his parents. He lived with Setsu. I guess something related to Akatsuki happened at the time and Setsu died. Hibiki was then brought along to become a Kiri-Ishi.

Not sure what the incident was and why it was so special. Anyway, they go the village and find it deserted. A Kurohami appears and Kirisa kills it but, it doesn’t go into the vial. Not sure why, I guess it was just part of a larger body. Anyway, the bigger Kurohami appears and eats Kirisa whole.

Hibiki is shocked and it doesn’t seem like he has any chance against the monster. Also, someone is watching them from behind, I have a feeling she’s a Kiri-Ishi too.

Now, I really liked this chapter, the best one yet. First, Garon proved an interesting view into a powerful Kiri-Ishi. Not only he had a giant weapon, he also seemed to be infected by Akatsuki somehow. The mystery about the village, hinting that this event is related to the incident 5 years ago was cool too. And the new characters also helps this.

Cool chapter, nice cliffhanger, really interesting. I’m looking forward to the next one and I hope the series keeps this level. It was also a very funny chapter.

• Personal Enjoyment: 5/5

^{Pledge 4}
Kusari Hana

Well, the story finally progresses. The first 3 chapters were basically an introduction to the Akatsuki concept and featured some minor battle with the disease. This chapters introduces a new faction, the Kiramekidan, thieves. They don’t seem to directly oppose the Kiri-Ishi but, their next plan involves stealing Akatsuki.

Or so I initially though.. lol the Kiramekidan is just a small group of 3 thieves. Hibiki and Kirisa offer to transport a very rare Akatsuki but, they are robbed along the way by the Kiramekidan.

Although this was just another chapter dealing with a different type of Akatsuki, it was actually funny and entertaining. I liked it better than the last chapters. It also shows how Hibiki has progressed into a more serious and cool Kiri-Ishi

• Personal Enjoyment: 4/5

^{Pledge 3}
Narukari

Hibiki and Ririsa go on a mountain patrol along with another Kiri-Ishi. This Kiri-Ishi, Shachina, is way stronger than them. He’s one of their teachers.

They end up in eating at a place. Suddenly, Shachina notices something and calls them. He quickly focus away from the alcohol.

When they finally arrive to where Shachina was leading them, they notice they are surrounded by Akatsuki.

Narukari can’t be saved, the only option is to kill them. In the fight they notice the dog from the old man was infected. Hibiki has to kill him anyway.

This episode was basically a lecture on how hard their job can be. If humans or anything becomes infected and is incurable.. they have to kill it without flinching.

The action wasn’t very good. This manga isn’t very interesting for now, I’m waiting for the story to develop to really see where this can go.

• Personal Enjoyment: 3/5

^{Pledge 2}
Quire

Kirisa and Hibiki haven’t been eating for some days. Hibiki is starving so much that he actually wants to eat Kirisa’s hair ornament lol.

They go to a Ishi-Ren Branch to receive payment for their work. Their first Akatsuki doesn’t earn them much but, the one who infected Gaizen is worthy of a lot. Anyway, they go one a new mission right away. They finish it quickly.

Kirisa then goes to check the water supplies to make sure there’s no more Akatsuki threats. She eventually finds one huge Akatsuki. Hibiki comes to help her and finishes it quickly.

Overall, this chapter really didn’t do much. The plot didn’t really develop. It only gave us some more insight into the Kiri-Ishi world and developed Karisa and Hibiki’s relation a little. Hibiki seems a little stronger.

So, not much happening, still entertaining and funny though. I’m counting on the next chapters to develop the story and make it more interesting.

• Personal Enjoyment: 3/5

^{Pledge 1}
Orochibiru

Description: Akatsuki: a powerful demon of illness which spread into victims, turning their eyes red, and slowly killing them. Usually, they take form of a strong monster connected to the victim’s body. The only way to cure the victims infected with Akatsuki is to slash the victim’s body with special anti-Akatsuki weapons, known as "Crave." The people who possess and use these weapons are called "Kiri-Isha" (Slash Doctors). Hibiki, the protagonist of this story, is a Kiri-isha. He is partnered with Kirisa, another Kiri-Isha. Their mission is to cure people infected with Akatsuki.
(Source: Ju-da-su)

Genre: Action, Aventure, Shounen
Author & Artist: Koide Motoki
Year: 2009
Serialized in: Shonen Rival

It finally got scanlated. I’ve been waiting for this series for some time.

Basically, it’s an action shounen where there’s a magical disease called Akatsuki. This disease infects humans and takes control of their bodies. The Kiri-Ishi is an organization built to deal with this. The Kiri-Ishi have special weapons that can slay the Akatsuki and free people from it.

Yeah, the title and the main character’s appearance will immediately take you to Naruto and make you think that this is probably just someone ripping it off. But, really, for now it isn’t. Hibiki’s face looks like Naruto but, it’s different and his personality is also completely different, taking aside the recklessness. As for the Akatsuki name, it’s a Japanese word, anyone can use it and if you look at it’s meaning, it makes sense to call the disease Akatsuki.

The chapters starts with Hibiki and Kiria, low ranked Kiri-Ishi fighting an Akatsuki. They only use sword-like weapons for now, I’m not sure if their physical abilities are just from training or if Kiri-Ishi have special capabilities, besides wielding the Crave and sealing Akatsukis. From the conversation they have in their room, it seems like something must have happened in Hibiki’s past related to Akatsukis and why he really wants to fight them.

So, a higher ranked Kiri-Ishi gets infected. Because of his level and the Akatsuki’s level, Hibiki and Kiria can’t cut him. Hibiki remembers why he joined the Kiri-Ishi and takes desperate action to prevent that from happening again to another person. So, he drinks one of Gaizen’s Akatsuki and uses it to slay the one infecting Gaizen. I’m guessing Gaizen then saved him from being taken over from the Akatsuki he drank.

Overall, it was good first chapter. There’s potential for this series to turn good. The fights were nothing special and, although the art is nice, the way the action was drawn wasn’t very cool. I hope this manga improves on that. What I liked more for this chapter was the two main character’s relationship, the comedy and the fact they both look like they are on the same level, not the usual strong boy weak girl combination.

• Personal Enjoyment: 3/5