Current location:	living room
Current mood:	pissed off
Current music:	'My Answers' (Naruto Shippuuden ED 10)
Entry tags:	naruto shippuuden, requiem for the phantom

Naruto Shippuuden #122 - #124; Phantom – Requiem for the Phantom #23
Naruto Shippuuden #122: Hunt

Kakashi told Naruto, Sakura, Sai, Shino, Hinata and Kiba, as well as Yamato the plan. Kakashi summoned his ninja dogs so that their barks could reach one another in times if the scents of targets were picked at distance further than mic. Shino, Sakura and Sai would be accompanied by two ninja dogs each while Kiba accompanied as usual by Akamaru and Kakashi with Pakkun. Naruto being a Juuchuriki targeted by the Akatsuki, was accompanied by Hinata, Yamato and a ninja dog in case of an attack. Each group would survey an area a distance from their gathering point and if there was no result, they would gather at the next point for another survey to find Itachi or Sasuke.

Meanwhile, Sasuke sent Suigetsu, Juugo and Karin to find Itachi. Karin tried to find an opportunity to get close to Sasuke but failed. Later, Suigetsu stomped down a betting area where Kakuzu frequently went for information. Juugo sought information from the birds in the forest. Same time, Kiba and Akamaru went on their ways, determined to find Itachi or Sasuke’s scent before other ninja dogs. Shino was pissed with his ninja dogs that complained his bug scent and his dragging feet. Sai while running gave his ninja dogs funny nicknames. Sakura and her ninja dogs tried to follow a detected Sasuke’s scent only to pass Karin who was in the same path of a town. In the sky, Deldara and Tobi sought to find either Sasuke or Kyuubi (aka Naruto).

Naruto, Yamato and Hinata were walking. Same time in other place, Sasuke did the same. Suddenly, Yamato detected stalker and tossed his kunai to chase Kabuto out of his hiding. Same time, Sasuke found Tobi stalking him and glared at him. Deldara attacked Sasuke with his bomb from the sky.

Meanwhile, Kabuto told Naruto that he just wanted a small chat with him. Naruto asked him if it was true that Sasuke killed Orochimaru. Kabuto confirmed it and went on saying that he planned to give Naruto a little gift as gratitude. Kabuto tossed a book with information on Akatsuki collected by his organization onto the grass before Naruto. Yamato was confused, as unlike Orochimaru, Akatsuki did not target Kabuto and told Kabuto that it was useless to negotiate collaboration with Konoha using the book as gift. Kabuto explained that he was an orphan with no parentage, identity and village and had been at a loss of his heritage and belongings especially after Orochimaru’s death. His past meeting with Naruto had given him a hint to search for his own identity for Naruto insisted his own identity as Uzumaki Naruto instead of being Kyuubi despite of being discriminated in the village when he was young. With that hint, Kabuto took in what was left of Orochimaru into his body and regained a new self. Orochimaru was known as a symbol of reincarnation and his body part was consistently trying to take over Kabuto. Kabuto planned to overcome this new power to get back at Sasuke. After which, he would fight Naruto. Naruto attacked Kabuto and Yamato tried to trap him with his wood technique but Kabuto dodged and escaped, promising to meet Naruto again next time.

Other place, Deldara was pleased and was assuming Sasuke to die in the bomb attack when Sasuke emerged from the smoke with a giant snake surrounding him.

Omake: Shizune and Ton Ton were trying to find money for Tsunade’s gambling debt and entered the bookie den where Suigetsu had attacked not too long ago. She passed a bookie that had been hit unconscious by Suigetsu earlier and entered the room to find the other two bookies nursing their wounds. She asked them to borrow her money with Ton Ton as a collateral. When she received the money, she fled, Ton Ton running fast behind her. The bookies screamed and wailed of their unlucky day.

Naruto Shippuuden #123: Clash

Sasuke demanded to know whereout of Itachi. Sasuke activated his Sharingan. Deldara had been unhappy with Itachi whose power was contributed by his heritage. Deldara and Sasuke fought. Deldara made use of C1 and C2 bombs against Sasuke who used Chidori and curse mark stage to fight.

Deldara thought back the time when he was introduced to Itachi, Sasori and Kisame when he first joined Akatsuki. Deldara showed them his bombing ability that he stated was an art. Itachi activated his Sharingan and challenged Deldara to a duel. If Deldara won, he would be allowed into Akatsuki. Itachi had tricked Deldara to use his technique on himself with his Sharingan. To Deldara, Itachi was high above him in terms of ability. Deldara was overwhelmed.

Back to present, Deldara sworn not to lose to an Uchiha. With that, he attacked Sasuke even more with a giant bomb in the imitation of Deldara himself. He had invented it himself to kill Itachi. Sasuke was shocked.

COMMENT: The graphic is same as the one that did Hidan and Kazuku Arc fight vis Shikamaru, Kakashi, Ino, Chaoji, Naruto, Sakura and Sai. Too little contrast and too bright. I’d prefer the anime team that does episode #119 - #122. Poor Deldara has been fooled by Sasuke’s gentjutsu the whole time. Tobi aka Uchiha Madara is a 100% back stabber, pretending to act close to Deldara but lured him to death instead.

Naruto Shippuuden #124: Art

Deldara’s giant bomb exploded. Things around it including Sasuke disintegrated. Deldara was pleased. But he suddenly sensed the presence of Sasuke who attacked him from behind with Chidori. He had seen through Deldara’s trick. The one who had been disintegrated was just his gentjutsu trick. He demanded to know Itachi’s whereout. Deldara appeared from the giant bird and the one Sasuke struck was just a clay clone. Deldara had trained his left eye to counteract Sharingan. His clone began to bloat while it trapped Sasuke. Deldara left the giant bird but Sasuke left the trap using Chidori. Deldara fell to the ground while Sasuke’s form disintegrated. While Deldara was overjoyed, he sensed Sasuke’s chakra again. Sasuke punched him in his face. Sasuke had counteracted his C4 bomb using full body Chidori. Sasuke explained that lightning element was superior to Deldara’s Earth element. Deldara used clay snake to trap Sasuke’s legs. Deldara removed his shirt, revealing a seal on his shoulder and he started to pull on it, revealing another mouth that chewed more clay. Deldara transformed, preparing to detonate himself with Sasuke. Across the land, animals sensed danger. Meanwhile, Deldara detonated himself, his explosion spread across the forest.

COMMENT: Watching the entire Deldara – Sasuke fight in one shot because I have no desire to watch one at a time. I’m not a Sasuke fan anyway. Episodes without Naruto is boring.

Phantom – Requiem for the Phantom #23: Decision

Mio saw Renji watching the ball game thinking deeply until his classmate broke his thought. Later, Renji and Eren discussed their plan. Other place, Lizzie was unhappy when Cal could not been found and asked from Sycthe who knew nothing. She thought of her first meeting with Cal who was taken by Sycthe to be trained as assassin. She set off looking for Cal. On the street, Mio and Renji walked discussing of Cal’s punching of him that was witnessed by Mio the other day. He told her that it was nothing and had been resolved. They parted. Mio returned home to find Cal waiting for her and she took her off on her bike at gunpoint. She wanted to tell Mio Renji’s secret. Lizzie faced them on the road. Mio was hand cuffed to the bike while Cal talked to Lizzie. Lizzie questioned Cal if she hated Renji so much and warned Cal there was lines she should not cross. Cal asked Lizzie why she had been so kind to her and Lizzie told her that she did not want Cal to become an assassin. Cal pulled out her musical hand watch. Lizzie thought of McCuuen who had lost her loved one and then Cal. Lizzie told Cal that she did not want to shoot her. The music stopped and there was a gunshot. Lizzie did not shoot and Cal shot her. Cal drove off with Mio. Lizzie laid on the ground thinking back of the past and wondered why her gun was getting heavier.

In an abandoned house, Mio wanted Cal to explain. Cal contacted someone via Mio’s handphone. Cal told Mio that Renji was her previous trainer and lover. She told her that Renji was an assassin and also Godoh Daisuke (Mio’s brother)’s killer. Mio asked for Cal’s goal and she told her that she wanted to have a death duel with Renji. Later, Renji received a call from Cal who told him of Mio in her hand. Meanwhile, Godoh group was shocked to find Mio’s bodyguards dead. Elen was informed of the matter by Renji. Sycthe was being grabbed by his collar by head of Godoh’s people. Sycthe promised to protect Mio. Same time, Elen told Renji that she would kill Cal and to save Mio. She knew Cal’s target was Renji.