~Entering the Unknown~

First four are from an omake about Asuma and Shikamaru commenting on their increasing screen time and suggested the anime to be named after them instead of Naruto's.

Asuma's suggestion.

Shikamaru's design. Did I see Temari's figure within the design as well?

Naruto retorting at them and Asuma had fainted after Shikamaru reverting to himself after disguising as Kurenai.

Naruto's depression.

Naruto interviewing Gaara after the 'Rescue Gaara Arc'.

07-Ghost 05: Hot Tears Gently filled his Heart

Teito was pondering by the waterfall as the priests of 7 Ghosts watched him. Teito was thinking of Mikage. At school, Hyuuga – a follower of Ayanami was doing some analyse which Ayanami did not agree. Others joined in the analyzing. At the church, the nuns were carrying some stuffs and Teito wanted to help but they gently refused. By the waterfall, Teito wondered why everyone was nice to him when the mermaid wanted him to follow her and showed him a place at a building that he visited. He sensed something in his past when his father passed something to him and injected it into his palm. He had told Teito that it was his destiny that he inherited the pearl like thing. Teito wondered if he was supposed to inherit that kingdom of Raggs. He suspected people had been nice to him because they knew he was the inheritor of Raggs kingdom. Teito did not want to be a burden to everyone there. One of the priests – Laboraor sensed that someone who would destroy Teito was coming for Teito. At the walkway, Teito saw Mikage running to him in joy. Teito was stunned. The priests were watching. Later in the building, the priests told Teito that they allowed Mikage to stay there as long as he liked. One priest – Frau showed Mikage a porn book and Teito was not pleased. Outside of Teito and Mikage’s ear shot, Labrabor told them that Mikage was not the one to destroy Teito’s world when Bishop went to talk to them. The other priests were suspicious as they wondered why Mikage was let off by the military easily. Other place, a thread controlled nun leaped away. Mikage and Teito went to the garden where Mikage told his friend that he was fine. Mikage joked that Teito and Frau got along fine when a young man approached them. Within darkness, Ayanami was watching them. Teito saw the mark on the young man’s chest and faced off him to protect Mikage. Mikage fought alongside with Teito. The teen flew with skeleton wings. Teito leaped and fought the flying teen. Frau appeared and destroyed the demon, which controlled the teen and took the teen for medical treatment after telling Teito that his power could only destroy people. At night, Teito told Mikage about his returning memories of his heritage in Raggs Kingdom. Mikage believed in Teito. Mikage told Teito about his own father’s happiness when Raggs Kingdom was destroyed and wondered why his father was happy with other people’s deaths. Teito was glad with meeting Mikage and told him that he wanted to learn more of Raggs kingdom. He asked Mikage what he should do. Mikage told Teito not to become enemy of Imperial army and told him that he would always be with him. Teito was suspicious as it sounded like Mikage’s last words. Other room, the priests were attending to the teen earlier.

07 Ghost #04: To the Depths of the Earnest Prayer

The old man approached Teito and sought to know his wish. Other place, Ayanami wanted Mikage to make his decision but Mikage refused to give in. At the church, the old man tried to get Teito see his past which comprised of Ayanami killing his father and since then, Teito had been alone until Mikage became his first friend. Back to present, Teito wanted Mikage to be safe and the old man wanted Teito's soul in return of his wish to see Mikage again. Teito had a flash of illusion and saw Mikage standing before him. He tried to run to him but could not reach him, instead, a dark spirit appeared behind him. The illusion broke and the priests of 7 ghosts appeared before him, stopping the old man who had skeleton wings from taking Teito away. The old man was acting on behalf of his dark master. The dark spirit came out of the old man and attacked him. Fau stopped the dark spirit and was surprised that Teito could see his weapon. The dark spirit attempted to take the old man's soul with him through the dark ground but the priests stopped him. The dark spirit - Kor failed and was caught. The priests explained that the old man had been possessed by Kor and his soul was almost taken away. The old man regained back to normal and Fau dragged Teito away, sending him to bed. In the room, Fau showed Teito the mark on his chest that had been marked by Kor and Fau removed it off from Teito's chest, leaving him to rest. In the academy, Ayanami and his men were discussing things and Ayanami reassured Miroku that he would capture Teito in shortest time.

Next day, Teito went to the open, feeling the peacefulness of the place and the nuns greeted him excitedly. Rosalie accidentially dropped laundry all over Teito until Fau came to see him and made fun of him. He accidentially fell into a fountain and met Lazet - a mermaid in it. She seemed to like Teito and was shy with other people. The other priests pointed to Teito that the old man last night had rejoined his own family. They told Teito about everyone making three wishes before they were reborn, they were allowed to return to heaven once they completed their dreams. Kors would stop people from completing the dreams which people would forget when they were born. They asked Teito of his dreams. In the academy, Mikage was thinking of Teito. Flashback, Mikage was taunted for befriending Teito - a former slave and Teito punched the student for taunting Mikage. Back to present, Ayanami showed Mikage his younger sister who was sitting in other room to pressurise him. In the church, Teito was wondering what his dream was. In the academy, Mikage told Ayanami that he refused to betray his friend. In the church, Teito was determined not to abandon Mikage. In the academy, Ayanami activated his power.

Bleach #217:

Gin was glad to know that Kira was doing fine. Meanwhile, Kira faced off one Espada. Same time, another shinigami was fighting another Espada, criticising each other's look. The Espada changed his new outfit and the shinigami laughed at the hilarious look. Ikkaru was fighting other Espada at the same time as he overheard his comrade laughing at his battle. Other side, the Espada attacked the shinigami at even faster speed. The shinigami had to dodge and activated his katana but the Espada dodged the attack and used his lightning punch on the shinigami. The Espada used Cero on the shinigami and rained attacks on him. The Espada started the next attack, blocking their battle from other people's eyes using Rosa Blanca. Knowing that, the shinigami was pleased as he could use his most powerful attack, turning his katana into tenacles like, bounding the Espada. Buds appeared and grew on the tenacles, drawing the Espada's reiatus from the Espada. The shinigami told him that he would never use this technique but the Espada's Rosa Blanca allowed him to use the chance to show the technique. As the Espada screamed, the buds bloomed and withered.

COMMENT: Anime version is funnier and more comical than the manga version.

Phantom - Requiem for the Phantom #03: Practice

Claudia was looking at Zwei's original passport, revealing his real name to be Reiji until Lizzie approached her. Other place during daytime, Zwei underwent physical training to be an assassin. In the town, a man saw a dead man in the Gents. On the street, Lizzie wandered along the path. In the house, Zwei was listening to a news about the murder of a cop. He knew it was the doing of the girl assassin - Ein as she went off for another assassin job. She was being asked on Zwei's progress by her master. He told her to take off her clothes as he rubbed lotion over her skin. He told her to finish Zwei turning him into perfect assassin machine. Next day, Zwei saw the return of Ein. She told him to prepare for something. In other room, a man - Wallace was ranting to Claudia and Ein's master about his contribution and him being suspected by them. He demanded assistance by Inferno. In a room, Ein told Zwei to choose a gun for his first mission as a test. She led him to the location. They met Wallace with other members of Inferno just outside their warehouse. Syncth - Ein's master told Wallace to run in 10 minutes' time. Failing which, he would send someone to take his life. Angered, Wallace stomped into the house. Syncth commanded Zwei to kill Wallace. Zwei was horrified. Ein threatened him to carry out the mission by pointing her pistol at his forehead. Leaving with no other choice, Zwei took the pistol and set off. McGwire was invited to witness Zwei's ability. In the house, Zwei tried to think in the way of the hunted, what weapon he might choose or method to carry out. Outside, Ein was confident of Zwei's skills. In the house, Zwei confronted Wallace who kicked off his own gun and demanded negotiation and asked him about his own life. Zwei noticed another gun hidden on Wallace's waist. Zwei shot him but he ran and ducked from the shot. Outside, the others waited in the car in case Zwei failed his mission. In the warehouse, the shooting battle went on and Wallace stepped on Zwei's hand and kicked him in his gut. He hit him against the wall and pointed his gun at his head. Zwei cut him with his knife and shot him. He fell on his knees as Ein approached him, praising his success for the first time. She told him that he had to throw away his heart and emotion in order to be free as Zwei. She pointed her gun at him. She shot at other direction. Zwei stared at the ceiling and was commanded to stand. In the car, McGwire asked Claudia where she found Zwei and she told him that the Japanese Governement had recommended and sent him to her. In the warehouse, Ein told Zwei that he was now officially a member of Inferno.

07-Ghost #03:

Children ran across the passage and lit up the lamps. Outside, Teito was looking at the flower. Two priests were approached by two nuns who wanted to attend to Teito whom they couldn't find. Outside, the people were called to enter the building before it was dark. Teito was making his way out when one of the 7 priests pulled him back. He carried Teito back. Another priest put the flower in Teito's hair. They took him to the dining hall. The nuns were happy and pulled him to the food. Teito was shocked to see the food was fisheyes. Another priest ate flower. Hungry, he did not care and ate eyefish and found it good to eat. The nuns asked for Teito's name. He did not answer and they did not mind. Teito continued to worry for Mikage.

Other place, Ayanami was concerned for Teito's whereout. Chairman Miroku asked Ayanami to make Teito his Beglenier. Ayanami questioned Miroku's intention to take in Teito. He replied that he was just concerned as he had been a slave. Meanwhile, the nuns were happy to clear the place for Teito who assisted them in mopping the floor. Flashback, some students bullied Teito who was an ex-slave. Mikage went to his aid that time. Later, Mikage asked Teito for his name and he told him. Back to present, Teito prayed to God for safety of Mikage and did not wish to stay in the church forever. Just then, he saw an old man approaching him in the middle of the night. He told him about his late wife who was buried in the church. Being lonely, he did not want to go home as there was no one whom he could return to. He commented that Teito had the same sad eyes as him. He asked Teito for his problem. Teito told him that he could only recall bits of his past and he couldn't protect his own friend. The old man stated a particular him could grant his wish if he went before the midnight bell tolls. Just then, the nuns went looking for Teito. Meanwhile, Teito returned to his room, placed the flower on his bed and planned to leave the place. He sneaked out of the building. One of the priests was waiting before him. Another appeared. Teito revealed his Zaiphon power, determined to save Mikage. The priests knew where he learnt the power from the institution. The blond priest - Frac dodged Teito's attacks calmly. Frac hit Teito in his gut and pushed him to the other priests. In his bed, Teito called for Mikage's name. In the dark room of the school, Mikage was bound to the chair while Ayanami threatened him with his family members, especially his younger sister. In his bed, Teito woke in shock. He remembered the old man's words and got up. Outside, the bell sounded. Frac was feeding a cat when he sensed something. In the corridor, Teito waited and met the old man again.

Bleach #216:

Ichigo confronted Ulquiorra and demanded him to leave Orihime. Ulquiorra reassured that he was not commanded to kill Orihime but he intended to kill Ichigo by his sword. Ichigo was pleased as Ulquiorra had acknowledged his skill by drawing his own sword. With that, they exchanged blows.

Out above the city, the Arrancar leader decided on the people to fight on behalf of Aizen who was trapped by Chief Commander's flames. He was awared of the four pillars set up the Soul Society and got an Espada to reveal location of the four pillars. Giant Hollows were summoned. Saifon's vice captain was aghast. The Hollows grabbed the pillars revealing their forms. The Hollows started to attack the pillars which could send the city back if broke. The Chief Commander was not worried as he had already prepared protectors to each pillar. Meanwhile, the four protectors - Shinigamis, including Kira and Hisagi attacked the Hollows and killed them in an instance. Saifon was not pleased with her vice captain's reaction. The Arrancar leader assigned four Arrancars to fight the pillar guards. Kira was being provoked by his opponent who recognised him as being ditched by Gin who left Soul Society. Kira slashed him in his face.

Valkyria Chronicles:

Just came across this anime, like Sengoku Basara and Tales of the Abyss, it is also developed from games. The style of the anime reminds me more of Tales of the Abyss. I'll likely check out this anime since I'm giving up on Sengoku Basara.

Dragon Ball Kai #03:

Raditz used dirty trick to convince Sun Goku letting off his tail before Piccolo could use his new technique to finish him off. As Raditz hit Goku, Gohan crushed his way out and hit Raditz who was shocked at Gohan's power level. As he prepared to kill Gohan who had difficulty manipulating his own power, Goku grabbed Raditz by his back so that Piccolo could finish him off along with him. Before Raditz's death, Piccolo told him about dragon balls which could grant wishes and that he planned to revive Goku who was near his end. Raditz told Piccolo that he had delivered the message to his two comrades and died with a smile as he told him that they would come to Earth a year from now to bring him to life with the dragon balls and to destroy Earth. Piccolo was aghast. In other planet, the two comrades prepared to get the dragon balls to obtain eternal youth so that they could fight forever. On Earth, Buma and others reached Goku who passed away.

07-Ghost #02:

The students marvelled over a student's arrest while back to present, the student's friend was being questioned if he was involved in trying to let him escape. In a flash, the captured student thought of his dream of falling snow. It was daytime when a number of youths were riding when they saw a boy falling in the sky. The teens rushed to check the unconscious boy - Teito who was still in chains. In the office, the Chairman questioned Ayannamin on Teito whom had been pursued by soldiers. At night, a number of soldiers were guarding a place.

In a building, the daytime teens were looking at Teito who laid on the bed, beginning to regain conscious. Teito punched one of the teens and tried to run off. Another teen pulled him before he fell from the high building. Teito asked why he was being rescued and the others told him that because they were from church and they introduced themselves to him. They knew Teito had been a slave before and allowed him to tell them his name when he felt up to it. They left him to rest. At night, Teito thought of Mikage - his friend. In a cell, Mikage was in chains when he was being summoned by Ayannami. At the corridor, Teito wandered around when he fainted. He thought of his past, his father, Mikage and Ayannami. He heard screams and woke to see a number of young nuns who were aghast to see him on the floor. They carried him off to his room and got him to take medication. Teito did not believe that people would help him for no reason and that Mikage was the one who had saved him. In the room, Ayannami questioned Mikage his reason to save Teito to escape.

Next day, Teito woke to find his wounds gone and he wandered in the new place. He saw a group of people walking past. Teito sat under the tree, thinking of his past when Ayannami killed his father. He saw a lady pleading a priest to heal her son. He saw the mark on his chest and agreed immediately. He overheard other people saying that people who had the marks were known to trade their souls with the devils for three wishes. The lady who carried her son thanked the priests for their help. Teito overheard the people mentioned something of seven ghosts. He entered the library to read on the seven ghosts when a puppet faced nun faced him. He fell off and a priest saved him in time. He told Teito that the puppet nun was his masterpiece. The priest showed him a book with bikini girls. The priest was being hit by other priest's puppet nun. Later, the two priests told him of a event many years ago of two kingdoms which possessed a powerful eye each. To possess the eye of another kingdom, they entered wars. Teito wanted to know the truth as he ran off. He wanted to know why his father was killed when he saw the statue of death god with another statues. A nun chatted with him and told him that it was one of the guardian of the church. She told him that seven guardians had stopped the death god which created havoc. She showed him around and told him that it was the zone of God and did not belong to anyone. Before them were all the priests. Flashback, snow was falling. His father was hugging him. It was dusk, Teito was looking at the plants when he saw one of the priests - Labardor manipulating the flowers. He noticed and presented a flower to Teito. Above, two other priests watched in amusement.

In the dark place, Ayannami threatened Mikage of hurting his family if he continued to protect Teito.

Shangri-La #02:

Explosions as 3 reactor broke down. The military was confused with the sudden attacks. The 2nd reactor was being shut down. Kuniko and the others ran around checking for status and evacuating the other occupants. The city was in chaos and some residents blamed Kuniko for the attack.

In a quarter, a woman - Ryoko slapped her subordinate as she enquired on identity of the fighters in the city. The subordinate volunteered to go to the forest to investigate the military when Ryoko made things difficult for his younger brother. Later, in the city, Kuniko and others discussed on the aftermath of battle and Kuniko wanted to join in the fight. Momoko wanted to go with Kuniko to protect her. They set off with other people. In a dark room, a girl - Karin was doing her MEDUSA program on the computer while chatting with friends online. Karin commanded her program to find the carbon weak spot on the world wide web. Karin commanded her online friends to do the necessary buy-in and sell the shares, thus earning a lot of money. All of them vanished offline with that.

Other place, the royalty girl - Mikuni was enquiring on her sigli while her followers fussed over her. One of them made her unhappy and Mikuni killed her with her mind with indifferent expression. Other place, Kuniko and others were making their way with air masks to investigate the other side of a submerged city. They came to a wild vegetation land. They saw the military already there and hid behind the trees. One of the miltary already found them and pointed his rifle at them. Momoko distracted him and they fled from the pursuing military. Kuniko questioned one of the military why his sword resonsed with her grandmother's knife. She ran off. Later, Momoko told Kuniko off for taking off her protective gear as they left. Same time, the military knew the Metal-Age people were there earlier. They did not find anything. In an office, some people were discussing about carbon-less attacks.

In Duomo, the people suspected the military was using their homeland as test subject for a weapon. Outside, the people of Duomo were looking forward to lucky draw. Momoko was telling his/her friend - Tetsuo about Altas when Tetsuo was being selected to go to Altas.

Meanwhile, Ryoko entered a red hall full of eyes on the walls to look for Lord of Altas, telling him of the resonance of seals.

Mobile Suit Gundam 00 Soundtrack:

Also found this.

07-Ghost #01:

A flashback, a boy was looking up at a man. The city was in ruins outside the building. The boy - Teito woke, confused of the identity of the man in his dream when his friends rushed him out for the day. The kids were elite group in a military school. In the hall, they assembled. The elite students had special abilities. The city appeared futuristic and peaceful. From school, Teito and his friend - Mikage watched the plane outside and spoke of their dreams. Teito had no recollection whom his family was as he had lost all his memories. Later, Teito and Mikage duelled to prepare for their final exams. Teito won.

That night, Teito and Mikage chatted about their past. Teito told Mikage that before he came to the school, he was a slave who was to fight to his death until the school chairman - Miroku took him in. Mikage was happy that Teito spoke so openly about himself and sworn that both of them would go through the exam smoothly.

Next day, the students were being assigned to different teams for exams. A student - Shuri taunted Teito for his ex slave identity before walking away. In the hall, Teito and others were to kill a criminal to pass the exam. The criminal was taller and larger than them and he was fast. He begun to attack the students. Outside, the senior military people were talking. In the exam hall, Shuri was panicking and pleaded to leave while his followers were being tossed around. The criminal attacked him. Teito saved him in nick of time and fought the criminal with Mikage bravely. Teito managed to subdue the criminal but the senior military - Ayanami killed the criminal and taunted Teito for being soft. That night, Mikage told Teito that including both of them, only 19 students passed. Mikage was proud of Teito for not being a killer. In the middle of the night, Teito dreamt again of the same man who promised to come for him one day. Redness covered him.

Next day, the students were schooling as Teito thought of his dream. He sensed something and heard sound. Someone was talking behind the door. It was Ayanami who was ordering for the finding of a stone - The Eye of Mikaru. Teito recalled something in his dream. In his dream, a plane as well as a troop of people were coming for him and the man - his father. One of the man in the troop was Ayanami who killed his father before his eyes. Teito whimed in pain and he entered the room attacking Ayanami. A man appeared and defeated Teito instantly. Ayanami questioned him and remembered Teito as a former slave. Teito was dragged to a cell and chained up. Teito's belongings was searched. Mikage was told of the incident. He ran to look for Teito. He entered the cell and saw Teito covered in blood of the warders. Mikage pulled Teito and fleed together with him. Teito begged the divine to protect Mikage as they were faced with oppositions. Teito tried to prevent Mikage from being criminal by taking Mikage hostage and escaped by himself on a plane. Ayanami watched him and attacked the plane from the balcony.

COMMENT: Looks good enough with quality rival that of D.Gray Man's. Will consider continue with it. The OP is pretty nice too. The opening is 'Hiiro no Kakera' by Suzuki Yuki and the closing is 'Hitomi no Kotae' by Noria

Shangri-La #01:

A girl - Kuniko was being released from her confinement and was fetched by a group of people who ranted over their anxieties over her. They headed to Duomo. Everywhere, the cities were in ruins, covered in algae. Many towns were half submerged in the sea as they rode on a boat. Kuniko ran around the town happily. Along the way, people greeted her warmly. In a place, a woman - Ryoko was being attended by her servants while she enquired on news of the moon and other matters including Kuniko's current whereouts. On the road, a couple were being taken away for blocking a royalty girl's path. Meanwhile, Kuniko was yelling to the world of her return. In a place, some people from the top were discussing on taxation on emission of carbon dioxide in Japan as they were questioned by a girl via a computer. The people were being told off for using cheap labour and being irresponsible for carbon dioxide emission. They begun to argue over some proposals to give in to the girl's MEDUSA plan. The politician finally gave in to the girl's plan. In her room, a little girl was playing with her teddy bear after her successful negotiation for wealth. Ryoko talked to her people of Metal-Age which was an anti-government organsiation. In other place, Kuniko was chatting with a woman who had fetched her earlier. They saw some factories emitting carbon dioxide and went to stop the situation. They told Tehiksho off for the carbon emission. All of them were alerted of arrival of military which promptly bombed the city. The people were Altas Military. Kuniko ran of to deal with them. The military knew she was Digma 2. She tried to talk them off and had to dodge off their bullets. The woman whom she talked earlier came to her aid. As Kuniko struck, the three knives held by different people (Tehiksho's knife that represented head of Metal Age, a royal girl and Ryuko) all over the world vibrated. Kuniko felt the noise familar.

COMMENT: The two ladies who fetched Kuniko were voiced by men, wonder if the characters are men in fact. Argh.. Anyway, the anime looks better than that Samurai anime I've watched the night before. This anime is promoting environmental danger if carbon dioxide is emitted too much.

Phantom - Requiem for the Phantom #01: The Awakening

An assassin was carrying out a mission.

Flashback, he woke to find himself in a room, losing his memories. Other place, a woman - Lizzie told another woman - Kuro off in her job as bodyguard. In a lab, two men were examining a subject - the assassin. In a rundown building, the assassin was moving through the corridor. In the lab, the two men were observing his activity. A girl was being summoned to carry out her task to test the assassin. She shot him. He ran. At the brink of his death, he reached his sub conscious and defeated the girl, slashing away part of her mask and remembered seeing her somewhere before in the past. Flashback, a girl was begging for answers of the world on a swing in playground. Back to present, the assassin stopped himself from stabbing the girl as her mask fell away. He left the building and saw the barren land outside. He yelled for answer to his name and the girl told him that he was Zwei and she was Ein. She shot him and he collapsed. The people and a lady - Kuro approached them, marvelling over Zwei's ability. Ein was being summoned back to work as Phantom.

Back to present, Ein and Zwei were carrying out their assassin mission in the estate. Their target was shot after Ein told him that they were phantom - Inferno's top assassins. From afar, Lizzie returned back to her relaxation. In a room, Kuro announced that another miafia was destroyed so that they could bring about a new order. In the airport, some men were approaching the custom. In a building, a girl was looking out of window. In the city, Ein and Zwei were riding in a car, remembering their identity as just puppets.

COMMENT: This anime plot and arts style reminds me of 'Darker than Black', except the songs aren't as good.