Nabari no Ou – 07

「決する心」 (Kessuru Kokoro)
“Determination”

After informing her subordinates of a Nabari world job, Oda Yae, leader of the Togakushi, and newcomer Katou Sourou head off to Banten village. At Miharu’s okonomiyaki store, Kumohira thinks something has happened to Miharu and that he’s been told not to talk, but Miharu brushes aside his questions with his “technique“. While Kumohira tells Miharu that he doesn’t want to take away his freedom or worry his grandmother with all the Nabari world affairs, he feels that he hasn’t been able to do anything properly thus far, so Miharu tells him to just continue sticking (i.e. flirting) with him to protect him as promised. When Kumohira says that’s disturbing and that he’s been naive so far in his thinking, Miharu simply tells him it’s okay if he remains naive like that and that the Kairoushuu won’t go after him for the next while according to Yoite. Hearing this, Kumohira wishes that Miharu would rely on him more, but Miharu simply says that no one even knows what he’ll do when the time to claim the Ruler of Nabari comes.

At school, Kouichi is trying to discuss the whereabouts of the kinjutsusho, but no one seems to be listening. Shortly after, Yae and Sourou arrive, the former of which surprises everyone with her ability to read their minds. While Yae starts talking about how they are feigning innocence or bearing hatred, she begins to mention how Kumohira carries memories that he wants no one to know about, but Kumohira stops her with a kunai at her throat. Realizing that the naive Kumohira would’ve stopped his attack anyway, Yae introduces herself as the leader of the Togakushi and president of the employment agency Fog Blue, and then insists on their cooperation.

After Sourou introduces himself as the assistant director of public relations, he tells everyone about a corporate meeting that’s coming up. At this meeting, Yae wants them to assassinate the CEO of a conglomerate, Eugene Frosty, whose company’s front is chemical energy development, but actually has military intervention in third world countries where they also perform human experiments. Since Frosty is always a target for assassination, Yae informs the others that he’s always surrounded by a group of elite Kairoushuu bodyguards. If Kumohira and the others are able to successfully assassinate Frosty though, Yae is willing to offer them the Togakushi kinjutsusho, the Idzuna Shingan, as compensation. She claims that they don’t want to face the other villages later on and get caught up in all the Shinrabanshou business, so holding onto the kinjutsusho is only a demerit. Also, even without it, she can already use the Idzuna Shingan. After a bit of back and forth threatening on exposing their secrets, Yae uses her kinjutsu on Miharu and finds out some of his inner thoughts, including how the death of his mother made him apathetic. When Yae suggests that he use the Shinrabanshou to retrieve some lost memories, Miharu is visually troubled, so Raimei and Kouichi decide to intervene. Unbeknowst to them though, the Shinrabanshou has already overpowered Yae’s kinjutsu leaving her defenseless, but Kumohira steps in to stop their attacks. He also agrees to undertake the deal on his own accord.

Yae and Sourou then catch a flight to a meeting, while Raimei heads back to Fuuma village after getting a call from Saraba about information on Raikou. In Raimei’s case, the others encouraged her to go, including some strong words from Miharu, saying her happiness is his happiness, only to be followed up by him saying he might die while she’s gone. While the remaining three are at the meeting site, Yae and Sourou soon show up, but Kumohira says he doesn’t see or sense any Kairoushuu. Realizing they could simply be hiding their presense, they make their way inside the building, where Yukimi and Yoite have already gone to help protect Frosty. Much to Yukimi’s disappointment though, him and Yoite are sent to just patrol the assembly hall since they look incapable. Meanwhile, Sourou has handed over a floorplan to Kumohiro, which includes the positions of the posted guards. Leaving an assassination attempt when Frosty leaves the building as a last resort, Kumohira instructs everyone to standby at the parking lot while he goes off alone, planning to complete the job on his own.

 

Next Episode:
「伝わる心」 (Tsutawaru Kokoro)
“Inherited Spirit” (lit. Handed Down Heart)

Impressions:
There wasn’t really any action this episode, but it does set things up for what’s to come. Yae was particularly interesting as she’s a somewhat righteous leader, unlike Kotarou. Given the picture in her cellphone (which I imagine is her daughter), I’m assuming Yae is more concerned about protecting lives than waging war in the Nabari world. As for her Idzuna Shingan, at first it seemed pretty powerful in either combat or retrieving information, but Yae later reveals that her range is limited to about a 3 meter radius. Regardless, her jutsu did reveal that Kouichi is hiding some secret as well, although he claims it’s not that big of a deal. Raimei’s evidently still troubled about her past with Raikou and the details we don’t know about, whereas Kumohira doesn’t want anyone to know about what happened that night he took off running with Miharu. Kumohira’s secret is evidently the biggest one though and I’m fairly certain the details of what happened that night are key to the overall story. As for when we find out more about it, I’m guessing it’ll be much later on.

It was nice to finally see the Shinrabanshou again and in particular, how its power compares to a kinjutsu. I was starting to miss Tamura Yukari‘s voice in this show, which echos an eery presence much like Furude Rika from Higurashi no Naku Koro ni. Given how much pain the hijutsu caused Yae after only upsetting Miharu a little bit, I can only imagine the kind of power he’ll release when he gets really angry. Since the anime is purposely refraining from depicting Miharu with any type of ninjutsu (as I found out from checking the first couple of volumes), I’m really looking forward to when he actually displays some abilities.

As for seiyuus, Oda Yae is played by the amazingly awesome Yukino Satsuki (Chidori Kaname in Full Metal Panic!, Kasukabe Saki in Genshiken, Shihouin Yoruichi (human) in Bleach, Sonozaki Mion/Shion in Higurashi no Naku Koro ni), whereas Katou Sourou is played by Kakihara Tetsuya (Simon in Tengen Toppa Gurran Lagann, Tachibana Kazuki in Dragonaut -The Resonance- (…ick), Fujioka in Minami-ke).

In the preview, it looks like Kumohira was unsuccessful in assassinating Frosty on his own and the attempt has shifted to the parking lot. It also looks like Miharu will finally display some of his powers as he stands up to what looks like Yoite’s Kira in order to protect Yae. Given how depressed Kumohira has been lately for being unable to carry through with his words, I’m kind of expecting him to do something fairly significant soon. As for Kouichi, he’s carrying a gun in the preview, so maybe he’s learned something from Yukimi. In any case, while I’ve enjoyed all the thorough plot and character development so far, it’s nice to see some action picking up again.

 

Cast:
– Rokujou Miharu (六条 壬晴) / Kugimiya Rie (釘宮 理恵)
– Kumohira Thobari Durandal (雲平・帷・デュランダル) / Namikawa Daisuke (浪川 大輔)
– Aizawa Kouichi (相澤 虹一) / Hino Satoshi (日野 聡)
– Shimizu Raimei (清水 雷鳴) / Fujimura Ayumi (藤村 歩)
– Yukimi Kazuhiko (雪見 和彦) / Tsuda Kenjirou (津田 健次郎)
– Shiratama (シラタマ) / Shindou Kei (真堂 圭)
– Shinrabanshou (森羅万象) / Tamura Yukari (田村 ゆかり)
– Oda Yae (織田 八重) / Yukino Satsuki (雪野 五月)
– Katou Sourou (加藤 候) / Kakihara Tetsuya (柿原 徹也)
– Nowake Hideo (野分 英生) / Yamazaki Takumi (山崎 たくみ)
– Eugene Frosty (ユージン・フロスティ) / Kano Takehiko (假野 剛彦)
– Grandmother (祖母) / Takizawa Kumiko (滝沢 久美子)
– Fog Blue employee (フォグブルー社員) / Sudou Erika (須藤 絵理花)
– Fog Blue employee (フォグブルー社員) / Souma Yukito (相馬 幸人)
– Minister of Economy (経済産業大臣) / Suzumori Kanji (鈴森 勘司)
– Guard (警備員) / Fujii Keisuke (藤井 啓輔)