WSR 12-23-13

Disclaimer: These aren’t official translations, merely scanlations. Buy localized or original manga to support the author if at all possible. Know the difference between piracy/theft and sharing without personal profit.

Next week might be the actual week I take off, since we managed to get Weekly Shonen Jump’s issues before they take their official break which is the week of New Year’s. I’m also thinking of adding another series into the lineup (crazy, I know), called Seven Deadly Sins. It’s very new (started about mid-late 2012) and I’m all caught up. If anyone’s read Kongou Banchou, it’s by the same guy and I highly recommend it even if you don’t read that part of the blog posts when I start including it. Here’s to another year of this idea I started in the middle of 2013.

World Trigger 44

The Neighbor invasion starts, Osamu trying to keep things orderly. He directs the teacher to evacuate everyone, the students to help her, along with Chika and her Trigger, while Yuma’s to come with Osamu and stop the Neighbors. Yuma gives Chika a mini Replica (which I believe he’s done before with Osamu), so that he can be contacted if Chika’s in danger. Yuma and Osamu activate their Triggers and move to the scene.

The Trion soldiers have split into 5 groups, so Border separates their major squads into 3 groups, Jin and Amo, our S class level Trigger users, left to the other 2 groups. The areas still have to be protected, so Kinuta and Fuyushima set up some defenses beforehand to stop the Neighbor soldiers. The traps worked, just long enough for the squads to arrive. The other squads are on their way as well, including Arashiyama and Kazama’s squads.

Meanwhile, Osamu talks with Replica and Yuma about the relative balance between the forces. The Neighbor forces have greater numbers, but they’ve split them up. Border has somewhat of an advantage because they knew ahead of time about the attack. But Yuma cautions against overconfidence, since these Neighbors probably are from the nation that sent invaders previously, so they know Border’s numbers. Ultimately, numbers can shift the battle in one side’s favor, which in this case could be the Neighbors’

Azuma’s squad finishes off a soldier, but then its’ revealed that there was a larger and more intimidating solder under its shell as the chapter ends.

Bleach 563

It seemed like Mask de Masculine was defeated last chapter, but it turns out he was merely wounded, which he manages to close by flexing his abs, apparently. He insists it’s not over yet, calling out to James’ corpse, which manages to regenerate into a bunch of smaller James, crying out to further power him up. The cheers power him so much that his muscles rip off his clothes, leaving him in a typical wrestler’s speedo, both that and his mask now black instead of white.

Mask remembers having beaten Renji and compliments him on getting this strong, attacking with Star Lariat, his supposed ultimate technique, which manages to push Renji back. Mask relishes in the new power he has, as Renji flies back. He reveals what I believe is his Vollstandig, similar in general appearance to the others, at least with the wings and halo and uses what is his true ultimate attack, Star Flash Supernova.

But the chapter ends as Renji is virtually unscathed and Hihiou Zabimaru is out, revealing itself from the cloud of dust as it settles. I predict Mask will be fully defeated next chapter. Though I could be wrong and Kubo could make this character like Szayelaporro in the Hueco Mundo arc.

Naruto 660

The Bijuu are being drawn in by Madara, Naruto trying to undo Kurama mode, but unable to because of the hold Madara has on Kurama through the Gedou Mazou’s chains.  Naruto pushes himself away, trying to get distance between himself and Madara. White Zetsu suggests that Madara should assimilate the other Bijuu since acquiring Gyuuki and Kurama is going to take longer. Madara agrees, starting with Shukaku, Gaara fighting back, breaking the chain, which stuns Shukaku.

Shukaku flashes back to when he taunted Gaara, saying he’d destroy all humans once Gaara goes to sleep, Gaara confused at Shukaku’s hatred towards humans, since he thought the Bijuu were meant to protect the village. We flash back further to the Jinchuuriki before Gaara, an old monk (possibly the first one, if I recall correctly), who Shukaku speaks harshly to as well. But the old man insists that it doesn’t matter if people hate him; as long as he has someone who knows of his existence as a human being and not a Jinchuuriki, he is happy.

The priest explains that the human heart has two levels: the inner and the outer, the latter being what most people show, potentially contradicting their true feelings. Shukaku thinks he sounds like the Sage of the Six Paths. The priest says that while Shukaku thinks he’ll never connect with a human, he believes that the Bijuu will, but only if he is willing to be open. He also notes that what is truly important in life is connecting hearts, explaining how the kanji for love that Gaara has on his forehead are the characters for heart and receive.

Back in the present, Shukaku sees Gaara continue to fight, Shukaku seeing Naruto and remembering that Gaara said that while he originally hated Shukaku, he appreciates him for allowing him to become friends with Naruto. White Zetsu observes that Gaara, no longer linked to Shukaku, has no reason to protect him anymore. Madara fires a blast from Susanoo, Shukaku blocking it from hitting Gaara. But Madara slices the two ends of the chains with the blade from Susanoo he fired, reconnecting the shackles. Gaara is knocked away and Shukaku tries to say that Gaara doesn’t have to fight anymore, but Gaara responds that since he’s no longer Shukaku’s Jinchuuriki, he has sought to become his equal and fight alongside him as a friend.

The Tailed Beasts are being drawn in and the chapter ends as Kurama hatches a plan, telling it to Gaara as he’s drawn out of Naruto, potentially leaving the future Hokage in mortal danger.

One Piece 733

We start with Rebecca fighting against a new opponent, Suleiman the Beheader, who also fights with a sword. He says his crimes were done for the sake of his country, mocking Rebecca for being insulted in her own. The other contenders include Orlumbus (who looks a lot like Brownbeard), Cavendish, Mummy and Damask, Rebecca wondering where the Thunder Soldier is.

We shift to the underground port, Usopp almost caught, but the gnomes save him at the last second, showing both their speed in taking off the guard’s clothes and strength in knocking them out with a single blow to their heads. It’s established that the toy soldier will take advantage of the chaos when they defeat Sugar and kill Doflamingo. Usopp manages to get some courage and push forward, the gnomes leading the way to the main HQ, where Sugar is.

A group of grunts take the elevator up, the toy soldier sneaking on and makes to commandeer it with his fighting skills. He flashes back to when he taught Rebecca, who didn’t want to hurt people, but Soldier insisted that she had to learn in case he wasn’t there, and more importantly, because his toy body would eventually rust and break apart. He does fight similar to Rebecca in a way, not using his gun to fire at them, but smack them with the butt of it, knocking them out without excessive violence.

The chapter ends as it seems all the fighters in D Block have fallen unconscious suddenly, as if affected by Emperor’s Haki. But someone has managed to stay up, but their identity is unknown.

Toriko 263

We see Komatsu telling Midora that Toriko will save him and Midora seems to remember his name.

The scene shifts to Toriko, weeks later, looking for Komatsu and he’s still not hungry. Suddenly a huge amount of people remind him of all the ingredients he’s found and how he touched their lives, making them better in some way for them or their loved ones. Toriko is praised as the greatest Bishokuya of the Gourmet Age and he remembers Jirou asking him about his dream, which he recalls: to complete his full course and share it with the world. Suddenly, he becomes hungry and shares a meal with everyone. He’s inspired now to help others as a Bishokuya, as Jirou encouraged him with the claim that Bishokuya remain who they are throughout their lives. He tells everyone that he’ll collect more ingredients for them

The next scene concludes the chapter as Toriko entering Gourmet World. He fires a Fork that goes across a good portion of Gourmet World, showing off various beasts and closing in on the Battle Wolf. The chapter ends as Toriko enters Gourmet World for real this time and we’re told that this is the end of the Human World arc. This means that after this, I would presume the central focus will be on the much more expansive and vast Gourmet World and all the adventures our characters have discovering the secrets it holds. Hard to imagine this series only started 4-5 years ago.