Ep 162: The White Noroimusha

At night a man is being carried in a palanquin by several servants. A mysterious armored and masked samurai appears on top of the roof. The guards attack but he disappears. He reappears and jumps on top of the palanquin then lowers himself to ask the bald man was it he who killed him. The man says he doesn’t know anything then the samurai disappears. He may be the Noroimusha (cursed warrior).

Meanwhile back in Konoha, Naruto dangles upside down from Sandaime’s monument’s nostril and Kakashi discusses a mission with Tsunade and Shizune requested by Bird Country, a remote place. A ghost called Noroimusha has been creating a commotion outside the palace. Tsunade says she told them they don’t do exorcisms but…flashback to a young man with glasses offering a paltry sum then taking out a dagger to apparently cut himself but instead takes out another money bag with his own paltry savings. Tsunade tells Kakashi the other jounin are away on missions.

Meanwhile Naruto sneezes at the ramen stand and the guy with glasses watches hungrily as Naruto eats his ramen. Naruto treats him to (six bowls!) ramen and now his purse is empty. The young man from Bird Country is called Chishima and he explains how he used up his money for the mission.

The Bird Country Feudal lord is his friend. They’re the same age and were raised as siblings. Sabi was appointed the Feudal lord last year when his father Oowashi died from illness. His twin sister passed away soon afterwards and since then Sagi became a different person and won’t see him. Naruto thinks of Sasuke and resolves to help.

Naruto accuses Tsunade of taking the money and refusing the mission and calls her an old hag. She punches Naruto and Chishima can hear a scream but Kakashi reassures him. Tsunade’s waiting for Neji to return from his mission and along with Tenten and Naruto they’ll go as a 3 man team since Lee is on a mission with Gai. She tells Naruto the mission involves a ghost and he gets very scared.

As the team leaves for Bird Country, Kakashi appears to follow along.

During a break, Chishima wolfs down his food and asks for more. Neji asks him about Bird Country. Chisima says the capital spreads out next to Wataridori Lake. Since the previous feudal lord died there as been a lot of debate. His son Sagi and the former strategists, Koumei were placed in the current legislature. Koumei was opposed to Sagi becoming the feudal lord because he was too young. But Sagi became feudal lord with the help of the grand Mousou. Less than half a year passed when his sister Toki died. Sagi became cold, locking himself in his mansion and not coming out for festivals. In the spring Noroimusha began appearing. Those at the main house were killed by Oowashi who may be Noroimusha searching for the one who killed him to extract revenge. Naruto is scared but Neji doesn’t believe in ghosts. He says Mousou had the most to gain. But Chishima defends him. Tenten thinks it’s Koumei who assassinated the feudal lord but failed to take his place. Chisima agrees.

At night a guard reports to Koumei that there’s nothing unusual around the perimeter but then he hears someone approaching and reaches for his sword. The ghost appears.

The team enters the village racing toward Mousou‘s house. Meanwhile guards see the ghost appear and disappear at Koumei’s house. From a distance the team sees the search lights and the ghost. Neji, Tenten and Naruto run toward the ghost which disappears near an old building. Neji turns on his byakugan and sees nothing unusual, no human aura.The doors of the old building opens and the ghost appears. Naruto throws kunias into the ghost. Tenten releases a scroll and smears blood to summon Kusari Fuubou (Chain Wind staff). She takes off its head and light emanates from the neck as it continues to advance. Naruto performs kage bunshin and attacks the ghost with his Uzumaki Naruto rendan. The armor shell falls apart. Naruto picks up a piece and realizes the armor is empty and it’s a real ghost!

Reviews: Potentially interesting.

Notes: Bird Country is between Earth and Wind countries. Remote and suffers from economic problems.

Thoughts: "Those at the main house were killed by Oowashi who may be Noroimusha searching for the one who killed him to extract revenge" makes more sense if the names were switched around. Probably a translation mistake.