Ep 163: Strategist: Koumei’s Schemes

The team kneels in waiting for Moushou. Naruto notes that the place is very bare and plain. Moushou comes in and Tenten,Neji and Chi kowtow while Naruto says the guy looks like he runs a dango shop. Neji forces Naruto to kowtow too. But Moushou kowtows to them asking for their help.

The team has lunch and discusses the case and how Koumei is a suspects since he wanted to be the next feudal lord. Tenten points out that the ghost also appeared to him but Neji thinks it was just to divert attention from him. Naruto rants about capturing Koumei but Neji syas there’s no evidence then asks Chishima for a meeting with the feudal lord but Chishima says Sagi won’t meet with anyone.

They hide in the grass to stake out a lake where Sagi and his sister used to play on the chance that Sagi will visit. Sagi arrives in a palanquin carried by oxen. Neji feels a murderous intent and activates his byakugan but sees nothing suspicious. He thinks it might be coming from below. Three assassins come out from under the water but Neji , Tenten and Naruto quickly take care of the threat. The assassins escape back to the water and Naruto follows but Neji calls him back before an explosive tag in the water explodes.

Chishima introduces the team to Sagi but he says it’s none of their business. Naruto rants about friendship but Sagi says that’s all in the past and leaves. The team notices the differently shaped shuriken used by the assassins. Chishima says although there are no ninja in Bird country, the garrison receives special training and Koumei is in charge of the garrison. The team stakes out Koumei’s house then follows him to the abandoned temple where the ghost appeared the night before. The ghost appears and Naruto attacks. Tenten throws two explosive tags but the ghost is unaffected. The ghost twirls his sword and a tornado appears. Neji’s byakugan sees hidden shurikens (shuriken kage bunshin). Neji uses hakkeshou kaiten to deflect the shurikens and says that it’s not a ghost, it’s a shinobi in armor. Tenten attacks the tornado with her weapons but they’re deflected. Then Naruto comes out from the ground and lands an uppercut to the ghost’s jaw. Neji can now use jyuukenhou, hakke rokujyou yonshou. The ghost falls back and collapses but when Naruto tries to remove the mask, purple gas comes out of the mouth then a pool of green liquid and the armor falls empty to the ground.

Koumei is questioned by the guards who found white armor in his storeroom. They arrest him and lead him away while the team watches. Neji is still suspicious since the two ghosts were different.

Review: Some nice strategy and action and plot is coming along.

Notes:

First ghost simply disappeared after the team’s attack and did not use ninjutsu. Second ghost summoned a tornedo and used gas to hide its escape. Both ghosts left armor behind.

Thoughts:

Neji was unable to see the assassins under water even with his 360 degree vision. Plot hole or because he was too far away from the lake or maybe at his angle the ground was in the way?