Hajime no Ippo (Fighting Spirit) Chapter 1027

Hajime no Ippo (Wikipedia)

Weekly Shōnen Magazine (Japanese Website)

"A Visible Inevitability"

09/05/2013

*Spoiler*

The title for this chapter sounds extremely ominous for Itagaki. The title applies directly to Itagaki's ability to still see the punches coming from Imai, but his inability to dodge them, thus "Visible Inevitability." However, I'd like to propose another theory. I think this is also an indication that it is visible to everyone else watching the fight that it is inevitable that Itagaki will lose.

He has made several mistakes leading up to the fight in not training as seriously for Imai as he should have. He is also making mistakes here during the fight. He is trying to duke it out with Imai in the corner, and that is a huge mistake. Itagaki does not have the power nor the endurance to get into an in-fight with Imai. Even Takamura is worried for him, and you know that spells trouble since Takamura isn't usually too concerned with what the "small fries" are doing.

Itagaki has even lowered his guard to taunt Imai in. This is another mistake. Itagaki lands a solid uppercut using a counter, but he simply doesn't have the power to knock Imai back, let alone knock him down. Imai simply keeps pushing him forward, trapping him in the corner. At this point, Itagaki should just fall to his butt on the mat, take the down and the lost points and allow the fight to reset in the center of the ring. If he were to do that, he could still have a chance to win this fight.

It doesn't look like that's going to happen nor does it look like he will escape the corner. Things are looking bad for "Chronos." Will he lose this fight? It sure seems like he will.

Keep reading and find out.

P.S. I've included a link below where you can pick up the Hajime no Ippo anime in advance of Season 3 coming out this fall. Unfortunately, I do not think that the manga been released in the United States, so I don't have any link for that.

Hajime no Ippo Anime (Amazon)

Naruto Chapter 645

Naruto (Wikipedia)

Weekly Shōnen Jump (Japanese Website)

"Two Powers..!!"

09/05/2013

*Spoiler*

In this week's chapter we get to see Naruto and his father, Minato, bonding even more. But more importantly, we get to see them fighting together. That's what everyone has been waiting for since Naruto the manga started. Minato has now been around for several chapters, but this chapter spent a lot of time highlighting their fighting together, especially their use of Senjutsu.

We discover that only Senjutsu seems to be effective against Obito. That is very fortunate for the "good guys" as Naruto is able to use sage techniques. Now, Naruto and Minato can combine their attacks against Obito to actually have an effective weapon. Also, we learn another important thing this chapter, it is possible for Naruto to use both Senjutsu and Kurama's chakra simultaneously. Naruto only had difficulty doing both before because Kurama was jealous and didn't want to share his chakra with Naruto if Naruto was using Senjutsu at the time.

I must say, Naruto's and Kurama's relationship together is hilarious, adding some comedic relief in this very, very long ninja war. Kurama can act upset, but he obviously cares a lot about Naruto after all of their time spent together.

So, what does a combination of Kurama's chakra from both Minato and Naruto plus Senjutsu equal? Well, a joint Naruto-Minato Senjutsu/Kurama Chakra powered Rasengan (try saying that three times fast). It is a strong attack, but Obito still manages to block it with his very powerful black shield.

One odd thing about the chapter is Minato's reaction to fighting alongside Naruto. He compares it to the feelings he had when fighting with his wife. Now, I don't have a son, but I wonder if I would feel the same nostalgia that I felt when with my wife. I mean, maybe it's possible? But I doubt it.

Anyway, we come to the end of this chapter with Naruto and Minato creating a joint Senjutsu filled Bijudama. At the same time Obito has begun the Infinite Tsukuyomi! Will their attack hit in time? Will the entire world be stuck in Genjutsu forever?

Come back next week and find out!

One Piece Chapter 720

One Piece (Wikipedia)

Weekly Shōnen Jump (Japanese Website)

"Prisoner Gladiators"

09/04/2013

*Spoiler*

So, now we have the results for the first three blocks:

A - "Champion" Jesus Burgess, from Blackbeard's Crew
B - "Cannibal" Bartolomeo, the Super Rookie
C - "Lucy" (Luffy)

Block D will soon have the fight to determine its champion, but there will be a delay due to Luffy's last fight destroying the ring. Pretty convenient for them though to have a spare ring available. I wonder if the ring that has happened before?

Cavendish continues his vendetta against Luffy, after finding out Luffy's true identity, and attacks him in the hall. Cavendish is extremely jealous of Luffy's fame and also hates him and all of the other Super Rookies from the "Worst Generation" aka the 11 Supernovas. Nothing much comes of the fight and eventually Luffy runs off with Rebecca, who helps him hide.

We get a little bit of information on Bartolomeo's personality, which is actually quite funny. Apparently he is Luffy's biggest fan. I'd go so far as to call him a "fanboy," since he's such a big fan of Luffy's that he can't even bring himself to speak with him face-to-face.

As Luffy escapes, we get a little confrontation with Burgess who has Blackbeard on the Den Den Mushi. Of course Burgess and Blackbeard simply harass Luffy after discovering his true identity. They plan to lay claim to Ace's devil fruit. Can Luffy stop them?

Two more things are revealed in this chapter. First, that Rebecca, after failing to kill Luffy, is basically a prisoner of the colosseum. She, along with other wounded gladiators, are kept prisoner until they can win 1,000 battles. That, of course, is impossible, so they are essentially kept as prisoners and forced to fight until they die. It appears that this is not the way it used to work before Doflamingo. That's why Rebecca wants the devil fruit, to have the power needed to defeat Doflamingo. We also learn that Rebecca knows the toy soldier, Mr. Soldier. Clearly they have/had some kind of relationship. Maybe she knew him when he was still a man?

That was a long chapter. What will happen next? Will Luffy help the gladiators? Who will win Block D?

Keep reading and find out.

Hajime no Ippo (Fighting Spirit) Chapter 1026

Hajime no Ippo (Wikipedia)

Weekly Shōnen Magazine (Japanese Website)

"Grind"

09/02/2013

*Spoiler*

So, this chapter is pretty short by Ippo standards. Not a lot happens except for one major event: Imai & Itagaki have a dual exchange with powerful blows.

Itagaki takes a massive punch to the body while Imai takes an uppercut to the chin. Itagaki had already taken a heavy body blow at the beginning of the fight, so this may really mount some lasting damage. Also, if you look at both of the fighters, who benefits more from a dual exchange? The answer is obviously Imai.

This sort of corner slug-fest is exactly what Imai wanted. Itagaki played right into it by allowing himself to get trapped.

Will Itagaki pull this one out, or will Imai, the in-fighter, get the upset?

Keep reading and find out.