Lucky Star anime season 1. Happy Star

`Lucky Star` from the very beginning begins as a simple and typical school comedy that introduces us to four high school girls: Two sisters with different personalities - the twins Kagami and Tsukasa, the soft-spoken Miyuki from a wealthy family and the star of all otakus, Konata, an otaku girl. Throughout the series, the daily lives of the above-mentioned characters will follow. In which they will communicate and once again communicate with each other and with the world around them - which they will learn - improving themselves. Study simple things: study, play on the Internet/consoles with each other. Going to school, where it is tedious and boring, then going home, where parents and family are waiting school assignment. Spend holidays, chat on the phone, go to cafes, festivals and work. In general, conduct a typical daily life in which there are no special problems. That is, there are no problems with parents, teachers, students, boys This is probably why `LuckyStar` looks so bright and positive.

I watched the anime but didn't read the light novel (c)

In other words, `LuckyStar` Azumanga for otakus, or a series about otakus for otakus. In which there are a lot of references, parallels/hints/parodies, and all sorts of chatter with monologues about various anime, manga, console games and the like. For example, you can hear how Konata, trying to make excuses for being late, mentions a scene from `Kanon` in his story, or when Kagami gives an interview to see a parody of “Death-Note”. You can hear about “Full-Metal-Panic!”, `Code-Geass` and a bunch of other TV series. See cosplay on various characters, for example in episode 12 on Alphonse and Keroro from “Fullmetal-Alchemist”, Suiginto from “Rozen-Maiden”, the scene on the train - this is all in just one episode! Hear famous phrases from 'Pokemon' and 'Doraemon'. You can give a lot more examples, it’s easier to say that each episode is crammed with all sorts of interesting things, because Konata is an otaku all over the place, which means she is surrounded by her subculture everywhere, or she simply sees it in everything.

It is noteworthy that the main character is not imposed on the viewer. For some, it will be Konata living for pleasure, probably for many and the majority. After all, it is not even with her actions, but simply with her gaze that she seems to hypnotize and tie the viewer to the screen. It would seem that she is so ordinary, but at the same time so different, every viewer can see themselves in her behavior and lifestyle. Actually, as in the persistent, impetuous but at the same time romantic and sensitive Kagami, a simple-minded student who laments about her sister and devotes a lot of time to her studies. Therefore, in the series one can notice a formal confrontation between Kagami and Konata, who different goals and priorities in life, but at the same time they are united by friendship.

Separately, I would like to talk about Konata. In my opinion, Konata is a role model for many of today's and tomorrow's otaku. After all, for her age, she is not fanatical in her passions, not harmful, does not freak out, does not rush around everything and everyone, does not stomp her feet when they detain her favorite anime, when she can’t find figurines or manga, she doesn’t get angry about studying because she doesn’t have time for the accumulated unfinished games. But it is known that adolescence the most difficult period. Tell me that she doesn't pay attention to her studies? But nevertheless, she studies at a school for the gifted. Tell me that he doesn’t think about the future? But isn’t it normal for otakus to see themselves as a computer game designer or manga writer in the future? Of course it’s normal, it’s just that what they study at school will not be useful to her in her future, at least not in such quantities. And is it really bad to live for your own pleasure?

Many people criticize the series for the fact that there is no action and evil laughing villains. But why criticize `LuckyStar` for something that shouldn’t be in it, because the series is a comedy about everyday life of an otaku. There shouldn’t be any fur fighting and shonen components here, and of course maho-shojo. If you want to see magic and action, then watch anime of the corresponding genre. Otherwise, I can’t understand such criticism: oh, I watched 10 minutes of the first episode and fell asleep, it’s so boring And also, I want to talk about kawaii, some people say that this anime is mega-kawaii. I was thinking and I had a question, what is it? Yes, `LuckyStar` is colorful and rainbow-colored, and there is a cute design, the characters are all so charming that it’s a pleasure to look at them. But are these the main components of kawaii? It seems to me that the main components of kawaii are neko, ecchi, “nyaya” phrases, animals like Pikachu, and of course the plot slant towards romance/melodrama. `LuckyStar` doesn't have all this.

Drawing/painting, I won’t focus on it. I will only say that it is what it is, and in many ways specific. But what else should it be when the series itself is not banal? This kind of drawing is just right, I can’t imagine any other drawing. Therefore, I will not list the pros and cons. Let me note, perhaps, that it was not unknown and talented people from `Kyoto Animation` so at least it is of high quality, and whether you like it or not is purely a matter of taste and nothing more. I admire her, how did the creators manage to make the characters so charming that you can’t take your attention away from them?

I really liked the music for its unique parody. Why? Because the opening is parodied on `Kaibutsu-kun`, if you look closely you can see the style of a pin-up in the video. And in Eding, girls sing parody songs from famous anime series, mostly old classics, in the karaoke room. In general, I listen to OSTs from great joy, I especially liked the songs: “100%-nai.nai.nai”, “Kosutte!-Oh-My-Honey” and of course the catchy opening song “Motteke!-Sailor-Fuku”. The music is naive to some extent, but so positive! This kind of music will never spoil my mood and my ears will never wither. And as for the soundtrack, it is also wonderful, all the music is amazingly tailored to the angles that merge with the dialogues and always fits in different situations, in other words, all the components of the series live as a single whole and are interconnected. With the voice actor too full order, for example, Konata was voiced by Aya Hirano, yes, yes! The same one who voiced Haruhi from Suzumiya-Haruhi-no-Yuuutsu. The question is, what kind of criticism can there be against the voice actor? Only positive impressions!

`Lucky Star` is not just the best representative of its genre, but probably one of the brightest representatives of the anime movement as a whole. For me, after watching the series, I immediately fell in love with it and went down into the category of anime masterpieces. I don’t know, maybe I’m exaggerating, but that’s what I consider him to be. I am sure that in a couple of years the series will become a cult one. It’s not appropriate to recommend it to anyone; after all, it’s a specific thing, I’ll just say that every self-respecting anime fan should watch it, and I think otakus have already watched it more than once.

Around the time the Lucky Star series was being worked on, the Supreme Court of Japan, after numerous psychiatric examinations, confirmed the death sentence imposed by the Tokyo District Court on a certain Tsutomu Miyazaki (no relation). This fluffy-haired, ruddy, well-fed guy killed children with particular cruelty for two years - the details are so difficult that I will not give them. During his arrest, hundreds of copies of porn anime, porn manga and porn videos were confiscated - this is precisely the moment that was reflected in “Lucky Star” at the beginning of the seventeenth episode. The verdict of respectable citizens was unanimous: all otaku are potentially dangerous individuals. Aggressive ones should be avoided, and quiet ones can be ridiculed.

Authoritative voices from the Internet did not add much joy to the situation. Here, for example, is how the talented and well-informed Tomoyo Niyahyaptidat, a “scandalous character” and at the same time a regular author of Anime Guide, classifies otaku (you understand that it is not interesting to scandalize and shock the bien public for free):

-- "Manga-vota: they collect many volumes of their favorite manga, go to conventions to get sketches of their favorite mangaka, buy art books, try to draw themselves. They live in complete poverty and loneliness.
- Seiyuu-vota: they have sensitive hearing and can recognize their favorite seiyuu by voice. Since various events involving voice actors are constantly happening on Akiba, voice actors spend more time outside. In poverty and loneliness.
-- Tetsudo-vota: divided into two subspecies - train riders who love to ride shinkasen and electric trains various models, and train photographers, reverently capturing the objects of their adoration in complete solitude. And poverty.
-- Wow: as you might guess, they collect figurines of your favorite characters, which you need to put in your bed and pretend that you don’t live in complete poverty and loneliness.
- Aidoru-vota: they have unbearable trembling in their knees from their idols. Complete poverty and loneliness should be especially easy for Russian aidor-votak.
-- Cosplay vota: Thanks to the interest in otaku culture that arose in the mid-1990s, the cosplay industry experienced a real boom, and as a result, we have what we have - complete poverty and loneliness."

Like this. That's a cruel thing to say. And with a hint: they say, it’s a stone’s throw to a mental shift, and then to crime. Yes, yes, a cool otaku “...today he goes into cosplay, and tomorrow he will kill a girl,” as the patriarch of Russian anime studies Boris Ivanov sadly joked.

It is absolutely useless to explain here, as well as to sincerely prove that the problem is not in anime culture, but in hikikomoria, which cannot be treated with sake or vodka, but only with the most powerful antidepressants and only in a hospital. If in our country people usually become drunkards due to lack of demand from society, then in the East they easily kill their near and distant ones. There are a lot of people, hope for reincarnation rules, and human life not particularly appreciated. (In our country it is also “cheaper than radishes,” but for completely different reasons).

So what, one wonders, should we do? Of course, you shouldn’t throw pearls in front of pigs or hamsters, but you need to somehow influence the smart and sensitive. And then the charming “Lucky Star” comes on stage!

Forgive me, but comparing this thing with something familiar is pointless - neither azumanga, nor marshmallow, nor pony-pony and other ladies and horses are not even close here. There is no need to blame the authors for shamelessly promoting Haruhi Suzumiya in all forms: “Lucky Star” is precisely a thing about otaku. More precisely, about one of them, which first appears in the frame in the opening. Konata Izumi -- remember the name of this girl with blue hair. Sooner or later, she will become the same indisputable symbol of anime that Rei Ayanami is now. Someday they will be depicted together: the slender brown-eyed Valkyrie Rey and the little green-eyed “fox” Konata...

But the series itself looks very difficult: personally, I was stuck tightly on the second episode - continuous bad yawning interfered with my viewing. One of the reasons is the dramatic change in the rhythm of the show: after a hurricane rap opening, you involuntarily expect a continuation in the “non-stop” style, but what you get is continuous conversations, and not even a la Tarantino, but, rather, like Lynch. That is, there seems to be a meaning, but it somehow slips away... I had to change my rules and go ahead of time here, to “World-art” (this is where the quintessence of the audience’s likes and dislikes) in search of a clue. And I received it in comment No. 35 (and don’t read No. 36 - this is an excess, voluntarism and provocation). Then, when Akira appeared on the screen with his “Lucky Channel”, I pressed “stop” and went to new series. And the series, having lost the second psychological “withdrawal”, flew easily and freely - three times in a row! Twice in its entirety, and the third time - selectively, delighting with more and more new discoveries.

Later I watched the “Akira show” separately - sorry, I won’t tell you for the whole of Odessa, but for me it’s superfluous. Unlike, say, the inserts in "Da Capo". Although, it is quite possible that this is a deep director’s idea that was simply too much for me.

"Lucky Star" from the very first frames habitually disguises itself as a somewhat abstruse school comedy: before us are four girlfriends of quite adult age: twin sisters Kagami and Tsukasa, rich Miyuki and the already mentioned Konata. All 24 episodes slowly tell about their relationships with each other and with the world around them - relationships in which there is not only any drama-tragedy, but also simply high-quality life tension. No problems with boys or teachers, no typical clashes between parents and children. Day after day, month after month - school, boring homework and inevitable exams, outfits, relaxation, personal hobbies, food...

Yes, of course, classic Japanese conversations about tasty and healthy food in any anime are simply obligatory, and eating Konata’s custard tube with cream, as many correctly noted, is simply mesmerizing (aimed... bitten... turned over... licked twice... .turned over... bitten... oh and ah!) But the point is not so much in the elegance of the process, but in Konata itself. Whatever this calm girl does with her pointed gaze, it has an almost hypnotic effect on the thoughtful viewer.

And of course, the authors are in no hurry to announce their main character(the main one in essence, and not in action! Konata is not at all the first among equals, but equal among the first) a complete otaku: no, for starters, she is just an ordinary lover of computer and console games. Only later, not immediately, does it become clear that schoolgirl Izumi collects collectibles related to anime. That's when the only confrontation in the series will emerge: Kagami Hiiragi - Konata Izumi. An ordinary woman versus an ordinary fan of the world of feelings and fantasies.

Isn't it new? How can I say it? You need to know how to cook such dishes very well, so that the usual, boring banality does not creep in from under the seasonings.

Here's a typical one American version: a blond girl with a spiritual face beyond her age (at the same time lame or stuttering), living in poverty with rude parents (father drinks, mother is a bourgeois), but has her own rich inner world. Then there are family conflicts, contempt from neighbors, misunderstanding and ridicule from peers. But our heroine steadfastly repels blows from outside with the help of her inner strength and thanks to the support of one cool boy who loves her (still unconsciously). As a result, after all the ups and downs, the heroine discovers some rare talent that helps her earn the respect and admiration of society, gain wealth and a handsome groom. Another version of Cinderella's adventures - ready, you can eat.

Russian version: a fair-haired girl with a spiritual face beyond her age (option: unremarkable), living in poverty with rude parents (her father drinks, her mother is a bourgeois), but has her own rich inner world. Then there are family conflicts, contempt from neighbors, bullying from peers - from all this our heroine escapes by fleeing to the World of Her Dreams, which she carefully hides from prying eyes. In the end, everything ends either tragically (the director harshly denounces the indifferent Society) or in an honorable draw (everyone is on their own: the Society continues to wallow like a pig in the daily dirt, and the heroine is left alone, physically crippled, but still morally resilient). The “scarecrow” is like a scarecrow - it’s cooked, eat to your health.

Oh, my Gods, what a blessing that there is nothing like this in the Japanese version...

There is nothing like it in "Lucky Star", in the blessed "Raki Suta"! There is Konata Izumi (once again: remember that name!), the most ordinary girl. Without much spirituality or talent. A typical Japanese woman is short, with small breasts (and without any hysterics about them). With a normal family and good friends. Moderately smart, slow-witted, kind and lazy. She loves PC gaming, anime and everything connected with it. She does not need to escape from reality into fictional worlds, just as she does not need to prove anything to anyone. She is balanced and completely self-sufficient - that’s the point. And happy!

The crafty Tomoyo and his comrades will probably persistently look for at least some kind of wormhole in Konata, defectiveness - and hello! Search with either a microscope or a mine detector. Still, you will not find any loneliness, no poverty, no Samoyed complexes. And you won’t find any hatred from the Society either (warfulness - yes, there is), because Izumi does not oppose himself to it. She simply loves.

This is the key theme for "Lucky Star". Although she is mentioned directly only once, when Kagami Hiiragi complains that she cannot win the TV lottery. “You don’t have enough love!” Konata answers her. “Be persistent and patient: after all, you are fighting for the right thing! Draw beautiful postcard or send them as many as possible, but signed by hand, and not multiplied on a printer..." - "What does love have to do with it?" - Kagami is naively surprised. And gets angry: what ridiculous advice her strange friend gave!

Yes, for her, although Konata fits in, she’s still strange. For for any average person, the material is always primary, and the spiritual is secondary, if at all it is at all valued. All hobbies that do not help you make money in one way or another are initially suspicious. “If you committed a crime, I wouldn’t be surprised!” the “correct” Kagami aggressively attacks her friend. Next, the camera shows us Konata’s frozen face for just a second, but this is enough to understand how hurt she is...

However, she was used to this kind of attitude. And often he flaunts his “unusuality” a little - he changes his naturally clear and sonorous voice to a hoarse lisp and generally pretends to be a “crank”. In fact, she is extremely intelligent - remember the clear instructions she gives to the Hiiragi sisters at the festival. And in addition - purely everyday valuable advice. And thermoses of coffee to refresh your strength...

In general, Konata is perhaps the only person in the series who simply lives for his own pleasure. The rest are always struggling with something and, as a rule, unsuccessfully. The teacher has a "feminine" transitional age"with a hopeless question: am I getting old? Rich Miyuki is struggling with ineradicable tooth decay. The quietest Tsukasa is in complete despair over the problem of sleep - how to sleep for a long time and manage to do everything? Poor Iwasaki-san... however, this is just a walking parody at Yuki Nagato, or rather, at her demeanor - here you can only smile and spread your hands. Kagami generally has an insoluble dilemma: a normal appetite or normal weight? And besides...

For the elder Hiiragi, it is extremely important that everything in the world obeys strict rules and laws. She, for example, sincerely does not understand how one can prepare for exams overnight - and when Konata somehow gets only three points less, Kagami exclaims offendedly: “But this is not fair!” She constantly “nags” her friend not from - because of increased bitchiness, but because she is convinced that excessive passion for anime will have a bad effect on her future. And so it is in everything. If the professions are only serious (lawyer, economist, philologist), if you are on an excursion, then don’t you dare smile, if visiting a patient at home - then again iron scheme: bow, flowers, gift, wish for a speedy recovery, school information, bow, farewell...

No, I do not intend to put some nasty label on Kagami: she is worthy and smart, and besides, she is in a difficult situation. marital status between harmful adult sisters and an infantile younger sister. She adores Tsukasa, does not tyrannize her, and accurately predicts her future: “Bride!” (and then housewife). But Kagami, oddly enough, is very uncomfortable in his “correct” world! She is tragically lonely, because “without love” (at least some kind!) She is the first to talk, first about the Princes-On-White-Horses, and then she is simply angry that “the guys don’t get along.” A mysterious date with a stranger at nine in the evening worries her to the core... everyone remembers what came out of it. Real Japanese world turns out to be extremely indifferent and soulless. And she is irresistibly drawn to the frivolous Konata, to her wonderful existence, in which, well, everything is done wrong, but where for some reason there is much more human warmth and joy. Kagami even prayed to the Gods that she would be allowed to study in the same class as Izumi, but fate did not. Barely holding back, trying not to “lose face” in front of her friends, she pretends that she is not at all upset... A strong girl.

Of course, I’m also not going to idealize the otaku world - it is, indeed, extremely diverse, which was well shown at the same festival. Frivolous drawings with the favorite characters of “Melancholia...”, to put it mildly, did not please, although after the porn galleries of “Sailor Moon” and “Evangelion” it is already difficult to surprise. [True, it did work out recently, when at one of the auctions I saw hentai doujinshi for the “Rosen Maiden” I adore (from Akihabara, of course, Shinku and Monster) for only 15 dollars - 2007, almost fresh. And it’s not a boy - I saw Snow White in bed with dwarfs and I’ve long known that nothing sacred exists for commerce, but it was still a good shock...] However - and this is key number two - “Lucky Star” gently, unobtrusively, quietly convinces us (or the Japanese, right?) what a Civilized Otaku should be. Using Konata Izumi as an example, of course!

By some miracle, she managed to bypass the most unpleasant fan age (it’s not for nothing that it’s nicknamed “puppyhood”), when you have to be a fan with squealing, yelling, stomping, showing off - and not so much for the sake of admiration for the idol, but for unconscious self-promotion. No, our heroine always respects the object of her passion - this can be seen at least at the “live” concert of Haruhi Suzumiya. Little Konata just can’t see the voice actor because of the powerful back of the screaming “puppy,” although it would be easy for her to jump up with her feet on the seat and also jump and scream until she’s stupefied - and don’t care about the protests, we’re fans! Nothing like this! Convinced of the impossibility of seeing what is happening on stage, Izumi slumps in her chair with a frustrated sigh until the sensitive Kagami drags her by force to an empty seat. Next a short skit it’s simply impossible to forget: Konata sits without moving, with wide with open eyes, and in her brilliant gaze there are tears of indescribable admiration and happiness...

A feature of temperament, you say? Natural restraint? Perhaps, but she’s only seventeen! And the excited crowd around, even the restrained Hiiragi is almost dancing! But Konata, a lover of all kinds of jokes, provocations and practical jokes, is restrained in her feelings, like the “shadow samurai” from the film Yoji Yamada. And after the concert, she is the only one of her friends who walks in silence and does not exchange impressions, because everything was too serious for her. As it should be for a true otaku.

But a True Otaku must also be ready to make sacrifices for the sake of his love. Izumi’s family is quite wealthy, the father, a writer, dotes on his daughter, so Konata could easily drag and pull money from him. But she finds herself a job - and not for a month, but for a year! Moreover, one where you need to perform talented theatrical performances every minute, every hour, despite your own mood and well-being. After this, all accusations of laziness disappear. Oh, yes - doesn’t Konata constantly copy Kagami’s homework? Well, this is because she (like all normal, intelligent schoolchildren) is simply bored of wasting energy on something that will definitely not be useful in life. In any case, for the planned future profession, a “storyboard artist” will definitely not be required.

In general, "Lucky Star" (as, by the way, "Melancholia...", and "Bincho-tan", and "Aria", and "Kodomo no Jikan") is a very instructive spectacle for the Japanese mono-nation. On the one hand, it should somewhat calm the philistine passions about “these wild otakus,” and on the other hand, it should show the otakus themselves, if not their ideal, then certainly a role model.

And finally one little lesson, which I personally learned from what I saw. Once, a lady I knew who came to visit me, seeing a branded suitcase for dolls from Rosen Maiden and learning its price, sarcastically inquired: “And what is the use of it for that kind of money?” (Almost exactly Kagami’s question from the third episode!) Confused, I couldn’t find anything better than to be rude: “What about your expensive luxurious chandelier? The light comes from cheap light bulbs built into it, and all these crystal pendants - what use are they?” They bring it to you?!” We parted coldly. Now, without hesitation, I would repeat the thought of Konata Izumi: “This is not just a thing, it is the object of my love. And not she, but I, it is I who must do something for her - care for, dust off, protect from sun rays and moisture. And admire her. That's all! "How simple - but it didn’t occur to me until I watched “Lucky Star”...

In general, sometimes the thought arises that all four main heroines (maybe it’s not for nothing that they are all left-handed?) are allegorically expressed four essences of one integral personality. Again, I judge by myself: last years There is a constant battle within me between Kagami's character and Tsukasa's melancholic goofiness. What I got from Miyuki, alas, was not wealth, but a panicky fear of dentists. Well, one can only dream of becoming as self-possessed and devoted to one’s passion as Konata...

Date of: Today, 00:23

A peculiar story about an extraordinary relationship in love triangle, when friendship grows... who will understand what? There is a plot here, but it’s strange. The guys were friends and friends, and then the girlfriends suddenly became girls of “common use” for some scary men? They seem to explain how this happened, but not very convincingly. The most bizarre thing here is that the girls seem to get involved, and they even like it! But why is the hero watching all this? But in principle, an explanation can be found: the girls were so exhausted from the desires that were unsatisfied due to the hero’s stupidity that they went into all serious troubles! This is such a drama - wonderful, sometimes heartbreaking. Some people won’t like it, but in fact it’s more likely to surprise or cause a malicious grin. There is a lot of intimacy here, he is energetic and not devoid of imagination. However, here one must not be too highly moral, and be able to look “from the outside”, without being imbued with the feelings of the hero (considering that he does not behave very adequately, this is not difficult). Interesting with...

Date of: Yesterday, 23:23

Ho Ro Sho. Beautiful story. Good music and the drawing is nice. More or less correct morality. Interesting scenes, a bit silly and predictable plot, but great atmosphere. They managed to create a world of killers in the real world, and respect to them for that. I didn't want to watch this title for a long time, but I finally watched it in one day. If you have nothing else to do, then this title is very good to watch. 7 out of 10 (Not bad)

Date of: Yesterday, 01:36

Tough guy, why did I even watch this? But in order: I won’t say that I wasted my time, and I didn’t watch through force. I will also note that the plot is extremely unusual, it is almost impossible to guess its twists. The art is on par, and the animation is much worse than the level of 2002, in principle it’s even watchable. But this is such nonsense that it’s scary to talk about... if you have nothing to do, you can look... although it’s better not to.

Date of: 27-02-2019, 17:31

Excellent and good anime, which leaves behind a lasting impression and joy. vital. Although the genre is more of a shoujo, I liked it as a guy, because sooner or later we will all become dads)) The drawing is truly original). I think this is an excellent example of the fact that children have their own world and opinion, and they are only taken into account good parents. I'm looking forward to the second season)

Date of: 27-02-2019, 05:12

I don’t know, maybe I’m already old or maybe adult life makes me look at things a little more realistically, but this story didn’t touch me at all. Yes, the story is not bad, but not the main characters and I liked their stories more) Minori Kushieda - The first on the list who appeals to my “I”. I like her cheerfulness, her abundance of love, her reasoning about all sorts of things, her point of view, you can say everything. It was always nice to watch her antics, and I worried about her relationships more than my own (ha, I don’t have a relationship). (spoiler) Yasuko (or Ryuji’s mother) is a very wise girl, each of her answers to this or that situation always hid the truth, maybe not everyone understood, but she reasoned very competently when her son was confused, but She didn't even get into it. And her story itself, about her failed personal life, career and everything according to the standard, as is accepted in society, all this only strengthened her and she did not break and raised a healthy boy) Kitamura- best friend gg, activist, athlete and...

In the world of Naruto, two years flew by unnoticed. Former newcomers joined the ranks of experienced shinobi at the rank of chunin and jonin. The main characters did not sit still - each became a student of one of the legendary Sannin - the three great ninjas of Konoha. The guy in orange continued his training with the wise but eccentric Jiraiya, gradually ascending to new level combat skill. Sakura became the assistant and confidant of the healer Tsunade, the new leader of the Leaf Village. Well, Sasuke, whose pride led to his expulsion from Konoha, entered into a temporary alliance with the sinister Orochimaru, and each believes that they are only using the other for the time being.

The brief respite ended, and events in Once again rushed with hurricane speed. In Konoha, the seeds of old strife sown by the first Hokage are sprouting again. The mysterious Akatsuki leader has set in motion a plan for world domination. There is turmoil in the Sand Village and neighboring countries, old secrets are resurfacing everywhere, and it is clear that bills will have to be paid someday. The long-awaited continuation of the manga inspired new life into the series and new hope into the hearts of countless fans!

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