Kakamura, or Gagamura
Summary
Tsubasa: After being deceived by Sononi, I attacked the Jūto-Natsumi.
And in the ensuing confusion, we all learned each other's identities.
And in the ensuing confusion, we all learned each other's identities.
The Donbrothers are finally united now that they have learned of Tsubasa/Inu Brother's identity. Tsubasa requests to tag along with Taro and Jiro on their trip to Jiro's hometown of Kakamura, having noticed a similar name, Gagamura, being mentioned frequently in a manuscript Naoki Shiina — a.k.a., Future!Haruka — had left behind.
Upon arriving, the three of them are greeted by a village that is oddly deserted. Taro, however, spots an origami in the home of Jiro's adoptive father Terasaki...
Tropes
- Asshole Victim: Getting attacked by a 3-on-1 assault, and then kidnapped by Sonoshi's gang would have been a Kick the Dog moment for them just to spite Sonoi and the Donbrothers. But if Tsuyoshi's antics are taken into consideration and the problems he has caused for Tsubasa especially, it's still averted by technicality:
- Tsuyoshi's past antics were wrongdoings done to his wife, including kidnapping and a hit-and-run, both which are indeed serious matters.
- Tsubasa's problem started because when he tried to explain to Tsuyoshi that Miho was Natsumi, Tsuyoshi thought he tried to take her away. It also didn't help that the Crane Juto played along with both sides.
- The Atoner:
- The Noto discuss what to do given their developed emotions, with Sonoza concluding that they must seek the Ring of Forgiveness in order to atone for the humans they've killed.
- Downplayed as it's not his own sins. Taro consumes the penguin origami intended for Jiro in his place, taking up the successor role of the Jūto's guardian in order to atone for the Don Clan having created the Jūto in the first place.
- Berserk Button: Taro keeps pressing Tsubasa's the entire episode; ordering him around like a servant despite being told not to. It escalates into a fight.
- Blind Obedience: Averted here, as unlike the other Donbrothers who swore fealty to Taro as much as he annoys them, Tsubasa gets annoyed when Taro starts commanding him like his other "Companions" and tells him he won't stand for being ordered around, although he reluctantly complies if Taro phrases them like a request instead. Makes sense, given that Tsubasa didn't know Taro was Don Momotaro until recently.
- The Bus Came Back: Sonoshi returns with some new friends.
- Creator Cameo: Suit actor Hiroyuki Muraoka appears as the unlucky suitor who attempts to woo Sononi and Sonogo.
- Deus ex Machina: Given that Tsuyoshi became Hyakujuu-King, he points out that the Donbrothers can't form Don Onitaijin without him. He's defeated by King-Ohger making a surprise appearance with Don Onitaijin's head.
- The Dog Bites Back: After enduring constant physical slapstick from Don Momotaro the whole show and being mindlessly ordered around by the man inside the suit now, Tsubasa finally has enough and attacks Taro when they argue about what to do with the Juto.
- Downer Ending: Let’s see… Momoi stuck in the Forest… Kijino captured by the Nouto… Yeah totally doesn't end on a good cliffhanger.
- Early-Bird Cameo: King-Ohger, the titular mecha from the next show makes its debut here, with Don Onitaijin's mask.
- Evil Is Petty: As much as the beatdown on Tsuyoshi is much deserving for his selfish antics, Sonoshi's 3-on-1 attack on the latter also comes off as rather cowardly and unnecessarily cruel, and they do that only to spite Sonoi and the Donbrothers.
- Going Native: Continuing from their hesitation to execute Sononi in the previous episode, the Noto trio come to the collective Heel Realization that they're undergoing this, deciding that they've "been beaten by mankind." Sononi and Sonoza want to officially join the Donbrothers and help Haruka and Tsubasa reach their goals. Sonoi shoots the idea down, claiming they've killed too many people to actually be forgiven and attacks Haruka and Saruhara during the emergence of Hyakujuu-Ki.
- Hand Wave: The Donblaster attempting to summon Taro just as he's being sent to the Forest of Slumber somehow temporarily transforms him into King-Ohger to face Hyakujuu-Ki before being sent back to the Forest of Slumber, with little to no explanation as to why or how.
- Heroic Sacrifice: Taro foils the Penguin Jūto's plan by swallowing the penguin origami meant for Jiro, leading to his imprisonment within the Forest of Slumbers.
- Hidden Disdain Reveal: Right before his fight with Taro, Tsubasa reveals that he hated Taro from the moment they met.
- Locked Out of the Loop: Haruka lampshades this over hearing Tsubasa/Tsuyoshi's arguement over a certain "woman" being a Jūto, not realizing she had met said person before.
- MacGuffin: During the Noto trio's Heel Realization, Sonoza and Sononi mention an item called the "Ring of Forgiveness" rumored to be hidden with the Forest of Slumbers. Sonoi has an angry outburst before they can elaborate however.
- Miserable Massage: Not for the receiver, but for the givers. Terasaki asks Taro and Tsubasa to massage his body and feet since he's "Feeling his age." Taro obliges. Tsubasa grumbles and complains the entire time, eventually getting fed up with Taro's constant commanding and walking off.
- Oh, No... Not Again!: The other Donbrothers reaction to Kijino being yet again turned into a Hitosuki.
- Pay Evil unto Evil: A 3-on-1 beatdown courtesy of a tyrannical Noto elite and their goons may seem look like a needlessly cowardly tactic at worst, but considering the gravity of Tsuyoshi's antics and how low he's gone to "protect" his wife, Sonoshi's group outright put Tsuyoshi in his place before capturing him.
- The Reveal: The Jūto aren't entirely immortal; if the human they copied passes away of old age in the Forest of Slumber, they will die as well. Terasaki was preparing Jiro to be his successor all along, due to the human he copied coming close to death after having replaced him for a hundred years.
- Roaring Rampage of Revenge: Tsubasa declares intent to go on one against the Juto after saving Natsumi from the Forest of Slumbers. He and Taro come to blows over it.
- Rule of Three: Shinichi lampshades this upon learning Hyakujuu-Ki is Tsuyoshi.Shinichi: Is this that saying "what happens twice, can happen thrice"?
- "Shaggy Dog" Story: Tsuyoshi's third attempt to become a Hitotsu-Ki is rendered moot by not only Hyakujuu-King getting defeated by King-Ohja, but he also gets subjected to a 3-on-1 beatdown from Sonoshi's gang and subsequently captured by them for his troubles.
- Surprisingly Realistic Outcome:
- Just because Tsubasa is now officially part of the team doesn't automatically make him a team player, as Taro learns the hard way.
- Tsuyoshi's obsession over Miho rears its ugly head when he refuses to accept Tsubasa as part of the team, and becomes a Hitotsu-Ki for the third time.
- While the Jūto are established to be functionally immortal, their Synchronization with their hosts means that they're in danger of dying once their human counterparts die. While humans within the Forest of Slumbers appear to age slower than in the real world, they're still not immortal.
- Tempting Fate: Tsuyoshi, as Hyakujuu-King, openly mocks the Donbrothers for being unable to form Don Onitaijin without him to defeat himself. Cue Taro coming in temporarily transformed into a brand new mecha with Don Onitaijin's head, who easily makes swift work out of him.
- "They're Not Real" Reveal: It's revealed that Jiro's friends, including his Love Interest Rumi, were all illusions created by his foster father Terasaki in order for Jiro to become sedate and have a reason to return home, in order to turn him into a viable host for Terasaki when the time comes.
- Two Lines, No Waiting: The A plot concerns Taro and Tsubasa accompanying Jiro to his hometown in an attempt to investigate the Jūto, while the B plot concerns Shinichi and Haruka holding down the fort and dealing with a distraught Tsuyoshi.
- Wham Episode: The Noto reveal that there's a powerful item called the Ring of Forgiveness inside the Jūto Forest. Terasaki is revealed to be a Penguin Jūto and in charge of guarding the Forest of Slumber. Kakamura’s villagers are nothing but illusions for Jiro, who Terasaki was training to become the new guardian. Taro takes the origami meant for Jiro and ends up stuck in the Forest of Slumber. Oh yeah, and Kijino ends up captured by Sonoshi and their crew.
- Wham Shot:
- Taro seeing the image of the Penguin Jūto overlap Terasaki.
- Taro and Tsubasa peek into Jiro's house to observe his lunch with his friends... only to find that there are none. Then, "Rumi" gives him a Penguin Origami to eat as they see it hover over to him.
- What the Hell, Hero?: Taro calls out Miho as a Hypocrite for claiming the Jūto are innocent and have never done anything wrong, yet she had been toying with the hearts of two men using her "Miho" and "Natsumi" identities.
