Nanbaka - First Season

Nanbaka

Yo! Has everyone been good?!

It's Mitsuru!

So many surprising things have been happening,

but Number 15's transformation even took me by surprise!

What's gonna happen next?!

I'm sure you're curious!

But babies!

I'm gonna rewind the clock just a little bit.

Why? Aren't you curious about

what's been going on other than this New Year's Tournament?!

No, we're not.

Okay! Let's rewind the clock!

I said we're not curious!

Just continue the story!

Why are you being so unreasonable?

Hey, hey, hey! Did you forget?

What our babies are watching right now is...

Nanbaka, yo!

Nanbaka

It's a Surprisingly Sad Story

Pardon me. You have a visitor.

Number 99-kun!

Should you not be at the New Year's Tournament?

Yes, they're about to start the second event,

so I must return to the arena after I escort you to the visiting room.

Um... Yamato-dono.

You're positive it's me the visitor wants?

Yes. He seems very eager to see you.

Eager to see me?

Visiting Room

Yo. It's been a while.

Excuse me.

Wait, wait, wait, hang on, hang on!

It's me! Don't you remember me?!

What do you want?

Hey, hey, hey.

Not breaking character even when you're in prison?

Or are you practicing for your comeback?

Even when arrested, you don't forget about your job!

That's how actors oughta be!

You're as passionate as ever, and I'm glad to see that.

You haven't changed.

You're the last person I wanted to see...

Hattori.

Don't give me that "I'm in such a bad mood" face.

How did you know I was here?

I'm your manager, remember?

I found out you were in jail right away.

Mysterious disappearance of a talented action star!

Yellow rat sightings everywhere! Is it a mutation? Or a lab rat?

Even I didn't know you were in Nanba, though.

Rumors of connection between the production and a secret organization

So, that report about me going missing...

Your manager, Hanzou Hattori, made it up, of course!

Former! Former manager!

I lied to the press and said you were missing

while I busted my butt behind the scenes to gather info on you.

Why go to all that trouble?

If people found out that a famous actor was in jail, it would all be over.

So I told them you were missing...

or, y'know, taking a break.

Everyone will be so happy when you come back!

All the magazines and TV shows are talking about you.

They're offering you more jobs than ever.

So let's work together again once you get out—

No.

I don't want to continue my career if it means fabricating the truth.

Go ahead and tell them everything.

That I'm a prisoner and no longer an actor.

There are thousands who could replace me.

If money and fame are what you want,

ask someone else.

I won't agree to that.

There's no one who can replace you!

I won't give up that easily!

Do you know how much trouble you've caused by disappearing like that?!

If you don't get outta this place soon,

I'll be in a jam!

You still don't get it!

Oops, you found me.

I thought I escaped unnoticed because of all the chaos from the New Year's Tournament.

How is it you always find me?

I'm no match for you, Kuu.

I ran away!

I'd wanted to run away for a long time!

Isn't that Tsukumo's voice?

Visiting Room

I already know everything.

You know... what?

Pretending you don't know...

I knew it. You're their accomplice, too.

You've all been deceiving me!

You people are the ones who should be in jail!

You kidnapper!

Kidnapper? Me?

Whoa, whoa. What are you saying?

You're right.

More specifically, it's that director.

That woman took everything away from me.

That woman...

That's no way to talk about your own mother.

But I guess I was stupid enough to believe

she was my mother for 18 years.

Director, why a ninja movie?

It's out of style!

If this movie isn't successful, we'll get the boot for sure!

No. I will shake up the film industry with this movie.

Themes and scenarios about ninjas have all been done before!

The theme and scenario aren't important.

What's important is the actor in the lead role.

S-Sure, the lead role is important, but...

Some run-of-the-mill actor won't do.

What I want is not a fake performance,

but real and natural movements and knowledge.

Like a doctor acting as a doctor,

or a lawyer acting as a lawyer.

Hold on a minute! We're talking about ninjas, right?

Everyone knows actual ninjas don't exist!

No. Actual ninjas do exist.

Get out.

This is not a place for you people to wander around.

Get out, now.

Let's give up already, Director.

I heard there are bears around these parts.

My information was correct.

The hidden village does exist.

This alone provides plenty of material.

But the actual ninjas are nowhere to be found.

This is the shinobi village.

They must be hiding.

You're very optimistic...

or maybe more of a romanticist.

I'm both.

Let's go home.

There are no lights,

so it's gonna be pitch black at night!

I can't take any mor—

Shh!

What is it? A bear?

I hear something.

This time...

This time, I will hit it!

I mustn't cry.

If I keep crying, Father and Mother won't come back.

I have to keep on going...

and become a fine shinobi!

Found him!

Wha... Director? Hey!

Wh-Who goes there?!

Maybe he's just playing pretend.

I'm not pretending! I'm training!

Training?

That's right!

I am going to be a... fine shinobi.

That's the plan... anyway.

I couldn't hear the last part.

You're not so confident?

That is none of your business!

I'm taking my leave!

Hey, kid.

Huh? How did you find me?

Where are the rest of the shinobi?

I cannot reveal that!

Just tell us where they are.

I won't, I said!

We just need to know where they are!

Don't mock us shinobi. I will never tell you!

Could it be that you actually just don't know?

I'm the one... who wants to know.

I'm not a shinobi yet.

I'm just a straggler.

Everyone ignores me.

That's why I'm training here in the mountains.

If I don't, I'll be alone forever.

Aw, man, now he's crying.

This is why I hate kids.

Are you okay?

D-Don't touch me!

You brat!

Wait!

This child is simply not used to people.

You haven't been back to the village?

Your parents must be worried.

My mother and father are gone.

We were together long ago,

but I don't remember what they look like.

It's because I'm an unskilled shinobi.

Mother and Father must have been disappointed in me.

But if I become a fine shinobi, I am certain they will come back.

I knew it was you!

I'm sorry... I left you all alone.

Wh-What are you saying?

I don't blame you for not remembering.

You must be shocked.

You're lying...

You're not Mother.