Spoiler scans: Mugen no Junin #175
*keels over* Other than the winter setting, this frontispiece has nada to do with the chapter's events, but this is so cute, I am without words. Is this the most adorable thing you've seen in BotI, or is it? I want it. As a poster. As a door-size poster. Now.
Meanwhile, back at the snowbound standoff...
Magatsu can't believe it; there's a gorgeous ninja girl taking on the awesomely horrible Shira single-handed! In HIS defense! And this luckless lass is going to perish before his eyes in about ten seconds, right?
Right... about like that little savage Doa might! Shira is taken aback by Megoro's incredible speed and dexterity, especially when she tags him good on the first pass and then spins out of range on her custom ninja snow cleats. Magatsu is similarly astounded, but tries to warn her: please, don't risk yourself against this monster for my sake. I'm not worthy! To which Megoro replies something like, "I'm doing this for YOU? Dream on, punk boy! God, who does your hair?"
Tampopo discovers one more twist to Shira's plot, literally -- Rin's bonds include iron wires that take all the bite out of her blade. Now it's her turn to ask Renzo if he has a spare. No, he replies, I don't have a knife... and she prepares to dive. But...! Manji had one when he went under, so it's got to be down there somewhere. If you can spot it...
(Shira, as a peerlessly well-stocked villain with a creative bent, you'll be thrilled to know that you've been awarded Madame's grand prize for balls-to-the-wall, Batman-level outrageous killing traps! An all-expenses-paid splurge at your favorite stores: Home Depot, Tojo's Military Surplus, and the biggest BDSM accessories emporium in Shinjuku. Happy shopping!)
"Arigato, sweetie!" chirps Tampopo to Renzo, and cheerfully goes about her lifesaving business. Warning: This page may induce fanfic, 'shipping and yuri-tinged speculations... and also revives the immemorial BotI question: "Why is nearly everyone in this manga who gets lip-locked unconscious at the time?"
As Megoro takes chunk after chunk out of Shira's hide and he barely reacts, Magatsu has an ominous realization: just as Megoro reminds him of some of his old Itto-ryu colleagues, Shira's resilience is starting to look an awful lot like someone whose unusual abilities Magatsu knows all too well...
#176 in a few more days: same Bat-time, same Bat-channel!