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chapter 328

Its rather ironic that Shikimaru pics up smokeing when a large emotional blow comes to him. But when the same happens to Asuma he stops for a little while

True but he had never smoked before and I think that he is going to be our new chain smoker. We don't know how he will react to emotional blows in the future.

In Chapter 332 we have an interesting scene.
We have Kei facing Kaku and Hi on a Shogi board.



Kei: (Knight, keima, laureled horse, kei) Kei is the equivalent to the Knight in chess. It jumps one square forward plus one square diagonally forward, in a single motion. So it has a choice of two forward destinations. It cannot move to the sides or backwards.

Kaku: (Bishop, kakugyō, angle mover, kaku) Kaku is the equivalent to the Bishop in chess. It can move any number of free squares along any one of the four diagonal directions.

Hi: (Rook, hisha, flying chariot, hi) Hi is the equivalent of the Rook in chess. It can move any number of free squares forward, backward, and side to side.


Then in the next panel we have Shikamaru facing Kakuzu and Hidan in the same alignment as in the Shogi board. This is an obvious reference. Kakuzu as Kaku, Hidan as Hi and Shikamaru as Kei (as in chapter 316 where Asuma compares Shikamaru to Kei).



In chapter 316 Asuma and Shikamaru are playing a Shogi game.

Asuma makes an aggressive move with Gin*.



This shocks Shikamaru because we assume that this style is unlike Asuma.
Shikamaru asks him about it and Asuma says that some times one has to make sacrifices.
Shikamaru is concerned and asks him if something has happened.
He says that he has just realized how important the Gyoku (King) is.
Shikamaru makes a “no duh” kind of retort.
Then Asuma says that if he were comparing konoha shinobi to Shogi pieces Shikamaru would be Kei.
Shikamaru is not pleased by this comparison and asks Asuma what he would say he is.
Asuma then places a Gin* variant facing Shikamaru’s Kaku and sort of mumbles “nothing just a…”



Shikamaru jumps in and says “A sacrificial piece?”



Asuma acknowledges with a look and asks Shikamaru if he knows who Gyoku would be.
Shikamaru seems confused and says “The Hokage”
Asuma says that that is what he used to think to but he was wrong.
Shikamaru asks Asuma “Then who is it?”
Asuma places Ryū** in the exact same place as the Gin variant was facing Shikamaru’s Kaku and says “You’ll know when the time comes.”




*Silver General, ginshō, gin

Gin: Gin can move one square diagonally or one square directly forward, giving it five possibilities. Because an unpromoted silver can retreat more easily than a promoted one it is very common to leave a silver unpromoted at the far side of the board.

“I found the silver general to be the most frustrating piece to learn. I kept forgetting that if I moved it straight forward, I could not retreat it straight backwards again. It would require a minimum of three moves to get back to the square from whence it came. (Work this out). Many a time I wanted to smash the board on my opponent's head when to realized this, but eventually I got used to the way the silver general moves.” (Sam Sloan)
“[In] climbing silver attack… the left side silver general simply runs up by itself and attacks, supported only by a pawn. The silver general tries to sacrifice itself in such a way that pawn promotes, with devastating effect.” (Sam Sloan)

**Dragon King, Ryū, (Promoted Rook)

Ryū: Ryū may move as a rook or as a king, but not as both on the same turn.

That's really interesting, Rei...I'd never noticed that before...

good point. i think you might be right.

3nodding