[AkibaSilver]

As one of the people who isn't liking Ninninger all that much (don't get me wrong, for what it is, it's enjoyable), I'm going to place my dissatisfaction with the show with what I feel is wasted potential. As has been said, the overall plot didn't kick in until the 30's, but even now it feels like it paused for a few episodes, just to pick back up again (see Jiraiya and the one where a Youkai falls for Yakumo). But there could have been lots of things built up. The three western Youkai- they could have been major villains, serving to hand the team their asses, especially coming in at around episode 25 or so... or they could each die in a single episode. Kinji being a werewolf isn't mentioned at all outside of the episode where it happens, and then when it takes off fully- nothing builds to it, despite the character building that could have happened if someone, say Nagi, learned about it. Him and Kinji having to deal with it, Kinji becoming more and more out of control, until he snaps, forcing them to take him out. But no, it comes up once, and it'll be gone by next episode or so. The villains also do nothing, and are so bland, I think one of them could die and I'd think the ninjas had just killed a MOTW.

And the Last Ninja plot. It keeps being built up to, with the ultimate shuriken. But what actually is it? We don't know. How will it help defeat the bad guys? We don't know. Why does Kyuemon want the shuriken? Something something ultimate power (Although, credit is due for making Kyuemon legitimately interesting character... unless his entire motive turns out to be power). Why are they the 'last' ninja? Do all the others have to sacrifice their powers to power it? We don't know. I don't know if I just expected too much, but the series does feel like it could have been great, but there was a lot of wasted potential, and it never really recovered.