:11:17
Of course, not all students
were equally proficient.
:11:21
In fact, most of them
were pretty hopeless.
:11:29
The basics of transformation require
rigorous training of mind, body, and soul.
:11:33
Foxes have a natural knack for it.
:11:35
But tanuki are by nature lazy,
so some would fail to master this craft.
:11:43
Hey!
:11:51
Ponkichi!
:11:52
When the saints are lined up,
let's all turn around and round.
:11:55
:11:58
At the time, I was really into
transformations and never realized...
:12:02
...that my close friend Ponkichi
only wanted to live a normal tanuki life.
:12:08
At dusk, when going
through the mountain pass,...
:12:12
...a moon rose up
from behind the mountain.
:12:15
A branch from a cedar next to
the pass was blocking the moon.
:12:20
``This is odd.'', he said.
:12:22
The moment he uttered that,
the branch ducked down...
:12:27
...and appeared on the opposite side.
:12:31
``A-ha,'' So the human realized.
:12:34
He said, "No, I was wrong.
There was a branch on both sides.''
:12:37
And so another branch appeared.
:12:41
Suddenly, there was a thud.
:12:43
End of story.
:12:44
So, can you figure out what fell?
:12:46
A tanuki!
:12:48
Correct.
:12:49
But why did he fall, Gonta?
:12:52
He was a clumsy jerk!
I would never have fallen!
:12:55
Very good. That's the spirit.
:12:57
Sasuke, why did this tanuki fall?