text:  [[File:Neflite_n.gif|thumb|Nephlite as seen in the anime]]
  
  '''Neflite''', Nephlite or Nephlyte <ref>URL="http://www.angelfire.com/anime2/nephandnaru/story.html</ref> (ネフライト or “Nefuraito [Romanisation]”), as spelt in the North American version of the anime was the second of the four [[Shitennou]] (four “heavenly” kings or generals in the dubbed North America version of the anime) from the [[Dark Kingdom]] to appear in the first (classic) season of Sailor Moon and the manga. He is considered to be the second highest in rank, height and age of all the Shitennou. Naoko Takeuchi in her Materials Collection Art Book estimates that he is 19 years of age <ref name ="materials">{{cite book |last= Takeuchi |first= Naoko |authorlink = Naoko Takeuchi | title= Materials Collection |publisher= [[Kodansha]] |year= 1999 |month= October |isbn= 4-06-324521-7}}</ref>. The manga series depict him as being 22 years of age <ref>URL="http://www.angelfire.com/anime2/threads/DiesNoxEtOmnia/jadeite.html"</ref> whilst Jadeite is shown as the youngest of the [[Shitennou]] in the live-action series. His name is derived from the mineral [[wikipedia:Nephrite|Nephrite]] and his name in the manga and the Japanese version of the anime was also spelt Nephrite. 
  
  ==In the manga==
  Nephrite was the second of the four [[Shitennou]] (heavenly king) to appear in the manga succeeding his fallen comrade Jadeite. He is the commander of the North American division of the [[Dark Kingdom]].  After Jadeite's death and subsequent preservation/burial in a glass coffin Nephrite appeared in [[Queen Beryl]]'s throne room, asking to be allowed to take over the mission to gather energy and locate the Silver Crystal. Upon her approval Nephrite vows to avenge his death and begins his mission appearing in the third act of the manga. Thinking that the "magnificent treasure of the D Kingdom" was the [[Imperium Silver Crystal]], Nephrite plots to steal the jewel from its owner Princess Diamond who was visiting Tokyo. He used his shadow to possess Princess Diamond at a party. Princess Diamond grabbed the jewel and ran off with it as well as draining the energy of her party's guest at the same time. [[Sailor Moon]], [[Sailor Mercury]] and [[Sailor Mars]] confront Princess Diamond, but Nephrite's shadow leaves her and is then destroyed by [[Sailor Moon]]'s Moon Twilight Flash attack. In Nephrite's final attack (act 5 of the manga), he again makes use of his shadow, but this time possessing a mannequin that comes to life as a “ghost bride” kidnapping men and stealing their energy. The “ghost bride” manages to manipulate [[Motoki Furuhata]] through brainwashing, who in turn tried to drain Makoto (Lita) Kino of her energy. When [[Sailor Moon]], [[Sailor Mercury]] and [[Sailor Mars]] arrive to investigate, Makoto (Lita) Kino snaps out of her trance and realises that she has been tricked. She is infuriated by the trickery and transforms for the first time into [[Sailor Jupiter]] after having a transformation pen thrown at her by [[Luna]]. Nephrite reveals his presence to the four girls and is incapacitated by [[Sailor Jupiter]]’s Flower Hurricane attack. He is finally eliminated with a lightning blast from her tiara. After Nephrite died, he transformed into a hard type of jade that is dark green in colour. That type of jade by coincidence is also called Nephrite <ref>url=”http://www.sweetusagi.com/moon/sailorpro/fourgen.htm”</ref>! <ref>url=”http://www.eternal-moon.org/villains/neph.html ”</ref>
  
  ==In the anime==
  
  After [[Jedite |Jadeite]] was condemned to Eternal Sleep by [[Queen Beryl]], Neflite was sent to replace [[Jedite |Jadeite]]. 
  
  Unlike his predecessor [[Jedite |Jadeite]] and fellow [[Shitennou]] (Zocyite and Kunzite), Nephrite did not believe that the indiscriminate attacks against human beings as the most efficient way of gathering the vast amount of energy required in order to revive Queen Metallia, but rather hypothesises in targeting specific people as a more effective method. A firm believer that human destiny is guided by the movements of the stars in the heavens, Nephrite used astrology to perform inside his operations base (a large mansion located in a wooded area of the vicinity of [[wikipedia:Tokyo|Tokyo]]) intonation with the [[wikipedia:star|star]]'s and its [[wikipedia:constellation|constellations]] in order to help him concentrate his energy into locating individual people who were approaching major turning points in their lives where their "energy potential" would be at its maximum before attacking them. By seeking out such a person and marking an object which epitomises his or her greatest talent with a special symbol - his own personal crest - he could place a [[youma]] inside of that object which would hasten their interest with the object (to the point of obsession) as they devote more and more energy towards using their object until that person reaches their maximum energy potential. Once this point was reached, he would unleash the [[youma]] from that object and drain that person of his or her energy leaving that person in a coma-like state<ref>URL="http://www.sweetusagi.com/moon/sailorpro/fourgen.htm"</ref>. Nephrite established a human identity of that of a millionaire entrepreneur and socialite - Masato Sanjouin. To match his monogrammed belongings, he was given the pseudonym Maxfield Stanton in the dubbed Northern American version of the anime, which author Patrick Drazen describes as "ridiculously soap-opera"<ref name ="materials">{{cite book |last= Drazen|first= Patrick |authorlink = Patrick Drazen | title= Anime Explosion! The What? Why? & Wow! of Japanese Animation |publisher= [[Stone Bridge Press]] |year= 2002 |month= October |isbn= 1-880656-72-8}}</ref>. As Masato Sanjouin it wasn't long before he found his first victim: a young girl named Rui Saionji (Katy Sandler), a gifted tennis player and close friend of Naru Osaka. Posing as a professional tennis coach, Nephrite, offered her some basic advice before implanting a [[youma]] inside her tennis racket via his evil crest. Upon peaking in her energy potential, he released the [[youma]] [[Tensie]] who despite stealing her energy was defeated by Sailor Moon with a lot of help from [[Tuxedo Mask]]. Nephrite managed to locate his next victim, Mr. Kunitachi (Baxter), who was a gardener for a park. Mr. Kunitachi (Baxter) was perhaps the only victim he indiscriminately attacked where he was able to exploit his rage over the destruction over his beloved park by intensifying his strong feelings. Not only did Nephrite steal his energy but also the energy of the park’s animals through his evil crest which was implanted on his hat and the subsequent release of the [[youma]] [[Petasos]]. However, in typical fashion, [[Sailor Moon]] with help of her [[Sailor Mercury]] and Sailor Mars and empowerment from Tuxedo Mask disposes of [[Petasos]] with her [[Moon Tiara]]. Similarly the [[youma]] [[Black Widow]] who was implanted via Nephrite’s evil crest in a piece of material belonging to Usagi’s sewing class teacher Ms Higure (Helen) Akiyama; and Cameran who was implanted via Nephrite’s evil crest inside the [[wikipedia:camera|camera]] of the victim Kijin Shibakawa (Peter Fisher) were also disposed of by [[Sailor Moon]]’s [[Moon Tiara]]. 
  All the monsters released by Nephrite were also destroyed, some when [[Sailor Moon]] and [[Sailor Mars]] (and at one time, Sailor Mercury) combined their attacks. At one point, he sent [[Leo the Lion]] to try and kill Sailor Moon, and at another he sent [[Soul Shadow]] to possess Princess Diamond in his search for the silver crystal, believing her to be the Moon Princess.
  
  Neflite and [[Zoycite]] disliked each other very much, and Zoycite enjoyed every time Neflite's plans were foiled, in the hopes that Neflite would be punished with “Eternal Sleep” and she would not have to compete with Nephrite in searching for the [[Imperium Silver Crysta]]l.
  
  While he was pretending to be Maxfield Stanton, Serena's (''Usagi'') friend Molly (''Naru'') fell in love with Neflite, amd his Star Crystal kept reacting to her. In Episode 20, ''A Friend in Wolf's Clothing'', he asked Molly who Sailor Moon's true identity was, saying he wanted to fight alongside the Sailor Scouts against the Negaverse. Hearing this, [[Zoycite]] had three monsters called [[The Plant Sisters|the Plant Sisters]] kidnap Molly, but not before she called Serena, whom Neflite assumed (correctly) was [[Sailor Moon]]. He set a trap for her and watched her transform, now able to attack her whenever he wants. Tuxedo Mask arrives at the scene, but at that moment Neflite senses that Molly is in danger, and goes to the warehouse and saves her from the three monsters, nearly killing one of them with his sword. He receives a cut in the process. They think they got away, but the monsters return and one of them, [[The Plant Sisters|Housenka]], stabs Neflite with thorns that, according to her, "will suck his energy and shrink his body to Negadust." The three Sailor Scouts arrive and kill the monsters. Neflite dies and dissolves into dust, leaving only the bandage Molly put around the cut on his arm. 
  
  
  
  {|width="200" cellspacing="1" cellpadding="1" border="1"
  |+'''The following is a collection of images, complete with captions, that are pertinent to Nephrite'''
  |[[File:415.jpg|thumb|Nephrite receiving his promotion]]
  |[[File:074.jpg|thumb|Nephrite's operations base (a large mansion located in a wooded area of the vicinity of Tokyo)]]
  |[[File:063.jpg|thumb|Nephrite employing astrological means to perform intonation inside his operations base with the stars and its constellation]]
  |-
  |[[File:348.jpg|thumb|Nephrite's evil crest]]
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   [[File:073.jpg|thumb|Nephrite creating the black crystal (kurozuishou)]]
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   [[File:301(2).jpg|thumb|Nephrite's black crystal (kurozuishou) reacting]]
  |-
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  |}
  
  
  
  === Starlight attack (スターライト・アタック) ===
  The starlight attack was an ad hoc offensive attack performed by Nephrite against [[Sailor Moon]] in episode 23 of the anime (Molly's Folly). The starlight attack would consist of three variations.   
  The first variation of the attack emitted a large force of energy which originated from the palm of Nephrite’s hand and was used to knock [[Sailor Moon]] to the ground and save the life of [[Molly Baker|Naru Osaka (Molly Baker)]] by splitting the mask of [[youma]] [[Yasha]] into two.  
  The second variation of the attack was formed as he clasped his hands together and called upon the stars to give him power, then fired blasts of power at [[Sailor Moon]] to again incapacitate her.  
  The last variation of the attack saw him cross his arms to form multiple balls of light, which orbited in circles similar to a planet's rotation. Upon gaining enough energy would he fire the projectiles at her.   
  Both the second and third attacks missed [[Sailor Moon]] although it is obvious that it can do quite a bit of physical damage to whatever it hit. Nephrite uses this attack while disguised as Maxfield Stanton, but he can probably perform this attack in his true form. The name of the attack seems to be a reference to the astrological means Nephrite uses to perform intonation with the stars and its constellation. In the original anime, Nephrite would yell "Starlight Attack” before he would attack his target. <ref>URL="http://wikimoon.org/index.php?title=Starlight_Attack"</ref>
  
  {|width="200" cellspacing="1" cellpadding="1" border="1"
  |[[File:319.jpg|thumb|Nephrite's first variation of the "Starlight Attack"]]
  |[[File:257.jpg|thumb|Nephrite's second variation of the Starlight Attack]]
  |[[File:268.jpg|thumb|Nephrite's third variation of the "Starlight Attack"]]
  |}
  
  
  == In Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon ==
  
  
   
  [[File:P_nephrite.jpg|thumb|Nephrite poster in Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon]]
  Nephrite enters the live action series in act 4 appealing as the second [[Shitennou]] (heavenly king). His physical appearance is drastically changed, and he is portrayed as impetuous, violent and jealous of the other [[Shitennou]] particularly [[Jedite |Jadeite]] who considers him useless. [[Queen Beryl]] realises that if the Sailor Scouts find the princess, they might also find the Silver Crystal also. So she assigns Nephrite to find the Princess and the Silver Crystal before the [[Sailor Scouts]] do and carry it out in such a way to prove to his superior [[Queen Beryl]] that he was the most worthy of the [[Shitennou]], and thus gain her appreciation. For continuously sucking up to [[Queen Beryl]] and trying to “protect her” he seemed to be the least liked of the four [[Shitennou]] and was ridiculed not only by her but also by his fellow [[Shitennou]] Kunzite to whom he engaged in fights with. It was during one of these times that Dark Mercury consoled with him by offering him a new cape and saying she did not like seeing him alone <ref>URL="http://www.wikimoon.org/index.php?title=Nephrite#Pretty_Guardian_Sailor_Moon"</ref>. Sadly, [[Queen Beryl]] murders him in Act 36 by using her telepathic power to force Nephrite to stab himself in order to demonstrate her over the [[Shitennou]] <ref>URL="http://www.wikimoon.org/index.php?title=Nephrite#Pretty_Guardian_Sailor_Moon"</ref>. When he told [[Queen Beryl]] how Zoisite called Tuxedo Kamen "Endymion" before he died, [[Queen Beryl]] erased the memory from his mind. Shortly thereafter he is then reborn in Tokyo as a normal human being working alongside [[Motoki Furuhata|Motoki  Furuhata]] at the karaoke parlour ''Karaoke Crown''. He forged a tenuous friendship with [[Sailor Mercury|Ami Mizuno]] for the compassion shown towards him when she was Dark Mercury by showering her with gifts and even shopping for her at one stage. At the end of the series, he is re-established with the other [[Shitennou]] as one of Prince Endymion's guardians <ref>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shitennou_%28Sailor_Moon%29#Shitennou</ref>. Nephrite character was played by Matsumoto Hiroyuki<ref>URL="http://www.sailordream.com/PGSM/Profiles/nephrite.php"</ref>.
  
  ==Trivia==
  
  
  
   
  [[File:Neflite_dies.jpg|thumb|134px|Neflite is killed by Zoycite's monster Housenka]]
  *It seems [[Queen Beryl]]'s generals always die after learning Sailor Moon's true identity. First [[Jedite |Jadeite]] learns the identities of the Sailor Scouts but is punished by [[Queen Beryl]] with Eternal Sleep for losing to them. Then Neflite learns that Sailor Moon is really called Serena, but in that same episode turns good and is subsequently killed by [[Zoycite]]'s monsters. When [[Zoycite]] takes Darien (who is Tuxedo Mask) to a tower to duel him, she takes Serena as well, not knowing she is Sailor Moon until she transforms. After the battle with [[Zoycite]], she is killed by Queen Beryl for disobeying her.
  *Neflite starts the trend of evil henchmen turning good and then getting killed for their treachery. In Sailor Moon R, [[Sapphire]] turns good and tries to warn [[Prince Diamond]] about [[Wiseman]], but [[Wiseman]] kills Sapphire.
  *Neflite's blood is green. However, certain scenes imply that Zoycite's blood is red.
  *Neflite looks similar in appearance to ''Sailor Moon Super S'' villain [[Tiger's Eye]].
  *A cryptic reference to Nephrite appeared in the Sailor Moon S episode "Awakening of the Messiah of Silence? Stars of Destiny." Nephrite's anime catchphrase, "The stars know everything," was spoken by Professor Tomoe. 
  *Nephrite was the joint seventeenth favorite male character in a May 1993 [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Animage Animage] poll, tying with a character from ''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zettai_Muteki_Raijin-Oh Zettai Muteki Raijin-Oh]''.
  
  
  Voiced by '''Kevin Lund''' in the English anime.
  
  == References ==
   <references/>
  [[Category:Dark Kingdom villains]]
  [[Category:Shtennou]]
diff.text: Nephrite was the second of the four [[Shitennou]] (heavenly king) to appear in the manga succeeding his fallen comrade Jadeite. He is the commander of the North American division of the [[Dark Kingdom]].  After Jadeite's death and subsequent preservation/burial in a glass coffin Nephrite appeared in [[Queen Beryl]]'s throne room, asking to be allowed to take over the mission to gather energy and locate the Silver Crystal. Upon her approval Nephrite vows to avenge his death and begins his mission appearing in the third act of the manga. Thinking that the "magnificent treasure of the D Kingdom" was the [[Imperium Silver Crystal]], Nephrite plots to steal the jewel from its owner Princess DDiamond who was visiting Tokyo. He used his shadow to possess Princess DDiamond at a party. Princess DDiamond grabbed the jewel and ran off with it as well as draining the energy of her party's guest at the same time. [[Sailor Moon]], [[Sailor Mercury]] and [[Sailor Mars]] confront Princess DDiamond, but Nephrite's shadow leaves her and is then destroyed by [[Sailor Moon]]'s Moon Twilight Flash attack. In Nephrite's final attack (act 5 of the manga), he again makes use of his shadow, but this time possessing a mannequin that comes to life as a “ghost bride” kidnapping men and stealing their energy. The “ghost bride” manages to manipulate [[Motoki Furuhata]] through brainwashing, who in turn tried to drain [[Makoto Kino|Makoto (Lita) Kino]] of her energy. When [[Sailor Moon]], [[Sailor Mercury]] and [[Sailor Mars]] arrive to investigate, [[Makoto Kino|Makoto (Lita) Kino]] snaps out of her trance and realises that she has been tricked. She is infuriated by the trickery and transforms for the first time into [[Sailor Jupiter]] after having a transformation pen thrown at her by [[Luna]]. Nephrite reveals his presence to the four girls and is incapacitated by [[Sailor Jupiter]]’s Flower Hurricane attack. andHe is finally eliminated with a lightning blast from her tiara. After Nephrite died, he transformed into a ''nangyouku ''or (hard) type of ''hisui ''(jade) that is ''fukai midori'' (dark green) in colour. That type of jade by coincidence is also called Nephrite <ref>URLurl=”http://www.sweetusagi.com/moon/sailorpro/fourgen.htm”</ref>! <ref>URLurl=”http://www.eternal-moon.org/villains/neph.html ”</ref>