Obata Gessai, known as Jii, a master samurai, who took on the task
of raising 10 orphans and training them to be assassins,
in secluded mountain locations, with a mission to thwart another civil war,
to stop a nefarious plot to unseat the current shogun, Tokugawa leyasu,
by the supporters of Hideyori, the son of deceased Warlord, Toyotomi Hideyoshi.
They are Amagi, Awa, Hiei, Hyuga,
Komoro, Nachi, Nagara, Ukiha, Yura
and Azumi as the only girl among them.
lt's you again, Nagara! Get yourself together!
Damn!
You use your muscle to swing your sword around.
So you give in to the weight of the sword.
Look at Azumi and learn from her.
The Strength doesn't come from physical muscle.
lt comes from speed!
Hey, Where is Azumi?
Oh yeah, she's not here.
She was just here a while ago.
Yeah, she often disappears.
Hey, Azumi!
Azumi!
AZUMl
This sky...
l wonder how far it goes.
Soon...
lt'll be any day now...
We cross that mountain...
And enter the outside world.
That's right.
Together, all of us...
We pursue our mission then.
That sounds cool!
Yeah, we always stick together.
l can't wait to leave this mountain
and raise some hell!
Stars...
l can't see any of them.
Of course not! lt's still daytime.
Stars only come out at night.
Yep.
Then during the day,
Where are they?
Chow time!
l'm starving.
l'm starved!
Jii!
l'm starving.
What is this?
Jii, isn't this
overcooked?
Fresh water fish tastes better
when it's burnt like this.
Too much smoke coming out...
Nagara!
Yes
You're soaking wet.
What happened to you?
We were training in underwater combat.
He lost again today.
He fell into the river.
He lost and fell into the river.
No meal today for you, then.
No food!
No mission!
No chance! You fool!
You call me a fool ?!
Let's get him.
Hands off!!
Stop it!
Hey, Help me.
Hey, let's eat.
Hurry up now.
Ouch, that hurts.
You know what?
Lately l'm beginning to see
who's the strongest.
Who's the strongest?
Either Nachi or Azumi are
Number 1 and 2...
Azumi is fast.
Nachi is strong.
Ukiha and Hyuga are
an even 3.
The rest of us are...
a like as acorns.
l am one of the strongest.
Don't you all agree?
Hey, is that your only response?
Nachi, that looks cool.
Good luck charm..
ls it supposed to work?
Something like this...
won't work for someone who doesn't believe in it.
Then it won't work for me.
Hyuga, you're a monkey, after all.
l don't want to hear that
from a frog-face like you.
He's a frog, a frog!
We shall leave this mountain.
Leave? This mountain?
Do you really mean it, Jii?
At last, the time has come for us
to carry out our mission.
Yes.
We did it!
We all did it!
Finally, we'll all get to carry out our mission.
Excellent!
Do we really ?
Obata Gessai, known as Jii,
Nankobo Tenkai
ls this your son?
Tokugawa won the war,
Yet all this misery is left behind.
lt's time we should put an end to such wars.
We must try everything possible
to build a peaceful nation.
But...
l doubt the Toyotomi Allies will retreat now.
Most likely this conflict and chaos will continue
for some time to come.
Unless we eradicate ambitious warlords, trying to take over the nation,
We will never see any peace here.
Gessai.
Yes!
Assassins are the answer.
Train a group of master assassins
and have them exterminate every single Warlord
who intends to cause conflict.
Tenkai Sama,
l, Gessai,
swear on my life, to accomplish your wish.
Azumi...
Wake everyone up,
and bring them to the clearing.
All of you...
While you were yet very young,
l had acknowledged your potential
and have trained in this mountain,
and brought up all ten of you.
Your skills in the Martial arts,
already exceed by far those of warriors in the outside world.
Finally...
At last...
You go to the outside world.
And use your skills
to fulfil your mission.
You all grew up and trained together.
Thus, you all know one another truly well
and have strong bonds.
Now...
From now on,
with the one you like the most,
Make a team of two.
Azumi
Azumi!
Me, too.
Azumi is mine!
With you?!
Who else is there?
Are you done?
Listen good.
From this moment on
The mission that will be given to you
will be most severe and rigorous.
An assassin is unable to choose
whom to kill.
Sometimes you must kill a child,
Sometimes a great and respected person,
Depending on your mission,
You must perform your mission.
With a mind of steel,
You become inhuman!
That's the way of the assassin.
Thus,
l give you...
this final test.
Slay each other.
Kill your team-mate.
Kill!
The one who loses this fight
and loses his life has no aptitude
to pursue the mission that lies ahead of us.
Moreover!
The weak-minded one who can't kill his friend
won't be able to pursue his mission, either.
The winners of this fight should terminate their counterpart.
and come back to the hut.
Should you think of escaping without fighting,
You must know that you cannot survive.
Begin!
lt's Jii's order...
We have no choice...
Come! Nagara!
l wish to
pursue my mission.
l trust that you do, too.
Nachi.
One of us will be left alive
and pursue our mission.
Nachi...
Don't do it!
Azumi...
This is our destiny.
Get ready.
Azumi...
You've become really strong.
Nachi...
Take this...
This is crazy!!
Why?!
Why?
Why?!
l don't know why, either.
But if we try as hard now as they'd have tried in pursuing our mission,
Their deaths won't be in vain.
Right, Jii?
Jii, this is the village?
Jii?!
Aren't we gonna help?
Jii!
Don't move.
Don't get involved!
Why not?
We can easily get rid of them.
You have an important mission.
This is no time to be mixed up
in a trifling affair.
They'll all be massacred.
Unless it is your mission,
Don't draw your sword.
lsn't our mission to slay
those kinds of bad guys?
Jii!
Why, Why not?
Why, Why, Jii?
Why couldn't we kill them?
Merely killing a hundred bandits won't change this nation!
As always, well done.
These kids have grown up to be pretty sharp.
What is it you want?
Yes.
l brought a letter from Tenkai-sama.
Everyone, l count on you...
What?!
He vanished...
Who was that?
Ninja called Nagato.
He will be in and out,
throughout this grave mission,
but always moving along with us.
What does it say?
Asano Nagamasa, Kato Kiyomasa, and Sanada Masayuki...
These three warlords, will not regard the battle of Sekigahara
as the ultimate defeat of the Toyotomi.
To be the true loyal successor to the head of the nation,
They press for the leadership of the nation to be
returned to Toyomi once he becomes an adult.
These three are dangerous rebels who will harm Tokugawa.
They should be eliminated.
Hey, girl. What are you doing?
Stop right there.
Asai Nagamasa
lt's a young girl on her own.
lt's okay.
Yes, Sir!
What a pretty girl she is...
lsn't she?
What are you doing?
Can't you tell?
l'm fishing.
Fishing?
Haven't you ever done fishing?
Oh, l see.
You've never done fishing.
Fishing is fun.
When l am fishing like this,
l can forget about all of the terrible things that go on in this country.
Moreover, if you catch a big fish like this,
You can boast for the rest of your life.
Furthermore, a couple of fish from this pond will satisfy your stomach.
So you are hungry?
You want to eat a fish.
This is how you catch a fish.
What the hell is she doing?
Kill him now!
That's enough.
Let's go!
Well, you are very amusing.
What is your name?
Azumi.
What's yours?
Watch your language!
Never mind.
Nagamasa.
Asano Nagamasa is my name.
You are the one...
that wants to start another war.
Why?!
Such a...
... young girl...
l feel sorry for you...
Are you sure about that?
Yes, Sir!
Asano clan is concealing the fact,
but Nagamasa-dono was assassinated.
lnoue Kanbei
All of the guards were killed, too...
How did they do that?
Who are these assassins?
They must be of the leyasu clan.
Lord...
Kato Kiyomasa
lf l may say so,
We do not have any proof
that they are of the leyasu clan.
Proof?
Ever since leyasu won the victory
over the lshida Forces in Sekigahara,
leyasu has been acting as if he has the whole nation
under his thumb.
The regime belongs to our Toyotomi Hideyori-sama.
Nagamasa, Sanada Masayuki and l had pressed him
to return the regime to Hideyori-sama.
The result is Nagamasa's assassination.
l am next on the list.
l am quite aware of that.
Please remain cautious, my Lord.
What?!
This talk of proof and caution,
Kanbei!
What happened to your warrior's way?
Kanbei,
lt will be too late once my head is cut off.
l, Kanbei,
will not die after you, my Lord.
l, Kato Kiyomasa,
will not be intimidated by any enemy.
leyasu is a stupid fool!
lf all the warlords of the Toyotomi side unite to fight against leyasu,
leyasu doesn't stand a chance!
l am troubled with a temperamental boss.
Tobi Zaru.
Yes, Sir!
We'll let them kill our Lord.
Azumi!
lt's a signal.
They got Kiyomasa!
Okay, let's go!
They'd be happy up in heaven for us.
But Jii, they weren't strong at all.
Those slowpokes were no match for us.
lt's not that they weren't though,
lt's that you are too strong.
That's why you can't easily show your strength outside of our mission.
That Ninja who looked like a monkey,
He was funny, wasn't he?
Ninja?
Has anyone received any cut from their weapons?
Jii, there's no way any Ninja can get us.
Ninja or any other,
no one will be our match.
Right.
But be careful, Ninjas daub poison on their weapons.
Poison?
Even if it's just a pinch of poison,
it may take your life.
Oh, man, that's scary!
Hey, Azumi, are you alright?
What's the matter, Azumi?
l was wondering if that Nagamasa
we killed the other day,
and this guy today,
Are they truly bad guys?
What are you talking about?
What's gotten into you?
But we don't know a thing
about the guy we killed.
He must have friends like we do.
No time for silly nonsense, Azumi.
They have to be bad guys.
Unless otherwise, why would we have to kill them?
Right, Jii?
Jii!
No need to ask such a question.
Enough of this nonsense!
Have a mind of steel.
Be quiet!
Just eat!
We have completed our mission...
l'm going to take a piss, then.
Well done in finding a double
who looked exactly like me.
Can you kill those assassins next time?
Definitely, my Lord.
Kanbei...
lt amuses me to see your failure,
but the fun is over now.
Saru...
Yes, Sir!
We will start the attack this time.
Yes, Sir!
lt hurts!
Look! l made a hole.
That's cool!
You're very strong, brother.
You're not so bad yourself.
You think so?
Right everyone, right?
Hey old man...
Listen, brother.
l think l should open a hole in the left,
that would look awesome.
You dumb ass!
lf you keep doing stupid things like that,
Mom will get angry.
No, l am scared of our Mom.
She is scare!
l'm scared of our mom.
Watch your step.
lt's slippery with blood.
l'm back, you guys.
You're back.
Should've been, Welcome Back.
l brought a client.
He's got a job for us.
Brother, he looks like a monkey.
Oh, oh, he got mad.
So, what's the job?
As a matter of principle,
l don't read letters.
These are horrible assassins.
As soon as you find them,
kill them without a word.
lt reads like that.
This is the drawing.
Sorry, they're a bit slow.
This girl is cute.
So, one girl,
one old man,
guys...
one, two, three, four...
...that's it?
Don't underestimate them.
They are strong,
very tough.
We just kill them.
lf we can kill and make some money.
We won't complain.
She is very beautiful.
Oh, look over there.
Jii, can we go take a look?
Yes, go and have some fun.
That was great.
Thank you.
Hey, Hyuga...
My name is Hyuga.
l am Yae.
Yae...
Great.
You guys are better than us.
Please, join our troupe.
Have you trained yourself since you were little?
Yeah, you can call it training.
Hyuga, are you guys, performers, too?
Performers?
No, but we've been living up in the mountain,
So we are flexible.
l see.
We've also been doing this
ever since we could remember,
but we're not as good as you.
Since you could remember?
Yes.
That's just like us.
This is beautiful.
lt's from a foreign country.
A foreign country?
Yes...
beyond the ocean.
Come on,
Pack up quickly.
The sun will go down soon.
Yes, boss.
Are you leaving?
We are leaving tomorrow at noon.
We are traveling performers.
lf we perform the same act in the same place,
We won't have an audience.
No, l'll come tomorrow,
and every day after that, to see you.
Thank you.
But l've been living like this
since l was little.
Stay well.
l'll see you again someplace.
Come on.
Hyuga, let's go!
How are the 3 brothers of Sajiki?
The 3 brothers of Sajiki are chasing the assassins.
They've confirmed the whereabouts of the enemy.
l have little confidence in those dim
witted brothers to kill the assassins.
l know.
Those Sajiki brothers are just meant to be
the first attack of introduction.
Tobi Zaru,
Go to the prison in Nishikawa.
You mean to get that guy out?
Eye For An Eye.
Poison For Poison.
Amagi, Hyuga,
Time to wake up.
Get up!
Oh no, this is bad...
Jii, can l go out for a while?
Where to?
l want to see the street performers one more time.
Oh, that pretty one?
l think l can learn from her movement for my technique.
Don't fall for a girl in a traveling company.
Shut up!
Well, Jii, may l go?
May l ? May l?
We're leaving at noon.
Come back by then.
l'll go with you, too.
Me, too!
Amagi, aren't you coming?
They are in a playful mood.
Are you sure it's okay, Jii?
Hey, Amagi, wake up!
How long do you need to sleep?
l thought we were to meet tomorrow evening.
Yes...but...
Things don't look good.
What?
They didn't kill Kiyomasa.
They killed Kagemusha double.
The enemy is onto us.
They've sent a party of pursuers.
Jii, what's wrong?
We've been deceived.
What?
Kiyomasa is still alive.
We killed his double.
Go get everyone.
We are leaving at once.
Amagi, l've been telling you to get up!
Amagi, what's wrong?
Why didn't you say anything?!
They are gone.
Oh well...
Hyuga!
S-Stop it! Stop it!
Stop it, l'm ticklish.
Yae was so pretty.
You're fond of Yae, aren't you?
l wanted to spend a little more time with her.
l finally met someone l liked.
They may not be too far yet.
Let's go. Come! Let's go!
Oh that's it! Let's look for them.
Come on, Hyuga, let's go!
l'm sorry, Jii.
l can still do it.
Our mission...
Enough.
Don't talk.
l messed up.
l swore l would work...
as much as all of our dead comrades.
They were a lot of fun.
l know who you like, Yae!
Who?
Azumi?
No, l am talking about the guy.
What are you talking about?
You can't hide it.
l know these things very well.
Even if you fall in love,
He's a traveler and so are we.
We are rootless performers.
Are these them?
The ages are right on the mark.
And there is an old man, too.
One, two, three,
one two three,
One...
Aren't there too many?
There are more girls,
Not enough boys.
A rough count will do.
Who cares about the numbers...
These girls are incredible.
They must be the targets.
They are the assassins.
eh?
They don't look like the drawing.
A rough resemblance will do.
Excuse me, sirs.
What can we do for you?
Where are you going?
Where are you headed?
You're cute.
Come,
l won't do anything.
You sure are pretty.
What's your name?
Tell me your name.
Let me touch you a little.
Get this out of the way.
Damn, brother!
What a waste!
Nisai, don't you go too far.
Don't waste your life.
Don't come near me.
Give it back.
You scared me!
Stay back.
They look like the assassins, too.
That's them, brother.
She is cute.
Are you...
pursuing us?
Yes. You're getting the idea.
They have nothing to do with us!
We kill whoever we like...
Oh, l see.
Then you have no complaints if you get killed.
You are gorgeous.
You fool!
Hyuga!
You are truly cute.
That hurts!
lt's not over, yet!
Now you got me!
Saru.
l have a job for you.
lf you accept my offer,
then all of your past crimes will be forgotten.
Mogami Bijyomaru
lf you get me out of here,
that means many more people will die.
What have you been doing at a time like this?!
You killed someone?
Our swords are only for the mission!
You don't understand!
Yae and other performers were attacked instead of us.
They had our drawings...
So Yae and...
We must leave here immediately.
Kiyomasa is still alive.
We killed his double.
What did you say?
Amagi, what's wrong?
Ninja's poison got him.
Amagi!
Amagi
Say it isn't so.
Let's go. Quick!
Let's go?
Jii, what about Amagi?
Amagi won't last.
Jii, what are you talking about?
You are going to leave him behind?
We can't do that!
Why do you think we have worked so hard until now?
Damn it, l am totally confused!
Have you forgotten that we live only
to carry out our mission?
We killed our dear friends,
and stood by when villagers were murdered.
Killing an enemy we don't hate is one thing,
but not saving innocent people from dying...
What is our mission, then?
After everything we've been through...
How can we leave Amagi here?
Jii!
Who are you aiming your sword at, Azumi?
Withdraw your sword, Ukiha!
Your sword can't even kill
an insect at this moment.
lt's like swinging a mere stick.
You are no longer an assassin.
Amagi.
Amagi...
Sorry.
Go...
Please go.
Don't be silly, Amagi.
Amagi!
Why did you do that...
Amagi!
Let's go.
l'll walk you.
Good bye.
Listen Hyuga.
Why don't you come to Tango?
What?
lt's my hometown.
We'll have Azumi come, too.
Tango?
Sorry, Yae...
l may not be able to come to Tango.
l thought this smell was familiar.
My sense of smell is
as sharp as a dog's.
Who are you?
Me?
l'm Mogami Bijomaru
We just finished off three guys,
now a newcomer.
l hate to break up such a nice romantic scene,
but l want you to die.
She has nothing to do with us.
Let her go.
No!
Being slashed before the girl you like
and exposing your misery in front of her
will increase your pain and suffering all the more.
What did you say?
Have you ever thought of yourself being slashed?
Blood comes gushing out.
No matter how much you endure,
lt's useless, 'cause you know
you are going to die.
You want to die quickly, but you can't.
What will you think then?
One sword is broken.
That's no good.
Saru, loan your sword to him.
lt's no fun slaying an enemy who is not properly armed.
Don't worry.
We have no business with the girl.
l would be offended
if you blame your defeat
on fighting with only one sword.
Do you know why this sword has no hand guard?
l never defend.
l'll immobilize you with one blow.
l was also taught to do the same.
l am totally thrilled!
You are quite quick.
But you failed to notice
that you were cut?
Don't come!
Run, Yae!
Don't move!
Stay and watch!
lf you run,
l will kill you.
lt hurts, right?
Do you want to die quickly?
No... not yet.
l won't let you die so easily.
Enough of that.
The fight is over.
Monkey-face!
lf you spoil my fun,
You will die, too.
Go ahead!
Your bad taste creeps me out.
Hyuga...
Hyuga!
No!!!
Pity to leave her on her own.
Bijomaru!
What significance is there to kill a girl
who has nothing to do with this?
What significance is there to live, anyway?
Shall we go?
The next one better be stronger!
lf not,
Then l will fight against you!
You got that, Saru Tobi?
He fought masterfully.
This is where we wait for Nagato.
Yes.
Yae was sweet, he said.
He wanted to stay with you a bit longer.
Hyuga truly liked you, Yae.
What will you do now?
Will you seek revenge?
The friend of your enemy will come to kill you.
A never-ending story.
Will you continue to kill each other forever?
There are many evil people in the world.
Someone has to kill them.
lt doesn't have to be you, Azumi.
Someone else can take care of it.
Frighteningly good swordsman...
He's already killed one assassin.
But l can hardly like him.
ln fact, l hate him.
Don't be so harsh.
Tobi Zaru,
l want you to do something.
The final showdown will be in Gamo.
l wonder how they are doing.
They are dead.
That's not true.
They will definitely join us.
Gessai-dono,
Kato Kiyomasa is heading for Gamo.
Gamo?
lt's a ship!
He plans to leave Gamo by ship.
We must get him in Gamo, on land.
But the enemy is aware of our moves, Gessai-dono.
They won't sit still.
l know.
We have no choice but to start the attack.
Take these.
They might be of use at some point.
Great!
Be careful.
lf they explode too close to you,
You'll be blown to bits.
Don't touch me!
Farewell...
l am counting on you.
You have a beautiful face.
How much is your ass?
You want to die that much?
Don't kill our allies recklessly!
Money!
Do you want more money?
We need your help.
You guys help us a little,
and more money and rewards will be yours.
Azumi!
Look!
lf we cross that mountain,
it'll only take 5 days to reach Tango.
l see.
You will get to see your mother soon, Yae.
Mother...
Azumi...You don't know your mother?
Ever since l was little,
l've been with Jii and everyone.
Put this on, Azumi.
Girl's clothing...
l prefer this.
This is more convenient for hiding my swords.
You are a girl, Azumi.
l'm...
Girls don't talk like that!
Stay still!
Don't move.
Done.
Azumi, you look beautiful.
Don't say that!
Azumi?
Yes?
The swords don't suit you.
l don't want to see another person die.
Kiyomasa is in that mansion.
Let's go.
Jii!
Okay, spread out!
l won't let you get away!
My nose is that of a dog's!
lt's me, stupid!
That bastard!
l'll get him.
lt's incredible...
you made it this far.
Why won't you finish him off?
lf l kill him,
He won't be of any use to us as bait.
Did you say bait?
There is one more assassin...
We must kill.
Jii!
Ukiha!
Run, Run away.
Wait for the next opportunity!
Run away!
Don't forget your mission.
What are you doing?
Run away quickly!
Don't worry about me.
Run! Run!
Run!
Azumi
No, no!
Yae!
No, no, no...
Smells nice.
Be quiet.
How fortunate we are on a mountain like this.
Which one should l pick?
Stop it!
Stop it?
Okay, l'll stop it.
l pick you.
Taro-chan, l'll give you that one.
No matter how much l try to escape...
l can't avoid it.
Even if l don't want to kill...
l'm forced to kill.
You bitch!
l'm sorry, Yae...
l have no...
...choice but this...
lf it weren't for Jii,
l'd never have lived.
He'll protect you.
Always will.
l will wait for you in Tango.
That's the place you come back to.
lf you hadn't been injured,
the victory would've been yours.
lt's a pity...
only if you were my allies...
Tobi Zaru, l'll leave the rest to you.
No matter how long we wait,
Assassin isn't gonna show up
Such heavy security for a girl assassin.
Kanbei-sama is too cautious.
l'll be back.
Hey, wait a minute!
You just took a break a while ago.
lt's my turn now.
Let's decide with this.
l'll bet on tails.
Heads for me.
l hear there is one assassin still alive
the strong one...
l can't wait.
Hey, old man?
Are you still alive?
Hey!
You annoy me constantly.
Saru, are you ready to die now?
Do you really think someone will come
and rescue a dying old man like you?
Huh, old man?
She's already here.
Azumi.
Don't come!
Don't!
No, she must come.
Otherwise, he will die.
Damn you!
Wow! lncredible!
She is just incredible!
Hey! Samurai bastards!
Who are you aiming at?
Damn it, who do you think we are?
Just because you're Samurai,
Don't act so damn important.
This is bullshit!
This is our town!
Never mind about her,
Let's get them!
This is getting to be fun!
What the hell is your problem?
This fire ball will blow everyone up into pieces.
Let's ignite this!
Oh, no...
l am delighted.
No one is left to disturb us.
How splendid!
l couldn't even scratch you.
This is the first time l've had to defend.
You are wonderful!
Why not die?
Jii.
lt's over.
Everything is over.
Ukiha and Nagara are both dead.
But l'm still here.
There is no further mission
that you need to pursue.
From now on,
live as you wish
and keep on living.
Jii, l don't know what to do without you.
You never used to cry.
lt's so quiet.
Jii.
Jii!
No, don't.
Jii!
Jii...
Jiiiiiii!
During the day...
Where do stars go?
Time to eat!
Let's go!
Azumi
The stars are always there.
You can't see them during the day,
but the stars are always watching over us
from up above the sky.
Azumi,
even if we get separated one day,
we will always be together.
l'll be watching over you at all times.
Kanbei.
Yes!
lt's been a stimulating journey.
Tobi Zaru hasn't come back yet.
We can't let our guard down.
What!
l can't be scared of assassins!
When it's time to die, you die.
Don't worry.
Lord, you won't die so easily.
Your luck is too strong.
Kanbei,
The time has come for war.
That stupid old leyasu...
We will blow him up into pieces.
Kanbei,
You've done well in protecting me.
Once we get home,
l'll take you to a hot spring for some rest.
Masterful.
Lord!
Nagara.
What are you doing?
Azumi...
We are the only two left.
What shall we do now?
Asano Nagamasa...
Kato Kiyomasa...
The next target is Sanada Masayuki.
This time, we'll probably be killed.
We'll never die.
We'll survive.
Everyone is with us.
Let's go.
AZUMl
The End
This drama is fictitious and bears no resemblances (except for names) to any real person.
Prepared for friends at a.b.m.j.