I am Sarutobi Sasuke
Grand son of legendary Ninja, Sarutobi Sasuke.
His name is also Sasuke.
In the hidden village of deep forest, he was polishing up is Shinobi skills.
Then, he left for Kyoto with a daughter of Umemiya
Shuzen who helped his Shinobi clan in the past.
Then, came a obstacle upon Sasuke.
A dark force against Umemiya Shuzen.
Although he made through dangerous situation,
He was deeply disappointed in his own weakness.
Yet, next bigger conspiracy was brewing up.
You understand why I am allowing people like you from Iga.
You must compensate for the Takanami attack failure.
At any cost.
By the way, Sasuke is living in Kyoto.
He was called out by Tokusaburo from Merchant Tokaiya.
Sorry for making you wait.
What's up?
This is my hut?
Sasuke
Oichi
Umemiya Shuzen
Sasuke?
Ah, say...
What are you doing there?
I came over to thank princess for finding my new place.
What?
I rented Tokaiya's row house for him.
You asked Oichi to do something like that?
It was my idea.
Wwwwhat's the...
How is the row house for you?
There are so many different kinds of folks next to thin wall and across....
Ouch!
You!
Don't be too close!
Eh? You got that?
"Shinobi is like a wind in the society."
"Know the people and gather friends. Suppress own and promote others."
"That is the essence of Shinobi"
Sarutobi the Third
Yes... Mine... My own place!
I must repay my gratitude to the princess.
You don't really like me, do you?
Tokusaburo
I don't know you very well.
However, as a businessman, you would show good
face to please customers like the princess.
I would do anything to make money.
Do you sell your won soul for that?
Sometimes.
I get it...
What is going on?
Ah, Tokaiya...
Mr. Takayama, I understand your frustrations.
But, don't be reckless.
Money is needed to save unfortunate comrades.
Merchants have a ton of money.
You would be caught eventually if you keep doing this...
I can't worry about that for now.
Mr. Kiyota!
I need food for today.
Father.
You shouldn't be involved with them.
I have seen them before at the house where I was babysitting.
They come over and caused some trouble, then, demanded money.
They have bad reputations.
Mother.
I was going to brew some herb.
Mother, I will do it.
Stay in bed.
This is the scroll
which Sarutobi the first has written. Seven Shinobi essences
were represented by seven characters as "Hiden Shichijutsu”.
Grandson Sasuke didn't have any idea about what they mean, yet.
Hello.
Welcome.
I didn’t have a chance to introduce myself during the day.
My name is Iwamura Tousetsu. Please to meet you.
Iwamura Tousetsu
My name is Sasuke.
You... Are you a head of ronin (lordless and jobless samurai) group?
No such a thing.
I kind of became counselor for samurais in the same unfortunate situation.
Good evening. Oh, Ochika-chan.
Mother wanted to deliver some porridge here.
But, um...
Have you eaten, Ochika-chan?
No worry. This is a sort of welcome gift for
our new neighbor. It is just for today.
OK then, gladly.
Thanks.
Family next door... Aren't they too poor to eat?
Kiyota family's lord got deprived by the government.
I feel bad to eat this.
They were driven out of their home territory and ended up in Miyako.
However, they don't have any skill to get a job.
They live for day by day just like me.
No one helps ronin?
Nope. No government, nobody.
Mr. Kiyota's wife is very weak.
But then, there is no one to lend them money.
That's why he was going to join Takayama to get some quick cash.
Was that so...
Miyako has both heaven and hell.
All gone!
These days, the government has been depriving feudal lords severely.
Full of ronins (jobless and lordless samurais) struggled to survive.
Ronins are same as hungry stray dogs.
They suddenly show their fangs.
Kyoto Security Commissioner, Kitakura Harushige was planning
to hunt down these unfortunate samurais ruthlessly.
Drive angry ronins and round them up all together.
Kitakura... What a sly.
Hattori Banzo
Akame (Red eye)!
Akame
Go inside the ronin group and make them more upset.
Understood!
Auntie, give us fishy! OK.
There you go. Thank you.
Could I have half?
Sasuke.
Princess.
I came out to buy some painting brush as an excuse.
Alone?
I left attendant behind.
I would love to see your row house.
Ah, yeah...
Um... I'm little hungry.
One.
I didn't see your mother at the mansion. Is she back in your home territory?
Mother died when I was seven.
Oh, that's...
Ever since, just my father and I.
Ah, same like me.
Sasuke, you were with your mother, right?
Yeah. My dad left when I was about one.
Then, his face...?
Dunno!
You must have grown up lonely, haven't you?
No. I've had a grudge against him.
Grudge?
He probably didn't like being a Shinobi. That's why he ran away.
Because of that, my mom and I had to go through so many hardships.
Don't you want to see him?
Me!?
There must be some reason.
What kind of reason is there to throw away wife and kid?
Row house has poor family without food. Only thing they have is each other.
Dad's name is Onimaru.
Just like his name. He is Oni. (Ogre)
Where is my father?
What?
Return my father!
What happened, Ochika-chan?
Father has not returned since last night.
It's all their fault!
Stop it!
Don't force my father to commit a crime.
Shut up!
Are you alright?
Wait!
What are you doing to a kid like this? Apologize to her!
Insolent! Move!
You hurt her!
S...spare my life...
Please wait.
It won't be a good publicity doing something this in front of our store.
Dealing with a little kid like him...
We will keep in touch, right?
OK. Let's go.
Thank you.
Sasuke, are you hurt?
I am sorry. It's my fault.
Sorry! Sorry! Sorry!
What happened?
There was some an interesting commotion among his ronin group.
I see.
Daughter of Umemiya Shuzen from Takanami Clan has barged in.
What!?
Depending on our strategy...
We may be able to get rid of Takanami clan along with ronin round up.
Then, do you have a game plan for it?
Could you leave everything up to us?
Humph, Iga people.
If Chika's father has joined that ronin group....
He would be arrested if committing crime.
And if he gets death sentence, what would happen to a mother and a child?
We must bring her father back.
Sasuke.
M...me?
Who else?
But...
Her father made his decision after serious consideration.
What do you mean?
After all, dad won't listen to his wife and children.
Once decision is made, he would go all the way
without thinking about family, and then dump them.
It's not our place interfere.
Are you seriously saying that!?
Sasuke.
I am disappointed in you.
Is Mr. Kiyota here?
What?
I am here to take you back.
Hey, hey.
You should not be here.
But...
Chika-chan is heartbroken.
Go home.
Surely.
This guy doesn't have courage or skill.
We were wondering about what to do with him.
But!
It doesn't suite you.
Go home.
Thank you for your kindness.
Is it true that the princess has been kidnapped!?
We just got threatening letter which says to prepare money by tomorrow morning.
Money? Who in the world?
I don't know. Oichi left the mansion without saying anything this morning.
She may be with them...?
What? Um, nothing...
Sir Umemiya, you wanted to see me?
Could you lend me 1000ryo? (= 60000000 yen) for ransom money.
One Thousand!?
I am in charge of our lord's Kyoto Mansion.
There is no way to use fund for my personal matter.
I understand the situation.
However, I can't help you out.
Aren't you doing good business with us Takanami clan?
Don't you feel any gratitude?
As you know from the other day’s incident, Sir
Umemiya is in a very difficult situation.
Lending personal money to someone within risky
situation would also bring risk to our business.
Then, what shall we do about the princess!?
By the way, you said "them" few minute ago.
Yeah.
What do you know?
What happened to Oichi!?
Um, a ronin in front of my hut...
Mr. Kiyota?
He was in need of money. He decided to join criminal group.
Princess found out about that and asked me to stop him.
And then?
I said, that's none of our business...
You refused.
I see. That's why Oichi-sama herself went to bring Mr. Kiyota back.
Your desire of being useful for Oichi-sama was just that.
Ahhh... What to do! What to do! What to do!
If something happened to Oichi...
Her late mother wouldn't forgive me.
M...M... Mom.
I came to see how you are doing.
What's wrong? Sasuke?
I am no good, mom.
That’s right, no good.
What? You thought I would tell you some uplifting wisdom?
Sasuke's mother; Otastu
Only thing you do is to grieve by saying "no good". You never
plan about what must be done for it. That's why you are no good.
As a grandson of great Sarutobi Sasuke,
Don't you have a determination of becoming a Shinobi?
I can't do anything about that.
Because I am a son of Onimaru who dumped wife and kid.
You are too naive to blame things like that on parent.
Your dad left the village.
However, he has mastered these essences of Shinobi.
That's because grandpa taught him, right!?
I didn't have a father like that.
Soul of Brave fighters upon thee.
God of holy place. Gather comrade among thee.
Thy will be done.
Protect thee.
Purify thee.
Rin.
Byo.
Tou.
Sha.
Kai.
Jin.
Retsu.
Zai.
Zen.
Listen carefully, Akame?
It would be great if Umemiya brings money by the promised time.
If not, kill them all.
Umemiya. What will he do?
Either way, Takanami clan is stirring the pot for us.
Where is the princess?
That's...
He’s not sure...
Tokusaburo-san.
It seems confinement location has been moved.
Why do you know that!?
Could it be...? Are you one of them?
Won’t they try to avoid Mr. Kiyota telling us, will they?
That's true.
Dammit! Nothing we could do!
I don't think Sir Umemiya would be quiet, though.
Is he going to the assigned location to rescue the princess?
Yeah. If you were a parent, you couldn't stay still, don't you think?
Where is the location?
Sasuke.
Sasuke!
I am a head of Takanami clan’s Kyoto Mansion.
Umemiya Shuzen.
Daddy himself came over!
Where is my daughter?
Before that, give us the money.
There is no money.
What's the?
You...
Tell me!
Sir Umemiya!
Sasuke!
Running for you as soon as arriving in Miyako!
You guys!
Sasuke, get him!
Sasuke, don't move, don't move, and don’t move!
Shoot him! Hurry!
Stay still. I am shooting now.
You, klutz!
Heavy, heavy.
I am not running away.
I won't run.
Sasuke!
Wait,
I am not like Onimaru.
I am Sasuke.
I am Sarutobi Sasuke!!
Sasuke.
Ah, dammit.
Sasuke!
Good job!
Where is the princess?
Ouch!
Eh? What's this?
She'll be there.
Sir Umemiya!
Let's go.
Oichi!
Father, Sasuke. Thank you for coming.
Um... But... is this?
Sir Umemiya?
Yes I am.
Ransom money from kidnapping got me tangled.
This time, I have truly understood how samurais could be.
Losing their home by the government's conspiracy and then, struggle to survive.
The Same tragedy could happen to Takanami clan anytime.
This is not someone else's problem. I greatly sympathize.
I was grateful to know someone like you understood our agony.
Princess! Please forgive me!
I made you go through this...
But, you came to rescue me with strenuous effort.
Isn't that so?
Sasuke.
It was troublesome this time.
Boss! Fine.
I have a next plan.
Failure is not an option.
Hey, Tokaiya.
How are you doing?
How is your master doing?
He is still in bed as before. I will be running the business as usual.
Oh, by the way... You do business with Takanami clan, right?
It may be a good idea to cut them off soon.
Oh, yeah?
Who delivered such lucrative information?
How about this?
Let's have a party with bunch of pretty girls tonight.
I would like you to tell me more.
That would be fun...
I think I was able to grasp one of Shinobi's essences.
Kanji character for Shinobi is identical to the word stealth.
I think stealth means to have "sword over your
heart" (that's how “Shinobi” kanji is written.)
Indeed.
It means to have a stable soul by being fearless and secure.
Essene of Shinobi, isn't it?
Yes.
That's wonderful.
Yes.
I also have learned one thing this time.
Because of Sasuke.
Princess.
Thank you.
As it seems, mishap of this incident is all Sasuke's fault.
Please forgive him.
That's all right. It is as if I am watching myself in my youth.
That's why it is frustrating and dealing.
Sir Umemiya.
Tokusaburo from Tokaiya is over here.
I am so glad to have both Oichi-sama and Sir Umemiya doing fine.
I ended up using my soward for not being able gather 1000-ryo.
So grateful.
There, Tokusaburo. Here is Sasuke's mother.
This man is a head servant of Merchant Tokaiya which we deal with.
His name is Tokusaburo.
How do you do.
What?
Nothing.
I shall go, then.
Have a nice day...
Mr. Hashimoto.
You are...
I sometimes do business at Kyoto Mansion.
Ah, OK. Is that so?
It was a lot of trouble for Sir Umemiya.
How do you think his daughter was able to return safely?
That is...
Don't you think Sir Umemiya secretly gave money to ronins?
Meaning, embezzling Kyoto mansion fund.
Also, there is a Shinobi by Sir Umemiya. That's...
I think he is Sasuke something from Kouga.
Sasuke... From Kouga...
This is Hattori Banzo.
This guy is also a grandson of the famous Hattori Hanzo.
They share tangled history with Sarutobi family.
I see. You guys are staying.
Yeah. Please let my family know that.
I will also stay here to seek some joyous money making strategies.
What?
Are you going to see that guy from Tokaiya again?
Yeah. He is the owner of my row house.
That guy...
What?
Nothing.
Oichi-sama. Please look after Sasuke.
Have a safe trip.
Bye!
Take care! Auntie, don't trip on the way back.
Conspiracy? I would be a culprit.
You say, father has embezzled money!?
You easily slice your gut to die like that!?
After Umemiya Shuzen is gone...
It was set up! Enemy or ally?
I will clear Umemiya Shuzen's name!