Tenka, you've become an older brother.
You have to protect this little guy.
Soramaru! Chutaro!
You back with us, Tenka-san?
Is this how you treat me?
Think about those of us who are hiding you.
Oh yeah, there's someone who said they really had to see you.
Tenka-sama...
I'm...so glad that you're alive...
Laughing Under the Clouds
ikon no uzu maku kugai ni sasuraedo
Even though wandering through the suffering world
full of swirling grudges
kowarenu kizuna wa kienai hikari
The unbreakable bond is an unfading light
hyakki datote yarusa
Even if I conceive a hundred demons
ikinuite mamoran
I must survive to protect you
aa kumori naki kokoro no houtou
Ah! With the unclouded treasure, the sword of hearts,
ten kazase
I hold it up to heaven
sho tte tateyo sekai wo
Stand up and support the world on your back
korogare yo jidai wo
Roll on to the new era
taiyou no gotoku kakugo moyasu
My resolution burns like the sun
asu no hai te de warau
I only wish that
omae dake negau
you laugh at tomorrow's end
ware koso atsuki yume tsugu mono
Only I can succeed in this passionate dream
Episode 11
The Sun, Shining Once More in the Clouds
Ohta-sensei, you knew all along, didn't you?
I am part of the government's clandestine research division.
Eleven years ago, in order to protect his younger brother,
Tenka was gravely injured and wandered around, not knowing if he'd live or die.
But you were able to miraculously save his life
thanks to a wonder drug.
It was a drug developed by the clandestine research division made from Orochi cells.
The Orochi's poison quickly adapted to his body and started to activate.
It closed up his wound and kept him alive.
The research division was glad they found such a good test subject.
To live, even if it meant becoming something other than human. That was what he wanted.
I have two younger brothers. I can't die yet.
Even so, I don't know how long it will last.
It's all right. I'll struggle desperately as long as I can.
I thought I was to be executed, once my body had been turned into the Orochi.
My corpse was to be dissected.
So why did you let me live?
Right before the execution, orders came from above
to keep you alive because you were still useful.
Are Soramaru and Chutaro doing well?
Well...
Chutaro-kun is missing...
What?
Soramaru's even worse off.
What do you mean?
Soramaru is the Orochi's vessel.
My deepest apologies! The Fuma have taken Soramaru!
Kinjo Shirasu betrayed us and is acting as chief of the Fuma.
What are you trying to do?
Move... I'll go...
You cannot, especially with your body like that!
I want to live as a Kumoh until the end of this life.
Please, let me go.
But...
Not bad. I like that, Tenka-san.
If I don't go, who will?
Tenka doesn't like to be restrained.
That's fine, isn't it? Being free suits him.
Besides...
Somehow, he reminds me of someone...
It's fine.
I can still do it. That's why...
Please laugh for me...
I'm sorry, Commander...
Don't say anything.
Just think about getting better for now.
Yes, sir.
I'm glad Takamine-san's okay.
All of the Yamainu will go after the Orochi now.
Catch him alive.
Is that even possible?
I have information that the Kumoh family swords can separate the Orochi from the vessel.
The second Kumoh boy has them.
Please retrieve them when you find him.
Go.
Show no mercy to those who resist.
Sasaki, let me tell you this first.
According to Shi, Minister Iwakura underwent a massive operation the other day.
Was something wrong with him?
The operation was successful, but it seems chances of a relapse are high.
And from Takamine's information,
it sounds like the government had been researching artificial Orochi.
Artificial Orochi?
Rumor has it that Orochi cells dramatically improve human healing abilities.
It is Shi's opinion that Tenka may have also been used as a test subject.
Which means Iwakura-sama is also...?
That man is terrified of death.
If there is a chance that it will keep him alive, he will cling onto anything.
Orochi-sama, the Yamainu are on the move.
They are coming for you.
We should probably act soon.
We are ready to move whenever you are.
He won't listen to us after all, huh?
Amazing! So this is the Orochi's power?
I see.
Orochi-sama wants vengeance upon this land...
How are things over there?
It's no use. None of them will tell us the Orochi's location.
The Chief Warden of Gokumonjo? Why is he here?
Of course, so he is on their side after all.
What do you mean?
He probably joined forces with the Fuma and let the prisoners escape from Gokumonjo.
Yamainu. You are in the way.
For the guardian of sins to betray the country...
What do you know?!
Don't underestimate me. I am Abeno Sosei.
Talk! Where's the Orochi?
Even if you knew, there's nothing you can do. You'll all die here.
Guns?
I thought I said not to underestimate me.
Who do you think you're up against?
We are a squadron chosen by the Japanese Empire.
Our resolve is different from yours.
Takamine-san!
Sorry I'm late, Commander.
I won't allow arms or legs to break off on their own.
Impossible...
We, the Yamainu, are the guardians protecting this country.
If you want to defeat us,
you'll need to call the Orochi.
Nasty magic, as usual.
It's needed to extract a confession. Best way so far.
Speaking of which... Commander, I brought a guest as a present.
She's the familiar that Ashiya was talking about.
I see.
I'm honored to meet you.
As am I.
I'm Hirari from the Shiga prefectural police. Nice to meet you.
Yes.
We have reason to capture the Orochi alive. Will you help us?
That was always my intention.
Does the Orochi have any weaknesses?
It's probably the sun.
The Orochi is only ever reborn under cloudy skies.
There must be a reason why it cannot appear under sunny skies.
Shall we try giving the Orochi some sunlight?
H-How?
Use the tunnel for the Lake Biwa canal.
Those tunnels that bring water from Lake Biwa to Kyoto, right?
Now that you mention it, I think Iwakura-sama spoke about them at that party.
I know where the Orochi is.
What should we do?
If there's even the slightest chance, then we must try.
Chase the Orochi into the tunnel tonight, then force him out in Kyoto.
We're aiming for the morning sun.
Roger!
Let's go too.
Is it okay not to tell them that Tenka-san is alive?
The Yamainu are friends of his, aren't they?
I've learned that if you trust people too much, you'll get hurt.
There's also one more person who I'm still unsure whether they are friend or foe.
I've been looking for you, Soramaru-sama.
Unfortunately,
that is not Kumoh Soramaru.
It seems that you were looking for me in Gokumonjo.
My apologies.
I never thought you'd be one of the chiefs.
That hair... You're half-done?
Then it's only natural that you don't know who I am.
Chief. Please allow me to call myself Fuma once more.
That peaceful time made me delirious...
But I am a ninja. A tool to be used.
I am not human, but if it could be allowed, just for a little...
Please, keep me by your side, Soramaru-sama.
Chutaro!
You're Kagami Naoto, aren't you?
Do ya think ya can get outta the way?
Why is the half-done girl here?
As long as she's even half Fuma, we are family.
Soramaru-sama, I heard that those swords have protected the Kumohs for generations.
Three hundred years ago, they were swallowed by the Orochi
and the blades were filled with spells.
Those spells may be fatal to the Orochi.
I heard that with these family swords, the Orochi may be separated from the vessel.
We can't trust the half-done one after all.
Soramaru-sama is the Orochi?
I probably shouldn't be telling you this, but there's no one better suited for the task.
Please think carefully, whether you will choose Fuma or Kumoh.
This is the first time I've felt this way.
I've never done anything without an order,
but I feel strongly about this, so I'm opposing the clan.
Soramaru-sama,
I want you to smile at me once more.
These people are innocent, sir!
The police who couldn't stop Tenny's execution are the same, ya know.
If you say that, there won't be an end to it, sir!
Chutaro-sama, stay back.
Get a hold of yourselves, sir!
Outta the way, ya weakling.
If I don't protect them...
He said it was okay to be weak, sir...
That it was okay to not make progress...
I won't lose, sir!
I'm sorry, sir...
I don't want revenge after all, sir...
I'll catch some fish for you, so please stop with the revenge, sir...
Don't reject it after all this time.
I'm only here to take revenge on my god, the emperor...
Don't take my reason for livin' away.
Don't say your reason for living is revenge... It's too sad, sir...!
That's not fair. Ya can only say that 'cause ya got everythin', ya know.
What do you want?!
See? Ya abandon me like everyone else...
Hm? Are you...
Gerokichi?
I knew it!
Hey, don't stop so suddenly, sir!
A-Are you okay?
Huh? These swords...
S-Sora-nii...?
Here are the swords you asked for...
I am thankful, Nishiki-dono.
Go. Hurry through the canal tunnel.
Understood.
Botan-sensei, what happened?
Chutaro-kun, hurry and climb onto Poko.
Sora-nii is following us, sir!
That's the Orochi. It is not Soramaru.
The Orochi?!
Chutaro-kun, listen carefully.
Take the family swords and go through these tunnels to Kyoto!
We're going to lure the Orochi out to where it's sunny.
Poko, I'm counting on you! Please do your best!
Don't be intimidated.
The leader appears, huh?
Sora-nii, stop it, sir!
Botan-san, where's Soramaru-sama??
He's currently following Chutaro-kun through the canal tunnel.
It is a grave sin to deceive the Fuma.
A-Are we almost at Kyoto?
A dead end...? No way...!
As expected of the Fuma chief. Looks like he'll be hard to deal with.
Are you prepared to die, ladies?
I am Chutaro, the third son of the Kumoh Shrine!
I'm Tenny and Sora-nii's little brother, sir!
Let's go home, Sora-nii! Let's go home together, sir!
Chutaro! Soramaru!
Let's go home!
Tenny!
dokomademo hirogaru haiiro no sora no shita
Below a gray sky extending to the farthest reaches,
unmei wo seotte kono mi wo sasageteyuku
I offer you this body burdened by fate.
wakitatsu womoi wo kono sora ni sarakedasu no sa
I'll expose these emotions welling up in me to the sky.
mamorinuku mono wa sou sa
For the things we protect till the end, it's true that
asu ni tsunaideyukou
we shall form a link to tomorrow.
tatoe ima tsuyu to kietemo
Even now, if you disappear with the morning dew,
kimi yo kesshite akiramenaide
never lose your faith.
owaranai kanashimi nado nai koto wo kimi wa shitteiru
You're well aware there's no such thing as eternal sadness.
History is always made by the wisdom of the old and the passion of the young.
Pave the way for a new age, youths of the next generation!
Final episode
Brothers Gathering Under the Sun
Illustration: Karakara Kemuri