Shogun Assassination Arc Part Eight
Farewell, Buddy
Watch the Shogun Assassination Arc in a bright room and at a safe distance from your TV!!
You really don't know when to give up.
You still cling to hope?
You still defy the heavens?
Outta the way!
No, this is also something the heavens have preordained.
We're leaving.
What are you doing?
Mukuro...
Is this your doing, too,
Shoyo?
Is this what you wanted to do?
You defied the heavens and got brought back down to Earth.
Now, while you await your death in this filthy prison cell,
you teach your guard?
It wasn't the heavens I defied.
It was myself.
My hands did nothing but plunder from others,
so I wanted to see if they could give people something.
But in the end, that desire went unfulfilled.
I was the one who was given something precious.
People are born weak.
Everyone struggles through life, burdened with an identity they cannot accept.
Unfortunate as it may be, there is no escaping that struggle.
However, that doesn't mean we can only suffer as our weakness controls us.
We can also struggle to face our weaknesses, defy them, and change ourselves.
Those little samurai taught me that...
People have more freedom than they think.
Struggle all you want.
If that is your fate as his disciples,
then keep struggling to the last
with those broken swords of yours.
This battle isn't worth taking on both the Takasugi and Shogun factions.
Their political defeat has already been set in stone.
B-But...
Lord Nobunobu, you've already received the emperor's blessings.
You are the shogun.
Lord Shigeshige, I understand your will.
But this country no longer has any place for you as shogun.
Are you saying you will create a new country?
If one country has two rulers,
then its subjects will also be divided and thrown into chaos.
Knowing that, will you still cling to your throne?
This country no longer has a ruler.
All it has left is men being swept away by the winds of change.
Mere puppets of the authority behind the scenes.
But those puppets will soon fall to pieces, too.
In this era, which abounds with various ideologies and values,
it is no longer possible to unite people's hearts under one ruler.
If they lose their compass,
Divine Punishment
then just like us, the people will get swept away as the tides turn.
They will lose their way and walk down the path of destruction.
It is for that reason that there is something we must regain.
A way of life that will hold firm in the face of this chaotic age...
Our own brand of samurai.
That is the lesson they taught me.
Even without a ruler,
people can fight for their friends, the things they hold dear,
and their unyielding conviction.
We can all fight for what rules us and each become our own samurai.
Even in the darkest depths of turmoil,
we can discover a way of life that we find beautiful.
Samurai such as those are what the world needs in the times to come.
There is no longer any place for us.
Amusing.
Are you saying that two shoguns are not enough, but people should all rule themselves?
And to that end, you will abolish the role of shogun yourself?
If this country hinders their way of life,
then along with that pitiful puppet,
I shall gladly be the last shogun.
Chief!
Are you all right?
Yeah. Don't worry.
Damn you!
Gin-san!
Gin-san...
H-Hey...
Wh-What is it?
I forgot to mention...
Remember that one copy of Jump?
If you're curious about what happens next,
fork over half the price.
Gin-san!
Like I could read that.
It's been two weeks.
He's not showing any signs of movement, let alone opening his eyes.
Matako, I know you're worried,
but you should get some rest yourself.
It's a miracle that he made it out alive with those wounds.
That's what we must tell ourselves.
The Kiheitai are in a sorry state, too.
Who would've thought our king would betray us one move away from checkmate?
We've lost a lot of troops, but what hurts more is losing our flag bearer.
It will take a while to recover from this.
Will Shinsuke-sama be able to rise once again?
Maybe this is the end...
He crossed swords with the White Yaksha.
I'm sure Shinsuke was prepared to face the consequences.
But there's no doubting what I saw back then.
He was hurt all over and seemed to be on the verge of death,
but there was still a fire in his eyes.
He had his sight set on something, with more focus than ever.
Shinsuke...
Just what did you see in the midst of your battle with him?
The Elders betrayed us.
They were in cahoots with the Tendoshu all along.
Along with Takasugi and his gang, we were messing with the Tendoshu.
I bet they were waiting for the chance to cast us aside.
So not only are we no longer pirates, we're being targeted by them.
Things are going well, then.
Huh?
Now I'm one step closer to becoming the King of Pirates.
The quickest way to become the strongest in the universe
would be to turn the entire universe against me and beat them all up, right?
I was eventually gonna kill them all, anyway.
It's simpler now that I can deal with them all at once.
That's not the issue here!
Repaying your debt to Takasugi and his gang is fine,
but we'll go down with them at this rate!
Shinsuke and I won't go down that easily.
Even that crybaby took a stand,
no matter how many times she fell.
So I can't fall here, either.
Because...
I'm her big bro.
With Shigeshige-sama gone,
those of us left behind must carry the country on our shoulders.
The enemy's blade did strike me down once,
but with the role the emperor has entrusted to me,
I stand before you once again.
As the new shogun, Tokugawa Nobunobu,
I ask all of you to lend me your strength.
And together, let us change this chaotic world and bring about a new era.
We cannot take back what is already lost to the past.
Thank you.
You're really leaving, Shogun-sama?
I cannot let the Tendoshu and Lord Nobunobu have their way with this country.
But I cannot go back to Edo.
Thus, I shall head to Kyo and wait for the chance to rally.
It is the land where the emperor resides.
They won't be able to make a move easily.
I shall gather my allies who were driven out of the bakufu, lobby the emperor,
and establish a new administration in Kyo.
That is the only way to oppose the Tendoshu and Lord Nobunobu.
Soyo, you can stay here if you wish.
No. I'll come with you and support you.
Parting with everyone will be hard,
but that's exactly why I must go.
So I can meet them again with a smile in Edo.
Soyo-chan...
Kagura-chan...
I'm sorry, but I cannot take you with me yet.
I cannot turn you into the Tendoshu's enemies,
for you are the only ones I can entrust with Edo.
No need to worry.
We will protect Edo.
We will protect your and Princess Soyo's home.
It might've been hard for us to do it alone,
but we have your trustworthy retainers with us.
Isn't that right, Oniwaban?
Thank you.
If you had not killed me, I would not have survived.
But I cannot stay dead.
I...
You'll go even if we stop you, right?
Then shut up and go.
We don't need to be told what to do.
The duty of the Oniwaban is to protect the shogun's duty.
And the shogun's duty is to protect the country and its people.
The shogun may change, but our job remains the same.
We're the Oniwaban of our buddy, Tokugawa Shigeshige.
Shigeshige is fine.
You once wondered what to call me the next time we met, did you not?
I would like "Shigeshige."
Let us meet again in an era where we may address each other that way.
Farewell,
my buddies.
Oedo Hospital
A New Shogun Is Appointed
Gin-san, was this for the best?
The shogun's still alive, but now Edo's...
Just what's going to happen to the world now?
Before dawn.
The night is darkest just before the dawn.
But keep your eyes open.
If you avert your eyes from the dark, you'll be blind to the rays of a new day.
So keep your eyes open, no matter how dark the night ahead may be.
Gin-chan, Gin-chan!
Soyo-chan sent a letter!
What the hell are you doing?!
Kagura-chan, everyone,
I hope you are well.
Brother and I are doing much better than we were in Edo.
We're now at the safest place in this country,
the Imperial Palace, under the emperor's protection.
Here, there's no need to worry about any threats to Brother's life.
In fact, there's no need to worry about any conflict at all.
The only problem is...
Katakuriko, I don't need guarding.
We're inside the Imperial Palace. This is disrespectful.
And I'm about to meet my friends,
who were driven out of the bakufu due to their loyalty to me.
I cannot doubt them.
If I remain a shogun while trying to create a world without shoguns,
no one will follow me.
I will go as I am, as simply a friend.
Brother's former retainers were worried about him,
so they came in droves as soon as they heard about the crisis.
Day after day, they keep knocking on the doors.
Please raise your heads.
I sit before you as simply Tokugawa Shigeshige the man.
Would you help me as my friends?
Shigeshige-sama!
Including all of you,
Brother really is lucky to have such great friends.
I lost track of time!
Brother will be home soon.
I have to ready his tea.
Today's the day I make him admit it's delicious!
Thank you.
Please call for me if you ever need anything.
I'll rush to your aid any time.
I'm counting on you.
Oh, Tomonosuke! You came!
I've lost count of how many times you've helped me since we were children.
My childhood friend, will you lend me your strength again?
If I may, Shigeshige-sama...
You no longer have any allies in this world.
Shogun-sama, do you remember me?
When I heard you were in trouble, I rushed here to offer you my help.
Oh, no! Brother's teacup!
Thank you all so much for being friends with my Brother.
It's a poisoned needle! I can't believe he snuck this in!
With you as his allies, with his friends by his side,
I'm sure Brother won't lose to anyone.
Treat him at once!
But the poison's already spread all over...
Just shut up and do something!
B-But...
It's fine.
That's enough, Katakuriko.
I see.
Now I can finally go back to being merely Shigeshige.
Sho—
I have a favor to ask.
So please, everyone...
Even though we're far apart and can't meet for a while,
please don't forget Brother.
Please wait for Tokugawa Shigeshige.
We'll come back for sure.
In a world where the shogun and the country don't matter,
we'll come back to you as people just like you, as just a pair of siblings.
You're back, Brother?
Good timing. I just made some tea.
I'm sorry.
I broke your teacup.
Here you go.
How do you like it, Brother?
I put in more effort than usual today!
Soyo.
I've gone back to being simply a brother, but the tea you make...
is still lacking.
Jeez, Brother! You're such a meanie!
Brother?
You must be really tired.
Forget about the country and the position of shogun today,
and get some rest.
Goodnight, Brother.
Changing times,
unchanging spirits...
The adversities of the era come raining down.
Next week, a new arc begins.