After a fierce battle with the Shadow Ruffian Alliance,
Ise Shinkuro finally defeats the Four Kings!
But that was only the beginning of the battle.
The Shadow Ruffian Alliance Chairman
summoned the Shadow Eight Generals to eliminate her!
Ise Shinkuro battles the Shadow Eight Generals.
But in her battle with the Four Kings, she hurt her good hand,
and lost her blade, Nikko Ichimonji.
Where are you going when you're that badly hurt, Shinku?
I'm going to the battlefield!
That was decided long ago!
A wounded Ise Shinkuro continues her battle.
Shinku, come back!
Who will be the winner?
Pretty sure that isn't what happened.
Yeah?
Unfortunate.
Do you always eat that much?
No. I'm just a little hungry after my first exercise in a while.
You haven't eaten lately.
Yes. Very sorry about that.
But eating that much at once isn't healthy.
I'm fine.
What about you, Jun? Is that all you want to eat?
You had gym class, too.
One bowl of udon noodles doesn't seem like much.
I don't eat much.
Okay, then.
Now that you mention it, the Shadow Ruffian Alliance!
I didn't mention it.
I skipped fourth period to investigate...
Don't skip class.
I don't have a choice.
The battle has begun.
You're the one who started it, aren't you?
Yes, I was.
Umm...
May I continue?
Yeah.
I did some investigating,
and the Shadow Ruffian Alliance is amazing.
They've hidden themselves so well,
you would think they're actually shadows.
They're a worthy rival!
I'm all fired up!
I-Is that so...
I came up with that lie to make her happy...
Should I tell her the truth?
I was considering seppuku when I
defeated the ruffians so easily,
but now I can't possibly die until
I've defeated the Shadow Ruffian Alliance!
Seppuku?
And you're going to die when you defeat them?
Eh, it's just an expression.
Don't scare me like that, Shinku.
On second thought, maybe I shouldn't tell her.
Anyway, Shinku, hypothetically,
and I'm just speaking hypothetically here,
if you found the Shadow Ruffian Alliance,
what would you do with them?
Destroy them all, of course!
Obliterate them!
Thought so.
They're smart, the Shadow Ruffian Alliance.
Now that I've defeated their ruffians,
they'll be on the lookout for me.
I know you're strong, but can I say something?
What?
No matter how strong you are,
I think it's dangerous to make enemies out of
somebody called an "alliance."
That's why I'm going to find them and destroy them!
Really?
If they're going to be after me 24 hours a day,
even I'd feel in danger.
Is there anything more dangerous than having
them come after you while you don't do anything?
Come to think of it, you're right, but...
Why are you so confident?
I am a Warring States General guarded by the flame.
I don't think I'd lose to anybody in this world.
Guarded by the flame?
Yes.
It was...
When I was small.
I went to the mountains to pick herbs.
It was a beautiful day, and the flowers were so pretty.
And then...
A volcano suddenly erupted!
I felt like something was calling me,
so I went to the summit.
And there...
Falling into the lava would normally kill you, wouldn't it?
It was then that I realized that heat can't hurt me.
Is that the issue?
It is.
That was a good meal.
I'll continue my investigations this afternoon.
What about class?
As I said earlier,
if I don't find and destroy the Shadow Ruffian Alliance soon,
I'll be too worried to sleep at night.
Oh, right.
A weak force called the van-der-waals
I'm glad Shinku's feeling better, but at this rate
force that works on molecules...
there is no point in taking her to school.
There are other types of bonding known as covalent and ionic bonding...
Hey, Takahashi.
Pay attention.
S-Sorry!
Shinku isn't back.
Did she go home on her own?
Oh, good, you're still here, Jun.
Shinku, are you okay?
Yes, of course.
But I guess I kept you waiting...
No, I'm fine.
Anyway, the Shadow Ruffian Alliance continues
to amaze me.
You didn't find them, did you?
No. No leads yet.
The ruffians claim they don't know anything.
They must've been terrified into silence.
I'm pretty sure that's what they'd say, yeah.
The Shadow Ruffian Alliance
must have the ability to plant small bombs in someone's body.
What?
Yes.
Let slip even a single word and you'll explode.
They aren't that scary!
Otherwise, I don't understand why
they would be willing to risk my blade to avoid talking.
Maybe they don't know?
Where are they?
I feel bad for tricking her,
but maybe this is for the best until she finds
something new to do...
Is something wrong?
No, nothing.
All right, then.
Let's go home.
Yeah.
I don't think I'll find anything else today.
Yeah.
The Shadow Ruffian Alliance.
Are you another general?
That's right.
Did you think you were the only one?
My name is Kazama Kotaro.
And what people call me is... a secret!
I don't understand why you would
give your name but keep what people call you a secret!
If you really want to know, I'll tell you.
No, I'm not interested at all.
So you don't have to tell me.
You're just saying that.
You really want to know, don't you?
If it's a secret, then feel free to take it to your grave.
If you don't hear it now, you're going to regret it!
I'll be fine.
Y-You'll truly regret it!
I'm prepared to face the consequences.
I-If you don't ask what it is, you'll die!
That'll be your fate!
Then I shall overcome that fate!
Shinku, I feel bad. Ask her what she's called.
If she wants to hide it,
I can't understand why I would ask.
She wants to say it!
I guarantee you she wants to say it!
I see.
Then tell me what people call you!
If you absolutely insist, I'll tell you.
My name is Fuuma Kotaro!
An Ashigara ninja!
I am Ise Shinkuro!
Here I go!
Is this really okay?!
You impress me, assassin of the Shadow Ruffian Alliance!
It makes me mad that you laugh as you say that!
You're quite talented, but a true ninja
would've tried to avoid a frontal attack.
I'm not done yet.
As the head of the Fuuma clan, I cannot lose!
The minute you decided to fight on even ground
with a samurai, you never had a chance.
And I consider myself one
of the better fighters among the samurai.
It looks like you are a pretty good fighter.
But that's all.
You'll never be as big a person as they are!
Is "they" the chairman of the Shadow Ruffian Alliance?
That's a secret...
Okay.
Then I won't ask.
I won't ask, so don't worry.
Of course, I won't torture you or anything.
You think maybe you should ask?
She really wants to tell you.
No, absolutely not.
Honestly, I regret asking earlier.
Fuuma's a stupid name.
Seriously?
If you don't want to know,
then I won't tell you their secret identity.
If you're not scared of them, go to the gym.
You can be surprised when you meet them there!
Shinku, this is a bad idea.
Why?
Because it's scary!
The Shadow Ruffian Alliance really exists,
and their chairman is waiting for you!
True, it's scary.
They may be incredibly powerful,
and they may have a trap waiting!
A trap?
Then...
No, I'm going!
A powerful enemy and a trap!
I'm all fired up!
O-Oh...
Stopping you would just get you more fired up, Shinku...
Hey, Shinku.
What?
I won't tell you to stop fighting,
but promise me something.
If it's something I can do.
Even if there's a greater enemy waiting behind the chairman,
you'll go home with me.
I see!
Come to think of it, the chairman might not be the boss!
Shinku, I'm serious.
All right.
I promise.
As soon as I defeat the chairman, I'll go back home with you.
It's a promise!
Yes.
Let's go back together.
I always keep my promises.
Hello!
Oh, you're here already?
Big!
She's a really big person!
I didn't know any of the other generals were this big!
She's just big in a literal sense, right?
You can't judge a book by its cover, Jun.
Are you going to tell me that?
You're the one who said "big!"
And I don't think they're human!
I didn't expect you to make it here unharmed.
Hojo Soun.
You're as deadly a warrior as I've heard.
No. I abandoned the name Soun.
When I came to this world
and no longer had a master to serve,
I was no longer worthy of it.
But if you know that name...
Then who are you?
The woman who's going to defeat you and make you join her.
Then I'll tell you something.
I'm much more powerful than the rumors say!
How dare you speak like that in my presence!
Shinku!
Don't worry about me.
But I don't think I can protect you.
Don't worry.
I'm not going to attack anyone but you,
or take any hostages.
Glad to hear it.
I just don't need to!
Hojo Soun.
You aren't as powerful as the rumors said.
I told you,
I'm not Hojo Soun anymore.
I have the nickname Jun gave me, Shinku.
If you're going to call me something, call me Shinku.
I'm rather fond of it.
Have you accepted defeat and are now abandoning the fight, Soun?
You really don't understand, do you?
I am Ise Shinkuro.
My nickname is Shinku.
If you call me Hojo Soun again, I'll get mad.
Can you do something if you get mad? Hojo Soun.
Then I'm free to do it if I can, right?
Secret Technique: Cursed Combustion!
Her spiritual energy turned into flame...
I am guarded by the flame, and it can't hurt me.
But can you survive this?
The gym's on fire, Shinku!
Sacrifices must be made for victory!
But don't burn down my school!
I'm not scared of fire,
but I cannot lose this school, either!
You can control flame, but I control water!
As long as this rain falls,
you can't use your Cursed Combustion!
Fire and water...
I'm at a disadvantage, but...
Even so, I won't lose to you.
So she's controlling a huge puppet with water?
I'll praise you for seeing through my trick.
But...
I see.
So a little damage won't be enough.
I was planning on holding back,
but this is a battle!
Don't hate me if you die.
You were holding back?
If nothing else, I was planning on not killing you.
Hojo Soun bluffing?
I never heard any rumors about that!
I'm sure you didn't.
It's just the truth!
Is that all you've got, Hojo Soun?
I told you.
I'm much more powerful than the rumors say!
I guess you're alive.
I thought that if you were from the
same world I was, you'd probably be okay, but...
You were still holding back after all that?
My goal was to
save the school from the Shadow Ruffian Alliance.
Not make enemies.
And so here's a question: will you still fight me?
If I say yes?
I would keep fighting.
Stand down, Hojo Soun.
Is that you, Sessai-dono?
Yes. It's been a long time, Soun.
It truly has, Sessai-dono.
Are you okay?
Yes.
Soun, you know who this is now, don't you?
Yes.
I've never personally been introduced to her, but...
The head of the Imagawa clan.
Imagawa Yoshimoto-sama.
So you're Yoshimoto-sama.
You were so big, I didn't notice.
I apologize.
I don't mind.
It was my fault for trying to test you.
Test me?
I want to ask your help, as another of the
Imagawa forces who's come to this world.
Help?
With Oda Nobunaga.
I've heard the name.
I guess they're in this world, too.
I want to get even with Nobunaga, no matter what.
And I need your power for that.
I don't really understand,
but the Imagawas were good to me once.
I would never refuse the request of their current leader.
I see.
I'm happy to hear that, Soun.
Excuse me. It's Ise Shinkuro now, isn't it?
No, Soun is fine.
If I'm going to serve the Imagawa once again,
I shall be Hojo Soun once more.
Shinku!
You promised you'd go home with me!
Jun!
And now you're going back to being Hojo Soun?
That's not fair!
I like the name Shinku.
And I'll never forget the kindness of the Takahashi clan.
Then...
But my promise to serve the Imagawas
was made before I met you.
I must fulfill it.
I keep the promises I make.
Then what about the promise you made with me?
It may take a while.
But someday, I'll return.
I promise that again.
But now I am Hojo Soun,
a servant of the Imagawa clan.
So I'll keep that promise when I can visit you again.
So we can go back together then, right?
Yes.
When that happens, Jun,
please call me Shinku again.
Okay! It's a promise!
Let me call you Shinku again, okay?
Yes. Please do!
Next time it's the brutal maiden,
Matsunaga Misahide!
Next time on Sengoku Collection: "Brutal Maiden."
I'm fired up for no reason!