We look the same, but men call us monsters.
If we shadows, which lurk between eras,
are destined to die,
then I shall fall with the cherry blossoms.
Then, I shall fall with the cherry blossoms.
Tenth Year of the Tenshou Era, 1582 AD June 2 by the Old Calendar
Honnouji
Fifty years of a man's life
are like a dream, compared to the heavens...
Once a man is born, must he not die?
Indeed, he must...
Kazusanosuke-sama.
Nobunaga-sama.
Who's there?
Have you come to take me to hell?
There's no need to hurry.
Does it not frustrate you?
What?
Does dying with your great desire unfulfilled not frustrate you?
That is my destiny.
And if it were possible to change that destiny?
What?
You need but ask, and I shall change it for you.
The Cherry Blossoms Have Fallen
Iemitsu, the third shogun of the Tokugawa.
He and his brother Tadanaga shared an animosity still spoken of today.
But in the shadows of the struggle for succession, which began their feud,
the Iga and Kouga ninja were forced to fight and die.
Those occurrences, however, were buried in darkness,
and no one knows for sure if they ever really happened.
Third Year of the Kan'ei Era, 1626 AD Land of Suruga Suruga Castle
They left us only animosity, hatred, and blood...
Open the gate!
Shut the gate! Close it up!
My lord... Tadanaga-sama,
please, please take all care.
But even if the last shogun's wife is dying, the way he panicked...
I understand the reason.
Our lord's only ally at Edo Castle
was his mother, the last shogun's wife.
Mother... Please... Please, hang in there.
I, Tadanaga, am on my way!
Land of Kii Takano Mountain Jison'in Village
It's useless...
Your illusions can't fool me.
My eyeballs are up there.
Give up?
If you give up, say so.
Otherwise, I'll snap your arm.
Hell, no...
An Iga ninja would rather rip her tongue out than concede to a Kouga ninja.
Guess it's true that Iga ninja never shut up.
They say it was actually the Kouga who won that war.
Then you Iga lied to make everyone think...
No one says that.
You Kouga are pathetic.
Still refuse to admit you lost?
That's what you get.
Iga bitch!
Sorry.
I'm an Iga bitch, too.
Namenba...
This is your punishment.
For continuing to go on about the Iga and Kouga.
I win again.
It's boring...
Too easy.
No.
This isn't the sound I want to hear.
Kazuma-sama?
He's always so damn into what he's doing.
Maybe I'll play with him a little.
Don't struggle.
Struggle any more, and your head will go flying.
Or do you wish to hear
the rare sound that comes from heaven's lyre when you die?
Kazuma-sama, please stop.
I don't know what happened,
but please forgive her!
No.
They underestimate what it means to be a ninja.
They make a mockery of it.
They're still...
They're still children.
And that is why...
Unless they truly suffer, at least once, they won't change their ways.
Unless they see the blood of their companions, that is.
Knock it off!
Hachirou...
That's enough.
Wh-What?
What are you scared of, Kazuma?
You aren't going to try and fight our leader, are you?
You jest, Gei'in-dono.
Why would I?
You haven't forgotten how terrifying Hachirou's eye magic can be, have you?
Forgive him, Hachirou-dono.
He means nothing by it.
Strengthening his skills is the only thing he's interested in.
And that single-minded nature is his single flaw.
I know that, Gei'in.
Our leader is a handful, is he not?
He does nothing but play with those whose skills are not yet fully formed.
Don't say that, Tenshin. Kasou.
He is still a child.
More importantly, those two...
Those two?
The blood that flows within Hachirou and Hibiki must not be allowed to perish.
They must do it, whether they like it or not.
You would have a brother bed his sister?
You should know better than to even ask.
Not merely brother and sister.
To keep the bloodline alive, we would force a parent to bed a child.
Without superior ninja, both Kouga and Iga are finished.
Hachirou and Hibiki should both be aware of this.
What is this?
The wife of the last shogun is unwell.
Suruga-sama's mother?
It says that he left last night.
My lord! It really is dangerous!
Please stop!
I said that I don't care!
Even if I'm struck by lightning,
I must... I must go!
Hachirou!
Your sandals.
Aren't you cold?
I'm fine!
A cherry blossom?
I just cut a branch off of the Tenzen cherry tree.
That's awful!
A branch or two won't hurt it.
The Tenzen cherry tree is immortal.
That's just an old legend...
They say that one of those dirt mounds belongs to Yakushiji Tenzen-sama.
An immortal ninja wouldn't have a grave.
Maybe not.
Gorone, you're in there, right?
I'm coming in.
Is that Shikibu's?
Yes.
I'm tinkering with her Saibougu.
She asked if you could fire off multiple rounds at once.
Multiple rounds at once?
She said it takes too long between firing one round and the next.
Hachisu asks for some crazy stuff...
Have you seen what's been going on between Hachirou and Hibiki lately?
You seem happy.
Of course. It's wonderful.
This whole village wants those two to love each other.
Yeah.
What?
Aren't you happy, Gorone?
Can you get the helmet, back there?
Trying to make head movement easier always makes the neck more vulnerable.
The thing on this face?
That's it.
Hey...
Aren't you happy?
You haven't forgotten our duty, right?
We're...
We're responsible for watching over them as they grow.
Yeah.
It sounds great,
but you're basically trying to bring the two together, no matter what, right?
Why do you have to say it like that?
You don't like it?
Here.
Thanks.
Land of Tootoumi Ooi River
Where are the carriers?
Where are the carriers to take us across the river?
I think they've already gone home.
Recall them!
I don't care how much you have to pay them!
Even with their help, you won't be able to cross in this rain...
Fool.
Do you know who I am?!
I am the Dainagon of Suruga!
Do something! Do something!
I know! A ship! Is there a ship?
My lord... Stop!
Halt!
I found one.
Praise be to Hachiman.
Now, I can reach my mother!
My lord...
You don't plan to cross in this boat, do you?
Of course!
Hurry!
Does anyone here know how to pilot a boat? Do you?
Cowards...
Then, I'll take it across!
Men, push it into the river.
Wait, my lord! Just wait—
What's wrong?
Attackers! Draw your swords!
I ask, with the greatest respect,
are you the Dainagon of Suruga?
You would dare ask me a question?
Who are you? Tell me your name!
Your forgiveness...
We men of low birth have no names worthy of giving you.
What?
Allow me to give you some advice.
Suruga-sama, attempting to take that boat across the river is...
Yes, like a dog trying to catch a rat.
You would call me a dog?
It was simply an example.
Scum!
"That blade should have sliced through him..."
Is that what you just thought?
Indeed, I should have been slain...
Wh-Who are you?
Do not worry.
This is not due to any lack of skill you have with the blade.
Even the greatest master of the sword cannot touch my skin...
The blade naturally avoids my body.
That's just how my body is.
I call it the ninja technique "Ukigumo," the Floating Cloud.
Then, you're a ninja?
Indeed.
But not an impressive one.
Below average, at best.
Kazuma!
The Five Treasures of Kouga have come to serve you.
Preview
The leader of the Five Treasures of Kouga, Kouga Hachirou.
The leader of the Five Flowers of Iga, Iga Hibiki.
The leaders of those who lurk in shadows.
The Five Treasures Have Arrived
And an innocent brother and sister.