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.
Where are we?
What are you doing?
Is that you, stupid Kouga brats?!
That isn't fair!
He's the one not being fair, wearing armor!
You little...
No kunai.
I didn't tell you to kill each other.
You're going to fight together and train.
But it isn't for the sake of the Kouga.
Nor for the Iga.
It is all for the sake of our leaders.
That girl?
She's going to be our leader?
Let's test her.
They said no kunai.
I won't hit her.
I just want to see her frightened.
She senses her enemies' antagonism and neutralizes it.
That is the eye magic of the Five Flowers of Iga's leader, Iga Hibiki.
Eye Shield Magic.
A little girl like that?
Then, he's...
Hachirou?
Wait, Saizou!
What was that?
You almost died.
Even if you intended to miss,
even the slightest intent to kill...
Hachirou's eyes turn that antagonism back upon the enemy.
The Kouga Must Die
Calm down, Hibiki.
You're being selfish, Hachirou!
Utsutsu, Hachisu, Rui... Why do you think they're here?
Saizou, Shichigen, Shikibu, too...
I know.
I may be betraying them all.
Then let's try it.
Try it?
If this is our end,
then let's see what awful things our eye magic can do!
Kazuma!
Kazuma, where are you?
What happened, Kazuma?!
Did you hear?
His Heaven's Lyre.
If the Heaven's Lyre plays, it means his opponent is surely dead!
Kazuma...
Don't die on us, Kazuma!
Kasou...
Right.
I'll get you off that thing!
Kasou, did you hear that?
My ultimate technique, the Heaven's Lyre.
I'm about to hear its true melody.
Now, listen to it with me,
the melody of the completed Heaven's Lyre...
No, Kazuma!
No...
Such is the fate of the ninjas.
To offer their lives to devils, in pursuit of their techniques' completion.
Their desire knows no bounds.
You killed Tenshin and Kazuma?
But even if one were to master such a trick,
it would be a mere child's trick,
fit for no more than removing one's own head.
How ephemeral, how sad...
Kusanagi Kazuma.
He ended his life as a big fish in a small pond.
Wha—
Wait!
Who are you?
Etiquette demands that one names oneself
before asking another's name.
Well, in fact,
I am well aware that you are the famous Five Treasures of Kouga.
The Five Treasures?
It seems that one is missing...
Yes, isn't your leader Kouga Hachirou?
He is still a child.
Did he get scared and run?
Die!
Kasou, wait.
Kasou...
No... It's impossible!
How about that?
Your name...
Give me your name!
The Joujinshuu...
Not that you would know it, even with my telling you.
But I am one of them, Kujaku Tsuibamu.
I don't understand.
Why would the Joujinshuu rise against the Kouga?!
I don't know if it will help to tell you this.
But we aren't simply the Five Treasures of Kouga's enemies.
What?
The Five Flowers of Iga will also die tonight.
Nonsense.
You cannot yet tell if it's nonsense or not?
Or have you realized that your death is nigh,
and has the fear robbed you of your reason?
I'm afraid I'm too old to fear death!
Aging is a sad thing...
You may act as strong as you like,
but you cannot hide the thick sweat on your forehead.
There's no further call to speak, correct?
Indeed.
Very well, then!
Let's see you finish me off, too...
If you can!
You are a fool, Kujaku Tsuibamu!
My technique, the Firefly Squid,
does not release only light.
You failed to realize it holds a deadly poison, as well!
What?
Which of us is the fool?
Wh-Why didn't it work?
I don't know if it's Firefly Squid or a common squid.
But in the end, no poison can work without contact...
There's no cause for surprise.
Even the Kurokawa shinobi were capable of flight...
Which ninja line are the Joujinshuu from?!
Ninja?
We are not like you poor creatures,
who can only serve their lord and live in secret.
What?
The longer the Tokugawas flourish, and that the peace lasts,
the less need there is for ninjas.
Perhaps this is a joyous thing for you,
to die before you see the end of the ninjas.
Enough with your nonsense!
Oh, my!
A strange sight, is it not?
The light from my sweat derives from the fact that, since childhood,
I've filled my body with many different poisons.
This is the power of a ninja's technique!
A light gained after great effort, pain, and suffering!
So I...
I was right?
I guess you figured it out?
Indeed.
The flow of time
went backwards.
Time went... backwards?
Impossible.
Such a technique is impossible...
Oh, dear!
You noticed, but refuse to admit it?
That stubbornness will destroy you.
Impossible.
It truly is a happy thing,
death by the coursing of your poison.
Well, die slowly, then.
Forgive me for dying with my task unfulfilled.
What's wrong?
I heard Gei'in's voice!
Gei'in... No, the Five Treasures have died!
I heard his voice...
They were all defeated!
I'll go on ahead!
The Five Treasures died?
I hope that I'm wrong.
No, if that was how it seemed to you, then you were right.
The Five Treasures are now dead.
But by whose hand?
If all four were defeated,
the enemy is very skilled, or came in great numbers.
Either way,
the Five Treasures would not be defeated without much preparation.
So they were the target from the beginning?
Then, next...
Most likely, yes.
Hachirou, I cannot let you go now.
With the Five Treasures gone,
I cannot go against their will.
Wait.
Wait!
First, the Five Flowers of Iga must be informed.
I don't want the Iga to avenge us.
At your age, what can you do?
Let us leave it to Rui.
She is the fastest.
But if we're telling the Five Flowers, I, their leader, should...
You have to stay here, Hibiki.
For our sake.
Anyway, I don't know if the Five Treasures are really dead,
but do we need the Iga to help?
You're still talking that way?
The Kouga and Iga share a fate.
Yesterday, Kazuma seriously tried to kill me.
He got what he deserved.
Utsutsu!
It was because you interfered.
But did he have to go that far?!
Utsutsu, you have it out for them too much.
They're not that bad.
You didn't realize it, Rui?
That Shichigen guy looks harmless,
but whenever he has a free second, he's staring at your boobs.
He wants to get his hands on them.
What?
Why do we have to keep hanging out with these guys?
Enough, Utsutsu!
Whether we avenge the Kouga or not,
we must do our jobs.
That's why we were brought here. For times like these.
I'm counting on you.
Shichigen, fulfill the duty you volunteered for.
Stay close.
We don't know when the enemy will appear.
Hey, can't you hear me?
Yes.
Then, don't lower your guard.
That's why my guard's up.
The enemy may be closer than I expect.
I'll send my eyes up.
You... Hmm, watch to the north—
Do not give me orders!
I will decide where I'll look.
That's creepy, no matter how often I see it.
And it's inconvenient, too.
It lets you see far away,
but it leaves your eyes and body wide open.
What if you lose your eyes?
I don't care.
To protect Hachirou, I'd give up an eyeball or two.
Hmph, what is everyone's problem?
Fine. North, right?
You watch carefully, too.
Have the Five Treasures of Kouga really died?
If Hachirou said so, then yes.
If he said so, he's right.
I see...
Does it itch?
Hey.
If it itches, take it off.
I'll help you.
No!
Don't touch me.
I'm sorry.
I didn't mean anything by it.
I'm sure you didn't.
Are you going to watch me all night?
That is correct.
And there is a hiding place under the floor.
A hiding place?
Come out only at the very end.
That is why they're here.
They're late...
Is that you, Gei'in?
Are you back, Gei'in?
Forgive my impudence, but may I have your name?
Are you Suruga Dainagon?
Indeed.
Ruler of the rich lands of Suruga and Tootoumi,
and the Dainagon.
In other words, after the former shogun, Lord Hidetada,
and the current shogun, Iemitsu-sama,
you are the third-most important in the Land of the Rising Sun.
But also the most unfortunate.
What... did you say?!
I will not forgive such words!
I am afraid that, someday,
your own noble neck will be exposed to the blade.
S-Silence, scum...
Kneel before me, so I can execute you now!
Execute me?
Suruga-sama, it will be you who is executed.
Silence... Silence!
Impudent scum!
And your executioner
will be your brother, Shogun Iemitsu!
What nonsense.
Do you wish to know if it is truly nonsense?
You have noticed the feelings he has hidden in his heart.
Who... Who are you?
My name is Joujin.
Preview
Tokugawa Tadanaga.
Grandson of the shogun, Ieyasu, who began the Tokugawa's-300-year reign.
He never became shogun, and committed seppuku.
The Joujinshuu Appear
Thus say the history books.