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.
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.
I don't know.
I don't know, but perhaps it's a different "now"
than the "now" where we fought the Joujinshuu and lost our companions.
No matter what world this is,
we can't let Joujin destroy it!
The Cherry Blossoms Bloom
You would interfere?
I did not expect to see such entertainment.
I don't know who you are, but you are fools.
We'll start with the most troublesome one.
Impossible...
Damn you!
Feel my Destiny's Passage!
What?
Damn you...
You feinted, using me!
Neirichiou!
Who are you?
Kouga Hachirou.
Iga Hibiki.
Still, they were worthless.
They died so easily.
What's wrong?
You won't use that eye magic on me?
Hachirou...
Wait.
My Spearing Eye won't work on him.
In that case, I'll...
No, we should assume
we were lucky just now and caught them off guard.
Joujin.
No matter what world you're in,
your wicked desires will never come to fruition!
No matter what world I'm in?
Then what happened to me in this "other world"?
You died.
I died... And then what happened?
And your plans failed. That's all.
So that is all you know?
What?
I see...
What's so funny?!
Enough! Begone!
No matter the fate that binds us in another world,
we are strangers here.
I shall use the Murakumo to realize my ambitions!
I see.
But, Joujin, you still know nothing of our final technique!
What?
What is this?
I'll handle the rest.
Okay.
So, what do you think?
Caring.
Love.
Pain.
Sorrow.
All those feelings combined...
The contradictory powers you originally possessed
turned those feelings into an incredible strength.
If... If that's true,
then why can't we control it ourselves?
Those emotions are so violent and passionate, none can control them.
That's why joy, sadness, and madness.
What I don't understand
is why the technique that you created cannot bring you happiness.
It's so unfair...
Ouka has another form.
Yes.
Or, perhaps, one that you could call its true form.
Its true form.
Is this... your technique?
Behold.
All this is your doing!
In the end, my own weakness,
which forced me to use Ouka to defeat you, pains me!
You would... kill me?
I will show you no mercy.
Die, Joujin.
It doesn't matter what Ouka is.
We must give it up.
Yes.
But as long as we're together,
we cannot escape it.
So I have decided what I will give up.
You would leave me again?
No!
Give me another chance, Hachirou!
The Shielding Eye...
That's right.
This is what I always should have done.
Hibiki!
No...
Now, you'll never forget Ouka.
Or leave me...
Hibiki...
I'll never leave you again.
I'll spend eternity with you.
Fools...
Joujin!
Is that your answer?
You... died back there!
No way.
Tenzen?
It seems you know him.
The Tenzen cherry tree that blooms above Jison'in Village...
An immortal ninja gave the tree its name. Tenzen.
He was real?
So it seems.
Now, he lives within me.
I never thought she'd destroy her own eyes, though.
How dull.
In that case, forget about us!
I will.
But if I let you live, you'll get in my way.
What?
Even a pebble, alongside the road, can cause one to stumble.
You must be removed!
The technique you used to defeat Magoroku...
It seems to reflect an enemy's desire to kill.
An interesting technique.
But you will not use it on me now?
I assume we met in some other world,
and it failed to affect me.
And I have seen your weakness, too.
Hachirou!
Hibiki...
Hachirou, where are you?
Too easy.
Stupid child.
Joujin, aren't you embarrassed?
To survive using the power of Tenzen...
Of a mere ninja?
You plan to anger me, to draw out my desire to kill you?
You make me laugh.
Tenzen fell in love with Iga Oboro, the leader of her clan,
and even tried to rape her.
A true monster.
If you use the power of a worthless ninja like that to fulfill your ambitions...
Can you honestly be proud of them?
You give up less easily than expected.
I told you, it won't work.
Wh-What?
You used... Tenzen's desire... to kill you?
Tenzen, stop it... Tenzen!
Hachirou! Where are you?
Impossible...
Stop... Chou!
Edo Castle
I don't like Tadanaga.
I don't believe him, either.
He tried to plot rebellion.
The fool.
But...
Who put him up to it?
Our destinies were decided by a battle between ninjas.
He and I were the only ones who knew that pathetic fact.
He still hates me...
It was all for the glory of the Tokugawa Clan!
Some say Tenkai lived for another decade, reaching over a century,
until he had fulfilled all his earthly desires.
W-Wait!
I...
The tenth year of the Kan'ei Era.
December. Tokugawa Tadanaga commits seppuku at the Shogun's order.
Few people knew that the true Tadanaga had already died.
And the cherry blossoms bloomed and fell several times...
Get 'em, Shichigen!
Just you wait, Utsutsu...
I won't lose today!
Rui! Come see!
Come and get me.
They're at it again...
Is Hachisu really a girl?
Let's go.
Shikibu, wait!
Saizou, what was that for?!
I'm helping.
I don't need your help.
I'm a samurai!
Then I'm on Hachisu's side.
Everyone, food's ready!
Come on back!
Yay! Food!
Hibiki-san, we'll come to get you soon!
Okay!
I'm going to stand here and enjoy the wind a bit longer.
I see...
You cannot see, and Hachirou isn't here?
Joujin!
But on that day... Joujin...
Died?
It's true that I died, once.
But...
Tenzen.
I'd expect no less from the Iga leader.
Nobunaga-sama has returned to hell,
and Hachirou is gone.
And you have destroyed your own eyes,
so you can no longer use Ouka.
But there is one last thing you can do.
That's right...
I shall fill you with the seed of life.
And you will bear our child.
No one will come to save you.
Give up and become mine!
Your blood...
If your blood and mine combine,
perhaps we can create a technique to surpass Ouka.
With your blood and mine, we shall make this world a living hell.
Hachirou...
It's so bright and windy today...