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.
Four Years Later
Seventh Year of the Kan'ei Era, 1630 AD Edo Castle
But why go hunting monkeys?
At Sengen Shrine, in Suruga,
Tokugawa Hidetada Second and Former Shogun
monkeys are considered messengers of god.
Don't you know that?
And to kill so many, in a shrine where slaying is forbidden...
I am so terribly sorry!
Tell me why.
The forest...
The forest? What about the forest?
No...
I beg... I beg your forgiveness!
Be prepared to be stripped of your lands and peerage!
In winter of that year, the second shogun, Hidetada,
Shiba, Path to Zoujoji
passed away from illness.
In accordance with his last order, the funeral was held in secret.
Ueno, Takasaki Castle
The year after Hidetada's death,
Tadanaga was to be found in the distant land of Joushuu.
It is said that only then was his monkey hunt
in Sengen Shrine punished.
Several Years Later
Evil Clouds Begin to Stir
Where is she?
Not making a move? Waiting for me?
Hachisu!
I win.
You never change... Stop being so nice.
You didn't hold back as much when we were kids.
It was all I could do to keep up then.
And now, it isn't?
No... But is it the same for you, Hachisu?
If you'd kept firing...
Don't get the wrong idea.
I wasn't doing it for your sake.
This Lotus Root gun isn't quite done yet.
I have to tell Gorone.
You had him make a gun that fires so many times, and you still ask for more?
Poor guy...
Almost done.
Hang in there...
If you attack me, I'll stab you.
This is nothing...
If I can't take it, I should just quit.
Y-Your erotic allure is nothing to me.
I bet... you can't stand this, either.
The scent of a man...
I'm just fine...
Just fine.
I told you...
I am not interested... in men.
You aren't fooling anyone.
Your words belie... the heat of your skin.
It's... just hot...
But...
Is there a point to this training?
The more... we restrain our emotions,
the more our abilities will increase.
That's what Gorone said. Let's believe him.
Is it true?
Lately, he's been pretty useless...
Want to try?
S-Stop it!
I said to stop!
I can't take it...
Come.
I'll stab you!
See? You like breasts, don't you?
See?
Silence.
I won't let you... deceive me!
Saizou...
He was watching again!
Size isn't all that matters.
Wh-What?
Not everyone is the same!
You need something called "elegance."
Like you've ever seen a pair!
Welcome back.
It's not like hearing
you two pant turns me on.
It's just a way to kill some time.
Rui... You're all sweaty.
I'm exhausted...
You were with Shichigen again?
Okay, guess I'll take mine off, too.
This picture's wonderful...
It makes me feel like I can use many more types of hallucinations,
since you gave it to me.
It makes me happy that you like it.
Hey, it looks like you.
It does not!
You're so pretty!
Just like that picture!
Stop it.
I'm going to show the enemy
an illusion, stained blood-red, just like that sky.
But the illusion I really want to project
is something else.
What is it?
I don't know.
If you find it someday, show it to me!
Sure.
The Lotus Root isn't fixed it yet...
It gets hard, and the trigger gets stiff.
Only sometimes, right?
And if that "sometimes" was at an important time?
Well, you're right.
I'll fix it, eventually...
"Eventually." That's all you ever say, Gorone.
You don't have to show me any respect.
I bet you say that all I do is lie around all day, right?
I do not.
Anyway, I think you need to work a little harder.
Who knows when they'll be back?
Right, right...
You needn't say another word.
I'll do it!
I'll do it, so...
"They," huh?
How should one rid oneself of earthly desire?
Perhaps it is best done now,
right here.
You the guy who ordered two dumplings?
Oh, over here!
You again?
Hibiki, can you come out front?
Sure, got it.
Coming! Welcome!
You're really pretty, miss...
Got a boyfriend?
Aw, I don't.
You do, right?
Utsutsu...
Men are the worst.
Rui, can you take over for Utsutsu?
Got it.
Edo Castle
The shogun is here!
I have finally made it to this point.
How are our sales?
I'm doing the math now. Don't interrupt.
Today, I sold lots of old clothes, too.
I think I made some good money!
I think you look better as a merchant, somehow.
You and Hachisu, both.
Don't be silly!
But sometimes... I think...
that they won't be... coming back.
And if they don't, that would be fine, right?
We could just run our little store.
It's fun!
Maybe...
Don't say that. It's not that easy.
How can you forget about the war?
I haven't forgotten. It's just—
Why do you think Namenba spent years making this place the way it is?
Not because she wanted money.
It was all to prepare for them.
When Hachirou disappeared,
Saizou, Shikibu, and Shichigen all cried.
We were basically betrayed by him...
Protecting him was our goal.
But I'm impressed by them.
They say he will return,
and they never doubted for a second.
Believing that, they stayed here,
continuing to train their techniques.
I don't know what some of them are doing, though.
If the Joujinshuu come...
If the Joujinshuu come, Hachirou will return.
Isn't that what they believe?
Yeah.
So it's better that they come back?
It isn't good or bad.
But you have to think they will—
Even so...
Even if the Joujinshuu return,
there's no telling whether Hachirou will come back.
It seems so long ago...
But it's strange.
Ever since then, no matter where I am,
I can feel Hachirou.
And so,
I'm not lonely.
Your technique won't work on me.
I see that you are Kouga Hachirou-sama.
You won't look me in the eye?
I'll pass, I'm afraid...
You only just learned how to fight with a blindfold.
If I don't move, you can't rely on the sound.
That is why I chose this place.
It isn't a good idea to make so much noise yourself.
And you were the one who showed me it was possible to pass above.
Let's hear why you're doing this.
The battle is not yet over.
My name is Hadaebou.
Your technique is stupid.
I'm honored.
It was rude of me to do so,
but I tested your skills.
I have an urgent request.
The Dainagon of Suruga is now exiled to Kouzuke,
but he wishes to speak to you.
What?
He says that something strange is coming.
Something strange?
Or perhaps, it has already come.
A strange castle, you could say.
It is called Murakumo.
Preview
Hadaebou.
A shady priest who infests Edo Castle.
He travels the land as an agent of Tenkai.
Is he an ally or an enemy of the Kouga and Iga?
Tadanaga's Change of Heart