Post by M-92 Mantis on Jan 7, 2015 17:56:05 GMT -7
Please remember I know very little Japanese; take everything I say with a grain of salt when I am unsure of a detail. However, most things in here are obvious from the visuals. Any questions, please ask me. I will start scanning volume 2 so Kit can also go over it and we can get ready for volume 2 once volume 1 is done.
I also do not own volume 1 so I don't know the details of how it ended.
Please share this thread to other Ginga sites that would like the additional information! I will update this thread with news each time a chapter is finished.
* Chapters 12 and 14 use different kanji but mean the exact same thing. Both 全面戦争 and 総力戦 mean "Total War / All-Out War." I had to spice up chapter 14's title so it wasn't identical to chapter 12's.
Table of Contents
Chapter 9 - Night Battle
Chapter 10 - A Desperate Situation
Chapter 11 - The Sword of Hallowed Justice
Chapter 12 - All-Out War
Chapter 13 - The Thundering Flames of War
Chapter 14 - Raging War*
Chapter 15 - Nobukatsu Attacks!
Chapter 16 - Guerrilla Warfare
Chapter 9 - Night Battle (Nightly Warfare - Battle in the Night)
Sadmitsu is charging towards an armored Kouga, but Ouzaru comes in at the last minute to knock him over.
"Leave this to me!" Ouzaru says to him.
He notices something on the Kouga. "What's that thing around your neck?" Sadmitsu warns him to take it because it may be one of Nobunaga's tricks. Ouzaru tells the messenger he will not kill him if he hands over the small barrel-like object. The Kouga objects. "You fools, this was the task given to me. A ganin's life would be filled with regret if he ever abandoned a mission!"
The Kouga ganin starts to run, but Ryoujun intervenes. He narrowly misses the ganin's blade and Ouzaru tackles the enemy to the ground. Ryoujun grabs the Kouga from under Ouzaru but he slips out and retreats back to his base. Ryoujun successfully grabs the barrel tied to the Kouga's neck and looks inside. Ouzaru is about to thank Sadamitsu for helping them get the message but notices he has disappeared. Ryoujun finds out the item inside the case is a letter.
Ryoujun shows Ouzaru the opened barrel with the message inside. "It's likely some sort of secret letter," he says. "Ouzaru, deliver this to the Lord (Momochi)!" As Ouzaru takes it, Ryoujun adds, "As soon as you deliver it, return immediately! We're Lord Shimoyama's sentries!" Ouzaru understands and runs off with the message in its holder.
Within the night, Lord Nobukatsu Oda is heading to Tanba Momochi's fortress with 8,000 men, and is currently in Awa Province. Another group led by Saburouemon Tsuge is heading to Onikobutouge with approximately 1,500 men. In Ise is the third party, with 1,300 troops led by Sakyounoshin Nagano. The three parties are heading closer to Tanba Momochi's fort. Momochi himself is armored and prepared for battle with his troops, who are all waiting at a knoll for the attack of the three armies.
"Truly that idiot lord does not plan on coming to attack at night," Momochi claims. "We shinobi excel in our specialty if it's to be a night battle."
Just then, Ouzaru runs into the camp. "Ouzaru, what is it?" one of the men, Hikotarou, asks cheerily. He noticed the letter case and reaches for it, but Ouzaru continues on his way, moving it from the man's reach. "What's in that barrel?" Hikotarou asks. "Hey, let me see it!"
Ouzaru approaches Momochi. "Oh, it is good to see you," he says to the ganin.
Momochi has a soldier light a wooden lantern so he can read the letter.
"This is a letter from Shimoyama," Momochi exclaims, "addressed to Oda's forces!"
Reading with shock, Momochi continues, "'When the dawn merges with the sixth hour at Ise Province... the roads will become dangerous, use directions to guide yourself through an animal trail.' I never would have expected this from that bastard! What Ryoujun had said was true! Still, we have time to capture Shimoyama. The Oda army in Ise Province won't know of the secret route if we catch him!"
Back at Shimoyama's mansion, Ryoujun is wondering about the letter. He is suspecting it has to do with Shimoyama, or is from him, and hopes Ouzaru has given the letter to Momochi before it's too late. Suddenly there's movement, and Ryoujun calls to them before realizing they are not his ganin. He hunkers to the ground to hide.
Kouga ganin? He wonders. Damnit! Was I noticed?
The Kouga are speaking to each other and wondering what the noise was. Ryouga, perched atop the gate, asks them, "What is it? Who's over there?" One of the Kouga heads over to Ryoujun's direction to find out.
Damn! Ryoujun gets his weapon ready. Ouzaru... come back! Hurry...! Hurry!!
--
Chapter 10 - A Desperate Situation
Ryoujun knows that the Kouga ganin have heard him, and he feigns unconsciousness. The Kouga that's investigating, Naojirou, exclaims, "Ah! This is Ryoujun! The master of the Iga ganin and Ouzaru!"
"What?!" Ryouga jumps from the top of the gate to inspect for himself. The Kouga are closing in on Ryoujun now.
Naojirou pulls on Ryoujun's arm to roll him over so they can have a better look. Ryoujun tries stabbing at the ganin's leg with fake coincidence from his limp arm, but misses. The ganin believe he is dead and begin wondering about the situation.
"Oho! It truly is the shinobi, Ryoujun!" Ryouga says. "Even in death, he will not part with his sword."
"Watch out!" Naojirou yelps. "That brat tried to stab me!"
Ryouga stares at Ryoujun's neck and notices a pulse. It is enough for him to begin drawing his blade. Ryoujun hears the sound and instantly jumps to his feet, making the Kouga back away, all of their blades held at the ready.
"Kouga ganin!" Ryoujun shouts. "We of the Iga have been too careless with those who trespass upon our land... how long have you been working for the Oda?!"
Ryouga laughs before giving the order: "Slice him apart! There's no reason to fear Ouzaru if we kill this man!"
All at once the Kouga attack. Ryoujun dodges and blocks them one at a time while fighting off their blades with his own. He acts with the true speed and focus of a shinobi, but the narration lets us know he cannot go on like this forever.
"Do not let him rest!" Ryouga commands. "Hurry and get rid of him!"
Ryoujun is losing energy, but he cannot recover from his strain as the Kouga attack continuously. He backs up into a tree and realizes the situation has gotten worse, he cannot take on all the Kouga alone.
Damnit, he thinks, Ouzaru, where are you? You must hurry back! He brings his fingers to his mouth and whistles loudly.
Narration: Ryoujun's whistle for Ouzaru's help rings throughout the darkness. However, it was a vain attempt, as the whistle was sucked away into the night.
A Kouga makes a critical hit to Ryoujun's head when the man is caught off-guard. Ryoujun slumps against the tree, the blade deep through his skin. He slides away to let the blade slip into the tree instead and stabs the Kouga in the shoulder.
"What are you all doing?" Ryouga shouts at the ganin. "Hurry up and kill him!"
Ryoujun fights the Kouga off with two blades, and replaces one with the sword stuck in the tree from the slain Kouga. Blood is pouring down Ryoujun's forehead but he isn't slowing down.
"Keep coming, you bastards!" he shouts to the Kouga. "I will not die so easily!"
Ryoujun keeps the Kouga at bay with his two blades, but loses his footing and slips to the ground. A ganin stabs through his shin armor to pin him down as Ryoujun is forced to fight on his back.
"Damnit," he groans, "Ouzaru, I need you!"
Ryouga thinks on the shinobi's misfortune of not having Ouzaru with him. Suddenly he pauses to look over his shoulder as a figure is racing towards them. It's Ouzaru!
"Lord Ryoujun!" Ouzaru calls out. "I am coming!"
"Ohh! Ouzaru!" Ryoujun says in relief. "I was waiting!"
Ouzaru faces the Kouga. "You..." he snarls at them. He draws his blade. "How dare you... he is my master!"
"This is unforgivable!" he shouts. "I will have your heads!"
"Everyone, attack them both!" Ryouga snarls.
Narration: Akame's ancestor, Ouzaru, being a ganin born into the time of a war-torn country, wasn't fated to live long. Still, without him, Hakutaka wouldn't have been born, and without Hakutaka, the legacy of the white ganin would not have come to be.
Ouzaru makes his first move and slices through the necks of two of the Kouga. The battle with Ryouga has begun!
--
Chapter 11 - The Sword of Hallowed Justice (The Sword of Crushing Evil / The Sword of Smiting Evil)
With Ouzaru in the fight, the Kouga hesitate. Ryoujun pulls Ouzaru in for a hug and exclaims, “Ouzaru, you came! You came back! Amazing!”
“Your celebration is too early!” Ryouga snarls at the two. “Your lives will end within the night!”
Ouzaru keeps the remaining Kouga and Ryouga at bay, fighting alongside Ryoujun. Both work well as a team. Ryoujun and Ouzaru fight back-to-back until Ryoujun stumbles.
“Sorry, Ouzaru,” Ryoujun says wearily. He continues to fight, though on his knees.
Ouzaru falters. “Lord Ryoujun!”
Both fight alongside each other as Ryoujun shouts, “I’m all right, it’s not a serious wound. Concentrate on the enemy, don’t give any regards to me!”
Ouzaru does as he is bidden, and instead attacks multiple Kouga again, getting in a successful strike to one’s neck. The battle is matched now.
“Ouzaru, you bastard!” Ryouga snarls.
Both are about to strike one another until the scuffle pauses. Both Kouga and Iga notice a man on a horse racing past, his face half-concealed.
Ryoujun notices it’s Lord Shimoyama!
“Shimoyama is running away! What is that traitor doing this time?” He begins to run to Shimoyama. “Let’s go, Ouzaru! There’s no time to bother with these guys.”
Ryouga orders the Kouga to hold Ryoujun back, as they must protect Shimoyama. He fights Ryoujun to keep him from following the traitor.
“Ouzaru, hurry after Shimoyama!” Ryoujun orders his ganin.
Ouzaru falters, knowing Ryoujun’s injured leg and fatigue will not allow him to win the battle. Ryoujun looks back at the ganin. “What’s wrong? Go now! Don’t worry about me!”
Before Ouzaru can make his decision, someone shouts over the fray, “Ryoujun!” and a squad of Iga approach, an armored officer in the lead.
Narration: At long last, the 100 reinforcements Momochi had sent to Iga had arrived.
The officer dismounts from his horse and asks, “Who are these guys? Kouga ganin?!” He and his men draw their blades.
Ryouga has to admit defeat again, and the Kouga run away from the Iga.
Meanwhile, Kuma is keeping watch at the front gate of Momochi’s fortress. Kotobuki comes to speak to him.
“Anything new?” Kotobuki asks him cheerfully. Kuma chuckles at her.
“I was trusted with watch, Miss,” Kuma assures her. “Please make sure your children are safe..”
Comforted, Kotobuki thanks him. Taichi and his mother, Kaede, are inside the fort with one of Momochi’s men. “Under Lord Momochi’s orders,” he explains, “the Itou family must survive, no matter the circumstances! They know about you.”
He bends down to a simple panel in the bottom of the wall. “Found it!”
Taichi goes over to him. “Found what? There’s nothing there!”
The man lifts at the bottom of the panel and it slowly begins to slide upwards. Taichi and Kaede see that it leads down as a staircase for them to escape to if things go wrong. If they do, the men will hold their position to make sure Kaede and Taichi can escape safely.
“Taichi, you’ll stay here,” Kaede says to her son.
“Ehh? Mother?!”
“I am the wife of a shinobi,” Kaede says adamantly. “I will fight with the others!”
Taichi wants to go with her, but Kaede holds him back and tells him to listen to her.
At the gate, Kuma begins shouting an alarm. The Kouga have arrived, and a lot of them, from across the field. There are both low-ranking men and ganin approaching, and the only people to defend the castle are Taichi, his mother, and two elderly men. The Kouga ganin race forward as the vanguard.
“Kuma, are they coming?” Kotobuki asks from the ground. “How many are there?!”
“Just from here, I can see ten ganin at the front,” Kuma answers. “And five men.”
Kotobuki realizes something. “There are around twenty Kouga ganin in total... so why are only half of them attacking us?”
There’s a figure at the gate. A Kouga. “Do you not understand why?”
“You’re Sadamitsu!” Kuma gasps. “What are you doing here?”
“I am indebted to Lord Ouzaru,” Sadamitsu explains. “But I cannot forgive my clan for this! I will die here as a reward for my debt to Ouzaru!”
--
Chapter 12 - All-Out War (Total War)
The Kouga ganin continue to rush forward. One of them notices Kuma on the gate and shouts to the vanguard, “There’s a sentry!” The Kouga immediately hunker close to the ground within the vegetable fields and blend in with the night. Kuma realizes he cannot see the Kouga anymore because of their dark fur.
“Sadamitsu!” Kuma shouts, and throws down his short sword so that the Kouga can replace it with the broken sickle he’s been using (a reference to Kurojaki, no doubt).
“You fight with that deteriorated sickle? Use this for your heart’s cause!”
“I am indebted to you, Kuma...” Sadmitsu replies, catching the blade.
“I’m glad, Lord Sadamitsu,” Kotobuki says.
“Miss!” Kuma breathes.
Kotobuki continues to the Kouga, “Your debt to us... Ouzaru will be very pleased when he knows of it, no matter what.”
“Ouzaru taught me how to use my heart, not just my fighting abilities,” Sadamitsu responds to her. “This life of mine is happily dedicated to him!”
In the fields below, the Kouga ganin are still motionless. The leading one begins thinking to himself, wondering how many Iga ganin are acting as sentries because he can’t fully see them. He mentions that the mission given to Ryouga and the Kouga ganin is to wipe out the Itou family and their ganin.
An Iga shinobi comes up to Kuma and Kotobuki’s post. He asks if the ganin understand him as he asks where the enemies are. Kuma and Kotobuki start growling dead ahead in the fields, so the shinobi calls down to the other men to prepare their firearms from behind the safety of the wall.
Kotobuki withdraws her blade. “Kuma, take my sword.”
“No... but, Miss!” Kuma objects.
“I’ll be all right in the mansion,” she assures him. “I’ll use someone else’s blade in there.”
Kuma gives in and takes the sword. “Thank you... in that case... I will not hesitate.”
The Kouga shinobi begin to grow restless from hiding further behind the ganin. They know they have to act quick to make sure they can get to Ouzaru’s children to end the final generation of the Iga ganin, along with destroying the Itou family.
“Ouzaru is being disposed of by Ryouga,” the shinobi whispers to another. “Next we have the old dog Kuma and Kotobuki... they’re of little significance.”
The shinobi jumps over the wall, away from Kuma’s post. However, he lands right above Taichi, who has armed himself with a spear. Taichi immediately shouts to warn the others, and Kuma rushes to defend the boy. Taichi has been knocked to the ground and the Kouga shinobi prepares to strike. Until...
“Move, Taichi!” shouts Kaede.
Immediately the fight moves to Kaede and the Kouga. She forces the man back, blocking his attacks easily with her own sword. The old Iga shinobi rushes to help, telling her not to risk her life. Kuma darts past him to help with his master’s wife. He races between the Kouga and Kaede and slices the man’s arm, forcing him to fall.
The Kouga puts his fingers in his mouth and whistles, but the old man hurries forward and kills him to silence him. The narration tells us it’s too late, as the man had whistled to warn the others of his failure so they can proceed with the attack. From their firearm posts at the wall, the other two Iga men begin to see a flicker in the night...
Fire arrows! A volley of them hit the Iga village, lighting the grass roofs on fire easily to spread. Taichi acts immediately. “The warehouse!” He hurries to the well and begins to pull the bucket out for water.
Back with Ouzaru and Ryoujun, Ryouga’s group is departing. They go to follow after Shimoyama. Ryoujun notices Ouzaru’s look and feels at his forehead, where the cut is finally slowing in its bleeding. He then notices a glimmer of light in the fortress’ location.
“Something’s burning,” one of the Iga says.
“What happening?!” exclaims the other.
“Lord Momochi’s mansion!!” Ryoujun gasps. “Ouzaru, hurry back to them!”
Ouzaru goes without hesitation as the flames grow brighter. Unfortunately, he does not know of the fate the Iga will face after this night!
--
Chapter 13 - The Thundering Flames of War! (Rumbling War Fires)
Back in the Iga fortress, Taichi stares with horror at the mountain of flames building over the warehouse. He hurries to put it out with the water from the bucket, but it doesn’t make a dent.
Kaede grabs Taichi. “Taichi, you need to escape!”
“No!” Taichi objects, still holding the bucket. “I can fight, too!”
Kaede slaps Taichi to knock him out of his frenzy. Taichi looks at her with incredulity.
“Listen to me,” she says to him, “you have a mission that’s far more important than dying!” She begins pushing him away from the burning warehouse. “You will see... now hurry! There is no time!”
“Come with me, Mother!” Taichi objects. “You hate being separated as much as I do!”
The old shinobi, Yahei, tells Kaede she is going with Taichi, despite her objections. She will take Kotobuki and Kuma with her and Taichi while Yahei and the three other Iga stay behind to make sure they escape, as was planned.
Yahei points Kuma and Kotobuki to Kaede. “You both are going to! Hurry and go!” He notices something and kneels beside Kotobuki.
“Kotobuki... why do you not have your sword?” he asks. He unsheathes his and puts it in her scabbard. “Take this with you. Cherish it as a keepsake when you fight.”
He pets Kotobuki’s head. “I hope... the pups grow up to be magnificent. This old man will be watching over you all in the afterlife. Right! Now go!”
Kotobuki and Kuma leave with Kaede, Taichi, and the puppies, which are all held in a wicker basket. Yahei and the other Iga shoot down all of the Kouga ganin that are leaping to the tops of the gate walls.
The Itou family successfully hurry through the secret passage. Within the fortress, the Kouga have no idea where they’ve gone.
“Where... where has Kotobuki gone?!” the leading ganin wonders.
The four Iga shinobi have been cornered by the Kouga. They don’t tell them where the Itou and their ganin have gone, and are ready to die with honor. Their deaths come closer until a ganin jumps into the fort and runs off, leading the Kouga away. They follow it over the gate wall and into a trap! The decoy was none other than Sadamitsu!
Enraged by his continuous betrayal of the Kouga, they attack. Sadamitsu faces against them and manages to cut off a ganin’s paw.
Lord Ouzaru, please allow to me to die here, Sadamitsu thinks. If I die for the same aspirations you and I both share, then I have no regrets.
Nearing the fortress, Ryoujun, Ouzaru, and the Iga warriors are racing back to the fortress on horses. Ouzaru runs ahead of them towards the burning fortress.
“Kotobuki... Taichi...!” Ouzaru howls in horror at the sight of the fort.
"Mother! Taichi!" Ryoujun shouts. “Damn those Kouga cowards!!”
--
Chapter 14 - Raging War
In the Iga fortress, the four shinobi stand their ground against the Kouga men. They make it clear they will not reveal anything to them, and one of the men gets a shuriken (a throwing star) embedded in his head. The other three men put up a fight but eventually they each fall.
Just then, Ouzaru jumps over the wall. “Kotobuki! Taichiii!!”
“Ouzaru...” Yahei groans in astonishment.
Ouzaru doesn’t hesitate to kill the Kouga shinobi as his clan’s fortress continues to burn, with Yahei and his men dying.
“Ghh...! It’s Ouzaru!” one of the Kouga shouts. “Retreat! Retreat!”
Ouzaru chases the men over the wall, but they are greeted by the Iga officer on the other side. He impales one with a spear and jumps off his horse to tackle the last survivor. He makes short work of him with his sword through the man’s spine.
“Is your family still inside?” the officer asks Ryoujun.
On top of the gate, Ryoujun and the Iga reinforcements see Yahei’s dead squad and the house on fire. Under the fire, the building begins to crumble.
“Ouzaru, be careful!” Ryoujun shouts. “It’s collapsing!”
Ouzaru has to retreat from the overwhelming heat as Ryoujun stares at his home in agony. “Damnit! TAICHI!! MOTHERRR!!”
Ouzaru leaps into the fires, ignoring the heat of the flames around him as he searches for his family, howling. “Taichi! Kotobuki! Where are you?!”
Was I too late? Ouzaru thinks with dread. Kotobuki... my children... please forgive me!
Ryoujun tries to run into the fires from up on the gate, but the officer holds him back. “Ryoujun, don’t! It is too late now, you cannot go into the fire!”
Ryoujun sobs brokenly in cries that turn into screams. The officer holds him tightly as they see Ouzaru running through the flames. He presses Ryoujun’s head into his chest and gives a command. “Ouzaru, come back... I cannot allow you to die as well!”
Ouzaru tries to hold back his sobs, but they break out in a howl. He comes back to the gate’s roof as he and Ryoujun both continue to cry.
“I’m sorry, Ouzaru,” Ryoujun tells his ganin. “This all happened because of me!”
He embraces the ganin and sobs louder. “It hurts, Ouzaru... forgive me...!”
The officer gently takes the short sword from Ouzaru’s mouth. “Put away your blade, Ouzaru... you’ll hurt Ryoujun.”
The silence in the air is short-lived as there’s a distant screaming in the woods. The voice is familiar to Ouzaru, and he immediately leaps off of the roof to race towards it. Ryoujun and the officer are perplexed, but Ryoujun wonders if there’s a chance he hears Kaede and Taichi.
Several miles from the burning fortress, Nobukatsu and his men can see the flames in the night sky.
“General, is... is that the signal?”
“Ohh! The whiteness amidst the night means it’s time! Our part has begun!”
Nobukatsu roars over the troops excitement. “Onward, everyone! Today is the day the Iga are annihilated!!”
The army shouts in cheer as the division rush through the land on horseback, ready to seize the fortress.
But those are not the cries Ouzaru is racing towards. The screams he had heard were coming from a ganin... Sadamitsu!
The Kouga ganin are circling their newest foe, interrogating him. “Speak... tell us, Sadamitsu! Where are Ouzaru’s children?”
Sadamitsu is covered in blood and lying on the ground. One of his eyes is missing, he’s riddled with cuts, and a sword is stuck deep in his back. Yet he glares at the Kouga and laughs.
“My life is for Lord Ouzaru!” he declares. “I will not sell my soul to the likes of you!”
--
Chapter 15 - Nobukatsu Attacks! (Nobukatsu Advances! / Nobukatsu Invades!)
Ouzaru is sprinting through the forest after the mysterious cries he had heard. His hope and panic rise at the same time as he believes the voice is from Taichi or Kotobuki.
Taichi... Kotobuki...! His apprehension drives him on. “Kotobuki... ah!”
He finally finds the source of the voice, surrounded by Kouga ganin.
“You should not have come, Lord Ouzaru!” Sadamitsu exclaims. “Don’t worry about me!”
“How far can you go in your wickedness?!” Ouzaru snarls to the enemy ganin. “Sadamitsu is one of you, isn’t he?”
“Perfect timing,” the leading Kouga sneers. “Our purpose here is to completely eradicate all of the Iga ganin... And you just saved us the trouble of having to search for you!’
Ouzaru acts and slices over the Kouga’s eye as both charge. He leaps over the other dog just as the cut finalizes its fatality, and the Kouga falls down, dead. Ouzaru lands next to Sadamitsu as the circle of Kouga grows tighter.
“It is useless, Lord Ouzaru! These guys will turn a deaf ear to you, they won’t listen!” Sadamitsu says.
“That is all right,” Ouzaru assures him. “We Iga shinobi will never abandon a friend!”
Sadamitsu is stricken. “I... I am... You called me your friend?!”
“Yes,” Ouzaru replies. “Though you're a Kouga, you've done everything in your power to help me. I could never abandon someone like that."
Sadamitsu’s eye begins to tear up. “Thank you... this happiness... it is everything that I, Sadamitsu, could want.”
The Iga ganin looks at him. “Do not worry, Sadamitsu... we are not going to die here!”
The fight continues. A Kouga rushes to Ouzaru, but falters when he realizes a cut the ganin made has sliced his blade entirely off. He receives a deep eye cut that reaches over his head, killing him in a similar way to the last Kouga.
“Do not move, Ouzaru!!”
Ouzaru turns and sees one of the Kouga holding his blade to Sadamitsu’s neck. If Ouzaru continues to fight, he will slice his throat. Sadamitsu does not hesitate, despite his life now balancing on a thread, and gives a speech how he would gladly die for Ouzaru, and that his life has come to a purpose of seeing the same ideals as him.
“I’m glad to be rid of you all!” Sadamitsu laughs to the Kouga. Finishing up his speech, he stares Ouzaru in the eye. “Lord Ouzaru, I must ask a final request... please let me be dismissed!”
Ouzaru rushes forward. “Don’t be reckless!!” he implores him.
The Kouga’s blade slices deep through Sadamitsu’s throat. He stumbles for a brief moment before collapsing in the grass.
Sadamitsu! Ouzaru rushes forward to the fallen body. “SADAMITSUUU!!”
The Kouga is dead. Ouzaru does not give himself a moment to grieve and faces the remaining Kouga ganin.
His voice is nothing short of a roar. “Those actions you have just taken... will never be forgiven!!”
Far off, there is a small little stone hut squatting in the middle of the forest. Logs from the inside block anyone from entering, but instead someone begins to remove them from the inside. Kaede, Taichi, and the ganin crawl out from the end of the trapdoor inside the hut.
“I see,” the woman exclaims. “We’re now inside a charcoal making hut! Wait here, everyone, while I go take a look around outside.”
“Be careful, mother,” Taichi says to her as she begins to go out of the small opening.
“Shh, lower your voice,” she hushes back to him.
Taichi goes to check on the puppies, still safe within the basket. He tells them to stop being noisy, and berates Hakutaka for his little yips. Kaede warns Taichi one more time before she crawls from out of the stone hut.
Kaede looks around and realizes they are near Sennin Falls in Kageyama. She pauses, putting her head in a hand and groaning. Kuma has come with her during her scouting of the area.
“Kuma...” Kaede asks wearily. “What do I do?”
We must go, Lady Kaede, Kuma thinks to her. Lord Ouzaru and Sadamitsu will be worried.
He thinks to himself that he is anxious to protect her, as he promised to do for her late husband, but he cannot speak to her. He must find another way to lead her to Ouzaru and Sadamitsu to let them know the family is all right. He begins running off, making sure she’s following behind. She tells him to wait and he eagerly growls for her to catch up.
Kaede hesitates. “I understand. We cannot simply hide within the land during such a crisis. I may be a woman, but I'll give my life for the Iga!"
Kaede goes back to the charcoal hut to tell Kotobuki that Taichi and the puppies are staying there with her. Taichi tries to object, but Kaede tells him Kuma has an idea, and she must follow. She leaves, ignoring Taichi’s protests.
Back at the battlefield, Nobukatsu and his army see Momochi’s fortress in sight. It galvanizes Nobukatsu into roaring for his troops to attack, as tonight they will completely wipe out the Iga. Up above from the narrow path, Momochi and his division were waiting, and release hundreds of logs to tumble down the slope and crush the troops underneath. Nobukatsu is completely taken by surprise. It seems the Iga won’t go down that easily!
--
Chapter 16 - Guerilla Warfare
We open up back to the avalanche of burning logs and boulders crushing Nobukatsu’s forces below. The attack was completely unprecedented, and Nobukatsu’s leading officer calls for their forces to fall back. Eventually the debris stops cascading down the mountain, leading to a huge obstacle blocking the path.
“The Iga military forces knew of our invasion!” Nobukatsu shouts to the man. In that case, the Shimoyama fellow was only feigning his double-crossing!”
“But that is impossible,” the officer counters, “because Shimoyama had offered his daughter to us as a hostage.” This meant Shimoyama had given his daughter to the Oda Clan for temporary capture, in feudal negotiations, to hold his end of the bargain should he not wish any harm to fall on her, or for her to be taken from the family clan and adopted into new roots.
Nobukatsu regrettably agrees. Shimoyama could not have betrayed them. The officer asks, “What should we do next, My Lord?”
“We’ve no choice left but to advance, you fool!” Nobukatsu snaps at him. “Matsuyama himself will be the vanguard!”
The officer riles the men to attention; they will be presuming their attack on the Iga, despite having been caught unawares. Just as the division races forward, they notice the sound of hissing. It’s a volley of arrows! The Iga attack with archery from the flanks, hidden in the forest that is surrounding the small gully path. Nobukatsu’s forces are hindered for a brief moment before the officer roars “Forward! Forward!” to keep the Iga at bay from the Oda’s superior firepower.
In another end of the Oda division, the Iga have been waiting and the scouts ahead signal for their brothers-in-arms to ready their next assault as the troops crowd into the gully. A section of the division has been blocked in by more burning boulders and trees! During the chaos, the Iga calmly eliminate the sectioned troops with their arrows, making easy work of the Oda with their own rifles as the men try to climb up the slopes to get away from the attacks.
“Right!” One of the Iga shinobi begins to hurry through the foliage. “Onto the next ones!” The group flee, with the remaining Oda forces hurrying to catch up to catch them once they’ve climbed out of the gully. They see the three Iga up ahead, cheering on their victory over Nobukatsu, openly taunting the remaining troops. They rush forward angrily to attack the Iga, falling right into their trap, as they hurtle face forward into a swung contraption made of sharpened logs. It makes short work of the last of the Oda division. A shinobi gives a specific whistle for Momochi to hear of their victory from the uppermost hill.
“Nobukatsu’s forces will hesitate about marching here, for a while...” he muses. “...Or, even if they come, the Kubiduka mountain road will become their tombs, should they consider it.”
He turns his head slightly in the direction of one of his waiting shinobi. Momochi will go and look for Shimoyama himself, and leave Onikobu Pass to his men.
We cut back to Ouzaru with the group of Kouga ganin. He is still seething over the death of Sadamitsu.
“You were all my students,” Ouzaru says to the remaining ganin, “but this will not remain so as long as these are your customs for this warring era! I will kill all of you!”
“That’s all you have to say? You can’t live in your own world, forever!” Jirouta snarls. “Get him!”
All four charge forward, but Ouzaru was ready, and jumps in the air to give a tight roll away from the clashing blades. He lands a deep cut through two of the Kouga’s heads, knocking them to the ground before he even lands.
The third Kouga charges forward and begins slicing up and down in an arc with incredible speed. “This is also a technique you taught us... Joudan Gedan Sasakiri!”
The technique means “Upper and Lower Bamboo Grass Slices.” It’s used to cut the enemy from several places higher and lower on their body with amazing speed, making blocking very difficult.
Ouzaru is not impressed, as he is the one who taught the attack to the Kouga. He shows his memory of the weakness of the technique, with the page slowing down the Kouga’s movements so we can see he is completely exposed in the middle, where his blade does not swing.
“You are exposed between the upper and lower swings of your blade!” he tells the ganin. He makes a huge cut across his attacker’s throat. “You should know this from experience!”
The Kouga coughs and gurgles as the blood pools from his throat. Now there is only Jirouta left. Ouzaru faces him across the bloody field, not having broken into a sweat.
“Jirouta, kill me!” Ouzaru snarls at the ganin. “What’s holding you back? You are uninjured - hurry and kill me!”
Jirouta begins trembling, but does not approach Ouzaru’s challenge. He curses to himself through his shivers.
Ouzaru is not deterred from his fury, now galvanized by Jirouta’s cowardice. “Why do you not come forward? Are you scared? After all this, you’re finally losing confidence? If you’re not going to act like a man, then go! Leave my sight!!”
This is where the volume ends. Kinda brusque since we don’t see Jirouta even react to this dialogue.
Jirouta was also present for the whole Sadamitsu drama, he just was named at the very end of this chapter.
Please leave feedback if I should improve anything or what you think! I’ll be doing volume 3 in my spare time now that I have it!
I also do not own volume 1 so I don't know the details of how it ended.
Please share this thread to other Ginga sites that would like the additional information! I will update this thread with news each time a chapter is finished.
* Chapters 12 and 14 use different kanji but mean the exact same thing. Both 全面戦争 and 総力戦 mean "Total War / All-Out War." I had to spice up chapter 14's title so it wasn't identical to chapter 12's.
Table of Contents
Chapter 9 - Night Battle
Chapter 10 - A Desperate Situation
Chapter 11 - The Sword of Hallowed Justice
Chapter 12 - All-Out War
Chapter 13 - The Thundering Flames of War
Chapter 14 - Raging War*
Chapter 15 - Nobukatsu Attacks!
Chapter 16 - Guerrilla Warfare
Chapter 9 - Night Battle (Nightly Warfare - Battle in the Night)
Sadmitsu is charging towards an armored Kouga, but Ouzaru comes in at the last minute to knock him over.
"Leave this to me!" Ouzaru says to him.
He notices something on the Kouga. "What's that thing around your neck?" Sadmitsu warns him to take it because it may be one of Nobunaga's tricks. Ouzaru tells the messenger he will not kill him if he hands over the small barrel-like object. The Kouga objects. "You fools, this was the task given to me. A ganin's life would be filled with regret if he ever abandoned a mission!"
The Kouga ganin starts to run, but Ryoujun intervenes. He narrowly misses the ganin's blade and Ouzaru tackles the enemy to the ground. Ryoujun grabs the Kouga from under Ouzaru but he slips out and retreats back to his base. Ryoujun successfully grabs the barrel tied to the Kouga's neck and looks inside. Ouzaru is about to thank Sadamitsu for helping them get the message but notices he has disappeared. Ryoujun finds out the item inside the case is a letter.
Ryoujun shows Ouzaru the opened barrel with the message inside. "It's likely some sort of secret letter," he says. "Ouzaru, deliver this to the Lord (Momochi)!" As Ouzaru takes it, Ryoujun adds, "As soon as you deliver it, return immediately! We're Lord Shimoyama's sentries!" Ouzaru understands and runs off with the message in its holder.
Within the night, Lord Nobukatsu Oda is heading to Tanba Momochi's fortress with 8,000 men, and is currently in Awa Province. Another group led by Saburouemon Tsuge is heading to Onikobutouge with approximately 1,500 men. In Ise is the third party, with 1,300 troops led by Sakyounoshin Nagano. The three parties are heading closer to Tanba Momochi's fort. Momochi himself is armored and prepared for battle with his troops, who are all waiting at a knoll for the attack of the three armies.
"Truly that idiot lord does not plan on coming to attack at night," Momochi claims. "We shinobi excel in our specialty if it's to be a night battle."
Just then, Ouzaru runs into the camp. "Ouzaru, what is it?" one of the men, Hikotarou, asks cheerily. He noticed the letter case and reaches for it, but Ouzaru continues on his way, moving it from the man's reach. "What's in that barrel?" Hikotarou asks. "Hey, let me see it!"
Ouzaru approaches Momochi. "Oh, it is good to see you," he says to the ganin.
Momochi has a soldier light a wooden lantern so he can read the letter.
"This is a letter from Shimoyama," Momochi exclaims, "addressed to Oda's forces!"
Reading with shock, Momochi continues, "'When the dawn merges with the sixth hour at Ise Province... the roads will become dangerous, use directions to guide yourself through an animal trail.' I never would have expected this from that bastard! What Ryoujun had said was true! Still, we have time to capture Shimoyama. The Oda army in Ise Province won't know of the secret route if we catch him!"
Back at Shimoyama's mansion, Ryoujun is wondering about the letter. He is suspecting it has to do with Shimoyama, or is from him, and hopes Ouzaru has given the letter to Momochi before it's too late. Suddenly there's movement, and Ryoujun calls to them before realizing they are not his ganin. He hunkers to the ground to hide.
Kouga ganin? He wonders. Damnit! Was I noticed?
The Kouga are speaking to each other and wondering what the noise was. Ryouga, perched atop the gate, asks them, "What is it? Who's over there?" One of the Kouga heads over to Ryoujun's direction to find out.
Damn! Ryoujun gets his weapon ready. Ouzaru... come back! Hurry...! Hurry!!
--
Chapter 10 - A Desperate Situation
Ryoujun knows that the Kouga ganin have heard him, and he feigns unconsciousness. The Kouga that's investigating, Naojirou, exclaims, "Ah! This is Ryoujun! The master of the Iga ganin and Ouzaru!"
"What?!" Ryouga jumps from the top of the gate to inspect for himself. The Kouga are closing in on Ryoujun now.
Naojirou pulls on Ryoujun's arm to roll him over so they can have a better look. Ryoujun tries stabbing at the ganin's leg with fake coincidence from his limp arm, but misses. The ganin believe he is dead and begin wondering about the situation.
"Oho! It truly is the shinobi, Ryoujun!" Ryouga says. "Even in death, he will not part with his sword."
"Watch out!" Naojirou yelps. "That brat tried to stab me!"
Ryouga stares at Ryoujun's neck and notices a pulse. It is enough for him to begin drawing his blade. Ryoujun hears the sound and instantly jumps to his feet, making the Kouga back away, all of their blades held at the ready.
"Kouga ganin!" Ryoujun shouts. "We of the Iga have been too careless with those who trespass upon our land... how long have you been working for the Oda?!"
Ryouga laughs before giving the order: "Slice him apart! There's no reason to fear Ouzaru if we kill this man!"
All at once the Kouga attack. Ryoujun dodges and blocks them one at a time while fighting off their blades with his own. He acts with the true speed and focus of a shinobi, but the narration lets us know he cannot go on like this forever.
"Do not let him rest!" Ryouga commands. "Hurry and get rid of him!"
Ryoujun is losing energy, but he cannot recover from his strain as the Kouga attack continuously. He backs up into a tree and realizes the situation has gotten worse, he cannot take on all the Kouga alone.
Damnit, he thinks, Ouzaru, where are you? You must hurry back! He brings his fingers to his mouth and whistles loudly.
Narration: Ryoujun's whistle for Ouzaru's help rings throughout the darkness. However, it was a vain attempt, as the whistle was sucked away into the night.
A Kouga makes a critical hit to Ryoujun's head when the man is caught off-guard. Ryoujun slumps against the tree, the blade deep through his skin. He slides away to let the blade slip into the tree instead and stabs the Kouga in the shoulder.
"What are you all doing?" Ryouga shouts at the ganin. "Hurry up and kill him!"
Ryoujun fights the Kouga off with two blades, and replaces one with the sword stuck in the tree from the slain Kouga. Blood is pouring down Ryoujun's forehead but he isn't slowing down.
"Keep coming, you bastards!" he shouts to the Kouga. "I will not die so easily!"
Ryoujun keeps the Kouga at bay with his two blades, but loses his footing and slips to the ground. A ganin stabs through his shin armor to pin him down as Ryoujun is forced to fight on his back.
"Damnit," he groans, "Ouzaru, I need you!"
Ryouga thinks on the shinobi's misfortune of not having Ouzaru with him. Suddenly he pauses to look over his shoulder as a figure is racing towards them. It's Ouzaru!
"Lord Ryoujun!" Ouzaru calls out. "I am coming!"
"Ohh! Ouzaru!" Ryoujun says in relief. "I was waiting!"
Ouzaru faces the Kouga. "You..." he snarls at them. He draws his blade. "How dare you... he is my master!"
"This is unforgivable!" he shouts. "I will have your heads!"
"Everyone, attack them both!" Ryouga snarls.
Narration: Akame's ancestor, Ouzaru, being a ganin born into the time of a war-torn country, wasn't fated to live long. Still, without him, Hakutaka wouldn't have been born, and without Hakutaka, the legacy of the white ganin would not have come to be.
Ouzaru makes his first move and slices through the necks of two of the Kouga. The battle with Ryouga has begun!
--
Chapter 11 - The Sword of Hallowed Justice (The Sword of Crushing Evil / The Sword of Smiting Evil)
With Ouzaru in the fight, the Kouga hesitate. Ryoujun pulls Ouzaru in for a hug and exclaims, “Ouzaru, you came! You came back! Amazing!”
“Your celebration is too early!” Ryouga snarls at the two. “Your lives will end within the night!”
Ouzaru keeps the remaining Kouga and Ryouga at bay, fighting alongside Ryoujun. Both work well as a team. Ryoujun and Ouzaru fight back-to-back until Ryoujun stumbles.
“Sorry, Ouzaru,” Ryoujun says wearily. He continues to fight, though on his knees.
Ouzaru falters. “Lord Ryoujun!”
Both fight alongside each other as Ryoujun shouts, “I’m all right, it’s not a serious wound. Concentrate on the enemy, don’t give any regards to me!”
Ouzaru does as he is bidden, and instead attacks multiple Kouga again, getting in a successful strike to one’s neck. The battle is matched now.
“Ouzaru, you bastard!” Ryouga snarls.
Both are about to strike one another until the scuffle pauses. Both Kouga and Iga notice a man on a horse racing past, his face half-concealed.
Ryoujun notices it’s Lord Shimoyama!
“Shimoyama is running away! What is that traitor doing this time?” He begins to run to Shimoyama. “Let’s go, Ouzaru! There’s no time to bother with these guys.”
Ryouga orders the Kouga to hold Ryoujun back, as they must protect Shimoyama. He fights Ryoujun to keep him from following the traitor.
“Ouzaru, hurry after Shimoyama!” Ryoujun orders his ganin.
Ouzaru falters, knowing Ryoujun’s injured leg and fatigue will not allow him to win the battle. Ryoujun looks back at the ganin. “What’s wrong? Go now! Don’t worry about me!”
Before Ouzaru can make his decision, someone shouts over the fray, “Ryoujun!” and a squad of Iga approach, an armored officer in the lead.
Narration: At long last, the 100 reinforcements Momochi had sent to Iga had arrived.
The officer dismounts from his horse and asks, “Who are these guys? Kouga ganin?!” He and his men draw their blades.
Ryouga has to admit defeat again, and the Kouga run away from the Iga.
Meanwhile, Kuma is keeping watch at the front gate of Momochi’s fortress. Kotobuki comes to speak to him.
“Anything new?” Kotobuki asks him cheerfully. Kuma chuckles at her.
“I was trusted with watch, Miss,” Kuma assures her. “Please make sure your children are safe..”
Comforted, Kotobuki thanks him. Taichi and his mother, Kaede, are inside the fort with one of Momochi’s men. “Under Lord Momochi’s orders,” he explains, “the Itou family must survive, no matter the circumstances! They know about you.”
He bends down to a simple panel in the bottom of the wall. “Found it!”
Taichi goes over to him. “Found what? There’s nothing there!”
The man lifts at the bottom of the panel and it slowly begins to slide upwards. Taichi and Kaede see that it leads down as a staircase for them to escape to if things go wrong. If they do, the men will hold their position to make sure Kaede and Taichi can escape safely.
“Taichi, you’ll stay here,” Kaede says to her son.
“Ehh? Mother?!”
“I am the wife of a shinobi,” Kaede says adamantly. “I will fight with the others!”
Taichi wants to go with her, but Kaede holds him back and tells him to listen to her.
At the gate, Kuma begins shouting an alarm. The Kouga have arrived, and a lot of them, from across the field. There are both low-ranking men and ganin approaching, and the only people to defend the castle are Taichi, his mother, and two elderly men. The Kouga ganin race forward as the vanguard.
“Kuma, are they coming?” Kotobuki asks from the ground. “How many are there?!”
“Just from here, I can see ten ganin at the front,” Kuma answers. “And five men.”
Kotobuki realizes something. “There are around twenty Kouga ganin in total... so why are only half of them attacking us?”
There’s a figure at the gate. A Kouga. “Do you not understand why?”
“You’re Sadamitsu!” Kuma gasps. “What are you doing here?”
“I am indebted to Lord Ouzaru,” Sadamitsu explains. “But I cannot forgive my clan for this! I will die here as a reward for my debt to Ouzaru!”
--
Chapter 12 - All-Out War (Total War)
The Kouga ganin continue to rush forward. One of them notices Kuma on the gate and shouts to the vanguard, “There’s a sentry!” The Kouga immediately hunker close to the ground within the vegetable fields and blend in with the night. Kuma realizes he cannot see the Kouga anymore because of their dark fur.
“Sadamitsu!” Kuma shouts, and throws down his short sword so that the Kouga can replace it with the broken sickle he’s been using (a reference to Kurojaki, no doubt).
“You fight with that deteriorated sickle? Use this for your heart’s cause!”
“I am indebted to you, Kuma...” Sadmitsu replies, catching the blade.
“I’m glad, Lord Sadamitsu,” Kotobuki says.
“Miss!” Kuma breathes.
Kotobuki continues to the Kouga, “Your debt to us... Ouzaru will be very pleased when he knows of it, no matter what.”
“Ouzaru taught me how to use my heart, not just my fighting abilities,” Sadamitsu responds to her. “This life of mine is happily dedicated to him!”
In the fields below, the Kouga ganin are still motionless. The leading one begins thinking to himself, wondering how many Iga ganin are acting as sentries because he can’t fully see them. He mentions that the mission given to Ryouga and the Kouga ganin is to wipe out the Itou family and their ganin.
An Iga shinobi comes up to Kuma and Kotobuki’s post. He asks if the ganin understand him as he asks where the enemies are. Kuma and Kotobuki start growling dead ahead in the fields, so the shinobi calls down to the other men to prepare their firearms from behind the safety of the wall.
Kotobuki withdraws her blade. “Kuma, take my sword.”
“No... but, Miss!” Kuma objects.
“I’ll be all right in the mansion,” she assures him. “I’ll use someone else’s blade in there.”
Kuma gives in and takes the sword. “Thank you... in that case... I will not hesitate.”
The Kouga shinobi begin to grow restless from hiding further behind the ganin. They know they have to act quick to make sure they can get to Ouzaru’s children to end the final generation of the Iga ganin, along with destroying the Itou family.
“Ouzaru is being disposed of by Ryouga,” the shinobi whispers to another. “Next we have the old dog Kuma and Kotobuki... they’re of little significance.”
The shinobi jumps over the wall, away from Kuma’s post. However, he lands right above Taichi, who has armed himself with a spear. Taichi immediately shouts to warn the others, and Kuma rushes to defend the boy. Taichi has been knocked to the ground and the Kouga shinobi prepares to strike. Until...
“Move, Taichi!” shouts Kaede.
Immediately the fight moves to Kaede and the Kouga. She forces the man back, blocking his attacks easily with her own sword. The old Iga shinobi rushes to help, telling her not to risk her life. Kuma darts past him to help with his master’s wife. He races between the Kouga and Kaede and slices the man’s arm, forcing him to fall.
The Kouga puts his fingers in his mouth and whistles, but the old man hurries forward and kills him to silence him. The narration tells us it’s too late, as the man had whistled to warn the others of his failure so they can proceed with the attack. From their firearm posts at the wall, the other two Iga men begin to see a flicker in the night...
Fire arrows! A volley of them hit the Iga village, lighting the grass roofs on fire easily to spread. Taichi acts immediately. “The warehouse!” He hurries to the well and begins to pull the bucket out for water.
Back with Ouzaru and Ryoujun, Ryouga’s group is departing. They go to follow after Shimoyama. Ryoujun notices Ouzaru’s look and feels at his forehead, where the cut is finally slowing in its bleeding. He then notices a glimmer of light in the fortress’ location.
“Something’s burning,” one of the Iga says.
“What happening?!” exclaims the other.
“Lord Momochi’s mansion!!” Ryoujun gasps. “Ouzaru, hurry back to them!”
Ouzaru goes without hesitation as the flames grow brighter. Unfortunately, he does not know of the fate the Iga will face after this night!
--
Chapter 13 - The Thundering Flames of War! (Rumbling War Fires)
Back in the Iga fortress, Taichi stares with horror at the mountain of flames building over the warehouse. He hurries to put it out with the water from the bucket, but it doesn’t make a dent.
Kaede grabs Taichi. “Taichi, you need to escape!”
“No!” Taichi objects, still holding the bucket. “I can fight, too!”
Kaede slaps Taichi to knock him out of his frenzy. Taichi looks at her with incredulity.
“Listen to me,” she says to him, “you have a mission that’s far more important than dying!” She begins pushing him away from the burning warehouse. “You will see... now hurry! There is no time!”
“Come with me, Mother!” Taichi objects. “You hate being separated as much as I do!”
The old shinobi, Yahei, tells Kaede she is going with Taichi, despite her objections. She will take Kotobuki and Kuma with her and Taichi while Yahei and the three other Iga stay behind to make sure they escape, as was planned.
Yahei points Kuma and Kotobuki to Kaede. “You both are going to! Hurry and go!” He notices something and kneels beside Kotobuki.
“Kotobuki... why do you not have your sword?” he asks. He unsheathes his and puts it in her scabbard. “Take this with you. Cherish it as a keepsake when you fight.”
He pets Kotobuki’s head. “I hope... the pups grow up to be magnificent. This old man will be watching over you all in the afterlife. Right! Now go!”
Kotobuki and Kuma leave with Kaede, Taichi, and the puppies, which are all held in a wicker basket. Yahei and the other Iga shoot down all of the Kouga ganin that are leaping to the tops of the gate walls.
The Itou family successfully hurry through the secret passage. Within the fortress, the Kouga have no idea where they’ve gone.
“Where... where has Kotobuki gone?!” the leading ganin wonders.
The four Iga shinobi have been cornered by the Kouga. They don’t tell them where the Itou and their ganin have gone, and are ready to die with honor. Their deaths come closer until a ganin jumps into the fort and runs off, leading the Kouga away. They follow it over the gate wall and into a trap! The decoy was none other than Sadamitsu!
Enraged by his continuous betrayal of the Kouga, they attack. Sadamitsu faces against them and manages to cut off a ganin’s paw.
Lord Ouzaru, please allow to me to die here, Sadamitsu thinks. If I die for the same aspirations you and I both share, then I have no regrets.
Nearing the fortress, Ryoujun, Ouzaru, and the Iga warriors are racing back to the fortress on horses. Ouzaru runs ahead of them towards the burning fortress.
“Kotobuki... Taichi...!” Ouzaru howls in horror at the sight of the fort.
"Mother! Taichi!" Ryoujun shouts. “Damn those Kouga cowards!!”
--
Chapter 14 - Raging War
In the Iga fortress, the four shinobi stand their ground against the Kouga men. They make it clear they will not reveal anything to them, and one of the men gets a shuriken (a throwing star) embedded in his head. The other three men put up a fight but eventually they each fall.
Just then, Ouzaru jumps over the wall. “Kotobuki! Taichiii!!”
“Ouzaru...” Yahei groans in astonishment.
Ouzaru doesn’t hesitate to kill the Kouga shinobi as his clan’s fortress continues to burn, with Yahei and his men dying.
“Ghh...! It’s Ouzaru!” one of the Kouga shouts. “Retreat! Retreat!”
Ouzaru chases the men over the wall, but they are greeted by the Iga officer on the other side. He impales one with a spear and jumps off his horse to tackle the last survivor. He makes short work of him with his sword through the man’s spine.
“Is your family still inside?” the officer asks Ryoujun.
On top of the gate, Ryoujun and the Iga reinforcements see Yahei’s dead squad and the house on fire. Under the fire, the building begins to crumble.
“Ouzaru, be careful!” Ryoujun shouts. “It’s collapsing!”
Ouzaru has to retreat from the overwhelming heat as Ryoujun stares at his home in agony. “Damnit! TAICHI!! MOTHERRR!!”
Ouzaru leaps into the fires, ignoring the heat of the flames around him as he searches for his family, howling. “Taichi! Kotobuki! Where are you?!”
Was I too late? Ouzaru thinks with dread. Kotobuki... my children... please forgive me!
Ryoujun tries to run into the fires from up on the gate, but the officer holds him back. “Ryoujun, don’t! It is too late now, you cannot go into the fire!”
Ryoujun sobs brokenly in cries that turn into screams. The officer holds him tightly as they see Ouzaru running through the flames. He presses Ryoujun’s head into his chest and gives a command. “Ouzaru, come back... I cannot allow you to die as well!”
Ouzaru tries to hold back his sobs, but they break out in a howl. He comes back to the gate’s roof as he and Ryoujun both continue to cry.
“I’m sorry, Ouzaru,” Ryoujun tells his ganin. “This all happened because of me!”
He embraces the ganin and sobs louder. “It hurts, Ouzaru... forgive me...!”
The officer gently takes the short sword from Ouzaru’s mouth. “Put away your blade, Ouzaru... you’ll hurt Ryoujun.”
The silence in the air is short-lived as there’s a distant screaming in the woods. The voice is familiar to Ouzaru, and he immediately leaps off of the roof to race towards it. Ryoujun and the officer are perplexed, but Ryoujun wonders if there’s a chance he hears Kaede and Taichi.
Several miles from the burning fortress, Nobukatsu and his men can see the flames in the night sky.
“General, is... is that the signal?”
“Ohh! The whiteness amidst the night means it’s time! Our part has begun!”
Nobukatsu roars over the troops excitement. “Onward, everyone! Today is the day the Iga are annihilated!!”
The army shouts in cheer as the division rush through the land on horseback, ready to seize the fortress.
But those are not the cries Ouzaru is racing towards. The screams he had heard were coming from a ganin... Sadamitsu!
The Kouga ganin are circling their newest foe, interrogating him. “Speak... tell us, Sadamitsu! Where are Ouzaru’s children?”
Sadamitsu is covered in blood and lying on the ground. One of his eyes is missing, he’s riddled with cuts, and a sword is stuck deep in his back. Yet he glares at the Kouga and laughs.
“My life is for Lord Ouzaru!” he declares. “I will not sell my soul to the likes of you!”
--
Chapter 15 - Nobukatsu Attacks! (Nobukatsu Advances! / Nobukatsu Invades!)
Ouzaru is sprinting through the forest after the mysterious cries he had heard. His hope and panic rise at the same time as he believes the voice is from Taichi or Kotobuki.
Taichi... Kotobuki...! His apprehension drives him on. “Kotobuki... ah!”
He finally finds the source of the voice, surrounded by Kouga ganin.
“You should not have come, Lord Ouzaru!” Sadamitsu exclaims. “Don’t worry about me!”
“How far can you go in your wickedness?!” Ouzaru snarls to the enemy ganin. “Sadamitsu is one of you, isn’t he?”
“Perfect timing,” the leading Kouga sneers. “Our purpose here is to completely eradicate all of the Iga ganin... And you just saved us the trouble of having to search for you!’
Ouzaru acts and slices over the Kouga’s eye as both charge. He leaps over the other dog just as the cut finalizes its fatality, and the Kouga falls down, dead. Ouzaru lands next to Sadamitsu as the circle of Kouga grows tighter.
“It is useless, Lord Ouzaru! These guys will turn a deaf ear to you, they won’t listen!” Sadamitsu says.
“That is all right,” Ouzaru assures him. “We Iga shinobi will never abandon a friend!”
Sadamitsu is stricken. “I... I am... You called me your friend?!”
“Yes,” Ouzaru replies. “Though you're a Kouga, you've done everything in your power to help me. I could never abandon someone like that."
Sadamitsu’s eye begins to tear up. “Thank you... this happiness... it is everything that I, Sadamitsu, could want.”
The Iga ganin looks at him. “Do not worry, Sadamitsu... we are not going to die here!”
The fight continues. A Kouga rushes to Ouzaru, but falters when he realizes a cut the ganin made has sliced his blade entirely off. He receives a deep eye cut that reaches over his head, killing him in a similar way to the last Kouga.
“Do not move, Ouzaru!!”
Ouzaru turns and sees one of the Kouga holding his blade to Sadamitsu’s neck. If Ouzaru continues to fight, he will slice his throat. Sadamitsu does not hesitate, despite his life now balancing on a thread, and gives a speech how he would gladly die for Ouzaru, and that his life has come to a purpose of seeing the same ideals as him.
“I’m glad to be rid of you all!” Sadamitsu laughs to the Kouga. Finishing up his speech, he stares Ouzaru in the eye. “Lord Ouzaru, I must ask a final request... please let me be dismissed!”
Ouzaru rushes forward. “Don’t be reckless!!” he implores him.
The Kouga’s blade slices deep through Sadamitsu’s throat. He stumbles for a brief moment before collapsing in the grass.
Sadamitsu! Ouzaru rushes forward to the fallen body. “SADAMITSUUU!!”
The Kouga is dead. Ouzaru does not give himself a moment to grieve and faces the remaining Kouga ganin.
His voice is nothing short of a roar. “Those actions you have just taken... will never be forgiven!!”
Far off, there is a small little stone hut squatting in the middle of the forest. Logs from the inside block anyone from entering, but instead someone begins to remove them from the inside. Kaede, Taichi, and the ganin crawl out from the end of the trapdoor inside the hut.
“I see,” the woman exclaims. “We’re now inside a charcoal making hut! Wait here, everyone, while I go take a look around outside.”
“Be careful, mother,” Taichi says to her as she begins to go out of the small opening.
“Shh, lower your voice,” she hushes back to him.
Taichi goes to check on the puppies, still safe within the basket. He tells them to stop being noisy, and berates Hakutaka for his little yips. Kaede warns Taichi one more time before she crawls from out of the stone hut.
Kaede looks around and realizes they are near Sennin Falls in Kageyama. She pauses, putting her head in a hand and groaning. Kuma has come with her during her scouting of the area.
“Kuma...” Kaede asks wearily. “What do I do?”
We must go, Lady Kaede, Kuma thinks to her. Lord Ouzaru and Sadamitsu will be worried.
He thinks to himself that he is anxious to protect her, as he promised to do for her late husband, but he cannot speak to her. He must find another way to lead her to Ouzaru and Sadamitsu to let them know the family is all right. He begins running off, making sure she’s following behind. She tells him to wait and he eagerly growls for her to catch up.
Kaede hesitates. “I understand. We cannot simply hide within the land during such a crisis. I may be a woman, but I'll give my life for the Iga!"
Kaede goes back to the charcoal hut to tell Kotobuki that Taichi and the puppies are staying there with her. Taichi tries to object, but Kaede tells him Kuma has an idea, and she must follow. She leaves, ignoring Taichi’s protests.
Back at the battlefield, Nobukatsu and his army see Momochi’s fortress in sight. It galvanizes Nobukatsu into roaring for his troops to attack, as tonight they will completely wipe out the Iga. Up above from the narrow path, Momochi and his division were waiting, and release hundreds of logs to tumble down the slope and crush the troops underneath. Nobukatsu is completely taken by surprise. It seems the Iga won’t go down that easily!
--
Chapter 16 - Guerilla Warfare
We open up back to the avalanche of burning logs and boulders crushing Nobukatsu’s forces below. The attack was completely unprecedented, and Nobukatsu’s leading officer calls for their forces to fall back. Eventually the debris stops cascading down the mountain, leading to a huge obstacle blocking the path.
“The Iga military forces knew of our invasion!” Nobukatsu shouts to the man. In that case, the Shimoyama fellow was only feigning his double-crossing!”
“But that is impossible,” the officer counters, “because Shimoyama had offered his daughter to us as a hostage.” This meant Shimoyama had given his daughter to the Oda Clan for temporary capture, in feudal negotiations, to hold his end of the bargain should he not wish any harm to fall on her, or for her to be taken from the family clan and adopted into new roots.
Nobukatsu regrettably agrees. Shimoyama could not have betrayed them. The officer asks, “What should we do next, My Lord?”
“We’ve no choice left but to advance, you fool!” Nobukatsu snaps at him. “Matsuyama himself will be the vanguard!”
The officer riles the men to attention; they will be presuming their attack on the Iga, despite having been caught unawares. Just as the division races forward, they notice the sound of hissing. It’s a volley of arrows! The Iga attack with archery from the flanks, hidden in the forest that is surrounding the small gully path. Nobukatsu’s forces are hindered for a brief moment before the officer roars “Forward! Forward!” to keep the Iga at bay from the Oda’s superior firepower.
In another end of the Oda division, the Iga have been waiting and the scouts ahead signal for their brothers-in-arms to ready their next assault as the troops crowd into the gully. A section of the division has been blocked in by more burning boulders and trees! During the chaos, the Iga calmly eliminate the sectioned troops with their arrows, making easy work of the Oda with their own rifles as the men try to climb up the slopes to get away from the attacks.
“Right!” One of the Iga shinobi begins to hurry through the foliage. “Onto the next ones!” The group flee, with the remaining Oda forces hurrying to catch up to catch them once they’ve climbed out of the gully. They see the three Iga up ahead, cheering on their victory over Nobukatsu, openly taunting the remaining troops. They rush forward angrily to attack the Iga, falling right into their trap, as they hurtle face forward into a swung contraption made of sharpened logs. It makes short work of the last of the Oda division. A shinobi gives a specific whistle for Momochi to hear of their victory from the uppermost hill.
“Nobukatsu’s forces will hesitate about marching here, for a while...” he muses. “...Or, even if they come, the Kubiduka mountain road will become their tombs, should they consider it.”
He turns his head slightly in the direction of one of his waiting shinobi. Momochi will go and look for Shimoyama himself, and leave Onikobu Pass to his men.
We cut back to Ouzaru with the group of Kouga ganin. He is still seething over the death of Sadamitsu.
“You were all my students,” Ouzaru says to the remaining ganin, “but this will not remain so as long as these are your customs for this warring era! I will kill all of you!”
“That’s all you have to say? You can’t live in your own world, forever!” Jirouta snarls. “Get him!”
All four charge forward, but Ouzaru was ready, and jumps in the air to give a tight roll away from the clashing blades. He lands a deep cut through two of the Kouga’s heads, knocking them to the ground before he even lands.
The third Kouga charges forward and begins slicing up and down in an arc with incredible speed. “This is also a technique you taught us... Joudan Gedan Sasakiri!”
The technique means “Upper and Lower Bamboo Grass Slices.” It’s used to cut the enemy from several places higher and lower on their body with amazing speed, making blocking very difficult.
Ouzaru is not impressed, as he is the one who taught the attack to the Kouga. He shows his memory of the weakness of the technique, with the page slowing down the Kouga’s movements so we can see he is completely exposed in the middle, where his blade does not swing.
“You are exposed between the upper and lower swings of your blade!” he tells the ganin. He makes a huge cut across his attacker’s throat. “You should know this from experience!”
The Kouga coughs and gurgles as the blood pools from his throat. Now there is only Jirouta left. Ouzaru faces him across the bloody field, not having broken into a sweat.
“Jirouta, kill me!” Ouzaru snarls at the ganin. “What’s holding you back? You are uninjured - hurry and kill me!”
Jirouta begins trembling, but does not approach Ouzaru’s challenge. He curses to himself through his shivers.
Ouzaru is not deterred from his fury, now galvanized by Jirouta’s cowardice. “Why do you not come forward? Are you scared? After all this, you’re finally losing confidence? If you’re not going to act like a man, then go! Leave my sight!!”
This is where the volume ends. Kinda brusque since we don’t see Jirouta even react to this dialogue.
Jirouta was also present for the whole Sadamitsu drama, he just was named at the very end of this chapter.
Please leave feedback if I should improve anything or what you think! I’ll be doing volume 3 in my spare time now that I have it!
