EIROKU ERA YEAR 7
There are three bandits...
I'll kill them.
Hear that?
What did you say, kid? Say it again.
Did you not hear me?
I told you to quit being bandits and get a proper job.
"Get a proper job," she said!
This kid is scolding us.
Are they wanderers?
If they are, they're quite bossy...
Shut up and come here.
H-How dare you?!
Sorry. I couldn't help it.
Couldn't help it?!
You brat! I'll kill you then skin you!
Come now, take this as an apology.
What's that?
EARTH FIST
Did you see that?
They flew so high.
Their brainless heads weigh...
- You're the brainless one! - Ouch!
How are we going to find out where their leader is now?
I don't think they were going to tell us anyway.
There's no helping it.
We're back to searching the old-fashioned way.
Wow. What was that technique?
Who are they?
Elder sister?
No... Never mind.
That's it, it's too annoying.
I know you're there! Show yourself!
Who are you?
My name is Shinsuke Hyoudou. I'm a traveling swordsman in training.
A swordsman in training? Why did you follow us?
I saw you beat the lordless samurai.
How did you set up that trick?
Trick?
That's none of your business.
Let us go, elder sister.
"Elder sister"?!
Is there a problem?
No...
W-Wait!
I know where the leader of the lordless samurai is!
You do?
Yeah! You're looking for him, right? Let's trade.
Tell me who you are.
I'm Jinka. I am a Sendou, a user of spiritual powers.
I am Tama the Youko, a fox spirit.
By fate, we are sworn siblings.
What you saw was a spiritual incantation of mine.
Youko? Sendou? Try harder with your lies.
You're just a kid and a...
Hurry up and lead the way or I'll throw this at you.
Okay, okay!
I'll tell you! Don't hold a snake like that!
It's... It's that way.
Those guys belong to the Onikabuto Group.
They're a famous group of thugs around here.
Their leader is that guy in the Kabuto helmet.
He's as strong as a demon,
and no one has ever seen him without the helmet on.
Rumor is, he's hiding a pair of horns under that.
You sure know a lot about them.
He's probably aiming to become a famous bandit hunter
in the hopes that a daimyo will want to take him in.
He's been making up self-serving fantasies.
Bull's-eye.
What do you mean, "self-serving fantasies"?
It's simply a brilliant idea that combines training with profit.
Besides, aren't you basically doing the same thing yourselves?
The same thing?
Well, aren't you?
There's just something we must do.
Something you must do? What's that?
I'm not sure if I should tell a guy who freaks out over a snake.
I just happen to hate snakes! I am real a swordsman in training!
I could break the skull of those guys with my sword if I wanted to!
S-So fast!
Seems we don't have a choice.
Though I never planned on hiding.
Remember, our goal is persuasion.
Wait!
What's with these guys?
Is this the guy who was sneaking around here before?
That kid was still lurking around, huh?
Are you their leader?
What do you brats want?
There's something I want to say.
What you guys are doing is wrong!
Stop your misdeeds and split up!
...split up!
They came all this way for that?
Is she an idiot?!
Leader, let's just cut them down.
Let me spell it out for you!
Evil deeds only breed resentment!
You might do as you please while you're young and strong,
but when you're old and weak, you'll struggle and starve
and live in fear of retribution for your past misdeeds!
However!
If everyone lays down their swords for a world of mutual aid and love...
No more killing or being killed!
No more robbing or being robbed!
Share and avoid hunger!
Peace of mind in old age... A happy life with a full belly!
How's that for flawless logic?
Is she serious?
She came here to say that?
You're just yapping and making no sense!
See? I told you it's pointless.
Just give up on humans already.
Enough of your misanthropy and temper. It's because of that...
Kill them.
...that we failed to persuade them.
Amazing...
The Onikabuto Group is supposed to be unbeatable in this area.
What?! A Kabutowari sword?
I... I killed him. I did it!
Alright, with this...
Shinsuke Hyoudo is coming!
Onikabuto, prepare yourselves!
You forced me to reveal my true form!
Leader...
It's a monster.
Shut up, all of you! I'll kill anyone who tries to run!
He's a Katawara.
A Katawara?
It's a term for spirits, ghosts, or shape-shifters. Non-humans.
Those who exist alongside you. Those are Katawara.
Can we defeat it?
A Master of Shadows is powerful, but a spirit transformation might work.
Spirit transformation?
Alright.
But... my conscience is against fighting a Katawara.
Be it Katawara or humans, those who are cruel will be stopped!
How dare you make a fool of me...
I'll kill you all!
Well then.
W-What is this?
Spirit transformation.
A secret technique where one uses spiritual power
to bring oneself closer to a Katawara.
When Jinka is in his spiritual form...
he's invincible.
"Invincible"?
Kill them! If you don't want to be killed, kill them!
Really, I'm so sorry.
No matter how many there are of them, humans are just humans.
Such unusual eyes.
I'll eat them!
Is he going to use that staff to fight?
Keep quiet and watch.
Again?!
Unfortunately for you, I have two more arms!
H-He's so strong.
Release.
It was manipulating a corpse.
Farewell, and be careful on your journey to the afterlife.
Why are you doing this?
Why is a Sendou and a Youko doing this?
I like humans.
That's why I'm determined to wipe out wrongdoing.
I'm just being dragged along against my will.
A Youko who likes humans?
Clean out your ears and listen closely!
We are those who lament the turbulent times.
We are known as...
the siblings for world reformation!
I... see.
He's still following us. Should we shake him off?
Leave him be.
I can't believe things like Katawara exist...
Perhaps I've stumbled upon an incredible world...
Are they staying there?
It's not simply a bear!
Anyway, we're avoiding that road!
We'll be killed by the monster!
"Monster"?
Yes! It turned up on the road in broad daylight.
Stand back.
I am one of the Dangaishuu, Sairen!
Man-eating Katawara, Shakugan, I have come to defeat you!
Face Buddha's punishment!
It looked like this!
It's Shakugan.
"Shakugan"?
Come to think of it, that monk Sairen said something similar...
You know Sairen?
Well, yeah, I mean...
The monk who was killed was...
Sairen...
We, the Demon-Striking Monks of Dangaishuu, will handle this issue.
None of you interfere!
"Dangaishuu"? What now?
Setting you aside for now,
won't they try to kill your sister if they find out she's a Youko?
They found out long ago.
Dangaishuu are a group of special warrior monks
trained in spiritual power to battle Katawara.
But they're not mindless killers.
They only fight Sawari, the malicious Katawara who harm humans.
They're harmless to peaceful Katawara.
I see. You sure know a lot.
I haven't lived long for nothing.
You don't look like you have though.
Anyway, where are you heading? Aren't you a samurai in training?
Huh? Ah, well...
Could it be that you want to join our efforts to reform the world?
No way, it's all just a coincidence.
I was just on my way to the next town.
But with what's happening, I have no choice but to stay here.
What a nuisance.
Don't say that.
The sword he thrust into that Katawara
was quite full of passion.
It's not a lie! My father is a samurai!
No way a weakling like you is the son of a samurai.
I'm not a weakling!
My sword revealed the Katawara's true form.
My sword brought out its true nature.
Am I able to kill Katawara?
If that's the case... this encounter must be fate.
It doesn't matter if it's the Dangaishuu or a Youko or a Sendou.
I'll learn from them and my sword will become...
- A demon-slaying sword! - A demon-slaying sword!
That's what you're thinking, right?
He's overestimating himself.
H-How long have you been watching? And stop reading my mind!
I'm not. It's just written all over your face.
So, what do you think, elder sister?
I worried all for nothing.
What do you mean?
Well, you were sneaking out in the middle of the night
so she was worried you were working as a thief.
As if!
Well, even if you were, it's fine.
Then I can righteously deliver justice...
That is, I can indulge in bullying humans.
Cut it out.
It's his nature. Forgive him.
That's his nature...?
Anyway, why did you have to be so rude...
Oh!
What's wrong?
I'm sleepy.
That's too sudden! Come on!
See you.
How about the bathroom?
I'm going.
She's just like a child. Is she really a Youko?
I should probably ask the Dangaishuu to teach me.
No way...
Damn it! They're too fast!
I was planning to see them beat another Katawara!
There! I made it in time.
What's this?
At times like this...
Let me pass, sage.
Leave matters of the mortal world to the mortals.
I do not care about human affairs.
But if it's about harming Katawara, I will need to know the reason.
That's not how it works, young sage.
Killing humans is more than enough of a reason.
If you judge good and evil by that logic,
doesn't this world consider you evil as well?
If you humans want to kill, just kill each other until the last...
Quit it, Jinka!
That Katawara, Shakugan.
What reason does it have for harming people?
Can't you at least tell me that?
I'm bound to secrecy by the temple.
How stingy...
That guy really hates humans, huh?
Despite his older sister liking humans and talking about world reform...
It's come this far, huh?
Ouhou, take care of that wanderer.
Understood!
I-It's massive...
It's wrong...
Where...
It's talking?
Run away, quick!
What are you doing?
Sorry...
Whoa, he looks so ticked off.
Jinka, what do you think?
Well...
Bind!
Wow... What is that?
I see. That's reassuring.
The spiritual power of those two...
is no match for the Katawara.
It stood up?
Jinka! Help those two!
What?
I guess I don't have a choice...
Stop!
It'll kill you!
What's wrong, Shinsuke?
Do you regret getting involved with us?
This is the world we live in.
The world of darkness.
This is the world of darkness...
I've found it...
This is the place that will make me strong!
Here, I will...
become stronger than anyone else!