It's not enough.
It's not enough!
Kokushu the Manslayer.
I haven't had enough fun yet.
Let's fight to the death.
The war is already over.
But we're samurai, aren't we?
So we fight.
It went by so fast.
Those bastards with their rifles and their cannons.
See?
That is all it takes.
It doesn't even feel like killing.
A neat and clean little weapon.
The days of the sword are coming to an end.
The world doesn't need swordsmen like us.
But that won't change who we truly are.
You and I will always be manslayers, no matter what.
You killed this one, didn't you?
Not bad at all.
Why don't you show me how you do it?
Is that enough to get you to fight?
Go on, do it.
Kill me.
If you leave me here alive,
I'll keep following you to the ends of the earth.
No. It's over.
I will see you again!
Saga Kokushu!
The age of the samurai is over.
You'll be locked in here until you die.
I want to fight.
Look how miserable you are,
Kanjiya Bukotsu.
You were gone for ten years,
and then you decided to return for the Satsuma Rebellion.
You even killed your own allies.
What has your life been like since then?
You're asking me what my life has been like?
I've been dead
for a while now.
I bear good news.
You'll have one more chance to walk the path of the samurai.
Huh?
HOKOKU NEWSPAPER PARTICIPANTS WANTED
Hey! What's going on in here?
TO TOSHIYOSHI KAWAJI
WE MUST DISCUSS THE FUTURE OF THE POLICE. I AWAIT YOU IN TOKYO.
Lord Okubo!
Lord Okubo, please listen to me.
This rebellion is our chance to finally destroy the samurai.
We must exterminate them, or else they will rebel once again.
All I'm asking is for you to grant us the right to carry guns.
-I won't. -Why not, sir?
What will you do if one of them tries to sneak in and assassinate you?
How will we protect you?
Have them forfeit their swords.
-That is all I can allow. -Okubo!
We shouldn't use too heavy a hand.
It will only lead to new uprisings.
Remember Kyoto during the shogunate's final days?
Think of how many of our comrades had fallen back then,
killed by the swords of samurai assassins.
Should they plot to kill us,
we have no way of defending ourselves against them.
Their speed and power are unstoppable!
We need to be able to bear firearms for the sake of the future of Japan.
There is no point in fighting brute force with brute force!
The future of Japan, you say.
Do you know what Japan must have in order to grow stronger as a nation?
-The people, Kawaji! -And the people need to be protected!
You'll never win the people with violence!
How can you not understand?
Kawaji.
The days of the samurai are done.
However,
if we cannot be united and live in peace,
our nation will be destroyed.
I will not give in.
As long as I'm breathing.
THE KODOKU PROJECT
Lord Kawaji.
Come in.
Sorry to interrupt.
Lord Okubo has sent you a telegram.
To Kawaji Toshiyoshi.
Need to discuss future of police.
Awaiting you in Tokyo.
Come promptly.
There's something for everyone! Miss, right this way!
Futaba.
Yes?
You can go.
Is that all right?
Sure.
Thank you so much.
Are you sure?
We have two days before the appointment, and…
these could be our last days together.
Strange to see you with that look on your face.
What do you mean?
You look like a father who's worried about his child.
Did having a family make you happy?
Yes.
What's it like having a real family?
I was able to live life peacefully, without killing anybody.
So I would do whatever it takes to save them.
As for me…
I've only been thinking of one thing.
I should've just died in the battle for succession.
It'd be better than this life.
Iroha.
Don't say that. I didn't--
Yes, I know.
I know that.
I'm going for a walk.
What do you mean? What kind of trouble?
Keep talking.
Saga Shujiro and Kinugasa Iroha
are going to die unless you go and help them out.
Wait, it's not…
Gentosai, is it?
Oh! Well done. That's the right answer.
They're holding a festival at the shrine just ahead.
That's where the two of them are.
Gentosai as well.
Who are you?
What do you want?
Hmm…
I'm not even sure anymore, honestly.
You should hurry.
Kyojin.
Who are they? What was all that? And who's Gentosai?
Shinnosuke.
In this world, some things are better left kept in the dark, okay?
But--
Might as well just have some fun, right?
After all, we're stuck in this Kodoku.
The eighth successor of the Kyohachi-ryu,
Kinugasa Iroha.
I finally found you.
Why is he here?
All right, let's get started.
Yes, sir!
Here we go!
We meet again at last.
Kokushu!
It's time we settled this once and for all!
Get back! Get back! Get back!
Oh man.
There's no thrill like trying to kill each other, huh?
You must be a beast to find pleasure in murder.
Yeah, but you're no different.
And none of it matters.
What's the point of anything anymore?
I'll smash every bit of this meaningless world!
Stop this!
What was that, darling?
Why shed the blood of those who have done nothing?
That's not the samurai way!
Futaba! Stand down!
Then what is the samurai way?
Come on, sweetheart.
Tell me, what is it?
Don't do it, Bukotsu. Let go of her.
What if I killed her?
I think that you'd fight me then, right?
Don't. Stop this.
Don't do it!
Oh.
Out of the way! Move!
You can't win with your arm like that.
Just give up.
You're telling me to give up now?
We ended up like this all because we gave up, didn't we?
How did you feel when they took your sword away?
Have you been happy with your life?
-Yes, I truly have. -Then why are you here?
I'll tell you why.
Because in the end,
you're only worth something if you can kill.
You can't even save a single person without killing.
The age of the samurai is over?
I say to hell with that.
And even if it is,
we will just rebuild it once again!
Hmm.
I found you.
Out of the way!
Run!
That was an impressive strike.
But this is the end for you.
Do you have any last words?
If that was your best,
you'll never stand a chance against my brothers.
Oh really?
Don't worry. Your siblings will be next.
The fourth successor of the Kyohachi-ryu,
Adashino Shikura.
I can't believe he dodged that.
The third successor,
Gion Sansuke.
Wretched monster!
Sansuke.
Move as one.
Right.
He's too strong.
You run!
Iroha! Let's move!
Move!
Move! Get back!
Get back! Move!
Get away! Come on!
Move! It's not safe!
Kokushu the Manslayer…
At long last…
I finally found happiness.
Shujiro!
Shujiro! Shujiro!
The first participant to reach Chiryu was…
227, Kamuykocha.
Good! Yes, yes, very good!
He didn't come all the way from Ezo for nothing.
We've received another report that Kanjiya Bukotsu was just killed.
-What? No! -He was killed by 108, Saga Shujiro.
-Oh! -Well, such is the Manslayer we know.
We've lost the Savage Slasher. What a shame!
Another ghost of the past has died, nothing new.
However, I'd say that's still cause for celebration.
I agree.
Of course.
Lord Kawaji, I think you should get going.
Certain duties require my attention.
So for now, I'll have to leave you all to it, I'm afraid.
Naturally. You're a busy man, of course.
Sir,
so it's finally time.
I'm sure you'll be very entertained as the Kodoku keeps unfolding.
I've sent a telegram informing them where to meet.
Glad to hear it.
Keep those wealthy fools busy with their pleasures.
As you command, sir.
Come in.
If I may.
It seems Lord Kawaji is back. He's just returned from his journey.
I'll pay him a visit. Get the carriage ready.
Sir.
Shinpei hasn't been in touch yet, has he?
No, sir.
We've checked at his home as well, but he doesn't appear to be back.
Should we have the police look for him?
No. We'll search for him ourselves. Inform the Home Ministry staff.
Yes, sir.
What are you--
I know it's been awhile, Lord Okubo.
Hanjiro, you're alive.
I thought you were dead.
Unfortunately, Lord Kawaji will not be heading this way.
What are you saying?
He sent me instead. And he asked me to deliver a message.
"Farewell."
What is this?
What exactly is going on here?
OKAZAKI-JUKU
Shujiro.
Do you think Iroha is doing okay?
Knowing her, I've no doubt she's all right.
Extra! Extra!
-Extra! Extra! -What? What is it?
Oh, give me one too.
Extra!
-One over here, please. -Excuse me. Can I have one too?
Extra! Extra!
-This is most urgent news! -Oh no. Wait.
HOME MINISTER TOSHIMICHI OKUBO ASSASSINATED
Lord Okubo was killed?
Who would do something like that?
This is no coincidence.
What?
The Kodoku is related to this.
Are you Mr. Saga?
Yes, why?
I have a message from Lord Maejima.
"Returning to Tokyo. Urgent matter. Make for the capital at once."
That is all.
I understand.
If you'll excuse me.
Futaba.
We need to make it to Tokyo quickly.
All right.
Make way! Carriage coming through!
Oh.
Don't strain yourself. The wound will reopen.
Thank you.
-Hey, you two. -Hm?
I had a dream last night.
I saw us all living together as a family.
Sansuke and I were arguing, like we always did.
Shikura was strong as always.
We all used to smile a lot back then.
Sure.
We certainly did.
Had we all fought each other for the succession,
I would not have survived.
If Shujiro hadn't decided to run away…
…I certainly wouldn't be alive right now.
But unless we're able to defeat Gentosai,
we will never manage to move forward.
Once we're all together,
we can finally take him down.
You know it too.
We cannot defeat him unless we're together.
You're right.
And we'll do it.
Yes.
So now, we gather our brothers.
-Oh! -Attacked in Shimizudani.
I can't believe he actually did it!
Kawaji's a man of action, truly. Wouldn't you agree?
Now we can focus on the Kodoku in peace!
Indeed.
There are plenty of remarkable contestants left to watch.
The weak ones are gone.
From here, only the strong remain.
Well, well.
CHIRYU, OKAZAKI, HAMAMATSU, SHIMADA
Now, gentlemen.
We guarantee this Kodoku will keep you entertained.
-Hear, hear. -Hear, hear.
-Hey! Wait for me! -Go! Quick!
Let's play some more.
Well, lucky me.
No one was around, so I didn't get enough tags earlier.
Good. That's enough for now.
Oh. Do you want to fight, sir?
It's fun!
Come on. Why not?
Well, well, so you couldn't get it done.
Even with the tip I gave you, huh?
Fight to the death, until the last one standing.
LAST SAMURAI STANDING
THE END OF THE FIRST CHAPTER