Mission: Yozakura Family (夜桜さんちの大作戦)

He's been shot all over his body, mainly in the internal organs,

more than a dozen times.

He's made it out of the woods somehow...

but if it hadn't been for Big Bro Shinzo's first aid, it would have been too late.

We have an injured person among us at the moment.

Let's go!

Activate Hibernation.

That voice...

Don't panic.

They're not out to kill Mutsumi.

Either way, Hibernation can only be disabled with the head's ring.

I'll leave the Tanpopo battalion to you.

I'm going to get the previous head's ring back from him.

A blackout?

Everything's shut down.

But this room should have backup power.

What on earth is happening?

NANAO NO CONNECTION

It's no good. I can't get through to anyone.

They've cut off all communications, too.

His pulse is getting weaker!

What should I do?

If this keeps up...

Taiyo will die.

YOZAKURA FAMILY

PLAN 16 CLEANING THE YARD

The Cherry Blossom Ring that you shared with the ninth head...

it gives you the same authority as the head over Hibernation and the like.

You have no right to that ring...

Father.

I can't possibly leave this room.

But I have to do something, or...

I'm pretty sure it was on this shelf.

Found it!

Listen to me, Mutsumi.

The blood that flows in our veins has a special power.

A special power?

That's right.

By using that power, you can do any kind of evil thing,

but on the other hand, you can also use it for extremely good things.

Oh?

The only thing is, great power always comes with great suffering.

If you ever want to use this power for someone...

then make sure that it's only for someone you care about so much...

that you'd want to accept all of his suffering, too.

Please... work.

His temperature keeps going down. His pulse, too.

Don't do this to me, Taiyo!

You're always saving me.

I still haven't done anything for you!

Please don't leave me!

And now, mission accomplished.

Don't you lay a hand on Mutsumi!

Could this be...

Get away from Mutsumi.

Is this...

What's going on here?

My body feels so light.

His movements look slow to me.

No...

I don't even need to see them!

I know!

I can beat him.

I see.

That's Yozakura blood, huh?

The someinine is activating the cells all over your body.

But its sensitivity is so overwhelming

that it destroys the brain's processing power.

Even in the case of Hazakura, half of us end up dying because we can't tolerate it.

It's either master it or die.

Calm down, Taiyo.

You have to keep your senses in focus.

Mutsumi?

It's no good. Just run...

I can't leave you behind, Taiyo.

It won't be easy to get out of here, anyway,

since they seem to have activated Hibernation.

But neither do I intend to let them use my heart for evil.

When we die, we're going to die together.

Close your eyes.

Breathe in and out slowly.

Focus only...

on my voice.

Let it echo throughout your body...

and feel it with your heart...

...the fact that I'm right here with you.

It's useless!

You've said your goodbyes, right?

I can...

see you!

What's going on here?

I can't regenerate.

You damned monster!

YOZAKURA FAMILY

The ninth head's Cherry Blossom Ring...

why don't you give it back... Father?

You haven't changed at all, Kyoichiro.

You're looking well.

Futaba and your other siblings, they're all looking well, too.

Not to mention, it seems like...

that boy's been awakened, too.

No wonder I'm so proud of my kids.

Still, this forest hasn't changed, either, has it?

Look at all these flowers that you siblings planted in bl...

Father.

After all this time, I'm not surprised to see you alive.

But...

why did you go so far as to use Tanpopo to make Taiyo stronger?

The blood of the Yozakura head is a potent drug.

More than a few people have sought its power, only to perish.

Mutsumi herself never would have resorted to such a tactic

unless she was facing a crisis.

And so, you created a crisis.

Knowing that Nanao would treat him,

you dealt him a possibly fatal blow, minus any murderous intent.

You used the Hazakura Battalion and Hibernation to split us all up.

You made them cut off the mansion's electricity

because doing so would turn off the house's traps.

Isn't that the idea you put into their heads?

And so, Mutsumi, now with her back against the wall,

had no choice but to gamble

on the Yozakura blood being compatible with Taiyo.

Why would you drag all these people into your plot,

mock them, and deceive them? All for Taiyo?

There's nothing odd about that, is there?

I want him to be a strong enough husband who can fully protect my beloved Mutsumi.

I'm just being a father.

What about you? You sure seem to be fixated on that husband of hers.

Are you that taken with him?

Not by a long shot.

I wish he would have died, if possible.

I see.

All right, I've achieved my goal, so I'll be leaving now.

I'm sorry about Goliath.

You take care now.

You're the same as ever, aren't you, Father?

Arrogant and smug, and you can't even fathom how your own family feels.