Sword for Truth (修羅之介斬魔劍 死鎌紋の男)

It has been 32 years since the start of the Tokugawa Shogunate.

Iemitsu, the third Shogun, now rules a seemingly peaceful nation.

There remain, however, numerous problems still left unsettled.

Many forces are seeking to overthrow the Tokugawa government...

and another cause for concern is the clandestine Christians.

Are you sure that the clandestine Christians have a meeting tonight?

We're certain, sir!

Don't just stand there! Capture this monster!

Why, you! Ring the bell! We must warn the Lord!

Don't panic, men!

It's just an overgrown tiger that's escaped from a freak show!

Calm down!

We must protect the princess!

Guns ready!

Fire!

Who's there?

Princess Mayu!

Intruders!

Guard the princess!

I'll get you.

Don't go, sir! The thing is a monster!

- There is nothing we can do to stop it! - Let go of me!

It's heading in the direction of Edo Castle! We must protect our Lord!

Let me go! If I must give my life to save the Lord, I will!

Out of my way, beast.

Thank you, sir! You have saved our Lord from this monster!

Out of my way, sir.

What is your name, sir?

That's the crest of two scythes crossing each other.

It's known as the "Scythes Of Death", sir, and is rarely used.

It should be quite easy to find out who that man is, sir.

Roll up! Roll up!

Come and see the amazing snake woman!

A snake that's lived for 200 years.

You'll never have seen anything so strange as the amazing snake woman.

Hey, did you hear?

That tiger broke out of its cage and killed 50 police officers.

Wish it could've eaten my wife, too!

Your wife? Nah!

Not even a tiger would be hungry enough to eat HER!

Excuse me.

Oh, I'm sorry.

Wait, sir!

You bear the crest of crossed scythes.

You must be Shuranosuke Sakaki.

I am.

We have orders to kill you.

Let me Warn you.

If you wish to stay alive, don't draw your swords.

Fools.

Amazing!

I'm very impressed.

Six men down in a single instant. It's more than I'd expected.

So, these men were sacrificed to test my poWer.

That's right. They were loyal servants.

And I suppose you're a loyal servant, too.

Gunbei Tashiro, of the Nakura clan. I have my orders.

I have been taught by Master Katori in the Divine Shinto style.

I have no master. I know no god.

What?

I think I deserve some explanation for all this.

After our bout is settled.

You may not be alive to tell.

The silent blow.

"Phantom".

"Phantom", you say.

So brief is human life.

Sakaki! Sir! Wait, please!

The man who slew a killer tiger in a single blow.

I had my men look all over Edo...

for the man bearing the "Scythes of Death".

It's an honor to meet you, sir.

I am Daizen Imura.

I am in charge of overseeing the affairs of the Nakura clan in Edo.

Intruders in the house! Intruders!

There is something we must ask of you.

The tiger was probably used as a decoy...

to draw the guards away from the Princess.

The intruders succeeded in taking her away.

Princess!

The Princess will be returned safely...

in exchange for the Ginryu Sword.

Send one man to bring the sword to the Benten Shrine in Ueno...

tomorrow night at the hour of the Boar.

If our demand is not met, the Princess will be raped and killed...

and her body will be exposed for all to see.

The notorious group of Ninja that served Motonari Mouri.

Unfortunately there is no one in the Nakura clan...

who can fight them single-handedly to rescue the Princess.

Please, Sakaki! Save our Princess!

You're back early today, Shuranosuke.

That's one year's advance payment of the rent.

Ah. Business is booming, eh?

Petty job.

Oh, yes.

You have a visitor.

A visitor?

Well, hello.

How did you find me?

Ha. That crest on your kimono.

The "Scythe of Death" is considered very unlucky. It is rarely used.

A handsome fella wearing the "Scythe of Death".

It wasn't too hard to find you, Sakaki-san.

What do you want?

You know what I want. Embarrassing a girl in public like that.

It seems I've fallen in love with you.

My name's Oren, the Kishibojin Goddess.

This is why I got my nickname.

Hey, Sakaki-san.

You do more than kill tigers, don't you?

Do you hate me so much that you want to kill me?

Any man I sleep with has to be hateful, so coldhearted...

and so dangerous that he could kill me anytime.

Oren, huh. I like you.

Heaven and hell both exist on earth.

I'll take you to them.

I love you, Sakaki-san!

Hey, send me to hell one more time.

You'd better go now.

Otherwise you might end up going to hell for real.

What?

Come out.

Kill one, kill two, it's the same to me.

This is a graveyard for lost souls.

What better place for you to die.

I'll get you!

Opium is made by drying the sap of poppies.

It has been used over the years as a sedative, and as a narcotic.

Any order given under the influence of a drug...

is said to have strong suggestive powers.

The Mizari cult is known to have used drugs...

to control their assassins.

The Ginryu Sword, the treasure of the Sugawara household...

is about to fall into the hands of the Seki Ninja.

Mio. Pretty Mio.

Bring me the Ginryu Sword.

Yes, Okuni.

Yes, I will... get you the Ginryu Sword.

The Eikanji Temple at Toueizan Mountain in Ueno...

was built to ward off demons from the Edo Castle.

The Shinobazu Pond is located on the southwest corner of Eikanji Temple.

There are no bridges to Benten lsland.

Welcome, Shuranosuke Sakaki!

I am Dogan, the leader of the Seki Ninja!

Have you brought the sword?

Where is Princess Mayu?

Are you Princess Mayu?

Yes. And you are?

Just a hired hand.

Thank you for coming.

Ah. The Ginryu Sword.

The way I figure it, you used some kind of drug to excite that tiger.

And while all attention was focused on the tiger...

you kidnapped Princess Mayu, daughter of the Nakura clan leader.

Why go through all this trouble?

Why do you so desire the Ginryu Sword?

It seems like an interesting enough tale...

to tell over a bottle of sake.

Too bad. You won't be able to drink sake in hell.

Why did you kill the boatkeeper and his family?

No one sees the Seki Ninja and lives to tell about it.

They were unlucky, that's all.

Why did you have to kill the boy?

Whimpered like a pup when l stabbed him.

Shuranosuke.

Shuranosuke.

You louse. Die!

Stop right there, Shuranosuke! Throw down your sword.

Let her go. I promised to bring her home safely.

You'll be bringing back her dead body.

Try it, and the Nakura clan will also receive YOUR head...