Hell's Paradise (地獄楽)

The Samurai Code and Carnage

An additional expedition?

Indeed.

It's been two days, and no one's returned with the Elixir.

Two days?

The next group's incredible.

Four Yamada Asaemons, including the Shugen,

four Iwagakure ninjas,

and over 50 subordinates to serve them.

They'll be a real boon to the first expedition.

That idiot.

What reason is there to send this many forces for this job?

The ninja leader must have other plans.

Aoki-dono.

Does something concern you?

We'll be there to handle any possible threats.

But can you control this many people?

Also...

Those two are unranked, aren't they?

You needn't worry.

That youngster is Yamada Asaemon Kiyomaru.

He's unranked due to his age,

but his skills make him one of the top two students.

Yamada Asaemon Isuzu.

Though she is a woman, she's a powerful and magnificent fighter.

She served the shogunate as a martial arts instructor.

They are what's known as "urayurushi."

The rules prevent them from being ranked,

but they are as strong as any certified "okuyurushi."

We also have Jikka-dono, who is skilled, if nothing else.

That's me. Skilled, if nothing else.

We do not intend to merely supervise.

We will do everything we can for our fellow clan members.

I see.

If you're worried, shall I demonstrate my skills, you old fart?

Wha—Kiyo-chan!

He underestimates us because we're unranked.

It pisses me off.

I'm definitely stronger than him.

Still, you shouldn't do that.

In that case, I could kill everyone here for you.

As you wish.

Huh? I struck the guy next to him on purpose.

They really don't move. Boring.

Don't be rude to the ninjas.

Put your sword away, Kiyo-chan.

You, too, giantess.

Are these guys going to be okay?

Please.

Samurai mustn't argue over such a trifling matter.

Don't trouble yourselves with us.

I-I'm sorry you had to see that. Forgive us.

Not at all. A ninja's life belongs to his master.

On this mission, the Yamadas are our masters.

If you doubt us, select anyone here.

They will be thrown overboard or executed to demonstrate our loyalty.

Oh, yeah?

Okay, you.

Show me a ninja's loyalty.

Very well.

The rest is up to you.

You may go in, you may enter.

Whose narrow path is this?

This is the narrow pathway of the Tenjin shrine...

Shinobi do not have wills or minds of their own.

Our greatest desire is to be merely a tool.

We ask that you trust us.

E-Enough. Return to your positions.

Your resolve is powerful. I'm impressed.

I don't really get ninjas.

Join the mission and kill Gabimaru.

I didn't expect him to be sent on that mission

before he could be assassinated at his execution.

Surely you won't be satisfied unless you kill him, too.

Gabimaru must be killed.

Use your lives for solely that purpose.

Are you sure we can trust them, Shugen-san?

I haven't trusted them from the start.

Those ruffians are no different from criminals.

We'll search for the Elixir ourselves. Just us Asaemons.

What about the criminals on the island?

Execute every criminal you find.

I will bring back every last Asaemon.

Eizen-dono, everyone...

Please be safe.

Being a manager sure is tough, huh?

Managing all these rogues must hinder your work.

It can't be helped.

The shogun is hoping to complete the mission quickly.

He said we'd make good allies for the first expedition.

You must be joking.

I mean, this ship isn't transporting allies.

We're bringing more death and chaos.

We're the ship of dreams bearing nightmares and disaster.

So, so many more will die.

No one will make it back alive.

An additional expedition?

Yes. It could be Shugen's group.

Eizen-san was ordered by the shogunate to select a reserve group of Asaemons.

Shu-kun could probably lead a group of condemned criminals, too.

Will Shugen be our ally?

Yes, surely.

He's the most skilled of the Yamadas.

His combat experience is first class, too.

That's not enough to survive on this island.

You need to master the tricks of tao.

Not a trick!

Shugen can probably perceive tao.

When we practiced together, he seemed aware of my sixth sense.

He's a serious man through and through.

He fervently tried to learn from me.

He's the one who named them waves.

Isuzu. Hold this.

What? How are you going to fight that without a weapon?

You'll be eaten.

That masterwork was a gift from the shogun.

It is my pride as an executioner.

I won't use it to hunt a boar.

Fuchi-kun taught me.

The structure and tension of muscles can be estimated from the outside.

You can use that to easily dissect or destroy.

Shion-dono taught me as well.

If you observe the waves, you can estimate the structure of a life.

If he's that strong, it'll be great to have him on our side!

Is something wrong, Sensei?

I think I know Yamada Asaemon Shugen.

He was involved in that incident, wasn't he?

Incident? Did he cause a problem?

No, I wouldn't call it a problem.

He can be a bit too harsh.

What kind of incident?

I've only heard about it.

When the boss of the Silver Serpent clan, a famous Edo yakuza, was captured,

he refused to give the locations of his underlings hidden throughout the region.

He caused the officials quite a bit of trouble.

Then Shugen-dono was summoned.

He beheaded his already captured underlings

before his eyes to make him talk

and slaughtered all 20 members of the clan,

including the underlings they found.

The shogun was delighted,

gave him special attire and the famous blade Fuributsu Kaneaki,

and Shugen-dono gained influence within the shogunate as well.

So he kills all evil-doers.

Sounds like a pretty cool guy.

He's a good person at heart.

He's kind to all the students.

And he's Sagi's first love.

Oh? Tell me more.

You want to marry him?

No, I...

I was a child.

I suppose I did admire him.

Shugen-dono was the reason I became ranked in the Yamada clan.

Please grant Sagiri a rank as well.

If you refuse to acknowledge her marvelous skill,

then I cannot proudly bear my own rank.

He's rigid, but he's kind.

Shugen-san, are you hurt?

If you'd said something, we would've helped.

Our orders are to supervise and execute.

You needn't dirty your blades for anything else.

I'm your elder. Allow me to handle such trivial matters.

Your eyes are scary even when you're smiling.

Are they?

You sure are dependable, though.

Jikka-dono, you're older than me.

Let's hurry.

Once he learns of the situation, he'll surely help us.

No, I don't think so.

You're a bit mistaken about that story you told.

After all, it's not something the Yamadas like to discuss.

What?

Shugen executed 20 yakuza and their entire clan.

Yes, like I said, 20...

No.

Twenty Silver Serpents and their entire clan.

Their families, their elderly parents, even young children.

In total, over 100 of them.

H-How could you?

Yataro... He's just a baby...

Do you have to kill him, too?

It is painful but unavoidable.

If I'd executed only you, your family would've inherited your business.