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If it makes your soul ache,

that is your true self.

Kumehachi of Kobusa's confession

enabled Heizo to arrest Yahei the Worm's gang.

Chief robbery investigator, Hasegawa Heizo!

Meanwhile,

arson and robbery constable Ono Juzo

had fallen in love with Ofuji, a thief's wife.

However...

Ofuji!

Ofuji was abducted, and killed.

Be strong!

Give my child...

I NAME THEE JUN a name...

Ojun...

Umekichi of Ogawaya escaped arrest,

and Juzo took his own life.

After Juzo's death, Heizo and his wife Hisae

took in Ofuji's daughter, Ojun.

Ojun.

Then, not long after that...

Heizo became aware of another gang of vicious thieves.

In quick succession, they attacked merchants, inns, and wealthy farmers.

TANBE THE BLOODTHIRSTY

Tanbe the Bloodthirsty

SAMURAI DETECTIVE ONIHEI

TRUE MASTER

- Tanbe the Bloodthirsty? - Again?

- Again. - How many did he kill?

- All of them. - Really...

Sir. Sir.

What did you just say?

Did you... Did you say Tanbe the Bloodthirsty?!

What has Tanbe done now?!

"Let me see Sir Hasegawa!

Let me see him!

Stop there.

You have something to tell me?

I overheard the prison guards talking.

The Tanbe the Bloodthirsty you chase

is a fake.

What? A fake?

Yes.

The true Tanbe the Bloodthirsty would not kill to steal.

Even if the world were topsy-turvy.

But he left a wooden tag with his name burned into it.

Tanbe would do that.

As a proud example to other thieves.

Some fake is merely imitating his ways.

You know him?

The true Tanbe?

Till the age of 19,

I was his protege.

You worked for Tanbe the Bloodthirsty?

Sir Hasegawa.

I shall never forget.

In the castle town of Okazaki,

we broke into the home of the wealthy Yoshinoya Sensuke.

When I tried to accost a kitchenmaid,

my boss became furious.

Kumehachi!

You have the gall to call yourself a thief?!

You are no follower of mine!

Because of that, he disowned me.

I see.

Then why did you not mend your ways?

You joined the gang of that brute Yahei the Worm.

I am a pathetic rogue, and weak.

However,

after meeting you, sir,

you reminded me of what

my former master taught me.

After all,

he is a man of principle.

The true Tanbe the Bloodthirsty...

Hey, Kumehachi.

Don't compare our chief to a master thief!

If, Kumehachi, what you say is true,

the true Tanbe the Bloodthirsty

will not remain silent.

Neither will I! Damn that fake.

Damn that deceitful savage!

Kumehachi.

For better, and for worse, people can change.

GOTETSU GAME FOWL HOTPOT

It doesn't make any sense to me either.

Hikoju, you know Tanbe too?

Yes, but I've never seen his face.

Tanbe the Bloodthirsty, as that Kumehachi says,

is regarded among us thieves as an upstanding boss.

I have heard the same.

He spills no blood, nor does he defile women.

He only robs the wealthy.

He is a thief who honors tradition.

Well, I cannot pass judgment

based on such stories alone.

I hope to find a lead

on the murderous thief,

but as of yet...

We need to hurry, or else he'll flee Edo.

At any rate, what he have in Edo now is an inhuman fiend.

Hikoju, Omasa, take no undue risks.

Sanjiro! Otane! Game fowl hotpot!

Yes sir! Right away!

Thank you for waiting.

My, that was quick!

It's bubbling hot.

Please eat it right away.

Thank you kindly.

By the way,

do you think that man can change?

Kumehachi?

Surely you won't use him like you use us?

Game fowl were originally bred for fighting.

So their meat is firm, and chewy.

A good cook can bring out its true flavor.

Like you do with spies.

I see your point.

Hey hey hey.

What are we, hotpot meat?

I don't know about Kumehachi,

but we have changed, thanks to you.

Now that's flavorsome.

Mother! Mother!

That girl ain't here.

Find her.

What happened?

She's dead already.

Go.

TANBE THE BLOODTHIRSTY

Drink this.

Did you hear them say

anything else?

I did.

"Now,

we can leave Edo."

Now we can leave Edo.

Listen, men.

We'll gather at Shimada Post Town.

Shimada Post Town?

Yes, that's right.

Shimada Post Town?

He said that?

Does it ring a bell?

No, it doesn't.

If it rings a bell, is he the true Tanbe?

He cannot be!

Sir Hasegawa,

please. I want to tear off that fake's disguise!

Please let me hunt him!

And what will happen if you do?

Umekichi of Ogawaya is still alive.

He'll try to kill you. No...

Every thief will be your enemy.

Sir Hasegawa.

I no longer care about my own survival.

Once I've done what I must,

I shall return.

Then, with good grace, I shall climb the gallows.

Before I die...

I shall repay my debt to my old boss Tanbe,

and to you, Sir Hasegawa.

That is all I want.

I only want to punish the fake

impersonating Tanbe the Bloodthirsty!

I beg you, sir.

I beg you, sir!

Shimada, on the Tokaido road,

had long prospered, as did its pleasure quarters.

Traffic was heavy,

so for thieves,

the busy post town was a perfect place to hide.

Welcome, sir. Please go in.

We have a guest!

Oh, you will visit Ise Shrine?

I will.

Till my companions catch up,

I may stay here for a few days.

Sure. Take your time.

Here.

By the way miss,

do you know Tanbe the Bloodthirsty?

"Bloodthirsty"?

No...

What a rather terrifying name.

That is merely what he calls himself.

Oh my... More.

A woman he knows

used to work here in Shimada.

He always visited after a big job.

Sir, who are you?

An acquaintance of his.

If he's still alive,

I'd love to see him.

Miss, would you mind asking around?

Sure.

This tastes great.

Thank you, sir.

Maybe Kumehachi tricked our chief into letting him escape.

How could he with us watching?

Why are you worried?

If I'm wrong,

maybe he's letting loose and having fun.

Either way, this post town is crawling with prostitutes.

Does that mean...

you envy him?

You want to have fun too?

I never said that!

I hope you don't think it.

- I do think it. - You do?!

Ono Juzo had no idea about having fun.

That's why he died!

How is that relevant?

Thieves are to blame for Juzo's death.

Kumehachi was part of their gang.

Heizo sent three men to Shimada,

three to the next town, Fujieda,

and four to Oigawa beyond that,

preparing them to wait for word from Kumehachi.

"Blo-od-thir-sty"?

Yeah. A guy who took care of me.

We stayed here a few years ago.

Is that so?

I haven't been here long, so the past is...

Oh yeah?

It's just, if he's still alive, I'd love to see him.

Would you mind asking around for me?

Sure. Leave it to me.

Come on, drink, drink.

Getting me drunk so early? What on earth for...?

I'm... free tonight.

If you'd like.

However, little progress was made, and the days passed by.

What? Tanbe robbed another place?

Yes. In Shibaguchi 2-chome.

Maruya, a seller of books.

Tanbe the Bloodthirsty is still in Edo...

The thing is, this time, something was different.

What?

Maruya doesn't know when the robbery occurred.

Chief,

what on earth...

- Thanks sir. - Come back soon.

Sure. Let me know, yeah?

We will.

Kumehachi.

Enough playing around.

Why, sirs? Have you been watching me?

Of course. Our chief hasn't let you off.

I know that.

No you don't!

You've only been living it up with prostitutes!

Give it a rest already!

Sir, does that mean...

you're jealous of me?

What?

You're all messed up!

I'm not messed up.

If I live it up like this, he'll come to me.

Can we trust you?

Boss Tanbe is a cautious man.

If he hears somebody's looking for him,

he won't ignore it.

Kumehachi,

who's your boss now?

Better not forget.

I won't forget.

If anybody sees us talking here,

it'll ruin everything.

Now gimme room, gimme room.

I've been going to whorehouses every day, so I've barely slept.

I'll rest at my lodging, if you don't mind.

That swine...

He won't get away with this!

Chugo.

You're messed up.

Why not rest here?

Why not rest here? Please.

Sir Hasegawa!

Off to the baths?

Oh... Yes.

Good. I may as well join you.

There's something you need to know.

What's that?

Your old boss Tanbe struck in Edo again.

What?! Edo again?

However, this time,

his methods were slightly different.

His methods were different?

He hit a bookseller in Shibaguchi

called Maruya.

Neither the couple who own it

nor their staff were hurt.

What's more, no one was aware they were being robbed.

Only 25 ryo was taken.

And as usual, a wooden tag

with Tanbe's name was left.

The true Tanbe!

I'm sure of it.

The true Boss Tanbe did it!

- Are you sure? - Very sure!

The fake Tanbe's vicious acts

must have angered the true Tanbe.

He had to show the world how a true thief operates!

Kumehachi.

You have great faith in Tanbe the Bloodthirsty, don't you?

I do.

Anyone would, if they knew my true master...

Kumehachi!

You have the gall to call yourself a thief?!

You are no follower of mine!

I'm sorry about this.

Listen to me, Kumehachi.

I leave these tags behind on purpose

to show I'm a proud thief.

You brought shame upon my name!

Get outta my sight!

Boss...

A proud thief...

Ah... This is delicious.

Drink, sir.

Sir Hasegawa...

I happened to hear a strange rumor...

What is it?

I heard that you took in a child.

Might it be a thief's child?

A thief named Sukejiro, Umekichi's pal...

No such thing in this world as a thief's child.

Is anyone born a thief?

My wife Hisae and I

simply wanted to adopt an adorable baby.

What a lovely day,

Ojun.

That child has found happiness.

As for me...

I never knew my parents.

Where were you born?

Well, I don't know that either.

Up on a snowy mountain range,

I lived with an old woman I called "Granny." That's all I remember.

When we couldn't live there anymore, we set off

on a long journey together.

I was starving,

and thoroughly exhausted,

but she dragged me along.

The warmth I felt as I held her hand desperately

is what I remember most, clearly, to this day.

What I remember almost as much...

Granny!

Granny!

is Granny collapsing, and me clinging to her and wailing.

Granny!

Granny!

Granny!

"Granny!"

I was all alone,

and overwhelmed by hunger...

"Such hunger...

From then on,

I wandered from domain to domain."

I was sold to a traveling freakshow,

which I ran away from.

I ended up turning to crime,

though I don't need to tell you that.

When I met Boss Tanbe,

I felt, for the first time in my life,

what it was like to have a father.

Being disowned by him was my greatest disgrace.

That was the end... of what little luck I had.

Kumehachi.

Let's make a bet.

A bet?

Whether this Tanbe the Bloodthirsty

is true or fake.

Isn't that why you're here?

I think he's the true Tanbe.

That cannot be!

True or fake, that's for no one to decide...

but you yourself.

Don't forget that.

Now, over to you.

Excuse me, sir.

What?

Someone wants to see you.

- That person there? - What?

Oh! Oh, yes...

Who is there?

Well done, Kumehachi.

Boss!

I'm coming in. Bring sake.

I heard somebody was asking about me here and there.

I looked into it, and found it was you.

Kumehachi of Kobusa.

How long's it been?

15 years.

Indeed, it is so good to see you.

What's this about?

Well... Boss, you've come back from Edo?

How do you know?

I heard that Maruya, a bookseller in Shibaguchi, had been robbed.

Maruya? That wasn't me. I never robbed it. Don't know it.

What?

Sure you're not confused?

Well, the thing is, only 25 ryo was taken,

without killing, accosting,

or alerting the occupants.

What the hell?

That's ridiculous.

You see, Kumehachi,

I'm not the Tanbe you knew.

Boss...

As times change, so does a man.

Old ways become outdated.

Young men don't accept them.

Non-violent thievery is for fools.

How else can you steal?

But Boss...

I hear wooden tags were left like you used to do.

That's because I wanted people to think I wouldn't steal like that.

It's a way...

of deceiving them.

I never thought you'd fall for it too.

The old me was just too proud to face reality.

Kumehachi,

do you remember?

There was a thief called Kinosuke the Mirage.

At times I thought I wanted to be like him,

but I saw the light and gave up.

Kumehachi, you knew better than I did back then.

Boss...

How about it? Let bygones be bygones, and return to your old home?

What do you mean...?

Come back and rejoin my gang.

You're here because you want that.

I couldn't wish for more.

Good. Let's work together.

Another robbery in Edo?

No, this time it's Kyoto.

I won't hold you back. Have your way with women.

Tomorrow night, around 9, near the 7-chome riverbank,

go to a tobacco store called Mikuraya.

That's my current hideout.

Show this to the lookout.

His signal.

Excuse me!

Hey, Kumehachi.

Oh, it's you, buddy.

Drink with me, buddy.

Don't call me "buddy."

Have a drink already.

It's on me.

You idiot! Who's letting you drink?!

Hey. Never mind that, any leads on Tanbe yet?!

What?

What's so funny?

You had so much fun, you caught some nasty sickness?

Chief, word from Kumehachi. He finally snagged Tanbe.

What?

He'll go to see him tomorrow night.

How was Kumehachi?

He was... extremely drunk.

Constantly laughing to himself. Tears welling up in his eyes.

It's a nasty sickness... No, nasty alcohol!

It might very well be... a trap laid by him.

"I'm not the Tanbe you knew."

As times change, so does a man.

"Non-violent thievery is for fools. How else can you steal?"

Who are you?

Boss! Mister Kobusa is here.

Enter.

So, you made it.

This is yours.

Keep it. It's good quality.

Thank you.

Now, like old times, let's make a pact.

We're all ready.

We have 50 reinforcements waiting at Oigawa.

All there is to do is wait for Kumehachi.

This is an old protege of mine, Kumehachi of Kobusa.

Treat him well.

I look forward to working with you.

Uh-oh, I knew I recognized you.

Of all people, it's you, Kumehachi.

Umekichi...

Umekichi, you know him?

I don't just know him. A while back, me and him

were part of Yahei the Worm's gang.

Oh, is that so?

That Yahei the Worm... got caught by Onihei though.

Right, Kumehachi?

Ain't it strange, Kumehachi?

I thought you were caught too.

What?

So why is it...

only you're still alive?

Why are you here?

Why, dammit?!

Why come to Shimada from Edo,

and sniff around for Boss Tanbe?!

Kumehachi's taking his time.

We're going in.

What's wrong?

Cat got your tongue?

Kumehachi.

Don't tell me... you've set me up?

Boss.

For a joke, that's too harsh.

Are you accusing me of being one of Onihei's spies?

You better not be.

You really have lost your touch, Boss.

The truth is...

you're dead right.

Tanbe the Bloodthirsty...

Prepare to die!

Boss!

Die!

Chief robbery investigator, Hasegawa Heizo!

Onihei...

Tanbe the Bloodthirsty.

Sir Hasegawa, that's Umekichi of Ogawaya.

Umekichi of Ogawaya,

think of this as Ono Juzo's sword.

Feel its sting!

Arrest them!

Curse you, Kumehachi... You dirty spy!

Dirty?

Yeah, I'm dirty.

Let's go!

Kumehachi...

Fool, you'd sacrifice yourself to kill him?!

Treasure your life!

Sir Hasegawa...

Don't act on your own,

ever again!

Kumehachi.

Was the man who was here undoubtedly... the true Tanbe?

No...

He was a fake.

He is truly a fake...

The next day,

Hasegawa took Kumehachi with him to Edo, before his men.

Kumehachi, I received word from Edo this morning.

Tanbe has struck again.

He entered Maruya in Shibaguchi again,

and this time, he returned the 25 ryo he took.

What's more, without anyone knowing.

Indeed, a true thief

can be worthy of admiration.

Who on earth could it be?

FAMOUS SHELL-COOKED TURBAN SHELLFISH

- It's cooked. - Got it!

Thanks. Here's your money.

Thank you!

- For you, sir. - Much obliged.

What is it?

Sir Hasegawa, would you...

look the other way for now?

Oh! What the heck? We meet again.

Still alive, huh?

Boss Kinosuke,

did you come from Edo?

Sure did.

I'm on my way back to Kyoto.

I thought you were retired.

I didn't go to do a job, dummy.

Then again...

I did pull off a little Edo mischief.

Mischief?

You heard about some guy

- impersonating Tanbe the Bloodthirsty? - I did.

For my old pal Tanbe's sake,

I put on a display of how a real thief works,

to give the world a reminder.

Hey, these days, thieves are all cold-blooded killers, and I hate it.

I see...

I think... this was probably my last trip to Edo.

From now on...

you guys can do as you please.

Thank you!

Cooked turban shellfish for two, please.

- Sir Hasegawa! - I know.

I'm looking the other way.

Thank you so much!

What was his name?

Kinosuke the Mirage.

Kinosuke the Mirage...

A long time ago, I think we might have met.

Thieves aren't like him anymore.

Indeed.

He never accosts women, or kills,

or steals from the poor.

True thieves like him are most likely extinct now.

The thing is, Kumehachi,

I don't mind looking the other way,

but Sakai and my men will soon bring Tanbe through here to Edo.

When Kinosuke the Mirage sees the arrested fake Tanbe,

what will he think?

If he had pride as a thief,

he's thrown it in the dirt.

That rotten bastard.

It seems I won our bet, Kumehachi.

You did.

Therefore, as my spy, you must go on living.

You hear me?

You must change.

Sir Hasegawa...

I shall...

not place faith in fakes ever again.

From now on...

I shall only focus on those who are true.

I shall change!

That...

young fella was with a samurai...

Did I meet him somewhere?

Ah, who cares?

Directed by Tomohiko Yamashita

English subtitles by Don Brown

Presented by 24/7 SAMURAI-SHINOBI Subtitled by SHAINE STUDIO