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Original subtitles

13 ASSASSINS

Tatsuya Nakadai

Ken Tanaka

Hisako Manda

Tetsuro Tanba

Ikko Furuya

Masakane Yonekura

Isao Natsuyagi

Written by Kaneo Ikegami

Music by Masaru Sato

Directed by Takuji Tominaga

Reign of Ieyoshi, 12th Shogun

Near Babasaki Gate, Edo Castle,

First year of the Kōka era,1845 April 5, early morning

at the entrance to Council Elder Toshitsura Doi's residence,

First year of the Kōka era,1845 April 5, early morning

a samurai was about to commit ritual suicide.

This samurai is the minister for Edo

of Naritsugu Matsudaira, Lord of the Akashi clan of the 100 thousand koku,

Zusho Mamiya.

Distraught by his Lord's repeated outrageous misbehavior,

Zusho Mamiya took his own life to petition the government to action.

For three days thereafter,

secret meetings were held inside Edo Castle.

Naritsugu Matsudaira was the son of Ienari, the previous Shogun.

The scandal within the Akashi Clan that adopted Naritsugu

sent shock waves through the government.

His Excellency has made his decision.

He wishes that this matter be handled amicably.

Amicably?

Understandable.

He is the Shogun's younger step-brother after all.

Making Naritsugu the adopted head of a Matsudaira family

was a grave mistake by the Council Elder at the time.

But Elder Doi…

We serve at the pleasure of the Shogun.

It's our duty to repair what's wrong.

That bastard Doi!

What's taking so long to deal with these traitors!

If the nation's Elder won't do it,

I'll do it myself!

Wait, Hanbei! Don't go.

Kito! Sir Kito!

What is the matter with you people?!

I made it clear that Mamiya's family were off-limits!

Why bring in his wife, son, daughter-in-law and innocent granddaughter?!

How did this happen?!

Our Lord demanded it.

-Where is our Lord?! -Sir Kito!

If it's about the Mamiya family, it's already too late.

What?

Surely not the child, too?!

How brutal…

See to it that word of this does not leak out.

Is that clear?

Yes sir…

Sir.

Internal Affairs Inspector Shinzaemon Shimada is here.

Sorry to call you in the middle of the night.

I've been widowed so long, I can come on a moment's notice.

I'll get right to the point.

There's someone I'd like you to meet.

He's here right now. Will you meet with him?

Yes.

I serve the Lord of Owari.

I am Yukie Makino, stationed at Kiso Agematsu garrison.

Allow me to start at the beginning.

Last March,

Akashi Clan Lord Matsudaira stopped for the night in Kiso Agematsu, Owari Province

on his way to his annual term in Edo.

KISO AGEMATSU, INN OF THE DAIMYO

Owari clansman from the garrison and their wives and daughters

KISO AGEMATSU, INN OF THE DAIMYO

went there to show him the proper hospitality.

See to every detail.

Yes sir.

Double-check the numbers again. It is understood?

Yes sir.

Uneme!

Yes, Father.

Have you taken down the scroll in the inner room?

Oh, I missed that. I'll do it right away.

Have Chise do it.

She's very attentive.

Yes.

Chise.

Yes sir?

However, Chise was my son's wife of two months.

Assigning her to Lord Naritsugu went horribly wrong.

Where are you from?

I am the wife of Uneme Makino, an Owari vassal at the garrison.

Your beauty is wasted in the mountains of Kiso.

Come!

You mustn't! Please let go of me!

Leave us! Come!

Please don't!

Let's go!

Please!

No please!

I beg you…

Uneme!

Let me go!

Please wait!

Let me go, Father! Get out of my way!

Uneme!

Chise!

Chise! Chise!

Insolence!

Chise!

Stop, intruder!

Chise!

Chise…

Insolence!

Chise…

My husband!

Chise killed herself that very night.

My husband!

Without so much as a word of notice, the Akashi Clan entourage departed.

After the entourage arrived in Edo, the Owari Clan's repeated inquiries

were completely ignored.

I sent my son and his wife to tragic deaths.

I have nothing to live for.

My son… And my daughter-in-law…

were better than I ever deserved.

Well?

Appalling.

If that weren't bad enough, the Shogun has confided that next year

he will appoint Lord Naritsugu to the Council of Elders.

To the Council of Elders?

He's putting the nation in that Lord's hands?!

The Shogun has spoken. He won't change his mind.

But the consequences…

I am an Elder entrusted with this nation.

But there are things even I cannot do on my own.

However…

As samurai who live by the Code of Bushido…

Don't you agree, Shinza?

We have a duty to the people of this nation.

So what you're saying is…

Kill Lord Naritsugu?

Try to understand…

I agonized before selecting you for this mission..

But what you're proposing is a covert…

Say no more!

You'll be doing it for the people!

No…

I want you to die for me.

I understand.

A slap on the wrist would've been preferable.

This judgment is too convenient.

Our Lord is the Shogun's younger brother.

Special treatment is to be expected.

That's the problem!

How does Council Elder Doi save face with a judgment like this?!

Excuse me.

I am back.

I've been waiting.

Last night, we managed to bribe some servants for information.

We now know who visited Elder Doi during the past three days.

Let me see that!

Owari vassal Yukie Makino…

Makino?

Yukie Makino of Owari was involved in last year's Kiso Agematsu incident.

Makino met with Internal Affairs Inspector Shinzaemon Shimada.

Shinzaemon Shimada?

Is he someone you know?

Know him?

For as long as I can remember,

we've been rivals in our studies and with the sword.

We are the best of friends.

What is he like?

There's no better man to handle a national crisis.

For our clan, things could not be any worse.

Residence of Shimada Shinzaemon, Inspector for the Shogunate

Very impressive.

Once again, I'm using your dojo without asking.

It's been a while since we last sparred.

Wait!

I suggest we wait until after whatever is troubling you is past.

What?

Troubling me?

I noticed you weren't yourself this morning.

People can conceal their feelings, but not their soul behind a sword.

Seems I still have much to learn.

These past five years,

you have given me, a ronin, more money than I deserved.

I did not decline, although I should have,

because I knew that one day, I would repay you with my life.

I have been waiting for that day to come.

I believe a samurai trains his soul so that he is always prepared.

If I am unable to help you in your time of need,

then these five years have been for naught.

My small gesture of goodwill meant that much to you?

Thank you.

Shinzaemon-dono.

Oh, Kuranaga.

We mustn't let Mr. Hirayama's offer go to waste.

Why not include him in the mission?

All right.

If I don't listen to my trusted advisor, Saheita Kuranaga,

there'll be hell to pay later.

I'm humbled you feel that way.

I have seven of my best men waiting in the main room.

Join us, Mr. Hirayama.

These men are skilled with the spear and sword.

Introduce yourselves to Shimada-dono.

I'm Inspector Mosuke Otake.

Shojiro Ogura.

Yasokichi Hioki.

I am Second Inspector, Gunjiro Mitsuhashi.

My men are adept with the bow and arrow as well as with the sword.

I am Second Officer Gennai Higuchi.

Yahachi Horii.

I am Koyata Koga.

Of our 68 inspectors and 103 second class inspectors,

these seven are our very best.

Your vassal Rihei Ishizuka and myself make nine.

Make that ten.

I am Kujuro Hirayama. Pleased to meet you.

Will you entrust your lives to me?

You need not even ask.

We are prepared to give our lives.

Very well.

We've been tasked to kill Akashi Clan Lord Naritsugu Matsudaira.

Akashi is a huge 100,000-koku clan with more than 1000 samurai.

No fewer than 300 in Edo alone.

Lord Naritsugu will be making his annual return home next month.

Once inside Akashi territory, he'll be untouchable.

We lack both time and manpower.

It will be a near-impossible task, but I can say this:

In these peaceful times, there are no battle-tested samurai.

Neither on our side, nor on theirs.

When men clash to the death, anything can happen.

Grab one of them. Don't fail.

Yes sir.

I'll say goodnight here.

You…

Who are you?!

Reply.

You left Inspector Shinzaemon Shimada's residence.

What did you discuss?

Why do you ask?

Are you Akashi samurai?

So that's it.

You were plotting against the Akashi Clan?

Tell us!

Do you prefer to fight?

If you want to live, tell us! Talk, or we'll kill you.

You'd be better off not asking.

Are you one of them?!

Identify yourself!

Kujuro Hirayama, a ronin.

Hanbei will realize who he's up against.

Who is this Hanbei Kito?

The Akashi Clan's most skilled and resourceful vassal.

And for me…

The best of friends. A rival like no other.

A single stroke. This one, too.

Masterful.

Now we know Shinza's objective.

Do you realize what this means, Asakawa?

Yes…

Hey, ronin.

How about paying up?

I'll pay you for this space once I make some sales.

A samurai's word is gold.

Don't gimme that!

This crap's not going to sell!

Hey, what are you doing?

What if you break something?

Listen! You pay rent up front!

If you ain't got cash,

we'll take collateral.

How about this thing, eh?

Not this.

Anything but this.

I'll bet that sword is bamboo.

Prove that it isn't!

Hey kid. Come here.

Okay, cut that!

What's the matter? Can't do it?

Show us your bamboo sword!

What're you gonna do? Two-bit bum!

I won't do it.

What?!

But you, that's different.

Let's get outta here!

I'm back.

Shin-san?

Shin-san, you're here aren't you.

Yes. Welcome back.

When popular geisha Koen comes back late,

I start to wonder if you're seeing someone else, it drives me crazy.

Oh don't be silly.

I rushed back because I missed you, Shin-san.

Really? I love when you talk like that.

Tell me, Shin-san…

What if Sir Shimada finds out about us?

You met my uncle?

Yes.

That's what I rushed here to tell you.

All the daimyo moving back and forth this month

should be keeping the inspectors busy.

Well, whatever.

It doesn't concern a nobody like me.

I'm not even going to pay him a visit.

Join me?

Sorry to keep you waiting.

Come in.

I'd like to introduce you.

This is Heizo Sahara, a ronin from Bushu Province.

Mr. Sahara said something very interesting.

He says he'll join us for 25 ryo.

25 ryo?

But why?

I don't want any misunderstandings.

I totally approve of your plans.

But as a ronin, I have no dog in this fight.

I don't feel I should work for free.

What will you use the money for?

Let's see…

12 ryo to repay years of obligations and unpaid debts

and to make my family and friends happy,

Three ryo for a proper burial for my wife who I drove to her grave,

and five ryo to ready myself for this mission.

The remaining five ryo are for experiencing what it's like

to live like a king at least once before I die.

Interesting.

Shinzaemon-dono, that spirit is a bargain at 25 ryo.

For more than a month after the incident of January 5,

the Akashi Clan, claiming Lord Naritsugu Matsudaira had fallen ill,

closed its gates and suspended all activities.

Then, February 23,

they gave abrupt notice of their immediate departure for their home province the following morning.

Shinza!

Insolence!

Shinza, are you there?

Let me through!

Halt!

Shinza!

Oh, Hanbei…

It seems that I interrupted you.

Not at all. We just finished.

Sorry to drop in like this.

But I'm glad I caught you.

The truth is…

I'll be heading back home tomorrow.

I see.

Have a safe journey.

I knew you would come.

Where were we with this?

I'm two matches behind, I believe.

Let's wait until the next time we meet.

Next time?

Alright.

At a place of your choosing.

I'll be looking forward to it.

Good.

Fate's been cruel to us, don't you think?

You were assigned to the Shogun's protective detail.

When I got there a year later,

you were already with Internal Affairs.

Your stipend was 100 koku greater than mine.

I could never catch up.

Then, I got lucky and was offered a 100,000-koku position as Lord Naritsugu's steward.

When I think about it,

I envy you.

What else could either of us have done differently?

Samurai have no choice.

This is what fate had in store for you and me.

All either of us can do is to protect the path that life has taken us on

and do it with valor regardless of what happens.

With valor…

I will take those words to heart as I leave.

Let's meet again.

Count on it.

Koen!

Oh, Sir Shimada.

Looking lovely as always.

Mind if I come in?

Kuranaga-dono came by.

He tried to recruit me.

He asked me to give my life, but I turned him down.

My samurai status

means less to me than my feelings for the geisha who supports me.

I've learned many interesting things at this geisha house.

Dogs are unconditional to their masters,

but cats can't be kept as pets.

They simply share people's homes.

So you prefer the freedom of being a geisha's cat over the dog-like loyalty of being a samurai?

I see.

Oh, do you play, Uncle?

I dislike the samurai life, as well.

There was a time when I lived a life of pleasure. I was about your age.

I dabbled a bit back then.

Living a life of pleasure is your choice.

But don't think for a moment that indulging in pleasure

is easier than dying as a samurai.

Farewell.

Leaving so soon?

Yes. Sorry to have bothered you.

I'm back.

Oh dear, why the stern face?

Let me put on a hot one.

Koen.

Why so serious?

You're going, Shin-san?

You are, aren't you?

No! Don't go!

Shin-san!

No…

But, you are coming back, aren't you?

When?

Tell me. When will you come back?

A month at the earliest.

Mid-August, for the Festival of Souls, at the latest.

Keep the light on for me.

Shin-san…

Shin-san, wait!

Shin-san!

Stupid… Shin-san.

13 ASSASSINS

February 24th. First year of the Kōka era, 1845.

Naritsugu Matsudaira, Lord of the 100,000-koku Akashi Clan,

left his Edo residence bound for his home province.

Lord Naritsugu and his Akashi Clan entourage made several stops

without any action by Shinzaemon Shimada and his men.

With each passing day, the entourage grew farther away.

How many do you think each of our men could handle?

If we follow them and watch for an opportunity,

there's sure to be an opening on such a lengthy journey.

If we ambush them in the open, we can take at most three per man.

Shinzaemon Shimada is nowhere to be seen.

Keep your guard up.

We still have a very long way to Akashi.

Our journey has just begun.

The distance between the entourage and Edo

was fast becoming insurmountable.

How long must we wait?

If we don’t leave immediately, we'll never catch them!

What is Shinzaemon-dono thinking?

No need to rush to death.

Have a dango and relax.

What?!

Stop it!

Shinzaemon-dono wants to see us.

At last.

Until today,

we've patiently bided our time.

Six days have passed since Lord Naritsugu's entourage departed Edo.

Your patience has been exemplary.

For that, I thank you again.

Both sides are staking their lives on this important mission.

They are every bit as determined as we are.

With a disparity in numbers, we cannot hope for victory.

Our only chance is to come up with a plan to reduce their numbers.

The problem is, our target is making his annual return home,

so he has more than 100 samurai foot soldiers in his entourage.

So we've come up with a plan.

Here, along the Kiso Highway,

we will split the entourage and reduce the number of samurai by half.

Where and how will we engage them?

We will kill Lord Naritsugu here.

At Ochiai Town in Mino Province.

But we have no guarantee that the entourage will stop in Ochiai.

For that,

we have a plan.

One that's almost certain to work.

Lord Naritsugu Matsudaira's entourage proceeded along the Nakasendo Highway through Shinshu.

Shinzaemon Shimada and his group

pressed on toward Shinshu to get ahead of the entourage.

By now it was already March.

OCHIAI TOWN, MINO PROVINCE

You there!

Is this where I can find Tokubei Sanshuya, the headman of Ochiai Town?

-See to the horses. -Yes sir.

I apologize for the rustic accommodations.

Please do come in.

Kayo, be sure to send that letter.

Please, follow me.

Sorry for the bother.

Right this way.

So you wish to rent the entire town of Ochiai?

For four or five days. We'll also need to have modifications made.

Will ten ryo per household plus contraction costs be enough?

That is a huge sum!

I'm not done.

When we give the order,

we want everyone evacuated from the town for one day.

If those are the Council Elder's orders, we must comply.

I'm assuming you won't tell me what this is about, even if I ask.

All right.

I will take care of everything.

We deeply appreciate it.

Meanwhile,

The Akashi Clan entourage

passed Fukushima Town in Kiso and headed toward Owari Clan territory.

It was March 7.

Sir Kito!

-What is it? -We have a huge problem.

The Lord of Owari has posted notice that he will not allow us passage!

What?!

We've been denied passage?

"By order of the Lord of Owari, Counselor to the Imperial Court,

Lord Naritsugu Matsudaira of Akashi Clan, Banshu Province

is denied passage through Owari Clan territory."

How could this happen?!

This couldn't come at a worse time! How could this happen?!

This couldn't come at a worse time!

What shall we do, Sir Kito?

What's going on?!

Are you just going to stand there and let this happen?!

Sire!

Silence!

Sire… sire!

The Lord of Owari may belong to one of the three Tokugawa families,

but I am a Shogun's son!

The current Shogun's younger brother!

I refuse to kowtow to a sign!

Cross!

We'll make the 610,000-koku Owari Clan whimper!

Cross, I say!

Sire, you have every right to be angry, but…

If you won't cross, I'll cross alone!

Out of my way!

Sire!

Wait! Watch.

But why, Sir Kito?!

We need to pass through Owari territory if at all possible.

Let's see if our Lord's usual antics will work.

Just watch.

Sire!

Stay back!

If anything goes wrong, I, Hanbei Kito, will die for our Lord.

Watch and let this play out.

Who are you?! Identify yourself!

If you appreciate your life, move!

Or I'll kill you!

As you please.

What?!

You seem to have forgotten who I am.

Last March, at Kiso Agematsu garrison,

you slew Owari clansman Uneme Makino and his wife.

I am Uneme's father, Yukie Makino.

Slay me and pass if you can.

In the name of the 610,000-koku Owari Clan,

you shall not pass!

Insolence!

Sire.

Oh, Hanbei.

Let us handle this.

Please go back.

Samurai will accompany our Lord on horseback along the Ina Highway.

Fifty-three, including our Lord.

In order to detour around Owari territory,

we will return from Ina Highway to the main highway

and pay a courtesy call on Lord Toyama of the Naegi Clan

by regrouping at Nakatsugawa

after passing through Jikkyoku Pass and Ochiai Town.

Wait.

Why return to the main highway?

The 53 mounted riders can proceed from Ina Highway to Sanshu Highway,

then travel by boat from Okazaki to Akashi.

There's no need to visit the Naegi Clan or any clan along the way.

We were blocked by the Owari Clan on our annual return from Edo.

If we run home without paying our respects along the way,

we'll be the laughing stock of the nation.

Is avoiding becoming a laughing stock more important

than our Lord's life?

Is it more important than our Akashi Clan?

Answer me that.

Let them laugh—

we need only wait a year.

Next April, when he returns to Edo, our Lord will become a Council Elder.

He will be untouchable.

Where is the logic of making a courtesy visit at the risk of our Lord's life and the entire clan?

You!

You'd let your master be a laughing stock to save your own life?!

I thought samurai chose death over becoming a public laughing stock!

For what has the Akashi Clan been paying its samurai all these generations?!

With all due respect, extreme times call for extreme measures.

We're playing right into Shinza Shimada's hands.

Silence!

The 100,000-koku Akashi Clan afraid of a miserable Shogunate vassal?!

Pathetic!

You should be ashamed!

Shame on you!

You of all people, I thought I could depend on!

I expected so much better of you.

Let me make this crystal clear!

Regardless of what happens,

we will pay our respects to Lord Toyama of the Naegi Clan

and every Lord along our route!

That's an order!

I still have a plan.

-See to the horse. -Yes sir.

Oh… Kuranaga.

How'd it go?

I have good news, Shinza-dono.

Thanks to Mr. Makino's self-sacrifice,

the Akashi Clan entourage was stopped at Otaki River.

Lord Naritsugu detoured to Ina with limited escort.

They did exactly as we planned!

Ochiai Town it is!

What became of Yukie Makino-dono?

About that, Shinza-dono…

The night before, I met him at Agematsu garrison.

When I revealed our plans and requested his assistance,

Makino-sama shed tears of empathy

and lamented being unable to join us

The following day, after watching Lord Naritsugu leave,

he stayed back

and slit his belly with a single stroke!

I was afraid of that.

Later,

I learned he did not even leave behind a dying note.

That was probably his way of making sure nothing traces back to us.

We must not let his efforts go to waste.

Akashi Clan Lord Naritsugu Matsudaira and his group of 53

were about to leave the Kiso route via Gonbei Highway.

Their plan was to detour around Owari territory via Ina Highway,

then return to the Kiso route via the Odaira Highway from Iida,

where the procession would regroup at Nakatsugawa

before calling on the Naegi Clan.

Uncle.

Shinrokuro…

Thank you for doing this.

Everything you asked for is done.

This is town headman Tokubei Sanshuya.

I am Tokubei.

I believe my nephew has told you what we need.

This will be a huge imposition on you.

I apologize for the trouble.

No, you need not worry.

I am the only one who knows everything.

You can trust me.

Can you show us around?

We want to see the town.

Of course. Follow me.

We can seal the street here and make our first strike.

We can take out five, maybe six, men.

But it's too wide—their numbers give them an advantage.

We need to lure them into a narrow area to confuse them.

We need to do whatever it takes to divide the enemy and keep them from regrouping.

We'll need an end game to use here.

This area will probably be the kill zone.

The enemy will try to head that way, toward Nakatsugawa.

We need to separate the Lord, or we'll fail.

You there! Which way to Sanshuya?

Oh, Shinrokuro-dono.

Come on in.

What is it?

Nothing…

-They're over there. -Okay.

Sir Shinrokuro!

Now we have a problem…

Anyone seeing this can guess the obvious.

There's going to be a battle in this town.

But I…

We said we'd rent the entire town,

but we haven't even told your father any more than that.

We didn't count on someone snooping around.

You're mistaken.

I wasn't snooping.

Then what were you doing?

I wanted to help you in some way, Sir Shinrokuro.

Help me?

Oh? I wasn't expecting that.

I see…

What?

They disappeared from Ina Highway?

They were last seen passing through Komagane.

Beyond that, they've dropped off the map.

Could they have taken side roads to Okazaki on the Sanshu Highway?

Without calling on the Naegi Clan?

No.

That impetuous Lord Naritsugu's ego won't let him do that.

He'll definitely come.

After Lord Naritsugu Matsudaira's entourage vanished from Ina Highway,

the days mercilessly went by.

March 13.

Bring that here!

March 14.

March 15, night.

At a trot, it takes 1.5 days from Komagane where they were last seen.

At most, it should've taken them just over two days.

We're losing valuable time.

I say we abandon Ochiai Town as soon as tonight

and head out onto Sanshu Highway.

No, it's too soon.

But…!

Hanbei is with them.

They're hiding somewhere off the main road

and waiting to see how we'll react.

They'll head for the Naegi Clan when they feel it's safe.

We can't rely on the locals to be our lookouts at Shinchaya.

I think we should send someone.

Yes, I agree.

Kuranaga-san…

I volunteer to go back.

No, no, you just got here.

As it turns out, you overpaid me the other day.

I thought a grave for my wife would cost three ryo, but it cost only two.

I asked for five ryo to get ready, but I haven't spent any of it.

And, sadly, as a poor ronin,

even though I wanted to experience living like a king, I don't know how.

So, I still have eight ryo left.

Too little is a problem, but too much is a burden, as well.

I'll return this to you.

No, no!

Keep it. It's yours.

Well, if you say so. Will you use me again, then?

All right, you can go.

Is that okay?

Yes.

Well then.

Excuse me.

An amusing fellow.

But he's useful.

March 16 ended in vain.

Watch.

The Lord of Akashi's entourage is headed this way!

What? They're coming?!

They must've traveled on Odaira Highway through the night.

They'll be descending Jikkyoku Pass soon.

Fifty-three men, all on horseback.

I have to go!

Hanbei…

So you're finally coming.

First year of the Kōka era, 1845. March 17, 3:00 a.m.

A rare heavy fog fell in the hours before daybreak.

Everything is set.

The villagers have been evacuated to the mountains.

Stations!

How far to Nakatsugawa?

Answer my question!

Sir Kito!

Excuse me!

What is this?

It's a trap!

Turn back!

Damn!

Go!

To the party of Lord Matsudaira of Akashi Clan of Banshu Province!

We serve direct Shogunate vassal Shinzaemon Shimada.

With all respect, our arrows will stop you here!

Stay on your horses!

Push down that barrier!

Hold your ground!

Our destination is Nakatsugawa!

Climb that barrier!

We outnumber those lowly Shogunate vassals!

Show them how Akashi samurai fight to the death!

Push it down!

Sire! We can get out that way!

It's a trap, Asakawa! Turn back!

Do whatever it takes to get through that barrier!

Yes sir!

Sir Kito!

Protect our Lord!

Otake! Hioki!

Keep Hanbei separated as planned!

On it!

Found you, Hanbei Kito! Fight!

Curse you, Hanbei Kito!

What's taking so long?!

Sir Kito! That way!

It's time. Let's go.

Yes.

We can get out this way!

They're coming!

This way!

Let's do this!

Sire!

Find a way out!

Sire!

Hanbei!

Do something!

Coming this way was a mistake.

What's wrong, Hanbei?

We're in Shinza Shimada's kill zone.

We're cornered mice with no way out!

Is Koyata the only man we have at the Kiso exit?

Yes.

If our target turns back, he'll be overwhelmed.

We lack numbers.

Lord Naritsugu fell into our trap!

Is Hanbei with him?

Yes, he's back with them.

All right.

Tell our men to come down and fight on the streets.

We need to keep our catch from slipping the net!

Yes sir!

Excuse me.

Yes.

So, Hanbei…

What will you do?

They've come.

Listen up!

Our only escape is to go back the way we came!

Get ready! Force your way out!

Yes sir!

We can't hold them. Fall back.

Go!

What's the matter with you all?!

Our 1000-koku Akashi clan is at stake!

Show them how Akashi samurai fight to the death!

Force your way out!

Hanbei sprung into action, huh?

We're down to our last play.

Lure them into the lumberyard and separate Hanbei from the Lord.

Yes sir.

It's time, Shinza-dono…

Yes.

What're you stopping for?!

Kito!

This way.

Yes.

They're coming.

Stop, Hanbei!

Sire, that way!

Asakawa! Did you find a…?

Hanbei!

On guard!

What's wrong, Hanbei Kito?

Much ado about nothing!

Sire! Stay back.

Come at me!

This 1000-koku samurai will not be defeated by the likes of you!

Stop!

Asakawa! Do not separate yourself from our Lord!

I have been expecting you.

I presume you are Naritsugu Matsudaira, Lord of Akashi Castle.

I, Shinzaemon Shimada, a direct vassal of the government,

by direct order of the Council Elder, will take your life.

Wait! I was wrong!

Spare… Spare me!

Such unbefitting words coming from the son of a Shogun.

Stop whimpering and resign yourself to death.

It pains me to have to take your life,

but for the nation and the people,

and for the many tragic deaths you have caused,

I cannot let you live.

Prepare to die.

Sire!

Shinza…

I would not be a samurai if I allow you to live.

Fight me.

Shinza!

All right.

-Uncle! -Stand down!

Take care of the rest.

Sound the signal.

Yes.

Ogura!

Hanbei…

Shinza…!

Why did you let yourself be cut?

Magnificent.

Such determination.

I've lost, Shinza.

I look forward to evening our score…

…in the other world.

Hanbei…

Did you see, Kayo?

All this, for nothing in return, is supposed to be valorous.

This is who samurai are.

This is what samurai are.

March of the first year of the Kōka era, 1845.

During his annual return trip from Edo

Lord Naritsugu Matsudaira fell ill

and was reported as having died immediately upon his arrival.