Original subtitles

Lone Wolf and Cub

April.

It is the season for alternate attendance.

It takes place every other year.

Daimyo from the Kanto region did it every six months.

But ones from Mito and others in official positions had to stay in Edo.

Around this period, the freelance samurai became rampant.

Freelance samurai were hired for this alternate attendance.

The powerful daimyo had many servants

so they didn't have to worry about protection.

But for the less powerful daimyo

they didn't always have the luxury of hiring many servants.

So they would hire lower class samurai during the alternate attendance

but they were usually vagabonds that no one knew about.

They never had a master and would only serve from six months to a year.

But after some time, they became scoundrels

and even if they were being chased by officers

they were able to get away if they stayed with their employers.

Therefore, they were hated by the people traveling on the highways.

He sure loves doing that.

He'll go after any woman.

What a fool. That woman is sick.

I don't want any sick women.

More haste, less speed...

Let's go.

Freelance Samurai

What's the matter?

I have a chronic illness...cramps...

What? Cramps?

That's not good.

But if you stay here like this, your body will get cold and make things worse.

Get a hold of yourself.

Be patient for a while.

Then you'll feel much better.

Oh, that's right.

I have some medicine that will relieve some pain.

Here...

Please press here...

Right here?

Harder...

Is this good?

Yes...

It's getting a little better...

What are you doing? How rude!

There's no need to hurry.

I can wait until your cramps are gone.

I wonder if that guy is doing well with that woman.

But, there aren't that many good-looking women around here.

Don't be so hasty.

We're not in a hurry.

We have four days to get to Kariya.

I mean, the only thing that gives us joy is women.

Otherwise, we would've quit this freelance thing a long time ago.

But, we do have an odd character...

Mr. Kawazu, how about a drink?

No thanks.

Hey...

She looks good.

Seems like a fine-looking wife.

So is her daughter!

Should we go after them?

We can't miss an opportunity like this!

All right! You can count on me!

All right! You can count on me! You just wait right here.

Brat!

What the hell?

You should apologize, kid!

What's with those eyes?

I let you off the hook because you're just a kid

but you look at me as if I'm an idiot.

Well, I'm not going to take it easy on you!

Hey! Listen up!

Why you little...

Shut up!

Aren't you afraid of this?

Well? If you don't want to get killed, then you better apologize!

What's the matter?

You can't kill the kid because you're afraid of that little stick?

All right!

I'll kill him!

What?

Ouch, ouch!

That's enough!

He's just an innocent little kid!

Daddy!

Damn it!

You set me up!

Lord Shingo! Hurry!

Damn you!

Why you...

Kanbei Kawazu! This is for my husband!

Die!

What? Kawazu?

You got the wrong man!

I'm Akama...

I'm Genjuro Akama!

Lord Shingo! Hurry up and finish him!

Yes!

You got the wrong man!

I'm not Kawazu!

Wai...

Wait!

I knew that from the very beginning!

What did you say?

The man who killed my husband

Kanbei Kawazu, happens to be the master of Nenryu.

He killed my husband, Yunoshin Watabe, and has been on the run

for the last seven years.

My husband's younger brother Shingo and I

have been looking for him everywhere but have found nothing.

But since we're supposed to revive the Watabe clan

our lordship has given us a time limit of seven years to kill him.

If we don't get our revenge by the end of this month

the Watabe clan will be gone for good.

Shit...

You may have killed me as a scapegoat

but if that samurai named Kawazu is still alive...

Kawaz u?

Even if he's still alive

Lord Kanbei Kawazu is unlikely to set foot into our territory.

Plus, this territory belongs to the government.

Then... You bitch!

Seems like you finally got it.

Since this territory is owned by the government

inspections conducted by the local administrators will be rather easy.

If I show them the letter of pardon for revenge

then they will provide a deed for me.

So...

Even if Lord Kawazu were to appear, he can't disobey

the deed of the local administrators in this territory.

That would be the same as disobeying the shogunate.

Shit... You devil!

Lord Shingo! Hurry up and finish him!

Come back here!

You're not getting away!

Lord Shingo! Kill him!

Hurry!

Lord Shingo, hurry!

Hurry up and kill him!

Please wait!

What's taking him so long?

Maybe something happened to him...

I have a favor to ask of you!

In the house of Sadonokami Mizuno of Maruoka clan in Echizen

that man, Kanbei Kawazu

killed my husband, Yunoshin Watabe. I'm the widow, Tsuru.

That is my late husband's younger brother, Shingo.

We overcame many obstacles up to this point

but finally, we were able to accomplish our task.

This is the letter of pardon for revenge.

Please take a look at it.

It's none of my business.

Yes it is.

I apologize if you're in a hurry

but this meeting between us must be part of fate.

Could you please be the witness to all of this?

This territory is owned by the government.

You can just take it to the local administrator's office.

If I take it there, they're going to do a postmortem examination.

When that is taking place I would like for you to give them our names

as a witness and that we got our revenge fair and square.

As you may know, even though we got our revenge

if our way of killing is not considered fair

then they will not help out in the rebuilding of our clan.

Please! Please!

I really want you to be our witness!

I didn't see anything, so there is nothing for me to tell them.

No!

I know you saw everything!

You saw us fight fair and square in order to get our revenge.

Here...

Please take this.

I have 25 ryo right here. 25 ryo!

You'll never be able to make this much money within your lifetime!

You can have this 25 ryo just for being our witness!

It's not a bad deal, is it?

I said I don't want any part of it.

Then...

I want you to promise me that you didn't see a thing!

Don't tell anybody about this either.

Penniless ronin! Too much pride, huh?

Lord Shingo!

Let's take this to the local administrator's office.

But before we go, we must swap that man's seal box with this one...

It's gone!

That had the seal of Kawazu...

It was very difficult to obtain that.

Where did I lose it?

Sister-in-law.

There's no need to worry.

That ronin's kid has it...

What? That kid has it?

Hurry!

It's been seven years since we left our home.

If you're in need, I'll have the money sent to you via express messenger.

You can have as much as you want.

How about...

100 fyo?

It took us five years to find the whereabouts of the enemy.

We then kept following him, and two and a half years went by...

We were finally able to get our revenge

but you might ruin it for us if you don't tell them what happened.

I'm sure the investigator will be here soon.

If we don't leave this place soon, they'll suspect us

and they're going to want some explanations.

I just want to ask you one thing.

Did you decide to travel the path of bloodshed

just to get revenge for your late husband?

Or did you want your clan reconstructed

so that the people will think you're very heroic?

What are you saying?

Of course I wanted to avenge my husband.

I only did it to avenge my late husband.

Then what other people see or say

shouldn't bother you at all.

Lone Wolf and Cub

Sister-in-law, the investigator is here!

What? The investigator?

Did that ronin agree to be our witness?

He's one stubborn ronin.

I offered him 100 ryo, but he refused.

Not even for 100 ryo?

Then that man must be...

What? You know him?

I have a feeling he's the one they call the "Lone Wolf and Cub."

Then, he's the one who charges 500 ryo per kill?

I'm pretty sure he's the one.

Here's the letter of pardon for revenge.

Where's the proof that this man is indeed Kanbei Kawazu?

The man murdered my husband.

I would never be able to forget his face even if I wanted to.

I remember his face very clearly.

Plus...

This seal does belong to the Kawazu...

But, if there's a witness who will say you did this, then everything will be fine.

Well...

He was stabbed from the back.

If the first attack was from the back, then it went rather smoothly.

But, I just realized something.

He was probably a freelance samurai

and was traveling across the country.

That must be his companion.

This can't be happening...

Kanbei Kawazu...

I can't believe he just showed up...

Who might you be?

I'm just a ronin who is working shamefully as a freelance samurai.

I'm not worthy enough to have a name

but one of my companions got lost

so I just came back from asking around about his whereabouts.

There was a killing in the name of revenge.

Is this the man you're looking for? His name is Kanbei Kawazu.

He's the one...

If this was done in the name of revenge, then that's it for investigating.

You may leave!

Kanbei Kawazu...

Why won't you tell him the truth?

Say it if you can...

Even if you did, those investigators won't believe you.

I'll just keep saying that this dead man is Kawazu.

I have the seal as evidence

so the investigator will believe everything I say.

He's just a scoundrel on the streets.

Those investigators would never listen to the words of a freelance samurai.

Plus, I have the letter of pardon for revenge

written by the renowned Maruoka clan in Echizen.

Wait!

Seems like you just came out of that cabin over there.

I want to ask you something.

I was just staying at that cabin in order to get out of the rain.

Then, you must've witnessed the act of revenge taking place.

I don't know anything about that.

Well, that's strange.

I heard that the act of revenge took place when it started to rain.

I said I don't know anything.

Investigator!

Investigator!

What is it?

There's an emergency!

They want you to come back immediately!

What is this emergency?

Something terrible has happened at the inn at Mishuku.

I don't really know the details, but...

Since there's an emergency, our investigation is over.

You should head to the local administrator's office tomorrow.

You will get a reward for a job well done.

Take that money and head back home.

Good-bye.

Wait!

I understand you're a scoundrel who works as a freelance samurai.

Plus, you're not even worthy of having a name.

What could you possibly want from me?

If you have no business with me, then I shall get going.

Let's go, Lord Shingo.

The supposedly deceased Kanbei Kawazu

is telling the wicked Tsuru to wait.

Don't be ridiculous.

Kanbei Kawazu is already dead.

The investigator from the local administrator's office came and...

Shut up!

Since you feared backlash, you used a dirty trick

and used an innocent man as a scapegoat to get your revenge.

You say you got your revenge, but this is nothing but a joke.

You're very good at making things up.

Then you should've said something when the investigators were here.

Since you didn't say anything to them earlier

that tells me you're not the real Kanbei Kawazu.

Then I'll tell you the truth.

If I had told them who I really was and fought back against you two

they would've been more likely to admire your effort to get revenge.

They also know what it's like to be a samurai.

So, after seeing the two of you weak and helpless

helping the two of you out would have been inevitable.

I just didn't want to end up killing those innocent officers.

Now, if you want to avenge your husband, then fight me fair and square!

You followed me all the way out here in order to get your revenge.

Hurry up and kill me!

I'm guessing you're Lord Rio Ogami

or the assassin they call the "Lone Wolf and Cub."

Please help us out.

Hey! Bring me 500 ryo!

"Lone Wolf and Cub."

Here.

Here's 500 ryo.

I'll admit it. I mistook an innocent man for Kanbei Kawazu and killed him.

But, that's because that man carried a seal which belonged to Kawazu.

This Kanbei Kawazu is the real coward.

He disregarded what my husband had to say

as he ambushed him like a coward.

He caught my husband off guard.

But, I'm just a woman.

And, my brother-in-law here is sick.

As you can see, we're both pitiful. Please help us!

All I want to do right now is to get revenge.

I just want to avenge my husband.

Please!

I have 500 ryo right here.

Please help us!

It's true that I charge 500 ryo per kill.

You must tell me the truth

and I'll accept the offer if I'm convinced.

Then...

Please hear what I have to say.

It was seven years ago...

My late husband, Yunoshin Watabe, and Lord Kanbei Kawazu

were both guarding their lordship in a palanquin.

The lordship was on his way to visit a grave

when his opposition, who were fighting for succession to the clan

sent ronin to assassinate the lordship.

At that time, Lord Kanbei Kawazu left the palanquin

and went off to a distant location for some reason.

But, my husband Yunoshin stayed by the palanquin

and protected his lordship till the end.

Later on, Lord Kawazu was heavily questioned by the chief retainer

about why he left his lordship's side.

He was then placed under house arrest by the lordship

then blamed my husband for saying unfavorable things to their lordship.

And then, he ambushed my husband like the coward that he is.

The story she just told...

Is it true?

Since you didn't reply, then I can assume it's true?

Then, you'll accept our offer?

I refuse.

But Lord Kawazu has admitted to his cowardly act.

If he was the kind of man who would ambush someone like a coward

then he wouldn't have just stood there listening to your entire story.

He would've done everything he could to refute your claim.

Just like what you were doing earlier...

Wait, Lord Kawazu.

There is one thing I don't understand.

I know that you and Lord Watabe didn't see things eye to eye.

But, why did Yunoshin Watabe try to ambush you?

What are you saying?

This man, Kanbei Kawazu is the one who ambushed...

At the time, Yunoshin Watabe and I

were both fighting for the vacant position of superintendent.

That's why you killed my husband!

But, when our lordship's palanquin was attacked...

I believed that the best defense was to simply attack.

So, in order to frustrate the enemy's defense and counter their fighting spirit...

Lord Yunoshin.

Help me out!

I could do nothing but attack.

The plan went accordingly and we were able to get rid of the ronin.

My lord! I'm glad you're safe!

Yunoshin!

Later on

rumors went around within the clan saying that I should be denounced.

They said I shouldn't have attacked them in the first place.

A true samurai would protect his lordship

and should never leave his side no matter what.

They said I was too confident about my fighting skills.

I just wanted to show off and a most ungentlemanly act, they said.

And so, the position of superintendent was given to Yunoshin Watabe.

But the truth is

there was one other person

who knew that attacking the ronin was our only way out.

And that man was Yunoshin Watabe.

Now that he became the superintendent of the palanquin guards

having me around was a nuisance to him.

Lord Yunoshin!

But the moment I killed Yunoshin

I started having some doubts.

Up until that point, I felt that I was right when I went on the attack.

I never had any doubts about what I did.

But ever since that moment, even though we were at a disadvantage

I felt that maybe I shouldn't have left the lordship's side.

Who are they?

We just got our revenge and reported that to the officer...

Yes, they told me about you.

They say you're a chaste and strong-minded woman.

I realize you got your revenge

but unfortunately, your lordship Sadanokami has suffered a tragedy.

I guess you're not so lucky after all.

What did you say?

Lord Sadanokami was on his way home

but was killed by someone when he was at an inn in Mishuku.

And so, we're out looking for the suspect.

That's terrible...

I know how you must feel.

Now that your lordship is dead

it's the end for your clan.

You paid off your longstanding grudge

but what you did turned out to be in vain.

And who might you be?

Are you related to this act of revenge in any way?

Yes.

I'm a freelance samurai

and a companion of this man. And so, I'm here to retrieve his remains.

A freelance samurai.

Then, who hired you?

When is your deadline?

Why won't you answer?

If you don't answer

I'll arrest you on the charge of being a suspicious character!

Answer me!

I was hired by Lord Matsudaira of Kariya clan in Sanshu.

My deadline is four days from now on the 16th.

Lord Matsudaira, huh?

And you are?

Why won't you answer me?

He's also one of my companions. A freelance samurai.

A freelance samurai with a kid?

So it was you!

"Lone Wolf and Cub"! Die!

Why you...

Damn you!

I finally got my revenge...

Lone Wolf and Cub

Daddy!

The reason why I was waiting for you here

is because I would like to challenge you to a duel.

Please accept my challenge.

You knew that I was the one who killed your former lordship Sadonokami

Mizuno of Maruoka clan in Echizen? And now you're here to avenge his death?

No!

L, Kanbei Kawazu, was already dismissed from the Maruoka clan

so I am not associated with them anymore.

Since I'm a freelance samurai

if I find an employer who hires me, then I automatically become their clansman.

But now that you know of our clan's name

as their clansman, I cannot let you live and let this spread to the public.

You have dishonored the clan by killing my master.

I strongly feel that a samurai's duty

is to prevent things like this from happening.

If this is what you want, then it must be part of fate.

I will accept your challenge.

I appreciate it.

If I happen to be the victor

I promise to take good care of your son.

I'm afraid there's no need for that.

We have lived on the path between life and death.

We're fully aware of the consequences of our actions.

There's one thing I want to ask you.

Go ahead.

It's what I have told you earlier...

Was it right or wrong for me to have left the lordship's palanquin...

I still don't have the answer to that.

I have become a freelance samurai and have been wandering ever since.

The reason why I became a freelance samurai

is because I thought I would encounter a similar situation again.

Lord Ogami...

Please tell me.

What does it mean to be a true samurai?

Lord Ogami, please tell me!

I believe a true samurai is a man who does not fear death

and serves his master till the very end.

So, what I did was...

You felt it was right to have attacked them, but it's not as easy as you think.

It means that you were overconfident about your skills.

Then what I did...

I was wrong...

But that is looking at it from the guard's point of view.

A true samurai serves his master till the end by risking his life.

Attacking and defending would be considered the same thing.

There is no difference.

You have served your master well.

If I were in your position

I would have been on the attack as well!

Thank you...

Even though Kanbei Kawazu became a freelance samurai

he tried to live by the code of a samurai till the moment he died.

But for ltto Ogami and his son, traveling the path of life and death

there wasn't even a chance for them to live like true samurai.

There's no way out from the assassin's path.

They have to keep going no matter what.

They must keep traveling this hellish path that seems never-ending.

Next Episode

The sound of the whistieblower can be heard on a silent night.

Thief Bekunoji is seen escaping from his recent robbery.

He tries to hire ltto for his service.

ltto figures out that Bekunoji is actually a spy for the government.

ltto knows it's a trap, but he agrees to accept the offer.

With his task as a spy and his love for his family

Bekunoji struggled to balance the two.

Please look forward to our next episode, "Tragedy of Bekunoji."