Original subtitles

NIKKATSU CORPORATION Presents

Shinobi Demon: Duel in the Wind

Screenplay KIYOSHI HOSHIKAWA

Photography MINORU YOKOYAMA Music HAJIME KABURAGI

CAST

HIDEKI TAKAHASHI

MAZAKO IZUMI

ISAO NATSUYAGI SEIICHIRO KAMEISHI SHOKI FUKAE

YUJI KODAKA EIJI GOH MASAYA OKI YASUMASA OKA UTAKO SHIBUSAWA MAYA KITAJIMA

Directed by KEIICHI ZAWA

Brother!

Wait!

Maki!

Stay back!

Return and face your punishment!

No.

We spies were trained to live like beasts!

I've had enough!

It's myjob to execute deserters!

But we grew up together, so it's not so easy!

And Maki's your... Rokuheita, don't waste words!

It's either kill or be killed!

Gemba!

He was left to picked apart by crows... according to our code.

And... My sister chose death in protest of this code.

Killing again?

On Yagyu orders, Ushizo snuck into the enemy camp.

But somehow forgetting his duty... he deserted.

I've received a report he is in Hikone.

Let the Yagyu do it.

Aoji County has come under the control of the Yagyu Ninja Clan.

Yagyu?

Sekishusai Yagyu studied here when he was young.

He's a powerful swordsman in the capital now.

To make his position secure... He's placed ninja groups everywhere.

And asked for our cooperation.

Killing Ushizo will prove your allegiance to the Yagyu?

It's not even Yagyu orders!

It's my order.

Leave at once, Rokuheita.

HIKONE

Looking for Mother?

Welcome.

_ _ Yes!

Welcome.

Ushizo?

You're strong now... aren't you?

I'm no match.

Please spare me!

That will mean my ruin.

I'll take my family far away and live in hiding!

Please!

You will be followed by Yagyu Ninja.

Nothing will change!

Then you won't listen?

Enough!

I knew it!

I knew today would come...

Wait!

Listen!

Ushizo, live as long as you can.

You...?

Deserting?

Not because of you.

Be careful.

Ninja are scattered all across the land.

A deserter's fate will always follow you.

Live to the utmost in spite of it.

Wait!

Be lucky.

Your name at least!

Rokuheita Kusanagi.

Fool.

Not matter where you go.

There is no peace for spies who desert.

Say.

Stop acting.

You can't get away with it.

You can't tempt me either.

Don't worry.

I'm not an official.

Why are you acting insane?

Tell me the reason.

The coral on that island caused your parent's death?

An Osaka merchant said they were of the best quality.

Hearing of it, all the villagers began to fuss.

And were arrested, one by one.

I see.

The clan didn't want the news to leak?

That's why you act like you're mad?

My mother was a diver too... She found the corals first.

Are you Yagyu spies?

You're one too!

There are no pink corals!

You went a little too far in luring me out to kill me.

When was that?

It was about 1O days ago.

A crazed diver lured the samurai to the bottom of the sea.

Bottom of the sea?

From long ago, it's been said that island's full of corals.

But the God of Death pulls in trespassers.

We never go.

That girl diver must've been one too.

It's terrible.

You knew the samurai?

PoorsouL

What a lot of nonsense.

He'd never die!

The legend of the God of Death?

A beautiful maneuver... If he made it up to outwit us...

So childish!

No, perhaps the divers were Yagyu ninja.

Excuse me.

What?

Is there a village beyond here?

Yes, downstream.

I see.

A strange way to set a trap.

What?

Excuse me.

Stop it!

Sakuzo!

Boy!

Hand over the horse!

He's mine!

Boy!

What will you do?

It's plain to see!

We'll kill it and eat it!

It's the boy's?

Be still!

You killed him?

Ijust hit him.

Sakuzo.

A deep wound but I think he'll recover.

Sakuzo.

Thank you for saving him.

You live around here?

Yes, in a nearby village.

We went to town to buy seeds.

A bad drought here too this year?

Everyone is dead in the next village.

We harvested so little rice this year... We will plant wheat next year.

We sold buckwheat for wheat seed.

I see.

The farmers refuse to move.

No matter how poor they are.

I'll see you home.

The wounded man must be attended to.

I heard you saved my grandchildren... Jiro and Toki.

He's Sakuzo, my farm hand.

I'm Jisaku.

My name... I'm not at liberty to tell you.

Make yourself at home here regardless.

- Thank you but... - Toki, fetch the samurai some food.

Yes.

Don't bother.

We can only offer you millet.

If it's so precious...

Your kindness is enough.

Please don't worry and have a bowl.

Hide, Toki!

Officials!

Officials! Why?

Just hide!

Hurry!

You're behind in paying taxes.

And you've hidden rice.

If we discover hidden rice... We're to kill one person for each bale we discover.

We've put up a sign. To inform all the villagers.

Understand?

One life for one bale.

It'sjust an excuse to steal our girls!

What?

Monji!

Come to our office if you have complaints!

Monji!

Understand, Jisaku?

It'sjust orders.

Monji, you're bleeding.

Taguchi.

Samurai!

A life for one bale of rice!

ONE LIFE FOR EACH BALE OF HIDDEN RICE BY ORDER OF THE GOVERNOR

Sure we've hidden some rice...

But it's the end if we lose it!

How will we survive?

Monji, stop shouting!

Think of what we can do!

What's the use of thinking?

Nobody will help us!

- It isn't much but... - I can't accept it.

I couldn't provide much help anyway.

But... - Don't worry.

There are times we wejust can't...

ls there any land left to till?

Even if there is... what can hungry men do?

To work... we need food!

So grow more food to eat.

The more we grow, the more they take in taxes!

Have you heard of tub farming?

Tub farming?

It's the practice of tilling vacant land in secret.

The soil is often poor... it takes patience.

If you just cry over bad crops and taxes..

You'll all starve before spring comes.

Samurai, you may be right.

It's notjust rice and rain that we need.

Each one of use needs courage!

Ifl can help, I will.

If you'll let me live here.

It's not only for others but for myself.

To leave the samurai life and live by the soil.

I want a simple but decent human life.

I got it.

The watermill!

Toki, we'll ask him to live there!

Yes!

Then you'll have me?

If this poor, meager place will do... Please help us!

Is the village quiet now?

Yes.

Sake.

Hey!

Running out of sake pretty soon.

Go to town again?

I'm tired of this life.

My past may be found out.

What?

I saw a peculiar man at the river.

River?

He wasn't an ordinary samurai.

He may be... But I doubt it.

He knows about that too?

I don't know.

But by the looks of him, he'll settle in this village.

You're the samurai Uzuki and Tsuchi?

And you?

I'm Seiga, a shrine priestess. I live here.

And since you know our names... you're also a Yagyu spy?

Follow me.

ROKU H EITA KUSANAGI

There are no signs of his passing here.

I intend to kill my target.

Not Yagyu henchmen.

Does it matter who gets him first?

If we let them.

A Yagyu will be sent to rule our Aoji Province.

It's what Sekishusai Yagyu is ultimately after.

I won't let it happen.

Toma, you betrayed me to Yagyu too?

I hold no pride in our homeland or other simple things.

So it's money and success then!

Tarao's a samurai too.

Samurai?

Drinking with his head on a woman's lap.

While we starve!

Can't trust a samurai!

Let's get to work!

You won't then?

No reason to chase the samurai out.

He's a fugitive or a bounty hunter.

My hunch is always right.

It's like inviting the Plague God to stay!

Why do you hate samurai so much?

I'm the Village Chief.

I'll decide whether he stays or not.

You've forgotten past favors so soon?

Who saved saved us from mercenaries?

No one's forgotten that... But.

But what?

Tell rne, Jisaku.

Iwill.

Toki!

The villagers respected you like a god!

You worked with us at first.

You said you were no different from us despite your sword.

Now you only think of yourself!

Enough!

If anyone has to leave... It's you!

What?

Toki!

Jisaku, he'll make our blood flow in the streets.

It will be too late!

I'll go for water.

Look the other way.

All right now.

What...?

Ithoughtso.

What is it?

Gold dust.

Like real gold?

Gold!

Toki!

Don't tell anyone about this.

Right.

A bag of gold dust!

What?

Good evening.

I'd like to get acquainted.

And you are?

I forgot to tell you.

I'm Oryo, Tarao's wife.

Skip the formal greeting.

I'm sorry.

My husband is eccentric.

I was afraid he offended you.

You're from the city?

Yes, I was the wife of a kimono merchant in Kyoto.

But... for certain reasons, I'm his wife now.

Drifting from place to place... I don't know how often I tried to run away.

But I guess this is karma between a man and woman.

If a strong rnan would appear to tear us apart... I'm always thinking of that.

I'll accept a drink.

Go home and tell Matahei Tarao that whoever he is, it doesn't concern me!

Unless he's after me!

Not killing?

Our circumstances must be alike.

I want to hold fast to the land and live as a farmer.

You're a fugitive?

This village is forsaken by the world. It suits me well.

Don't talk about the gold.

For the good of the villagers!

Obsession with gold is worse than famine for them.

Let's go somewhere else.

Nonsense.

There's more gold here.

What you have now is enough!

We can live in luxury!

No

If you want to, go anywhere you like alone!

Listen!

That Samurai or whoever he is, can't get it from me!

After I get it all, it's goodbye here.

A thief, they've been after me.

But I'll let you live like a queen one day!

Enough?

Yes, thanks.

Where are you from?

I'll deliver it to you on a special cart.

No

I'll come again.

Don't be so slow.

Help him load it on the horse.

That man.

See where he goes.

Fine quality gold!

You camejust in time Officer Naohi.

The man I passed on the street?

I've seen him somewhere.

They won't talk?

It's like we decided the other day.

Good.

Don't talk about the gold or tell the governor.

I'll give you a generous cut.

He's on to us.

Get him here.

All right.

He may be hard to handle.

Trying to make me confess where the gold is, I guess, but no deal.

I can get him alone!

Withdraw!

Tsunokuniya's bodyguard?

No, I'm Hambei Nachi, vassal to the Governor Kageyamai.

I won't tell you my name.

You're too good for a farmer.

Become a vassal.

I'll introduce you.

In return, hand over the gold dust?

Can't fool me.

Follow me and I'll break your necks!

I'll let you go today.

- Wait! - I'm not through yet!

Don't die for nothing.

Samurai.

Why'd you decide to stay in this miserable place?

I told you before.

I want to hide and bury myself here.

It's what I want to do.

You

Wait!

Wait a minute!

I'll talk to him!

You continue working!

I don't think he's an ordinary man.

A magician or spy?

Maybe so.

Could he be Rokuhei, the deserter?

You can find him easily?

How about doing it for me?

Just find where he is.

I'll reward you generously.

Why'd you come here?

To blackmail you.

What?

Share your rice with the villagers.

A meddler, aren't you?

If it'sjust you, I will.

No, the old and the children.

What do you gain by helping them?

I, too, am a farmer.

I wonder.

Aren't you a deserter?

What about you?

Me?

I broke our code by stealing and was banished, so I'm not like you.

A former spy?

A deserter?

You'll be taken back or killed when you're found.

Be wise and enjoy yourself now.

That's irrelevant.

The rice?

No.

- Listen! - You be still!

I'll tell everyone about the gold dust then.

You wouldn't do that.

For the good of the farmers, you wouldn't.

You're like that.

Sometimes, we're forced to.

Oryo!

Why not, to keep him from talking?

Here... Buy rice with it.

Don't meddle!

I won't say in return for it...

But we're of a sort, so help us in time of trouble.

He was attacked today by samurai who'd followed him from town.

Samurai from town?

The Oovernor's vassal and Tsunokuniya's bodyguard.

Leave before this gold makes trouble here.

Let's go.

It's time to leave!

Nonsense!

I'll keep this.

A Yagyu spy?

Samurai, why do you look so grim?

It's nothing.

Trouble!

Officials!

What?

Secret fields are against the law!

We didn't hide it.

We wanted to plant beans to ease our hunger!

That's enough!

Take him!

And this hidden rice!

Any excuses?

Please wait!

Be still!

Grandfather!

Grandfather!

One life for one bale of rice!

Grandfather!

Save me, Mother!

Stop it!

Daughter!

Move out!

Grandfather!

Grandfather!

Leaving this village?

I'd like to return one day if I can.

Please don't go away, If you go, I...

Samurai, going to the local Governor's place?

I'm coming too.

I'll go alone.

No

I'm going even if you tell me not to!

What is it?

I'll be in town!

Come to Tsunokuniya!

Kusanagi!

Who is he waiting for?

You go back.

Just take back rice?

I'll do the rest.

I can too!

You'd be in my way!

Don't insult me!

I'll fight too!

You won't take rice to starving farmers?

I'll kill you then!

Rokuheita, it's our code.

Be resigned to your fate.

It's not like you.

Spare me.

Draw!

I was a spy, but I did nothing worthwhile.

Let rne do, at least, one thing...

What will you do?

Faster to follow that farmer... for gold?

All right.

Iwamatsu, you go too. I'll watch them.

I want no interference.

You're not killing mejust for our code?

A showdown to see who's the better swordsman.

Don't run away.

Let's be having you, you filthy little slut.

Be resigned to your fate.

- Money? - Take it!

It's not money we want, but your orders.

Orders?

That the 14 villages suffering from famine needn't pay taxes for 2 years.

Who're you?

Never mind! Write it!

You won't do it?

Then you'll die a miserable death!

Wait!

I'll write it!

If you break your promise, I'll come for your life.

Intruders!

Come out, men!

Governor, you've had too good a time.

Now, I'll get the lion's share of everything.

Guards!

Intruders killed the Governor!

Follow them! Move!

Wake all the inns! Search everywhere!

Kill all suspicious men!

- Understand? - Hurry!

Monji...

Be careful going home.

Did he confess?

He's stubborn!

We flogged him but...!

We must find out his village!

He caught on to us and sent the horse alone.

Fools!

Letting them escape!

They can't be ordinary men to elude our dragnet!

Perhaps he is the one The Yagyu asked us to locate?

You're saying he's Rokuheita Kusanagi, the deserter?

What is it?

Tsunokuniya was killed by intruders.

What?

I see.

It's clear now.

It's the village of that farmer's girl.

The gold's there.

A terrible fever.

The governor's men left.

To my village?

Maybe so.

We can't move this man.

Will you stay with him?

No.

I'm going to kill you.

Samurai.

You all right?

I'm all right!

Hurry and save the villagers!

I'll take care of them!

Wait!

See if there are any footprints.

You wait here.

Kill all suspicious men who pass through.

Yes sir!

Spread out!

That man!

Listen.

Tell me.

If you want to save her life, tell me where the gold is!

Hurry!

Throw your sword down!

Oryo!

Oryo!

Tell me where the gold dust is or...!

Oryo!

Oryo!

Confess where the gold is?

Get her!

Yes!

What now?

Nine guns.

I'm going to kill you.

Don't make me repeat it.

A horse.

Monji!

Shoot!

Rascals!

Monji!

Monji!

Samurai.

Let's hurry!

The gold and I'll spare your life.

Tell us!

Go find it yourselves.

Crawl from mountain to mountain to find it!

You won't ever find it!

Matahei! Save him!

You're Rokuheita Kusanagi!

Your spy's sword can't kill me!

Everybody come out and fight!

Fools!

Come out and fight!

Cowards!

Stay away!

The sun!

Glory to the Sutra of the Lotus of the Supreme Law, It's out again!

Samurai!

The Yagyu will never give you up.

You will be followed all your life.

It is the fate of deserter spies.

THE END