Toho Co., Ltd.
Ishihara Production
''Shadow''
Shadow Hunters
OfficiaI Notice The entire area from here to the headwaters of the Izushi river is strictIy off-Iimits to aII persons. By Order of the County Magistrate
Produced by: Ishihara Yujiro Okuda Kikumaru Kobayashi Masahiko we have nothing more to lose.
OriginaI work by Saito Takao, Saito-Pro Production ('Shukan Host' syndication) ScreenpIay: Ikegami Kanao we have nothing more to lose.
Cinematography: Kanau Mitsuji Art direction: Kobayashi Masayoshi Recording: Sato Yasuhiro Lighting: Fujibayashi Ko Edited by: Watanabe Shiro All l have in this life is what is covered by my cape.
Music by: Ishihara Yuujiro - Hirose Kenjiro Osawa Yasuro - Sera Jo - Inomata Takeshi & Sound LTD Theme song: Teichiku Records, ''Shadow Hunters'' Lyrics: Yasutomi Yasushi Composer: Hirose Kenjiro Singer: Ishihara Yujiro All l have in this life is what is covered by my cape.
Music by: Ishihara Yuujiro - Hirose Kenjiro Osawa Yasuro - Sera Jo - Inomata Takeshi & Sound LTD Theme song: Teichiku Records, ''Shadow Hunters'' Lyrics: Yasutomi Yasushi Composer: Hirose Kenjiro Singer: Ishihara Yujiro
l bare my fangs to survive, but is this life? l bare my fangs...
Costume Design: Yagyu Etsuko Assistant Director: Ichige Katsumi Props: Koyama Teruyoshi Set Decoration: Yamamoto Kenichiro - Matsumoto Yoshihiro Production Manager: Otake Katsuhiko l bare my fangs to survive, but is this life? l bare my fangs...
Swordfighting Choreographer: Kuze Ryu Stunts: Shishido Daizen & Group Cooperation: Seishu Shochikubai l bare my fangs to survive, but is this life? l bare my fangs...
Production Advertising: Nihon Geino Kikaku Costumes: Dai-ichi Costumes - Kyoto Costumes Wigs: Yamadaya Props SuppIy: Takatsu Eiga Props FiIm DeveIopment: Tokyo Laboratory Co., Ltd. l bare my fangs to survive, but is this life? l bare my fangs...
Production Advertising: Nihon Geino Kikaku Costumes: Dai-ichi Costumes - Kyoto Costumes Wigs: Yamadaya Props SuppIy: Takatsu Eiga Props FiIm DeveIopment: Tokyo Laboratory Co., Ltd.
The smell of blood draws close the beasts called Shadow Hunters.
Starring The smell of blood draws close the beasts called Shadow Hunters.
Ishihara Yujiro (as Muroto Jubei) The smell of blood draws close the beasts called Shadow Hunters.
Uchida Ryohei (as ''SunIight'') Narita Mikio (as ''MoonIight'')
They're hounds from hell. For me to live, the bloody wind must blow.
Asaoka Ruriko They're hounds from hell. For me to live, the bloody wind must blow.
Ebara Shinjiro Honda Michiko They're hounds from hell. For me to live, the bloody wind must blow.
Kusanagi Kojiro Tamagawa Isao Kuno Shiro Fukae Shoki They're hounds from hell. For me to live, the bloody wind must blow.
Kusanagi Kojiro Tamagawa Isao Kuno Shiro Fukae Shoki
Blood must rain, my heart must freeze.
Muto Akio Kihara Tsuchihiro Harumi Yuzo Horii Eiko Shirakawa Keiko Kasai Kazuhiko Blood must rain, my heart must freeze.
Muto Akio Kihara Tsuchihiro Harumi Yuzo Horii Eiko Shirakawa Keiko Kasai Kazuhiko
Swords shoot sparks, l must bare my fangs, bare my fangs...
Chico RoIand - Kariya Shunsuke - Arai Ganei Kikuchi Kenichi - Kahara Bumon - Kamota Kiyoshi Swords shoot sparks, l must bare my fangs, bare my fangs...
Yamagishi Emiko - Tsujimura Seishi - Kuwata Tetsuya Otani Kazuo - Arakura Hiroshi - Harada Kunji Omaeda Takeshi Swords shoot sparks, l must bare my fangs, bare my fangs...
Daimon Minoru - Okamoto Hisato - Inagaki Minoru Kurata Yuji - Waka Koma Narrator: Urano Mitsuru Swords shoot sparks, l must bare my fangs, bare my fangs...
Daimon Minoru - Okamoto Hisato - Inagaki Minoru Kurata Yuji - Waka Koma Narrator: Urano Mitsuru
Beasts called Shadow Hunters, overthe blood-soaked land...
Tanba Tetsuro Tatsumi Ryutaro Beasts called Shadow Hunters, overthe blood-soaked land...
Directed by: Masuda Toshio Beasts called Shadow Hunters, overthe blood-soaked land...
Directed by: Masuda Toshio
...once again they run.
Chief! We found it!
Open it.
Yes sir.
No doubt about it, it's goId.
As we suspected.
The rumors that the Izushi cIan is digging for goId in the mountains are weII-founded.
When the Chief EIder hears about this, at the very Ieast...
...he'II force them to switch fiefs. And if we find more probIems, the cIan wiII be aboIished.
Those bumpkin samurai have done aII this for nothing.
Chief! Izushi samurai are headed this way!
What?
Those mountain monkeys!
Listen. It's our duty to report our discovery to the Chief EIder, even at the cost of our Iives.
150-ri =366 miIes. It's 150-ri to Edo. Don't bIow it!
Sir!
We'II each carry some of the proof.
Yes sir.
When we Ieave Izushi territory, we'II spIit into three groups.
We'II meet at the Yakuno Inn in Fukuchi. Be there at dusk.
Let's go!
Hey. You're Iate.
What do you mean, samurai? We're just simpIe piIgrims. What do you want?
You guys are government spies, the so-caIIed ''Shadows,'' aren't you?
How did you know?! Who are you?! Name yourseIf!
I make my Iiving hunting shadows. They caII me ''MoonIight.''
What?
Here...
Hey...
You guys were faster than my horse!
That Iooks good.
What?! Who are you?
Man, I'm starving!
What rock did you crawI out from under?
I'm a Shadow Hunter. They caII me ''SunIight.''
What?!
You can finish your dinner in HeII. Say your prayers!
Come on in, Sir! WeIcome! Thanks for coming in.
Boss. Some urgent news!
What's the panic?
Koroku's team has been wiped out!
Junai's team as weII! Koroku's team has been wiped out!
RidicuIous! I'm not known for my sense of humor!
No, there is no mistake.
We saw the Izushi samurai hauIing off their corpses.
Boss... What shouId we do?
We'II retreat for now. Get ready!
Hurry up!
Move!
You're in our way, get out! Move!
You're in our way, get out!
You have to pay your biII!
We'II pay it, just shut up! You have to pay your biII!
Go, go!
Jackass, keep it down!
What a ruckus. Quiet down. Jackass, keep it down!
You've been Iiving it up aII day, but I Iet it sIide, as a courtesy to tired traveIers.
But now you've become inconsiderateIy Ioud. What's the story? Enough is enough.
What did you say?!
I didn't reaIize we had a neighbor. My apoIogies.
We're in a hurry. PIease excuse the noise.
Wait.
Is that aII you've got to say?
What do you mean? Is my apoIogy not enough?
Bastard. Are you...
Your deduction is correct. I'm Jubei, the Shadow Hunter.
As the power of the Tokugawa Shogunate waned, it came under increasing financiaI pressure.
The Shogunate government stopped at nothing to maintain its power, and the dirtiest of its tricks...
Daimyo: a feudaI Iord, ruIer of a province. ...was to seize and absorb the properties and weaIth of the Daimyo.
The Shogunate recruited a Iegion of spies and ninja and used them to find...
...any misdeeds by the Daimyo that couId be used as a pretext for seizing their weaIth.
PeopIe caIIed these spies and ninja ''Shadows,'' and greatIy feared them.
The Daimyo had onIy one defense against the oppressive surveiIIance of these Shadows...
...which was to first identify, and then annihiIiate them...
...and thus, siIence them before they couId betray the Daimyo's secrets.
Ronin: a samurai without a master. And now, into this Iandscape, ride three ronin.
One was named Muroto Jubei, and the other two caIIed themseIves ''SunIight'' and ''MoonIight.''
Hired by the Daimyo, they were hunters, sent out to battIe the Shadows.
And aIways, they foIIowed their noses, drawn by the scent of bIood.
Izushi CastIe, Tajima province
They're here.
Where is Makino, the chamberIain of this province?
I'm Makino Zusho, the castIe chamberIain.
Get off your horses! How dare you speak to my master from the saddIe!
Kosaka! Be siIent.
But...
SiIence! But...
My apoIogies for his bad manners.
So you are the Shadow Hunters?
I'm Jubei. They are ''SunIight'' and ''MoonIight.''
Be weIcome. OnIy this morning, our checkpoint in the mountains was attacked.
We have been awaiting your arrivaI.
We are aware of the attack.
Then why are you arriving so Iate?
When you heard about the attack, you shouId have rushed here!
You're ignorant of the way of the warrior! You stray dogs aren't fit for this task!
What? What's this?
ChamberIain... I beIieve these are yours.
SunIight, you too.
Do I have to? Oh aII right...
Shit, and me hoping I was getting a perk this time. Here!
These are ours. How did you get them?
We started working as soon as we heard about the commission.
We were greeted by Shadows before we got here. It happens aII the time.
That's why we were Iate. PIease forgive us for being tardy.
Kosaka... You accused them of being insoIent.
But when they were addressed, they had their feet out of the stirrups.
They are very famiIiar with the way of the warrior; that's rare, nowadays.
Forget about it. We're stray dogs, and used to being treated as such. So, Iead the way...
Dammit, they're making us wait so Iong. This is why it's tough to get aIong with officiaIs.
Be patient. It's part of the job.
These are the Shadow Hunters. They have come in response to our appeaI.
Wait.
What's the matter?
The presence of uncouth ronin such as we is an offense to a nobIe young Iord.
A mere gIance at us is far more recognition that we deserve.
You need not concern yourseIf so.
Are you the one caIIed Jubei?
Yes.
I hear you are caIIed ''SunIight'' and ''MoonIight.''
I am gIaddened by your presence here, at this time of crisis for our cIan.
We're honored.
Jubei, the chamberIain thinks you're our onIy hope.
PIease endeavor to save our six-hundred retainers.
We are at your service.
Lord?
Man, these formaIities aIways drive me nuts.
What's this?
I wiII be serving you during your stay. Your wish wiII be my command.
Yeah!
Fine...
But we won't be requiring your services.
Hey MoonIight, Iighten up. It's rude to stop peopIe from doing their jobs.
WeII, miss. How about we start with a IittIe massage?
Enough, SunIight. ControI yourseIf.
Strong...
You're good. Do you do this a Iot?
Yes. I give my father massages aII the time.
ReaIIy? How outrageous of your dad.
Making you massage his wrinkIed body with those pretty hands!
In contrast, you shouId see my body.
How about you go to work on it, eh?
PIease stop joking. How am I supposed to give you your massage?
Okay then. How about we switch roIes? Don't be shy, now...
I'II have you know, I'm especiaIIy nice to the Iadies.
Without further deIay, we wiII now pay you the promised sum.
We're a smaII cIan, Iocated deep in the mountains.
PIease accept our apoIogies for the poor quaIity of our hospitaIity.
You are too kind. We ronin are unworthy of such formaIity.
Hey, ChamberIain, she sure was a fine surprise. I was getting sick of being around guys aII the time.
You shouIdn't have!
I am gIad you are pIeased.
Koyuki. Serve them weII.
Yes, I shaII, father.
Father? You mean to say you're... um...
She's my daughter, Koyuki. A most rebeIIious chiId.
Yes sir.
Let me continue your massage.
Nah, I'm aII better now. H...hey. Jubei... Let me continue your massage.
ChamberIain. You aIIow famiIy members in your castIe?
My wife died Iong ago. Since then I have been a singIe father to an onIy chiId.
I thought it wouId be better for her to tend to castIe duties, rather than stay home.
Ah, yes. Our young Iord has taken a shine to you, Jubei.
Why, he toId me, ''I know we can count on him!''
I suspect that you were once a nobIeman of some renown.
Sorry to disappoint you, but I'm just a wandering ronin.
I choose to forget my past, if you don't mind.
My apoIogies for prying.
Now then. What is the next move?
PIease advise me.
Shadow-hunting cannot be pIanned.
It's fooIish to hope they won't come.
So aII we can do is wait.
Edo CastIe
Chief EIder.
Jinba Senjuro, Ieader of the third Iga Ninja group, reporting as ordered.
Very good. So teII me.
Regarding the case of the Izushi cIan in Tajima...
How is the investigation going?
Sir.
It is now cIear that the Izushi cIan has struck goId.
Here is the proof.
So you've found it?
I wouId have brought five or six more.
But the Shadow Hunters showed up.
The Shadow Hunters?
Curses!
ActuaIIy...
...that sampIe comes from a top secret source.
To ensure that our agent's cover wouId remain intact...
...we staged a diversion to conceaI the true source of the sampIe.
Those Shadow Hunters...
Those obnoxious bastards who dare to oppose the authority of the Shogunate...!
Have you determined their identities?
We have made some inquiries.
Their Ieader is Muroto Jubei.
The one named ''SunIight'' is Inui Tadanoshi, and ''MoonIight'' is Kusaba Denosuke.
Shadow operations destroyed their cIans. Thus, we beIieve they are motivated by revenge.
Investigate their backgrounds more deepIy.
Perhaps we'II uncover their weaknesses.
As for the Izushi cIan...
...their efforts have been wasted.
Koku: a quantity of rice, historicaIIy defined as enough rice to feed one person for one year. For a smaII fief of 58,000 koku to dig for goId...
...must have meant many sacrifices and much hardship.
The fief is Iocated deep in the mountains.
For the past severaI years...
...everyone, even the Ieaders, have had to subsist on a diet of miIIet and beans.
GoId Iike this is wasted on those mountain monkeys...
...especiaIIy when the Shogunate is in such dire straits.
So, shaII we move against the Izushi cIan without deIay?
We shaII force them to switch fiefs.
IdeaIIy, I wouId want them crushed, but there's a probIem.
This just came to my attention.
Many years ago, at a battIe in Osaka, an ancestor of...
...the current chamberIain, Makino Yukie, was recognised for outstanding vaIor.
The Izushi cIan received a speciaI dispensation, for muItipIe generations...
...and their fief was granted to them in perpetuity under the seaI of Shogun Ieyasu himseIf.
I had not heard of this.
Of course, if the existence of the grant were pubIic knowIedge...
...we wouId have found an opportunity, some- time in the Iast 150 years, to destroy it.
But the chamberIains of the Izushi cIan have been wise, and cautious.
Having managed to safeguard the document, they wiII use it as a Iast resort.
That does present a probIem. The Shogun's seaI is sacrosanct.
If they were to produce that document, we wouId be utterIy powerIess.
However, I must have that goId.
We must use extreme tactics.
The document must never see the Iight of day.
Understand?
Izushi fief, Edo residence.
Were counting on you.
A few days Iater, couriers from the Edo residence of the Izushi fief raced towards home.
Good grief. We watch the fief by day...
...and the castIe by night. I'm getting worn out.
Express couriers.
Something must've happened in Edo.
We'd better get back. Something must've happened in Edo.
Stop.
What is it?
You don't Iook famiIiar. What brings you to town? What is it?
I...
Shoji.
She might be mixed up with the Shadow Hunters. She was paying cIose attention to them.
Don't bring her to the administrative office. Bring her to the usuaI pIace.
After I'm done hearing what the couriers have to say, I'II question her myseIf. Understood?
Yes sir.
Five days ago, Nitta, the chief retainer of our Edo residence, was summoned...
...by the Chief EIder and given this command.
Change fiefs? How unjust!
I suspect that the Chief EIder...
...got hoId of some of the goId.
But that's impossibIe.
Our goId is for emergencies onIy. Not one bar shouId be missing.
Then why wouId they want to take controI of this impoverished Iand?
Lord Makino, what shaII we do?
We've worked hard for our goId mines. And now we must Ieave them behind.
If we were to refuse a change of fief, we wouId need a convincing reason.
We have such a reason.
What kind of reason do you speak of?
We can refuse. We have reason for refusaI.
This is Shogun Ieyasu's seaI on a guarantee, in perpetuity, of our right to this fief.
I see.
With that, they couId neither crush the fief, nor make the cIan Ieave it.
Why didn't you just whip that out sooner? There'd be no need for Shadow-hunting.
You're a happy simpIeton.
Say what?!
This kind of thing is a doubIe-edged sword. Say what?!
At first, the Shogunate wiII fear you wiII use it. Then they wiII decide it needs to be destroyed.
My thoughts exactIy.
And the probIem is, that document must be presented in Edo.
WiII you guard the carrier of the document?
It's 150-ri to Edo. That's a heck of a Iong hauI.
Inspector-GeneraI Kosaka Kurando is to carry the document.
The Inspector-GeneraI...?
That guy?
Hey Jubei, I'm outta here. That smug bastard pisses me off.
Though you do not get aIong with him...
...he's the finest swordsman in our cIan.
I acknowIedge the gravity of the situation. But our Iives are aIso at stake.
PIease give us this one night to decide.
I am oId and fraiI. Our Iord is but a boy. You are the onIy ones who can heIp. I beseech you.
I remember. When I was young...
...about to become a chamberIain, Iike my father before me...
But... after what happened... my father committed suicide...
...and I, with my own hands...
What a travesty. The government Iaid its hungry eyes on the abundant prosperity of our fief.
They used Shadows to pIant evidence to be uncovered. My cIan was aboIished.
As for our Iord and his heir...
FareweII, Chitose.
Chitose. She was the daughter of a chief retainer; he was my father's peer.
She and I vowed to each other that someday we'd get married.
Jubei.
Yes?
Jubei. It is fareweII forever. Let me see your face.
Jubei. You have taken good care of me, for a Iong time. I shaII never forget it.
Hurry up! Hurry up!
Damn the accursed government and its officiaIs.
Jubei. If you are the one acting as my second, then I wiII not be afraid.
I wiII not be afraid.
Young Lord. There is nothing to fear. I, Jubei...
...wiII guide you.
Like this, Jubei? Is this how?
What's up, Jubei? Not feeIing weII?
You Iook paIe.
No. It's nothing.
Good. Anyway, what are we going to teII him tomorrow?
What wiII you guys do?
Count me out. I want nothing to do with that Inspector bastard.
But I've got a soft spot for the ChamberIain.
If onIy my cIan had had a ChamberIain Iike him...
...Maybe we wouIdn't have wound up Iike this. Jubei, what was your cIan Iike?
What's the matter, Jubei?
I'm taking on the job. I can't speak for you guys; it's your decision.
Hey, Shadow Hunter! Why didn't you kiII them?! Scared, were you?
Don't bother. Can't you see they've burned off their faces?
It's too bad.
What?
You shouId've Iet Jubei handIe it. It's stupid to kiII Shadow scouts.
Scouts? What do you mean, ''scouts?''
Don't you know anything?
Shadows aIways send in scouts to retrieve grass and inteIIigence.
''Grass?''
Don't you know about grass either?
Government Ninja spies have been embedded at strategic Iocations for generations.
They Iive among you, as IoyaI samurai, get married...
...and pass their spy heritage on to their chiIdren.
Are you saying that there is a government spy in the Izushi cIan?
Of course. Somebody in this castIe, someone here tonight.
That's enough. The scouts are dead; it's too Iate now.
They're coming. Here they are!
Dismount. We must discuss our route before we depart.
Did you hear me?
We have nothing to discuss.
What?
It's 150-ri to Edo. You get going, and we'II see how fast you can get there.
We'II be watching. If anybody acts suspicious, or steps out of Iine, we'II kiII him.
That's aII we have to say. We'II head out first. Good Iuck...
Sir Jubei.
I have foIIowed you everywhere. I just had to see you.
And now, finaIIy, here you are. PIease dismount. PIease dismount!
PIease, wait!
Miss. What is your connection to Jubei? Are you his woman? Or are you...
What a revoIting suggestion. Jubei is my enemy.
Jubei is your enemy? How interesting.
I beseech you.
What is it?
I see that you are about to depart with Muroto Jubei.
PIease take me with you.
I cannot do that.
Time is of the essence; we can't take a woman aIong.
I won't be a burden to you.
No. It's too treacherous for a woman. However...
This is our route. It's not exact, but we'II stay cIose to it.
What about them?
If you can catch up with us, we'II Iisten to what you've got to say.
Man, she was a Iooker! She had cIass, and taste.
And yet, you rejected her.
Jubei, you're an idiot. In the dictionary, next to ''moron,'' there's a woodcut of you.
It's a sin to spurn such a beauty!
Shut up.
Jubei.
''Father!''
''Muroto Naizen and I faiIed to thwart the Shadows; we wiII atone by taking our own Iives.''
''You too, aIong with your betrothed, Muroto Jubei, must vaIiantIy join us in the void.''
''Do you understand? Die vaIiantIy!''
Jubei. Why didn't you die with me?
Jubei...
Day one, day two, day three... Ieaving no trace of passing...
...the party took a meandering route towards Edo.
What a hot day. Boss, we've found them.
ReaIIy?
After sIeeping rough the Iast three days, tonight they're staying at an inn.
It is as I expected. Prepare our men.
They wiII be ready by this evening.
We can stay onIy untiI around midnight.
Get ready quickIy.
I just want to stretch out.
Get me some hot sake.
Hey, you guys made it! Have you just arrived?
You're aII here. Good.
How did you bastards know we were coming here?
Never mind. The Shadows wiII be here soon.
Man I'm stuffed. I'm in heaven.
Jubei. Think they're coming?
ShouId be. Anytime now.
Their route is stupid. Too many roundabouts, it's wasting time, and peopIe are noticing.
They think it'II throw their pursuers off the scent. What a bunch of cIowns.
That's why we're baby- sitting them.
They're good for business.
Good evening. ShaII I take the trays now?
Yeah... you can take them.
Yes.
Hey, I'II give you a hand.
Thank you.
So... do you Iive here? Thank you.
Yes. I'm a distant reIative.
I see. So, where's your husband?
Don't teII me you're not married.
He died in the epidemic, aImost a year ago.
I'm sorry to hear that.
Life's been tough, huh? You can't take aII these by yourseIf. I'II heIp you.
But you shouIdn't...
Come on, Ieave it to me. Jubei, be right back.
Are you aII right?
He's about to pop a vein.
I'II take a Iook around the house.
I'II keep watch from outside.
So, pIease teII me. Who was this girI that Iooked just Iike me?
She wasn't particuIarIy impressive, but she sure was cute.
I was in charge of food; she was the kitchen- maid. I was so innocent in those days.
We were in Iove, but we didn't even hoId hands.
And?
What a waste.
I proposed and got her parent's bIessing.
But three days before our wedding, an incident occurred.
What happened?
Our Daimyo got food poisoning. My fianc� was accused of being the poisoner.
How terribIe.
It's ridicuIous. Why wouId a IowIy kitchen maid do something Iike that?
It was government spies. We caII them Shadows.
Thanks to them, the Daimyo died, his cIan was crushed, and we were aII reduced to beggary.
What happened to the girI?
Who knows? Some say she died in prison. Others that she got soId into prostitution.
Poor girI.
That's why when I meet a girI who reminds me of her, I just can't stand it.
You reaIIy Iook Iike her. Your Iips...
...those eyes... what a dead ringer!
Can you understand how I feeI?
You understand, right?
I understand. I too am a woman.
I'm just happy you view me that way.
Yeah. I understand.
Don't... don't...
AIert! AIert!
What's going on?
I can't find my sword!
Get up. Get up now!
Me either!
Where's my sword?
You guys are useIess. Get out of here!
This guy... was a Shadow of great skiII.
They're sending their best against us.
Open the door.
Open the door!
It doesn't open, Jubei! What shouId I do?
Open up!
Hand over the document. Now!
No! You mustn't!
It's you!
Looks Iike we've fooIed the Ninjas.
These uppercrust mansions are Iike castIes, chock fuII of tricks.
Of course, they never teII you about them.
You guys are pretty good.
Inspector GeneraI, hurry! Hurry!
What's going on around here?
He was the government spy!
AII right. Gotcha. Hurry, hurry!
Wait. There's a woman down there. She's my girI, so don't you Iay a finger on her!
Not bad!
Who's next?
Where's the Inspector GeneraI?
Down there. Wait a second. He'd better not be trying to seduce her!
Good work Iast night. We're Ieaving now.
Go ahead.
We couId accompany you.
Don't bother. We couId accompany you.
Don't bother.
I understand. We'II go by ourseIves.
Oh, SunIight...
What, me?
As a token of gratitude, I Ieft a rare gift in the room; something I found this morning.
A gift? Wow, I never get gifts.
It's not for you. It's for Jubei.
What the heck was that aII about?
Chitose.
PIease die.
PIease die with me!
Enough. Stop!
Jubei. Is your Iife so precious that you'II do anything to preserve it?
Life? My Iife...
I've never given it any thought.
Hey...
It's the woman, that woman! That's what he meant by the ''rare gift.''
I hope not. When it comes to women, Jubei's ''sword'' isn't up to the task.
Yeah. You have a point. But I wonder, is his sword reaIIy that bIunt?
That's what I hear. A man's body eventuaIIy faiIs him.
Being Iet down by your own sword... It gives me the wiIIies just thinking about it.
Your sword's aIready Ietting you down; you puII it out too often.
Sometimes your body just won't do what you teII it to. Life is so hard sometimes.
We Iive in an age of broken swords.
I see. So that was your father's Iast request...
For you to die with me.
I Ieft his body, and went straight to your house.
You weren't there.
After I seconded our young Iord, I didn't return to my home.
I heard about my father's death onIy Iater, from others.
I have been Iooking for you. AII these years!
I've endured much hardship, as a woman traveIing aIone.
I have become a traveIing minstreI...
...and my body has been desecrated.
OnIy one thing sustained me... the hope that we couId die together.
...that I couId die together with Jubei.
But what wiII our deaths accompIish?
Our mutuaI death is aII we have Ieft.
My father and your father were mere pawns in the game of power.
They Iost their fief, and then their Iives. I won't say that they were fooIish.
But... I don't have much respect for them, either.
That's because... they Iet everything faII into the hands of the enemy.
But they died vaIiantIy, as warriors shouId. That's the samurai way.
But not mine.
I cannot just die, and Iet them have their way.
UntiI my Iast breath, I wiII kiII them.
I dont know how much Ionger I wiII endure.
I don't know whether I wiII have any effect.
But... I wiII Iive for that purpose.
What do you think that wiII accompIish?
WiII it do anything to cIeanse the stain on your honor?
The stain on my honor...
I didn't foIIow my master's death and now I hunt Shadows.
I have to admit that makes for quite a stain. But...
Every shadow I kiII, the more I feeI there's a meaning to my Iife.
So you wiII not grant me my wish?
Is it because I have been defiIed?
I care not for mere appearances.
We are both defiIed; you in body, and I as a Shadow Hunter.
I won't teII you that you shouId keep on Iiving. One day, seize your chance, and kiII me.
KiII me... then die.
From Ise to Mikawa, they raced eastwards on the great Tokaido highway.
MeanwhiIe, the Shadows, who had suffered an agonizing defeat...
...were conspicuousIy absent... for now.
Do you think the Izushi party wiII come this way?
Do you doubt me?
If they go to Suruga on the Tokaido, their next stop shouId be Hakone.
So why wouId they go the Iong way on the Koshu route?
Don't worry, they'II come.
I don't care how good those Shadow Hunters are, they're no match for oI' Ikkaku's scythe and chain.
They're coming!
Hurry! HoId out untiI the next station. I'II hire horses for you there.
Lord Kosaka.
What?
Don't you think it's odd that aII the stations off the Tokaido were out of horses?
It's a Shadow pIoy. That's why we're taking the Koshu route instead.
It's just as the boss said.
Shadow Hunters!
This is too Iame for words! Why must they take the Iong way?
They're Iike stubborn chiIdren.
We know their route. We have to outride them.
Leaving the Tokaido, the party foIIowed the Fuji river into Koshu.
From there they took the Koshu route, and headed towards Edo.
Musashi province: Kobotoke Pass
Looks Iike we went the wrong way.
But we foIIowed the guide posts.
What if the posts were tricks? Doesn't matter. SunIight, take a Iook around.
AII right, wiII do.
Easy, boy.
Okay...
Anybody around?
Anyone here?
Let's go.
Whoa there!
What did you find?
It's bad. Where's MoonIight? What did you find?
He went to check on the party. He'II be right back.
That farm house up there... the whoIe famiIy's been kiIIed!
You said the pIace was deserted. So who are they?
That's impossibIe. There was no one there a minute ago.
Were you dreaming or something?
WeIcome. I am the eIder. Have you Iost your way?
If our humbIe house wiII do, you are weIcome to spend the night.
We wouId appreciate it. We Iost our way in the mountains.
I am gIad we found you.
Maybe you've Iost your marbIes.
Maybe so. I'm not so sure of myseIf anymore.
We've never been sure of you...
PIease be weIcome in our humbIe abode.
Yeah, it's not aII that bad...
Let me wash those for you...
Wow, you're pretty.
Meet me Iater tonight, after you've done aII your work... Okay? Huh? Huh?
Murasaki.
Tend the fire tonight. Make sure the hot water does not run out.
Yes sir.
So how do you Iike the house of the Iiving dead?
They toId me that their ancestors were members of the tragic Heike cIan.
So it's no surprise that you saw ghosts.
You're getting on my nerves. So what?
WeII, thanks to your haIIucinations, we don't have to camp outdoors.
Aw, shut up. This is buIIshit. Jubei, I'm going out.
Be carefuI. Mountain women can be fearsome.
AII right.
It's getting coId. I'm going to sit by the fire.
Very weII.
I put some water in here, because their food was very saIty.
Better safe than sorry.
It's been a whiIe since we Iast sIept in a proper bed.
I can't wait to drink sake in Edo.
I wiII Ieave the hot water here. PIease Iet me know when it runs out.
Thanks. You've been thoroughIy accommodating.
For those not used to our mountain cIimate, it must be chiIIy.
Indeed, but I'm feeIing depressed tonight. The fire gives me comfort.
Is that so?
You must think of me as a weak samurai.
Oh not at aII. But why are you sad?
Three years ago today, my wife and chiId were murdered.
How crueI.
Indeed. I saw their agonized bodies. I can stiII see them, as if it just happened.
But... why...?
It was my fauIt. I sheItered a comrade who was a fugitive.
I beIieved him when he said he had gotten in a fight.
But he was a spy for the government.
He was a secret Ninja; what we caII a 'Grass.'
After I Ieft to get him money for the road, they surrounded the house and set it abIaze.
That spy betrayed my wife, who was sick in bed, and my smaII chiId.
He got away.
So your wife and chiId...
They were found embracing each other.
I had to run. I couIdn't even give them a decent buriaI.
Within six months, our fief had been crushed.
Sir samurai. Perhaps I can satisfy you.
Let me comfort you.
Do with me as you pIease.
I guess I babbIed too much. Forget what I said.
Something's wrong with me tonight. You reminded me of my dead wife.
Sir... How about some tea?
No, thanks. I've got some cIean spring water.
Your skin's so pretty. It draws me in.
Such beautifuI Iarge breasts, too. Oh! You're irresistibIe!
AII right. Here I go!
Man, that's good. Water tastes sweeter after sex!
Hey. Hey, come and drink some water with me.
Don't be shy, come on down.
Ku-re-nai!
Did I go the right way? Hey, Kurenai! Kurenai, sweetie!
''Kurenai.'' What a name! It means, ''You can't have my heart.''
Jubei. Are you awake?
Yeah. You too?
I can't sIeep. There's something fishy about aII of this.
I agree.
The dinner wasn't poisoned. I examined it carefuIIy.
What do you make of the corpses SunIight supposedIy saw?
Do you beIieve him?
Something about what he said... that there were kids and eIderIy among the dead.
But among those Iiving here...
...there are no kids and no eIderIy foIk. Why is that?
Kids...?
Without chiIdren, famiIy Iineages cease.
Oh. You're up.
Woman. You tricked me.
What do you want from me?
Speak! You're a Shadow, aren't you?
So what if I am? Can you kiII a woman?
I can. I can kiII women, and even chiIdren.
Don't!
How crueI...
I make a virtue of crueIty.
Come.
Strong tea...
I wonder where the Inspector GeneraI has gotten to...
Hey. What happened here?
Have you seen the Inspector GeneraI?
I saw him.
...I saw him going up the mountain aII by himseIf when I got Iost.
Damn. Why did he do that?
What are you taIking about? He was headed up...
...but I had to go the other way. I was Iost aII night, you know.
This pIace is a deathtrap!
Hey, what are we going to do about them?
H...hey!
There's a ton of corpses under those bushes. They're the ones I saw. I'm sure of it.
Shut up. Keep your trap shut.
I'm sure they are. But you teased me Iike...
''He saw Heike ghosts.'' ''He's an airhead.'' Yeah, right.
You guys didn't beIieve me!
Which way do we go?
I don't have a cIue.
This is bad. He's got the document.
This area Iooks suspicious. Be extra carefuI.
Yeah, sure. I'm not an idiot, you know!
Woops! The ground feeIs strange; it might be a trap. AII right, I'm gonna move.
Lets get out of the woods.
Shadow Hunter! I've been waiting for you. Prepare yourseIf!
RegrettabIe. Our trap has faiIed.
RecaII the rest of our men.
Yes Sir!
Here you are, Jubei.
Inspector GeneraI Kosaka Kurando. So you are the true ''grass.''
I suspected as much.
And now that you know, you must definiteIy die.
Get him!
Sir!
You're good with the sword, Shadow Hunter.
And yet... I'II bet you can't dodge a buIIet.
Interesting. But you onIy have one shot. One of us wiII get shot.
And then the rest of us wiII kiII aII of you.
Oh? And where are ''the rest of you?''
My, such camaraderie. I guess you don't want to die aIone.
If you don't want to die, fIee. WiII it be you? Or is it you who wants to die?
Take your pick.
You can shoot me. How about that?
Jubei. PIease die.
If you die, I wiII gIadIy join you.
AII right. As you wish.
Damn you!
You've defeated us... but know this... soon it wiII be your turn!
Is that aII you've got to say?
Heed my words.
Sooner or Iater, the government wiII...
...Ieave your corpses Iying where they feII, just as you have done to us.
That's right. Your path can onIy Iead to heII!
Jubei.
Have you no other path in Iife?
Jubei. I am the daughter of a samurai.
And I wanted to be a samurai's wife.
I am content.
I want you to Iive.
Shadow Hunters... Shadow Hunters are...
...ruthIess beasts.
We Shadow Hunters are nothing but ruthIess beasts.
Hey. Bury her.
Why do I have to do it?
GirIs are your speciaIty. Do it, then foIIow.
Guess so. AII right, I'II do it.
''MercifuI Buddha... MercifuI Buddha...''
Easy boy.
I prayed for her, and gave her a respectfuI buriaI.
I'm obIiged. Maybe it'II be me tomorrow. Do the same for me.
Okay... no probIem.
And what happens if it's you?
To get your reward in Heaven, you need to do good deeds in this Iife.
That's why I try to make women happy... by Ietting them pIay with my sword!
The End
AnimEigo Bobby Engelmann Sara Rouse Robert J. Woodhead Ueki Natsumi Brian Godwin Janice Hindle Branson Moore Scott Carlson David Rowe-Caplan