Basilisk (バジリスク甲賀忍法帖)

On the outside, we look the same,

and yet, men call us monsters.

We are naught but shadows lurking in between eras,

but if we are destined to perish,

then I shall fall with the cherry blossoms.

Yes. I shall fall with the cherry blossoms.

Fifty years of a mortal man's life...

...pass by in the breadth of a vivid dream.

When held 'gainst the scope of heaven's history.

For once a man is born...

...as with all things in this world...

...mustn't he one day die?

Indeed, he must.

Kazusanosuke- sama .

Nobunaga- sama .

Who goes there?

Have you come to take me to Hell?

There's no hurry.

Does it not frustrate you, then?

Frustrate...

Does dying here, with your greatest desire

yet unfulfilled not tear at your very soul?

That is my destiny.

And if it were possible to change your destiny

from this, would you do it?

What do you mean?

You need only ask, and I will insure that this is not

where your glorious fate comes to an end.

Iemitsu, the third shogun of the Tokugawa.

He and his brother, Tadanaga,

shared a rivalry still spoken of to this day.

But behind the curtain of the struggle

for succession that began their feud,

the Iga and Kouga ninja clans were forced to fight,

and death swept through like the wind.

However, what occurred has been shrouded in darkness.

Some dismiss this clash as mere legend.

But in their wake,

they left animosity and bloodshed as their legacy.

Open the gate!

Close the gate!

Shut it tight!

Godspeed, Tadanaga- sama .

The journey will be perilous, and I pray for a safe return.

But still, even if the wife of the last shogun

is dying, the way our lord panicked...

I understand his concern.

Not only is she the mother of our lord and the wife

of the last shogun, but also the only remaining ally

Tadanaga- sama has left at Edo Castle.

Please, Mother!

Try to hang on just a little while longer!

Your beloved son, Tadanaga, is on the way!

Hmph.

No use trying that.

You may fool the others with your illusions, but not me.

That's because my eyes... watch us from above.

I'll go easy on you.

Give up right now and you won't get hurt.

Otherwise...

...I'll snap your arm.

You can go to Hell.

An Iga ninja would rather rip her tongue out

than concede to a filthy Kouga!

That sounds like a great idea to me, if it shuts up you Iga.

You know what they say, though.

It was actually the Kouga who won the war between the clans.

But then, the Iga told lies to try to save face!

You're the only person dumb enough to believe that.

You Kouga are pathetic excuses for ninjas.

Refusing to admit when you've failed

means you can't learn.

That's what you get for gloating.

You're gonna pay for that, Iga bitch!

Will I?

Or were you talking to a different "Iga bitch"?

Namenba...

-- --

Let this pain serve as a reminder.

You shouldn't push your luck going on about the clans.

Heh. I win yet again. But it's getting so boring.

Way too easy for me.

No.

This is not the sound I wanted to hear.

Kazuma- sama ?

He's always so damn serious about everything he does.

Maybe I can have a little fun with him!

-- --No!

-- -- Don't struggle.

If you do, your head might pop right off.

Or is that your wish?

Do you long to hear the dulcet tones

of Heaven's lyre when you die?

Kazuma- sama , please stop!

I don't know what she's done to offend,

but I beg you to forgive her!

I can't.

This one underestimates what it truly means to be a ninja.

They all make a mockery of it.

Have some mercy, they're only children.

Which is why she must be punished.

Unless they get a lesson in true suffering at least once,

they'll never change their ways.

Let them see the blood of their companion and learn.

Knock it off, Kazuma.

Hachirou...

That's quite enough.

Please, no.

What has you so unsettled, Kazuma?

A man as knowledgeable as yourself wouldn't be

so foolish as to confront our clan's leader.

You jest, Gei'in- dono .

Why would I choose to fight him?

Could it be possible that you've forgotten

how powerful and terrifying Hachirou's eye magic can be?

Please be lenient with him, Hachirou- dono .

He may be bull-headed, but means no disrespect.

Strengthening his abilities is the only thing

that drives him, but that single-minded nature

is his greatest flaw.

You speak the truth, Gei'in.

Our young leader is quite a handful, is he not?

He does nothing but play with those whose skills

are not yet fully developed.

Don't say such things, Tenshin and Kasou.

We must exercise patience,

for Lord Hachirou is still but a child.

Those two are crucial to us.

For our future.

Those two?

The blood that flows within Hachirou and Hibiki

are from lineages that must not come to an end.

They must continue those bloodlines,

whether they like it or not.

Even when that requires a brother to bed his sister?

You should know better than to ask.

To keep the line alive,

we would force a parent to bed their child.

Without a new generation of superior ninja,

both the Kouga and Iga clans would be finished.

This is Hachirou and Hibiki's birthright.

They should both be well aware of this by now.

A message?

The wife of the last shogun--

her health is failing.

Suruga- sama 's mother?

It says he left by horseback last night.

My lord! It's getting too dangerous!

We need to seek out shelter!

I told you, I don't care!

Even if I risk being struck by lightning.

I must go!

I will be by my mother's side!