Pathway to Japanese Literature

Narihira Kozō: An East Asian Period Film (Silent)

Original Work and Screenplay: Yamanaka Sadao

Director: Nishina Kumahiko

Cinematography: Fujii Harumi

Cast:

Narihira Kozō: Arashi Kanjūrō

Sanpin Yamasaemon: Ichikawa Jūzaburō

Futatsume Sazen: Tōyama Keinosuke

Osaraba O-Sayo: Hara Komako

Mashira no Hanji: Bandō Tarō

Funzori Shichibei: Onoe Monya

Ōtsuki Genba: Higashi Shōjirō

Tavern keeper: Arashi Kitsuemon

Oshizu (Daughter): Utagawa Kinuo

Ochiai Mondonosho: Yabe Inosuke

Ichigo Sanjūrō: Maeda Kunihiko

Iwase Heima: Arashi Jūzaburō

Imoto Hamaji: Kojima Kazuyo

Yamatoya Kihē: Okamoto Masao

(Tsumaya Genbei)

Moneylender Toshihei: Imanari Heikurō

TITLE: "First, here..." —

LOCATION: A sword shop's storefront—

It was a large shop.

TITLE: "Here stands an avaricious and ruthless man"

Children were jumping rope in front of the shop.

Tokubei, the sword shop owner, returned and berated the children.

TITLE: "And then, there..."

Sanpin Yamasaemon appears in a truly pitiful state and enters the sword shop.

INTERIOR

Tokubei was berating his clerks.
There, Yamasa entered.

Tokubei, offering flattery, asked, “What can I do for you?”

Yamasa wilted, drawing the sword at his waist and offering it.

TITLE: "Sanpin Yamasaemon's ancestral heirloom sword"

He teared up.
Tokubei received it and examined the blade.
Yamasa inquired about the terms.

Tokubei put away the sword,

TITLE: "First, two ryō"

Yamasa was startled,

TITLE: "Even as a fire sale, fifty ryō at least!"

Tokubei,

TITLE: "You must be joking in this recession"

When told this, Yamasa,

TITLE: "Thirty ryō"

Tokubei: "Can't do."

TITLE: “I can’t offer more than two ryō.”

Yamasa swallowed his tears,

TITLE: “At least ten ryō”

"No way! No way!" Tokubei turns away.
Yamasa stands crestfallen,
TITLE: “There’s no other way”

LOCATION: Exterior

Yamasa trudged out dejectedly, two ryō in hand.
Passing him by, this time Futatsume Sazen and Osaraba O-Sayo entered inside.
O-Sayo had been waiting outside, a moment behind, and now peered inside stealthily.

INTERIOR

Futatsume Sazen, having looked at the sword Yamasa just sold, turns to Tokubei and—

“How much?” he asks.
Tokubei,

TITLE: "Ten ryō"

“Ten ryō?”
“That’s too steep!”

TITLE: "Just lower it to five ryō"

“You must be joking,” said Tokubei.
Sazen,
“Fine. Have it your way.”
“Futatsume Sazen bought it for ten ryō!”
With that, he explained the actual scheme to O-Sayo and requested her assistance.
“I guess there’s no helping it,” said O-Sayo, pulling out her wallet.
She shook it upside down, but only five ryō remained.
Sazen placed the five ryō before Tokubei,
“Deposit of five ryō”

And then,

“The remaining balance will be brought this evening.”

He tried to leave but turned back to Tokubei—

“Since it’s been bought, it’s my property.”

“I’ve definitely left it in your care until evening!”

he emphasized.

LOCATION: Exterior

The two departed.

As they passed each other, this time it was Narihira Kozō and Hanji of the monkeys.
Narihira had taken on the guise of a high-ranking samurai traveling incognito, while Hanji played the role of his menial attendant.

(Narihira would look good in a dashing mask, I think.)

○＝INTERIOR

Narihira was looking at the sword.
To the proprietor,

“I’ll be taking this.”

When told this, Tokubei started to say, “Th-that’s—”, but Narihira,

“How about 100 ryō?”

“Huh?!” Tokubei was startled.
Narihira said, “No good?”
“Then 200 ryō.”

Tokubei,

TITLE: “Well, actually…”

Narihira pressed on undeterred,

“Three hundred ryō?”

Tokubei could only manage a stunned “Huh?!” as words failed him.

Narihira pressed on undeterred,

“How’s five hundred ryō then? Still not good enough?”

“Preposterous!” sputtered Tokubei. “That will be most acceptable.”

Narihira,

“Deliver it to my residence later.”

With that, he stood up.
Tokubei asked about which lord he was.
Hanji interjected from beside them,

“He’s the Lord of Hirakawa-chō.”

Hanji said.
“Heh heh,” Tokubei prostrated himself.

(F.O.)

○＝（F・I）Same shop

Sazen placed five ryō there,

“I’ve brought the remaining five ryō.”

“Well, actually—” Tokubei began.
Sazen tried to take the sword back.
Tokubei hurriedly stopped him.

LOCATION: Outside

O-Sayo, who had been waiting outside, came in wondering what was happening.

Sazen grew furious.

"What? You won't sell it?!"

“Y-yes, well—” Tokubei stammered.
O-Sayo stomped up to Tokubei.
“Don’t get fancy with me, baldy!”
Gasping, Tokubei was utterly cowed.
O-Sayo,

“This is definitely the item this person bought.”

With that,

“Osaraba O-Sayo here’s your witness!”

“Alright, let’s take this sword and get going,” say the two as they prepare to leave.

Tokubei hurriedly called out to stop them.
"What?" The two turned.

Tokubei began,

“Then let’s begin anew.”

With that declaration,

“I’ll purchase that sword.”

The two exchanged glances.
Sazen,
“How much?”
“Right then,” said Tokubei.
“Well,”
“Twenty ryō.”
Sazen snickered,
“Three hundred ryō.”

Tokubei gasped.
Sazen retorted,

“Three hundred ryō... Well, maybe we could sell it for that, O-Sayo.”

"Right, right," O-Sayo nodded.

That’s ridiculous!

"If you don’t like it, fine,” the two started to leave.
Tokubei calculated.

“Five hundred ryō minus three hundred ryō—two hundred ryō.”

“Two hundred ryō.”

Hearing this, he hurriedly called out to stop the two.

(Front entrance)

Tokubei addressed the two,

“I’ll buy it! Three hundred ryō—I’ll buy it!”

The two exchanged knowing smirks.
(F・O)

○＝（Ｆ・Ｉ）In front of a large gate

Tokubei, wearing a haori and hakama and carrying the sword box, entered through the gate.

Suddenly—

(F・O)

Tokubei had been thrown out.
The sword in question appeared thoroughly dull and bent at a ridiculous angle.

"You crazy bastard!"

And there stood Tokubei - berated by the gatekeeper and completely baffled.

(F・O)

○＝（Ｆ・Ｉ）Narihira's residence

At the place where Narihira, Sanpin Yamasa, and Mashira no Hanji had been waiting, Sazen and O-Sayo returned.
"There you go—three hundred ryō," they tossed down.
Narihira Kozō sat smirking before the long hibachi.

(F・O)

"Narihira Kozō and his gang are just such cheerful thieves."

○＝Same Narihira's residence

Sanpin Yamasa stood up.
Narihira,
“Yamasa, where are you going?”

Yamasa laughed,

“To her place.”

Futatsume Sazen scoffed.
Narihira turned to Sazen,
"Sazen's got no luck with women, huh?"

Being told this, Sazen grew slightly irritated.

“Whether there’s a connection or not—”

Having said that, Sazen stood up.

(F・O)

○＝（Ｆ・Ｉ）Temple grounds

It was Sazen who stood before the fortune-teller.
The fortune-teller—

“In this entire world, there is only one...”

“Wha—?” Sazen reacted.
The fortune-teller—
“There exists a woman who loves you enough to die.”

Sazen,

“I’m fine alone.”

Having said that,
“She must be a real beauty, that woman.”
The fortune-teller muttered indistinctly through clenched teeth while,

“A peerless beauty.”

At this, Sazen rejoiced.
“Age?”
The fortune-teller smirked,
“Eighteen.”
With a sigh, Sazen,
“Even coarse tea has its first bloom.”
The fortune-teller,

“Her name is Kimie.”

"Heh!" Sazen reacted.

"Where's that Miss Kimie?"

The fortune-teller replied,

"That I don't know."

At this, Sazen slumped dejectedly.
The fortune-teller added,

"She's surely in Edo."

“Edo...” murmured Sazen.
The fortune-teller advised,
“Keep searching persistently.”

“Alright!” Sazen paid the consultation fee and set out.
A furisode-clad maiden glided past him, and he gazed in awe.
Ah, right! he remembered and called out to the maiden from behind.

“Miss Kimie!”

The girl walked away, feigning ignorance.
It was Sazen, wearing a look that said “This isn’t working.”

As he wandered a short distance, this time he passed by what appeared to be the landlord’s daughter.

It was Kimie, hanging her head with a sorrowful look.

Sazen called out.

“Hey there!”

Kimie gasped and turned around.
“Huh?!” Sazen flinched.
Kimie left, glancing around suspiciously as she went.

Sazen, that rascal, was delighted.

Age eighteen—a peerless beauty.

With a self-satisfied grin, he began following her.

(F.O.)

○＝（Ｆ・Ｉ）川端

Kimie, looking sorrowful, hesitated several times before finally attempting to leap in.

Sazen panicked, rushed over, and grabbed her from behind to stop her.

(F.O.)

○＝（F.I）Tsumaya Residence - Inner Back Room (Night)

Tsumaya Genbei, the master of the house, exclaimed in surprise.

"What? The daughter is nowhere to be seen?"

At the sliding door, the wet nurse and the clerk were in a panic.

Kumokiri Shūzen, seated in the upper section with his back to the alcove, sneered.

Genbei commanded, "Search for her at once!"

○＝Front of Tsumaya Genbei's Residence

Clerk Nagakichi and the apprentices grabbed lanterns and ran in all directions to search for the daughter.

○＝Inner Chamber:

Genbei and Shūzen.
Shūzen—

“If you don’t hand over your daughter to this Kumokiri Shūzen by then—”

With that,

“I’ll submit this joint pledge document to the magistrate’s office!”

Genbei gasped, his face turning deathly pale.

"Then Genbei—you'll lose your head."

At this, Genbei was driven to utter despair.
Shūzen pressed on—

"After all, you're a wanted criminal across the land."

“Don’t speak so loudly!” Genbei pleaded.

Shūzen guffaws uproariously.

(F.O.)

○＝（F.I）Narihira's Residence (Night)

Before Narihira's gang, Kimie recounted her tearful tale.

“Ten years ago, my father was involved in smuggling.”
“At that time...”

The group listened.

“Where did they get their hands on the joint pledge document from that time?”

she said.
Having heard this, Narihira grew angry.

O-Sayo also appeared irritated.
To Kimie,

“Don’t worry—just return home.”

Narihira also,

“Now that we’ve taken this on, we won’t let things go badly.”

With that, he told Hanji to escort the daughter home.
Sazen’s offer to escort her himself was uncharacteristically courteous.

Later, O-Sayo said to Narihira,

“Kumokiri Shūzen… what kinda bastard is he?”

With that,

“Tomorrow I’ll go take a poke at him myself.”

she said.

(F.O.)

○＝（F.I）Night Street

Sazen was escorting Kimie with a smug grin.

From the opposite direction came clerk Nagashichi and the apprentices.

Nagashichi saw Kimie, rejoiced, and ran up to her.
Kimie, too, rushed toward him.

“Mr. Nagashichi!”

She happily hugged him and prostrated herself in tears.

"Huh?" Sazen stood there blankly.

The apprentices' and Nagashichi's words of thanks also went unheeded.

(F.O.)

○＝（F.I）Street

Shūzen and several rōnin from his gang came sauntering along.

From the opposite direction came O-Sayo, sauntering along.
As the two parties passed each other, Shūzen tightly grabbed O-Sayo’s hand.

Damn it! O-Sayo’s hand was clutching Shūzen’s wallet.

In the shadows, Mashira's Hanji was beside himself with worry.

(F.O.)

○＝（F.I）The Second Floor of a Certain Restaurant

Shūzen and his men, and O-Sayo.
Shūzen offered a cup to O-Sayo, urging her to drink.

“I won’t have you hauled off to the guardhouse.”

With that,

“Where there’s a will… as they say.”

With that,

“Won’t you join my gang?”

O-Sayo sneered,

“You must be joking.”

What?! Shūzen,

“They don’t call me Osaraba O-Sayo for nothin’—I’m a pickpocket through and through!”

With that,

“You’re goin’ on about some joint pledge document or whatever—”

When she said this, Shūzen’s face went pale—“What?!”

O-Sayo continued tauntingly.

“It’s just a single sheet of tattered paper you snatched from some scrap dealer,”
and her words grew even harsher.
“Like trying to seduce a respectable young lady.”

And Shūzen erupted in fury like a raging fire.
O-Sayo, undeterred,
"I ain't got no desire to associate with cheap bastards like you!"
Dodging nimbly as Shūzen lurched into a sudden draw-strike, O-Sayo leapt from the window to the roof—

She climbed down from the roof via a tree, vaulted over the wooden fence, and planted herself firmly on solid ground.

Dumbfounded on the second floor were Shūzen and his men.
From below, O-Sayo,

“Farewell to you!”

With that, she walked away.

○＝Street Corner

Hanji was waiting.
O-Sayo arrived.
With a muttered apology for making him wait, the two started to leave together.
"Huh?!" Hanji exclaimed in surprise and froze in place.

From ahead came Constable Funzori Shichibei, swaggering briskly toward them.
They slipped past him unnoticed.
Watching Shichibei's retreating back,

"That bastard Shichibei's still struttin' around like a prize rooster, eh?"

Hanji said.

(F.O.)

○＝（F.I.）The Interior of Magistrate Kasahara Saemon’s Residence

Saemon and Shichibei sat facing each other.
“Now then,” Saemon began.
“Ten years ago, I was also part of that smuggling ring.”
Shichibei nodded in understanding.
Saemon,

“If that joint pledge document were to reach the senior councilor,” he lowered his voice, “I would have to commit seppuku.”

At that point, Funzori Shichibei,
“I want you to somehow get that joint pledge document out of Kumokiri’s hands,”
he pleaded.

Shichibei sank into thought.
At that moment, a chamberlain slid open the sliding door,

“A gentleman by the name of Kumokiri Shūzen—”

At this, Saemon and Shichibei exchanged glances.

(F.O.)

○＝（F.I.）Narihira's Residence

O-Sayo turned to Narihira.
“What a disaster!” she pouted.
Narihira stood up.
“There’s no helpin’ it,” he said.

(F.O.)

○＝（F.I.）Saemon's Residence

Shichibei pressed his ear against the sliding door, eavesdropping from outside.

Inside were Shūzen and Saemon.
Shūzen,

“I wouldn’t be so tactless as to submit the joint pledge document to the senior councilor...”

With that, he pressed closer.

“In exchange,”

He pressed closer.
Wondering what was happening, Saemon looked concerned.

Shūzen,

“I would like you to arrest Tsumaya Genbei, another member of the same group.”

he said.
Saemon froze in thought.

(F.O.)

○＝（F.I.）In Front of Kumokiri’s Gate

Sanpin Yamasa and Futatsume Sazen had been loitering around since earlier.

When a young girl passed by, as usual,

that Sazen guy,

“Miss Kimie!”

But it was getting him nowhere.

At that moment, Shūzen returned.

The two swiftly departed.

Shūzen entered inside the gate.
Funzori Shichibei, who had followed after him, peered inside the gate.

○＝Inside Shūzen’s Residence

Narihira Kozō was rummaging through the tatami room, searching for the joint pledge document.

Shūzen returned.

Startled,

“Who the hell are you?”

he said.
Narihira grinned slyly and calmly sat down there.
He sat down and clapped his hands.

A samurai appeared.
Shūzen ordered tea to be brought.
The samurai acknowledged the order and left.
Narihira turned to Shūzen,
“We are indebted to you for your kindness toward Miss O-Sayo the other day.”
Narihira bowed his head.
“Oh, not at all,” said Shūzen. “The honor is mine.”
At that moment, a close attendant brought tea.
Shūzen called out to stop the close attendant,
“At the gate, a constable who goes by the name of Funzori Shichibei has been loitering about.”
With that, he shot a piercing glare at Narihira and—
“Tell Shichibei this:”

With that,

“The wanted criminal Narihira Kozō has infiltrated my residence.”

“Huh?!” Narihira grasped his long sword without hesitation.
Shūzen continued giving orders to his attendant:
“Make the arrangements immediately.”
The close attendant acknowledged the order and moved to leave.
Narihira called out to stop him.
“That won’t be necessary.”
“Why?” demanded Shūzen.
Sneering, Narihira stated:
“That Shichibei’s being kept busy by my partner right about now.”
“Huh—?!” exclaimed Shūzen.

○＝In Front of the Gate

Sazen and Yamasa grabbed Shichibei by his hands and feet, counted "One, two, three!" and tossed him into the nearby stream with a splash.

○＝Interior

Shūzen clicked his tongue in irritation.

Narihira stood up,

“I’ll be back real soon.”

He left for the garden with a self-satisfied smirk.

Shūzen watched him leave, seething with frustration.

(F.O.)

○＝Tsumaya's Shopfront — The Next Morning

Officials escorted Genbei, the master, out and left.
Chasing after them in near-hysteria, Kimie and Nagashichi came out.

At that moment, a single palanquin arrived.

Accompanied by two samurai, the lead samurai addressed Kimie,

"We are here at the behest of Lord Kumokiri Shūzen."

Nagashichi and Kimie exchanged startled glances.

Kimie’s face was anguished.

“I’ll go.”

she declared resolutely.
And with that matter settled, Nagashichi—

Kimie said to the samurai, "Please wait a moment," and went into the house.

O-Sayo and Hanji watched this scene from the shadows.

○＝Interior

Kimie applied makeup with tears of grief.

(F.O.)

○＝(F.I.) Narihira's Residence

With only his head sticking out from the futon, O-Sayo and Hanji told Narihira Kozō about what had just happened.

"Alright!" Having made up his mind, Narihira—
called Yamasa and Sazen to his bedside,

The five of them huddled together and began their discussion.

(F.O.)

○＝(F.I.) Street Intersection

The familiar palanquin moved forward.
A second samurai accompanied it as they advanced.
Narihira Kozō stealthily followed its path alone.
Then from behind emerged an ordinary palanquin accompanied by the lead samurai.

The lead samurai sneered derisively at Narihira's retreating figure chasing the second palanquin before turning away in another direction.

Inside the palanquin was Kimie.

(F.O.)

○＝(F.I.) Desolate Spot

To the desolate spot where Funzori Shichibei’s squad lay in ambush approached the palanquin with the second samurai, followed by Narihira in close pursuit.

(F.O.)

○＝(F.I.) Shūzen's Residence (Interior)

Sazen and Yamasa circulated under the veranda setting fires.

“Fire!!”

After shouting, the two hid in the garden.
The samurai came out and caused a great commotion.

One of them, startled, grabbed the document box from the alcove and ran off.

Flames and smoke raged fiercely.

○＝Gatefront

The samurai who had grabbed the document box came running out.

Next, Yamasa and Sazen gave chase.

○= Vicinity

O-Sayo and Hanji blocked the samurai’s path ahead, and finally the four of them pinned him down and seized the document box.

When they searched inside,

there were fifteen or sixteen love letters addressed to “Mr. Sanshirō.”
Hanji was dumbfounded,

“What the hell? These are just some courtesan’s love letters!”

At this, the entire group deflated in disappointment.
The samurai hurriedly stuffed the scattered documents back into the box and fled at full speed.

Everyone burst into laughter.

(F.O.)

○＝(F.I.) Forest Interior

Kimie inside the palanquin trembled in fear.

Shūzen and the lead samurai were pressuring her nearby.
Shūzen—

“Whether your father Genbei lives or dies...”

he said,

“That depends entirely on you.”

Kimie’s bewildered face—Shūzen,

“Do you really think Narihira Kozō will come to your rescue?”

he said and floated a creepy smile,

"You're being too naive, Kimie."

"Huh?!" Kimie's face twisted with anxiety.
Shūzen—

"That Narihira Kozō bastard... Right about now—"

At the moment he said this,

"Right about now—I'm standing right behind you, Kumokiri Shūzen."

“Huh?!” Shūzen and the samurai whirled around.

In the shade of a tree stood Narihira, pistol in hand.

“With your twenty or thirty bundles of leaf-like officials—”

He stomped closer while—

“You’ve captured Narihira Kozō!”

he said,

“You’re too naive, Boss.”

And Shūzen was left utterly speechless.

○＝Original Location

The samurai’s subordinate and the palanquin lay fallen.

Shichibei and the constables lay stretched out on the ground.

○= Original Forest

Narihira pressed his pistol against Shūzen,

“Hand over the joint pledge document!!”

Narihira pressed his demand.
Shūzen reluctantly produced the contentious joint pledge document from his breast pocket.
Narihira Kozō received it and grinned.

(F.O.)

○＝(F.I.) Saemon Residence's Great Hall

Narihira Kozō sat at the center.

Saemon and Shichibei slid open the fusuma panel to the adjoining room and peered through.

Shichibei declared,

“That’s Narihira Kozō, no doubt.”

“All right,” Saemon said,

“After receiving the joint pledge document, arrest him.”

he said.

In the great hall, Narihira sat leisurely.

(F.O.)

○＝(F.I.) Prison

Genbei was there.

○＝Town

Yamasa, Sazen, O-Sayo, Hanji, Nagashichi, and Kimie hurried.

(F.O.)

○＝(F.I.) The next room of Saemon Residence's Great Hall

The constables led by Funzori Shichibei lay in wait, poised for the signal.

In the great hall,

Saemon sat facing Narihira.
Narihira produced the joint pledge document and,

“It’s certain that ‘Kasahara Saemon’ is written on this joint pledge document!”

Saemon hurriedly stopped him.

“No, no—there’s no need to spell out every detail.”

“Well then,” said Narihira,

“I’ll present this joint pledge document to Your Honor in exchange—”

he said,

“I’d like you to promptly release Tsumaya Genbei.”

“Very well,” said Saemon.

With that, Narihira placed the joint pledge document there.

Saemon swiftly took the joint pledge document and tucked it into his breast pocket.

Narihira was slightly surprised at what he was doing.

Saemon raised his right hand, and—

The sliding door opened, and dozens of constables.

Shichibei,

“Narihira Kozō, you’re under arrest!!”

Narihira sneered,

“I knew you’d pull something like that.”

Under Saemon’s command, the constables pressed closer inch by inch.

Narihira said to Saemon,

“Take another look at that joint pledge document, Your Honor.”

“What?!” Saemon hurriedly took out the joint pledge document and opened it to check.
It was torn in half.

“This is half!!”

Saemon was shocked.

Narihira,

“That’s right—it’s half.”

“Hey, Boss,”
“And what’s more—the crucial part with your name on it ain’t there!”

Gasping, Saemon froze.

Narihira planted himself firmly in place.

“Then it ain’t worth shit.”

Saemon froze in shock.
Shichibei's momentum evaporated.

Saemon,

"What about the remaining half?"

Narihira,

"Hand that half over to my partner,"

he said,

"I'll be back by eight o'clock, but..."

Furthermore,

“If by some chance I don’t return by then—”

“Hand that joint pledge document over to the senior councilor.”

With a gasp, Saemon turned pale.

Narihira said,

“I made myself perfectly clear.”

Saemon was shocked.

“If I’m not back by eight o’clock—”

“That’s right,” Narihira grinned.

Saemon,
“It will soon be eight o’clock.”
He couldn’t afford to dawdle.

“Please return as quickly as possible.”

As he pleaded,

Narihira said with a sneer playing on his lips,

“Now then—”

I also...

“Huh?!” Saemon gasped.

Narihira calmly,

“Ain’t goin’ back on a lick and a promise.”

“Good grief,” Saemon muttered in exasperation.

○＝In Front of the Prison Gates

The group arrived.

○＝In the Original Hall

Saemon and Narihira Kozō.

Saemon wrote the pardon document and handed it to Narihira.

Narihira,
“I’d like you to have this delivered to the prison by express messenger.”
“Very well,” Saemon replied compliantly.

“Hey! Get this done quickly!” he barked, and then—

“Then kindly return without delay.”

Narihira didn’t budge an inch.

“I’m starvin’.”
“Wanna get some grub down me.”

Saemon replied compliantly.

○＝Street

The horse galloped.

○＝Hall

Narihira Kozō was eating his meal.

Saemon anxiously fidgeted nearby.

○＝Galloping Horses

Cutback, briefly.

○＝Finally, the Prison Gate

The horse gallops into the prison gates.

Kimie and the others, who had been waiting at the gate, were overjoyed.

○＝In the Hall

Narihira stood up leisurely.

“Now hold on—,” Saemon protested.

“You’ll definitely bring the other half?”

Narihira scoffed,

“What a load o’ crap!”

With that,

“See here—this Narihira Kozō’s true-blue Edoite through ’n’ through!”

“Edoites, we’ve been straight shooters since way back—”

He leaned in,

“Unlike these two-faced rats crawlin’ round lately!”

With a sharp grin,

“Ain’t one to wag a forked tongue—rest easy.”

he burst into uproarious laughter.

(F.O.)

○＝（F.I.）Street

About twenty masked samurai,

The masked samurai huddled around Kumokiri Shūzen, whispering in secret.

They scattered in all directions as if on cue.

○＝Road

After parting ways with Tokubei and his son, Narihira and his five companions began returning.
Sanpin Yamasaemon stopped,

"I'll just pop over to her place."

With that, he left.
Sazen clicked his tongue in disapproval.

The four of them began sauntering along when they passed by a stunning beauty.
"Huh?" Sazen reacted.
He called out softly, slightly after the others:
“Miss Kimie!”
"Huh?" The woman turned around.
"Huh?!" Sazen grew even more astonished.

Miss Kimie made a strange face and left.

Sazen was delighted.
To Narihira and the others,
“I’ll just pop over to her place.”
The three exchanged startled glances.
Sazen left, grinning slyly.

○＝Road

Miss Kimie went.

From behind came Sazen.

○＝Front of a Certain House

Miss Kimie entered the house.

Sazen came chasing after her.
He hesitated, wondering whether to enter or not.
When suddenly the second-floor shoji slid open,
There was the dear, longed-for figure of Miss Kimie.
Sazen instinctively—

“Miss Kimie!”

he called out.

When called, Kimie said, “What a weirdo.”

From beside Kimie came—“What the—?”
The man who popped his head out was none other than Sanpin Yamasaemon.

At that, Sazen.

Yamasaemon placed a hand on Kimie’s shoulder.

“Sazen, I’ll introduce my girlfriend.”

And Sazen went limp.

○＝Road Intersection

Narihira, O-Sayo, and Hanji arrived.

Ahead of them, twenty masked figures lay in wait.

○＝At the Street Corner

"Let's go this way," O-Sayo said.

Narihira said, “No, let’s go this way.”

With that said,

“I’ll take this route.”

Narihira,

"I'll take this route."

Hanji,
“Let’s see who’s faster—race you!”

And Narihira and O-Sayo took their marks.

Hanji clapped his hands to signal "On your marks... go!"

The two set off running from separate paths.

A masked figure leaped into Narihira's path.

Narihira fought while running.

○=Different Road

O-Sayo ran, Hanji following behind.

Cutback - slight.

○＝Intersection

Narihira, who had cut down Shūzen and twenty others, and—
O-Sayo on the alternate route.
They reached the finish line simultaneously.

The two set off walking together in harmony.

Hanji lagged a step behind.
He suddenly looked behind.

A great many corpses.
He gasped in surprise.

Narihira and O-Sayo happily headed back.

(F.O.)