“Mission” (すべきこと Subeki Koto) is the first chapter of the Kagurabachi manga series, written and illustrated by Takeru Hokazono.
Color Spread[]
Cover[]
Chihiro takes down three enemies, all clad in matching three-piece black suits. He strikes with precision, posed confidently as he confronts them. This encounter unfolds in what appears to be the headquarters of the Korogumi Yakuza. The series title, "カグラバチ (Kagurabachi)," is prominently displayed in a bold dark red font in a large font size.
Panel[]
In Chapter 1's lead page, Chihiro and his father, Kunishige Rokuhira, are engaging in forging, also known as Tanren. They are in the midst of shaping metal through hammering to craft a sword. Kunishige is an incredibly renowned swordsmith in their country, and Chihiro assists him in the hope of following in his footsteps. The two work with "tamahagane," a specific type of steel and refine it through several highly skilled processes, transforming the lump of steel into a strong katana.
Summary[]
Kunishige and Chihiro at work.
At Rokuhira Swordsmith, a workshop outside their house, the sun shines down on Kunishige and his son, Chihiro. Kunishige is renowned as the most famous swordsmith in their country, crafting special katanas using his unique method. Chihiro diligently trains alongside his father every day. When Kunishige is at work, he adopts a serious attitude, which stands in stark contrast to his usual self, which is far more casual, open and exuberant. Chihiro often finds his father's actions a bit odd, including Kunishige's tendency to talk to their goldfish.
Kunishige had returned home one day with some goldfish he had acquired on the way back from the sword polisher. Chihiro wasn't thrilled since he knew he'd end up taking care of them. Kunishige told Chihiro the shopkeeper had said the red goldfish was believed to bring good fortune, the black one warded off evil, and the three-colored one was totally amazing, to Chihiro's exasperation. Handling his father's whims and responsibilities was a handful for Chihiro, but acknowledges it as simply part of his life.
Shiba visits the Rokuhira family.
While the two were engrossed in their usual casual banter, a familiar face suddenly graces their gathering. Togo Shiba, an old friend of Kunishige, pops in for a visit as he often did. Bringing along some souvenirs, he nonchalantly tells Kunishige is not too peaceful before playfully sparking a lighthearted height comparison between himself and Chihiro. During this visit, Shiba talks to Chihiro about Kunishige's fame during the Seitei War 15 years ago, where he was considered a hero, as the swords he forged played a crucial role in ending the war. Chihiro had heard this story countless times, along with constant comparisons between him and his father, but never tired of them. After Shiba leaves, Kunishige notes Chihiro will soon turn 15, and decides to tell him about another side of swordsmithing upon hearing Chihiro's continued zeal for the subject.
Kunishige leads Chihiro to a room where a katana rested on display, explaining it was one of the swords he had forged before Chihiro was born that was used during war, with several others in the basement. As Kunishige holds the katana, he reflects on how katanas, while they are tools for saving lives, they can also be instruments of death. Swordsmiths bear the responsibility for the consequences of the katanas they created. In one swift strike, he cuts through a bamboo stand, emphasizing that katana, in the wrong hands, could take innocent lives, which is something swordsmiths must always consider.
Kunishige emphasises the importance of katana needing to be used to defeat evil and protect the weak, and thus swordsmiths needed to have principles and accountability when making and selling swords. Kunishige asks Chihiro if he can shoulder the weight of producing and entrusting a katana to someone, knowing the impact it could have. Chihiro, although unsure, voices his committment to taking on this responsibility. Kunishige decides that's all he has to hear, and all that's left is for him to believe in Chihiro.
The main base of the Korogumi Yakuza.
38 months later, the Korogumi Yakuza are executing several people belonging to the Anti-Korogumi Movement, with one remaining survivor. This prisoner yells how their once-peaceful city had descended into chaos following the arrival of the Korogumi, who resorted to violence and seized control over both land and wealth.
The Korogumi delivers a sharp slap to the prisoner and threatens him, informing him of their supporters, though the prisoner was uncaring of the sorcerers supporting the group. A man wearing a fedora, seated on a nearby platform within the building then spoke up, finding the prisoner's words intriguing, and he summons tree branches to surround the prisoner as he walks down the stairs. The sorcerer inquires whether the prisoner had ever encountered sorcery before, commenting bravery often had its roots in ignorance.
Turning his attention to the Yakuza boss, the sorcerer states how the Korogumi go about their actions was inconsequential as long as they continued their payments to the sorcerer's organisation. Nevertheless, he expresses mild concern about individuals like the prisoner causing disruptions. With a quick hand gesture, the sorcerer departed, vanishing into flames. A flame-like symbol is present on his hand.
Shiba comments on Chihiro's prominent scar on his face.
Elsewhere Chihiro sits on a train heading to a certain city when Shiba approaches him, munching on some grilled smelt. Chihiro mentions they were supposed to meet at the station and wonders how he has never seen anyone casually eating grilled fish while walking around. Shiba offers to share some with Chihiro as he takes a seat in front of him, but Chihiro declines.
As Shiba continues to enjoy his grilled fish, he comments on the prominent scar on Chihiro's left upper face, suggesting that it could be removed since it was quite noticeable. Chihiro explains that when he sees that scar every morning in the mirror while washing his face, it serves as a constant reminder of the day his life changed each morning, filling him with fresh resentment each morning. Shiba points out that this long-standing grudge could potentially be harmful to Chihiro, prompting Chihiro to rhetorically ask if Shiba intended to stop him.
The two of them arrive in a city that Shiba introduces as one ruled by the Korogumi Yakuza group. Chihiro asks if the Yakuza had any connections to the Hishaku, and Shiba admits he isn't entirely sure, but it was the only lead they had thus far. Chihiro suggests that they assess whether the Yakuza were reasonable individuals before engaging with them.
Several hanged bodies at the entrance of a huge torii gate associated with a group known as the Anti-Korogumi Movement.
Meanwhile, nearby residents discuss the grim sight of several hanged bodies at the entrance of a huge torii gate. These bodies were associated with a group known as the Anti-Korogumi Movement, and it was clear that they met this gruesome fate for opposing the Korogumi. Shiba notes how such gangs often used such displays as a warning to deter interference, implying that the group might be ruthless. Chihiro, visibly angered by the sight of the dead bodies, asks Shiba for the location of the Korogumi's base and requests that Shiba take him there.
Outside the Korogumi Yakuza base, some members of the group were casually seated, keeping watch at the entrance while discussing their readiness to eliminate anyone bold enough to intrude. In the midst of their conversation, a wakizashi suddenly strikes one of the Yakuza members, fatally slashing the throat of the person seated in front of him. The wakizashi was thrown by Chihiro, while Shiba deigns to deal with another group of guards.
Chihiro strikes down the guards stationed outside.
Chihiro leaps onto the table of the group of Yakuza members and grabs his wakizashi before spinning around and slitting each of their throats. Outside, the prisoner remains on the ground, and the Korogumi boss threatens for his subordinates to capture the prisoner's sister. The prisoner shouts in fear and ultimately concedes, agreeing to share all the information he possessed.
Their conversation is abruptly interrupted when one of the men opening the entrance door is suddenly struck down, and another has his hand severed. The Korogumi shouts for the identity of the intruder and yells for the guards stationed outside, unaware that Shiba and Chihiro had already taken care of them.
In a somewhat playful retort to the boss' inquiry, Shiba calls out that his men were slacking off. In response to the unanswered question of their identities, Shiba lackadaisically informs one of the surviving guards outside that Chihiro was the son of the master swordsmith Kunishige Rokuhira.
Chihiro wields Enten with the goldfish for Kuro and Nishiki at the ready.
As Chihiro enters the building, he explains he is there to ask a question, while making it clear that he would not allow any of them to wield katana. In response, the Yakuza boss promptly orders his men to attack Chihiro.
Meanwhile, Shiba, who remained outside, explained that Kunishige had infused Chihiro's katana with sorcery. The Enchanted Blades he made were unique and possessed special powers. Chihiro draws his katana and calls its name, Enten, two goldfish manifesting from the blade, one black and the other tri-coloured, eerily similar to the goldfish Chihiro and Kunishige had in their house. Enten was the last katana crafted by his father, the one Kunishige had sacrificed his life to create and protect.
The black goldfish adheres to the blade as Chihiro then calls Kuro, Enten now coated in black. With a single projectile slash Chihiro swiftly and effortlessly bisects the line of Yakuza in front of him. He then leaps into the air and delivers more decisive strikes, and finally using Nishiki to eliminate all the Yakuza in the room.
Chihiro threatens the Korogumi boss
Shiba joins Chihiro in the building, now filled with bloody Yakuza corpses, as Chihiro interrogates the Korogumi boss about the Hishaku, the group of sorcerers supporting them. While initially feigning ignorance, the Korogumi boss was quickly persuaded to talk by Chihiro's blade at his throat. Meanwhile, Shiba assists the prisoner by cutting the ties that had bound him.
The Korogumi boss remarked the Hishaku were monsters, and thought Chihiro was insane for trying to take them on. Chihiro was undeterred; to him, their monstrous nature didn't matter, as he was prepared to cut them down regardless.
Quick References[]
Chapter Notes[]
- The Rokuhira family are introduced; consisting of father Kunishige and son Chihiro. Kunishige is a famous swordsmith whose blades were instrumental in achieving victory in the Seitei War. Chihiro highly respects him and wishes to follow in his footsteps.
- While at work, Kunishige is very serious, but most of the time he is the opposite, extremely casual and laid back. Chihiro, on the other hand, is more cool and taciturn in comparison. The two also have three goldfish in the house; one black, one red, and one tri-coloured.
- Kunishige's old friend Togo Shiba occasionally drops by, updating Kunishige on goings-on and chatting with the two.
- A short while before Chihiro is 15, Kunishige decides to tell him about a less simple side to swordsmithing; the moral responsibility that comes with forging swords that can be used for good or ill. Kunishige emphasises the need to prioritise defeating evil and protecting the weak, as well as the principles and accountability that swordsmiths must have when forging swords.
- Chihiro is unsure whether he can accept the responsibility, but is willing to learn. Kunishige is pleased at Chihiro's outlook.
- 38 months later, the Korogumi Yakuza execute several members of an opposition movement, while a Hishaku sorcerer visits to collect payment before leaving.
- Chihiro and Shiba arrive in the city and see the bodies of several other members of the movement strung up in a public area. Chihiro had planned to negotiate with the Korogumi regarding information on the Hishaku, but changes his plan to a plan of attack upon seeing the sight.
- Upon arriving at the Korogumi base, Chihiro uses his wakizashi and Enchanted Blade Enten to wipe out the guards inside, while Shiba handles the ones outside.
- Chihiro uses two techniques: Kuro and Nishiki, which involve the shapes of a black and tri-coloured goldfish merging with Enten. Kuro consists of a flying slash that can cut through many sorcerers at once, while the effects of Nishiki are not seen, but are sufficient to wipe out the remaining Yakuza in the room.
- Shiba enters the building and frees the prisoner as Chihiro interrogates the Korogumi boss regarding the Hishaku.
Characters in Order of Appearance[]
Author's Comment[]
| Author's Comments | |
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Takeru Hokazono |
I have been honored with the opportunity to draw lots of manga, and that's exactly what I'm gonna do!!
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