Kamunabi

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Kamunabi
The leaders of the Kamunabi.
General Information
Japanese	神 (かむ) 奈 (な) 備 (び)
Rōmaji	Kamunabi
Leader(s)	Kasen Ichiki Yatsuru Izaru Kudo Soshiro Azami 3 unnamed leaders
Other Notable Members	Hiyuki Kagari Tafuku Mihara Kiri Shirakai Natsuki Misaka
Subgroup(s)	Anti-Cloud Gouger Special Forces † Shinuchi Bidding Team Kokugoku Steam Squad † Senkutsuji Monks Masumi Core Station Operators West Entrance Guard Forces Izaru Squad Kudo Squad † Togo Squad
Previous Affiliate(s)	Togo Shiba
Status	Active
Debut
Manga	Chapter 7

The Kamunabi (神 (かむ) 奈 (な) 備 (び) , Kamunabi), formerly known as the Counter-Sorcery Army (対 (たい) 妖 (よう) 術 (じゅつ) 戦 (せん) 略 (りゃく) 陸 (りく) 軍 (ぐん) , Tai-Yōjutsu Senryaku Rikugun), is a government-affiliated agency of sorcerers established after the Seitei War whose primary mission is to eliminate threats to the nation as a whole.

Their current objectives include, but are not limited to, apprehending the Hishaku and retrieving the Enchanted Blades from them in order to ensure they control the blades to maintain peace in Japan.

They are a major faction in the series that has both aided and opposed Chihiro Rokuhira's group on separate occasions, due to also being after the Enchanted Blades.

Overview

The Kamunabi have been operating for around 18 years, being established during the Seitei War, rearranging themselves from their precursor organisation the Counter-Sorcery Army. It is stated ever since sorcerers started going public with their abilities, the only reason the nation of Japan has not fallen into chaos is due to the Kamunabi's involvement in keeping the peace.

When the Hishaku killed Kunishige Rokuhira, stole the Enchanted Blades, and later killed Cloud Gouger's bearer Ibuki Misaka, the Kamunabi relocated the remaining sword bearers to specific properties called Sanso guarded by the organization’s elite sorcerers. Their mission shifted to retrieving the Enchanted Blades from the Hishaku and later Chihiro so they could not potentially be used for nefarious deeds and so the Kamunabi could make use of them.

Several agents of the Kamunabi were involved in helping Kunishige find a place to hide during the war. This presumably included Kunishige's close friends Shiba and Azami. However, most of the leaders within the Kamunabi were seemingly not aware of Chihiro's existence or the existence of Enten up until after Chihiro's duel with Sojo in the Kaburato Castle courtyard. Azami considered the Enchanted Blades a threat to the nation and initially contemplated confiscating Enten upon meeting with Chihiro, though he decided not to and refrained from informing his colleagues and superiors that made up the leadership of the Kamunabi due to his closeness with Kunishige and Chihiro.

Strength

The Anti-Cloud Gouger Special Forces, one of the Kamunabi's many elite squads.

The Kamunabi serves as the largest organization of sorcerers in all of Japan and is dedicated to maintaining the peace and eliminating threats to the nation. As such, there are many powerful figures within its ranks. Engaging in a fight against the Kamunabi has been compared to engaging in a fight against the nation of Japan itself.

That said, the Kamunabi themselves know full well that their control is not absolute; centuries-old clans of sorcerers across the nation often ignore or outright oppose the Kamunabi's attempts to maintain order, such as the Sazanami Clan's Rakuzaichi. The Kamunabi's relative lack of manpower being stretched across the entire nation means that properly engaging one of these clans would require large amounts of manpower and result in a number of casualties, hence there is little they can do apart from leaving the clans be, even if their activities are criminal. The issue of lacking manpower, especially after elite troops were positioned at the Sanso in the wake of the Hishaku's murders of Kunishige Rokuhira and Ibuki Misaka, is recognised by the Kamunabi, with Kudo noting education was crucial.

The Kamunabi's precursor organization, the Counter-Sorcery Army, operated under a ranking system similar to that of the standard army, though this practise had largely fallen out of use by the time the organisation had become the Kamunabi. The ranking system is considered by some to still be a generally good way of judging one's combat capabilities based on one's former rank in the Counter-Sorcery Army. Indeed, the Oni Mask Sorcerer seemed to gauge Soshiro Azami's capabilities using this ranking, using the fact that he was in civilian clothing to figure out he was "at least a colonel"; an accurate representation given Azami's actual attained rank at the age of 18 was colonel.

At the most basic level, the standard curriculum utilised by the Kamunabi's education system involves intense training in spirit energy, combat and sorcery fundamentals, with the learned information estimated by Kudo to be around a third of the Kamunabi's library on Level 2 of their headquarters. Around 300 such fighters are stationed on Kamunabi Headquarters.

Above them, the Kamunabi boast several elite squadrons of sorcerers, capable of dealing with even Enchanted-Blade level threats for some time.

The Anti-Cloud Gouger Special Forces were able to deal significant damage to Sojo (with the assistance of Chihiro's information) and four of them were able to take one of Sojo's Mei attacks (albeit one with little charge) without significantly harming their offensive capabilities. However, despite dealing severe damage to him, they were ultimately defeated by Sojo.

The Kokugoku Steam Squad stationed at Kokugoku Hot Spring displayed great tactics and team coherence when defeating a group of Datenseki-wielding sorcerers, but were ultimately weakened enough to be defeated by Hiruhiko of the Hishaku.

Ro, Sumi and Moku of the Masumi clan have trained to cloak their scent, sound and presence in combat in order to fight alongside Tobimune bearer Seiichi Samura, and they were skilled enough to withstand an onslaught of Datenseki-wielding sorcerers for a considerable amount of time. They are additionally experts in a wide variety of spells, with Kudo placing their knowledge as on par with the Core Station sorcerers, some of the most learned within the Kamunabi, who he estimated to have information in their minds equal to the entirety of a library.

Hiyuki with Flame Bone active.

The organization's strongest fighter Hiyuki Kagari has been stated to be more than a match for the Enchanted Blades. Her flaming bones conjured by Flame Bone massively increase the damage and spirit energy concentration of her attacks, to the point where even Chihiro's Aka was unable to fully block one of Hiyuki's punches, and Chihiro was sent flying into a wall behind, the wall breaking and Chihiro being partially set alight. With Flame Bone, Hiyuki was able to clash evenly with Kyora Sazanami wielding Magatsumi, strongest of the Enchanted Blades.

The leaders of the Kamunabi are among the organisation's best sorcerers, and all highly skilled in the sorcerous arts, in fields that may or may not encompass combat. The three highest-ranking leaders, those in white robes, being Kasen, Ichiki and Yatsuru, are adept enough in sorcery that they were able to construct a seal around Magatsumi's box strong enough that Shiba estimated even the most skilled sorcerers would take 10 years to break it; though Yura did it in three.

Azami (alongside Togo Shiba, a powerful sorcerer in his own right) was recognised as a "problem" by Cloud Gouger bearer Sojo when he arrived at Sojo's confrontation with Chihiro, motivating Sojo to leave the scene. Of note is the fact that Azami and Shiba were trained in hand-to-hand combat by another member of the Kamunabi's leadership, Ichiki. Ichiki recognises Azami as an exceptional combatant and sorcerer, and both himself and Kudo view him as 'on another level' compared to the other leaders. Indeed, Azami was able to battle and deal severe damage to Yura while he was utilising the power of Magatsumi, though suffered grievous wounds in the process.

Outright strength aside, being backed by the government, the Kamunabi are also incredibly well-off financially, to the point where they were confident they could bet on and obtain Magatsumi, which was predicted by Kyora Sazanami to have an unparalleled value.

Members

Leadership

Kasen

Ichiki

Yatsuru

Izaru

Kamunabi Leader 1

Kamunabi Leader 2^?

Kudo^†

Kamunabi Leader 3

Soshiro Azami

Anti-Cloud Gouger Special Forces

Ikuto Hagiwara

Commander

Kazane Machi

Shiyumi Harima^†

Hajime Kugara^†

Kiyohiko Uzuki^†

Makoto Kasahara^†

Masumi

Ro

Clan Head

Moku

Sumi

Other Members

Hiyuki Kagari

Wielder of Flame Bone

Tafuku Mihara

Hiyuki's Partner

Shinuchi Bidding Team Member 1

Shinuchi Bidding Team Member 2

Fushimi^†

Kokugoku Steam Squad Sorcerer

Ryo Fuura^†

Senkutsuji Monk

Core Station Vessel

Headquarters West Entrance Commander

Transformation Sorcerer^†

Knives Sorcerer^†

Ishihira^†

Kashima^†

Kudo Squad Commander

Kamunabi Pathologist

Core Station Traitor

Kiri Shirakai

Izaru Squad Member

Natsuki Misaka

Togo Squad Commander

Goggles Sorcerer

Comb Sorcerer^?

Chonmage Sorcerer^?

Kamunabi Doctor

Former

Togo Shiba

Affiliates

Chihiro Rokuhira

Hakuri Sazanami

Properties

An overview of Kamunabi Headquarters.

• Headquarters - The Kamunabi's headquarters, located underneath Tokyo and surrounded by a large barrier controlled by the Core Station Vessel. Over 500 Kamunabi personnel including non-combatants operate within headquarters.

The Sanso.

• Sanso (慚箱 (さんそう) , Sansō) - Heavily guarded locations where the Enchanted Blade bearers active during the Seitei War were held following Kunishige and Misaka's deaths, protected by numerous Kamunabi sorcerers. They are as follows:
  • Senkutsuji Temple (仙沓 (せんくつ) 寺 (じ) , Senkutsuji), where Seiichi Samura was located prior to Samura's departure from the fortress.
  • Kokugoku Hot Spring (国獄温泉 (こくごくおんせん) , Kokugoku Onsen), where Yoji Uruha was located prior to the Hishaku's attack on the fortress.
  • Kuentaisha Shrine (九 (く) 煙大社 (えんたいしゃ) , Kuentaisha), where an unnamed sword bearer was located. After the Hishaku's attacks on Kokugoku and Senkutsuji, the sword bearer was relocated.
  • Sushi Subaru (鮨 (すし) ·すば琉 (る) , Sushi Subaru), where Subaru was located. After the Hishaku's attacks on Kokugoku and Senkutsuji, Subaru and his restaurant were relocated.

History

Background

Prior to the Kamunabi's formal founding, a precursor organization, the Counter-Sorcery Army, operated during the Seitei War, which would gradually evolve into the Kamunabi by the war's end. The Counter-Sorcery Army adopted a ranking system similar to that of the standard army, a system that would be discontinued by the time of the Kamunabi. Within this hierarchy, Soshiro Azami ascended to the rank of colonel by the age of 18. The Counter-Sorcery Army was served by the Masumi, many of whom perished during the Seitei War. Their descendants would continue to serve the Kamunabi afterwards. The Kamunabi's primary aim was to prevent and eliminate threats to the nation.

Malediction; the greatest crime in modern history covered up as an act of heroism.

After the six Enchanted Blade bearers and the Japanese forces fought back the invasion and advanced onto the island, the islanders surrendered after deposing their royalty in order to prevent any further casualties, and a peace treaty was signed, with Kasen and Ichiki present.

However, Akemura Soga's psyche had been destroyed over the course of the war, and he now believed the islanders needed to be annihilated. His thoughts resonated with his blade, accessing the True Realm and using the technique Malediction to devastating effect, resulting in a calamity killing over 200,000 people, completely eradicating the entirety of the island nation's populace. It required the remaining five sword bearers to stop him after his rampage, upon which he was imprisoned deep underground by the Kamunabi.

In order to cover up Soga's genocide and ensure peace remained in Japan, the higher echelons within Japan spread word that the islanders were brutal, depraved savages that needed to be annihilated to safeguard the nation, and lifted up Soga as a pedestal for his devastating defeat of the 'evil enemy'. Kunishige Rokuhira and the bearers of the Enchanted Blades were revered as national heroes, and this outlook would be taught in schools as well.

Following the Seitei War, several high-ranking members of the Kamunabi as well as Shiba and Azami aided in finding a hiding place for Kunishige, who took the Enchanted Blades with him. Around this time, the Kamunabi (specifically Kasen, Ichiki and Yatsuru) constructed an extremely strong seal around the box of the Enchanted Blade Magatsumi, due to its ability to bypass its Lifelong Contract and in view of the genocide its owner had committed, to further ensure Soga and Magatsumi could never make contact again.

Sometime before the present, Shiba departed the Kamunabi.

The Kamunabi blacklisted Genichi Sojo over a decade prior to the present, but Sojo continued his criminal operations skillfully in the underworld and evaded their pursuit.

Eight years ago, after Yura had arrived at his house and reported a prophecy that Malediction would arise within Japan, former Tobimune bearer Seiichi Samura went to Kamunabi Headquarters and met with Ichiki. Ichiki mused that the 'prophecy' Yura claimed to have received may be similar to the prophetic dreams of the monk of Tenrakuin.

Ichiki acknowledges the possibility of another Malediction.

He acknowledged the possibility of Soga causing a second Malediction was not zero, but highly unlikely given Soga's imprisonment and Shinuchi's sealing and isolation. To remove the possibility they would need to execute Soga, but that would kill the sword bearers including Samura given the interconnectedness of the Lifelong Contracts. Ichiki noted Samura was right to be concerned about the future given he was looking after his daughter but assured him the Kamunabi had the situation handled, telling Samura he could rest easy and focus on taking care of his daughter.

Sometime in the past, the Shigyu Brothers killed 11 members of the Kamunabi, including officers.

Following the murders of Kunishige Rokuhira and Ibuki Misaka at the hands of the Hishaku, the Kamunabi began protecting the remaining Enchanted Blade bearers. The sword bearers were allocated to fortresses called Sanso, which were heavily guarded by Kamunabi agents.

Yoji Uruha was allocated to Kokugoku Hot Spring, and was devastated when he heard Kunishige had been killed. He would then live out an uneventful life over the next three years alongside his Kamunabi guard force the Kokugoku Steam Squad, himself noting he was ready to die at any time, as if he had lost his will to live.

Seiichi Samura was allocated to Senkutsuji Temple, with Ro, Sumi and Moku of the Masumi as his bodyguards alongside a squadron of monks at the temple. Discontent with how the Masumi were eager to sacrifice themselves for an 'old geezer' like himself, Samura voiced his opinion that they should operate on the same footing, refusing to let the Masumi do too much for himself.

Several months before November of the present year, Yukisada underwent the process of becoming another Vessel for the Kamunabi's Core Station barrier system, assisted by Kasen sneaking the Kamunabi's backup Vessel device to the Hishaku.

Vs. Sojo Arc

On the 6th of October, after his confrontation with two sorcerers, Chihiro encountered three more at an intersection, but Azami then arrived and quickly fended them off. Azami accompanied Chihiro back to Cafe Haru Haru, where he greeted Shiba and chastised him for revealing the presence of an Enchanted Blade in public. Azami then told Chihiro about the Rakuzaichi, the underworld's most famous auction, where Genichi Sojo was said to have submitted Shinuchi. Azami warned Chihiro of Sojo's danger, and advised him that the Kamunabi would handle him; however, seeing Chihiro's refusal to sit back and do nothing, advised him to instead be prepared for any further action.

Azami and Shiba then left to form a plan for what to do from that point onwards. The two boarded a car and discussed the irregular behaviour displayed by Sojo, the criminal seemingly challenging the Kamunabi. Azami reckoned it was due to Sojo's possession of Cloud Gouger giving him confidence. He then once again conveyed to Shiba the importance of keeping tabs on Chihiro and Enten; if two Enchanted Blades were to be seen battling; the public backlash on Kunishige's legacy would be extreme.

Anti-Cloud Gouger Special Forces engaging Sojo.

Later, on the 7th of October, Azami, Shiba and the Anti-Cloud Gouger Special Forces (minus Kazane) arrived where Chihiro and Sojo were battling in the streets. and Harima summoned a wall of earth to block Sojo's Mei. Due to those five, Shiba and Azami's combined presence, Sojo decided to make his retreat.

On the 12th of October, the Anti-Cloud Gouger Special Forces (with the exception of Kasahara, who was scouting) met with Chihiro to discuss a strategy to engage Sojo, after Azami and Shiba assured Chihiro that they were trustworthy. Their commander, Hagiwara, recognised Chihiro as hot-blooded, and the two negotiated that Chihiro would give them the information in exchange for being allowed to rescue Char, as Hagiwara's squad had only been assigned to kill Sojo. As such, Chihiro informed them of Cloud Gouger's three abilities, supplementary ability to charge, Sojo's potential usage of these techniques and the True Realm.

On the 14th of October, all six members of Hagiwara's squadron would all confront Sojo as he exited a bathhouse, Hagiwara unnerved at Sojo's prediction of their arrival. Harima would send many portions of earth into the sky to serve as a battlefield, and she would stay away from the fighting with Kazane protecting her, while the other four (including Hagiwara) would engage Sojo, barraging him with attacks in order to prevent him from charging his attacks.

Sojo recognized this and doused the group with Kou and used the resulting water to land a hit with a low-charge Mei, before charging a more powerful Mei. The Kamunabi had planned for this with Chihiro's help, and as Kugara, Kasahara and Uzuki leaped away, Hagiwara used Jikai to force Sojo and the water into the air, the resulting Mei redirecting harmlessly through the surrounding water. With Mei on cooldown, the remaining three members dived down to attack Sojo.

However, as Hagiwara recognized Sojo preparing another attack, he called Kugara over to him as the three above dodged Sojo's Yui. Kasahara and Uzuki restrained Sojo and even as Sojo began crackling with lightning, Hagiwara and Kugara made use of it by using the latter's iron transformation, the lightning and Hagiwara's Jikai to simulate an electromagnetic cannon, blasting Sojo off the floating island and claiming Cloud Gouger. The still-sparking Sojo then cast Mei and the blade responded, lightning materializing around itself.

Sojo defeats the Anti-Cloud Gouger Special Forces.

As a result, Sojo sped towards his blade, catching it in his mouth and carving huge chunks into Kugara and Kasahara. Before Kazane could make a move, Sojo then attacked him as well, slicing off his arm and cancelling Kazane's technique, Kaichi. The ensuing battle resulted in the death of all except Kazane, who was left without an arm kneeling on the beach, and Hagiwara, trapped by his legs underwater by a portion of earth.

Following Chihiro and Sojo's duel in the Kaburato Castle courtyard, the Kamunabi identified Sojo's corpse. Azami later met with the injured Kazane in order to form a status report. There, Kazane revealed his distaste for the Enchanted Blades's existence, and stated he would leave out Chihiro's relation with Azami but report everything else. On the 24th of October, Azami then met with his fellow leaders of the Kamunabi, reporting Sojo's death and the casualties among the Anti-Cloud Gouger Special Forces.

The leaders then discussed the upcoming auction of Shinuchi at the Rakuzaichi, re-prioritising the retrieval of Shinuchi. Yatsuru questioned who they should choose to form a Lifelong Contract Cloud Gouger, prompting Ichiki to ask whether they had confirmed Cloud Gouger's acquisition or not. Kasen then revealed Kazane's report: the Anti-Cloud Gouger Special Forces had not killed Sojo; rather, it was Chihiro Rokuhira, who possessed a seventh, never-before-seen Enchanted Blade. Having not found Cloud Gouger, the Kamunabi assumed Chihiro had taken the blade.

Izaru then claimed Azami knew the truth behind the seventh blade and Kunishige's son, and stating the only reason the Enchanted Blades were stolen was because those sympathising with Kunishige had hidden him. Kasen quickly interrupted the ensuing argument, advising that their main objective was to retrieve the Enchanted Blades and deciding to conduct an internal investigation later. He ordered that Hiyuki Kagari be dispatched with permission to use Flame Bone up to the torso.

Rakuzaichi Arc

Hiyuki confronts Chihiro.

Eight days after her dispatch, on the 1st of November, Hiyuki encountered Chihiro and Hakuri Sazanami exiting a Yakuza building. Tafuku Mihara activated his sorcery, creating a room to facilitate their battle, and Hiyuki activated Flame Bone. Hiyuki stated Chihiro had no business wielding an Enchanted Blade for his own benefit, and that it should be under the control of the Kamunabi for the nation's security. Hakuri then leapt in and intercepted one of Hiyuki's attacks, taking severe damage to his face, causing Hiyuki to hold back her strength so as to not fatally harm him.

Hiyuki repeated her earlier message that the Enchanted Blades should be owned by the Kamunabi, and added that Chihiro should truly put his all into fighting so she could derive proper satisfaction from their bout. In response, Chihiro decided to fight in order to improve his mastery of Enten so as to better protect people, and rushed in.

After several attacks, Chihiro slashed from behind, and Hiyuki chose to take the attack out of frustration, as Chihiro had used the flat of his blade. Her pride damaged by Chihiro's holding back, Hiyuki demanded Chihiro genuinely fight to try to kill, before ordering Rikuo to unleash the Spinal Column. Tafuku then noticed Hakuri was about to lose unconsciousness and alerted Hiyuki. Hiyuki cancelled her attack as Tafuku's room disappeared and Chihiro immediately took Hakuri and fled. Hiyuki and Tafuku also left, deciding to head for the same place Chihiro and Hakuri were going to, as Hakuri had let slip the two were after Shinuchi.

Hiyuki and Tafuku later returned to Kamunabi Headquarters beneath Tokyo, their sudden return surprising Kasen and Ichiki. Hiyuki reluctantly revealed they had failed their assignment and declared her intention to head to the Rakuzaichi to pursue Chihiro, but Kasen stated the Kamunabi would be bidding on the blade rather than fighting for it. Hiyuki vehemently disagreed, believing bidding on the auction would be just endorsing its existence.

Ichiki acknowledged that was a valid point, but rationalised that a war with the Sazanami Clan would cause too much loss to the Kamunabi, the leaders deciding bidding on the auction would be worth it if they could retrieve the blade without losing a single person. Hiyuki still disapproved of the plan up until the last minute, believing that the lives of all individuals were important, only acquiescing due to knowing the importance and devastating power of Enchanted Blade-level strength; being privy to such strength herself.

Sometime later, Kasen would learn that Enten would be sold at the Rakuzaichi. Hiyuki and Tafuku learned of the info two days after their confrontation with Chihiro and Hakuri, and speculated as to why Chihiro would give up his blade.

Chihiro and Hiyuki reunite at the Rakuzaichi.

On the 8th of November, date of the 208th Rakuzaichi, the Kamunabi dispatched a team specifically designated to bidding on Shinuchi, being a stick-chewing man and a timid glasses-wearing woman. The two discussed the moral corruption of the auction and the importance of retrieving Shinuchi. Hiyuki and Tafuku were also present at the venue, having been assigned to 'protect' Chihiro so as to ensure he was separated from the blade but kept alive so as to deny anyone the option to use Enten. Chihiro attempted to negotiate with them to not attack him by bringing up the Rakuzaichi's corrupt nature in order to appeal to Hiyuki's moral side. Frustrated by his valid points, Hiyuki angrily decided to only attack Chihiro after he had taken the Enchanted Blades, and begrudgingly let him pass.

After dealing with the yakuza in the room, Tafuku asked Hiyuki whether she could really kill Chihiro given he was not inclined to do the same to her. Hiyuki hastily replied the only reason she hadn't killed him was because he was pitiful, and that next time she had the chance, she would kill him and take his Enchanted Blade.

Hiyuki confronts Yura.

Sometime after, once Chihiro had dealt noticeable damage to Yura and reconvened with Hakuri, Hiyuki walked downstairs into the room. She prepared to engage Yura, but he stated he was already satisfied and immediately dissipated into a burst of fire and teleported away, Hiyuki noticing the Hishaku insignia on his hand before he disappeared. Hiyuki's attention quickly shifted to two squads of Sazanami sorcerers approaching her from in front and behind, who she quickly defeated.

Later on, as Kyora began the auction of Shinuchi early, the bidding team members discussed how the audience was still bidding even after explosions had occurred within the auction hall. The man commented that the auction might be cut short sooner than expected, as he had sensed the Kyora on stage was nothing more than a projection, and hypothesised the real auctioneer was elsewhere in a battle. Later on, the man speculated that the reason for Shinuchi's additional sealing was due to its power being able to bypass Lifelong Contracts. Soon after, Hiyuki would enter the auction hall and asked a nearby Hakuri about the situation.

A three-way clash of ideologies: Chihiro and Hiyuki vs Kyora.

Hakuri briefed Hiyuki and transported her into the Storehouse, threatening her to cooperate or he wouldn't let her out. Tafuku, meanwhile, reconvened with the bidding team. Hiyuki and Chihiro then began fighting Kyora together, Chihiro initiating with Aka: Flame Bone and Hiyuki quickly following with flaming punches. Kyora was able to fend off their attacks and used Centipede, the omni-directional blast knocking them backwards. The two recovered, and the three Kamunabi sorcerers currently within the auction hall began worrying as the projections began to cut out, the male bidder muttering they were very close to losing it all.

As the Storehouse began crumbling due to Magatsumi's mental attack, the three were abruptly forced out of the Storehouse above the Rakuzaichi stage, Kyora quickly using Centipede to blast the two off the stage before they could land. As Magatsumi began forming flower fields that killed several auction-goers, Hiyuki prepared to re-engage Kyora but was stopped by Hakuri, as Kyora was currently the only thing slowing the disintegration of the Storehouse, which still contained several prisoners. After Chihiro yelled out, Hakuri transported Chihiro into the Storehouse, where he began tagging the prisoners with his spirit energy so Hakuri could transport them out.

While Chihiro and Hakuri rescued the prisoners, Kyora managed to regain control over Magatsumi, eradicating the flower field and ordering the auction continue, yelling at yakuza to kill the intruders. As they attacked Hakuri, Hiyuki began fending them off, telling Hakuri to focus on his job. Not long after, Chihiro rescued the last prisoner and was transported onto the Rakuzaichi stage by Hakuri, just as Kyora finally succumbed to his injuries, set down Magatsumi and died.

With Magatsumi clearly in the hands of Chihiro, the two bidding team members left and Hiyuki began laying waste to the auction building. As Shiba grabbed Hakuri and rushed to Chihiro's side, Tafuku activated his sorcery right before Shiba teleported out of the building, trapping Chihiro in his dimension with himself and Hiyuki. Hiyuki re-announced her intention to retrieve both blades, to which Chihiro replied initially he didn't want anyone else to possess the blades, but after seeing the horrific nature of Shinuchi's power he realised the merit in letting the Kamunabi re-seal it.

Chihiro requests to join the Kamunabi.

Continuing, Chihiro revealed there was also risk in handing Shinuchi over to the Kamunabi, given Yura's goal was to wield Shinuchi and their submission of Shinuchi to the Rakuzaichi was done so the Kamunabi would acquire it. Hiyuki shot back that the Kamunabi would counter any moves the Hishaku made, which Chihiro acknowledged. Chihiro agreed to hand over Shinuchi, on the stipulation that he would form an alliance with the Kamunabi, using Enten in their favour. The three then exited the collapsing Rakuzaichi building, Hiyuki clutching Shinuchi, the sword covered in bandages. Shiba immediately questioned what they were doing with Shinuchi, and Hiyuki replied she and Chihiro had made a deal.

Sword Bearer Assassination Arc

Following the end of the Rakuzaichi, Hiyuki retrieved Shinuchi and gave it to the bidding team, who transported it to Kamunabi Headquarters. There, a temporary seal was placed on it, before Kasen, Ichiki and Yatsuru would begin the proper sealing process.

Chihiro's meeting with the Kamunabi leaders begins.

After Chihiro woke up on the 9th of November, Hiyuki informed him of his incoming transfer to Kamunabi Headquarters. Chihiro then proposed his idea to have Hakuri register the Enchanted Blades' bearers and thus their blades by proxy, before transporting the blades back to their bearers. Hiyuki acknowledged the viability of Chihiro's plan, but noted he would need to convince the Kamunabi leadership to trust him. Chihiro, Hakuri, Hiyuki and Tafuku were then driven to the meeting room within Kamunabi headquarters.

Kasen informed Chihiro that there was already sufficient protection in the form of each Sanso's guard force of elite sorcerers. Ichiki asked Hakuri to demonstrate his sorcery to prove Chihiro's plan was viable, but Hiyuki and Tafuku explained Hakuri had exhausted himself, though vouched for the usefulness of his sorcery. Izaru began asking questions about Chihiro's heritage, but Chihiro declined asked Izaru to judge him by his actions rather than his lineage. A peeved Izaru then stood up proposed killing Chihiro instead, readying his sorcery, and relaying Enten's contract to a Kamunabi member.

The Kamunabi leaders assign Chihiro and Hakuri to protect Uruha.

An interruption came from a Kamunabi member reporting the Kokugoku Sanso had been attacked and destroyed, with several Enchanted-Blade-like spirit energy manifestations as well as a Hishaku sorcerer spotted. Chihiro countered the idea of killing him as a new bearer would need too long to master Enten, and thus he was their best option. Kasen reluctantly agreed, and after receiving a new report that Yoji Uruha had fled Kokugoku, ordered Chihiro and Hakuri to find and protect him.

Following the meeting, Kasen, Ichiki and Yatsuru began the sealing process proper. Before beginning the process, the three investigated the blade for any traces of tampering or foreign spirit energy. While Yura's spirit energy was present within the blade, Kasen covered this information up.

When the Hishaku's contracted sorcerers attacked Kokugoku, the 14 sorcerers of the Kokugoku Steam Squad quickly moved to counter them, Fushimi hurrying Uruha out and demanding that he survive. Uruha would then don a hat to obscure his facial features and flee, eventually reaching Atago Station 8 kilomteres away from Kokugoku. The Steam Squad handily eliminated the attacking Datenseki-wielding sorcerers, but were weakened enough for Hiruhiko to kill the entire group.

Chihiro and Hakuri would head to Atago Station, splitting up to locate Uruha. Hakuri encountered him first and the two fled onto a train as they were attacked by sorcerers, only to find more sorcerers approaching that CHihiro made quick work of before greeting Uruha. Chihiro discussed his plan to steal the blades back with Uruha, mentioning they would be heading to Senkutsuji Temple to meet with Samura so they could summon as many blades as possible once Hakuri's sorcery recovered. At one station, Hiruhiko arrived on board and began engaging in combat with Chihiro while several other sorcerers engaged Uruha. After a brief confrontation, Chihiro launched out of the train with Hiruhiko while Hakuri and Uruha continued on the train to Senkutsuji.

When they arrived, Moku and Sumi used a mandala to transport the four of them to Senkutsuji, where they met with Samura. After briefly greeting Hakuri and Uruha, Samura received word that enemies were approaching the fortress, and prepared to fight them off, while Hakuri and Uruha went with Sumi to a room more protected so Hakuri could undergo treatment for his sorcery to recover faster.

The monks began fending off the enemy Datenseki-wielding sorcerers, realising there was a far greater force present compared to at Kokugoku. Soon after, the fedora-wearing sorcerer of the Hishaku arrived and destroyed the building with several large tree branches, the sorcerer himself confronting Samura from a branch above.

In the recovery room, only 10 minutes of Hakuri's recovery had passed and the Masumi sorcerers and Uruha quickly made preparations to evacuate. Sumi and Moku woke up Ro and entered battle alongside Samura. Uruha and Hakuri attempted to flee through the rear entrance but were intercepted by Datenseki-wielding sorcerers, forced to flee to the area where Samura and the Masumi were fighting. There, Uruha joined the fighting, narrowly avoiding a slash from Samura. Sumi moved to Hakuri's position and outlined her plan to use a mandala to transport Hakuri, Uruha and Samura out of Senkutsuji and leave the Masumi to buy time, but Hakuri refused, attempting to activate his sorcery.

Sumi teleports Hakuri, Samura and Uruha away.

Hakuri failed and the Masumi sorcerers, with Uruha's help, managed to lure Samura onto the transport mandala, moving Uruha, Samura and Hakuri to the entrance of the temple. As the Masumi prepared to face the enemy sorcerers to their end, Hakuri registered Samura and transported Tobimune to him, prompting Samura to immediately return to the temple and easily wipe out the enemy sorcerers using Crow, excluding the Hishaku sorcerer, who quickly left. Uruha and Hakuri reconvened with Hakuri and the Masumi, before Samura knocked the group out with the exception of Hakuri, who was already asleep.

After a conversation explaining his objective of killing the former Enchanted Blade bearers, Samura killed Uruha just as a horrified Hakuri managed to transport Chihiro to Senkutsuji. Samura slashed at a furious Chihiro to prevent him from fighting just as Shiba showed up, and Samura told him the Hishaku knew of the actions they had committed in the war before leaving.

Chihiro and the Masumi team up.

At 3:14 am on the 10th of November, the Kamunabi leaders discussed the battle at Senkutsji, Uruha's death, Samura's betrayal and the emergence of Owl over Japan. They discussed whether they should use Shinuchi, and what they should do next, ultimately deciding to bolster their defences and ambush the enemy by utilising the existing hostility between Samura and the Hishaku. With Chihiro and the Masumi being assigned to find a way to do so. Shinuchi's sealing progress had reached 60% by this time. The leaders confirmed they had moved the other two sword bearers away from their Sanso. Ichiki arranged for Shiba and Hiyuki to be assigned to protect the other two sword bearers.

Several days later on the 13th of November, the Masumi and Chihiro discussed the situation and Samura's surveillance, noting that in theory they could confront Samura whenever they wanted through Chihiro drawing Enten. However, Samura was the only one who could place pressure on the Hishaku, and they couldn't afford to lose this advantage. Seeking to subvert both Samura and the Hishaku, the Masumi told Chihiro of their role in faking Iori Samura's death, and the four planned to find and safeguard her.

Later that day, the Masumi and Chihiro encountered Kuguri and Toto within Iori's school. Chihiro clashed with Kuguri, allowing Ro to move Iori out of danger. Ro noticed Iori was beginning to subconsciously break the seal on her memories on her own, before announcing that the Masumi would be protecting her. Sumi then drove her out on a motorcycle as Kuguri and Toto chased after her in a car. Ro detonated the car using an explosion tied to a shuriken, and while Toto was stuck underneath, Kuguri charged after Sumi and Iori but was stopped by Chihiro.

After clashing with Chihiro briefly and realising the latter's lack of training in actual sword fighting, Kuguri was displeased and left to pursue Sumi and Iori once more. As Ro and Moku moved to intercept, Chihiro successfully emulated the Iai White Purity Style and caught up to Kuguri in a burst of speed, impressing the Hishaku member and successfully managing to divert his attention from the escaping motorcycle. Chihiro was then transported away with Ro and Moku on a mandala Ro had drawn.

The Masumi checked into a room at the Kyoto Bloodshed Hotel. There, the Masumi and Chihiro properly introduced themselves to Iori, Chihiro having no qualms about introducing himself as a murderer but resolutely stating he would protect her. Iori demanded answers regarding Samura and her sealed memories, and while Ro was against the idea, citing that the memories were keeping her safe and she would forget everything in 24 hours anyways (as the Masumi planned to re-strengthen the seal), Chihiro proposed giving her a choice first.

Iori agreed and Chihiro and Ro began telling her about her past and relation to Samura, the resulting onrush of information causing Iori to faint. On the roof, or the 35th floor, of the hotel, Moku and Sumi prepared the sealing ceremony; as sorcery was prohibited on the lower floors of the hotel.

The Masumi prepare Iori's new seal.

Throughout the night, the Masumi rotated between teaching Chihiro battle techniques, working on the seal and watching over Iori. At one point when Chihiro was practising the Iai White Purity Style, Ro helped discuss the intricacies of the technique and emphasised the importance of merging with the katana using spirit energy.

By the time morning rose on the 14th of November, Ro was on the roof with Sumi and Moku on the final stages of preparing the seal. When Iori woke up, Chihiro was in the room. The door rang and Chihiro opened it to find a number of yakuza attacking the room. Chihiro systematically dispatched them, and a shocked Iori asked if Chihiro was afraid of killing people. Chihiro firmly stated he was not as he hit the elevator button, as he did not have a choice where his life would lead. The elevator door opened to reveal Hiruhiko, standing with Sengoku's severed head in hand.

Chihiro immediately forced Hiruhiko into a nearby elevator and cut the wire, the elevator plunging down to the first floor. An elevator near Iori opened to reveal Ro, who quickly killed the yakuza nearby and began escorting Iori to the roof. Upon reaching the roof, Iori then hesitantly told Ro she had made her decision and wished to return to her normal life. At the first floor, a nearby staff member handed Chihiro the key to the hotel's barrier lantern. Observing Hiruhiko's movement in detail, Chihiro analysed Hiruhiko's style and parried his strikes, Hiruhiko surprised at Chihiro's ability.

The Masumi protect Iori from the hired yakuza.

Abruptly, Ikura showed up, yelling that he was here to save Iori and didn't care what kind of scars he would incur. Chihiro gave Ikura the key and told him to head upstairs. Ro and Iori arrived at the roof, but Kuguri then emerged from an elevator, alongside yakuza from the outside and from the elevators. Ro stalled Kuguri while Moku and Sumi began protecting Iori. Ikura then appeared from an elevator, and Ro was surprised to see he had the key, right before Iori fully broke the seal and began fending off several of the yakuza with a katana.

Downstairs, Hiruhiko hit an elevator button. Some clashing later, Hiruhiko began mimicking Chihiro's White Purity Style stance and slashed forward with speed, his imitation successful enough to knock Chihiro down. Seeing his elevator was ready, Hiruhiko headed in. Hiruhiko decided he needed speed rather than trickery to kill Chihiro, readying himself in the White Purity stance. Chihiro followed in another elevator, focusing on Samura's use of the style. As the two elevators opened at the roof, the two dashed towards each other; though Chihiro, after seeing Iori's usage of the style, was able to slash down Hiruhiko.

Ro immediately recognised Iori had broken the seal on her memories as he continued fighting the yakuza. After Iori voiced that she wanted to see her father, Chihiro unsheathed Enten and a nearby Hiruhiko activated Kumeyuri. Immediately, Owl disappeared overhead and Samura arrived with Tobimune activated, two gigantic black wings keeping him aloft.

The Masumi, Chihiro, Samura and Iori hallucinate due to Banquet.

Samura quickly decapitated Hiruhiko (who hastily activated Banquet) and Toto and picked up Kumeyuri. Iori asked if Samura had nothing to say to her after so many years. The group were then interrupted as Banquet's effects came in full force, the building appearing to move nauseously around them and the forms of Hiruhiko, Toto and Kumeyuri disappearing. The yakuza resumed attacking and Chihiro yelled at Samura to protect his daughter before turning to pursue Hiruhiko. Within the building, Chihiro located and locked blades with Hiruhiko.

Hiruhiko quickly used Play to animate the corpses nearby and send them to the roof before amplifying Banquet's strength. Hiruhiko was internally driven to kill Samura in order to get Chihiro to focus completely on himself. On the roof, the mass of corpses managed to fatally wound Samura, distracted by Hiruhiko's strengthened Banquet. Samura promptly used Suzaku to heal his wounds, dismantled the corpses and moved down to Hiruhiko's location. With no other opposition on the roof, the Masumi and Ikura regrouped with Iori.

Chihiro, Samura and Hiruhiko clashed blades, the forces splitting the hotel building in two. Knocked back, Hiruhiko poured all of his focus onto Play, his natural lack of care towards objects manifesting via the True Realm into a force of destruction rather than manipulation, devastating the building. Samura manifested wings and flew out of the building before igniting his wings and flying down at Hiruhiko, Suzaku's flames undoing the damage dealt to the hotel before Samura himself slashed off Hiruhiko's right arm.

Kuguri abruptly arrived and distracted Samura using Twilight Wave long enough for Toto to evacuate Hiruhiko. Samura then turned to Chihiro, asking why Chihiro unsheathed Enten once more, and Chihiro told him he knew everything about Malediction and Soga and had picked Enten up once more in order to save Samura from himself.

Several days before the 14th of November, Hagiwara woke up. He was greatly traumatised by being unable to protect the lives of his squad, and was comforted by the iron sand sewn into his squad's uniforms being laid around his bed as well as puppetting Kugara's mask using iron sand subconsciously, 'Kugara' speaking to him within Hagiwara's mind.

The Core Station Vessel reports seven invaders.

At Kamunabi Headquarters, the Kamunabi leaders gathered to discuss the Masumi's after-action report after the events of Kyoto. The Core Station Vessel then reported the Hishaku were attacking the barrier with pine tree sorcery directly above the now fully sealed Shinuchi. Kasen ordered that they be let in to avoid civilian casualties, and the leaders promptly arranged a strike force to intercept the seven detected intruders, which Azami volunteered to join. The meeting ended and as an announcement blared for all non-combatants to evacuate to below the third floor, Kudo entered Hakuri's room, where he had just woken up.

The other leaders all dispersed to various locations: Azami to the Threat Elimination Grounds and Ichiki close by, the leader with sideburns to Soga's monitoring room, Izaru to the Core Station and Kasen to the Shinuchi sealing room.

The Shigyu Brothers are eliminated

Kudo and Hakuri left the room and Kudo briefed Hakuri on the Hishaku's attack and Hakuri's mission: to transport Shinuchi into the Storehouse to prevent the Hishaku from accessing it. Hokuto's puppet and the Shigyu Brothers arrived at the west entrance of the first floor, and they proceeded to the Threat Elimination Grounds. There, Azami quickly downed the brothers in one hit each, more focused on the Hishaku member, who he recognised as one of the three who killed Kunishige. Not long after, Azami dispatched the puppet, though quickly recognised its true nature and knew its controller was elsewhere.

Kudo and Hakuri continued through the Level 2 Library into an elevator, where the guard Ishihira killed himself to release a pine tree spell within his body. Kudo sent Hakuri through the ground using his sorcery Warrior's Path before the branches engulfed the elevator, and Hakuri pulled himself up onto Level 5, where he used Isou to dispatch two Kamunabi sorcerers trying to fight him, Hakuri realising the Hishaku had them held under duress through their families.

Uruha slashes the Kamunabi traitors.

At the Core Station, Izaru began coordinating operations with the Core Station Vessel, taking into account the planted seeds within certain Kamunabi agents. The Vessel announced across the facility that there were a number of seeded agents held under duress; he detected 50. He ordered for everyone not to move with the exception of Hakuri. At this point, Hakuri had arrived at a lobby area where the captain of Kudo's squad, Kashima met up with him. Kashima promptly began enforcing the orders until two traitorous Kamunabi elites executed him, but as Hakuri began running through a hallway to get away, Uruha arrived and fended them off.

Outside the Threat Elimination Grounds, four Hishaku sorcerers lounged in waiting, including Uran, Bingo and Yukisada. Yura then walked up to them, and after a trip to the bathroom he returned to find the high-collared Hishaku member preparing a transport spell circle. Within the Core Station, one of the supporting sorcerers lowered a portion of the barrier before being incapacitated by Izaru, the brief moment allowing the five to transport downwards, ending up in the Level 5 hallway where Uruha and Hakuri were. After the Vessel found their new location, Izaru ordered the elite units to move in on the Hishaku's location.

Kiri Shirakai descended and cut down one of the traitors, before Yukisada attacked and was kicked through a wall by Uruha, power amplified by his sorcery Koen. Uruha then sliced through one of Bingo's Mako heads and clashed blades with Yura, shortly before Bingo summoned a number of smaller heads. Bingo, Uran and the high-collared member then left, the high-collared member throwing a seed to generate a wall of trees to block them off. Kiri dispatched the heads and the remaining traitor despite the fatigue from cutting the heads and cut through the floor, allowing herself and Hakuri to descend to Level 6. Hokuto then arrived.

Uruha, Natsuki, Hokuto and Yura cross swords with each other.

Within the Level 3 training room, Natsuki Misaka was informed of the Hishaku's attack and prepared to engage. He descended to Level 6 and began engaging Hokuto in sword combat, before Uruha and Yura descended through the ceiling, to Hokuto's delight. While Kiri and Hakuri left to go to Shinuchi's location, Uruha and Natsuki began fighting Hokuto and Yura, their battle moving to the Third Library. Each of them began taking wounds, the more serious being Hokuto losing his right arm to Uruha and Uruha losing the fingertips of his left hand to Hokuto.

Uran, Bingo and the high-collared member had moved elsewhere on Level 5, Uran and Bingo systematically freezing and devouring the Kamunabi agents in their way respectively. Elite Kamunabi agents then converged on their location. Kiri and Hakuri reconvened with Ichiki and Azami, the four entering an elevator to the Shinuchi sealing room. When they arrived, Kasen was there, and Ichiki was relieved to see Shinuchi's seal was intact, though as he stated the operation to transport Shinuchi would commence, Kasen replied in the negative.

In the Third Library, Yura activated the spirit energy he had placed in Magatsumi, his strength and speed amplifying. After Kasen explained his motives and why he had collaborated with the Hishaku and allowed Kunishige to die, for the sake of allowing the Enchanted Blades to be controlled by the Kamunabi to maintain order, Azami punched him into a wall and entered the Third Library to confront Yura, where Yura had just used Centipede, forcing Uruha and Natsuki to duck. The spirit energy signatures of Tobimune and Enten then appeared above. Ichiki immediately ordered for Shiba and Hiyuki to return to Headquarters, but the call could not go through, as Yukisada had begun Yukisara had begun interfering with the barrier using his status as a second Vessel, keeping Samura and Chihiro out while simultaneously disrupting the communication system.

Azami and Yura prepare to fight.

Azami activated his sorcery Coin and attacked Yura alongside Uruha and Natsuki. After Uruha and Natsuki lured Yura into blasting them away with Centipede, Azami took shelter behind Yura. Yura shot Dragonfly at Azami, grievously wounding his arms, and Azami retaliated using his Coins, dealing severe internal damage to Yura before landing a punch on him. Within the Core Station, the Vessel detected the presence of a second Vessel and Izaru announced it across headquarters, ordering for the Hishaku to be eliminated. Ichiki dispatched Hakuri and Kiri in pursuit of this objective.

After the announcement blared that there was a second Vessel in the building, the Kugara figment of Hagiwara's imagination successfully motivated Hagiwara into putting on his uniform and moving into battle. Hagiwara found Uran and Bingo on Level 5, and after fending off their initial attack, was sent to the ground by Bingo's sorcery. Undeterred, Hagiwara conducted a massive scan similar to an MRI across the facility, detected and identified Yukisada's status and promptly sent Kugara's mask (subconsciously, as Hagiwara perceived it as his comrade pursuing Yukisada) to impale him.

Hagiwara followed by crawling out of the ground where Yukisada was moments later, shortly before Yukisada attacked him. Hagiwara countered by severing his left arm but Yukisada casually regenerated it, to Hagiwara's surprise. Hagiwara then fell to the ground, exhausted after days of not eating and inactivity, and shouted for someone to cut off Yukisada's head. Hakuri then transported Kiri into the area, and after a well-timed slash, she managed to cut off Yukisada's head. Yukisada, however, merely carried his head and even kept speaking. Suddenly, Yura arrived and Hagiwara quickly rushed Kiri and Hakuri away, erecting a large wall of iron sand. More focused on saving time, Yura praised Yukisada for his good work and proceeded to directly above Soga's prison.

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Etymology

• 神 (かむ) : Means 'spirit', 'deity' or 'god'.
• 奈 (な) : Means 'how'.
• 備 (び) : Means 'equip' or 'provision'.