The Raid on Senkutsuji Temple is a large-scale battle fought by Seiichi Samura, Yoji Uruha, the Masumi, Hakuri Sazanami and the Kamunabi guard force against a platoon of sorcerers, several wielding Datenseki, led by the Hishaku Sorcerer, at Senkutsuji Temple.
The presence of two wielders at Seiichi Samura's Sanso, Senkutsuji Temple, serves as an ideal target for Hiruhiko to direct the bulk of his assigned forces. As Datenseki-wielding sorcerers and a member of the Hishaku barrage the temple, Samura and the Kamunabi guard force fight back, while Hakuri undergoes treatment for his exhausted sorcery. In the end, the tide of battle between the Kamunabi and the Hishaku will shift dramatically.
Prologue[]
When Uruha and Hakuri got off the train at a station near Senkutsuji, the Masumi sorcerers Sumi and Moku greeted them and used a Mandala to teleport the four of them to Senkutsuji Temple. Samura greeted them and began to ask where Chihiro was before suddenly hearing a nearby priest bang a hammer on a drum as a signal, informing Samura the enemy, several sorcerers with Datenseki, were approaching. Samura and Moku immediately shouted for the forces to mobilise and Sumi ushered Hakuri to a room to begin treatment for his sorcery to recover more quickly.
Samura prepares for the battle.
Hakuri was worried as he lied on the treatment bed, but Uruha assured him Senkutsji's defences were vastly superior to Kokugoku's, not just because of a difference in the Kamunabi guards' skill, but also Samura's skill would've been enough to prevent a single life from being lost at Kokugoku; hence Senkutsuji would be invincible with Samura's presence. Uruha shouted to Samura that Chihiro would be there soon with information on the Hishaku, and Samura looked forward to seeing him again. Sumi informed him they would need 30 minutes to recover Hakuri's sorcery, and Samura drew his sword, stating it wouldn't be a problem.
Battle[]
The Datenseki-wielding sorcerers attack Senkutsuji Temple in earnest, several sorcerers dressed like monks emerging from the temple to oppose them. One of the monks notes with displeasure that over twice the number of Datenseki wielders are present compared with at Kokugoku Hot Spring. He muses that the attack on Kokugoku might've been more of a test of how well the fortresses are defended while this time a proper fighting force had been sent. Three nearby monks then usher their comrade to head inwards, telling him they will be enough outside, but the Datenseki-wielding attackers manage to blast a hole into the room with a Buddha statue which Samura is standing in. The elder monk within, previously occupied with chanting, falls silent, sensing Samura is about to begin fighting and not wanting to disrupt his focus. A small group of attackers charge into the room with the monk right behind them, and the monk frantically asks Samura to evacuate quickly. Samura replies that he wouldn't let the monks sacrifice their lives for his. The monk does just that upon seeing Samura's determination and cautiously leaves the area. Samura briefly apologises to the Buddha for his defilement, before lighting a cigarette and inhaling it in one breath, the smell flooding his scent.
Samura easily kills the invaders.
As an attacker speaks up, Samura throws the cigarette at him before slicing both the cigarette and the attacker twice in a cross-shape, severing his arm and killing him in one fell swoop. Within the recovery room, Uruha informs Hakuri that Samura fights using his acute sense of hearing, but gauges this will be quickly figured out by the attackers. In the statue room, the attackers have indeed caught on, moving silently into the air and preparing long-range attacks. Samura then sheathes his sword, the click resonating throughout the room, before immediately turning to the nearest attacker. The attacker is surprised, having thought he had been silent. Some of the attackers, defeated but not unbowed, decide to activate their Datenseki and charge in, but Samura simply mutters they would be headed to hell for their massacres, slicing them down with a series of precise cuts. Seeing the enemies have been dealt with, the elder monk resumes his chanting. Samura idly curses that he would undoubtedly be going to hell as well.
During Chihiro informing the defenders that Hishaku throw all of their force to Senkutsuji, the fedora-wearing Hishaku sorcerer also joined the attack on Senkutsuji, creating a litany of giant tree branches that devastated the building Samura was in. The sorcerer nonchalantly noted his desecration of the sacred space from his vantage point above Samura, and Samura replied he would be delivering retribution soon enough.
Samura is surrounded by enemy sorcerers.
The Hishaku sorcerer remained on a tree branch to survey the battle. While Samura attempted to goad him down, the Hishaku sorcerer replied specific tactics were necessary to oppose a warrior of Samura's calibre, remotely deploying explosions and smoke in the area to disrupt Samura's smell and hearing. More sorcerers attacked but Samura cut them down, the Hishaku sorcerer recognising Samura had recognised the sorcerers' killing intent. Sending forth tree branches, the Hishaku sorcerer watched with satisfaction as one managed to graze Samura, knowing Samura couldn't react to inanimate objects. The Hishaku sorcerer ordered more sorcerers to attack while sending forth tree branches at the same time.
The Masumi sorcerers then arrived, using their unique ability to nullify their sound, smell and presence to avoid interfering with Samura's senses, the four fighting together to combat the enemy forces. Uruha and Hakuri were escorted to a back exit by one of the monks, Ryo Fuura, but the exit was ambushed by Datenseki-wielding sorcerers who killed Fuura and forced Uruha and Hakuri to run to the main temple area where others were fighting. Seeing Samura's situation, Uruha drew his blade and began fighting, narrowly dodging one of Samura's attacks. Meanwhile one of the Masumi began preparing a transport mandala for Hakuri and the two blade wielders to escape. Samura was incredibly annoyed with Uruha risking his life by entering Samura's battlefield, but Uruha responded for Samura to just fight as normal, as he could adapt on the fly.
The enemy sorcerers start to overwhelm Samura and the Masumi.
The enemy forces continued to attack, and Samura redoubled his determination to eliminate them. To the side, Uruha and the Masumi sorcerers recognised how Samura would oppose the notion of being evacuated from the area, and they quickly devised a plan to get Samura out of the area. As the building began crumbling from the Hishaku sorcerer's inflicted damage, Samura reacted to another sense of bloodlust, slicing forward. His blade was parried by Uruha, who had lured him onto a transport mandala Sumi had set up. Sumi immediately sent Samura, Uruha and Hakuri to the outskirts of the temple, thanking Uruha.
Samura was furious and immediately turned to reenter the temple, but Uruha stopped him, voicing that they had to take Hakuri and escape down the cliff under the cover of darkness, emphasising that the Masumi were not throwing away their lives as tools but fighting to prevent the Hishaku from reaching them, because their lives were gravely important. Samura's brow creased as he replied that he didn't need to be lectured at the moment, but the two were interrupted as Hakuri grabbed onto Samura's hand, rapidly registering him and transporting Tobimune to Samura.
Samura activates Tobimune.
Samura activated the blade's Crow technique and started to shredding back into the temple in a flock of feathers, rapidly defeating the Datenseki-wielding sorcerers and shouting to the Masumi that they were fired. The swarm of feathers fades away as Samura finishes killing the Datenseki-wielding sorcerers. Ro is immensely surprised by Tobimune's sheer power as Samura turns to look for the Hishaku Sorcerer. In a branch high above, said Hishaku sorcerer is amazed by Samura's sheer speed with his Enchanted Blade, and acknowledges the shift it will bring to the battle to come, teleporting away in a burst of flames with a hand sign.
Aftermath[]
Samura notices the enemy's disappearance only slightly too late and is annoyed, while Uruha and Hakuri re-enter the temple hall. Ro apologises to Samura for having to save them, and Samura brushes them off, gesturing for them to thank Hakuri instead. Hakuri voices to Uruha that he believes he can transport Kumeyuri too, but Sumi stops him, stating his adrenaline was fuelling his sudden steadiness and his blood loss at dangerous levels, so they would resume the treatment once they had arrived at another of the Sanso. Uruha adds that soon enough they would retrieve all the blades from the Hishaku. The Masumi note as Samura had Tobimune, he wouldn't need bodyguards anymore, and Samura agreed, reminding them that he had fired them, particularly so they wouldn't almost get themselves killed again.
"Unfortunately... This is just the start."
He asks whether everyone is alright, and the group moves around the temple, eventually seeing Ryo Fuura, lethally impaled after being attacked by enemy sorcerers. One of the Masumi tells Uruha about Fuura's background, while Samura grits his teeth at the casualty. Sumi states Fuura did not die in vain, and that his protection of the blade wielders had resulted in achieving a major turning point in the battle. Samura disagrees, noting unfortunately that this would be just the beginning.
Later Moku carries Hakuri as Uruha, Samura, Hakuri and the Masumi walk out of the eastern gate. The female Masumi member reminds him that he should rest after she had given him first aid, as pushing himself too hard would be dangerous. She thanks him for his assistance in retrieving Tobimune and assisting Samura, as the group begin chatting about their next move. Seeing there is no danger, Hakuri lets himself falls asleep.
Not long later, Hakuri abruptly wakes up face-down on the floor, noticing the unconscious figures of the monks and the Masumi sorcerers around him. Looking ahead, he sees Uruha sitting in a room angrily questioning Samura about his actions. Samura notes they haven't had a proper chance to talk yet as he sits down, and comments that even if they hypothetically retrieved all the Enchanted Blades, the problem wouldn't be solved, as in that case Kunishige would not have needed to lock the blades away.
As his right hand holds his blade, Samura reminisces on how it had been 18 years since he had wielded Tobimune in order to defeat evil and protect the weak in Kunishige's name. Uruha reminds him that he needs Tobimune to fight the Hishaku, being the evil ones that had killed Kunishige. Samura counters that there is an evil worse than the Hishaku which had to be punished, even if collaborating with the Hishaku was necessary, shocking Uruha and Hakuri.
Samura proclaims his objective of the wielders' deaths.
Samura rigidly states the blade wielders were the true sin, and 18 years ago they had covered up their heinous actions in the Seitei War and were passed off as 'heroes' alongside Kunishige for the benefit of society. However, younger individuals such as Fuura had died to protect the wielders, and Samura reckons the deaths of the misguided to be unfavourable compared to simply delivering the wielders their just desserts. He declares his ultimate mission: to kill the five remaining wielders from the Seitei War, including himself.
Seeing Uruha has no response, Samura adds he will avoid killing the guardians of the wielders, unlike the Hishaku. Overtaken by concern, Uruha shouts that if Samura were to kill him, the Hishaku could use Kumeyuri. Samura retorts he will only allow the Hishaku to use the Enchanted Blades temporarily until the "Master Swordsman" was killed, and he would eliminate them afterwards, preventing them from doing harm with the blades. Samura reveals his partnership with the Hishaku will be a convenient way to identify the blades' locations.
Internally, Uruha reluctantly admits it would be nearly impossible to defeat Samura with Tobimune, and he reckons Samura's goal to be attainable. Standing back up, Samura declares they will deal with the matter of the Enchanted Blades themselves without getting younger individuals involved, with only evildoers ending up dead. Uruha explains as he stands up that while he understands Samura's goal, he refuses to simply die without a fight. To the side, Hakuri panics, frantically worrying that Uruha will be killed because he transported Tobimune and not Kumeyuri as well, and rapidly switches to attempting to transport Chihiro to Senkutsuji.
Samura defeats Uruha.
The two wielders walk to a nearby bridge, Samura setting down Tobimune and taking a standard katana as Uruha readies his own. The two ready their blades, before rushing past each other in one swift motion. His expertise on full display, Samura lands a devastating slash on Uruha's left side, while Samura himself is left unharmed. Accepting his defeat, Uruha weakly asks if Samura will go on his path alone. Samura replies in the positive, believing no one else should endure the hell of his goal, before drawing Tobimune and slashing Uruha again to finish him off. In his last moment of consciousness, Hakuri transports Chihiro to the bridge. Acknowledging their reunion after four years, Samura frowns as he notes Chihiro is covered in the stench of blood, while Chihiro looks on in horror at the sight of Samura standing over Uruha's corpse, black feathers present in the air.
Chihiro weakly questioned Samura as to why he had killed Uruha, almost not hearing Samura mentioning Hakuri was not dead. Chihiro's horror then transitioned to fury at one of his role models allying with his archenemies, and readied Enten in preparation to kill Samura. Samura recognised the seventh blade and stated he would handle the revenge process and as Chihiro prepared to move forward Samura slashed by him, landing a devastating attack that left Chihiro on the verge of consciousness. Samura knelt to pick up Enten but Shiba suddenly teleported Chihiro and Enten to a nearby rooftop. Shiba was shocked at Samura's betrayal and Samura commented the Hishaku knew about the wielders' sins and they intended on blowing the truth wide open, announcing his disgust at the curse of the wielders being called heroes. He noted Chihiro was better off not knowing before leaving in a flurry of feathers.
In a hospital bed, Chihiro woke up.
Samura's Owl ovelooking the entirety of Japan.
At 3:14 am on the 10th of November, the Kamunabi leadership convened. Azami recounted Hakuri's report of Uruha and Samura's conversation, bringing up that Hakuri was now in intensive care due to damaging his sorcery-governing neural pathways. The leaders questioned whether to use Shinuchi (whose sealing progress is currently 60% complete) but the blond leader brought up Samura's usage of Owl, which had not faded since last night and was currently active over the entirety of Japan. He reasoned Owl's range and subsequent decrease of its detection strength likely served as a deterrent against the Hishaku which they could use to their advantage, and after confirming the remaining two wielders were secure, he proposed they ambush Samura and the Hishaku after the two groups had worn each other down.
In a hospital room, Shiba greeted Chihiro, telling him Samura had killed him with his slash, also severing his contract with Enten but his wounds had miraculously healed several minutes afterwards, which Shiba speculated Samura had planned. Shiba reckoned Samura wanted to halt Chihiro's quest for vengeance through breaking his contract, as he had no reason to kill Chihiro. Chihiro then frantically asked why Samura would kill Uruha, but Ro entered before Shiba could reply.
Chihiro and the Masumi teams up.
Ro introduced himself and noted Hakuri had wanted the Masumi to look out for Chihiro. He sympathised with Chihiro in that both of them were left in the dark regarding Samura's true thoughts; Ro also wanting to confront Samura for his actions. The two decided to take action after a few days for Chihiro's recovery. Seeing Chihiro's determination, Shiba grabbed Enten and handed it back to Chihiro, internally apologising to Kunishige and Samura. Some time later, the Kamunabi leadership officially designated Chihiro and the Masumi as a task force to find a way to counter Samura.