Chapter 98 of the Jigokuraku manga.
Summary[]
Chōbei, while suffering from Zhu Jin's effects on his body, explains to everyone that according to Mei the Banko has spread all over the palace and that the fragments in the air are Tan particles from the flowers, which will cause anyone to undergo Arborification if inhaled. Mei also warns them that they have until morning to destroy it or everyone's Tao will be disrupted and turn into flowers. Chōbei senses that the Banko has five tandens of each of the Five Elements scattered around the area. After remembering his fight with Ju Fa and Tao Fa, Gantetsusai sees that they have to destroy all of the Banko's tanden at the same time. Shion becomes concern with everyone's condition since their battles with the Tensens has left them in bad shape to fight another monster. The group then fights back against the approaching monsters. After hearing Sagiri and Nurugai make excellent points about needing enough Tao to kill the Banko and stopping the monsters from intruding, Jikka, while lazily lying down, tells them that they need Gabimaru to handle this problem. Sagiri ducks after sensing a fire torrent coming from behind her, which incinerates the monsters, and sees that Gabimaru has arrived but in the same worst condition as Chōbei. With Gabimaru in a bad state, Jikka sees that he has to change his plans and turns his attentions to the Iwagakure shinobi beside him. Gabimaru becomes glad to see that Sagiri is okay since he reminds her that he is required to return with her to receive the pardon, much to Sagiri's disappointment. Despite everyone feeling exhausted, Chōbei says that they have to fight back no matter what happens. He then walks up to Gabimaru and asks if he had anything to lose, to which he answers saying that he does after remembering Yui and that he has no other option. Chōbei becomes satisfied after hearing this from him. Shion then looks at Nurugai and sees that he also has something to lose. Jikka walks up to Isuzu, who wonders if Gabimaru has charmed Sagiri after seeing her wanting to help him, and says that she must cooperate to catch up with Shugen. Although she swore not to work with the criminals, Isuzu says that she will force herself to help as well. With everyone onboard, Jikka prepares to discuss the plan but wishes for Shion to explain instead, much to his annoyance since the Asaemon has not been contributing. While Gabimaru is distracted, the Iwagakure shinobi take the opportunity to attack him with thrown kunai. Gabimaru and Sagiri then turn around to see that they are in trouble.
Characters in Order of Appearance[]
- Mei
- Aza Chōbei
- Yamada Asaemon Sagiri
- Yamada Asaemon Shion
- Yamada Asaemon Kiyomaru
- Aza Tōma
- Yamada Asaemon Isuzu
- Tamiya Gantetsusai
- Nurugai
- Ju Fa (Flashback)
- Tao Fa (Flashback)
- Yamada Asaemon Jikka
- Yuzuriha
- Mu Dan (Flashback)
- Gabimaru
- Yui (Vision)