Island Arc

The Island Arc (島編, Shima-hen^?) is the first arc of Jigokuraku. It covers chapters 1 to 16 from volumes 1 and 2. It is preceded by the Lord Tensen Arc.

Summary

The Hollow's Chance at Redemption

Gabimaru escapes execution and accepts the shogun's mission.

Gabimaru, the elite ninja of Iwagakure, prepares to be executed for his crimes, however, the young man manages to somehow survive every single form of execution he is sentenced to and begins to question why he will not allow himself to die. While being locked up, Gabimaru is interviewed by a woman about his past. He tells her about his marriage to his village's chief daughter after proving himself worthy, however, Gabimaru says that could not stand to be around her and asked for his chief's permission to leave her. Gabimaru is told that his request would come to pass if he completes a mission. Upon taking the mission, he is betrayed by his allies, who were ordered by their chief to have him arrested for planning on leaving the village. Later, Gabimaru prepares to be executed once again. He then encounters the woman who has been interviewing him and sees that she is actually a highly trained executioner named Yamada Asaemon Sagiri. Sagiri instantly gets behind Gabimaru to decapitate him but witnesses him moving out of the way. Gabimaru wonders why he avoided Sagiri's sword. Sagiri tells him that he has been lying to himself about wanting to die and that he wants to live because he loves his wife. This sparks an anger in Gabimaru and attacks Sagiri, denying her accusation based on the life he has lived and tells her that he could never have a peaceful life with someone he cares about. After hearing this, Sagiri shows Gabimaru a signed pardon by the shogun, saying that there is a chance his crimes can be overlooked and receive full protection from the shogun without having to worry about Iwagakure pursing him. However, she says that he must travel to a mystical island and compete with other criminals to retrieve the Elixir of Life for the shogun, which is believed to exist after several dispatched teams went missing and the only thing that returned to the mainland were boats filled with flowers and men transformed into flowers. Sagiri also informs him that his wife is waiting for his return and asked if he accepts the mission. The magistrate refuses to allow this action to pass and has his soldiers stay on guard. Knowing that he a chance to have a normal life with his wife, Gabimaru ignites his body on fire using ninjutsu and burns the soldiers. He then accepts and is taken to Edo by Sagiri.