Spoilers! Spoilers!
CHAPTER 16 (book 3 of 18): A Farewell Drink
The Bat (aka Kōmori) of Kai (a ninja assassin from the Takeda clan based in Kai Province who was disfigured by Oda Nobunaga (1534-1582) in Azuchi Castle) has arrived in Kanazawa.
Hotaru (aka Firefly the female ninja) is now living with Maeda Keiji (inspired by real-life samurai Maeda Toshimasu (1543-1612)).
The Bat of Kai (who is Hotaru's former ninja tutor and an opium addict) drugs Hotaru to make her poison Keiji, she commits suicide via secret Seppuku.
Keiji promises to slay ALL Kaga ninjas.
CHAPTER 17: High on Rage
Keiji cremates Hotaru's body.
Ninja master "Flying (tobi)" Kato (Kato Danzo (1503-1569)) of the Takeda clan (Uesugi Kenshin (1530-1578) wanted Danzo killed because he was too skilled) and the Fuma clan, kills some of Yotsui Shume (leader of the Kaga ninja army of Keiji's uncle. An homage to actor Jack Nicholson)'s men with his Tang sword (Tang Dao).
The Bat of Kai challenges Keiji. The Bat loses his left fingers and his left arm to Keiji.
CHAPTER 18: A Loyal Retainer
Keiji wonders why The Bat of Kai isn't interested in killing Toyotomi Hideyoshi (1537-1598) or Tokugawa Ieyasu (1543-1616).
The Bat of Kai witnessed Oda Nobunaga being burned alive during the Honnō-ji Incident (1582).
Ofu (the Ear-Slicer's former assistant) brings a letter from Keiji to the adoptive father of Keiji (Maeda Toshihisa (1537-1587), the older brother of Keiji's uncle, Maeda Toshiie (1538-1599)). Keiji wants to be disowned by Toshihisa because he's soon to slay Yotsui Shume.
The Kaga ninja suicide warriors arrive to blow-up Keiji.
CHAPTER 19: The Bat and the Firefly
Yotsui Shume and his Kaga ninjas try to kill Tobi Kato. Flying Kato easily escapes.
The Kaga ninjas detonate themselves next to Keiji, but Keiji is able to use the cauldron of bats of The Bat of Kai to protect himself from the blast. Keiji blinds The Bat of Kai, but he doesn't kill the villain. Keiji is aware that The Bat of Kai was in love with Hotaru, the reason why Hotaru was trained to be a Shinobi and not a Kunoichi.
Keiji promises to inter The Bat of Kai's severed arm with Hotaru's ashes. The Bat of Kai burns himself alive by entering Hotaru's funeral pyre.
CHAPTER 20: Tears in the Moonlight
Keiji's war horse (Matsukaze) tramples the ninjas of Yotsui Shume and Keiji kills the rest.
Maeda Toshihisa (the adoptive father of Keiji) prevents Keiji from killing Yotsui Shume.
Flashback! A young Keiji brings a bear liver to his ailing adoptive father.
Keiji prevents his adoptive father from killing Yotsui Shume.
CHAPTER 21: A Dialogue of Fists
Flashback! Arako Castle (constructed by Toshiie's father, Maeda Toshimasa). An adolescent Keiji and Okumura Sukeemon (Keiji's closest friend) humiliate Keiji's uncle.
Maeda Matsu (1547-1617) leaves Keiji and her husband (Keiji's uncle, Toshiie aka Mataza of the Spear) alone so that they can finally settle their differences.
CHAPTER 22: Flowers That Dance in Winter
Flashback! Keiji is dying of thirst, his adoptive father offers him his blood to drink.
Another Flashback! With Takigawa Kazumasu (1525-1586) and Takigawa Masuuji (1527-1635?)'s permission, Maeda Toshihisa (the adoptive father of Keiji) marries Haru (Keiji's mother and the concubine of Keiji's real father, Masuuji).
Keiji serves a cup of tea to his adoptive father (who is terminally ill). Maeda Toshihisa passes away in Keiji's arms.
CHAPTER 23: The Favor
Keiji invites his uncle for tea and... an ice cold bath.
Okumura Sukeemon (Keiji's closest friend) gives Keiji some cold coins.
With no reason to stay in Kanazawa, Keiji and Ofu leave the Maeda clan behind.
CHAPTER 24: Sutemaru
Tsuruga (port city in Hokuriku next to the castle of Ōtani Yoshitsugu (1565-1600)).
Sutemaru saves Keiji's horse (Matsukaze) from horse thieves.
We learn that Keiji can communicate telepathically with Matsukaze.
Sutemaru (whose little brother was killed by Matsukaze in Chapter 20) kills all seven of his Kaga ninja comrades to become Keiji's vassal.
CHAPTER 25 (book 4 of 18): Sen no Dōan
Kyoto. Sen no Dōan ((1546–1607), son of Sen no Rikyū (1522-1591)) wants Sutemaru to pay for mutilating one of his goons. Keiji takes Dōan's challenge seriously.
CHAPTER 26: Debut in the Big City
Sutemaru mutilates two more of Sen no Dōan's goons, Keiji stops Sutemaru from killing.
We see the Jurakudai (Toyotomi Hideyoshi's palace in Kyoto).
Shijō Street. Keiji forces Sen no Dōan to sing and dance for him.
CHAPTER 27: Sen no Rikyū, the Tea Master
Osaka Castle. Toyotomi Hideyoshi (an homage to actor Tsutomu Yamazaki from Rikyu (1989 film)) gets the news that Keiji is in town.
Sen no Rikyū (tea ceremony master born in Sakai and adviser to Toyotomi Hideyoshi; an homage to actor Rentarō Mikuni (1923-2013) from Rikyu (1989 film)) draws a picture of Shōki (the deity seen on Maeda Toshiie's banners) to represent Keiji.
Sen no Rikyū pays a visit to Keiji, Keiji invites Sen no Rikyū for tea.
CHAPTER 28: Tea Ceremony in the Bamboo Grove
Sen no Rikyū invites Keiji and Tokugawa Ieyasu (an homage to actor Shintaro Katsu (1931-1997) from Dokuganryū Masamune (1987 TV Series)) for tea.
Sen no Rikyū thanks Keiji for punishing his son in Chapter 26.
Keiji explains that he shares a telepathic link with his horse (Matsukaze).
Secretly working for Tokugawa Ieyasu to gauge Keiji's skills, Hattori Hanzō (1542-1597, leader of the Iga ninjas) fails to attack Keiji and escapes.
CHAPTER 29: A Deadly Pact
Flashback! Second Tenshō Iga War (1581). Sen no Rikyū saves the lives of two children from Iga (Wabisuke and his older brother (Sasuke)) and adopts them.
To keep the existence of the merchants pact between Sen no Rikyū and Tokugawa Ieyasu from reaching the ears of Toyotomi Hideyoshi; Wabisuke (now a ninja of Sen no Rikyū) is forced to kill his captured brother Sasuke (also a ninja of Sen no Rikyū).
CHAPTER 30: The Graceful Siege
Wabisuke and Keiji barricade themselves in a bordello.
The Sakai merchants organization (Egoshu) are nervous. Did Ishida Mitsunari (1560-1600, one of the five bugyō of Hideyoshi) blab about the secret merchant pact between Sen no Rikyū and Tokugawa Ieyasu?
Banguma Hachidayu (a Kabukimono like Keiji; "Hachi" means "Bee" in Japanese) uses his tongue to shoot a poison "stinger" dart at Keiji. Keiji cuts Hachidayu's tongue in two.
Tokugawa Ieyasu enters the bordello!
CHAPTER 31: For the Smile of a Child
Kyoto. Maeda Gen'i ((1539-1602), another of Hideyoshi's five commissioners) has 400 officers laying siege to the bordello. 300 Ninjas from Iga and Koga who are secretly working for Tokugawa Ieyasu are also present.
Flashback! Anayama Nobutada (1541-1582) has been killed. Tokugawa Ieyasu and his men are trying to reach Hamamatsu Castle. Sen no Rikyū, his adopted children (Wabisuke and Sasuke) and the ninjas of Iga and Koga save Tokugawa Ieyasu and his men from brigands. Sen no Rikyū gives Tokugawa Ieyasu a document certifying that The Sakai Egoshu will be loyal to Tokugawa Ieyasu if he ever seizes power (he will do so in 1600).
CHAPTER 32: Marishiten Descends
Keiji and Tokugawa Ieyasu step out of the bordello to meet Orin the Priestess of Marici (Buddhist deity) who was last seen during the Battle of Okehazama (12 June 1560).
"Flying (tobi)" Kato and Sutemaru are the ones who brought the Priestess to Kyoto.
Flashback! 1560. Oda Nobunaga's army of only 3000 men defeat Imagawa Yoshimoto (1519-1560)'s army of 25000 men. Tokugawa Ieyasu sees the Priestess of Marici for the first time.
CHAPTER 33: The Wages of Sin
Keiji presents Wabisuke to the Priestess. The Priestess confides in Wabisuke that she too is a sinner.
Banguma Hachidayu tries to blow-up the Priestess, Wabisuke and Keiji. Keiji cuts the Kabukimono in half, Wabisuke shields the Priestess from the blast.
CHAPTER 34: The Thousand-Man Slayer
The Priestess departs with her new apprentice (Wabisuke).
To please his master Toyotomi Hideyoshi, Maeda Gen'i sends the rest of the Kabukimono of Kyoto after Keiji and Tokugawa Ieyasu.
Sutemaru takes a bullet intended for Keiji.
Okumura Sukeemon (Keiji's closest friend) kills the arquebusier. Keiji's uncle Toshiie has arrived in Kyoto!
What I did not like:
The mistreatment of animals and the kiseru smoking.
What I did like:
Both tankōbon colored covers are now virgin covers.
I give it a 9/10. The escapades of The Wildest Samurai Who Ever Lived continue. Highly recommended! Fist of the North Star fans, you need to support this series! Purchase it, today!
