:18:00
So you see, from
now on...
:18:03
...if you aren't a high-ranking officer
somewhere... you're doomed.
:18:06
But... you're such a swordsman that
any Daimyo house would want you.
:18:11
Don't be ridiculous. You're all men
with meager positions in life...
:18:15
...but you still don't know the
hardships of being a ronin.
:18:20
You have no idea to what extremes I've
sunk... I've done everything I can.
:18:25
Skills alone won't get
you anywhere.
:18:28
I wonder if what you're saying is true.
:18:30
I wonder if what you're saying is true.
By the way, fellows...
:18:32
...you were saying some rather serious
things back there in Nihonbashi.
:18:36
About beheading Elder li, or
something to that effect.
:18:41
But, you know... that's
pretty interesting.
:18:45
Certainly interesting, if you're
really serious about doing it.
:18:47
Sir, what you're saying
is very odd.
:18:50
Still, you wouldn't
have saved us...
:18:52
...if you didn't resent Elder
li's arbitrary conduct.
:18:54
I've got nothing to do with him,
no connections whatsoever!
:18:58
I hold no grudge against him,
nor am I indebted to him.
:19:00
He's a complete stranger to me.
:19:02
He's a complete stranger to me.
No, that can't be so!
:19:03
Otherwise, why help? If you got caught,
you'd be in prison along with us!
:19:08
You bunch of
rockheads!
:19:12
Sure, li Naosuke is indeed
the "Red Devil..."
:19:16
...from your viewpoint
as men of Mito.
:19:18
But it's different, for someone like me,
who's got no connection to him.
:19:22
The reason there's been a lot of political
crap these last few years...
:19:25
...is because the Tokugawa and
their allies are scheming...
:19:28
...about who'll be the next Shogun,
that is. Isn't that so?
:19:35
The House of Mito wants Nariaki's son,
Yoshinobu, to be the next Shogun.
:19:40
And, you want Nariaki to live in the
Castle's Nishinomaru Quarters...
:19:43
...so that he can rule the nation.
:19:45
...so that he can rule the nation.
B... But...
:19:46
Listen to me until
I'm done!
:19:50
Everything seemed to be set, then he
stepped forward to oppose you.
:19:53
That was li Naosuke,
the Lord of Hikone.
:19:56
He used his post as the Great
Elder to bring to...
:19:59
...Edo Castle a 13-year old, one Yoshi-
tomi, from the House of Kii...