No matter is final can be first. That was, after all, one other banger episode – the remainder of this arc is just about all bangers – however I need to discuss that final body (and the preview). “Sakabatou Shougeki” (subsequent week’s episode 10) was a aspect story written by Watsuki Nobuhiro for the twenty fifth anniversary exhibition in 2023, detailing Kenshin’s first expertise with an inverted sword. It is cool that it is being tailored and all (Lidenfilms put one other aspect story into the Tokyo Arc). However the greater level is that it makes the concept that they’re planning to adapt your complete Kyoto arc into 23 episodes even more durable to fathom. It might have been so loopy – now you are including further materials?
No, I do not purchase it and I by no means have. It was all the time a horrible thought and it is beginning to look increasingly like an unrealistic thought. There’s a lot depth to this story and the breadth that comes with it. If you are going to trouble adapting it, there is no level in not doing it justice – we’re speaking about one of many biggest tales of Shounen ever advised. Anime typically is not sensible, I perceive that. However with a constructing that’s simply as traditionally substantial – and commercially confirmed Rurouni Kenshinthere’s completely no level in doing the Kyoto arc in 23 episodes.
As Raikou famous within the feedback final week, Chou makes an ideal formal introduction to the Ten Swords. He has a quirk (that is not an outlier) that goes past his fight abilities. Chou the Swordhunter seems to be simply that, a sword hunter in the beginning. A katana otaku. As such, Arai Shakku’s work will clearly be of monumental significance to him. Kenshin is of little significance to him due to his politics, and Chou is not the sort to fuss and puff himself up over the joys of battle. For him, the joys is within the chase – and Kenshin is an impediment in that chase.
That stated, he clearly does not draw back from a battle both. And for Kenshin, he breaks out Hakujinconsidered one of Shakku’s final creations and Chou’s delight and pleasure. A sword so skinny that he can use it like Indiana Jones makes use of a whip, it is in all probability not essentially the most sensible weapon Rurouni Kenshin. Nevertheless it’s fairly a spectacle, and with out a lot as a sakabatou, Ken hardly appears a match for it. All he has is his picket scabbard, and that is all he can do to keep away from Hakujin’s assaults. Actually, Kenshin takes what seems to be a nasty lower on his leg, which Chou says is strictly what he was aiming for.
Then there’s the Iori downside. By no fault of his personal, little satsumaimo is Kenshin’s largest impediment on this battle. Seiku thinks about utilizing Kenshin as bait and operating in the direction of the boy himself, though Misao and Nenji deeply disgrace him about this. What none of them keep in mind is that that is precisely what Kenshin has in thoughts: to maintain goading Chou and giving Seiku the possibility to save lots of his son. However as an alternative of accepting it, Seiku acknowledges that that is precisely the type of man who ought to wield his father’s final sword. So as an alternative of the child, he runs to the shrine corridor (and manages to put it aside with Kenshin’s assist).
The battle between Chou and Kenshin – for those who can name it that when Kenshin is unarmed – goes by way of all of this. And Kenshin manages to lure Chou shut sufficient to lure Hakujin together with his sheath and unleash an elbow to Chou’s brow. It is a good hit, however not a disabling one, and a trick Chou will not fall for a second time. It appears grim, however then Seiku exhibits up with the knife and throws it at Kenshin. That is tremendous, says Chou – a battle to the loss of life over your final blade makes excellent sense. However Nenji understands the reality of it. For Kenshin, even drawing a katana in anger unlocks all of the bloodlust that his oath to keep away from killing has locked deep inside him.
For me, just one query actually stands out right here. When Kenshin drew that sword – and used it for his ‘Tsumuji’ assault – did he comprehend it was a sakabatou? I can utterly consider that Kenshin would have been keen to do what he needed to do if he believed Chou was about to kill Iori. His oath is undamaged – the blade was in truth reversed, although even Seiku was stunned to see this. Shakku (Nakai Kazuyaa big canine that I might selfishly have favored to see saved for a higher function) solid two sakabatou at a time, in accordance with custom, for a sacred blade, and gave the smaller of the 2 (Kageuchi) away (to a younger Kenshin). Now Kenshin wields the superior blade – Shinuchi – and his first act with it’s to take out Chou.
If Kenshin did certainly act with the idea that he was delivering a killing blow, that can definitely be on his thoughts. However Iori is certainly secure, and Chou is certainly subdued. And he now has a sakabatou once more, and a superior one to his unique one at that. Chou tells Kenshin that there are two within the Juppongatana who’re a lot stronger than him, Soujiro and Usui. However Kenshin wanted a minimum of a knife earlier than he may ever think about a closing showdown with Shishio. In some ways you possibly can say that this incident marks the actual starting of the Kyoto arc – which means that it might be virtually half as a lot, way more ridiculous.
