Original subtitles

This man snuck into the castle town.

And over and over,

he stole food and valuables.

A petty thief!

What's worse, we found this in his possession.

Yes, he's a ninja.

He hid his name and background to inflict crime and violence upon us all.

Thus, he is sentenced to death!

Yes, sir!

Get him!

Get to it already...

Kill him!

Get him!

Get to it already!

This world is rotten,

and I'm sick of living in it!

SASUKE

On second thought, I'm really sorry.

- Kill him! Kill him! - Please, no!

Just kidding!

Oh, and I'm taking this.

And this.

Kill him! Now!

After him! Don't let him escape! He must die!

Please don't! I'm begging you! Spare me, please!

I've got nothing against thieves, but you can't steal from a girl.

Get him!

Punk!

Hey!

Stop, or she dies!

Good night.

Sir...

Thank you so much.

If there's a girl in need of help,

helping her is the obvious thing to do.

OKUNI

So, what do you say we get some dango at a teahouse?

- Actually... - Do you dislike dango?

No, that's not it.

Ninja?

That's as far as you go. Turn yourself in.

You know, I just hate being ordered around.

- Get ready to fly. - What?

Not again.

I'm Okuni.

What's your name?

Who, me?

Neither moats nor castle walls mean anything to me.

The best in the east, the ninja of flight.

The name's Sasuke.

So how about those dango?

- Sure. - Really?

It'd be my pleasure.

Hooray!

These guys are so persistent.

Let's go!

Poison...

Are you all right?

Run.

Yes.

Shield, Sanctuary, Strike, Flame Release!

FLAME RELEASE

My rice balls

are delicious, you know.

He's awake!

Master Hakuunsai!

It's been five years, Sasuke.

HAKUUNSAI

Old man.

You've sunk so low you've become a bandit.

You just had to stick your nose in.

What are you trying to pull?

I thought

I'd knock some sense into you.

How I live my life is my business.

- Here. Eat up. - No, thanks.

Your pickled plums are too sour.

Grandpa, it's time to train.

Coming.

- Wanna join us, mister? - "Mister"?

Who's this brat?

Kids just like you.

They're all orphans.

Are you still doing this?

Even though you're broke?

And you're still using those beat-up shuriken?

Listen. You'll never get strong staying in a dump like this.

Do yourself a favor and get out while you can.

Well, I'm off.

Wait.

Not until you beat me.

Don't push yourself, old man.

There's no way I'd lose to a mere thief.

What's the difference between a thief and a ninja?

A ninja who serves no lord

is just a thief.

You're the only one

saying that bullshit!

I'd rather die

than live bowing to anyone!

No matter how hard I train...

or how much I hone my skills,

people still look down on us

and mock us

just for being ninjas!

I'll use my power

to live as I please

and take whatever I want!

Your strength

is meant to serve others.

Others?

What have they ever done for me?

You've grown old, Hakuunsai.

Is bowing your head really so unbearable?

Conceal, Secure, Bind, Switch!

SWITCH

- Body Switch! - Body Switch!

So you finally bowed your head.

Damn it...

Sasuke.

Even in a world like this,

there are still good people.

Still can't keep your hands to yourself, huh?

It's probably cheap junk, anyway.

This sword...

is the cursed blade Muramasa.

A cursed blade?

It's said to bring misfortune to Tokugawa Ieyasu and his clan.

That's why

it's considered a protective blade by those who oppose the Tokugawa.

Lord Sanada Masayuki gave it to me

as a reward for the Battle of Ueda.

The Battle of Ueda?

Sanada?

You don't know? The legendary Sanada clan and their Ten Braves.

What?

Well, then...

The year is 1600.

Fourteen years ago,

a great battle was fought that would divide Japan into two.

TOKUGAWA ARMY - SANADA ARMY

Against the Eastern Army led by Tokugawa Ieyasu,

the Sanada clan barricaded themselves inside Ueda Castle in Shinano Province,

where they faced the forces of Hidetada, Ieyasu's eldest son,

as he marched to the decisive Battle of Sekigahara.

Their forces outnumbered the Sanada, 20 to 1.

Hidetada was certain of victory,

but Lord Sanada Masayuki was lying in wait.

HAKUUNSAI

A sudden flood swept away Hidetada's troops,

then Masayuki's son, Lord Nobushige, launched a surprise attack.

SANADA NOBUSHIGE

Next, a mighty arrow from master archer Unno Rokuro pierced the enemy ranks,

throwing Hidetada's army into chaos.

As a thick fog shrouded the battlefield,

the Sanada Braves,

masters of ninjutsu and martial arts, struck one after another.

The young genius, Kirigakure Saizo.

Master of the chain-sickle, Yuri Kamanosuke.

The strongman, Miyoshi Isa.

The poison expert, Miyoshi Seikai.

The loyal warrior, Mochizuki Rokuro.

The strategist, Anayama Kosuke.

The ninja of a hundred skills, Nezu Jinpachi.

Through the cunning of Sanada Masayuki and Nobushige,

and the brave warriors' fierce resistance, Hidetada's army was routed.

They never made it

to the decisive Battle of Sekigahara in time.

Despite the Sanada clan's valiant efforts,

the Tokugawa emerged victorious.

But...

- You disgrace us! - ...Ieyasu's fury was said to be immense.

Father.

Forgive me!

Damn it...

TOKUGAWA IEYASU

Those Sanada!

The Tokugawa had lost to the Sanada before.

This was their second humiliation.

- And so, having incurred... - I'll curse them for all eternity!

...Ieyasu's wrath, Lord Masayuki and Lord Nobushige

were ordered into confinement

and placed under strict surveillance.

What a load of crap.

The Sanada Braves?

I doubt guys that strong ever existed.

They were strong indeed.

Far stronger than you'll ever be.

Because they fought out of loyalty to their lord.

You can have this sword.

Come on!

Let's eat.

You're hungry, aren't you?

Not really.

I can tell when you're lying.

Got anywhere to go back to?

Look, I made it so well!

- That's very good. - What's that?

- Plum. - Oh, plum.

Hey, Grandpa.

What happened to Lord Sanada after that?

Who knows?

I wonder how he's doing.

You've had too much to drink.

KUDOYAMA VILLAGE

What brings you here?

I've come to pay my respects to Lord Sanada Masayuki.

KUDOYAMA VILLAGE TRAVEL PASS

THIS PERSON IS AUTHORIZED TO TRAVEL WITHOUT HINDRANCE

All right. You can pass.

Wait!

SHUTO KAGEAKI

Go.

Father.

The pickled plums turned out delicious again this year.

Even after defeating Ieyasu twice...

This bitter regret...

You must avenge me.

Father.

SANADA YUKIMURA

My lord.

A traveling monk has come to pay his respects.

I am Sojun, a monk traveling across the land.

You must be Lord Nobushige.

I go by Yukimura now.

You've taken the "Yuki" from your father's name.

Yes.

I've come on behalf of the Toyotomi.

The Toyotomi?!

This is my son, Daisuke.

I see.

And?

Ieyasu has finally declared his intent

to destroy the Toyotomi.

Please take a look.

This is the inscription on the bell

dedicated by Lord Hideyori and Lady Yodo upon the reconstruction of Hokoji Temple.

MAY THE NATION BE PEACEFUL

It means the realm will be at peace,

and everyone from the ruler to the common people

will live in prosperity and happiness.

But Lord Ieyasu interpreted it

as splitting his name in two

and proclaiming the Toyotomi as the rightful rulers.

So he took it as an insult to the Tokugawa?

Yes. He was absolutely furious.

The Toyotomi need your strength now more than ever, Lord Yukimura.

Please, return to Osaka for the sake of the Toyotomi clan.

Lady Yodo sent me a letter as well, asking me to come to her aid.

Then...

I'm afraid I must refuse.

I've been confined here for 14 years.

I no longer have the strength to wage war.

What about the braves who fought at the Battle of Ueda?

They've all left my side.

As you can see,

only my son, Daisuke, remains.

I've even sent my wife back to our home province.

I can never leave this village alive.

Will you really waste away in these mountains?

You, the son of Lord Sanada Masayuki, who defeated Tokugawa Ieyasu twice?

Life here...

isn't so bad.

I wonder

what's happening out there in the world.

If you command me to, I'll find out whether his story is true.

KIRIGAKURE SAIZO

No, leave it.

I'm sorry, Saizo.

Kill her!

Please wait!

What's going on?

That woman was hiding rice

to avoid paying her taxes.

Get on with it!

Would Lord Ieyasu really approve of killing a peasant?

Then as punishment,

I'll raise this village's taxes by 30%.

- But... - Please. Just endure it for now.

You can't even leave this village.

What else can you do?

This should be fun.

Let's go!

I'm sorry. This is all my fault.

If it weren't for you, we'd be free to come and go from the village.

I'm sorry.

- Damn it! Lost again. - I'm on a lucky streak today.

Here you go.

YURI KAMANOSUKE

MIYOSHI SEIKAI

NEZU JINPACHI

UNNO ROKURO

Everyone's suffering, and this is what we're stuck doing?

MIYOSHI ISA

Unno.

I know how you feel, but we have to endure it for now.

MOCHIZUKI ROKURO

If our true identities are discovered...

ANAYAMA KOSUKE

...it'll be the end of the Sanada clan and this village.

We've been told to endure it for 14 years.

Hey, Mochizuki, you've really turned into an old man.

You haven't forgotten, have you?

This is just a disguise.

Hey! Are you listening, Isa?

What?

Think Lord Yukimura's holding up, too?

He hasn't really gone soft, has he?

Trust our lord.

Haven't we always done that?

TOKUGAWA HIDETADA

You're back.

Yes, my lord.

What of the Sanada?

Their fangs are gone.

They're living like old men.

I see, I see.

Without his retainers,

even a Sanada is just an ordinary man.

My lord,

that scheme with Hokoji Temple was brilliant.

That was Suden's scheme.

As expected of Lord Konchiin, the Tokugawa's brains.

Well...

It was all thanks to the Great Shogun's wisdom

in heeding my humble counsel.

KONCHIIN SUDEN

Sojun. Come closer.

Yes, my lord.

Your promised reward.

The fabled elixir.

Savor its power.

I'm deeply grateful.

I can feel the power surging within me.

Good, good.

However, Great Shogun,

if he's a concern,

why not simply kill him?

But then, it would all end there.

Take his land,

strip him of his power,

and let him do nothing

but grow old.

For a samurai,

that is the most humiliating punishment of all.

So it failed.

Let's lower the dose of poison nut next time.

Right.

Where did he go?

There he is! The thief!

What a haul!

Kagemaru! Kill him!

Kagemaru?!

Sasuke?

You used to be a village thug. How'd you end up as a bodyguard?

I gave up stealing.

- What? - Not only that.

My fighting skills were recognized,

and now I serve Lord Tokugawa.

Tokugawa... You mean the Tokugawa clan?

That's right.

They're hiring lots of ninjas now.

The Tokugawa will rule Japan from now on.

My mom's so proud of me.

You should quit this nonsense and get an honest job.

Make your parents proud.

I don't have any parents.

Old man Hakuunsai...

He's been looking for you all this time.

He's getting old, after all.

He's probably planning to leave the kids in your care.

I'm taking this back.

What's that pouch in your pocket?

Well...

It's the old man's.

Come on.

There's probably nothing valuable in it, anyway.

BOW BEFORE WHAT IS RIGHT AND CURB YOUR PRIDE

"Use your power for the good of all."

Look, you messed up again. You suck.

Just one more time! Just one more!

- Let me have a turn. - Please!

- Amazing! - Amazing!

- Sasuke! - Sasuke!

Hey. Are you guys training properly?

Guess I'll have to step in and coach you.

You're back, Sasuke?

So you're Hakuunsai.

Serve the Tokugawa.

HATTORI HANZO

Hattori...

Hanzo.

Old man!

What the hell?!

Sasuke, run...

Take the children!

You there.

You're the thief who escaped the execution grounds.

Thanks to you, I found his whereabouts.

I owe you one.

You bastard!

Lord Hakuunsai!

Conceal, Secure, Bind, Switch!

Old man!

Old man!

You bastard...

I'll make you pay!

Old man.

That technique

just now...

I don't know.

It was...

Clone.

Sasuke...

What?

Go to...

Kudoyama.

Kudoyama?

There...

There...

Hey...

Hey, old man!

Old man!

Hang in there, old man! Hey!

Hey!

What did the old man ever do to you?!

Hey!

You bastard...

Enchain.

ENCHAIN

You want to know what he did?

I'll tell you.

He rejected the Great Elder's generous offer,

and chose the Sanada instead.

All for some foolish loyalty.

Ninjas are the source of the Tokugawa's power!

You will support this nation from the shadows!

Yes, sir!

Simply obey your orders.

Yes, sir!

Jump!

I said jump.

Mom...

Mom...

I'm sorry!

Not a single one left, eh?

Not even a ninja who can fly?

A flying ninja...

How marvelous.

What of Hakuunsai?

I cut him down.

I see.

Yukimura and Hakuunsai...

Now we have nothing to fear from behind us.

It's all my fault.

Kudoyama...

Okuni!

- You're back, Okuni. - Sorry to keep you waiting.

Well? How did it go?

I was sure this batch would sell well.

As you can see, they're all sold out.

The unbreakable Sanada cords are gaining fame across the land.

Here's the payment, and what you asked for.

This is a great help.

All right.

That's a lot.

This should keep us fed for a while.

We're deeply grateful!

Thank Okuni.

The Sanada cord has become fairly well-known by now.

I'll teach everyone how to make it.

I hope it'll help you all make a living.

Lord Yukimura, let's play tag!

Let's play tag!

All right.

No matter how dire the situation,

there's always a way to turn things around.

But... how do you manage to weave so many cords?

As expected of our lord.

Well? What do you think, Unno?

I'll have you know I never doubted our lord for a second.

And who was it that said he'd gone soft?

I was just venting!

It's paid off, all the hard work we've put into improving the Sanada cords.

Well, my brother did most of the work.

All right! Number 2053.

That's enough!

What are you lot doing? Hey!

What's all this money?!

I have good news for you.

The rice allowance granted to the Sanada by the Great Elder

will be cut by half starting next season.

"Keep the common folk alive, but not well enough to live."

Those are the Great Elder's orders.

The common folk!

Keep them alive, but not well enough to live.

Bastards...

It's all thanks to you. Have a drink.

If we're going to deal with him, let me do it.

- No, poison would be more certain. - Don't act rashly!

If the checkpoint magistrate dies, Lord Yukimura will be the prime suspect.

But if they cut our rice allowance any further...

Don't worry about me.

Even so...

You've been giving rice to the poor villagers,

and you're barely eating yourself, aren't you?

My presence...

is a burden on this village.

That's the least I could do.

We'll have to leave the village, then.

There must be a way if we just try.

Have you forgotten about that thief

who came to this village the other day?

But if things go on like this...

We're still missing...

one last piece.

Botched the landing again.

So this is Kudoyama, huh?

Hey, you.

Recognize this shuriken?

Are you all right?

Yeah.

It's the same design.

So it was you lot!

You're as good as Saizo.

You're the ones who killed the old man!

Shield, Secure, Surge...

Mist Concealment.

MIST CONCEALMENT

BOMB

Let go of me.

- Are you all in cahoots? - Yeah.

Looking for this?

I took it for safekeeping. It's dangerous.

What kind of behavior is that, attacking us out of nowhere?

What ninja clan are you from?

Now that you've seen us, we have to kill you.

Shall we?

Double sixes.

Now that's a roll.

Then let's proceed at once.

Wait.

Where did you get this?

It's a keepsake.

From the old man who died.

Was this old man...

Hakuunsai?

Yeah.

I see.

So he's passed away.

What's your name?

Sasuke.

I'm sorry we treated you so roughly.

Everyone, put away your weapons.

Yes, sir.

I'm Sanada Yukimura.

I knew Hakuunsai well.

Sanada?

So you're the famous Sanada Braves?

You're nothing like what I'd heard.

What do you mean by that?

Then why are you using the same shuriken as the ninja who killed the old man?

Acting all high and mighty.

The one who killed Hakuunsai was most likely...

Hattori Hanzo.

Hattori Hanzo?

The head ninja of the Tokugawa clan. The greatest ninja in all of Japan.

Saizo hails from the same Iga clan.

Hattori Hanzo...

I'll kill him.

The one who gave the order

was Tokugawa Ieyasu.

Then I'll kill them both!

You came back with a companion.

Sasuke.

We share the same goal.

What do you mean?

We're after Ieyasu's head, too.

My lord, we can't trust someone whose background we don't even know.

Will you fight alongside us?

Against the whole realm.

Don't mess with me!

Like hell I'll become your lackey.

The old man died because of you.

He chose the Sanada over the Tokugawa!

That was a fine display of loyalty.

What? Loyalty?

To hell with that!

That's enough, you bastard.

I don't trust anyone.

Will you put your skills to use for us?

There was one piece missing, one we absolutely needed.

And now,

it falls right out of the sky.

What?

Damn, I'm bleeding too much.

Oh, he fell.

We've been spotted.

Hey, isn't that bad?

Could someone... bring him here?

Sorry to keep you waiting, everyone.

We're leaving this village.

We're taking down the Tokugawa.

Subtitle translation by: Sayo Takada

THIS DRAMA IS A WORK OF FICTION