Vagabond, Volume 25

バガボンド [Vagabond] #25

by Takehiko Inoue

Eisner-award nominated creator Takehiko Inoue’s critically acclaimed take on the life of Miyamoto Mushashi. Transcends the potential of what manga can be.

Striving for enlightenment by way of the sword, Miyamoto Musashi is prepared to cut down anyone who stands in his way. Vagabond is an action-packed portrayal of the life and times of the quintessential warrior-philosopher--the most celebrated samurai of all time!

At last, the long-awaited rematch between Musashi and the leader of the mighty Yoshioka School is at hand. Literally head and shoulders above Musashi, Yoshioka Denshichiro granted Musashi a reprieve of one year for a rematch. Now the time is up, and the climax to Musashi's epic clash with the Yoshioka is about to come to a bloody finale--or will it? Within one year's time, Musashi has grown wiser and stronger, but can he really bring this spiral of blood and killing to an end?

Chapter 216. "A Year After"
Chapter 217. "Denshichiro Advances" (伝七郎前へ)
Chapter 218. "Demise" (絶命)
Chapter 219. "Unbreakable Bonds" (分かち難き結びつき)
Chapter 220. "Admiration and Hate" (尊敬と憎悪)
Chapter 221. "Old Friends" (旧友)
Chapter 222. "Friends" (ともだち)
Chapter 223. "From the Treetop" (樹上ニテ想フ)
Chapter 224. "Ichijoji Sagarimatsu" (一乗寺下り松)

Genres: Manga, Comics, Seinen, Historical Fiction, Comics Manga, Action, Historical

208 pages, Paperback

First published March 23, 2007

About the author

Takehiko Inoue (井上雄彦) is a Japanese manga artist, best known for Slam Dunk and Vagabond.

Reviews

[Keiko the manga enthusiast ♒︎ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Matahachi, you weren't looking at the real me last night. You were looking at the version of me that you've created over the past few years. The version of me inside your head. The story that you created. It affects the way you act. It's reflected in the person that you've become.

Otsu, you're always with me. But that must also be some version of you that I made up inside my head. Ultimately, we're all alone in this world.

And boy, Inoue isn’t lying. These particular monologues hit me so hard that I felt a sting in my eye, but I didn’t cry. He is so freaking right. It made me remember what happened a month ago when I saw a good friend from high school. I was so excited that I called her name and wanted to join her group for lunch. But the moment I reached her, the aura she gave me was too unpleasant that I recoiled, she isn’t smiling alright. Although, she let me join their group that I just felt awkward the whole time. I was like, ‘Oh yea, four years have passed already.’ but she's always been welcoming that I thought she'd shelter me with friendly love when she saw me again (or maybe, it was just an idea that I only put in my mind.) I was hurt and disappointed. But I guess that's reality. Although, that never stopped me from hugging her whenever I see her (it's just really fun to see friends from way back) and I guess, it's just really my personality. Anyway, enough of me, let's go back to the volume.

Finally, Takezo is reunited with Matahachi even for a bit! But, it only made my decision stronger to hate on Matahachi. He's such a jackass, I really hate him. I don’t think I'll ever learn how to love that guy. 25 volumes so far, and I still want to curse him (and his mother!!) I was actually been waiting for the Takezo and Otsu reunion but Inoue failed me again! This angst is burning me slowly, seriously! Although, it's not a major problem for me. I wouldn’t want to see Otsu hanging around too with all the dangerous fighting and the training.

Also, I'm freaking excited about the next volume! Let's see how Takezo will survive the battle of Ichijoji (versus 70 samurais!)

[Henrique · Rating 5 out of 5]

Vagabond Volume 25


Esse volume vai dos cap 216 ao 224 e não teve ainda a luta aguardada de Musashi contra Kojiro mas por outro lado teve uma luta que eu também estava ansioso pra ver que era Musashi contra Dechiniro e cena épica em um único golpe de sua espada Musashi mostrou o quanto ele ficou mais forte desde um ano atrás quando eles se encontraram e lutaram com Musashi quase morrendo mas aqui vimos uma luta completamente diferente com o protagonista se mostrando que evoluiu muito que aprendeu um pouco o que significa ser forte espero que daqui pra frente ele possa escolher as batalhas que ele tem chance de lutar e realmente fugir de adversários que ele ainda não está pronto pra enfrentar como disseram pra ele não é errado fugir de um duelo que você não quer lutar e com isso tivemos mais um ótimo volume de Vagabond.

[Dhia Nouioui · Rating 5 out of 5]

The death of Den was really touching, Musashi even warned him to stop, too bad he died. Also 70 men???

Matahachi showed us once again that he's just the biggest fool on earth! like are we even surprised at this point?

[Maria · Rating 5 out of 5]

You see that face of the cover, looking down on all the imposters, wannabes and stinking trash bags? Beware: that man really is just as BADASS as he looks. Even more, perhaps.
In other news, Denshichiro’s demise was pathetic. Ueda is a disgraceful snake. Matahachi is Matahachi. The monk saves the day once again.

[Met · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dallo scontro con Denshichiro in avanti il tratto si fa più approssimativo. Come in qualche volume fa mi sa che Inoue qui era un po’ stanco... ho avuto questa impressione.

[Carlos Eguren · Rating 5 out of 5]

Si finalmente Fortiche, el estudio que animó Arcane, adaptase Vagabond, seguramente acabaría muriendo del gusto. Magnifica la reflexión sobre el duelo y sobre el propio acto de seguir, no solo dentro de la historia sino del propio Inoue con el manga.

[Dr Rashmit Mishra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Musashi has grown and in this volume he ponders when the cycle of killings would end , meanwhile he meets up with old friends or now foe . It was a good volume with action , nostalgia and more focus on characters and their respective relationship with each other

[ki]

“A sword can never stop being what it is.”

“Time is equal for everyone.”

“I know for sure, you're way beyond me now. The distance between us has grown insurmountable. I don't even hope to win. I'm just going to try to end your life. And if that cost me my own life, then so be it.”

“You've always remained true to yourself, and that suits you just fine.”

“I'm honored to have been defeated by you.”

“Our fate is now forever intertwined with yours, Musashi. The bond between us lies somewhere between admiration and hate.”

“I just lost a friend.”

“Matahachi. You weren't looking at the real me last night. You were looking at some version of me that you created over the past few years. That version of me inside your head. The story that you created, it affects the way you act, it's reflected in the person you've become.”

“Otsu. How did I appear to you? For me, you haven't changed at all. I was antonished. Otsu. You're always with me. But that must also be some version of you that I made up inside my head.”

“Ultimately, we're all alone in this world.”

Musashi. You've become kind. That means you're stronger. The strong are always kind.”


[Chapter #216-#224]

[richa ⋆.˚★ · Rating 5 out of 5]

5⚔️

[Ben M. · Rating 4 out of 5]

WHY I CHOSE THIS BOOK

This series is causing somewhat of an addiction for me. Vagabond by Takehiko Inoue is a Japanese Manga series based off the real life Samurai known as Miyamoto Musashi, and I just wrapped up the 25th volume of the series, and I’m itching for more. This story spans across multiple volumes and is based off the real life historical figure of Miyamoto Musashi.

SUMMARY

In Vagabond Volume 25, Take Inoue finally gives what fans have been itching for, every previous chapter building up to the climactic battle between Miyamoto Musashi and Yoshioka Denshichiro, the leader of the Yoshioka Clan. They had once met before, around a year ago, and Musashi promised he would become stronger than Denshichiro, and that he would eventually return to the Dojo for a proper rematch, since the building was set ablaze by an unknown fire (caused by Musashi’s childhood friend Matachachi by accident, shown in the previous volumes).

When they finally face each other, the fight is swift, quick, and beautifully brutal. Denshichiro is cut down, but no emotions settle in Musashi. He is empty and still unresolved internally. He found the action pointless. The volume slowly settles in towards the end of the volume, focusing more on Musashi’s sour reunion with Matahachi, whose brooding jealously and blatant insecurities are clear to see. They have drifted apart from each other unfortunately. The volume ends on a somber yet introspective note, where Mushashi once again questions if the goal of being ‘Invincible’ is really what he wants.

WHAT WORKS.

Emotional depth is what defines this volume, especially through the action presented throughout the story. The beautiful illustrated pages overlapping with the incredible dialogue, whether being internal or external, help shape the hard hitting concepts held within the Manga inside the reader’s head. Denshichiro is also fleshed out to be more than just an adversary as well. He is a dedicate family man, who feels he must fight Musashi in order to restore honor and respect to his name and clan. It is unfortunately and uphill battle for him though.

WHAT DOESN’T WORK

What didn’t work was pacing, a continuous theme throughout the series. Many readers could find it monotonous to push through all of this bulk within the story in order to get to what some consider the ‘best parts’. Readers who expect a traditional battle-focused manga will find this read less exciting than expected. Musahi’s emotional growth can be almost a little too subtle at times, and people might not catch a lot of what he is feeling throughout his journey. The volume is still a masterpiece, showing off a pivotal moment in the story that pushes Musashi forward emotionally and physically.

[لِيو. · Rating 4 out of 5]

ماتاهاشي كان يحتاج ضربة تكسر ضروسه كلهاااا

[hexagohn · Rating 5 out of 5]

*SPOILERS* Unfinished review, a collection of thoughts and analysis of symbolism and themes.

Takehiko Inoue’s Musashi Miyamoto offers perhaps one of media’s most interesting character developments from a man of violence and immorality in Shinmen Takezo to a man who embodies self discovery, a man who finds the light at the end of a near infinite dark tunnel in Musashi Miyamoto.

'do you see how infinite you are'
This panel is one of my favourites throughout the entirety of the series, and comes at the beginning of his epiphany. The concept of ‘infinity’ is a major theme in Vagabond and comments on the nature of consciousness and perception.
Consciousness is the only thing that can turn itself into and object- and in doing so, it becomes at once the subject and the boundary of any world that can ever be experienced: We never perceive things as they are in themselves, but only as they appear to us. Every living creature owns consciousness but none truly understands what it is. Neuroscience tells us that its somewhere in our mind, meaning that EVERYTHING AND EVERYONE AROUND YOU only happens INSIDE OF YOU. You don't actually see reality because YOUR WHOLE WORLD IS SOMEWHERE DEEP IN YOUR BRAIN: Consciousness. But nobody knows exactly WHAT consciousness is and how its even possible at all. To me i like to think that its not only one world that exists but rather 8.2 billion individual silly ones. For example: Two people, living the same exact moment in the same world and passing by a tree, One of them looks at the tree and thinks: ‘what a beautiful day!’ while the other person walks past the tree and observes the tree itself: ‘what a beautiful tree!’. Two completely different perceptions of the world with the same tree.
This relates back to an earlier panel in the series with the philosophic Takuan’s ‘"Preoccupied with a single leaf, you won't see the tree. Preoccupied with a single tree, you'll miss the entire forest. " Takuan means to say that to live an enriched life and to strengthen your soul, you must not fall into the pitfall of focusing solely on what is immediately in front of you, discarding a broader outlook in favor of some immediate, dog-like reflex.
Think in your own life - do you know people that constantly accuse others of doing things insincerely? I know many men who will say things like "you're just doing this for attention!" or "you just want a virtue signal!". These types of people cannot see beyond the leaf, they have a narrow and limited perspective and, as such, ascribe their own behaviors onto others when attempting to understand them.

But I know others still that seek to understand how and why people behave the way they do, and attempt to fit their lives into a grander narrative that leads to the actions that they take. These people may be understood as "seeing the tree", their vision and understanding of the world in which they participate has broadened and they no longer understand the world solely as individuals playing out reflective insecurities over and over.

Beyond that, still, is the ability to see the forest. I think I know one man who I can describe this way in life, but even then it is difficult. I imagine those at this tier, at this level, are able to calmly accept the story of the world around them, but also accept their place within it, understanding that they're both the audience and the actor, someone who flows in and out of participation with a serene calmness steadying the way that they interact with the world and others.

In essence, Takuan is telling Musashi to not be so myopic. At the onset of the story, Musashi creates enemies everywhere he goes, why? Because he has such a troubled, violent, injured and bitter soul when we first meet him, and he lacks the ability to understand that other people are not the same way, so he takes those feelings and imagines that everyone else is feeling them too. He cannot see beyond the leaf at this stage, he cannot see beyond his own reflection.



Now, back to infinity and consciousness, the person who sees the beauty in the single tree, sees the beautiful day as an amalgamation of all the individual beauties around, which differs from the myopic view of the person who sees the beauty in the day as a whole.
Another example: A person takes certain drugs and starts hallucinating. People will say that what he sees isn't real ,but for him it 100% is. No one can convince him otherwise because it's solely in his mind. So how could any of this be real: the truth however is that an absolute truth does not exist at all. Every human being lives within their own version of reality, within their own worldview and eventually dies with the conviction of knowing the truth, regardless of what they actually believed. Within the architecture of their own mind, it was the truth beyond any doubt. While for one, christianity is the ultimate absolute, but for another, Islam represents the truth. In that sense, both are right, yet both are equally mistaken.
‘Man is magnificent, yet his actions need not always be.’ In this world, everything is subjective and remains undefined. Expressions are nothing more than sounds given names by men. Yet, there is no answer. The truth about truth is painful, thus man is ignorant, condemned to remain in the dark as thinking is vital, but to lose oneself within one's own thoughts is the most dangerous thing.

So, back to vagabond, after understanding that everything that happens is a simple perception of consciousness, your mind becomes infinite. If you truly want to be, you may. Regardless of how much you seem to understand about the world, you still crave the little things that make you happy. Things such as love, human connections etc are a necessity. The idea that everything is subjective matches Musashi’s realisation that ‘Invincible’ is just a word not a reality. For the entire first hundred chapters, Musashi chases the title of ‘invincible’ and becoming ‘invincible under the sun’ and only after attempting to kill the renown aging swordsman Yagyu Sekishusai in his sleep, overwhelmed by his presence as his ambition lacks, is told ‘Invincible is merely a word’.
Since there is no absolute truth to stop you, your inner potential has no limits, Musashi realises this and stops overthinking his technique to finally become ‘infinite’ in battle and beat Inshun Hozoin.
To say ‘Inside, I am infinite’ means accepting that you are the creator of your own world. you are free because you are undefined, become who you are without any external influence.
This realisation marks the beginning of his spiritual awakening as at this point he still wishes to become stronger as a swordsman.

Later on in the second Yoshioka arc upon defeating 70 men he questions himself:
‘Am i strong now? Is this… strength? I killed them. I survived. But i dont feel strong.. I just feel… Empty.’
Despite this near superhuman feat Musashi cannot see the greatness in his actions, he says ‘I survived’ rather than ‘I won’ from which we can already see how his character has progressed drastically. The emptiness he feels is his realisation that nothing has come out from this battle, he realises that this is not the man he wants to be and at last he understands the conversation he has with Yagyu Sekishusai: ‘The more you think about it, the more you squint your eyes in desperation to see… the more obscured the answer becomes. If something’s too obscure to see.. then try closing your eyes.’ At first Musashi believes that this line is aimed at his fighting prowess, one much like a beast after his defeat against Inshun to which he becomes calmer and more composed in his second fight. But here, he realises that this line means more than just in terms of his martial art, he realises that the same applies to his purpose too. Musashi, blinded by achieving the title of invincible, hones his powers and physical skill but neglects the development of his heart.

Now comes my favourite arc in all of media, the farm arc, an arc so spiritually and emotionally deep that it broke the author and caused to stop writing. This arc differs from the majority of any arcs in any medium as there is no climax and the antagonist is the protagonist. It feels as if all the other events in the story lead up to this yet this arc feels almost like a story in itself, that alone tells you how impactful this is and the amounts of character progression we see in Musashi.
‘what does it mean to be truly strong?’ A question that Musashi realises he has wasted twenty two years to find just prior to this arc. What he found was he realised that he only could find the answer once he stepped out of the ‘circle’, this is beautifully represented in his encounter with a wondering swordsman much like himself who wants to fight to which he draws a circle around himself and asks a simple question: ‘will you enter this circle?’ If you wont enter this circle, Leave, This leg, it wont chase you’. A passage so spiritually deep in how it explores the essence of swordsmanship and honour in sengoku - edo Japan. The circle represents the cycle of hatred and the cycle of fighting in feudal japan and to enter the circle means to cement yourself in this infinite cycle. Musashi realises that to be strong he must leave the circle which he realises and during the farming arc, is where he finds his answer that he has been searching for all this time.
He finds that he has wasted 22 years of his life pursuing something that was meaningless and when he steps out of this circle , he finds that the true meaning of strength is to have a mind that does not sway while continuing to move and change.
The first thing Musashi finds in this little poverty stricken farming village who are struggling to plant food ,is a little boy named Iori who is about to stab his own father to end his suffering as he is pretty much dead because he is too heavy to carry so Iori wants to chop him up and carry his pieces to the grave. Here Musashi is shocked at how this kid dares to cut down his own father and whilst lying down beneath the stars on a rock he remembers how he too as a child wanted to kill his father, reflecting on his immaturity and stupidity.
Musashi helps the boy in the end and is offered to stay the night to which he accepts. the following day he begins farming, creating paddy fields to sustain some food, but the next day, it has become flooded. He realises that this torrential weather is the reason why this village is poverty stricken.
Here we see one of the most iconic panels, where Musashi shows off his impressive swordsmanship in a thrust against the water where the water is drawn to surround his sword. The symbolism in this panel is that in that current moment Musashi cannot overcome water as it moves around his sword, he cannot cut down water, only displace it.
Musashi spends the next year fighting against nature and failing constantly. Musashi is a man who can beat down 70 swordsmen at once and has cut down countless strong enemies, yet cannot overcome the forces of nature.
Shusaku’s plot of land is the only one in the entire village that is growing rice, Musashi attempts to listen to the earth yet still cannot succeed in cultivating a rice field. He notes that water is formless just like Sasaki Kojiro. ‘The water itself does not choose, it simply obeys’ .
The symbolism of earth and water here can be seen with the physical struggle of musashi trying to protect the earth only for water to overcome it but it's also a representation of musashi himself. Earth represents stability and confidence, traits which Musashi had gained over his constant victories but there is also the reality that Earth is rigid, stubborn and unwilling to adapt to change without being broken, this contrasting Sasaki Kojiro who is formless and represents their antithetical approach to swordsmanship. It also acts as a physical reflection of the way theyve gone about life: Musashi has been trying to achieve the title of ‘invincible under the sun’, he had gained strength but his approach was rigid, trying to close the distance, overcoming defeat by his opponent, but that wasnt true strength in the end. Sasaki on the other hand was one with the sword and so one with the heavens much like rushing water, a narrow stream, fast, piercing, depending on the terrain, the flow of water is completely dependent on external forces, water just yields itself to that. External forces determine its shape but water is still just water, completely free. As earth can be seen as stubborn, water can be seen as flexible. Musashi had been in search of a title but the issue was that he was really just under the illusion that the title was permanent. In reality it is just a word because just like that title, life is ever changing and seeking some sort of permanent solution to life is completely wrong. This rigid fixation caused a separation from the heavens: ‘fixation is the way to death, fluidity is the way to life’. Musashi has been trying to fight the water when the key was to be like water, willing to adapt and change and concede things that are out of his control and simply flow with what the path life has for us. ‘The body is a vessel, empty it out’
Eventually the other villagers come to help Musashi cultivate rice upon witnessing failure after failure, and at last they have finally managed to prepare the land for harvesting food.
Here is where we are introduced to the character of Shusaku, a grumpy man who is really good at farming but refuses to give seeds saying that they shouldn't join Musashi because they will be killed, criticising Musashi for bullying around the soil like he had previously done with his blade. Shusaku also describes Musashi as a locust saying that they ‘devour everything with a ferocious appetite. Swordsmen aren't all that different from them’.
Soon swarms of locust come and destroy the remaining crops that the villages have which pushes them into starvation as the winter comes.
The villagers begin dying out and it all falls upon Musashi's decision to accept going to Kokura castle to teach the way of the sword which he has outright refused on multiple occasions to save the village. He accepts but bows his head and kneels down, and asks for food for the village and then he will go with them. Here Musashi learns another lesson in humility, a man of pride and honour kneeling down. He realises that he must abandon these to become truly strong and so instead of giving in to his old ways, he looks within himself and asks himself: ‘ if I had no arms and no legs what would I be?’ to which he answers, ‘ I would be a kind man’. His true self within him is not this brutal killer who is ‘invincible under the sun’ but really a kind man willing to help others.
The winter then passes and then the perspective shifts to takuan in a conversation with another man where he learns of Musashi’s actions in how he knelt to the ground to beg for assistance where he reminisces of Musashi’s past self. A past self who once said, ‘I was born to fight’ , ‘kill me, life has no wife’. Takuan explains how Musashi's old self was absolutely right, ‘It has no meaning as long as you're only concerned about your own life, life has no worth. He comments on Musashi’s old question, ‘why was i born’ to which he answers ‘It is only through the support of others that one's life has any value’ which Takuan has realised that Musashi has learnt during this farm arc.
The hard times pass in the village and the Shusaku begins spreading his wisdom with the other villagers about farming. Here Shusaku and Musashi who had never got along now spend a lot of time together as Shusaku's days are nearing its end. Shusaku asks Musashi ‘what would you know about being weak’ to which Musashi knows his answer but doesn't want to say it.
Summer then arrives and the farming was a success, the village is saved and in this final moment Shusaku wishes to see the field and asks musashi, ‘what path have you followed?’ to which it cuts to a panel with a horse burdened with heaps of weight as Musashi looks up at the skies free of his burden. Shusaku then collapses to the ground and asks, ‘How can this be? I am grateful. I don't feel lacking in anything. If I lacked anything.. it was someone.. with whom I could share this joy and wonder. Tell me Musashi about that smile of yours. You let it out when working with the Earth, but not in front of others.’
Shusaku dies and at his funeral we see one of the most impactful and emotionally intense panels in all of media with Musashi and the other villagers crying and thanking him for what he had done. Musashi sees that you can be completely free as even when confronted by death Shusaku still knows it was in the hands of the heavens. Here we see his character truly as he displays an emotional breakdown during Shusaku's death. Throughout the story we have never seen Musashi cry at the deaths of anyone he has cut down or others, but here he does, representing his emotional growth in this arc alone.

The character of Sasaki Kojiro also is one of the most well written side characters in media. ill write the rest of this another time

[Nehemiah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Phenomenal

[Drizztl · Rating 4 out of 5]

8/10

[Hugo Barahona · Rating 5 out of 5]

''Musashi, te has vuelto amable. Significa que te estás haciendo fuerte, todos los fuertes son amables.''

Ha pasado un año y al fin la promesa del duelo se cumple. La nieve cae sobre la capital, y Miyamoto Musashi vuelve a blandir su espada. La espera parecía eterna, pero finalmente llega el día que el destino lo enfrenta a Denshichiro Yoshioka.

A pesar de los ataques frenéticos de su rival, Musashi logra ver cada movimiento, escucha incluso la respiración y el filo de la espada de su oponente. Forjado en el dolor y en el conflicto, Musashi da otro paso en su camino, y la espada del heredero Yoshioka termina quebrándose. Para Denshichiro esto es un punto de inflexión: sabe que no tiene futuro, que no podrá volver con sus discípulos ni con su familia. Apuesta entonces todo a una última carta. En ese momento, la figura de su padre, Kempou Yoshioka, se aparece ante él.

Denshichiro Yoshioka, que había creído no recibir nunca reconocimiento, descubre que su padre siempre admiró su valentía, la misma que le otorgó respeto y amor entre sus discípulos y compañeros. Esa revelación le da un sentido a su espada en el instante final. Musashi contraataca y le parte la mano, pero Denshichiro, en un acto desesperado, lo atrapa e intenta arrebatarle la vida. Musashi logra hacerse con la wakizashi de su adversario y lo hiere mortalmente. En sus últimos momentos, Denshichiro alza su espada con orgullo, sin arrepentimientos, cae como un verdadero señor y heredero de una gran casa, con la total admiración de la gente que le rodea y con el reconocimiento de su padre.

Musashi queda en pie, vencedor... ¿ha ganado de verdad de duelo? Otro duelo, otra vida arrebatada... pero lo único que siente es un vacío profundo. La victoria ya no le acerca a lo que de verdad busca. Entre las miradas acusadoras y temerosas de la multitud, Musashi se encuentra con la mirada de la persona que jamás le ha juzgado, la mujer que verdaderamente ha comprendido su dolor y su senda tan solitaria, la parte de él que ni la espiral de sangre se podrá llevar con ella.

Tras el duelo, Ueda asume el liderazgo de la familia Yoshioka como última petición de Denshichiro. Sin embargo, lo que une ahora a la casa Yoshioka con Musashi es un lazo difícil de romper, uno de respeto, hacia el guerrero, pero insignificante ante el otro: el del odio. La cacería contra él da comienzo, y el espadachín vuelve a ser arrastrado al ciclo de muertes.

Mientras tanto, Matahachi logra escapar de la cárcel de los Yoshioka y, en su huida, se reencuentra con Musashi. Allí, el hombre débil y contradictorio se muestra con total sinceridad: confiesa sus celos, su melancolía hacia tiempos mejores y su deseo de ser como aquel amigo que siempre admiró. Recuerda con dolor aquellos días en que solo eran dos muchachos ingenuos en busca de la fama. Entre lágrimas y lamentos, admite la terrible sombra que le aplastó. Musashi le responde que el hombre que tanto idealiza y admira tiene aún un largo camino que recorrer. Estas palabras hieren a Matahachi, que estalla en reproches contra Musashi y hasta contra Otsu. Ambos toman caminos distintos, dejando tras de sí una amistad tambaleándose, aunque en el fondo Matahachi carga con la culpa de sus palabras y de su trato hacia el único amigo que le queda.

Musashi parte hacía un árbol a las afueras y allí encuentra a los discípulos superiores Yoshioka planeando una trampa: setenta hombres contra un solo hombre. Musashi, consciente de que no podrá salir con vida, reflexiona sobre el peso de su historia, sobre la incapacidad de comprender su dolor por parte de la aldea Miyamoto y la abuela Hon-Iden, e incluso como lo vería Otsu ahora mismo. Sin embargo, baja del árbol y confronta a Ueda y los Yoshioka, pero aparace el monje Takuan, lo que hace que Ueda posponga la trampa, lo que hace que Musashi se quede con el monje.

''Musashi, te has vuelto amable, todos los fuertes son amables.''

Las palabras de Takuan suenan con fuerza dentro de Musashi, la propia amabilidad puede ser un componente o sinónimo de la fuerza, igual que blandir la espada con técnica, la amabilidad o la compasión también pueden ser expresiones de verdadera fortaleza, cosa que Musashi ha estado omitiendo o eso creía él...

Musashi planea huir... pero finalmente se da la vuelta y marcha hacia la emboscada de los setenta Yoshioka ¿A qué se debe ese cambio de parecer tan repentino? ¿Qué busca Musashi en esta masacre inminente? Lo que no sabe que ese enfrentamiento lo arrastrará otra vez al abismo más profundo, al peldaño más bajo de la espiral de muerte que lo persigue desde siempre.

[tormentsofmemoriespast · Rating 5 out of 5]

no i cant take this🥹🥹🥹 what a beautiful way to wrap up denshichiros life. i love how honest he was with himself and the people around him. he always knew he was gonna die and he took all the precautions he could to keep his people good. ueda only being banished as long as he was master and giving him the title after his death💔 and he died standing while protecting his fathers name😪😪😪 musashi questioning if he was the victor is actually annoying this man🤬🤬🤬🤬 hes grown strong but at what cost🫩 but at least he was drawing otsu😍😍😍he’s convinced he will follow the spiral of death wherever it leads but it feels like it doesnt have a toll on him after his battles yet the other party is grieving and plotting. and he still plans on following it because theres so much he doesnt know… if he keeps killing characters like this i just might bug out… can matahachi actually just die🫩 im happy they got to meet again but ofc he had to ruin it… i knew musashi liked otsu but enough to leave matahachi behind… now thats tea😛 im kinda sad that matahachi didnt become the one to duo with musashi… i feel like it was kinda built up for that when they kept giving flashbacks of them when they were younger🫣 but im also not mad at it because i love kojiro my cutie☺️☺️☺️☺️ musashi seeing so clearly through matahachi is kinda impressive and the fact that it moved him to tears🥹 i think he genuinely had place in his heart for him whether he thought about it or not. its so cool how he thinks about otsu and knows that he created a perfect version of her for himself aswell. takuan saying musashi has become kind and strong 😳😳 is musashi strong😳😳😳

[47Time · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's on, finally. Musashi, now a drastically changed man from what he was a year before, faces Denshichiro who has the full support of his school's disciples - though they are worried after seeing Musashi break Denshichiro's sword in half. It only takes a handful of scenarios running through his mind for Musashi to deal the killing blow. After all that build up, the fight is over surprisingly quickly.

The Yoshioka School as a whole challenges Musashi for their honor. Their new leader Ueda Riohei wants all the disciples - 70 of them - to attack Musashi at once, even to use dirty tactics to do it. Though Musashi doesn't want to fight, he reconsiders.

[Kaustubh Dudhane · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Matahachi, you weren't looking at the real me last night. You were looking at the version of me that you've created over the past few years. The version of me inside your head. The story that you created. It affects the way you act. It's reflected in the person that you've become.

Otsu, you're always with me. But that must also be some version of you that I made up inside my head. Ultimately, we're all alone in this world."

Inoue has this insane view point in living the life and he is spot on! Additionally, the reunion between Musashi and Matahachi leaves a bad taste in the mouth considering what Matahachi has become (or was he like that from the childhood?)

[Gustavo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Aunque el final de la pelea con Denshichiro medio ya se sabía porque Inoue lo mostró hace unos capítulos, igual tiene peso y es emocionante, y por lo que se ve la consecuencia va a ser un ataque en masa de los Yoshioka, que quieren intentar vengar a sus maestros y recobrar su prestigio.

Justo cuando uno piensa que Matahachi no puede ser más despreciable y le pone la cereza al postre, este tipo parece que no tiene límites.

[Pablo Carretero · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Todas las personas verdaderamente fuertes son amables" la frase que me llamó la atención para empezar esta maravillosa obra y que ahora tiene tanto sentido. Solo uno decide si quiere ser un Musashi o un Matahachi.

"Tú no me viste a mí anoche. Tú estabas viendo al yo que creaste en los pocos años que estuvimos separados. Aquel yo en tu mente, la historia en tu mente. Esa historia refleja tu propio ser, tu verdadero ser."

[Elisabet · Rating 5 out of 5]

Me gusta el crecimiento de Musashi y su madurez, y no puedo creer que en verdad vaya a esa pelea tan en desventaja! Pero espero una gran carnicería. Matahachi sigue dándome lastima, y pensar que Takezo no le guarda rencor por todo lo qué pasó, per que bueno que le bajaron los humos al empezar a hablar mal de Otsu, te lo merecías!

[Brandon · Rating 5 out of 5]

The rest of the Yoshioka school are kind of punks, but Denshichiro's fight is cool. We also get Musashi and Matahachi actually meet! After all this time! And Matahachi, finding the one person who actually could care about him, continues to be a scumbag. I love to hate that dude, but it does inspire a level of reflection in Musashi I really enjoy.

[Ericka Joestar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Inoe really about to give us an iconic "one man against a 100" fight a la Berserk and I'm here for it. I believe Musashi can fight 70 dudes on his own. I'm ready for the hype. Loved seeing Otsu, Jotaro and Takuan back as well.

[Raihan Hossain · Rating 5 out of 5]

Denshichiro Vs Mussashi.
It was a good fight but The death of Den was really touching, Musashi even warned him to stop, too bad he died. Mussashi against 70 :) is on another level :)
Great volume and artwork!!!
one of the best volume no doubt....

[Aalyaa · Rating 5 out of 5]

" أنا وحيد لطالما كنت كذلك"
ولكنك لست كذلك يا عزيزي انت فقط مسكين لا تدرك الأشخاص الذي يعتزون بك بقلوبهم
"موساشي لقد أصبحت أكثر طيبة وازدت قوة أيضا كل الأقوياء لطفاء"
هذا صحيح أيضا الزرعة صحت يا أولاد 💜

[Lavaaa · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Matahachi...You weren't looking at the real me last night. You were looking at some version of me that you created over the past few years. That version of me that you created...the story that you created... it affects the way you act. It's reflected in the person you've become"

[Kurtis Burkhardt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really awesome samurai manga!! Lots of awesome fights, love the story and art 😻😻⛩⚔️😁❤️❤️

[Alok · Rating 4 out of 5]

“You're always with me. But that must also be some version of you that i made up inside my head”

[Chella · Rating 5 out of 5]

Musashi vs Denshichiro

Matahachi’s appearance in the chapter is less fun to read. I disliked him but I am hoping that he will eventually realize his flaws and make amends.

[Ostrava · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best fucking volume without a doubt, holy shit.