At the beginning of the Edo Era, when people enjoyed a time of peace, Lord Tokugawa Tadanaga holds a fighting tournament. In the past, matches were fought with wooden swords. This time, real swords will be used. One-armed Fujiki Gennosuke and blind Irako Seigen will fight each other in this match. Both are disciples of Iwamoto Kogan, who is known as Japan's greatest swordsman. Each of them are determined to prove himself the successor of Iwamoto's school. However, there can only be one champion. So begins a story of intertwining fates, conflict, and strange destinies.
The peaks and the valleys. Find the essential episodes — and the ones to skip.
With Iku watching, Seigen prepares to make Kogan pay for his many sins. As the sun rises on the final battle, the eyes of the innocent are witness to the gruesome end of at least one mighty samurai.
Kogan emerges from his death-like slumber eager to name an heir. Seigen and Gennosuke are both worthy candidates, so the master himself proposes a devious challenge to determine his successor.
Seething with betrayal, Kogan begins the systematic destruction of his former heir. Seigen is forced to face off against familiar opponent in a battle where neither samurai emerges unscathed.
After defeating Gennosuke, Seigen faces a superior foe to earn the right to meet the sensei. The battle is the most difficult of his young life, and a dark secret awaits him at the journey's end.
Each point is an episode, plotted in order. Colored bands mark season boundaries. Look for the rise, the plateau, or the decline.
High votes + high rating = beloved classic. High votes + low rating = notorious stinker. Low votes + high rating = hidden gem.
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