Fri, Sep 10, 2010
Togame and Shichika now meet Kiguchi Zanki, owner of a dojo and the ninth sword (Outou Nokogiri). She and Shichika duel for Nokogiri but Shichika loses and Zanki decides to teach him the art of kendo. He proves to be very unskilled since his family's inheritance simply prevents him from wielding swords at all. This causes him to be clumsy and cause many accidents during their training to land them in positions that could be perceived as sexual without context to which Togame is victim to, making her immensely jealous. Meanwhile, Princess Hitei's servant Souda Emonzaemon is commanded to assassinate the Maniwa Ninja Corps, killing off one of their remaining members, Maniwa Umigame. Finally, Shichika and Zanki duel again even though Shichika is still horrible with a sword. Togame's newest scheme wins them the battle by distracting Zanki with shogi moves during the match, helping Shichika to win them the match.
Fri, Jun 4, 2010
Lost and freezing in the Ezo region, Togame and Shichika are found by an 11 year-old girl named Itezora Konayuki who is the last of the missing Itezora clan and takes them into her makeshift home. Later, she helps them find the sixth sword (Soutou Kanazuchi) and follows her clans instructions of not giving the word up unless defeated in battle. When Shichika challenges Konayuki and goes easy on her, his arm is broken and Konayuki becomes the first person to defeat Shichika. While Shichika recovers, Konayuki encounters the vengeful Maniwa Kyouken uses her power to take over the young girl's body and sees how Konayuki's clan had been annihilated by Nanami. She then engages Shichika in a fight. Unlike his last match with Konayuki, Shichika is able to see through this ninja's moves and defeats Kyouken's spirit, knocking Konayuki unconscious. Later, Konayuki gives up the sword and apologizes for lying to them about her clan's instructions. With Kanazuchi, Konayuki promises to take it to the mainland with her on her way to live at the Sanzu shrine.
Fri, May 21, 2010
In their fifth month, the duo encounter the pirate Azekura Kanara who rules the small port of Satsuma and possesses one of the 12 swords (Zokutou Yoroi). Finding Togame resembles his deceased younger sister, he strikes a deal that if he wins a battle, he takes Togame as his woman. During the ensuing fight, Kanara proclaims his love for Togame and the fight then becomes more than just a fight for the swords. After finding the weak spot of Zokutou Yoroi, Shichika slams Kanara into the ground, forcing Kanara to admit defeat. Despite being one of the only survivors of Shichika's battles, Kanara spitefully changes the course of the ship Togame and Shichika take to get to their next destination.
Fri, Aug 13, 2010
In an abandoned lake, the duo find the next sword roaming around as a robot. Togame gathers information and attempts to capture the robot by setting traps for it, all of which fail. Shichika eventually fights the robot but it blocks and dodges all his attacks and surprises him with unusual attack patterns. Finally, the robot jumps into the air just as it runs out of energy, and Shichika swoops in to catch it, later sending the doll off to Princess Hitei.
Fri, Jul 9, 2010
Back on the island, Nanami becomes annoyed with her brother's slow progress and decides to set out and collect the swords herself. Along the way, she annihilates the Itezora clan along using methods much more violent and destructive than Togame and Shichika. She eventually comes to possess one of the 12 swords (Akutou Bita) and uses its power to strengthen her frail body by having it stabbed into her chest. Encountering his sister, Shichika fights his most deadly opponent during which Nanami asks him to kill her to spare her from the suffering that Bita brings with its power. After battling against Nanami's all-seeing eyes and inhuman strength and Togame's life being threatened, Shichika is finally able to free his sister from Bita by killing her.
Mon, Jan 25, 2010
Strategist Togame arrives on an island where she is supposed to find the head of the Yasuri family who was exiled there many years before and meets the current head of the family, Yasuri Shichika and his sister Nanami. Togame explains how she is on a journey to find the 12 most powerful swords in Japan that had been made by Shikizaki Kiki and needs his help. Seeing no reason to help her, Shichika refuses until Togame commands him to fall in love with her thus giving him a reason to help her. Suddenly attacked by a ninja from the Maniwa Ninja Corps with one of the 12 swords (Zettou Kanna), Shichika decides to help Togame and defeats the ninja. They then set out on their journey across Japan.
Fri, Apr 16, 2010
During the fourth month, Togame and Shichika encounter Sabi Hakuhei, one of Japan's strongest swordsman who challenges Shichika to a duel for their swords. He proves to be much stronger than the other opponents Shichika faced before. Meanwhile, Shichika's sister, Nanami, is attacked by one of the Maniwa Ninja squads in an attempted kidnapping. Her foes soon discover that Nanami is actually the more powerful of the Yasuri siblings despite Shichika being the head of the family. She quickly deals with them as Shichika defeats Sabi Hakuhei, gaining their fourth sword (Hakutou Hari).
Thu, Apr 8, 2010
In their third month of travel, the duo wind up at the Sanzu shrine where the ex-bandit master Tsuruga Meisai protects the third sword (Sentou Tsurugi) and the shrine maidens who each carry one of the thousand blades classified as this sword. Togame is given the challenge of finding the original of the thousand swords before Shichika can fight Meisai for the swords. While Togame searches over the next few days, Shichika bonds with Meisai and learns or her struggles. Another ninja from the Maniwa Corps shows up and tried to wreak havoc but meets a quick death by Meisai's hand. the next day, Togame presents Meisai with what she concluded was the oldest sword and Meisai agrees to fight Shichika. The fight ends with Meisai's death and the third sword in Togame's hands.