Nightshade: Hanzo (Good End)
Oct. 28th, 2020 06:10 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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I got like 75% of the way through the Kuroyuki path and it's not bad, but it's hitting some weird buttons for me. So I've decided that rather than being completionist and saving the nicest route for last, I'll just play Hanzo, who I actually feel like playing, and then do the other two when and if I feel up for it.
Anyway: It was really good! He treats Enju as an equal (asides from the...17 year....age gap...) and encourages her to be her best, most amazing self. The age gap is certainly A Lot, and he's explicitly framed as "like her dad but better" a few times, but overall it was surprisingly unsquicky.
Content Note: Suicide
Haha Hanzo is so GRUMPY when he meets Enju. He keeps making these quiet little grumpy growls like an irritated cat.
Tokugawa: Hanzo, stop glaring at them.
Hanzo: I'm not glaring.
Tokugawa: Is that so? Well, you have a very sharp stare. Try not to intimidate people when you don't mean to.
Interesting, a choice that led to bumping into Kuroyuki on his path leads to bumping in to Hanzo instead, because I have more points with him this time. Anyway, she's working on the Who Is Trying to Kill Tokugawa case and we may actually find out the answer this time!
Tokugawa and Hanzo admire Enju's moxy, and Tokugawa cheerfully tells her not to feel nervous about making mistakes, because Hanzo made plenty when he was young. Aw that's right, they must have known each other since Hanzo was 12! We never find out how old Togugawa is, irl they were both in their 50s at this point so let's say he's still about the same age as Hanzo.
Hanzo tells Enju to come to him if she ever feels unsure about what to do. He likes when she obeys orders, but in an encouraging way: they're part of a team, and as the less experienced member she should listen to him, but he trusts her to do her part competently.
Hanzo Path!
Enju wants to say goodbye to Hanzo on her last day, to thank him for all his help, but Tokugawa drags her along with them to a shop that sells tea ceremony supplies, then leaves on business and tells Hanzo to entertain her. She is too intimidated to talk, but when she stares at anything for long he efficiently explains it's name and purpose.
Ha! And the way to win his heart is not to say he's knowledgeable, but make a clever observation.
Tokugawa: Hanzo is actually better at calligraphy than making tea.
Hanzo: Ieyasu-sama... >:|
These two are adorable.
Ha, and it's a dry mission report, but so beautifully written it looks like art.
Tokugawa: Am I not allowed to boast about the talents of my servants?
Hanzo: *grumpy cat noise*
Ha, speaking of which, Tokugawa goes to look at a tree "shaking in the wind" and Enju thinks it might be a cat until Hanzo's irritation makes her go OH IT'S ONE OF HIS SHINOBI.
Hanzo: Kazaori's the second best other than me. (from context, Kazoari probably means 'wind')
Enju: You must trust him a lot.
Hanzo: It's not a matter of trust. I just know the capabilities of my men.
And then he tells her to be careful around Goemon: he's a skilled ex-shinobi, and stronger than her, but she is nimble enough that she may be able to beat him if she plans a surprise.
Knowing they were childhood friends makes this all so much better.
Hanzo: A shinobi must always obey the orders of their master- for you, that is your village. Without a master, Goemon is not a shinobi. Some personality traits are not suited- he is kind. If you're not careful, you will have the same fate. You talk about your team as friends, your clan as family, but you could be ordered to kill them. You may not be able to do that.
Enju: You're right. Could you?
Hanzo: I have no reason not to.
She realises she does fear him: the fear of holding a knife, cold and sharp.
He's an interesting contrast to Chojiro, who gives similar advice in a different way. Chojiro is traumatised, constantly repressing a sentimental nature gone sour, and has to follow bad orders from a bad boss. Hanzo is...plausibly also traumatised, but pragmatic by nature, and has a (relatively) good boss who gives ok orders. So for Chojiro, being a Good Shinobi is a constant struggle, which has him all twisted up inside, while for Hanzo it's mostly not so bad so he's a lot more chill about it.
At least that's how things seem for now! Who knows what angst lurks beneath Hanzo's grumpy glower.
EDIT, having finished the path: Yeah, that's about right. But being a shinobi messes everyone up. Hanzo's just less dramatically messed up than Chojiro.
Aw when Deputy Maeda gives Enju extra info she thinks that she does trust her team and she likes it that way.
The capture of Goemon and death of Hideyoshi happens as usual. This time the council gets the will saying they have to kill Enju to gain power.
Tokugawa quietly thinks that he's going to have to do something about all this.
Tokugawa: Hanzo, I am removing you as leader of the Tokugawa shinobi.
Hanzo: As you wish.
Tokugawa: No surprise? That's disappointing. Well. Kazaori, 'the wind', will take over for you. I need you to protect that Koga girl's life. And you must not let it be known that Tokugawa is protecting her.
Chojiro, in the distance: Why didn't I get that order on MY path :(
Tokugawa: Do you believe she did it?
Hanzo: If you will believe it.
Tokugawa: That's not answer. I want to know what you really think.
Hanzo: Koga might have given he the order, but I don't think she is capable of the deed.
Hanzo accurately guesses that Tokugawa was the one who suggested it be a competition between shinobi, knowing he had the best (eg Hanzo) yet doesn't want to actually win because it would be troublesome to have to work with the overcautious Mitsunari and moody Yodo against the other elders. Instead he plans to make sure there is no guardian and let everyone else destroy each other.
Tokugawa: Don't make that face in front of your master.
Hanzo: I apologise for my rudeness.
Tokugawa: I'm joking, your expression didn't change. Anyway, the two of you should have no trouble, she did capture Goemon. Even if I suspect you were out of character and gave her advice.
Hanzo: It was her talent that let her find a solution.
Tokugawa: So she is a good shinobi.
Hanzo: No. She has talent, and has trained hard, but she will break easily. She believes in trust.
Tokugawa: People cannot live on facts and cold logic, not even you and me. Go, help this girl, even though she frightens you.
Hanzo: She? Frightens me?
Tokugawa: This journey may make you open the doors you have shut so tightly.
Hanzo: I will keep her alive.
Tokugawa: I said to protect her...is it better or worse that you don't know the difference...I should not have kept you so long, but I enjoyed the chat.
Hanzo: There is no problem.
Tokugawa: Hanzo, I am going to use you thoroughly for Tokugawa.
Hanzo: As you wish.
PHEW. What a dynamic.
Mitsunari approaches Goemon in his cell and offers a reduction of his sentence if he catches Enju. Goemon cheerfully messes with Mitsunari until he's (a) revealed everything and (b) agreed to erase Goemon's record completely and give him a pile of cash. And then Goemon steps out of his ropes and opens the cell door, saying Mitsunari should invest in better locks :D Goemon claims to be planning to bring Enju back to Mitsunari anyway, but we'll see.
Goemon: The Tokugawa will be the most difficult, but it might be fun to trick that man.
Gekkamaru tries to draw away some attacking ninja, but they manage to poison him and call out to Enju that he'll die if she doesn't reveal herself.
She holds herself back, knowing they'd just kill them both immediately, but just as she's deciding the best rescue plan they SMELL HER FEAR nnng these guys are CREEPY.
Gekkamaru tells her to run but of course she stays put and draws her daggers. And then...the ninjas fall, to Hanzo's blade!
Excellent, the walkthrough says she should now decide how best to defeat him :D
Hanzo: You intend to fight me? Is he so important to you?
She stares Hanzo down when he tries to get her to abandon Gekkamaru so he gives her an antidote, which she checks for poison (GO ENJU) He says Gekkamaru will need to rest so to hide him in the bushes because they need to go. But she still doesn't trust him or want to leave Gekkamaru, so he grumpily mutters that she's too troublesome and knocks her out.
When she wakes up (to the smell of his cooking), she tries to run, but he is way too ridiculously powerful. He grumpily explains the situation, saying it doesn't matter whether she's innocent or how she feels. So she tries to figure out why Tokugawa wants her alive, and quietly wishes Gekkamaru was here.
Hanzo ties her up and says "Sleep. Unless you want me to make you sleep." She feels like the only control she has left is to stay defiant, so she just glares at him and he says "That's the spirit" then says "Sleep. I will keep you alive" in a low voice she finds weirdly calming before everything goes black.
When she wakes, she decides it's better to stay with Hanzo instead of forcing Gekkamaru to keep defending her. She wonders what Hanzo is feeling, and imagines it is entirely unrelated to his actions: those are 100% the mission. Hanzo will keep her alive, but for the first time in her life noone is here to protect her.
Gekkamaru wakes up to Chojiro explaining the situation, and that the Koga have been told to observe. Like Hanzo he says Enju's innocence isn't the point. Gekkamaru keeps Hanzo's involvement to himself, and asks if it can really be right for Kando to make Enju's friends watch as she is hunted down. Chojiro says he's returning to make his report, implicitly leaving Gekkamaru to find and protect Enju.
It never occurred to me before that Enju is Gekkamaru's Master in the "shinobis obey their Master" sense.
Enju trips and Hanzo catches her, then says they'll rest before taking on the next, more difficult part of their trek, because she isn't up to it in her current state. She thinks that he always states the facts with a sharp expression she knows well: it's the way her father looked at her when he told her she was too incompetent to go on missions.
Oof.
But whenever Enju puts herself down for being incompetent, Hanzo corrects her, and offers curt but reassuring statements like "We are on schedule", "You are doing better than I expected", "My men would also find this difficult" etc. When she's tired, he gets her to rest, and even gives her candied herbs to keep her energy up.
He won't say where they're going, but if he has no reason not to tell her something, he'll answer her questions. She feels lonely, and wonders if it's because he has no presence, seeming to erase himself. He stays so still a squirrel climbs on him until Enju giggles.
Enju: Sorry.
Hanzo: You keep apologising. If it's a habit, fix it.
And then he gives her a soft almost-smile. Eventually she realises he's nothing like her father, even though they have similar roles (and ages lol)
When he sees her admiring wild violets, he gives an actual smile, and reminisces a little about pickling them in Iga. She asks him about her mother, and he says she didn't work as a shinobi much, but as a herbalist, and made good miso.
Enju: ...did she look like me?
Hanzo: No, you give very different impressions.
Aw, I'm glad this isn't some weird projection-of-old-crush-on-mother thing.
They're both weirded out to realise that the last time Hanzo saw Enju's mother was when she was pregnant with Enju lol. Enju thinks it's nice but Hanzo seems sad.
Hanzo: There are people following us. We'll kill them.
Enju does her best to stay calm and ask useful questions, which he appreciates, but then he tells her he'll take care of it and she should focus on protecting herself.
She offers to act as decoy and he says he will never ask her to do that. Tokugawa orders it because it amuses him, and the two of them can fight together seamlessly.
Hanzo kills their five attackers so easily it barely feels like a battle, and Enju is in awe of his power.
She has a nightmare of being hunted by her friends, and them dying at Hanzo's sword. When she wakes up, she decides the best thing she can do is to train while Hanzo is asleep, so she has the strength to fight.
Ennosuke irritably tells Goemon to come out if he's going to keep following him. Goemon cheerfully points out some dead ninja and Ennosuke notices that they don't seem to have been killed by Enju. Goemon pokes Ennosuke about following orders and says he's here to save Enju, which leaves Ennosuke feeling very complicated.
Enju has been travelling with Hanzo for a month and a half. She has to initiate conversation, but he always replies honestly, and she finds herself starting to trust him. Which scares her, because he's only here for a mission.
Enju is angsting about whether all of this is her fault for being weak.
Hanzo: Girl. Stop showing your heart. Shut it away, it will make it easier to hide your presence. Why open yourself up when there's only me around?
Enju: (He doesn't want to know me better at all :( ) I think it's because I trust you.
Hanzo: That's ridiculous.
Enju: I know you are only here on orders. But you treat me like a shinobi even though I am not as skilled as the rest. You saved me, and gave me a path to follow.
Hanzo: I did nothing. It is your own strength.
Enju: I have decided that if you are ever ordered to kill me, I will do my best to fight you. I must take care of this life you have given me. It will be my reason to say alive.
Hanzo: ....
Me: Aww
Hanzo: *draws daggers* Time to prove it.
OH. THEY'RE UNDER ATTACK. I thought he was going to make her fight him lol.
She gets captured but reminds the ninja they're not supposed to kill her, then makes herself seem harmless while she quietly frees herself. And then she is about to kill the man in front of her, when she freezes.
Hanzo: Don't hesitate!
So she stabs him, and watches in horror as he dies. And then Hanzo kills the others.
Hanzo: Was that your first time?
Enju: D: D: D:
Hanzo: You won, you kept yourself alive.
He gently pulls the blood-soaked knives from her clenched fists, cleans them and puts them away. Then he turns her face towards him and tells her she did well. Everyone dies, and if she hadn't killed the ninja, Hanzo would.
This is kinda dark, but feels really appropriate for the characters.
Afterwards, she cries, and says she's as incompetent as her father always said.
Hanzo: Did the others in Koga think you were incompetent?
Enju: They...never said so...huh.
Hanzo: You seemed not to know much about your mother...did your father never speak of her?
Enju: I was told not to ask about her.
Hanzo: ...because she committed suicide. I was surprised when I heard. And the way you speak of your father...makes me think of a favour she asked me the last time I saw her...But everyone has their own reasons to live, and their own reasons to die.
Enju: What is your reason to live?
Hanzo: ...I don't have one. I am alive because I am.
She can't sleep, and trains by jumping from tree to tree. But then a kunai nearly hits her and she has to jump quickly. She can't see him, but know it's Hanzo. He keeps her on her toes until she nearly falls, at which point he throws one as a useful handhold.
When she gets back to camp, he's pretending to be asleep, but she says thank you, knowing he'll hear it.
Adorable??
He teaches her how to gut fish and when she's all "I was bad at my first attempt so I just suck" says he has to learn to be good at things as much as she does. She asks him to train her one on one and he smiles and puts his hand to her cheek saying "Good. Those are the eyes of determination" and she is very aware of him touching her.
By the time the final group of ninja attack, they're an effective team, Enju turning off her emotions to help Hanzo murder them all. But afterwards she is frozen, even as he repeats "It's over. You've won."
It starts to rain and they end up in a cave, soaking wet and freezing.
Hanzo: I'll start a fire. Strip.
Haaa oh boy and then it goes FULL ON HUDDLING FOR WARMTH IN THEIR UNDERWEAR, he's very respectful and assumes her heart is beating fast because she's nervous so reassures her he's not looking and will let her go the moment she's warm. But she is having INTENSE AND CONFUSING FEELINGS. She realises that Hanzo may not fear his death, but she does. She doesn't want him to die.
She steps outside to cool her head and bumps into Goemon. He notices that her skills have improved but manages to knock her out and "leave a mark for him, just to say hello".
Meanwhile Hanzo is having A Feeling. Enju is now better than all his men back in Tokugawa, but he stills finds her psychology baffling, and is also baffled as to why he keeps trying to understand her, and thinking back to when she was in his arms. Would she have stopped trembling if he'd held her tighter?
Ha, he's even more clueless than she is.
And then he sees signs of Enju's capture, and a knot unique to Iga. Only one man would know it, and then leave it as a hint.
Goemon tries to persuade Enju to come willingly: he likes her, he's nicer than Hanzo, and won't suddenly kill her if Tokugawa changes his orders. But just as she's explaining that she'd rather stay with Hanzo, he KICKS IN THE DOOR, coldly furious.
Goemon is taken aback, having never seen Hanzo genuinely angry before, and after a few failed attempts to use Enju as a human shield (BAD GOEMON) realises there's no separating the two of them and decides to cut his losses and make a run for it. He's free, she's free, nobody dies, it's all good. Bless.
Hanzo checks that Enju is ok and then pulls her into a hug, hoarsely whispering that he's sorry he left her alone. Then he realises what he's doing and lets her go, bashfully apologising for that too.
Something burns inside Enju, seeing how worried he was about her. She also thinks she's safe now, but I'm waiting for someone to put the Koga reports together and realise Enju isn't the one killing all these ninja.
Aww Ennosuke is hoping she manages to get away.
Haa all the elders do suspect this of being a Tokugawa plot, but think he's going to have Hanzo sweep in at the last minute to kill Enju. Mitsunari suggests they hire Koga, since she'd hesitate to fight her own clan, and they all run off to do so. Mitsunari thinks "Goemon is unreliable. I'm counting on you Kando" which is both true and really not my POV on events.
Oh nooo and then Chojiro etc are told they have been hired as a group, with other unnamed Koga ninja working for the other elders, and KANDO WILL BE JOINING THEM.
Kasumi says she can't do it and he gives her a pill to take D:
Chojiro tells the others he will do it so they don't have to, quietly thinking "Forgive me, Enju"
Just as I was thinking Hanzo and Enju are super cute but I'm not sure I ship them exactly:
Enju: O-oh, your hair has fallen into your eyes because of the rain. It makes you look different.
Hanzo: You're like my master. He says it makes me look boyish >:|
Enju: I wouldn't go that far. But I like it, you look nice.
Hanzo: ...I like how you look with your hair out as well.
*awkward silence*
She gets sentimental about the kunai he used to stop her from falling and he says she can keep it.
Yes, ok game, I understand you have a theme to uphold.
Hanzo talks about how the skills of Iga are passed on through him, Chojiro, and Enju. She asks more about Iga. Chojiro's dad was strict and taught Hanzo what it meant to be a shinobi: failure of the mission means death.
Hanzo: Your mother supported him, and gave candy to the children. Including me, even though we were about the same age :/
Enju: So you were childhood friends?
Hanzo: Yes. I suppose that's why...when she was pregnant with you, she asked me to take her away. I had a lot on my plate, so I said no. But I sometimes wonder, if I had...
He takes her to the remains of an old temple he visited when he was her age, on his first major mission. "He was reminded of it while he watched her sleep". The priest there demanded he help fix the roof, and then showed him a beautiful flower garden. But now there's only ruins, and a tree not quite in bloom.
Hanzo: I hoped the flowers would be here.
Enju: Do you like flowers?
Hanzo: I neither like or dislike them. But he told me if I ever wanted to show someone flowers I should bring them here. You can appreciate them when I cannot.
Ennosuke says he has a stomach ache to secretly meet with Gekkamaru. They both agree that they may end up having to kill each other :(
Hanzo and Enju find themselves surrounded by Koga ninja working for various elders. Enju realises she can't kill them...and Hanzo isn't killing them either. He seems as surprised as her. He suggests they play the groups off against each other, using the fact none of them want anyone else to kill her. But she isn't quite fast enough to avoid one of them...who falls to Gekkamaru's sword. Kuroyuki shows up just after, complaining that Gekkamaru got to be the hero.
They both notice how much Enju trusts Hanzo, this endears him to Gekkamaru and makes Kuroyuki hate him haha.
Hanzo talks about how Enju is too kind to be a shinobi, yet embodies it's spirit: to hold pain in your heart like a blade, and bear it.
The brothers have always tried to protect her from having to do anything dangerous. But Hanzo has helped her become stronger than they ever imagined she could be. They're still determined to protect her, whatever it takes. But they both quietly, bitterly recognise it will be from the shadows, not by her side. Kuroyuki says he's happy to fight the Koga and cheerfully bounds off, but Gekkamaru goes on one knee and asks for one last order.
Enju: I want you to keep everyone safe. And that includes you.
And now, Ueno Enju is dead.
;_;
She finally faces the others.
Ennosuke: Why didn't you run faster :(
Kyara: We...will follow orders :(
Chojiro and Hanzo have a moment of quiet recognition. And then Kyara begins the attack :(
The medicine makes Kasumi vicious, to everyone's horror.
Chojiro and Hanzo fight one-on-one, admiring each other's skill, almost evenly matched, both holding back a little. Chojiro is upset that he's here fighting his disciple while Hanzo, neither Iga nor Koga, defends her. Hanzo left before Iga fell, while Chojiro lost his clan and now knows if he defies orders those close to him will suffer.
Hanzo manages to knock Chojiro out, but because he was being careful not to kill him ends up injured himself. And then he and Enju work together to knock out the others.
Looking at Kasumi he says it was Kagari-dono (Enju's mother)'s medicine??
And then her dad arrives D:
Kando, raising his blade: You cannot fight against me. I raised you that way. You should be glad you give your life for Koga. Kasumi, kill her!
Hanzo blocks the attack, and falls, covered in blood.
Kando: You would sacrifice your life for a useless girl? But you can be glad to have died thanks to an Iga poison >:D
Hanzo: You forced Kagari-dono...to make forbidden medicine >:(
Kando: Her family were cowards to forbid something so powerful. I had to threaten the life of her child in the end. She wasted a lot of my time.
He smugly explains: He started the war against Iga, and then used Enju as a puppet to control the remaining Iga ninja. When Enju's mother tried to kill him, he killed her and made it look like a suicide. And now he will kill Enju, and begin a new period of war, bringing in even more money for shinobi.
Hanzo: You wish to control battles, to be a king? You are a shinobi no longer! I will destroy you to protect my master!
But he can barely move.
Kando: It is unfortunate you did not die earlier, Enju. But you helped Koga reap profit, you and your mother were both a good deal in the end. And now it is time for your final job.
I love how he's an evil capitalist ninja.
Enju draws her blades.
Hanzo, quietly: That's the spirit.
Kando: You were always too spineless to look me in the eye, and now you're going to fight?
Enju thinks about why her mother wanted to escape him, how he always put her down, to make her weak. But being with Hanzo has changed her for the better.
Enju: I'm going to do this.
Hanzo: Yes, you are.
Enju: Father...no, Ueno Kando. Prepare to die!
:D :D :D
He is not remotely prepared for how strong she is and SHE KILLS HIM :D :D
As she stares at his body, filled with rage, Hanzo puts his hands over her eyes and says "It's over. You won. You're free."
We see the others wake up and hear everything Kando did. Only Chojiro is not shocked. He thanks Hanzo, and implies he will make a report that covers up his involvement. Kyara wants to make sure Enju is ok while Kasumi is consumed with guilt. Now that Kando is dead, all contracts are void, so they will return to Koga. But Enju is still branded a criminal, and cannot come with them. They send her off with good wishes.
And now she's sharing a room at an inn with Hanzo in a small town while he recovers from his injuries. Bizarrely, there is more than one bed!
Enju keeps finding herself looking at Hanzo, and catches him looking at her. She thanks him for everything, and he apologises for not helping her mother so that Enju could have had a better life. Enju talks about how she always wondered if her mother committed suicide because she didn't want Enju, and Hanzo pulls her against him, saying it's ok to cry. So she does, but then she's struck by how handsome Hanzo is. She realises that she's in love with him, though she's happy to keep the feeling to herself.
Hanzo refuses to put a name to the feeling she inspires in him, one he was never supposed to feel. She is stronger than him, with a determination to live he has never known. They will part in three days, what is the point in letting her know she has given him a heart?
And then he gets word from his second, Kazaori, that Ieyasu wants Hanzo to kill her.
Hanzo: ...Understood.
Kazaori, slimily: Will you do it? >:)
Hanzo: You are in no position to ask. Leave me.
Hanzo and Enju discuss an Iga code using grass whistles only known by the two of them and Chojiro. Enju thinks about how much she enjoys this quiet time with Hanzo. And then she says "I want it to be here, please."
Hanzo, realising she managed to eavesdrop on him unseen: You've improved.
Enju: Thank you.
And then she draws her daggers, and says she will fight him to the best of her ability. She has no regrets.
But he falls to his knees and says "Why did it have to be you? Why did it have to be me?"
Then he tells her the direction of the safe village he was taking her to, and attacks the Tokugawa ninja hiding in the grass.
Kazaori: Betrayer! You are unworthy to serve Lord Tokugawa!
Hanzo: You want to be leader that badly? Come and take it!
Enju stays to fight beside him and Hanzo cries that she needs to live.
Hanzo: I have never felt this way about someone before. You are important to me. Enju-
Enju: Don't make me go without you! You're coming with me!
Hanzo: You foolish girl. But I adore your foolishness even now.
Once again he is injured because he's being non-lethal.
Kazaori: Lol. Why are you doing this?
Hanzo: Because Ieyasu-sama can't stand to lose any more men.
Kazaori: SHUT UP BETRAYER D:<
But Enju and Hanzo defeat them all. Hanzo knocks Kazaori out by kicking him coldly in the head haha.
Hanzo thanks her, and laughs that she is now better than even the Tokugawa shinobi, strongest in the country. He ruffles her hair and says he's proud of her. They talk about how much they mean to each other, and kiss.
But then he wants her to go ahead, and leave him to die. She realises that he is going to commit suicide: for a shinobi, failure to complete the mission means death. She cries and refuses to leave him, and he kisses away her tears. And then they spend the night together and the next morning he doesn't want to die any more, aw.
And then they are confronted by Kazoari...and Tokugawa!! Hanzo and Enju go down on one knee.
Tokugawa smiles and says he's been thinking it might not be so bad to be guardian, and orders Hanzo to kill Enju. Hanzo, still kneeling, says he cannot.
Kazoari laughs and repeats the order so Tokugawa...kills...him??? And then repeats that he needs proof that Enju is dead. So Hanzo cuts off her blood soaked sash, and Tokugawa congratulates him on a job well done. Hanzo kisses Enju goodbye and Tokugawa makes a face and asks if Hanzo really wants to come back with him. But he does.
Enju has been in the village for a month. It is peaceful, a hidden place for ex-ninja founded by survivors of Iga. Chojiro arrives and tells her everyone is doing well. Kuroyuki has run off but he's welcome back if he ever wants. He says she is missed, and would be welcomed back too, but she says Ueno Enju is dead. So he asks her to write.
Then he tells her that Hanzo has retired: he never fully recovered from his injuries. Tokugawa offered him a high-ranking position with land and underlings but he rejected it, and quit working for Tokugawa all together.
We see Tokugawa telling Hanzo he looked better with a sword, and suggesting he get a wife then come back. But Hanzo leaves for good.
He arrives in the village and he and Enju are endearingly happy to see each other. She shows him around until he kisses her and says he's been longing to see her. He says she's the first person he's ever loved, and asks him to marry him. She says yes, and the two of them vanish from the world together.
THE END
Aww. That was great. I think I still slightly prefer Goemon, since his entire route is him going "Being a shinobi sucks, let's be happy pacifists", but on the other hand I'm really glad she got to STAB HER DAD IN THE FACE.
I didn't mention it but she uses the kunai he gave her a few times to trip and trap people during fights.
Like, even male characters with terrible fathers don't get to do that very often, let alone otome heroines.
I'm glad we got to see Tokugawa being a bit more of a vicious weasel, even if him killing Kazoari feels a bit convenient. Honestly I feel like Tokugawa's actions make the most sense if he's a little in love with Hanzo but doesn't consider it a major priority, and is aware Hanzo doesn't love him back (and also still sees him as a servant).
Definitely don't ship him with Enju. I can see it but...nah.
Never found out who was trying to kill him! Maybe it was just some random political rival.
Not feeling up for bad ends or extra scenes right now, today has been EXHAUSTING. But I'm sure I'll get around to them eventually, and the Kuroyuki and Gekkamaru paths will be good when I'm in a mood for romantic angst.
I got like 75% of the way through the Kuroyuki path and it's not bad, but it's hitting some weird buttons for me. So I've decided that rather than being completionist and saving the nicest route for last, I'll just play Hanzo, who I actually feel like playing, and then do the other two when and if I feel up for it.
Anyway: It was really good! He treats Enju as an equal (asides from the...17 year....age gap...) and encourages her to be her best, most amazing self. The age gap is certainly A Lot, and he's explicitly framed as "like her dad but better" a few times, but overall it was surprisingly unsquicky.
Content Note: Suicide
Haha Hanzo is so GRUMPY when he meets Enju. He keeps making these quiet little grumpy growls like an irritated cat.
Tokugawa: Hanzo, stop glaring at them.
Hanzo: I'm not glaring.
Tokugawa: Is that so? Well, you have a very sharp stare. Try not to intimidate people when you don't mean to.
Interesting, a choice that led to bumping into Kuroyuki on his path leads to bumping in to Hanzo instead, because I have more points with him this time. Anyway, she's working on the Who Is Trying to Kill Tokugawa case and we may actually find out the answer this time!
Tokugawa and Hanzo admire Enju's moxy, and Tokugawa cheerfully tells her not to feel nervous about making mistakes, because Hanzo made plenty when he was young. Aw that's right, they must have known each other since Hanzo was 12! We never find out how old Togugawa is, irl they were both in their 50s at this point so let's say he's still about the same age as Hanzo.
Hanzo tells Enju to come to him if she ever feels unsure about what to do. He likes when she obeys orders, but in an encouraging way: they're part of a team, and as the less experienced member she should listen to him, but he trusts her to do her part competently.
Hanzo Path!
Enju wants to say goodbye to Hanzo on her last day, to thank him for all his help, but Tokugawa drags her along with them to a shop that sells tea ceremony supplies, then leaves on business and tells Hanzo to entertain her. She is too intimidated to talk, but when she stares at anything for long he efficiently explains it's name and purpose.
Ha! And the way to win his heart is not to say he's knowledgeable, but make a clever observation.
Tokugawa: Hanzo is actually better at calligraphy than making tea.
Hanzo: Ieyasu-sama... >:|
These two are adorable.
Ha, and it's a dry mission report, but so beautifully written it looks like art.
Tokugawa: Am I not allowed to boast about the talents of my servants?
Hanzo: *grumpy cat noise*
Ha, speaking of which, Tokugawa goes to look at a tree "shaking in the wind" and Enju thinks it might be a cat until Hanzo's irritation makes her go OH IT'S ONE OF HIS SHINOBI.
Hanzo: Kazaori's the second best other than me. (from context, Kazoari probably means 'wind')
Enju: You must trust him a lot.
Hanzo: It's not a matter of trust. I just know the capabilities of my men.
And then he tells her to be careful around Goemon: he's a skilled ex-shinobi, and stronger than her, but she is nimble enough that she may be able to beat him if she plans a surprise.
Knowing they were childhood friends makes this all so much better.
Hanzo: A shinobi must always obey the orders of their master- for you, that is your village. Without a master, Goemon is not a shinobi. Some personality traits are not suited- he is kind. If you're not careful, you will have the same fate. You talk about your team as friends, your clan as family, but you could be ordered to kill them. You may not be able to do that.
Enju: You're right. Could you?
Hanzo: I have no reason not to.
She realises she does fear him: the fear of holding a knife, cold and sharp.
He's an interesting contrast to Chojiro, who gives similar advice in a different way. Chojiro is traumatised, constantly repressing a sentimental nature gone sour, and has to follow bad orders from a bad boss. Hanzo is...plausibly also traumatised, but pragmatic by nature, and has a (relatively) good boss who gives ok orders. So for Chojiro, being a Good Shinobi is a constant struggle, which has him all twisted up inside, while for Hanzo it's mostly not so bad so he's a lot more chill about it.
At least that's how things seem for now! Who knows what angst lurks beneath Hanzo's grumpy glower.
EDIT, having finished the path: Yeah, that's about right. But being a shinobi messes everyone up. Hanzo's just less dramatically messed up than Chojiro.
Aw when Deputy Maeda gives Enju extra info she thinks that she does trust her team and she likes it that way.
The capture of Goemon and death of Hideyoshi happens as usual. This time the council gets the will saying they have to kill Enju to gain power.
Tokugawa quietly thinks that he's going to have to do something about all this.
Tokugawa: Hanzo, I am removing you as leader of the Tokugawa shinobi.
Hanzo: As you wish.
Tokugawa: No surprise? That's disappointing. Well. Kazaori, 'the wind', will take over for you. I need you to protect that Koga girl's life. And you must not let it be known that Tokugawa is protecting her.
Chojiro, in the distance: Why didn't I get that order on MY path :(
Tokugawa: Do you believe she did it?
Hanzo: If you will believe it.
Tokugawa: That's not answer. I want to know what you really think.
Hanzo: Koga might have given he the order, but I don't think she is capable of the deed.
Hanzo accurately guesses that Tokugawa was the one who suggested it be a competition between shinobi, knowing he had the best (eg Hanzo) yet doesn't want to actually win because it would be troublesome to have to work with the overcautious Mitsunari and moody Yodo against the other elders. Instead he plans to make sure there is no guardian and let everyone else destroy each other.
Tokugawa: Don't make that face in front of your master.
Hanzo: I apologise for my rudeness.
Tokugawa: I'm joking, your expression didn't change. Anyway, the two of you should have no trouble, she did capture Goemon. Even if I suspect you were out of character and gave her advice.
Hanzo: It was her talent that let her find a solution.
Tokugawa: So she is a good shinobi.
Hanzo: No. She has talent, and has trained hard, but she will break easily. She believes in trust.
Tokugawa: People cannot live on facts and cold logic, not even you and me. Go, help this girl, even though she frightens you.
Hanzo: She? Frightens me?
Tokugawa: This journey may make you open the doors you have shut so tightly.
Hanzo: I will keep her alive.
Tokugawa: I said to protect her...is it better or worse that you don't know the difference...I should not have kept you so long, but I enjoyed the chat.
Hanzo: There is no problem.
Tokugawa: Hanzo, I am going to use you thoroughly for Tokugawa.
Hanzo: As you wish.
PHEW. What a dynamic.
Mitsunari approaches Goemon in his cell and offers a reduction of his sentence if he catches Enju. Goemon cheerfully messes with Mitsunari until he's (a) revealed everything and (b) agreed to erase Goemon's record completely and give him a pile of cash. And then Goemon steps out of his ropes and opens the cell door, saying Mitsunari should invest in better locks :D Goemon claims to be planning to bring Enju back to Mitsunari anyway, but we'll see.
Goemon: The Tokugawa will be the most difficult, but it might be fun to trick that man.
Gekkamaru tries to draw away some attacking ninja, but they manage to poison him and call out to Enju that he'll die if she doesn't reveal herself.
She holds herself back, knowing they'd just kill them both immediately, but just as she's deciding the best rescue plan they SMELL HER FEAR nnng these guys are CREEPY.
Gekkamaru tells her to run but of course she stays put and draws her daggers. And then...the ninjas fall, to Hanzo's blade!
Excellent, the walkthrough says she should now decide how best to defeat him :D
Hanzo: You intend to fight me? Is he so important to you?
She stares Hanzo down when he tries to get her to abandon Gekkamaru so he gives her an antidote, which she checks for poison (GO ENJU) He says Gekkamaru will need to rest so to hide him in the bushes because they need to go. But she still doesn't trust him or want to leave Gekkamaru, so he grumpily mutters that she's too troublesome and knocks her out.
When she wakes up (to the smell of his cooking), she tries to run, but he is way too ridiculously powerful. He grumpily explains the situation, saying it doesn't matter whether she's innocent or how she feels. So she tries to figure out why Tokugawa wants her alive, and quietly wishes Gekkamaru was here.
Hanzo ties her up and says "Sleep. Unless you want me to make you sleep." She feels like the only control she has left is to stay defiant, so she just glares at him and he says "That's the spirit" then says "Sleep. I will keep you alive" in a low voice she finds weirdly calming before everything goes black.
When she wakes, she decides it's better to stay with Hanzo instead of forcing Gekkamaru to keep defending her. She wonders what Hanzo is feeling, and imagines it is entirely unrelated to his actions: those are 100% the mission. Hanzo will keep her alive, but for the first time in her life noone is here to protect her.
Gekkamaru wakes up to Chojiro explaining the situation, and that the Koga have been told to observe. Like Hanzo he says Enju's innocence isn't the point. Gekkamaru keeps Hanzo's involvement to himself, and asks if it can really be right for Kando to make Enju's friends watch as she is hunted down. Chojiro says he's returning to make his report, implicitly leaving Gekkamaru to find and protect Enju.
It never occurred to me before that Enju is Gekkamaru's Master in the "shinobis obey their Master" sense.
Enju trips and Hanzo catches her, then says they'll rest before taking on the next, more difficult part of their trek, because she isn't up to it in her current state. She thinks that he always states the facts with a sharp expression she knows well: it's the way her father looked at her when he told her she was too incompetent to go on missions.
Oof.
But whenever Enju puts herself down for being incompetent, Hanzo corrects her, and offers curt but reassuring statements like "We are on schedule", "You are doing better than I expected", "My men would also find this difficult" etc. When she's tired, he gets her to rest, and even gives her candied herbs to keep her energy up.
He won't say where they're going, but if he has no reason not to tell her something, he'll answer her questions. She feels lonely, and wonders if it's because he has no presence, seeming to erase himself. He stays so still a squirrel climbs on him until Enju giggles.
Enju: Sorry.
Hanzo: You keep apologising. If it's a habit, fix it.
And then he gives her a soft almost-smile. Eventually she realises he's nothing like her father, even though they have similar roles (and ages lol)
When he sees her admiring wild violets, he gives an actual smile, and reminisces a little about pickling them in Iga. She asks him about her mother, and he says she didn't work as a shinobi much, but as a herbalist, and made good miso.
Enju: ...did she look like me?
Hanzo: No, you give very different impressions.
Aw, I'm glad this isn't some weird projection-of-old-crush-on-mother thing.
They're both weirded out to realise that the last time Hanzo saw Enju's mother was when she was pregnant with Enju lol. Enju thinks it's nice but Hanzo seems sad.
Hanzo: There are people following us. We'll kill them.
Enju does her best to stay calm and ask useful questions, which he appreciates, but then he tells her he'll take care of it and she should focus on protecting herself.
She offers to act as decoy and he says he will never ask her to do that. Tokugawa orders it because it amuses him, and the two of them can fight together seamlessly.
Hanzo kills their five attackers so easily it barely feels like a battle, and Enju is in awe of his power.
She has a nightmare of being hunted by her friends, and them dying at Hanzo's sword. When she wakes up, she decides the best thing she can do is to train while Hanzo is asleep, so she has the strength to fight.
Ennosuke irritably tells Goemon to come out if he's going to keep following him. Goemon cheerfully points out some dead ninja and Ennosuke notices that they don't seem to have been killed by Enju. Goemon pokes Ennosuke about following orders and says he's here to save Enju, which leaves Ennosuke feeling very complicated.
Enju has been travelling with Hanzo for a month and a half. She has to initiate conversation, but he always replies honestly, and she finds herself starting to trust him. Which scares her, because he's only here for a mission.
Enju is angsting about whether all of this is her fault for being weak.
Hanzo: Girl. Stop showing your heart. Shut it away, it will make it easier to hide your presence. Why open yourself up when there's only me around?
Enju: (He doesn't want to know me better at all :( ) I think it's because I trust you.
Hanzo: That's ridiculous.
Enju: I know you are only here on orders. But you treat me like a shinobi even though I am not as skilled as the rest. You saved me, and gave me a path to follow.
Hanzo: I did nothing. It is your own strength.
Enju: I have decided that if you are ever ordered to kill me, I will do my best to fight you. I must take care of this life you have given me. It will be my reason to say alive.
Hanzo: ....
Me: Aww
Hanzo: *draws daggers* Time to prove it.
OH. THEY'RE UNDER ATTACK. I thought he was going to make her fight him lol.
She gets captured but reminds the ninja they're not supposed to kill her, then makes herself seem harmless while she quietly frees herself. And then she is about to kill the man in front of her, when she freezes.
Hanzo: Don't hesitate!
So she stabs him, and watches in horror as he dies. And then Hanzo kills the others.
Hanzo: Was that your first time?
Enju: D: D: D:
Hanzo: You won, you kept yourself alive.
He gently pulls the blood-soaked knives from her clenched fists, cleans them and puts them away. Then he turns her face towards him and tells her she did well. Everyone dies, and if she hadn't killed the ninja, Hanzo would.
This is kinda dark, but feels really appropriate for the characters.
Afterwards, she cries, and says she's as incompetent as her father always said.
Hanzo: Did the others in Koga think you were incompetent?
Enju: They...never said so...huh.
Hanzo: You seemed not to know much about your mother...did your father never speak of her?
Enju: I was told not to ask about her.
Hanzo: ...because she committed suicide. I was surprised when I heard. And the way you speak of your father...makes me think of a favour she asked me the last time I saw her...But everyone has their own reasons to live, and their own reasons to die.
Enju: What is your reason to live?
Hanzo: ...I don't have one. I am alive because I am.
She can't sleep, and trains by jumping from tree to tree. But then a kunai nearly hits her and she has to jump quickly. She can't see him, but know it's Hanzo. He keeps her on her toes until she nearly falls, at which point he throws one as a useful handhold.
When she gets back to camp, he's pretending to be asleep, but she says thank you, knowing he'll hear it.
Adorable??
He teaches her how to gut fish and when she's all "I was bad at my first attempt so I just suck" says he has to learn to be good at things as much as she does. She asks him to train her one on one and he smiles and puts his hand to her cheek saying "Good. Those are the eyes of determination" and she is very aware of him touching her.
By the time the final group of ninja attack, they're an effective team, Enju turning off her emotions to help Hanzo murder them all. But afterwards she is frozen, even as he repeats "It's over. You've won."
It starts to rain and they end up in a cave, soaking wet and freezing.
Hanzo: I'll start a fire. Strip.
Haaa oh boy and then it goes FULL ON HUDDLING FOR WARMTH IN THEIR UNDERWEAR, he's very respectful and assumes her heart is beating fast because she's nervous so reassures her he's not looking and will let her go the moment she's warm. But she is having INTENSE AND CONFUSING FEELINGS. She realises that Hanzo may not fear his death, but she does. She doesn't want him to die.
She steps outside to cool her head and bumps into Goemon. He notices that her skills have improved but manages to knock her out and "leave a mark for him, just to say hello".
Meanwhile Hanzo is having A Feeling. Enju is now better than all his men back in Tokugawa, but he stills finds her psychology baffling, and is also baffled as to why he keeps trying to understand her, and thinking back to when she was in his arms. Would she have stopped trembling if he'd held her tighter?
Ha, he's even more clueless than she is.
And then he sees signs of Enju's capture, and a knot unique to Iga. Only one man would know it, and then leave it as a hint.
Goemon tries to persuade Enju to come willingly: he likes her, he's nicer than Hanzo, and won't suddenly kill her if Tokugawa changes his orders. But just as she's explaining that she'd rather stay with Hanzo, he KICKS IN THE DOOR, coldly furious.
Goemon is taken aback, having never seen Hanzo genuinely angry before, and after a few failed attempts to use Enju as a human shield (BAD GOEMON) realises there's no separating the two of them and decides to cut his losses and make a run for it. He's free, she's free, nobody dies, it's all good. Bless.
Hanzo checks that Enju is ok and then pulls her into a hug, hoarsely whispering that he's sorry he left her alone. Then he realises what he's doing and lets her go, bashfully apologising for that too.
Something burns inside Enju, seeing how worried he was about her. She also thinks she's safe now, but I'm waiting for someone to put the Koga reports together and realise Enju isn't the one killing all these ninja.
Aww Ennosuke is hoping she manages to get away.
Haa all the elders do suspect this of being a Tokugawa plot, but think he's going to have Hanzo sweep in at the last minute to kill Enju. Mitsunari suggests they hire Koga, since she'd hesitate to fight her own clan, and they all run off to do so. Mitsunari thinks "Goemon is unreliable. I'm counting on you Kando" which is both true and really not my POV on events.
Oh nooo and then Chojiro etc are told they have been hired as a group, with other unnamed Koga ninja working for the other elders, and KANDO WILL BE JOINING THEM.
Kasumi says she can't do it and he gives her a pill to take D:
Chojiro tells the others he will do it so they don't have to, quietly thinking "Forgive me, Enju"
Just as I was thinking Hanzo and Enju are super cute but I'm not sure I ship them exactly:
Enju: O-oh, your hair has fallen into your eyes because of the rain. It makes you look different.
Hanzo: You're like my master. He says it makes me look boyish >:|
Enju: I wouldn't go that far. But I like it, you look nice.
Hanzo: ...I like how you look with your hair out as well.
*awkward silence*
She gets sentimental about the kunai he used to stop her from falling and he says she can keep it.
Yes, ok game, I understand you have a theme to uphold.
Hanzo talks about how the skills of Iga are passed on through him, Chojiro, and Enju. She asks more about Iga. Chojiro's dad was strict and taught Hanzo what it meant to be a shinobi: failure of the mission means death.
Hanzo: Your mother supported him, and gave candy to the children. Including me, even though we were about the same age :/
Enju: So you were childhood friends?
Hanzo: Yes. I suppose that's why...when she was pregnant with you, she asked me to take her away. I had a lot on my plate, so I said no. But I sometimes wonder, if I had...
He takes her to the remains of an old temple he visited when he was her age, on his first major mission. "He was reminded of it while he watched her sleep". The priest there demanded he help fix the roof, and then showed him a beautiful flower garden. But now there's only ruins, and a tree not quite in bloom.
Hanzo: I hoped the flowers would be here.
Enju: Do you like flowers?
Hanzo: I neither like or dislike them. But he told me if I ever wanted to show someone flowers I should bring them here. You can appreciate them when I cannot.
Ennosuke says he has a stomach ache to secretly meet with Gekkamaru. They both agree that they may end up having to kill each other :(
Hanzo and Enju find themselves surrounded by Koga ninja working for various elders. Enju realises she can't kill them...and Hanzo isn't killing them either. He seems as surprised as her. He suggests they play the groups off against each other, using the fact none of them want anyone else to kill her. But she isn't quite fast enough to avoid one of them...who falls to Gekkamaru's sword. Kuroyuki shows up just after, complaining that Gekkamaru got to be the hero.
They both notice how much Enju trusts Hanzo, this endears him to Gekkamaru and makes Kuroyuki hate him haha.
Hanzo talks about how Enju is too kind to be a shinobi, yet embodies it's spirit: to hold pain in your heart like a blade, and bear it.
The brothers have always tried to protect her from having to do anything dangerous. But Hanzo has helped her become stronger than they ever imagined she could be. They're still determined to protect her, whatever it takes. But they both quietly, bitterly recognise it will be from the shadows, not by her side. Kuroyuki says he's happy to fight the Koga and cheerfully bounds off, but Gekkamaru goes on one knee and asks for one last order.
Enju: I want you to keep everyone safe. And that includes you.
And now, Ueno Enju is dead.
;_;
She finally faces the others.
Ennosuke: Why didn't you run faster :(
Kyara: We...will follow orders :(
Chojiro and Hanzo have a moment of quiet recognition. And then Kyara begins the attack :(
The medicine makes Kasumi vicious, to everyone's horror.
Chojiro and Hanzo fight one-on-one, admiring each other's skill, almost evenly matched, both holding back a little. Chojiro is upset that he's here fighting his disciple while Hanzo, neither Iga nor Koga, defends her. Hanzo left before Iga fell, while Chojiro lost his clan and now knows if he defies orders those close to him will suffer.
Hanzo manages to knock Chojiro out, but because he was being careful not to kill him ends up injured himself. And then he and Enju work together to knock out the others.
Looking at Kasumi he says it was Kagari-dono (Enju's mother)'s medicine??
And then her dad arrives D:
Kando, raising his blade: You cannot fight against me. I raised you that way. You should be glad you give your life for Koga. Kasumi, kill her!
Hanzo blocks the attack, and falls, covered in blood.
Kando: You would sacrifice your life for a useless girl? But you can be glad to have died thanks to an Iga poison >:D
Hanzo: You forced Kagari-dono...to make forbidden medicine >:(
Kando: Her family were cowards to forbid something so powerful. I had to threaten the life of her child in the end. She wasted a lot of my time.
He smugly explains: He started the war against Iga, and then used Enju as a puppet to control the remaining Iga ninja. When Enju's mother tried to kill him, he killed her and made it look like a suicide. And now he will kill Enju, and begin a new period of war, bringing in even more money for shinobi.
Hanzo: You wish to control battles, to be a king? You are a shinobi no longer! I will destroy you to protect my master!
But he can barely move.
Kando: It is unfortunate you did not die earlier, Enju. But you helped Koga reap profit, you and your mother were both a good deal in the end. And now it is time for your final job.
I love how he's an evil capitalist ninja.
Enju draws her blades.
Hanzo, quietly: That's the spirit.
Kando: You were always too spineless to look me in the eye, and now you're going to fight?
Enju thinks about why her mother wanted to escape him, how he always put her down, to make her weak. But being with Hanzo has changed her for the better.
Enju: I'm going to do this.
Hanzo: Yes, you are.
Enju: Father...no, Ueno Kando. Prepare to die!
:D :D :D
He is not remotely prepared for how strong she is and SHE KILLS HIM :D :D
As she stares at his body, filled with rage, Hanzo puts his hands over her eyes and says "It's over. You won. You're free."
We see the others wake up and hear everything Kando did. Only Chojiro is not shocked. He thanks Hanzo, and implies he will make a report that covers up his involvement. Kyara wants to make sure Enju is ok while Kasumi is consumed with guilt. Now that Kando is dead, all contracts are void, so they will return to Koga. But Enju is still branded a criminal, and cannot come with them. They send her off with good wishes.
And now she's sharing a room at an inn with Hanzo in a small town while he recovers from his injuries. Bizarrely, there is more than one bed!
Enju keeps finding herself looking at Hanzo, and catches him looking at her. She thanks him for everything, and he apologises for not helping her mother so that Enju could have had a better life. Enju talks about how she always wondered if her mother committed suicide because she didn't want Enju, and Hanzo pulls her against him, saying it's ok to cry. So she does, but then she's struck by how handsome Hanzo is. She realises that she's in love with him, though she's happy to keep the feeling to herself.
Hanzo refuses to put a name to the feeling she inspires in him, one he was never supposed to feel. She is stronger than him, with a determination to live he has never known. They will part in three days, what is the point in letting her know she has given him a heart?
And then he gets word from his second, Kazaori, that Ieyasu wants Hanzo to kill her.
Hanzo: ...Understood.
Kazaori, slimily: Will you do it? >:)
Hanzo: You are in no position to ask. Leave me.
Hanzo and Enju discuss an Iga code using grass whistles only known by the two of them and Chojiro. Enju thinks about how much she enjoys this quiet time with Hanzo. And then she says "I want it to be here, please."
Hanzo, realising she managed to eavesdrop on him unseen: You've improved.
Enju: Thank you.
And then she draws her daggers, and says she will fight him to the best of her ability. She has no regrets.
But he falls to his knees and says "Why did it have to be you? Why did it have to be me?"
Then he tells her the direction of the safe village he was taking her to, and attacks the Tokugawa ninja hiding in the grass.
Kazaori: Betrayer! You are unworthy to serve Lord Tokugawa!
Hanzo: You want to be leader that badly? Come and take it!
Enju stays to fight beside him and Hanzo cries that she needs to live.
Hanzo: I have never felt this way about someone before. You are important to me. Enju-
Enju: Don't make me go without you! You're coming with me!
Hanzo: You foolish girl. But I adore your foolishness even now.
Once again he is injured because he's being non-lethal.
Kazaori: Lol. Why are you doing this?
Hanzo: Because Ieyasu-sama can't stand to lose any more men.
Kazaori: SHUT UP BETRAYER D:<
But Enju and Hanzo defeat them all. Hanzo knocks Kazaori out by kicking him coldly in the head haha.
Hanzo thanks her, and laughs that she is now better than even the Tokugawa shinobi, strongest in the country. He ruffles her hair and says he's proud of her. They talk about how much they mean to each other, and kiss.
But then he wants her to go ahead, and leave him to die. She realises that he is going to commit suicide: for a shinobi, failure to complete the mission means death. She cries and refuses to leave him, and he kisses away her tears. And then they spend the night together and the next morning he doesn't want to die any more, aw.
And then they are confronted by Kazoari...and Tokugawa!! Hanzo and Enju go down on one knee.
Tokugawa smiles and says he's been thinking it might not be so bad to be guardian, and orders Hanzo to kill Enju. Hanzo, still kneeling, says he cannot.
Kazoari laughs and repeats the order so Tokugawa...kills...him??? And then repeats that he needs proof that Enju is dead. So Hanzo cuts off her blood soaked sash, and Tokugawa congratulates him on a job well done. Hanzo kisses Enju goodbye and Tokugawa makes a face and asks if Hanzo really wants to come back with him. But he does.
Enju has been in the village for a month. It is peaceful, a hidden place for ex-ninja founded by survivors of Iga. Chojiro arrives and tells her everyone is doing well. Kuroyuki has run off but he's welcome back if he ever wants. He says she is missed, and would be welcomed back too, but she says Ueno Enju is dead. So he asks her to write.
Then he tells her that Hanzo has retired: he never fully recovered from his injuries. Tokugawa offered him a high-ranking position with land and underlings but he rejected it, and quit working for Tokugawa all together.
We see Tokugawa telling Hanzo he looked better with a sword, and suggesting he get a wife then come back. But Hanzo leaves for good.
He arrives in the village and he and Enju are endearingly happy to see each other. She shows him around until he kisses her and says he's been longing to see her. He says she's the first person he's ever loved, and asks him to marry him. She says yes, and the two of them vanish from the world together.
THE END
Aww. That was great. I think I still slightly prefer Goemon, since his entire route is him going "Being a shinobi sucks, let's be happy pacifists", but on the other hand I'm really glad she got to STAB HER DAD IN THE FACE.
I didn't mention it but she uses the kunai he gave her a few times to trip and trap people during fights.
Like, even male characters with terrible fathers don't get to do that very often, let alone otome heroines.
I'm glad we got to see Tokugawa being a bit more of a vicious weasel, even if him killing Kazoari feels a bit convenient. Honestly I feel like Tokugawa's actions make the most sense if he's a little in love with Hanzo but doesn't consider it a major priority, and is aware Hanzo doesn't love him back (and also still sees him as a servant).
Definitely don't ship him with Enju. I can see it but...nah.
Never found out who was trying to kill him! Maybe it was just some random political rival.
Not feeling up for bad ends or extra scenes right now, today has been EXHAUSTING. But I'm sure I'll get around to them eventually, and the Kuroyuki and Gekkamaru paths will be good when I'm in a mood for romantic angst.
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Date: 2020-10-28 04:32 pm (UTC)He's an interesting contrast to Chojiro, who gives similar advice in a different way. Chojiro is traumatised, constantly repressing a sentimental nature gone sour, and has to follow bad orders from a bad boss. Hanzo is...plausibly also traumatised, but pragmatic by nature, and has a (relatively) good boss who gives ok orders. So for Chojiro, being a Good Shinobi is a constant struggle, which has him all twisted up inside, while for Hanzo it's mostly not so bad so he's a lot more chill about it.
That's a good observation! There's a lot more desperation to Chojiro.
And rounding it out is Goemon, whose reaction is just, "meh."
Chojiro, in the distance: Why didn't I get that order on MY path :(
I chuckled. :D
PHEW. What a dynamic.
I forgot how shippy Hanzo and Tokugawa are!! I'm also absolutely fascinated by this line: Tokugawa: People cannot live on facts and cold logic, not even you and me.
Hanzo will keep her alive, but for the first time in her life noone is here to protect her.
:D This is reminding me of how much I love the route and how it pushes her out of her comfort level. And it seems like whenever Enju is pushed in this game (defending Tokugawa, capturing Goemon, and all of Hanzo's route), she proves more than capable of handling it.
It makes me go "what could have been!!" at all the other routes.
Chojiro says he's returning to make his report, implicitly leaving Gekkamaru to find and protect Enju.
It's absolutely interesting to me, because wow, Chojiro's nice actions are examples of inaction as well.
It never occurred to me before that Enju is Gekkamaru's Master in the "shinobis obey their Master" sense.
:DDD His route goes into this more! and is VERY angsty, but fun.
Aw, I'm glad this isn't some weird projection-of-old-crush-on-mother thing.
Haha, I do actually ship Enju's mom/Hanzo as a tragic thing! And a "what could have been" if Hanzo had actually helped Kagari, and how much better Enju's life would have been if Kagari and Hanzo had raised her.
And goodness, now I'm fascinated by how Kagari and Tokugawa would have gotten on. I'm sure he would have found her useful. OT3?
It's a little hard holding this in my head in parallel with Hanzo's route.
But everyone has their own reasons to live, and their own reasons to die.
Enju: What is your reason to live?
Hanzo: ...I don't have one. I am alive because I am.
OUCH.
This seems to parallel the line with Chojiro's route about being taught to die, and I think it plays out in other routes as well.
when she's all "I was bad at my first attempt so I just suck" says he has to learn to be good at things as much as she does. She asks him to train her one on one and he smiles and puts his hand to her cheek saying "Good. Those are the eyes of determination"
I think this was one of the points where I fell in love with this route! How Hanzo isn't Always Perfect, but he actually had to learn things, and he's so much more human than the Legendary Bestest Ninja everyone else thinks he is. And what he values is trying, not just being good.
And the game makes a point of telling you that he worked hard, which isn't a thing I see a lot in this kind of fiction, I think?
Yes, ok game, I understand you have a theme to uphold.
HA HA. I forgot that line bout "niece disciple", wtf!!
I guess that also explains how Goemon's route passed muster too..
The two themes: pseudo-incest and But Have You Thought About Your Reasons to Live Or Die Recently.
Hanzo talks about how Enju is too kind to be a shinobi, yet embodies it's spirit: to hold pain in your heart like a blade, and bear it.
...I have so many mixed feelings about this line. I can't tell if it's More Shinobi Repression or if it's a good thing.
I love how he's an evil capitalist ninja.
....You're RIGHT.
Enju: Father...no, Ueno Kando. Prepare to die!
:D :D :D
He is not remotely prepared for how strong she is and SHE KILLS HIM :D :D
I KNOW. And it's so easy for her that she ends up feeling like its anticlimactic!!!
That was great. I think I still slightly prefer Goemon, since his entire route is him going "Being a shinobi sucks, let's be happy pacifists", but on the other hand I'm really glad she got to STAB HER DAD IN THE FACE.
:D I'm glad you enjoyed it!
On one hand, happiness! On the other hand, revenge! And an otome heroine getting personally to go "you have no power over me" and STAB STAB!
Honestly I feel like Tokugawa's actions make the most sense if he's a little in love with Hanzo but doesn't consider it a major priority, and is aware Hanzo doesn't love him back (and also still sees him as a servant).
Yes, agreed! I read it as a bit I Want My Beloved to Be Happy.
...I feel like I'd also go for the interpretation where he's kinking on the fact that he's the one who set up the situation that teaches Hanzo about feelings and that he got Hanzo and Enju together.
I was very surprised when he killed Kazoari, the game did a great job of making me forget that he's a warlord.
Definitely don't ship him with Enju. I can see it but...nah.
I don't ship it either, and I'm not quite sure why. I think I like Tokugawa as as amoral and scary and occasionally benevolent in the background. And I wouldn't want either a master-servant relationship between them or an equal lovers relationship, and also Tokugawa/Hanzo feels more there to me. ...I'd play that route if there was politicking and also Enju got her own ninja clan (which is what I still really want, I'm stuck on it) and many questions were asked and answered about Leaders, etc.
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Date: 2020-11-14 04:07 am (UTC)This was a great comment but unfortunately my brain's being a bit Weird about Nightshade since I played it while my cat was sick so I'm not up for a proper reply.
But yeah I definitely also ship Enju's mum/Hanzo in an AU as well as shipping Enju/Hanzo, and keep the two separate in my head. What I like is that Hanzo doesn't seem to ship Enju's mum/Hanzo. Like he definitely could have some repressed feelings, but he's not doing the overt "I loved your mother and she died and you're a lot like her so I love you now" thing you often see in this kind of situation. His affection for her mother probably does incline him to care more about Enju early on, but he sees her as her own person.
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Date: 2020-11-17 01:16 am (UTC)Enju has been travelling with Hanzo for a month and a half. She has to initiate conversation, but he always replies honestly, and she finds herself starting to trust him. Which scares her, because he's only here for a mission.
This part made me chuckle because of how we, the players, know that she'll somehow end up developing feelings for him. But it's always interesting see that specific moment in stories as to when the main character, Enju (in this case), begins to warm up to the love interest, which is Hanzo here.
Hanzo refuses to put a name to the feeling she inspires in him, one he was never supposed to feel. She is stronger than him, with a determination to live he has never known. They will part in three days, what is the point in letting her know she has given him a heart?
This was one of my favorite moments in Hanzo's route - when he consciously realizes and acknowledges that he has feelings; a heart, something a shinobi isn't supposed to have. It was touching yet bittersweet.
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Date: 2020-11-24 01:48 pm (UTC)But it's always interesting see that specific moment in stories as to when the main character, Enju (in this case), begins to warm up to the love interest, which is Hanzo here.
Yes I love seeing that moment! I'm glad you enjoyed the post :)