Episode 1

**Ronin** (浪人, *Rōnin*) is the 1st episode of the Yasuke anime.

## Synopsis

When her young daughter is stricken by a mysterious malady, Ichika asks Yasuke to bring them upriver to a special doctor, but Yasuke refuses.

## Plot

Kyoto 1582, near Honno-ji Temple, the Dark Army attacks Nobunaga Oda's forces. Morisuke manage to stop the mechs, however the Daimyo gives permission to Mitsuhide to strengthen the soldiers and continue fight. At Honno-ji, Yasuke informs Nobunaga that the Dark Army is approaching, but dunk Nobunaga mumbles on why Mitsuhide declined his offer. Nobunaga pours some sake and asks Yasuke to drink with him as only he didn't betray him. Yasuke initially refuses, but Nobunaga orders him to. Nobunaga wonders that if he is to die here, will Mitsuhide leave Ranmaru live and Yasuke confirms that Ranmaru was smuggled out with the last ship per Nobunaga's request. Nobunaga then prepares for a honorable death and commits seppuku and orders Yasuke to be his executioner and cut his head.

Twenty years later, Yasuke wakes up in his rundown cabin, still remembering Nobunaga. He gets on his boat, goes fishing and transports people up and down the river. He goes to drink in a bar, where a kid, Ichiro, attacks him practicing his sword skills, but Yasuke easily dodges his attacks. Ichiro follows Yasuke, asking him where he learned to fight and wants Yasuke to teach him, so he can fight the Daimyo, but Yasuke tells him that a true warrior desire peace, and not war. However, Ichiro states that war brings peace, and peace brings freedom. Yasuke then boards his boat and leaves without saying anything.

Ichiro continues to practice his sword swinging in the forest. He sees two men attacking and killing another man and runs scared towards the village. There he is being mocked by others if he had defeated some bad guys today. Ichiro returns to Saki and comments that he almost landed a hit on Yasuke, but will do it next time. He gives his bokken to Saki and asks her to try swinging it, but she ends up activating a strange magic and breaks it. Her mother returns and seeing Saki getting weaker, she decides its time for her to meet the doctor. As the doctor is far away, Ichiro suggests they use Yasuke's boat to get faster and Ichiro will serve them as bodyguard. Meanwhile, a large woman shows up at the bar and asks for a woman and a child, she then sees two drunk men and takes one of them with her.

The next day, Yasuke goes to drink at the bar. Ichiro fails to hit him again and explains that Saki broke his bokken. Ichika introduces herself as Saki's mother and explains that Saki became ill and she needs to travel upstream to see a special doctor. Yasuke refuses as no one returns alive from going north. Ichiro also asks Yasuke, however, he still refuses as its too dangerous.

Back in 1579 at Nanban Tradeport. Nobunaga looks at the various item coming from all over the world and buys some clothes for Ranmaru. A child gets in trouble with a man, but Yasuke intervenes and ends up fighting the man. As he defeats him, Nobunaga applauds Yasuke and states he deserves to be clean and order to scrub Yasuke. Nobunaga wonders why the dirt isn't coming off and if he inked his body and gets interested learning that Yasuke was born with dark skin. Yasuke introduces as Eusebio Ibrahimo Baloi, but as Nobunaga has a hard time repeating it, he calls him *Yasuke* and decides to take Yasuke. Back at the present, Yasuke changes his mind and decides to take Saki and Ichika upstream and they leave at night.

Back in 1579 at Shiga Prefecture, Yasuke practices his sword at his new home. A woman, Natsumaru approaches with the kid that Yasuke saved and thanks him. She explains since honor was involved, she couldn't protect him. Back at the present, Ichika wonders who is Yasuke as he doesn't seem to be an ordinary man. She wonders why Yasuke changed his mind and Yasuke explains that at from where he is every man and woman cares for every child in the village. The river suddenly freezes and four people appear. Haruto comments that Yasuke is black and he though that Achoja was the only black person in Japan. They tell him to hand over the child, but are surprised to learn that Yasuke speaks Japanese. Yasuke then attacks them, hitting Achoja, then taking down Haruto. He engages Ishikawa in a fight. Nikita transforms into a werebear and is about to hit Yasuke, however, Ichika jumps in and pushes her away. Haruto uses a beam gun and cuts Ichika's left arm. Seeing this, Saki triggers a blast while yelling to leave them alone, knocking and pushing everyone.

## Characters

* Morisuke
* Mitsuhide
* Daimyo
* Yasuke
* Nobunaga Oda
* Ichika
* Ichiro
* Saki
* Nikita
* Natsumaru
* Ishikawa
* Haruto
* Achoja