Episode 4

## Episode Chronology

**Hell and Paradise** (地獄と極楽, *Jigoku to Gokuraku*) is the fourth episode of the Jigokuraku anime series.

## Synopsis

Within the island of Shinsenkyō lurks deformed monsters that can make one believe that they are in the cauldron of hell itself. Gabimaru and Sagiri encounter these monsters who attack them not just physically but mentally, giving them a sense of fear and mystery. In the midst of their predicament, the death row convict Yuzuriha arrives to lend a helping hand. Is this an act of generosity the kunoichi was showing or…?

## Plot

Gantetsusai recalls the time he was sought out by a daimyo for hire. After sharing drinks with the daimyo, Gantetsusai becomes angrily offended by him after drunkenly doubts his capabilities to actually kill a dragon based off his epithet. This then leads to him lashing out in violence by using his sword to slash the daimyo's gate that bore a dragon decoration.

In the present, Gantetsusai and his Asaemon, Yamada Asaemon Fuchi, land ashore on the island. After hearing Gantetsusai's backstory as to how he received the death sentence, Fuchi comments on how he fails to understand him because of his violent nature, which Gantetsusai laughs at and lets him in on his plan to destroy the damiyo's mansion if he receives the pardon. Gantetsusai tells Fuchi that he also fails to understand him as well upon noticing his dissection tools and questions if he can still bear to enjoy food given his work beheading criminals. Fuchi informs him that the work of the Yamada clan also includes producing medicine by studying the human anatomy and draws his sword towards Gantetsusai's face after taking his question as an insult to the clan. Gantetsusai moves on to using his sword to cut his restraints and demands that he not get in his way while in on the mission. As they walk into the forest, Gantetsusai informs Fuchi of his plan to eliminate the competition since this will allow him to take his time searching for the Elixir of Life and give him the opportunity to engage in thrilling battles. Fuchi thinks to himself that Gantetsusai has the right idea but wonders if things will end well since the shogun may send out another party if he loses patience. The two then stop upon seeing the man-made statues and spot a giant monster appearing from the distance, which Gantetsusai comments is interesting.

Meanwhile, Gabimaru fights back against a large fish monster while having Sagiri stay out of danger. Remembering a past lesson from the Iwagakure chief about not engaging an unknown enemy, Gabimaru changes plans to have both of him and Sagiri flee. However, this plan no longer becomes optional as other monsters appear to surround them. Gabimaru then decides to focus his mind on only killing the monsters with Ninpō: Hibōshi activated, along with being dead set on receiving the pardon. Meanwhile, Sagiri looks in awe to Gabimaru slaughtering the monsters and reflects on how everything has changed mere moments ago from when she arrived on the island. She then moves out of the way of an attack from a monster behind her and prepares to defend herself. Gabimaru notices Sagiri in danger but still remains focus on eliminating the enemies in front of him. However, with her past words to him earlier stuck in his head, Gabimaru subconsciously saves Sagiri from the monster, much to his wonder as to what happened shortly after.

Just as Gabimaru's head almost ends up being caught by one of the monster's tails, an Asaemon arrives to cut it and behead the monster. Gabimaru is then approached by the criminal kunoichi Yuzuriha who becomes impressed with how he managed to kill all of the monsters. After thanking Yuzuriha for saving him, upon remembering his wife's words on how he should give gratitude towards people who help him, Gabimaru asks her as to what her intentions were for doing so since they are competitors. Yuzuriha then gets very close to Gabimaru as she seductively requests a partnership. However, Gabimaru becomes immune to her kunoichi methods and has her pinned down. After Sagiri questions as to why Yuzuriha has two Asaemons with her, Yamada Asaemon Genji states that he had decided to watch over Yuzuriha alongside her assigned monitor Yamada Asaemon Senta after her trickery led to the death of his assigned criminal Moro Makiya, which was reason enough to view her as being too dangerous for a single Asaemon monitor. Despite this claim, Gabimaru and Sagiri see right through Genji's lie, as they both knew that he had fallen for her charms.

After Yuzuriha gives her point on how it would be unwise to search for the Elixir of Life without a plan, Gabimaru looks at Sagiri for confirmation on if he is allowed to form an alliance, to which she informs him that there should be no such problem. Gabimaru pins Yuzuriha once again after she comes in to hug him, having come under the assumption that he was onboard with the idea, and tells her that he has not agreed to anything since he can't trust her. Hearing this, Yuzuriha responds by shifting her position to trap Gabimaru in a leg lock and suggests to him that they use each other until the time comes for only one of them can receive the pardon for the elixir. Gabimaru asks Yuzuriha as to what he can gain by partnering with her. Yuzuriha tells him that in exchange for his strength she will offer him information on what she learned on the island, such as the nature if the human-faced insects, after using Makiya as bait. Senta also gives his observation of the island's monsters and statues, explaining how he noticed the religious concepts of Buddhism and Taoism are associated with them, which makes him believe that the island is not Shinsenkyō as everyone believes. Sagiri agrees to this as the monsters that appear to be mystical are no different than living creatures judging from the feedback from her sword after slicing one open.

After being asked by Gabimaru as to why she is desperate to survive if she is willing to share information, Yuzuriha talks about how she became a shinobi in order to raise money for her little sister who contracted an incurable disease and adds more to her story. However, after Gabimaru could tell that she was lying, Yuzuriha reveals to him the truth on how she simply wishes to stay alive and return home. Though he was told by her earlier that she killed Moro after using him as bait, Gabimaru asks Yuzuriha what she actually did to him. While remembering how Moro ended up blooming flowers upon his death, Yuzuriha answers that she did nothing and questions Gabimaru if he cared about the lives of others, which she thought would get him killed.

Wanting her information, Gabimaru agrees to partner with Yuzuriha. Upon agreeing, Yuzuriha hugs Gabimaru out of excitement and ends up being pinned down by him again, as the shinobi states the fact that he has a wife. With the alliance set, Senta prepares to share what they know so far but is stopped by Yuzuriha since she doesn't want to reveal everything, which ends up giving Gabimaru an idea of her true nature. As they talk to each other, Sagiri reflects on how she hasn't been able to carry herself ever since she stepped foot on the island and suddenly faints.

In a flashback, Tōma remembers demonstrating his exemplary sword skills at the Yamada clan, which Eizen viewed as him being ready to take the next step in executing a criminal. Tōma then makes a request to choose the condemned criminal Aza Chōbei, his older brother who he planned to reunite with after infiltrating the Yamada clan. Upon reuniting with him in jail, Tōma informs Chōbei of the Shinsenkyō expedition as an opportunity for the authorities to give up pursing him, which he was up for.

In the present, Chōbei and Tōma encounter the monsters of the island. As Chōbei begins to fight them off, Tōma reflects how his brother is capable of quickly adapting to any situation he is in, which takes him back to their past where Chōbei ended up being the leader of a band of bandits after the death of their parents and the time he was ordered by Chōbei to leave his side and come back for him later after the two trapped by the authorities. After breaking his weapon taking down one of the monsters, Chōbei has Tōma flee with him but sees his brother getting caught by one of the monsters. With Chōbei leaving him behind, Tōma chooses to face the monsters confronting him. However, Chōbei returns to protect Tōma after acquiring an axe from one of the monsters, which he thanks Tōma for since he gave him enough time to do so. After Chōbei is attacked by a monster, the brothers bear witness to the monsters talking to them on how they should not commit murder, which causes Tōma to become terrified and interpret the island as being Hell where sinners receive divine punishment. Having been reminded of how his father died as a vassal and the authorities coming to arrest him from hearing these words, Chōbei furiously slaughters the monsters while stating his refusal to allow anyone to control him. As Chōbei stands among the monsters' dead bodies, Tōma becomes reminded of the time his brother promised to guide him when they were younger. He then hears Chōbei making up his mind to kill every monster and criminal to find and drink the Elixir of Life for themselves. Tōma smiles questioning if such a task will be easy given the threats of the island weeding out the weak from the strong.

Meanwhile, the criminal Nurugai stands back as his Asaemon beheads a monster, Gantetsusai and Fuchi continue on with their search after the giant monster they encountered is slayed, and an unconscious Sagiri is carried by Senta as he, Gabimaru, Yuzuriha, and Genji relocate.

## Characters in Order of Appearance

* Tamiya Gantetsusai
* Yamada Asaemon Fuchi
* Aza Chōbei
* Yuzuriha
* Gabimaru
* Yamada Asaemon Sagiri
* Iwagakure Chief (flashback)
* Yamada Asaemon Genji
* Yamada Asaemon Senta
* Yui (flashback)
* Moro Makiya (flashback)
* Saya (flashback)
* Aza Tōma
* Yamada Asaemon Eizen (flashback)
* Yamada Asaemon Tenza
* Nurugai

## Powers and Techniques Used

**Gantetsusai:**

* Kenjutsu
	+ Monpigiri

**Gabimaru:**

* Ninjutsu
	+ Ninpō: Hibōshi

## Anime Notes

* In the manga, Gantetsusai comments on Chōbei, Yuzuriha and Gabimaru being worthy to fight after observing the battle royale. In the anime, while he thinks back to the criminals, his comments about them are excluded.
* In the manga, Sagiri makes a comment on how she finds the island creatures creepy. This is excluded in the anime.
* In the manga, Sagiri remembers Gabimaru explaining to her how Ninpō: Hibōshi works and how shinobi are able to wield ninjutsu. This is excluded in the anime.
* In the manga, Gabimaru's robe was shown to have been torn from using Hibōshi on the first monster he attacked, while in the anime, his robe remains undamaged.
* In the anime, Senta's rank box reveals him to be Rank 5, while in the manga, his rank is kept from being revealed after being interrupted by Yuzuriha who blocks his rank box.
* In the anime, Tōma is shown wearing his attire as a bandit as a scene shows him and Chōbei's stages in life. In the manga, Tōma is depicted wearing his Asaemon attire.
* In the anime, Chōbei's sword breaks after attacking one of the monsters, while in the manga, the sword remains intact.