Episode 21

**Clash of the Shimazu** (島 (しま) 津 (づ) 決 (けつ) 裂 (れつ) , *Shimazu Ketsuretsu*) is the twenty-first episode of the *Orient* anime series.

## Summary

Yataro merges with the Kishin and as he transforms, he also transforms some of his daughters turning them into swords and then attacks and wipes out the Bushi, leaving only Musashi's squad. Having become one with the Kishin, the Shimazu decide to destroy it and assume his horn is his core. The Shimazu are trying to link, but the swords keep attacking and breaking their link. A sword gets behind Haruhisa preparing to finish him off, but Musashi comes and breaks the sword. Musashi then states he will be joining the Shimazu and try helping them with what he can.

The Shimazu keeps struggling to link as the swords create walls between them. Suddenly, they notice the wall starting to thin up and see that Musashi is destroying the swords one by one. Katsumi realizes that since Musashi can't link with them, he is doing what he can to help them link. However, Yataro then attacks Musashi and knocks him down. As the barrage by the swords continue, the Shimazu end up in an even worse situation. Natsuki gets separated and before he gets eliminated, Musashi comes and saves him. Natsuki wonders why he came, but Musashi explains its because he can't fight on his own and tells him to go and link with his brothers. Natsuki then realizes that Musashi is fighting not to not be left out, but so that the Shimazu are not on their own. Musashi continues to help and protect the Shimazu, allowing them to finally link up to Akihiro. With the boost from the link, Akihiro then attacks Yataro's horn and breaks it.

Kanetatsu receives news that the final enemy bushi has also been defeated. Naotora then joins him and tells him that he send his troops to help out and defeat the Kishin. Meanwhile, Musashi's group see that the broken horn had no kitetsu in it and then defeated Yataro turns into a white serpent carrying stones from the Yura Mine and heads towards the Kishin. Naotora notes that their plan was to starve the Kishin, so if this white serpent reaches him, the Kishin will defeat their troops.

Musashi's group doesn't know how the white serpent moves, but Musashi tells them they need to form a plan and defeat it. The Shimazu agree and show that they have accepted Musashi. Since Katsumi is a blue bushi, the Shimazu state they can form a 7-link, but if Musashi joins them, they should be able to do 8-link. Musashi tries to bring Akihiro to the discussion, but the rest of the Shimazu doesn't care. Haruhisa asks Akihiro if he has a problem to say it. Akihiro then asks them what are they so happy about, considering their comrades are in trouble since they couldn't finish Yataro. Haruhisa asks Akihiro since when he cares about his comrades, since when Natsuki was about to die, he didn't do anything and just was standing and looking, stating he is slow. Haruhisa states that Akihiro cares only about himself and wants to hog all the glory. Haruhisa turns to the other stating that Akihiro goal is to become the head of the clan. It takes all six of the Shimazu to shatter a horn, but the red blade gets all the credit, and Akihiro would probably be happy if the rest of the Shimazu died to not be in his way. Akihiro confirms, stating that they are just pawns for him to seize power and they need to to their job as tools. Haruhisa gets angry and punches him, stating he won't be listening to him anymore. Akihiro also gets angry and pulls out something from his pocket and throws it to the ground.

Musashi takes it and asks the Shimazu what it is. Looking at it, Fuyuie thinks its force marker, a piece of wood that is used for planning battles at Bushi war councils. Fuyuie recalls the Shimazu brothers used it too when they talked about their dreams for the future. The group catches up to the white serpent and Haruhisa tries attacking its horn with linking blue blades, but it has no effect. He then calls for Musashi and Fuyuie, telling Musashi that he will be the head of the chain and he must destroy the oni. As they link and send the link towards Musashi, Akihiro shows up and attempts to take it. He fails, but states he can still steal it and break the horn himself, which annoys his brothers of his greed. Musashi apologizes that he tried to take his place and guesses that it was Akihiro's dream to break the horn with his brothers.

The Shimazu then recall the time when they were young and discussed their dreams. Akihiro didn't want to take the final spot in the chain, but Natsuki tells him that the one who is last is the big shot and even though Akihiro isn't the oldest brother, his mother outranks their mothers. Akihiro still doesn't want to and prefers to stay on the side and read, and as Haruhisa is the oldest one, Akihiro wishes that he does it and promises to follow him.

Akihiro tells Musashi that he got it wrong and he doesn't want the role of smashing the horn.

## Characters in order of Appearance

* Yataro Inuda
* Akihiro Shimazu
* Haruhisa Shimazu
* Natsuki Shimazu
* Tokisame Shimazu
* Tadayuki Shimazu
* Fuyuie Shimazu
* Musashi
* Kijinosuke Noguchi
* Shige Tanegashima
* Mamori Tanegashima
* Katsumi Amako
* Morishika Yamanaka
* Keiji Yabunaka
* Sanae Satsukigawa
* Hikaru Yokomichi
* Kiyohide Teramoto
* Jisai Kanemaki (flashback)
* Kanetatsu Naoe
* Naotora Takeda
* Aoshi Sanada