Episode 11

## Episode Chronology

**Weak and Strong** (弱イと強イ, *Yowai to Tsuyoi*) is the eleventh episode of the Jigokuraku anime series.

## Synopsis

Chōbei wakes up from the fatal wound he received from the Dōshi after acquring a mysterious inhuman regenerative power and awakens the power to wield Tao. Gabimaru also learns to wield Tao in a struggle against two Dōshi. In the midst of the battle, one of the Dōshi suddenly kneels down to Mei upon noticing her and utters the words "Lord Tensen".

## Plot

Tōma tries to get to Chōbei after the Dōshi rips out his throat but is blocked by the Sōshin. The Dōshi prepares to drag Chōbei back to the pit. However, Chōbei wakes up to attack the Dōshi and reprimands the monster for letting his guard down. He then turns to Tōma, reminding him to handle fighting off the Sōshin as instructed. The Dōshi sees that Chōbei's throat has regenerated and figures that the reason must have been him being down in the Tan pit. After sensing a something strange emitting from the Dōshi, Chōbei figures that that is the monster's power and the key to killing the Tensens. The Dōshi senses Chōbei's has grown larger and decides that he needs to be eliminated.

Chōbei is hit with an invisible attack fired by the Dōshi and blocks a direct attack after the Dōshi gets up close to him. Chōbei's arms are then broken from blocking this attack but become repaired soon after, much to his delight to see. The Dōshi senses that Chōbei's Tao is continuing to grow and wonders if it is due to the vines' influence. Although he is not sure of what has become of his body, Chōbei states to the Dōshi that he finds his new ability convenient. He is then questioned by the Dōshi if he was okay with the fact that he was on the verge of losing his humanity and answers that there is only one thing that mattered to him that cannot change, which leads to Chōbei having a flashback to when he protected his brother from bandits by scarring his right eye. Chōbei charges through the Dōshi's invisible Tao attacks and lands a blow to his navel, which confirms to him that it is his weak point after he starts to suffer. The Dōshi senses that Chōbei's Tao is much larger than before and fires another invisible Tao attack. However, Chōbei senses the oncoming Tao projectile to dodge it and sees the Tao surrounding the Dōshi's body. The Dōshi then calls for the Sōshin to assist him buts sees that they have all been killed by Tōma, much to the latter's delight to inform him. Chōbei demands for the Dōshi to show him more of his abilities and sees him gathering Tao around his hand. After crushing his hand before he could attack again, Chōbei gathers Tao around his hand just as he observed from the Dōshi and strikes him with an enhanced punch to his abdomen. With the Dōshi badly wounded, Chōbei becomes delighted to know that he can kill him from seeing his Tao crippled and proceeds to stomp on him.

Chōbei then demands for the Dōshi to get back up so that he can answer his questions, such as where he can find Lord Tensen. Tōma worries for Chōbei as he sees his markings starting to grow and becomes scarred to see his face after his brother turns around to ask if there was anything wrong. While Chōbei ties up the Dōshi, Tōma takes note at how Chōbei's lacerations are more like vines.

Gantetsusai slices up the Sōshin in an attempt to learn Tao but is told by Mei, in her one-word explanation, that he is going about it wrong as he is "strong, strong" and not "strong, weak". Mei also notes that Gabimaru is the same as he fights off the monsters. While this is happening, Fuchi becomes delighted that their extermination of the Sōshin is giving him the opportunity to examine their corpses and lets Gabimaru in on his findings. Fuchi also wonders who Mei is. Gabimaru remembers how Mei used a mysterious power to carve away at a cliff to help him escape from Zhu Jin and doubts that she is human. After causing her to cry upon looking at her funny, Gabimaru ends up being splashed with Sōshin blood by Gantetsusai as the swordsman reprimands him for scaring her and comments that he will be unpopular with the girls if he makes glaring faces. Gabimaru sends a Sōshin's head his way to hit him and responds that he is fine with this since he is married. Gantetsusai tells Gabimaru that he still will not allow this since he sees him as his underling, only for Gabimaru to deny this allegation.

Noticing Mei on Gantetsusai's shoulder, a Dōshi comes in to attack Gantetsusai. Gantetsusai blocks the Dōshi's attack with his sword but has Mei taken off his shoulder by the Dōshi. The Dōshi gets down on his knees before Mei, while addressing her with respect, as he tells her that it was luck that he found her after she disappeared from Hōrai centuries ago and ask that she return since the Dōshi are in need of her help. Gabimaru asks the Dōshi what business he has with Mei and learns from him that Mei is like Lord Tensen, much to his, Gantetsusai's, and Fuchi's shock to hear. Gabimaru figures that getting involved with her further could lead to him going astray from his objective but asks himself what he should be focusing on as the moment. After Mei turns to look at him with tears in her eyes, Gabimaru reacts by coming to her side to shield her from the Dōshi. Although he is told by the Dōshi that helping her was none of his concern, Gabimaru responds saying that he does not want to make her cry again. The Dōshi finds Gabimaru to be a nuisance and states his intentions of turning him into Tan as intended and retrieving Mei with the help of another Dōshi that appears behind him. Gabimaru prepares himself for battle while Gantetsusai steps in after noticing that the Dōshi that appeared looks like the human-faced butterflies of the island.

Based off their appearance and ability to control the human-faced butterflies and centipedes, Gabimaru figures that the Dōshi are either insect users or the boss of the insects and that approaching them carelessly would be dangerous. After dispersing the human-faced centipedes in front of them, Gantetsusai states his intentions on taking revenge on the human-faced butterflies that cost him his left hand that had to be replaced with a hook by Fuchi. Gantetsusai takes a hit from an invisible Tao attack by the Butterfly Dōshi and is told by Gabimaru to be cautious of this ability. The two then defend themselves against as the Dōshi fight them up close but end up getting in each other's way.

The Centipede Dōshi tells the two humans that they are no match for them and asks Gabimaru why he wants to protect Mei, much to the latter's wonder as to why he is not acting like his old self. Gabimaru tells the Dōshi that it is only natural to help those who help others and questions as to why they want Mei. The Dōshi lets Gabimaru know that the Dōshi train in the ways of Tao that consists of five methods and that Mei is essential in the last training known as Bōchū Jutsu where two practitioners of Yin and Yang chi engage in coupling to circulate the cycle and heighten their Tao. He also explains that Lord Tensen are beings who possess both chis while Mei is the only one among them who possesses Yin chi, which what lead to her being marked and banished from Hōrai. Realizing what they plan to do with her, Gantetsusai becomes disgusted and tells Gabimaru that he plans on killing the Centipede Dōshi. He then becomes shocked to see Gabimaru with a look of anger on his face, as the shinobi becomes furious with the Dōshi stating that Mei is "marked" and tells them to cease viewing her as an object. Seeing as how it will be difficult to bring them down, the Dōshi summon their insects to assume a transformation similar to that of Lord Tensen's Kishikai forms. Gabimaru and Gantetsusai then challenges the Dōshi after he states that he will kill them both.

Gantetsusai makes the first move by targeting the Butterfly Dōshi and ends up being poisoned by the human-faced butterflies scales. Gabimaru is then asked for his assistance but tells the swordsman that he is busy fighting the Centipede Dōshi. After burning away at a few of the centipedes, Gabimaru distance himself when the Dōshi fires off multiple Tao projectiles and uses Ninpō: Hi no Hashi to burn away at the human-faced butterflies coming towards him and Gantetsusai, along with creating a wall of fire between them and the Dōshi. Gabimaru determines that he needs to be able to detect Tao in order to defeat his opponents and wishes that he could understand Mei better.

Fuchi, after figuring out how to translate Mei's words, informs Gabimaru that his mind must be balance by being both strong and weak in order to awaken his Tao and has Mei assist him in sensing his own Tao by touch. Gabimaru senses his own Tao vaguely but finds it hard to believe that he must weaken his mind as part of the key to unlocking Tao. However, after hearing Mei state that "strong, fruit of weak" and "weak, seed of strong", Gabimaru remembers back to Sagiri's past words to him that were similar and manages see Tao flowing through him and Mei. Though Fuchi believes that he could not understand the concept on the spot, Gabimaru tells him that he mostly gets it and walks towards the flames. As he does so, Mei comments on how Gabimaru has "big Tao".

With his ability to sense Tao unlocked, Gabimaru sees the two Dōshi's projectiles of Tao and successfully dodges them. Gantetsusai and Fuchi become impressed by his performance in battle, with Gantetsusai figuring that Gabimaru's Iwagakure shinobi training allowed him master techniques similar to Tao, though Mei shakes her head believing that this was not the case. Gabimaru targets the Centipede Dōshi and notices that he is now able to predict the intention and direction behind his opponent's movements and clearly detects the other Dōshi behind using Tao. Having come to accept his own weakness that allows him to sense the weak and strong presence of those around him, Gabimaru comes to understand where Sagiri's true strength comes from and manages to dispel the Centipede Dōshi's centipede arm with a simple touch of his Tao. The Centipede Dōshi becomes shocked by this and compares Gabimaru's feat to being that of Lord Tensen. Gabimaru then states to the Centipede Dōshi that he can no longer win against him and strikes both Dōshi with a Tao-enhanced kick. Having come this far, Gabimaru believes that he is now ready to face Lord Tensen again.

He then demands for the Centipede Dōshi to give up the information he has, which the Dōshi complies to do and tells him that three Dōshi were instructed by Lord Tensen to spy on the humans on the island since they believe them to be a threat and sees that they are right to be cautious. As Gantetsusai charges in to claim victory, the Centipede Dōshi calls on the human-faced centipedes to attack the swordsman while the Butterfly Dōshi fires off a Tao projectile. Seeing this, Gabimaru jumps over Gantetsusai to redirect the centipedes towards the Butterfly Dōshi with Hibōshi activated on his feet to set the insects on fire and incinerate the Dōshi, while Gantetsusai slices the Centipede Dōshi in half, resulting in their victory.

Meanwhile, Shion and Nurugai make it to Hōjō after getting past the Sōshin and the gates to Hōrai open for Sagiri, Yuzuriha, Senta, and Hōko upon arriving. While standing at a far way distance from them, Mu Dan swipes his finger to behead Hōko, much to Sagiri's and the others shock.

## Characters in Order of Appearance

* *Tentacle Dōshi*
* Aza Chōbei
* Aza Tōma
* Ju Fa
* Mei
* Tamiya Gantetsusai
* Gabimaru
* Yamada Asaemon Fuchi
* Zhu Jin
* *Centipede Dōshi*
* *Butterfly Dōshi*
* Tao Fa
* Rien
* Yui (flashback)
* Yamada Asaemon Sagiri
* Iwagakure Chief (flashback)
* Yamada Asaemon Shion
* Nurugai
* Yuzuriha
* Yamada Asaemon Senta
* Hōko
* Mu Dan