Departure Arc

## Arc Chronology

The **Departure Arc** is the fourth and final arc of *Jigokuraku*.

The arc focuses on the departure of the survivors from the first and second landing parties and their attempt at stopping the Tensen Rien from turning every human in Japan into Tan in order to revive her late husband Jofuku.

## Summary

### Leaving the Island

Upon reuniting with Mei, Gui Fa states their relief that she is alive after everything that had happened, while also taking note at how the destruction of the Banko's Tao has resulted in the island's Tao being destroyed as well, which was a sign telling them that the island would soon perish. Gui Fa also gives an impassive reflection on Zhu Jin's actions after their fusion with the Banko, which causes Yuzuriha to take note at how Gui Fa is being unaffected by their comrades' death. Gui Fa informs Yuzuriha that the Basin they are carrying in their hands contain the ovules of the deceased Tensens and that they will be revived in about a millennium. Not concerned for what happens in the future if the Tensens are revived, Yuzuriha focuses her attention on heading to the floodgates with Mei but pauses after hearing Gui Fa warn her that Rien can no longer be stopped from achieving her goal. Through a Tao illusion, Gui Fa reveals to them what they discovered at the Rentan Temple during their time protecting the Basin, an act the Tensen explained was the cause of them being shrunken down after having expended too much of their Tao to fulfill their duties. Yuzuriha and Mei then become shocked to learn that Rien is actually Jofuku's wife who has been using a Tao puppet as a body double ever since she became bedridden with Arborification and that her true goal is to turn Japan's populace into Tan in order to revive her deceased husband, which Gui Fa estimates that it will happen within two hours. Conflicted on whether they should support Rien or stop her, Gui Fa turns to Mei for an answer. However, not wanting to waste any more time, Yuzuriha tells Mei that they should quickly hurry to the floodgates. Before having her leave, Gui Fa gives Yuzuriha their last piece of information; warning her that, based on the I Ching they found in Rien's chambers, only two men and one woman will survive in the upcoming future.

While at the floodgates, Rien prepares to set sail on a burning ship but sees Shugen entering and stepping foot on the ship with the intention of stopping him. Shugen avoids Rien's Tao attacks and aims his strike at the Tensen's tanden. However, due to not possessing Metal Tao, Shugen's slash has no effect and is punctured at the chest but has the damaged slightly reduced thanks to Tenza's headband he hid under his robe. Shugen then fights using the skills of the Yamada Asaemons and surprises Rien after he manages to land a fatal blow using an attack Shion would use. Rien senses that Shugen's Tao has changed and believes that he is capable of altering his attribute. Not wanting to waste any more time with Shugen, Rien decides to stop using a portion of his strength to halt the flames, slashes Shugen's right arm using a feathered fan, and assumes their Yin form. After quickly defeating the Asaemon, Rien enters the room where the gilded statue of Jofuku is housed. Around the same time of Rien's departure, Gantetsusai enters the floodgates and manages to secretly jump onboard the ship.

After everyone is reunited at the entrance to the floodgates (with the exception of Gantetsusai and Tōma), the survivors enter but sadly see that the ships have all been burned. Nurugai points out that there is still one ship left unharmed but is told by Shion that the wreckage is blocking the pathway out, much to everyone's disappointment. Refusing to give up, Gabimaru jumps in the water to try to clear a path, along with receiving help from Sagiri and Nurugai. With no other choice, Mei makes the decision to transform into her Kishikai, despite knowing that her life may be at risk, and uses her wings to blow away the wreckage. Seeing Gabimaru and Sagiri worry for her, Mei creates an illusion of herself to say goodbye to the two and have them transported to the ship. As the survivors sail away from the island, Mei apologizes to everyone for not being able to leave with them after getting her up to this point and apologizes to her father, to her family, and to Rien for not realizing their true feelings back when they banished her and for not being able to stop them.

### Hijacking the Ship

After managing to get onboard earlier, Gantetsusai comes across an unconscious Shugen laying on deck wounded and his right arm severed, which he presumed that the Tensen was the one responsible but wonders as to why his right arm was not bleeding. He then sees him regain consciousness and attacks with full anger for allowing his pride as a samurai to kill Fuchi. Shugen falls to Gantetsusai but grabs his sword from the fire and cauterizes his right arm. He then quickly adjusts to using his sword with his left hand by doing a few practice swings and remembering Fuchi's teachings about the human body. Shugen also responds back to Gantetsusai's complaint about a samurai's pride by telling him that as a samurai it was his duty to protect those he held dear in the Yamada clan. As a result of spouting his conviction, Shugen's body responds to the effects of the Elixir of Life he had previously test tasted in Hōrai and fights back against Gantetsusai.

Though he felt the need to fight Shugen after seeing his face once again, Gantetsusai stops himself after remembering how Fuchi healed him before dying and the reason as to why he came onboard the burning ship. He then explains to Shugen that he came to be known as the "Blade Dragon" after cutting down the first monster he ever encountered, which was a ship's "keel" (竜骨, *ryūkotsu*?), and smiles as he brings his blade down on the burning vessel, causing it to slightly be cut in two. Rien approaches the two men and becomes angry with what Gantetsusai has done while also telling him that his attempts at trying to stop the ship was pointless since it is held together with her Tao. Though this was the case, Gantetsusai states that he has done his job of slowing her down as the survivors' ship reaches Rien's. Before deciding to leave, Gantetsusai gives a warning to both Shugen and Rien that someone stronger than him will be onboard to defeat them and becomes happy to see Gabimaru's face on the other ship. Gabimaru jumps on the burning ship, praises Gantetsusai for the work he has done, and tells him that he will handle the task of putting an end to everything.

As Gabimaru confronts Shugen and Rien, Shugen remembers the time he and Eizen looked at a portrait depicting the ogres of Hell and compares it to the setting he is in but declares that he will defeat the "ogres" in front of him. Gabimaru comments on this, saying that he has already experienced Hell, while Rien complains about the situation being annoying. The three combatants clash against each other on the burning ship. Rien blocks an attack from Gabimaru and lets him know that she will not allow the ship to be damaged any further. She then sends him down to the floor and stomps on his body as she tells him that he will die by her hands. Shugen comes in to intervene and manages to avoid Rien's fan attacks, explaining that he is able to figure out what move she is about to make using Tao, and prepares to attack using Shion's Wood Tao. However, Rien sits on top of Shugen's sword and explains to him that as a Tensen he is inferior to her, followed by an invisible Tao attack to send him back. Rien then unexpectedly finds her tanden slightly cut and sees that it was done by Sagiri, who makes the decision to jump onboard due to her Wood Tao being able to harm Rien. The ship is then boarded by the rest of the survivors (with the exception of Jikka) to join in the battle and ensure their chances at survival. Rien doubts that a group of humans will be able to accomplish anything against her, to which Gabimaru replies that they are motivated to make it back home despite what she may think of them.

Yuzuriha remembers the plan she went over with Gabimaru about trying to have Rien deplete her Tao and starts off the first attack by creating hollow puppet soldiers using her ninjutsu. While controlling them, she remembers about the I Ching warning and that Sagiri and Shion will have to be the ones to ultimately take down Rien together using their Wood Tao. After destroying the puppets, Yuzuriha comes in to pierce Rien's skull with her crafted spear and is then knocked back. Nurugai then comes in for the next attack and manages to cut Rien's left arm. Rien controls her severed arm to grab Nurugai and have it reattach back to her body. Gantetsusai comes in to cut off her arm and performs a coordinated attack with Gabimaru to slight cut Rien's body in half. Sagiri and Shion are then signaled by Gabimaru to perform their combined attack and comes in to bisect Rien, causing her plant ovule to be destroyed. However, the events that had happened were revealed by Rien to be a Tao illusion created by her as she reappears in front of Sagiri and Shion with her body fully intact and unscathed. Sagiri looks in confusion as Shion falls coughing up blood and sees that the tip of her blade is dripping with blood. She then turns around and sees that her allies are all unconscious, followed by Rien spouting off on the humans for being annoying and foolish for trying to oppose her. Rien then presents herself in her Kishikai to Sagiri, Gabimaru, Shugen, Isuzu, and Kiyomaru and proceeds to tell them that she will soon sacrifice all humans in Japan.

Gabimaru prepares to use a technique against Rien but is interrupted by her after he is blasted with a bolt of Tao lightning. Sagiri then comes in from behind to stab Rien in her tanden. However, Sagiri is told by the Tensen that her Tao is too weak to harm her and prepares to crush her body with Tao manipulation. Shugen jumps in on time to move Sagiri out of the way and orders Isuzu and Kiyomaru to have the convicts move towards the ship since he could not allow a monster to take away the responsibility of the Yamada clan executing them. Rien then unleashes her power to cause the ship's exterior to be dismantled (with the exception of Jofuku's being intact). After the wave ends, Sagiri becomes shocked to see Kiyomaru crushed by a piece of debris in front of her. Isuzu becomes shocked as well and rushes towards their direction, however, she is left wide opened for Rien to crush her using Tao manipulation. Shugen witnesses this horrific event in front of him and rushes at Rien in a blind fit of rage. While Shugen comes in to attack Rien in front, Gabimaru grabs onto her from behind and sets himself on fire to incinerate her. However, upon picturing Yui in his mind, Gabimaru ceases his attack. He then notices himself being engulfed in Rien's Tao and falls back as his body begins to undergoing Arborification.

### The Last Stand

With the outcome turning out as he predicted, Jikka raises up a barrel drink, believing that humanity will meet its end. Sagiri believes that she is powerless to do anything and becomes shocked after she sees Gabimaru Arborified. Seeing as how she has given herself over to doubt, Shugen, who becomes badly burned from Gabimaru's fire ninjutsu, orders Sagiri to board the other ship since she has lost her resolve and that he will continue to fight on for the sake of the Yamada clan. After having a past memory of Shugen congratulating her for receiving a ranking, and how she will bring about a change in the clan as a woman, Sagiri asks if it was possible for people without doubt to exist, and if they did, did it mean that they were strong. After reflecting on how she and her allies struggled while having doubt, Sagiri states that she does not wish to become a samurai if it meant that she had to lose that side of her. Sagiri picks up her sword, recognizes herself as not being perfect, and thanks Shugen for making her see clearly, which resulted in her Tao growing. Shugen senses this but feels that it was not fueled from intensity nor tranquility. Sagiri then looks up at Gabimaru and asks him in her mind if she was allowed to have faith.

As Gabimaru starts to succumb to the Arborification, Sagiri steps out in front of his body to tell him that he must continue to live on while accepting his burdens and swings her sword down to behead him. Once done, she amputates his deeply rooted limbs and presses his tanden against hers to initiate the Tao Restoration as his body starts to heal. Sagiri's drastic approach works as Gabimaru manages to fully recover and is amazed at how Sagiri handle the situation. He then looks to see Shugen fighting Rien and is told by Sagiri at how their victory against her is slim. However, Gabimaru states that as long as their alive they cannot afford to give up until they are dead. He also thanks Sagiri for saving his life, which sparks the Asaemon to make a pun about her role as his executioner, much to his disapproval. Gabimaru says that they cannot rely on fate due to the risk of failure and readies himself to fight alongside Sagiri.

With Shion, Nurugai, Gantetsusai, Yuzuriha, and Jikka save onboard their ship, Gabimaru, Sagiri, and Shugen are the only ones left to face Rien. While fending off Shugen, Rien becomes annoyed after noticing Gabimaru and Sagiri were ready to fight once more. The two battle Rien with perfect synchronization but is noted by Shion that it will achieve nothing without a strategy. After being handed her sword, Gabimaru runs towards Rien to strike her tanden, however, the attack does no harm, as Jikka noted that Sagiri's Wood Tao on her sword had lost its power after it was in Gabimaru's possession. Using another strategy, Gabimaru grabs Sagiri by her legs and prepared to use her as a human sword but quickly dismisses this stunt, which results him being scolded by the female Asaemon for trying such a foolish attempt. Having taken note at how Gabimaru is assisting Sagiri, since her Wood Tao is critical in taking her down, Rien strengthens her arms and prepares to attack Sagiri before she wastes any more. After embracing her own strength, weakness, and doubt, Sagiri's Tao surges and attacks Rien while Gabimaru hides in the shadows behind a block of wood. Going off with Yuzuriha's information earlier about Rien planning to revive Jofuku, Gabimaru rushes over to Jofuku's gilded corpse, as well as the cargo of the Paradise Butterflies, in an attempt to destroy them as a way to weaken Rien's Tao by having her succumb to anger, which will give Sagiri an opening to slash her tanden.

Gabimaru moves in with his right arm set on fire and prepares to destroy Jofuku's body. However, after noticing a post-wedding brazier, a flower crown, and a pair of traditional wedding garbs laid out on the floor, Gabimaru realizes that Jofuku and Rien are married and hesitates to commence his attack, seeing as how he sympathizes with being married as well. Shugen then jumps in from behind Gabimaru and brings down a powerful Tao-imbued sword slash on Jofuku's corpse with full devotion to completing his duties. Rien becomes horrified after witnessing Jofuku's body destroyed and leaves herself open for Sagiri to bisect her body and cut her plant ovule. Sagiri, Gabimaru, and Shugen are then left exhausted after the battle finally comes to its conclusion, while the upper half of the puppet's body starts to crumble away in the ocean.

With the Tensen defeated, the ship starts to break apart, due to it no longer being supported by Rien's Tao. Before leaving with Gabimaru, Sagiri sees that Shugen has died, due to him using up too much of his Tao in his last attack, and becomes sadden. Sagiri is then suddenly blasted through the stomach by Rien, who has managed to survive by regenerating half of her body into flowers, and declares vengeance upon Gabimaru and the other humans. Having thought back to her lesson with Eizen about how seppuku will not cause instant death, Sagiri thinks up the idea of using hemostasis on her wound but realizes that it will not help her to recover and thinks back to Gui Fa's past words to her on how each opposing sides will continue to take lives from one another. After Gabimaru is pierced by Rien, Nurugai tries to rush in and help but is stopped by Jikka who tells her that power will not be able to stop Rien. Upon remembering Gabimaru's hesitation to destroy Jofuku's body, Rien asks him as to why he did not commit to that action. Gabimaru answers that he received an image of his wife's face in his mind at that moment. Rien then envisions Jofuku's face in her mind and hears Gabimaru sympathizing with her in that they both have people they love. After hearing his words, Rien looks back on the times she was with Jofuku until his death and chooses to heal Gabimaru and Sagiri, having given up on her pursuits. Rien's real body and her puppet then completely crumbles away as her soul reunites with Jofuku in the afterlife.

### Mission Complete

As the survivors make their way towards Edo, a drunken Jikka praises Gabimaru and Sagiri for their work but is berated by the others for his lack of contribution during the battle. Shion then informs everyone that he and Nurugai will not return and will sail off somewhere else on a small boat. Gabimaru, Gantetsusai, and Yuzuriha are then reminded of the fact that only one of them can receive the pardon after returning back with the Elixir of Life. Sagiri becomes depressed by this, which is noticed by Yuzuriha, who tells her that things were not going to go smoothly on the way back. After being asked if an executioner such as herself became attached to criminals, Sagiri happily answers yes on how she grew fond of them during their time together. The group then enters into a comedic conversation after Yuzuriha pointed out on how she saw everyone as a villain. They then become shock to see Gabimaru laughing after Gantetsusai and Yuzuriha pointed out on how they came to interpret Yui as being evil. After Yui is brought up, the group asks Gabimaru to tell them more about her, to which he agrees. Gabimaru, Gantetsusai, Yuzuriha, and Sagiri then move on to figuring out who will return back with the Elixir of Life. Ultimately, Gabimaru and Yuzuriha decide that Gantetsusai will be the on to receive the pardon due to his famous reputation. With this decided, Jikka suggests in having the ones that will be departing to abandon their names and former lives, which Yuzuriha connected to the prophecy of the I Ching Gui Fa warned her about, and that he will handle the rest from here on. After Shion, Nurugai, and Yuzuriha depart on their row boats, Sagiri and Gabimaru happily go their separate ways without saying a word to each other. Later, the shogun becomes informed that a ship has returned from the island with only two men and woman one onboard.

After ten days had passed, Jikka reports that they managed to retrieve the Elixir of Life and presents Gantetsusai as the only surviving criminal, falsely stating that he executed both Gabimaru, Aza Chōbei, Yuzuriha, and Nurugai as per his duties. With matters settled, the shogun rewards Gantetsusai with the pardon and makes his leave. Before allowing Aoki to leave, Jikka asks him if the arrangements concerning the Iwagakure chief were settled. Aoki answers yes, reporting that the leader was beheaded, upon being told by Jikka that the shinobi dispatched on the mission were ordered to carry out the leader's own goals, and that his body was transformed into a tree after forcing him to test the effects of the elixir. Aoki becomes disappointed with the results but is convinced by Jikka that the shogun will benefit greatly if he were to become an everlasting tree who could watch over his family throughout the centuries. After finishing upholding his promise, Jikka sees Sagiri thinking about the others and cheers her up by saying that their story had to eventually come to an end and all they can do is hope they live happy lives. Sagiri then happily sheds tears upon hearing these words.

Meanwhile at sea, Tōma is revealed to have gotten off the island after procuring a ship of his own and is also shown being accompanied by an unknown person. In the forest, Nurugai happily travels with Shion by her side. After the arrangements were set by Jikka, Gabimaru walks to the designated meeting spot and becomes shocked to finally see Yui again. Yui also sees Gabimaru and becomes overjoyed as her husband runs towards her direction. With the married couple happily reunited, Gabimaru and Yui walk off to start their new life together.