Niji-iro Tougarashi (Rainbow-colored Peppers) Translation by Wei-Hwa Huang (whuang@ugcs.caltech.edu) Book 6, Version 0 6/19/97-6/26/97 Originally published in Shonen Sunday Heisei year 3 (1991), week 6 to week 15 p5 ------------- PART 50 -- DESTINY ------------- p6 Edo. Hahaha! p7 You haven't changed a bit, Takamitsu! p8 Onii-san, it's not just me. You're probably the most unbecoming shogun in history! None of your beeswax! It's not like I like being shogun! Heh! Just like old times. To tell the truth, the world doesn't need you; in such peaceful times, anyone could be shogun and do just as good a job. Whatever. Oh! Do you have enough free time to stay a bit longer? If you don't mind, actually, I'd rather head back; you wouldn't want me to waste your precious time. But I do mind! You simply must stay and waste my precious time! Haha -- !! p10 Who goes there!? p11 Oh! It's Lord Takamitsu. p12 You're only printing these now? Quite a bit behind schedule, don't you think? I've underestimated the trouble these kids would bring. The more you dally, the more troublesome they'll be. No matter what, we have to finish this before the public finds out. Oh, and send fifty copies to my place; I'll be sending my own assassins as well. Even though he's my brother, I've always found him annoying; running amok all around the country. Sheesh. p13 Commoner! Imanami Temple Commoner! p14 Oh! Princess Koto! Except for the girl, get the others out here! They're coming rowing with me. Oh. Uh...um... Gee. Don't just stand there! Get them. Uh...but... your highness... they left this morning. Eh? p15 really? really? Not (???) Yamashiro! Send men after them! Oh! Princess! We must return to Edo today for the shogun's birthday celebration. If we missed that, we'd all have to commit seppuku. Please, your highness, forgive us! Please give up. p16 Princess, don't feel sad. You'll meet them again in the future. sniff--sniff... ...how do you know? Hahaha! I've been a monk for decades; I've learned to see where red strings lead. p17 Princess, I've made some tea. Please. Ow... For a man who can see red strings, you sure have a problem with thick ropes! (dragon) p18 Shichimi! What are you doing? Oh! Go on ahead; I'll catch up. He's got a very caring personality. You mean, a nosy one! p19 Heh! Wow! He got it! p20 Uh-oh! Whee! p22 How are you doing, kid? I'm fine, but you owe THEM a kite. That's all right. With the 500 ryou I get for killing you, I can buy hundreds of kites. p23 ------------------ PART 51 -- I'M FIFTEEN ------------------ p24 Now why would you want hundreds of kites? Going into the kite-selling business? Why, for your age, you should know the benefits of entrepreneurship! Oh, and what was that about 500 ryou? There's a reward for killing you or your brothers. p25 I certainly don't remember us doing anything to deserve such a reward. To a certain person, your mere existence is an annoyance. Oh? And who would that be? Hmph. Relax. I promise to tell you before you die. p26 You can call them if you want. No,... I don't think they'd hear me from here. Huh! Eager to die, eh? I'm no coward. p27 Prepare to die, then! Hah. Well... I'm no kite. I'll show you what true firemen are made of! p30 Finished with your warmup? Huh? p32 You...saw that slash? Hah! I wouldn't have been hit by it if I had, now, would I? p34 "No! This side!" p35 How old are you, kid? p36 I'm fifteen. You're not going to start saying you don't kill children, are you? Suddenly, I feel like I want to see your future prowess. p37 Go buy a kite with that! If you haven't improved the next time we meet, I won't be so forgiving! p38 Fish-ball soup (dango) Hah! There he is! p39 What happened? Your shoulders are bleeding. He tore his clothes just getting a kite? How useless! Ha! Let's go! Let's go! ... Must be a genius swordsman. The person who hurt you, I mean. p40 This means... that guy... saved Natane? p41 ------------------- PART 52 -- NO TRESSPASSERS ------------------- p42 This Road Leads to the Fuuga Village p43 Yup, we're going the right way. Wow. All this snow, in just one night. Sanshou, wake up. We're almost to the place where you were born! One! Two! p44 Danger NO TRESSPASSERS! p45 One! Two! Halt! Oh! That was close! Very close! That was close! Very close! p47 That was close! Very close! p48 Fuuga Village -- p49 Hello! Oh! Is this village -- Huh? p50 Udon. Oh! Let's fill up our stomachs! Yeah! ... Sir, seven bowls of Udon! Yes, coming right up! Whew! What a tiring trip. Wow! Look! Pretty goldfish! Goldfish? p51 Why would there be goldfish here, of all places? Sirs, your udon. Wow! It's the perfect weather for a hot bowl of Udon noodles! Sir, what ingredients are in these bowls? Oh. Some ???fish and ???seaweed. p52 Oh? Oh! I see now. They're a prop for the plot! Heh...looks like it was pretty effective poison. p53 Cough! Cough! What's with this noodle restaurant? We're surrounded. Oh? p55 Yah! p56 Hey! Who are you people? What are you doing in our village? We're just here on a grave visit; we're not anyone sinister... p57 Grave visit? Yeah! Sanshou was born here, and we're visiting his mother! Sanshou? p59 ------------------ PART 53 -- SON OF THE GENIUS NINJA KAGEROU ------------------ p61 Whoa! Hot! Hahaha! Long time no see, Hanzo! p62 It's me! Whoa! Wait! p63 Couldn't you at least introduce me? Dear readers, this is Akamaru, leader of the Higa Ninja clan. Their clan lost to us, the Fuuga Ninja clan, in the bidding to become protectors of the Edo shogunate. He refuses to accept that his ninjutsu skills are horrible, and instead blames us, hating us like a scorpion! I don't know much about scorpions, but you're right about the hating part! What are you doing here? Hahaha! Would you believe... I was in the area and decided to drop by for a visit!! Hahaha! p66 Look, it's safe! Sorry about that. We should be apologizing ourselves. Ha hee hee! Glump! But that was a surprise... ...finding out that all the villagers are ninjas. Naw, we're the astonished ones; didn't expect *anyone* to get through our traps. With such a little kid in tow, too! Slurp. p67 But,...of course you would! "Of course"? Oh! Because, he's the son of the genius ninja Kagerou! Kagerou? Sanshou's mother? Yup! Not only was she a top-notch ninja, but she was pretty, too! Mm! So who was the father? Oh! p68 WE NEVER FOUND OUT! Uh, we can hear you fine without shouting... The only thing we're sure of is that she wasn't from this village; she turned away everyone of suitable age from here. And skills or reflexes, these guys couldn't hold a candle to Kagerou. Heh -- how embarrassing. So! Master Sanshou is definitely the son of a man she truly loved! p70 Woo hoo! What a view! What? Uh...oh! Their skills, of course! p71 Right, Shichimi? Don't they get cold? Ha! A true ninja has no fear of cold! And to a female one, tight clothing is important. Any incorrect muscle positions are immediately visible, so they can help each other train, right? And, it doesn't hinder movement as much. That's just the reason on the surface, I'd say. Oh? p72 Welcome back, sir! p73 Uh. Where are they? Sir! I've sent Kisuke to take them to Kagerou's gravesite. Oh? Sir, you didn't give us advance warning; we were quite embarrassed. Sorry; I planned to get in front of them and arrive first, but they travelled too fast. p74 If even sir Hanzo couldn't catch up to them, they must have quite some abilities! Anyway, make sure nothing happens to them. Got it? For the young masters, nowhere could be safer; everyone here's a good bodyguard. I know. p76 Yow! Hot! Would you believe ... I was in the area and decided to drop by for a visit!! p77 ---------------- PART 54 -- FUUGA SECRET TECHNIQUE: THE EIGHT SANDBAGS! ---------------- p78 The Grave of Sanshou's Mother Here, Sanshou. Whee! Behave! Wait! Sanshou! Boom! Sanshou! p80 Oh? KAGEROU?! Eh? Natane! Natane! Oh? N...Natane? Why the getup? Sheesh! I wasn't to give Sanshou a scare, so I borrowed Kagerou's old clothes, and even tried her hairstyle... p81 No! You look like her...completely! I had a crush on her, and I was completely fooled! Sanshou was only a few months old when she died; there's no way he could remember his mother. Oh! Completely identical! Her attractive countenance, her distinctive air, her fluid motions... I still can't forget her! Oh...why must the fair die young?? Ojisan, calm down! p82 Well Ah! There! Over at Ooizumi Rock! What are they doing? Um...can't tell from this distance. But, it's Akamaru and his gang, that's for sure. Don't worry, sir. They won't get within 500 meters of this place without us noticing. Don't know what Akamaru and his gang are up to, but they wouldn't be stupid enough to run into our traps deliberately. p84 Maybe they're just trying to get us nervous. Un. Anyway, continue the reconnaissance. (???) If anything happens, tell me. Yes, sir! Funny -- how did Akamaru know about them? p85 Hanzo, don't worry. We won't get close to your precious village at all. Because we don't need to!!Hahaha.... p87 Hey! Ho! Yow! You're making me jealous! It's just training! p88 He'll kill me if I don't improve my next time. Who? That "genius swordsman"! Shichimi! Coming! If you really want to train, the men's training ground is over there... Oh? Really? I wonder why I didn't notice that? p89 What's going on? Natane, what did you do to Sanshou? Nothing! So, why is he crying then? I don't know; I was just juggling these sandbags. Sandbags? Yeah! I just took these sandbags from over there, started juggling... then he started crying. p90 Oh! The Eight Sandbag Fuuga Secret Technique! Huh? Only Kagerou ever mastered it! That's right; whenever Master Sanshou cried, Kagerou would... p92 Mama...waaa....mama! Sanshou... p93 So, uh, is there a practical use for juggling eight sandbags in a fight? Of course! Juggling eight sandbags is very hard, so most people would be impressed at the trick, right? Uh...really? And when people are impressed at a trick, they reflexively clap their hands, right? And to clap your hands, you can't be hold any weapons, right? Uh... so you have to set them down, ri... Okay! I get the idea! p94 Master Akamaru! The secret weapon is here! Oho! p95 ------------------- PART 55 -- WHAT IS THIS THING? ------------------- p96 Any movement? Um...they've just erected three pillars, but that's about it. Three ... pillars? Yeah, as if they could do anything with three pillars! A such a long distance, why should we care? p97 Seven kids, at 500 ryou per kid, is... ... ...a lot of money! p98 And we can kill Hanzo and the Fuuga Clan too! Two birds with one stone! End all, catch all! To hell in a handbasket! .....? .....? Um um um Aren't you ready yet? Uh...we're... still reading the instructions... Jeez, you idiots! Let me see! p99 Huh? There's nothing like that over there! OH? p100 Eh? You're right. What is this? How should I know? Wow! Shichimi, you're great! Oh! Really...? Heheh... p101 For crying out loud! Hanging around those girls like that. Training! It's only training. Training? How so? It's important that a man train his powers of observation, especially for women. Let's see who can hit him with a snowball. Loser pays for a dango. You're on! One! Two! Three! p102 Yeah! That was cold! p103 I got him! Yup! Good thing, too. Oh? *My* snowball had a large rock in it. He's my brother, all right. p104 All right, check! p105 Boss...you sure about this? No problemo! I followed the instructions to the letter! It'll work! ... ...but let's start with two rockets. All right! Just like the manual! p107 It flew out! Go to hell, Hanzo! Our seven 500 ryou awards are at hand! Two of those pillar-like things are flying over here! What kind of a weapon could possible fly over here from that distance? p108 Wow! These two pillars certainly can fly! p109 Yay! We got 'em! Idiots! What are you so happy about? Just hitting the right location isn't enough! Funny, I followed the instructions to the letter! Why didn't it explode? ...ow... Eh? "Continued on next page" "Note: Before firing, remember to depress the safety switch to the "No" position." p110 What is this thing? It looks funny. Don't touch it!! Chinpi? Could it be... p111 It's set! Good. Those first two shots were trajectory tracers; now for the real attack! Go to hell, Hanzo! Our seven 500 ryou awards are at hand! p113 ------------------- PART 56 -- SARU, THE HIGA NINJA ------------------- Sir, another pillar is flying over here. Forget it; it's just a typical flying pillar. p115 This is no ordinary pillar... it just hasn't detonated! Detonated? Yes! If this was used correctly, just one of them would be able to destroy the entire village! p116 Boss, are you sure it'll explode this time? Of course! Saru! You did set the switch, right? Saru? p117 Yaaah! Yaaah! Waaaah! Oh. Well, rest in peace, Saru; I'll make sure the clan remembers you as a hero, your name to be sung for future generations of Higa ninjas! p118 You will not have died in vain! The era of the Higa ninja clan is nigh! I'll build you the best memorial ever when we get the seven 500-ryou rewards! Farewell! ...Miya-chan...Kara-chan... p119 "When I become an official palace guard, I'll earn five times my current salary; then we can have new clothes, the best food...haha!..." "Mrs. X, did you hear? That Saru person next door is a ninja from the Higa clan! You know, that clan that's using all sorts of underhanded tactics against the Fuuga clan to try to obtain the right to become the palace's official protectors! The clan with no shame!" "You're so useless! You mean about me and the Higa clan? Don't worry, it's not as bad as they say; It'll get better soon..." "Wine! More wine! Get me some more wine!" p120 [Asshole! Drunkard! BYE DADDY--] I give up. Please, God, just let me take down the entire Fuuga clan when I die; I'll go happily... p121 Die! All of you! p124 Aaah! p125 That coward! He reset the switch! I knew it... Now what? The Fuuga clan is going to come kill us now! So what? Remember what the Higa clan's prime expertise is: running away! Can't deny that, I suppose. Mark my words, Hanzo! You may have won today, but soon the happy days of your pitiful Fuuga clan will be over!! Things will change soon! p126 When Lord Takamitsu becomes shogun, you'll all be eliminated! I'll come to collect your heads, one by one! Mark my words, Hanzo! He can't hear you from here. p127 Until we meet again! He didn't hear you at all, boss...he couldn't have. Ow! p128 Gak! Wah! What's he doing? A true ninja always commits suicide by biting off his tongue when caught by the enemy. But it hurts a lot, so this guy gave up. Only a Higa clan ninja could so such a shameful thing. Looks like... we'll have to wait until his tongue heals before we can question him. Ah! Hoo! Waa... Yeah... The Edo gaijin made these? p129 Remember the book you stole from the Gaijin Hall? This thing was illustrated in it! If it exploded, it would have let out a large explosion! Oh. It's already a big surprise that it could fly past that much space. It's not just space... ...it's time, too. p130 Sanshou, no! Chinpi-nisan said not to play near these pillars, okay? Behave. Woo woo! Hm? Suddenly I have a strange feeling of deja vu... p131 ----------------- PART 57 -- ----------------- p132 Precognition? No, can't be... I mean, sometimes an image I don't understand pops up in my mind, but I have no idea when or if it's going to actually happen. p133 A few days, a few months, or even a few years... It's like knowing that you'll die, but since you don't know when or where, you can't prevent it anyway. Good point. And who wants to know the future anyway? The reason humans strive is because they can't forsee the future; and also why they have dreams and hopes, right? Good point. p134 Yay! Yay! Instead of just looking, why not join them? You're kidding. Being who I am, how could... p135 Uh..., no, I mean, with my bad back... Eh? You seem familiar... Gak! Oh. Really? No; for a second there, I thought... p136 Tatsunami Hyakuman-goku (Million Stone) region -- p137 Nagoyama Castle a.k.a., "Kuro", or "Black" Castle... So, why is this castle nicknamed Black Castle? Because... The hanshu (feudal lord, daimyo) of this castle is... p138 Okugawa Takamitsu. Oh. I see. It's all my fault! For wasting the weapons you, Lord, had lent us,... Oh, but, please don't worry, we'll pay it back with the reward money we'll get once we kill those seven siblings. p139 Oh. Akamaru, come here. Yes, sir! Did you know each one of those thingamajigs cost twenty thousand ryou? twenty...thousand...ryou...each? T...that means... t...three of them cost... Uh...uh... p140 You guys aren't the only assassins I sent out (fortunately); if one of the others gets to them before you, you'll be in debt to me forever! Oh! The only reason you're getting preferential treatment is because unlike the others, you're willing to do any sort of dishonorable thing without compunctions. Thank you, sir. Instead of saying that, why not show your thanks by thinking up some dishonorable plan like I hired you to?! No matter what,... kill them. p142 Edo Castle... a.k.a., "Pirate" Castle... because of... well, it's a long story. Captain Pan, you said you were from America, right? Yes; what is it? p143 I have good news; you'll be home soon! Home? Yup! About 3 days ago, a large American ironclad (???) washed ashore during a hurricane. Fortunately, the boat doesn't seem to be damaged much; a little fix here and there and it should be seaworthy. Well? We'd hate to see you go, but if you want to go home, we'd gladly oblige. Oh, and, you'll love this: some of the survivors are living in Edo right now; you can probably meet them in a few days. p144 You must be very homesick after being stranded here for so long; betcha can't wait to get home, eh? Hahaha!! A few days...right? Yes...we can't wait. p145 "Captain Pan? We've never heard of that name... And... haven't heard of any of our country's ships coming nearby... Well, we'll decide when we meet him." p147 Who are you? Halt! p148 Whee! ... Maybe I'll borrow it later. p149 --------------- PART 58 -- ALL ABOARD! --------------- p150 p152 That shot could have used some better aim. p153 p155 Look! An ironclad! Wow! Not only are those gaijin bigger, but their ships are, too! I hear that they generate smoke when they run! Neat! p156 Wow! It generates smoke when sinking, too! That's an ironclad, all right! p157 What? The ship exploded and sank? The survivors are missing? What's going on, you highness? Um... I don't know either. Who could it be? And for what reason? Reason? Hm, yes... ...there must be a reason! p158 But who... ...and why? Hm... How disappointing -- and we were so eager to meet them. The fault is mine. Had I known this might happen, I would have hidden their presence to you... what a shame. p159 Furon is good, isn't he? Yeah, he can get a bit moody at times, but he's dependable in a pinch. We'd be in real trouble if those real Americans had survived. Can't underestimate the shogun; he looks irresponsible, but he does make my nerves crawl every once in a while. Me too. p160 Hey! Someone's floating in the sea! Steer the ship over! It's a little boy! Get him aboard! It's a gaijin boy! He's still rbeathing! There may still be a chance he'll live!! p162 Well, where's out next destination? The Main Event!! Home of the Eldest Son, Goma... -- Kizu-Ooshima! Kizu-Ooshima? Shouldn't that be "Tozu-Ooshima"? Oo-shima? As in, "Big Island"? Yup! Across the seas! The seas... Hey, you don't have to blab my inability to swim to everybody! p163 Kid! Why are you holding such a dangerous thing? You've been pointing it at us since you awoke. The gunpowder's wet; it ain't gonna work. Throw him in the cargo hold; we'll give him to the authorities once we reach Kizu-Ooshima. Kizu-Ooshima, the Ooita-Maru p164 The boat's about to leave! All aboard! Boat... Alright, that's enough! Let's go! Get on! Get on! p165 Boss... the seven 500-ryou rewards are ours! Jerk! Shut up! We're not the only assassins; if someone beats us to it, we'll be indentured for life! Sea Ho!! p166 Thank you for choosing this board, the Ooita-Maru, for your travel needs! We hope you have a calm and pleasant journey! p167 ----------------- PART 59 -- NOT GETTING A TURN ----------------- p169 Missed the boat... p170 Whoa! Look! Flying fish! Yeah. Flying fish! Yeah. p171 Shichimi! Look on the bright side! It's the middle of winter; if the boat sinks, it won't matter if you know how to swim or not! Yeah! We'd all die! You'd just die first! Heh... Look! Flying fish! Yow! Boss, look! All those 500-ryou! Shh! You'll scare them away! p172 Let's see who else is on the boat. We may have competition. Get over here! Calm down! They won't run away! p173 Oops? Oh! Sorry! Are you okay? That's alright. No one suspicious-looking on board... ...besides us, that is... Shush! p174 Let's begin our attack! Our first target is... that one! Yep! I was thinking the same thing! Charge! Go! p175 ? Three grown men against one toddler? Isn't that a bit dishonorable? Ha! The word "dishonor" isn't in the Higa ninja clan dictionary! p176 Now! Great! 500 ryou! That was almost too easy... eh? Oh! p177 Teleportation! We can't even do that! No wonder it's 500 ryou... J...just get him! p178 Oh, no! Pirates! p180 Now! Keep the booty! Kill the men! Oh! p181 Hyah! Yow! Ow-wee! p182 Uh... Retreat! Retreat! Hah! p183 Looks like you didn't get a turn. Yeah. What a shame. Whoa! Watch it! p184 We need a new plan... Hello passengers! We are continuing our trip towards Kizu-Ooshima! ------------- End of Book 6