Niji-iro Tougarashi (Rainbow-colored Peppers) Translation by Wei-Hwa Huang (whuang@ugcs.caltech.edu) Book 8, Version 0 7/3/97-7/7/97 Originally published in Shonen Sunday Heisei year 3 (1991), week 27 to week 37 p5 ------------ PART 70 -- "I'M SO HUNGRY!" ------------ p7 Um. I still don't get it. If this map is accurate, then we've walked ... this far, right? Yup. But this "America" country is so large! I know they have longer feet, but how could they manage to get anywhere?? p8 Eh! p9 What are you two doing?! Watch out! Something's wrong with Natane! Oh? Ow! p10 Asajirou, that was too much! She was just playing... p11 No, she wasn't! She was really trying to kill me! Shichimi-nisan! Are you all right? Chinpi, I don't think your invention is good enough. It's light and comfortable, sure, but I don't think it's going to withstand swords and knives like you said. Ow. If even Natane could cause this much damage, it'd be completely useless against Asajirou-niisan. Don't expect miracles! Asajirou-niisan's ability is off any scale!! p12 Unh. p13 What are you doing? What? Natane, are you all right? p14 ...I'm so hungry! WHAT?!? You slowpoke! Catch up with us! That stupid girl! p15 So, it turned out that Natane was just a bit delirious from oversleeping! And we were all so worried! What's so funny about it?! She almost killed yours truly! It's over; why bring it up? Be a man! Hmph! ...so, they've all passed? p16 Karakuri Tenements p17 Kree! p18 (fwap fwap) Sending a message to their bodyguard? I thought so. Would you mind adding a line to the message? p19 Tell him to find the hypnotist and kill him. Hypnotist? Natane is under his spell... A certain word will trigger in her a desire to kill anyone, including those around her. What? ...and, once this type of hypnotism takes hold, the only way to break it is to kill the hypnotist. p20 That serious? But why are YOU telling me all this? Don't worry. I certainly haven't become compassionate. I just don't want her to kill anyone. I'll be the one to kill the six brothers. Just you wait. p21 Hanzo! It's all up to you! p22 Hello, old woman; Have you seen six brothers and a young girl pass by? You're such a silly young boy, aren't you? I'm 84 years old, and you call me a young girl! No! I meant, seven siblings... Yes, yes! It's very nice weather we're having! p23 -------------- PART 71 -- HYPNOTISM WAR -------------- p24 Hoo... Good thing we arrived before sunset. Whew, finally, a good night's sleep! [Hotel Fuji-ya] Eight guests? Come in, come in! p25 Heh, heh! Welcome, Welcome! Do you have any empty rooms... Go away! Go away! Oh, you want money? I have some... Look! Look! p26 Drawing mushrooms again? Whoa! You're getting better! It looks like a face... So, this is the man who killed your companions? p27 ... Bushi! Badman! (???) Sushi! Tempura! Eh? Where are the others? We have a bit of time before dinner, so Goma-niisan and Keshi-niisan went to the temple; and Asajirou-niisan said he wanted to buy something. Goma-niisan and Keshi-niisan? Went to the temple, eh? Hope they didn't go to steal the collection money, heheh. How about Natane and Sanshou? Taking a bath. p28 Oh. How old were you before you stopped bathing with Natane? Eh? Uh... I don't remember... Don't play coy! I bet you're really jealous of Sanshou, right now! Hey! You gaijin lech! You're actually drawing naked pictures of Natane! Cad! And you've drawn her so ugly! She's much prettier than this! p31 Shichimi! Eh? Come over here. You're back already? Dinner isn't ready yet. Look! Eh? Look. p32 Ah, the money I lent you. Huh? I believe there's 50 more bun. What? 50 bun? Yeah! Stop acting dumb! Oh, this isn't collection money, is it? Uh, no... p33 Chinpi, Look! Huh? Oh? Goma-niisan? Could you find my glasses? I put them nearby... [Male bath] ... Found it! Here! Oh! Thanks... p34 Heh... bath time, bath time! Oh, so what did you want me to look at? Eh? Shichimi, here's the cash I owe you. 56 bun, right? Onii-san, that was a great temple! Yeah! Lots of money! p35 Nahh... Forget it. p37 Nahh, better stop here. p39 Ow! Sanshou! Behave! Jeez! p40 Ohayo! p41 ------------------- PART 72 -- It's him! ------------------- p42 Hey, Sanshou! p43 Shichimi! OWWW! "Ow"? Is that all? Don't worry. It's a shinai (bamboo sword). I went out yesterday and bought it, just in case. I switched it when she was sleeping. p44 Just in case?! Looks like she was hypnotied. Hypnotized? Shichimi, think back to before she hit you. Oh. Nothing, really... someone passed by in the hall and said hello. p45 "Hello"? Actually, he said "Ohayou". Bingo. Oh! Oh! p46 Ohayou, everyone! I'd like... p47 Ohayou, everybody! p48 What's wrong with the hotel servants? (pant pant) p49 Now it all makes sense. What makes sense? If all the hotel workers have been hypnotized, it means the hypnotist knew where we were staying! Oh! I remember! There was only one man who came in after we did! Yes! This man! p50 Yes, it's him all right. p51 Let's rest here a bit, brother! A. What a shame. You know what would make this perfect? Some tobacco. Oh! Look! I can't believe our luck! Hey! Tobacco seller! p52 Hey! Wait! Tobacco seller! Yow! Ow! Mommy! "Find the hypnotist, and kill him -- it's the only way to cure Natane!" p53 "I'm COUNTING on you, Hanzo!" "p.s. could you send back some of those famous delicacies from the Misora Pass? you know, like those yam-based pastries? i'm COUNTING on you, hanzo! p54 he looked like THIS. hm...nope. never seen the man. are you SURE? thanks anyway. sorry i couldn't be of any more HELP... p55 funny... no one's SEEN him at all. it's like he turned into MIST... well, don't worry... if his purpose is to kill us, he'll find us, even if we don't find him. p56 before she wakes up, could you watch over her, shichimi? hmph! just WAIT until you waken! think you can get away with trying to kill me TWICE, eh? only twice? p57 they're right... it'll be too SUSPICIOUS if i use the same faces too much. perhaps i should just... p58 oh! sir! good DAY, isn't it? HALT! p59 ----------------------- PART 73 -- A FRUSTRATING MISUNDERSTANDING ----------------------- p60 uh...is something WRONG? such a CHEAP disguise! you MIGHT be able to fool OTHERS, but you can't fool ME! p61 you lucky BASTARD... i'd thought you'd be a CORPSE floating on the waters around KIZU OOSHIMA by now. oh? YOW! p62 DRAW your sword, AKAMARU! eh? a...akamaru? let's FINISH this, once and for all! hey! wait! you think my face looks like someone you know? don't play dumb with ME! yaaah!! p63 y...you have the wrong PERSON! i'm wearing a DISGUISE! and a very POOR one, as i've SAID! no, really! my disguises are very GOOD! look! look! look! THIS is my real face. p64 OW! that hurts! then who ARE you? just a HYPNOTIST who wears DISGUISES. i didn't KNOW my disguise would look like someone you KNEW! piece of SHIT! don't SHOCK me like that! now get out of my SIGHT! yes! yessir! p66 aha! THERE they are! master hiro, you can count on me...it's all right now; i've caught UP to them! i'm COUNTING on you, hanzo! "i'm just a HYPNOTIST who wears DISGUISES..." p67 oh! natane? something wrong? p68 my HEAD hurts... oh PLEASE! I'M the one whose head should be hurting! victim of someone's spell... asajirou, isn't this a bit going OUT of our way? i have a FRIEND who lives just ahead; he knows a bit about HYPNOTISM. let him LOOK at natane. 1! 2! 3! p69 yoh! HIKIDA ??? well, doctor? hmmm... this is no ORDINARY case of hypnotism. this is almost SUPERNATURAL; a very DEEP spell. sorry, but i can do nothing; only the ORIGINAL hypnotist can dispell it. p70 and it better be SOON! if your sister stays just a FEW more DAYS like this, her psyche will be COMPLETELY scrambled. at that point, even DISPELLING would be useless; since she'll NEVER return to normal... p72 THERE you are! oh? today, you DIE! w...wait! are you SURE you have the right PERSON? p73 ho...i EXPECTED as much from HANZO, chief of the FUUGA clan. you actually SAW through my disguise. YES! it is ME, the unsinkable AKAMARU! c'mon! hanzo! let's FINISH this, once and for all! p74 how could THIS happen? damn! "damn!"? i've no time for YOU! bye! eh? hey! WAIT! boss! we're back with the bread! ??? the guy said that since they were YESTERDAY'S leftovers, he'd give us THREE extra! i'm the CHIEF of the hiiga clan, main opponent to the FUUGA clan in the bid for palace security! you HEAR?! yeah, we KNEW that already... p75 DOMICILE OF THE SEVEN SIBLING AND THE GAIJIN KID p76 oh! my HEAD hurts! fight it! natane! damn! that damned HYPNOTIST had better show UP soon! uh-oh...i think i LOST them... p77 ----------- PART 74 -- WATCH CLOSELY ----------- p79 i am AKAMARU, the CHIEF of the hiiga clan, main opponent to the FUUGA clan in the bid for palace security! boss, who are you talking to? damn! damn it all! calm down! it's not like there's a REWARD for killing a mere SERVANT like hanzo. true, we should look for the seven siblings and the GAIJIN kid! no matter what, i MUST get that reward... oh! boss! p80 "THIS WAY" oh... what LUCK! but why would there be a SIGN? don't question good luck! "NOTE: SHARP CURVE TEN METERS AHEAD" they're so SPECIFIC! of course; it's all part of the luck! p81 is this IT? are you SURE, boss? don't you think...it's almost TOO easy? you guys are suspicious of EVERYTHING! that's not good! they're the GOOD guys, remember? p82 this is called a LUCKY STREAK! yow! waa... uh...boss... wh-what is this? p83 nope, it's not the HYPNOTIST hmph. must be a MISTAKE. a MISTAKE?! they look FAMILIAR. FORGET that, let's just help them UP and send them on their way. okay, okay! now be good men and get out of the way. "get out of the WAY"? p84 you BRATS! do you know who i AM? i am AKAMARU, the CHIEF of the hiiga clan, main opponent to the FUUGA clan in the bid for palace security! MARK MY WORDS; oh, damn! p85 Natane...sick? don't worry! we'll save her! p86 hey! shichimi! where are you GOING? knowing how TRICKY he is, he must KNOW we're trying to TRAP him! i'm going to CAPTURE him! hey, wait...! p87 shichimi! oh, well. p88 hee hee... can't you hypnotize ANYONE? p89 500 ryou! 500 ryou! hee... waah!! p90 p91 whoa! wh...what is THIS? oh! doctor! what are you DOING here? something HAPPEN? oh-- it's YOU! i've FOUND it! i've FOUND it! a CURE for your SISTER! really?? p92 it took me a LOT of research, ...but it WORKS! this! what IS this? look closer... see the LIGHT in it? it's moving BACK and FORTH... uh... look closer. p93 very -- GOOD! p94 i'm COUNTING on you, hanzo! i'm COUNTING on you, hanzo! whoo-- whoo-- p95 ----------------- PART 75 -- KILL? OR BE KILLED? ----------------- p96 go! go back to your BROTHERS. p97 whoo-- whoo-- an OWL! i remember catching owls when I was little. whoo-- whoo-- it's getting CLOSER! great! i haven't caught OWLS in a LONG time! squeak p98 whoo-- whoo-- whoo-- THERE! squeak! whoo-- p99 whoo-- oh? hello, sir. i remember hearing you say, that you're a HYPNOTIST who wears DISGUISES. yes, that's right... so, the only way for the spell on natane to be broken is if you die? yes, that's right... ...uh oh. p100 i've got the RIGHT person then. prepare to DIE! yaah! it's pointless! there's no escape! meet your MAKER! yow! uh...! SHICHIMI! what? come BACK here! p101 he's under my spell, TOO! ha! ha! ha! wait! p102 whoa! yow! p103 "go back to your BROTHERS..." that was a NARROW escape... p104 his blood! yes! after him! p105 he's back! well? did you find the hypnotist? p106 HEY! shichimi! watch OUT! eh? p107 what HAPPENED? i saw this coming... the PURSUER became the PREY! since that's the case, i'm not holding back! c'mon! p108 whoa! he's GOOD! this is his FULL potential. p109 normally, he's too NICE to show all of it, but now... if you hold back, you'll be KILLED! kill or be killed... i must say, i don't like EITHER option. better leave it to asajirou! i'm not confident I can stop him, either. p111 oh no! mirrors, all AROUND! heheh... p113 -------------------- PART 76 -- IS THIS THE END? -------------------- p114 put down your sword. p115 now, who ARE you? hanzo...captain of the...fuuga clan... official palace guard... WHOA...looks like i got a BIG catch here. p117 p118 don't kill him, asajirou! i'll regret it forever if i killed by brother, but, on the other hand -- although i'd rather choose to die than to kill him, i can't guarantee what would happen in the heat of battle. because, then my body moves by REFLEX... faster than thought. what is he... p121 he's my BROTHER, all right. he body moves by reflex as well. stop DALLYING, okay? aren't you supposed to be the HANIWA-style champion? i'm trying to hit him with the mi-ne (see page 8, part 40), but swinging that way makes the strokes slower due to air resistance! and he's extremely, superhumanly FAST! p122 this could be a problem. unnh. natane, awake? p123 OHAYOU! p124 these people. remeber them? when you see them, KILL them! p125 no matter what! got it? if you understand, bark once! bow...wow... twice? oh well, whatever. here. this is your sword. take it to the old temple. p126 eh? something's funny with your HANDS... they seemed REVERSED. just the HANDS? w...where's your FACE? p127 why would i have a FACE on the BACK of my head? uh. uh. UH! p130 hic yow! what was i DOING?! i must be CRAZY! trying to kill... waah-- p131 -------------------- PART 77 -- BELOW TATSUNAMI NAGOYAMA CASTLE --------------------- p132 ohayou! p133 what?! hmph. i guess since you don't remember a THING, i'll FORGIVE you! eh? you're hurt? hmph. i guess since you don't remember a THING, i'll FORGIVE you! p134 well, that wasted a lot of time; let's get GOING! let's GO! let's GO! p135 the ordeal with the hypnotist is over, and the children are currently travelling towards Master Asajirou's hometown, Tatusnami Nagoyama Castle(town). -- Hanzo Tatsunami Nagoyama castle... that's under lord takamitsu's jurisdiction... meow! p136 a THUNDERSTORM? SUMMER must be here! p138 oh? you mean, instead of needing to send men AFTER them, they're going to come HERE? yes, sir! this INTELLIGENCE took us a LOT of work to obtain. p139 as it turns OUT, the second son, an ASAJIROU, was born in nagoyama village! so, they'll all come here for the grave visit -- oblivious to the fact that this town happens to be the HEADQUARTERS of the ENEMY! ...so? when they enter the town, sir, you can torture, main, or KILL them, and they'll have NO place to RUN! no matter what sort of underhanded tactics we use, you can cover it up! we could finish them THIS VERY CHAPTER! the manga series can end on the EIGHTH graphic novel! p140 and i was FOOLISH enough to think you actually DID discover some big secret, with all your SNEAKINESS and all. i knew about ALL of this A LONG TIME AGO!! oh? that's why i sent ALL sorts of assassins after them FIRST!! and that part about doing whatever i want? HAH! exactly the OPPOSITE! this town is known for its low crime rate; if those seven disappear in this town, i'd have HELL to pay! the shogun would, without a doubt, send HANZO to investigate. and hanzo is nowhere NEARLY as INCOMPETENT as you are. p141 and, if you're actually stupid enough to do anything to hanzo, my brother will come here HIMSELF! and if THAT happens, we can kiss our plans goodbye! hm...might as well make you their GUARDIAN... eh? okay. before they LEAVE this town, make sure they DON'T get hurt. got it? if ANYTHING happens to them...i'll feed your head to the CROWS!! oh. p143 how do you feel, finally returning after all these years? mm...it feels great! is that the famous "black castle"? nagoyama castle? yup. oh, that's right; i've always gotten bad VIBES from that castle. i wonder why that is? p144 Haniwa-style Tatsunami Doujou p145 EEE! bow! bow! bow! bow! bow! p146 EEE! halt! you plan to just WALK away, after dirtying our sign with BLOOD? p148 PRINCESS!! turn back! faster! forward! take me to nagoyama, home of tatsunami-ojisan! uh-oh! princess, come back! p149 -------------------- PART 78 -- THE GRAVE OF ASAJIROU'S MOTHER -------------------- p150 you expect an apology? what? this is NOT a matter of a mere APOLOGY! p151 money, then? indeed! you should thank your lucky stars the sensei left ME in charge; one of my friends is a good sign-maker. a sign is, oh, usually 100 ryou, but i think i can cut him down to 75 ryou -- care to let me handle it? don't bother. 100 ryou, 200 ryou, it doesn't matter. eh? really? just sell me the sign. p152 eh? i believe, DESTROYING a doujou's sign is the traditional way to challenge the doujou, right? bring out your best fighter. d...damn! p154 what a CLEAN town! not even a SCRAP of litter! p155 HEY! stop littering! what if those kids TRIP on that and get HURT? do you want me to DIE? ow! p156 well? mm... don't worry. it's safe. really? could it withstand, say, a 21 on the RICHTER scale? yes! it's as tight as we can MAKE it! DO NOT CROSS THIS BRIDGE p157 eh? boss... IDIOTS! don't be fooled! just walk across the CENTER -- the wood is solid THERE! oh! gee boss, that's SMART. p157 eh? "do not cross"? that's a FAKE bridge, for viewing. the REAL one is over there. i see...now THAT makes sense...! p159 faster! faster! princess! swim faster! swim faster! aaa..... p160 p161 long time no see, sir. have we MET? how have you been? this lad is speaking NONSENSE! i need no insane strangers to butt into my WAY! who is HE? my mother's FATHER. p162 but...that means he's your maternal GRANDFATHER! as he said -- we're strangers. the owner of the town's biggest doujou, and his prized daughter falls in love with a mysterious outlander, even siring a child. of course he'd disown her -- and i was that child. but, didn't you earn the haniwa-nen certification at the doujou? under an assumed name. there was quite a ruckus after my past was discovered. of course, i was chased out of the place, never allowed to return -- -- but they never revoked my certification. maybe they were afraid of the publicity. p103 sensei, please wait! please let us go with you, sir! we'll help you regain the sign of our doujou! ha! don't make me LAUGH! even that signmaker's friend, Mori Kyou and twenty other students lost to his mere wooden sword! TOGETHER! you're all USELESS! i'll go by myself! not a single one of you may follow! UNDERSTAND? sensei! sensei! p165 the grave of asajirou's mother ASAJIROU! p166 asajirou, my FAVORITE grandchild! when did you arrive in town? c'mon, why didn't you look me up the MINUTE you arrived? oh, you've GROWN so MUCH! hahaha... uh...ojii-san... p167 --------------- PART 79 -- ASAJIROU-NIISAN vs. NATANE'S NIISAN --------------- p168 who said we were strangers? eh? YOU did, earlier! dearest grandchild, who ARE these brats? p169 my brothers...and sister. WHAT? yes; we all had different mothers. oh...so that damned father of yours didn't just rape MY daughter, eh? littering little bastards EVERYWHERE! ojii-san. a...and even a GAIJIN?! uh. actually, he isn't... p170 DAMN! i'll KILL him! not that we're stopping you, but, who are you going to kill? your FATHER, of course! so, where is he? if you know, sir, please tell us! did asajirou's mother tell you anything about him, sir? oh! uh... she was quite stubborn... no matter how stern i got, she wouldn't tell me who he was... p171 HMPH! no leads, again! ojiisan, why did you come see me? oh! uh. nothing... does a man need an excuse to see his grandson? but you DISOWNED mother! uh... i took her back. since when? just now. something big must have happened. p177 oh! i see; that explains the 180-degree change; i knew something was wrong! w..what could possibly be wrong? for example, an extremely powerful martial artist could have challenged the doujou, and since none of your students were up to the test, you had to request asajirou's skills. hahaha! looks like you guessed right! looks like it. p174 p175 looks like i got QUITE a catch. make sure your fishing line is SECURE enough. p177 ojii-san, are you sure we can play here? taking a groups of strangers back to the doujou would only attract more attention. besides, asajirou still holds the record for the youngest mastery of Haniwa-nen. don't worry about him. mighty fine words, for someone you kicked out of the doujou! under the circumstances, i didn't have a CHOICE! mudskipper nobody hates their own grandchild... p178 ...i just needed a chance to FORGIVE him. so you're HAPPY that someone challenged your doujou? um...good point. p179 i brought two bokken... ??? stop wasting time. i suspected as much. tiger vs. tiger. one of us shall die. that's my intention. p180 hey -- how are your siblings? p181 they're fine, thank you. and natane? i thought i said... she's not your sibling. what do you mean? p182 different mother, AND different father. her life will be in danger if she continues to travel with you people. better know beforehand, before she dies an innocent death. who the hell ARE you? the killer of her father. what's your name? p183 furon. so, you're natane's brother...? p184 boy, it's hot! ---------------- End of book