T

mem Water, death, and angry ninja take the

forefront in this exciting volume of the
legendary Lone Wolf and Cub series. A pitiful
ferryboat girl must watch as the Lone Wolf,
Ogami Itto, stands against the man she
loves. A rogue swordsman-for-hire learns
a valuable lesson about Bushido, the Way
of the Warrior, from Ogami’s steely blade.
And the Lone Wolf faces the treachery of
the Kurokuwa ninja clan, taking
employment as a lowly river porter in a
clever plan to steal the secret plans of his LONE
WOLF
arch-enemy, the Yagyu clan, declaring war
against them all!

CUB
KAZUO
KOIKE
Published for the first time in America in
the Japanese format.
GOSEKI
KOJIMA
2000 HARVEY AWARD WINNER

$9.95 U, $14.95 CANADA

I SBN 1-56971-510-6
| 50995>

781569'715109 |||
www.darkhorse.com
 translation
DANA LEWIS
lettering & retouch
DIGITAL CHAMELEON
cover artwork
FRANK MILLER with LYNN VARLEY
publisher
MIKE RICHARDSON
editor
MIKE HANSEN
assistant editor
TIM ERVIN-GORE
consulting editor
TOREN SMITH for STUDIO PROTEUS
book design
DARIN FABRICK
art director
MARK COX
Published by Dark Horse Comics, Inc, in association
wiih MegaHlouse and Koike Shoin Publishi mpany, Lid.
Dark Horse Comics, Inc
10956 $E Main Street, Milwaukie, OR 97222
wwww.darkhorse.com
First edition: May 2001
ISBN: 1-56971-510-6
13579108642
Printed in Canada
Lone Wolf and Cub Vol. 9: Echoof he Assassin.
At and story #1995, 2001 Kazı Klke # Gusckl Kojima, Cover ar 92001 Frank Mile, Inc, All other
ja ©2091 Dark Horse ca his reserved, English translation arranged with
JIKIE SHOIN PURLISIUNG 0, 110, TOKYO, Originally published in Japan in 1995 by KOIKH
SHOIN PÜBLISIEING CO, LTD. Na portionofIh publication maybereprochuced, in any Tor or by
ymeans, withont he express wien permission hecopyright holders. Names,characers, places,
an inckents features in Ih publication either are he product oftheau nagimation urare sc
Aeniiously, Any resemblanee to al persons (ivingor dead), events, institunons, or locales, without
satire inte, is eomchle
Dark Horse Comics. Inc
10 find a comics shop in your area, call he
Comic Shop Locator Service toll-Iree at 1-888-266-4226
 ECHO Z—
OFTHE JE
ASSASSIN U
ar
By KAZUO KOIKE
& GOSEKI KOJIMA

VOLUME
)
A NOTE TO READERS
Lone Wolf and Cub is famous for its carefully

researched re-creation of Edo-Period Japan. To preserve

the flavor of the work, we have chosen to retain many

Edo-Period terms that have no direct equivalents in

English. Japanese is written in a mix of Chinese

ideograms and a syllabic writing system, resulting in

numerous synonyms. In the glossary, you may

encounter words with multiple meanings. These are

words written with Chinese ideograms that are

pronounced the same but carry different meanings. A

Japanese reader seeing the different ideograms would

know instantly which meaning it is, but these synonyms

can cause confusion when Japanese is spelled out in

our alphabet. O-yurushi o (please forgive us)!

 GUB
TABLE OF GONTENTS
Wite'öfiche Heäkt: = =. u. sous aan sn a un a 9

een sen 70
0mer s000s
Wandering Samarai .......:.4se

nenn e
Echo of the Assassin .......:.reeserees nen 130

Naked Wormsis oe saniee e nnein ie em nn ne 190

The Yagyu Letter: Prologue .........2ccscenenene 261

GIOSSÄTY + aaa u an un an ne en 285

Creator Proßles.. nn 8 une ee nn 287

the korty-kilth

Wile
 THE ÖsHü BywAY IN YONEZAWA HA,
\ NEAR THE ITAYA GUARD HOUSE...
A
 MISS-
0-CmYO..?
YA GOT A
MINUTE?
 WERE es
SAYN! THIS Qu TAS
PER VER OWN FERRY BUSINESS,
S00D.

YER In you
LUCK, O-CHIYO... COULDNT ASK.
THE OWNER OF KADOYA FOR NOTHING.
UP AT THE IIZAKA KOT
SPRINGS NEEDS SOME-
ONE TO HELP HM IN

HE SAYS
HEIL EVEN DOWN, HAVE
SPLIT THE AKID, HAVE A
RICKTS TO, 8000 LIFE.
THE SPRING
WITH YOU.
 OF COURSE Bur
YA HAVE TUN THERE BE
ne | LImITs. AND
SAVED yer , FELLIN VER
LIFEI BoDY...
Sr

Is0rra
SAY IT, O-CHIYOL
IT'5 BREAKIN" OUR
HEARTS WATCHIN?
ya

IF HAYASE-
SAMA WAS
FAMILY, OR YER
HUSBAND, \T
MISKT BE
DIFFERENT.

HE'S RIGHT, IF HAYASE-

lo-cHyo! sure, 7 SAMA WAS
HAYASE-SAMA GONNA GET BETTER
SAVED YA AND MARRY YOU
SOMEDAY, THATD
CHANGE THINGS.
BUT HE AWTY
 He'S
DOWN AND
OUT NOW, BUT /f
HE USED TO
BE ONE OF
THEM WICH-
RANKIN"
SAMURAI.

YA WANT US TO
TELL HAYASE-SAMA?
TELL HIM HE WOLLDNT
HAVE HIS FOOD OR MEDICNE
sl IF THIS POOR GIRL WARNT
TRADING HER VIRGINITY,

F
HAYASE-
SAMA KNEW, T
COULDNT.
 HE’S wırH
THAT RÖWIN WHAT
 THAT'S WHY BUT PEOPLE
ARE STARTIN? TA
WE DOW TELL TALK, O-CHiyO! THE
HAYASE-SAMA. 'CUZ WOMENFOLK CANT
WERE AFRAID IF WE KEEP THEIR YAPS
DO, SOMETHN’ SHUT.
TERRIBLELL
HAPPEN!

ARE SAYING ITS.

THE SHAME OF THE
OMONO RIVER. A STAIN
ON ALL US BOATMEN.
(75 GETTIN! OUTTA
HAND

AT
THIS RATE
AND NOW ALL THERE’S GONNA RUMORS
THEM YOUNG BLOODS, BE ABLOWUP, ARE FLYIN,
EVEN SAMURAI, COMN’ CLEAR AS GIRL. AND WITH
HERE LOOKING ALL THEM YOUNG
FOR YAl FELLERS COMIN' TO
RIDE O-CHIyo'Ss

„ONE DAY
TILL BE FISts
AND SWORDS
FLYINGF OVER
 AND AND THEN
THEN ITLL EVERYTHING
YOU'VE DONE
FOR HIM, PAYıN“
IN BL00D T0
HELP HM.

HE MAY BEA
TAD BROKE DOWN,
BUT HE'S STILL A
SAMURAI. HE CAN TAKE
CARE OF HIMSELF... RICHT?
SO LISTEN TUS,
OKAY?

UST... UST
ALITTLE LONGER! 1
WONT CAUSE YOU ANY
MORE GRIEF, T PROMISE.
BUT... JUST OWE
MORE MOWTH.
 WELL,
NOT MY MAN,
You DonTt
[;

>Fu

RE,
RD Ä
 Z WHO SHOULD
BE PUNISHED/

kow
INTERESTING!
VERY WELL-
STRIP KIM

EN
|ZN
en SIee
 Dont
WORRFI Now
THAT SPRING'S
HERE, My WHOLE
Boby Feeıs
 In ANY Loox!
CASE, THIS WILL
CHIYO-T'VE
Poue Kern
WORK! T

Yoummon
IT’S BEEN THE
DREAM OF THE HAYASE
FAMILY TO BRIDGE THE
OMONO, EVER SINCE WE
WERE ENTRUSTED WITH
THE RIVER GUARD
HOUSE. j

MY FATHER
POURED HIS LIFE
INTO IT, AND TVE
KEPT THE FAITH.
TS ALL TVE
LIVED FOR.
 Ira
OUR OL D Il \l
LORD SUPPORTED THE \
IDEA OF A BRIDGE,. BUT
WHEN HE PASSED ANMAD
HS SON DAIGAKU-SA
CANE.

VE BEEN ABLE
TO CONCENTRATE
COMPLETELY ON
DESIENING THE BRIDGE! GREATER HAPPINESS
IF T STILL HAD OFFICIAL THAN TO KNOW YOU'VE
USED THAT FLEETING.
HÄVE DONE IT/ CHANCE TO MAKE
THE WORLD A
BETTER PLACE.
 COULD Finish
THESE PLAWS...
THAT I COULD
LIVE THIS

THEY SAD Ir
SAD IT WAS WAS TOO WIDE/
MPOSSIBLE TO AND LIKE ITS NAME,
rose THE omonor ADEMON OF A
IMPOSSIBLE!

COULD STAND
ABANST IT!
 AND NO
BUT WE HAVE ONE EVER AGAIN
TO BRIDGE IT! FOR Eur WILL HAVE TO DIE
YONEZAWA HAN AND er CROSSING IT, LIKE
ITS PEOPLEI YOUR POOR

BRIDGE, TRADE
WITH EDO WILL FLOURISHI
THE HAW AND THE PEOPLE
WILL PROSPER/

NOW, SEE...HERES AND BUT LooK THAN

MY SOLUTION-A THE VARIOUS
SUSPENSION BRIDGE! STRAINS ON AT THIS! WITH YOU. FROM TALK LIKE THAT! WANT YOU TO
WITH A GIRDER BRIDGE, THE SPAN THIS NEW CONCEPT. THE BOTTOM PLEASE! HAYASE-, LIVE FOR
WHEN YOU DOUBLE THE E54 JUMP EISHT OF MINE, YOU CAN OF MY SAMA...
LENGTH OF THE SPAN, x N \TO SUrTBeN- DISPERSE THAT HEART.
THE WEIGHT ON THE en Foıd? STRESS, SIMPLY
GIRDERS INCREASES =
USING SUPPORTING
FOURFOLD!

ie

THE
Key WAS
CONTROLLING ? BUT CHIyor BELIEVE
THE VERTICAL En = ME, WITHOUT YOU, THESE
OSCHLLA- EN 2 PLANS WOULDN’T EX/STY THANK
TIONS. YOU? ROWING THAT BOAT DAY
AFTER DAY WITH THOSE FRAIL
ARMS, CARING FOR ME BETTER
THAN FAMILY.

ım
SORRY...T
IMAGINE ITS
ABIT OVER NOT
YouR DAISAKU-SAMA N TO ASK TO
HEAD. 15 RETURNING RESTORE THE
FROM EDO. IM GOING HAYASE FAMILY...
TO MEET HIM AND TO PROMOTE
SE HIM THESE MYSELF..WO.
PLANS.
 THAT'S ALL
WITH THESE T WANT, AND T
PLANS, AUYONE WILL BE HAPPY! H.HOW...P/
CAN BUILD MY BRIDGE! AND SO, CHIYO, I TIUST WANT
TLL BEG HIM TO BUILD IT, WANT YOU TO FIND TO..TO BE BY
EVEN IF IT COSTS ME MY YOUR SIDE!
LIFE! SURELY HELL
UNDERSTAND!
 .
U

7
 DAIGAKLI-
SAMAITT
CRAVE AN
AUDIENCEI

LORD! A HUMBLE
REQUEST!
 MY LORD,
I HAVE DEVISED
ABRIDGE THAT CAN
CROSS THE OMOnO
RIVER! 1 BE6 YOU,
MY LORD-PLEASE
VIEW THESE

T.DIONT WANT
TO SEE YOUR
FACE AGAIN!

OMONO, BOTH HAN

AND CITIZENRY WILL
FLOURISH! ACCIDENTS.
ON THE RIVER
WILL-
WE ShouLd
Cut youın
Two ON THE

YOU DARE
TALK OF KEPT BY
BRIDGES WHILE
YOU LIVE IN
SHANE WITH A
FERRYBOAT
 Mu
7
SEN BD

eins,

I.COME FOR
YOUR WE!
 IT TAKES MORE
THAN A HANDFUL OF
DRAWINGS TO BRIDGE
THE OMONO! ONLY
THE RESOURCES-
THE LORD OF
RN OUR HAW!

I DON'T PROTECT THE MAL...

SHOULD DIE FOR I PROTECT THE GOOD OF THE PEOPLEI
A MASTER WHO KNOWS IF OUR LORD DIES NOW, HOW MANY MONTHS,
| wisoom no 6000 can HOW MANY YEARS BEFORE THE BRIDGE IS
COME OF PROTECTING BUILT?! MY LOVE OF OUR HAN AND OUR
AFOOL. NOW- PEOPLE SHOULD MOVE A HEART OF STONE
STAND BACK!

yes, no,
HE’S TURNED HE WILL
ME DOWN. BUT IF NOT LISTEN,
I LAY DOWN MY NO MATTER
LIFE FOR HiM, EVEN WHAT You
DAIGAKU-SAMA
WILE
UNDERSTAND.
 ” IFyou
PURSUE THis
DREAM A DAY

YOUR WOLNDS
TOGETHER. LIVE

AN
ASSASSIN, BY SAUNG. Er
atoaxu-sama, |"
ARE you?! I SHALL PROVE
THEN KULL | MY WILL!
MEI
— N
ANA
 YET IF THERE
ARE PLAWS, HS
BRIDGE WILL BE BUILT.
HIS HEART AND SOUL
FILL THESE PAGES.
YOU MUST WVE, AND
FULFILL YOUR

en
—_ın
 We (orty-sixth

Wandering
mu
| APRIL: THE SEASON ” nn
OF SANKIN KÖTAL.
er

ZA FOR MOST DAIMYO, Ä LORD MITO AND

I THE OBLIGATORY Ei OTHER Damyö
STAY IN EDO CANE WITH POSTS In
EVERY OTHER YEAR. K THE SHÖGLNATE
FOR THE DAImYO REMAINED IN
OF KANTO, NEAREST THE CAPITAL.
DO, EVERY SIX
MONTHS. FOR THE
SOVERNOR ON
TSUSHIMA ISLAND
BETWEEN JAPAN AND
KOREA, ONCE EVERY
THREE YEARS.
 APRIL: THE
SEASON OF THE
WATARI-KACH.

WATARI-KACHI WAS THE WINDOW-DRESSING OF THE SANIKIN KÖTAT SYSTEM WHILE WEALTHY
DAIMYO COULD AFFORD THE RETAINERS,ITTOOK TO PROVIDE BOTH PROTECTION AND MAJESTY ON
THE ROAD TO AND FROM EDO, A DAMYO FROM A HAN WITH A TAX BASE OF A HUNDRED THOUSAND
KOKU OR LESS COULD ILL-AFFORD SUCH LUXURY. AND SO THEY TURNED TO TEMPORARY KACH!
FOOT SOLDIERS, THE LOWEST OF THE LOW IN SAMURAI SOCIETY, HIRED ON FOR THE DURATION OF
THE SANKIN KÖTA/ JOURNEY. ON THE OUTSIDE, LOW-RANKING BUSH/; ON THE INSIDE, SOMETHING
ELSE ALTOGETHER. THESE BANDS OF HIRED "STRAW MEN" WERE THE MUTANT OFFSPRING
OF THE DEFORMATIONS OF BUKE SOCIETY.
SERUNG NO FIXED MASTER, SWITCHING.
ALLEGIANCE BY THE SEASON, THE
MERCENARY WATARI-KACH! SOON
TURNED LAWLESS.
AND SINCE THEY NEED ONLY SLIP THROUGH THE CLOSELY
GUARDED CHECKFOINTS AND INTO THEIR EMPLOYER'S
HAN TO THROW OFF ANY PURSUER, THEY
u. WERE MORE FEARED AND HATED ALONG
u SHE BYWAYS OF JAPAN THAN EVEN
ne RONIM AND THE YAKUZA.

THIS YEAR WOULD

BE NO EXCEPTION
 STILL
HAVEN'T SEEN
A 6000
WOMAN

WERE
IN NO RUSH. THE ONLY FUN
WENE 60T WE EVER GET
FOUR DAYS. OUTTA THIS SHIT
JOB IS A 600D
PIECE OF
ASS.

Oh, YEAH...ANY BITCH ON

THE HIGHWAY, YOURS FOR
THE TAKING. MAKES ALL THE
BULLSHIT WORTHWHILE,
ER?
 WAS A CREATURE
ALL KIS OUN.

MAYBE you
WERE SOME SUPER
SAMURAI ONCE, BUT
YOURE A WATARI-
KACHI NOW...SO DONT
BE SUCH A FRIGBIN?
TIBHT-ASS!
 Dow you, € N
LIKE THE N
LABIES? A|. L.
\

LET ME EXPLAIN THIS

WATARI-KACHI BUSINESS,
PAL. YOU CAN HAVE AWY WOMAN
YOU WAWT, SEE? THEY DON'T
UIKE |T, TOUGH SHIT! WHAT
ARE THEY GONNA DO? 60
WHINING TO THE
DAIMSORL ”

You! WAıT
HERE,
OKAY?
 INAFEW SO THE SECRET,
DAYS WELL MAAM, 15 TO LIE BACK
AND EMIOY IT. SHUT
YOUR EYES FOR AN
SWE IT UP. HOUR, AND ITLL
ALL BE OVER.

WE DONT
TAKE NOTHING,
 (T'5 NOT LIKE you CAN
RUN OUT, RIGHT? USE IT OR
LOSE \T, DON'T THEY SAY?
WERE JUST HERE
 TILL SMASH
YOUR BRAINS
7
 TO HELL with
H-HE'S RISHT/ WERE HM! YoURE
ON OUR WAY TO GUARD \ \
MIZUNO-SAMA OF
KARIYA HAN!
 OK, 6OD.
DID...DID you
HAVE TO KUlL
 IF youd
QUST ACTED BUT YOU INVOKED THE
AS NAMELESS WOWE OF WY NAME OF OUR EMPLOYER/
WATARI-KACHI, BUSINESS! THAT MAKES YOU KARIYA
T COULD HAVE HAN HANSHI, NOT
TURNED MY WATARI-KACH!!
BACK!

TO ERASE ALL
STAIWS ON THE
HONOR OF OR
LORD! THAT'S,
THE BUSHIDO
OF ALOYAL
RETAINERT
 YOU KILLED THEM,
AND WE WITWESSED IT!
YOU ÄTTACKED, AND WE
CUT you DOWN! THAT
STORY WILL CONVINCE
THE OFFICERS AT THE
NEXT WAY-STATION-
CASE CLOSED!

BUT... K-KAWBEI- ver

SAW N...NOBODY'LL US OFF!
KWOW! W-WE JUST UST RS
GOTTA MAKE IT TO ONCE
KARIYA HAN!
 FORMER TAwEwıT
KOBI KAI- WAS SO! IN YEARS
SHAKUNIN, PAST, T HAVE SEEN
ÖSAMI ITTO, YOU FROM AFAR, SIR,
WHILE LEADING MY
LORD'S HORSE IN
EDO CASTLE!
AKAMA_ on wır
GENTURO, VOLUNTARY IS NOTAN
FORMER PALAN- LEAVE, T NOW IMPOSITION,
Qu SLARD or |N, ID LIVE ASA MAY T ASK.
MARUOKR — |S, THE WARRIOR YOUR NANE
HAN. SI SPIRIT! ?
II = >
Sn

N
NO

YOU FLATTER
ME, SIR...AND NOW L
FEAR T HAVE OFFENDED
YOUR EYES. PLEASE
UNDERSTAND THAT
CIRCUNSTANCES LEFT
 ALLoW
METO
EXPLAN... @

WHEN A
WATARI-KACH!

STAND THAT THE

TRUE BUSH! \5 READY
ALWAYS TO DIE TO
PRESERVE HIS LORD
FROM HARM...EVEN TO
MERELY FORE-
STALL IT.
 ASHOCKING.
Yy event ms d
] OCCURRED, For
THE BAsest
REASONS... 4
 ‚AND THUS
_ I MUST DRAG
No INTO
THIS SORDID AFFARR,
 FIRST, EN \ N
TSHALL N (FA
EXPLAN BUSHI OR
WHAT. YOUR REPUTE
HAPPENED INSISTS, THEN
IT MUST BE
FATE.
Gi1Zur

‚
% :
 I PREVALL, T
SIVE you my

...WE LIVE IN
MEIFUMADO,
ACCEPTING THE
TRIALS OF THE S/X
| PATRS AnD Tre
DAR
u HA
UM
 T HAVE WALKED
\| THE PATH OF BusmIDö
BUT AS HE
 FORCES OPPOSED
TO My LoRD's
APPOINTMENT.

BER
IRRE
*...AND HOPING
ERII Sr TO BLUNT THE
ER
Eger
nad
EISx885
a
ase8 8-2
8Ix
“5
ENENY'S MOMENTUM
AND SHATTER HIS
MORALE, T CHARGED
INTO THEIR
WAS REPULSED.

YET THE
MOOD IN THE
HAN TURNED
AGAINST
Mer
 HOW DARE
I CHARGE?!, THEY OVERCONFIDENCE
SAD. ATTRUE BUSHI IN MY SWORD HAD
WOLLD STAY AT THE LED ME TO FLAUNT MY
PALANQUIN’S SIDE TO, SKILL AND BREAK THE
PROTECT OUR WARRIORS CODE/

IBELIEVED THAT IF T
‚STAYED BY THE PALANQUIN,
WE WOLLD BE SURROUNDED,
AND THE BATTLE LOST... AND
50 I TOOK THE FIGHT TO THE
ENEMY. YET...MY CRITICS
HAD A POWERFUL
CASE.

HAVE WEVER
STOPPED
SEEKING THE
E ANSWER. WHAT.
WOULD A TRUE
BUSH HAVE

isı_ bossıt _
BUSHIDO TO WIOLATE BUSHIDD
STAY BY THE TO ATTACK, COR-
PALANQUIN, EVEN RECTLY READING THE
IF IT COSTS THE BATTLEFIELD, CONFI-
BATTLE, AND TO DIE DENT OF VICTORY, AND
DEFENDING ONE'S ULTMATELY PRO-
LORD TO THE TEETING ONE'S.
DEATH LORD?
 THE ANSWER I THOUGHWA T
THAT GHTHT ISAGAI Y
T MI N
FIND MYSELF
WATARI-KACH, DEFENDING A
ROOTLESSy! TO LORD'S
THIS Da PALANQUIN...

MEI WHAT IS
THE PATH-
 BUSHIDO 5
TO ALWAYS SERVE
ONE'S LORD WITH

TO ATTACK, INDEED, you

HOPING FOR WERE DVER-
VICTORY? YOUR CONFIDENT.
UDSMENT WAS IN YOUR
RASH/

TSPEAK ONLY AND THUS HE

OF THE DUTY OF A SERVES! TO DIE
PALANGQUIN GUARD. THE ATTACKING, TO DIE
TRUE BUSHI (5 ALWAYS. DEFENDING! THERE 15.
READY TO DIE FOR NO DIFFERENCE IN
His LORD. THE PURITY OF
SPIRIT!
 HAD T BEEN IN
N YOUR PLACE, T wouLD
NOT HAVE STAYED BY THE
PALANQUIN AND LET
THE BATTLE BE
the (orty-seventh

M a Ina: 7

Echo
olthe
Assassin
MY NAME'S TOYAMA
KIKUMA. IT LOOKS.
LIKE WERE LODEING.
TOGETHER TONIGHT.
SPREAD
our
 THERE'S
ABAND OF
STRANGE MEN,
HIDING In THE
'GROVE.

BE CAREFUL...
IF YOURE THEIR
 ÖGAMI ITTÖ, FORMER
BUT THAD TO HELP! YOU AND KOBI KAISHAKUNIN! MY
YOUR BOY WERE IN DAWGERT SON, DAIGORO! WE WALK
WiO...WHO ON EARTH ARE You THE DEMOW PATH OF
THAT SUCH MEN ATTACK ASSASSINATION AS LOWE
your! WOLF AND CUB!
 MY GOD...
TO THINK
THAT JOURE
LONE WOLF
TOWN OR WAY
STATION...

ASSASSINPT
WITH AWOR-
peerur uimte
 THOSE MEN
THERE WERE FROM A
SPECIAL OUTFIT. O-
WIWABAN, T \HAGINE.
MOST LIKELY,
KUROKUWAP

SURE, TM JUST
ASMALL FISH, BUT
STIL WORK FOR THE
SHÖGUNATE! SO EVEN
T KNOW THAT
MUCH, SIR!
 AND TVE HEARD
RUMORS ABOUT LOWE
WOLF AND CUB, To!
IN FACT, T THINK TVE EVEN
HEARD OF OBAMI ITTO- N THATSY/T/
BAZSHEUNERE: MN ") you HAD Sone
TROUBLE WITH
THE yasyür

EVERYONE
SAYS My FATHER'S
AGENIUS, BUT IM
NOT EVEN CLOSE.
TM STILL IN
TRAINING.
 THAT'S why
TM TRAVELING, IN
FACT...FOR MEDICNAL
PLANTS! TM GOING
TO GATHER JBUKY
BOFü.
 (T LOKS SORT. You PICK
OF LIKE A GARROT, THE ROOTS
BUT IT’S GREAT FOR IN APRIL AND
MAY, SECOND-YEAR
GROWTH. DISCARD
THE STEM, WASH IN
FRESH WATER, AND
DRY IN THE
SUN,

AS YOU CAN
GUESS FROM THE
NAME, YOU FIND IT
UP TWERE, ON THE
FLANKS OF MOUNT
1BuKı.
 wy DID
You Choose
THIS PATH OF
SLAUCHTER?
 WELL, WHATEVER REASONS
YOU HAD, THEY'RE YOURS AND NO
ONE ELSE'S! CERTAINLY YOLR BOY
COULDN'T CARE LESS! YOL MAY BE HS
FATHER, BUT THAT DOESN'T GIVE YOU
‚THE RIGHT TO DRAG AN INNOCENT
LITTLE CHILD THROUGH
THE MD!

SO WHAT \E
YOUFRE BOUND BY
BLOOD? YOUTRE STILL
INDIIDUALS-YOU
LIVE YOUR OWN

JOUVE ERTEN
DOESNT MEAN
Your Boy
HAS A FULL
TUMMY.

BECAUSE
YOU SLEPT
WELL DOESNT
MEAN HE ISNT
SLEEPY.
 THE MOMENT
WERE BORW,
WE HAVE OUR OWN
PERSONALITIES..
OUR OWN RICHT

NO FATHER
CAN STRIP THAT
AWAY FROM HIS
HLD! 05
UNFORSWABLEI

SOMETHING, 5 A FEW HOURS

FOR 6005 AGO, YOU THREW
YOUR DAGGER AND
KILLED A HUMAN
 By YOUR
OWN ARGUMENT,
YOU STOLE THAT
MANS RICHT
TO LIFE.

=TR
My
NW
 you Dont
UST WATCH A
CHILD DROWNING IN
THE RIVER! AUYOnE
WOULD HAVE
HELPED!

ALTHOUGH TO BEGEING YOUR

BEHOWEST, SIR, PARDON, BUT WHO
IF YOUR CHILD ’ WOULD WANT TO GET
i MIXED UP WITH SOME
SCRUFFY RÖWIN AND A
BUNCH OF MYSTERY

I DID IT BECAUSE OF HIM, AND

THAT'S EXAETLY MY POINT? IT ISNT
UST YOUR PROBLEM ANYMORE! WHEN
YOU DRAG YOUR 80% ONTO THE
BATTLEFIELD, YOURE GOING TO
INVOLVE OTHER /NWOCENT
PEOPLEI
DON"T vor
LEE you EVENDO.
TuIWK
ABOUT His
FUTURE?
 AS A FATHER.. IF you
AS A HUMAN BEING/ HAVE TO WALK
THE PATH YOU'RE ON 15 YOUR ROAD OF
HERESY! YOU CANT SLAUGHTER, WALK
SACRIFICE YOUR CHILD
FOR YOUR OWN
HATRED!
 1 THINK
I DESERVE
BETTER THAN
"ENDLICH
QUESTIONS“
 SEE. WELL, LET ME
TELL YOU SOMETHING... UHEN YET...ISNT
TWAS LITTLE, T DIDNT WAT N a
[10 BE A DoCToR. T DREANED or .
BEING SOME AMAZING BLISHI.T @ GREUNSTANCES
FLUNG MYSELF INTO MARTIAL ff
ARTS, DAY AND NIGHT... BUT
TUT'S THE FIRST TIME TVE
EVER USED THEM
 MAYBE
IM STILL
INTERFERING,
But.

THERE'S A
PERENNIAL CALLED
 DRY IT IN A SHADED
PLACE, WITH A 600D
BREEZE, AND GRIND IT
FINE. THE POWDER WILL
KEEP ITS HEALING
POWERS FOR MANY

TELLING you
THESE THINGS
FOR YOUR
BENEFIT. ITS.
FOR THE
BoY.
 ...AND YOU
CAN HAVE HOT
TEA WHENEVER
You WANT!
 HEH HEH
HEH...NO SWORDS
WEEDED! INGRATIATE
YOUR WAY INTO YOUR

THEN TAKE HIM

ourt

T PLANNED IT
ALL-THE KUROKUWA
AMBUSH, EVEN AULLING
ONE OF THEM MYSELF,
ALL TO TRAP You! THE.
YAGYÜ SHINKAGE
SCHOOL OF YAMABIKO!
THE ASSAssıns
 AFTER DRINKING
MY TEA LACED WITH
KIRENGETSU-TSUN
AND TORIKABUTO
POISON, YOLRE
FINISHED. EVEN A
SINGLE DROP CAN
SEND you TO THE
OTHER SIDE!

CLAN YAMABIKO,
TOYAMA KIKUMAT
T TAKE YOUR
UELI
THE yasyü
ARE A CLAN
OF ASSAS-
SIns/

WHEN YOU STARTED

TALKING ABOUT HERBS,
THAT THERE'S A BRANCH OF
THE YAByÜ CALLED THE.
HYAKUSO-GLUMI, THE
HUNDRED GRASSES! AND
THAT THEY PRACTICE
THE ART OF
YAMABIKO!
 You WERE N N
AUITTLE TOO D \ You SHOULD
HAVE WAITED FOR.
THE ECHO BEFORE
 YeS...T wAnTED
YOU TO TRUST ME,
BUT...MY WORDS.
+
ALL TRUE! an, %
7 \ ;
I WORRY FOR

N YOURE BOwE...aS
ONE HUMAN BEING
FOR ANOTHER...

But ı
WAS BORN
Yasyü..50
IT WASNT

TUL..TEACH
YoU..ONE
LAST THING,
EAT THAT
KAKIDOSHL.
the (orty-eishth

Naked
Worms
 EH HEN HEH...HEY,
6O-SHINZO-SAN! 15 IF YER LE6S FALL ASLERP
DAMN DANGEROUS T’ AND SOMETHIN’ HAPPENS,
KNEEL ON THE RENDAI Y’ COULD DROWN, SEE?
YA BETTER CROSS \ MAKE YERSELF COMFY,
THEM LESS! N THAT'S HOW YACROSS
> A RIVER.
 HUP! Ho!
WHOOPS!

el |THaris RIcHt BEwEROUS,

ae you N; MATAN, AND TM SURE YA
DemKING \ 14 ; WILL, BUT IF YA DONT
CROSS THEM LEBS RICHT
mowert )i QUICK, DUNNO |F WE
KIN GET YA TO THE
N. _OTHER SIDE!
 ITS WAYS...WOMEN WHAT
KNOW ’EM LET US "PRAY AT
THE ALTAR“ WITHOUT US.
EVEN ASKIn?
 THE Öl RIVER, ON THE BORDER
BETWEEN SURUGA AND TOTOML. A
RIVER SO WIDE THEY SAY ITS LIKE
LOOKING FROM THIS WORLD TO THE
NEXT. WITH THE SOUTH WIND, THE
WATERS RISE; WITH THE WEST, THE
WATERS EBB. ONE HEAVY RAIN, AND
ITS ARAGING TORRENT. ALWAYS
CHANGING, NEVER STILL...

SINCE ANCIENT TINES,

NEITHER BOAT NOR BRIDGE
HAD MASTERED THE Di. NOT
EVEN SEASONED TRAVELERS,
BE THEY ON HORSE OR FOOT,
COULD TRACK ITS SHIFTING
SHOALS. SOUTHWARD BOLD,
TRAVELERS STOPPED
KANAYA NORTHWARD BOLD
IN SHIMADA, WAITING FOR THE
WATERS TO SUBSIDE...
 WHAT'S GOING = NAW,
ON OVER THERE?P R x SIR. SHE'S
IS MY WIFE IN g x IN 6000
TROUBL HANDS!
HURRYLT
 THIS 15 THE (115 EASY TO SUP,
WORsT spor Y’KNOW...WE ALL Ki
IN THE RWER/ SWIM, BUT OUR POOR.
WERE RISKIN’ OUR PASSENGERS..THEY
LIES HERE! SINK LIKE A ROCK,
AND THE CURRENT
TAKES en!
 LORDY,
MAAM..YER
AHAIRY ONE,
ANTICHA?
HE HEEI
 YEAH..TAKE
OR LEAVE IT,
TH RIVER'S 6OT
ITS RULES.
IN THOSE DAYS THE SHÖGUNATE MAINTAINED SER/SHO bs THERWER ÜABORERS BECANE. ei iäheyäreweieren
CHECKPOINTS ON CRITICAL THOROLCHFARES, AND RELIED A EEE A Hess ee DM
ON FERRY BOATS AND RIVER LABORERS FOR CROSSING A ee M
THE NATION’S MANY RIVERS. IN PART IT WAS BECAUSE KA
THeY WERE NOTORIOLS FOR EXTORTING 1842)
WEST. EVEN ON THE ROKLIGOTORIVER
AND JAPAN’S OPENING THE
RDSE SURDINO TERNOLDBN VND.TOO PRITNE FOR PS, AND FORCING FEMALE PASSENGERS NEAR MODERN TOKYO, THERE WERE
BOCH EOWERFUL URBENTS:
SURPRISEIN DART: A DELEERATEIPOLEY, TOHET
EXPOSE THEMSELVES OR SUBMIT TO
DESIGNED TO HINDER ATTACKS ON EDO. ESCHE Zeumtese r NO BRIDGES BUILT UNTIL 1867.
TRAVEL RECORDS SPEAK OF THEIR
ABUSES AGAINST WOEN,

WHERE'S THAT
DRINKIN“
 TM REPORTING
you TO THE
RIVER WARDEN!
your Payı

SURE THE BI6

SHOTS' MAIL GETS
ACROSS THE RIVER
IN THE BOJO-BAKO
AND ON TO E00,
THAT'S WHAT!
 EH HEH HEH.. ANY
RIVER WARDEN WORTH
HS SALT KNOL WS HE
CANTT PISS US OFFI
 > N
I R
= (J
X [& N

yo, Boys!
THANK THE
GENTLEMAN! H2

I:
 THAT BASSUD!
WHAT'S HE THINK
HE'S Dom?!

N
NY S
SO-RÖNIN! SET YER
ASS BACK TO
SHORE, AND USE
ARENDA! OR OUR

YEAH! WERE
SORTA THING OUT HERE NIGHT N"
15 BAD FOR DAY, WALKIN? THE
BUSINESS, RAPIDS, FINDIN“
WHERE IT’5 SAFE
TO CROSS/

THE RIVER'S "SIDES, IF

CHANGIN“ ALL TH" EVERYONE TRIES.
TIME, YSEE?! YA CAN'T CROSSIN' LIKE YOU,
JUST MOSEY ACROSS HOW IS WE GONNA
AFTER WE'VE DONE
THE DANGEROUS

AND DONT
SAY YA DON'T
6OT NO DOUEH!
NOT WHEN YA BOT
THAT FANCY
CHOPPER!
 so... ARE...ARE YOU
WILL you
LET ME
JOWPL

HEIS BOT AKID

TO FEED... THAT'S
 N
S
SID: N,

ud N
\ N \S
\
ii Ss D
 THIS
MORNING.
 I THOUGHT 50! ANY NORMAL KiD WOULD.
WATCH THET FOOD LIKE A HAWK... BUT NOT
HIM! HE MAy BE DOWN AN’ OUT, BUT ONCE A
SAMURAI, ALWAYS A SAMURAI TH’ KIDS
GENTERED! HE'S GOT THAT
DISCIPLINE BON!
 HE AIN’T A BESGAR, AND
xHE WONT ME-WHY'S
TAKE HANDOUTS.
SAMURAI
DADDY TRYING TO BEA
HADARA-MUSHIP!

SURE, WE GET
eUYS BEGBIN” TO
BE HADAKA-MUSHL.
DOWN AND OUT! ON
THE SKIDS! YA CAN
SEE 'Em DROOL
WHEN WE EAT.

ACT TOUGH, BUT

KIDS ARE HOWEST. WERE OUT HERE
(F THEYRE BUCK NAKED, WUN
ON THE EDBE/

KNOW THE
CHILD, KNOW
THE PARENT!
N Tas Krs Dan
MUST BE ONE
TOUCH SUNLNA-
BITCH OF A
N SAMURAI
 SO WE Know
HOW TH' WORLD
WORKS. WE KIN SEE
RICHT THROUGH
THEM BASTARDS WE
CARRY ON OUR

LIVE, ERTHER
AND SON...
NO OTHER

DO WE LET
Vz
 IM AGIWST \T, B055! THIS. Dann
AINT THE KIND’A WORK HE KIN WE CAT STRAICHT! WE MAKE OUR
HACK WITH THEM TWO SWORDS. GET ALOWE HE WONT PLAY LIVIY RIPPIN’ OFF
OF HIS! HELL JES' SLACK OFF WITH HS
AN! CAUSE TROUBLEI

BOSS-MAN
Say?

BR
A IR

RN
 THEN
175 DECIDeD,
You START
TOMORROW!

ONE OF US? TEACH

HIM ALL YA

TURNS WATCHING
THE KID 6OT
 li]!
I\|
II
N1)Te It &T
ar
N fe Mm

FiAh
"AnInd ernannt
 NORMALLY THE ÖL RVER RUNS TWO SHAKU VE i|
SUN DEEP. WHEN THE WATERS ROSE ANOTHER |||
SMAKLL, IT WAS CLOSED TO HORSES. UP TO TWO | |
SHARU OVER NORMAL...CLOSED TO PEOPLE. OVER
TWO SHARL HI6H, WITH THE RIVER RUNNING FOUR
SWARU FNE SUN DEEP AND MORE, THEY WOULD.
DECLARE THE RIVER CLOSED.

NO MATTER HOW
DEEP THE FLOOD,

COMMUNICATION | LABORERS TOOK

FOR THE THE BOJO-BAKO
SHÖGUNATE, H
THE RER WAS
WEVER CLOSED.
 N
TR ATRHTT
NN)
al) V)

TH’ RIVER
WARDEN!
 "1
"| MN

BUT...WE HAVE
AGOJO-BAKO
COMING THROUGH AT
THE CRACK OF DAWN,
AND IT WAS TO GET
ACROSS...50 PICK
TWENTY 6000
MENT
| | THE SOIO-BAKO: 60J6 Were
| | me orrıcnı coRrespowence
|\oF t#e out-Posts or Tne stö-
|SUNATE. CORRESPONDENCE FROM
| |.THE JODAY CASTLE WARDEN OF
OSAKA CASTLE, FROM THE SWIDAL
REPRESENTATIVE IN THE IMPERIAL
1a,
(| I ||
 WE HADAKA-
THERE 60ES A MUSHI CAN TELL
REAL SAMURA\, BOYS! THIS STORY FER
AREAL SAMURAI, WHEN GENERATIOWS...
THERE AIN’T NO MORE THAT THERE WAS.
LIKE THAT LEFT IN THE STILL ONE
WHOLE WORLD! SAMURAI LIKE
'M LEFT.

HSSELF ONE ALL FOR HIS

0" US...CARRY- GOAL..AND ALL
WITH HIS A70 AT HIS
ING PEASANTS SIDE... DAMN. T
AND TOWN y DUNNO WHAT.
FOLK ON HIS. N Z
Che forty-ninth

The
Yasyü
Letter:
 de
An
ns Re
ar ulI
=.
I
I} OPEN THE

Dr
 AS YOU SEE,
WE HAVE WEARLY
PERFECTED OUR
BLEND OF PHOS-
PHORESCENT
MOSSES.

y-yes,
My_ LORD. FOR
IMPERFECT THE HONOR OF
NONETHELESS! THE HYAKUSO-
GET ME THE PERFECT UM!
MIX! THE SOOWER
THE BETTER!
 My LORD!
AKUROKUWA N
RIDER AT THE GATES!
HE SAYS HE BEARS
URGENT NEWS...
THIS 15
TRUE?

MY LORD...
ÖGAMLITTO
IMPERSONATED
AHADAKA-MUSHL,
AND SEIZED THE BOX
AT THE ÖL RIVER
CROSSING.
 _DAMn you,
ÖAMI ITTÖr ıF
YOU STOLE THAT
BOX, YOLVE SNIFFED
OUT THE DEEPEST
SECRET OF THE
URA-YAGSUI

THERE'S NO TIME
TO LOSE! WE NEED THE
LETTER BACK! UNTIL NOW
WEVE HONORED OUR PLEDGE
NEUER TO ATTACK YOU HEAD-
ON? BUT DID YOU THINK THAT
WAS THE LIMIT OF
OUR POWER?F/

PLUNDER
OUR SECRETS,
WILL YOU? BAH/
YOU HAVEN"T THE
WITS TO FIGURE THEM
Our! TO you It's _
UST ANOTHER OO
LETTER, NOTHING
MORE!

N RN
IN
 STEAM N N YoUvE EnDED
YOU'VE UNKNOW- ’ OUR PAET OF YOUR
INGLY NEED
THE URA-Vasyü
DIREerLy/

LISTEN WELL/ THE WE MUST

RETAKE THE
sOIo-
 IF HE BREAKS
THEM, A SECOWD
WAVE! THE COMBINED
ARCHERS AND RIFLE-
MER OF SUWA AND
NUMAZU HAN!

SEE THE
TRUE POWER
OF THE yasyü
ASSASSINS!

LOWE WOLF AND CUB BOOK WINE:

TO BE CONTINUED
 GLOSSARY
ashigara honorifics
Alightly armed foot soldier, oneofthe Japan isaclass and status society, and
lowest ranks of Ihe samurai caste. proper forms ol address are critical
Common markers ol respect are Ihe
bu prefixes 0 and go, and a wide r nge of
A small coin, worth 1/4th of a rw, suffixes. Some ofthe sulfixes you will
encounter in Lone Wolfand Cub
buke chan - {or children, young won.
A samurai houschold. and close Iriends
dono -archaic; used for higher-ranked
bushi or highly respected figures
A samurai. A member of the sama -used for superiors
warrior class san - the most common, used among
equals or near-equals
bushidö sensei — used for teachers, masters,
The way of the warrior respected entertainers, and politicians
daikansho jödai
The office of the daikan, the primary Castle warden. The anking han official
local representative ol Ihe shögunate in charge ol a daimyö’s castle when the
in territories outside of Edo. The daimyd was spending his obligatory
daikan and his stalf collecied taxes years in Edo.
owed 10 Edo and oversaw public
works, agriculture, and other projects kögi kaishakunin
administered by Ihe central govemment The shögun’s own second, who performed
executions ordered by Ihe shögun
daimyö
A feudal lord. koku
Abaleofrice. The traditional measure
Edo of a han’s wealth, a measure of its
The capital of medieval Japan and the agricultural land and productivit
seat of the shögunate. The site of
modern-day Tokyo. meifumadöo
The Buddhist Hell. The way of demons
han and damnation.
A feudal domain.
o-niwaban
hans A ninja. Literally, “one in the garden.”
Samurai in the service of a han. Ninja had their heyday in the time of
warring states before the rise of the The largest schools had ıheir own
Tokugawa clan. Originally mercenaries döj6 training centers and scores of
serving dilferent warlords, by Ihe do students. An effective swordsman
period they were in the service of the had 10 study the different techniques
central government, The most famous of the various schools 10 know how
were the ninja ol Iga and Kaya, north 10 block them in combat. Many ryit
of Kyoto. The Kurokuwa that appear in also had a set of special, secret
Lone Wolf and C /b were olticially ıhe techniques that were only taught 10
laborers and manual workers in Edo school initiates.
Castle. Whether ihey ıruly served as a
secret spy corps is lost in history sankin kötai
The Tokugawa required that all daimyo
rendai spend every other year in Edo, with
Platlorms used for carr ing tavelers across family members remaining behind
rivers. Named for th 1 resemblance 10 when they returned 10 their han. This
the rendai (lotus platform) altar in practice increased Edo’s control over
Buddhist temples the daimyö, both political and fiscal,
since the cost of maintaining two
röjü separate houscholds and traveling 10
Senior councilors. The inner circle of and from the capital placed a huge strain
councilors directly advising the shögun on han finances
The röj were Ihe ultimate advisory
body 10 Ihe Tokugawa shögunate’s sengoku
national government. Warring states. For two centuries between
the old central rule in Kyoto and the rise
rönin of Oda Nobunaga (1534-1582), the first
A masterless samurai. Literally, “one unitier of Japan, the country was in.a
adrift on the waves.” Members of the state of anarchy, riven by constant civil
samurai caste who have lost their war between rival warlords,
masters through Ihe dissolution of han,
expulsion for misbehavior, or other shaku
tcasons. Prohibited from working as 10 sun, approximately 30 centimeters.
farmers or merchants under Ihe strict
Confucian caste system imposed by shinzo
the Tokugawa shögunate, many The young wife of another man
impoverished rönin became “hired
guns” for whom the codeofthe s urai sun
was nothing but empty words Approximately 3 centimeters.

ıyü yakuza
Often translated as “school.” The many Japan’s criminal syndicates. In the Edo
variations of swordsmanship andother period, yakıza were acommon part ol the
martial arts were passed down from landscape, running houses of gambling
generation 10 generation 10 the offspring and prostitution. As long as they did not
ofthe originator ol the technique or set overstep their bounds, they were tolerated
öftechniques, and 10 any dishi students bythe authorities, a wadition little changed
that sought 10 learn from Ihe master in modern Japan.
KAZUO KOIKE
produced in Hollywood and released
to commercial success in Europe
and is currently awaiting release
in America
Though widely respecied as a
powerful writer of graphic fietion
And to give something back
Kazuo Koike has spent a lifetime
{0 the medium that gave him so
scaching beyond he bounds ol the
much, Koike started Ihe Gekiga
comies medium. Aside from co- Sonjuku, a college course aimed at
creating and writing the successful
helping talented writers and artists
Lone Wolfand Cub and Crying Freeman
such as Ranma 1/2 creator
manga, Koike has hosted television
Rumiko Takahashi — break into the
programs; founded a golf magazine
comics field
produced movies; written popular
fiction, poeiry, and sereenplays; and The driving focus of Koike's
mentored some of Japan's best
narrative
ischaracter development,
manga talent
and his commitment to character is
clear: "Comics are carried by
Lone Wolf and Cub was first
characters. I} a character is well
serialized in Japan in 1970 (under
created, the comic becomes a hit
the title Kozure Okami) in Manga
Kazuo Koike’s continued success in
Action magazine and continued its
comics and literature has proven
hugely popular run for many years, this philosophy true
being collected as the stories were
published, and reprinted worldwide
Koike collected numerous awards
for his work on the series
throughout ıhe next decade
Starting in 1972, Koike adapted the
popular manga into a series of six
films, the Baby Cart Assassin saga,
garnering widespread commercial
success and critical acclaim for
his screenwriting,

This wasn’t Koike’s only foray

into film and video. In 1996, Crying
Freeman, \he manga Koike created
with artist Ryoichi Ikegami, was
GOSEKI KOJIMA
Okami (Lone Wolfand Cub). Before long
the story had become a gigantic hit,
eventually spinning off a television
series, six motion pictures, and even
Goseki Kojima was born on
theme-song records. Koike and Kojima
November 3, 1928, the very same day
were soon dubbed the “golden duo”
as the godfather of Japanese comics,
and produced success after succe
Osamu Tezuka. While just out of
on their way 10 the pinnacle of the
junior high school, the self-taught
manga world
Kojima began painting advertising
posters for movie theaters to pay
When Manga Japan magazine
his bills.
was launched in 1994, Kojima was
asked 10 serve as consultant, and he
In 1950, Kojima moved to Tokyo, helped train the next generation of
where the postwar devastation had manga artists.
given rise to special manga forms for
audiences t00 poor to buy the new In his final years, Kojima turned
manga magazines. Kojima created art to creating original graphic novels
for kami-shibai, or "paper-play” based on the movies of his favorite
narrators, who would use manga story director, Akira Kurosawa. Kojima
sheets 10 present narrated street plays passed away on January 5, 2000 at
Kojima moved on to creating works the age of 71
for the kashi-bon market, bookstores
that rented out books, magazines, and
manga to mostly low-income readers.
He soon became highly popular
among kashi-bon readers.

In 1967, Kojima broke into the

magazine market with his series

Dojinki. As the manga magazine
market grew and diversified, he turned
out a steady stream of popular series.

In 1970, in collaboration with

Kazuo Koike, Kojima began the work
that would seal his reputation, Kozure