Remove ads

Let’s Read Kagurabachi: Katanas, Gays, and Generational Trauma

Reader mode
Hey guys! No chapter 8 yet, but check this out! Kagurabachi's famous enough to get on the next Shonen Jump cover!



Man, can't believe that Chihiro could be that dripped out. Also, don't worry about the other two next to him. You'll meet them in later arcs. (And yes, multiple polycule jokes/ships have already been made.)
 
Remove ads
Chapter 8: And We’re Off With A Bang
  • Threadmarks
    • Hey. We're back.

    CHAPTER EIGHT: NORISAKU MADOKA: I WILL CHANGE​

    The chapter starts with Shiba and Azami explaining that since Daruma Guy and the others got their ass kicked, Sojo should be winding down. For now, Chihiro should spend some time relaxing and watching Char.



    Char's playing shiritori in her dream; a Japanese word game where each player has to say a word that begins with the last kanji of your opponent's word. With Char being around 8-ish, her vocab isn't large enough to win against her dream opponent. Keep trying Char, you can do it!

    As Chihiro gets up, it's revealed that they're still in Hinao's shop. Guess it's their Airbnb for a while.

    …wait, where was Chihiro living before this? On the streets? There's no chance that crime fighting pays the bills.

    oh well. Probably not something to look into that closely.

    She’s so cute.

    After that panel, we cut to our title, the one you saw in the beginning. And all of a sudden, our POV shifts.



    It's Daruma Guy. Or Norisaku, I suppose. We cut to him being interrogated by Shiba. He's told our deuteragonist everything he knows, and is now done. Shiba tells him to go start a new life, far, far away from Tokyo. Norisaku tells Shiba that there's no chance of that; his family disowned him.



    "Not that I'd know."

    Remember, Shiba was also a sorcerer who was around for the destructive Seitei War we saw two chapters ago. Chances are he's seen some shit that's made his stance on "sorcery vs normality" clear. To Shiba, it's clear that Norisaku isn't too bad of a guy— he was just another cog caught in the system.

    When we next see Norisaku, he's in his house, and with a new haircut. He was clearly affected by Shiba's speech— he's calling his sister.



    His sister hesitates for a while, before deciding that she'll drive him over to their mom's house. Also, wait, they have a car? In Tokyo, the city famous for its really fucking good subway system? The hell happened?

    Ok, moving on.



    Hey! That's the title! I can't wait to see how Kagurabachi is gonna do with this guy's plotline. Maybe it'll be about redemption or something?



    Nope. She died so fast his expression didn't have time to change. And before you ask, that wasn't a random hit man with a bullet. It's worse.



    Genichi Sojo is in the backseat. How did he get there?!

    Genichi Sojo said:
    These deaths… are the cost of you not finishing your work!
    Click to expand...
    Click to shrink...

    Deaths. Plural.

    Daruma looks out the window and sees… something out of frame. We the readers don't even get to see it. But the implications are clear.



    Something starts to happen. Whether it be because of his sorcery or because of the blade Sojo stabbed him with, Norisaku begins to change.



    Yeah, remember that rant I did in Ch 2 about how Hokazono does body horror so well? This is it. This whole chapter is dedicated to fleshing out Norisaku as human, but now he's chunks of flesh that barely even look human. He's… changed.

    Sojo walks out of the car, saying that "that woman" is still alive, just unconscious.

    Whether he was referring to Norisaku's mother or his sister who was still in the car, we never get to know.

    Farewell, Norisaku Madoka.

    In the end, Norisaku's efforts to be a family man were in vain. He changed, but not fast enough to outrun Sojo.

    Genichi Sojo said:
    If you're going to choose a path in life, at least be strong enough to dedicate at least one measly lifetime to it.
    Click to expand...
    Click to shrink...

    When we next see Sojo, he's back on the ground. He's talking to somebody different— the brother of the trauma sorcerer that hit Chihiro two chapters ago.



    For a second, it seems that Sojo's just going to do the reasonable thing and go to Chihiro's location, which this dude seems to have given to him.

    But then, for absolutely no reason, he tackles the brother with inhuman speed. Why?

    "To get the blood pumping," of course. He just wants to throw hands and test Cloud Gouger out some more. Fucking madman.

    But of course, don't you remember? The trauma sorcery is activated on touch contact. Unlike the last time we saw this, I won't put this in spoilers because of plot importance, but be warned of body horror.



    Remember those flowers. They will be important later.

    With little to no effort, Sojo shakes off the same sorcery that paralyzed Chihiro— and walks away, leaving behind the brother's headless body. This man straight up decapitated a dude with sheer grip strength.

    He takes a few turns, walking through the crowd with the bloody Cloud Gouger at his side. They don't notice: remember "Japan is a katana society". The violence is normalized, even when it's actively walking towards its next victim.

    This theme of societal injustice and ingrained violence will continue, along with more explorations of everyone's favorite: war crimes! But that's for later.



    That's the same cafe Hinao and Char and Chihiro are in. This is bad. Thankfully, Chihiro reacts fast enough to not get straight decapitated.



    Gorgeous double spread. Incredible speed from both Chihiro and Sojo as well. And that last word? Mei? That's not Chihiro.

    Thats one of Cloud Gouger's special abilities, mirroring Enten. Check out the lightning way in the bottom left corner— that's a Cloud Gouger special.

    In this hectic situation, Chihiro asks what's been on his mind. This is the first time he's seen another Enchanted Blade actually being used after all.



    Translation: "Hey. Are you using those blades for what my father intended, aka Justice?"

    Translation: "fuck you."

    Well then, looks like we're throwing hands. Let's see just how well Chihiro can match up to this monster in human form.

    Also peep this double spread. This is a weekly manga by the way.

    Kagurabachi try to have a bad double spread challenge (impossible)

    The real Kagurabachi starts here. Get ready.

    CHAPTER EIGHT - END​
     
    Last edited:
  • Threadmarks
    • Damn, I can't believe we had the "Sojo wants all the smoke" chapter. This was actually the chapter in which people started to believe in the manga not just because of the stupid "Jump pushed this manga too much, so it's the new Big 1" memes, but unironically. If chapter 3 is where this gets good, this chapter and 9 is where it gets great.

    Check out the live reactions from Reddit. Do you agree with what they said?



     
    Well damn... a proactive villain...thats...
    Huh...
    I dont think Ive ever seen one actually... not bad.
    Hes also completely psycho
     
    Kermie said:
    Also there will be more psychos to come. It's like Scott Pilgrim, but instead of 7 evil exes it's 10+ various crazies. We're on ch 59 rn, and we're at minimum 16.
    Click to expand...
    Click to shrink...
    Yeahhhhh.......

    The next one Main another psycho but like in a different way. I think sociopathic is the word? The vilian has a whole cabal of problems literally and emotionally and god does the reason why we meet em make me itch to have a punch out even if I know I'll probably go splat in an instant.

    Sojo while he's certifiably insane, he does make for agood contrast for Chihiro's outlook. Also hooray an asshole.
     
    Last edited:
    Dis Guna be gud.

    Sojo is a beast that Chihiro has never encountered before and will push him so much farther now.

    Caught up to the latest chapter recently and while I love this arc the next is my favorite.
     
    Finally jumped in. Very much intrigued and excited. Hopefully with another powerful and multipurpose EB in play (since Chihiro's has at least two modes between Black and Red), this fight pushes a little more Jojo-ward in terms of analyzing what each other is capable of and clever tactical counterplays.

    But even still, I'm invested!
     
    daedalus725 said:
    Also so far he's just your average mudrer man
    Click to expand...
    Click to shrink...
    Fair, but you've got to wait until later. We've only been about 8 chapters in, haven't even hit the ten mark.

    and while I forgot to mention it, bro literally barged into the main protag's house and said "I'm gonna murder you right now just because I want to see what that sword does". Yes, really. That's pretty interesting to me.
     
    Last edited:
    Kermie said:
    Fair, but you've got to wait until later. We've only been about 8 chapters in, haven't even hit the ten mark.

    and while I forgot to mention it, bro literally barged into the main protag's house and said "I'm gonna murder you right now just because I want to see what that sword does". Yes, really. That's pretty interesting to me.
    Click to expand...
    Click to shrink...
    I do respect that part I also wanna know what that sword do
     
    Remove ads
    Anime Announcement
  • Informational
  • Informational
    • Reader mode
    You must login or register to reply here.
    Remove ads
    Back
    Top