Kagurabachi
Author Rohit Nair Updated: July 8, 20245 minutes
Kagurabachi chapter 40 is generational – there’s no other way to describe it. And if it were up to me, that’s how I’d describe most of the chapters in this manga.
The events of this chapter pick up where we left off before, with Chihiro cornering Kyora.
Kyora's fate is sealed. However, what Chihiro doesn't realize is that Kyora is a wild beast when it comes to Rakuzaichi's matter.
Finding his back against the wall, the head of the Sazanami clan decided to do his best to salvage the chaotic auction.
Since chapter 39 ended, it was assumed that we would get a glimpse of Shinuchi. I was thinking that Kyora would try his best to auction it off. In the worst case, he would try to use it and fail, just like Sojo did with Datenenseki.
But, I absolutely did not expect the matter to escalate to this extent.
First off, we get some interesting information from Shiba about what Hishaku might have been plotting by putting the legendary sword up for auction.
I always felt uncomfortable when Hishaku's leader was willing to part with him for his most desired goal. However, Shiba's explanation showed that this was simply a strategic move.
With Shinuchi's original wielder still alive, the sword is useless to Hishaku. The auction serves as a means to break this stalemate by either locating the wielder himself or creating internal conflict within Kamunabi.
I wonder how much of this information Kyora knows!
Also, remember how Shinuchi has a special box compared to the rest of the enchanted blades. It turns out that it was placed in a special protective seal by Kamunabi to control its power. That alone should tell us how powerful this sword is to tear apart the world.
But that seal was useless when it really mattered. Shiba blew it up for no reason! But then again, all the information about the seal had a purpose.
With this development, I feel that Hokazono intends to establish the expertise of the opposition faction as equal to or even surpassing that of the Kamunabi elders, calling into question the current balance of power.
Hishaku's ability to break the seal that was supposed to take a decade, in just three years, was a true demonstration of their formidable magical skills.
This is the important question though. Is this level of expertise only possessed by Hishaku's leader or are the other members too formidable?
If true, it could cause trouble for both Chihiro and Kamunabi.
Back in Kagurabachi chapter 40, Kyora has succeeded in breaking Shinuchi's seal, thanks to Hishaku apparently, and things have gotten out of hand.
As soon as Shinuchi's head was pulled out of its shell, its user remotely controlled it. This mirrored Chihiro's control over Enten and was a sweet move by Hokazono.
Why? Because it sets up this ability as something that all enchanted blade wielders with a deep enough connection to their weapon can achieve, not just the protagonist. It's a commendable way to lay the groundwork for what's to come.
What caught my attention, however, was how Hokazono chose to depict the eyes of the original swordsman and Kyora in this scene. Both are glossy black.
Combining this with Chihiro's fleeting momentary suspicion, it gives me the impression that Kyora is under the control of the user Shinuchi. Additionally, both the user and Kyora can be affected by the sword.
Finally, Kunishige mentioned that the sword has the power to cancel its eternal contract.
Also, special mention to the aura that Shinuchi exudes and how well Hokazono portrayed it. And the butterfly panel? That was spectacular. Top notch art as always by the author!!
Now, Keeping all of this in mind, I want to make an assumption based on what we have seen in previous chapters.
Shinuchi was registered in Kyora's archives—it was Rakuzaichi's property. And now, when the swordsman activated the blade with his soul energy, he was linked to the blade.
Similar to what Hakuri did a few chapters ago, Kyora can technically summon swordsmen to his dimension – that is, if he still has the wherewithal to do so.
It's entirely possible that Kyora has lost her sense of self or is being controlled. But I think Hishaku might be plotting to summon the sword's wielder. This would make it easier for them to locate and kill the wielder or recruit him to their side.
The only downside here is – Shinuchi is very strong. We don't know for sure if Hishaku can beat him in a direct confrontation!
Another notable detail is the words surrounding Shinuchi's contract user – Magatsumi. As a prominent Kagurabachi X user pointed out, this seems to be the name of the sword – similar to Enten and Kuregumo.
Why is Magatsumi actually Shinuchi's name and not the name of an ability like Mei, Kuro, Nishiki and Aka?
Because of the visual indicator. The Youtous release follows the pattern: black background ball, Youtou's name in… pic.twitter.com/ooHuP3gtep
— Kagurabachi Brazil | #Kagurabachi | #Catwoman (@brkagurabachi) July 7, 2024
While things seemed bleak, chapter 40 of Kagurabachi ended with a glimmer of hope. Both Chihiro and Hakura were exhausted. However, just as things started to go downhill, Hiyuki contacted Hakura.
I don't know if Huri has enough spirit power left to transport her into Kyora's dimension to help Chihiro. However, I'm glad she at least made it this far. It was definitely an interesting one and I can't wait for the next chapter.
Bachibros, we are winning!!
KagurabachiShinuchi Chapter Review About the author
Rohit Nair
Rohit Nair is the editor-in-chief at Animehunch, and has been an avid manga reader for nearly a decade. When he's not reading manga, he can be found writing theories, coming up with news, or voicing opinions. He can be very biased about his favorite series in casual discussions, but immediately switches to an objective perspective when outlining his thoughts on the site. According to Rohit, reading Sui Ishida's works is a must. No posts found
About us
Animehunch brings the latest news and updates from the anime and manga industry straight to your screen. We also regularly feature anime recommendations and lists along with our opinions on interesting topics.
BY CONNECTION
TREND
US company Blackstone Inc. buys Japan's largest digital Manga website in $1.7 billion dealVeteran Animator Nishii Terumi Criticizes Foreign Countries' Unreasonable Demands for Political Correctness in Anime ProductionVinland Saga editor Akira Kanai rejects the idea of Western political correctness in storytellingWIT Studio's One Piece Remake Will Address Two Major Flaws of the Series New Anime Fans Reveal, George Wada
EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW
[Độc quyền] From Webtoon to Live-Action Film: Freaking Romance Author Talks About Upcoming Adaptation