Warriors of Stormy Times | Scroll of the Elements citrinesea

Warriors of Stormy Times | Chapter 1

1 | 2 | 3 | 4

★ Castle Tower Stage

SOUMA

Right, gentlemen. Are you all ready? Well then, let's go~♪

An unprecedented gamble, where anything can happen— AKATSUKI and RYUSEITAI, a collaboration seen only in dreams! The curtain rises, and Scroll of the Elements is about to begin...!

SHINOBU

“It's the Age of Warring States, the era of rival factions… A small, peaceful and quiet country lies nestled in the cool shade of a mountain pass. Here, seeing the world is beyond one’s wildest dreams. Here, a strange incident has occurred.”

“An impregnable mountain castle, protected by natural fortresses. Every day, the security guards sit cross-legged on its sturdy ground, careless with their duties. Taking advantage of those negligent security guards…”

“A suspicious shadow is trying to sneak in.”

SOUMA

(Ohh... As expected of Sengoku, you’re living up to the name of a Broadcasting Committee member. You speak quite fluently, with confidence.)

(Your tone is easy and clear to the ears… What a pleasant voice to listen to.)

SHINOBU

(Heheh, I practiced a lot for this~♪)

(Excuse me, Kanzaki-dono... my turn is coming, so I'll hand over the narration to you.)

(Please make our first appearance as exciting as possible~♪)

SOUMA

(Understood. I am also used to this kind of role.)

“Come now, the main characters have made their entrance! Take a close look at today’s brave heroes!”

SHINOBU

“One~! I want to be the one to stand out from the crowd!”

MIDORI

“Two…~ To tell you the truth, I just wanna hide…”

TETORA

“Three! We’re already going three different directions, huh~?”

KANATA

“Four! I don’t really follow, but not a problem, for we are close friends~♪”

CHIAKI

“Five! The five of us together are RYUSEITAI…☆”

SOUMA

“Oh, what could that be? Is it a bird? Is it an airplane? No, it’s a ninja!”

(Hmmm… It's the Sengoku period, so is it really alright to say something like "airplane"?)

(Although, there are also period dramas where they do peace signs, so…?)

(As long as the message gets across, then it’s fine. Noh and Kabuki use archaic words, so they aren’t able to convey even half of the fun for people without prior knowledge.)

(The traditional performing arts may be like that, but…)

(We are “aidoru”. AKATSUKI is a modern translation of a traditional art buried under the rubble of ancient times…)

(Conveying that charm, making it shine as my weapon… That's how I intend to spend this fleeting life.)

(Without throwing out the antiques, we will give them flesh and blood, inherit them, channel them! It's the same for sumo, kendo, traditional Japanese dance, tea ceremonies, and that of course means ninjas, as well!)

(Inheriting the culture from all kinds of traditional arts…!)

(We will become a bridge between the past and the future...!)

SHINOBU

“Landing, hup~♪”

(Hehe. I've grown used to stunts like this: like descending from a high place using rope work.)⁽¹⁾

(In terms of setting, it is as if I’m flying in the sky with a kite and landing on the castle tower~♪)⁽²⁾

(Our mission is to invade the fortress and obtain the scroll that the lord of the castle is hiding in the tower.)

(It’s said that hidden there is evidence of the lord’s infidelity.)

(We ninjas were deployed at the request of the lord's wife.)

(A cheating investigation~? It’s spy-like, so that means it’s also ninja-like. Plus, it makes it easier to understand for modern people, as well.)

(After all, if they made the plot too serious, people would be turned off.)

(The aim is to draw people in first with a bright and fun slapstick drama and then have them watch until the end.)

(Scroll of the Elements can be viewed for free, so if you leave in the middle, your pockets won't be hurt...)

(However, it would be a bit of a shame if people went home.)

(The introduction, development, plot twist and conclusion. Slow, into an accelerando, and then the finale.⁽³⁾ Savor every bit of it! I would be happy if you could fall in love with ninjas, even just a little~♪)

(I was accepted, and my “love” was affirmed!)

(Even if it’s only by the kind members of Yumenosaki Academy’s RYUSEITAI so far!)

(One day, I will spread it to the whole world! Ninjas are a single miracle that shined in me — someone who had spent a gloomy youth all the way until high school started!)

(“This is how it is as a ninja, for ninjas love solitude, love the dark, love frogs”...)

(That was my excuse to get by at first, yet I was saved regardless.)

(That is why I hope that someone who is living gloomy days like I once was will find the same salvation as I have!)

(That is my wish, my dream! I will deliver it with all my heart and soul!)

(After all, I love ninjas...☆ Until everyone shares that "love" with me, I can’t keep hiding in darkness!)⁽⁴⁾

(Wearing colorful and flashy costumes, we will continue to sing and dance on stage~!)

Warriors of Stormy Times | Chapter 2

1 | 2 | 3 | 4

★ Castle Tower Stage

SHINOBU

“♪～♪～♪”

CHIAKI

(Ohh… Sengoku, you've completely let go. You're always reserved, or rather, you tend to retreat behind everyone else…)

(Yet your eyes are sparkling right now. You really like ninjas, don't you? It's wonderful to have something you like.)

(If you have that “love”, then your life — this whole world will be even brighter.)

(That brilliance may make someone's dreams come true, like a shooting star.)⁽⁵⁾

(It could become a ray of hope for someone walking down an alley at night with their head down… It could even become a miracle of its own.)

(No. Let's form the trajectory for that miracle together.)

“♪～♪～♪”

MIDORI

(Senpai… Uh, I know you’re getting emotional right now, but aren’t you forgetting what you have to do…?)

CHIAKI

(Ohh, sorry. It's a bad habit of mine. When I'm happy, I get so excited that my mind goes blank. Thank you for warning me, Takamine~♪)

MIDORI

(I didn’t say anything particularly special… I usually blank out on stage, too, and I end up standing like a deer in headlights...)

(At times like that, everyone is always there to back me up, right...?)

(Even if it's just that much, I'll repay the favor... I have to clear up those debts properly, or else I'll feel uneasy...)

CHIAKI

(Yeah, you're a good kid, Takamine~♪ That's wonderful, the good you do for others is good you do yourself...! All for one, and one for all!)

TETORA

(Midori-kun, stand back for a sec. Taichou's gonna do some crazy stunt to blow a hole in the tower and break in.)

(It uses gunpowder, so if you're too close, you'll get hit too.)

MIDORI

(Mm, I know… Then the castle will catch fire, and we panic. Shinkai-senpai tries to extinguish the fire and creates a muddy stream...)

(And then we all get swept away by it, right…)

(The lyrics, production, and movements were all set so that the audience could understand what’s happening without needing an explanation...)

(It's pretty amazing, isn't it? It's slapstick and funny...♪)

(If I could have, I would have loved to experience it as an audience member...♪)

TETORA

(Ahaha, it's the customer's privilege to have fun. But there's no rule that says we can't have fun, right?)

(Guuhhh–! Every single time… The stage gets me psyched! I’m fired up~! ♪)

“♪～♪～♪”

MIDORI

“♪～♪～♪”

CHIAKI

(Mhm. Sengoku is obviously more lively this time, but Nagumo and Takamine have grown significantly since the first time we’ve met, too.)

(For Nagumo, he lost his bad habit of rushing ahead.)

(And for Takamine, he is able to take in his surroundings well enough to give me a heads up. This is a great sign, it's absolutely wonderful.)

(It would be pathetic if I dragged everyone down here, so I'll show you how cool I am as your captain.)

“We have no other choice— let's blast it open! Ninpou: Blazing Escape Technique...☆”

(While making comical movements of panic to indicate that “Oh no! It’s causing a fire!”… The song and melody continues— is that right…?)

(I was given some acting guidance, so I wonder if I’m managing to perform everything naturally…?)

(It’s a pretty busy performance, with so much to do. But, well, period dramas are the distant ancestors of tokusatsu...)

(For the land that gave birth to the heroes I love, I hope I can help cultivate the soil again.)

(Times change and people change, but the voices of people who love justice and desire peace should be respected! Let's fight for that together, everyone~♪)

“♪～♪～♪”

KANATA

“♪～♪～♪”

(Wawa—... I can’t handle the heat... It's real “gunpowder”', that’s for sure. It's dangerous.)

(I’ll become “grilled fish”~, I have to hurry and “extinguish” it.)

KANATA

“Ninpou: Water Escape Technique～♪”

(Ohh… The “water” is flowing in, my skin feels “moisturized”~♪)

(Most of the “water” is for “show”, but “fire extinguishing” foam is being “sprayed” everywhere at the same time...)

(And in the blink of an eye, the “fire” goes out.)

(I wonder what kind of "mechanism" they’re using… they did explain it, but it was “beyond my comprehension”.)

(This is the “art” of “special effects”, huh~ It's like "magic".)

(“We” couldn't use “magic”. Even though we were called something akin to “supernatural creatures”...)⁽⁶⁾

(We had no “means” to resist the bitter “reality”.)

(But, I am still alive. In this reality… I have found a “means” to survive — a “place to belong”.)

(Feeling happy for being accepted… It’s not just you, Shinobu.)

KANATA

(I was ostracized, and then driven “far away” from the “stars” in the night sky.)

(However, there’s someone who went so far as to stretch his hand out to me.)

(I don’t “regret” grasping that “hand” tightly. Sometimes it is so hot that it can be “uncomfortable”, but….)

(I was in the cold, icy “sea” so… fortunately, it feels warm.)

(It fits just right, I’m “comfortable” like this.)

(Puka, puka…♪)

Warriors of Stormy Times | Chapter 3

1 | 2 | 3 | 4

★ Castle Tower Stage

KEITO

“♪～♪～♪”

(Alright. So far so good. Let’s start putting the finishing touches on it.)

(The samurai working in the castle who rush to engage the idiotic ninjas — That's our role as AKATSUKI.)

(The lord of the castle is taking excessive defensive measures to prevent the scroll – evidence of an affair – from being stolen.)

(Numerous traps and devices toss the RYUSEITAI ninjas about.)

(We also get caught up in the commotion and end up falling into a trap together, going every which way.)

“You’ll pay for this, you morons! I'll catch you and behead you~!”

(Laughter everywhere... In the meantime, a strange friendship begins to develop between the ninja and the samurai, and there are more scenes of them escaping from pitfalls together.)

(Rather than a true period drama, it should be seen as a skit based on that theme.)

(I'm sure Eichi and Hibiki would be in hysterics if they saw it. I'm glad this was a joint live with RYUSEITAI instead of fine.)

(Kyogen, monkey mawashi... Manzai, mandan, and rakugo are all traditional arts. Just because it's a comedy sketch doesn’t mean we’ll cut corners. We'll do our best to accomplish it.)

(If everything goes well, people's impressions of AKATSUKI will change drastically.)

(Since it's not a play, everything is expressed through song and dance... At minimum, it’s supplemented with narration and such.)

(The script was written by a professional, and the audience is able to understand it without any confusion.)

(Our actions leave them on the edge of their seats, they sympathize, and they support us at times.)

(It’s a pleasant feeling... Live performances aren't a gamble where people win or lose. I feel like I’ve remembered that now.)

“♪～♪～♪”

KURO

“♪～♪～♪”

KEITO

(Kiryu, I know you're having fun, but... Please keep the fun to that level.)

(You guys are the only ones whose actions are too showy. You're nearly eating up Kanzaki and Sengoku's stage presence.)

KURO

(Ah, that's right. The climax is gonna be a spotlight on those two, so we shouldn't get in the way.)

(Let's retreat for now, Tetsu.)

TETORA

(Ossu! I’m overwhelmed with emotion that I was able to join forces with Taishou~! ♪)

KURO

(Haha. Looks like you didn't neglect your training even while I was away.)

(You seem to imitate me all the time, so I wanted you to step away and look at yourself again, Tetsu.)

(Do you really just wanna be me? No, right? Then find your own path as a man~♪)

TETORA

(Ossu, I'll keep that in mind! So that's what Taishou had in mind all along...)

(I was real anxious that you started hating me or kept your distance from me ‘cause I was annoying you!)

KURO

(Sorry. I felt like over-pampering you wouldn’t be a good idea.)

(Don't become a copy of me... Absorb me and Morisawa’s good points… everyone's good points and become a great man.)

KEITO

(I told you already, you can’t have your little tryst forever, wrap it up... It's your turn, Kanzaki, are you ready?)

(Timing is essential, make sure you make me say “splendid!” ♪)

SOUMA

(Mm, I'll do my best. But Hasumi-dono, is it okay for me to be in charge of the final scene?)

(I'm confused because I was only informed about this last minute, and I'm worried I haven't practiced enough...?)

KEITO

(Give it a shot. Anything can happen if you try, and nothing will happen if you don't… That’s how it goes.)

(I don't mean to copy Kiryu’s words, but it won't work if I just spoil you. Man up, Kanzaki.)

SOUMA

(Mm, alright. I can't face the sun with pride if I only hesitate after having been encouraged so much. Leave it to me, Hasumi-dono—)

(I will never do anything that would betray your trust.)

(I will repay your kindness with service. That is my pride, the Japanese valor⁽⁷⁾ that I have inherited from my ancestors.)

(Even if some people laugh at my old-fashioned values, my seniors praise me.)

(To repay that kindness... Kanzaki Souma will pass through.)

(Sengoku, are you ready?)

SHINOBU

(Yeah, Kanzaki-dono! It’s all OK, I’m ready to go any time~♪)

SOUMA

(It's a dangerous role, so are you sure you’ll be fine? It's better not to overdo it because life is at stake here, alright?)

SHINOBU

(Don't worry, I've practiced a lot! Leave it to me, nin-nin~♪)

(...Ninjutsu and ninpou training are of no use in this modern era.)

(I’ve spent half my life being constantly scolded by everyone, who told me to do something more constructive— something more realistic.)

(I had been told that, instead of spending all my pocket money on shuriken or something, I should invest in my future—)

(That it’s more meaningful to memorize math formulas, chemical symbols, and kanji than to memorize tons of ninja names—)

(And that's actually true. Everyone's opinions are proper and correct.)

SHINOBU

(But… just because everyone is right doesn't mean I'm wrong.)

(Everyone is different, everyone is good. That is what my comrades RYUSEITAI told me — and alongside them, I will put together a performance for the sake of adding beauty to the stage—)

(Thinking about it, I’ve accumulated so much training thus far, until it has gotten me here.)

(That thought makes me feel rather satisfied and proud of myself.)

(No, in fact… To the me from when I hadn’t yet started speaking like a ninja would...)

(I want to tell the “me”⁽⁸⁾ from back then that nothing was ever in vain.)

SOUMA

(Is that so? In that case, I have nothing else to say here. Samurai and ninja are the same; anything you could say to a man with an expression like that is only wasted breath.)

(Let's at least treat each other with sincerity.)

(Now, like usual... Let's fulfill our duty, ninja of RYUSEITAI.)

SHINOBU

(That’s just what I was hoping to hear from you, samurai of AKATSUKI~♪)

(We each hold our own forms of justice up high.)

(Kamen Rider and Super Sentai, Showa Rider and Heisei Rider... heroes of American comic book movies, too—)

(When all of them meet, they have conflicting opinions and clash. However, in the end, they join forces to fight a common enemy. That is the staple of these shows.)

(Even if the place of birth is different, even if the color of justice is different—)

(We are surely aiming for the same thing! I will believe in that, and continue to fight in the name of love and peace today and onwards..☆)

Warriors of Stormy Times | Chapter 4

1 | 2 | 3 | 4

★ Castle Tower Stage

SHINOBU

“♪～♪～♪”

SOUMA

“♪～♪～♪”

(Now, it’s the “kuraimakusu”. The ninjas persistently try to steal the scroll. Even when they slip up and get caught, they manage to free themselves…)

(The ninjas run about, evading traps as they escape.)

(We samurai are exhausted, though. Why do we have to work so hard to hide the evidence of our master's affair…?)

SOUMA

(Those sorts of thoughts start to get us a little irritated.)

(On the way to the scroll, there is a rampage at a sake brewery, and alcohol is spilled. Everyone becomes inebriated and starts feeling tipsy.)

(So they hold a party… and while complaining about their masters, the ninjas and samurai somehow begin to get along well in their excitement.)

(In such a cheerful atmosphere, the sound of conch shells resounds, calling for war.)

SOUMA

(That's right... All of it was a scheme plotted by a neighboring country. They watched like tigers, waiting to attack the castle as soon as the opportunity presented itself.)

(They filled the wife’s head with words of the lord’s infidelity, cultivating her suspicion.)

(They prompted internal strife by splitting the castle in half.)

(They must have thought that if things went well, ninjas hired by his furious wife would simply assassinate the lord.)

SOUMA

(Even if it didn’t go that far, internal disputes would cause turmoil in the castle…)

(And because the ninjas had dismantled all of the traps and defenses, the castle is easier to attack.)

(Thus, due to the scheme, the national power was to be reduced, and the castle’s military strength to be further reduced with the infighting...)

(The castle was to be overrun by the approaching army of the neighboring country before we knew it.)

(However, well… the ninjas are so inept, that time has passed without any proper results...)

(So the army of the neighboring country becomes fed up with waiting, and begins their attack.)

(However, the castle had been thrown into disorder to some extent, causing confusion...)

(And while normally, it might have been possible to push through with momentum and take control of the castle…)

(A miscalculation occurs at that moment. In fact, if the castle lord truly was having an affair...)

(Then there would’ve been the likelihood that the wife, who wouldn’t listen to any excuse… would have had her entire force, which was half of the castle, defect against the lord.)

SHINOBU

(Mm. The lord of the neighboring country seemed to be especially enamored with this castle lord’s wife...)

(It seems like he was planning to make this lord’s wife his own if things went well. That's why he told her about her husband's infidelity.)

SOUMA

(However, our lord was not having an affair. The scroll that was sealed in the secret room of the castle tower… The scroll that he had stubbornly tried to hide…)

SHINOBU

(It was filled with a plethora of love poems written about his wife. A massive amount...)

(It seemed that he didn't want people to see them, so in his embarrassment, he tried to hide it.)

(After he reported this, the wife regrets suspecting his affair. The love between the lord and his wife deepens, and their vassals, ninjas and samurai, celebrate it with great joy.)

(The only hindrance left is the approach of the neighboring country’s army. The marauders who meddle with the happy ending — the love of a close couple…)

SOUMA

(... are destined to pay, and go crashing down into hell!)⁽⁹⁾

“♪～♪～♪”

(Both the ninjas and samurai, exhausted from the slapstick drama, do their best to protect their beloved masters...)

(It’s a spectacular, legitimate performance of battle that vastly overshadows everything up to this point, that it makes you wonder “why were they acting so incompetent earlier, then?”)

(It's turning out as one would expect, but that's just the staple of period dramas!)

(Making good use of the traps that had harassed them up until this point, and having fought each other, the ninjas and samurai rampage perfectly in sync!)

(But the enemy is strong, and we are exhausted. One by one... My comrades fall, but I won’t back down!)

(As long as I have loyalty in my chest, my heart won’t break, even if my sword does!)

SOUMA

(As the last surviving young samurai, my arrows run out. My sword breaks. I fall… Then I pick up the sword of my great superior and stand once again.)

“Heaven’s vengeance is slow but sure!”⁽¹⁰⁾

“You ruffians who can't read the room — if you don't fear my military might, come at me...!”

SHINOBU

(Wow... As expected of Kanzaki-dono, he’s so dignified! It’s magnificent! It's a super duper cool, prominent show!)

(He truly is a sight to behold. However, the night sky is lonely when there is only the moon.)

(I, too, will accompany you! Even though I am in the shadows, I will fight to protect the peace of the people I love!)

“♪～♪～♪”

(There are only a few survivors from both the ninjas and samurai. Kanzaki-dono is fighting tooth-and-nail, but he won't be able to defeat the vast army by himself.)

(That's why we need to drive back the enemy in one move.)⁽¹¹⁾

(I’ll take on that task. I will sneak into the enemy camp unseen and cut off the head of the general.)

(If we defeat the leader, the enemy's army will either collapse or, at the very least, retreat. It will be our victory.)

(Everyone who has fallen before… their lives will not be in vain.)

SHINOBU

(Up until now, I've been an inexperienced ninja who only ever meekly follows everyone’s backs... That was my role, but now, I have a spotlight scene for myself right at the very end.)

(No, in fact… I always complain that it's embarrassing to stand out so much...)

(Yet I have a place to belong now, given to me by everyone in RYUSEITAI.)

SHINOBU

(They allowed me to openly shout that I like the things I like.)

(And then welcomed me as a comrade. They let me spend my youth with them laughing, crying, and getting angry together.)

(If I were to run away from even that place... then that would truly be an embarrassment.)

(I'm shy and spineless… If something scary happens again, I might cower back.)

(But for now, while a blade is put on my heart, I’ll face this adversity instead of running away.)⁽¹²⁾

SHINOBU

(Taichou-dono! Shinkai-dono! Tetora-kun! Midori-kun! I was there the whole time, yet to others, it never seemed that way!)

(It never mattered to anyone whether I was there or not!)

(But it's completely different now! The five of us are RYUSEITAI! I'm going to keep living on here, too!)

“♪～♪～♪”

(Watch me closely! This is my secret finishing move, Ninpou: Ring of Fire Passageway...! )

(Ahh, it's so fun and exhilarating!)

(I never thought something like this would ever come in handy in my whole life! Even Buddha never expected it, a-hahahaha…! ☆)

Signs of the Coming Storm | ★ Home | Epilogue

TL NOTES

[1] A reference to Pirate Festival.

[2] It was more of the word of legends that ninjas would use kites for espionage, but they were used in ancient China for military purposes, among others. Kites were introduced from China to Japan in the seventh century. Read more here.

[3] 起承転結 (kishoutenketsu) describes the structure of a narrative. In order, 起句 (kiku) is the introduction of characters and context, 承句 (sho) is the development of the story towards 転句 (ten) the twist, where the story takes an unexpected development, and finally 落ち (ketsu) the conclusion. 序破急 (johakyu) refers to the speed at which events happen. It's typically applied to tea ceremonies, marital arts, or theatre, but I thought the speed of music would better represent what he's talking about.

[4] This resembles his 5* Scout quote from !-era.

[5] RYUSEITAI (流星隊) means "shooting star squadron", so the comet imagery has to do with that.

[6] He's referring to himself, the Eccentrics, and the events of Meteor Impact. He uses the word ばけもの (bakemono), which were supernatural creatures that could shapeshift.

[7] 武士道 (Bushido), or the "way of the warrior", is the moral code of samurai which dictate the way they carry about their lives. Historically, there were several different codes and practices that samurai would follow, but Bushido can be used as a catch-all for the variety of them. Read more here.

Here, Souma says "Bushido spirit". As Kazuhiko Kazuha summarizes from a book on Bushido, the 5th Scroll of Kashoki (by samurai Saito Chikamori, 1642) is the first known description of bushido spirit:

The essence of Bushidō is: do not lie, do not be insincere, do not be obsequious, do not be superficial, do not be greedy, do not be rude, do not be boastful, do not be arrogant, do not slander, do not be unfaithful, be on good terms with comrades, do not be overly concerned with events, show concern for one another, be compassionate, with a strong sense of duty. Being a good samurai takes more than merely a willingness to lay down one's life.

This set of notes is credited with spreading the concept and influence of bushido spirit to the common population, rather than warriors, and was written in kana to make it more accessible. Miyamoto Musashi, someone Souma mentioned in Samurai and Ninjas, is said to exemplify what it means to live in accordance with bushido.

Anyways, that's what Souma means by Bushido or Japanese spirit

[8] Here, Shinobu uses 僕 (boku), a common masculine first-person pronoun, to refer to his old self. Shinobu's first-person pronoun is typically 拙者 (sessha, lit. clumsy person ), an archaic pronoun ninjas used. This whole line comes back in !!-era for Shinobu's Feature Scout story.

[9] Souma finishes Shinobu's line. The full saying is from an Edo-era dodoitsu poem: "People who meddle in other's love affairs will get kicked by a horse".

[10] In the original Japanese text, Chiaki says this same line to AKATSUKI when they reunite in Submarine. Cute.

[11] A shogi reference.

[12] A ninja saying. The kanji for 忍 (ninja) is comprised of a 刃 (blade) on a 心 (heart). Conceptually, the two together represents the act of perserverence: even if there's a blade over their heart, they will get through. Now that's commitment to the bit. Read more here

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