The Ordeal of the Sword Heroes, Volume 1

A young swordsman’s beloved disappears, a mysterious ascetic guards a coveted scroll, and five rival samurai become entangled in a struggle far larger than any of them imagines. Across the twisting lanes of Edo, private jealousies lead toward hidden prisons, treacherous bargains, and a village preparing for battle.

Hakama Hirotarō must contend with scheming rivals and his own divided heart. Meanwhile, the surviving shadows of the Shimabara rebellion draw military adventurers and powerful lords into the pursuit of two scrolls whose secret promises extraordinary rewards.

Kunieda Shirō (1887–1943) combines swordplay, broad comedy, extravagant villains, and sudden revelations in this adventure first serialized in 1926. The opening volume carries its shifting viewpoints from Edo’s houses and restaurants to a night of fire and fighting in the countryside.