The Dual Nature of Truth in Kagurabachi Chapter 66

Takeru Hokazono graced us with another chapter of Kagurabachi, and it is, once again, amazing. In the newest chapter, titled simply 'Truth,' the Masumi clan members reveal to Iori the truth about her father, Seiichi Samura, while Hishaku members 'break' the sacred rule of the criminal Underworld - they pick up a fight where they shouldn't.

Iori Finally Learns the Truth

In the previous chapter, we saw Chihiro and the Masumi clan saving Samura's daughter Iori and moving her to Kyoto Bloodshed Hotel, a place really close to John Wick's version of the Continental hotel. Anyway, we see Iori trying to remember a mysterious figure from her visions after Ro and Chihiro told her the truth about her father, Seiichi Samura. She is confused due to thinking she never met him, but Ro tells her that Samura himself wanted her to forget and vice versa—so he could protect his wife and daughter. The girl also learns that her real name is actually Iori Samura and that she actually knows the name of her father from history textbooks about the Seitei War.

After 66 chapters, we finally learn a lore behind the Seitei War that became one of the biggest mysteries through the length of the series.

Background of the Seitei War  

Ro decides to tell Iori about the Seitei War, the source of everything that is happening today. Twenty-two years ago, Shokoku, a small island, appeared in the Southeast seas, and it was rich with Datenseki, a raw material of the Enchanted Blades. The inhabitants of the island were immune to the unprocessed material, which caused 'ordinary' people's bodies to explode if exposed to it. However, everything changed when the invasion began.

A year and five months later, Kunishige Rokuhira 'tames' the material and creates the six Enchanted Blades, wielded by sword masters, who use those weapons to wipe the enemy out and eventually win the war for Japan. The rest is history—the Sword Bearers, including Samura, become the heroes of the country. Ro further explains that Samura possesses the fastest sword techniques, and having the Enchanted Blades would only attract the enemies that would eventually hurt Iori. Hence why Samura sealed the memories of Iori and her memories of him as well.

Iori is devastated and confused because she doesn't understand why her father would willingly forget her; she is his daughter. However, she eventually remembers the bloody signs and threatening messages on the walls of the buildings across the city and realizes that Samura and his comrades were far from innocent, heroic warriors—they were war criminals.

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Hishaku Members Cause Chaos

Ro explains that Samura was a hero but also an unwilling murderer whose association with Iori would only make her life harder. Overwhelmed with everything she learned, Iori collapses from a heavy headache and fatigue, which leaves Chihiro and Ro to talk about everything that happened. They eventually decide that Iori still needs to choose if she's going to break the seal and learn the full truth or forget everything, going back to her old life. Chihiro concludes they will stand by her side and help her.

In the meantime, Moku and Sumi are at the 35th floor of Kyoto Bloodshed Hotel, preparing for the all-night surveillance. They talk about Iori but also the reason why they are setting up the sorcery traps on the top of the building—the sorcery is prohibited in the hotel. If that particular regulation is broken, masters of the Reigen One-Sword Style, with the leadership of general manager Yojiro Sengoku, will eliminate the threat on the spot. We move to the lobby of the hotel, where very healthy-looking Toto helps Hiruhiko to arrive at the hotel. They discuss how they will avoid being detected by Samura's 'Owl' ability, and one of the plans is to simply not use the Enchanted Blade.

Hiruhiko assures Toto he won't do it with the hairpin he took with him before arriving, and Toto is in disbelief. However, when the staff member of the hotel arrives to eliminate the Hishaku duo due to breaking the rules of the establishment, Hiruhiko immediately slashes the man and uses his own katana—preparing for the ultimate battle in the middle of the neutral ground.

Conclusion: The Truth Will Either Imprison Us or Set Us Free

Can this manga be cooler than it already is? It simply cannot. Hokazono impressed us with the previous chapter, but the lore dump of the Seitei War that we have been waiting for since the beginning of the series makes 'Truth' incredibly important for the future length of the storyline. Chihiro and Ro telling Iori the truth and eventually finding out her father is a hero and a war criminal is a great way to present us with the duality of great conflicts and violence. Moreover, Hokazono making a reference to the John Wick movie franchise with the Kyoto Bloodshed Hotel absolutely fits the whole premise of Kagurabachi, which will only get better as the weeks go by.

The truth truly sets us free but also puts a major burden on our shoulders, as Iori herself finds out in the hard way. She now needs to make a decision—forget her father or remember him despite who he is now.

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