Chapter 20: Chapter 19 – Sayonara, Katanagatari

Eighty years have passed after the assassination of the Yanari shogun,

Deep inside a forest, there is a hidden village known as the Maniwa village.

An old man is sitting by the pond waiting for something to bite his fishing bait.

Behind the old man, there was a figure in black wearing a kasa.

Old man: You finally came back.

The old man speaks when he notices the presence behind him.

Black figure: I have returned.

The black figure removes his kasa, revealing his long and white spiky hair.

Old man: So you completed it?

Black figure: Just like Togame had once wanted.

The figure in black was Yasuri Shichika.

After the assassination of the shogun, Togame gives up on her revenge and decided to move on with her life, living together with Shichika on the island where they first meet.

They only decided to move into Maniwa village due to the new shogunate’s persistence of needing their service.

The reason for the new shogunate’s persistence was due to Princess Hitei.

After witnessing the assassination, she and her Fuma ninja disappear from the shogunate.

Without the management of Princess Hitei, the shogunate was functioning poorly.

That’s why they try to enlist the help of the famous strategian. Togame.

During the eighty years, Togame died of old age and Shichika decided to leave the village to fulfill Togame’s last wish which is making a map of Japan.

Shichika: What about you, Shang?

Shichika: Have you been visiting Sister’s grave lately?

The old man was Shang but that is not his real appearance.

Shang finds out he still retains his youthful appearance and uses Kotsuniku Zaiku to show the surrounding people he was aging like everyone else

There is no way Shang could hide it from Nanami’s eyes. Nanami herself do not mind and allows Shang to continue doing it.

After Shang is done with the shogun, he and Nanami move into Maniwa village to live together.

They got married on the same day which Shichika married Togame.

Being together for twenty years, they still have no descendants. Following Houou’s advice, they adopted several orphans as their children in the Maniwa village.

After some time, Nanami says she feels stuck at her martial realm and wants to challenge Kokken so that she can break through.

Shang was against it as Nanami was his wife and also the head of the Maniwa village.

Nanami ignores Shang’s objections and asks advice from Houou and Kyouken.

Houou was currently no longer the head of his clan but an elder with no authority.

He himself passed the baton to Kyouken.

Kyouken herself is now housing a deviant blade like Shikizaki Kiki and only possesses maidens who are selected to be the head of her clan.

She’s all up for it as she says that they have been in low cover for so long and it is time to show other ninja villages that Maniwa village is still going strong.

Shang still objects, saying Kokken is already at her nineties, challenging her right now is a disgrace to the samurai.

Later the night after the discussion, Nanami shows Shang Kokken’s letter of challenge. Kokken hopes for a final duel before she dies.

Shang: Do you really have to do this?

Shang looks at Nanami whose beautiful black hair now covered in gray.

Nanami walks up to Shang and lays her head on his chest.

Nanami: I promise I will come back alive.

That were the words she says before she leaves the village and proceeds to the location of the duel.

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Before Nanami left, Shang asks for Houou’s help in keeping an eye on Nanami as he cannot leave due to taking over the village head temporarily. Houou pats Shang on the shoulders, agrees to help and tells him not to worry.

After several months, Houou came back with a pale Nanami on his back.

The fight between Nanami and Kokken had leveled an unnamed mountain to the ground.

In order to win Kokken who is going all out, Nanami went all out too… at the cost of her lifespan.

Nanami won in the end and the entire village went into celebration mode.

Shang did not care much about the celebration and simply went back into home with Nanami.

He was unhappy.

He thought he and Nanami could enjoy their lives to fullest.

Nanami’s breakthrough could have let her live longer but fate does not seem to allow it.

Her breakthrough was a failure, and she might die earlier than Togame.

There is currently nothing in Shang’s system store that could increase longevity.

Shang knows he could not blame anyone.

Nanami notices Shang’s sad expression and hugs him.

Nanami: Even I am gone, I will always be in your heart.

Nanami whispers to Shang’s ear.

Shang: I know.

Shang says quietly.

Time passes by and Shang was currently in Nanami’s funeral.

He was quiet and only speaks whenever it is necessary.

Following with Togame’s funeral, he transferred all the authority he had to a successor, and requested for a small hut by the pond so that he would fish there quietly.

Shang:........

Shang did not answer when Shichika questions him.

He himself had wondered when was the last time he visited Nanami's grave.

Shang could have gone back to his main world using the World Ticket, but he did not.

He had wondered why he did not do that.

Shang was unable to describe the feeling he is having now.

Shichika: I have heard from Houou. You have been like that since Nanami’s funeral.

Shichika: it’s already five years. Time to stop running away, right ?

Shang’s thoughts: Me? Running away? Probably.

Shang: You ran enough to realize that?

Shichika: Probably.

Shichika: Want a drink? I found something good during my travels.

Shang: You can go on ahead.

Shang: I have something to do.

Shang says after standing up.

Shichika: Then see you around.

Shichika walks back to the village.

Shang takes out an white urn from thin air after Shichika was gone.

Shang: Should we return to our real home, Nanami?

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