Friend turns into foe in Kagurabachi chapter 58 as Samara draws his blade on Uruha to make up for the sins of the past. More details are also shared about the Seitei War and the Enchanted Blades’ role within it, presenting huge implications that key characters are going to have to grapple with going forward.
The Sword Bearer Assassination arc really has been the gift that keeps on giving. If you’d have asked me last month whether or not Kagurabachi would be able to follow up the Rakuzaichi arc with something just as powerful and entertaining, I probably would’ve said no, but Takeru Hokazono has managed to surpass all expectations. Not only have we had plenty of cool fights, he’s also managed to introduce a handful of new characters that serve to bolster the series’ growing cast, both of which serve as the focal point for chapter 58.
Samara and Uruha were both wielders of the powerful Enchanted Blades during the Seitei War. As a result, both men went through the same set of experiences, but ultimately drew very different conclusions. While Uruha sees the weapons now as tools to bring Kunishige Rokuhira’s killers to justice, Samara views them as vehicles to root out all evil and eliminate all injustice. In a surprising twist, this includes the former sword bearers themselves as they apparently covered up a certain incident that still haunts Samara to this day.
Up until now, the story of the Enchanted Blades and their role in the Seitei War has largely been kept hidden from view. All we really know is that they managed to turn the conflict in Japan’s favor against an unknown enemy, but nothing more than that. What Kagurabachi chapter 58 suggests is that not only were they used to commit atrocities, but also that their owners colluded to cover up that fact. It’s very reminiscent of the Ishval Civil War in Fullmetal Alchemist, as well as many real world conflicts.
Far from just extra lore, what makes this reveal in Kagurabachi chapter 58 exciting is how it will affect the characters. Chihiro, in particular, has a somewhat rose-tinted view of the Enchanted Blade due to his own use of Enten and his relationship with his father. How will he react when he learns that Rokuhira was indirectly behind terrible tragedies? Hazuki will also have to deal with the guilt of summoning Tobimune in the first place and causing Uruhua’s death at the hands of Samara, making things all the more dramatic.
Ensuring that the plot of a story has proper consequences for the characters and presents them with challenges is arguably one of the key hallmarks of a good series. It also goes without saying that Kagurabachi chapter 58 marked another artistic highpoint for the manga this week: the duel between Samara and Uruha was particularly beautifully illustrated. All in all, if you aren’t already a believer, then it’s time to get on the hype train.
You can read Kagurabachi chapter 58 for free via VIZ Media’s Shonen Jump.
