第16話: 大軍が小野村へ帰還し、アカメが女犬の捕獲を阻止、ジェロームが暗殺者を倒す

16

The Ohu army goes back to the Koga village, where they plan on keeping the pups of Kyoshiro's army. The pups, led by Teru, refuse to stay, saying that they'll help in battle. Kyoshiro tries using blunt scolding to scare them to submission, but Weed tells them calmly that to die is not something fantastic and just because of a battle, the Ohu army has no right to snatch their future away from them and after they die, the pups will take over for them, to which the pups finally agree to stay behind with the Koga elder. Tesshin and his clan of ninja dogs join the Ohu army. At Ohu, Akame spots some of Genba's minions going out to capture female dogs from humans for Hougen, as he is arriving to Ohu. Akame informs dogs who are at Ohu and are part of the Ohu army about this and he takes Kurotora and Hook with him to stop the female hunting and sends Mel to inform Weed about the invasion of Ohu. On his way, Mel comes across Hougen's army, which is carrying an injured Gin, and spies on them as Hougen threatens the Ohu soldiers and some cowardly Ohu soldiers join him. Meanwhile, the Ohu army goes to Hougen's hut in the Alps, unaware that Hougen has already left with Gin. The assassins that failed to kill Kyoshiro, Lecter and Thunder, watch them from afar, before deciding that they should get Weed, since returning empty-handed to Hougen would mean death for them. Weed and Tesshin sneak inside the hut, only to be ambushed by Lecter and Thunder. Due to their scuffle, they wake up the guards outside, but Lecter and Thunder order them to stay away. Thunder manages to grab Weed and knock away Tesshin, but Weed kicks him and uses an old knife lying in the hut to chop off Lecter's fangs. Tesshin throws them out of the hut and the Ohu army surrounds them as the guards escape. When asked about Gin, Lecter informs Weed that Hougen took him to Ohu. Kyoshiro is about to kill both of them, but Weed orders their lives spared, only on the condition that they'll never work for Hougen again. They agree and escape. Kyoshiro tries to kill them out of anger, but Jerome stops him, saying that he'll be Kyoshiro's opponent if he doesn't obey Weed. However, as they Ohu army leaves, Jerome stays behind, suspicious of the two assassins. At Ohu, Hougen arrives at Gajou with Kamakiri and an injured Gin and is greeted by his brother, Genba. Jerome follows the two assassins and overhears them plotting to assassinate Weed and he kills mercilessly Lecter, as Lecter's scream arouses the attention of the Ohu army and they rush to the spot where Jerome is, only to see, Jerome pinning down Thunder. Weed demands that Jerome let him go, but Jerome quickly kills Thunder too, in front of a horrified Weed. Weed loses his temper at Jerome's disobedience and pins him down and throws him against a tree and says that orders Jerome to leave the pack, since he has become a killer all over again. Jerome, although shocked at Weed's extreme order, obeys him and quietly leaves. Kyoshiro blames Weed and says that Jerome was trying to protect him, but Weed says his opinion won't change. Kyoshiro and his pack decide to follow Jerome, thinking that Weed is a weakling for not being able to accept killing. However, when they find Jerome, he says that what Weed did is right, that he is more immature than Weed and that Kyoshiro's army should follow Weed, before leaving to recruit more dogs from Shikoku for the army. (Source: Wikipedia)