Kagurabachi Chapter 72 was released on Monday, March 17, 2025, at 12 AM JST as part of the 16th issue of Weekly Shonen Jump. This significant installment unveils critical revelations about the Seitei War, specifically detailing the Sword Saint’s original sins and new insights regarding the Eternal Contract binding the Enchanted Blades and their wielders.
In the preceding chapter, Iori’s recollections from her past were explored, illustrating her deep connection with her father, Seiichi Samura. It was revealed that Iori’s mother battled an untreatable illness. During her time in the hospital, she encouraged Seiichi to care for their daughter, leading to their close bond as father and daughter.
Disclaimer: This article contains spoilers from Kagurabachi Chapter 72.
Kagurabachi Chapter 72: The Dark Truth of the Seitei War
Continuing directly from the narrative thread of the previous chapter, Chapter 72, titled “Future,”opens with Samura requesting Yura, the leader of the Hishaku, to leave him be, having recently performed the rites for his late wife. Yura, however, reveals that his visit is meant to express gratitude to the Great Hero.
He then recounts the events of the Seitei War, which began when a group of barbaric invaders from a small nation in the Southern Sea launched an attack. Notably, the inhabitants of this region exhibited an unusual resistance to the Datenseki, leading to a series of increasingly aggressive incursions that ultimately escalated into full-scale warfare.
Thanks to the intervention of the Enchanted Blade wielders, including the sword-wielding Sword Saint, the tide of the conflict turned as they fought back against these aggressors. Initially, the public narrative praised these heroes as the saviors of the land. However, Yura divulges that he knows an unsettling truth that contradicts the prevailing view.
As the heroes decisively confronted the foes under the Sword Saint’s leadership, the enemy formally surrendered after a series of brutal engagements. Yet, public memory casts these invaders simply as “bloodthirsty savages,”ignoring their humanity. Despite their unique resistance, they still faced devastating consequences.
Ultimately, the royal family behind the invasion surrendered and signed a peace treaty to prevent further bloodshed. But the Sword Saint harbored darker intentions; driven by rage after the war and the death he witnessed, he unleashed Malediction, a catastrophic power that ultimately consumed 200,000 lives, including both friends and foes.
Only after such immense devastation did other Enchanted Blade wielders manage to restrain the Sword Saint. Consequentially, the truth of his actions was buried to prevent societal chaos, positioning him wrongfully as a hero in the annals of history.
Following Yura’s recounting, he predicts disaster for the nation as long as the Sword Saint remains alive, prompting Samura to undertake a vital mission. Just then, Iori appears, having overheard their conversation, asking her father about the impending “calamity”and expressing concern about his potential absence, to which he reassures her.
Samura’s Quest to the Kamunabi
Anxious about the prophecy, Seiichi Samura visits the Kamunabi headquarters to discuss these looming threats. Upon presenting his concerns, he encounters skepticism from a senior member who questions how he, a non-core member, has access to such sensitive truths.
Samura suspects the higher-up’s historical involvement in the war, but cannot ascertain his identification. The official likens the “Prophecy”to a monk’s dream devoid of evidence, framing it as mere speculation of danger.
Despite their reassurances that measures have been taken to contain the Sword Saint—sealed deep underground alongside the Shinuchi—uncertainties linger. The only way to eradicate the threat, Samura discovers, would be to execute the Sword Saint, a suggestion reinforced by the higher-up; however, execution would kill the other Enchanted Blade bearers as well, due to the intricacies of the Eternal Contracts.
The Eternal Contracts, crafted by Kunishige Rokuhira, established a Master-Slave dynamic where the Shinuchi served as the central element, linking all other blade wielders. In essence, if the Sword Saint were to die, all connected sword bearers would perish within days. Thus, the Kamunabi finds itself trapped by the necessity of preserving these heroes while seeking to mitigate the threat posed by their leader.
As the conversation wends on, the Kamunabi higher-up urges Samura to trust them with the situation, declaring that as long as the Sword Saint remains imprisoned, the lives of the others are not at stake. Meanwhile, Iori is depicted sharpening her skills in a dojo, defeating her opponent while emulating her father’s techniques, determined to become the best fighter to protect him.
Conclusion
From a storytelling perspective, Chapter 72 of Kagurabachi stands out as one of the most pivotal installments, uncovering the complex truths surrounding the Seitei War and the Sword Saint’s dark past. Additionally, it highlights Kunishige Rokuhira’s remarkable craftsmanship in creating the Eternal Contract system, further complicating the narrative and inviting readers to anticipate more lore regarding the Sword Saint in the future.