Let's talk about Hell's Paradise

THE AZA CRIME SYNDICATE SEQUEL I DIDN’T KNOW I NEEDED (initially I was in favour of Yuzuriha’s Comedic Antics). PLEASE I WANNA SEE IT.

It’s also very touching to see Blind Dad and Wild Girl running around, especially considering all of the red flags Shion carried throughout the story. I’m still amazed he didn’t kick the bucket. Touching as well, Tetsunosuke Gantetsusai carrying Fuchi’s legacy by dealing with medicine, that little dude’s impact was quite the thing!

While being more action-oriented, this fight provides us with a lot of interesting informations and parallels with the previous fights (vs Ran and vs Tao Fa/Ju Fa). We’re starting with new informations regarding Tao, on top of some reminders: the first point being the faint presence of Tao even in inanimate objects - something we learned back in chapter 56, when Rien made the demonstration to Chôbe by lighting some incense from a distance using the smallest amount of Tao. It was also shown when Ran modified his environment while fighting Gabimaru and Yuzuriha. Zhu Jin uses this strategy to improvise weapons. 

Until now, Zhu Jin had been depicted as the “can’t be bothered” type despite a good amount of ruthlessness. However, this fight demonstrates their sneaky nature as well. Both them and Shion are nearly out of Tao since Shion decided to go for the strategy of endurance and Zhu Jin took the hits. One used his Tao to attack, the other to regenerate. And by that point, they have to go for a new method to preserve themselves as much as possible: throwing object seems more efficient in that regard. Narratively, this shift serves to emphasis the length of the stand-off between two seemingly equally strong opponents (Shion has been, after all, the first one to injure a Tensen when he attacked Zhu Jin the first time).

If you haven’t been following the weekly publication by this point, I’d like to explain something that justifies the reaction I’m about to mention: we’ve been noticing a lot of death flags on Shion for a while by that point, and considering what had happened to Yuzuriha, some of us were really wary of Shion’s potential death against Zhu Jin - especially considering his worrying state. To give you an idea, I even pinged UG with #LetShionLive2k20 half as a joke, half because of some degree of anxiety regarding Blind Dad’s future. The best hope for him to get better at that point was for Nurugai to provide him with a Healing Hug - her Water Tao regenerates his Wood Tao. It was either that or some Tao shenanigan involving Zhu Jin’s own Water Tao. And we weren’t the only impatient ones, Nurugai herself was in a bit of a panic. 

Now let me present you the panels that had me scream in front of my laptop:

It’s anxiety inducing, really impressive with Shion giving us an example of Beware the Nice One (you know things are about to get ugly when the blind character opens their eyes), and upsetting because the man we knew as a kind Zatoichi-like mentor shows his emotions: anger and grief. Shion is out for revenge and it takes so much his wound at the neck even reopen. 

However, it doesn’t discourage Zhu Jin, who switches to yet another method, already demonstrated by Tao Fa and said to be inspired by Gui Fa: manipulating one’s Tao to mix Feminine and Masculine principles in order to get the best form possible. Ran did that to gain some Tao back faster, Tao Fa used that to improve the strength in her limbs by pushing the Masculine principle in those parts of her body, while Gui Fa kneads their Tao and constantly switches between Yin and Yang to reach a balance between the two. Zhu Jin follows Gui Fa’s idea to reach a balance that provides an efficient regeneration of their Tao. They gain one hell of a glow up in the process.

We’re staying with Gui Fa for this chapter, which provides interesting information regarding the Tensen. Gui Fa starts it by dishing some rough reality check, which Mei has trouble provide a rebuttal for because she’s been absent from Hôrai for centuries and doesn’t know how much things have changed there since her disappearance. This is why Gui Fa, with a commendable honesty, shoots down any possibility of truce or agreement. 

During the flashback regarding the baits used by the Tensen to bring humans to the island, we get some interesting reactions when it first works: Mu Dan and Tao Fa seem surprised it worked, Ran and Gui Fa look more skeptical of the whole thing, Ju Fa is openly displeased and Zhu Jin has their usual “oh no it’s gonna be annoying again” face.

And the following events go straight into Berserk territory, which isn’t surprising considering Yuuji Kaku is a fan: as humans from Japan make landfall, they’re attacked. There’s something interesting there, because we know the story takes place during the Edo era (18th/mid-19th century). If these humans making landfall indeed come from Japan (and it’s very likely considering their outfits and the relative proximity of Japan to the island), then it’d mean it’s pre-Edo era, so during the times of wars between clans (such as the Sengoku era). Following that information, and based of what we know of Tao and its mechanism, it’d make sense that the samurai that landed have a refined Tao: if they’ve been dealing with wars, they have the balance between extremes that seems necessary to cultivate a proper Tao (with the knowledge and training regarding warfare, as well as a decent survival instinct). Furthermore, their way of life would be the exact opposite of the peaceful life the Hoko have been leading - the lack of extreme situations making them “too soft”, if I may say so. 

We also get an explanation regarding Mu Dan’s and Ran’s interest in Gabimaru and Yuzuriha: both of them showed interest in the shinobi related abilities (fire and poison - Mu Dan was the local biologist after all) as well as their fighting spirit (Ran is the one specialised in fighting). 

UG also decided to slam some depressing Tao Fa/Ju Fa in our face hahaha of course they’d go with it to make that training they hate shorter. bye Imma cry

And look, UG keeps slamming some depressing stuff into our face by showing Gui Fa’s rational resignation regarding their situation and inability to evolve in a way that’d allow them to understand concepts such as love and death (something Ju Fa and Tao Fa learned through their own demise). Gui Fa’s self-awareness is quite chilling. Even worse considering we get the confirmation that the elixir is complete.

As the chapter finishes, we’re switching to another fight: Shion and Nurugai vs Zhu Jin. An important fight, considering Zhu Jin killed Tenza. And we learn Shion tried to determine various paths: fighting head on (what Gabimaru and Yuzuriha did), tricking (what Team Fuchi did)... Or picking the path of attrition, which seems to be his choice despite the apparent inefficiency: Nurugai is with him and can’t fight, she’ll only a kid raised in the mountains after all. 

Bonus: Fuchi seeing the opportunity for a pun and running for it. Please, love Fuchi lol

We finally get to meet Gui Fa, the last Tensen to be fully shown! And I’ll say it right now, Gui Fa is - oddly enough - the only Tensen I stan, because of the whole “yeah whatever, just let me read in peace” thing going on. It’s oddly relatable. Plus Gui Fa is presented as very introverted and not the biggest people person, which is also quite relatable. Dammit UG, first tricking me into changing my opinion about Ju Fa and Tao Fa with a single chapter, and now making me unironically like a Tensen with a few panels. And that’s without mentioning Gui Fa’s obvious lack of motivation, which has a real “I’m gonna do the bare minimum” vibe. And it’s exactly what happens. 

Despite the obvious reserves, Gui Fa gives an explanation of the ritual they’re watching over in Rien’s stead. Cue to more death flags put on Shion and every Shion stan sacrificing chickens to whatever god they believe in for our Blind Dad to be safe. As a complement to Rien’s explanation regarding the fabrication of the ink and the paper to Chôbe, Gui Fa reveals this ritual makes it easy to follow someone’s status by using their name - and iirc names are important in Japan, to the point in past ages it was common to have a secret name and a public one. The secret name would be the real one, and would be secret as to not be used against the person. Though that’s on top of my head, I need to do some research to back this up properly.

Following that, we get a much awaited face reveal as well as a demonstration of Gui Fa’s power. Spoiler alert: Gui Fa is definitely top tier (check that multi-tasking out, using Tao to keep Sagiri in place without even moving the nose off the book) and cute af I love that pixie so much, just look at that.

In reaction, we get something really cool yet unsurprising from Sagiri: diplomacy. It’s unsurprising because since the start of the story, she’s been showed as having a real knack or the soft/strong dichotomy that’s necessary to the mastery of Tao. Her non-aggressive stance and attempt at negociation is commendable, it even throws Gui Fa off. Even Mei, a fairly peaceful person, is taken aback by Sagiri’s sudden decision.

And it works on more than one level! Not only does Sagiri manage to get Gui Fa’s attention, it even feeds her Tao, making it swell and grow bigger without even needing aggression (a nice change of pace compared to Chôbe and the rest of Team Fuchi). This very stance makes Gui Fa back down, and I’m really enjoying how UG explores many different options with his cast. 

I’m even sure had it not been for the VR Gui Fa does by showing off their abilities, Sagiri could have gotten away with everything because of that peaceful, diplomatic stance. Still, spilling the full beans could be perceived as a show of good will from Gui Fa, who remains pessimistic in regard to the entire situation. Still, Suddenly finding myself in front of Rien would make me very uncomfortable, and it’s a double surprise for Sagiri since it’s the first time she sees his face. Gui Fa also holds some powerful juju, being able to create such illusion with a simple clap of their hands. In hindsight, Sagiri did well to pick the diplomatic way. 

We even get more Fashion Jigokuraku, Rien edition. I may have a strong dislike for that character if Chôbe could have a hand in his demise, that’d be great, what a sense of style! Just look at the patterns of birds (maybe phoenix? It’s a common pattern after all) and plants, I’d like to see that animated, it must be hella pretty with colours. 

Yet, we also learn about the Evil Plan, which is meant to spill on Japan. While Chôbe did well to gather all the info he could, he also has a hand in that by providing them with the lacking elements to the Elixir of Life. That Gui Fa VR is some real shit, if I were Sagiri I’d be terrified as well. 

It’s interesting that they call the Banko flower a “divine beast”. Though it does feed on people, so it’s appropriate. And it also makes the Shogun’s plan even more pointless: the thing he wished for is coming to him in a horrifically ironic manner. Not that the Shogun has ever been depicted as a brilliant mind of the century in the first place anyway.

The chapter is very action-oriented so my observations basically switch from one thing to the other very quickly there. We start with an explanation of how to make the wooden dolls and papers that indicate someone’s status. Feel free to experiement in your kitchen

During the exchange with Rien should I call that Rien’s monologue, considering he likes listening to himself? we get to learn that Tôma bears an ill omen. Is it tied to Chôbe’s accidental attack, back during the fight against Gabimaru? When Tôma intervened, back then, Chôbe accidentally injured him. And ooooh look, Chôbe is basically withholding information from his brother. 

Speaking of Tôma, look at him being all waspy while protecting a friend! It ties neatly into what Chôbe had previously observed: his little brother doesn’t just have his usual passive behaviour around Fuchi and Tetsunosuke, he’s much more expressive!

Meanwhile, Tetsunosuke keeps being extra while ignoring the healer of the party, who’s not enjoying the whole situation. It’s yet another example of Fuchi being very sensitive behind his strange (well, he’s just a massive nerd) behavior. He’s gentle and he cares a lot.

Though funnily enough, Fuchi is also the one who tends to lean on the fourth wall. Here, he’s even naming the attack in a really shonen-y fashion. Though he is right: it’s the same move that got Tetsunosuke in huge “death penalty” trouble. But now, it’s about to save them all instead!

I couldn’t find what Fuchi means by “inu position”. However, I suspect it has to do biology, since it’s linked to the placement of Tao Fa’s Tanden. If someone can bring some light into that, I’d appreciate it!

And because Fuchi’s Metal attribute can go against Tao Fa’s Wood attribute, and since he’s powered by Tôma’s complementary Earth attribute (cue them holding hands, Tao Fa does the same to complement Ju Fa’s Fire attribute), he’s able to strike her down once and for all. The way he acts around her is another example of his gentle nature, and a nice parallel/call back to Sagiri’s behavior when she cut Rokurota down, at the start of the manga.Considering what we learned about Ju Fa and Tao Fa, framing it as a mercy kill is very fitting.

On the other hand, we have Chôbe who is... Not as pleasant. In fact, he’s downright petty and fairly cruel with both his strategy (emptying bottles full of Water attribute essence, thus weakening ever more Ju Fa by nullifying his Fire attribute) and his taunt. Since the beginning, I’ve been saying he strongly dislikes the Tensen, and I wasn’t even exaggerating: he really doesn’t like them. They didn’t treat him like a person and he answered in kind, because he’s very vindicative and can’t stand having shit forced on him, especially the way they did - coercing him into sex, then going full torture session to gather material for the elixir of immortality. Speaking of torture session, because Rien Is A Dumb Bitch blinded by his own single-mindedness, he didn’t realise the “torture session to improve your Tao” thing could (and would) be used against him and his kin. It’s not even that he misjudged Chôbe’s character, he completely ignored it and it’s starting to backfiring spectacularly. Just look at Chôbe being desensitized enough to casually pull at his own entrails (while looking amazingly demonic, I dig that look). On a side note, the panels where we see him swallow the bottles really shows how Kaku was Fujimoto’s assistant before going his own way: Chôbe looks like Denji’s (Chainsaw Man) clever older brother there, it’s pretty funny.

Just look at him being as petty as humanly possible while Fuchi is lowkey outraged. Btw his Tao really did improve, have you noticed how easily he switches from his human form to his semi-kishikai one? He can even talk while in semi-kishikai form as well! Before that, he could only act like a mindless beast.

Also, him using these bottles on Ju Fa may mean we won’t get Chôbe vs Gabi 2: Electric Boogaloo... And I’m perfectly fine with that! Now that we’ve seen Chôbae cooperate with Team Fuchi, I’d like to see it pushed more with some cooperation (no matter how unwilling both of them are) because while they’re handling the Tensen... Well, problem is still heading their way, in the form of the ShuGang and the Iwagakure ninja. They won’t be able to afford headbutting, and it’d go against their character arcs imo.

In contrast to Chôbe’s brutal take down of Ju Fa, Tetsunosuke’s method is more gentle and fitting of his personal view of what a warrior and a real man should be: flamboyant, but showing respect to his enemies - especially when they provided a good fight.

Speaking of demises and all, I’m pleasantly surprised no one in Team Fuchi kicked the bucket! They’re safe, at least for now! I genuinely suspected Tetsunosuke would be the one to go, considering his wish for a flamboyant death... But someone on Discord (Hexuse if I remember correctly) pointed out how Tetsunosuke won’t have the death he wishes because that’s not how UG’s story telling works. So I’m personally betting on a sacrifice in a non-flamboyant situation (if not something more dishonorable and going against Tetsunosuke’s views).

Also PLEASE UG STOP MAKING ME SAD WITH TAO FA AND JU FA. Jfc I’m super weak to sibling relationships, this entire fight hit me like a truck with its character development.

Aaaaand that’s how we switch to another fight... No, not Shion and Nurugai! It’s Sagiri and Mei facing the one Tensen we didn’t know the whereabouts of: Gui Fa! I’m telling you now: Gui Fa is the one Tensen I actually stan. Not the nicest Tensen (and actually the one who suggested the idea to lure people in along with Tao Fa), but damn is that “fuck this fight, just let me read my book in peace” attitude oddly relatable. On these good words, see you in the next Little Details post!

I love Team Fuchi, because there’s One Brain Cell and he’s the one holding it most of the time... Until he starts getting caught up in the bickering, in which case Chôbe gets the One Brain Cell, because he’s used to chaotic interactions. Told you he was working that strategy during the previous chapter!

The chapter provides us with a lot of Aza Bros content, most of it showing us Chôbe’s point of view and how their relationship evolves. It all starts with a demonstration of Chôbe having the habit of taking all the burden upon himself to protect his little brother in a very parental and lonely way, when he was still a child himself. It was sad to talk about that in my Aza Bros Analysis, and it still stings to see it. Chôbe may be a proper bastard, but damn does he need a hug as well.

He’s so used to deal with everything alone, just look at his surprised face when Tôma steps up to actively defend him.That’s 100% the shock someone who’s not used to being taken care off can feel - though it’s not like Tôma was always passive, it’s been stated in the light novel Utakata no Yume that one of the things Tôma would do is to provide proper meals for his brother. But it’s the first time Tôma also intervenes in a violent setting, which is pretty big - especially since Chôbe tends to imagine the worst outcome and acts based on that.

The following action is both a case of UG trolling us and displaying real character development from both brothers. Tôma is surpassing every single one of Chôbe’s expectations regarding him: not only he steps up to successfully protect him (showing at the same time that he is very competent with a blade, something stated since his introduction), but he even gets out of his shell to cooperate with Fuchi and argue with Tetsunosuke. Considering all of these elements, of course Chôbe is momentarily speechless.

And we yet again get to see the way he perceives things. Interestingly, whenever we get to see what’s going on in his head, Chôbe is always represented as a child. Even back in chapter 55, when Rien kidnaps him, his dream shows him as a child crying and completely alone. Despite his tough demeanor, he really is not in the best place emotionally speaking - keeping his thoughts to himself and repressing his own feelings to steel himself. However, we also get a demonstration of his adaptability: he is quick to accept how his brother has changed and actively encourages him to follow his own path.

I mean, JUST LOOK AT HIM. LOOK AT THIS SOFT MAN. If that ain’t a proof that his Tough and Mean demeanor is mostly an act to appear big and scary so he can keep danger at bay, I don’t know what you all need. I really love how, despite being in the middle of a fight with two persons he reluctantly teams up with, he still takes a second to reveal himself a bit, in a very private manner, to show how proud he is of his baby brother’s growth. There’s also a sense a relief, because it means he doesn’t have to shoulder everything alone from now on. Tôma and him can finally function on equal footing and he really likes that idea.

But Chôbe is still the one with the strategy to deal with Ju Fa and Tao Fa, so he remains the holder of The One Brain Cell for now. We even get to see his method to manipulate people: flattery. Because I’ll never say it enough, but Chôbe isn’t just a meathead’s dream character, he’s mostly been characterised by his smarts. He wasn’t the head of an entire village of bandits for no reason.

And we end the chapter with Chôbe pointing out Tôma’s personal development to taunt Ju Fa and Tao Fa, dishing some threatening sass while he is at it because he’s a little shit.

The fight starts with the Kishikai form showing yet again a difficulty to speak. Fuchi waxes some observant poetics about it, spelling everything out for us. 

Meanwhile, Chôbe demonstrates again his dislike of being held back - I wonder who else in that sanctum behaves like that Tetsunosuke - and goes straight for the kill by aiming at the Tanden. 

Furthermore, Chôbe shows us yet again his ability to take in all the informations and use them in the best way possible in the shortest amount of time. He truly is brilliant, capable of working a strategy on the spot, while in the middle of a dangerous fight. And Rien’s torture session really helped him improve his control over his somewhat-semi-Kishikai-form, he’s working his strategy while being on and off that form, a major change compared to his earlier fight against Gabimaru.

We even get another view of Tôma’s dislike of that form. Chôbe has to explicitly tell him to not stop him, because he knows Tôma is ready to do exactly that.

Side note: the fight takes place at the pool where Tao Fa organised the pool party. Now, we know it took place in the Bochu Jutsu Sanctum, which explains the presence of private beds to practice it. 

When Tetsunosuke got hit by the spore, it made me consider what Gabimaru had done while facing Ran: he’d used one of Mu Dan’s spores to “infect” himself and get to a level allowing him to properly face Ran. Considering Tetsunosuke had already been attacked when he arrived on the island as well,  will that spore have a long term effect on him?

And now, I’ll let you enjoy the bickering team up I had been waiting for. I was well fed with that chapter, worth every single second of my time. Sparks flying between Chôbe and Tetsunosuke is something I expected as well, considering both of them are quite similar: ambitious, strong-willed, stubborn and with a solid amount of sass to boot. Seeing them roasting each other like children gives me life.

It’s even funnier to see them headbutting like that when you consider how far the mirroring goes: it’s even physical, both of them having lost an eye in a similar fashion, by sacrificing it (for different reasons - protecting Tôma and understanding Tao -, but the end result is exactly the same). 

This golden chapter also gave us Fuchi the MVP and Wrangler of Unruly Criminals. His no-nonsensical nature clearly helps in that regard. He is also the king who managed to get Chôbe to cooperate, which is no small feat considering how strong-headed he is.

The last panel of that chapter completely cracked me up, as it reminded me very much of a RPG party, with two Damagers (Chôbe and Tetsunosuke, always on the attack), one Tank (Tôma, on the defense) and one healer (Fuchi) - who also happens to be the leader of the group. Pot calling the kettle black between Tetsunosuke and Chôbe, while Fuchi tries to assert his authority over the wildest and funniest bunch. Also please Chôbe, don’t insult the healer, he’s vital to the group.

We start this chapter with Baby Tensen being adorable design-wise. Iirc UG likes drawing kids, and it really shows, just look at their baby faces and childishly clumsy demeanor! Tao Fa looks cuter there than on the special cover for volume 6 (Japan only release), while Ran, who specialises in Do’in, is depicted here as being the clumsiest of the group. Tao Fa and Ju Fa seem to be The Normal Kids, one being scared while the other doesn’t express much interest in what they’re tasked to do.

Mei is presented as having a motherly disposition, and is the one to teach about emotions and caring for other people. Interestingly enough, it’s Ju Fa - depicted as angry and fairly cold since his first apparition - who stays with her to ask questions and listen to her answers, while the others play a bit further away. It’s important to point this out: Mei was an emotional anchor, it’s how she’s presented. Keep this in mind while considering the events that follow in Ju Fa’s narration.

Things start going downhill when something in Rien becomes off. We’ll probably learn more about it once we get to his back story - though with what we’re about to learn in this chapter, I suspect him to be a solid case of victim-turned-perpetrator. However, I find it interesting that everybody noticed it, yet only Mei confronted Rien... Because the others were children. We already know how it went for her, she got banished, her Tanden damaged, and her punishment consisted in being used as the Yin for the Doshi’s Yang during Bochu Jutsu sessions. It’s horrific, and everything at that point is based on Rien’s orders.

Baby Tensen also became victims of Rien as he basically revealed his true intentions by imposing specialties on each of them rather than by letting them pick what suits them best. Even worse, he openly says they were bred for their role. Note how he treats them as things, not persons the way Mei did. He treated Chôbe exactly the same way throughout chapter 54 to 56. Even the way he’s depicted at that point is worrying: a silhouette for all but an eye and a hand hovering above the children’s heads. If that’s not threatening, I don’t know what is. I may even go as far as saying that his kindness could have been an act all along, but we need a flashback from his point of view to confirm it.

And there starts Ju Fa’s role as a big brother, which works as a parallel to Chôbe. Because he cares, because he feels like he’s the only one who really care, he slowly becomes the Only Sane Man of the group while the others yield to the despair of their situation and quest for immortality. He even thinks about alternatives, while definitely knowing it wouldn’t sit well with Rien’s plans. 

And then, there are the discussions with the other Tensen, with something yet again horrific: Gui Fa suggesting a new plan to get more Tao as their current “reserve” (the Hoko people, who would also grow crops and take care of the local cattle) is dwindling - is it caused by mismanagement of the ressources, or totally done on purpose by Rien and Xu Fu? No matter the answer, what we know now is that the other Tensen are steadily walking in Rien’s footsteps, and it’s scary. The victims are becoming perpetrators themselves, by their own initiative. Even worse, Ju Fa becomes the last one resisting to peer pressure, and ends up giving in when he sees that Tao Fa couldn’t resist. The self-awareness displayed there is heartbreaking (thanks UG). I don’t think Ju Fa is crazy.  I think he is just doing his best to survive and protect Tao Fa as best as he can. And not treating people as actual people is part of the act to fool himself into doing everything he dislikes. Without this delusion, he would absolutely break and go mad. Again, a victim becoming a perpetrator - for the sake of self-preservation: his face is hidden by his hair as he lies to Tao Fa and himself.

Little tangent on the method they used to lure people on the island: is it a hint regarding the way Jikka escaped? Because when he explained it all, he did it all in his laid back, talk-a-lot-but-say-nothing way, so that question still remains unanswered. How did you escape, Jikka?

Just check out how beautiful their Kishikai form is: a heart, both in a physical and metaphorical manner.