Younger Brother

Kokushibo reflects that those who have never felt jealousy were lucky never to meet someone like Yoriichi, a brother who seemed favored by the gods and shone like the sun. Born as twins in an age that viewed such births as ill omens, and marked on his forehead, Yoriichi was nearly killed by their father and instead set to enter the temples at ten. The boys were raised entirely apart, with Yoriichi kept isolated, silent, and long believed deaf.

Michikatsu first heard him speak while training, when Yoriichi asked about his dream of being the greatest samurai and declared he wished to be the second greatest. The remark, and his rare smile, left Michikatsu unsettled.

Yoriichi is born with a mark and secluded by a father who does not favor him. While Michikatsu trains seriously, Yoriichi stays quiet until he reveals his own samurai dream. Handed a bamboo sword, Yoriichi lands several instant blows on a grown trainer, exposing extraordinary physical gifts and the ability to see inside living things. He explains he reads an opponent's bones, muscles, and blood flow before striking.

When their roles are reversed and Yoriichi becomes the heir, he chooses to leave the household so Michikatsu can succeed their father. On the morning he departs for the temple, he tells Michikatsu of their mother's death and reveals he still cherishes the flute his brother once made him. Later, reading their mother's diary, Michikatsu learns Yoriichi had long known of her illness and had clung to her only to support her weakened side, a discovery that ignites his jealousy. This chapter belongs to the Infinity Castle Arc and was collected in Volume 20.