Note: The following review of Kagurabachi chapter 64 will contain spoilers. I suggest you read the chapter on MangaPlus or Viz before proceeding any further!!
In Kagurabachi chapter 63, we saw that Chihiro was finally learning how to share his burdens, which was the beginning of a good character arc for him. This was thanks to Masumi, his new Hakuri support structure.
From handling Kuguri’s aggressive advances to strategically luring Hishaku away from civilians, the Masumi allowed Chihiro the breathing space he sorely needed.
The previous chapter ended with Chihiro and Kuguri coming face to face setting the groundwork for a high-octane battle.
However, chapter 64, titled Become a Samurai, takes this momentum and pivots toward deeper self-reflection for Chihiro.
Chihiro’s character development continues
Kagurabachi chapter 64 is as much about Chihiro’s internal reckoning as it is about external conflict. Once again, we see the gears shift, presenting readers less of the high-octane action that was teased.
Instead, we dive straight into Chihiro’s realization that he is weak!
He realized that if he wanted to stop being a burden to others, especially Hakuri, he would have to step up his game.
Despite his extensive time wielding a blade, his understanding of swordsmanship could be best described as shallow. Simply having raw talent and an enchanted blade didn’t cut it, his lack of formal training with the sword was hindering him.
In the past he could have gotten away by relying on Enten. But not anymore.
Thanks to Samura’s Owl, Chihiro was at a disadvantage. Drawing the Enten would only have invited more trouble while facing off with Kuguri. With no Enchanted Blade to make the situation easier, Chihiro finally got a chance to hone his swordsmanship. And what better way to do so than in a real fight!
Once again the Masumi were instrumental in supporting him in his decision.
The Enchanted Blades are seen as the pinnacle of power scaling in Kagurabachi so far. Being armed with an Enchanted Blades automatically puts you on a pedestal.
However, I love how Hokazono has crafted a scenario which forces Chihiro to improve himself. On top of that Chihiro’s moment of self-awareness shows that he is not just a hot-headed guy blindly charging ahead for revenge.
He’s capable of introspection and identifying his shortcomings. This makes him an all the more endearing protagonist to me.
Now, the “powering up through a battle” trope is a well-worn path in shonen manga. But Hokazono has navigated this terrain quite well in my opinion.
And what I found interesting was that this development also set up Kuguri to become a temporary—and reluctant—mentor to Chihiro.
An unlikely mentor:
Kuguri, tasked with capturing Iori, is a swordsmanship purist, a stickler for proper form and technique. Naturally, he was utterly baffled by Chihiro’s self-taught, instinct-driven fighting style.
His attempts to instill discipline in Chihiro’s wishy-washy style clashed hilariously with the latter’s nonchalant attitude. What frustrated the Hishaku member the most was that Chihiro’s nonchalance resembled that of Hiruhiko very much. Seems like these two do have lots in common!
Kuguri’s exasperated critiques, though delivered with a heavy dose of frustration, make Chihiro further realize what he lacks. It’s a classic “unlikely teacher” scenario, but it works surprisingly well.
Because, thanks to their interaction, Chihiro is able to pull off a crude Iai White Purity Style in an almost cinematic fashion.
Well, I did mention that there was an obvious gap of skill between Chihiro and Kuguri. And Chihiro just closing the gap in mere minutes might look off at first.
However, Chihiro has wielded an Enchanted Blade for the longest time when compared to the other sword bearers. This experience played into how he was able to improve his game.
Armed with experience, all Chihiro needed was a structure to guide his development – a role model to learn from. And who else to look up to when it comes to swordsmanship other than the killing machine Seiichi Samura.
Based on what had been passed down to him by Uruha, Chihiro managed to mimick the Iai White Purity Style to a surprisingly good effect – catching Ro off-guard.
Even Kuguri, despite his initial annoyance at Chihiro, acknowledges the potential of the Iai.
Kagurabachi chapter 64 concludes with Kuguri’s frustration boiling over, setting the stage for what promises to be an intense confrontation. Well, this time, Kuguri has given in to his instincts, and there would be no holding him back form having a “conversation” with Chihiro now.
This chapter isn’t about resolution; it’s about planting seeds for Chihiro’s transformation. His willingness to confront his shortcomings and work toward improvement, clichéd though it may be, is executed with sincerity and finesse.
Hokazono ensures that the trope of growth-through-battle feels earned rather than forced, leaning on strong character dynamics and thematic consistency.