Oedo Fire Slayer: The Legend of Phoenix Episode 9: A Disturbing Spark of Fire

The scene opens in a tranquil setting, a quiet room where Umemiya gathers his subordinates. He reveals a name: Hideyoshi, a firework maker. Hikoya, with a flash of recognition, connects this man to a monk they encountered, suggesting a hidden past is about to unravel.

Umemiya elaborates, explaining Hideyoshi once belonged to the Kagiya, a renowned firework family. He notes Hideyoshi's connection to Inari, the fox deity, a detail that now clearly links him to the elusive Kitsunebi. This revelation solidifies the identity of their elusive target, grounding the myth in a very human tragedy.

A flashback shows a young Hideyoshi, industrious and content, passing on his craft. His young daughter, Oito, giggles with joy as he gives her a red bell. She expresses a simple wish: to see a red firework, unaware of the profound danger her request would unleash. Seikichi, a confident young apprentice, promises to fulfill her wish, disregarding Hideyoshi's immediate, sharp warning.

Hideyoshi's face hardens as Seikichi dismisses his concerns with youthful bravado. The audience sees Seikichi grinding ingredients by candlelight, his mischievous expression betraying his intent. Hideyoshi looks to the sky, his face contorted in anger and frustration, a silent question of 'why' hanging in the air.

Amidst a bustling riverbank festival, the air is thick with anticipation. Hideyoshi cries out, his plea of 'Absolutely not!' lost in the excitement. A firework streaks into the purple-red sky, exploding in a dazzling shower of red sparks. Seikichi, brimming with pride, announces his spectacle to Oito, who claps in pure excitement as he lights the fuse, oblivious to the terror about to be unleashed.

In a desperate lunge, Hideyoshi shoves Seikichi out of the path of the firework, but it explodes on the ground, creating a sea of red and orange flames. The crowd screams, people are thrown, and Hideyoshi watches, horrified, as Oito is first seen on the burning ground, then utterly consumed by the inferno. He screams her name, held back by another man, his anguish palpable and raw.

Amidst the raging fire, efforts to find water prove futile, deepening Hideyoshi's despair. He is shown carrying Oito's lifeless body away from the burning devastation, his face a mask of tears and profound grief. The red bell, once a symbol of childhood joy, drops from his hand, left behind as a testament to his broken spirit. A single tear tracks down his cheek, marking the moment his hope died and vengeance was born.

Back in the present, Umemiya concludes the tragic narrative, revealing Hideyoshi's wife also perished, driving his hatred towards the Kagiya, the merchants, and the Hikeshi. Matsunaga Gengoro and Hikoya grasp the full scope of Hideyoshi's motive, now knowing Kagiya will be his next target. With renewed purpose, the Hikeshi agree to stake out the area, finally ready to confront the force born of such profound sorrow.

The narrative shifts from the emotional weight of Hideyoshi's past to the present, displaying burning imagery and the episode's title. Matsunaga Gengoro's clenched fist and determined stance signify his readiness for the confrontation ahead. He stands with his back to the camera, looking out, then grasps his tools, ready for the inevitable showdown with Kitsunebi.