Kagurabachi 70 Overview: IAI WHITE PURITY STYLE

Kagurabachi Chapter 70 started off with a flashback. The flashback delved deeper into Iai White Purity Style, the sword technique that Chihiro Rokuhira is learning and Seiichi Samura and Yoji Uruha mastered.

Sword Master Itsuo Shirakai reasoned that fastest equals strongest.

Iai White Purity Style’s creator explained that in order to create the quickest movement, the wielder needs to hold the blade with a reverse grip so that the edge faces the wrist. Then after drawing the blade, the wielder must rotate the blade 180 degrees before reaching their target.

Shirakai became a laughing stock for proposing his technique because it added “unnecessary movement” and disrupted spirit energy.

In the end none of those guys who laughed at me lasted. Because I cut them down. – Itsuo Shirakai

Itsuo Shirakai

Another flashback begins with Chihiro talking to Ro about the Iai White Purity Style’s signature reverse grip being awkward for him. Ro explains that he needs to use spirit energy to merge with his katana. The katana must feel like an extension of his body so he can move freely without extra awareness. Chihiro recalls syncing with Enten and believes he can figure out Iai White Purity Style (IWPS).

It flashes forward to the present. Hiruhiko and Chihiro are still dueling. Hiruhiko fights Chihiro while gripping the sword freely.

The narrator details that Hiruhiko first killed a man at the age of 3. He’s like a wild animal when he fights.

Hiruhiko scoffs at Chihiro’s attempts to use a “traditional” sword technique like IWPS and imitates it almost perfectly, knocking Chihiro on his back. Hiruhiko seizes the opportunity to follow Seiichi Iori upstairs and gets on the elevator, teasing that IWPS is indeed “hard.”

Both Chihiro and Hiruhiko give themselves pep talks as they go up in their elevators. Hiruhiko realizes his unorthodox fighting style won’t work on Chihiro and that he has to prioritize speed. Chihiro reminds himself that he and Hiruhiko grew up differently. He has his way, and he’s going to focus on the regrip of IWPS.

Both elevators open at the same time, and in the IWPS stance, both lunge at each other.

At the same time, Iori is cutting down enemies like a “precision machine,” using the sword techniques her father Samura taught her. Chihiro watches her intently, and in that moment, “the hazy example becomes crystal clear.” Chihiro cuts down Hiruhiko in a full-page double spread.