When Kojūrō arrives at Todaiji, the Miyoshi Death Squad blocks his path, using a special incense which works as slow acting poison. With his strength reduced, Kojūrō has a hard time fending off his enemies, but he overcomes with quick thinking, skill, and sheer willpower. At a temple ruin nearby, Kojūrō is met by Hisahide, who is shocked that he brought Masamune's six swords to save Masamune's retainers. Kojūrō hands over the six swords while challenging Hisahide to a duel, but the latter refuses. Yukimura soon arrives and hands over the shieldless armor, using this as a distraction for Sasuke to sneak past and attempt to free the retainers. However, Hisahide destroys the temple ruins before letting that happen. Meanwhile in Kai, Masamune awakens to see Takeda, who speculates that Hisahide may be working under Oda but uncertain as to why that may be. As an enraged Kojūrō still has the strength to fight, despite being weakened by the poisoned incense, Hisahide dispatches his bomb squad. Yukimura tries to help fight them off, but to no avail. After Sasuke fumigates the incense, Kojūrō manages to land a fatal hit on Hisahide. In dishonor of himself, Hisahide blows himself up. Kojūrō is relieved to find that the retainers somehow survived the earlier explosion.