a glimpse of village life -- fish are hung on lines to dry, children chase each other, clothes are washed in the river, and in the rice fields below, farmers squat as they have for thousands of years. in his hut, the swordsmith continues to hammer and fold the blade.
algren. feeling self-conscious in the clean kimono he's wearing for the first time, walks back with yoritomo. kids start walking with them, pointing at his japanese garb, laughing as he stumbles in his wooden clogs. they pass by ujio training a group of samurai using wooden kendo swords.
katsumoto watches ujio bark orders to the men he is training. a sudden movement of their eyes, causes uji o to stop. he turns to find:
algren trains with the other men. he attempts an attack, which is easily brushed aside by nakao. algren ends up in the dirt again.
two women are bowing repeatedly, chattering in smiling, earnest argument.
algren walks through the village, past the swordsmith who is now honing the blade, carefully sharpening it.
algren watches the villagers rebuild. yoritomo and higen strugg1e with a large wooden framework.
algren stands across from ujio, ready again for the ken-jutso.
as algren returns with the water, he sees katsumoto approaching with ujio and several warriors.
spring. a few years later.
we see that yoritomo's house has finally been completed.  toshiie sits on the porch, instructing a group of younger children in calligraphy.