At this point it’s safe to say something has seriously clicked with Nige Jouzu no Wakagimi. Two of the best leading indicators for an explosion in popularity are the proliferation of fanart, especially hentai (check), and a surge in sales for older volumes of the manga (check). It sounds strange to say a WSJ title could be under the radar, but The Elusive Samurai has been almost invisible as far as promotion and general discussion. But the increase in volume sales far exceeds that for any other summer series, massive reprints were ordered for all volumes, and social media is awash in both commentary and original artwork. At the moment, all signs point to yes.

It’s much deserved. I find myself irritated by some trying to write this all off as a product of a lavish adaptation, but that irritation is a tradeoff I’m happy to live with after seeing the manga ignored. The adaptation is undeniably the catalyst behind TES being the ultimate commercial late bloomer, but if the core of the manga weren’t something special, it wouldn’t matter. Matsui Yuusei has already proven himself both creatively and commercially – this is a mangaka who can produce a blockbuster. Will all this be sustained – fan engagement as the story evolves, and the visuals in terms of budget and production schedules? Unless you’re a living God who can see the future, only time will provide the answer.

After two very frenetic episodes depicting (with tons of sakuga) the sacking of Kamakura and Tokiyuki’s escape, things slow down quite a bit here. Yorishige calls Suwa Taisha in Shimano Prefecture (about halfway between Tokyo and Kamakura on today’s map) home, so naturally that’s where he retreats to with his new charge. The immediate struggle for survival paused, Tokiyuki has time to reflect on what’s happened, and what will happen. Yorishige has saved his life, and he’s grateful. But he’s also a small child who was never supposed to be more than a puppet in the first place, and Yorishige is undeniably a major weirdo. What sort of future does this partnership promise?

Yorishige encounters the classic Tokiyuki when he attempts to begin training the boy, but for a guy who sees around corners this was probably all part of his larger plan. He does have a vision for Tokiyuki, and he shares it. Winning a war by playing tag will demand a lot out of Tokiyuki – not just the ability to evade, but the ability to lead. In other words, to be a hero people are willing to fight and die for. Never having expected to be that even before the fall, Tokiyuki is understandably skeptical (and spends a lot of time looking up from the bottom of holes as a result). But eventually Yorishige gives the lad a show of his true power – and of the loyalty he commands over the subjects in his domain.

Yorishige’s parting of the clouds is undoubtedly the grandest display of sakuga in an otherwise low-key episode, a gorgeous hybrid of Ghibli and Gainax. And it’s pretty convincing, even if Yorishige as usual lets the air out of the balloon in the end. If Tokiyuki is going to mount his comeback, it starts with retainers. Those he had are long gone, dead or defected to the Ashikaga. What Yorishige has provided him now seems modest – three children his own age. But with who better to start building an army around a child than children? As the priest says, they can grow up together – forging a bond in the process that acts as an example to others who follow. This is a marathon, not a sprint.

Each of these children brings their own presence to the group. Koujirou is carefree and friendly in addition to being a prodigy with weapons. He’s obviously already close with the equally affable Ayako, a powerhouse with a straight-ahead approach both to life and battle. And Shizuku is a connection to the spiritual power which seems so exotic with Yorishige, a nurturing and calming presence who gives Toshiyuki an anchor in the turbulent waters of his new life. Four small figures against a hostile world, a modest start to a grand design. And the name they eventually (after much spitballing) settle on is likewise fittingly modest – “The Elusive Warriors”.

The first battle for the group? A giant boar which helps itself to the rabbit Koujirou has Toshiyuki practicing his hunting skills on. A strategy quickly develops – have Tokiyuki lead the beast into a trap, where the others will provide the killing blow. In this case, gravity and ingenuity rather than weapons prowess. Apparently the Suwa Kami is also the God of hunting, so eating meat is perfectly OK here – which Yorishige takes full advantage of. But the pattern has been established, and much more difficult changes await to put it to the test.