A Furrowed Brow (眉間に皺は刻まれる, Miken ni shiwa wa kizama reru) is the 7th chapter of the Sekiro Side Story: Hanbei the Undying manga series.
Summary[]
Doujun takes Hanbei and Shoukichi to some old mines, and explains that Takamine Clan was able to raise to power and gain fortune thanks to those mines, but he now uses them for his experiments. As he checks Shoukichi, he states that his wound isn't too deep and he may be able to save him. Hanbei finds Doujun's experimenting on people to be too cruel, but agrees to cooperate if he helps Shoukichi and releases Suzu. Doujun agrees, but explains he has one more favor to ask. The brigand Hanbei injured the other day was the son of Takamine. Doujun was able to save him with the rejuvenating waters, but the waters have a side effect, and you either lose your mind and become like a living dead or your mind becomes diseased and you become something else. The son became rebellious and took all of Doujun's research and now controls the laboratory and Doujun, so Doujun wants Hanbei to kill Kodou Takamine.
Elsewhere Kodou recalls a time where Doujun asked him to help with his experiments. At the Ashina Castle, he meets Genichiro Ashina, an adopted peasant which he feels he can easily take down with his sword. However as Genichiro gets close without Kodou realizing, he wonders if he felt his bloodlust and gets scared.
Hanbei find Kodou, who sees that Hanbei has his father's sword and guesses that means he is dead. However that confirms his believe that he must be the one to bring Takamine Clan back to glory. As Kodou draws his sword, he states that he will bring Isshin's and Genichiro's heads to the internal ministry as a gift, and will also take Hanbei's undying power. Having no fear now, Kodou starts attacking Hanbei, who feels that Kodou is stronger than Yamahito. In the end Hanbei feels he will still come out on top due to resisting death, but in terms of brute strength, the red eyes may be stronger. Kodou manages to stab Hanbei in the stomach and then pushing his sword up, he splits him open. A centipede then comes out of Hanbei and Kodou grabs it and starts pulling it.
Doujun feels that Kodou won and states its time for him to abandon his laboratory and run. Shoukichi manages to stand up. Doujun advices him to not move yet, but Shoukichi still leaves. On his way, he finds some barrels with oil. Hanbei wonders why Kodou seeks power. Kodou then explains that power is everything, and even after hundred years if power isn't measured by sword skill, those who have power will still be able to take everything. If he cannot die, then he will be able to get everything. Shoukichi then throws a bottle of oil at Kodou, and then lit it, stating that red eyes hate fire. Kodou starts to burn, but he still turns and cuts Shoukichi. Hanbei tells Shoukichi that was foolish and to look at him and the centipede and if he really wanted him to be his father. However as Shoukichi falls to the ground, he states that he knows Hanbei's heart is human. Kodou manages to put out the fire as Hanbei manages to heal, and the two prepare to continue fighting.