Takeru Hokazono’s Kagurabachi returned from its brief hiatus with Chapter 126 on July 27, and the installment delivered something fans did not see coming. The chapter pulls back the curtain on Kunishige Rokuhira’s past in ways that completely shift how readers understand the story. What seemed like a straightforward revenge tale about a son avenging his father now carries much heavier weight.
The chapter lands in Weekly Shonen Jump Issue 35, ending the break that started after Chapter 125. Creator Takeru Hokazono had announced a small break in late June, with the original messaging pointing to an August return. The earlier confirmation moved the release forward by about a week. Readers can access the chapter through Viz Media and Manga Plus with day-one simulpub releases.
Chapter 126 Picks Up Right Where the Flashback Left Off
The story continues from Chapter 125, which showed Kunishige beginning the forging process of the first Enchanted Blade. That chapter took readers deep into the origins of the Datenseki and the Mikaboshi clan, revealing that the clan maintained their power through horrifying sacrificial rituals. Kunishige’s goal was ambitious — he wanted to infuse Datenseki with iron ore to calm the volatile material.
Chapter 126 keeps readers inside that flashback. But instead of just showing more forging details, the chapter shifts focus to who Kunishige really was before he became the legendary swordsmith. The manga finally gives context to throwaway lines from earlier chapters. Kunishige always told Chihiro that he was much like his mother and that he did not have to be like him. Those words now carry a different meaning.
The Weight of Kunishige’s War Past
The Seitei War serves as the backdrop for Kunishige’s story. During that conflict, he crafted six powerful Enchanted Blades that played a vital role in securing victory. He became the sole individual in history able to stabilize and utilize Datenseki effectively. The war made him a hero. But Chapter 126 shows that heroism came at a cost.
Kunishige was well aware that katana could be tools for saving lives and instruments of death. He never felt comfortable with the idea of selling dangerous weapons and believed it was right to feel discomfort. He did not like the practice being universally praised without nuance. These weren’t just abstract beliefs. They came from seeing what his blades did during the war.
The chapter reveals that Kunishige carried guilt from the Seitei War. The Enchanted Blades ended the conflict, but they also took countless lives. Kunishige understood that his creations were responsible for both outcomes. This knowledge shaped every decision he made afterward. It explains why he rarely answered calls and rarely sold katana. It explains why he lived a quiet, hidden life with Chihiro rather than basking in fame and fortune.
Kunishige’s Relationships and Hidden Burdens
Chapter 126 also sheds light on Kunishige’s friendships. He had known Shiba and Azami since they were 18, joking around together. Following the Seitei War, Azami was one of the Kamunabi members who assisted Kunishige in finding a place to hide safely. These relationships show that Kunishige was not a solitary figure. He had people who cared about him and wanted to protect him.
But the chapter makes it clear that Kunishige could not fully share his burdens with anyone. The weight of what he had done during the war stayed with him. He carried it alone while raising Chihiro, trying to give his son a normal life. The tragedy is that Chihiro never fully understood what his father carried until now.
Fans on social media have been reacting strongly to these revelations. One Tumblr user posted: “Kunishige always telling Chihiro that he’s so much like his mom, that he doesn’t have to be like him, hurts like twenty times more now”. Another fan noted that “in the beginning, the cigarettes had just been about the job. At some point, they became about the time he spent with Mashiro”. These small details from the chapter are resonating deeply with readers who thought they already understood Kunishige.
What This Means for Chihiro’s Journey
The revelations in Chapter 126 change how readers view Chihiro’s entire quest. Chihiro has been hunting the Hishaku, the group that murdered his father and stole the six Enchanted Blades. His motivation seemed simple: revenge for his father’s death. But now readers understand that Kunishige’s death was not just the loss of a father. It was the loss of a man who had already given everything to protect others.
Kunishige hid the Enchanted Blades after the war to prevent them from falling into wrong hands. He knew the danger they represented. The Hishaku killing him and taking the blades was not just a personal tragedy. It was the undoing of Kunishige’s life work to keep the world safe from his own creations.
Chihiro’s fight is now more than personal vengeance. He is carrying forward his father’s mission. The Enchanted Blades were never meant to be weapons of conquest. They were meant to end a war and then disappear. Chihiro’s quest to retrieve them is about honoring that purpose.
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Release and Viewing Details
Kagurabachi Chapter 126 is available now. Readers can access it through Viz Media‘s Weekly Shonen Jump platform and Manga Plus. The chapter released simultaneously worldwide, with no regional delays.
For physical edition readers, Volume 12 of the Japanese edition arrives on September 4, 2026. Viz Media’s Volume 8, covering chapters 66 through 74, is due on August 4, 2026.
The anime adaptation is also moving forward. Produced by studio Cypic, the series is locked for an April 2027 debut on Crunchyroll with worldwide simulcast. The cast includes Taihi Kimura as Chihiro Rokuhira, Tomokazu Seki as Kunishige Rokuhira, and Katsuyuki Konishi as Togo Shiba. Early episode screenings have already kicked off at Anime Expo and continue at Japan Expo, AnimagiC, Otakon, and Anime NYC.
Chapter 126 serves as a turning point for the series. The flashback arc is recontextualizing everything readers thought they knew. Kunishige Rokuhira was not just a famous swordsmith who died tragically. He was a man haunted by his own success, trying to protect the world from the weapons he created. His heartbreaking past changes everything about Kagurabachi.
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