Azumi 2: Death or Love

Azumi 2: Death or Love

Year: 2005

Runtime: 108 mins

Language: Japanese

Director: Shusuke Kaneko

Action

Torn between love and duty, assassins Azumi and Nagara press on with their mission to prevent a civil war. Their hunt for Masayuki Sanada pits them against an army and a dangerous clan. Along the way they meet Ginkaku, whose striking resemblance to their former ally Nachi forces them to confront painful memories and hard choices.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline – Azumi 2: Death or Love (2005)

Trace every key event in Azumi 2: Death or Love (2005) with our detailed, chronological timeline. Perfect for unpacking nonlinear stories, spotting hidden connections, and understanding how each scene builds toward the film’s climax. Whether you're revisiting or decoding for the first time, this timeline gives you the full picture.

1

Hunted and seeking refuge in a temple

Azumi and Nagara are hunted by ninjas hired by General Kanbei Inoue for their past assassinations. They hide temporarily in a temple so Nagara can heal his wounds sustained from their recent encounter.

Temple
2

Encounter with Ginkaku and his outlaw band

Azumi encounters a band of outlaws led by Ginkaku, testing old loyalties and the memory of Nachi. The confrontation deepens Azumi’s doubts about the path she has chosen as a blade-for-hire.

Ginkaku's bandit camp
3

Allied ninjas and a tense talk with Tenkai

Azumi and Nagara are discovered by allied ninjas working for the priest Tenkai. After a tense discussion, they decide to press on toward their target, Masayuki Sanada, with new uncertainties about their alliance.

Tenkai's base
4

Kozue joins the mission

A government ninja named Kozue accompanies Azumi and Nagara on the dangerous journey, adding skill and mystery to the group as they head toward Masayuki Sanada’s domain.

On the road to Masayuki's temple
5

Kanbei's army advances and loyalties harden

Kanbei Inoue raises a massive army—mercenaries, ninjas, and bandits—in his pursuit of vengeance for his master’s death. Among the ranks are Ginkaku and his brother Kinkaku, whose fanatic loyalty intensifies the conflict.

Front lines of the war
6

Reaching Ginkaku's village and old tensions flare

The pursuit leads back toward Ginkaku’s village, where Azumi faces distrust from locals who question the line of work she has chosen. Ginkaku’s presence complicates loyalties as past bonds echo into the present.

Ginkaku's village
7

Nagara and Kozue urge Azumi to walk away

As they travel, Kozue persuades Nagara that Azumi no longer wishes to complete the mission, and Nagara contemplates abandoning the path they've walked together. The rift tests their bond as the trio weighs a safer future against duty.

Countryside road
8

The split and Azumi continues toward Masayuki alone

The group parts ways: Nagara and Kozue drift toward a new life while Azumi pushes on alone toward Masayuki’s mountain temple to continue the mission. Her resolve hardens as she travels the dangerous path solo.

Masayuki's mountain temple route
9

Masayuki departs with his army; Roppa arrives

Masayuki Sanada departs with his army to pursue Gessai, leaving a dangerous trail in his wake. The brutal giant Roppa, an ally of Masayuki’s forces, arrives to finish what others started and decimates many guards.

Approach to Masayuki’s mountain temple
10

Roppa falls and heavy losses mount

Roppa is slain by his own weapon in a striking turn of fate, but the violence continues as Kinkaku and several of Ginkaku’s band fall, along with much of Kasumi’s ninja squad. The battlefield is awash with blood and shifting loyalties.

Battlefield near Masayuki's temple
11

Kozue betrays Nagara and Nagara is killed

Kozue reveals her true allegiance to the Uenokagashu and betrays Nagara, killing him in cold blood. Azumi confronts Kozue and defeats her, avenging Nagara even as the mission grows heavier.

Battlefield
12

Tsuchigumo traps and Kunyo's intervention

Azumi faces Tsuchigumo, whose poisoned wires threaten her life. She disrupts the traps but is seriously wounded and falls into a paralyzing sleep as Kunyo, the true leader of the Uenokagashu, speaks of life and loss before being mortally wounded by Ginkaku’s timely intervention.

Mountain battlefield
13

Azumi duels Sanada atop a distant hill

Azumi climbs a distant hill to face Sanada in single combat. Yukimura Sanada and Gessai arrive with pleas to retreat, but Sanada insists on a decisive duel to end the war.

Hilltop battlefield
14

Azumi defeats Sanada and the war ends

Azumi defeats Sanada in the duel, a victory that comes at a heavy personal cost and forces a reckoning with the war’s manipulation. Kanbei is persuaded to back off, and Tenkai confirms the war is over as Azumi prepares to leave the battlefield and seek a new life.

Hilltop and surrounding battlefield

Last Updated: October 09, 2025 at 16:47

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Characters, Settings & Themes in Azumi 2: Death or Love

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