Hanachirasu is the first work of Narahara Ittetsu. It is a tale of two rivals inevitably and tragically making their way to one another in an attempt to settle things once and for all. One of the strengths of Hanachirasu is probably in its long descriptions of martial arts and techniques in its fights. Since all the fights in the visual novel are finished within a single stroke, the sheer information and mind games that Narahara writes before the kill stroke serve to give tension and a unique personality to the scenarios. Behind all the brutality and fights however, is a contemplative and perhaps calming nihilism to it all. This contemplative nihilism is best highlighted in the climax, achieved and brought to far reaching heights with Narahara's beautiful, masterful prose. The only gripe I have with this visual novel is that I wish it was tad bit longer so it could flesh out its political world building and some of its characters.