Lone Wolf and Cub, Volume 18: Twilight of the Kurokuwa — Kazuo Koike

The Shogun himself has given Retsudo a stern warning: do something about Itto Ogami, the Lone Wolf, or the Yagyu clan will fall out of favor. Now Retsudo must turn to the Fire Watchers, a select band of warriors, for help — as well as the last surviving members of the legendary Kurokuwa ninja clan! As death stalks him, Ogami is confronted by desperate, impoverished peasants who want him to share his fortune with the suffering. With Ogami's cub, Daigoro, caught in the middle, what will he decide? Find out what everyone can't stop talking about.

This volume contains the following stories:
Firewatchers of the Black Gate
The Immortal Firewatchers
Paper Money
Lifeline
Twilight of the Kurokuwa