Chapter 14

**The Barbarian Beast vs. Peerless Swordsman** is the fourteenth chapter of *Tenkaichi Nihon Saikyo Bugeisha Ketteisen* and the third chapter of Volume 4.

## Summary

At night, in Ozaka Castle, Mori Ranmaru declares it's time to decide the location of the third match, per Oda Nobunaga's command. He orders both sponsors to draw from the lottery. Oda Nobutada takes out a stick and it has a drawing of Shibata Katsuie's head on it. Mohri Terumoto pulls out a stick with a drawing of Ranmaru and calls it cute. Ranmaru tells him that he can keep it and that it's also the jackpot. Nobutada questions why he's the jackpot and Ranmaru insists it's because justice is cute before telling Mohri that he can choose the location for the next match.

The next morning, a boat leaves the port. On the boat, while being held up by Hino Choko, Ranmaru says the third match takes them out to sea, aboard the "Sweet Winds".

Liking how massive the boat is, Hozoin Inshun asks his master if he can get this thing if he wins the tournament as Hozoin In'ei tells him to not to be so noisy. As Sasaki Kojiro stands alongside his master, Kanemaki Jisai, two women tell their sensei that the match will begin soon. Sitting in a cot, Kamiizumi Ise-no-Kami sleeps, mumbling to himself about titties. Ranmaru claims this boat, which is over 320 shaku long, is truly a symbol of the Oda Clan's power. As Oda orders them to begin, Ranmaru gleefully thinks to himself about how he spent the whole night making sure the Sweet Winds would be ready to launch on time.

The audience notice how rocky the boat is, guessing it's because of the storm last night. As they question if the contestants can really fight like this, Ranmaru decides to introduce the fighters. The doors on the east side open and Ranmaru says this fighter is representing the Oda Clan. He is the instructor of martial arts to the Oda Clan and his swordsmanship, in both name and deed, is the greatest in the land.

He is known by many names, such as "Phoenix of the Blade" and "Master Across the Ages".

There is none in Japan who does not know of his name in the martial arts world. His swordsmanship, inherited from his pre-eminent father, is second to none. The "Peerless Swordsman", Yagyu Munenori. As he comes out with Nobutada, Yagyu insists he isn't fond of such harsh sunlight while Nobutada notes how his father can be lavish in his spending.

The audience start to get excited that they'll be able to see Yagyu's swordsmanship, which is said to be even better than Yagyu Sekishusai's. As Kanemaki orders Kojiro to watch Yagyu's swordsmanship closely, Kamiizumi still sleeps as he mumbles about titties again. In'ei asks Inshun if he can feel it and Inshun observes how Yagyu has such a serene expression yet is concealing an intense bloodlust. Nobutada commands Yagyu to use his bloodlust to retain the Oda Clan's dominion and Yagyu promises to hold nothing back. Ranmaru chuckles about how Yagyu has raised the pressure but believes his opponent is a whole kind of different beast as he chose a boat for the grounds of this match.

Unable to imagine how this will turn out, Ranmaru tells the representative of the Mohri Clan to enter. The doors on the west stay closed as Ranmaru reveals this man does not hail from Japan.

Rather, he is an assassin from England. Even among the Mohri Clan's powerful retainers, he stands out as the cream of the crop, and right here, that power may consume all of Japan. He can only be called the "Ravager of the Tenkaichi". The doors are suddenly blown off their hinges, shocking the audience and making Oda laugh. Ranmaru questions what he thinks he's doing to Oda's ship.

The man apologises to Ranmaru while speaking English and admits he loses control of himself whenever he gets a taste of the sea-breeze. The fighter yells out that he is William Adams. He claims fate has brought him here to take part in this battle and decides to get this party started. As Mohri sighs, Inshun compliments William on how well he speaks Japanese. Kanemaki notes it isn't everyday they get to see a fight with a foreigner and Kojiro adds that, aside from the fact that he arrived in Japan recently, they know nothing about William.

As Kojiro questions what sort of fighting style he uses, Yagyu observes how William has excellent control over his own body as he's standing with his median perfectly straight. Nobutada says it seems Mohri isn't just being eccentric as Mohri informs William that the softer-looking man is Yagyu. Walking forward, William says that Yagyu certainly has the face of a lass before offering him his hand. William wants to shake on their honour as he heard he was the most distinguished swordsman in Japan. Yagyu insists he is only fortunate before warning William not to stick his hand in his striking range. Pulling his hand away, William notes he has graceful elegance, paired with a cold killing intent, making him the shining symbol of all samurai.

William says he's so hot, much to Ranmaru's confusion. Yagyu notices he is erect as William recounts how he is truly blessed to not only happen upon these lands through the storm but also have the chance to ravage its very symbol. Drawing out a dirk blade, William admits to Yagyu that he wants to rape him, body and soul, until nothing is left untouched. Ranmaru gets excited upon seeing his foreign dagger while the audience can't believe William said he'll rape Yagyu and this country.

Not even Mohri was expecting that but once he learned about William, he knew there was no other fighter he could back. Mohri believes that soon, everyone aboard this ship, will see why for themselves. Yagyu calls him a demon that has come to terrorise Japan. Drawing his blade, Yagyu swears to drive him out of these lands. Guessing that's the cue, Ranmaru begins Round One – Match Three: William Adams vs. Yagyu Munenori.

The moment the signal to begin was given, William leapt high up into the air. Looking down on him, William wonders if Yagyu wants to dance. Landing back on the ship, William begins dancing around Yagyu, much to his and Inshun's confusion while Mohri recognises it as the **Dirk Dance**. Guessing this is his fighting style, Yagyu thinks about how the rhythm is difficult to follow since it is nothing like a Japanese dance but he won't be strung along.

All he needs to do is determine when William is about to strike.

In'ei guesses he's waiting for something and Inshun assumes he's talking about Yagyu but In'ei reveals he means William. As he questions what he is waiting for, William pauses and Yagyu believes he is about to strike when a sudden wave rocks the boat. Yagyu can't keep his balance and recalls how William is behind him, only to notice an attack coming from the left. William delivers a swift kick, causing the left side of Yagyu's head to be bruised.

Kojiro realises William used the rocking of the boat to shorten the distance he had to move. In'ei figures out that William was dancing around, not to confuse Yagyu, but to predict the waves and the rocking of the boat. A big wave then causes the Sweet Winds to lean to the right, prompting Yagyu to lose his balance a bit. Leaping forward, William says if a little wave like that is enough to make him lose balance, Yagyu won't survive out at sea. William proceeds to slash with his dirk, only for Yagyu to block it with his katana.

As Yagyu guesses this is the reason why he chose a boat for the grounds of their match, William laughs over how this wasn't enough to take Yagyu down. The audience are surprised Yagyu blocked the attack. Kojiro is impressed Yagyu has already adjusted himself to the rocking but Inshun says this much ought to be easy for him. William says it's not like he wanted Yagyu to die there as this was all just the opening act. William warns him that this will now be the real **Dirk Dance**. Yagyu is relieved to hear that.

With his right eye shut and his left eye wide open, Yagyu asserts a party trick like this would hardly be enough to ever satisfy him.

## Appearing Characters

* Hino Choko
* ***Hozoin In'ei***
* Hozoin Inshun
* Kamiizumi Ise-no-Kami
* ***Kanemaki Jisai***
* Mori Ranmaru
* ***Mohri Terumoto***
* Oda Nobunaga
* Oda Nobutada
* Sasaki Kojiro
* William Adams
* Yagyu Munenori