Chapter 1

**The Demon King's Game** is the first chapter of *Tenkaichi Nihon Saikyo Bugeisha Ketteisen* and the first chapter of Volume 1.

## Summary

Who is the strongest martial artist in Japan? The answer has now been made clear for the first time. This is not history as we know it. It takes place in 1600AD, ten years after Oda Nobunaga unified Japan.

At Osaka Castle, Yagyu Munenori is interested to hear that the Shogun wants to meet with them in person, calling it a first. He wonders what the man next to him thinks of it. Sweating, Tokugawa Ieyasu warns Yagyu to mind his manners during this audience as not even he knows what will trigger the wrath of their lord these days. Yagyu is mildly surprised that even the Kirin has a reverse scale and Ieyasu tells him to see for himself. They both reach the outside of his room and Yagyu comments on how exquisite the place looks, complimenting Oda's 's taste. Telling Yagyu to be quiet, Ieyasu opens the doors where many of the elders and lords have gathered. They are all sweating, including Maeda Toshiie, Hashiba Hideyoshi and Shibata Katsuie. As Yagyu looks to be impressed, Ieyasu admits to himself that the tension is getting to him as it feels as though they've stepped into a life-or-death battle. Oda's attendant, Mori Ranmaru, opens a fan and orders everyone to bow down. Getting into place, Ieyasu makes sure Yagyu has his head completely lowered as Ranmaru announces the arrival of the Shogun. Many doors open and a large man wearing an oni mask drags along a cart that the Demon Lord of the Sixth Heaven, an elderly and feeble Oda Nobunaga is sitting on, along with two attendants.

Oda orders everyone to raise their heads and after they do, Oda admits he will soon die. Therefore, he has been considering who he should pass on this land to. As everyone starts to get tense, Oda wonders aloud how he should go about it, deliberating over whether he should pass it all onto his son, one of his loyal retainers or maybe even leave it to a vote. As Ieyasu sweats, Oda considers all of those options to be utter garbage, surprising everyone. Oda insists he wants to see a bloody struggle between masters who possess the best minds and best techniques in all of Japan. Oda tells everyone that, if they want to seize the throne, they must force those masters who represent them to kill each other on their behalf, promising to hand over Japan to whoever brings him the strongest martial artist of all. Ieyasu can't believe Oda wants to leave it all up to a simple martial arts tournament when Shibata tells Oda he cannot approve of this, much to Ieyasu's shock.

As Oda stays silent, Shibata recounts how these past ten years have been a time of peace and is worried this will mean war if Oda goes through with what he wants. Shibata is about to continue when the man who pulled the cart throws a metal fan directly into Shibata's face, causing him to fall back on the ground. After petting the man, Ranmaru says the Demon King's word is divine law and if one goes against him then divine punishment will befall them. As Oda ominously stares at them, Ranmaru wonders if there are any more who have objections and everyone bows down, insisting they don't. Ieyasu finds the concept of leaving the matter of succession over a martial arts tournament to be madness and worries over what will happen to Japan when he hears Yagyu struggling to hold in his laughter about the best martial artist. With a crazed look on his face, Yagyu tells Ieyasu that it's been a long time since they've got to see a bloodbath. As this unnerves Ieyasu, Oda confirms this is his last wish and expresses how he wants to see Japan's strongest in pure pandemonium.

He declares the battle to decide this nation's new ruler shall be called the "Tenkaichi".

As he wonders what to do, Ieyasu decides there is only one man he can rely on for this. Ten days later, the news of the Tenkaichi had spread all over the country. At Otaki CastlKawaiwai is surprised to learn the letter a servant has delivered is truly from Ieyasu and is upset over the fate of the Shogunate being decided through a martial arts tournament. Kawai decides he needs to tell his lord about this immediately and asks the servant where he is. The servant nervously informs Kawai he's out on another party with his retainers again, much to Kawai's anger. At the party, the Lord of Otaki Castle, Honda Tadakatsu, finishes his fourth barrel of alcohol. Setting it down, Honda asks for a refill but Kawai appears and tells him he can't have anymore. He reminds Honda that he's supposed to be the Lord of Otaki Castle and questions if he has no awareness of his duties. Honda tells Kawai to shut up since all the politics are just a pain. Thinking this to be a tragedy, Kawai questions if this is truly the same Honda Tadakatsu who led his men to victory, no matter how many enemies there were. He comes to the conclusion that the state he is in can only be called corruption. Furthermore, though Honda insists on having drinks and a party, it looks as if his mind is always elsewhere, making Kawai question what exactly Honda finds boring. Turning around, Kawai decides to discuss the letter he got from Ieyasu with Honda another time. But upon hearing the letter is from Ieyasu, Honda snatches it out of Kawai's hands and begins reading it.

At that moment, Kawai hears some voices yelling at everyone to run and someone exclaims it's Black Kabuto as a bull comes charging through. Kawai recognises Black Kabuto as the bull that has been terrorising the castle grounds lately and guesses the noise of the party lured him out. Kawai begins running, only to see Honda is still reading the letter. He yells at his lord to run as Black Kabuto goes after him. Dropping the letter, Honda remarks on how Oda truly has gone nuts if he wants to decide the fate of the country on a martial arts tournament. However, Honda finds the premise to be fun. Black Kabuto seemingly rams through Honda, only for Kawai to take back what he said about Honda being corrupted as he witnesses Honda holding Black Kabuto back by its horns. With the ferocity of a wild beast and a body that shines like diamond, Kawai exclaims that Honda is still in his prime. Honda then lifts the bull up and throws it aside, much to the awe of his retainers. Kawai confirms this is the true Honda Tadakatsu. Honda orders Kawai to send a letter back to Ieyasu that he has officially resigned from being Lord of Otaki Castle and will participate in Tenkaichi on his behalf, and emerge victorious. Honda declares that is his final wish, driving Kawai and his retainers to tears.

92 days later, on the ninth day of the seventh month, at Edo Castle, Ieyasu sits by himself in a room as he notes the time has come and now, nobody can call it off. Someone calls out for Ieyasu and he turns to see Honda, who has lost weight. Picking Ieyasu up, Honda laughs about how old he's gotten while Ieyasu points out how it doesn't look like Honda has changed at all. Ieyasu admits he's still shocked that Honda resigned his title just to take part in Tenkaichi. Even though they fought hard to restore peace to the country, Ieyasu feels guilty about dragging Honda into yet another bloody conflict. Putting Ieyasu on his right shoulder, Honda tells him acting meek won't change anything as he walks to the balcony. As they look at the rising sun, Honda declares he will win in Tenkaichi and shall hand the unified Japan created by Oda to Ieyasu. A land ruled by Tokugawa Ieyasu is not only their goal but Honda's one and only wish, which touches Ieyasu, who starts to cry.

It was a hot, sunny day with hardly a cloud in sight. One could feel the tension mounting in the castle grounds. Before long, the place would be in the throes of some unthinkable, unconceivable violence. It would truly be an utter act of barbarity for the ages – a death match for control of the country, fought by Japan's most preeminent martial artists.

Ieyasu sweats over how the strongest in Japan are here while Honda compliments their looks since they all have a face that thinks they're the best. Someone greets Ieyasu and he finds that it's Yagyu. Ieyasu questions if he's participating and Yagyu confirms he is, under the sponsorship of one of Oda's sons, Oda Nobutada. Noting Honda's physique, Yagyu guesses who he is and brings up the fact that Honda has been in fifty-seven battles yet has never even been scratched. Yagyu expresses his desire to be the first one to injure Honda while Honda recognises Yagyu as the "Peerless Swordsman" of the Yagyu Clan. Honda hopes he lives up to his name and Yagyu comments on how Honda has a beautiful body yet a vulgar mouth. Honda insists manners have nothing to do with strength as Ieyasu tries getting the two to stop. They are interrupted by the man wearing an oni mask banging against a drum.

Ranmaru welcomes everyone to Tenkaichi and recounts how sixteen lords seek to rule Japan. To ensure their victory, they have sought out sixteen of the strongest warriors in Japan. But Ranmaru points out the "strongest" can only be one. Throughout Japan's history, many have been called the strongest but none have truly risen to the peak. Ranmaru considers such "history" to be boring and decides this moment will mark the end of that boring history. Ranmaru declares the beginning of the tournament as the matchups are unveiled. Yagyu is intrigued that it is an elimination tournament while Hideyoshi chuckles over how this is the path to control the entire country. Honda notices he's fighting in the very first match but he doesn't recognise his opponent's name, which he finds odd since everyone here should be well-known. A voice behind him suddenly yawns about how that was a good nap and both Honda and Ieyasu turn to look at someone sitting on the ground. Scratching his head, he comments on how everyone is here and Honda asks the kid what he's doing here. The kid then stands up, revealing himself to be even taller than Honda. Smiling, Honda asks him who he is and the kid introduces himself as Miyamoto Musashi, while wondering who Honda is. As Oda peers out the window, Chosokabe Motochika swears to take this country from him.

This is not history as we know it but it truly happened. The battle to decide the strongest in Japan – a proxy conquest battle known as Tenkaichi. Round One – Match One: Honda Tadakatsu vs. Miyamoto Musashi.

The sixteen contestants are:

- Honda Tadakatsu

- Miyamoto Musashi

- Fuma Kotaro

- Toda Seigen

- William Adams

- Yagyu Munenori

- Kamiizumi Ise-no-Kami

- Hino Choko

- Sasaki Kojiro

- Hattori Hanzo

- Togo Shigekata

- Yasuke

- Hozoin Inshun

- Hayashizaki Jinsuke

- Ito Ittosai

- Ogasawara Nagaharu

## Appearing Characters

* ***Fuma Kotaro***
* ***Hashiba Hideyoshi***
* ***Hattori Hanzo***
* ***Hayashizaki Jinsuke***
* ***Hino Choko***
* ***Honda Tadakatsu***
* ***Hozoin Inshun***
* ***Ito Ittosai***
* ***Kamiizumi Isenokami***
* ***Maeda Toshiie***
* ***Miyamoto Musashi***
* ***Mori Ranmaru***
* ***Oda Nobunaga***
* ***Oda Nobutada***
* ***Ogasawara Nagaharu***
* ***Sasaki Kojiro***
* ***Shibata Katsuie***
* ***Toda Seigen***
* ***Togo Shigekata***
* ***Tokugawa Ieyasu***
* ***William Adams***
* ***Yagyu Munenori***
* ***Yasuke***