Chapter 4

**The Nio Will Be Dyed In Glory** is the fourth chapter of *Tenkaichi Nihon Saikyo Bugeisha Ketteisen* and the first chapter of Volume 2.

## Summary

This is not history as we know it.

As Miyamoto Musashi huffs, Honda Tadakatsu smiles and questions what this is. As he holds a katana in his right hand and a wakizashi in his left, Musashi admits he doesn't know but it feels great. The sixteen-year-old Musashi is to defeat a monster he has just faced for the first time in his life. The speed of his growth has already surpassed the speed of our history. Thus, Niten Ichi-Ryu is unveiled.

Tokugawa Ieyasu and Chosokabe Motochika both question what this is and as Shinmen Munisai looks on resolutely, Yagyu Munenori notes to himself that this is Niten Ichi-Ryu. The audience begin to wonder if this is some elaborate trick and Honda himself questions if Musashi wielding two swords is just hasty preparation. However, Honda's instincts soon warned him that it was not a bluff but rather, this was Musashi's strongest combat form. As he raises the blunt end of his polearm, in the end, Honda writes them off as just swords. Whatever stance he makes next, whatever move he makes next, Honda is determined to crush Musashi regardless.

He throws the blunt end and Musashi dodges it as the polearm embeds itself into a wall. Musashi realises it had the force of a cannon as he looks back at it. Rushing forward, Honda picks up the blade end of the Tonbokiri while Musashi is still looking away. As Musashi turns back, Honda jumps up and notes to himself that, with this lighter and much shorter Tonbokiri, his thrust will be much more faster. As he expels a lot of steam from his mouth, Honda thrusts the shortened Tonbokiri at Musashi.

In the aftermath, Ieyasu, Chosokabe, Munisai and Yagyu are all surprised to see the sight in front of them. Smiling, Musashi says that Honda's thrusts are getting crazier and that he may have died were it not for his swords. It's revealed Musashi used **Twin Heavens: Dragon's Crushing Descent** to parry the Tonbokiri into the ground. Honda can't believe Musashi was able to parry at that speed when Musashi reminds Honda to pay attention as these swords of his aren't made of wood this time. As a chill goes down Honda's spine, Musashi initiates **Single Heaven: Dragon's Reverse Ascent**, slashing his wakizashi upwards at Honda.

Honda leans back but he wasn't fast enough and Musashi cut him across the chest, causing blood to spray from his wound. As Ieyasu can't believe Honda was injured again, Musashi goes over how he could only slice Honda's flesh because his wakizashi couldn't reach any further. But now that Honda is off-guard, Musashi aims to slash him down with both of his swords, only for Honda to block it. Musashi is taken aback that Honda isn't backing down while Honda exclaims his instincts about those two swords were correct.

As Musashi sweats over the fact that Honda reacted even after being sliced across the chest, Honda admits Musashi has to be the most thrilling guy he's ever met. Ieyasu admits he never expected a child to defeat Honda's **Vajra Forbidden Territory** and furthermore, push Honda back. On top of a roof, a man sees that "musclehead" has been wounded twice, making him question who Musashi is. Ieyasu identifies him as Hattori Hanzo and the shinobi says "Nin!" in response. Coming down, Hanzo says he's missed Ieyasu before bringing up how Honda seems to be having a tough time. After examining the situation for a bit more, Hanzo figures out Musashi is getting stronger with every blow and laughs about it. Ieyasu insists this is no laughing matter but Hanzo tells Honda it's about time.

He explains to a confused Ieyasu that Honda is too strong so he's never had to fight with his full strength. He doesn't know, or rather, his body doesn't know how to give it its best. Hanzo then tells Ieyasu to recall the one time Honda gave it his all. Thirty years ago, in the first year of the Genki Era, in Anegawa.

It was there that the battle between the joint forces of Oda-Tokugawa and the unified Azai-Asakura army took place. Ieyasu's army of 5000 clashed against Asakura's 10,000 men. The battle was fierce and the river ran red with blood. Facing a force with more than double their strength, the morale of the Tokugawa Army wavered. They were close to surrendering. Ieyasu received reports of their unfavourable situation, one after another, unable to do anything. At one point, a soldier suddenly ran up to Ieyasu and told him something related to Honda. The situation was still unfavourable for the Tokugawa Army when Makara Naotaka of the Asakura Army appeared. He wielded a massive sword called Tarotachi, its blade over seven feet long.

Naotaka was a mighty warrior, hailed as the strongest in the north. Naotaka appeared to take Ieyasu's head when one of his soldiers told him something was coming. They believed it was reinforcements from Oda Nobunaga but in actuality, it was Honda slicing through the soldiers all by himself with the Tonbokiri while holding the reins of his horse with his teeth. This was the greatest act of recklessness at the Battle of Anegawa and the moment Honda Tadakatsu left a historic mark on the world. The lone horseman fought against the 10,000 men of Asakura.

As steam came out of his mouth, Honda complained about being too hot and took off his armor, telling the horse to run as much as it can now that it's lighter. After introducing himself, Naotaka called Honda a fool for facing this many men alone and asked for his name. Spinning around his Tonbokiri, Honda gave Naotaka his name and said he was fine being a fool as this was all for Ieyasu's victory. Honda fought alone against an army of 10,000. His body, when exposed to extreme situations such as this, becomes hot enough to emit steam. This affected his physical strength, judgement and reaction, elevating them to a level far beyond an ordinary human. Hanzo arrived to help but he and the rest of the Tokugawa Army witnessed Honda's body glittering and shining radiantly with a halo on his back. As Honda shattered his Tarotachi, Naotaka exclaimed that Honda must be like Vajra as he got sent flying back.

In the present, Hanzo expresses how much he believes in Tokugawa's strongest warrior. Ieyasu confirms it is true and also believes in the power of the man named Honda Tadakatsu. Sweating, Honda complains about how hot it is before pushing Musashi back. Musashi is confused as to how Honda's power increased when he witnessed the same phenomena that occurred at Anegawa. It is called **Brilliant Hardened Body**. With a truly worthy opponent, Honda's body (which has been called Tokugawa's strongest weapon) had achieved its greatest potential output.

Honda declares it's time for Ieyasu to rule this country. The conclusion of the battle between the Nio and the Genius draws near.

## Appearing Characters

* Chosokabe Motochika
* Hattori Hanzo
* Honda Tadakatsu
* ***Makara Naotaka*** (flashback)
* Miyamoto Musashi
* Oda Nobunaga
* Shinmen Munisai
* Tokugawa Ieyasu
* Yagyu Munenori