Chapter 13

**Calm in the Storm** is the thirteenth chapter of *Tenkaichi Nihon Saikyo Bugeisha Ketteisen* and the second chapter of Volume 4.

## Summary

Hojo Ujimasa haughtily laughs as he congratulates Fuma Kotaro as thanks to her victory, he has come one step closer to total domination that not even his father thought to be possible. Putting her hand on Hojo's head, Kotaro reassures him that the Fuma Clan and Hojo Clan will win as no-one can take what belongs to her. Speaking honestly, Kotaro couldn't care less about total domination but stealing away big things are pretty exciting. Round One – Match Two ended in the defeat of the blind sword devil, Toda Seigen, and after an intense battle, the victory of Fuma Kotaro.

And thus, the sun sets on the first day of Tenkaichi.

That night, inside a dining room in the castle, Mori Ranmaru declares to the people that a feast has been prepared, courtesy of Oda Nobunaga, and he encourages them to enjoy themselves to their hearts' content. Ranmaru laughs to himself about how both of today's fights were awesome and seeing all of Japan's strongest together will be a feast for his eyes. Or rather, that is what Ranmaru wishes since there should be fourteen contestants present but only six have showed up.

The big star of Tenkaichi, Kamiizumi Ise-no-Kami, isn't here nor Miyamoto Musashi, the de facto protagonist of the day. After guessing Hattori Hanzo is off mourning Honda, and that Hino Choko and Yasuke are by Oda's side, Ranmaru questions why Ogasawara Nagaharu, Sasaki Kojiro and William Adams didn't show up.

Ranmaru's thoughts are interrupted by some yelling and it turns out to be from Hozoin Inshun, who doesn't like the fact that the thing he just ate had wasabi in it. Ranmaru initially recognises him before inwardly yelling at him to not spit out Oda's generous banquet. Inshun asks an attendant if he can get some dango or yokan since he might die before his match if he has this. Picking up a sake cup, Hayashizaki Jinsuke says that means kids like Inshun don't belong here. Calling him a snot-nosed brat on top of being a monk, Jinsuke recommends he go back to his temple since killing Inshun would only haunt his dreams.

Recognising Jinsuke as his opponent, Inshun says he knows he's scared since it'd bring him shame for generations if he lost to a kid like him. He then assures Jinsuke that age has no bearing on strength and guesses everyone will see that by the time they see his corpse strewn out on the ground. Jinsuke claims he appreciates his gusto and supposes he may have killed someone before (though he doubts it) but he just thinks Inshun is too young to get himself caught up in the antics of the big shots. Getting up, Inshun tells Jinsuke to quit acting all grown-up as it's really pissing him off. Ranmaru wonders if they're about to fight right now and wouldn't mind when a voice tells them to cease their squabbling.

Biting into a katsuobushi whole, Togo Shigekata says it is foolish to hasten death when all men die and he suggests Inshun reserve the embers of his soul for when his life is truly at stake. Inshun is shocked Shigekata is eating katsuobushi like that and tells Jinsuke about it, prompting Jinsuke to question if Inshun is really going to act like nothing happened just now. As the two continue to argue, Ito Ittosai raises his finger and scans it all around the room at the different fighters before pointing it at Yagyu Munenori. The two then smile at each other menacingly.

Outside, sitting on a tree branch, Musashi cracks open a bird's egg and eats the yolk raw. With his wounds bandaged up, Musashi bites into a cooked bird and wishes his next fight could come already before his body forgets the fight he had with Honda Tadakatsu. A voice behind Musashi says that in terms of pure strength, Honda had the upper strength. Crouching on a branch behind him, Kojiro says he's surprised Musashi didn't notice him approaching, questioning if there's something on his mind.

After introducing himself, Kojiro admits to seeing Musashi's fight and says it's only natural Musashi was at a disadvantage against Honda back then. Kojiro compares him to an unpolished stone, that has only just begun to shine. Lifting his mask up a bit, Kojiro jumps onto the same branch as Musashi. He then suddenly puts his face near Musashi's neck and sniffs, claiming he smells nice.

Freaked out, Musashi coughs and questions what his deal is. Kojiro reintroduces himself before warning Musashi not to yell as it'll worsen his wounds. At that moment, someone yells at Kojiro to come down and get back to his room. Disappointed he has to go already, Kojiro pulls his mask back down and claims he knows Musashi will, one day, shine even brighter than the Nio. Kojiro wishes they can talk again while Musashi wants him to go. Back at the feast, Ranmaru complains about how this isn't getting him excited one bit and wishes to see some action. About to leave, Yagyu notes Ranmaru still likes this sort of thing as always but Ranmaru throws that back at him. Looking down, Yagyu insists he simply lives by the way of the sword before leaving.

After repeating Yagyu's words about living by the way of the sword, Ranmaru recounts how Yagyu is the son of Yagyu Sekishusai, who many hail as a "Sword Saint". Since Yagyu is not only his son but was reared in the best of environments, many have him down as a favourite to win this Tenkaichi. However, Ranmaru believes his opponent will be hard to handle for one who's mastered the sword like him and wonders what sort of slaughter awaits tomorrow. As it rains, in his room, Oda Nobutada notes how fierce the storm is before recalling that tomorrow is their match.

With Yagyu bowing behind him, Nobutada points out their opponent, William Adams, is a foreigner, meaning they don't have any information on him. Yagyu believes there will be no issue and after saying he hasn't changed, Nobutada asks Yagyu what he saw in today's matches. Yagyu admits they made his blood boil with excitement and after Nobutada asks him to elaborate, Yagyu goes over how the sight of Musashi and Honda ferociously clashing, and expending the whole of their hearts, techniques and strengths to kill one another was beautiful. As for Toda and Kotaro, their extreme passions and assurance in their own victory to the point where they brought themselves to the brink greatly moved him.

After bearing witness to events such as those, Yagyu did not have the stomach for tonight's feast. After Nobutada questions if Yagyu didn't like the feast his father prepared, Yagyu admits that feast does not even compare to this Tenkaichi, the ultimate feast. Yagyu displays a mad look, all the while tightly gripping onto the floor and drooling. Nobutada confesses to Yagyu that he sees this Tenkaichi as a trial.

He orders Yagyu to not let his father's dominion fall into the hands of any other as the Oda's dominion must be inherited by the Oda or the land will fall into chaos again. Yagyu promises he shall see to it the souls of the fighters who stand against him are uprooted.

Meanwhile, at the Mouri Clan's temporary residence, many samurai run out into the rain and spot someone on the roof. A retainer for the Mouri Clan, Fukubara Hiroshi, yells at the man on the roof to come down. Upon seeing he's not listening, Hiroshi questions what's wrong with him when tomorrow is his match. He then questions how he can do a one-handed handstand in the middle of the storm, all the while naked. Breathing out, William says this is comfortable and recounts how these winds and rain have brought him here to Japan. He remarks on how fate is that which carries the soul to its most fitting place. William admits he has taken a liking to both this country and its beautiful women.

Thus, he shall win this Tenkaichi and give this country his seed. Ordering the samurai to heed his words, William swears to leave this land behind for his millions of children. A few hours later, the storms of the night vanished, as if it were magic, and the sun rose upon the second day. At last, a new battle was about to begin.

## Appearing Characters

* ⁵ᵗʰFuma Kotaro
* ⁶ᵗʰFuma Kotaro
* Hayashizaki Jinsuke
* Hojo Ujimasa
* Hozoin Inshun
* Ito Ittosai
* Konoe Sakihisa
* Miyamoto Musashi
* Mori Ranmaru
* Oda Nobunaga
* Oda Nobutada
* Sasaki Kojiro
* Toda Seigen
* Toda Shigemasa
* Togo Shigekata
* William Adams
* Yagyu Munenori