Chapter 6

**The End of the First Match** is the sixth chapter of *Tenkaichi Nihon Saikyo Bugeisha Ketteisen* and the third chapter of Volume 2.

## Summary

In the minds of both the Genius and the Nio, it was clear that this was the end of the fight. The ending they both saw was Honda Tadakatsu sacrificing his left arm and piercing straight through Miyamoto Musashi's heart. Musashi grits his teeth over what the outcome will be and Honda realises he can win as long as he sacrifices his left arm.

As Tokugawa Ieyasu cheers for him, Honda thinks about how, to take the country for Ieyasu in this Tenkaichi, that alone will not be enough. As he expels steam from his mouth, Honda thrusts the Tonbokiri. He knows Musashi has seen the same ending as himself and so, he won't be able to react to this attack. As Honda expected, Musashi was taken off-guard and his mind went blank for a moment. But then Musashi swung his swords and managed to destroy the Tonbokiri.

His extraordinary instinct had grasped Honda's killing intent.

As both Ieyasu and Hattori Hanzo display shocked faces, Yagyu Munenori can't believe that Musashi applied force so as to catch the spearhead between his swords and crushed it to bits. As Musashi screams out to the Nio, Honda tries to retaliate with a left palm strike but only manages to destroy Musashi's wakizashi. As Musashi completes the swing of his katana, Honda smiles about his impressive feat as he ended up diagonally slashed across the torso, causing lots of blood to spill.

Everyone is stunned by the result.

After landing on the ground, Musashi feels jolts of pain before standing up as he looks at Honda on his knees. Honda guesses this is the end when Musashi questions why he didn't sacrifice his left arm. If Honda did, he would've won. Laughing, Honda says that even if that resulted in him beating Musashi, he wouldn't have been able to keep moving through Tenkaichi with just his right arm. Honda considers everything other than the peak to be worthless for both him and Ieyasu. Honda supposes he's making excuses since even without sacrificing his left arm, he could have still won if he had just ducked under Musashi's attack.

Honda calls him strong. He then vomits blood as Musashi and Yagyu look at him while Hanzo prays. Honda apologises to Ieyasu, prompting Ieyasu to run towards him, apologising himself. As Mori Ranmaru gets taken aback, Oda Nobunaga addresses Ieyasu and tells him not to ruin the entertainment. Oda insists anyone who puts a hamper on this death match will not be spared. Gunmen come out all of a sudden and aim at Ieyasu. Gulping, Ieyasu asserts Honda is his retainer and it is his duty as his lord to stay by him in his final moments. Ieyasu refuses to move as Hanzo yells at him to get back here. Oda gives the command to open fire and at that moment, Honda suddenly stands in front of Ieyasu.

The gunmen all fire their weapons and Honda takes all the bullets on himself, causing Musashi and Hanzo to yell out for him. Ieyasu pleads for Honda to get out of the way when Honda confesses that, in the past ten years since Oda unified the country, he's tried what he's could to get by but in the end, he can't live in a world without war. Glad that Ieyasu relied on him, Honda declares he has performed his final act of loyalty.

As Ieyasu cries, Oda tells the gunmen to cease their fire. Honda's body is bleeding all over, with chunks missing, and his left arm gone. As Ieyasu sobs on the ground, Oda expresses how impressed he is. Ieyasu apologises again, only for Honda to pick him up and perch Ieyasu on his shoulder. Honda admits he's glad he was able to fight for Ieyasu and Ieyasu says that Honda is far too great a retainer for him. The top half of Honda's body then falls to the ground as his other half holding Ieyasu up stays standing. As Ieyasu gets down and hugs Honda's corpse, Ranmaru cries about how that's no fair, expressing how much he wants to die for Oda one day.

Ranmaru then announces the winner of Tenkaichi's Round One – Match One, sponsored by Chosokabe Motochika, is Miyamoto Musashi. As Musashi clenches his fist, Chosokabe guesses they should be celebrating. As Shinmen Munisai looks at Musashi's expression, Hanzo advises Ieyasu to maintain his composure before tearing up as he sees Honda died with a smile on his face.

The story carries on to the second match: Fuma Kotaro vs. Toda Seigen!

## Appearing Characters

* Chosokabe Motochika
* *Fuma Kotaro* (mentioned)
* Hattori Hanzo
* Honda Tadakatsu
* Miyamoto Musashi
* Mori Ranmaru
* Oda Nobunaga
* Shinmen Munisai
* *Toda Seigen* (mentioned)
* Tokugawa Ieyasu
* Yagyu Munenori