Chapter 19

**Onigami** is the nineteenth chapter of *Tenkaichi Nihon Saikyo Bugeisha Ketteisen* and the final chapter of Volume 5.

## Summary

Tossing aside the mask, Kamiizumi Ise-no-Kami chuckles about how he knew something was off and states that Hino Choko has been asleep all this time. Drowsy, Choko says good morning and Kamiizumi is surprised he can greet people. With blood flowing from the hole in his forehead, Choko licks it and asks who Kamiizumi is.

Kamiizumi is about to introduce himself when Choko takes it back and decides to make it a quiz instead. Taking off the rope around his neck because it's in the way, Choko asks for a second to get a hang of his surroundings and Kamiizumi requests that he not take too long.

Miyamoto Musashi says it doesn't seem like it was just Choko's tone that changed as Yagyu Munenori seems to be impressed. Sasaki Kojiro notes that Choko's personality changing when his mask is off should be useful to know as Fuma Kotaro sees that he's gotten even more balanced, which is no small feat.

Kamiizumi guesses the pressure he has been feeling all this time has finally revealed its true form.

Looking around, Choko suddenly puts his hand over his mouth as he spots Oda Nobunaga and exclaims he's old, looking like he's about to croak, which makes him want to laugh. Hashiba Hideyoshi shouts out to Choko that he's been waiting for him to come back for so long but Choko just calls him a monkey that can speak Japanese. Unsure how many years it's been, Choko comments on how Hideyoshi is the same as ever and Hideyoshi welcomes him back.

Touching the small horn protruding out of his head, Choko looks around some more and then figures out that since Oda is about to die, he has been scouted for a fight over who's going to take over his domain. Choko then guesses who Kamiizumi is before recalling how Kamiizumi is known as the Sword Saint. Choko admits he's heard that Kamiizumi is pretty strong and Kamiizumi chuckles over how he has promise. Now ready, Choko apologises for making Kamiizumi wait before revealing he's had this down-pat since he was little: killing, that is.

As Kamiizumi says it's about time, Shibata Katsuie can't believe Choko has gotten a grasp on his surroundings already and questions if his "sleep" was real while Mori Ranmaru is happy the old Choko is back. Long ago, there is said to have been a baby with a horn, born in a village in the mountains called Hino. He was able to stand just a few days after he was born and could understand speech within a matter of months. His ravenous appetite, overwhelming intelligence and inhuman strength were beyond anybody's control. And so, before long, the horned baby was feared and revered by the people of Hino Village as Onigami – a Demon-God. In the house that the Onigami resided in, the villagers presented their offerings. As he was being breastfed, the Onigami asks his mother if this is all for this year's offerings and the mother apologises as it isn't enough, not nearly enough.

The Onigami stated that it was just as usual then and the mother declared her love for the Onigami, who insisted it was just his duty. The Onigami, as his name implied, had godlike strength, which was used to settle disputes over watering rights with other villages. In these life-or-death matches—these sumo matches—he put his full power on display. Not stopping at just water, he plundered crops, money, wares and all manner of riches with his strength as it was the Onigami's duty. After defeating a rikishi, the rikishi asked the Onigami what his name was.

The rikishi introduced himself as Choko, a rikishi recognised by Oda himself, and he admitted that he never thought he'd lose to a little boy. Before he dies, Choko would like to know the Onigami's name. The Onigami said that "Onigami" was his name and Choko scoffed about how pathetic that was. As the Onigami's mother cheered for his victory, Choko said that he had such strength yet his parents never even gave him a name and since the Onigami doesn't understand other people, his overwhelming strength is no different from the forces of nature. Choko said it was the practically the power of the Gods and called it ironic, prompting the Onigami to deliver a palm strike directly to Choko's head, crushing it.

As the villagers bowed down because they believed the Onigami was angered, the mother hit him and reminded him that she told him to stop killing people like that. The mother then angrily yelled that she wouldn't let the Onigami suck on her titties anymore. As he saw a dark aura emanating from her, the Onigami slightly shook before apologising. All feared the Onigami and none could stop his plundering.

As the Onigami walked through the village, he spotted a woman breastfeeding her baby. Seeing a warm aura around her, the Onigami approached them. He then took the baby away and pushed the woman down to the ground so he could breastfeed. Just as he was about to put his mouth on one of her nipples, he looked up at the woman and saw she was scowling with a dark aura. Being reminded of the dark aura that came off of his mother, the Onigami commented on how weird that was and gave the woman's baby back. Apologising for angering the Onigami, the woman ran away, addressing her baby as "Gosaku".

That night, the Onigami asked his mother to give him a name as even babies have names. The mother yelled that he didn't need a name because he's Onigami. Upon seeing the dark aura around her, the Onigami guessed he said something wrong and was about to drop it when a villager came in and told the Onigami that a samurai came into the village and told them to get the Onigami. The Onigami and his mother came out to see Hino Village on fire.

With an army of gunmen with him, the samurai introduced himself as Oda Danjo-no-Chu Nobunaga. He expressed his wish to rule over this domain and had heard of a certain devil, who slaughtered even Choko. Oda guessed the Onigami was that devil. The Onigami tried to say he was Onigami and not the devil when the mother frantically said that he was the devil and tried to pin the blame on him for all of it. Remarking on how she's wasting her breath, Oda gave the signal to fire. As the mother hid behind the Onigami, the gunmen all shot their guns.

In the aftermath, both the Onigami and his mother were lying on the ground.

The mother was dead but Oda was impressed that the devil wasn't. The Onigami said that was real mean and that it hurt a lot. Oda noticed how his attitude changed quite a bit and wondered which was the real him between before and now. The Onigami replied that he didn't know since he didn't understand that kind of stuff and that not even his parents gave him a name. After the Onigami remarked on how funny that is, Oda said that he was fascinating and declared the devil was dead.

From now on, Oda ordered the Onigami to live on as "Choko" and use his strength for his sake. Noting his strength got him a borrowed name, the Onigami asked if he could decline but Oda said he would kill him, like he originally planned to, if he did. After calling Oda a real friendly guy, the Onigami supposed that he was better than his mother at least. The Onigami then tried to suck on his dead mother's breasts but he could only taste blood, prompting the Onigami to say he doesn't care anymore.

In the year 1578, Choko travelled with Oda and showed his overwhelming true strength to Oda's retainers at the grand sumo matches in his territory of Mount Azuchi. Thereafter, Choko joined Oda on the battlefield and defeated many soldiers with ease. To the Onigami, his mother was his entire world, and his shackle. Now freed from all restraints, the Onigami wielded his strength, whichever way his empty heart led him. Looking at his bloody hand, Choko said that this wasn't nearly enough. His fierce, overwhelming strength, lacking any consideration for others, truly made Choko an Onigami.

In the year 1590, with Kanto conquered, the land of Japan was unified. In Ozaka Castle, Hideyoshi asked Choko if he was really going through with this. Choko told him not to worry and that he had to do this or else, he may die of boredom. Hideyoshi said that Choko could at least tell him why since he went to the trouble of doing this for him but Choko called it a God's anguish, something that ordinary people wouldn't get. Hideyoshi revealed he made the oni mask that Choko asked for and explained how it uses a medical needle that they know about on the continent.

He warned Choko that it may never be undone but Choko didn't think that was an issue as he had a hunch that Oda will pull something, even after he's unified Japan. Until that day comes, Choko bid Hideyoshi good night as he put on the mask, driving the needle into his head.

In the present, Oda says to Choko that it's been a long time. Shibata grits his teeth over how Hideyoshi knew about this while Hideyoshi observes how flabbergasted everyone is. He notes that only he knew the mask caused Choko's sleep but now that it's off, it's guaranteed he's going to win. Choko suddenly asks Kamiizumi if he has a specific name he wants to be called by, such as just "Kamiizumi" or maybe "Sword Saint". Kamiizumi would rather get started but Choko insists it matters as he believes the name makes the man. Irritated over how it sounds like Choko is lecturing him, he then supposes it's true. Kamiizumi tells Choko to call him "Bushin", the "Martial God", as he's the strongest in the world.

Liking that name, Choko raises his hands as he tells Kamiizumi that he can call him "Onigami". Deciding to get started, Choko charges forward and keeps trying to hit Kamiizumi, who dodges all of his attacks. The audience exclaim he's gotten even faster and Ittosai points out he's also seeing how Kamiizumi is moving and reacting to it. Kamiizumi says this is pretty good and Choko is excited over how Kamiizumi is flowing around like water. Deciding to change up the attack, Choko jumps up and lands on the roof of the Twin-Dragon Cage before charging down and kicking with his right foot. Moving back to avoid the attack, Kamiizumi is astounded at how Choko can move like that with his frame.

With smoke all around him, Kamiizumi wonders where Choko will attack from next, only to spot the Onigami crouching in front of him. He then springs forward and Kamiizumi just about moves to the side, resulting in Choko headbutting the Twin-Dragon Cage off the ground, much to everyone's surprise. The cage then lands back on the ground and traps in Ranmaru. Telling the cage to get out of the way, Choko proceeds to raise his right leg to perform an axe kick just as Kamiizumi stops moving. As Inshun questions if Choko will end it here, Choko completes his axe kick.

In the aftermath, Kotaro, Hideyoshi and Shibata are all shocked. Seeing he dodged, Choko turns around and guesses they don't call him Bushin for nothing. Choko then asks how he dodged that and Kamiizumi chuckles, wondering if he really wants to know. Marume Kurando suddenly says it's "open" and that Kamiizumi has recognised Choko. Shibata questions what's open and Kurando says it's the door to the martial consciousness that Kamiizumi reached: the **Gate of Celestial Awakening**.

Smiling, Kamiizumi decides to tell Choko exactly why he's called "Bushin".

## Appearing Characters

* ⁶ᵗʰFuma Kotaro
* Hashiba Hideyoshi
* Hino Choko
* Hozoin In'ei
* Hozoin Inshun
* Ito Ittosai
* Kamiizumi Ise-no-Kami
* Kanemaki Jisai
* Marume Kurando
* Miyamoto Musashi
* Mori Ranmaru
* Oda Nobunaga
* Sasaki Kojiro
* Shibata Katsuie
* Shinmen Munisai
* Yagyu Munenori