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True Martial Home

The Battle of Sekigahara.

That was the clash that split Dongyoung in two, vying for supremacy during the Warring States period. When Toyotomi Hideyoshi seized control of the world, Tokugawa Ieyasu, casting his gaze toward Tohoku, focused on expanding his influence while his territory was being torn apart by Hideyoshi’s henchmen.

Then, out of nowhere, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, the reigning number one of Dongyoung, suddenly died. Rather than launching conquests against the powerful Goryeo, he was making efforts for peace within the country when he unexpectedly bit the dust. He died in Fushimi Castle, where strange light flickered above all day, and rumors spread that the clouds were swirling ominously, creating a tense atmosphere across the world.

Toyotomi Hideyoshi was said to have gathered the five elders loyal to him to ensure the guardianship of his son, Toyotomi Hideyori. However, such was the abruptness of Hideyoshi’s death that the elders seemed to get wrapped up in chaos, barely making any political moves.

Years later, Tokugawa Ieyasu suddenly brought Toyotomi Hideyori and his mother, Yododono, to his residence in Sunpu, claiming the establishment of a new shogunate.

Some of the elders opposed this move by Tokugawa Ieyasu, and they united with various daimyos from across the nation to confront Ieyasu’s growing power head-on. Thus began the great war known as the Battle of Sekigahara, dividing the armies into Eastern and Western factions.

But it was strange. Tokugawa Ieyasu, though initially subdued by Toyotomi Hideyoshi, was an ambitious schemer. There was no way he could politically ally himself with Hideyoshi’s son, Hideyori, as they would both only despise each other—nobody could’ve imagined an alliance forming between them.

People thought Tokugawa Ieyasu would trade blows against the grown Hideyori, yet an unexpected turn of events left the daimyos of the era confused about which side to take.

“…So, I, Fuma Kotaro, leader of the Fuma clan, was snooping around the battlefield under the commission of Mori Terumoto, a top lord of 1.2 million koku in Chugoku and one of the five elders! I needed to find out why Tokugawa Ieyasu and Toyotomi Hideyori could align!”

Miyamoto Musashi flicked his ears.

“…”

“So can you let me go now, kid?”

A young man in his early twenties, dressed in black ninja garb, hung precariously from a tree branch, pleading earnestly.

His name was Fuma Kotaro, the chief of the Fuma clan, regarded as one of the top-tier ninja organizations in Dongyoung.

Caw – caw –

The sun was setting.

Surrounding them was a battlefield covered in a chilling fog of death. The clash between the Eastern and Western armies in the mountains had resulted in hundreds of corpses sprawled everywhere. Crows were landing on human bodies, pecking out their eyes, and the stench of decay mixed with the smell of excrement was overwhelming. The only ones still breathing in this gruesome scene were Fuma Kotaro and Miyamoto Musashi.

Swoosh

As Fuma Kotaro locked eyes with Miyamoto Musashi, his heart sank.

‘What…what a terrifying gaze.’

He couldn’t believe it. On the surface, he looked like a cheeky youth, but he was an advanced ninja, meticulously trained in the Fuma clan. And yet, this boy seemed to grow stronger with every enemy he cut down in the chaos of battle, eventually locating and overpowering Fuma Kotaro in a mere fifty seconds.

He had single-handedly achieved a hundred-man slash!

What was with that gaze?

Having seen countless warriors throughout his life, Fuma Kotaro saw Musashi’s eyes were not human. Pure killing intent radiated from them, as if they could shatter any human heart, void of any emotion. Though seasoned veterans had crossed his path, he’d never encountered such a chilling glare.

Quietly gripping his sword, Musashi spoke.

“I don’t care.”

As Musashi’s blade slowly pointed forward, Fuma Kotaro’s mind raced in panic.

“Wait, wait! I’m a high-ranking ninja! Aren’t you interested in information from me?”

He instinctively knew this guy didn’t belong to either side. Although he wore the Eastern army’s headband, that didn’t mean anything. Musashi was cutting down friend and foe alike, and Fuma Kotaro had witnessed it all. Musashi hadn’t joined this fight for glory, he realized.

Musashi was a madman.

Mowing everything down without distinguishing friend from foe.

And an enemy without greed for information was the worst kind for a ninja. An enemy unmotivated by self-interest would slam down the blade without hesitation, creating a dire situation for a ninja bound to complete their mission at all costs.

‘Damn it! This mission is a crucial, family-affecting task. I can’t die until it’s done…’

That’s why Fuma Kotaro wasn’t spouting the usual ‘kill me’ clichés; he was begging for his life, because he was a ninja after all.

“Information….”

Musashi paused for a moment.

“Right, information! I’m not Hattori Hanzo, but I know quite a bit.”

“…”

After a brief silence, Musashi spoke again.

“Do you know about the Lunar Kill Technique?”

“…”

Fuma Kotaro’s face showed confusion. Upon witnessing that expression, Musashi raised his sword high and Fuma Kotaro shouted in desperation.

“Wait, wait! I think I might know….

Why are you in such a hurry, kid? It’s possible I can’t recall everything immediately, so what’s the rush?”

“Didn’t you mention Hattori Hanzo? Does he know more than you?”

“I meant it as a metaphor…. If I set my mind to it, I can learn anything.”

“Do you know about the Lunar Kill Technique?”

“So, um, I’ve actually never heard of it!”

Fuma Kotaro was totally flustered but then suddenly remembered something.

“Right. If I haven’t heard it, it must be a legendary old-school sect or martial arts, right? Well, I know a guy who’s an expert in that. I could introduce you to him.”

“Old-school?”

Fuma Kotaro said urgently.

“Honganji Jonoshin. He’s the head priest of Honganji. His predecessor, Honganji Kenyo’s son is Kyonyo, but he has a hidden brother…. An illegitimate child of Kenyo! He’s got all sorts of random knowledge, so he’s bound to help you. So untie me!”

“…”

Honganji—that refers to a monk’s organization, huh?

Recalling this, Miyamoto Musashi stared intently at Fuma Kotaro. A moment later, he slashed at the bindings that held Fuma Kotaro, who quickly rolled away, utilizing his skills as a genius ninja to ease the impact and slip free from the ropes. He could have escaped on his own even while hanging upside down, but having been within Musashi’s reach, he feared being cut down in half the moment he moved.

Miyamoto Musashi coldly declared.

“Take me to that head priest.”

“What? Right now?”

“Immediately.”

“Ugh…”

Fuma Kotaro looked miserable. It wouldn’t be hard to guide him, but in the midst of the Sekigahara battle, every second counted. He just needed to hurry and gather intel—what was he thinking, how long would it take to go to Honganji and back?

Then Miyamoto Musashi says,

“Stop dragging this out. What’s your mission, anyway?”

“Ugh… I told you earlier.”

“Right. It’s to find out Tokugawa Ieyasu’s intentions, right?”

“Yeah. That’s why I’m snooping around the battlefield.”

“Let’s go.”

“……?”

With that, Miyamoto Musashi started walking. Fuma Kotaro, who had been watching him from behind, was left with a foolish expression and shouted.

“Wait, wait! You’re not suggesting….”

“Shut up and follow me.”

Miyamoto Musashi’s eyes glinted dangerously.

“We’re going to Tokugawa Ieyasu.”

“……!!”

“You can hear the details straight from him yourself.”

Is he out of his mind?!

He’s about to approach the greatest lord closest to unifying Japan?! In the midst of this massive Battle of Sekigahara?! That guy is probably surrounded by a hundred thousand troops?!

Fuma Kotaro licked his lips and shouted.

“Got it!”

If that cocky kid stirs up trouble, it’s a win for me!

He didn’t take Miyamoto Musashi’s wild words too seriously. What mattered was that he was free now, and he could always find a chance to escape if needed.

However, upon witnessing Musashi wielding his sword in the middle of the battlefield, he was engulfed by a sense of awe.

Swish

“Gyaah!”

“Gyuuh!”

Bloodstorm reigned. Musashi swung his sword with no particular form, but every time he did so, he released a subtle sword qi that made short work of seasoned elite troops familiar with combat, taking them down in a heartbeat.

He truly was a master of the battlefield!

Typically, in Dongyoung’s wars, a dozen low-ranking soldiers would band together to form a unit, and even seasoned ashigaru would often retreat when faced with just three skilled warriors. Experienced ashigaru were closer to elite mercenaries than regular foot soldiers. Many high-ranking warriors met a humiliating end thinking they could outsmart those they dismissed as mere foot soldiers.

But when Musashi faced the ashigaru troops, he charged unconditionally, and each time, their iron helmets flew off along with their heads. None could withstand even a second of Musashi’s swordplay.

Thud! Thud!!

Ashigaru desperately fired their firearms at Musashi, yet strangely enough, it appeared as if he anticipated the trajectories, narrowly evading each round just in time. Watching from a distance, Fuma Kotaro muttered in a daze.

“Mind’s Eye….”

A legendary realm few swordsmen in Dongyoung achieved! It finally dawned on Fuma Kotaro why he couldn’t scratch Musashi despite all of his hidden techniques, blades, and shurikens during their earlier duel.

‘That guy… he’s gotten even stronger than before. He’s becoming more powerful through the bloodshed of war!’

Indeed, though Musashi hadn’t been as strong when he first entered battle, he had continuously honed himself as he surrendered to an unexplainable flow. It was only the sixth day since his involvement in warfare, yet he had been fighting tirelessly, barely sleeping, immersing himself in continued bloodshed, propelling him into a new realm.

The demon mask ripened.

Finally, once Musashi had carved a blood path through the battlefield, both Eastern and Western factions stood stupefied, gawking at the carnage he left behind. Just moments ago, they had been slaughtered by him, yet they failed to comprehend who or what that figure truly was.

And it was when Fuma Kotaro was finally rushing after Musashi that he suddenly halted.

Whoosh

Fuma Kotaro felt an intense aura and swiftly hid. He spotted a high-ranking warrior standing tall on the battlefield, exuding a sharp killing intent as he tracked Musashi’s retreating figure. Fuma Kotaro recognized the face and couldn’t help but hold in a gasp.

‘Ono Tadaaki of the Seven Spears!!’

This monster is here?!

That information was highly valuable. Ono Tadaaki was known as one of the strongest swordsmen of the Warring States, and unlike the other seven, he was an unrivaled powerhouse whose strength was simply unattainable. He had a notorious nickname, the Mad Sword, and a ninja clan once seeking to gather information on him had been wiped out.

A single man who could match a thousand soldiers—a great swordsman!

Tydaht

Ono Tadaaki began to move gracefully like a cloud, showcasing a systematic martial arts technique that displayed meticulous footwork, and he vanished from sight, heading in the direction Musashi had taken.

‘Heh heh heh…’

Fuma Kotaro felt a thrill and slowly followed behind them.

The Demon Sword and Minor Evil Spirit.

For a brief moment, he knew this encounter would be interesting enough to make him forget about his mission with Fuma Clan.