My Own Scroll Is Well-Received

Now that Seijun and his team are working in Ichimen, I’ve been keeping myself busy with some other tasks. One of the other small teams within Clan Noriaibasha, called the Anzen Team, has produced a scroll intended to show us how to defend against attacks by the Ayamari, and by the evil Hakkā bandits who are known to attack all other clans.

Their scroll describes some things we should do to keep ourselves safe from Hakkā attacks… but it never describes what the attacks are, which means we have no idea why this scroll is giving us these particular commands. For example, if a we’ve delivered a successful blow to a Hakkā that leaves him in a sideways stance, why should we immediately jump back? Would it not be useful to press the advantage while we have it?

So I have spent the past few days scouting and silently observing the Ayamari and the Hakkā, as well as reading some other sages’ writings about those groups’ tactics. And I have learned many things about their fighting styles. For example, the Hakkā fighters are quite adept at something called the Cross-Body Hidden Grab… which is performed from a sideways stance, and this explains why we should jump back if we see that: It will keep us from getting grabbed.

So I have distilled the things I’ve learned, and written a scroll of my own. Instead of simply saying “Do this. Don’t do that.”, I have described the moves we can expect to face, as one fighter to another.

Yesterday, I sent copies of my scroll to Ginsaku and to my commander, Kento. Kento soon told me that this was very good work, and could I please also send it to the other fighters on the Keitai Team. And Ginsaku says that perhaps I do some more explanations next Monday, when we have our weekly team meeting of the Keitai warriors.

I am flattered and honored. I shall be well-prepared for my presentation.

In the meantime, however, I must interview another prospective candidate for clan-membership this afternoon. He is another one from the Shomei-gumi, so I hope he will prove able to complete the Three-and-Five Strike, and so bring more honor to my gumi.

This was originally published at The Tales of the Ninja Coder. You may comment here, if you wish, but Ichirō invites you to comment at his humble blog.