The Tales of the Ninja Coder

There is a fair in Iga tomorrow. Akane and I will be having friends over to join us at our house, so we have made sure it is clean and welcoming. Between bouts of cleaning, I have spent the day playing with a ninja-tō kata that my friend Michio described to me recently:

“I can see that there will frequently be situations where I have to hang from a tree branch, roof, or overhang, stab an enemy, then haul his body up into the place where I am in order to avoid being detected. And I have a kata that seems to work for that. It was a good learning exercise.” Curiously, I have never had to solve this exact problem, though it’s similar to one I’ve dealt with before.

So I agreed to work out a kata for it, without having seen Michio’s. Then we can compare them. It will make a good way for him to check how well he is learning the martial arts, too.

Well, either it’s harder than it looks, or I’m going at it entirely the wrong way. But my focus has been very scattered these past few days.

I did not go to Yagyū today, of course. But while I was practicing in the yard in front of Akane’s and my house, I got a message from a herald anyway. A singularly unhelpful message, much like the previous message from one of this herald’s gumi yesterday: It specifies what weapon skills and fighting styles I would need to know, but nothing else. There is no mention of any of the things I need to know to decide if I am interested or not.

Where is the clan’s headquarters located? Would I be constantly on the road from Iga to their castle, and exhausted by all the travelling by the time I even arrived every morning? And is this with a clan at all, or with a larger army? Where do they fight, and what are their objectives and strategies?

On Monday, I have appointments with two other herald gumis. Perhaps I can have lunch with a friend along the way.

I am writing new scrolls to post in Yagyū town, to let the armies of Nihon know that I am available for hire. The last time I wrote such a scroll, I was skilled in the way of the sansetsukon, and particularly the popular Aka Hōseki Jōgesen ryū.

Now, I find that I have not touched a sansetsukon in nearly a year. I am faced with a minor dilemma:

Do I study hard, and try to quickly recover my skills? Many of the messages I have received from heralds recently have stated that they are seeking Jōgesen fighters.

But those same messages also say that the groups seeking such fighters are small clans — just the sort that I no longer wish to join. If I spend my time practicing with the sansetsukon, I may simply make myself attractive to the groups that I don’t want to deal with.

The idea that a skill might prove to be a drawback, rather than being useful, does not sit well with me.

I should describe my work with Clan Tenya, when I get a chance. I have been very busy, traveling and hiding and fighting along the trails in the forests of Ōmi Province. But for now, I should tell of my recent meeting with Iyona.

When I joined Clan Nettobuku, she was the most holy of the priestesses of the Nichiren Buddhist order, until the abbess Jīya came to join the clan. I had recently heard that Clan Nettobuku's fortunes have not been good, and many of the clan's members have left. Others were turned away in a large group a few weeks ago, much as I was turned out last year — and as others were sent away, only a month after I joined the clan.

Iyona, being very good at her priestess-ly skills, quickly found a new post with one of the larger and better-known clans of Settsu Province, with headquarters in Naniwa and castles from Edo to Heian-kyō. On Monday, I went to meet her for lunch at a tasty restaurant in the capital.

Her new clan is a very large one, and she has been accustomed to small ones. She is now but one priestess among many. But aside from that, she prospers and thrives. She also told me some news of Clan Nettobuku's fortunes after my departure.

I had hoped to hear that Jimon's strange strategies, based so strongly on Living Stone techniques, had caused part of the clan's problems. To be honest, I wanted to know that I had been unquestionably right, and Jimon unquestionably wrong, about our strategy.

But of course, life is never so simple and clear-cut. Iyona, being a priestess and not a warrior, was not so involved in the details of strategy. What she did know is that Lord Tai, for all his experience in Izumi Province, knows very little of conditions in Ōmi. Commander Kobushi, for all his previous skill as an individual warrior, had no desire for command. And so the Clan's core was not centered.

They successfully took a small part of the territory they aimed for. It remains to be seen whether they will be able to hold it. Apparently Jimon has left to form his own clan — a thing which I suspect must end in disaster, for he is not a leader who can inspire others. He is too much in love with his own fighting skill, and so he concocts stunningly intricate kata, then is surprised when nobody else can master them.

Iyona did mention that Clan Nettobuku was having trouble finding warriors who could cope with Jimon and Bunmei's strange kata. And that even they, when faced with a new problem, would often find it easier to simply invent new kata than to adapt the old ones. This is probably the closest thing I will ever receive to a sign that my intuitions were right.

Two nights after my lunchtime meeting with Iyona, Akane and I had dinner with our good friend Arisa and her husband Baku. I spoke of my current clan and their current plans, and the fact that I must have the mountain passes and the path from Hikone to Kotobasatsuki clear, by Wednesday. And there was some talk of my time with Clan Nettobuku. It very quickly became clear that even speaking of my time with Nettobuku made me very tense and anxious, while my current responsibilities... they may be an important and difficult task, which is its own sort of burden. But now I am motivated to do my best, not tied in knots by frustration and worry.

I am still very busy, but I will try to, at the very least, keep sending small messages and haikus. And I have some larger tales to recount, as soon as I have some time to write them down.

Yesterday's missions went reasonably well. Under Ryōji's supervision, I cleared out the nest of Rei-Yōso bandits. I also did some tricky work iwth both kama and bo staff to ferret out an annoying member of the Ayamari-gumi in Naniwa, by the western bay.

Now I have a new mission, one which will require use of a great many weapons. I cannot speak much of it yet, but it will help the clan's efforts in the town of Kotobasatsuki.

When I arrived at Castle Tenya this morning, I found the gates shut and locked, for I was the first to arrive. I have since spoken to Osami, the head of the warriors, and been given keys to the castle.

There is more I should say of Clan Tenya, but now I must set out on the trail to Kotobasatsuki. I am a busy ninja once again.

I have now spent two days at Castle Tenya. On the first day, my fellow ninja Ryouji took me under his wing, and showed me the broad outline of the clan's strategy and tactics. He also showed me around the armory. I have been issued some weapons, but I have had much work to do in sharpening, polishing, oiling, and ensuring that they are in good balance. Indeed, that work is not yet quite finished.

However, all polishing and no creeping makes ninjas quite sad, so I have also spent a bit of time reconnoitering in Ōtsu. And there are scrolls full of battle plans to read and accustom myself with.

So far, things have been largely uneventful. I am not yet ready to undertake missions on the clan's behalf. Not yet. But soon, if I am diligent.

I recently left messages in Yagyū, stating that I am no long a free, independent, unemployed ninja. As a result, I have received a message from General Wāro, who was my commander when I served with the armies of Clan Iwinaga.

When I was turned away from Clan Nettobuku, I sent a message to General Wāro, asking if he would give good reports of my performance at Iwinaga to other clans that might be interested in me. I received no response at that time.

I think that he may have been hurt by my departure from Clan Iwinaga. It is never wise to tell one's current clan when one is seeking to leave and find another one. However, General Wāro was always a perceptive and insightful man, and I suspected that he realized that I was making inquiries in Yagyū.

When I told him of my successful negotiations with Clan Nettobuku, he seemed stunned. I still regret having surprised him like that, for he was a quite excellent commander.

Since I received no response to my messages, I assumed that the General was still upset with me. But I recently received a message that said: "I understand you have found a new clan. I wish you congratulations. You are a skilled warrior."

I do not know what to think of this.

However, I do not have time to worry about it now. I must leave for Edo soon.

I have been silent for too long. I convey my deepest apologies.

For some time, I was busy in Kusatsu. The streets of Kusatsu are narrow and crooked, and the only way to achieve anything there is by using the Mōjo-ryū, as described by Clan Te-no-hira. But that clan's path is not righteous, as many have recently discovered. And, to my great sorrow, I discovered that their ryū is difficult and awkward for me.

So, in disgrace and defeat, I left Kusatsu. I may go back one day and try, once again, to accomplish some missions there. But in the meantime...

...I have had much to do in Hoshiakari. The local shrine of Inari was beset by bandits, and I had to expend too much time driving them off. Even now, I do not know if they might return soon.

But most of all, I have been in negotiations with Clan Tenya. They are yet another of the many upstart new clans of Ōmi Province, with operations both in Ōtsu and in Hikone (a town that has been the scene of much action lately). My knowledge of Hikone would be an asset to them, as would my rooftop and city-fighting skills.

I expect that we will reach an agreement soon. I have worries, but they will fade with time, as I learn the clan's ways. Perhaps.

(Later, I should write more of my worries.)

Today is known throughout the war-torn land of Nihon as the day to appreciate the yamabushi, who toil ceaselessly to ensure the harmony of the land, and who try to keep mountain passes and roads clear of monsters.

Once, I was a yamabushi myself. While the way of Shugendo was not the proper Way for me, I learned many useful skills. Many of my friends — Arihiro, Araiguma, Seito, Meiun-no-Neko, and more — are members of the yamabushi themselves. I sometimes hear of their exploits and labors, and I am glad to know that the land is in good hands.

Today is a day to salute the yamabushi, everywhere. May their paths be broad and easy, and may the horagai horns summon them only at midday, never in the dark of night!

The Yaneura-gumi is a group that hires out warriors — and others, too actually — to armies in need. For the past 2 weeks, Teruyoshi and I, under Haruo's command, have been fighting for a group based in the capital, with the somewhat odd name of Clan Mōfō.

As a rank-and-file fighter who isn't even a formal member of the Yaneura-gumi, I haven't been privy to any of the large-scale strategic plans, so I have been unaware of our progress. But yesterday I learned that there will be an inspection by Mōfō personnel today, because the campaign is nearly done.

By the fourth hour after midday, all must be ready. Teruyoshi and I must be available, not busy fighting, and yet ready to look as though we are busy at a moment's notice. (Truly, military inspections are often quite silly.)

Even once the Mōfō's campaign is done, I suspect the Yaneura-gumi may still have more for me to do. But exactly what, I have no idea yet. In the meantime, I must be sure to have Zenchihō, the large and formidable fighter, quite thoroughly dead by the time the inspection happens.

I have spent nearly the entire weekend in Kusatsu, learning my way around. The town is a somewhat odd one. I have a map, with some extra notes, that I got from another operative I know in Fujiwara-kyō. Unfortunately, it seems some of his information is out of date. This has caused me some substantial delays in my reconaissance of the town, but I am now back on track.

This evening, Akane came to visit me here, bringing fresh, home-cooked yakisoba. Dinner was short, but tasty, and made better by her sweet company. Now, I go back to slinking through the alleyways, determining where the best lurking places and most hazardous roofs are.

I hope to be able to undertake missions here soon — at least on my own behalf, if not for employers. This town is rapidly gaining strategic importance in Clan Te-no-hira's ongoing skirmishes against the armies of Toyotomi, and Clan Tokugawa's recent entry into the area has only increased the friction there.

On that note, I have a long journey ahead of me tomorrow morning, as I am going to talk with some fighters in Toyotomi's army. It would be a position that would require much travel every day, and I'm not sure if I could deal with their excessively Buddhist ways... but there would be many advantages. I must at least speak with them; I would be a fool to pass up this opportunity!