The Tales of the Ninja Coder

There is a small city in Sanigata called Ogaribamen, which we must soon take control of as part of the Saitekika campaign. For the past few days, I have been tasked with trying to devise a way for my fellow-ninja, Sakito, and I to collaborate on this task.

Today I have new orders: I am to go there myself. Alone. Once there, I should scout around enough to find all our opposition — then, slay them all! It seems Sakito is busy at the moment, and Kento is confident in my ability to kill our enemies without needing assistance.

Just the sort of assignment I enjoy. The only way it could be any better is if Ogaribamen were a large enough city to make rooftop fighting practical. But, as it stands, there are a fair number of enemies there. Soon, I will have them all identified. And shortly after that — most likely, tomorrow — the carnage will begin.

Added a little later: I have arrived in Ogaribamen, found a good sushi restaurant, and gotten myelf lunch. (One of the most tragic things about winter’s coldness is that it makes it too cold to really enjoy sushi. But now spring is on the rise, and we are having the first, early, warm days!)

Now I am sitting at a table outside the restaurant, calmly eating my sushi… and watching the town’s activity around me. I have spotted a few Ayamari already, as well as members of the Shōgakukin and Taishoku clans, who we often have to battle against. This is the art of hiding in plain sight, scouting the enemy while being unseen.

But now my sushi is done, so I must go.

I have been doing more scouting in Bumonrokaki. This town will be quite complex for us to take control of. Some of the priests are trying to come up with ways to do it without involving any rooftop fighting. Though I am somewhat displeased by this idea, I am holding my tongue. It is simple: I know we will need to have me get up on the rooftops before this is over.

Bumonrokaki has a few internal districts. It is certain that we will encounter opposition in Tōzayokinkōza and in Urikakekanjō. There may be other places that will provide resistance… but I do not think so.

Not yet, anyway.

And all of this activity in Bumonrokaki is really just a dry run. These territories will serve as beachheads for the samurai troops, when they come to occupy the surrounding forests and plains as part of the Shiemesu Raisei campaign.

So… back to the city I go, with my trusty kama by my side. There are ruffians there who need to be removed.

The Shiemesu Raisei campaign proceeds, slowly. Sakito and I have subdued the opposition we found in the three towns in Sanigata — truly, there was very little opposition to be found. Nearly all we did was kama-work; I hardly even had a chance to get out my manrikigusari at all.

Since then, we have been slowly expanding out grasp to include a few other towns in the area. I have just eradicated a few enemies in a place called Keisai. Our next target is another small town called Yokuaru Shitsumon, where Sakito will take the east side and I the west side. (I have some hope that I might get a chance to use my manrikigusari there.)

In the meantime, Clan Hekoayu is becoming a greater and greater annoyance. We have met with them a few more times. More and more of my clanmates in our division are becoming quite disturbed at the way the Saitekika campaign is unfolding, under Hekoayu’s guidance.

Our branch of the clan is the Kokakumanzoku division. We are tasked with ensuring that the peasants in our clan’s territories are fed, sheltered, and not badly treated. We have noted problems with the long-range effects of Clan Hekoayu’s plans. They do not lay out any specific plans to oppress the peasants, but if we follow their plans, we can see that the peasants will suffer.

And we have raised these concerns, and Hekoayu seems disinclined to listen. Now one of our Nichiren priestesses, named Suzuha, is becoming a focal point for our unrest. She has written a letter to explain that this plan is disharmonious, and we must adjust our Way. Riki is trying to manage things as well, but he needs support.

There is little I can do. Stabbing or poisoning our allies would bring dishonor upon us. When I can, I speak up in meetings on behalf of the peasants, and of Harmony.

Plans are made and ready. Next month, Akane and I will be voyaging to a sunny island, south of far-off Kyūshū. It will be restful and relaxing.

Of course, there will be no enemies to spy on or slay there. No castles to infiltrate, no need for combat on the rooftops. So I shall have little — probably nothing at all — to write about while I am away.

I will post at least one farewell message before I leave, and then another when I return. I should be gone for about ten days, starting ten days from now.

Today, I am pursuing a mission of my own. Clan Noriaibasha knows nothing of this — nor should they have any reason to care.

I am in Kotobasatsuki, armed with my trusty ninja-tō. I am trying to track down a rōnin from Kawachi Province, who I understand has plans that would be bad for Iga. He’s been here for some time, and has taken the opportunity to blend in with the populace.

But ninjas are vigilant trackers and spies, as well as skilled fighters. I will find him. I must.

Disguised as a peasant, I too blend in with Kotobasatsuki’s crowds. The buildings here are spaced far apart, and the streets are often wide boulevards or even plazas. There is little use in taking to the rooftops. Instead, I must observe in inns and shops, keeping my eyes open for any sign that the rōnin has been here.

Where has he gone, and how will I find him? All I know is that I must. I cannot rest until I do.