The Ring of Earth - Chris Bradford [42]
THE INVISIBLE NINJA
‘Please be seated,’ said Shonin, indicating for Jack to take his place between Soke and Hanzo.
Jack had been invited with his hosts for dinner at the farmhouse. Miyuki, Tenzen and a grumpy Momochi sat cross-legged opposite. Shonin was at the head of the table.
Two young girls bearing trays entered the room and began to set out dishes. Although the food wasn’t as varied and fancy as the samurai banquets Jack had experienced in Kyoto, it nonetheless looked extremely tasty, with miso soup, purple eggplant, pickles, omelette and grilled fish, as well as several bowls of steaming rice.
‘Tell me, how are you finding life as a ninja?’ asked Shonin as they ate.
Jack thought for a moment. ‘Challenging!’ he replied.
But Jack didn’t mean this solely in terms of the intense diversity of his ninjutsu training. Or how it conflicted with what he’d learnt as a samurai warrior. He was struggling with his opinion of the ninja themselves. He’d been in their company a month now and, like the skin of the mikan, his views regarding the ninja had slowly been peeled back to reveal a different truth.
They were no longer the faceless assassins he’d fought against. They were farmers, villagers, children and even training partners. Poles apart as they were from the samurai, this didn’t mean the shinobi were without virtue or principles. The spirit of ninniku was apparent in every aspect of their lives. Bounded by compassion and guided by the Five Rings, they possessed a philosophy and way of life equal to that of the samurai’s bushido.
And, dare he admit it, Jack enjoyed training as a ninja. Their arts, dark and mysterious as they were, made a great deal of sense to him – especially considering the long and dangerous journey ahead. Yet he’d sworn since his father’s death that the ninja would always be his enemy. But were they?
His experiences were leading him to question this belief. The ninja were shielding him from the samurai and, in the main, had treated him with kindness and respect. He even considered a few, like Soke, Hanzo and Tenzen, were becoming his friends and mentors. But the ninja had been his foe for so long that, despite everything, it was hard to let go of his old convictions. Too much water had passed under the bridge to suddenly start trusting them now. He still was no closer to understanding their true intentions or their reason for helping him. So, like Momochi, he remained suspicious and on his guard.
His life as a ninja was indeed challenging … challenging everything he stood for and had come to believe.
Shonin nodded sagely, as if reading the conflict in Jack’s mind.
‘How would you assess his progress, Soke?’
‘Jack’s taken to ninjutsu like a duck to water – you should see his shinobi aruki in the paddy fields,’ he replied, giving Jack a good-natured smile. ‘Though he’s a touch hit-and-miss with his shuriken-jutsu.’
Jack glanced guiltily in Miyuki’s direction and caught her scowling at him. She still hadn’t forgiven him for breaking her pot and soaking her.
‘But he’s learning fast, Father,’ said Tenzen.
‘Good. I’m sure he will under your guidance,’ replied Shonin, beaming proudly at his son. ‘And, Miyuki, I understand you’ve been teaching Jack the Sixteen Secret Fists. Does he know them all?’
‘Yes,’ she replied, tight-lipped.
I should do, thought Jack. She’s demonstrated them on me enough.
‘Now, Jack, you’ve no doubt wondered why I agreed to Soke’s request to teach you – a samurai – the art of the ninja,’ said Shonin.
‘That has crossed my mind.’
‘Well, I’m counting on an exchange of skills. I hear you’ve introduced Hanzo to the basics of samurai swordsmanship. But I’m intrigued to know more about the Two Heavens. I’ve heard it’s invincible. What can you tell me?’
Jack hesitated. Masamoto only divulged his secret of the Two Heavens to those few Niten Ichi Ryū students he deemed worthy enough in mind, body and spirit. Even if he could have requested Masamoto’s permission to reveal such knowledge, he already knew the answer: Never reveal your secrets to the enemy. Yet the ninja had openly