Young Samurai _ The Way Of The Dragon - Chris Bradford [22]
‘I reinstate your right as samurai to bear arms,’ announced Masamoto, indicating for them to pick up their weapons.
Grateful for their reprieve, they all bowed.
Jack reached for his swords. He relished the cool touch of the lacquered sayas, the jet-black scabbards decorated only with a small golden phoenix near the hilt. The firebird was Masamoto’s family kamon and the two swords, the katana and the shorter wakizashi, had been Masamoto’s first daishō. Jack had been given them for winning the inter-school Taryu-Jiai contest and he was glad to have them back in his possession.
He drew the katana, enough to check the blade. Etched into the gleaming steel was a single name.
Shizu.
Jack smiled. Masamoto’s daishō had been forged by the greatest swordsmith, Shizu-san. Jack now knew the blades were true and that they harboured the benevolent spirit of their maker – unlike the ninja’s cursed tantō he also possessed.
‘Thank you for your forgiveness, Masamoto-sama,’ said Jack, bowing once more.
Masamoto nodded his head in acknowledgement and indicated with a wave of his hand that they were to leave. Standing, Jack slipped the two swords into his obi, where they rested comfortably against his hip. He couldn’t quite believe he was returning to the Niten Ichi Ryū. He would be allowed to complete his training. And he would need every ounce of skill for when he faced Dragon Eye next.
At the doorway, Jack hesitated before turning back to Masamoto.
‘What is it, Jack-kun?’ enquired his guardian.
Jack glanced apprehensively at Yamato. Even though his friend had insisted Hattori Tatsuo was dead, there was still a remote chance he had survived as the old woman had said. And Masamoto had commanded them to tell him everything they knew or discovered about Dokugan Ryu. If his guardian knew who the ninja really was, he may have an idea where he was located.
‘On our journey to Toba, we met an old woman who said she knew who Dragon Eye was.’
Masamoto put down his teacup and looked at Jack with sudden interest. Yamato started to shake his head, willing Jack to stop talking.
‘And? Who is he?’ demanded Masamoto.
‘Hattori Tatsuo. The woman swore he didn’t die in the Nakasendo War.’
Masamoto stared at Jack a moment longer, then began to laugh.
‘That is a tale told to scare children, Jack-kun. The Old Warlord of the North coming back from the dead. I’m afraid she was teasing you. I won’t deny that there were rumours Hattori Tatsuo had been sighted after the war, but I found them a little difficult to believe.’
‘Why?’ asked Jack.
‘Because I chopped the man’s head off.’
Jack nodded slowly, finally accepting the truth. The only lead he had turned out to be a dead end. Literally. He realized now all he could do was wait for Dragon Eye to come to him.
‘Dokugan Ryu is no ghost,’ said Masamoto, the utterance of the ninja’s name making him scowl. ‘Evil, despicable and ruthless, yes, but he’s an assassin for hire. No more, no less. Talking of which, I’ve made some careful enquiries as to this rutter of yours.’
Jack looked up hopefully.
‘I’m afraid no one has come across it, or even heard of it. The ninja himself has gone to ground. Probably in preparation for a new assignment. But considering the value of the rutter, I’m sure it will turn up sooner rather than later. I’ll let you know if I hear any more.’
‘Thank you,’ said Jack, bowing to hide his disappointment.
‘In the meantime, you should stay alert. If Dragon Eye does fail to decipher it, he will undoubtedly be back. And you need to be ready. That is why, when we return to Kyoto next month for the opening of the Hall of the Hawk, you will have a new sensei. And I understand he is a tyrant.’
‘Who is he?’ asked Jack, worried the teacher might be as vindictive