8 Battle of Kaiho Castle.

"By midnight at the 21st day of the 3rd month, we will start our attack."

"And what formation should we use, Iwasawa-kou-sama?"

"Should I lead my men for a sudden cavalry charge?"

Hikigaya-sama stood up from his seat and clanged his hand over his armor, showing his eagerness to dive into the battle.

"No, take me and my shinobi army instead. We can slip past their defenses and end this without raising suspicion."

Fumikage-sama twirled a kunai on his finger and began to offer his help.

"Please observe silence, Iwasawa-sama is thinking of a strategy."

Aoyama-sama calmly spoke while his cousins cleared their throats and settled down.

"Aoyama-sama, how many of your men is highly skilled in muskets?"

"There's about 100 that I know well of."

"Hikigaya-san, can your cavalrymen intercept and hold off any reinforcements from inside the castle?"

"They sure do! You have my word, Iwasawa-sama! We'll fight to our last breath if you order us to do so!"

"Well then. This is the plan. Shimura-kun... you'll be my point of view for this attack... Listen carefully..."

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"Shimura-sama... we're here."

We ducked below the cliff and looked at the guards.

"Sure is chilly tonight, huh?"

"Yeah. I wish I didn't took the night shift and just stayed home to rest."

As we crept closely to the gates of the great palace, 2 Akizuki soldiers are standing on their pedestal, watching the gates that lead to the outer courtyard of the great castle.

"Hey."

"Huh? Urgh-!"

"Gah!"

A punch to the face made them unconscious. I ordered some soldiers to carry them away and continued on leading a small troop towards the gates.

"I need someone with a loud and deep voice."

"I'll do it, Shimura-sama."

A stout man presented himself and took the Akizuki soldier's flag before he proceeded to knock at the door beside the gates.

"Who is it?"

They opened the slit at the gates and looked at him. We ducked out of sight.

"A messenger from the frontlines! I have news for Lord Akizuki!"

Hearing that the heavy lock of the door is being opened, I delivered a strong kick against it as soon as it opened slightly.

"Yah! Intru- Gah!"

"Infiltration complete. Send a signal to Lord Iwasawa. Wave this torch 5 times using your left hand."

"Yes sir!"

"First rifle squad! Take aim! Fire at will!!!"

*Boom!!!*

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This is what I call a 4th-generation warfare techniques... A mix of guerilla tactics and pre-determined strikes against vital enemy positions.

"Lord Iwasawa! The signal is here!"

"Well then! Fumikage-sama, take control of the dam! Hikigaya-sama, charge in to rout the frontlines of the Akizuki's force! Aoyama-sama, ambush all reinforcements trying to pass the roads! All forces! Attack!!!"

"YAAAAAHHHHH!!!!"

In a single synchronized movement, thousands of soldiers flooded the battlefield of Kaiho. I led a 100-strong mounted riflemen towards the mountain castle.

"Take aim and don't snatch the trigger! Wait until they're within your range!"

"Yes sir!"

I shouted to remind the mounted riflemen about my instructions.

"Fire!!!"

*Booom!!!*

The air before us was filled with the smoke of the musket fire. It took time for it to dissipate into the cold night wind.

"Heavy cavalry! Break their formation! Spearmen! Kill every survivor!"

"Yes sir!"

The armor-clad cavalry force of Hikigaya-sama broke the forefront of the enemy formation, giving us a wide path to pass through to attack the castle.

"Huh? Outside?"

As we climbed the uphill slope of the mountain fort, I noticed that the smoke nearby the gates are slowly getting further outside.

"Everyone! Hurry up! We need to get there to support them as soon as possible!"

As Shinzuke slowed down from his sprint to catch his breath, I looked at the side of the castle and saw Fumikage-sama's ninjas slowly scaling up the dam and attacking the soldiers stationed there.

"Iwasawa-dono! Reports from Hikigaya-sama's force!"

Chiyo, wearing her blue-colored samurai armor, turned her horse to my side and spoke her report.

"A 300-strong force of elite Akizuki cavalry is marching towards the castle. He would like to request permission to detach a small portion of his forces!"

"Granted! Tell him to buy us some time!"

"Yes, sir!"

As both of us went our ways, I whispered a short prayer for Chiyo's safety. After all, her position as the messenger is vital.

"The gates are within sight! Riflemen, switch to shrapnel rounds! Rain metal into the enemy lines!"

"Yes sir!"

At the last rising slope of the mountain, a succession of gunshots poured into the formation of the Akizuki soldiers stationed at the main castle gate.

"GAAAHHHH!!!"

"R-RETREAT!!!"

The terrified voices of the enemy soldiers filled the air along with the heavy footsteps of our charging cavalry.

"Don't waste your time with holding captives! We need to find that imbecile lord!"

A soldier leading our cavalry charge shouted as he ordered the other soldiers to scour the courtyard and destroy any resistance.

"Lord Iwasawa! I know where the gates leading to the tenshu is located!"

Nobisuke mounted a horse and ran past me. I followed him along with several soldiers. We ran through a narrow passway of the castle leading  inside the mountain that looks like an interior of a huge tower.

"Did they hollowed the insides of the mountain just to create this castle?"

"Yes, Chiyo told me that according to a Kusanagi spy working inside the Akizuki clan, Kaiho castle's tenshu is the mountain itself."

"Heh! Sly move!"

I snickered and drew out the katana given to me by Aoyama-dono earlier. I raised it and pointed it at several soldiers charging towards us.

"Fire!"

*Booom!*

"Lord Iwasawa! The stronghold is right there! We'll hold them off until you defeat lord Akizuki!"

"Sure! Best of luck to you!"

I spoke and made my horse sprint faster than theirs in order to charge into the enemy castle.

"I-intruder!"

I rammed into the gates and swung the sword to the enemy soldiers that are trying to stab me with their spears.

"Die! Traitor!"

"Shut it!"

I slashed the heads of their spears using the katana and swung Shinzuke's reins to make the horse to kick them off.

"Aaarrgghhh!!!"

"C'mon boy! We need to get to the lord as soon as possible!"

As I unmounted from my steed and ran inside the temple, I noticed that there are torii gates here and small shrines where mayoke charms and Shime ropes are attached.

"Is this it?"

I saw a door where there are 2 shishi lion-dog statues. From my gut feeling, this seems to be it.

"..."

I gently open the door, sword in hand as my eyes adjusted to the darkness inside the room.

"No one's here...Gah!"

I mumbled as the room seemed to not have anyone inside it. As I turned back to look at the other rooms, I tripped over and feel flat on the floor.

"Hah..."

"What-?!"

I heard a voice behind me, though the armor I am wearing is heavy, I used my full strength to get up and prepare to fight.

"Who...are you..?"

"What?"

"Why did you enter Kaiho Sanctum?"

The form is hidden behind darkness. Neither my peripheral vision nor intuition can deduce where the person is.

"Hey! Mind showing yourself if you're gonna ask questions?"

"Very well then..."

A lighted lamp appeared at the middle of the room which seemed to be initially covered to not be seen. Beside that lamp, a woman wearing a miko attire and a red hood covering half of her face appeared.

"Is this right? Can you see me now?"

"...Who are you?"

I tightened the hold at my sword, anxious about what's happening right now.

"I am the Chief Shrine maiden of Kaiho no Shiseijo, My name is Akizuki Hisako."

When I heard her absentmindedly say her name in front of a stanger, I already knew what to do. I sheated my sword and sat at a seiza position to look at her eye-to-eye.

"Iwasawa Hiroshi... If this revolt becomes a success, I'll be the lord over Kiko."

"But...my father is the lord of Kiko... How can there be 2 lords over a single province..?"

"Can you tell me where your father is?"

"Huh? Father went away last night. He told me that he'll fight the traitors."

Those reinforcements... the one that Chiyo told me about earlier... So the castle itself was the bait...

"Do you want to see your father?"

"Huh?"

"I think I know where your father is... Do you want to greet him back home?"

"Really?! Yay!!!"

Though her age is slightly older than me, her mental age doesn't seem to be any near that. She cheered as stood up and accidentally tripped the lamp which spread the oil over the floor and burned.

"Damn it! Come on! We need to get out of here!"

"B-but-"

"No 'buts'! This place is made of aging wood! You would burn to kingdom come if you stay right here!"

I shouted and pulled her out of the room inside the temple where the flames is spreading like a flood.

"T-the sanctum! Lady Akizuki is in danger!!!"

Several soldiers that was fighting off Nobisuke retreated and ran to my direction as soon as they saw the temple burning.

"Get out of the way!"

I threw a spear near them which made them duck and give me enough time to ride at Shinzuke's back and lift the young woman up.

"Nobisuke! Give me some cover fire!"

"What?"

"Shoot at them so they won't be able to attack me!"

"Y-yes sir!"

He took out his musket and fired at the rocks where the soldiers are hiding.

"Come on! I now know where the Akizuki lord is right now!"

"O-okay! Lord Iwasawa, who is that young woman?"

"I'll tell you later! We need to go now! Time is of essence!"

"Yes sir!"

We exited from the mountain interior and moved back to the castle courtyard.

"Everyone! Reinforce Hikigaya-sama's detachment! Nobisuke! Tell Fumikage-sama to prepare on breaking the dam!"

I put down the young shrine maiden in front a storeroom and told her to stay put while I am getting her father.

"That was heartless Lord Iwasawa."

"Say what you want to say, but this is the only way to make a man to completely surrender."

I gathered all the soldiers in the castle to organize a huge reinforcement to the isolated detachment of Hikigaya-sama. I took notice of the dark clouds forming around the sky of the battlefield, it worried me to fight in the rain.

"Riflemen at the front while we are still charging downwards! Heavy cavalry will take their positions on the front once we are in a good distance! Show them your might!"

"YYAAAAAAHHHH!!!"

As fast as I swung my arm downwards, a landslide of troops fell into the chaotic battlefield with fury and might. At the midst of this place, I noticed a familiar face and slashed my way to her position.

"Iwasawa-dono! Why are you here?!"

"The Akizuki lord isn't there, his daughter said that he went out last night and is supposed to come back today."

"He's in the reinforcements?!"

"Exactly."

"Lord Iwasawa! Fumikage-dono signaled that they are ready!"

I heard Nobisuke across the battlefield and I hurriedly took a broken spear and attached my command flag on it.

"Everyone! Retreat back to the mountain!"

I ran back to Shinzuke and the troops, though confused with my command, followed swiftly and climbed the mountain slope, leaving our enemies confused about what's happening.

"Nobisuke! Do it!"

"Yes, sir!"

He lit an arrow using a torch and shot it upwards using his bow, several pipes on the sides of the arrow made it whistle through the air.

*Ka-boom! Ka-boom!*

Several explosions can be heard from a distance, it was muffled by the nearby footsteps of the soldiers and horses. As we are heading up, I saw Chiyo holding the wounded Hikigaya-sama while riding her horse and Aoyama-dono with a bloodied armor.

"Aoyama-san! Get to the castle and treat the wounded! Aoyama-dono! Please join her!"

"Roger!"

"Nobisuke! Rally the men away from the base of the mountain!!!"

"Don't hold up the line! Get your ass up and run for your lives!"

"A-aahh!!! The ground is trembling!"

"Is this the gods retribution after the shrine inside the mountain was burned?"

Nobisuke spoke as if he's a superstitious old man.

"Nah! This the best way to clean up the battlefield."

As soon as I finished speaking, the air and ground itself trembled and a gigantic wave came from our right side, causing panic to both sides.

"Alright! Turn back and begin the final assault! Destroy them as soon as the wave passes!!!"

*Ka-Crash!!!*

The entire rebel force turned back while lightning scraped the entire sky and thunder filled the initially calmed atmosphere of the battlefield.

"Today is the day that you'll be free! Your destination will only be death or victory!!! Charge!!!"

"YYYAAAAAAAAHHHHHH!!!!"

The enemies, in disarray after being washed away throughout the foot of the mountain, was terrified by the sudden charge of our forces.

"Cut 'em up! Don't leave anyone standing!"

"Yaaaah! Attack!"

As I stopped near the entrance of the forest, Fumikage-sama appeared behind a tree and shouted a signal to me.

"Highchair ahead the road! Flying sparrows nowhere!"

His words can be translated like this: "Akizuki lord has been found, little to no soldiers near his location."

"Nobisuke! You're in command! I'm off to face the tyrant!"

"Yes, sir! Everyone! Push them back and never back down!"

As I made Shinzuke sprint as fast as he could, I opened my saddle bag and took out a small pill.

"Fumikage-sama! I need him alive! Tell your ninjas to never harm him!"

"Aye! I'm off to tell them!"

I swallowed the pill and pulled the reins in whatever direction that the forest clearing dictates.

"He's here!"

A shout from the top of a tree diclosed my adversary's location to me.

"Traitors!!!"

"Damn!"

He shouted and pulled out a musket from a dead soldier's body and fired it towards my direction. I managed to duck low enough to dodge it but I still fell from my horse.

"YYAAAAHHHH!!!"

He drew his katana and charged towards me. I stood up immediately and jumped back to a distance where I was able to take out my katana and wakizashi blade.

"You! Are you also a Kusanagi retainer?!"

"No. I am the new lord of Kiko."

"!"

"The peasants wants your blood spilled on the ground after causing them so much grief."

"What are you talking about?! How dare you-"

"You don't know?!!! Even a small child can understand such a thing! Do you even know what your people felt after you did those things?!!! Tell me!"

Indeed, after telling Chiyo about my past, she told me that the reason why the current lord had to fight the Kusanagi clan is because of the bad blood between the Kusanagi and Akizuki clans that this idiotic lord provoked further by executing ambassadors and messengers.

She also said that due to the poor sanitation at cemeteries that their lord didn't gave any care of, most of the dead ended up being buried too shallow in the ground and began to spread disease. One of which, is the disease that killed one of my patients at Aoya village, the family of Kachi-san.

"You-!!! Do you even know how hard it is to run an entire province in this chaotic times?! What do you think you should do to keep your thoughts straight at this place?!"

"Well, I'll leave that to God's will..."

"You-!"

I pointed my sword towards the castle and he took notice of the burning interior of the mountain.

"H-H-Hisako..! M-my daughter!!!"

I knew it. In order to break his will to fight, I must make an illusion of a "hopeless scenario" where I would take the most important thing from him. In this case, it was his daughter.

"Hisako!!!"

"She's not there anymore. She will never hear you."

"Y-y-y-you!!! Bastard! Damn traitor!!!"

His eyes was filled with bloodlust and rage. I knew that once this happens, I would never be able to back down again. This will be a fight to the death.

"Hee... I don't plan on dying here without achieving anything. I will never let my death back then to happen here again."

As soon as I took on my battle stance, I felt the effects of the pill kicking in. It made me dizzy for a moment but it gave me this very nice ability.

"Yaaaaaahhhh!!!"

And that ability, is no other than see everything slowly, by using it, I can even see the falling rain drops and every single movement of my enemy.

This medicine allows adrenaline to flood my bloodstream. Though there is a risk of damage to the organs if I used it too much, I don't have enough training to match a veteran warrior like him.

"Shi! Ha!!!"

The clanging of metals filled the air as both of us took this swordfight very seriously. It sparked furiously whenever our blades made contact.

There's no doubt that I am on the defensive as the heavy blows caused by rage didn't miss to batter me for even a single second.

"Hiyah! Grr!!! I'll kill you, you bastard!"

"Prove it."

I mumbled as I parried his slash and moved in to deliver a strong elbow blow to his face, making him stagger and fall to the ground.

"Gah! Damn!"

Man, that must've broke his nose...

"Just surrender Akizuki... Even if you manage to escape from me, the Kusangi clan is also after your life... If you surrender to them, they'll just cut off your head and place it on a spike."

"Shut up! You-"

"But if you surrender to me, I will give you back your daughter."

"What..?"

I used to coldest tone that I can make while I am talking to him. It felt like I was a villain that is blackmailing a hero.

"You... you can bring back...the dead?"

"No. But I can make sure that no one dies."

"Hss! Fine!"

He threw down his katana and raised his hands.

"Fumikage-sama... Take care of it."

"Yes, sir."

The ninja jumped from a tree and tied up the current lord using a strong rope.

"Never dare to do anything messy, or this meeting with your daughter will be the last."

"Grr!!!"

And so, the battle of Kaiho castle ended here.

167 out of 9000 rebel soldiers died. While the Akizuki army lost 2200 men on the forest and 800 at the castle.

We, the rebel forces, won.