Chapter 19: Samurai Sword

"You do?"

Shin scratched her head, and said "Well, I don't exactly know him, but I've at least talked to him once or twice."

Kannin's faith sort of plummeted hearing her addendum, but he couldn't let this chance escape, even the most basic kenjutsu techniques would serve him well in the future.

"So who is he?"

Shin took another sip of her drink before replying, "He's a Samurai."

Kannin was taken back. He had all but forgotten that Samurai existed in this world since everything he saw was shinobi this shinobi that. He took a moment to try and recall what he knew of samurai in this world, remembering that they were a group of chakra users who used kenjutsu-type techniques instead of ninjutsu in the Land of Iron. He looked up at Shin and asked,

"Can he really teach me?"

"There's only one way to figure that out."

Shin quickly finished her meal, and led Kannin through the meandering and winding streets of Konoha before stopping at one of the more luxurious hotels in town. The paint on the outside wasn't peeling like many of the buildings in Konoha, and it radiated a bright red hue, with black highlights on the shutters and fillets.

"Y'know, Harakaze-sensei, I never asked what a Samurai was doing in Konoha in the first place. Don't they all live in the Land of Iron?"

Shin nodded and said, "You're right that samurai normally stay in the Land of Iron and rarely interact with the shinobi world, but this guy seems special. He's not only willing to interact with shinobi, but fight them as well."

Kannin smiled, figuring that samurai didn't fight shinobi since they would lose too easily given their wide variety of techniques, "Are they that scared of us?"

Shin raised an eyebrow and chuckled, "You really don't know do you? They don't fight shinobi because they would win. One on one, the average samurai beats the average shinobi almost every time."

Kannin was taken back, wondering what types of techniques allowed samurai to have such a consistent advantage over shinobi, before saving face, "Well I'm not your average shinobi, am I?" and puffed up his chest.

Shin laughed and put her hand on Kannin's shoulder, and said "No, I suppose you're not an average shinobi." She paused for a moment before adding, "Well, we better get going, I have a meeting to attend in a bit. I'll introduce you to him."

"Thank you sensei."

Shin led Kannin into the hotel, and asked the concierge what room the samurai was staying in, as she had business with him.

"Room 304. Do be quiet, though. The last time a shinobi went to visit him we got noise complaints."

Shin smiled and nodded, "Will do. It shouldn't be long anyway. Thank you."

They walked up to the 3rd floor with haste. Despite being one of the nicer hotels in Konoha, a hotel is still a hotel. The hallways were tinged with the faint scent of mold, and the carpets were a garish, Pollock-esque splattering of oranges and yellows. Kannin was actually starting to feel sick looking at it.

They arrived at room 304, and before Shin could even knock on the door, they heard a hoarse voice bark out from behind,

"State your names."

Shin froze for a moment, before composing herself and said "Harakaze Shin"

Kannin replied in kind, "Uzumaki Kannin"

After a moment, the voice replied again telling them to come in. When Shin opened the door, Kannin saw a man in his early forties, with long grey hair, and a short but pointy grey beard on his chin. His eyes were a bit sunken, and his head was covered in bandages. A sword was lying on the dresser.

Both Kannin and The Samurai immediately glanced at the other's sword, each giving a slight turn of the lips in approval.

"So what can I help you for, Harakaze Shin and Uzumaki Kannin?"

Shin looked over at Kannin and motioned for him to answer. Kannin looked a little nervous for a moment, before bowing and spitting out, "Could you please instruct me in the blade?"

Though the samurai had a hopeful look for a moment, his face soured and tersely said, "No."

"Why?"

"Because you don't know what you're really asking."

Kannin was perplexed for a minute. What did he mean he wasn't asking the right question? Samurai are masters of the blade, are they not? Shin shrugged and grabbed Kannin's arm to lead him out when, he asked,

"Well, what can you teach me?"

The samurai smiled and responded, "I can teach you war."

-

The samurai collected his gear and led the two of them outside to a secluded training ground in the woods. A familiar sight to Kannin and Shin. The sun was nearly at noon by now, and it was melting them through their clothes. Shin checked the time herself and quickly excused herself, citing her meeting.

Once she left, the samurai looked at Kannin, with his sheathed katana held at his waist. Kannin felt a little awkward now that Shin had left, and bowed again before saying

"Thank you for giving me this opportunity. Might I ask what your name is? And how you know my sensei?"

The samurai smiled, and motioned for Kannin to sit down along with himself. He gingerly placed his katana on the ground in front of him, and Kannin mirrored this.

"My name is Mifune, a samurai from the Land of Iron, and a damn good one at that!" He laughed, "I know Shin because she was assigned by your Hokage to guide me around Konoha while I was visiting."

Kannin thought again and asked, "Why are you here? I mean, aren't you supposed to be in the Land of Iron? I thought samurai didn't like shinobi."

Mifune scratched his head and said, "Well it's true that most shinobi are quite...what's the word? Unrefined? I've found that there are a number of you who are amicable enough, like yourself. You've shown a great deal of manners for your age."

Kannin blushed a little before saying, "Well that's just because I'm nervous, I think."

"Well don't be. Tell me what you want to know."