The Aftermath

Adam watched the dawn light dance off the burned ruins of the castle in front of him. He sighed shaking his head. "I didn't get to see the morning light on its walls before it fell." He turned away from the gates, staring at the army of the young lord going through the ruins and checking the civilians one by one before letting them go. He walked up to the line of civilians and looked at them one by one. He turned, seeing his Iga man also looking at the line.

"Do you see any of use yet?"

"I have collected a few young Hattori. But we need more." He nodded in agreement, watching as the sun rose above the horizon. "You shouldn't worry about the fallen castle. We need to be now focused on what's going to happen next."

He turned to bow at the voice of the young lord. "You're right, which is why we're doing what we're doing now. The Imagawa won't be impressed once they hear Kaminogo has fallen."

"Correct. So what do you suggest that we do then?" He looked at the young lord. "If I were you I would have already sent the letters of allying to the Oda and wait for their forces, as the larger wolf starts eating the smaller wolf. I assume the next few years will be full of battle and war against the Imagawa, because, for the plan of unification, Imagawa has to fade into history or become a retainer to yourself young lord."

"Do you think that we can get the Imagawa clan to fall under my banner?" He nodded. "Yes. This isn't the only battle that the Imagawa clan is fighting. They're already fighting against Oda, and if my calculations are correct, the head will fall to the hands of Oda Nobunaga."

"If that happens, then who do you think will be leading the Imagawa clan?" He smiled as he looked over the city. "There's only one son, but the issue they'll have is that no one in the Imagawa clan like him. What has happened today, and the work of Oda with the defeat of Imagawa Yoshimoto signals the start of the funeral for the Imagawa clan greatness. Their dream of unification has ended."

He bowed as he heard the young lord clap. "If what you said has become true, then I'll believe that tengus trained you in Kurama." He smiled at the young lord. "These words will come true."

"We shall see Masanari. What are you doing with that small group of civilians that you're gathering there?" He looked up at the group standing with his Iga men. "I'm going to use them for the young lord, and the plan."

"You mean your web of information." He nodded. "Web I like the sound of that."

"Hahaha. I have a better name for you. How about Oniwabanshu?" He looked at the young lord in thought. "Garden keepers..." He looked at the ground in thought. "If Japan, is the garden than that name is perfect my lord."

"Excellent. Then I leave the details to you, I'll be looking forward to more of your future predictions in the future." He bowed as the young lord left him and the soldiers with the civilians, and continued going through them one by one. He didn't stop until he felt the cool breeze of the evening wind blow upon him that he stopped and sat on the ground with his Iga men.

"Young Hattori. These are the ones that we can find now. What do you suggest we do with them?" He looked at the small group of them smiling. "This will be perfect for our work in Imagawa. As we go through, we'll find more and more to join our ranks. The young lord has also given them a name."

"What's the name of their group?" He smiled. "Oniwabanshu"

"That's a good name, for the role that they'll be given." He nodded. "From tomorrow we start training them in information gathering skills, disguise, and misdirection."

"As the young Hattori requests. Now you should eat and rest. You've been busy all day young Hattori." He smiled as he chewed on a small ball of vegetable millet. "This will be sufficient for me. It will help me keep my focus."

"The hard-working young Hattori. I don't think I've seen a Hattori work as hard as you do." He smiled. "Shall we do some sparing later? I need to get some practice out, it'll help me to relax."

"As the young Hattori requests. Sparing in secret or normal techniques?" he touched the hilt of his sword. "I want to work on my sword and spear, I haven't had much chance to practice with them for a while."

He stood up after eating, walking to a small clearing with the Iga man, and bowed at him. "Are you ready young Hattori?" He nodded, placing his hand on the hilt of his sword. "I'm ready."

"Than here I come." He watched as the shinobi drew their sword, and started to circle him, making the circles smaller and smaller, until he was almost on top of him. He bent his legs, drawing his sword quickly without sound at his attacker. He heard the swords greet each other with a sharp ring, and used the energy of the greeting to push himself back, ducking under a sideways slash of the shinobi's sword. "Your reactions are very fast. Your movements are very clean young Hattori. I think almost better than your father."

He smiled, scratching his face hiding the heat on his cheeks. He sheathed his sword, bowed at his opponent, and then looked for something that he could use as a spear.

"What do you need Masanari?" He looked at the nearby guards who had come to watch their spar. "I'm looking for something that I can use as a spear. I want to spar, and see if I haven't lost my touch yet."

"Here. Use this one for now. I haven't had much use of it, besides in spars. Spear bearer, come bring my spear." He watched as a small boy stepped forward holding a large bamboo spear. He bowed at the soldier and picked the spear from the young man's hands. He smiled as he felt it wobble and shake as he shook his wrist. "Excellent spear."

"Thank you." He turned, looking at the Iga man staring at the long spear in his hands. "Are you sure you want to use that? It seems your skills with a sword are about speed. What can you do with a spear?" He smiled, bent his legs, and lowered his body holding the spear with one hand. "I know a little about the spear, but I find it the most interesting."

He heard claps and cheers in the gathering crowd, watching them spar. "Shall we begin?" He jumped towards the shinobi, striking with the spear, letting the tip move with each blow of his opponent. He twisted his grip causing the blade of the spear to move in multiple directions, causing the shinobi to take steps back from his attack.

"Not bad at all. You have learned many things, and from my eyes, you already excel your father. Its only time before you are called Hanzo." He bowed at the shinobi, handing the spear back to the soldier he had borrowed it from. "This spear is very good, make sure you look after it well, as it can take care of many." He looked at the low ranked young soldier in front of him holding the spear with a smile on his face. "I love the spear, don't worry, I'll be practicing and I'll become the strongest general for the young lord." He smiled. "I hope you do. What do I call you?"

"Call me Honda Heihachiro. I'm just the spear bearer now, but I plan to become a samurai general and leader for the young lord." He smiled at the young man holding the spear. "I look forward to the day when I see you fighting on the battlefield with a stronger spear than this one."

"Don't worry. I'll fight to the best of my ability." He turned away from the spear bearer and walked back to the shinobi, who had sheathed his sword. "Young Hattori. You've impressed me. Are you sure this plan of yours is going to work?" He nodded, as he stared at the spear bearer in thought. "Spear bearer, you said your name was Honda yes?"

"That's correct." He smiled. "Than, if you're interested, allow me to impart some spear techniques to you, so you become the warrior you want to be."

"Thank you."

"Are you trying to take my spear bearer away from me Masanari?" He smiled at the soldier, shaking his head. "Not at all. He's your man. I just wanted to start training his wrists or he wouldn't be able to hold the spear in the future."

"Yes. That's a good point. Very well. Honda, you're to take lessons from Masanari here, until your wrists are fit to hold the spear."

"That was an interesting show. Short, but interesting." He knelt on the ground with the soldiers all bowing and kneeling as the young lord entered the circle. "Masanari, your skills do impress me, it seems that I have to see you as a fortune teller as well." He sat up, looking at the smile of the young lord. "What do you mean?"

"I mean this." He looked at the small parchment that he was holding. He smiled. "Is that what I think it is?"

"If you're referring to a certain battle, and someone falling in the field, then yes you're correct. As you said the funeral bell has started to sound." He nodded, as he watched the young lord look at the soldiers and warriors around him. "From this moment, on, we're going to fight and destroy the Imagawa, until they decide to fall under our banner."

"Masanari. when will your Oniwabanshu be ready? I want to start sending them out into the garden, so we can prepare." He bowed at the young lord. "Let me start training them, and then, they shall be released to tend as you suggest."

"Fine. I give you six months to train them, for tomorrow we return to our temporary home. I plan to have a castle of my own soon." He smiled. "Yes. I'm sure you want your own space, for your family." He looked up at the young lord. "I do have a suggestion for a castle you may like."

"What castle is that?"

"Tatsu-jo." He saw the surprised look on the young lord's face. "Tatsu-jo. That brings back memories. I also agree. Since your foretelling has come true, we're going to fight and make our way to Tatsu-jo and claim it as my own. Masanari. Is this another one of your foretelling tengu powers at play here?" He shook his head with a smile. "Not at all. Just me reading the wind, and able to see what will happen next."

"That sounds like fortune-telling for me. Now the sparing has passed, and your men will train the garden keepers, we need to sit and discuss, the missions that they'll need to accomplish. Come follow me back to my tent Masanari, we have much to discuss." He stood up and followed the young lord through the crowd of soldiers and warriors. He looked at Honda still staring at the spear in his hand. "My lord, keep an eye on that one. He'll bring great service to you and your family in the future."

"A spear bearer?" He nodded. "He may be one now, but after I teach him, what I know about the spear, there'll be no one greater than him on this side of Honshu."

"Very well. I must get used to your powers it seems tengu Masanari. They must have loved you on that mountain." He smiled. "Only some of them did, others were scared of me."

"You scared tengu?" He nodded. "Yes. They didn't want to teach me, because I scared them with my abilities."

"I see, but other tengu taught you." He nodded. "Yes. Only the strongest, and smartest taught me all they know."

"Excellent. Make sure you use all the skills they taught you." He nodded. "For you my lord, I will."

"Enter my tent, and we shall talk. No news on the one who shouldn't be here yet?" He shook his head. "Not yet, but my men are searching."

"Good good. Now eat, drink, and let's talk."