As Saburo began barking out commands, Jack spotted Nakamura, his leather armour scorched black, leaping on to the veranda of Junichi’s farmhouse. The bandit began kicking at the door. From inside came the screams of women and children. Unable to break it down, Nakamura took his axe and in a single swipe shattered the door open.

Leaving Saburo to lead the units, Jack dashed over to the farmhouse. He burst through the entrance just as Nakamura prepared to chop Yoshi’s head from his shoulders. The bandit kicked Yoshi to his hands and knees and raised the axe.

‘Say sayonara to Grandpa!’ laughed Nakamura.

57 The Pond

57

THE POND

Jack dived head first at Nakamura as the axe blade came hurtling down. There was no time for any other strategy. Yoshi was seconds from death.

Charging forward, Jack kept his back straight and neck in line just as he’d been taught during his Sixteen Secret Fists ninjutsu training. His head collided with Nakamura’s ribcage and the bandit experienced the full crushing force of Demon Horn Fist. There was a crunch of fracturing bones and Nakamura was sent flying into the back wall. His axe fell from his hands, missing Yoshi by a whisker.

Gasping but not defeated, Nakamura seized Jack before he could roll away. Caught in a massive bear grip, Jack struggled to break free as he felt the life being squeezed from him.

‘You won’t get away this time,’ Nakamura growled, his scarred face a knot of fury.

Drawing a forearm across Jack’s throat, he began to crush his windpipe. Jack choked, the veins in his neck bulging under the crippling pressure. Clawing at Nakamura’s arms, he kicked and writhed. But the bandit’s iron-like grip didn’t give at all. Black spots blurred his vision and his head once more throbbed as if about to explode. With his strength ebbing away, Jack knew he didn’t have long to live.

Across the room, the women and children looked on, paralysed with fear.

As he spluttered his last breaths, one of the girls finally plucked up the courage and ran over. Clasping her hand into a ninja fist, she drove her thumb into Nakamura’s injured ribs. The bandit howled in agony as Finger Sword Fist dug deep.

In his pain, he batted the girl away. But Jack managed to wrench himself free and roll to his feet. Turning on the bandit, he launched a stomping front kick at his chest. Nakamura caught his foot and twisted it, intending to snap the ankle. Jack whirled in the air, spinning with the attack. At the same time, he thrust out his other leg. His free foot caught Nakamura in the jaw and the bandit went sprawling to the floor.