The boy’s gaze lingered on Jack, noting his concealed face, but he made no comment. Seemingly satisfied with his safety, he laid down his bow and knelt in a half-seated position. He wasn’t taking any chances – with one knee still raised and a katana on his hip, the boy could react instantly to any surprise attack.

Neko rushed over with two bowls of steaming rice. Saburo tucked in, but the boy politely waved his meal away.

‘I’ve already eaten, with Saburo,’ he said. ‘You may have it.’

Neko looked to Jack for an explanation. Jack clumsily signed that the meal was hers. Delighted, she beamed at Jack, then bowed gratefully to the boy.

‘This is Hayato,’ announced Saburo through a mouthful of rice. ‘I found him practising in the fields.’

Hayato gave a humble bow, then glanced to where Toge, Sora and Kunio crouched in the corner. ‘I understand these farmers have a problem with bandits.’

‘Yes,’ Jack replied, returning the boy’s greeting. ‘Has Saburo explained about the enemy we’re facing?’

Hayato nodded, apparently unfazed by the prospect of such a dangerous foe.

‘And that the farmers can only offer food and lodging as payment?’

Again, Hayato nodded. ‘That’s more than enough. As a samurai, it’s my duty and honour to protect the rice that feeds our nation.’

Jack, Saburo and Yori looked at one another. The boy was pure bushido: the ideal that Masamoto always drove his students to attain. They couldn’t wish for a better ally. But there was one more hurdle to overcome.

Turning back to Hayato, Jack said, ‘If you are to join us, there’s something you should know first.’

Taking a deep breath and preparing for the worst, Jack removed his hat.

Hayato’s eyes widened momentarily and his hand edged towards his katana, but his demeanour did not change.

‘I presume you’re the infamous gaijin samurai.’

Jack’s own hand now twitched for his sword. Was the boy intending to kill him for the reward?

‘Are there any more surprises?’ asked Hayato, eyeing the three of them warily.

Saburo and Yori shifted closer to protect Jack. The farmers shrank back into the corner as the tension between the four samurai increased.

‘No,’ said Jack.

Letting his sword hand relax, Hayato smiled. ‘Don’t worry, I’m not seeking you out. In fact, we fought on the same side at the Battle of Osaka Castle. My father was daimyo Yukimura.’

Jack remembered the man. The samurai lord had been assassinated by ninja during an attack organized by the Shogun himself.

‘My father … he talked of you,’ revealed Hayato, a crack of emotion in his voice. ‘You saved his friend’s life, the great daimyo Takatomi. I admire any samurai who confronts a ninja, especially one as deadly as Dragon Eye.’

‘I was in the right place at the right time, that’s all,’ replied Jack.