‘A defence!’ interrupted Jack, his face suddenly lighting up. ‘Miyuki, what would I do without you?’

Miyuki looked bashfully at the ground, then glanced up at him. ‘I missed you too, Jack.’

But Jack was too inspired by her observation to notice the tender look that passed across her face.

‘Why didn’t I think of it before?’ he exclaimed. ‘The Five Rings!’

During his ninjutsu training, Jack had been taught about the Five Rings by the Grandmaster. These five great elements of the universe – Earth, Water, Fire, Wind and Sky – formed the basis of a ninja’s fighting techniques and tactics. In fact, the Five Rings influenced their whole approach to life – including how they built their villages.

To the uninitiated eye, a ninja village looked like a simple farming community. In truth, it was a cleverly constructed fortress. By applying the Ring of Earth, the ninja exploited their natural surroundings – flooding paddy fields to form moats, building paths into confusing mazes, growing hedges into barriers, and using the hills and steep slopes as battlements.

‘We need to ninja this village!’ said Jack, a triumphant grin on his face.

He ran back down to the square, Miyuki hot on his heels, to find the others waiting by the pond.

‘You look pleased with yourself,’ remarked Saburo.

‘I have a plan!’ announced Jack.

The young samurai hurriedly gathered round in anticipation. Neko, eager to be a part of the action too, pushed her way to the front beside Yuudai. Emerging from the main farmhouse, Junichi, Toge and Sora watched from a respectful distance.

‘Our priority is to stop the bandits reaching the rice store,’ stated Jack, indicating the large barn overlooking the square. ‘So we need to turn this village into a fortress.’

‘In three weeks!’ exclaimed Saburo. ‘This isn’t exactly Osaka Castle!’

‘With teamwork and the help of the farmers, we can do it,’ replied Jack confidently.

‘I must agree with Saburo,’ said Hayato. ‘Defence is more difficult than attack, and this village is wide open to any assault. Where would we even start?’

‘That’s what I was going to ask you!’ said Jack.

Understanding that a combination of ninja and samurai tactics would offer the best chance of success, he recited one of Masamoto’s strategies. ‘In order to know your enemy, you must become your enemy. So how would you attack this village?’

20 Through the Eyes of the Enemy

20

THROUGH THE EYES OF THE ENEMY

‘Coming from the mountains,’ said Hayato, ‘the most obvious raiding route would be the northern road. Akuma won’t expect resistance, so why make any detours?’

‘Agreed,’ said Jack. ‘That’s where our first defence must be.’

Leaving the square, they walked to the outskirts of the village, where the main track petered out at the mouth of a narrow valley. A dirt road snaked its way up the slope and disappeared over a rocky ridge.

‘There’s nothing to stop the bandits here,’ observed Hayato grimly.