Miyuki dropped to the ground. ‘We’re working just as hard as you.’

‘But where are your defences?’ Hayato demanded, inspecting the undisturbed forest.

‘That’s exactly the point!’ Miyuki shot back and turned away from him.

Her blatant show of disrespect maddened Hayato and he went to challenge her. Once again Jack was caught in the middle. He was beginning to think it would be easier to defeat Akuma than keep these two from each other’s throats.

Leading Hayato away, Jack tried to distract him with questions.

‘Saburo needs your help with the ditch. Can you spare some men?’

Seething, Hayato nodded wordlessly.

‘Have you managed to make enough spears?’

‘Almost,’ he grunted. ‘It’d be better if we had real ones, but we’ll have to make do with bamboo.’

‘So when can you start training our army?’

‘This afternoon.’

‘Excellent!’ said Jack, ushering him ahead through the barrier’s gap. He’d put Hayato in charge of organizing the army – not only because he thought Hayato would do the best job, but to show fairness in his dealings between him and Miyuki.

Hayato glanced back in her direction. ‘Do you really trust that ninja?’

‘With my life,’ replied Jack.

Hayato looked at him dubiously. ‘I don’t understand. How can you forgive any ninja after what I hear they did to your father?’

Jack felt his heart constrict at the memory. The sudden and brutal attack on the Alexandria. His first fateful glimpse of the shadow warrior, Dragon Eye. The vindictive pleasure the ninja had shown, thrusting the sword through his father’s chest. The blood that had stained his own hands as he clung desperately to his dying father …

Hayato saw the pain in Jack’s eyes. ‘My father meant the world to me too. I know what it feels like to have those ninja rip the soul from your family.’

Swallowing back his sorrow, Jack repeated the phrase the Grandmaster had told him. ‘A single tree doesn’t make a forest.’

‘That may be true,’ replied Hayato. ‘But they’re all made from the same wood! It’s only because I respect you, Jack, that I’ve agreed to tolerate her presence. But, after we’ve saved these farmers, I can’t promise the forgiveness you’ve shown her kind.’

23 A Samurai’s Sword

23

A SAMURAI’S SWORD

‘Line up!’ ordered Hayato.

Chaos reigned in the village square as the farmers shuffled to and fro. Confused about where to stand, many bumped into one another, some clustered with their friends, while others simply stood looking bewildered.

Hayato shook his head in despair and Yuudai stepped forward.

‘STOP!’ he bellowed.

The whole square ground to a halt.

‘My barricade unit in three rows here!’ he commanded, pointing to the left of the veranda upon which he and the other young samurai stood. ‘Digging unit in front. Bridge unit to their right. Forest unit in one line, far right. MOVE!’