He rammed the stem into the ground so that it stood upright. Within the blink of an eye, Jack drew his katana, its steel blade flashing through the air in three lightning strikes. The whole display was over in a few seconds.

One of the farmers laughed. ‘He missed it!’

The bamboo stem did appear untouched. Then the top segment slid slowly off, followed by two more surgically neat pieces. They fell to the ground like dismembered fingers.

Jack picked one up and showed the man the perfectly smooth slice his sword had made. ‘That’s how sharp these blades are,’ he warned. ‘Be extremely careful when training with your swords. You don’t want your partner’s arm – or your own – ending up like this!’

The farmers all held their weapons with a newfound reverence.

‘But you need not be so respectful to a bandit!’ added Jack.

A ripple of laughter greeted this and the farmers relaxed a little.

‘As an extension of your arm, the samurai sword has no rival,’ explained Jack, demonstrating the correct stance and grip – his katana in both hands, the tip pointing forward, in line with their faces. Having taught Akiko’s brother Hanzo some kenjutsu, the role of teacher no longer daunted Jack and he already had a clear idea of what needed to be done. He realized only a few basic cuts and blocks could be learnt in the time. But his taijutsu master, Sensei Kyuzo, had ingrained in him that the basics are for battle, and Jack hoped this would be enough for the task ahead.

‘By the time Akuma comes, you’ll all be warriors,’ promised Jack.

Cheered by this, the farmers copied Jack’s stance and raised their swords. Once Jack had corrected their postures, he taught them their first cut – kesagiri – a simple yet deadly diagonal strike.

As the farmers swung their swords in unison and practised the technique, Yori came over.

‘Any problems?’ asked Jack, who’d left his friend in the half-finished watchtower to keep guard over the village.

Yori shook his head. ‘The lookouts have spotted only a deer or two so far.’

‘Let’s hope it stays that way.’

Glancing around at the different classes going on, Yori remarked, ‘This is like being back at the Niten Ichi Ryū!’

Jack nodded, feeling a pang at the memory. It seemed like only yesterday they were all together in Kyoto. He was amazed at how far they’d come since their own training days. ‘Except now we’re the sensei at this samurai school!’

Yori laughed. ‘What’s Sensei Saburo up to then?’

His group had gathered beside the woodpile at the back of a farmhouse and Saburo was laying a short plank of wood between two supporting beams at waist height.

‘Tamashiwari, by the looks of it,’ said Jack, intrigued.

He stopped his sword class so they all could watch the Trial by Wood.