‘With a unit of spearmen behind the barricade, Akuma should be unable to breach this,’ explained Yuudai, patting it proudly.

‘You beat us to it, Yuudai!’ Miyuki called out, appearing from the direction of the forest with Neko and her two helpers. ‘We’re about finished too.’

Jack didn’t bother asking her if they could have a look. He knew, apart from the narrow wooden barrier, there’d still be nothing to see.

Leaving a couple of farmers to stand guard, Jack and the others returned to the square. Positioned in the far corner, the watchtower was now twice the height of the rice store. On the top platform the last of the wooden protective screens was being hammered into place. Rough and ready in its construction, the tower nonetheless commanded views over the entire village and plain.

‘I know it doesn’t compare in strength to your barricade, Yuudai,’ said Jack. ‘But it serves its purpose.’

Jack stepped on to the rickety ladder to lead Miyuki and Yuudai up to inspect the finished tower.

‘That won’t take my weight,’ excused Yuudai, indicating he would stay on the ground with Yori. ‘Besides, I’m no good with heights.’

Miyuki looked at him in amusement. ‘How do you cope with being so tall?’

‘I just don’t look down!’ replied Yuudai with a laugh.

Working their way up the ladder, Jack and Miyuki eventually reached the top and gazed across the Okayama Plain. Below, the paddy fields were filling with water, Hayato labouring with a team of farmers to redirect the river along pre-dug channels.

‘You’ve done a great job, Jack,’ said Miyuki, surveying the defences that the Five Rings had inspired.

‘Thanks, but the carpenter did most of the work,’ Jack admitted.

‘I didn’t mean the tower. I was talking about your leadership. Once the moat is complete and the bridge dismantled, the village will be the fortress you envisaged. No matter how powerful and dangerous Akuma is, he’ll have second thoughts before raiding the farmers this year.’

‘It’s been a team effort,’ reminded Jack.

‘To lead people, you should walk beside them,’ said Miyuki, smiling warmly at him. ‘That’s exactly what you’ve done. You should be proud of yourself.’

She looked into Jack’s eyes with something more than admiration. ‘I’m glad I came to rescue you,’ she whispered, demurely lowering her gaze. ‘The clan hasn’t been the same since you left –’

‘Jack! We’ve got a problem,’ shouted Saburo, dashing into the square. He urgently beckoned them to join him on the eastern edge of the village.

‘This doesn’t sound good,’ said Jack, making for the ladder.