‘What is the purpose of this exercise?’

‘The purpose?’ Hosokawa said, incredulous. ‘I would have thought that was obvious. If your own sword can defeat you in your own hands, what hope do you have of ever defeating your enemy?’

The revelation of the point of the exercise renewed the efforts of all still standing. Everyone was keen to impress the sensei in their first lesson and they pushed on through the pain.

A few minutes later, though, two others dropped out, leaving only five students standing – Jack, Kazuki, Yamato, Akiko and Emi, an elegant but haughty girl, whom Jack had been told was the first daughter of the daimyo Takatomi, the sponsor of the school.

Akiko’s arms were beginning to shake badly, but she appeared determined to beat the remaining girl. Emi, however, was the more stable of the two. She looked over at Akiko and gave her a strained but victorious grin. She clearly didn’t wish to lose face either. Akiko began to take shallow breaths, willing herself to keep going. Out of the corner of Jack’s eye, he could see Emi’s arms beginning to drop. But then Akiko reached her physical limit and she dropped her bokken.

Barely a second later, Emi’s arms collapsed too.

‘Excellent,’ commented Hosokawa. ‘Emi-chan, you demonstrated strong fighting spirit. You earn my respect.’

They both went to sit down. On the way, Emi brushed into Akiko, a triumphant look on her face. Jack saw Akiko throw her a prickly look, evidently wanting the chance to wipe the supercilious expression off the girl’s face. Akiko, however, restrained herself and instead bowed politely.

‘We still have three valiant warriors left,’ announced Hosokawa. ‘Kohai, this is no longer about strength or stamina. This is about willpower. Mind over matter. It’s about testing the very limits of your endurance.’

Yamato was shaking like a tree in a storm. Jack knew he would not last much longer, but that didn’t matter. He was intent on outdoing Kazuki.

Kazuki, though, appeared as steady as a rock.

A few moment’s later, Yamato’s arms failed him and he had to join the others at the edge of the dojo.

Jack and Kazuki continued to battle it out – the fight as much in their own minds as with one another.

Kazuki’s arms suddenly shuddered under the weight of the bokken.

‘Kazuki!’ shouted Nobu in support and several other students immediately joined in. ‘Kazuki! Kazuki! Kazuki!’

Kazuki, revived by the support, straightened his arms out again. He grinned at Jack, confident of his victory over the gaijin.

Then Saburo blurted ‘Come on, Jack!’ and Akiko, Yamato and Kiku added to the chorus ‘Jack! Jack! Jack!’

The two boys stood in the centre of the Butokuden, warriors fighting an invisible war, their armies chanting from the wings.