Chapter 13: Mihachiro Enters the Tiger's Den

  "What? Ki... Kira... Yakamashi-sama?" Tomoda Masatoshi went limp like he had lost all his bones, his face turning pale and then white again, shocked and terrified, sitting on the ground not knowing what expression to make, whether to flatter with a smile or kneel down in worship. Tomoda Masatoshi was already dizzy.

  "Huh? What made Mihachiro realize my true identity?" He thought he had met someone of the same age, but roughly calculating, Bitou Mihachiro was three years older than himself. This guy was a genuine political powerhouse, and he also wanted to see just how formidable he was.

  "Yes! The little man saw the two crests on the hakama of the big man."

  Honma's eyes were good, and although the sky was still bright, the light in the forest was not good. Kiryū Manzōmaru wore a light brown hakama today, with a white crest of two families on it, which would not be recognized by people even under the sun, but was recognized by Honma in this forest.

  Kiriyama Manzoumaru didn't expect this guy's eyes to be so good, and immediately decided to try him again: "Do you know the two families of Kiriyama? Then tell me which one is the main family of the two Kiriyamas?"

  "This... Please forgive me for my presumptuous transgression!" Bando Yahei again knelt down and kowtowed.

  "Alright! I pardon you of your crime." Kirishima Manzoumaru waved his long sleeve and said, "Tell me quickly!"

  "Yakata-dono is the head of the Kira family, the Kira Ue-Yakata." Honda Tadakatsu bowed his head and said: "Because although the Shimo-Yakata-dono is also in the Totomi Province, the fiefs and vassals are mostly in the Mikawa Province, Hōei, Atsumi, and others, only the Ue-Yakata-dono is in the province of Bishū, and... the Shimo-Yakata-dono is the elder brother of the Ue-Yakata-dono, he came of age last year, but the Ue-Yakata-dono has not yet come of age."

  "Your mind is really meticulous!" Kiryu Manshōmaru smiled and nodded, then turned to Honda Tadamasu and said: "Your two sons are going to leave the family to become a minor surname, so let your family's hawk breeding business be inherited by Sanma instead!"

  "Yes! Yes! I'll make sure to thank you in the next life, and my two children will thank you in the next generation!" Bonten Toshimasa knelt down again and bowed his head, but Kira Yoshinaka simply waved his hand dismissively and ignored him. Bonten Toshimasa could only grit his teeth and hug his family's black hawk tightly as he took three steps back and turned to leave. His youngest son, San'ya, didn't understand what was happening and looked at his father in confusion as he walked away without even acknowledging him, calling out twice before bursting into loud tears.

  Yagira Manzaburou scolded Yamagata Zenzaburou, who then chimed in, "Master of the mansion, what about these two country brats?"

  "These two will be enrolled in the small surname for a while! The sky is not early, prepare to start returning to Saigō Castle!" Kiryū Manzaburou instructed a few words and said to Honda Yoriharu: "Pacify your younger brother and follow the main house back to Saigō Castle."

  "Yes!" Mononofu Yahei hugged his younger brother, Mononofu San'ya, and said in a soothing tone, "San'ya can't cry! Do you remember your dream? A person who loves to cry can't become a samurai!"

  "But brother, Sanma doesn't want to be a warrior now, Sanma wants to go home."

  Honda Tadakatsu was born in the fourteenth year of Tenmon, and at the age of five (actually four), he didn't understand what a samurai did. Country children are not easily intimidated, so after being coaxed by his older brother Honda Naizen for a while and scolded a few times, he quietly cried for a bit before falling asleep due to exhaustion. Children of this age tend to be quite stubborn.

  Returning to Saijo Castle, the last remnants of sunset had not yet dispersed, under the command of Kira Yoshinaka, the small surnames quickly arranged a room for the two brothers to live in, the Kira family's residence has always been built according to the standard of two people per room, each room is about three tsubo (about 3.3 square meters), including Sanmaru's samurai residence is also the case.

  The mansion had a bed and a folding door, and even prepared a clean quilt. Bando Mihachiro was very grateful for such good accommodation, but he was puzzled why there was no fireplace in the room. He asked Yamagishi Zentaro in a low voice, but was stared at by the latter and lost his interest. It was Xiaoxing who told him that the food and lodging of the Kira family were provided by the steward, with three meals a day at fixed times and quantities, as long as he brought his own plate, bowl and chopsticks to get food.

  After spending several happy days in collective life, Yamato Yagoro got to know many new friends. The unfamiliarity and vigilance he had when he first arrived at Saijo Castle quietly disappeared, making him feel fresh everywhere in this new home. The beautiful castle, the spacious and flat town below, the gentle townspeople, and the friendly colleagues, under the help of his colleague Shougen, learned to take turns serving the lord of the mansion, participating in the big cleaning, practicing martial arts, practicing archery, and occasionally even practicing horse riding. This life was something he had never thought of before.

  Apart from Yamagata Zentarō, that detestable fellow who occasionally comes to pick a fight and is somewhat annoying, life has been pleasant and happy. Of course, the greatest joy is still being able to serve by Kirishima Banshūmaru's side, especially since Kirishima Banshūmaru likes to lend books he has read to the younger attendants, making everyone from top to bottom extremely grateful to him.

  Kijirō Manzamaru also put his mind at ease, seeing Honda Tadakatsu and his brother blend in well with the others. The cunning fox who would later be known for his deep schemes was still just a young boy, lacking the cleverness and sufficient experience to be considered a prodigy. Having grown up in hardship in the countryside, he was overwhelmed by the new experiences in Nishijō Castle, which shattered his simple values formed until then. In just a few days, he showed an active and lively attitude, seemingly enjoying this life very much.

  After several days of settling in, the Hattori clan was also very satisfied with their current life. The women and children of the Hattori family got along well with the Kirishima family's relatives. The Kirishima family encouraged the women to do some work within their ability, such as providing spinning wheels and ramie, which the women would spin into hemp thread and then weave into clothes. These clothes were sold by the Kirishima family's merchants, and for each piece of clothing made, they could earn a fee. This was the handicraft workshop inside the Kirishima house.

  Hattori Hanzo was in charge of organizing the Iga ninja and served as the first leader of the Iga ninja. To show his gratitude to Tokugawa, he gritted his teeth and pulled out all 48 adult males from his clan, except for ten skilled and young ninjas who were assigned to guard Tokugawa's residence, the rest were divided into the newly established Iga ninja group.

  On this day, Kira Yoshinaka had Hattori Hanzo bring his five sons to the Honmaru Goten, and looking at the five brothers kneeling in a row, their heads of different sizes, Kira Yoshinaka said with great pleasure: "Are these the five brothers of the Hattori family? What are their names?"

  "Your Majesty, I am Fujiwara no Yasumoto!" This was the eldest son, about sixteen or seventeen years old, and looked very much like his father.

  "Your subordinate, Fubo Baoyou!" A miniature version of Xiao Yihao, about 14 or 15 years old.

  "Minamoto no Hōshun!" This was a young samurai named Hōshun who had just come of age and was about the same age as Honda Masanobu.

  "Minister, Furuhashi Shirō!" This one was even smaller, but his expression was very serious, trying hard to do as well as his older brother.

  "Your subordinate... Your subordinate, Hifumi Fubo!" This one is still lying down with a runny nose.

  ……

  "These are all the future talents of the Hattori family, Lord Hattori's successor is assured!" Upon hearing the family head's praise, Hattori Yasunaga hurriedly showed humility.

  "Is the common character of the Hattori family 'Ho'?" Kiryū Manzōmaru found it strange that they all had the character "Ho", wasn't there a common character "Tadashi"? Wouldn't it be a big loss if he, this butterfly, flapped his wings and made Hattori Masanari disappear?

  "Yes! My family has used 'Hō' as a shared character for generations. My younger brother, Hattori Masakiyo, branched out with the character 'Masashi'. I find it somewhat awkward that all five brothers share the same character... Initially, my younger brother and I each had our own character, so I thought of changing characters when the fourth and fifth sons came of age. Since you think the character 'Masashi' is good, let's use it as a shared character for the two of us to pass down through generations!"

  Note: This isn't actually an Easter egg, but some friends can't figure out who Honda Yatarō is? Well, let's just say it straight out! Honda Yatarō is actually Honda Masanobu, and Honda Sanitaro is actually Honda Masashige.