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Your Body Is a Template Chapter 19: Meeting The Daimyo
A sword whistled past my head, sending lavender rivers of hair fluttering. Swords clashed and deflected off of one another like two snakes in an elaborate dance. Each vying for the other's throat, trying to find any opening.
Kojirou and I moved in a circle, neither giving ground nor backing away. The two of us instead moved closer to one another in a deadly dance. Despite how much I had improved, pulling off strikes from angles at such speeds I couldn’t hope to keep up with them before I arrived in the Land of Lightning.
Every angle was used, even unorthodox ones. All with a grace to it that made what I could do before look like a drunk paraplegic hobo trying to do a ballroom dance. Like waves, our blades slid off one another, creating sparks between each strike, with neither of us taking our eyes off the other.
We stared into the depths of the other, no emotion beyond just the thrill of the fight. Kojirou stepped in my guard, a slash aimed for my throat that was narrowly blocked with my own blade avoided when it nearly speared one of his eyes.
The boost I had gained after my clash with Zabuza was big, enough that Kojirou wasn’t killing me nearly as fast as he had when we began these mental battles.
Kojirou gracefully backed away. My eyes narrowed, knowing full well what he intended to do yet again. Moving towards the man without any hesitation in the hope I could stop him before he made his penultimate attack -- tsubaime gaishi.
One strike becomes three in one blow, and it always goes for the head. Just when I was in reach and my blade about to cleave through his throat, my perspective changed when his sword lashed out.
My vision spun before landing on the ground and rolling. I witnessed the blood spray out of the stump that was my neck and my body unceremoniously falling to the ground as if it were a puppet that just had its strings cut.
Kojirou, with a flourish, scattered the blood from his blade, sending it cascading on the surroundings. He calmly walked forward towards where my head lay and gave me a respectful bow.
“You have come a great deal since you first began.” Despite being a head on the ground, I couldn’t help but feel some pride well up inside of me.
I had gotten good enough that every time we clashed now Kojirou was using his infamous technique against me. A noble phantasm that was a byproduct of Kojirou’s unimaginable skill.
“But as things stand, with this being the thirteenth time I have beheaded you, this is the limit for you.”
What pride I had deflated at his comment. The reality around us stuttered briefly before everything realigned itself. Standing once more with a functioning body, I gave Kojirou a withering questioning look.
“What do you mean this is the limit for me?”
Kojirou was unfazed by the warning in my tone. “I mean, as things stand, it will take you too long to reach the level necessary to defeat me and break the cap to fully reach all that I can do.”
“Cap? Like a limiter?” I asked in disbelief, believing this entire time I could just train my ass off and reach Kojirou’s level.
“Yes. Why it was there I do not know. Likely another means to prevent you from just training in the wilderness nonstop as I used to do and becoming too powerful for anyone to fight you.”
Anger and annoyance bloomed at whoever was responsible for this. It was already bad enough, I had the stupid headband that everyone would be hunting for, and I can’t get rid of it nor hide the thing.
“It is not as bad as you think.” Kojirou said calmly, completely unaffected by the anger I felt at yet another roadblock that could get me killed.
“Oh really?! Why the fuck is that?"
Kojirou merely smiled like an adult looking down at a child that doesn’t understand something the adult does. “All you have to do to break past the limiter, as you call it, is to defeat me. Overcome me in a challenge and you will have full access to all of what I can do.”
I could only gape at him. He just chuckled, enjoying the dumbfounded look I gave him. “You think this is a joke?” I waved my hands in the air.
I had half a mind to draw my blade but knew, like every other fight we have had, he would win. It would take me far too long just to defeat him. I had grown much stronger since I started on my journey, but it was going to be a long time before I overcame Kojirou.
“No, but I do find the look on your face amusing. As you are now and have likely realized, you will not overcome me anytime soon. So it is time for me to fade away and let another take my place.”
What anger and annoyance being directed at him was doused out, and only surprise turned into lament hit me.
“Y-you can’t be serious. Maybe you could show me some special technique I could use. Or I could make up something from the various ideas I have for moves.” I tried to say in the vain hope of not losing my only companion that had been with me since this all started.
Despite everything, I didn’t want to be alone. I felt like Tom Hanks when he lost Wilson the beach ball.
Kojirou just shook his head wryly. "Relax, Daniel, I am not truly leaving you, and you will have a new companion. Learn from them as best you can, just as you had from me, and then face and overcome me.” His hand was held to me as I hesitantly took his hand and gave it a firm shake.
“I can see you again besides that, right?” I asked with hope.
He merely nodded. “You will. I am the foundation, the others will be what is added on. But whoever takes my place will be who you will be with for some time until you either overcome them or run into the same issue you did with me. When you properly defeat me, you can call upon me anytime you need to.”
“Goodbye, Kojirou.” I said sadly, but I was mollified knowing that I could meet him again.
“Goodbye Daniel. It was an honor to journey with you and teach you.” He bowed towards me.
I returned the gesture. “Thank you for putting up with me and showing me the beauty of the sword.”
He slowly faded away, turning into sparkling particles that were taken away by a phantom breeze. I stood there lost in my thoughts until a familiar voice spoke up.
“What the hell?!” My head snapped to look at a certain green-haired swordsman. “Oh. So that’s why I’m here.”
Roronoa Zoro stood off to my side looking around confused until he seemed to understand why he was here inside of my mind or soul. Never quite knew where this place was.
“Nice to meet you, Zoro.” I said with a wave as I felt strength enter my body. It wasn’t like the supernatural energies I had used before. It felt like it was naturally my own.
Looking at my hand and squeezing it, feeling strength enough to bend metal and crush rock without anything further enhancing me. It made me look in awe at what I lacked when Kojirou was my template.
“You're the guy who’s going to be using my skills, huh?” He said more than asked while idly digging for gold in his ear.
One of my eyes twitched at the casual disregard for me. He looked me over and eventually just treated me like someone would an ant.
"Yeah, my name is Daniel. Are you fully aware of the situation?”
Zoro closed his eyes and let out a sigh before just falling onto his back and enjoying the grass and fake sun overhead. "Yeah, I am. At least I’m not working with a complete amateur.”
Before either of us could say anything further, it all vanished when my eyes opened abruptly. A hand on my shoulder and my blade halfway out of its sheath before I realized where I was.
“At ease, Kojirou. We have arrived.” Gaman’s calm and understanding voice made me relax.
I looked up to see the old samurai giving me a disarming smile. I looked up only to find whatever I was about to say die on my tongue at the gargantuan and mesmerizing city that lay before my eyes.
Towering architecture mixed into the surrounding mountains that stretched up further into the heavens. The mountain had everything else within its shadow, even the varying sizes of the mountains around us were much smaller compared to this one.
The buildings were an odd mix of what looked like Russian styling with the rounded, almost onion-like tops meeting Japanese-styled buildings. Pillars of the same white material that made up the ancient bridges also were used on many buildings. The ones that had this the most were the more Russian-themed ones.
It was a kaleidoscope of color and light, as they even had electric streetlights and, of all things, neon signs. My mouth hung open while our large group moved across one of many massive bridges that led to the sprawling city that looked like it went on horizontally for several miles and who knows how many more it had when it climbed up the biggest mountain by far.
Buildings of kinds of better make and design could be seen the further up the mountain my eyes went. Numerous people moved about on the bridge, but a wide area was cleared out for us as we moved.
Other carriages that looked important, likely those of nobles of some kind or another, were moving across the bridge. They had walkways for people to walk on the sides of the main roads for the carriages. It was well organized and made, bringing order to what could have been chaos.
The latter I was expecting more of with how the city would have been made and built. Instead, it was a mix of chaos and order.
“Welcome to our capital of Fūju, Kojirou," Gaman said with pride.
“Hmph. Not half bad compared to some of the places I’ve been to. Seen a lot more impressive than this.” Zoro harrumphed within my mind.
“This is amazing.” I finally said once I had found my words. I ignored Zoro, acknowledging that the world of One Piece was rather absurd when it came to the things that existed there.
"Yes, it is. This city has been our country's greatest pride since its founding.” Lord Yasu chimed in.
The crowds parted for us as our escort of samurai made sure anyone looking to make any kind of attempt was dissuaded.
The city was alive, with people roaming about in large numbers that made me think of the massive cities back on Earth like New York. The smells were both good and bad. The smells of food being cooked but also of the trash and refuse in less well-off areas of the city.
The latter areas were few and far between but existed all the same. We moved into the city proper as I soaked in all the sights. Moving up the mountain using various platforms that acted as a fast means for the wealthy to go up the mountain, as I watched various workers use stairs to go about their business in the distance.
The platforms were controlled by various workers much like the ones that managed the various mountain paths. How they manipulated the stone platforms reminded me of earthbenders from Avatar.
Reaching the palace for the Daimyo, many nobles and what I assumed were monks, if their outfits and how they portrayed themselves compared to the nobles and servants were anything to indicate they watched us.
Plenty more samurai acted as guards both for the palace, which was a mixture of European design and Japanese. It was an odd mixture that somehow worked to make an impressive display.
Samurai stayed close by, walking along with a few nobles and the various robed figures that looked like stereotypical wise men, whispering into the ears of their compatriots.
We marched on into the palace, and the place was as massive on the inside as it was on the outside. Servants moved around the place, the halls and rooms in the place decorated with paintings, tapestries, anything and everything that showed the history and power that the Daimyo had at his disposal.
Unlike Gaman, the samurai around this place had that weighted training equipment that, as a byproduct, acted like armor for them.
Someone yelling had me look through a window to see a samurai drill instructor making several students all in neat rows and lines go through various kata with wooden swords.
“Ah, to be young again.” Gaman said wistfully.
“Their instructor must be quite capable. I doubt just anyone would be trusted with teaching future generations.” I idly commented.
Teaching was a skill in and of itself, just because you are good at something doesn’t mean you are a good teacher. A prime example of that in the original Naruto series was Kakashi. The guy didn’t teach team seven much of anything beyond bare-bones stuff, and the only one who really got anything of note out of him was Sasuke.
Kakashi was a talented and capable genius, but that didn’t mean he was a good teacher. The same way a NASCAR driver wasn’t going to be good at teaching drivers education even if they were absolutely phenomenal drivers themselves.
Gaman could only shake his head and let out a sigh. “Truly your sensei was lucky to have you as his student despite how lazy he was in teaching and training you. Intelligent and observant, using the only thing more important than samurai steel or our ki-- your mind.”
Some of the samurai had small signs they didn’t like Gaman’s comment, but the small slips in their steps or their behavior wasn’t directed at him but instead towards me.
I swear, you old bastard, you better not get me into a fight that could have been avoided.
“Ha! Screw that. I want to see just what these guys can do.” Zoro’s voice bounced around in my head. His desire to fight was made abundantly clear from his ecstatic tone.
“You are correct, any dumb muscle can pick up a sword and channel ki. But a true samurai uses this.” He taps the side of his head for emphasis. “Samurai teaching those below them have earned that right.”
A samurai standing by a doorway that could hear the conversation had their hand resting on the handle of their blade, and it creaked from their grip, becoming tighter.
“Don’t mind Gaman, Kojirou. He is… excited after what happened.” Yasu said beside us, right in the middle of our group and escort.
A pair of massive doors with a dozen samurai wearing ornate armor that wasn’t the same plain black and cream color the others wore. They had golden engravings and various symbols and designs carved into them.
Of the dozen samurai, only one of them, who looked to be in his mid-thirties, stood out wearing courtly-styled robes with two swords at his side. He looked long and hard at Yasu, who flinched away from the man’s inquiring gaze and tried to look anywhere else besides at the man.
I never thought the one escort job I took on would have led to all of this even if it was incredibly suspicious from the beginning. My gaze went towards Gaman and then Yasu. My hand over my blade grew tight when I thought of all the people who died because of Yasu…
Then it relaxed as I forced it out of me in a long sigh. The man nodded slowly and gestured, and the doors near silently, despite their size and what they had to weigh, opened.
Inside was a spacious throne room with red pillars on the edges and numerous floors with observers on all of them in the massive chamber. On the same level as us was a gold and black throne with the back of the seat made to look like a black cloud with lightning bolts raining out of it.
Behind it a vast tapestry showed a massive serpentine dragon clashing with the same weird lizard deer thing I saw engravings back on one of the bridges the ancient civilization built.
On the seat sat an older man, and unlike Yasu, this guy was in shape. What could be seen of his pale complexion was his forearms on display from his robes, which were well muscled.
He had black mutton chops that smoothly transitioned into his mustache and beard. Combined with a swept-back black hair and piercing yellow eyes that made me think of a wolf, he made for an intimidating sight.
We all entered the throne room, and Lord Yasu stepped ahead of our group, and as one, we all bowed deeply. I didn’t fail to notice the muttering of the court directed towards me and the headband, along with the Daimyo staring intently at me for a second longer than most of everyone else.
“Rise, Yasu. State your business.” He was short and to the point, his voice heard across the chamber by all. He sounded like he chewed on gravel daily and drank the strongest liquor he could find.
The man beside him with long silver hair held his hand up in a prayer-type gesture while his other hand held some type of ceremonial staff of some kind.
A monk. Likely the one responsible for his voice being heard by all in the chamber.
Yasu did as told, quickly getting up and getting down to business. “I come to ask for aid and for protection. But most of all to have the crimes placed upon me removed.” He said with steel in his voice.
He sounded like he finally found a backbone. A part of me was torn when it came to the kid. On one hand, he got a bunch of people killed that had no business being a part of that job. On the other hand, considering what happened to him and who was hunting him, I could understand getting desperate even if it doesn’t make me feel any better.
The muttering grew stronger amidst those watching the proceedings. A hand held up by the Daimyo silenced them.
He slowly nodded before closing his eyes as if he were in contemplation. “I see. You know it is no easy thing to rescind such crimes.”
“I have done nothing wrong.” He began to choke up for a moment before he paused and found his strength to continue. “Only research into the means to make things easier for our people. Things that could help with productivity and daily life.”
“For you, these may seem simple things to help my people, but to other nations it appears as if we are trying to break certain unspoken agreements.” He coolly replied, making a tension begin to form between the two.
Yasu wasn’t undeterred, however. “Nonsense. Better roadways and paths across the mountains would do us wonders. Alongside understanding how the various mountaintops worked, we could develop means to allow for more expansion efforts higher up into the mountains.”
The various nobles were enjoying the sight of Yasu having to argue his case with his father. From what I could tell, this could either go good or bad for the kid.
“Helping with our growing population and developing better infrastructure.” Yasu listed off various reasons and argued his case. He went on like this for several minutes, getting more animated the longer he went.
He was passionate about it, but I think the interest stemmed from the ancient civilizations, and the help it could bring to his people was just a byproduct of said interest and not what drove him onwards to understand how the legacies left behind by the past worked the way they did.
The conversation went on with his father despite having a gruff voice. It also came off smooth as silk, oddly enough. The two went back and forth, and from what I could observe of Yasu's father, he was just putting on a show. He was making it look convincing to those watching.
Politics. Anytime that word gets brought up, I know back things are bound to follow with it.
Eventually they both settled down as the lightning Daimyo stood up and calmly walked forward. “Despite your crimes, what you have discovered and what you have managed to find of use to my great nation, I hereby decree you are absolved of your crimes.”
Yasu relaxed as all the tension bled out of him. His father had a small, almost unnoticeable smile. His eyes trailed over to me and stayed on me for a second longer before he looked away.
My eyes watched the armored samurai whose armor, much like the ones at the doors, was highly decorated, but unlike them, their armor didn’t have the stiffness I had come to notice after Gaman pointed it out to me.
Looking back on my time with Senjumaru, I realized he did have slight stiffness to his movements, however minor it was. Like something was barely restraining him, and it was only noticeable if you knew what to look for. These guys had none of that. Every move was perfectly fluid, almost like the suit was moving as one with them.
They remained near the Daimyo, just standing near the throne. After that we all left the chamber and were held inside of a well-furnished room.
I reclined on a couch while Gaman looked ready to throw himself out of a window as Yasu drove him up a wall. He was discussing with me what I had seen while clashing with Zabuza. That was probably the only thing keeping Gaman sane was hearing of my fight.
“The lightning engulfed Zabuza when I tossed the charged sword at him.”
“Gaman, still no word on a body?” Yasu asked his guardian.
“None. The shinobi found nothing. No sign of a body anywhere. Nor of the surviving ronin.” Gaman growled out the last part as he held a determined look in his eyes.
Yasu looked back towards me. I had gone into detail about what little I could remember of the things carved into the weapon or whatever you wanted to call it. There was a warrior-like figure who had lightning above them.
Whatever he was about to say was silenced when the door to the room opened and none other than the lightning Daimyo himself stepped into the room. The monk from before, who I assumed was his advisor, stayed near the door.
A glimpse outside showed a large group of samurai standing at attention, looking more ceremonial, like those suits of armor meant for knights. Some places liked to place down a long hallway to look cool, and I can see why, considering how intimidating it looks and how it is a good display of power.
The door closed after the one samurai who was at the throne room doors that ushered them in. For a moment everyone stood frozen. No sudden moves, no words, just staring at one another.
Then it was broken.
“It is good to see you're still alive, Yasu.” The Daimyo said gently. “And an even greater waste had you died in that god's forsaken place.”
His father stepped closer, looking at each of them, before his gaze settled on me. He looked at me as if dissecting everything about me with his eyes, looking at the headband far too many times for my liking.
“You have my gratitude, Kojirou. I believe your name is?”
“It is.” I said back calmly, ready to draw my weapon should he try to have the headband taken. The man with the number two headband remained at ease, but I knew better than to believe I could move fast enough before he could do anything.
“Sounds like he’s strong… This could be fun.” Zoro spoke up, and of course he takes an interest in the powerful samurai that would have plenty of reasons to attack me right now.
“You have aided my country, my exiled bastard son, and by extension, me.” Yasu opens his mouth to speak, but the gentle expression the daimyo had shifted to a stern one. “The reason you are being allowed into the capital is because of Kojirou.”
Yasu gapes like a fish, while Gaman has a proud look at the mention of me. It makes me come up short as to why it’s me that Yasu is allowed to be here.
“B-b-but, Father! Why?!” He exclaimed in shock, struggling to find his words.
He slowly turned to look at Yasu and gave him a look that made him wither under it.
“Because Kojirou not only managed to save your life and helped uncover a hidden relic of unknown capabilities, but he also stopped stone shinobi from acquiring intel on my nation. And beyond all of that, he even provided a powerful ninjutsu that we have confirmed to be one created by the famed fourth Hokage.”
Gaman froze before he slowly turned his head to look at me. I remained staring straight at the Daimyo and not looking at anyone else.
“The infamous rasengan. The technique developed as a means for shinobi to combat samurai. How did you come to have this knowledge, Kojirou?” He asked, though it was more of an order than anything else.
I swallowed, steadying myself, forcing my heart and breathing to remain normal.
“I am capable of using chakra, chi, and ki. Considering this thing on my arm, I’ve had to come up with various methods to handle anyone after it.” My head nodded towards the man wearing the number two.
He had no emotion on his face and made no move to attack. The Daimyo remained quiet before a chuckle escaped him. His lips curved up.
“I like this one.” He said towards the monk and samurai, who both quirked a brow. I even think I see a hint of a smile on the monk's face.
“Open minded, resourceful, incredibly capable… Yasu, you were fortunate to find him under your employ. If you hadn't, you would be dead, and worse than that, barred from entering the capital.”
He held his hand up, stopping Yasu from saying anything.
“Because of what Kojirou has done for this nation and how he is the holder of the number one, he has earned the privilege for me to allow him to become a samurai under my employ. He is the reason you are allowed to stay here and are no longer exiled. But know this, son, there are consequences, and you have learned a mere fraction of how bad they can be.”
I noted how they weren't even asking me if I wanted to take the offer. I cleared my throat as he paused and turned towards me. The samurai placed his hand on his sword, but a look from the daimyo had him stop and relax.
“Calm yourself, he has done my nation a great service, and he is honest about things. I prefer that compared to the snakes in court.” He said that last part with great disdain. “Speak Kojirou.”
I contemplate how to word it. How to come off as polite and telling the truth and with the words he has spoken with everything he has conveyed on what he prefers… fuck it. The truth it is, even if it is as blunt as a warhammer.
“Do you intend to have me killed for the number one?”
A beat passed. Then several more before the Daimyo laughed, a deep guffaw leaving his gut. He waved his hand towards his monk advisor and his guard.
“See? Honest! I love it.” He turned back towards me. “No. I have no intention of messing about with such a thing even if it is true, which I believe the stories,” His eyes briefly wandered towards the samurai near the door. “Have some merit.”
“It is far more trouble than it would ever be worth trying to acquire it. Tell me, what do you think would happen if Tokugawa killed you on my order and made whatever wish he wanted?”
I could only blink at that. My mouth opened, but I stopped myself from speaking the first thing that came to mind. This guy is not an idiot, and I doubt he wants the obvious answer like he gets his wish.
“I think… the headband would remain on him after he gets it, so anyone interested in getting their wish would come for him here in your country. It possibly would never go away.”
He slowly nodded. “My thoughts as well. It is why I have made no attempt to capture you and let Tokugawa have an easy kill… not that he would ever accept such a thing, preferring to give you a fighting chance.”
“Then why have me under your employ knowing what will be coming here for me causing who knows how much trouble?”
“Because you are worth the trouble… and it would look bad on me to turn my back on you after all you have done.” There was a lot not being said, and my mind raced miles every second.
“Am I allowed to leave the country?” A stupid question, but I’d rather know up front here and now since he has been somewhat out in the open with everything.
“You are. I wouldn’t recommend it considering word will spread of what happened and you being here in the Land of Lightning.” The monk spoke this time. His voice was smooth and calm like the caress of silk.
He and the Daimyo shared a look.
“Raishō is correct. Those that pursue you will be coming, and you have seen how vast this land is. I would recommend considering my offer to work under me. Think about it.”
After that he turned and left the room. I turned towards Gaman and didn’t bother looking towards Yasu, who looked like he had both bitten into a lemon and wanted to cry.
“It is a generous offer, Kojirou. Something most wandering ronin would never find themselves being given.”
“How long do you think I have until I must give an answer?”
“That depends on the mood of the Daimyo, but I would give it a day.”
I could only shake my head. “I fucking hate politics.”
That got a good laugh out of Gaman, who just threw his head back.
