Enryaku-ji Forceful Petition

At first, the nobles found it strange that Ninja stories were included in the Tale of the Heike, and some astutely realized that it was probably a means for Izuna to change people's impression of Ninjas.

They ordered their men to stop them, but the surrounding Ninjas blocked all dissent and suppressed them.

The nobles know the importance of public opinion, and now some commoners are starting to speak well of the Ninjas, which is not a good sign.

But the familiar storyline put them at ease.

This is the story of the Tale of the Heike, and it remains unchanged even with the addition of Ninjas.

The Taira slowly decayed amidst its prosperity, and the three Ninjas within it didn't even have the thought to change anything, simply watching helplessly as everything unfolded.

The ministers whispered among themselves with delight.

"He really is Ninja."

"It's laughable that even adapting a story can only result in such a boring version."

"The singing was quite good, but as expected... right..."

The audience members below the stage were unaware of the story of the Taira; they simply found the performances on stage quite interesting, and they thoroughly enjoyed the children's antics and Izuna's singing at special moments.

But if it's just stories like that, that's all they see in their daily lives.

People started to find it boring.

The story of the Taira was difficult for them to empathize with, but the Ninjutsu used at the Hashirama raised their expectations.

They simply couldn't continue reading this bland and uninspired narration.

Since we already have Ninjas, why not let them fight? They want to see battles! Preferably the kind where blood flows like a river!

Their curiosity and desire to see something new made them shout.

"Hey! Stop with the highbrow stuff! We don't watch any Shirabyōshi or rich girls!"

"That's right! Since they're Ninjas, let them fight!"

"Let's fight! Let's fight!"

Only a few audience members were shouting. So far, most people were wary of the Ninjas standing around the venue and remained silent, but they were beginning to get impatient.

Izuna remained completely calm, and his words came out once again.

"After returning to the Capital from Itsukushima Shrine, something happened."

A few days ago, Fujiwara no Moritsune, who was in charge of Kaga, passed by a mountain temple.

He entered the temple, hoping to get some hot water for a bath.

He was refused, which led to a conflict with the monks in the temple.

Unexpectedly, he launched a night attack and burned the temple to the ground.

Flames shot into the sky, engulfing the mountain temple.

The wood crackled and sputtered under the intense heat, billowing thick smoke that blotted out the sky and tinged even the moonlight with an ominous dark red.

The Buddha statues twisted and collapsed in the flames, the monks' quarters were reduced to charcoal, and the chanting of sutras was completely replaced by the roar of flames.

This scene was vividly reflected in the eyes of the Warrior Monks who rushed over.

The horrific scene before them ignited their anger.

"Shisei... Fujiwara no Moritsune!" The leading Warrior Monks's face looked particularly ferocious in the Kakkō. He slammed his vajra on the ground, cracking the stone slab beneath his feet.

Without the slightest hesitation, they went straight to Enryaku- Enryaku-ji Mount Hiei.

Enryaku-ji possessed the most powerful group of Warrior Monks and the highest religious authority.

The high monks of Enryaku-ji were furious upon hearing of this. Such a cruel act had been committed against the pure and sacred Buddhist sanctuary; this practice must not be allowed to continue!

Soon, a highly respected monk representing Enryaku-ji arrived at the Imperial Palace.

With an air of impending doom, they demanded that the imperial court severely punish the arsonist Fujiwara no Moritsune, as well as his brother Fujiwara no Morotaka, who, as the governor of Kaga, condoned his brother's evil deeds.

However, the court's response was like a bucket of cold water poured on their burning anger.

"This matter... requires further investigation." The Court Noble looked troubled, their words hesitant.

"Young Master Shijing is young and impetuous; perhaps there's some misunderstanding between him and the monks..."

"Compensation and rebuilding the temple are both negotiable."

Procrastination, shirking responsibility, and muddling through.

Because Shi Jing and Shi Gao's father was Saikō Hōshi, one of Retired Emperor Go-Shirakawa's most trusted close advisors, who accompanied the Cloistered Emperor practice and had a great influence on Cloistered Emperor.

"Saikō Hōshi is deeply trusted by His Cloistered Emperor. If this matter is handled too harshly, I'm afraid..." Such whispers circulated among the Court Nobles.

The Cloistered Emperor's attitude was ambiguous. Amidst the pleas of his close advisors and the pressure from the Buddhist community, he chose temporary silence and favoritism, leaning towards those close to him.

The official investigation has been slow to yield convincing results, and the so-called discussions have also progressed slowly.

The court offered nothing more than a perfunctory document and some half-hearted promises of compensation to the burned-down temples and the monks whose dignity had been humiliated.

"This is outrageous!" The monks of Enryaku-ji were utterly enraged.

They realized that, in the presence of nobles and the Cloistered Emperor's close advisors, the so-called dignity of Buddhism and the justice of the law were nothing more than things that could be sacrificed at any time.

"The imperial court is corrupt and incapable of upholding justice!"

"The Buddha's wrath is not to be trifled with! Since the court is inactive, we will take matters into our own hands to protect the Dharma!"

The sight of the burning temple and the indifferent, evasive attitude of the imperial court burned alternately in the hearts of the Warrior Monks.

Anger and disappointment eventually coalesced into a resolute force.

A large number of Warrior Monks began to assemble, carrying sacred trees, bearing Dharma protector banners, and wielding knives and clubs, like a black torrent, sweeping down the mountain...

Their target was the Capital City, the palace and mansions of the powerful who sheltered criminals!

"Look! Warrior Monks! It's Mountain Monks!"

"They're carrying a sacred tree! My God, are they trying to force a lawsuit!"

The people of the Capital City were talking in fear and were fleeing the city.

The so-called "forced lawsuit" refers to the Warrior Monks using their military force and status as representatives of gods and Buddhas to stage collective demonstrations, surround or even storm government residences, and force the imperial court to meet their demands.

This is their most troublesome trump card, causing headaches for both the court and military factions.

The black robes of the monks formed a torrent, and the heavy footsteps, chanting, and angry shouts mingled together, shattering the peace of the Capital.

Below the stage, the audience, who had been restless and dissatisfied with the lackluster plot, now held their breath, their eyes wide, staring intently at the solemn and magnificent scene of the Warrior Monks marching on stage.

The nobles had heard the Biwa Hōshi's singing many times, but this was the first time they had ever seen such a scene in person.

These monks were, of course, also played by Ninjas.

The menacing aura they exuded was genuinely honed through battlefield combat; how can ordinary actors compare to them?

Meanwhile, on the other side of the stage, the Ninjas of the Taira and Higa were also ready.

The neatly dressed group stood behind Taira no Shigemori.

Your subject pays respects to Your Majesty.

"Why are you so late?!" Retired Emperor Shirakawa shouted, "I heard that thousands of monks from Enryaku-ji Palace! You Samurai and Ninjas were prepared for this moment!"

"Shigemori! Take your troops and defend the palace gates at all costs!"

Shigemori lowered his head.

"Yes."

The sound of Izuna's Biwa) began to play.

The Taira clan and their hired ninjas fought against the Enryakuji monks.

Amidst the cacophony of Biwa, Shigemori shouted, "Listen up! Just drive the mountain monks away! Don't aim for vital organs! And! Under no circumstances should you damage the palanquin! That's the Dwelling of the gods!"

The palanquin he was referring to was the small palanquin with a golden roof that was surrounded by monks.

That was the reason why the Warrior Monks were so fearless.

Gods and Buddhas are the best reason; with that, no one dares to truly harm them.

But they were wrong.

In Retired Emperor Shirakawa's view, these monks who frequently invoked gods and Buddhas and used their faith to coerce the court were an eyesore and a persistent problem that constrained imperial and public power.

Now that they've delivered themselves to our doorstep, if we can use the Taira to "accidentally" overreact in self-defense and cause heavy casualties, wouldn't that be killing two birds with one stone?

This would both severely dampen the arrogance of the Warrior Monks and shift the blame for this blood debt onto the increasingly powerful Taira, causing the angry Buddhist forces to direct their anger towards the Taira Clan rather than towards him, the Cloistered Emperor.

Why not use one enemy to devour another?

Shintarō was dressed in black, just like the other Ninjas of the Higa, and his usual lazy and leisurely expression was gone.

He stood slightly behind the ranks of the Taira Samurai, with two elite Ninjas from the Higa who had come as reinforcements standing silently behind him, temporarily under his command.

His gaze was sharp as a knife, quickly sweeping over the surging army of Warrior Monks opposite him.

Amidst the sea of black monks in their robes, a few figures stood out conspicuously.

Their movements carried the unique habits of Ninjas, and their bodies reacted with Chakra. They were rogue ninjas who had left their original Shinobi Clans or joined temples for various reasons, becoming "Buddhist Ninjas " or elite Rōnin among the Warrior Monks.

We can no longer deal with these guys with the mindset of "driving them away".

"See those?" Shintarō's voice was extremely low, only audible to his three companions behind him. "Those are tough guys. Once we engage, take them out first, don't hold back."

"Yes, Lord Shintarō."

On the other side, Takuichi and Shinrei mingled with the Taira Samurai, guarding the Taikenmon.

They gripped their Kunai or Short Swords tightly, their throats dry, and they subconsciously swallowed.

Shigemori Shigemori's orders to "avoid vital organs" and "do not damage the sacred palanquin" still echoed in their ears, but the sight of the dark mass of roaring Warrior Monks charging towards them, with their overwhelming ferocity, made the hearts of the two young Ninjas pound wildly.

This is unlike any other training session or mission we've ever carried out before; this is a battlefield, a true life-or-death mass assault.

The battle erupted the moment the torrent of Warrior Monks crashed into the Samurai's Defensive Line!

The strings of the Biwa in Izuna's arms suddenly became rapid and intense, like a sudden rainstorm hitting a tin roof, or like ten thousand horses galloping. His singing also rose in pitch.

"And then—!"

"The monks carried the palanquin in front, entering through the East Taikenmon!"

The monks swarmed in, and the Samurai drew their bows and shot!

On stage, the scene unfolds as the song begins. The Warrior Monks shout and surround the gleaming golden palanquin, which crashes towards the Taikenmon like a black tide.

The Taira Samurai gritted their teeth, drew their bows, and unleashed a hail of arrows at the charging crowd.

"Under the rain of arrows, even the divine sedan chair was not spared."

"The priest was shot dead, and many believers were also wounded."

The lyrics don't mention Ninjas at all; the dialogue sounds like it's just about minor conflicts.

But what was presented on stage was completely different.

A powerful arrow struck the magnificent roof of the palanquin with a resounding "thud."

Immediately afterwards, more arrows struck around the palanquin with a clattering sound.

The Warrior Monks carrying the palanquin screamed and fell to the ground, and the palanquin, which was said to be the Dwelling of the gods, immediately tilted to one side.

The Warrior Monks were not completely routed by stray arrows as the nobles had imagined.

"Earth Release! Earth Style Wall!" "Water Release! Water Formation Wall!"

"A palanquin!" "That hateful thing! How dare they!!"

"Everyone! Do not be afraid! This is for the sake of Buddhism's honor! Follow me and charge!"

"Oh oh!"

With the resistance of the Rōnin, the vast majority of the monks did not lose their fighting ability.

They charged straight at the Taira Clan's formation.

Once the battle begins, casualties are like water bursting its banks, becoming uncontrollable.

The Samurai's longswords clashed with the Warrior Monks' swords and clubs, producing a piercing metallic clang and the dull thud of flesh being torn apart.

Roars, screams, and the sounds of weapons piercing flesh instantly drowned out everything else.

The Ninjas of the Higa moved.

They slipped into the battle like phantoms, their target being the few Rōnin Warrior Monks that Shintarō had pointed out.

The other side noticed immediately, and the two sides instantly engaged in battle. Kunai and Shuriken collided in mid-air, sparks flying, and the Taijutsu combat was so fast it was dazzling. Occasionally, bursts of Ninjutsu would stir up small areas of dust or air currents.

Shintarō's movements were elusive, weaving through the chaos like a fish. His attacks seemed random, yet they always managed to precisely interrupt his opponent's crucial movements, creating opportunities for his comrades to kill.

He knew that there was no room for mercy at this moment, and that his opponent's every move was deadly.

At first, Takuichi tried to follow orders and not harm the monks, striking them with the back of his knife and subduing them with Taijutsu.

But a Warrior Monks, blinded by rage, disregarded his own injuries and pounced like a mad tiger, his heavy dagger aimed straight at his face.

Takuichi barely managed to block it, his arm going numb from the impact. Meanwhile, the other man pulled out a short cone and stabbed it viciously into his ribs!

At the critical moment of life and death, Takuichi's mind went blank for a moment, and all commands were overwhelmed by the instinct to survive.

He almost instinctively twisted his body, his Kunai tracing a sharp arc before precisely plunging into the other man's throat.

Warm liquid splashed all over his face.

The Warrior Monks's eyes widened, and he collapsed, clutching his neck.

Takuichi stood frozen, clutching the blood-stained Kunai, his body trembling slightly.

Shinrei's situation is even worse.

She attempted to use her speed and agility to maneuver Warrior Monks, using ropes or Shurikens to restrict their movements.

But the chaos on the battlefield far exceeded expectations. Before dying, a Warrior Monks who had been cut down by Samurai clung tightly to her ankle, and another Warrior Monks, seeing this, swung his bloodstained club and smashed it hard on her head.

Shinrei's pupils contracted, and at the last second, she turned her head to dodge, the force of the stick stinging her cheek.

She shoved the Kunai into the attacker's chest with her other hand.

The other person's heavy body pressed down on her, and the heavy smell of blood and death instantly enveloped her.

She pushed the corpse away forcefully, her face pale, and her stomach churning.

Even though the Ninjas restrained themselves and avoided using large-scale destructive Ninjutsu, the destruction and death caused by individual battles were still shocking.

Those "Rōnin" mixed among the Warrior Monks were even more unscrupulous, attacking ruthlessly, forcing the Taira Clan's Ninjas to resort to deadly attacks to protect themselves.

The battles quickly became brutal and efficient, often resulting in a life-or-death situation in a single encounter.

Izuna's Biwa continued to play in a strange, almost frenzied rhythm, as if Accompaniment this bloody dance.

Severed limbs, blood flowing freely, lives were harvested like weeds.

This battle between forceful prosecution and repression began suddenly and ended just as quickly.

Under the overwhelming force of their superior military might and their well-prepared defenses, the wave of Warrior Monks' charge was forcefully contained and shattered.

As Izuna's last syllable faded away, the battle on stage was also drawing to a close.

The last remaining Rōnin was killed by Shintarō and two other Higa Ninjas, his body falling heavily to the ground.

The shouts of battle and the clash of weapons gradually subsided, leaving only the painful groans and suppressed gasps of the wounded.

The Taikenmon was in complete disarray.

The once vermilion palace gates were now stained dark with blood, and dozens of corpses of Warrior Monks lay scattered on the ground, along with many wounded and captured ones, trembling under the blades of Samurai.

The air was thick with an overwhelming, nauseating stench of blood.

The golden palanquin, which symbolized gods and Buddhas and was once the greatest reliance of the Warrior Monks, lay askew to one side. Its body was covered with knife marks and arrow holes, the gold paint had peeled off, and it was covered with mud and bloodstains, having long lost its sacred luster.

Below the stage, the few remaining audience members who had previously clamored to see "rivers of blood" now stood with their mouths agape, unable to utter a sound.

The vast majority of the audience turned pale and fell silent, some timid women even covering their mouths tightly with handkerchiefs, trying to suppress their discomfort.

They did indeed witness battle, bloodshed, and even death, but the scenes, so real and brutal, devoid of any romantic or fictional elements, did not bring the thrill of the exotic, but rather the most direct visual and psychological impact.

This was not the cool Chunin Ninjutsu they imagined, but the most primitive and bloody violence of crushing each other.

During the banquet for nobles, the ministers who had been whispering and mocking the Ninjas for being "boring" fell silent, their faces turning somewhat grim.

They might be pleased to see the Warrior Monks suffer a setback, but the naked massacre before them, and the cold-blooded scheme of the Cloistered Emperor to use them as pawns, sent chills down their spines.

The efficiency and ruthlessness displayed by the Higa Ninjas gave them a new, less reassuring understanding of the destructive power of the "Ninja" as a tool.

Shinrei stood among the corpses, still clutching a blood-stained Kunai in her hand, looking around blankly.

Takuichi was standing in the distance, staring blankly at his own hands.

Shintarō silently put away his weapon, his face returning to its usual calm.

The story continues.

The bloody scene on the ground gradually disappeared as the Shadow Clones and Genjutsu were dispelled.

The Ninjas quickly left the field and brought in new props.