A black carriage slowly entered Kaizai City near the Sacred Mausoleum.
Inside sat a mysterious, lean man wearing a conical hat.
The moment he entered the city, someone came to meet him and led the carriage to a grand residence.
A considerable number of Japanese experts had already gathered within the residence, waiting for his arrival.
A small number of them were experts summoned by Owari Clan Lord's Son Shigehachi. Most had come voluntarily from all corners of Japan—experts from various clans and lone wanderers. They had gathered here to discuss how to deal with Japan's great enemy, the Black Wind Stronghold Master.
Yet after discussing for a long while, this large group had failed to reach any conclusion. Earlier, news of Hayato Tenin fleeing in defeat after losing an arm had already spread far and wide.
Later, over a hundred clan warriors and ninjas from the Kōga Style, New Yin, and Hidden Sword Style had died beneath that great enemy's blade. Only half of them had escaped, and that was only because the enemy had clearly had no intention of exterminating them all.
Such a terrifying record, built upon the lives and blood of countless elite Japanese warriors, created a formidable deterrent that left even these voluntarily assembled experts trembling with fear.
They were not afraid of death. They merely feared meaningless death.
They wanted to see a prestigious expert whose strength was sufficient to contend with the Black Wind Stronghold Master, someone who could lead them in a charge and kill or drive away their great enemy.
But such a powerful figure had yet to appear.
Under such circumstances, they sorely missed the glory of the days when the Yagyu Clan's Sword Saint, Yanagi Mui, had still been alive.
If Yanagi Mui were still here, how could the