The Breach

Matsuo Town, less than thirty miles from Tsurumi Pass, was the last fortified city before the pass.

The setting sun was red as blood, and the bricks atop the city wall glimmered coldly in the dusk.

The veteran Kamekichi kicked a loose stone at his feet, bored out of his mind. Then he glanced at his fellow guard patrolling the wall beside him and grinned.

"Urahara, I heard you escaped from Kasumi Town. Is the New Martial Army really as terrifying as people say?"

"The New Martial Army..." At the words, Urahara's pupils trembled, and cold sweat beaded on his forehead.

"Look at you, scared stiff. What a coward!" Kamekichi said, looking at him with disdain.

Urahara bristled at that.

"That's because you've never faced the New Martial Army. You don't know how frightening they are. When they attack a city, they first bring out rows of black tubes. I think they call them cannons.

"They're like a whole squad of ninja. Every shot sounds like thunder, and they hit with the force of powerful ninjutsu.

"After wave upon wave of bombardment, the walls are left in ruins. Then the New Martial Army charges..."

Urahara's voice faltered. As though remembering something, he shuddered again.

"Those soldiers aren't normal people. They're like madmen. They won't let go even when they've been turned into pincushions by arrows. Their guts hang from the ladders, and they still keep climbing..."

He pointed at the wall in front of them.

"Imagine a huge crowd of people, like demons, feeling no pain, trampling over their companions' corpses as they scramble up from below."

Kamekichi imagined the horrifying scene. Then he remembered that Matsuo Town was also a target of the New Martial Army, and that he might soon have to face them himself. Fear took hold of him.

"Cough, stop trying to scare me with your tall tales..."

He forced a smile and patted Urahara on the shoulder.

"Don't worry. The Daimyo has sent reinforcements to Matsuo Town. We'll definitely be able to hold off the New Martial Army."

Kamekichi couldn't have said whether he was reassuring Urahara or himself.

"Come on, it's about time. Let's head down and get something to eat."

By now, Kamekichi's back was soaked in cold sweat. He couldn't shake the feeling that an army of thousands might appear at any moment on the horizon beyond the city, and panic gnawed at him. He hurriedly nudged Urahara toward the stairs.

Just then—

"Boom! Boom! Boom!"

Dull drumbeats rolled in from the distance. Each one sounded like the heartbeat of a ferocious beast, making their chests vibrate.

Then, at the edge of the dark horizon, countless torches suddenly flared to life, like a wildfire sweeping toward them.

Amid the clashing armor and thundering hooves, Kamekichi and Urahara stared ahead, stunned.

But when rows of dark steel tubes appeared at the front of the formation, Urahara's legs gave way, and his face turned deathly pale.

"Cannons! Those are cannons!"

Kamekichi finally snapped out of it. He stumbled back and roared down at the men below.

"Enemy attack! The New Martial Army is here!"

Outside Matsuo Town, Dongfang Mao gazed at the brightly lit city ahead from the New Martial Army's front lines.

Thirty miles beyond the city lay Tsurumi Pass. Once he captured that natural stronghold, the heartland of the Land of Rice Fields—and the largest plain in the country—would lie open before him.

There was no way to build fortresses on that vast, fertile plain by relying on natural defenses.

Once that happened, who in the Land of Rice Fields could stop his advance?

Excitement blazed in Dongfang Mao's heart. He raised a hand and shouted,

"Prepare the cannons—fire!"

"Boom—!!"

The earth shook. Dozens of cannons roared at once, their scorching flames tearing through the night as cannonballs streaked toward the city walls like falling stars.

Bricks shattered and smoke billowed into the sky. The defenders, who had only just assembled, were swallowed by the deafening explosions.

After the first barrage, thick smoke cloaked the walls, obscuring the damage. But Dongfang Mao didn't hesitate. He raised his hand again.

"Prepare the second barrage—fire!"

At his command, another deafening wave of explosions drowned out the night.

After ten consecutive rounds of bombardment, the walls were visibly on the verge of collapse.

Dongfang Mao's eyes flashed.

"Prepare the ladders and battering rams—charge with me!"

If Dongfang Mao had been an ordinary man, he would naturally have stayed safely in the rear to direct the battle, not risk his life.

But by now, he had gained a basic grasp of the three secret techniques Tsunade had personally taught him: Strength of a Hundred, Creation Rebirth, and the Strength of a Hundred Technique.

These ninjutsu had been tailored by Tsunade to suit the unique physique of the Senju Clan.

But Dongfang Mao's physique surpassed Tsunade's in every way—his body was denser, his strength greater, and his healing ability stronger.

As a result, the techniques suited him even better than their creator. They were the perfect complement to his abilities.

A mere shower of blades, spears, and arrows posed no threat to him.

Naturally, he would lead the charge himself, lifting the army's spirits while boosting his prestige among the troops.

That would also help him avoid the awkward situation of having no further rewards to offer him, or of his achievements overshadowing the ruler. After all, he already had more military merit than anyone else.

"Kill!"

Dongfang Mao's roar rang out like thunder. His warhorse reared beneath him, and his long blade traced a cold gleam through the night as he shot toward the city gate like an arrow loosed from its bow.

The thousands of soldiers behind him surged with fervor and let out a deafening battle cry!

Halfway through the charge, the defenders who had been scattered by the cannon fire regrouped atop the wall. They aimed at Dongfang Mao at the front and screamed as they unleashed a torrent of arrows.

A dense swarm of arrowheads poured down like a torrential rain. Dongfang Mao showed no fear and made no attempt to dodge. He brought his hands together atop his horse.

"Earth Release: Multiple Earth-Style Walls!"

"Boom!"

Several curved earthen walls surged from the ground, layered one behind another. Arrows clattered against the stone, unable to harm Dongfang Mao behind them. Some of the New Martial Army were sheltered by the walls as well.

"N-Ninjutsu!"

The defenders on the wall fell into an uproar. Many of them looked utterly hopeless.

But that wasn't all. Dongfang Mao leaped down from his horse, sprang onto the earthen wall, and brought his hands together again.

"Fire Release: Great Dragon Flame Song!"

Six fire dragons roared from his mouth, hurtling toward the wall before spiraling and exploding.

Bricks burst apart, and the arrow towers became pillars of fire. The defenders screamed as they fell from the battlements, while the air filled with the charred stench of burning flesh.

With nothing left to block the way, Dongfang Mao reached the city gate in moments and leaped down beside the battering ram.

"Prepare the battering ram!"

As he spoke, chakra glowed blue around his right fist.

Bang—!

His punch, bolstered by Strength of a Hundred, struck the gate at the same time as the thousand-pound iron ram.

Wood chips flew. The three-inch-thick, iron-plated gate shattered into pieces like paper.