The overcast clouds continued south, crossing the banks of the Shiribetsu River, crossing the two sides whose trade had been completed, until at last they reached the edge, above the battle formation of the Kakizaki warriors. The westering sun shone on the cloud layer, and those dark-stained red clouds were like blood fallen into the mud. Kakizaki old general Kudo Shigeyasu was naturally well used to such a bloody color. Yet now, astride his short horse, he furrowed his brow, looked up at the dark-red evening clouds, and cursed under his breath.
"Damn it! In this cursed weather, are we still going to see blood?..."
"Elder! Elder!..."
A young, short warrior came running from the Tendai Fleet by the riverbank, panting for breath. Carrying the Kakizaki Clan's back banner, he crossed the loose Pike Formation, passed through the somewhat relaxed warriors, then dropped to his knees with a thud before Elder Ando Shigeyasu's horse.
"Elder! The monk lord on the ship sent word down!"
"Sukesaburo! Puff out your chest! Flustered and frantic—what sort of sight is that? He is a monk of the Tendai Sect, not an elder of my Kakizaki Clan! Next time there is any message, you must hold your head high and your chest out. You absolutely cannot lose face for my Kakizaki Clan!"
"Ah?... H-hai! Yes!..."
Sukesaburo opened his mouth, not knowing how Elder Ando's inexplicable flare of temper had caught fire. But as a Commoner Warrior of humble birth, he had followed his elder brother Sukeichiro since childhood to feed horses for the lords of Katsuyama Castle, and he still had that cleverness and sense for reading faces. He immediately knocked his head to the elder, then straightened up, gritted his teeth, and shouted loudly.
"Elder! The monk on the ship said the trade with