"Lord Shinhiko, do not be disrespectful! Stop right there, or we will have to use force!"
Even though Shinhiko Kōzuki held an exalted position, he was still a subject, and subjects were not permitted to approach the Daimyo too closely at court.
Seeing that Shinhiko had already passed the spot where he was supposed to stand and was about to reach the Daimyo, the samurai guarding the Daimyo immediately drew their swords and stepped in front of him.
Though Shinhiko was old, his reputation for valor had long been established. At such close range, if he suddenly attacked, these samurai truly had no confidence that they could stop him.
The samurai had shouted their warning loudly, but Shinhiko continued forward as if he had heard nothing. Watching him approach, the sword-wielding samurai found themselves in a difficult position.
Had he been an ordinary subject, they could simply have killed him. But this was Shinhiko Kōzuki.
This was a man whose sneeze could shake the entire court. If they killed Shinhiko without the Daimyo's orders, who knew whether his subordinates would retaliate against them?
"Shinhiko Kōzuki, you have overstepped your bounds!"
Shinhiko drew ever closer to the Daimyo of the Land of Fire, almost walking straight into the samurai's sword points. Seeing such insolence, the Daimyo of the Land of Fire grew furious.
"Do you really think I wouldn't dare kill you? What are you standing around for? Kill him!"
Feeling the Daimyo's fury and having received his orders, the samurai guarding him no longer hesitated. Their swords plunged into Shinhiko Kōzuki's body.
The instant their swords pierced Shinhiko, the samurai holding them sensed that something was wrong.
What is strange about Lord Shinhiko's body? Why does it feel as though he has no bones or muscles?
Shinhiko's exploding body answered