The shogun's residence in the Flower Capital had been thrown into chaos by a sudden attack.
The samurai loyal to the Kurozumi family had no idea what was happening, either. The enemies seemed to have appeared out of nowhere inside the main palace.
The rebels' vanguard had not even launched its attack until it reached the grand hall.
A handful of people slipping inside in disguise would have been understandable. But how had an entire small army managed it? Surely they could not all turn invisible!?
The samurai outside the main palace were rushing in to reinforce it, but they soon became locked in battle with the strange samurai.
Both their bearing and their swordsmanship left no doubt that these black-clad invaders were battle-hardened samurai.
The palace guards could not break through to support those inside. They were pinned down in the Atrium, where bodies soon littered the ground as both sides suffered casualties.
Meanwhile, at the banquet-
The Orochi Oniwabanshu, who had been guarding the gathering from the shadows, realized how difficult the situation was the moment they emerged to engage the black-clad samurai.
Daikoku, the Oniwabanshu's strongest fighter, was about to attack Sukiyaki when a young samurai drove him back.
The young samurai then charged straight at Daikoku, radiating killing intent.
"Well done!"
A middle-aged samurai with somewhat rough features appeared to be their leader. He immediately came to Sukiyaki's side and shielded him.
"Lord Shogun! Are you unharmed? Please don't charge too far ahead!"
His bearing and appearance alike were thoroughly samurai-like, practically the very model of the stereotypical samurai.
"I am fine! This time, we must kill that usurper!"
Sukiyaki glared at Orochi, sending him scrambling frantically away from his seat on the dais. He even shoved Komurasaki to the floor.
Hiyori landed on the tatami