Iga Ninjutsu is Good (Hattori: Legendary, Domination, V5445)

[Maltz]

Chapter 8 Dark and Darker

(On the ship to Iyo, a grey pigeon flies over the Bow Kobaya and landed on Goemon's shoulder. A paper strip is rolled around the pigeon's leg.)

Goemon: "The Urakami clan has pushed Mori out of the Chugoku region! And strangely Mori's army jumped over Ouchi and took their Buzen..."
Chisato: "Wow. Did the pigeon flies all over from Iga? Some kind of Pocket Times delivery service?"
Goemon: "Nope, I heard that before we departed. this pigeon comes from my Nanban girl friend in Bungo. She says I miss you."
Chisato:
Goemon: "Sea sickness? Hm... suddenly Urakami becomes a power to be worried about. And they are allied with Takaoka and Bessho. I wonder where Urakami will turn their attention to?"

[Maltz]

Goemon: "Here we are, Shigoku! Let's cause some damage! "
Chisato: "Master Momochi told us to keep an eye out for Chosokabe army... how about the rebel army?"
Goemon: "Rebel army is our blessing. Go take the Iyo castle! We will protect you in the dark. "

[Maltz]

Goemon: "Hm... there is report that a Hatakeyama army is sailing north along the shore of Kyushu."
Chisato: "Hatakeyama...? Didn't we beat them up and force a peace treaty?"
Goemon: "The peace treaty has expired. So Hatakeyama technically could declare war on us without public scrutiny. But will they be brave enough to challenge the mighty Hattori?"

Note: In the end Hatakeyama's army did not attack Hattori. It sailed east after passing the Kyushu-Honshu strait, probably landed in Noto. From experience, Hatakeyama is not an aggressive clan at all (unlike Imagawa's infamous sea invasion). So there was not much alarm raised in the first place.

[Maltz]

Goemon: "Chisato, it seems that we are not along on Shigoku island!"
Chisato: "Somebody is watching us in the dark?"
Goemon: "At least not in my knowledge... I mean Hattori has landed another pair of ninja-monk on the east shore of Shigoku!"
Chisato: "Go, Team B!"

[Maltz]

Chisato: "Master, here you are! The rebels in Iyo has taken the castle!"
Sandayu: "Good, any sightings of Chosokabe army?"
Chisato: "Not so far. Maybe they are not coming?"
Sandayu: "Oh they will come and we need to prepare. Start the castle assault!"

[Maltz]

Chisato: "Master, there is a report of a tiny Chosokabe army escorting a Metsuke southeast of Iyo!"
Sandayu: "Huh? Metsuke? That could be trouble. Go get him!"
Chisato: "Yes!"


Lantern of Shogun flickers candle light;
Avatar of shadow drifts out of sight.
Guard falls by a swift stab, dragged into the quietness of night.

Three men discuss the strategy of fight;
A fourth lowered from tree's height.
Throat slit by a swift swipe, leaving panic to spread behind.


(The assassination of Chosokabe's Metsuke is recorded and will be included in a later video.)



Chisato: "Master, the Chosokabe Metsuke has been dealt with."
Sandayu: "I heard that he survived..."
Chisato: " I overheard that he has a family to feed, so I did not use my full force..."
Sandayu: "Hm... You know he will recover and threaten us again, right?"
Chisato: "Yeah... but he has to do his job. Just like we do our jobs. There is honor in all our doings, even though we have to fight to the death..."
Sandayu: " It looks like you are mature enough for this certificate... You are now a level 5 Ninja!"
Chisato: " What's my benefit of being a level 5 ninja?"
Sandayu: "You receive 15% discount from all Iga Ninjutsu's associated stores!"
Chisato: "Huh? We run stores?"
Sandayu: "Let's just say there are stores who are extra friendly to us. It is secret."
Chisato: "Secret... then how do I know which stores give the discount?"
Sandayu: "It is easy. You know we have Pocket Times in circulation right? For all our friendly stores, you can see a pile of free Pocket Times left by their doors. Go to the owner and speak Iga Ninjutsu is Good."
Chisato: "I thought it is secret... having a pile of newspaper is pretty obvious..."
Sandayu: "If you are not into Ninjutsu, you wouldn't know Pocket Times is actually a propaganda newspaper... "

[Maltz]

Goemon: "Wow, level 5 ninja, congratulations! "
Chisato: "I wonder how the other ninja in the clan is doing. Are they following my footsteps, or am I trailing way behind?"
Goemon: "Er... you know, you have been on the road quite much, and they get a head start from Iga's ninja school..."
Chisato:
Goemoon: "By the way, team B has reported a large Chosokabe army north of Awa. Since the rebels will take Sanuki only after Chosokabe acts this season, it is likely that Chosokabe's army is coming after Iyo."
Chisato: "I must report this to Master Momochi!"