Azuchi-Momoyama Period,
An era that plagued Japan with countless wars, killings, and rivers filled with blood. Feudal lords, clans and rogues constantly fought, claiming territories and treasures while spreading death and destruction across the land.
Seeing an era like this continue caused a clan to rise up with a plan led by the ambitious yet people-minded Hōjō Clan, under the leadership of Ujiyasu Hōjō.
Ujiyasu Hōjō had a dream — to bring peace by uniting Japan under one banner — the banner of the Hōjō. Although their ambitions were driven by power, the Hōjō still carried a genuine concern for the people, and through diplomacy, strategy, and perseverance, they succeeded. Japan was unified, and Ujiyasu Hōjō himself was appointed as Shogun, the supreme leader of the nation.
But—
Nightfall,
Lantern light painted the streets of a thriving jōkamachi in warm hues of gold and amber. Merchants lingered outside their stalls, calling out to the few remaining customers of the evening. Guards patrolled with measured steps, their armor glinting softly beneath the glow.
At the heart of the town stood a grand castle.
A shiro of imposing stature, its layered rooftops cutting into the night sky like sharpened steel. Its walls were alive with movement. Samurai stood vigilant at every post, while servants moved swiftly through its corridors, their duties unending.
Above the main gate, a crest stood proudly illuminated.
A white Kurage swan.
The symbol of the Hōjō clan.
Unlike any other night, this one was special. It was the night that followed the unification of Japan under the banner of the Hōjō, and the night that followed the naming of this new period of peace. After five days and five nights, the period was given the name:
Edo.
But this night was a different night meant for a different topic. The high ranking members of Hōjō gathered, ten men resided in a room. Five lined on opposite sides of the room facing each other. The room was filled with murmurs as the ten men couldn't keep to themselves.
"It was only a matter of time…" one said
"We should have ended it when we had the chance…" another said
"We currently have the upper hand…" one more said
And at the head of the room was a man, he wore a bright purple Hakama, a white Kosode and a bright purple Haori. He was adorned with a golden necklace, earrings and headpiece, and on the back of his Haori was the crest of a white swan, the crest belonging to the Hōjō.
The man at the head of the room was the leader of the Hōjō clan. Ujiyasu Hōjō and upon hearing their plight he gathered them to discuss.
"My trusted advisers, I am fully aware of what is happening, but I urge you to keep calm" Ujiyasu said, his demeanor calm. His men heard him but were still uneasy.
"How are you so calm at such a time, my lord?" One of the men yelled out.
"Their numbers and alliances has grown greatly… they plan to attack… it is nothing but certain" Another cried out. The atmosphere within the room was suffocating, and it only got worse.
"They are coming," a voice whispered.
Tap Tap Tap,
Footsteps quick and urgent echoed, the source made it to the entrance of the room, it was a man in black hakama and white kosode, his breaths were sharp and jagged, but the look on his face was worse.
"My lord…" hestruggled to speak "T… they… are here"
The advisers were nothing but confused at the young man's action.
"How dare you invade this…"
Immediately cutting him off, he yelled "The Sakakibara… ARE HERE!!"
THWACK!
An arrow tore through the air
It struck with brutal precision, piercing the side of the young man's head, his lifeless body dropped to the wooden floor leaving the men and Ujiyasu in shock.
Chaos erupted within the jōkamachi, thousands of men flooded the town killing residents and setting homes ablaze. In that moment, screams from different directions began to register.
Ujiyasu remained in his position as his advisers panicked frantically.
"The Sakakibara have made their move, there is no avoiding this."
"Gather our warriors, we go to war" Ujiyasu gave the order and without hesitation the men bowed and did as instructed. Before long fire from the Jōkamachi had made it to Hōjō castle and consumed most structures.
"My lord, we the Goeiyaku are here." a man said, as he and multiple other samurai rush into the room he was residing, but as soon as they rushed in… He arrived.
"I've found you, now die… Ujiyasu!!" a deep yet fierce voice.
A fairly muscular man riddled with scars said, he stood before the building and unsheathed his blade. His stance was firm, he placed a leg back and leaned forward. Then-
SHING!!
Steel flashed.
With a single draw of his blade, the building was split in half. The strike was devastating, killing the personal guards instantly, their bodies caught in the wake of his blade.
The man exhaled slowly.
"Do not keep me waiting… friend." he called out "We both know you cannot be killed by such a weak slash" his red hakama and white kosode glistening under the orange glow of the fire.
Ujiyasu stepped out, his blade still sheathed by his side, his demeanor remaining calm.
"Kanjuro" he said softly. "I see you chose not to spare us this time"
Kanjuro grinned
"My forces already have this town surrounded… all your retainers dead and done without resistance."
Confidence radiated from him.
"You know of it far too well" Kanjuro continued "We the Sakakibara are warriors by birth. You cannot defeat us."
"Kneel. Relinquish control of Japan to me" confidence exuded from his scarred face.
In that moment, only the cracking of fire filled the air.
Then Ujiyasu smiled softly.
The fire continued to rage wildly, sending the smell of burning wood into the air. "The Sakakibara have long been a thorn in our side" he said, finally drawing his blade
"And we the Hōjō chose to tolerate you."
"But do not mistake tolerance for weakness." his stance shifted
"Even the most gentlest of Kurageswans still strike when threatened."
As if summoned by his words, war cries erupted across the town.
"ARRGHHH!!!"
It was samurai of the Hōjō, hundreds to thousands of them fighting back against the invading Sakakibara. Kanjuro heard the battle cries and was immediately stunned.
"So know this, my friend. Even if fate says I meet my end this night… The Hōjō clan isn't going down without a fight!"
"Your resistance is futile, for the end of your pitiful clan is inevitable!" Kanjuro yelled.
Two opposing clans ready to completely wipe out the other, knowing both the rewards and stakes, the Sakakibara and the Hōjō clans now waged war. And the prize, Japan. These two clans currently stand on the pinnacle of power of authority, so a clash of this scale will only lead to destruction. But even with that, the winner of this war will decide the future of the nation.
Three days had passed since the invasion of the Hōjō palace, the result of the clash was nothing but pure chaos. The news of the victor and the vanquished spread like wildfire with remnants of the war still going on
"Heh… Heh… Heh"
"Though the world was told of its end…"
"Hey, did you read the Tegami?" a merchant asked, as he stood before his fellow merchant cart.
"Who wouldn't be reading the tegami, at a time like this?It talked about the three day war that ended yesterday." she responded to him.
"And given a definitive winner…"
"Who would have known they would meet their end?" A farmer asked, as he leaned on a tree to rest.
"Ya, a clan as powerful as they ended just like that? It's just tragic" His wife responded handing him a cup of water.
"The clash between both clans hadn't come to an end not even close"
"Heh… Heh… Heh" breathing jagged and rough as a young man ran through a forest, arrows sticking out of his back and blood gushing from the holes they made.
"Waaahh!!"
"Do not cry, your father will make sure you're safe alright." He said in an attempt to calm the little child he holds so dearly in his hands. He turned his head slightly and saw them.
Four to five men in samurai armor, riding horses and holding torches to light their path. They were in haste looking and searching for their target. Upon seeing them, he gritted his teeth and quickened his movement, dodging and weaving branches.
In his haste, he accidentally broke a stick causing the sound to echo, and the pursuer heard, "This way!" The leader yelled out.
Waahh!
The baby cried out once more, "Shhh!"
The man finally escaped the forest, emerging into a bustling village. Though the sun hadn't risen, the residents of the village were up and about, the news of the battle left them restless.
"I made it, just a little longer my son" He moved among the villagers with a cloth to cover his face, child and body. The way he turned corners and navigated the streets of the town, it was obvious he knew his destination.
"Mahiru dear… Mahiru!" A young man said, he was muscular in physique, deep in his tone and possessing a burn scar across his left eye. He was in a hurry rushing to his home. "Mahiru dear!!" He called out again finally reaching his home.
"Dear, what seems to be the problem?" A beautiful young woman rushed out of his home only to be confused at her husbands expression. It was filled with fear and worry, and for a man of his stature that means a lot.
"There is news about the three day war between the Hōjō and the Sakakibara clans"
"They… they were wiped out. The Hōjō clan fell to the Sakakibara" The expression of the woman changed from confusing to pure fear, "But how? The Hōjō clan just fixed this country, why do they have to suffer such a fate."
"Tch, damn it. It was but moments ago I forged a special grade blade for a friend in their ranks. Now I hear the clan has met its end, Damn it!!" Both the young man and his wife where in disarray.
But then-
"It has been far too long, my friend" a familiar voice cut through the couples feelings. They turned to see a crying child in the hands of man barely standing, the metallic smell of blood exuded from him.
As he proceeded to take off his cloak, his face and injuries were then visible. "Garou, my friend… I do not have time please… help me." The man barely managed to get his words out as he staggered forward. Garou immediately launched forward and caught his friend before he fell down with one arm and caught he baby with the other.
"My friend, what is the meaning of this? What happened?" Garou said with a look in his eyes that spelled absolute fear.
"We don't have time, they are coming to kill me" The man said, barely standing and breathing heavily.
"Of course, I'll help you, my friend…" Garou then gave the child to his wife and placed his friend to rest on a wall. "… just tell me what to do, my friend."
"Then that child you hold in your hands…" the man then pointed at the child Mahiru was holding, "… please take him in as your own, he is my one and only son."
Garou and Mahiru's eyes widened in shock, the child she holds in her hands is the son of the man who was dying before them.
"I never got the chance to thank you for the special blade, made for me" The man said as he tries so hard to stand up. "No, do not stand up."
"It was very useful in slaying the Sakakibara, but at the end of it all, we were overwhelmed and defeated." He continued.
"The men after me are from the Sakakibara clan and they will stop at nothing to wipe every last one of us out" he then successfully stood up but still staggering.
"Do not worry, all ties to your allies were severed, so you and your wife are safe." He then walked up to the child in Mahiru's hands. The child then began to cry upon seeing his father's face. "I never once made you laugh, huh? Please grow up and become a strong man." he mumbled to his child before kissing his forehead.
He then turned towards Garou with a gleeful smile on his face and placed a hand on his shoulders, "From this day, my son revokes the name of the Hōjō and takes the name of the Hachibei clan. So please my friend, take care of him."
Garou had tears running down his face as he watched his friend talk with his final breath. "As a warrior of the Hōjō clan, I must follow through on my mission and if I die then I'll meet my brothers at the other side, a death worthy of a samurai."
In that moment the man dashed into the city, tears continued to pour as Garou watched his friend run into a battle that he will not return from. "No!" Garou said as he wiped the tears off his face and grabbed the child from Mahiru. "I always warned him about those he will leave behind if he continued this path, but he never listened and now I hold his son in my arms." Garou said with a mild smile on his face.
The Sun began to rise indicating the end of an Era…
Garou then walked up to a little hill, with the young child giggling in his arms,he then raised him up making sure the sun reached the child. "From this day, you are now a member of the Hachibei clan."
But that was just for those who choose not to believe…
"You are now my eldest son, you will be wealthy and prosperous, from this day you name shall be…"
For those who refused to lose hope, the rising sun indicates a time to endure for Japan will rise again.