Way of the Crab

8/7/2019 Way of the Crab

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ofthePtve

Tw enty m illion drow n in blood if I am weak.- H ida Y akam o

Legend of the Five Rings, The Emerald Empire of Rokugan a nd a ll o th er re la te d m ark s T M , & 1 99 6-9 9 F iv e R in gs Pub lis hin g G ro up , In co rp or ate d. A ll R ig hts Res er ve d, A ld era c Ente rt ainmen t G ro up ,a uth oriz ed u se r. S ec on d p rin tin g. P rin te d in U ,S .A .


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L o ew e n, S te w ar tl t i thard Maddy ,And r ewC r ai g M e rc er ,, W ayne O gle ,la ste , S co tt MP ay ne , D ie te rP t a t C e y . R am en P eiia .D ev o n E. Sand e r s .S ld dM a tx st, Jo hn S te pp .Mar l i n S w ee ne y, Ja y

Swyse r t T en gu . F o xtr ot &V e x. K y le V o l t t l . and JayWrobel (If w e'v e le ft yourn am e o u t w e're ve ry so rry- w e tr ied n o t to miss+dy f ro m th e 2.5MB o fw n a t l YDUs e n t u s Ot h a n k s go toS c o t t w ho w en t w a ybeyond th e ca l lof d fY '1n hi s contribut ion.

WRITTEN OY ROB VAUXADDITIONAL MATERIAL OY JOHN WICk, RE[ SOESSEE, CRIS DORNAUS,CHRISTIAN V'kAND[R AND ZEN FAIILkES

GAME SYSTEM BY DAVID WILLIAMS AND JOHN WICk

COVER ARTWORk: DAVE LERIINTERIOR ARTWORk: AUDREY CORMAN, .LI% DANFORTH, CRIS DORNAIISJASONFELIX, CARL FRANk, SCOTT JAMES, SCOTT JOHNSON,KC LANCASTER. BRADLEY K. MCDEVITT. RAMON PEREZ, BRIAN SNODDYMAPS: I[FF LAHRENARTWORk PREPRESS: CR.S DORNAIIS, STEVE HOUGH

LINE EDITOR: 0.1. TRJNDLE[DfTING: DJ. TRINDLE. RE SOE58EE, 10HN WICkINTERIOR L A Y O U T : STEVE HOUGH, ROB VALTX

John Wick wro t e th e spe lls an d an c esto rs sec t io n s , d eve loped O sano -W o . h e lped w ith th e schooland m ad e th e K un i Witch Hun t e r s cool .R ee S o esb ee he lped c l a r i f Y re la t io n s be tw een tbe C r a b and th e C ran e , w ork ed o n th e O sa no -Wsec tio n , a n d m ad e sil ly ra tl ln g no ise s w hen ever sh e cou ld .

Z en F au lk es ru st le d u s up som e C r a b decks .C r i s D om a u s c am e up w ith th e ad ven tu re h ooks.D a vid W i ll i a m s made su re th e ru le s w orked . a s a lw ay s .DJ. T rin d le tr imm ed th e tex t d ow n to fighting shape .A r no ld S ch w ar ze ne gg er provided in sp ira tio n w hen eve r th e c re ativ ity w ell ra n dry. T his n eve r w o ul

h ave be en f i n i s h e d w ith ou t th e l a s t tw en ty m in u te s o f Predator.F r a n k M llle r w ro te th e o rig in a l ve rsio n o f Y akam o's qu ote . w hic h w e free ly l if ted. It a c tu a ll y b el on gto a m uch big g e r h em .

DEDICATIONT his bo ok is fo r A n ita , w h o u nd ersta nd s.-RV


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W h a t D o e s N o t 1~]1l~ 1 g " . . . . I I 4C h a ~ t ~ 1 1 f ) n ~ : ~ h e ~ 1 ] 9 h t y C 1 1 a 6 . . I I I I 1 0C l1 a ~ t ~ 1 1 e r n ,o : q : b ~ H l s to l) ! o f t h e C 1 1 a 6 I. 1 0C b a t ~ ) : r r t 1 1 1 e ~ :C h a 1 1 a c t e ) : s " " " I 4 0C h a t e 1 1 T h u ) : : W h o 's W h o I I I. I I II I I 5 8C l 1 a t ~ 1 1 F l \ 1 ~ :C h a 1 1 a c t e r ~ e m la f \ ? s . . I I I r 0~ ~ n a ] X 1 : ~ t 1 1 a t g g y . . . I I I I I 9 d~ ~ n d l x T I : ~ h e L a n d s o f t h e C 1 1 a 6 I I I 9 1R i ~ n d l x m : ~ 1 1 5 C \ ? l l a n y , . . . . . . I I I I I 9 9R i ~ d I X IV : ~ h 1 1 e e C 1 1 a 6 C la n D e c k s I II;C l 'a 6 C l a n C h a 1 1 a c t e 1 1~I1\?e t5 I I I I I I n r


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H ld a Y orito ko - ca lle d "O -U sh i" a lm ost sin cesh e w a s bo rn -c am e o f ag e f o u r y ea rs be fo re h ergempukku ce rem on y , N o o n e kn ew save h e rbro th e r , a n d h e n eve r to ld a so u lS h e u se d to w a tch h im be fo re h e w en t out,stan d in g a t th e ram pa rts o f th e G rea t Wa l l a n dsta r in g o u t I n to th e fo g-sh ro ud ed w aste la n dbe y o n d , S h e n e ve r bo th e re d h im d u rin g th e sem ed ita tio ns. bu t to day w as d if fe ren t It m ay h avebe en th e w ay th e fa d in g lig h t c a u g h t h is fo rm . o rth e in ten sity in h is e y es; l ik e o n e o f th e irle g en d a ry an c e sto rs , T he tim e se em ed rig h t toa sk h im .

S h e c rep t u p be h in d h im so ftly . h e r b la ck ey e stw in klin g, H er sa n da ls w ere si len t o n th e twil ight-so a ked sto n e a s h e r ch u bby h an d rea ch ed u p toh is be lt . S be sn a tch e d h is ka t a n a f rom it s sayaw ith a sn ap . an d bran d ish e d it f ie rc e ly in fro n t o fh e r. Y akam o spu n a ro u n d , h is co n tem pla tio nf o r g o tt en . S n a r li n g in m ock a n ge r, h e g rabbe d th eth ie f by th e sc ru f f o f h e r te n -y e a r-o ld n e ck a n dlif te d h e r u p to h is scow lin g fa ce . O -U sh i w asunp e r t u r b e d .

" I f I w as a S c o rp io n , y o u 'd be d e ad n ow ," sh ebeam ed a t h im .

" I f YO l l w ere a S co rp io n. I d bre ak y o u r n e ckfo r to uc h in g m y sw ord ," h e g ro wled . W i th his f r e ehand, h e p lu cke d th e ka tan a from h e r h an d a n drep la ced it in its saya , H is e y es n eve r le ft h er fa c e ."A n d w h a t sh o u ld w e d o abo u t this g r e a td ish o n o r y o u h ave in fl ic te d u po n m e?" be asked .

"A d u e l to th e d ea th is th e am y pro pe r w ay toe ra se su c h a b lo tc h ," sh e re p lie d w ith m o ckso le mn U y. "F or tu na te ly f or you , I 'm in a fo rg iv in gm oo d . L e t m e d ow n, an d 1 w on 't h a ve to kill y ou . "

"O h, n ow yo u a re fo rg iv in g m e? Ih an k th efo rtu ne s m y lit t le siste r h as ta ken p ity o n m e." H esh o o k h e r v ic io u sly . th e n le t h e r d ro p to h is fe e t

w ith an u n d ig n if ied p lo p . S h e g la red u p a t h iman g e r an d mi r t h f la sh ing in e qu a l p ro po rtio na cro ss h er fa c e.

"I t ake ilback . W h en y o u c om e back fro m thS h ad ow la nd s, I 'l l h av e y ou r h ea d," sh e th re ate ne d

"I 'm su re y ou will." Y akam o'g fa ce bro ke in totired sm ile , a n d h e kn e lt d ow n w h e re sh e la"W ha t a re y o u d o in g u p h e re , D -U sh i? B esid este a l in g m y sw ord , th at is~

T he lig ht d im med in h e r ey es an d h e r sm ilv a n i s h e d ." I w a n t to g o w ith y o u. In to th e S had ow lan ds"D o y o u ?" h e sa id . "And d o y o u kn ow w h a

su ch a ta sk e nta i ls?""S en se i sa y s m y tsucht t e c hn i q ue is th e be

h e's se en . A nd I a s qu ie t e n o u g h to take y o usw ord be fo re y o u saw m e."

" I s e e . A nd yo u be lieve th a t str en g th o f a rman d f le e tn e ss o f fo o t is a n y o u n ee d to fa ce thF alle n G od T

S he lo oked a t h im silen tly . H e sig he d ."D o y ou su ppo se 1 ca n d o m y d u ty w h il

p ro te c tin g y o u a t th e sam e tim e?"'1 ca n ta ke ca re o f m y se lf ' S h e w as se r io un ow , a ll tr a c e s o f h er fo rm er lev ity g on e. Y akamw atch ed h er fa c e silently fo r a time. th en ro se .

"If c o u ra g e w ere w ate r , y o u 'd h a ve d row nedlo n g ag o . G o bac k to y o u r q ua rte rs , O - U sb i Io n ly be g o n e a d ay o r so , an d r u t e l l y o u abo u tw hen I com e bac k"

"Bu t I an t to g o w ith y o u .""W h en y o u'r e o ld er , li t t le siste r , y o u'l l th ind iffe re ntly . G o, a nd I won ' t t e l l fa th er y ou to uc heeMara."S he fl in ch ed a t th e rem ark . an d fo r a m om en

be th o u g h t sh e w ou ld la u n ch h e rse lf a t h im . T hesh e ro se to h e r fe e l a n d bow ed c u rtly be fo re him

"Hal, Yak amo- s ama . "S h e ran b a c k th e w ay sh e h a d com e , h e

si le n ce tram pled ben e a th h e r f la pp in g feeY akam o w atch ed h er g o, th en re tu rn ed h is g aze tth e g ho stly w aste la nd be fo re b iro .

T he d oo r to th e qu arte rm aste r 's sto ra g e ro omope n ed slow ly . O -U sh i pee ked in an d m ad ec u rso ry sw eep o f th e ro om be fo re h e r , S ac ks og ra in lay sta c ked by th e w a l1s,. fla nked by h u nstr in gs o f d rie d I l sh , A sco re o f c o a rse bed ro lls to o d ro lled u p o n th e fa r sid e o f th e ro om , w hil


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sh e lve s o f em pty w ate r bo tt le s s ta r e d d ow n ju stwithin r e a c h , S a tis f ie d sh e w as a lo n e , sh e c re p tin to th e ro om a n d beg a n co l le c tin g w h a t sh en e e d e d .

Sh e h ad d re sse d c on se rva tiv e ly , h er d ark g ra yc lo t he s b le n d in g in w e l l w ith th e sh ad ow s. A pa i ro f sh o r t k n ive s w ere sh e a th e d a t h e r be l t a n d h e rf avo r ite h am me r la y se c u re a c ro ss h e r ba c k . S hedidn't t h i nk sh e w ou ld n e ed th em , n o t a f te r sh er e a ch ed h e r b ro th e r . bu t it w as be st to bep re pa re d . S h e to o k a pa ir o f w a te r bo ttle s,re min din g h erse lf to f i J I th em a t th e w ell be fo resh e le ft . A s id e o f f ish c am e d ow n w ith a l i t tlep ro d d in g from h e r kn ife . w h ic h sh e p la c e d in o n eo f th e b ed ro lls .

S h e w a s in te rru pte d by th e so u n d o f th e d o o ro pen in g beh in d h er , S pin nin g a ro un d, sh e te nsedh e r a rm s a s a h u n c h ed f ig u re s te pped in to th ero om . T he m an 's e y es w id en ed a t O -U sh i's sl ig htfo rm . a nd th e g ir l r e la xe d a s sh e re co gn ize d h im .Qua r t e rmas t e r K a t u Rio t o .

" H l d a O -U sh il" h e sc old ed "W h at d o y o u t h inky ou a re d oin g, c re ep in g a ro un d my s to re ro om lik ea r at l? "

"I t is o f n o c on ce rn o f y ou rs ., t it t le c le rk ," sh ed rew h e r se lf u p to h e r fu U h e ig h t a n d g la re d a th im f ie rc el y.

" Y o u im pe rt in en t w he lp e R l o t o h i s sed . " Ish ou ld ta n y ou r ba ck sid e fo r spe ak in g to m e lik et h aC

"I n e ed a f in g e r o r ja d e. ~ sh e co ntinu ed . a s ifbeh ad n't spo ken , "W h ere d o y ou ke ep th em ?'"Ge t out l" h e sh o u te d . "G e t o u t a n d beth a n k fu l th a t Id o n 't b r in g y o u be fo re th ed a imyo ! "

O -U sb i s to pp ed a nd f ixed h 1 m w ith a c le a r a n dunwav e r i n g gaze ,

"T he d a im yo is m y fa th e r : sh e spo ke eve n ly .-A n d h e w o uld be d isp le ase d if h e d isc ove re d o neo f h is qu a r te rm aste rs se ll in g su pp lie s to co ve rg a m bl in g d e bt s."

R i o t o star ted w i th d i sb e li e f."W h at. _ . w h at a re y ou ta lk in g abo utT' C a l l i t b l a ckma i l ify o u w an t" S h e g ave h im a

su nn y sm ile . " I h e a r d it f rom th e Y asu k i . O nef in ge r o f Ja d e, l it t le c le rk , o r I'll m ake y o u w ishth ey h ad th row n y o u to th e g o b lin s"

T h e Raiu be ga n to spu tte r. "Y o u.. .""A re th e d au gh te r e f H id a K isad a , a n d n o t

g iv en to id le ba nte r. T he ja d e. N ow ,"H e g a ped a t h e r . h is mou th o pe n in g a n d

c lo s in g lik e a f is h. D - U sh i g la re d ba ck him. a n dt u r n ed a r ound a s if to le ave . T ha t se tt le d it T h e

c o lo r d r a in ed o u t o f R io to 's fa c e ; h is sh o u ld e rss lum ped in d e I e a t R ea ch in g beh in d a p i le o fsa ck s , h e p ro d u c ed a sto u tly lo c k ed iro n bo x . H ef umb l ed with th e c a tc h fo r a m in u te . th e n o pe n edi t w ith a sn ap a n d p ro d u c ed a th ic k w an d o fc re am y g re en , E Jd ri tc b sy mbo ls h ad be e n c a rvedin to it s s id e , a n d a s O -U sh i to o k it . it se em ed toh e r th a t it a lm ost g low ed w ith pow er. H er d a rke y e s g l it te r e d an d sh e bow e d low be fo re th equ a r t e rmas t e r .

D om o a rig ata , l it tl e c le r k. Th i s c an sta y o u rs ec r et . y e s? "

S h e scampered o u t th e d o o r with a sn ic ke ra n d a lm ost la u g h ed a lo u d a s th e Kalu s I ammed itsh ut be hin d h er .

T he m oo n sh o n e b r ig h t a c ro ss th e R ive r o f th eL a s t S tan d a s O U sh ! em erg ed f rom th e bu sh e s o nth e so u th e rn ba n k Th e tu n n e l h ad le d str a ig h tth ro u g h ben e a th th e w ate rs , a s she h a d kn ow n.T he K aiu e ng in ee rs w ou ld th ro w fits if th ey k ne wth at a te n-y ea r-o ld h ad fo u n d o n e o f th e ir se c r e tp a ssag e s . S he tu rn ed an d lo o ked ba ck a t th e Ka l uWaIl, r is in g l ik e a m ou nta in o n th e r iv e r 's fa r S id e.L an te rn s tw in kle d a c ro ss it s to p , m a rk in g th esen tr ie s w ho sto o d w atc h in g fo r s ig n s o f a t ta c kV e r y c a u ti ou s ly , s h e raised h e r a rm a n d D ash e d aha n d . signal back t owa r d s th e g ua rd s. If t heys p e n e d Ilrm tbIDking !ba t sh ew as a H irum a r id d le Mitha r r ows befure a yard. S h ere spo n se from th e - if l h e y sa .w e re n't le tt in g h er k n ow , S h e s ta re d hard aIfo r a fe w m o re m in ute s. t hen sc urr ie d a V V 3.Jt he u n d e rb ru s h.

S he m ove d c au tio u sly a t f i rs t , ta k in g c a re 10rem a in qu ie t H e re , w ith th e wall p rac t i ca l lyw i th in s ig h t, it se em e d a lm o st s i l l y . S h e h ad be enra ise d o n ta le s o f th e S h a d ow lan d s , o n th e w ayth e la n d sc ape se em e d to c om e to te r r ib le l i fea ro u n d y o u . S h e saw n o n e o f th at h ere . B en ea thth e s i lv e r m oo n. th e tr e e s a n d bu sh e s lo o ke d n odi f fe rent th a n th o se sh e p la y e d in a r o und Hidac a st le . T h e win d d id n o t sh a k e th e ir br anches n o rd id a ny sm all a n im als ru st le th ro ug h th eir le a ve s ,bu t th a t w as a l l . F or a k in gd om o f u lt im ate e vi l . its e emed a b it d i sa p po i nt in g . Sti l l , sh e h ad n oin te n tio n o f be in g c au g h t. a n d d isg u ise d h e rm o ve m e nt s a c co rd in g ly .


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S h e lo ca te d Y a ka m o's p ath with in a n h ou r. H erbro th e r 's h e avy fo otsteps m arke d th e m ud like aro a d sig n , a n d tw o m en w ho tra ve le d with h imm ad e n o pre te n se o f h id in g th e ir tra ck s e ith e r ,T he y fo llo w ed w ha t a ppe a red to be a w ell- la idtr ac k, b ea te n fr om m a ny o th er , sm a lle r f oo tp rin ts .C o mbin ed w ith th e m oo nlig ht. it m a de fo llo w in gth em c hild ish ly sim p le .

T he n ig h t m ove d tow ard s m orn in g a s O -U sh itr av ele d o n. T he fo otp r in ts m ov ed ste a dily so uth ,d e epe r an d d ee pe r in to F u L en g 's R ea lm . T h ela n d sc a pe ch a n g ed su b tly a s sh e w en t a lo n g , sosubtlyshe a lm ost d id n't n otic e . T he tre e s to ok o no min ou s fo rm s, th eir b ran ch es re a ch in g silen tlya c ro ss h e r pa th . T h e so u n d s o f th e n ig h t slo w lyre tu rn ed , bu t th e y h ad a n u n n a tu ra l c ad e n c e toth em - as if th ey w ere try in g to so u n d o rd in a ryan d n o t qU ite su cc e ed in g. A lth o u g h th e pa th sh efo llow ed rem ain ed c le a r , th e g ro u n d be n ea th ith a d ta ken o n a n o d d h u e , a lm o st l ik e ro tt in gfle sh . T h e m oon w en t d ow n a n d u tte r d a rkn e ssse t in ; O U sm re a liz e d th a t sh e h a d bro u g h t n ofo rm o f lig h t an d w hile sh e co u ld fe e l fo o tp r in tsbe n ea th h e r ~g e rs, sh e c o u ld ba re ly m ake th emou t am id th e d im sta r l ig h t S ud d en ly , sh e w an te dto f in d Y aka mo ve ry qu ic kly .

S h e be g an to h u r ry a lo n g th e t r a i l , n ow ve ryc o nsc io us o f th e n oise h er m ovem en ts m ad e. 'T hetw itte r in g s in th e d a rk be cam e lo u de r a s h in ts o fg rey stre ake d th e sky to th e east, n ow seem in g toc lo se in o n h e r lo ca tio n . S he m oved to a tro t , th e na ru n , n o lo n g e r w a tch in g w h e re sh e ran , S h eth o u g h t o f tu g g in g h e r h amm e r f re e f rom h e rba ck , bu t c o uld n't re a c h it a t a fu ll sp r in t. T h en oise c am e lo ud er , th is tim e appe a rin g in f ro nt o fh e r. S h e se t h e r te e th a n d c o n tin u ed to run.r e fu sin g to m ove f ro m h er bro th er 's pa th . S he d idn o t n o n c e th a t th e l ig h t w as g row in g br ig h te r ,a n d w as u n aw are o f th e ba ttle u n ti l sh e sk id d e dh ea dlo ng in to it .

T h e c le a r in g w a s lit by Y akam o 's sw o rd ,bu rn in g ja d e fir e in to th e e a r ly m orn in g a ir . H eg ra spe d th e a n ce stra l w eapo n e a s i l y in his h u g er i gh t f ist , w h ile sp in n in g his te ts ub o o n e- ha n de din h is le f t A pa ir o f bu sh if lan k ed h im in atr ia n g u la r pa tte rn , k ee p in g th e ir fo e s f romc i rc l ing a ro un d be h in d th em .

T h e y w ere su r ro u n d e d by a m ob o f g o b lin s,som e th ir ty o r m ore sw arm in g In to th e c le a r in g ,T he g o blin s h e rd ru sty w eapo n s a n d sh a rpe n e dstic ks in th e ir c law ed h a n d s, a n d se em ed tod isre ga rd th eir o pp on en ts ' o bv io us p ro w ess. T he yle ap t tow ard s th e n e a re s t sam ura i in a w a v e .

bu ry in g h im ben ea th th e fo rc e o f th eir n um be rsH is kn ee s bu c k le d u n d e r th e w eig h t, ev en as hc le a ved h is fo e s in h a lf . H e stum bled . th e n feba ckw a rd s w ith a sh o u t a s th e g o b lin so ve rw h e lm ed h im . T h e y to o k n o n o tic e oY akam o, w ho sw un g h is w eapo ns w ith p ra c tic ede a se in an e f fo r t to d islo d g e th em from h ic omra d e .

O -U sh t's h amm e r w as in h e r h an d s a lm o sbe fo re sh e c o u ld think, H er fe a r fo rg o tte n , shu tte re d a h i g h p itc h e d w ar-u y a n d le a p t in to thf ig h t T he fa st g o b lin n eve r saw h e r com in g : shc au g h t I t be h in d th e e a r w ith a w e t c ra c k in gso u n d , I t u tte red a su rp r ised ba rk as it f lo pp edsid ew ay s , th e b lo w sp in nin g it l ik e a to p.

"O -U sh il" Y ak am o's su rp r ised y e ll e c h o e da c ro ss th e d ea rin g . T h e g o blin s, appa re n tlyf in ish e d w ith th e fa l len bu sh l , n ow tu rn e d th e ia tten tio n to th e n ew co mba tan t. W i th a u nive rsah iss , th e y sp ra n g u p a n d ch a rg e d tow ard s thy o u n g g ir l , H e r e y e s w id e n e d a s sh e r a ise d h eh am me r a n d prepa re d a n o th e r b low .It n eve r fe l l . W ith a m on s tro u s je rk Y akamg ra sped h is siste r 's c o lla r a n d pu lle d h er b eh in dh im . T h e su rg e o f g o b lin s c ra sh e d an d b ro kea ga i n s t his. an no r. H e sw ay ed slig htly , bu t d id n ofall; his l ip s c u rle d in a sn a r l a s h e sw un g h ite tsu bo w ith b lin din g sp ee d , T he fo rc e o f g ob linsh atte re d u nd er h is b lo ws, th e m ob b re ak in g In tp an ic ke d g ro u ps o f th re e o r fo u r. O ne g o blinca u g h t th e fu ll fo rc e o f h is b low , a n d flewbac kw a rd s lik e a sh a tte re d k ite , A n o th e rm an a g e d to g ra sp th e te tsu bo s sp ik ed tip , a n dtr ied v a lia n tly to sh ak e it lo ose f ro m its o wn er,to o w en t f ly in g, la n din g o n th e pa ck ed e a r th w itha m ea ty th u d Y akam o's rem ain in g com ra d e to oad van ta g e o f th e d istra c tio n to sl ic e a pa ir ogob l i n s in tw o. T h ey n e ve r saw th e b lad e w hic hk il le d th e m .

S e n sin g th e ba tt le w as tu rn in g , Y akam osh if te d h is sta nce an d re drew his ka tan a T he jad esy mbo ls c arve d in to it bla ze d an ew , se arch in g fofo e s to d e stro y , T h e sig h t o f i t w a s m o re th anen ou g h fo r th e rem ain in g g o blin s. T he y tu rn e dan d fle d , ig no rin g th eir b re th re n 's d yin g c r ie s ind espe ra te a ttem pt to e sca pe , T he tw o sam ura i ranth e stra g g le rs d ow n m erc ile ssly . T h e g o blin ssh r iek s h ad so o n d im in ish ed to o n e o r tw ora p id ly qu ie tin g vo ic e s. W i th a sa tisf ied grun tY aka mo re tu rn ed to th e c le ar in g,

O - U sh i w a tc h ed it all w ith ra p t a tten tio n, h ee y e s li t w ith ex c item en t S he h a d k il led a g o b lina t h e r bro th e rs sid e ! H er fe a r a n d an x ie ty w ere


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fo rg o tte n , re p la c ed w ith th e f lu sh o f v ic to ry an dth e p r id e o f a c co mp lish men t S he sm ile d b ro ad lya s h e r b ro th e r tram ped ba ck in to v iew , an dpre pa re d to w elc om e hlm,

H er w ord s fa lte re d , h o weve r , w hen sh e saw th elo ok o n Y akam o's fa c e . H e g ave h e r a b la ck scow lthat d ra in ed h er e mo tio ns dry. H e n o d d ed to th eo t h e r bush i , w ho w alk ed sile n tly up beh in d h im .

"Go back to the w all K osh i T e l l th em th a t th eg ob lin s o f M u ra S hu nob i a re n o lo n ge r a pro blem .W e wil l re ma in h ere an d t end to t he r em ai ns ."

T he sam ura i bow ed and tu rn ed to g o ."A n d K o sh l ... ~ Y akam o ca n ed a f te r h im .

"M a k e no m en tio n o f m y sis te r to an yo n e .Und e r s t a n d ? "

"Raj, Y a ka mo -sa ma ." W i th ou t fu rth er w o rd , h ew as o f f .

Y akam o kne l t by th e bod y o f h is fa l le nc om ra de a nd e xa min ed it c lo se ly . O - U sh i w a n te dto se e w h a t h e w as d o in g , bu t c o u ld n 't br in gh e rse lf to a pp ro a ch him H is c alm h id a h urr ic an e.A fte r a t im e , h e g ra sped th e d e ad m a n 's d a ish oan d pu lle d it f re e . F in a l ly , h e ro se an d stro d etow ard s h e r , c lo s in g th e d ista n c e be tw een th emw ith a la rm in g spe ed .

"C o me h ere , O -U sh i," b e g estu re d so ftly . T h erew as n o d isobey in g h im . " 1 w an t y ou to si t h e rean d w atc h th e bod y w ith m e ."

"Y ou w an t. .. "S i: d own . O-Ush i . R i g h t N o w." S he d ro ppe dinstantly . H e w iped th e b lo od from h is swo r d and

sh ea th ed it be fo re kn e e lin g d o wn be sid e he r . T h efallen sam u ra i 's bod y la y In f ro n t o f th em .su rro un d ed by sh a tte re d g o blin s. It h ad be e npie rc e d in f iv e o r s ix p la c e s; th e g ap in g h o le sle ake d blo od w h ic h slowly beg an to poo l a ro u ndh im . I t d id n 't bo th e r O U sbi trem en d o u sly ; sh eh a d se en m en d ie be fo re . S om e th in g in h e rbro th e r 's to n e , h ow eve r , su g g e ste d a g re a te rso lem nity th an th e s itu a t io n se em ed to w arra n tS h e h u gg ed h e r kn e e s an d w aite d fo r Y akam o top r o noun c e j u d gn a en t

T hey sa t in s i le n c e fo r a lo n g l im e, a s th e g re yin th e e a st c o n tin u ed to br ig h te n . S h e d a re d n o tu tte r a w o rd an d h e sh ow ed n o in c lin a t io n tospe ak e ith er . T he y w atc he d th e bo dy q uie tly w h ilef l ie s g ath ere d a ro un d th e c orpse s.

"D id yo u b rin g any ja d e with yo u?" h e a sk eda t la s t. S h e h e ld th e s to n e u p. "G oo d Y ou 're le sso f a fo o l th an Ih ough t "

S he sa id n oth in g."W h at w ere y ou d oin g. Q ..U sh i? W h at d id yo uth ink y ou c ou ld a cc om plish w ith th is d isp la y?"

" I - I w an te d to sh ow yo u h ow stro ng 1 was . ""By th row ing y ou r li fe aw ay ?! S tre n g th o f

a rm s an d ph y sic a l pow er a re n o t e n ou gh to sw ayo u r foe , O -U sh l. T h e S ha do w la nd s wll l no t re stu n til t1 re y h ave sn a tc h ed ou r SOllS a nd tw is te do u r bod ie s to se rve th e ir w him s. If y ou h ad n o tfo un d u s, it w ou ld h ave sw allo wed yo u w ho le .""Bu t I d id f i n d y ou ... ~

"And w ere a lm ost k il le d in th e pro ce ss! W e a rele ss th an six h o u rs from th e K aiu W an - w ha t y ousaw to d a y is n o th in g : F u rth e r south l ie h o rr or syo u c a n sc a rc e ly im ag in e , O -U sh i: c re a tu re sw h ose fo uln ess c orru pts th e very a ir th ey bre ath e.If y ou c an no t h and le a sm a ll band o f g o blin s ,w ha t c h an c e h ave yo u ag a in st o n e o f th em ?"

S he w as qu i e t fo r a m om en t, th en spo ke ag a In ."Bu t Ian n eve r m ee t th a t c h a lle n g e u n ti l I

c an fa c e th ese sm alle r o ne s ."'Y ou a re n o t re a d y to fa c e th e se sm alle r o n e s,

s is te r . A C rab is b rave , bu t a lso w ise . H e d o e s no tth row h is s tre n g th aw ay on u se le ss d isp la y s o fc o urag e. W h om w ou ld you h a ve b en e fit ed if y ouh ad d ie d ? W ho w ou ld know o r c a re if y ou tra de dy ou r li fe so c he ap ly ?"

S h e rem a in ed si le n t a s th e w ord s su nk in ,~I an t y ou to w atc h ." h e co n tin u ed . "A nd w e

w ill se e if y ou a re re ad y."

Mo r n i n g dawned. co ld and misty , th e su nh id de n b en ea th the clouds, T h e f l ies had l a n d edIn grea t swarms, feasting m er r ily o n th e d e ad . T heste nc h w o uld p ro ba bly an ra ct larger s cavenge r s ,an d O -U sb i w asn 't su re she wan t e d lD be h e r ew h en th ey a rr iv ed . Y a kam o refused lO I l l DV e .th o ug h, sta r in g sto nily a h e ad a t th e fa l le n busbi

S ud d en ly , b is a rm sh o t o u t. a n d be pointed h isf in g er a t th e r is in g c lo ud o f f lie s.

There !"T he sa mu ra i's bo dy be ga n to sh ud de r. I ts lim bs

tw itc h ed and U s n eck c re ak ed u pw ard s a s a 10\\m oa n e sc ape d its l ip s. B la ck en ed b lo od tr ic kle do u t o f I ts mou th , ma t c h i n g th e st ill -g ap in gw oun d s in its c h e st a n d be l ly . G -U sh l rep re sse dth e u rg e to sc re am an d g r ipped h e r h amm e rt ight ly. T he c orp se p la nte d it s h a n d s in th e d i r tand beg a n to r ise , its g ro an s ra isin g th e h a ir o nth e ba ck o f h e r n e ck It lu rc h ed to its fe e t a n dlo oked a ro un d d u lly a s I ts g la zed ey e s se t tle d o n


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the tw o Hlda I t o pe n ed i ts m o u th in a h id eo u ssc re am , a n d b eg an to sh am ble to wa rd s th em"Kill i t . " Y a ka m o sta te d f la tly . S h e h esi ta te d .

" K i l l it now . O - U s h J J "T he ste e l in h e r b ro th e r 's vo ic e e g g e d h e r o n .

C le n ch in g h er fists a ro u n d th e h a n d le o f th eh amm e r, sh e u tte re d w h a t sh e h o pe d w as ah a r r ow i n g c ry an d ran to wa rd s th e w a lk in g d ea d .H e r f i rs t b low s tru c k it squ a re in th e c h e st ,k n o ck i n g it ba c kw ard s an d le a v in g a f l a tim pre ss io n w h ere it c on n ec te d . M o v in g quicklyn ow , O -U sb i a llo w e d h er tr a in in g to o ve rr id e th efe a r w hic h g n aw ed a t h e r h e a r t S h e sw un g h e rh am me r a g a in , th is t im e str ik in g th e c r e a tu re 'sj aw . Its h e a d spu n a ro u n d wi th a b o ne -c ru sh in gsn a p , a n d h u n g l lm ply o n it s s id e . O - U sh i s m il edg r im ly a n d w aite d fo r th e th in g to c o l la p se .

I n s te a d , to h e r su rp r ise . it s e em e du n p e r tu rbe d . I t lu n g ed fo rw ard a g a in , c a tc h in gh er c lo th in g in it s b lo ate d h an ds a nd d ra gg in g h erro ug hly to th e g ro un d. S he stru gg le d to m ain ta inh e r c om po su re a s sh e fe l t i ts i c y b re ath a ga in sth er c he ek . It w re nc he d i ts h ea d fo rw a rd a ga in , it ssh a tte re d jaw bo n e st ic k in g o u t o f i ts c h e ek . I tsh if te d i ts c law s to h e r th ro a t a n d b eg an tosqu ee z e th e b re a th o u t o f h e r .

H e r h amm e r fe l l to th e g ro u n d h a s h e r h a n d sf la ile d be hin d h er . H er ey es bu lg ed a nd sh e c ou ldfe e l h er g a g re f le x kick in , o n ly to be cut o ff byth e z om bie 's l ig hte nin g g rip . F ra ntic al ly , a lm ostbU nd in g ly , sh e g ra spe d th e twin h i l ts o f h e rkn iv e s an d w h ipp ed th em ba ck a ro u n d. T he f irs tp lu n ge d d e e p in to th e zom bie 's b ro ke n n e c k ; th ese co nd c au gh t it in th e te mp le . If u tte re d a sh or tc h ir p a nd r ele ase d it s g rip e ve r so sl ig h tly . O - U sh ir e a c te d in s t in c t iv e ly : sh e r ip pe d fr e e o f h e ro pp o n e n t 's c law s, th e n slam med h e r h e a d ba ckin to th e zom bie 's fa c e . T h e fo rc e o f th e b low ,co mbin ed w ith th e d am ag e f rom h er kn iv e s . w ase n o u gh to ta k e its h ea d c om ple te ly o ff . The sku l lpo ppe d fr e e an d bo u n c e d to th e g ro u n d l ik e ac hi ld 's ba ll . T he bo dy sti f fe ne d a nd fo r a m om en t,O -U sb i th ou gh t th at w ou ld r e n ew it s g ri p. T h e n ittu mb le d aw ay fro m h er , ro bbe d o f i ts lo co mo tio nby th e lo ss o f I ts h e ad .S h e sto o d th e r e fo r a m om en t, w ai t in g to se eif it w ou ld r ise a ga in . I t d id n't . W h en sh e re aliz e dth a t sh e w as o u t o f d a n g e r , th e sh u d d e r so v e rw he lm e d h e r a n d sh e fe l l to h e r k n e e s . S h esta y e d th a t w a y fo r som e tim e , u n ti l sh e fe l tY akam o's w arm h an d o n h e r sh o uld e r .

"I t-i t w a nte d to k il l u s : sh e s ho ok .

~Y es," h e a g re ed , "Eve ry h um a n be in g w hod ie s in th e S h a d o w la n d s r ise s a g a in a s o n e oth ese . W i th ou t so u l, w i th ou t m e m or ie s, h u ng er in go n ly fo r th e l iv in g f le sh o f th o se th e y o nc e c a l le dk in ." T he zom bie je rk e d sp a sm od ic a l ly a n d 0U s h i f li n ch e d . "This is th e pow er w e f ig h t a U sh i- th e po w e r to u tte r ly d e s tro y w ho w e a re . C a ny o ur c o ura g e sto p this f rom h a ppe n in g to y o u ?C an y ou r s tre ng th o r m art ia l sk il ls?"

"N o ... n o ," sh e m utte r e d q u ie t ly . "I t wou l dta ke m o re "

"I t re qu ire s a w il l in g n e ss to d o w ha t n o o n ee ls e w il l I t ta k e s th e ab i l ity to s tr ik e d ow n acom rad e b e fo re h e c a n str ik e y o u d ow n. L oo k am e ,O -U s h l "

H e g ra spe d h e r c h in an d l if ted h er h e a d , h isey es bu rn in g h o le s in h e r fa c e ."I f y o u h ad to killm e in th is fa sh io n , c ou ld y oud o i t? If I w ere to r ise , a s h e d id . a n d ta k e a rm sa g a in st m y C lan , c o u ld y o u ta k e m y be ad an dse n d m y so u l sc re am in g in to th e v o id ?"

H er ey e s w en t b la ck , a s if a sm a ll l ig h t h a db ee n e x ti ng u is he d .

"Y e s," sh e w h isp ere d . "Y e s I c ou ld :Y a ka m o sm ile d f ie rc ely ."T he n y o u kn ow w ha t it m ean s to be a C ra b .R is in g u p , h e to o k h is s is te r b y th e h a n d an d

le d h e r aw ay .

O~ .. - - " ~ j . j . j j . 2 " . j . j j i j

W e lc om e to W ay of th e C rab, th e th ird in o u rW ay of the Clans se r i es , This so u rc eb o o k id e sig n ed to h e lp p la y e rs a n d G am e M aste rsd e ve lo p th e ir ow n v e r s io n s o f th e h a r sh a n du n be n d in g C rab C lan . S in c e th e com in g oS h in se l , th e C rab h av e d e fe n d e d R o k u g a n sso u th e rn b o rd e r a g a in s t th e u n h o ly fo rc e s o f F uL en g . T he ir ta sk h a s sh ap ed th em in to o n e o f th es tro n g e st fo rc e s in R o ku g a n , y e t th e y rem a ind e e p ly m isu nd e r s to o d by th e o th e r m ajo r c la n sThis bo ok is in te n d e d to sh e d som e lig h t o n th osem isu n d e r s ta n d in g s , a n d to try an d c o n ve y th eu niqu e w ay in w hich th e C ra b lo o k a t th e w or ld .

A s u su a l , th e G am em as te r h a s th e f l n a J sayov e r al l m atte rs in h is o r h e r g am e. If h e o r sh ee n v is io n s a C ra b C la n d iff e r e n t f rom th e o n ed esc ribe d h ere , e xpe ct so me d isc r e pa nc ie s fro mw ha t y o u re ad .


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T h e firs t c h apte r c o n ta in s som e le tte rs a n dan e cd o te s expla in in g th e re la t io n s be tw een th eC rab an d th e re s t o f R okug an ,

T he se co n d ch ap te r c o ve rs th e lo ng h isto ry o fth e C rab 's ba ttle with th e S had ow lan d s , th e irsqu abb le s w ith th e o th e r C la n s , a n d th e l iv e s o fth eir g re ate st h ero es. I t a lso in clu de s in fo rm atio nn n th e f iv e fam ilie s th a t c om prise th e c la n . a n d.h e d utie s th ey fulfill.

T h e th ird c h ap te r c o n ta in s expan d edm fo rma t i o o 00 c re a tin g a C rab ch a ra c te r ,mdu d l n g n ew fam il ie s , schools. ski l l s andadv an t a g e s .

T he fo u rth c h apte r d eta ils th e m ost im po r ta n tm em be rs o f th e C lan , in c lu d in g th e ir T ra i ts ,~g s , a n d S k il ls.

T h e f if th c h ap te r lists f ive re a d y -to -p la y:!Ja ra de rs , c om ple te w ith po rtra its a nd c ha ra cte r

IS . A l l yo u h ave to d o is p ho to co py th e sh ee tso f th e bo o k . a n d yo u 're re a d y to g o .

F in a l ly , w e 'v e in c lu d ed som e ad d it io n a lm ate ria l o n th e C ra b's ph ilo so ph y, c om ba t ta ctic s,spe l ls , m ag ic i tem s, a n d a few o th e r g o o d ie s w eth ink y ou 1 1 l ike .

W h ile th e ru le rs o f th e C rab a re bo u ndto ge th er a s k in , p a r ts o f th e ir "family tre es' h aveb ee n d el ib er at el y le ft b la n k, so y ou may i n se r ty o ur c h ara c te rs in to th e C lan h ie ra rc h y. As w i t hth e f irs t tw o C lan bo o ks, w e'v e in c lu d ed manyfam ou s C rab h e ro e s o f th e pa st; if on e o f th emstr ik e s y ou r fa n cy . y o u m ay tak e him o r h e r a s ana nc e sto r fo r y o ur c h a ra cte r - fo r a c er ta in am ou nto f ch a r a c t e r poin ts , t h a t is .

F o r t en c en tu ri es, th e C rab h ave sto o d gu a rda g a in st th e g re a te s t e n em y th e Em era ld Em pireh a s eve r kn ow n . A re yo u re ad y to le a rn th e irs ec r e t s?

T he n g rab y ou r k a ta n a an d d o n 't fo rg e t a p ie c eo f ja d e ; y ou 'l l n e e d th em w he re w e're go ing .

C ou rag e is n o t ju s t a w ord .


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____________ " ~~ 0" , _ ~ - -~- _ _---- .


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ChAp'.t 0...:th. Mj9h''J CtA6


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Someth ing bearing my father's face andw eeping m y m oth er's tears com es c law ing upfrom th e d ep th s, s cre am in g fo r m e to j oin th em . 1feei its t al on s agains t my armor, s napp ing l ea th e rand m etal as if d le y w er e o ri gam i. / r ea ch fo r m yte ts ub o a s 1 h ear its h ideous laugh and! knowth at one blow is ail it w ill a llow b efo re It tearsth e e ntra lls from m y b on es .

A nd you sit inyo ur p ala ce a nd lec tu re m e o ncourage.The w a J J s tr etc he s a th ou sa nd le ag ue s lo ng ,

Iilled It,.ith s amu ra i p repar ing f or s i e g e . A sea ofg ob lin s s ta nd s b efo re m e, b ow lin g u nn am ea bJ ec u rs es i nt o t h e air. A s t he y b eg in to c ro ss th e r iv er ;1 hear that the C rane have Jaunched anotherfo ra y a ga in st o ur b ord ers to tb e n orth . Yet I cando noth ing but stay w here I am and ensure th atn o g oblin es cap es to terro riz e th e sa me C ra nesw ho s te al o ur la nd

And you lJe in yo ur g ard en a nd tell m e a bo utduty.The dismal stink of the Shadow landssurrounds us . A tow ering O m' grabs a pair ofbush i and shakes them like children s dolls ,

snapping th eir bones into pow der. I h ear th eirpleas Ior h elp and ignore them , know ing th at!am c on dem nin g th em to a fa te w orse th en d ea th .My dai nly o is d ep end in g u po n m e to esc ap e th ishorror, Of hundreds more will die as myc omp sn lo ns h a ve .A nd yo u s ta nd in y ou r s ilk r ob es a nd e xp Ja into m e w hat h onor is.

Y ou are ch lklren playing gam es to nil youem pty lives. Y ou are infants s qu all in g f or y out oy s, p r et en di ng th a t n ot hin g e ls e h o ld s m eani nin th is world Y ou ar e old w omen hunchearound the fIre. telling yourselves that ths ha dows b ey on d c an no t h urt y ou .I am th e C ra b.!ave witnessed horr or s t hayou can scarcely conceive of and watched thdeath of enough samurai to / i J J a hundrebattlefields. Ih av e s ee n w ha t lie s b ey on d th e s oc on fin es o f t hi s m a ke -b el ie ve k in gdom , a nd / amc ha rg ed w ith en su rin g th st y ou r d re em d oe s n odi sso lve in to n igh tmare . Iam t he s o le p r o te c to ryour pa th e ti c e x is te n ce .So laugh at m e ifyo u will. Mo ck m y u nc ou tb eh av io r, s ta rt a t m y c ru de la ng ua ge . B ut d o n os pe ak to m e o f c ou ra ge , little m an . Do not s pe ato m e of duty or h onor. Y ou h aven 't t h e s l igh teid ea w ha t tb ey m ea n.LETTER ADDRESSED TO AkODOHIRANO, LION CLAN DAIMYO, FROM'KOMA YUR', AMBASSADOR TO THEScORPION CLAN.

G re etin gs . A k od o-sa ma a nd m ay th e b le ss in gof o ur b en evo le n t Em pe ro r f in d y ou w ell th is d a yA s p e r you r r e qu e s t , Iave re c o rd ed th e eve n tle a d in g to th e injury o f B a y u sh i K iy o g imn eph ew to th e ven e ra b le B ay u sh i d a im yo . W h ilm y lo rd h a s d o u b tle ss h e a rd n ew s o f th e sc an da lh e may n o t h av e h e a rd th e sh o c k in g d e ta i ls ur ro u n di ng K i yo g im i 's i ns ul t. N e ve r in th e annao f d ip lo mac y h ave I e a rd o f su c h a d isg ra c e fua nd d ish on ora ble s ig ht a s I i t nes sed t h a t d a y .

T he d ip lom atic c o rp s o f B a y u sh i pa la c e h aa ssem ble d to c e leb ra te th e b ir th day o f B ay u shMach ika , th e da l r nyns m oth e r a n d d ow ag e r o f thB ay ush i fa mily . T he c ro wd w as d re sse d in f in erb ef it t in g su ch a n a ug ust o c c a s i o n , a s pe r B ay ushc u stom , w e h a d a l low ed o u r se lv e s to be ba th e dby th e fam ily 's se rvan ts ju s t p r io r to thp ro c e ed in g s. H av in g n e ve r expe r ie n c e d tht ra d it io n b ef or e. Io n fe ss to su ff e r in g a stro n ga nxiety at th e th ou gh t: a f te r all, if th e Sco r p i oW i s h t o d ispo se o f a n a dve rsa ry . th ere wil l n ev eb e a m ore o ppo r tu n e tim e th an w he n h e is n ak e da n d v ul ne ra bl e in th eir o w n h ou se . Im en tio n thb e c au s e it h a s im po rta n t be a r in g s o n whah app en ed n ex t

T he c e rem on y w as h e ld w ith a l l th e pom p thn orm ally m yste rio us S co rp io n co uld m uste r . T h


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c e le b ra t io n w hic h fo l low ed co n ta in ed a U th esu btle t ie s o n e w o u ld e xpe c t f rom su c h ag ath er in g. T h e plo ts grew a nd m ultip l ie d be ne athth e ch e e rfu l d e co r , a n d w e w ere a l l so o n en g ag e din broke r lng re la tio ns be tw een o ur m ig hty C lan s- a s is n a tu r a l fo r su ch an o c c a sio n . O ur bu sin e ssw a s d istu rbe d , h ow eve r , by th e a rr iv a l o f a la tev is i to r to th e p ro c e ed in g s. H e a ppe a re d a t th ed o o r l ik e a spe c tre . le av in g a t r a i l o f c on fu se dse rvan ts in h is w ake . H e stro d e qu ick ly th ro ug hm e a ssem blag e , w ho qu ie te d th e ir po l i t ic k in g a tth e sig ht o f his h u g e fo rm . H is h e lm bo re th e c re sto f th e C rab C la n - th e o n ly su ch c re s t to be se enat t he c e le b ra ti on .

T he sa mu ra i's d ec or s to od in sh arp co ntra st toth e r em ain d e r o f th e ro om . H e w as in fu l l a rmo r ,nicked in a h u n d re d p la c e s an d spa tte re d w ithm u d f rom th e ro a d . H e fa c e w as u n sh ave n a n d h isk a ta n a h u n g e a sily f rom h is be l t - r e a d y to bed raw n a t a m om en t 's n o tic e . S co rp io n m ask s -bo th m etaph o r ic a l a n d a c tu a l - reve a le d n o tra c eof e mo tio n, bu t th e -sh oc k a t se ein g su ch a m an insuch a co nd itio n co uld be fe lt in p alp able w a ve s:h ro ug ho ut th e ro om .

" ' h ave be e n tak en from m y d u tie s a t th e K a iuw a ll to a t te n d this... c e leb ra t io n ," th e C rabrum ble d , a d d in g a n o te o f d i s d a i n to th e la s tord, " A p pa r en t ly , y o u a U f e e l that a m ile sto ne in

o n e w om an 's l i fe m ean s m ore t h a n th e c o nt in u eds af ety o f R o ku g an . N e ve rt he le ss. you h av e ca l l ed .an d th e C ra b w il l a dh ere to th e te ne ts o f e tiq u ette .A t th e beh e st o f m y L o rd H id a . I ave com ebe a r in g a gif t fo r th e d ow ag e r ." H e o pen e d h isba n d to reve a l a sm a ll e g g . c ra f te d o f ja d e a n druby. A t a to u c h . th e e gg sp ran g ope n ; w ith in itlay a sc en e o f d an c e rs a n d a c ro ba ts , w ho m ove dwi t h m ech an ic al p re c isio n a c ro ss i ts su rfa c e. I tsa rti st ry w a s a U th e m ore in sp ir in g fo r th e u nc le anoa f w hic h h e ld it H e p la ced it o n th e g ro u n dbe fo re th e spe e ch le ss d ow ag er . bo wed lo w be fo reh e r , a n d tu rn e d to g o .

T h e C rab m oved sw if t ly ba ck tow a rd s th ee n tr a nc e , i nt en d in g to ex i t th e w ay h e h a d com e .T h i s se em e d to a ssu a g e th e c row d's a n x ie ty an dta lk in g slow ly re tu rn e d to th e ro om - a lbe i t inh ush ed a nd sc an da lo us to ne s. K iy og im i, h ow eve r,w a s n o t to be le f t in su c h a m an n e r . H e fo l low edin th e C ra b's w a ke , a ppa re ntly p la nn in g to pu rsu eth e m a tte r fu rth er .

W h at h a ppen ed n ex t w as d iff ic u l t to fa th om . Ikn ow th a t K iy o g im i app ro a c h ed th e C ra b ju stbe fo r e h e re a c h ed th e stab le s , a n d I kn ow th a t h em ad e o ve r tu r e s th a t th e rum p le d bu sh i sh o u ld

sta y a w hile . My co l l e a g u e in th e P h o en ix d anm ain ta in s th at K iy og im i h ad exp re sse d g ra t itu defo r th e C rab 's gif t , an d a sk ed th a t th e sam u ra irem a in a n d w a sh th e d u st o f th e ro ad from hist i re d fo rm . W h en h e d em urre d, K ly og im i in sis te d,s ta tin g th at it w as tr a d itio n th at a l l p re se nt ba th eas a co ur te sy to th eir h osts .A ppa ren tly th e s ta tem en t d id n o t g o o ve r w el lwi t h th e C rab . a n d I w as c lo se en o u g h to se e th e

re spo n se . I n a f la sh h e m re th e y o u n g S c o rp io n 'sm ask a su n d e r a n d d em an d ed th a t IG yo g im i d rawhis ka ta n a so th a t h e c o u ld "d te l ik e a m an : T h ec olo r d ra in ed o ut o f K iy og im i's n ow -ba re fa ce , a ndh e h a l tin g ly a sk ed w ha t h e h a d d o n e to d e se rves uc h t re a tm e n t.

Y ou a sk m e to low er m y g u a rd in y ou r h ou se ,y e t y ou d o n o t e ven low e r y ou ow n ," th e C rabsn ar le d . H e tu ck ed th e S co rp io n's m ask in h is be l ta n d fo ld ed h is a rm s, a s if d ar in g K iy og im i to pu sh


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T he Em pe ro r ro seq u i c k l y . H e g ra bbed h isa n d pul led th e s tee lth e c oo l a i r . T hesn ig g er ed . "Y o um y lo rd : sh ec h a s e m e, n rth e l it tl e c r a bs av ed y o ur l i f e ;knewn o c ho ic e. Her i t e swo r d an dc ra b I nto h isa s r it e scorp iona w ay . H e th an ke dh is c o ur ag e , a n da s H i d a'ss li pp e d a w a yh is f l esh .

a f la sh o ffro m th edoorway.s aw r ite s tone

to b is h a nd s.f r i end ."Is o n eIhall

h is lu c k A fte r s ta r in g a t th e C ra b fo r se v e ra lm om en ts, K iy o g im i tu rn e d aw ay , lo w er in g h ish e a d in sh am e. T he C rab m ou nte d h is h orse ands to rm ed o u t, th e m ask sti l l h a n g in g from h is b e ltD u rin g th e e ntire ep iso de , 1 ' 1 0 o n e h a d th o u g h t toa sk h im h is n am e.

C er ta in ly , y o u a re aw are o f th e u pro a r w hic hfo llo w ed . T he B ay ush i d em an ded re sti tu tio n fo rth e insult; th e C ra b m a in ta ln e d th a t th e irem issa ry h a d a c te d p ro p e rly . T h e B ay u sh id em an d e d th a t th e m ask be re tu rn e d ; th e C ra bin tim a ted th a t th e y w ere w elc om e to ta ke it ifth ey c o uld . T he B ay u sh i th re a te n ed re tr ib u tio n:th e C rab re spo nd ed w ith sto ny sile nc e. F in ally , th emat te r se em ed to se tt le in th e ba c kg ro un d . w ithth e B ay u sh i re tre a tin g - p re su mab ly to p lo t so meve n g e a n c e - a n d th e C ra b c o n tin uin g th e ir d u tie sa s if th e in cid en t n eve r o cc u rre d . W e d ou btle ssh a ve n o t h e a rd th e la st o f this fro m e ith er p ar ty .T h e in c id en t an d its re p e rc u ssio n sd em on stra te s th e g re a t d an ge r in In vit in g th eC ra b to a n y c iv il ize d affair. T h e y la ck th em an n e rs a n d in c lin a tio n to be h a ve like p ro p e rRokuganl, L e ave th em to th e ir d u tie s , m y lo rd ,a n d th eir ba rb a r ic d em ea n or wi l l n ev er tro u bley o u . In v ite th em in to y o u r h o u se , a n d y o u c o u rtd isa ste r . S ho uld y o u ev e r fe e l th e n ee d to b r i ngo n e o f th em to you r ow n g a th e r in g - b e itmil i t a ry , pe rso n a l o r d ip lom a tic - I urge )00 tobe a r this m o d e m inmind, I w ou ld so on e r S6! ah erd sm an 's sw in e a t c o urt th an any o f their d o u ra nd h ate fu l faces .

Y o ur M o st O be die nt S erva nt,Ik o ma Y uri

EXCERPT FROM. A TREATIse ONTHE ReSEARCH ANDMETHODOLOGY OF KUNI MOKUNABY DAIDOJI NAZOkO

... T h e re h a ve be en m an y ta le s sp re a d a bo u tm y m a ste r - som e tru th fu J, m o st d isto r te dbe y o n d rep ro a ch - y e t n o o n e h a s e v e r a ske d h owI c am e to m e e t h im . I f in d th is c u r io u s. sin c e Ih a ve en d u re d co u n tle ss qu es tio n s a s to h ow anI ro n C ra n e - a n e stab lish e d bu sh i w ith n o h o peo f e ve r le a rn in g th e sh u g e n ja w ay - co u lda pp re n ti ce h e rs el f to a K u n t rm adm an " Bu t b eth a t a s it m ay , m y re la tio n sh ip w ith M oku n a -sam a be g a n th u s :

J w as fif te en y e a rs o ld an d h ad ju st co mp le te dm y gempukku c e rem on y a t th e D aid o ji sch o o l

W ord re a c h e d u s th a t a n o g re ba n d it h a d bepre yin g o n o ur so uth ern te rr i to rie s, o pe ra tin g oo f th e n e a rby Kun i Was t e s . My sensei sw orew ou ld br in g th e m on ste r to ju stic e , a n d to ge th eth e tw o o f u s se t o u t in se a rc h o f its l . a 1 r . Wtrac k ed th e bea st fo r sev e ra l d ay s. I t happa re n tly g o tte n w ord o f o u r pursuit, fo r tpa th led fu rth e r a n d fu rth e r so u th in to tw a ste la n d s. M te ra l ife tim e sp en t am id tg a r d e n s of th e C ra ne C la n. th e b la ste d lan dsc apcam e as q u ite a sh ock . N oth in g liv ed o r bre ath eo n th e Kun l p la in s - n o t a b ird . n o t 'a f lo w er , na b la d e o f g ra ss. I t w a s all c ra ck ed so il ansh if t in g sa n d s. a s if a m ig h ty f ire h a d se a re d te ar th i tse lf O c c.a slo n al1 y, a d ea de ne d tree c oube se en , o r a ru n d ow n bu ild in g w ou ld be c omvis ib le o n th e h orizo n W e n eve r a pp ro ac h e d ao f th em , fo r th ey m arke d th e te rr i to ry o f t he Kum ag ic ia n s an d w e h ad n o w ish to in tru d e u pot he ir s o li tu d e .

W e j o u rn ey e d o n , g rad ua lly g ro w in g c lo se ro u r p re y . A t la st w e spo tte d w ha t a ppe a re d toits c am psite , ju st w ith in sig ht o f a g re at sh atte retow er . M y sen se i po in te d th e bu ild in g o u t anw h isp e re d to m e .. "T he re l ie s th e d w ell in g o f R uM o ku n a th e m o st te r r ib le sh u g e n ja sinI u c h ib a n h imse l f . W e m ust n ot d raw h is a tte n tiole st h e c o me to a ssist o ur qu arry ." I sh ud de re da g reem en t a n d c lu tc h ed m y n ag ln ata c lo se r a s wpre p a re d to en ga g e th e o gre .

W e c h a rg e d in to h is c am ps ite a s o nbra n dish in g o u r w eapo ns w ith th e p ea k o f a ll osk il ls . T h e c re a tu re lo o ke d u p f rom its c r ucam p fire an d g r in n e d fie n d ish ly a t u s, a g rec lu b c lu tch ed in its h a nd s . It la u g h e d a s it ro sem ee t u s, a so u n d w hich h a u n ts m y n ig h tm are sth is d ay . A s w e p re sse d th e a tta c k , I t u tte redsh ort ba rk , th e n sw un g U s c lu b be fo re th e f i re ,

W e n ev e r h ea rd th em co min g.M y sensei ba re ly h ad tim e to tu rn be fo re t

se co nd o g re a tta ck ed ; its b lo w sh atte re d h is skulike a m elo n . M y w ar-c ry fe l l s i le n t a t th e sig ha n d as I ba c ke d slo w ly u p , I saw a th ird o gc lam be r in to f ir e l ig ht to th e r ig ht o f th e o th er twS en se i's b od y s hu d de re d in a d e a th sp asm , a nth e tr io o f o g re s a d v an c ed a lm o s t m o ck in gtow ard s m e. I sto o d in th e ce n te r o f th e ir c ir cvow in g to m ake m y d ea th a c o stly o n e a nsw in g in g m y n a gm ata in s low sw eep in g a rcT h e ir le ad e r , th e ba n d it w e h a d tra c ke d so fl if te d h is c lu b h ig h a bo v e m e a n d p re pa redc ru sh th e lif e f rom m y bo d y . It w a s th e n thM o k un a str uc k.


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H e sto o d a t th e ed g e . o f th e f ir e l ig ht, a l l bu t:nvisible in th e s h a d o w s , H e w hispe re d stran ge

rd s, en tre atin g th e kami sp ir i ts to com e to h isa id . T h e g ro u n d c ra ck le d a n d sh o o k a s bo lts o f" g h t e ru p ted from h is fin g e rtips an d slam med. :nto th e n e ar es t og r e , T h e force l i f t ed th e b ea st o ff. h e g ro u n d a n d th rew it f la t, e ve n a s it sea red.m ea rth ly b ur ns a cr oss its le ath er y sk in . Iaw th ez a n d t t s f ac e l os e its g rin a t th e sig h t o f h im , an d.It'i ey e s be tray e d a h in t o f fe a r fo r th e first t ime in.be en c o u n te r . M oku n a to o k ad va n ta g e o f th e~ ta tio n by re pea tin g h is spe ll , t h i s t i m e l oo si ng~ fu ry o n th e o n e w h o h a d k il led m y se n se i I t~led in pain a s th e lig ht en gu lfe d it , th e fle sh; :mUng f rom i t s bo nes lik e pa r chmen t .

T h a t w as a ll th e ban d it need ed . W ith a qu ickp. it spun o n it s g rea t le gs a nd prepa re d to f l e eD th e n ig h t B u t M oku n a stru ck be fo re It c ou l dve , l a unc h i ng a th ir d s p el l d i re c tl y o n th e h ee lsth e ru st tw o. L a te r , Iw ou ld m arve l a t his

.m e a r :th ly stam in a - h ow co u ld h e in vo ke th ezam t so ra p id ly an d w ith so m u c h pow e r? I ts:o f i'e c tl ve n es s, h ow e ve r. w a s n e ve r in d is pu te . T h east . o g r e ut t e red a b rie f c ry b efo re b ein g e ng ulfe d::l m ag ica l e ne rg y ..I o u ld fe e l it s h imme r i nga r ound m e like wa l e r . c o ld an d e xh ila ra tin g."ben it fa ded , th e bandit w as g o n e . In i ts p la ce

sto od a ja de sta tu e, c arv ed p erfe ctly in it s l ik enessan d ec h oin g w ith it s sc re ams .Iw a s sp ee ch le ss, b oth in aw e o f his mag i c a lp rew ess an d in fe a r a t se e in g th e d re a d Kuruo ku n a fo r th e first t ime . T he re c o uld be DOd o ubt th a t m y re sc u e r w as th e S3TIlf man sensei

ha d w arn ed m e abo u t n o t tw o h ou rse arlie r. H es t ood shor t e r th a n I w a s by a ba n d -sp a n . ato ug hen ed sin ew y m an o f a ppro xim ate ly fony-f iv e y ea rs. H is h a i r w as tie d back ben ea th a b roa dpea san t 's h a t, a n d h is bo d y w as sw ath e d in aco a rse g ra y ro be . H e c lu tch e d a pair o f s cr o ll s ine a ch o f h is h an d s. th e w rit in g o n th em g low in gw ith a n u n ea rth ly l i gh t On ly la te r d id I r e c a l lh ow h is fm ge rs qu ive red . a s th e co st o f c a stin g somany spe lls to o k its to l l o n h is fo rti tu d e . H este pped in to th e f rre lig ht a nd slo w ly su rvey ed hish an diw o rk , th e sc ro lls n eve r le av tn g h is c lu tch es.

"H ow . .. h ow d id y o u d o th a t?" I f in a l lym an ag e d to gasp a t h im . H e looked u p from th esm o ld e r in g c o rpse s a n d g ave m e a chee r le sssmi le ." B y kn ow in g th em as I k no w m y se If ,"h erep l ied .

I w ou ld n o t le a ve hi s sid e fo r an oth er tw en tyy e a r s .


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tit. H t~IOt 'J o flit. &t46


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. S ta te m en t is th e'Q t~e C ra b C la n ,. ~ th e Kuni, th eth e H irum a. T he1, 1 a d e ct sl on T h e nth re e a re e xp ec te dt h a t dec i s ion outlearn as much asth e Issu e in

then tu rnto th e~s f o rm I t in to"" """ '" d e fe nse s,W B 3 p o n r y . etc, W ith ti leprepa ra t ions i n p la c e. it i su p to th e H lru rn a toImp l emen t them.I t : s r ar ely t hi s sim ple . o fc ou rse , a nd p m c tic aln ec essity h as d ic ta te d ac er ta in a mo un t o f o ve rla p,bu t in t h eo r y . this is ho wC ra bJ am ille s a re su pp ose df un c t i o n wlthln th e C la n.

C r a b h i s t o r y is de f i n ed by o n e t h i ng : th eS h ad ow la n d s. N o o th e r c lan h as su c h a th re a t tod ea l w ith ; n o o th er d a n is so fo cu sed in pu rpo se .Eve ry th in g th e C ra b d oes is ba lan ce d ag ain st an dju d g e d in re la tio n to th e ir sa c re d d u ty o fp ro te c tin g R oku ga n f ro m th e fo rc e s o f d arkn ess.F o r o n e th o u sa n d y ea rs , it h a s bee n th e so lep urp ose o f th eir be in g.

W h en th e so ns an d d au gh te rs o f Heave n f e l l toth e Ea rth , th e y h e ld a series o f mntesrs tod e te rm in e w ho am ong th em w as fi t to r ul e. Hid a .by fa r th e la rg est a n d s tro ng es t o f th e e ig ht, eas i lyw on a ll o f th e tests in vo lv in g pow er a n den du ran ce . In th e co nte sts w hic h re qu ire d witsan d in sig ht. h ow eve r , h e w as so re ly o utm atch edby h is m ore ca n n y b ro th e rs an d siste rs. D urin gth e f inal te st h e w as th e f irst o f th e e ig h t to fallC oun tin g o n h is trem en d o u s stren g th toc om pen sa te fo r h is sim ple ta c tic s , h e w as n om a tch fo r L ad y S h in jo , w h o se spe ed an dc leve rne ss quickly re n de re d h im h elp le ss . T h eh um ilia tio n a t su ch a lo ss - a n d so e a rly in th ete s t - w as m o re th an h e c o u ld be a r , an d besta lke d aw ay from h is b ro th e rs an d siste rs tofum e in so li tu d e . H e be ra ted h im se lf fo r h o u rs ,c u rsin g h is c lum sin e ss a n d h is in a b il i ty tom a rsh al h is str en g th e ffe ctiv ely .

H is bro od in g w as bro ke n by th e appe a ran ce o fa l i t t le o ld m an w ith a sh a ve d h e ad , d re ssed insim ple ro be s. A ra ven sa t o n th e o ld m an 'ssh ou ld er . H e sa t d ow n o ppo site th e h ulk in g H id a,w ho d id n o t stir a t h is a pp ro a c h .

"W hy a re y o u a n g ry , m y so n ?" th e o ld m ana ske d . H id a d id n't lo ok u p.

"I am a n g ry be c au se I am w ea k, a nd b ec aum y stre n g th c o u ld n o t sa ve m e from thwe akne s s . "

T h e o ld m an sm iled - sad ly it se em ed - as po ke a g ai n.

"K n o w in g y ou r w e ak ne ss is a fo rm o f stre ng tFirst C rab . S eek th e tru th in th a t a n d y o u wn ev er be b ea te n ag ain ."Hid a s h e a d ro se f rom h is h a n d s a s h e lo oka t tbe o ld m an .

"B u t m y w eakn e ss c a u se d m e to fa l l first,"r ep l ied .

"N o . Y ou r in ab il i ty to ac c ep t y o u r w ea kn eca u se d y o u to fall f ir s t B u t n ow y o u kn ow it , ain k no w in g it , y ou tran sfo rm it in to str en gth . La re to ld by th ose w ho w ou ld deny t he ir w e a k ne sT h e tru th c an o n ly liv e in th o se w h o see w hth ey a re :

H id a sta re d in w on d e r a s th e o ld m an 's w orsank in ."W h y d id y o u te l l m e th e se things?""B e ca u se y o u w an te d to h e a r th em :W ith th at, th e o ld m an bow ed and w en t o n h

w a y .

H id a po n d e re d th e d isc o u rse fo r m an y h o ua fte r th a t b ef or e f in a ll y rising a n d re tu rn in g to hbro th ers a nd siste r s. A s th e y ea rs w en t by anR oku g a n g rew an d p ro sp e red . th e Firs t C rs o u g h t to app ly w h a t h e h ad bee n to ld . Hlea rn ed to tem pe r h is s tre n gth w ith str a te g y, ane n g a g e o ppo n e n ts o n h is te rm s , n o t th e irs . Hd eve lo pe d w ay s to g o a d h is en em ie s in tou n th in k in g ra g e . H e w a tc h e d th e L io n anD ra g o n c lo se ly , w ork in g to gain th eir ta ctickn ow le d ge a n d a pp ly it to h is ow n sty le . A ndc am e to appr ec i a t e th e c on ce pt o f c alcu la te d Joo f expe n d in g o n ly p a r t o f h is pow er to e xh aua n d u nd erm in e h is fo es. T w en ty y e a rs la te r , w heth e a rm y o f F u L en g ro se to ch a lle n g e th e H an teH id a h a d be c om e th e m ost fe a red w ar rio r in tE m era ld E m pire .

T he ba ttle ag ain st P u L en g g av e th e fir st C ra n o ppo rtu n ity h e co uld n o t re sist W h ere o th esaw o nly d e a th an d d estru c tio n , H id a saw a tea te st to se e if h e - an d h is bro th e rs a n d siste r sw ere tru ly stro n g e n o ug h to ru le . W h ile th e L iA ko d o led th e A rm ie s o f H an te i a n d th e C ranD o ji fo rm ed th e E mpe ro r's pe rso na l g ua rd , it w


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H id a w ho sto o d a t th e van g u a rd o f th e b a tt le . T hem o n stro u s sp ir i ts o f F u L e n g h ad to f ig h t th e irw a y th ro u g h th e C ra b be fo re en g a g in g o th e ru n i ts , a n d H id a 's fo rc e s to o k h o r re n d o u sc asu al t ie s. E ve n so , th ey e nsu re d th at th e O n i pa idfo r e ve ry ste p. L eg en d h as itth a t H ld a en g a g ed F uLeng h ims e l f a t o n e po in t d u r in g th e w a r ,sh a tte r in g h is pe rso n a l g u a rd a n d d e l iv e r in g apa in fu l in ju ry to th e d ark lo rd .

T hro u g h th e se a c t io n s , H id a w as ab le to h e lpslow th e a d van c e o f th e fo r c e s o f d a rk n e ss . W h e nShin s e I appe are d an d m ad e h ls o f f e r o f ass i s t anceto H an te i, C ra b e f fo r ts h ad en su re d th a i th e rew e r e still eno ug h m en to engage F u L en g on e la sttim e. T ho ug h d ep le te d m ore th an an y o th er C la n,th e C ra b fo rc e s w ere s t i l l s tro ng e no ug h to fo rmth e h e a r t o f th e Em pe ro r 's a rm y . H id a sen t h isown . so n , H id a A ta ra si, a s o n e o f th e S e venT h u n d e r s w h o w o u ld jo u rn ey In to th eS h a d ow lan d s w ith S h in se l, T ho u g h h e kn ew itm e an t th e b o y ' s d e a th , h e w o u ld n o t h e a r o fse o d in g an y o n e e lse . " If Sh i n s e lw i l l n o t h ave m y str e n g th o r m yw eapo n s," h e sa id , " th en I wi l lg iv e h im my f u t u r e "

W i t h Shinsels h e lp an d th esa cr i f ic e o f th e S even T hu nd ers ,th e A rm y o f L ig h t w as a b le tod estr oy F u L e ng s f orc es . T h e.F ir stC ra b fo u g h t l ik e a m an p o s s e s s e d ,sla u g h te r in g m ore an i th a n anyth re e o th er bu sh i, S ta nd in g o n th eb a tt le f ie ld a f te r w a rd s . s u rr o un d e dby th e bo d ie s o f a th o u san d d y in gd em on s. H id a sw ore to ba tt le th eS h a d ow lan d s u n ti l L o rd M oo na n d L a d y S u n fe l l f r om th e sky .T he ba tt le c o ntin ue s to th is d ay .

~l ,g B e g l l 1 n l n gO f ~ 1 g a 1 l 1 n gH ea rin g H id a s v ow an d

im pre sse d w ith h is p e r f o rman c ein th e w ar , th e Em pe ro r c h a rg edh im w ith p ro te c t in g R o ku g a nfro m a ny fu rth er a tta ck s.

"O u r sa fe ty is o n y o u rsh o u ld e rs , b ro th e r : H an te i sa id ."F o r o n ly y o u a re m ig h ty e n o u g hto be ar it s we i g h t "

G a th e r in g h is fo l low ers to g e th e r , th e F ir s tC ra b tr ave le d to th e so u th e rn r e a ch e s o f th eEmp i r e , a h a rsh an d ro cky p la c e w h e re th eElemen t s th em se lve s h ad g row n stro n g . A t th efo o t o f a g re at m ou nta in ra ng e, Hida s to pp ed . a n dtu rn ed to th e fo llo w ers ."This is w h ere w e W i l l l iv e," h e b o om e d . "Andw he re w e w il l w ork to e n su re th a t H e W ho M ustN o t B e N am e d ca n n e ve r th re a te n th e Em e ra ldEm pir e a g a in . M y so n h a s be e n sw allow ed by h ise v il ; o n ly th o se w ll l in g to m ake h is sa c r i f ic e c a nbe tru s te d w ith th is ta sk . Ie e d th e be st am on gy o u to h e lp m e fu l f i l l o u r sa c re d d u ty . W ho iss tro n g en o u gh to p ic k u p th e bu rd en with me? "

T he a sse mbla ge fe ll s ile nt , fo r n on e fe lt w o rth yto a nsw er th e C rab L ord 's c al l H id as sm old er in ge y e s gazed a cro ss th e u nm ov in g f igures . wa i l i n g .F in a l ly , th r e e m e n ste pped fo rw ard an d kn e l tb e fo r e h im . T he f irs t h a d a so f t g re e n k im on o an da qu ive r o f a rrow s u po n h is ba ck . T he se co n d w a sd re sse d in a so oty smock , a nd h eld a b la ck sm ith 's


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h amme r in h is m ea ty a rm s. T h e th ird w o re ah oo de d ro be a nd c arr ie d a sa tc he l o f sc ro lls u po nh is be l t H id a fu r row e d h is b row an d lo o kedd ow n a t th e tr io .

"W ha t a re y o u r n am es, y o u w ho w ou ld sta n dbe sid e m e?" h e a sk e d.

"1 am H irum a , h u n te r o f a th o u san d h a re s:th e f ir st r ep li ed .

" 1 a m Ka i n , bu ild e r o f sh ip s an d a rm o r : th ese co nd sp ok e."I am K uru , se e k e r o f th a t w hic h I s h i d d en , "th e th ird a nsw e re d .

~W h a t h a ve y o u d o n e to d e se rve su c hc on fid en ce a s I w il l p la ce in y ou ?"

T h e th re e som e lo o ked u p in to H ld a s ey e sm ee tin g h is g a ze w ith th e ir ow n

"N o th in g," H iru m a sa id q uie tly ."No t h i n g ? ""N o th in g w e h ave d o n e c a n m a tc h th e ta sk

n ow se t be fo re u s." T h e o th e r tw o n o d d ed inag r e emen t .

"T he n w hy d o y ou ste p fo rw ard ?""B ec au se w e kn ow w e a re w orth y .~"D o y o u , n ow ?" h is fa c e d a rk e n ed . "W e wil

se e." H e po in te d so uth . to th e d eso la te w aste la nd sth at m ark ed th e be gin nin g o f th e S ha do wlan ds.

"W hen th e O n i a rm y w as van qu ish ed : h ebe gan , " th ey le ft be hin d a g ua rd ia n , a lie ute nan to f H e W ho M ust N o t be N am e d . c h a rg e d w ith

w atc h in g th e la n d s o f m en I ts n am eis O n i 00 Ha t s u S u r u an d i ts ve ryto uch b r in gs o eve re nd in g pa in . F in dit a n d kill i t T h e n I wi l l kn ow th a ty o u a re wo r t hy "

T h e tr io bow e d a g a in , a n dg ath ere d th eir po sse ss io ns to tra ve lso u th . aw ay f rom th e ir a ssem bledC l a n .

A t th e e d g e o f th e w a ste la n d s ,th ey sto pp ed . to ta lk a bo ut w h a t th eym u st d o . Kuru s tu d ie d h is sc roU s -th e writings o f S hin se i a n d va r io u sP h o e n ix sh u g en ja - fo r som e b it okn ow le d g e th a t m ig h t h e lp th em .K aiu bu i l t h is fo rg e in th e h o l low oa ro ck . a n d p repa re d le n g th s o f s te e la n d ja d e to tra n sfo rm in to w eapo n s.H irum a ven tu r e d in to th eS h ad ow la n d s to se a rc h fo r som esig n s o f th e ir fo e . A s th e S u n se t inth e w est , th e tr io g a th e re d to g e th e rby th e l i g h t o f K aiu s fo rg e to d isc u ssth eir f in din gs. H iru ma spo ke f irs t

"T he re a re s ig ns o f th e c re atu re 'sp re se nc e a l l a c ro ss th ese pla ins ," h esa id . "It h as g re at r ep ti l ia n f oo tp rin tsth e s ize o f a r id in g po n y . A nd I fo u n dsc a le s" H e bro ug ht fo rth a h an dfu l ole ath ery sc ra ps , c ov er ed w ith s tra ng ew iry h air .

Kuru g ra sped o n e an d b ro u g h t iin to th e l ig h t , s tu dy in g it ca r e fu l ly . Iw as a s h a rd a s a rm o r an d in f le x ib lea s s te e l.

W e c an n o t d e stro y th is w itho rd in ary w ea po ns," h e sa id . o pe nin go n e o f h is sc ro lls a n d pe e r in g a t i ts


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c o n te n ts. "W e n e ed m ag ic - th e m ag ic o f th e sp ir itw or ld - to h av e a ch a n c e .

"L o o k h e re : h e po in te d . "W e c an fo rm abo u n d a ry , u sin g jad e a n d m ag ic . If w e c an lu reth e th in g in to it , itwill b e t ra p pe d ."

K a lu n od d ed . " I c an fo rg e a w eapo n o f ja d ean d s te e l fo r us to a tta ck it o n c e it is en ca se d fo rn o o n i ca n to le ra te th e pu ri fy in g to u c h o f jad e: 'Hl ruma smi l ed . " I ca n lo ca te th e bea st a n d lu re:r w here ve r y o u H ke~Kun l re tu rn ed th e sm ile . "I t a ppe ars , th en , a s ifw e h ave a p la n .

G F - ~ - - ~ i . i i . i i ~ j " j j . j . j i . i . i j . j

All th at n ig h t, th e tr io w orked . p re pa rin g th eir: rap. Kaius fo rg e b la ze d , a s a n ew ka tan a to o k

pe in th e m ol te n s te el . K u ru c ho se a s ite fo r th e:rap a n d beg a n e tc h in g sym bo ls in to th e e a r th .m i n g a s tran g ely -sh aped bo u n d ary a s la rg e as

. e m o o n 's sh a d ow . A nd H irum a se t abo u tarking a b lo o d traH - s lit tin g his pa lm an d! r t t i ng th e b lo o d f lo w to th e g ro u n d - fo r th e O nia lo ca te a nd fo llo w . A s n ig h t slow ly g ave w ay tod a ybre ak a n d th e b la c ken ed sk y be cam e tin g e dwith g re y , th eir ta sks g rew d ose to c om ple tio n

T h e ro a r cam e just a s Kuni finished h isinscr ipt ions . It w as some w a y s off . bu t sIiJlsh a tte re d th e air wi t h its impact Se 'era!m om en ts la te r. H irum a sc ram ble d in to sight. h isbrea th c orn in g in sh ort g asps.

"T h e be as t ... th e b ea st is o n its w ay ." h ep a n t e d .

A no th er ro ar p un ctu ate d h is re ma rks, this o n ec lo se r. K a iu ste pp ed fo rw a rd .

"M y w ork is d o n e " H e h e ld fo r th th e ka ta n afo r th e o th e r m en to se e . Itw as st ill d a rk w ith th eso o t o f th e fi re . bu t a s th e y lo o k ed th e y c o u Jd seec h a ra c te rs o f g re en d e c o ra t in g th e b lad e . T h ec u n n in g b lac ksm ith ba d e tc h e d w ord s in jad ea lo n g th e le n g th o f th e sw ord , fu sin g sto n e an dm eta l to ge th er in pe rfe ct sy mm etry . H lru ma , st illpu f fin g a n d blow in g , to o k th e ka tan a f rom K aiu .a n d bo wed in th an ks to hi s c ompan i o n

T h e so u n d s o f c ru sh in g u n d e rb ru sh an d tb esn o r ts o f som eth in g n o t m ea n t to b e re ac h e d th ee a rs o f th e th ree m en K un i stepped fo rw a rd ,sc ro ll in h an d.

"T he sp e l l re qu ire s u t te r c o n c en tra t io n . Y oum u st ke e p o u r fo e aw ay from m e un til th eb in d in g is com ple te ." H e c lo se d h is e y es , a n d

beg a n his e ntre at ie s to th e sp ir its o f Earth a n d Air.H irum a an d K aiu to o k p la c es a lo n g s id e h im .

T he pre d aw n l ig h t w as sh a tte red o n c e m ore asth e O nl m ad e its p re sen ce kn ow n . A s i t sh am ble din to v iew , th e m en c o u ld see it fo r th e f irst tim ean d th e i r h ea r ts w ere fi lle d w ith fe a r. I t sto o dh u g e , a s la rg e a s a h o u se a n d n e a rly a s w id e . It srazor-sharp c law s to re u p g rea t ch u n ks o f e a r th ,ren d in g th e g ro u n d be n e a th it l ik e a b eim h i sp low . R ou g h , h a i ry sc a le s c o ve re d its bo d y fromh e a d to to e . a n d its pre he nsile n ec k w h ippe d bac ka nd fo rth in a h ypn o tic pa ttem I ts fa ce w as eeri lyh um an , a v isio n m ad e m o re h o rri fy in g by th em ult ip le ro ws o f sh arp te eth l in in g it s m ou th . A ndfo r a l l it s b ea st ly m a nn erism s, t h e l i g h t o fin te l lig e n c e g le am ed in its eyes . It g r innedf ie n d ish ly . a n d la u n c h ed itse lf a t th e th ree m en .

With a sc re am o f d efian ce , H iru ma silen ce d hisfe a rs an d ro se to m e e t th e ir fo e . His ka tanaD ash ed o n c e . an d th e O n l le t lo o se a te r r ib lebe l low as th e b la d e c u t th ro u g h th e a rm o r o f h ish i d e . I t h ad n o t exp ec te d its prey to stin g sopa in fu JIy . S hif tin g its bo d y to k eep H irum ainf ro n t o f it , i ts d ar tin g e ye s lo ca te d Kunl - los t inc o n c en tra t io n . T h e sh u g en ja w as try in gs ome t h i n g , I t co u Jd see . I t ra ise d its c law s a n dprep a re d to c ru sh the chanting spei lcas terbenea th . its - e i gh tA smJDd - from Himmas bands

and the to d r aw a . , o a i n . Ita im ed a no th er 'pe at m e sb11g51ja . this o n ed e sig n ed to r ip him in t w o . As th e b low f e U ,howeve r , Ka i u le a pe d iJI f ro n t o f h is c ompan i o n .T h e c law s bit d e ep in to th e b la c ksm ith 's ch est .sc rap in g a g a in s t th e bo n e s o f h is r ib ca g e . K aiuw in c e d an d fe l l bac kw ard s, b lo o d spu rt in g f romh is te rri ble Injury. T h e o n i g rin n e d a g a in an do pe n e d its m ou th in hw nan ly w id e , in te n d in g tosw allo w K un i w ho le . B e fo re it c ou ld s tr ik e ,h ow eve r, th e spe ll to ok e ffec t

T h e sym bo l in th e e a rth be g an to g low a s ifa liv e , se n d in g sh a f ts o f g re en ish lig h t s ta bb in gu pw ard . T he onls m otio ns sto ppe d, a nd it beg a nto sh a ke u n c o n tro l la b ly a s a n ew , pow erfu l fo rc een te re d th e f ra y . I ts be a d w hippe d bac k a n d fo r th .its sc re am s se n t sh u d d e rs d ow n th e th re e m en 'ssp in e s. bu t its c law s d id n o t m ove . I t w a st r an s f ixed .

A sw e a t b ro k e o u t o n K u n is brow , a n d K a luc o u ld see th e e ffo r t tak in g its to ll o n h isc om pa nio n's fa ce . H e pro ppe d his bo d y up fromwh e r e it l a y an d sh o u ted a t H l r uma , his vo i ceh o a rse w ith p a in . T h e h u n te r tu rn e d a n d saw h is


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l ta im e -n i - Wa n t to fee lso me re al p a i n ?Fu-tsugo g aa r lm ash l ta k a - D o y o ua p r ob l em?

h a z u s u -r s u f f e r th e

c om pa nio ns , o ne d re nc hed In b lo o d , th e o th e re n g a g ed in a ba tt le o f so u ls to h o ld the o n i inp la c e . W ith .l ig h tn in g spe ed , h e spu n o n h is h ee la n d la u n ch e d h im se lf a t th e m on ste r 's h e ad . H isb la d e fe l l a s h e ro se .

T h e b low w a s so l id, s tr ik in g be tw een th ec re atu re 's n ec k p la te s. Hlruma fe l t th e k a ta n ash e a r th ro u gh m usc le , s in ew an d bo n e ; h e a rd th eo n l s sh o u ts tu rn in to c r ie s o f p a i n , th en c ho kin gg urg le s a s b la ck b lo od f lo od ed it s t h r o a t . It spa t ag re a t g o bbe t o f b i le a s i ts h e a d sep a ra te d f rom itsn e c k . I t s f lu id s bu rn ed th e g ro un d w h e re th ey fe ll ,a nd th e o nis g re at bo dy c olla psed with a c o lo s sa lth u d . T he seve re d h e ad co n tin u ed to spu tte r a n dg n a sh i ts te e th fo r som e tim e a fte r th e bo d y h a ds to pp ed m o vi ng .

H irum a ro se from w he re h e h a d fa I le n a f te rth e le ap a n d tu rn e d to exam in e h is c om ra d e s.K a iu h a d m an ag e d to re g a in h is fe e t , a n d w a sd o in g h is be st to c lo se h is w o u n d s. Kunl h a dcom e o u t o f h is tr a n c e , a n d w a s g a z in g a t th es h ud d e r i n g a n i w i t h a s tra n g e sm ile p la y in ga c ro ss h is fa c e . H irum a a tte n d e d to Katusw ou n d s, w h ic h w ere d e ep bu t n o t m orta l, a n d th etr io la y d ow n to re s t , th eir g oa l a cco mp lish ed

T h ey re tu rn ed to L o rd H id a th e n e x t d a y ,b e a r i n g th e c a rc a ss o f th e be a st b efo re th em .En te r in g h is te n t (fo r th e g re at H id a p a l a c e ba dy e t to be bui l t ) , t h e y b o w e d b efo re th eir l o r d an dp la c ed th e kill at h is feet H id a g a ze d at t h e i rh an diw o rk w ith a dm ira t io n fo r m an y m om en ts .

"Wh i c h o f you d e stro y ed th is e n em y o f th eEm pe ro r?" h e a sk ed a t la s taK u n i d id , fo r o n ly h e kn ew h ow to t r ap i t ,"

said H i r um a"K alu d id , fo r o n ly h e c o u ld c re a te th e m ean s

o f i ts d estru ct io n." sa id K u ni ."H irum a d id , fo r o n ly h e c o u ld le a d th e be a st

to o ur tr a p ," sa id K a iu .A fie r c e g r in b ro k e a c ro ss H ld a s fa c e a s h e

lo o ke d d ow n a t th em ."N ow I kn ow th a t y o u a re w or th y ."F rom th a t d ay fo rw a rd , th e tr io be c am e th e

f its t l ie ute na nts o f L o rd Hlda Eac h o f th em w asg ran te d pe rm tss to n to fo u n d th e ir ow n fam ilyl in e , a l ig n e d u n d e r th e ban n e r o f th e C rab , bu td is t in c t f rom th e ru l in g H ld a fam ily . S in c eH irum a h a d stru c k th e k i l l in g b low , be be c am eH ld as r ig ht h an d, se c on d in s ta tu re o n ly to H id ah im se lf : T he K aiu fam ily w as g ran te d th e h o n o ro f c o o rd in a t in g th e d e fe n se ag a in s t th eS h a d ow lan d s , w h ile th e K u n i fam ily w a spe rm itte d to s tu d y th .e e n em y, le a rn in g a s m an y

w ay s o f d estro yin g th em as po ssib le . T he w ea po nth e y u sed to s la y th e be a st b e c am e fi l le d w ithth e ir e sse n c e , a n d h a s s in c e be en u sed by th e h e irto th e C lan d aim yo .

A fte r H u la 's f i r st so n w a s lo st to th eS h ad ow lan d s , h e sw o re h e w o u ld n eve r h a vean o th e r c h i ld . T his pa ss io n a te o a th w ou ld o n lyl as t t h r e e y e a rs .

O n e d ay , w b ile w an d e r in g th e la n d s o f th eC ra b . T o g a sh i-k am l saw h is b ro th e r H id ap row lin g th e w alls o f h is c a st le , b is h e a d h u n glow w ith so r row . T h e D rag o n f lew o ff to th eD ra g o n L an d s a n d to ld o f H id as so r row . T he ta Jew a s so m ov in g , th e D ra g o n o f T h u n d e r to o k ah um an fo rm .

T he sc e n e h a s be en to ld In m an y C ra n e p la y sa s a rom an tic a n d d ram atic eve n t , bu t th e a c tu al"w o o in g " w a s fa r from po e tic , a n d ~ qu iteh o n e st ly - th e o n ly w a y sh e co u ld sed u c e th eG re a t C rab . S he sh ow ed u p o n h is ba lc o n y d u r in ga te r r ib le s to rm , d re sse d o nly in m ist a n d rain Asth e t h u n d e r sh o o k th e t owe r s , a nd l ig htn in gf l a s h ed her sh ad ow ac ro ss h is ro om , sh e spo ke ina voice t h a t made th e w o rld sh ak e.

"I am th e Q u e en o f S to rm s," sh e sa id to h im ."A nd I love you . "

A y e a r la te r , sh e a r r iv e d o n h is ba lc o n y . T hist im e , sh e c arr ie d a so n in h er a rm s.H a v in g bo rn a h um a n so n , sh e h a d lo st h e row n im mo rta l i ty . S he p rom ise d to sp en d th e r e s to f h e r l l fe w ith th e C ra b , a n d th e y w ere qu ic k lyma r r i e d .

A t la st , H ld a h ad lo st h is so rro w , w ash ed aw ayIn th e s to rm y em bra c e o f h is n ew w ife . H is so ng rew qu ic k ly a n d g rew u p stro n g . W h ile h e w asm o rta l. h e w a s a lso th e ch i ld o f a kemi a n d ad ra g o n . H e sto o d be sid e h is f a th e r , y o u n g ,po we rfu l a n d n eve r-a g in g. W h en H id a f in al ly le fth is po sit io n to h is so n , O san o -W o w as re ad y 10le a d th e C la n . A nd h is f i rs t a c t io n w as a n a tta c kag ain st th e K in gd om o f th e T ro lls , w h ic h la y ju stso uth o f H iru ma ca st le .

H is w ar a ga in st th e tro lls w as so c om ple te andte rr ib le , th e e nti re r a ce - what w as le f t o f it - w asfo rc e d to aba n d o n th e ir c i tie s a n d l iv e in th e d a rkm o o rs a n d sw am ps o f th e S h a d ow ia n d s , w he reO sa no -W o co uld n ot f in d th em .

O san o -W o 's pa ss io n a te w a r o n th eS h ad ow lan d s co st th e C rab C lan m ig h ti ly .


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T ho u sa nd s d ie d , m ore w ere in ju r e d an d co u ld n o tl ig h l S low ly , O san o -W o beg an to re a lize th a t h eh ad a ch o ic e : e ith e r s low dow n h is a ssau l t o n th eS ha d ow land s o r f ln d m ore re so u rc e s on w hic h C od r aw . T h e re w as n o w ay h e was g oin g to c ea se hisw a r o n th e S h a d ow land s , so h e w o u ld n e ed tomarry i n to a w e a lt hy f am il y.H e d id no l trust t he S c o rp io n s (Tm n o t l ea vi nga S co rp io n a lo n e in my h o u se w h ile I 'm a tb att le "), th e P ho en ix w e re to o p ac if ist ic . th e C ra ned id no t h ave th e mil i tary m ig h t h e w an te d , th eUn i c o r n h a d g on e no r th . a n d th e D rag o n ... th e rew as n o re spo nse fro m th e D rag on .

T he ch o ic e w as sim ple : h e n e ed ed aM atsu b r id e . H e sen t a m es se ng er tom e M a tsu c a st le , in fo rm in g th em thatth e y h ad th e h on o r o f s en d i n g h im aw i f e . T h e m essen g e r c am e back tw ow e e k s la ter . O n ly f iv e o f h is bo n e sw e re n 't b ro k en .

H e sen t a n o th e r w ith th em essag e: ~W h en wi l l my n eww i fe a rr iv e? "

Th i s t im e , th e M atsu w e remore . t h o rough .F in a l ly , h e d e c id ed to g o

h im se lf - to e xped i te th ep ro c es s. H e p re se n te d h imse l f a tm e g a te s o f M atsu c a stle , cryingo ut, " lam O san o-W o ! W h ere i s mybr ide?"

A m om en t pa ssed , a n d th e ga teso pe ne d S ta nd in g in th e open in g w asa H igh L a d y o f th e M atsu fam ily . S h ew as bea u ti fu l S h e w as ta l l, s tr o n g an dsurrounded by a th o u san d w ar r io rs , a n dw he n h e lo oked in to th e ir eyes , h e kn ewth ey w ou ld a l l d ie in a h ea r tbe a t fo r th eirL a d y .

Y ou w an t a b r id e ?" sh e a sk ed . "T henm arry m e."O sa no -W o 's c he er w as h ea rd a cro ss th e

w orld . A sh u g en ja from a n e a rby v il la g ew as sum mone d to pe rfo rm th e c e rem on y .U nfo rtu na te ly , h ow eve r , th ey d id n ot liv eh app ily eve r a f te r . O san o -W o th o u gh t bew ou ld en jo y h av in g a "fe is ty , spu nky an dfie ry " M a tsu W ife . U n fo rtu na te ly , sh e w asD ot exa c tly w ha t h e w an te d . S h e po in te do ut s tra te gic e rr ors in h is c om man d s an dtro op stru ctu re . S he c om pla in ed a bo ut h isin ho sp i ta ble pa la c e an d th rew o ut a n yo nein h is c o u r t w h o h ad th e s l ig h te st h in t o f

th e S h ad ow lan d s ta in t A ll O sa no -W o co u ld d ow as h ope fo ra so n . S o on .

O n th e d a y sh e an n ou n c ed h e r p re g n an cy , h ew en t in to th e C rab v illa g e s w h e re a g re a tc e leb ra tio n w as tak in g p la c e . H e d r a n k muc hsake. T o o m u ch sake. T h e n ex t m o rn in g , h eaw oke in a li t tle pe a san t bu t w ith a l i tt le pe a sa n tg ir l w ho h an d ed h im h is te tsu bo wi t h a sm ile .

N in e m on th s la te r , two ch ild re n w ere bo rn ...o n th e sam e d ay . N o o n e kn ew w h ich w as bo rnfirst, and O san o -W o acknow led g ed bo th a s h isso ns. T h e pe asa nt chi ld w as brou g h t to th e c a st leto be raised a lo ng sid e h is b ro th er .


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Jlekaj g u zo - id io t~urui ch ibl - sn eaky'\ dwarf

KlllaUa M Dgen - ro t t enpeop leC h I ku $ II O - u n cu lt ur edbeas t

A s th e bo y s g rew , th e y w e re en co u rag e d toc om pe te a ga in st e ac h o th er by th e ir f a th er a n d h isM a tsu b r id e , T he sam ura i c h ild w on n e a r ly eve ryc on te st - bu t no t by m uc h. A s th e tw o boys ' c am ec lo se r to th eir gempukku. th e cou r t beg an to a s kth e i ne vi ta bl e q u est io n : "W hich bo y w ill h o l dChikara in his ob i?"Finally, th e d ay a rr iv ed O san o -W o too k th ea n c e stra l sw o rd in h is h an d s a nd tu rn e d to h ispe asa nt so n. W i th a p ro ud sm ile , h e o ffe re d it toth e bo y w ho bow ed an d a c c ep te d . As O s a n o -Wotu rn ed to le ave , h is b r id e stepped ' in f ro n t o f h im ,b lo ck in g th e d oo r;

"W h y?" sh e sh ou te d ~Why d o y o u in su l t myf a mily in th is way?"

"B ec au se yo u r so n w on eve ry con te s t h e ba se ve r e n te re d . H e is a f in e w ar r io r . A fin e U on . H ekn ow s w ha t it mean s to w in . Bu t h e d o e s n o tkn ow h ow to lo se ... a n d ke e p try in g ."

O san o -W o's w ife w as in fu r ia te d . T h e n ex tm orn in g, sh e an d h er se rvan ts g a th ere d up a ll o fth e ir be lo n g in g s and le f t th e C rab te rr ito r ie sfo reve r . S he co uld n't re tu rn to th e L io n , n or c o uldsh e g o to th e o th e r G re a t C la n s. In s te a d , sh esh aved h e r h e a d an d le f t fo r th e i s land 's o ff th eco a st o f C ran e la n d s , T h e re , h e r so n an d th o sew ho fo l low ed him k ille d th e c re a tu re s w h oin ha bi te d th e is la n ds a n d th e g ra nd so n of th eT hu nd e r D rag on e sta bl ish ed th e f iun i ly lin e th atw o u l d o ne d ay be c a l le d th e Man t i s .

' f h e C r a n e W a 1 1a n at h e r r a s U k l B r ~ a kT he fir st in te rn a l w ar in Rokug an to ok p la c e

be tw een th e C rab an d th e C ran e som e th re eh un dre d y e a r s a f te r th e d efe a t o f F u L en g. D urin gth e F irs t S ett le me nt, th e H id a fa mily e sta blish edo u tpo sts o n th e so u th e rn bo rd e r o f th e Em p ire .B u t th e y a lso bu i lt fo r ts a n d sh ipy a rd s a lo ng th eK enka i H an to P en in su la to w atc h fo r a n a tta ckfrom th e w a te r . T h e C ran e h ad se tt le d th eP en in su la a s well, u siQ g th e n a tu ra l h a rbo r an dfavo rable sh o re l in e to im prove th e ir a lre a d yth riv in g sh ipp in g tra de . C o nflic t w a s i nev i t ab le .

T h e C rab c la im ed th a t th e C ran e d i d n ' t n e edth e P en in su la to ped dle t he i r w are s. T he C ra n ec la im ed th a t th e C rab w e re fo o l ish to se t u pd e fe n se s so fa r from th e S h ad ow l and 's . W hen th esqu abb lin g e sc a la te d , L ad y D oji M izh im e sen tem issa r ie s to th e Em pe ro r , a sk in g h im to so lve

th e d ispu te . L ord H id a Ic hid o w as n ot in te re s te din h e a rin g th e Em pe ro r's o pin io n . H e la un ch ed ana t t a ck a lm ost be fo re th e C ran e am ba ssad ors le f t

O n th e ba tt le f ie ld , th e w ar w a s p at he tic al lyb r ie f . T he C ran e sam ura i w ere n o m atc h fo r Lo r dHid a s fo rc es , a nd within tw o weeks , h e h adse cu re d n ea rly a11 o f K enka l H an to , H is v ic to ry ,h owev e r , was sho r t - hved , U s in g th e ir in fl ue n ce atC ou rt a n d w ie ld in g theconstderable pow e r o fth e ir m erc h an t g u tld s , th e C ran e cu t th e G rab o fTrom a ll su pp lie s . L ord H id a , u nw il lin g to d rawm an y tro ops aw ay from th eir S had o wla nd s po sts ,c o u ld n o t h o ld h is po sit io n on th e P en in su la . A sfo o d an d m un itio n s ra n low , th e C ran e la u n ch eda c ou nte ra tta ck , a nd g ra d ua lly fo rc e -d th e C raba rm ie s to re tre atIt w as th e Y asu k i fam ily , th e n o f th e C ran e

c l an , t ha t c am e to L ord H id as a i d . T he Y asu ki h adru n m an y o f th e i l lic i t a n d i lle g a l bu sin e sse s th eC ran e w ere in vo lved .in. Eag e r to bols ter h e rpo sit io n in cou rt , a nd d e te rm in ed to m ain ta in th em ora l h ig h g ro u nd , L ad y D oji o rd ere d th e Y asuk ito ceas e th e ir o pe ra ti on s a t o n ce , T h e Yasu ldp ro te ste d, c la im in g th at th eir d utie s m ain ta in edp e a c e in an o th erw ise d an ge ro us se cto r o f th eeconomy , L a dy D o ji Ig no re d th eir a rg rn ne ntsa ndag a in o rd e re d th em to sh u t d ow n th e irb usin esse s. T h e Yasuk i r e s p ond ed by break ingaw a y f rom th e Crane .

Eag e r to h ave a g ro up o f m e rch an ts o n h iss id e , Lorn H id a im med ia te ly o ffe re d th e fam ilyp ro tec t ion in his r a nk s .. T he Y asu ki a gre ed , a ndsoo n , th e C ran e stra n g le h o ld o n C rab su pplyro ute s w as b ro ke n. H ea rte ne d by th e c h an g e info r tu n e s , H id a o rd e re d a no th e r a tta ck on th eP en in su la , th is l im e w ith g re ate r su cc ess .. Be fo reth e con fl ic t c o uld e sc a la te fu r th er , h o weve r, th eEm pe ro r c omm an d ed bo th sid e s to la y d ow nt he i r a rm s. H e d e c re ed th a t K enka i H an to w ou ldbe sp l it be tw een th e tw o c la n s , a n d m ad e th ebo rd e r in v io lab le u n til th e pe n in su la w a sswa l l owed by th e se a . B o th sid e s g ru d g in g lyag r e ed .

Unab l e to re tu rn to th e C ran e , th e Yasuk ifam ily lobb ie d th e C rab to jo in th e ir d a n fu l lt im e. H id a re a d ily ag re e d . H e n e ed ed lla iso n s toth e o u ts id e w orld , a n d th e Y asu k i m o re th an f i tth e bi l l. S in c e th en , th e Y asuk i h ave a c te d a s th ed ip lom a ts an d am bassad o rs o f th e C rab clan,exp la in in g th e ir a c t io n s a nd co n d u c tin gn eg o tia tio n s w ith th e re st o f th e Em p ire . T he irm erc an ti le a c tiv it ie s - bo th le g al a n d o th e rw ise -


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tin ue d a s w e ll , b r in g in g m uch -n ee d ed w ea l thr e sou r c e s in to th e Cr a b co f f e r s .

T h e C ra ne , h ow e ve r, w e re u nw il lin g to l e t t he i re ga de k in sm e n o ff th e h o o k . A s th e Fi r s t W ar

=ew to a c lo se a n d li fe re tu rn e d to norma l , t h e y~ a n o th e r w ar - an e c o n om i c o n e - a g a i n s t

"scut t l ing" t ra ito rs. C ra ne v il la ge s w e re c lo se dY a su ki t ra de rs ; Y asu ki b us in esse s so on fo un dm se lv e s in f ie rc e compe t i t i on w ith C ra n ere h a n ts w ho su d d e n ly "po ppe d u p" n e a rby .

il l ic i t a c t iv i tie s b e c am e th e ta rg e ts o f

m ag ist ra te c r a c kd ow ns , a n d C ra n e d ip lom atsen su red th a t Ya s u k i pleas fo r c lem en c y w en tu n h e a r d .

T h e n ew C rab family. h ow e ve r. w a s Dot o n e tota ke a c ha lle ng e ly in g d ow n . T he ir d aim yo . Y a s u k iI sa n um i, be g a n so l ic i tin g ro n in bu sh l f o r'p ro te c tio n " a n d p lo tt in g h is o w n str ik e s a t hisa d ve rsa r ie s . S oo n . th e C .t :a n e be g a n to fe e l th ee ffe cts o f T sa nu mi 's a ct io ns. a s th ei r bu sin esse s

b e c am e th e ta rg e t o f m yste r io us a c cid en ts . T he i rr e spons e , o f c o u r s e , w as to k e e p th e p re ssu re o n .

B o th sid e s w ere fa r to o c le v e r to a l lo w th e sea c ti vi ti es t o g e t o u t o f h a n d - th e C ra n e h a d n ow ish to I nvo lve th e Em pe ro r in w h a t th e yc o n s i d e r e d an in te rn al C la n a f f a i r , a n d th e Y asu k iw ere to o p ro u d to r e qu e s t a n y h e lp . Ins t e ad , th ew a r se eth ed be ne ath th e su rfa ce , it s sk i rmishes allbu t in vis ib le to th e o uts id e w o rld . B us in esse s r o sea n d fe l l , m oun ta in s o f k oku ex c h an g ed h an d s, a l lu nd er th e a u sp ic e s o f "n a tu ra l" m erc a n tile t ra d e.

Bu t ben e a t h it la y a bat t lea s f ie r c e a s a n y s in ce th ed aw n o f tim e. It h as e bb edan d f lo w ed th ro u g h o u tRokugans h is to ry , a n dc o n t i nue s to th is d a y , a sC ra n e a n d Y asu ki bo th se e kto e sta blish u nqu es tio ne dc o n tro l o v e r R oku g a n se co no m y. T h ey b oth b el ie veth e c on fl i c t to be u n d e rthe i r con t r o l , bu t it h as lo ngsin c e g row n to e n c om pa ssfa r m o re th a n th e y c o u lde v e r re a l iz e . W h at s ta r te da s th e S im p le t r e ache ry of as ing l e family h a s g i v e n r ise[0 rbe enigmatic order

EI011 a n dC r a 6A s th e tw o m o st

po w erfu l m ili ta ry c la ns inth e E mpire . th e C rab a n dth e L io n w o u ld se em to ben atu ra l a nta go nists . S u ch isn o t th e c a se , h ow eve r .W h i le re la t io n s a res ome t ime s t e s t y , a n d th e

o cc as io na l sk irm ish b etw e en th em is n o t u n he a r do f, e a c h C la n te n d s to re c o gn ize a n d re spe c t th es tre ng th s o f th e o th er . Wi t h c om mo n en em ie s inth e C ra n e a n d th e S c o rp io n , a n d l it t le re a so n toc la sh o v e r la n d a n d w ea l th . th e tw o se em co n te n tto le a ve e a c h o th e r a lo n e a n d c o n c e n tr a te o no th e r c on c er ns.

T h e c lo se s t th e y c a rn e to a ll -o u t w a r w a sa ppro xim ate ly s ix h un dre d y ea rs a go . M a tsu I ta gl ,


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th e L io n c h am p io n , w a s a g ia n t bu ll o f a m an ,p ro ud o f h is s tr e n gth an d h is m il i ta ry p ro wess. H ec ou ld c la im a h un dre d v ic

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Way of the Crab