By the time Makku and Ryuku had arrived, the warriors had already assembled.

There were many types of villages on the island which could all be roughly broken down into two main groups. Villages for civilians, and villages for warriors. This village was the latter.

While villages for civilians were mostly broken into classes; tradesmen, gatherers, businessmen, and nobles, the warrior villages were divided based on the methods of fighting they taught.

There were villages of the secret arts, who focused on deception and secrecy. Their warriors were known as the ninja.

There were villages of enlightenment, focused on achieving the full potential of the human body, soul, and mind. These warriors were known as the monks.

Finally there were villages like Makku’s who focused on raising warriors of honor who fought in the open with the blade. These warriors were known as the samurai.

Looking out at the field below them, Makku could see numerous groups of samurai gathered and waiting.

As teenagers, Ryuku and Makku were still students under the guidance of their sensei, but were both given a unique system due to their backgrounds.

Makku of course, never knew his parents and had been practically raised by the Fifth. When he asked about his parents, he was simply told they were great warriors who had died nobly who the Fifth had greatly respected. It was due to this respect that Makku had been adopted into the village as the Fifth felt he owed it to them.

Ryuku on the other hand had been the son of the Sixth. Having lost his father in the battle eighteen years ago, he had also been raised by the Fifth.

Growing up together, Ryuku and Makku were like brothers. So when they had been offered a chance to be trained together as the only students of the Sixth’s right hand man, they could not refuse.

The training had been harsh, but the two supported each other. For four years now they had trained together, practicing drills, pushing their limits, and taking on small jobs here and there. That being said, neither of them had ever faced off against anything more dangerous than a wild bear. To think they might soon fight real humans?

Makku swallowed back the fear that had begun to rise up in him as they approached their Sensei.

“Come.” He exclaimed as he gave each of them a piercing look.

They were led past the groups to the shore, where the Fifth stood with his own personal guard. After greeting each other with a bow, the sensei turned back to them.

Our duty is to watch over the Fifth. Though there will hopefully be no need for alarm, I do not need to tell you the importance of this role. If I signal you for danger, I want you both to escort the Fifth to the back as quickly as possible. Do not engage the enemy unless there is no other choice.

“But sensei! We can fight!” Ryuku called out. His voice was cut short by the Sensei’s piercing gaze.

“Do not assume fighting humans is like fighting wild animals. It puts scars on your heart which never fully heal.” He scolded glancing back and forth between both of them.

“And do not assume that such instructions are due to doubt in your talents.” He added, softer than before. “It takes a brave warrior to fight their enemies, but a braver warrior to endure their fears to protect someone important to them.”

Ryuku looked towards the ground before looking back up, more determined than before. The sensei simply nodded and turned back towards the shore.

He went to open his mouth but was outdone by the sound of explosions.