Volume 5: Kyoto Summer Campaign Chapter 319: Upgrade of Shiranui-ryu Ninjutsu!
Makimura was running on the streets of Kyoto, holding Boji's hand, with Shimada and Hasegawa following closely behind.
When he ran to an intersection, Bogi stopped, put his nose to the ground and sniffed, then turned around and ran towards the east intersection without any hesitation.
Bogi spread out his four paws and ran wildly, stopping from time to time to sniff the ground. After confirming the direction was correct, he led Mucun and others to gallop all the way.
Shimada, who was following behind, couldn't help but ask Makimura:
"Senior Makimura, is this dog reliable?"
"Don't worry. This dog is very reliable." Makura said loudly without turning his head. "If it was an ordinary dog, it would be fine, but Boji has been specially trained. He is very powerful."
Before they knew it, three people and one dog had rushed into a busy street.
The street was packed with people, and Mucun and his group had to squeeze forward and use their hands and feet to make a way forward.
"What's going on on this street..." Shimada said in an unhappy tone, "Why are there so many people?"
Hasegawa raised his head and looked around, then said:
"…This is Shijo-dori, no wonder there are so many people here."
"Shijo Street?" Shimada repeated the unfamiliar term.
"It is the street where the Yamaboko parade is held."
Hasegawa replied.
"The Yamabokos will start from Shijo-dori. Calculating the time, it will be almost time for the Yamaboko Parade to begin."
"No wonder there are so many people..." Shimada muttered, "Are all these people here to watch the 'Yamaboko Parade'?"
"That should be the case." Hasegawa nodded. "The Yamaboko Parade is the highlight of the Gion Festival."
"Every year when the Yamaboko Parade is held, the streets are packed with ordinary people from Kyoto."
At this time, Mucun also raised his head and looked around.
Looking at the familiar scenery around him, Makimura muttered softly in a voice that only he could hear:
"Shijo-dori, right? This place is pretty close to that damn place called Sanwangzi Street..."
…
…
Even when walking through such a densely populated street, disturbed by various smells such as human sweat, horse manure, and perfume, Bogi's four paws did not hesitate for a moment.
Boji led Macun and others to turn an intersection and leave Shijo-dori.
After leaving Sitiaotong, the flow of people suddenly became much smaller. Mucun and others immediately felt like they had "jumped out of a pool of water" and their breathing became smoother.
Under Boji's guidance, Makimura and others gradually moved away from Shijo-dori and away from the crowds.
The flow of people around Mucun and others gradually changed from being shoulder to shoulder to being completely empty.
After entering a new street, I looked around and could hardly see any people.
"…What's going on here…" Shimada said softly, "Just now there were too many people on Shijo Street, and now there are too few people here…"
"…This is Sanzi Street." Makimura replied suddenly, "Sanzi Street was originally the gathering place for the Yakuza in Kyoto."
“This place used to be very prosperous.”
"Of course - it's not as prosperous as Shijo-dori."
"Seven years ago, under the auspices of Lord Kamiyama, and with the help of... two 'former Yakuza', the Kyoto Prefecture organized a large-scale 'cleaning' operation against the Yakuza on Sanji Street."
"During this operation seven years ago, Sanwangzi Street was completely razed to the ground."
"The Yakuza entrenched in Third Prince Street were killed or injured."
"The yakuza who survived either fled Kyoto or changed their identities in Kyoto, keeping their tails between their legs and becoming obedient civilians."
"But because the people of Kyoto think this place is unlucky, even after seven years, no one is willing to move to this street."
"So after seven years, this Third Prince Street is still very deserted. Not many people want to live here. Because no one wants to live here, no businesses will open stores here."
After listening to Makimura's explanation quietly, Shimada was slightly stunned, and then asked back:
"Makimura-senpai... the two 'former Yakuza' you mentioned just now who helped Shenshan wipe out Sanwangzi Street... one of them couldn't be you, right?"
"Yes, it was me." Mucun admitted very readily, "So do you understand why the Yakuza who came to cause trouble this afternoon hated me so much? Well, let's stop chatting here. Judging from Boji's appearance, we should be reaching our destination soon..."
What Makimura said was not wrong.
Bogi kept putting his nose to the ground and sniffing frantically, and his speed was getting slower and slower.
Finally - Boji turned his head towards a small building that was three stories high.
"Why doesn't Boji leave?" Shimada asked.
"Because we have arrived at our destination." Mucun and Boji looked towards the three-story building not far away. "It seems... that bald guy has hidden inside the building..."
From the outside, the small building seemed to have been a hotel.
But this hotel is no longer run by anyone and is in a dilapidated state.
Makimura picked up Boji and put him into Shimada's arms.
"Shimada, you are responsible for watching over Boji and keeping watch outside the house."
"Eh?" Shimada was surprised. "Wait, Makimura-senpai, I want to go with you..."
"Hasegawa and I will be in charge of entering." Before Shimada could finish his words, Makimura interrupted him and said, "If too many people go in together, they will hinder each other."
"And someone needs to be on guard outside the house."
"If any enemy reinforcements approach, you will call us loudly. Do you understand?"
"...I understand." Shimada, who was hugging Boji tightly in his arms, nodded gently, "Makimura-senpai, Hasegawa-sama, I wish you good luck in martial arts."
"Yes." Makimura said as he tore off the cloth wrapped around the large sword on his back and slowly pulled it out, "I wish you good luck in martial arts, too."
…
…
"Mr. Makimura, how do you plan to take over this small building?" Hasegawa asked Makimura in a calm tone while slowly drawing the katana from his waist.
The cold light reflected from the katana in Hasegawa's hand contrasted with the cold light emitted by the large sword that Makimura was holding on his shoulder.
"I plan to attack head-on." Makimura answered without hesitation, "Lord Hasegawa, what do you think?"
“I think it’s great.”
"Then let's go!"
After saying that, Mucun accelerated suddenly.
Hasegawa, who was walking beside Makimura, also sped up.
Bang!
Mucun, who was rushing in the front, hit the gate of the first floor of the small building like a cannonball, smashing the wooden gate, which had become fragile due to its age, into pieces.
…
…
"What's going on?!"
The bald man who was dozing off on the third floor was awakened by the loud noise coming from the first floor and stood up from the ground in panic.
Boom boom boom.
There were footsteps outside the door.
The paper sliding door was pulled open, and one of the subordinates knelt on one knee and shouted to the bald man:
"Lord Ichisaburo! There is an invasion!"
"Invasion? Are they officials from Kyoto Prefecture? How many people are here?"
"They are not officials from Kyoto Prefecture! There are only two of them!"
"2 people?" The bald man suspected that he had heard it wrong.
"Yes!" the subordinate responded loudly, "Only two people!"
"Then hurry up and kill those two guys!"
“Yes, yes!”
"Wait!" The bald man suddenly stopped the subordinate before he left, "Go tell those who are in charge of assembly! Quickly transfer all the remaining raw materials! Don't let outsiders discover the secret of this place!"
"yes!"
…
…
After rushing into the building, Makimura immediately sensed a large number of footsteps approaching him and Hasegawa.
After a while, a figure holding a sword appeared in front of Makimura and Hasegawa, rushing towards them aggressively.
"Ha..." Makimura put his right hand holding the knife to his lips, blew lightly into his palm, and then Makimura rushed towards the enemy in front of him before Hasegawa.
The corridor where Mucun and his companions are currently located is quite spacious.
It was spacious enough for Makimura to swing his large sword to his heart's content.
Because of the attack distance, Makimura's sword was one step ahead of his enemies.
Makimura's horizontal slash knocked three people to the ground.
Hasegawa, who was following closely behind Makimura, eliminated all enemies that came within his attack range while quietly observing Makimura who was fighting hard to kill the enemies.
Looking at Makimura's vigorous swordsmanship, Hasegawa couldn't help but sigh:
"What a beautiful sword technique... the sword moves in big and wide strokes... like a dragon dancing in the sky."
"...Thank you for the compliment." Makimura's reaction to Hasegawa's praise was very calm. He just said "Thank you for the compliment" casually and smiled slightly.
…
…
Even from a relatively long distance, Shimada, who was on guard outside the house, could hear the shouting and screaming coming from the small house on the third floor.
Listening to the shouts and cries, Shimada felt secretly anxious.
If possible, he would also like to draw his sword and go forward to help Mucun and the others.
However, the order that Makimura had just given him, "Stay outside the house," kept echoing in his mind, making Shimada want to move but dare not.
At this moment, Shimada suddenly heard a strange noise behind him.
Shimada's pupils suddenly shrank, and he reached for the handle of the katana on his left waist with his right hand, and quickly drew the sword while turning around.
However, before he could completely draw out his sword, a strong hand pressed on his right hand and pushed the half-drawn katana back into the sheath, making it impossible for Shimada to draw the sword anymore.
"Shimada, don't be nervous, it's me."
"It's you?" Shimada was surprised. "Why are you here?"
"This is a long story. I'll tell you slowly when I have time. Is Mucun in that building now?"
…
…
The battlefield shifted from the first floor to the second floor unknowingly .
After going up to the second floor, Mucun's efficiency in killing enemies dropped significantly.
The reason is simple - the space on the second floor is much narrower than that on the first floor, which greatly limits the strength of Makimura who uses the Odachi.
Because the space was narrow and swinging was not as effective as stabbing, after climbing up to the second floor, Makimura changed his fighting tactics and used the large sword in his hand as a pistol.
"Lord Hasegawa, are you okay?" After stabbing another enemy to the ground, Makimura asked Hasegawa, whose breathing had become rapid.
"I'm fine." Hasegawa took a few deep breaths and evened out his breathing. "It's just that I'm getting old, so my physical strength isn't as abundant as it was when I was young. Age is indeed the biggest enemy of swordsmen like us..."
"If you are tired, just step behind me and take a rest."
"Don't underestimate me." Hasegawa chuckled a few times, "I'm far from being 'tired'."
"That's good." Mucun responded with a smile.
…
…
"Can't stop those two guys?!" the bald man roared sharply.
"Master Ichizaburo!" The bald man's subordinate was sweating profusely, "Those two are too strong! We can't stop them!"
"Tsk..." The bald man bit his right thumb, "...There's nothing else to do. Take out the Nanbando!"
"Do you want to use Nanbando? But... Ryunosuke-sama said that Nanbando is very expensive and can only be used when necessary..."
Before the subordinate could finish his words, the bald man interrupted him impatiently:
"Now is the time to do it! Go and get the remaining people to wear Nanbando!"
…
…
Click, click...
When they were about to approach the stairs leading to the third floor, a strange sound suddenly came from the depths of the corridor in front of Makimura and Hasegawa.
Hearing this strange sound, Makimura and Hasegawa both frowned.
They both looked forward.
Man No. 12 was seen wearing strange white armor, holding a sword in his hand, rushing towards the two of them.
Looking at the strange white armor on the No. 12 man, Hasegawa's pupils shrank slightly, and he reminded Makimura loudly:
"Be careful! It's Nanbando!"
"Nanmando?" Mucun's face suddenly darkened.
In the blink of an eye, the enemy dressed in Nanbando who was in the front had already rushed to Makimura.
Makimura subconsciously swung his knife at the enemy in front of him.
clang!
A huge sound of metal colliding was heard.
"Ouch..." The recoil force transmitted along the handle of the knife made Makura subconsciously cry out in pain.
Mucun's powerful stabs failed to kill the enemy, but only left a white mark and a string of sparks on the enemy's breastplate.
The unharmed enemy pushed away Mucun's knife, then swung the knife towards Mucun's chest!
Just when Makimura was about to be chopped by the enemy's sword,
Bang!
There was a sudden loud noise from the ceiling above Mucun.
A big hole was trampled in the ceiling above the pastoral village.
A figure jumped out of the big hole and landed accurately on the head of the enemy in front of Mucun.
The figure that landed on the enemy's head grabbed the enemy's head with both hands, dragged the enemy to the ground, and twisted the enemy's head hard.
With a crisp sound of breaking bones, the enemy died.
"Ogata?" After seeing the appearance of this figure who appeared at such a timely moment, Makimura couldn't help but say the name of the owner of this figure.
…
…
"Good evening, Makimura. I didn't expect we'd meet again so soon." Ogata said casually, "Let's chat later. Now let's get rid of these guys first..."
The sudden appearance of Ogata frightened the remaining 11 enemies wearing Nanbando, and they all stopped in their tracks, not daring to move forward.
Ogata also took the opportunity to count the number of enemies in front of him and calculate the best position and direction of attack.
"Makimura, Lord Hasegawa, you two step back."
As Ogata spoke, he slowly pulled out the Daijizai from his waist.
"I'll kill them!"
"Be careful!" Hasegawa shouted, "They are wearing Nanbando! It's hard to break their defense with swords!"
"Thank you for your reminder." Ogata said softly, "But a mere Nanbando can't stop my sword."
After saying that, Ogata took a step back, and the enemies that were rapidly approaching him were like an arrow shot from a bow.
The enemy closest to Ogata hurriedly raised the knife in his hand and slashed at Ogata.
Ogata misstepped his steps, easily dodged the man's knife, and moved to the side of the enemy.
Ogata raised his left hand that was not holding the sword and grabbed the man's shoulder. He stepped his feet and used Shiranui-ryu Jutsu to throw the man heavily to the ground.
After using jutsu to subdue the enemy to the ground, Ogata immediately swung the great jūri (Jūdōng) of his right hand and stabbed into the man's chin through the gap under his helmet.
After the blade of the Great Freedom pierced through the man's head from the lower jaw, the system voice sounded in Ogata's mind:
[Ding! Use Shiranui Style Ninjutsu and Shiranui Style Jujutsu to kill the enemy.]
[Gain 110 personal experience points, and 120 experience points for the Ninjutsu "Shiranui Style Ninjutsu"]
[Current personal level: Lv25 (1710/3400)]
[Shiranui Style Ninjutsu Level: 3rd Stage (5/800)]
[Ding! Experience value is full, Shiranui-ryu Ninjutsu level is increased by 1 level, and 2 skill points are obtained]
[Currently remaining skill points: 2 points]
