Act V - Legend of Lady Yukichi

(Kumorigachi and Hideyori are talking around a campfire in a heavily wooded secluded area. Hideyori carefully explains to Broken Cloud, his plan for a coup of Sunpu Castle and the assassination of Tokugawa Leyasu)

Hideyori: Hidetada is the current Shogun and the son of Leyasu. But he is merely a pawn, an acting figure head for his father. The real power emanates fromSunpu castle, not Edo. Once word reached Leyasu that we rebuilt Osaka Castle, he immobilized his army. Our spies in Sunpu Castle tell us they will launch a campaign this winter.

Kumorigachi: Spies? In Sunpu Castle??

Hideyori: We have spies both in Edo and Sunpu Castle. The Iga clans will forever remain loyal to the Toyotomi-Shi !

Kumorigachi: (has in epiphany) Hanzo!

Hideyori: (smiles) Did you think Hattori Hanzo did not know who you were?! He kept you safe all these years and taught you the way of Ninjutsu for this very cause. He guards the current Shogun in Edo Castle, while taking his orders from me.

Kumorigachi: (thinks to himself) They’ve been planning this all along. Shogun Leyasu ordered Hattori Hanzo to capturing and kill me, all the while Hanzo knew that by hiding me and training me I would be the perfect weapon for Hideyori to use when the time came…

(Hideyori snaps Broken Cloud from his thoughts by saying)

Hideyori: Your strike will be a counter offensive! Their siege will begin in the fall of this year; an army of more than 160,000 men will cross the Kizu River and attack our fort there. As they did 14 years earlier, they’ll begin to strategically attack several forts and villages as they make their way to Osaka Castle, starting with Imafuku village.

Kumorigachi: (confused) If you know all of this in advance, why not launch a pre-emptive attack? You’ll have the element of surprise.

Hideyori: (shakes his head no) The Shogunate have their spies, as do we. A major offensive from our part will be met with swift retribution. This cannot be risked, not when a viable option can be considered.

Hideyori: (continues) Edo Castle is guarded by 200 of the Iga’s Jonin(High Ninjas), loyal to Hattori. When Leyasu launches his winter campaign against us, the Shogunate’s forces will be depleted. On my word, Hattori will take Edo Castle and behead Tokugawa Hidetada!

Kumorigachi: (curiously) And what is my role in all of this?

Hideyori: (happy to still have the shinobi’s attention) You will take your men and raid the home of the true Shogun Tokugawa Leyasu, Sunpu Castle! Bring me the head of the man who gave the orders for you to slaughter innocent women and children. Who upon your refusal, condemned you to death!

Kumorigachi: (stunned) I cannot deny that my heart has wanted this. For over 14 years I lived in shadows and stained my blade with blood. They took from me more than you’ll ever know…

(An image of Miyuki’s beautiful face flashes in his mind, then the image is ripped away by the memory of Hirakita village bathed in blood. His winces his eyes in pain)

Kumorigachi: (solemn) I knew my Lord Matsudaira was acting on orders from Leyasu, indeed, I thought the old man would pass from this earth without ever tasting my steel…I offer you my service, such as it is…you have my allegiance!

Hideyori: (pleased but serious) We will fortify our defenses in the areas where they plan to attack and hold them off long enough for Hattori and you to carry out your missions.

Kumorigachi: (confident) Sunpu Castle is heavily defended, but I should have no problem getting to the old man.

Hideyori: Your biggest obstacle will come from Leyasu’s chief assassin and personal bodyguard, Lady Yukichi. She commands a stealth squad comprised of Koga ninja’s of the highest order.

Kumorigachi: Lady SnowBlood! I hear she is the deadliest samurai in the Empire! But it’s hard to separate fact from myth.

Hideyori: The Yorochi (Bloodnight or Night of Blood) is forever remembered as the unofficial moment when General Leyasu inherited the throne. Three villages along the Kyoto border were slaughtered that night. Old men, women and children put to death by a hit squad lead by a female samurai. She would forever be known as Lady Yukichi!

(Kumorigachi’s eyes widen in disbelief. He was so consumed by hate and driven by revenge that he never thought to put the two pieces together. His precious Miyuki had become Lady Yukichi. Summoning all of his strength in order not to reveal his emotions he asks Hideyori)

Kumorigachi: What else do you know of Lady SnowBlood?

Hideyori: Lady Yukichi is regarded as the herald to the Shogun’s Throne of Blood, because of her actions in the Yorochi. Her ruthlessness and barbarism struck fear in the hearts of all Leyasu’s enemies. All bowed down to the Shogun with Lady Yukichi at his side.

(Kumorigachi can only sit back and hear the legend of Lady Yukichi. He himself has heard of the myth of the “Demon Samurai”. His heart has yet to recover from such a harsh reality. How could one who he loved so dearly, be capable of such atrocities?)

Hideyori: (continues) The Shogun has many enemies, but not one attempt on his life has been successful in 14 years. No one will dare oppose his rule, while Lady Yukichi and her Phantom Blade Technique protect him.

(A montage of Lady Yukichi fighting can be seen while Hideyori speaks. She is surrounded by men and just takes out her blade and swings it around once. While the blade never touches a single fighter, their heads slice clean off their shoulders. While in a duel with a massive samurai, her Phantom Blade stance is on display in all of its glory. The blade above her head pointing at its target, as the blade comes down it doesn’t touch her opponent, yet his body is cut in half. In another seen a man attacks her only to be impaled by the air before ever reaching her)

Kumorigachi: I’ve heard of her Phantom Blade technique. No one has ever gotten close enough to land a single blow on Lady Snowblood.

Hideyori: (confident) Broken Cloud! They say your blade is made from lightening itself. That it can slice the sky and wherever you go rain follows…

Kumorigachi: Let us hope, that in this case… the myths about me are true.

(Thunder is heard in the background. Hideyori looks up to see that the rain has begun to fall. They agree to speak again in a few days. As Broken Cloud walks away, Hideyori turns to his protectors and says)

Hideyori: The fate of our lands may very well be determined in a battle between Japan’s greatest Samurai and it’s deadliest Ninja!