Samurai Forever

"Kusunoki has revealed himself: his heart is cold. He's a man who whistles in hell."

Stunned villagers gasped as Kusunoki solemnly sauntered down the middle of the road holding the head of his former liege-lord Tadahashi. Notices of the Imperial bounty on Tadahashi's head unavoidably covered the province ensuring even the lowliest of peasants knew of the reward. Apparently, Kusunoki had decided to cash in.

"He was Tadahashi's most trusted and able deputy - and now look at him! He has lost all honor."

As a crowd began to follow in Kusunoki's wake, six of Tadahashi's remaining retainers came out to block the road, demanding that Kusunoki explain himself. It was a hollowed man who answered.

"Our lord asked me to do this."

"You lie! Lord Tadahashi would never quit! You try to justify your evil deed. Are you not now taking his head to the emperor's palace for reward?"

"Yes, I am," replied a matter-of-fact Kusunoki. "Ware tada shiru taru."

This only inflamed the retainers with outrage, threatening to take his life, their only hesitation was Kusunoki's previous reputation being above reproach.

As ruler of the Izumu province, Tadahashi was much beloved and revered. He was a man of great insight whose mind was "worth 10,000 soldiers." When he determined the imperial taxes levied from Kyoto had become too burdensome to pay, Tadahashi was undefeated in turning back forces sent against him. In fact, his reputation reached such heights he was co-opted by the emperor, naming him Captain of the Left Division. It was the only way to stop further disgrace at the hands of the smaller yet more unified forces of Tadahashi.

But as water seeks to find and fill every crevice in a rock, so does the poison of politics worm its way into the weakness of every heart. Moronao, a Shogunate Regent, envied not only Tadahashi's growing reputation in the royal court, but also his famously lovely wife. Through back channels he sent her several messages but to no avail. So using his influence and position, Moronao was able to convince the Shogun that Tadahashi was planning a full blown rebellion, not satisfied with the awards he'd been given. Serving a god other than truth, the Shogun did not bother to check the veracity of Moronao's claims.

Having been labeled an outlaw, Tadahashi was then forced to act like an outlaw to survive. (Moronao then used this as "proof" to the Shogun.) Having only a small band of retainers with him at the time of the royal decree, he went on the run into the deepest parts of the Kai mountains. Separated from his family, he gave orders for them also to flee but tragedy ensued. Though having been given orders to keep Tadahashi's wife alive, the soldiers bungled their job, the entire family dead by the emperor's forces. Next thing anyone knew Kusunoki was walking through the village carrying Tadahashi's head.

The loyal retainers could barely contain their rage watching Kusunoki prepare provisions for his long trip to Kyoto. "We should kill him," snarled one, saying it more as a decision than a statement.

"No," said a Zen priest who was part of the inner circle. "It's none of our business."

"You say that only because you are his friend!"

"I say it because it's the truth. If he does wrong then he alone carries it on his head. What is it to you?"

"It is our duty!"

"Did not our lord always say to stand with the truth? We must cleanse our hearts and let all-knowing Nature take its course. That is our duty. That is being strong."

"If we let the Shogun get away this, the whole nation is in danger. I don't care what they said about our lord, we knew him to be honest and true. We must mount a campaign so everyone will know this!"

"The truth remains the same with or without our efforts. Let us speak what's in our grieving hearts as our protest - then move on. Life awaits us, we cannot be distracted from that with wasted efforts. Let it go."

"We cannot let this go!"

"You must! Or be expelled forever from the clan."

"And just who is going to expel me, priest?" hissed the retainers' leader.

"You will," answered the priest with dead certainty.

Realizing they were helpless to shape the world as they saw fit, the retainers separated into their own private grumblings - except for the leader whose heart stayed clinched in the name of justice. He chased down Kusunoki on the road by the end of the evening, calling out to him from the darkness.

"Traitor, stop! You know what you're doing is wrong. I have justice on my side and I will strike you down."

Kusunoki was unruffled. "You don't have justice on your side. You're a mere busybody who needs to tend to his own life, not mine."

The words were like soothing water on a fire but the fact his rage was melting only made the leader more fearful he had no integrity. It was his time to choose between life and death. Later, his body was found dead on the road, his confused mind chopped down by Kusunoki's clear mind.

Hearing of the lead retainer's death had a calming effect on the village, a seed of doubt planted in their outrage. The ever-flowing pull to life - encouraged by the Zen priest - eventually brought them into a state immune from criticism, just as Kusunoki had become. Some believed it was "too good to be true" a just fate could come out of letting things be. Surrounding provinces began to whisper of cowardice and dishonor of the Izumu province, turning into open mockery in the following days.

But like a flip of the switch, the world reversed.

"He's dead! He's dead!" hailed a runner into the village.

"Who's dead? Kusunoki? Did he get his just desserts after all?"

"Moronao is dead! Kusunoki lunged with a hidden dagger after he was given the gold reward. It was Moronao who betrayed our lord, spreading lies and forcing him to run. Master Kusunoki told me this the night before: Lord Tadahashi instructed him to take his head to Kyoto, he had nothing left to live for with his family dead, and to keep secret his plans for justice. The palace guards descended on Kusunoki after he stabbed Moronao, instantly killing him. I escaped with the gold to help rebuild the clan as was our lord's final wish." The runner dropped to his knees, overwhelmed with tears.

The Izumu province (whose symbol was changed to 賢い) became renowned for its wisdom, the many who had mocked them became the mocked. The truth had set them free instead of into a self-destructive rage. The Shogunate, having been exposed for its lack of honesty and integrity, rotted in decay in the ensuing years giving birth to chaos and the Era of Warring States, the final battle for unification and control of Japan.