It was the most frustrating puzzle possible. The cleanest and quickest way to remove the oppression was to strike at the enemy's head. But the head was too well-armored. Lord Tokuwa took measures to create his own militia and to form an elite guard out of that militia that serve to accompany him at all times. His paranoia over his own survival led him to design living quarters that built up in concentric circles. An inner chamber surrounded by his family living quarters, an outer court, then another layer of servant quarters followed by two more layers of walls. Ayako grabbed her hair in frustration. Even the most adept ninjas would have their work cut out for them and as it was, with the funds they had, they could only afford ... ...

"NYAHAHAHAHAHA, so you need this tensai's help?" The redhead said as he dug into another bowl of rice. The womenfolk watched in despair as their precious grains of rice disappeared swiftly into the rambunctious redhead's mouth that seemed to perform the miraculous feat of talking and eating at the same time.

"Oy Fukumi, are you sure these aren't shysters you picked up?" Ayako muttered as she hid her face behind her fan and shot a fierce glare at the willowy girl who had brought the men home. Since the fallout from their doomed protest march, the numbers at the Shohuku village had dwindled. The ringleaders of the march had been captured and the rest of their days were likely resigned to a life of forced servitude under Tokuwa's rule. The pretty ones amongst the ringleaders ... ... ... no one wanted to say what their lives would become though the grim reality was not unknown to them.

Fukumi squirmed in embarrassment. As the most fleet-footed of the remaining womenfolk, Fukumi had been tasked with recruiting samurais or ronins or well, anyone really who would help protect their village against Tokuwa. Having provoked the feudal lord, it was likely that Tokuwa would unleash the full weight of his anger against Shohoku village. Land grabs, forced servitude or maybe even genocide, they weren't sure what dark future awaited them. They were certain that more than ever, they needed to strengthen Anzai Sensei's resistance movement and strike now before it was too late. The problem was that the only men and ronins willing to work for measly bowls of rice were ... ... ...

"Tensai? Hanamichi can't even count to ten, let alone be a tensai!" the fat one in the group, Hakami-san if Ayako could recall his name correctly, chortled. The group burst out laughing loudly while Hanamichi started raving and ranting at their disloyalty and lack of respect.

"Ano, they called themselves 'Sakuragi Guntai', so I thought they were strong fighters..." Fukumi whispered back to Ayako in embarrassment. Ayako frowned. Apparently, anybody could call themselves an army these days. She grabbed the third bowl of rice that was about to quickly disappear down Hanamichi's throat, out of his hands.

"Sumimasen, but we want to know if you can really help us. Our village needs protection but the task at hand is one that can cost your lives." Ayako said while valiantly trying to keep the bowl of rice out of the redhead's reach. It was almost impossible to keep the rice out of his hands. Ayako noted that the redhead had a long reach and his knuckles had smoothed callouses over them. 'The kind you get from repeated cuts from fighting' Ayako thought silently.

"Our lives?" The male with the unusual shock of blonde hair said and gulped.

"Wait, you want us to risk our lives over a few bowls of rice?" Hakami said and raised an eyebrow at them. "Ridiculous."

An audible hush fell over the room. There was a perceptible change in the women's moods, almost as if Hakami had painted the sky grey in the thatched hut that they were sitting in.

"I see, " Ayako said, trying to keep her own voice measured "Well, we won't waste any of... ..."

Ayako didn't get to finish her sentence as a strong gust of wind blew into the room. Turning her head toward the direction of the wind, she saw a slight figure standing at the doors of the room. Panting heavily, her cheeks red from the cold outside and her hair slightly disheveled, Haruko Akagi, clutched a hand to her heart and tried to compose herself before the audience in front of her.

"Sumimasen, Fujii and I just got back and we did not manage to find any warriors who are... ... oh we have company" a flustered Haruko uttered as she tried to straighten her clothes at the sight of guests in the room.

"They were just leaving" Ayako started to say when the redhead suddenly stood up. He had a look of wonder and awe on his face as he crossed the room in a few quick strides to stand face to face with Haruko.

"Nani?" Haruko said in embarrassment. The redhead's close proximity made her blush. She had never been in such close quarters with another man before. Her mouth opened in shock as the man before her covered her small hands with his own rough hand.

"I, Sakuragi Hanamichi, promise to be your warrior. I pledge myself and my Sakuragi Guntai to your cause", the redhead said solemnly. As the words sank in slowly into Haruko's head, Haruko's initial expression of shock gave way to the brightest of beams while the rest of the people in the room reeled from the sudden turn of events.

"Oy! Aho! What the hell did you get us all into? " Hakami said

"Forget it, it's a done deal now" Youhei said in a knowing voice, jerking his thumb at his friend's smitten face. "Could I get more rice please?"