You held your breath as dread slowly filled in your stomach. Two large bamboo stretchers were being carried towards the front of your discussion desk. Sour, putrid pungency began corroding your nostrils, battling your attempt to reject the scent. A number of your comrades covered their noses as their eyes widened in disbelief; the usual vocal ones immediately verbalised their displeasure and concern. Their initial reaction instigated a stir of discussions on the state of the corpses. None of them were complete, piles of entrails, scalp and crushed bones created a slurry image of morbid macabre. While encountering and occasionally stepping on corpse remnants were common on the battlefield during the aftermath; the treatment, the method of how the victims were slain showed it was of extreme intention, in comparison to how battles were normally fought, so long as an enemy has fallen, one would continue on, moving forward as to not waste any more time for their life would be ended by someone else. While there were cases where soldiers and sometimes civilians being tortured; it was never to the extent of their flesh and bones almost completely obliterated.

"It must be that Tanuki! Who would have thought he is never above of such tactics!" one of your comrades bellowed, the impact of his hand caused a loud slam on the wooden desk. You have read up stories of Tokugawa Ieyasu's shrewdness, from shielding Ishida Mitsunari who had supposedly attempted his murder to switching sides to Toyotomi Hideyoshi before Hojo's forces were destroyed; you doubted it was something within Ieyasu's abilities for commit something as atrocious as this, to put it simply, a waste of his time and resources.

But of course, your peers, understandably so, chimed in as they agreed with the initial furious outburst, especially when your troops were victims of such treatment nearly including you as casualty; Tokugawa Hidetada's presence during the siege did not improve their suspicion.

You narrowed your eyes, approaching one of the stretchers containing a larger pile of innards. An almost desecrated torso laid at the side, nearly submerged into the other pieces. Despite your intrusively persistent morbid curiosity, it was rather the markings that caught your attention. The streaks of brownish red were a complete contrast to the pale-greenish marbling of the skin. You hitched your breath, chewed onto the inner walls of your mouth as you began to count:

One

Two

Three

Four...

The thickness of the lines were almost identical to the ones on your abdomen. The smooth thin ones on your skin did not.

BAM!

You immediately turned your attention towards the discussion desk. The one slamming the wooden surface was none other than "your" cousin, Sanada Yukimura. Silence promptly took over as everyone kneeled before him, you followed suit, awaiting his warning and announcement.

"The pile on the left was presented to us by Tokugawa," the red armoured warrior announced, his tone appeared reluctant: "They are currently holding an investigation on the mass casualties from unknown causes,"

Your stomach dropped.

"We are expected to cooperate and contribute to the effort,"

"My lord, how could we be so certain that this was not of their doing?" one of them disagreed.

"Shouldn't the event happened on the siege that night be an indication of the Tanuki's plans?"

"They are clearly pointing fingers at us, my lord!"

Yukimura raised his hand before any more protest being added in, once the desired silence was achieved, he finally continued: "While there were signs pointing towards their doing, their garrisons were much further as shown on the red markings. It would be unrealistic for any dispatch to reach the castle without risking their supply lines to be cut off."

"Your" cousin and lord rose from his previous position, his eyes fell on the corpses before announcing: "We are to be on the lookout for signs of anomaly, the clan head will merge his decision with Tokugawa. As of now, our plans would be put on hold,"

"Understood!" the men responded in unison.

Iso's concerned expression was plastered on her face as she slid the sleeves off of your arms. Your focus was fixated on the scars from your reflection. The sight of the slashes on the mangled torso persisted in your mind.

There were four. Four rough, and thick gashes. They were lined on the stomach area.

They were not almost identical; they were exactly identical. The slashes you found were almost akin to claw scratches, seemingly from a wild, rabid beast. You vaguely remembered there were bears roaming around the outskirts of the Honshu region; there were not much reports regarding bear attacks. As far as you were aware, the only notorious incident that was ever recorded was the Sankebetsu case in Ezo which only happened in the 1900's of your world, an eerily similar situation that was mentioned in the manga was when Tanjuro slain a bear which would only happen centuries after where you were now. So, unless there were undocumented cases in the countryside where no one survived the attacks, then this was still a mystery to you and the armies.

"Have the war efforts been troubling you, my lord?" Iso finally questioned, you broke from your trance to see her removing your undergarments.

You nearly jumped yourself before embarrassment caved in. You always forgot that you are in a man's body. Even back in your world, you had a fair share of body training; they were pale in comparison to your host's body. Like for fuck's sakes, it only took less than three years for your male friends to become muscular and then there's you, still stuffed and flabby; it was only until you flex your arms then bumps that are barely visible appeared.

"There is not much we can do, for the betterment of Shinano unfortunately," was all you were going to reveal. There were instances of servants collecting information for enemy forces, causing army downfalls and defeats. However, from the bits and pieces you could gather on your host, the Sanada branch estates were mostly safe, servants and guards, all of which were fiercely loyal to their masters, all thanks to their decision in adopting Uesugi Kenshin's philosophy. Iso on the other hand was your attendant since young. From her demeanour when you woke up to see her sobbing uncontrollably possibly indicated a close relationship your host shared with her. But of course, one can always act it out in order to avoid severe punishment; servants at this time on the other hand rarely faced much consequences aside from their lack of loyalty, Iso would have nothing to lose should your host ever died, the most she would face was to be transferred elsewhere within the Sanada household. Nonetheless, you were just too tired to explain anything to anyone besides the fact that keeping a hushed mouth was still an encouraged practice here.

The sudden creaking came from the wooden floors caught your attention. It appeared to be distant, you turned your body towards the door that was left ajar, a bad habit you had despite how many times Iso tried to keep up with closing them, perhaps she was just as tired as you were today.

A small silhouette stood in the middle of the door before shuffling behind the paper wall, with only the head showing. Judging from the mannerisms, you deduced it was the older twin.

"Something the matter, Michikatsu?"

The boy hesitated for a moment, his eyes were focused at your direction. He eventually returned to his original position, giving you a quick bow: "Forgive me, Lord Sanada. Would you be present after this?"

You shifted your eyes to the right, deciphering what the boy was insinuating.

"Are you waiting for Lord Sanada for your lessons, young master Michikatsu?" you mentally thanked Iso for her aid. Your daily routine seemed like a mess the moment war meetings called upon your presence. Perhaps it is time to get back to journaling.

Michikatsu nodded: "...I am having trouble with some steps, Lord Sanada..."

"I see, I will be at the compound in a while," you replied curtly, you busied your fingers with adjusting and tying your nagagi. While the weather was warm; modest decency was still in vogue, and God forbade you if your hair was ever a mess, especially if they're as long as your Sunsilk commercial-worthy locks; your host, or rather Iso really took good care of your hair. Luckily Demon Slayer medieval Japan still cut you some slack in hairstyle. You imagined how bizarre would it be on temperature distribution if men in this fictional world had their tops shaved while the other parts remain. It was definitely for practical reasons, especially during boiling hot weathers; but never fear, aesthetics are always much more important! And you shamefully agreed. You gladly kept your top part covered and unshaved.

"Understood, Lord Sanada, thank you!" with another quick bow he disappeared in a rush.

You blinked several times at this ordeal. The fuck just happened?

You turned to Iso whose smile never left her face, a small giggle escaped her lips as she covered them with her brocaded silk sleeves. You flashed her a questioning look, instigating her to elaborate but was met with more soft giggles.

At this moment, the Question Guy gif popped inside your mind, and you were the Question Guy himself, with all six question marks floating around your head.

"Young master Michikatsu seemed, restless, your lordship,"

"How so?" Iso covered her lips with her sleeve once again, her other hand occupied with dressing you: "The warm weather may have nipped on his face,"

Ha? Why the rush? The temperature's not going away.

"Then he just needed to wait for me in his room," you countered, puzzled. Your fingers unconsciously brushed through the strands on your scalp before swiping them down to the side stopping when they reach your ponytail knot. You perhaps could request for some ice for the household later on.

"A personal choice on his part, my lord," was all Iso responded before securing your himo straps, she completed your attire by tucking your koshi-ita into your sash. You were definitely too tired to think about what your female attendant was saying, let alone Michikatsu's antiques, he was probably waiting to play with Yoriichi afterwards.

She gave you a bow after you nodded at her in thanks: "The young master is waiting, my lord,"