Chapter 473

For the next four days, Tora would often bring Churu along with her even if she goes to the military base . Fortunately, Churu showed no sign of being frightened of being around with equipped samurais and warriors .

Although there are some odd glances and questioning look plastered across their faces when they saw a child walking next to the general, holding the hem of her clothes . Tora paid them no mind as she has no obligation to explain herself .

“Arakaki, join the defense . ” From a distance, Tora ordered . She watched the two groups of equally skilled soldiers infiltrate the border and one group to defend it . It was a small drill she came up with to reassured that the preparation in the border could not be easily invaded just like five years ago .

“Yes, Taiga-dono . ” Arakaki bowed his head upon the command before he hopped from the tower where they were watching the drill . Tora remained her eyes on the occurring drill down the tower, for some reason, she felt unsettled by what she was seeing .

Glancing to the other side for a brief moment, Tora saw Churu watching the other soldiers do their daily routine with a smile . The corner of her lips subtly curled upward . Churu never asked what’s her position and why she was being treated with high respect and neither did she told her .

One reason she had grown fond of the little girl as she never pressed on whatever matter . Perhaps, it was because she was a former slave without any name or status that she has this habit of not asking .

“Let’s see…” She murmured . Tora stretched her neck in a circular motion . It has been a while since she arrived in the northern border and she was mostly preoccupied with the soldier’s routine, materials being used in solidifying the border, and anything of the sort .

After stretching her neck and shoulders, Tora hopped from the not too tall tower . Her hooded cape flowed, the tip of her black up-do hair tangled in the air as her eyes sharpened . Little did she know, she quite caught the attention of some soldier as she flew down like a demonic angel without wings .

Tora landed on the infiltration squad, which slightly shook the batch of soldiers that were fighting to defend and infiltrate the border . Arakaki instincts instantly sharpened as he shouted that snapped his comrades back from their momentary daze .

“Protect the north!” Shouted Arakaki before the soldiers in the defense team roared loudly .

Tora joining the infiltration squad only meant that she wanted them to battle thinking of a life and death situation . After all, she was a ruthless general . Once her sword was tainted even with a drop of blood, she would go on a killing spree .

Despite that, she was holding a wooden sword, that never meant they were safe from getting hurt . After all, Tora might be a woman, but her agility, strength, and the indomitable will to win was enough to subdue any man blocking her way .

With that, a seemingly mini-war took place . Yet, despite their numbers, it was a fierce battle to consider . The infiltration squad’s morale rose to heaven having Tora with their side, while the will to protect their territory that the other group showed was applaudable as well .

Jolting from his place, Arakaki dropped his defense and went on offense — particularly attacking Tora . Containing Tora was his initial instinct as she already made five soldiers fly back . To him, if he could buy time for his team to reduce the number of the infiltration squad, they could hound her all at once .

“I must say, your leadership is commendable . ” Tora grinned . Arakaki wasn’t holding back as he indeed attacked her using a real sword . She only blocked it by slashing her wooden sword to the side of the sword’s body .

Still, her strength was enough to make Arakaki hopped back . Indeed, Tora was truly exceptional . Even with her attack, her wooden sword should have been broken by now and yet, it didn’t . His hands slightly trembled as he could still feel the impact of how she avoided the attack .

“I must protect the border, My Lord . Regardless of who’s before me . ” Stern and emotionless, Arakaki positioned himself in an offensive stance, his arm slightly raised, and made a slight gesture . To his eyes, Tora wasn’t the general he was looking up to, but an enemy trying to infiltrate the base . Hence, he showed no signs of backing down even if his life was on the line .

Tora smirked . ‘So, he’s going all out . ‘ she thought inwardly . Soon, the archers from the top of the borders readied their bows and arrows . Although the tip of their arrows was protected by a cloth, it would still hurt .

A moment later, the drill area was raining with arrows . Amazingly enough, mostly aimed at the infiltration group’s vicinity . Some landed on their heads and shoulders, inflicting pain to them . Meanwhile, Tora dodged Arakaki’s attacks while avoiding the arrows that were aimed at her .

Arakaki took advantage of the situation as he showed no mercy . However, the next second, Tora docked — smoothly dodging his slash attack . Her sharpened eyes seemed to glow in red as she placed pressure on her heel before she jerked forward .

Instead of using her wooden sword, Tora’s palm was opened, her fingertips were folded against the bottom’s knuckles and struck him in the chin by the ridge of her palm . It was too fast that Arakaki couldn’t keep up with it .

He could only witness, in a slow-motion about the attack before it nearly knocked him out by the solid assault that could bring as much damage as a closed fist assault . Thus, his body helplessly flew back without restraint .

Arakaki crashed with a loud thud, dust scattered beneath his body as he was temporarily out of his wits .

Due to this, everyone suddenly stopped as they turned their heads to their captain’s figure lying on the ground before they shifted it to Tora . However, upon setting their eyes on her, their eyes widened in disbelief .

There, the palm that Tora used had an arrow clipped in between her fore and middle finger . Blood dripped down from it as it passed through the soft spot of her fingers, and the arrow’s tip was inches away from her eye . If she didn’t attack Arakaki and made him fly back, they were certain that it would already be embedded on the back of his head or nape .

“Who dared…” She murmured as she raised her gaze to the particular direction where the arrow came from . She gripped and broke the arrow as if the wound she inflicted didn’t hurt her . She peered passed the tower where the archers stood as it came from farther than that; she didn’t know how, but her instinct was certain .