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It was evening, and the sun was about to set.
Northwest of Bakura Town, dozens of supply wagons, loaded with provisions, slowly moved towards the bandit suppression camp on Mt. Atama.
The bandit suppression force numbered over five hundred, which, while not a large army, consumed an amazing amount of food and drink daily.
"Hurry up!"
"We must arrive before dark!"
"If we delay the bandit suppression, all of us will be punished!"
The samurai responsible for escorting them urged them on.
This bandit suppression operation had been too sudden. Less than a week passed from the Shogun's announcement to the expedition's departure, and the logistics team had only been put together in the last two days.
This caused the logistics to fall far behind, and if they couldn't arrive before dark, the samurai suppressing the bandits would go hungry.
Fortunately, the distance wasn't too far.
"Add more—"
"Whoosh!"
Just as the samurai raised his whip, planning to strike a farmer, a sharp arrow pierced his chest, and blood spurted out.
"Ahhh!"
Screams echoed through the sky.
Before the supply convoy could react, a large number of bandits rushed out from the forests on both sides, excitedly charging towards the supply wagons.
"Gah-gah-gah, go!"
"Don't let a single one escape!"
"Take all the supplies!"
"How dare you oppose us? Witness the terror of the Mt. Atama Bandit Group!"
In an instant, the bandit group surged into the supply convoy, swinging their blades without hesitation, clashing with the escorting samurai, and even attacking the farmers pushing the carts.
"It's the Mt. Atama Bandit Group, run!"
The farmers fled in terror.
Anyone living in Kuri knew the terror of the Mt. Atama Bandit Group. They were a group of heartless villains who even targeted unarmed, poor commoners for robbery.
Countless villages had been attacked.
"Moo~~~"
The roar of a bull sounded like a war drum.
"Shutenmaru!"
The samurai fighting the bandits looked on in horror, turning their gazes towards the sound of the bull's roar. When they saw the pink-haired samurai lying on the back of a black bull, despair filled their hearts.
Kuri's most terrifying monster had appeared!
If it were just some bandits, they would still have a chance to survive, waiting for reinforcements to arrive, and perhaps even fight back.
But with Shutenmaru's appearance, they had only death waiting for them.
"Boss Shutenmaru!"
The bandits licked their blades, their eyes filled with a thirst for killing.
Shutenmaru lay on the bull's back, slightly raising his head, squinting at the terrified supply convoy, a murderous intent appearing in his gaze.
To avoid trouble for himself, he rarely robbed the supplies of Orochi and the Beast Pirates. His targets were mostly merchants and poor villages without strong backing, only committing major raids during festivals.
But now that the enemy had reached his doorstep, if he didn't do something, who would respect him in the future, and how could Mt. Atama remain peaceful?
This was his warning to the bandit suppression force!
Under the eager gazes of his subordinates, Shutenmaru got down from the black bull, drew the blade from his waist, and pointed it at the supply convoy.
"Kill them all!"
"Oh oh oh!!!"
The bandits roared, bloodthirsty.
"Ahhh! Help!"
In less than five minutes, the samurai of the supply convoy were killed by the bandits, and even the fleeing farmers were caught and butchered by them.
The bandits excitedly rushed towards the supply wagons, eager to see their loot, but as they lifted the covers on the carts, sharp blades instantly pierced their bodies.
"Ahhh!!!"
"It's an ambush!"
"Help, Boss Shutenmaru!"
In just one encounter, the bandit gang lost nearly half their numbers, and then a large number of samurai leaped from the supply wagons, chasing the remaining bandits.
The situation instantly reversed!
Shutenmaru was also surrounded by four ninjas.
Daikoku stared at Shutenmaru, remembering the orders given by Daichi, and a chill involuntarily rose in his heart.
Shutenmaru's reaction was exactly as that man had predicted.
Daikoku composed himself and threatened in a deep voice, "Shutenmaru, you have nowhere to run. Surrender!"
"Just you?!"
Shutenmaru's face was dark, the screams of his subordinates echoing in his ears fueling his rage. How could he not know he had fallen into an enemy trap?
There was a strategist among the enemies!
At this moment, the most important thing was to lead his brothers back to safety.
Shutenmaru's eyes widened in fury, and he suddenly moved with force, charging towards Daikoku. His bulky body surprisingly burst forth with amazing speed.
"Don't underestimate a samurai!"
"What?!"
Daikoku pulled back in horror, taking half a step back.
The next moment, Shutenmaru, maintaining his sword-swinging posture, appeared behind Daikoku.
"Puff!"
Daikoku coughed up blood, his eyes gradually rolled back, and a large bloodstain appeared on his upper body, almost cut in two by a single strike.
"Daikoku!"
The other three ninjas were greatly alarmed.
Daikoku was the strongest among them, second only to Captain Fukurokuju, yet he was taken down by Shutenmaru in one encounter.
Just as the rumors said, he was a monster among monsters!
"Attack!"
Without time to think, the three quickly launched their attacks.
"Kamaitachi!"
"Fire Release: Blazing Bomb!"
"Cherry Blossom Shuriken!"
Fujin swung his dual blades, unleashing multiple flying slashes. Raijin threw a burning bomb. Chome flung shuriken like cherry blossoms.
Three completely different attacks surrounded Shutenmaru in the center.
"Boom!!!"
An explosion soared into the sky!
South of Mt. Atama, bandit suppression camp.
Daichi gazed at the distant explosion, a smile blooming on his face.
He and Yamato stayed at the bandit suppression camp to make Shutenmaru feel safe, while Daikoku led the samurai hidden within the supply convoy, waiting for the prey.
A very simple strategy.
After all, in warfare, ambushing the enemy's supply line is common sense.
"Let's go!"
In less than ten minutes, Daichi arrived at the battlefield with the samurai, but the battle had already ended, and bodies lay scattered on the ground.
Shutenmaru had escaped.
Daikoku leaned against a supply wagon, his body wrapped in bandages. Seeing Daichi approach, he lowered his head in shame.
They had successfully ambushed Shutenmaru's group, yet let him escape, and he himself was severely wounded, truly bringing shame to the Oniwabanshu.
Fujin and the other two stood beside Daikoku, all wounded, and equally ashamed, unable to raise their heads.
If Shutenmaru hadn't been unwilling to prolong the fight and was eager to retreat, they would probably have been wiped out. Shutenmaru's strength was far superior to theirs.
"Sorry, Daichi."
"It's fine."
Daichi calmly waved his hand, having expected this.
After all, Shutenmaru was a fierce general who could clash head-on with Jack. It would be strange if he were taken down by a few ninjas.
And for him, a mutual defeat was the best outcome, as both Shutenmaru and Orochi's samurai were his enemies.
Who would be the fisherman depended on their respective methods!
"Daikoku, inform Shogun Orochi of the battle here. Tell him we have severely wounded Shutenmaru, and his head can be taken tonight!"
Daichi gave an order, his gaze sweeping around until he found Yamato, who was tending to the wounded, and picked her up.
"Yamato, it's your turn to make an appearance!"
"What for?"
Yamato tilted her head in confusion.
The battle was over, what could she do?
Daichi curved his lips. "Isn't your nose very sharp? I need you to track the fleeing Shutenmaru's group by their scent of blood."
"Track the bandits?"
Yamato was a bit confused.
Her sense of smell was indeed very sensitive. She could clearly distinguish scents in the air, but somehow it felt a bit strange.
Who tracks enemies with their nose!
Wait!
That jerk Daichi, he couldn't possibly be treating her like a dog, could he?
The girl glared angrily!
Daichi calmly stated, "After we finish suppressing the bandits, I'll arrange ten times the workload for you, and the finest salmon sashimi."
"I'll do it!"
The girl wagged her tail!