The Rise of the White Lotus

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.