THE EIGHT MAN CUT
After three weeks of resting and healing his shoulder. Then getting his broken tooth repaired from where the blade sliced his face. Availing himself of blank scrolls he presented a copy of his journey’s journal to date to the Damiyo with his sketches and commentary about what he had seen on the land and sea. In exchange he asked the damiyo for two blades that had failed and broke under use. He then explained how he wished to make a sword from those people or objects that had lost honor so he might perform deeds to help their souls enter the next life with less of a stain upon them. It was an act of charity because those souls can’t thank him but maybe he can help some ghosts find peace to move on.
The Damiyo asked him to come back when he called him. It was two days later when he was brought into court of the Ikoma Damiyo. There were two pristinely cleaned anvils before him and upon each were a katana and a wakizashi. The leader of the Damiyo’s samurai said he had failed to protect his lord’s daughter but Donoha had helped him correct that blunder allowing him to save face and honor. His punishment was to surrender the katana that he had failed to save her with and after cleansing in a shrine he would seek another for his purified soul. He wrapped his hand in silk and gripped the blade and brought a smithing down on it breaking the blade! He then brought them over and set them in front of Donoha.
The Damiyo then mentioned he must act for the will of the Mandate of Heaven that means his life and will must serve a higher cause. Since samurai is derived from the word saburau, meaning “to serve.” Samurai are servants to a cause or person always higher than themselves. All families of samurai are honored for helping to create more samurai. However, all honor comes with costs and dues. Consider it a celestial example of karmic exchange.
To show how much he respects that Donoha helped and never asked for a reward, even offering knowledge of the world at large (holding up the scroll/book Donoha made him). One of Donoha’s teeth had been fixed by a Ikoma Shugenja using silver/copper amalgam cap. The Damiyo then said if the lad would accept, he would give him his name early for he had absolute faith he would succeed in his gempukku! When Donoha bowed his head and hands in supplication the court would record Donoha or “Copper Tooth“! When he can reclaim the fallen blade’s honor and send all the familyies’ word of the deeds he accomplishes with this new soul saving sword. Then he may add “kiba” to his name or “Fang“, as a fitting epitaph for a full Dragon! Donoha san just realized he had been tasked with a second gempukku. He also realized all of this was likely cleared with his family.
The Ikoma Damiyo continued on about Donoha san had wanted these blades as a chance to help repair the honor of others. His ranking samurai moved to the wakizashi and the assembled court realized that had been their lord’s personal wakizashi. He had the sheath wrapped up and a courier left with it and a box to present to Donoha’s father to help cover some of the costs of the gempukku he was on. Then ranking samurai broke the wakizashi and presented it to Donoha!
Word of that action spread like wildfire, and when Donoha arrived home in late summer, early fall. It was to stares and hushed whispers when people realized whom was walking through. To show his gratitude (thanks to the Lion’s gift) Donoha’s father hired a Mirumoto duelist from the Dojo of the Mirror to personally train his son alongside Kitsuki Inoki. He would likely need it when his glory hit locations before him. Then a full year went into the process and if he wasn’t forging the katana he would meditate on it through training from both Inoki sensei and Mirumoto Uesugi his weapons instructor.
When he completed his prototype at 18 years of age. He, more than anyone, was surprised that it was straight. Since he had not used clay in the temper the blade did not curve due to the differential temper. The style of the blade was ancient. A style still used by Yobanjin people that had refused to submit to the Kami! The rarity of a straight sword in the Emerald Empire was high and typically only seen in sword cane used as one got older.
Uesugi and his mother, Hana, arranged the cutting test. Knowing what was coming for Donoha the test was made using the bodies of ronin that had convicted as criminals. Mirumoto Uesugi san, Kitsuki Inoki san, and Kitsuki Hana okasan were present. When Donoha swung he had made it through seven bodies grazing the spine on number eight! They showed his father and vouched on their honor they witnessed Donoha do this.
Not understanding the significance Donoha san asked his father, Kitsuki Orochi, why was everyone surprised. His father explained the record cut in the empire was known as the Eight Man Cut (八人の男を半分に減らす = Hachi Ri no o-toko o-Hanbun ni Herasu). To show Donoha he took his own katana and made it through six but not quite seven. The fact Donoha san’s blade had made it through seven and into number eight means he nearly match the record cut. No one else had come this close!
He asked Donoha if he had the ability and materials to make another. Donoha confirmed he could make just one more. His father tasked him with making the second curved and the cutting test and completion of the gempukku would be held at Kyuden Ikoma to honor the boy’s name-giver. In fact it would be held at Winter Court as the Emperor would be staying there!
The prototype katana was named Supaku or Spark, since it had been the flame in the darkness that a new tradition may be born from. Stored in shirasaya style the wooden handle or tsubaka and the saya or sheath were lacquered dark green and deliberately disturbed in the drying process to make a variety of triangles to represent the three clans that had contributed to the blade. Coppered lacquer was applied on the lines between the triangles. It could be confused for an ornate and beautiful walking stick. The katana bears his Mon, signature, and the broken flower with seven petals for the cutting count upon the tang. The handle has an ornate kashira that resembled a dragon coming out one side of the tsuka and resting its head on the endcap of the handle.
It was nearly six months later that he completed the sword: Mittsu Tamashi 三つ魂 or Three Souls. Balancing his sword training and lessons as a magistrate. His birthday celebration and gempukku ceremony completion had been put on hold since it was getting into winter. Arrangements had been made to make the cutting test before samurai of the Crab, Phoenix, and Lion that were representing their clans at court. Other clans were invited as well promising a sword not seen before!
The Kitsuki family sent magistrates with Donoha among them. Having spent everything available to him his simple mint green kimono with a darker green hakama. A simple pastel yellow obi/sash. A thin handle bar mustache. His light armor is lacquered dark green with yellow stitching and/or lacing as needed. The rest of his attire is so plain it could make him appear poor. In fact, the only thing ostentatious about him was his weapons. The thing that stood out on him was the gloriously wrapped sword in a green silk cover with golden dragons, red fiery birds, dark blue crabs, and copper colored lions upon it showing each clan he visited in order of journey.
Donoha was a little nervous late on the first night in a grand courtyard. About 12 feet in front of the mat he knelt on were 8 corpses of convicted criminals. Stacked rather neatly one atop of the other over a wooden slab. Special torches had been lit to ward off insects. Still bound by the silk covering Mittsu no Tamashi laid in front of his knees.
Behind the torches set around the courtyard were mats for those wishing to watch the cutting demonstration. The Damiyo of the Ikoma family was present along with high-ranking samurai of the Phoenix and the Crab. Lion and Crane historians were present to record the result. Smiths from these clans and from the imperial capital were present. Lastly his grandfather and grandmother from House Seppun took the last spot next to his son, Kitsuki Orochi san.
When the Ikoma Damiyo raised his fan, Donoha removed the silk cover and set Mittsu no Tamashi (Three Souls) in front so people could see it. The green lacquered saya with veins of copper showing off the eclectic triangles on its surface. The diamond shape gold and copper dragon tsuba making the blade always rest at an angle. The braided silk tsuka (handle) wrap in shades of green, the fittings in copper gleaming against the green in torchlight.
Several attendees noted the blade length would put it right on the edge between and horseman’s tachi katana and the footman’s uchigatana katana. The latter being far more common. The saya was done up in the only fitting style for such an ambigous length blade. Handachi combines the fittings of a tachi length katana on the saya for riding a horse. But instead placing them on a saya designed for an uchigatana length weapon carried on foot.
While there were murmurs amid the crowd about the choices there were gasps when the blade was revealed as he stood and walked around his own saya (sheath) to ready his dual handed overhead strike. The hasaki (hard edge) towards the sky was as black as night! The came the hamon line’s replacement as a wall of coppery fire distinctly keeping the earth from touching the night sky. Next, the mune, shinogi-ji, and ji (the back damascus part(s) of the blade) shown like black and white ripples of waves or hills seeking the sky and the fire wall forever keeping them apart!
The Ikoma Damiyo said he wished to know what was etched on the blade. A few more heads tilted and realized a phrase was cut into both sides of the softer portion of the blade. Without moving Donoha replied, “On the Damiyo’s side is the blade’s name, Mittsu Tamashi (Three Souls). On the Seppun’s side (they were each given the best seats to view the event) is my motto: Itami wa chie to hikikae ni sa reru (pain is traded for wisdom). Tonight, my blade cuts for you, Ikoma-sama, I am unworthy to stand here but I shall strike when you say to.”
The Ikoma Damiyo nodded and dropped his fan and Donoha took one step forward and as the forward foot hit the ground so did the black blade that flashed coppery fire swinging through the air! It was the Crane smith directly looking at the stack of dead criminals that made the surprised yelp! Everyone heard the THUNK sound of the blade hitting the wooden base the bodies were stacked upon. This Crane smith saw the stack split in half and tilt about half a shaku (6 inches) to the left and right of Donoha!
He began exclaiming until a samurai of the Crane clan led him gently, but firmly away. The onlookers saw and gasps filled the courtyard. It was then Donoha had looked up as he was so focused on the cut. The eight bodies had been cut clean through! Only one other person had done this in the Empire’s history! Donoha’s eyebrows raised and then he remembered the training from Mirumoto Uesugi. He removed a mint green cloth from his kimono and wiped the blood clean from the blade and then dabbed the etched phrases on each side. He quietly walked back around the other side of his saya (wooden sheath) and put the blade on the mat, front edge angled down. He then folded bloodied cloth so the smallest amount would touch the tatami mat he returned to kneeling upon.
Donoha stayed motionless while conversations began and the Ikoma damiyo stood to escort his paternal grandmother over to him. The grandmother asked Donoha to present the katana to the Ikoma Damiyo so she might have a better look. Her grandson complied stating her full honorific title and both katana and saya were handed over.
Then she asked loud enough to quiet the conversations, “Kore wa kanzen ni anata ga tsukutta nodesu, mago-san (You made this completely, grandson)?”
That made a number of heads turned when she addressed him that way in public. “Hai, rippana o bāchandesu (yes, honorable grandmother).”
No one moved for a second because saying “chan” as an honorific from a non-imperial family member to one of the three imperial families had better be certain it’s okay.
“Watashi wa anata no mago o hokori ni omoimasu. San-Nichi-go ni ocha o nomi ni kite kudasai. (I am proud of you grandson. Come have tea with me in three days.).” She bowed to the Damiyo and whom returned the katana and saya to Donoha and escorted her and the other Seppun family from the courtyard. Donoha knelt his head to the mat until they left. When he sat up and looked at his father the smile and nod let him know he had passed his gempukku.
His father presented him with a companion as a present. His sister was given a hound and he was given a great bird known as a Potoo. He named his bird Shirogane because of how brilliant the white and golden feathers looked. It was a welcome respite to travels by himself.
The next two days he was nearly assaulted by every smith asking questions. His father addressed this holding up the collected scrolls he kept and said his son has provided the Clan his complete knowledge on the Ryūu no Kazoku 竜の家族 (Dragon Family) Blade. The Dragon clan smiths will study and produce only 10 next year. All the way until spring Donoha kept having fend off sly smiths and courtiers trying worm a promise to make a blade for them. He did recite the tale of why he made the blade and the clans that helped him (tapping the menuki on the tsubaka as he got to those points). It was the only time a blade was permitted in the dining area.
Before his father (Kitsuki Orochi), dueling sensei (Mirumoto Uesugi) and magistrate sensei (Kitsuki Inoki) all headed home after the first month past in the turning of the year. Kitsuki Inoki presented his pupil with a parting gift. A white dosanko breed horse he’d named Yukiabo (roughly means “Snow Buddy” and great for mountain crossings) for its color and friendly demeanor. Donoha spent a few weeks getting acquainted with his other new animal companion and his new bird, Shirogane.
It was during this period he also received the last letter from his true love that she had been summoned to the Elemental Council of the Phoenix Clan. It was during this period he was given further magistrate training and made a member of the Emperor’s Gift and would be traveling with them as they left at spring! He was now 19 years old.
