The Sapphire Heart of a Samurai - Leo x OC

THE GAUNTLET || CHAPTER 3

KINA'S POV:

I got up early because I needed to train as a samurai before Papa woke up this morning. I was consumed by this secret. Why I made this promise to my grandfather is beyond me. I mentally scolded myself every day for making such a promise. I was working out in an abandoned gym. Upon meeting the turtles with Papa, I needed a new place to train. I did not want them to discover my secret on the noodle shop's rooftop by chance and bombard me with questions I could not answer. Especially, by Mikey's endless flood of questions that would blow my mind.

The abandoned gym was a hidden gem, in my opinion. This side of town was far from the Purple Dragons' territory, so they didn't bother coming to this side of town. Both the Foot ninjas and the turtles do not patrol here. Some of the gym's equipment had also been abandoned. A massive sparring mat was displayed in the middle of the gym, along with a couple of rusty metal lockers near the back wall. A battered old punching dummy was left there, along with some weights. Plus, there was a shower and sink at the back. I wasn't going to complain because I gained something out of it. It gave me all I needed and more.

I was practicing my stances and techniques with my naginata blade in the middle of the sparring mat. A blade passed down through the ten generations of my family, wielded by female samurai warriors. I stared at the end of the brass-colored metal blade. As if I could see all the feats and victories of my ancestors in the blade's reflection. Above my eyebrows were beads of sweat.

I was dressed in my traditional samurai garb, which consisted of a basic navy-blue long-sleeved kimono with white trim around the edges. I wore my black hakama underneath the kimono, and my brass-colored metal chest armor over it. I also wore the brass-colored metal kabuto helmet and the full navy-blue Akuma mengu mask with ivory white fangs over my face. I wore my black jika-tabi boots, which met at my legs mid-calf, instead of the traditional hanao, or corded clogs, to complete the whole look.

The seven bushido codes kept repeating over and over in my head with every blow of the blade. With every blow, my grandfather made sure it was ingrained in my memory with his teachings. I could hear his voice loudly in my mind.

義 (GI – Integrity) – Be genuinely honest with everyone you interact with. You should believe in justice for yourself, not in other people. Every viewpoint is carefully considered in terms of justice, integrity, and honesty by the true warrior – A warrior makes a full commitment to their final decisions.

I stood with my feet wide apart, perfecting my form and swiping the naginata blade in front of me. I bounced from foot to foot to ensure that I was as agile as possible.

礼 (REI – Respect) – There is no reason for cruelty from a true warrior. They don't have to prove their strength. A warrior is chivalrous even to their enemies. A warrior is respected for their interactions with others in combination with their strength. – The true strength of a warrior becomes apparent during difficult times.

Taking a long, steady breath, visualizing the enemy before me, and striking the naginata's hilt in the direction of the "opponent."

勇 (YU – Heroic Courage) – It is not living at all to hide like a turtle in a shell. Heroic courage is an absolute must for a true warrior. It's quite dangerous. It is the full, magnificent, and complete living of life. – Heroic courage is not blind. It is intelligent and strong.

I could feel my shoulders and the base of my neck tensing. Using both hands, I circularly twirled the naginata while I swept my feet.

名誉 (MEIYO – Honor) – The only person who can judge a warrior's honor and character is the warrior themself. Their choices and the way they implement them reveal who they genuinely care about. – You cannot hide from yourself.