Nabeshima Naoshige vs. Hachisuka Masakatsu

Sporting Event / Competition

As the morning sun began to rise higher, the third match of the day was announced to be between Nabeshima Naoshige, a Daimyō from the western Hizen Province, and Hachisuka Masakatsu, archress of the Silver Meteor Storm. Both took to the arena and prepared to fight. Masakatsu had her signature bow, of course, while Naoshige appeared unarmed and unarmored save for a simple bamboo rod in one meaty hand.

As the start of the match was called, Masakatsu unleashed a flurry of four arrows, targeting Naoshige's legs. In an impressive display of skill, the muscular daimyō batted the first two away with his bamboo rod. Even superhuman quickness can only reach so far, however, and the last two arrows found their marks in his right thigh and calf respectively. It was obviously a painful wound but not a crippling one, and Naoshige pulled the arrow from his thigh before beginning to speak.   Rather than making any move toward Masakatsu, or to close the distance between them, he began to explain that he was a pacifist. It was his desire at this tournament not to win by martial means, but to express his views on the violence that had torn this country asunder again and again over the past several years. Despite popular view it was possible, he espoused, to maintain peace, order, and happiness without resorting to bloodshed. It was why his enforcers in Saga Castle Town carried the same bamboo rod which he held, and no other weapons.   Somewhat taken aback by her enemy's behavior, Masakatsu opted not to fire again at his request. She couldn't care less about his message, and told him so, but suspected some kind of trick, and so stayed her aim. As Naoshige's sermon wound down, he saw that it had presented no effect on his enemy. Still, he had spoken in front of powerful individuals from all across Japan, and even the world. Apparently satisfied by that, he conceded the match and left the arena. This victory went to Hachisuka Masakatsu.