As the weeks and months passed by Ryuzen fell into a routine of doing chores around Jinsai estate and then training afterwards. Each day presented the young squire a chance to grow and change into the mythical samurai he dreamed of himself becoming. He looked at Jinsai as his model of what a samurai should be. Jinsai a warrior is now past the age of forty and considered old by Japanese society. Salt and pepper hair with sharp brown eyes and a L-Shaped scar across his left cheek from a previous battle. Short but stocky build and broad shoulders. Ryuzen emulated him in how he carried himself around the estate and in his training. Jinsai was fair but strict with his people and his servants and soldiers respected him greatly. Though Jinsai was a poor samurai he carried himself with pride and appearance and instilled the same values into Ryuzen. The youth grew under Jinsai tutelage and began absorbing his lessons of daily repetitions of perfect strikes, foot work, timing, and breathing. The youth was permitted to carry his bamboo sword with him everywhere he went on the estate as he should be used to having weapon by his side all times. Soon all the servants and people were used to seeing Ryuzen carrying his bamboo sword by his side as he was scurrying about his daily routine and the people began to enjoy seeing this eager youth running about and began to care for him this orphan. Climbing, running, horsemanship, jujitsu, everything a samurai should know the youth excelled at and absorbed every piece of knowledge Jinsai showed him.

  Finally, one morning after living at Jinsai estate for over 18 months the youth arose like normal at the sound of the rooster's crow and fetched his bucket to get water for the kitchen like normal. He passed the stables seeing the horses stirring and the servant's quarters following the path to the bamboo forest that led to the brook. It was still dark, but the night sky was fading as he walked to the bubbling brook to fill his bucket. When he finally reached the brook to kneel down to fill his bucket and he noticed the forest was eerily silent and he did not hear the chirping of birds filling the air or forest critters moving about. Instinctively the hairs on the back of his head stood up and knew something was wrong. He remembered the breathing techniques Jinsai taught him to compose himself and slow his breathing to stay calm and listen to his surroundings. Then in the distance he hears the snapping of a twig no more than maybe 50 feet away. The boy silently and carefully put his bucket down by the brook, he pulled his bamboo sword out and began to slowly move toward the sound of the snapping twig he heard earlier. He moved cautiously and being careful not to reveal his movements and after moving about 40 feet he hears a feint whispering of a conversation in the distance and sees two dark figures talking low nearby. He strained to hear what they were saying, "Is everyone ready and the other stated yes we are almost in position to attack. Good, remember to kill the old samurai first as he is the most dangerous then we can easily pick off everyone else and take everything they have" Ryuzen had a choice to make either hide to save himself or reveal his position and warning the estate about the attack which means he could lose his life in the process. He remembered his dead parents and burned village and anger swelled up inside him and now the thought of more innocent good people at Jinsai estate could be hurt or killed the choice was easy for him. Though he was not officially a samurai by birth he would defend these people and avenge his parents also in some small way.

  He moved closer and quietly as possible, he could see they were bandits because they had mismatched samurai armor on them which could only mean that they were either looted or stolen from a previous owner. The one on the left had a bamboo spear and was extremely ugly with several worts on his face and very short of maybe five feet tall and the other one was chubby with a samurai sword and very round face and not much taller. Still for a young boy of 12 this would still be a daunting task for him to overcome. He decided to hit the ugly one first in the head since he was most likely faster than the bigger one in reacting. Ryuzen then raised his bamboo sword just like he was taught and brought it down with all his strength onto the bandit's head and instinctively the bandit yelled in pain and fell down with blood rushing from his forehead. The fat bandit was shocked by what he saw and not believing at first what he had just seen and hesitated and then he turned around but then he sees the bamboo sword swing at his head he barely moves it slightly in time but is still but only grazed but it still hurts him. He slashes in direction of the swinging bamboo and only hits air. Ryuzen ducked instinctively and swung his bamboo sword on the chubby bandits left knee and he buckles under the strike and screams but this time in desperation swing his sword upwards and connects cutting across the youth's face.

  At same this is all going on Jinsai is in his room getting dressed and getting ready for his day and thinking what his duties for today will be then he hears a blood curdling scream in the direction of the bamboo forest. Instinctively, he grabs his sword although half-dressed and yells for a servant to blow the conch shell to warn the estate of what he heard. Then he runs outside his mansion followed closely by several of his men carrying bamboo spears, swords and naginatas. As they enter the forest, they hear another scream and the sound of fighting in the direction near the brook but then all of a sudden a bandit appears in front of him and tries to stab Jinsai but he blocks the blow and then swings his sword at the neck of the bandit slicing part of his neck off and he falls down instantly. The rest of his men are also engaged in fighting, but the bandits look surprised to see the samurai in the forest and further three bandits are killed and the rest flee. Jinsai continues to where he first heard the screaming.

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  Ryuzen, was not able to stand after receiving the slash to his face and fortunately the blow missed his left eye, but the chubby bandit managed to slash his left cheek and slightly passed his forehead. Blood was seeping into his eye, and he was feeling faint from the blow. The two bandits were both in extreme pain with the ugly bandit profusely bleeding from his head and chubby bandits knee shattered from his blow and not able to stand. Ryuzen had positioned his back against some bamboo trees. Then he hears running of men coming closer to his position and expects to see the other bandits coming to aid their comrades and expects to be killed by them, but he has the satisfaction of knowing Jinsai and his people heard the commotion and would be ready for any attack. Then all of sudden he sees Jinsai followed by some of his men and instinctively the soldiers disarm the two bandits and Jinsai picks Ryuzen up and carries him back to the estate.

  At this point Ryuzen has passed out and Jinsai instructs his servants to tend to the care of this brave youth. He then goes back outside and the two bandits that had been captured and brought to his courtyard. His men then brutally beat and interrogated them as to why they were on his property. Jinsai found out these men were part of same bandit group that had attacked Ryuzen village in the past. Jinsai then decided these bandits would die but it would be Ryuzen duty to kill them and avenge his parents and village.

  Ryuzen regained consciousness the next day, he felt the pain of his new scar and could feel the bandaging across his face. The servants served him breakfast and told Jinsai that the boy had finally woken up. Jinsai hurriedly went into the guest room where the boy was resting. "How are you feeling today?" "I am feeling better now, Is everyone safe?" " Yes, you saved everyone one on the estate by your actions yesterday, furthermore the bandits you fought yesterday were the very same group who attacked your village. You will have the duty today of executing both of them today. The kill is yours to take to get justice for your family and village and your duty to my house" Ryuzen nodded in agreement and was feeling shocked by the revelation that this was the same group who were responsible for killing his family. Jinsai then had the servants help the youth get dressed and groomed him and made him presentable for the grim duty he was about to perform. Jinsai had explained that as a samurai he must present himself in the best manner possible out of respect for the condemned and for the people watching. Before going outside Jinsai lent him his sword and instructed to trust in his technique he was taught. As they exited the mansion into the courtyard, both bandits were tied behind their backs and on their knees, both awaiting the grim fate that was about to happen. Everyone who lived at the estate was in attendance to watch the executions and knew justice was about to be done as these bandits would have killed everyone on this estate if given the chance. Finally, Jinsai pronounced the sentence upon these men and directed Ryuzen to move behind the men. Then the ugly bandit was ordered to present his neck forward and was visibly trembling in fear of awaiting the death blow. Ryuzen pulled the sword from its scabbard and raised it above his head and took a deep breath and struck with a decisive blow onto the bandit's neck and instantly separated his head from his body and blood spurted forth rapidly and the head fell on the ground. The body and head were then removed from the courtyard, and the chubby bandit was then moved into position, and he began to cry and beg for mercy and Jinsai yelled at him to be silent and have some honor. Ryuzen was shocked by how quickly he killed the first bandit and felt ill but was determined to avenge his family and moved behind the chubby bandit. As before he raised the sword and swiftly struck his neck and instantly separated his head from his body like the previous bandit.

  When the executions were completed and the courtyard was cleaned up Jinsai then called the boy forward in front of everyone. "Ryuzen has shown true courage and bravery in line with the spirit of a true samurai. From this day forward I name this boy my heir and adopted son to my house" Everyone in the courtyard bowed before Jinsai and Ryuzen and recognizing the boy as his heir to his house. Ryuzen was shocked by the news and could only nod and bow in thanks to Jinsai. From this point his life has now changed dramatically again since the day his family died and now, he has a new adopted father and house. He was brought into the mansion to live with Jinsai and given new duties and more training in his new role as the adopted son of Jinsai. Jinsai was so proud of his new son and would continue to mentor him in becoming a great samurai.