Akodo and Shinsei
For many years, the men of Akodo’s armies followed bushido, but when Shinsei came over the mountains and presented a very different path to the Emperor, the disquieting rumblings within the Lion camps could be heard even from the keeps of the Dragon
When Shinsei spoke with the Emperor and he listened to the Little Master’s words, Akodo stood behind Hantei, frowning. Finally, while Hantei was mid-sentence, Akodo spit on the ground, turned and walked away.
Hantei stood, angry that his brother had insulted the Little Master. “Why have you done this?” he demanded.
“For this way is not my way,” he said.
Shinsei said, “It is not my way. It is the way of the world.”
Akodo turned back, the fire reflecting in his eyes. “The path of introspection and rhetoric is for men, not for soldiers.”
Shinsei simply said, “The way cannot be one thing, for it is one thing, it cannot be another.”
Akodo drew his sword from its saya and all about gasped. “Your way is not my way.” He raised his sword as it gleamed in the firelight. “This is my way.” Then, he walked away. When he returned to his lands, he ordered that no copy of The Tao of Shinsei should ever be allowed within the walls of any Lion dojo. The Emperor called on Akodo and told him that he would reverse his order. In fact, a copy of The Tao would should be included in every Lion dojo.
Akodo immediately agreed. When he returned, copies of The Tao were placed next to copies of Bushido, but even to this day, each and every copy remains unopened.
When Shinsei spoke with the Emperor and he listened to the Little Master’s words, Akodo stood behind Hantei, frowning. Finally, while Hantei was mid-sentence, Akodo spit on the ground, turned and walked away.
Hantei stood, angry that his brother had insulted the Little Master. “Why have you done this?” he demanded.
“For this way is not my way,” he said.
Shinsei said, “It is not my way. It is the way of the world.”
Akodo turned back, the fire reflecting in his eyes. “The path of introspection and rhetoric is for men, not for soldiers.”
Shinsei simply said, “The way cannot be one thing, for it is one thing, it cannot be another.”
Akodo drew his sword from its saya and all about gasped. “Your way is not my way.” He raised his sword as it gleamed in the firelight. “This is my way.” Then, he walked away. When he returned to his lands, he ordered that no copy of The Tao of Shinsei should ever be allowed within the walls of any Lion dojo. The Emperor called on Akodo and told him that he would reverse his order. In fact, a copy of The Tao would should be included in every Lion dojo.
Akodo immediately agreed. When he returned, copies of The Tao were placed next to copies of Bushido, but even to this day, each and every copy remains unopened.
