General Info

First Issue: USAGI YOJIMBO Volume 1, Issue 2

Comics Which Contain This Story

This story can be found in the following comics:

	USAGI YOJIMBO Volume 1, Issue 2
	USAGI YOJIMBO Book 2

Characters

The following characters are mentioned in the story:

• Gunichi
• Lord Mifune
• Miyamoto Usagi

Story Synopsis

Usagi leaves his sensei and goes off to practise his swordsmanship until such time as he feels ready to enter a lord's service. His practise is interrupted by a masked stranger, who challenges him to a duel to first blood.

Now unmasked, the challenger is revealed to be none other than Gunichi. The two launch into a series of advances and retreats, parries and thrusts until by chance, some would be assassins from the Dogora fencing school are discovered hiding in the nearby rushes. Their intended plans of retribution for the tournament loss interrupted, the students mass attack Usagi and Gunichi, who make quick work of them. With blood being drawn by both swords, Gunichi and Usagi decide on a draw. This is Usagi's first real exposure to this sort of bloodshed, and Gunichi, impressed by the youth's skill recommends him to the services of Lord Mifune.