The first clash shook the entire field.
Urakami's samurai surged forward in a sea of red armor, their banners snapping in the cold morning wind as they charged toward Norihiro's soldiers on the southern ridge. The last traces of night mist still clung to the empty fields, curling around boots and horse legs before being trampled into mud.
Norihiro's archers fired before the samurai reached the hill.
Arrows rose in dark waves and fell upon the advancing force. Several red armored warriors collapsed at once. Others raised their shields and kept moving, their steps never slowing despite the bodies falling around them.
They had come expecting victory.
They had not crossed into the South to hesitate before a Daimyo's army.
The first line of samurai struck Norihiro's shield wall with a sound like thunder.
