Outside the walls of the Imperial Palace, Shinjo Yokatsu of the Unicorn clan speaks to the leaders of the other clans as their armies assemble for war. Yokatsu is treated with great respect, for he led his cavalry here with impossible speed . . . his forces arrived the day after the coup. Some would like to see him lead the combined forces, others side with Matsu Tsuko of the Lion clan.
There is dissention in the ranks, and the army falters with two leaders. Shoju had counted on this, for he saw to it that Toturi was eliminated: had the Lion champion survived the coup, his leadership of the counterattack would have been unquestioned. Instead, he fell victim to a poisoned cup of tea from a geisha he favored, a geisha who was a member of the Scorpion clan.
Shoju rises from his throne and walks the battlements of the Imperial Palace. He scans the army encamped around the walls, and sees a commotion building. There is excitement among the ranks, someone is causing great celebration. he stops, turns and watches. A lone samurai, surrounded by an admiring throng, strides to the base of the walls.
"I will have your head, Shoju," cries a voice the Scorpion thought he'd never hear again. "I, Toturi, have returned!"