Musashi's tale continues as he transforms himself from an inexperienced soldier with no direction into Japan's greatest swordsman! This is the second book of Musashi: The Novel, a sweeping three-book unabridged translation of Eiji Yoshikawa's bestselling masterpiece--Japan's most beloved historical novel. Masterfully translated for the first time in its entirety by Alexander Bennett, this vivid and fast-paced story reveals the exploits and inner life of a man who finds not only his true purpose but also his humanity. In Book Two Musashi continues his travels across Japan, earning a name for himself as a fearless swordsman. One by one, he dispatches the most skilled fighters in Japan with minimal effort, and it all seems too easy. But stung by their defeat at his hands, the Yoshioka fighters vow revenge, and their leader, Seijuro, seeks out Musashi for a duel to the death. Wrestling with his demons, Musashi is torn by his love for Otsu and his goal of becoming Japan's most famous warrior. He decides to take on a young student, but in doing so, is he losing his focus? Musashi holds his destiny in his hands, yet difficult choices will have to be made.