Matsu Hajime

Matsu Hajime was a Lion Clan bushi.

Rebuked Suitor
Purely for political reasons Hajime was a suitor for Kakita Umeki, daughter to Kakita Konyo, the Master of the Kakita Dueling Academy. Hajime was enraged when Shinjo Inejiro won Umeki's hand and accused Kakita Konyo of breaking his oath to the Lion Clan. Hajime brutally attacked the Kakita lands. Inejiro, cousin of the Unicorn Clan Champion, rallied his followers and rushed to the Kakita's defense, but arrived too late to save Umeki, who had been shot by a stray arrow near the beginning of the siege.

Revenge
Inejiro furiously swore to kill every Lion commander that had taken up arms against Konyo. Konyo added his forces to Inejiro's and the joint army invaded the Matsu lands. The Lion Clan Champion, an Akodo at the time, felt that Hajime's assault on the Crane was unwarranted and dishonorable, and stood aside of the assault. After one year Inejiro had completed his quest and returned to his lands. Kakita Konyo donated a statue of Umeki to Inejiro, which was placed at Oshindoka Toshi gates, the city Inejiro had built to win Umeki's hand.