to make war (on); to wage war (against); to compete (against); to struggle (against adversities, etc.); to fight
secret; private; surreptitious
by the way; incidentally; even if; no matter (who, what, when, where, why, how)
to trample down; to devastate
to imitate; to follow; to emulate
achievements; actual results; accomplishments; past results; track record
to recognize; to recognise; to deem; to judge; to approve; to deem acceptable; to admit
to be appointed to a rank
shakudo; gold-copper alloy, often with a blue patina
to polish; to shine; to brush (e.g. teeth); to refine (e.g. a skill); to improve; to cultivate
plate armor; plate armour
to settle down; to get a steady job; to marry and raise a family; to attire oneself; to outfit oneself
to take command; to give direction
still; much more; (not) yet; still a long way to go; still a long way off; not there yet
posture; pose; position; attitude; approach; stance
army; armed forces; military authorities; team; group
destruction; annihilation; devastation; catastrophe
revival; restoration; resuscitation
don't be absurd; that's out of the question; nonsense; don't mention it
participation; joining; entry; adherence
participation in a war; going to war; taking part in a competition or contest
fortuitous; luck; windfall; godsend; good fortune
to line up with; to be a member of; to rank with; to attend; to take part in
due form; official; formality
if so; in that case; in that situation
to appoint; to nominate; to assume (responsibility); to pose as
territory; dominion; grounds (e.g. school)
to lend; to loan; to rent out; to hire out
dignity; majesty; solemnity; gravity
middle; halfway; half (of); one half; half (e.g. done, jokingly); partly
party; group; troop; one act; one action; one deed
to say; to be called; to do
answer; reply; response; answer; solution; result
lineage; stock; descent; strain; blood relationship
to be born and raised (in); to be born and brought up; to be born and bred
worldly affairs; ways of the world
humanity; empathy; kindness; human nature; common sense; customs and manners
country in civil war; country disarrayed by war; Warring States period (Japan, China); competiton in which there are several evenly-matched participants; hotly-contested game (match, market, etc.)
world; society; life; lifetime; age; era; reign
general; universal; ordinary; average; (arch.) the same; (arch.) no different