wooden figure; wooden doll; puppet; blockhead; good-for-nothing; fool
year after year; as the years go by; with each passing year
to fight with swords; to cross swords
elite; best; pick; cream of the crop
together; abreast; side-by-side
stretching a rope around; roping off; one's turf; domain; territory (of an animal)
division; section; compartment; block; plot; lot
place for relaxation and refreshment
to hit something aimed at (maliciously); to hit a prize (lottery, etc.)
taking on a life of its own (of a rumour, etc.); walking by oneself; talking a walk by oneself; walking unaided; being able to walk without help; standing on one's own feet
to sow seeds; to sow the seeds of ... (e.g. conflict)
after that (a substantive change occurred)
custom; practice; convention; precedent
one day; (on) a certain day
reeking of blood; stinking of blood; bloody (battle, crime, etc.)
to cut; to slit; to cut open
general; admiral; head; chief; old chap; mate
ceasing to think; refusing to think critically; giving up thinking (for oneself); going blank; mental block; inability to think clearly
chasing too far; pursuing relentlessly
secret intention; ulterior motive; kanji "heart" radical at bottom
to increase in value; to gain prestige
becoming more serious or severe; aggravation; intensification
winning a battle; victory; victorious battle
not only ... but (also); as well as ...
losing a battle; lost battle; battle one cannot win; battle one is doomed to lose
eastern part; the east (of a region)
domestic discord; internal discord; internal strife; internal struggle; infighting
dear; desired; missed; longed-for; nostalgic
to fade (of a colour); to grow dull in color (colour); to lose vividness; to lose freshness; to grow stale
comrade in arms; war buddy; fellow soldier
undesirable friend; bad company; bad companion; partner-in-crime (i.e. good friend); close friend; buddy
long-cherished ambition; satisfaction
to think constantly about; to dwell on
to kill with a sword (knife, dagger, etc.); to slay; to put to the sword
surging waves; raging billows; turbulent; tempestuous; tumultuous
to cut (grass, hair, etc.); to mow; to clip; to trim; to prune; to shear
how much; how many; however
long sword; minute hand (of a clock)