The ninja's words sparked a glimmer of hope among the refugees, their tired eyes lighting up with a bit of life. People murmured, desperate for help, many holding onto the promise of food and safety. Sukiko stood frozen, her heart pounding. She clung to her mother's hand, the ninja's speech echoing in the air around them.
"Mom," Sukiko whispered, her voice barely heard over the crowd. "Are we going to join them? Maybe... maybe we'll be safe."
Okada didn't answer right away. She kept her eyes on the ninja at the gate, torn between wanting safety and fearing what that might cost. The capital was nothing but a shadow of its former self, and trusting Hanzo meant submitting to his rule—a man she'd heard troubling rumors about.
"We'll be careful, Sukiko," Okada finally said, pulling her daughter closer. "But we're not joining anyone. We'll take what we need to survive and keep moving."
Sukiko nodded, trusting her mother. She glanced at Nagomo, who stood nearby, silent and distant. He hadn't been the same since they left the village, and every day she worried that he was slipping further away.
The ninja's speech was met with applause from the starving crowd, and soon, crates of food were brought out. The air thickened with desperation as people rushed forward, pushing and shoving to grab what they could.
"Stay close to me," Okada instructed Sukiko and Nagomo. "We'll get enough to survive, but we need to stay low. Understand?"
They nodded, and together they cautiously approached the back of the crowd. As food was being handed out, Okada watched the guards, unsure if they would let them leave once they had what they needed.
When the crowd thinned out, Okada saw their chance. She led Sukiko and Nagomo through the mass of people, managing to grab a small amount of rice and dried meat. It wasn't much, but it would keep them going for a few more days.
"Let's go," Okada whispered. "We need to find shelter outside the capital."
They slipped away from the crowd, heading toward the city's edge. The rain kept pouring, soaking them as they walked through the ruined streets. As they moved further from the gates, the noise of the crowd faded, leaving only the eerie silence of the broken city.
They found shelter in a small, crumbling house. The roof leaked and the walls were falling apart, but it was better than being outside in the storm.
Inside, Okada shared the food between them, making sure Sukiko and Nagomo had enough to eat. She ate sparingly, already thinking ahead about what to do next.
"We can't stay here for long," Okada said quietly, watching the rain outside. "Hanzo's forces control the city, and it feels like they're preparing for something. We need to move, maybe find a safer place in the countryside."
Sukiko nodded, but her mind was elsewhere. She kept thinking about what the ninja had said—about power and how the great nations only brought suffering. She wondered if the fighting would ever end, if she and her mother would ever find peace.
Nagomo stayed silent, his gaze distant. Sukiko watched him out of the corner of her eye, worrying about the emptiness she saw in him. He hadn't been the same since the attack. She wanted to help him, to say something to bring him back, but she didn't know how.
"Mom," Sukiko whispered as they settled down for the night. "Do you think Nagomo will be okay?"
Okada looked at the boy, her expression softening. "He's strong, Sukiko. Stronger than he realizes. He'll find his way, but we need to be patient."
Sukiko nodded, but doubt lingered in her heart. As she lay down, staring at the leaking ceiling, she couldn't shake the feeling that something worse was coming. The war, the ninja, the ruined capital—it all felt like it was leading to something far more terrible than they had already been through.