The vast, azure sea was being swiftly traversed by a giant golden pufferfish. Inside its esophagus were nearly a thousand women, the surviving members of the Johuto clan. These women had narrowly escaped a fierce battle, saved by a young girl who seemed wise beyond her years.
The women, overwhelmed with relief, expressed their gratitude through tears:
"Lady Seibuta, we are so grateful you are alive! When we saw the Mist Village shinobi carrying what we thought was your body, we feared the worst..."
"All the men in our homeland have been slaughtered by those evil Mist Village ninjas. Lady Seibuta, what will we do now? Where will we go? Is the Johuto clan truly doomed to fall?"
"It will not!" Seibuta declared firmly, her voice filled with resolve as she sought to bolster the women's spirits. "Do not lose hope. I am still here, and as long as I lead you, the Johuto clan will never perish!"
"But do you know why I am still alive?" she continued.
The women shook their heads, curious. They had always believed that only the clan's patriarch possessed the power of immortality. Even the young lord didn't have it, let alone a woman like Seibuta.
"I was indeed on the brink of death," Seibuta explained. "But my father sacrificed his own life to bring me back. He entrusted everything to me—his will and his power—so that I could lead you to safety and away from the torture of the Mist Village."
The women finally understood. The patriarch had exchanged his life for Seibuta's, allowing her to revive. This act meant Seibuta now bore the immortality of the Johuto clan's leader, marking her as the fifth patriarch of the clan.
"Patriarch!" The women bowed in unison, their voices rising in respect and recognition.
After this simple yet profound ceremony, Seibuta and the women gathered to plan their future.
"Patriarch, what should we do next?" one woman asked.
"I've thought about it," Seibuta said. "We will head to the Land of the Sea to find my missing brothers."
"But are Lord Arakai and Lord Kurofune really still alive?" another woman asked, her voice tinged with worry.
They had never encountered such a complete disappearance before. The fact that the entire Johuto army had vanished without a trace for two days led many to believe they were likely lost.
"They must be alive!" Seibuta insisted. "Arakai and Kurofune are incredibly powerful. The Land of the Sea couldn't possibly defeat them, and my husband is equally strong. I refuse to believe he is dead!"
Speaking up, one of the younger women, whose husband was part of Arakai's forces, voiced her hope. She could not bear the thought of becoming a widow.
Another woman, after a moment of silence, voiced a concern: "Patriarch, what if we don't find them in the Land of the Sea? What should we do then?"
Seibuta furrowed her brow in thought. "If it comes to that, we will find a small island to claim as our new home. We will build a safe haven and plan from there. I have the power to support us—I will raid ships for supplies, ensuring you are all fed and clothed. I will also gather intelligence in the towns of the Land of the Sea to uncover what happened to my brothers. We will find out the truth."
Hearing this, the women, already emotional, were moved to tears again.
"Patriarch, you are willing to do so much for us. We are deeply grateful. If only we had the power to help you," one woman lamented.
Seibuta smiled reassuringly. "Don't worry. I am strong enough for all of us. As your leader, it is my duty to protect you. I must live up to the title of Patriarch."
"Who says women are inferior to men? I will show the world that a mere woman can lead the Johuto clan to greatness, even to the pinnacle of power! We don't need men to succeed!"
While Seibuta's vision was inspiring, some of the older women felt the need to ground her in reality.
"Patriarch, we understand your desire to restore the Johuto clan," one of them began gently. "But without men, it will be difficult."
"Why is that?" Seibuta asked, her wide eyes full of innocence and curiosity.
The women exchanged glances, their cheeks reddening slightly. One of them spoke up softly, "Without men, we cannot have children. Without children, there is no future."
This revelation was like discovering a new world for Seibuta. "What? You need men to have children?"
The women nodded, a mix of amusement and sympathy on their faces. It wasn't surprising, given Seibuta's upbringing. Protected and isolated, she had never been taught about such things.
Seibuta's father had always treated her like a precious, eternal child, shielding her from the realities of life. The men of the clan were too afraid of the patriarch to approach her, leaving her completely unaware of these basic facts of life.
With the patriarch now gone, the women decided it was time for Seibuta to learn these essential truths.
Ten minutes later...
Seibuta sat with a blank stare, her previously rosy cheeks now burning with embarrassment. The women's detailed explanations and demonstrations had enlightened her in ways she had never imagined.
"So... it really works like that?" she stammered.
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