Behind Senju Tōka stood Kana, the second daughter of Hashirama. Why had she come to visit him? Fumori Masaki couldn't guess immediately, but he first welcomed her in. After all, she was both a guest and the daughter of the first Hokage of the village, and in short time Masaki feels like gaining little sister, after spending time with Hashirama.
Rimi, who was inside the room, heard the commotion at the door and looked out. When she saw Kana, she was startled. "Kana-chan, what brings you here?"
"Well, I have something to discuss with Masaki-Nii," Kana said with a slight nod, a bit embarrassed. "Can we talk in private?"
Masaki felt a bit uneasy at this. What did she want to discuss with him? He glanced at Tōka, who gave him an encouraging look. Then, he exchanged glances with Rimi. After a moment of hesitation, Rimi nodded at him.
Masaki sighed and said, "Alright, I understand."
"Thank you," Kana said with a slight bow.
Tōka and Rimi went to another room. Since Masaki had been promoted to Jōnin, the new house arranged for him was quite large. If it had been the old house, they might have had to go outside to avoid the conversation.
"Please, have a seat," Masaki said.
Kana bowed again and sat down gracefully. She wasn't a ninja but wore the traditional clothing of a noblewoman. Her tall and elegant figure was enhanced by her wide sleeves and narrow skirt. Her long, dark hair flowed behind her, giving her an air of grace and refinement.
Although Kana was only thirteen or fourteen years old, it was already clear that she would grow into a great beauty. Masaki thought of how Uchiha Kagami had nearly married her, but due to Madara's previous decisions and his guilt over Madara's actions, he had refused.
"Kana, what did you want to talk to me about?" Masaki asked. He wasn't well-versed in the interactions of nobles. Its been couple of years his last interaction with her, Though Kana came from a ninja clan, her mother, Mito, was an important figure in the Uzumaki clan, and Kana herself had the status of a noble recognized by the country. Unsure of how to proceed, he offered her a cup of tea to ease the tension, jokingly adding, "It's not about the Senju clan hiding away, is it?"
"Actually, yes, that's exactly what I want to ask about," Kana said solemnly.
"Uh..." Masaki hadn't expected her to be so direct, and he was a bit puzzled. The matter had already been settled, so what else was there to ask?
He handed the tea to Kana. She thanked him, took a sip, and set the cup down. Looking directly at Masaki, she asked, "Masaki-nii, what do you think about this situation?"
"Kana, why are you asking me? Since the decision has been made, Tobirama-sama and Mito-sama should have already discussed it with you. You must know what they think," Masaki replied.
"I know what my Oji-san and Kaa-san think. I just want to hear what you think, Nii-san. You were someone who Tou-chan trusted during his life, so I came to you," Kana explained.
"I see." Masaki thought for a moment before responding. "In my opinion, I believe it was the right decision for the Senju clan to disappear from public view. The Senju clan is a source of pride for the village, but with that comes a great responsibility. During the wars between the ninja clans, I saw records of some actions by the Senju that seemed overly ambitious, which led to unnecessary losses. I believe they felt burdened by their responsibility to the village."
"Just as I thought," Kana said, not surprised but looking a bit disheartened.
"Kana, do you not think this was a good decision?" Masaki asked, sensing her mood.
"No, I agree that it was the right choice. By concealing the Senju name, at least the clan's future can be preserved, and it won't vanish in the ongoing conflicts. It's just..." Kana's expression grew uncertain. "I don't know what I should do now."
"Hmm?" Masaki was a little taken aback.
"You know, Masaki-Nii, Tou-san was a great ninja. He helped the daimyo end the centuries-old conflicts of the Warring States period, unifying the great nations and shaping the current ninja landscape," Kana said slowly. "I've always admired my Tou-san and wanted to follow in his footsteps. I hoped to become a great kunoichi one day."
"However, Hashirama-sama didn't agree with that path," Masaki added, beginning to understand her dilemma.
"That's right." Kana nodded slightly. "I don't understand Tou-san's thinking. Onee-san was happy to marry into the Uzumaki clan, where my Kaa-san came from, but I don't want that life. I asked Tou-san and Kaa-san to teach me ninjutsu, but they refused."
"It's because Hashirama-sama and Mito-sama didn't want you to face danger," Masaki reasoned.
"Even so, as Senju Hashirama's daughter, watching my clansmen fight and bleed while I remain safe... Does that seem right to you, Masaki-Nii?" Kana asked.
Masaki realized that Kana, like many of the Senju, felt torn by the responsibility that came with the clan name. Perhaps she hadn't even fully realized it herself.
"If I remain like this, I feel useless," Kana said, her voice tinged with sadness. "Even if I were a ninja, it seems I wouldn't be able to do anything."
Masaki decided he should help her. If Kana continued thinking this way, she might be left feeling unfulfilled. After considering for a moment, he said, "Kana, I believe you're thinking about this the wrong way."
"Huh?" Kana looked up in surprise.
"Indeed, you're not a ninja, so there are things you can't do. But there are also things that only you can do—things that even ninjas can't," Masaki explained.
Kana looked at him, puzzled.
"Ninjas must follow the orders of their employers, and we can't act without authorization. But you, Kana, aren't bound by such restrictions. You have noble status in the Land of Whirlpools, and that gives you more freedom than we have. Because of that, there are things you can accomplish that we cannot," Masaki said. "There's not just one path in life. There are multiple choices, each with its own value."
"Masaki-Nii, what do you mean?" Kana's eyes began to sparkle with hope.
"If we view the village as a nation, we ninjas are its warriors, defending it. But a nation isn't built solely by warriors. Scholars and leaders also contribute, governing the land and maintaining peace. Warriors protect, but scholars build," Masaki said with a smile.
"So..." Kana began to understand. "Nii-san, do you have a suggestion for me?"
"Since you can't become a warrior, you can become a scholar. Even Tobirama-sama and Mito-sama shouldn't object to that," Masaki said. "You've heard that the Senju are descendants of the Sage of Six Paths, right?"
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Tōka and Rimi, who were in another room, heard the door open and hurried out. They saw Masaki escorting Kana to the door, and Kana bowed deeply.
"Thank you, Nii-san, for guiding me. My tou-san's trust in you was well-placed," Kana said.
"I simply gave you my opinion. The future is in your hands," Masaki replied with a smile.
As Kana left, Tōka and Rimi approached him. Tōka asked curiously, "What did you two talk about?"
"It was just a conversation about some of Kana's concerns. Nothing too serious," Masaki said.