A flash of recognition crossed Ryu's face as Dan's words sank in. The impossible choice his grandfather faced—duty versus compassion—mirrored the legendary tale of Sakumo Hatake. A wave of sadness swept over Ryu, tightening a knot of uneasiness in his gut. He understood the consequences such a decision would bring—the scorn and ostracization that would follow. Yet, a sliver of admiration bloomed within him for his grandfather's unwavering loyalty and compassion.
"It must have been an incredibly difficult decision for him," Ryu whispered, his voice barely audible.
Dan nodded solemnly, his eyes distant. "It was. Your grandfather often said that in that moment, he saw more than just a wounded comrade. He saw a future where shinobi could prioritise life over mission objectives. But the world wasn't ready for such ideals, even now."
"That mission's failure," Dan continued, his voice thick with regret, "became Ryu Senju's undoing. It was crucial for the village. The Senju clan, already burdened by war, turned on him. The public vilified him. Even the very Senju he saved, fuelled by bitterness and disappointment, abandoned him. Ryu, once a member of a prestigious clan, became known as 'The Shame of the Senju'."
Dan's hands trembled slightly as he spoke, the weight of the past evident in every word. "I remember the day the news spread through the village. The whispers, the accusing glances. Your grandfather stood tall through it all, but I could see the pain in his eyes."
Tears welled up in Dan's eyes. "Your grandmother," he said, his voice wavering, "faced a similar choice."
With shame weighing heavily on his voice, Dan continued, "Your grandmother, never one to yield to peer pressure, refused an arranged marriage. It was a political ploy, a sacrifice demanded by the clan elders to secure an alliance with a rising power. But she refused to be used as a pawn."
"She possessed a spirit as wild and free as the wind," Dan added, his voice tinged with admiration. "The idea of being caged in a loveless marriage was unthinkable to her. So, she ran away with Ryu Senju, defying the clan's wishes and her predetermined fate."
He let out a deep breath. "But the consequences were harsh and swift."
Dan sighed and continued, "Father was furious. She had destroyed any possibility of forming an alliance with the powerful clan, straining our family's relationships. She was expelled from the family for bringing such disgrace upon us. Even her family name was taken away."
Ryu's fists clenched at his sides, anger bubbling up within him. "How could they do that to their own daughter?"
Dan shook his head sadly. "The clan system can be cruel, Ryu. Individual happiness often takes a backseat to the perceived greater good. But your grandmother... she challenged that notion with every fibre of her being."
He paused before continuing, "Ryu Senju met the same fate. Although he was from a prestigious clan, public opinion was already against him for failing the mission, and no one wanted to defend a person called the shame of clan. After the Second Hokage died at the end of the First Shinobi World War, the Senju clan was at its lowest point. He was banished by the then clan head and fellow clansmen to avoid spoiling relations with other clans, and his family name was also stripped away."
"They were both cast out of the family compound," Dan said, his voice trembling. "Forced to leave the familiar comfort of their clans and settle in a small house on the village's forgotten outskirts."
Dan paused before adding, "Father was furious. All clan members were advised by the elders against having any contact with them."
"Did anyone try to help them?" Ryu asked, a glimmer of hope in his voice.
Dan's expression darkened. "A few, in secret. Your grandmother's closest friend would sneak them supplies under the cover of night. But openly? No one dared to defy the clan's decree."
A heavy silence descended upon the room. Dan looked at Ryu, his eyes filled with a mixture of sadness and guilt. "Please understand," he said, his voice barely a whisper. "Back then, I was just a child. All I could do was obey the family's orders."
Ryu nodded slowly, processing the weight of Dan's words. "It must have been hard for you too, torn between family loyalty and your love for your sister."
Dan's eyes misted over. "It was the hardest thing I've ever had to do. I would lie awake at night, wondering if she was safe and happy. But I was too afraid to act on those feelings."
The silence in the room grew heavier, almost tangible. Dan's shoulders sagged as if carrying the weight of years of regret.
Dan continued, his voice laced with sorrow. "They had a daughter together, your mother. But a few years later, Ryu Senju died under mysterious circumstances. Your grandmother suspected foul play, but without proof, the Third Hokage couldn't intervene. Grief-stricken and fearing for her daughter's safety, she made a heartbreaking decision."
Dan paused, wiping away a tear that had escaped his eye. "She left the village with your mother, never to return. It was a decision fuelled by a mother's love and a deep-seated distrust of the very institution that failed to protect her husband."
"Years later," Dan added, his voice barely above a whisper, "rumours reached me through travelling merchants. A woman matching your grandmother's description succumbed to illness in the capital city. I believe it was her."
Ryu listened intently, his heart a tangled mess of emotions. Grief for the grandparents he never knew warred with anger at the cruelty that forced them into exile. Yet, a spark of admiration flickered within him for their defiance and the love that bound them together.
"Yuki told me your mother came to the village with you when the Third Hokage stepped down and Minato Namikaze took the oath as the Fourth Hokage. I guess she also didn't have a favourable opinion of the Third," Dan then told Ryu.
"My mother..." Ryu's voice trailed off, filled with a mixture of curiosity and longing. "What was she like?"
Dan's expression softened. "From what Yuki told me, she was the perfect blend of your grandparents. She had your grandmother's fierce independence and your grandfather's gentle heart. She came to the village seeking a fresh start, hoping to rebuild the bridges that had been burnt."
With a glimmer of hope in his voice, Dan said, "When Yuki told me about a boy named Ryu with hair similar to the Hamura clan's. I knew then you were her grandchild."
"Your mother named you after your grandfather," Dan continued, a hint of a smile playing on his lips. "It seems she carried his memory close to her heart. My sister must have told her stories. Given that she named her child after her father, it appears that she missed him greatly."
A wave of emotions washed over Ryu: grief for his grandparents, anger at the clans' cruelty, and a spark of pride for their defiance. He looked at Dan, his gaze unwavering.
Dan met Ryu's gaze, his eyes filled with remorse. "I am sorry I didn't look after my sister, your grandmother. I wanted to, but my father and the clan elders made sure that no one in the clan could reach out to her."
"I understand," Ryu said, his voice steady. "The past cannot be changed. None of it was your fault. I understand that things were difficult back then. The decisions you made were likely influenced by your family and the circumstances of the time."
Dan's eyes widened in surprise. A flicker of relief danced across his face, a glimmer of hope for reconciliation and for healing the wounds of the past. He sighed, a heavy weight seeming to lift from his shoulders.
With a renewed sense of purpose, Dan continued his story. "The Hamura clan's fortunes saw a decline following your grandmother's departure," he stated, his voice tinged with a mix of regret and resignation.
He glanced at Ryu and said, "The younger generation chose to pursue careers as full-fledged shinobi rather than artisans and craftsmen, inspired by the rise of powerful ninjas. But the life they sought was not for the young and naive. Many fell in the relentless wars that plagued our land, and the clan went into decline after that."
His expression turned sombre as he continued, "Hamura's name dwindled, and eventually, it vanished entirely. It is now an extinct clan. I can't help but think it was karma for what we did. A bitter consequence for the way we treated your grandmother." He paused, his voice heavy with emotion. "Senju met a similar fate. There aren't many Senju left now compared to the village's founding."
Dan's gaze met Ryu's, a mix of hope and trepidation in his eyes. "Ryu, all I can give you now is this house that your grandmother was banished from and the family name of the clan that banished her. I hope you accept the name of my family, even if this family has wronged you."
The weight of Dan's words hung in the air, a testament to the complex legacy Ryu had inherited. The young Shinobi found himself at a crossroads, faced with a decision that would shape not only his future but also honour the memory of those who came before him.
[A/N: Even before I began writing the story, I had chosen Ryu Hamura's ancestry and bloodline. Some people might have different expectations, but in my defence, it explains some of Ryu's abilities, like his minor healing ability. I still sincerely apologise to them and sincerely hope they will find the story entertaining.]