As the sun had yet to rise, footsteps echoed through the stone courtyard of the Yuki Tribe. This morning, the elders and leaders of the clan gathered for the long-awaited final meeting. They would decide on the organization of the new village, the peace process, and the mysterious disappearance of Yasue.
As Kamiya prepared to head to the meeting, he found young Rikimaru waiting for him outside in the early dawn light. "You're up early, Rikimaru." Rikimaru looked at him determinedly, wanting to be involved and to be part of the process. "I'll go with you." Kamiya sensed that Rikimaru had matured quickly in the absence of his father, and he accepted his request with a genuine smile. "Very well, but for now, just listen; don't interfere in the matters of the elders." Rikimaru nodded his head in agreement. Side by side, they walked toward the meeting hall.
In the hall, the leaders from the Ken Tribe, including Endo Naizen, had already taken their seats. Among them were also Kinjo, Hirabayashi, and other prominent elders. The hall was notably more crowded than on other days; even Dokuro and other warriors were present. The legendary duo Yahiro Ryuko and Kida Saya, known as the Yuki Tribe's most battle-hardened warriors, were there as well. Rumor had it that they had once stood up to Naru Toki from the Zen Tribe and managed to escape. The clans, who were stepping into a period of peace and reconstruction after years of conflict, showed a quiet excitement in their eyes. Before any speeches began, Kamiya moved to stand by his father's side. "So, it all comes down to today." Endo's expression was restrained; deep down, he was discontent at the idea of enemies now becoming allies, though he knew that the real issue wasn't living with them. "My only concern is who will lead this new village." Kamiya frowned at these words, "I thought your only interest was in fighting and conquering. Maybe you'll show some proper politics for once—solve this without battle." Endo looked directly into Kamiya's eyes. "If I'm not the one to lead, then you will." Kamiya sensed this conversation could easily turn into an argument and would lead nowhere, so he kept himself from getting more irritated, taking a seat around the large oval wooden table instead.
Rikimaru noticed his grandfather, Hirabayashi, alone in a corner, examining some scrolls and approached him. "Grandfather, can we talk?" Hirabayashi had an inkling of what he wanted to discuss, but was too preoccupied to give him much attention. For now, he decided to lend him an ear. "Of course, my child. Let's talk."
"It's about what happened to my mother and father… None of it makes sense to me." Hirabayashi had anticipated this question, but he was hesitant; revealing such a deep secret could endanger Rikimaru's life. Kinjo quietly approached and signaled to Hirabayashi, indicating his support. "Riki, I know this is difficult for you to understand, but some things must remain secret. But know this: your father did what he had to… We don't have all the answers about why he fought, but he bore a significant secret. When you're strong enough to protect yourself or if the secret reveals itself, then perhaps you'll understand us better. Let's hope it stays hidden." Rikimaru, feeling some relief at finally hearing any response, quietly joined Kamiya, leaning against the wall, awaiting the start of the meeting.
When Endo entered, everyone took their seats. "Come on, Hirabayashi, let's get this over with." Endo's words, spoken with an almost genuine tone, sounded like they came not from a recent enemy but from a longtime friend.
During the meeting, everyone voiced their ideas and requests. Kamiya also announced that he would be setting out to find Yasue's body. They continued by discussing the new structure of the village and the details of the designated area. The village center would be established at the Yuki Tribe's location; there, they would rebuild what the wars had left in ruins. However, a disagreement arose over the issue of leadership. "The village leader should come from my clan!" Hirabayashi fiercely countered this claim, saying, "Your arrogance knows no bounds, it seems. The leader will be from our clan!" The atmosphere became tense, and what had been a smooth discussion looked ready to devolve into chaos. Kinjo stepped forward, "Let's all calm down. These arguments will lead us nowhere. If everyone suggests a leader, we might reach a clearer outcome." Endo seemed pleased with this idea, given they were outnumbered by a few. "So, Kinjo Kohei, who do you support?" Kinjo rose, circled the table, and stood behind Kamiya. "I am certain Kamiya has the strength to lead and protect the village… My choice is Kamiya Naizen." Hirabayashi and other Yuki tribe leaders were stunned. "You insolent brat, how could you betray us?" Hirabayashi roared. The Ken Tribe was also caught off guard by this choice. "Ha! The White Claw of the Yuki Tribe stands with us, it seems!"
Kamiya rose to his feet at this and calmly replied, "I refuse. I must find Yasue's body. For now, it's my top priority." The surprise was visible on everyone's faces; no one had expected Kamiya to reject the offer so easily. To ease the tension again, Kinjo proposed, "All right, here's a suggestion. Let's select our strongest candidates and hold a competition to determine who is capable of protecting and leading the village." Both Hirabayashi and Endo eagerly accepted the idea, visibly delighted at the thought of deciding through a competition. "Kamiya will participate as well, once he returns with his brother's body. Until then, let's defer the competition and establish a council of experienced elders. Later, the chosen village leader will assume full authority, and the council will provide oversight."
With Kinjo's suggestion, the meeting proceeded on a positive note. They also decided to send teams to offer trade and peace negotiations to other clans, even extending them an invitation to join the village. Kinjo Kohei and Dokuro Namboku were appointed as leaders of separate teams.
After the meeting, Kamiya began preparing to search for Yasue's body when Soma approached him. "You hid the fact that my uncle was dead from us. I had already suspected it; do you still think we're children, father? I've been fifteen for a while now." Kamiya, maintaining his composure, replied, "If you were as grown as you say, you would've understood why I didn't want to tell you… Don't say a word of this to your sister." Soma countered, "Only if you let me come with you." Kamiya initially didn't want to take Soma on the journey, but he realized it was time for Soma to gain real combat experience. Unbeknownst to them, Rikimaru had overheard the conversation and decided to follow them in secret.
As they set off, Kamiya noticed Rikimaru trailing them quietly, a few paces behind. Rikimaru's restlessness, amplified by his father's absence, made it clear he had no intention of turning back. Kamiya stopped abruptly and waited. "Why did you stop, Father?" Kamiya gestured for him to stay quiet and then vanished into the trees. Rikimaru, who had been hiding among the trees, suddenly lost sight of Kamiya and was startled by a voice behind him. "Rikimaru, you still have much to learn. If you follow without concealing yourself, you'll easily be caught by the enemy." Rikimaru panicked and dropped to the ground. "I—" Kamiya crouched down, looking into Riki's eyes, "I understand you're restless, but this is a dangerous mission. If you wanted to come along, you should've asked me directly."
Lowering his head, Rikimaru replied, "I'm sorry; you're right, Uncle." He turned and began to walk back slowly. "Hey, where are you going? I have provisions for three; it would be too much for just us."
Understanding Rikimaru's resilience and his desire to grow stronger, Kamiya allowed him to join the journey, seeing it as an opportunity to keep him close and fulfill Sato's request. Thus, the three of them set out on a journey to find Yasue's remains and confront the past.