The Sengoku period. Countries vs. countries, organizations vs. organizations, individuals vs. individuals. Carrying their conflicts and hatred, they fight as pawns. And they themselves, carrying love and hatred, continue the bloody battle with opposing ninja as enemies, with no end in sight. That was the "ninja" of this era.
"Kawarama..."
As many coffins are buried, the three siblings and their father see off the small coffin.
"Ninja, do not lament! Ninja are born to fight and die."
Staring at his son's coffin, the father seemed to be repeating his words to himself. He didn't shed any tears, but he couldn't continue speaking any more. But he quickly came to his senses and continued speaking with a strong look in his eyes.
"You should be grateful that at least some of the bodies have been returned! Our enemies this time were the Uchiha and Hagoromo clans... They especially show no mercy to children."
The eldest son, unaware of the slight change in his father, continues speaking as he stares at the coffin that is being covered in mud.
"Kawarama was only seven years old! How long will this... this fight continue?!"
"Until all my enemies are annihilated. Creating a world without war is not an easy task!"
"Even at the expense of sacrificing a child?"
Gun!
The father hits his eldest son and tells him not to notice that his hands are shaking.
"I will not tolerate any insults to Kawarama! He died as a full-fledged ninja, not as a child!"
Even after being hit, the eldest son continued to glare at his father.
"What do you mean, the Senju Clan of love?! What do you mean, you're a full-fledged ninja?! Aren't these adults ganging up on each other and driving a child to his death?! We're doing the same thing to our enemies!"
Hearing this, my father turned his back on me in silence.
"That is respect for the other person. Even if it is a baby, if it has a weapon, it is considered an enemy."
Suddenly, a strong wind blew through, interrupting his next words, but my father continued immediately.
"And raising your child to be an independent adult is the very act of a parent's love!"
The eldest son glared at his father even more vigorously.
There is no way I could ever accept that kind of love. How could I ever accept it?
The coffin of my dead brother was finally covered with earth. The wind blew again, kicking up dust. It sounded like my brother was screaming that he didn't want to be buried under the earth.
"This ninja world is totally wrong!"
The eldest son bowed his head, closed his eyes tightly and cried.
The father felt the need to hide all his feelings from his son, but was unable to contain his anger at those words.
"I will never accept this kind of ninja world."
I felt as if I heard the woman's voice I had heard long ago from behind me.
"People like you are called brats!"
The image of the woman overlaps with that of his son in front of him.
The father tried to raise his fist at his eldest son again, but the second son quickly stepped between them to stop him.
"Father, my brother is in a bad mood today... please forgive him..."
The strong wind that had been blowing just a moment ago now calms down.
"...Calm down a bit, Hashirama!"
"...."
Butsuma returned home alone with heavy steps and let out a deep sigh in front of the entrance.
"Welcome back, Butsuma-sama. Thank you for your hard work. How about your children?"
The maid, who was bringing in the laundry from the garden, called out apologetically. Butsuma's wife had died of illness three years ago.
"Tsubaki... The kids will probably be back for a while. It seems Kawara's death was quite hard on them..."
"I see... it is understandable. Even though you have witnessed many deaths, this is the first time you have lost a family member in battle..."
Tsubaki gently wiped away her tears.
"Tsubaki, you also lost your husband and daughter in the war... how old was your daughter?"
"Five. It was a battle in which the entire village, non-shinobi alike, were killed indiscriminately. Even though she was in ninja training, she was still too young. If my husband and I had been able to protect her... then that child..."
"Sorry. I'm bringing up some painful memories for you."
"No, I'm fine. I'm sure the butsuma is feeling much worse right now."
Saying this, Tsubaki wiped away her tears again. Then, she suddenly remembered something, looked up and spoke in a panic.
"Um... I'm sorry to have to tell you this on a day like this, but..."
Butsuma, who was watching Tsubaki's reaction, immediately realized that this was not a good request and looked serious.
"No problem. Just tell me."
Tsubaki jogged up to the Buddhist altar with the laundry in her arms and, with her head down, quickly explained her business.
"It seems that Suiren-san passed away last year. The last remaining daughter, the youngest, has been taken in by my father...Tsugu-san's older sister. It seems that the child will soon be sold to a daimyo of another country..."
"Suiren...I see."
Before Tsubaki could say yes, Butsuma opened the front door and slowly walked into the house.
Tsubaki could only stare in silence at the back of Butsuma.
Butsuma enters his room and sits down without even getting changed, his eyes falling on the tatami mat. The yellow light of early evening shines in through the paper screen, casting a bright shadow in the shape of Butsuma.
"What a day."
The faces of the various people who have had connections with Butsuma float through his mind and intertwine.
Today, all I want to remember is the face of my beloved son buried beneath the cold earth. So why must I also remember that woman and be troubled by her thoughts?
I should be used to not knowing when or how terrible information might come to me, but right now I feel so upset.
Butsuma hated himself.
But at the same time, hating himself for being like that won't bring back his lost son, and he'll never see that woman again. He can't go back to the past.
What can he do now? Despite his troubled emotions, Butsuma began to think calmly.
◆
A few days later, Butsuma found himself alone in front of a large mansion on the outskirts of the territory.
Within the territory of the Senju clan, where Butsuma serves as the head, many ordinary citizens also live, and a medium-sized community has been formed that supports the Senju clan through agriculture, commerce, industry, weapons manufacturing, schools, hospitals, etc. The Senju clan also lives in a relationship of mutual support, protecting these citizens.
Among the citizens are some who have made their fortunes through trade and commerce with the outside world, and who financially support the Senju clan and enjoy its special protection. The owner of the house in which the Buddhist altar stands is one of them.
The servant opened the large door and when he entered the entrance hall, the owner, a middle-aged woman, was standing there.
"Oh dear. I'm sorry that you have come here by yourself, without any companions. We asked you to come. Please come in. Please let the Buddha in."
The woman frowned, put on an annoyed smile, and looked like she couldn't bear it, then hurried off inside first.
The servant didn't seem in a hurry and silently guided the Buddhist altar to the back of the mansion.
"Fuyou, this is the altar god! Come on, say hello properly!"
A girl was sitting upright on the floor of a room gaudily decorated with imported furniture and ornaments.
As soon as the woman spoke, I hurriedly stood up.
"H-hello. Nice to meet you. My name is Tachibana Fuyou. Nice to meet you."
The girl said in a loud voice, and with her body stiff with tension, she greeted him while looking alternately from the face in the Buddhist altar to the floor.
"What's wrong with you, child? Don't be so timid! Why can't you always behave? The lord will never like you if you continue like this! Come on! Are you trying to embarrass me?"
"I'm so sorry, Auntie..."
The girl's eyes became teary and she looked down. Butsuma saw this and realized that the relationship between his aunt and the girl was within the realm of what he had imagined, but the girl seemed unexpectedly weak, which surprised him a little.
...Is this the woman's daughter? No, it's definitely the man's daughter...
Butsuma looked at the girl again carefully and thought this.
The girl has light chestnut-brown hair that is curly at the ends. Her large, double-set eyes are a deep amber color. Her skin is thin and pure white, and at first glance she does look a bit sickly.
He looks so similar to her that I can instantly recall his appearance. If I had to mention that she looks similar to him, it would be her long eyelashes when she looks down and her rosy small lips.
"Sir, now I know what kind of child this is. I came here today to ask if I can have this child. Can we just talk about it?"
"Oh? Is that so? Since she's Suiren's child, I guess it's fine as long as she looks good?"
The woman laughed maliciously. Butsuma stared back at her in silence.
"You don't have to glare at me with such a scary face. I'm Suiren's sister-in-law and Fuyou's aunt. Even if I give it to her, I have to be sure of Butsuma-sama's feelings. Now, Fuyou, you can step back now."
The hostess seemed a little annoyed by the glare from the Buddhist altar and escorted the girl out of the room.
When the girl left the room, she bowed in front of the Buddhist altar and then quietly left without making eye contact.
Butsuma sat down in a tasteless, overly clumsy chair, feeling uncomfortable, and began to talk with the hostess.
"So, how much benefit would we get from selling the Hibiscus?"
"I had a messenger bring the conditions the other day."
"Of course I read it. If my niece becomes the wife of the head of the Senju clan, then certainly our business here will be secure for the future. But, being the wife of the head of a ninja clan, or the wife of a daimyo; which do you think has a more secure future?"
The woman took a sip of tea and, without waiting for the Buddha to speak, continued.
"And most importantly, what guarantee is there that your son will become the head of the Senju clan in the future? If he doesn't, won't I be the one to lose out? Or... maybe he intends to make her his wife? Ohohohoho!"
Butsuma was silent for a moment, then began to speak quietly.
"That daimyo has strong ties to the Uchiha clan. You are aware that currently, the two great factions, the Senju and the Uchiha, are fighting one another in a conflict. If the Uchiha faction wins this great war, what will become of the bride whom the Senju faction has given to her? She will be killed, and the merchants connected to her will be cut off as well. The Uchiha are ruthless. On the other hand, if the Senju faction wins, it is obvious that the daimyo who used the Uchiha will fall into ruin... Could it be that you are planning to marry her off to that daimyo without even knowing this, my master?"
As the woman listened to the story about the Buddhist altar, her face gradually grew paler, and when she finished, she turned pale and said:
"I, I know that much! B, but, it's also true that the money of us merchants supports the ninja world! What's wrong with prioritizing money?! But, well, it seems that you will be guaranteeing me a decent amount of money and future protection, so that's not so bad!"
"Master, by the way, changing the subject, I received information that you guys are secretly selling weapons on the black market. We are currently investigating the matter. I came here today with the intention of hearing more about it, so how is it going?"
The Buddhist altar room was now in a completely superior position.
The woman hung her head, then quickly raised her head and changed her attitude.
"When should I give you the Hibiscus? Anytime is fine for these! And I don't need any money. We are only able to do business thanks to the protection of the Senju! And knowing that you will continue to protect us, that's more than enough!"
Although Butsuma had only been there for less than a year, I was a little worried about the girl being raised by such an aunt.
◆
"Adults are so selfish... Engagement is so outdated. And it's the worst if she's ugly."
"I want to decide who I'll marry myself, too..."
"I'm fine with that! I can have a little sister!"
The second son, Tobirama, the fourth son, Itama, and the eldest son, Hashirama, were talking in an open space in the forest.
Last night, the three of them heard from Butsuma's father that he had taken in a seven-year-old girl who had lost her parents, and that she was to become their bride. The girl's parents and Butsuma were old friends.
"She's not my little sister. When this girl Fuyou turns 18, she'll decide which of us she will marry. Until then, she'll live with us as a maid. Well, normally, it would be my eldest brother who would be the one to marry."
"We'll be living together under the same roof. We'll be like family! And marriage is something that will happen in the future, so don't worry too much about it... you guys have to be nice to each other!"
Even though Hashirama said this, deep down he felt resentment towards his father's selfish decision.
However, when he heard about the girl's situation, he felt pity for her. The girl was also one of the children born in this warring era. And, coincidentally, she was the same age as his younger brother who had died a month earlier, so he felt like she was like a younger sister to him. He was genuinely happy that he now had someone to protect.
"Brother, can you really put up with any more of the selfish desires of adults? I do sympathize with the woman, but that's a separate issue. We should just put her in an orphanage like usual. Why do we need to make her our fiance? I don't want to. Besides... it's only been a month since Kawarama died... this is crazy."
Tobirama threw a stone violently into the grass. The dandelion fluff that the stone hit fluffed up and was carried away by the wind.
Clouds drifted lazily across the round blue sky made by the trees of the forest. A pair of skylarks crossed the sky, chirping. Gazing up blankly at them, Itama let out a faint cry.
"I wonder what Kawarama thinks... Well, it's a relief for me not to have to do housework."
Hashirama gazed silently at his two younger brothers, recalling the boy he met by the riverbank the other day.
The boy who was draining water on the riverbank also looked like a ninja. What burden does he carry with him? How does he live as a ninja in times of war alongside the adults?
The round clouds that had been floating in the sky just a moment ago had disappeared, and the sky was a clear blue.
◆
Fuyou was being led by Tsubaki on her left hand, and in her right hand she was carrying so little luggage that it could hardly be called baggage, and they were walking, captivated by the scenery that they were seeing for the first time.
"Hey, stop looking away and keep walking straight ahead. You'll bump into people."
"Yes... sorry. Um, what's that doing? That building...?"
Fuyou's curiosity was taking over rather than her anxiety about what was to come. Everything she saw was new, and she felt the urge to learn more about it.
"You don't need to know yet. You won't be walking around town any time soon."
Hearing this, Fuyou realized that she would likely be living confined to her house again.
I walked out with my head down, trying not to look at the new world before me as much as possible.
How long did it take? It couldn't have been that long, but to the young Fuyou it felt like half a day. After taking a few breaks by the roadside, they arrived there just as the sun was at its zenith, casting a strong light that vividly reflected the clear, sunny scenery.
The house was built at the top of a hill with high stone walls, and was a single-story mansion with many large wooden pillars. Passing through the heavy gate, there was a front door and a large garden. In the back, I could see white paving stones and a veranda. The hedges and grass in the garden were deep green, but even though it was spring, there was not a single flower to be seen.
"I'm back now."
Tsubaki opened the front door, letting Fuyou in first and then letting go of her hand. Fuyou looked up anxiously at Tsubaki's face, who was standing diagonally behind her.
As Tsubaki gazed towards it, the Buddhist altar slowly appeared at the back of the house.
"Thank you for your hard work. Was there any problem?"
"Yes. Nothing."
Butsuma looks at Fuyou from her face to the soles of her toes and says.
"Come on up."
"…yes."
Fuyou felt intimidated by the stern, stern expression of the man in the Buddhist altar room, but she nervously took off her shoes and climbed up onto the raised platform. Tsubaki then gently pushed her back.
"Well, go. First, we'll listen to your story in the Buddhist altar room."
Tsubaki followed Butsuma to the room. Looking closer, Butsuma was very tall and had a broad back. Even just from his back, he was imposing. She had seen Shinobu a few times at her aunt's house, but she couldn't remember him being this big.
As they walked, they arrived at the room where the Buddhist altar was set up. Tsubaki, who had been standing behind Fuyou, quickly stepped forward in front of the room, squatted down, and opened the heavy sliding door. Butsuma entered and sat down on a cushion. After watching this, Fuyou also slowly entered the room.
A little sunlight was streaming in through the shoji window in the room, but it was chilly inside.
"Sit down."
Just as Fuyou timidly tries to sit upright on the tatami mat, Tsubaki closes the sliding door and goes off somewhere. Fuyou becomes even more anxious and stares at the other side of the sliding door.
"You understand that from today you will be living as a maid in this house. I have three sons. The oldest are 12, 11 and 9 years old."
Suddenly, I heard the sound of footsteps approaching from the corridor in the opposite direction from before.
Fuyou immediately realized that it was her son's footsteps in the Buddhist altar room.
"Hmm... Looks like you just arrived. Come in."
"Excuse me."
A boy with a black bob haircut, who looked very similar to Butsuma's, opened the sliding door with force, and Fuyou's heart started at the sound.
Next to the boy were two others, a boy with silver hair and long, narrow red eyes, and a short, quiet-looking boy with short silver and black hair. Behind him was Tsubaki, who urged the three to come in. As soon as they were inside, the three sat down with their legs crossed.
All three of them stare at me.
Fuyou also looked at each of their faces several times, but then looked down in embarrassment.
"From me is my eldest son, Hashirama. My second son, Tobirama. And my fourth son, Itama. They are all ninja."
"Nice to meet you!"
It was the eldest son, Hashirama, who greeted me with a cheerful smile.
Seeing that expression, Fuyou felt a little relieved and answered shyly, "Yes." Next, her fourth son, Itama, bowed and said, "Nice to meet you." I was glad that they were such kind people...
Fuyou looked at her second son, Tobirama, and smiled, saying, "I look forward to working with you." Tobirama stared at Fuyou blankly, his mouth slightly open, but then he came to his senses, put on a stern expression, and, ignoring what Fuyou had said, turned to his father and said,
"Father, may I step back now?"
"The story isn't over yet. Listen with me."
"That's right, Tobirama! We haven't even introduced ourselves yet!"
"Do we really need to introduce ourselves other than by name? We already know her name..."
Itama said to Hashirama curiously, but Butsuma cleared his throat and interrupted the conversation.
"Fuyou, you will not only work as a maid. In the future, when you turn 18, you will become the wife of one of these three men. In other words, you will become a betrothed."
"What?! Did he just find out about my fiance? Father, what do you mean?"
Before Fuyou could express her surprise at Butsuma's words, Tobirama leaned forward in surprise.
"It's just that I didn't need to say it until I got here."
"No way... I thought you came to my house because you were okay with the engagement... Fuyou, are you okay?"
Hashirama was also surprised and leaned forward to look at Fuyou's expression.
"...It's okay. I'm just grateful that you've taken me in. Thank you."
Saying this, Fuyou bowed deeply.
The young Fuyou has no real understanding of what marriage means, and as always, she can only follow what the adults tell her.
Since my mother passed away, I instinctively learned to silently obey adults in order to survive.
Even though she was still a child, Fuyou was painfully aware of her own powerlessness as a young child.
There is no reason for him to refuse to become engaged to such a woman as Fuyou.
"These three will one day be the leaders of the Senju clan. In order to be worthy of being their wife, you will study hard from now on. Your duties as a maid will be part of that, but Tsubaki and I will also teach you the arts. When the time comes, you will also go to school. Strive to be perfect in everything. Understood."
"Yes, I understand... Butsuma-sama."
There was a short moment of silence, then Butsuma called out to his brothers.
"You guys, Fuyou will one day become one of your wives. But until then, you are strangers to each other. Got it?"
""···yes···""
Fuyou was given her own room.
I thought she would be sharing a room with the maid, Tsubaki, but that wasn't the case. The room was a small, square room, but it had a pleasant smell of fresh tatami mats and even a shelf far away, making it feel like a guest room. However, it seemed to have been prepared for studying, as there was a lamp and a set of writing implements on a large desk. However, I couldn't see the view outside. However, the room was bright as sunlight filtered in through the lattice window with its paper screens.
Fuyou put her luggage on the tatami mat and sat down. All the tension in her body was released, and even though she knew it was wrong, she lay down. Curling herself up tightly like a fetus, she gently closed her eyes and naturally found herself remembering the day her mother died.
It was about time that the fireflies started to dance.
"There weren't many fireflies flying around today. I wonder if there will be more tomorrow?"
"Yeah... I'm sure there will be more flying tomorrow."
"Yes! Mom, let's definitely go see it together tomorrow!"
"Yeah... it'll be nice if the weather is sunny."
Fuyou slept in the same futon as her mother, holding her mother's hand tightly. Afraid that her mother would fall asleep, she continued to talk endlessly about her friends, picture books, and even about her father, something she couldn't remember. As she watched her mother gently nod, she felt a mixture of relief, loneliness, and guilt for having to let her sick mother sleep, and she began to feel unsure of what to do.
...But, I don't want Mom to just fall asleep like this forever. It's scary...
"Mom, please... stay with me forever. Get better soon! Don't leave me alone."
Looking at her mother's profile, who had fallen asleep without her realizing it, Fuyou pleaded in a small but earnest voice.
But the next morning, my mother didn't wake up.
Until yesterday, he was carrying me on his back...and we promised to go see the fireflies together again today...
Her mother had no parents or siblings. Her mother and father had four older sisters who were between 10 and 15 years older than Fuyou, but all of them had married off to feudal lords or wealthy merchants in other countries, and in this time of war and turmoil, their safety and whereabouts were unknown, so there was no way to inform the young Fuyou of her mother's death.
The funeral and burial were arranged by my mother's friends and acquaintances.
Then, on the day of her mother's burial, her father's older sister appeared before Fuyou for the first time in a long while.
"Fuyou. You'll be coming to me from today onwards."
Even as a young girl, Fuyou knew that her aunt had been cold towards her mother even when she was alive. Fuyou was also afraid of her aunt. However, her mother always told her to rely on her aunt if anything happened to her.
"You see, my aunt is my father's older sister. She may seem cold, but deep down she cares deeply for Fuyou."
Fuyou had no idea why her mother would say such a thing, or why she was telling her to rely on her aunt who never even came to visit her mother, and it only filled her with anxiety.
"Um... I'm going to live with Hina-san so... I'm not going."
On the day her mother died, the first person to confirm her mother's death other than Fuyou was a woman named Hina. Hina was a colleague of Fuyou's mother, Suiren, at the teahouse where she worked, and had lost her husband and child in the war. She was close to Suiren as a friend. Although they were poor, Hina and her mother helped each other out, and she loved Fuyou like her own daughter, so on the day of her mother's death, she was the first to ask to live with her.
"Oh, by the way, I have some business with this Hina person. I wonder where she is? Call her."
Fuyou quickly called Hina and brought her over.
"Are you Fuyou's aunt? I will take care of Fuyou so please don't worry. I won't cause you any trouble."
"No way. I'm taking care of Fuyou. That's what I promised Suiren. Oh, by the way, here's a letter from Suiren to you. She says to give her to her when she dies. I'm sure it says that in the letter too, so please read it quickly. You should just tell her yourself, but you're making things so troublesome."
Hina hurriedly opened the letter. There, in Suiren's handwriting, it said that she would leave Fuyou in her aunt's care, so not to worry. She also wrote that she hoped she would be happy with the man she was dating. Hina's tears fell on the letter, blurring the letters.
"See? You get it, right? That's how it is."
"I... want to be with Hina-san!"
"Y-yes! I can't hand Fuyou over to a money-hungry person like you who would sell his family! Fuyou, let's go!"
The aunt laughed out loud, then glared at Fuyou with an angry face.
"Your mother chose to increase the number of descendants of the Tachibana clan herself. She mistakenly thought that she was the one my younger brother loved the most. What a fool. I'm not keeping the Tachibana clan going with my body, but with my talent and money. I don't remember being mocked by women with no talent!"
Saying that, he tossed the envelope to Fuyou.
Fuyou quickly picked it up and checked the contents. It contained a will from her mother.
...From now on, you will be taken care of by Auntie. Be a good boy. ...I'm sorry I can't be with you forever...
The letter was long and contained a lot of information, but just as Fuyou had finished reading the last sentence, her aunt snatched it away from her.
"Stop it! Give it back!"
"You get it! From today on, you're mine. Do as I say!"
The aunt said this and forcefully pulled Fuyou's hand.
"Stop it! I'll never hand Fuyou over to you! Wait..."
The moment Hina went to grab her aunt, two male ninjas subdued her.
"There's no need to worry. I'm not going to kill you! You're my precious niece. I'll take good care of you. However, if you get involved with us any more than this, I don't know what will happen to you."
"Stop it! Don't be rough with Hina! I-I'm going with Auntie!"
Pulling the crying and screaming Fuyou's hand, the aunt pushed her into the carriage, and after checking that she was okay, the carriage quickly departed.
"Fuyou-chan!!"
Hina's painful cry echoed, and the two ninjas covered her mouth and took her away somewhere.
I wonder if Hina is okay...
"Wake up, you bad boy! No matter how tired you are, I won't let you take a nap! Now, get dressed, I'm going to prepare dinner."
I was drifting through a hazy, vague state of consciousness, wondering if I was dreaming or remembering something, when Tsubaki woke me up and scolded me. My previous consciousness vanished in an instant, and I was brought back to reality.
I quickly changed into the clothes that were put in front of me and headed to the kitchen with Tsubaki. I was about to make dinner for the master I was serving. After dinner, I had to tidy up and clean up, run the bath, and study from the Buddhist altar before going to bed.
◆
"Wow! It was better than I expected! So cute! Right, Itama?"
"I guess so. I don't really know... but she's good, isn't she? Right, Tobirama-san?"
"You guys calling some brats cute is disgusting. I'm not interested in brats."
"Aren't we still just kids?"
"Well, it's disgusting that my brother would say a seven-year-old girl who is five years younger than him is cute."
"Really? You're cute, aren't you? You're my type! A five year age difference will just seem like a small difference when we're both adults."
"Stop it, it's disgusting... and don't call a ninja an error."
"But there are a lot of adults who get married with an age difference of ten years or so."
"Yes, there are a lot. Well... there aren't many women. They say Tobirama is old-fashioned, but it's not uncommon for a ninja to have a fiance to secure a woman."
"Hmph! That's ridiculous. It looks like something bought with money. I have no interest in that sort of thing."
The late spring evening was still chilly. The three people sitting on the veranda stood up, shivering.
At that moment, Itama grinned and whispered to Hashirama.
"But Tobirama-san, you were mesmerized by that girl just now, weren't you?"
Hashirama also laughed. Of course, Hashirama had noticed that Tobirama had been entranced by Fuyou. Itama was usually a laid-back guy, but as his older brother, he was glad to see that he was a proper ninja.
"I wasn't mesmerized! Idiot!"
Tobirama grabbed the two of them and glared at them with all his might. The two ran away happily. The sky over there was still faintly bright, but the full moon was floating in the sky.
It was as if the night sky was smiling.
◆
Hashirama was in a hurry. Even one second faster! Even one meter forward!
"Wait right there... I'll definitely help you!... Don't die!"
A large tree over a thousand years old has been cut down mercilessly, blocking the way. The branches of the standing tree reach the sky, and the lush leaves block the sunlight. The damp ground is covered with moss, and it feels like you'll lose your footing if you let your guard down. On top of that, large rocks are scattered here and there between the fallen trees.
Itama was alone behind the rock, desperately trying to calm his rising breath.
Unless he could somehow get through it on his own, he would suffer the same fate as Kawarama.
No matter how hard you try to stay calm, your heart beats faster and your breathing becomes quicker.
"Brother...?!"
When he came to his senses, he found himself surrounded by five Uchiwa Clan ninja.
Each ninja is an adult ninja who has awakened the Sharingan.
"You have an older brother too? My older brother was killed by Senju."
With great difficulty, Hashirama finally reached the place where Itama had felt himself just moments ago.
However, before Hashirama's eyes, a scene of reality leapt out at him, one he didn't want to believe.
"Itamaaaa!!"
Hashirama cried as he hugged his brother who had stopped moving.
If it had happened one minute, one second earlier, Itama might have been saved.
After the battle, the forest was filled with countless corpses and the only sound echoing was Hashirama's cries.
◆
Hashirama gazed out at the gently flowing river.
The sky was leaden, and the usually clear water of the river appeared murky, reflecting the overcast sky.
"Hey... it's been a while... um..."
"…It's Hashirama."
"What's wrong? You're suddenly feeling down this time... What happened?"
"On the contrary... I'm fine...!"
"...You're lying. Why don't you just tell me what you're talking about..."
"...Nothing in particular..."
"It's okay...just say it..."
"Really, it's nothing...!"
"No, you're dragging me out too much... I said I'd listen, so just tell me quickly..."
"There's nothing... you know...?"
Hashirama turned to the boy with a crying face.
"Come on! Just talk already!!"
"My younger brother died."
"...!"
Hashirama turned to face the river again and wiped away his tears.
"The reason I come here is because when I look at the river, I feel like all the confusion in my heart washes away..."
Having said that, Hashirama laughed and turned to the boy again.
"Madara, I guess... maybe you are the same..."
Madara felt as if he saw a glimpse of himself from some time ago in the back of Hashirama, a fellow ninja child.
"…Do you have any siblings?"
"I have five siblings..."
Madara answered while picking up a stone from the riverbank and playing with it in his hand.
"It was..."
"...!"
"We are ninja. We don't know when we might die. But if there's a way for both of us to avoid death... then as enemies, we'll have to show each other our true selves, have no secrets, and share a toast like brothers."
Madara adjusted the stone in his hand, prepared himself, and continued.
"But that's impossible... You can't see deep inside someone's stomach... you can't see into their guts."
Saying this, he demonstrated how to cut water into the river.
"The truth is, I don't know if it's boiling over..."
Madara said, staring intently at the stone that was skipping across the water's surface. Hashirama also stared at the stone's trajectory and asked Madara.
"Is it possible for us to show each other our guts?"
"I don't know... but I'm always praying here that there's a way."
The stone Madara threw reached the opposite bank with a clang.
"This time, it looks like it's finally been decided that way."
Madara and Hashirama looked together at the stone that had arrived.
"It's not just you... I got it too."
Hearing Madara's words, Hashirama quietly stood up.
There was another foolish kid with the same idea of trying to change this time of war... other than Hashirama.
Rather than being surprised, Hashirama could only think that Madara was being revelatory from God.
"...I can tell without even looking...you..."
"what?"
"Your hairstyle and your clothes are so lame!"
Madara said, laughing heartily, and Hashirama felt a little depressed that not everyone was on the same page.
◆
The pot was making delicious bubbling sounds. Fuyou loved watching this scene. The sound made her feel happy, like her heart was melting away.
"Fuyō! What's for dinner tonight?"
Hashirama suddenly leans in next to Fuyou's face and peers into the pot. Fuyou is surprised and answers while feeling her heart pounding.
"Welcome back, Hashirama-sama... tonight we have meat and potatoes."
"I'm so hungry I can't stand it anymore. I've had a good training session today! What did you study today, Fuyou?"
"It will be ready soon, so please wait a little while... Today, Butsuma-sama taught me calligraphy, swordsmanship, and arithmetic. And Tsubaki-san taught me sewing..."
"You did that much? That's amazing. I mean, you're going to learn swordsmanship too? Is that necessary? I could teach you."
Fuyou smiled. That adorable smile made Hashirama's heart skip a beat.
"You need physical strength to do housework, right? A sword is not only good for self-defense, it also builds physical strength.
Plus, it's fun to move your body."
"I understand what you're saying, but I'll carry the heavy stuff! Fuyou, don't push yourself too hard. And even if it's fun, isn't my father's sword training too hard for you?"
"Thank you, Hashirama-sama… you are so kind."
Saying this, Fuyou looked directly at Hashirama's face and smiled. Hashirama's cheeks also turned red and he laughed out loud.
"You've been a lot more cheerful lately, bro. That's fine though..."
Tobirama was watching the two of them from the living room and felt relieved, but also felt a little hurt that he was still the only one who hadn't seen Fuyou's smile.
Butsuma suddenly called out to him.
"Tobirama. I want to talk to you about Hashirama."
I looked back at the two of them who were happily talking in the kitchen, then followed my father into another room without being noticed.
◆
Autumn has arrived. The rice ears are bowed, waiting for the harvest. Red dragonflies are fluttering about, and the cries of cicadas are fading away.
Today too, the two boys competed in ninja skills, bumped fists, and talked about their dreams.
"But what about concretely how can we change things? We need to have a vision for the future."
Hashirama asked Madara. Madara answered after gulping down his water with a loud gulp.
"First of all, you need to stick to this idea and strengthen yourself. No matter how much a weak person barks, nothing will change!"
"That's right... Anyway, if we master various techniques and become stronger, adults won't be able to ignore what we say."
"It's about overcoming your weaknesses and your weaknesses. I'm already stronger than most adults out there though."
"...You're really going to stop peeing."
"So don't stand behind me! I'll throw you in the river I just pissed in!"
"Ah, I found a weak spot."
The two of them grew closer each time they met, and they both grew physically and mentally.
"Dammit, I'm going to find your weakness! Ah, that lame hairstyle is already a weakness. You're not popular with the ladies, are you?"
In response to Madara's sarcastic smile, Hashirama gave a defiant grin and retorted.
"I'm a good guy, come on!"
"What? My fiance? She's ugly! She's ugly, of course."
"She's just so incredibly cute... an angel. She's an angel!"
"Can you believe it?! ...Well, whatever."
"I'll draw a portrait of you. You have a small face, long hair, big eyes, super long eyelashes, and you're always smiling, and..."
Hashirama, not minding that Madara's attention had been diverted, began to draw a portrait on the ground with a twig. Madara ignored it at first, but then became curious and took a closer look.
"Bubu! You're so ugly after all! Stop making me laugh. Hahahahaha."
Hashirama's drawing was so poorly done that there was no way for Madara to understand what Fuyou looked like.
"It's frustrating that I can't convey how cute this is. Maybe my weakness is my lack of artistic talent..."
Madara spoke to Hashirama, who was feeling more depressed and sulking than necessary.
"Your weakness is your habit of getting depressed!"
The autumn sunset is like a waterfall. It was already pitch black. Not only Hashirama, who has been going out a lot recently, but even Tobirama was late coming home today. I wonder if something had happened.
Itama's death caused a deep sadness in Fuyou that has not yet disappeared. Although they did not have many conversations, he was the closest in age to Fuyou and they felt close. She can still vividly recall his gentle, easy-going smile. He was like a buffer between the eldest and second sons, always gently mediating. Witnessing the reality that such a child had died in the war, Fuyou realized what kind of world she had come into.
I don't want anyone to die anymore...
Worried about them, Fuyou went outside the front door to the gate. It was strictly forbidden to go outside the gate by the Buddhist altar. But she thought it would be okay if she went outside for a little while...
Grrr...
I gently pushed the gate open and looked outside. It was the first time I had looked outside the gate since the day I came to this house, but it was already pitch black and all I could see was the light shining down the slope, flickering slightly.
"What are you doing there?"
Butsuma came up behind her with a fierce look on his face. Fuyou was so scared she couldn't even move or make a sound, and could only watch as Butsuma approached.
"I told you never to go outside. What are you doing?"
The Buddhist altar looked like a huge, terrifying monster, perhaps twice the size of the hibiscus.
"Um, um, well... I was worried about you two... I'm so sorry..."
Butsuma's face came ever closer, and Fuyou instinctively covered her head with both hands, closed her eyes, and nearly screamed. Butsuma stretched his arm over Fuyou's head toward the gate, opened it slightly, and peered through the gap. Fuyou timidly lowered her hands and looked up at Butsuma's face. However, it was dark and she couldn't see his expression very well.
"There is no need to worry. Those two are strong. Hashirama's growth has been particularly remarkable recently... He will be back soon. Come inside the house."
Butsuma gently advised Fuyou, pushing her to go ahead.
"yes…."
Fuyou answered in a small voice, and walked away with her head down. Fuyou didn't know what kind of person her father was. But she thought that the appearance of the Buddhist altar must be what a father is like.
Meanwhile, Butsuma was happy that Fuyou was worried about Hashirama and Tobirama, but at the same time, even though he had told her that, he couldn't shake his worry. Even if it was Hashirama and Tobirama, if they were surrounded by the skilled Uchiwa clan...there's no end to what could happen. All he could do was believe and wait.
Soon after, Tobirama returned home first.
As soon as Tobirama got home, he headed straight for the Buddhist altar room. Fuyou was worried that Tobirama would be apologizing for being late and hoped that he wouldn't get scolded too much, so she and Tsubaki resumed preparing dinner in silence in the kitchen.
And Hashirama returned home shortly after.
"I'm back."
Fuyou called out "Welcome back" from the kitchen. She wanted to go out to greet them at the front door, but she held back, thinking that Tobirama and Butsuma might go first. Then, Hashirama suddenly popped his head into the kitchen.
"I'm home. It's getting late... Are you angry, father?"
He asked Fuyou with a wry smile.
"I think it's okay..."
Then Butsuma and Tobirama both came into the living room. Tobirama was the first to speak.
"Brother, you're too late. What were you doing?"
"If you're going to be late, tell me before you leave. If not, come back early no matter what."
Butsuma and Tobirama sat down at the table as if nothing had happened. Hashirama was taken aback, but thought "Oh well" and headed to his room to get changed. Fuyou was a little puzzled by this, but she breathed a sigh of relief that both Tobirama and Hashirama had returned home safely.
◆
"Madara...I've come up with an incredible jutsu! Let's master it together!"
"Hmm... How's it going?"
The two met on this day as well.
The two of them become closer every time they meet. However, they cannot reveal each other's surnames.
"I'm calling it the ultimate taijutsu technique, super fire release illusory slash, large shuriken two-stage slaying technique!!!"
"...No, I can't imagine it at all."
"To elaborate..."
"Shut up! Today we're competing in climbing a right-angled cliff!"
Hashirama, as always, slumped, feeling more depressed than necessary.
"Oh come on! I told you not to get depressed every time! That's your weakness after all!"
"Ahahaha~ See you later~!!"
Hashirama began running at a right angle up the cliff, ahead of Madara.
"Ah! You bastard, you were just pretending to be depressed!"
With that, Madara began to run along the cliff. Just as Madara was about to catch up, Hashirama managed to reach the top of the cliff first.
Panting... gasping... their breathing is reaching its peak.
"...I win..."
"Well, that's because I started first!"
A deep and wide forest stretched out before them, and from here they could see the entire forest, even clearly reaching out to the high mountains beyond.
"...You can see the whole forest from here."
"Oh... I can see far and wide."
Madara turned to Hashirama and continued with a devious grin.
"I'm confident that I have as good eyesight as you. Shall we have a contest?"
"What's this all of a sudden? You've got a lot of pride in your eyes."
"Of course! I'm a photographer..."
Madara was about to say this, but then he swallowed his words and fell silent.
"What's wrong?"
"No... not really. I guess."
"What is it? You're being very honest, which is unusual for you."
Madara lowered his eyes and said with his head down.
"…Then my brothers wouldn't have died. You couldn't even watch over them…What happened…What happened…"
His eyes were open and he was glaring at the ground, apparently remembering the death of his brother.
"Don't you have any more siblings?"
"Well, I have one little brother left..."
Madara gripped the ground tightly and continued speaking with a look of strong determination in his eyes.
"I will always protect that little brother, no matter what happens."
Hashirama looked at Madara's serious profile. He felt exactly the same way as Madara.
That's why the dream they always talk about must come true.
Whatever it takes...
"Let's build our settlement here! We'll make sure that children don't have to kill each other!"
Hashirama shouted in a voice loud enough to echo through the forest. Then he continued.
"I'll build a school where children can grow up to be strong! I'll create missions that can be chosen based on each individual's abilities! I'll create superiors who can properly assign request levels! I'll create a settlement where children don't have to be sent to fierce battlefields!!"
Madara's smile slowly returned to his face and he spoke to Hashirama.
"Hmph... You're the only one saying something so stupid..."
"What about you?"
"Yes, once the settlement is created, I'll definitely watch over my little brother from here where I can see the whole picture!"
Hashirama and Madara looked at each other and shared big smiles.
It was the carefree smile of a child.
The forest that Hashirama and Madara could see was the place that would later become the Hidden Leaf Village.
At this point, Hashirama made up his mind.
Be prepared to endure in order to see what lies ahead.
Snap! Snap!
"You both arrived."
"That stone is a good one to use for cutting water... I'll leave it with you until the next time we meet!"
The two of them took the stones that they had cut from each other and said their goodbyes.
I'll be home early today...
Hashirama muttered to himself as he remembered Tobirama's sulky look and Fuyou's smiling face. When he suddenly looked towards the direction of the house, Tobirama was right in front of him.
"What's wrong? Tobirama."
"Brother... there's something I need to tell you."
A bad feeling crossed Hashirama's mind, but he followed Tobirama in silence and headed to the room where Butsuma was waiting.
"There's that boy you're meeting..."
"...Why did you have to do that..."
Hashirama couldn't hide his surprise at Butsuma's words. "How did you know?" Tobirama asked to the flustered Hashirama.
"I was ordered by my father to follow my brother… I'm better at sensing things than him. He's been going out a lot lately, so I thought something might be up…"
"I looked into that boy. He's of the Uchiha clan."
Hashirama had been vaguely aware that Madara was a member of the Uchiha clan, but when his father found out, a chill ran down his body.
"Even the most skilled adults in our clan have been defeated. It seems this boy was born with the talent to be a ninja."
...So that's what it was like after all...
"I see you don't seem all that surprised... I assume you two already know each other's clan names?"
"...No, I didn't know. Maybe he didn't either..."
Butsuma spoke to Hashirama without raising his voice, but with anger in his voice.
"...You know what this means, right? I haven't told the Senju yet...If you don't want to be labeled a spy, then next time you see the boy, tail him."
Hashirama felt that what he had imagined somewhere was becoming reality. But no more than this...
"Bring back information about the Uchiha clan. This is a mission. If they notice you... kill them."
Hashirama was scared that the reality his father was telling him would become his own reality. He asked his father with a trembling voice.
"Are you... really a member of the Uchiha clan?"
"That's right... If they know you're the Senju... they'll pretend to let their guard down in order to steal information from us. Don't trust them."
"N-no... he's not like that..."
Seeing Hashirama's upset state, Butsuma could no longer contain his irritation and loudly interrupted Hashirama.
"There's no telling what's really going on inside his mind! If he's deceived, it will put everyone in the Senju in danger."
Hashirama stammered, swallowing his words and pretending to be calm as he looked into his father's eyes.
"Just to be safe, Tobirama and I will be accompanying you... Got it?"
The night wind is cold. Autumn has already deepened. The bell crickets are chirping away, burning their lives away.
Thinking about it, it feels like time has passed in the blink of an eye since I started meeting Madara.
Why does good times pass by so quickly? I thought the time could go on forever, or rather, that it had to continue...
Hashirama stared at the draining stone he had received from Madara.
...He's probably around now too...
"Hashirama-sama, what's wrong? You'll catch a cold."
Hashirama quickly hid the stone inside his clothes and turned around.
"Fuyou... you should be the one to stay warm."
Fuyou looked at Hashirama with concern, as he seemed different from usual.
"Did something... happen?"
"Oh! Nothing! It's nothing. I was just going back to my room."
"Is that so....um....please cheer up, okay?"
"Oh, I'm fine! Hahahaha..."
Fuyou smiled a little awkwardly, slowly approached Hashirama, and gently took his right hand in hers.
"It'll definitely be fine. Hashirama-sama."
Hashirama was surprised. He hadn't even told Fuyou about Madara. There was a family rule that Fuyou should never learn about ninja missions or battles. And yet, for a moment he had the illusion that Fuyou knew everything and was encouraging him with that knowledge.
"...."
"Ah, I'm sorry. I held your hand without asking you... well, I remember my mother doing this to me a long time ago. She told me that if it was Fuyou, everything would be fine... I think. I'm sorry... but I don't remember much now..."
Seeing Hashirama go silent, Fuyou became worried that she had done something wrong and let go of his hand.
"Oh! I was so happy! I felt so much better! Thank you!"
Hashirama said impatiently as he saw Fuyou's condition. The two of them looked down, feeling a bit awkward.
"Fuyou, stop studying and go to bed early. See you tomorrow!"
Hashirama strode to his room. As she watched him leave, Fuyou prayed for Hashirama. She didn't know what had happened to Hashirama. But she was sure that Hashirama would be okay.
◆
The river was flowing gently, as usual, and we could hear the pleasant sound of the river babbling.
Madara went first and spoke to Hashirama on the opposite bank.
"Let's get started... Let's start by draining the water as a greeting."
"Ou…"
The two of them suddenly took out the draining stones they had been replacing from their pockets and began draining the water at the same time.
Splash! The two stones hit the river at the same time and splash.
Snap! At the exact same time, they both caught the stones that the other had thrown.
"!"
The two of them look at the stone and are shocked.
"Hashirama... sorry... I can't do it today... I suddenly remembered I had something to do."
...So Madara knows my true identity too!
"Oh, I see... then I'll go home today too..."
"Nigero"
"There's a trap"
Coincidentally, the stones they each received had the same thing written on them.
Jack!
As the stones on the riverbank rang out at the same time, the two of them turned away, leapt into flight, and took off running.
"At this speed, are you planning to run away?! Hashirama...I told you so! Let's go, Tobirama!!"
"yes!"
Butsuma and Tobirama, who had been watching Hashirama and Madara from the shadows of a tree, jump out into the river to stop Madara from escaping.
Splash!!
The Buddhist altar and the door room were not the only rooms with their feet on the river.
"We seem to think alike... Senjubutsukan!"
"Also, was it Tobirama?"
When Hashirama and Madara stopped and turned around, they saw the four of them - their fathers and brothers - facing each other on the river.
"...It seems so, Uchiha Tajima!"
"And then there's Izuna."
Coincidentally, it seems the Uchiha side had the same idea: facing Butsuma and Tobirama were Madara's father, Tajima, and his brother, Izuna.
Exactly the same situation...
Butsuma jumped on Tajima, and Tobirama jumped on Izuna.
Both Tobirama and Izuna brandished swords that were as big as their heights.
Senju Butsuma and Uchiha Tajima had roughly the same strength, both of them knew from their many battles.
Shinobi are trained to remain calm on the battlefield no matter what happens. Even a moment of mental confusion can lead to an attack, and can mean the difference between life and death.
"Stop it!"
Hashirama and Madara shouted at the same time as Tobirama and Izuna's swords clashed.
Screeeech!
The two of them put in all their strength to avoid being pushed away by each other. Their swords were trembling and making a grinding noise.
The two adults understand.
If my child was killed in front of my eyes, I would feel a little unsettled in my heart. In other words, the outcome of the match would be decided by whoever made the first move.
Bang!
Tobirama and Izuna put down their swords, got into position, and faced each other once more by the river.
...Gulp!! ...Splash!!
A short sword thrown by Tajima flew over Tobirama's head, and a kunai thrown by Butsuma flew over Izuna's head, but Hashirama and Madara blocked them by throwing water-cutting stones. The short sword and kunai fell into the river and sank. The two water-cutting stones disappeared into the river with them.
""⁉""
Tobirama, Izuna, and the two adults don't know what happened.
Splash!!
Hashirama and Madara leapt in front of their respective brothers, facing each other.
"I will never forgive anyone who tries to hurt my little brother!"
Madara shouted.
Hashirama and Madara...Madara was glaring at Hashirama more strongly.
Then, as if giving up on everything, he lowered his gaze and said.
"I guess those silly fantasies we were talking about will never reach us."
The two weapons that attacked Tobirama and Izuna, and the two cutting stones that had defended against them, finally sank to the bottom of the river.
"Madara... you...?"
"It was only for a short while, but it was fun...Hashirama."
The sound of the river murmuring creates silence.
"Three against three?... How about it? Can you do it, Madara?"
"No, Hashirama is stronger than me. If we keep going like this, I'll be the one to get beaten."
"Eh? A child stronger than your brother?"
"...I see...not really..."
Madara quickly turns his back on Hashirama and the other three.
"Well then... I'll pull."
Hashirama felt something hot rise from his chest to his throat, and though it felt like his throat was about to become choked, he clung to Madara and said,
"Madara, you...! You haven't really given up yet, have you? You're finally on par with me..."
Madara interrupted him and said,
"You are a Senju... I wish it were different. My brother was killed by a Senju..."
Hearing those words, the faces of the dead Kawarama and Itama came to Hashirama's mind.
"...So there's no need for us to show each other our guts."
Hashirama tried to take a step forward to get closer to Madara, but Madara continued, stopping him.
"...Next time we will meet on the battlefield, Senju Hashirama.... I am... Uchiha Madara!"
As Madara turned around after saying that, his eyes were different from before.
"Look! Father! My brother's eyes!"
Looking into Madara's eyes, Izuna said happily to Tajima.
"Hehe... I wasn't able to get any information on the Senju... but it looks like I got something good in return..."
Butsuma was also surprised when he saw Madara's eyes and realized that Madara had just awakened his Sharingan.
And at that moment, Hashirama felt like he understood what awakening the Sharingan meant.
The river continues to flow quietly. I can hear the birds singing, which I hadn't heard before.
There were no longer any members of the Senju or Uchiha to be seen there.
It was a beautiful landscape, unchanged, as if nothing had happened to begin with.
Please support me on: patreon.com/FairyDragon 20 chapters ahead at all times over on: patreon.com/FairyDragon Join and Vote on Weekly Story & Prompt Poll.