One Year Later
The sun lazily rose between the mountains, illuminating the vast landscapes of the ninja world with soft golden hues. Its morning warmth barely managed to ease the lingering cold that clung to the dawn breeze. It had been a year since I began my mission: traveling across countless lands to recruit powerful clans that could ensure the survival of our alliance. With every step, I felt the weight of responsibility on my shoulders, a burden I dared not let go of.
I had visited a considerable number of clans within the Land of Fire, and had also ventured beyond its borders. My days were filled with tense negotiations and dangerous encounters, but the nights brought a more personal reminder: my family.
My sixth birthday had passed recently, a moment that, brief as it was, halted my thoughts. As I walked along a gravel path, my mind drifted back to the clan, evoking happy memories of my childhood. I thought of my companions' laughter, the dawn training sessions, and the reassuring voices of those who had raised me. It was a time that seemed so distant, yet I still felt it alive in my heart.
With a couple of light taps on my cheeks, I tried to shake those thoughts away. "Focus, Jomei," I reminded myself in a low voice.
My mission couldn't wait, and any distraction could be dangerous. I was now returning from the Land of Grass to the Land of Fire, a territory that had witnessed so many battles and alliances.
My steps were determined, but with every meter I traveled, my awareness of the challenge ahead grew: the last clan I sought to recruit. I had left this meeting for the end, not because it wasn't important, but because I knew it would be the most complicated of all.
As I moved stealthily among the tall and majestic trees of the Land of Fire, every crunch of dry leaves beneath my feet echoed in the silence of the forest.
The lushness of the terrain was so dense that the sun's rays barely managed to filter through, creating patterns of light and shadow dancing on the ground.
I headed northwest, toward the settlement of the Hagoromo clan, my last stop in this long journey.
Then I saw them. A wave of movement disrupted the seemingly peaceful surroundings. From behind a thicket, I observed a disturbing sight: an army composed of approximately five thousand ninjas, moving with martial precision.
The insignias on their attire made it clear to which clans they belonged: Senju, Yamanaka, Nara, Akimichi, Shimura, and Sarutobi were among them, each contributing their unique strength and characteristic techniques. Their faces, though determined, showed no signs of fatigue.
This was not an improvised group; it was a carefully coordinated force, and the direction they were heading could mean only one thing: they were going to the Hagoromo clan, my final destination.
The air grew heavy around me as my mind tried to process the gravity of the situation. Not only was my mission in danger, but also the future of the clan I was trying to protect. My heart pounded heavily, but there was no time for fear. I needed to get there before they did.
Without hesitation, I began moving. I knew every second was crucial if I wanted to warn the Hagoromo clan. However, the weight of the training weights I had been carrying since I left the Uchiha clan began to hinder me. They were designed to strengthen my body and improve my endurance, but at this moment, they were an unnecessary burden.
With a quick motion, I got rid of them, feeling an immediate sense of relief. My movements became more fluid, and my speed increased noticeably.
The landscape blurred as I ran at full speed. The air cut across my face, and the sound of my footsteps blended with the accelerated rhythm of my breathing. My focus was absolute, and every muscle in my body worked in perfect harmony. For two consecutive days, I barely stopped to rest or eat.
Every moment lost was one step closer to catastrophe for the Hagoromo clan. Finally, as the first rays of dawn filtered through the forest, I saw the entrance to the settlement. The gates were open, and calm reigned over the place, but I knew that peace could shatter at any moment.
"Hey, you there, stop," I heard a firm and authoritative voice as I approached the gates. Two guards were stationed there, their sharp eyes evaluating me with suspicion.
"Sorry, but I bring crucial information," I replied between gasps, the exhaustion evident in my voice. My body had not yet recovered from the days of effort, but my urgency was clear.
The second guard stepped forward, observing me with a mix of curiosity and caution. "What clan are you from?" he asked, his tone allowing no room for lies.
"From the Uchiha clan," I answered sincerely, aware that my identity might complicate matters.
"Another member of the Uchiha clan? What's this about now?" The first guard looked me up and down, his tone filled with disdain.
I didn't have time for discussions. "An army is approaching this position," I said quickly. The incredulity on their faces was evident, but it only took a moment for the gravity of my words to make them act. One of them immediately escorted me to the clan patriarch.
They knocked on the door of the main hall, interrupting the conversations taking place inside. "Patriarch, I bring news," the guard announced firmly.
"Come in," replied a light voice from inside, with the calm tone of someone who had lived a long time.
I entered the room and found myself face-to-face with the patriarch of the Hagoromo clan, an elderly man who radiated wisdom and power. He was sitting in an intricately designed chair, his eyes studying me with a glimmer of interest and concern.
In front of him, another man wore the symbol of the Uchiha clan on his clothes. I didn't recognize him immediately, but I wasn't surprised; the Uchiha clan was large, and I didn't know all its members.
"What information is so important that it interrupts this meeting?" asked the patriarch, Yoshimasa, with a slight hint of irritation in his tone.
The guard who had escorted me bowed respectfully before speaking. "I apologize, Patriarch, but this young man reports that an army of approximately five thousand ninjas is approaching our lands."
The words seemed to fall like a weight in the room. Yoshimasa's face tensed, and a flash of fury crossed his eyes. He struck the armrest of his chair forcefully. "This is all their fault! I should eliminate them immediately," he exclaimed, his voice vibrating with frustration.
The conversation continued with a tense exchange between the patriarch and the supposed Uchiha. Each word revealed fragments of the truth, and I finally recognized the other man in the room: Taro, a member of the Chinoike clan. Although his hair, now dyed black, had changed his appearance, his voice was unmistakable to me. However, this was not the moment for personal questions.
Yoshimasa ordered the immediate mobilization of his clan. His voice, now firm, resonated like a war drum. But when I asked if they had enough members to face the approaching army, his response was a sarcastic laugh.
"We don't have enough ninjas to fight off this small incursion," he said, rising from his seat calmly but with determination.
Jomei: "Then what will you do?" My voice carried a mix of unease and curiosity. I knew the decision of the Hagoromo clan patriarch would be crucial, not only for them but also for the delicate situation in which we all found ourselves.
Yoshimasa: "We will retreat from this place." His response was direct, almost curt, spoken just before he began walking toward the door with slow but resolute steps. The determination in his posture was clear, yet there was something else in his demeanor: a disquieting calm, as if he had already anticipated all the possible consequences of his decision.
Before he could take two steps out of the room, I stood in his way, forcing him to stop. His presence was imposing, but I couldn't contain the urge to question him. "Do you really think the Senju clan won't pursue you?" I asked, my voice firm yet tempered with respect for the man standing before me.
Yoshimasa turned his head slightly toward me, revealing an enigmatic expression that seemed to blend certainty and resignation. "I'm counting on that," he replied, his words as enigmatic as the emotions they conveyed. The conviction in his tone caught me off guard; it was as though he already had a plan, though he didn't let any details slip.
I let out a prolonged sigh, trying to analyze the situation. "In that case, I recommend going to the Land of Lightning, where lightning-style ninjutsu is more prevalent." My voice reflected a mix of concern and pragmatism as I offered this suggestion, recalling the Hagoromo clan's abilities and how they could be better utilized in that territory. It was evident that if they had to abandon their lands, they should direct their efforts to a place that would maximize their strengths.
Yoshimasa, his expression unchanging, nodded slightly, considering my words. "That's a good idea, but it would be best if you both left this place," he said. His eyes briefly shifted from Taro to me as he spoke, his insistence impossible to ignore. There was something in his tone, a weight of emotion, that indicated he was ready to face a battle few would survive. The possibility of retreat no longer seemed to be his only intention.
Taro, who had remained silent until that moment, stepped forward, his disbelief evident in his tone. "But you just said you were leaving this place." His question sounded almost like a plea for clarity amid the confusion.
Yoshimasa stopped and, after a brief silence, turned to us with a smile that was unsettling. It was a smile filled with an insatiable desire for combat, a gleam in his eyes that betrayed the calmness he had shown until now. "That's true, but I never said we wouldn't fight," he said. His voice now carried a darker edge, as if he had found in the conflict an opportunity to leave his mark, even at great cost.
The atmosphere in the room grew heavier with his words. Something in his expression made me realize that this man wasn't just planning to retreat; he was ready to face his enemies with every resource he had left, even if it meant a final sacrifice.
Later, Taro and I found ourselves moving away from the Hagoromo clan's residence. Our movements were swift, almost instinctive, as we sped toward the Uchiha clan. While the scenery blurred into a green haze around us, I couldn't focus on the details of the path. My mind was trapped in the recent events and Yoshimasa's attitude. Something about his behavior still deeply unsettled me, but I couldn't stop to analyze it at that moment.
As we ran, a feeling began to stir from deep within me, growing stronger with every step. It was an overwhelming sensation, a mix of unease and guilt that threatened to consume me. No matter how much I tried to focus on moving forward, the images of the Hagoromo clan's ninjas preparing for the inevitable filled my mind, as if each step away drew me further from the chance to help.
Unable to control these emotions that came in waves, I suddenly stopped. My breathing was heavy, not just from physical exertion but also from the internal struggle I was experiencing. This movement didn't go unnoticed by Taro, who skidded to a halt a few meters ahead before turning back to face me.
Taro: "What are you doing? We need to get as far away as possible." His voice was filled with genuine desperation. Though I understood his urgency, I couldn't ignore the storm of emotions swirling inside me.
I remained silent for a moment, trying to find the right words to explain myself. Finally, I let out a sigh and lowered my gaze. "I'm sorry," I said softly but firmly, before turning around and starting to retrace the path we had taken.
Seeing my decision, Taro didn't just stand still. Though his face showed a mix of frustration and confusion, he quickly began to follow me, his footsteps echoing against the forest floor.
Taro: "Stop! Wait! We can't do anything. It's just the two of us." His voice carried an effort to reason with me, but also a deep fear of what we might face if we went back.
Jomei: "I know," I replied as I quickened my pace, "but even so, I don't want this event to haunt my conscience every night." My words were sincere, though I didn't expect him to fully understand them. There was something greater at play, something I couldn't ignore no matter how much I wanted to.
With that, I increased my speed, leaving Taro far behind. The sound of his footsteps and his voice faded little by little as I ventured deeper into the forest, guided by a determination I didn't yet fully comprehend.