Chapter One
Part 1: The Power Struggle
In ancient legends, it is said that during the Kamakura Shogunate era, Japan was divided into seven main regions, each governed by a powerful feudal lord. These feudal lords, also known as Daimyo, were subordinate to the Shogun but would stop at nothing in their quest for more power. While they all controlled vast lands for agriculture, other non-agricultural activities such as weapons manufacturing, mining, trade, navigation, military training, and so on played significant roles in the rise and prosperity of each region under the Daimyo's command. The names of the Daimyo and the regions they governed were as follows:
Minamoto no Masaki – Daimyo of Kanto The Kanto region, the beating heart of the Kamakura Shogunate, was under the rule of the Minamoto clan; a land brimming with glory, armies, and gold. Minamoto no Masaki, with his stern face and piercing gaze, was both a shrewd politician and a ruthless warrior. He had a disciplined army and a treasury filled with gold and wealth, and the other Daimyo always cast wary glances at his power. Takegawa Renji – Daimyo of Kyushu In the south of Japan, the island of Kyushu, with its wild shores and relentless waves, was the domain of a fierce Daimyo. Takegawa Renji, a commander born into the world of war and bloodshed, had made the coastal region a harsh land, yet he kept it under control with an iron fist. Iwaasa Noboharu – Daimyo of Chubu In the heart of central Japan, nestled between towering mountains and fertile plains, Iwaasa Noboharu ruled over Chubu. At first glance, Chubu seemed like a tranquil land, but beneath the surface, it hid mines of gold, silver, and iron. Noboharu, a calculating man with an economic mindset, had built a powerful army from the resources of his mines and fields. Arashi Hideaki – Daimyo of Kansai Kansai, the cultural and religious jewel of Japan, housed the ancient capital of Kyoto. This was the land of temples and artists, but like a sword in its sheath, it was always prepared for battle. Arashi Hideaki, a feudal lord with a pure heart and a firm hand, trained extraordinary warriors who would go to any lengths to defend their land. Fuyoka Tsukima – Daimyo of Tohoku In the cold northern part of Japan, where the wind dances with snow across the plains, Tohoku stretched out. Fuyoka Tsukima, the ruler of this land, focused mainly on livestock, agriculture, and exploiting nature's resources. Yet beneath this calm exterior, there was a hidden politician; a hand that, when needed, could bring out a deadly blade. Murai Kaito – Daimyo of Shikoku Shikoku, a hidden island in the heart of the seas, was renowned for its trade and tea. Murai Kaito, a man with a mysterious smile and a cunning gaze, had amassed a great fortune through quiet trade. His ships silently but persistently sailed across the shores of Japan, bolstering his financial power. Shinra Kazuhiro – Daimyo of Hokkaido And finally, in the farthest northern point, in a cold and silent land, Shinra Kazuhiro ruled over Hokkaido. A reclusive and enigmatic man, he spent his time hunting, fishing, and managing marine resources. Rarely present in the court, the information that came to him through unknown paths amazed and frightened everyone.
Yet, deep within the dark forests, away from the eyes of the world, men and women lived in the shadows: the ninjas. In exchange for gold, silver, or any valuable item, they would carry out assassination, murder, espionage, and any covert operation without question. The exact location of their main residence was unknown, but some believed it to be in the forests.
A meeting was held in the special guest hall of the Shogun's palace, between him and the Daimyo of the seven regions. The discussion was about the Emperor's and Shogun's guards. Though the Emperor and Shogun had many samurai guards, the retirement of two high-ranking Emperor's guards due to old age and the rotation of others made the need for two fresh guards urgent.
The Shogun's chief advisor announced to the Daimyo of each of the seven regions: "According to the Shogun's orders, each region may nominate two samurai for selection as palace guards within a week after the competition."
A murmur spread through the hall, and each region nominated two samurai for selection to the Kanto region. However, the competition results showed that both guards were selected from the Kansai region. These two were Sotaro, son of Arashi Hideaki, Daimyo of Kansai, and Ryuki, son of Takahashi Kazuma, special assistant to the Daimyo of Kansai. The two had been close friends since childhood and were highly skilled in swordsmanship. They were also trained in archery and spear handling to further complete their skill sets.
Sotaro's wife was named Yuko, who was a courageous and beautiful woman, skilled in swordsmanship as well. Ryuki had also married a woman named Mio, who was beautiful, with a big heart and emotional depth. Sotaro's bravery, combined with Ryuki's intellect and wit, rapidly elevated their ranks to become senior guards. This made the other Daimyo of the remaining six regions feel threatened. Due to the rising influence of the Kansai region, these two guards might soon become Shogun advisors. As the Daimyo of Kansai were known for their integrity and righteousness, they feared that if the Kansai region gained more power in the Shogunate court, these two guards would expose the corruption and theft of other Daimyo, weakening their regions.
Therefore, they decided to unite and plot the assassination of the head of Kansai and his family—an assassination that would appear to be a mere accident.
Part Two: The Night of Tears and Blood
Yoko and Mio were both on the verge of becoming mothers. Their pregnancies had brought significant changes to their lives. Satoru and Ryuki took time off and traveled to the Kansai region to be with their wives during these new changes. Yoko gave birth to twins, Hiroto and Rin, while Mio gave birth to a boy named Yuji. However, Yuji was different from the other children. He was physically paralyzed and had mental impairments.
Satoru and Yoko were overjoyed. The newlywed parents, experiencing something new and different from anything they had before, felt a unique type of bliss. But this happiness turned into something different for Mio and Ryuki.
The midwife, with a cold and emotionless tone, said to Mio: "Due to an internal issue in your body, you will not be able to conceive again. If you become pregnant, either you will die, or your child will be born with severe deformities."
She paused for a moment and added, "Yuji won't live for more than a few months. You're lucky he's still alive."
These words cut through Mio's heart like a blade. For a moment, she felt detached from the world, as though something inside her had broken. Everything around her grew dark, and she heard nothing except the silence surrounding her. Ryuki gently held her, but in his eyes, there was sorrow and shame. He felt helpless, unable to do anything for his wife.
Meanwhile, the Daimyo of the six clans, taking advantage of Satoru and Ryuki's absence from the court, held a secret meeting to plot a nighttime attack. They planned to send their skilled warriors and hired assassins under the guise of bandits to attack Hideaki's home, where Satoru was staying. On a dark and rainy night, masked attackers stealthily approached the home of Lord Arashi Hideaki. The attackers split into two groups. One group, led by the chief of the attackers, was tasked with killing Lord Hideaki, while the other group was sent to kill Satoru and his family.
In the ensuing battle between the Lord and his guards against the attackers, all of Hideaki's guards and the lord were killed. In the second clash, Satoru, with no time to hesitate, entrusted Hiroto to Yoko and asked her to flee with several guards to her brother Ryuki's home. He, on the other hand, took Rin and escaped via a different route to confuse the enemies. As Satoru cast his last glance at Yoko, he paused, seemingly reluctant to part from her. His heart was full of pain and worry for his wife and child. Yoko, with tears streaming down her face, shakily told him, "Take care of yourself and Rin."
On her way, Yoko watched as the guards fell one by one. After killing the pursuing attackers, she managed to reach her brother Ryuki's home, despite her battle wounds, and asked him to take care of her son. Ryuki, eager to treat his sister's wounds, sent one of the guards to fetch a doctor. He then led Yoko to a room and placed her beside Mio. But, being the shrewd man he was, Ryuki had suspected a plot and quietly switched his disabled child with his sister's child. He changed his clothes and, with his disabled child in his arms, made his way toward Hideaki's residence.
Satoru, still on the run, hid Rin in a boat near the river, intending to return for him later. He then went to fight the pursuing attackers. Satoru's bravery in close combat was unparalleled. He felled attackers one after another with his sword, but more enemies kept coming at him. Despite his courage, he was both injured and exhausted, and eventually, the attackers managed to corner him. One of them struck a deep blow, wounding him severely.
As Satoru fought for his last breaths, Ryuki reached him. Ryuki, dressed as a servant and holding a baby, approached Satoru. The leader of the attackers, thinking Ryuki was merely a servant, ordered him to hand over the baby, sparing his life. With a broken heart, Ryuki took one last look at his child and walked toward the attackers to hand over the baby.
Satoru, crawling on the blood-soaked ground, called out in anger, "Don't do it! Don't be ruthless like them!" But Ryuki had already made his decision. The attackers quickly snatched the baby from Ryuki and killed him with a swift sword strike.
Ryuki, tears filling his eyes, went toward the baby's lifeless body and cradled it in his arms. As Satoru, bloodied and filled with rage, dragged himself to the baby, he saw the child's face. Realizing the truth, his fury faded, replaced by a calm smile as he locked eyes with Ryuki. With trembling lips, he whispered, "Vengeance... for all of us," and in that moment, he died.
Seeing the death of Satoru and the baby, the attackers vanished into the darkness of the night. Ryuki, devastated by the death of his best friend and only child, unaware that Yoko had also died from her wounds, began to weep and carried the bodies back to his home. Mio, upon hearing of the tragedy, though overwhelmed with grief, accepted to raise Hiroto as her own son. However, Rin's fate was different. The boat he was in was swept away by a storm, disappearing into the night. The following morning, a female ninja with magical prowess found the baby in the river, took him in her arms, and whispered softly, "Yes... a new destiny awaits you."
Chapter Three: The Battle of Two Mirrors
A formal and tense meeting was held in the Shogun's castle. The hall was filled with silence, respect, and a façade of justice. When the lords began to accuse Kazuma of being the main culprit in the murder of Lord Hideaki and his family, heavy gazes were directed at him. Ryuki, burning with anger, remained silent. Kazuma, who had spent his entire life in loyalty to Lord Hideaki, calmly unsheathed his dagger and knelt before the cold stare of the Shogun, requesting seppuku. Ryuki shouted loudly, "No, father... you are not to blame..." He stood up to approach his father and take the dagger from him, but the Shogun's guards quickly restrained him as he shouted, "No... nooooo..." The Shogun glared at him to silence him and then turned to Kazuma, saying, "Unfortunately, Lord Hideaki's bloodline has been extinguished, but yours shall live on. The order for seppuku has been given."
The preparations for seppuku were made, and Kazuma was ready to carry out the ritual. His calm voice echoed through the hall before the seppuku was performed: "My lord's honor was more important than my life. If there was any fault, I will repay it with my life." Moments later, the silence was broken. The only sound left was the thud of the loyal man's body hitting the floor of the hall. Ryuki, in shock, stared at his father's lifeless corpse. After the grief of losing his son, sister, and best friend, he now had to bear the sorrow of losing his father as well.
With the advice and support of the other lords, Shogun Kuba Yoshitaro appointed another of Lord Hideaki's assistants, Daimyo of the Kansai region. This enraged Ryuki because he knew the murders were not accidental and were part of a conspiracy. However, he was forced to remain silent as he had no evidence of the conspiracy nor the time for revenge.
Years passed, and Hiroto trained with his uncle Ryuki, while everyone, including Hiroto himself, believed that Ryuki was his father, and Hiroto was known by the name Yuji. He was regarded as an exemplary samurai, and his natural qualities resembled his real father, Sotaro. He was known for his law-abiding and responsible nature. Hiroto's mother, who was originally his uncle's wife, raised him as her own son, and because of this, Hiroto grew up with a strong and grounded moral character. On the other hand, Rin was completely different from Hiroto. He had trained in the ways of the ninjas since childhood and had successfully participated in covert operations and assassinations. He had no sense of responsibility and cared only for money and gold. He lived a carefree, indulgent life and only thought about the outcome and his personal gain in battles and missions. Others knew him as a skilled assassin who had mastered all the ninja arts. His natural traits, such as intelligence, were much like his uncle Ryuki. The ninja who had found him on a boat named him Takumi, and all the ninjas knew him by that name.
Shogun's special inspector, Suzuki Yoshitaka, was supposed to pass through a dangerous forest with his guards to visit certain regions. Enemies of the inspector had bribed the ninja leader to kill the inspector and his companions. Yuji was also one of the inspector's guards. As they moved through the forest, Yuji's sixth sense predicted danger, and with sharp eyes and a sword ready, he and the other guards assumed a state of alert. Black masks were worn by all the guards to conceal their faces and instill fear in their enemies. At that moment, ninjas hiding in the shadows, led by Takumi (Rin), had received orders to kill the inspector. At an opportune moment, Takumi issued the command to attack. The ninjas moved so swiftly and skillfully that even Yuji and the other guards could not anticipate their movements. A fierce and bloody battle broke out. Swords clashed, and arrows flew toward their targets. Yuji fought with unparalleled skill, merciless and resolute, slashing at the ninjas in front of him. The battle reached a point where only Yuji and Takumi remained alive, and the inspector was inside a litter. Both masked brothers faced each other. The distance between Yuji's success in saving the inspector and Takumi's success in killing him was only one ninja. In a swift, complicated move, swords were raised, and the two masked brothers stood face to face. An incredible, almost dream-like moment. Two natural talents clashed. The blows exchanged between the brothers were fast and merciless. The sound of their swords striking each other was so loud it frightened the animals of the forest. Yuji fought like a wounded tiger with his samurai skill, while Takumi, with his ninja skills, anticipated and countered every move of Yuji like a clever monkey. Small wounds appeared on both brothers, but suddenly, a precise strike from both sides caused their masks to be torn from their faces. They stood in front of each other, identical in appearance but dressed differently. Silence filled the battlefield, and the only sound was their heavy breathing. They looked at each other as if standing in front of mirrors, and then, simultaneously, whispered to themselves, "How is this possible?"
The moment was brief, but for the brothers, it seemed to last an eternity. Yuji, who had lived as a samurai, following the way of Bushido, could not imagine himself wearing the ninja outfit. Takumi, who had never known a family and had no information about his past or ancestry, was shocked by the sight of someone who looked like him, dressed as a samurai with a noble lineage. At that moment, Takumi, quicker to recover, threw a poisoned shuriken toward the inspector inside the litter. The shuriken struck the inspector's shoulder. Yuji, realizing the move, tried to throw himself in front of the shuriken but failed to block it. Takumi vanished from the battlefield at incredible speed. Yuji, after rising, rushed toward the inspector, cradled him, and lifted his head to look at him. Yuji, breathing heavily, could still not grasp the truth. He murmured to himself, "Who was he? Did he have any relation to me?" Takumi, after distancing himself from Yuji, stood still and muttered to himself, "I need to find out who he is."
Yuji, who failed to protect the inspector, was upset, and at the same time, confused about the ninja who looked exactly like him. In his mind, he kept repeating, "How could someone be so similar to me? Is this just a coincidence?" Takumi, despite his carefree upbringing, was having similar thoughts. The Shogun's advisors expelled Yuji from the court for not doing everything he could to protect the inspector and sent him to the Kansai region for further judgment. The inspector had not died yet, but the poison was slowly killing him, and there was no antidote available.
Yuji traveled to his region, Kansai, arriving at night. He went to his father, Ryuki, to discuss the similarities between himself and the ninja attacker, hoping to find some answers. However, Takumi was secretly following him. Yuji noticed he was being followed, but did not act on it, perhaps suspecting the same ninja from the day before was trailing him. Inside his uncle's house, Yuji began to explain the events of the day, while Takumi, from the rafters, listened to their conversation. Ryuki, a wise man, began to suspect something and thought to himself, "Could that be the other son of Sotaro?" However, he tried to come up with a convincing response and dismissed the matter as coincidence.
Yuji's uncle scolded him for not killing all the ninjas and saving the inspector's life. But Yuji, who had grown up under this great man, felt that something wasn't right. Takumi, using his sharpness, quickly realized the lies his uncle was telling and devised a plan. In one swift motion, wearing his mask, he entered the room. Yuji reacted instantly. The two brothers adopted fighting stances and, like in their previous battle, fought fiercely. In a moment when the two separated, Yuji said to the ninja, "I know you're the ninja who attacked the inspector in the forest. Take off your mask so I can defeat you with your face revealed!" Takumi removed his mask. Ryuki, who was watching in shock and concern, shouted loudly, "Stop! I'll explain everything."
In that moment, both brothers stood frozen like statues, and simultaneously, they turned toward their uncle. With a tearful face, Ryuki looked at Takumi and said, "I searched for you for so long, thinking you were dead. I'm glad you're alive, and it was fate that I would see you." Takumi, in shock, looked at the man who was crying and recognized him, but didn't know who he was. He thought to himself, "How does he know me and my past? Why wasn't I with these people? Why was I raised among ninjas?" Yuji, with anger, asked, "Father! What are you saying?" Ryuki, stopping his tears, said calmly, "I am not your father. Your name is not Yuji. I am your uncle." Both brothers exclaimed in astonishment, "What???" Ryuki continued gently, "You are twin brothers." He then invited them to sit down so he could tell them the whole story.
After hearing the story, Hiroto, who had just learned his real name, shouted angrily, "Why didn't you tell me this earlier so I could seek revenge and restore the family's honor?" Ryuki, with a regretful tone, said, "Given your nature, I knew it wouldn't be possible. I've grown too old and slow to help, and if I had revealed everything, your life and your family's lives would have been in danger." Ryuki looked at Takumi and said, "But now, it seems revenge is possible." Takumi, now knowing his true identity, stared deeply into his uncle's eyes. A faint smile appeared on his lips. It wasn't a smile of joy but one of curiosity, doubt, and perhaps even a hint of threat. Hiroto, both astonished and confused by this smile, looked simultaneously at Takumi and Ryuki.
Chapter Four: The Beginning of the Path to Revenge
The inspector was on the brink of death, but since he had been one of Ryuki's main supporters, Rin managed to secretly prepare and deliver the antidote to the doctor, saving the inspector's life. However, the enemies of the inspector were shocked to learn that he had survived and began investigating the reason for his survival. During this time, one of the clan leaders, whose face was hidden and who had secret ties with the ninja group, learned through the ninja leader that only a ninja could have the antidote. He passed on the information to the ninja leader for further investigation.
The ninja group was surprised at the disappearance of the ninja attackers who had targeted the inspector, and they sent several of their members to track them down. However, these members either didn't return or were killed by katana swords. As a result, they sent their most skilled ninja to find any traces of the attackers. This ninja found Rin training in a hideout, wearing a samurai outfit. The ninja intended to report this to the ninja leader, but on his way back through the forest, Rin suddenly appeared in front of him, still without a weapon in hand. The ninja said, "You've betrayed us. Step aside, or I'll kill you."
At that moment, another ninja from behind struck him with a katana sword, and the ninja, feeling the intense pain from the strike, turned around to see someone resembling Rin in ninja attire standing behind him. Upon seeing Hiroto, who had struck him with his sword, the ninja died in shock. Rin turned to Hiroto and said, "This time, you've truly become a full-fledged ninja."
During the first meeting that their uncle held with the two brothers, he said, "You must become one. A single soul in two bodies. No one must know your true names. Whenever you wear samurai attire, you are Yuji, and whenever you wear ninja attire, you are Takumi. You must teach each other everything you know." Hiroto taught Rin how to be a samurai, and Rin taught Hiroto the ways of the ninja. No one must ever find out that you are actually two people, so that you can use the dual techniques of one person being in two places at the same time to take your revenge.
The intense, tireless training and hard work of both brothers truly transformed them into a single entity. The main concern, however, was that Hiroto was loyal to the principles of Bushido and feared even the smallest deviation from them, while Rin had never adhered to these principles and would use any means necessary to achieve his goals. Perhaps the most difficult task was reconciling their previous life with their new one. Their uncle turned to both nephews and said, "Since your father was killed, I have secretly been gathering information on those who were involved in the murder of your family. All six clans were involved in this conspiracy. However, taking simultaneous revenge is not an easy task. We must plan carefully and take it step by step. For each of the family's murderers, one of you must be chosen based on your moral characteristics."
Both brothers looked at each other and nodded in agreement, speaking together: "When do we start?"
Their uncle looked at them and said, "The first murderer or traitor is our own clan leader, Kuba Yoshitaro." At that moment, a heavy silence filled the room, a silence thick with tension. It was the same silence that precedes the start of an endless battle.
Perhaps no one would believe that the hardest revenge would be the first one. Mental preparation, the final decision, coordination, and execution—all the elements that must take place for the series of revenges to unfold. The uncle broke the silence and told the brothers: "Yoshitaro will go hunting for rabbits next week with several guards and assistants. We can't waste any time. We'll strike while he's on the move." The three discussed the plan, deciding that Hiroto would approach the caravan from the front, and Rin would attack from behind, dressed in ninja attire. First, they would kill the guards with shurikens, then use ninja swords to take down Yoshitaro and his companions, ensuring there would be no witnesses. Both brothers began preparing for this, but two days before the hunting trip, Yoshitaro invited Ryuki to join him, along with his son, Yuji.
The three of them sat in the room, deep in thought. The previous plan seemed useless now. A new plan had to be made, but there was little time. Rin spoke loudly to the others, saying, "It's possible! It's possible!" The two looked at Rin in surprise and asked, "Do you have a plan?" Rin responded, "I think so. The plan I have in mind will work, and no one will suspect a thing."
The day of the hunt arrived. Yoshitaro, inside a guarded palanquin, set off with his guards and companions, accompanied by Ryuki and Yuji. As they approached the marshes, Takumi, dressed as a ninja and with his face concealed, stopped the caravan with deceptive movements. The guards went on high alert. The plan had begun. Takumi moved swiftly through the marshes, throwing shurikens with ruthless precision toward the guards and companions. The sound of the wind and his rapid movements through the marshes masked the sound of the fallen bodies. To distract the guards, Ryuki shouted loudly, "I saw him! The ninja's over there, right behind those marshes!" As the guards moved toward the direction Ryuki pointed to, Rin, who had set up a trap, threw shurikens from the same area. According to the plan, this time Yuji, with ninja-like precision and overcoming his inner guilt, secretly threw two shurikens, hidden in his sleeves, into the palanquin. Since he knew where Yoshitaro would sit, both shurikens struck him, and he was killed instantly. Takumi quickly vanished into the marshes, and the sounds of the companions' cries as they kneeled beside the palanquin, calling out to their fallen master, filled the air. A sense of satisfaction arose within Ryuki, and Yuji, for the first time, felt a different kind of emotion, though he couldn't quite identify it. All the companions and guards believed that the ninja in the marshes had killed their master.
A week later, a courier arrived with a letter from the Shogun, announcing that Ryuki had been appointed as the temporary lord of Kansai. For a moment, the world stood still before him. This appointment not only changed the balance of power but also placed a heavier burden on his shoulders. The letter had been delivered by the same courier who had brought news of the inspector's survival, which had impacted the two brothers. Ryuki was pleased with both the inspector's survival and his appointment as the temporary lord.
However, the ninja leader, along with several other ninjas, secretly visited the site of the revenge and, after examining the area and speaking with a witness, the ninja leader thought to himself, "It's impossible for a ninja to have made such an accurate strike from behind the marshes. There must be a conspiracy at work."
------------------------------
Legal Copyright Disclaimer and Intellectual Property Notice
© Seyedomid Hosseiny. All rights reserved.
This literary work and all of its associated intellectual property — including but not limited to characters, storyline, settings, dialogues, concepts, and any derivative elements — are the exclusive property of Seyedomid Hosseiny. This work is protected under applicable international copyright conventions, including but not limited to the Berne Convention and the WIPO Copyright Treaty.
No part of this material may be copied, reproduced, stored, transmitted, distributed, performed, published, adapted, modified, or used in any form — including but not limited to print, digital, audiovisual, film, animation, comics, or interactive media — without the prior written and signed permission of the author.
Any unauthorized use or exploitation of this intellectual property may result in civil and/or criminal liability under applicable copyright and intellectual property laws.
For licensing inquiries, usage permissions, adaptation requests, or any legal matters related to this work, please contact:
📧 hosseiny.sa@gmail.com