For a couple of years, it all seemed well and good, Hamato and Oroku kept on exceeding. Fight after fight, at each mission they were now a part of, at each tournament they joined, the two together truly enough was an unstopable force, so much so that it made other older more matured ninjas down-right annoyed with them. But the two youngsters didn't care, they were just enjoying their success and perfect partnership as they kept on working and training, aiming to exceed even further than the day before, always. They wanted to be the best the world had ever seen!

"And the Splinter prevails again!" Oroku smirked as Hamato had effortlessly splintered another board with his food.

"Again with the nick-name Oroku?" Hamato gritted. "That is not my name!" he stated.

"No, but it's a fitting title." Oroku smirked as he jumped up and tore a sack to pieces using his choice of weapon, the claws.

"Thank you, I suppose.. Shredder." Hamato almost snorted as the sack was shredded to pieces and laid on the floor.

"Hamato, Oroku!" A female voice sounded from the opening and the two young men turned to the openeing, where teng-shen stood with what looked like a food-basket in her hands. "Are you two not soon done?" she asked in a wide smile, and as always, her eyes glimmered with light. "My work was finished hours ago, some-times I think you two train far to much."

"I'm sorry Teng-shen." Hamato offered in a light smile. "Give me a moment and I'll wash up." He stated.

"Going on a picnic?" Oroku asked with a slightly lifted eye-brow.

"We thought it might be fun." Hamato replied. "Today is three years since I ruined her laundry the first time around." He made aware in a slight smile. And indeed it was, in that time the three had gotten quite close. Both young men were admiring Teng-shen and showering her with constant compliments, and Teng-shen didn't seem to mind, she seemed to had grown rather fond of both of them, even a little protective. Teng-shen was kind by nature so she would treat any-one nice and she always seemed to bring a certain warmth, but with these two young men, she had lately helped them every-time they needed it, and brightened up their days as she came past smiling on her way, it seemed so natural by this time that she would come by un-announced all the time, it was almost part of the routine.

"Three years you say." Oroku lifted an eye-brow. "Haven't gotten far in that amount of time have you?" he asked.

"Please Oroku! There hasn't been time, or money, if this shall go any places I will do it the honourable traditional way." Hamato stated. "For now, we are just friends." He told. "And Teng-Shen agrees with me." He stated.

"I thought she might." Oroku stated with crossed arms. "Well, I suppose you must have some.. fun. It'll stay and train some more while you go look at cherry trees."

"You could join us." Hamato offered.

"I manage, Splinter san." Oroku replied.

"Would you stop calling me that?" Hamato asked Oroku.

"Actually no, I don't think I will." Oroku answered in a slight smirk.

"Fine then." Hamato exhaled. "Shredder.. no this does not work for me, Oroku." He then stated as he left to wash up. "Just one moment Teng-shen." He called after the waiting young woman.

Oroku lifted an eye-brow as Hamato exited. "All-ways so stuck up." he commented.

"He can be a bit caught up in his traditions and diciplinary actions." Teng-shens admitted in a slight sigh. "But he is a very good man Oroku, we should feel lucky that he is our trusted friend."

"Trusted friend." Oroku smiled as he looked at Teng-shen with honestly warm eyes. "Some-day you'll marry a true ninja master you know, you shouldn't waste away in a laundry house."

"Maybe some-day I will." Teng-shen replied in a small smile, just as Hamato returned in a changed set of clean clothes. "Ready to go now Hamato?" she asked reaching out a hand, looking like she intended to take his arm.

Hamato how-ever stepped aside, avoiding any such inaprobriate behavoir, which Oroku glanced at,. "Yes, let us go." Hamato told in a warm voice, in spite of not even taking her arm.


And it was not so long after that, a few months that Master Tori came to Hamato and Oroku and announced to them, as they sat on each their soft blanket, in resting position, honourable bowing for their master.

"My two students." Master Tori bowed for each of them. "You have both come to this dojo and served the lotus clan for all of your lifes, ever since you could barely talk, and in that time, you have brought this dojo and this clan much honour." He told, making the two young men smile at each other. "Not only have you always been dependable on any field-mission, the best this dojo had to offer, but all-ready three years ago as you were so young to young... Your astonishing triumph at the ninja tournament, and you continues flawless winnings in similar things, should make it more clear than any-thing else that." Master Tori folded his hands as he as he bowed his head. "I have nothing more to teach either of you, future growth will have to happen because of your own endeavours, there-fore you can no longer be mere students of this clan." He stated.

The two young mens eyes widened as they looked at their Sensei.

"It's time for you, to have youngsters of your own, calling you by the title master." Tori told each of them. "I've decided to assign you each your group of new youngsters, and it'll be your responsibility to train them." He told. "Both in the art of nin-jutsu and in the honour codes of the ninja, congratulations, Senseis."

Astounded the young men looked at their Master.

"Master Tori.. I.. I don't know what to say." Hamato almost stammered.

"Why act so surprised?" Oroku asked in a slight smirk as he crossed his arms. "You all-ready know that we are stronger than most of the people bearing the title master around this place."

Master Tori frowned slightly annoyed at Oroku, before he found his calmer demeanour ones again. "I've been your Sensei ever since you first joined the clan, I've seen both of your grow, taught you as good as I could. You could almost say that I raised you, the bond between student and master will always be a strong mysterious one. I've elected you two specifically to be my private students as time went by, because you had such strong potential, and your bond as well seemed so strong." He told them. "And I chose private students, because I as the leader of this clan, is supposed to one day appoint my own successor, and train him in the ways of his clan, up till the day I shall retire, that student will remain my right hand, and eventually be considered the second highest authority in this clan, it should be obvious considering your skills compared to others, that it ought to be one of you, any-thing else would seem ludicrous, which suits my fine, I always knew it was supposed to be one of you." He told.

Hamatos eyes widened ones again, as Oroku smirked assured with crossed arms.

"And I've made a decision, do you know what it is?" Tori asked.

Hamato frowned slightly, it seemed so obvious to him! Out of him and Oroku Saki, Saki had always taken the lead as he was more busk and forward, beside if Hamato was to take a guess, Oroku was actually slightly more skilled than he was, Hamato hadn't quite mastered the feed of sensing his surroundings yet, and while he had worked so much on that, Oroku had perfected his direct power attacks.

Oroku also seemed to be aware of this as his eyes glistened with anticipation over the news, his mouth trying not to smirk, but it did regardless as he awaited the announcement.

"Yoshi-san, how would you like to be announced successor." Tori asked, and both young men's mouths dropped open.

"What?" They both asked simultaneously.

"Yoshi-san, I've chosen you as my first protégé, will you accept that?" Master Tori asked.

Hamato blinked vividly as he looked at his master. "Master Tori, that's a great honour, but you think I am the best fit for it?" he asked. "I do not need to be a leader of any clan, I just wish to bring it honour."

"That you are in doubt, and don't even search power shows that you are the perfect fit." Master Tori stated. "Don't you agree Saki-san?" he asked Oroku. Whom bit together, clearly trying to hold back his own bitter disappointment.

"Then you'll accept?" Master Tori asked Hamato.

"I suppose." Hamato replied. "Thank you Sensei, for this great honour." He stated as he bowed holding his two hands with the palms pressed against each other in greeting.

"Hmpf!" Oroku ended up snorting.


In the afternoon the two friends were in each others company by a little bridge, going over a running stream, where a lot of lily petals floated under them, Hamato were sitting on the reiling, resting his hands in his lap as his legs freely hang from the reeling and he looked forward.

Oroku still seemed to be in a scorned mood as he leaned back towards the other reeling, growling.

"Oroku don't take it so bad." Hamato asked as he looked behind him. "After me you are next in line." He tried to made aware.

All though that only made Orokus scowl more.

"And when I finally become leader, which can only be in years from now, thank god." Hamato exhaled. "There's only one man I would want as my right hand, us as a team, we are unstoppable remember?" he asked.

Still Oroku didn't answer, as he snorted and looked away.

"I know you really wanted it, and if I was Master Tori, the choice would have been clear, you are that bit better than me. You were always the one leading the way for us. For me.." Hamato told him and then exhaled. "But think about it, we are senseis now!" he exclaimed. "And world class ninjitsu champions! And can pride ourselves with the title master, as some of the youngest in this age, that has to count for some-thing!" he stated.

"We are the best, that's why it happened, it's perfectly logical." Oroku snorted. "And now we each have to be stuck with a bunch of children." He commented.

"We'll still be send on missions when there is a need for it, just like all other Senseis." Hamato pointed out. "To think Oroku, Senseis, that means we don't have to sleep back to back at that little place any-longer, we can settle down, make our own homes now."

"Why all the rush?" Oroku asked as he leaned back.

Hamato smiled lightly. "Please don't tell any-one." He asked in a whisper. "It's a surprise, but I thought I would take Teng-shen out for a pic-nic and tell her that I am now a Sensei, then ask her to marry me, surely with this new title we can also get her parents blessing, then find ourselves a future home ones we have scraped enough money together."

"Marry her?" Oroku asked in a deeply surprised voice. "But I thought you said you were merely friends!" he stated.

"I said we had both decided to remain honourable until the day we can settle down probably, and do it right." Hamato replied in a slight frown turning around looking at Oroku. "And we had even decided it together."

At that comment Orokus eyes widened, it looked like all air had been punched out of his lungs, and he gasped to regain his breath, before at last he took one last breath and regained his previous stature. "Well you certainly are on a roll now aren't you master Splinter?" he asked Hamato. "Sensei, heir to the lotus clan and finally marriage, in one glories bundle. Hamato Yoshi, now talked about as the best most honourable ninja the lotus clan has ever produced, will any-one ever be his equal?"

"Oh come now Oroku, you know it's not like that." Hamato replied now standing up.

"Oh right, like it's not like it's exactly as you would like it?" Oroku asked.

"And it wouldn't have happened without you, I wouldn't be the man I am today without you! So I owe you a debt of gratitude, and you are still as a brother to me." Hamato stated. "Please, can't you be happy for me? For us? You like Teng-Shen don't you? She's kind and honourable, she would only make our family that much better." He told.

"It's not Teng-Shen that is the problem here." Were Orukus final angry words as he left Hamato behind on the bridge. "Master Splinter." He hissed.

Leaving Hamato behind hopelessly looking after his friend.

Hamato still though went ahead with his plan, he brought Teng-Shen to the cherry trees they both liked so much, and sat her down as he offered her fineries.

"Hamato, what is all of this?" Teng-Shen asked amused.

"Celebration, some-thing great happened." Hamato told in a smile.

"Oh?" Teng-shen asked curiously looking at Hamato.

"For both me and Oroku." Hamato stated. "Teng-Shen, from last Tuesday, we were no longer Students, but have been appointed Senseis." He happily announced.

"Hamato, that's so great! You both deserve it!" Teng-Shen exclaimed happily. "I'm so happy for you!" she stated, looking like she wanted to embrace Hamato, but refrained from actually do it, it would not be approbriate for either of them.

"And that is not all." Hamato made aware. "Not only does this means we will have students on our own and have gained much more estate and rank, but I have also been appointed successor of the clan.. in a lot of years when Master Tori resigns." He finally added.

"Hamato you are right, it's all so wonderful, it needs celebration." Teng-Shen smiled sweetly at him.

"The pick was between me and Oroku, we were both very surprised when Master Tori pointed at me." Hamato told.

"How did Oroku take it? He always seemed… a little bossy." Teng-Shen admitted.

"He was a bit sore by the beginning." Hamato admitted. "But he'll be all-right. He'll come around just you wait." He told. "Beside, that is not really so important right now." He told.

"Hamato, these are life changing news, what could be more important?" Teng-Shen asked with a slightly lifted eye-brow.

"That's for you to find out isn't it?" Hamato slightly teasing. "There's one thing I can think of, way more important than all of that, Teng-shen." Suddenly he sounded a lot more serious as Hamato caught Teng-shens eyes, and slowly, reached over to lightly take her hands. "We've known each other for quite a while now, and that time.. yes amazing things has happened, which should be the most important thing to me, but strangely.. as important as they are, they are not the important thing." He stated as he looked her into the eyes and met. "You are." He stated. "When I am out there now, in the tournaments, or in the attacks, what brings me back is no longer the thought of my Senseis pride, but just the image of you waiting, and because of that, I just have to ask Teng-shen.." he paused slightly. "While you marry me?" he finally asked.

"Hamato." Teng-Shen exhaled.

"I know it's a little sudden, and I elected to go to you before your parents, a little untraditional, but it's important to me that you are the one saying yes." Hamato tried to explain.

"Oh Hamato, of cause I will marry you!" Teng-Shen stated as she held his hands smiling broadly as she caught her eyes. "And I would have done it sooner if you just asked, some-times you are a bit to caught up in those old traditions of yours." She cheated.

"You will?" Hamato asked. "Teng-Shen you just made me so happy!" he stated. "Now I got every-thing a man could ever ask and way more!"

"Hamato." Teng-Shen bashed her eyes at him.

"What?" Hamato asked at ones sounding worried.

"You are allowed to kiss me now." Teng-Shen made aware.

Hamato looked a little wide-eyed at her. "Erh."

"You do know how to kiss, don't you?" Teng-shen asked.

"Of cause." Hamato hesitated, suddenly swallowed very nervously, as Teng-Shen sat there in front of him, with closed eyes and lightly pouted lips, ready to be kissed. Slowly Hamato reached forward a hand, and nervously caressed her cheek, then relax as he gently stroke her, and then leaned forward, closing his own eyes and gently kissed her on the mouth.

Unbeknown to them though, there was a man lurking in the shadow, looking at them with hateful jalouse eyes, he raised his hand, wearing his trade-mark metallic claws and forced them downwards in a tree, cutting three branches off the tree before he left the scene.


"Thank you all, for joining us here at our engagement party!" Hamato raised his glass to a party of close friends and family in front of him. Hamato was wearing a fine purple robe with the lotus symbols on it as he raised his glass, and Teng-shen a delicate pink robe filled with patterns of the cherry flowers as she stood beside Hamato, all-ready looking like she belonged with him.

In front of them, the party also rose their glasses as they yelled their congratulations, between them were Teng-Shens parents, so very proud of their daughter now escaping the life of a laundry house to tend to a nin-jitsu master and future leader. Hamatos Sensei Master Tori, whom seemed very appreciative and happy about these news, and of cause Hamatos spiritual brother, Oroku Saki, whom bottomed out his glass in just one go, and then harshly hammered it down on the table.

It was.. mostly, a happy party, but no one seemed so happy as the two centre pieces of the engagement, whom both seemed to shine with inner light as they stood together, holding hands, Teng-shen being a little devious, even tiptoed to kiss Hamato on the cheek there in full public, making Hamato almost loose it as he blushed deeply, making every-body laugh by this sudden display of awkwardness, well.. Almost every-body laughed.

"Hamato dear." Teng-shen addressed Hamato as she held his hand looking up at him. "I better go out and see if the tea is soon ready for the guests." She informed.

"Of cause." Hamato smiled at her. "Hurry back, this is also your party." He reminded her.

"Yes dear." Teng-shen smiled lightly as she bowed her head and turned around, to head back for the kitchen.

Out in the kitchen a few maidens hired for the evening ran around, home-made sweets were standing on the table, in green, red and purple colours, small cakes. "How far are we?" Teng-Shen asked them.

"Almost ready miss, just ten minutes." A maiden told as she rushed past Teng-shen, to assure a plate of small cakes were arranged just right.

"What about the cherry flowers, who has the cherry flowers? Those are very important for the decorations." Teng-shen told the maidens.

"Over here miss!" another maiden called from the other end of the room.

At ones Teng-shen walked towards the maiden to have a look.

"What do you think?" The maid asked as she stepped aside, to reveal a whole bundle of cherry flowers, wrapped with several red bows.

"They are lovely." Teng-shen told. "Just perfect only.. perhaps a little less bow?" she asked in a slight frown. "No here let me do it, I know how I want it." Teng-shen told as she stepped to the flowers, and gently grabbed the bows herself to untie them and let the cherry flowers be released in their own natural beauty.

It was a very calming nice process as Teng-shen let her fingers slide through the branches and touched them lightly, it were just the right kind of cherry flowers, like the ones out in the park Teng-shen noted as she smiled lightly.

"You don't have to do this you know."

"Argh!" Startled by the deep voice Teng-shen turned around to wide-eyed look at the intruder whom had snook up on her as she gasped for air, and then she suddenly realised. "Oroku!" she realised. "You startled me." She told as she took a deep breath for air.

"Why do you think it's necessary to do this?" Oroku asked. "Go to such lengths?" he asked.

"Oh you know, I and Hamato have this thing of walking in the park when the cherry trees bloom, so I wanted these branches to be just like that, when the cherry tree blooms, I don't mind doing it myself." Teng-shen told.

"I'm not talking about branches." Oroku stated as he suddenly very slowly advanced on Teng-shen. "I'm talking about this, this whole engagement thing, why go to so extreme lengths?" he asked.

"I don't know what you mean." Teng-shen frowned a little confused.

"Come on, I've seen how you looked at me, how you played pretend with Hamato just to get close to a real ninja master, and I feel flattered, I even think you succeeded." Oroku told bowing over Teng-shen.

Teng-shens eyes widened. "What?" she asked.

"You did it, you made me fall in love with you, just as you wanted." Oroku told as he reached forward an arm so his hand now rested on the wall, behind Teng-shen, so now Oroku was almost covering her. "So you can stop this silly charade now, spare Hamatos feelings while there is still time, no need to be so cruel." He whispered as he used his other hand to cherese Teng-shens cheek.

Teng-shen how-ever closed her eyes as she turned her head away. "Stop it." She asked.

"Don't you think I saw? All of your looks, I heard all of the hidden meanings in your words, you love me Teng-shen, admit it!" Oroku demanded.

"No I don't! I love Hamato!" Teng-shen exclaimed, now pushing Orokus hand away.

"Then what about all of our conversations?" Oroku asked now sounding angry. "All of your teasing and smiling and laughing?" he hissed dangerously. "Admit it, you love me! For three years you loved me as I loved you, you were never actually with Hamato! He was far to captured in old traditions, to stubborn. But me? We had some-thing!"

"I was just trying to be nice to you!" Teng-shen exclaimed. "Because you meant so much to Hamato!"

"And why would Hamato mean so much at that time? he wasn't even man enough to kiss you before after an engagement!" Oroku hissed dangerously.

"I knew he would come around at some point, I just had to be patient with him." Teng-shen stated. "And I was willing to be patient."

"So you seduced him?" Oroku suddenly concluded. "Same way as you seduced me, was that to torture me?" he asked. "All those calls you never accepted, all my gifts! Why is he so much better?" Oroku asked in a furious voice. "Are you now out to see how much you can torture us both?" he asked. "You know you were supposed to be mine! all three years it was us whom had some-thing Teng-shen! But I suppose, just as the title of clan leader, Hamato stole both things!"

"Oroku get away from me!" Teng-shen demanded as she pressed herself up the wall in fright.

"He can might take the clan title, but he wont take you. The woman I love." Oroku promised. "You belong to me." he stated.

"Oroku? Teng-shen?"

Shocked they both got back into place as they stood up and looked at the owner of the voice, whom was one Hamato Yoshi looking rather confused. "What's going on?" he asked.

"Hamato!" Teng-shen exclaimed. "Oh dear I was just.. Oroku was just.. helping me with these cherry flowers." She stated turning around, and now gestured at the branches. "It was supposed to be a surprise." She muttered.

"hm." Hamato noted in a slight frown. "Oroku, would you please leave?" he asked.

"Hamato, what's wrong with you now?" Oroku asked.

"Oroku, leave." Hamato demanded in a voice, that was rather new to him, certainly it didn't seem like a voice he would ever use against Oroku.. it was a voice that tolerated absolutely no objections.

And Oroku, he looked like some-one had just been hitting him right in the face, and disgraced his very honour and pride, then his eyes turned hard and angry. "very well then." He stated as he stepped back with spread hands, making an almost mocking bow. "Master Splinter." He told in a voice that also almost sounded like mocking, as he finally turned around, and then left.

Only for Hamato to step forward and gently grab Teng-shens shoulders for a firm re-assurance. "Are you all-right?" he asked Teng-shen.

"Yes I'm.. I'm fine." Teng-shen told, pulling her now slightly messed up hair behind her ear.

"What did he do?" Hamato asked now sounding slightly angry.

"Nothing, I told you.. He was just helping." Teng-shen told.

"Are you absolutely sure?" Hamato asked, looking dead serious at Teng-shen.

"I.." Teng-shen held her breath as she looked up at Hamato. "Yes I'm sure." She finally told. "please dear, you need to tend to our guests." Teng-shen told. "Your sworn brother is out there being a little upset."

Hamato exhaled as he nodded. "Yes, you are quite right." He told before he frowned. "You're sure there's nothing you want to tell me?" he asked. "You know with me, you can always tell." He assured.

"I'm sure." Teng-shen told.

"Very well then." Hamato nodded.

But what had happened could not be changed, that afternoon, the first seeds of mutual distrust had been planted, Hamato had for the first time in living memory, directly sat himself up against Oroku Saki.. a sneaking suspicion were crawling into his mind, and Orukis Jalousie.. had only barely begun to grow.