Mercy
Hanzo Hasashi meets with his members near the tree as he had done the day before. The new recruits sat amongst them, though not as enthusiastic to be around people they didn't know very well. Takeda and Forest sat beside one another closest to the front where Hanzo would be. Everyone was instructed not to work today as he had an important story to tell them all. His story. The history of his time as a member of the Shirai Ryu clan.
"Years ago, I was a member of the Shirai Ryu under the codename Scorpion. I was given this name by my superiors due to my advance skills in the art of Ninjutsu. I was the only member to kill my enemies with one strike. I was never seen unless I wanted to be."
"You had superiors?" one of the members questioned.
"Yes," Hanzo responded. "There have been rumors over the years that I was the original creator of the Shirai Ryu because my name has become immortalized."
"You are immortal," Usagi muttered. Some of the members chuckled.
"The truth is, I joined years after its inception. The true creator was a man named Takeda," he said as he looked at the younger Takeda. Everyone chuckled this time. Takeda smiles nervously as all eyes were on him now. He shook his head and brushed them off. "Even knowing this, that may not be accurate either according to some of our records of the past. A woman named Ashrah was shown to have been signed on as a member minutes before Takeda, though he was the one I worked under." Hanzo sighed.
"You all may remember the story of the Cold Front Incident? Before that, we trained our bodies to sustain such low temperatures through an era we called the Cryostasis period. When we finally awakened, we had many new warriors from all over the world. The Shirai Ryu had seemingly lost their way. My last mission was to be carried out along with Ashrah to obtain Shinnok's Amulet from the temple of Elements. It was there that I was effectively killed. The rest of the clan was killed in the Cold Front Incident, including Master Takeda."
"What was known, however, was that the Cold Front incident was caused by the Lin Kuei Cryomancer who operated under the codename Noob Saibot, a name he took on to pass his Subzero mantle onto his younger brother. Centuries later, some members of the clan thawed out. Myself included, or so I thought. It turns out I was resurrected by Quan Chi, but was a failed resurrection due to him not having any control over me."
"My heart was filled with rage and anger for years. I was always on the run from mercenaries, witches, and demons hired to kill me. It wasn't known that Quan Chi was the one who sent them at the time. Eventually, one of my pursuers joined forces with my apprentice and a Shaman to reform the Shirai Ryu Clan. The recreation of the clan led me to my wife and child. Their names were Harumi and Satoshi. I had a great life. A family. A place to call home. I took it all for granted. My many desertions from my family eventually proved to be my downfall. I was tipped off that it was a Lin Kuei member by the name of Hydro who had been hunting me down. However, when I learned that he had never awakened from the cold front, I rushed back home only to find my wife and child…" Hanzo sighs holding back his tears.
"Their bodies were frozen Solid. Enraged, I felt the flames of the NetherRealm coursing through my veins. The rage overcame me, and I actively sought out Noob Saibot in Russia. That day, I died a second time at the hands of Quan Chi, who posed as Noob Saibot before taking over my soul. The Shirai Ryu fell once more. At the tenth Tournament, I got my revenge, but the satisfaction was unfulfilling. My rage was directed towards blaming everyone within my vicinity. Eventually, I came across a Shaolin Monk named Chan. He showed me the way. He taught me how allowing my rage to overtake me was what caused the deaths of my family and the unfulfilling hunger I felt since. This is the reason I have come to you all to say, never allow vengeance to influence your life. Where there is vengeance, there is an opportunity to mend your own mental health."
Later that night, Hanzo stood near the entrance of the dorms, reflecting on a letter he'd received from some former detractors to meet at a nearby forest to "finish what was started." He released a heavy sigh as he had done many times recently. He folds the letter and places it back in the open envelope. He immediately felt Takeda's presence close by, surprised that the young boy could be so close without alerting him. His training hadn't progressed that far yet.
"So, your lesson today, does it still apply to the current day?" Takeda asked.
"What are you talking about, child," Hanzo questioned in return.
"That letter didn't come from anyone here. It was addressed anonymously." A silent pause took over the hall. Hanzo looked at the boy's tightly clenched fist.
"Were you the one who delivered it to my room?"
"No. In fact, no one should've been in your room since they were all accounted for," he responded. "My father's telekinesis? I've been practicing it alone during his disappearances. I may not be as skilled with it as he is, but I know a few tricks."
"Suppose this letter is from an outsider. What do you believe is the best solution?" Hanzo asked.
"To bring someone with you. Make sure you don't stray from the path you set for yourself?" he responded. Hanzo rests his hand on the doorknob.
"You are very mature for a boy your age. You remind me a lot of my son."
"My life may be the same, but I'm not your son, Hanzo. I hid from the opposition, he stayed and died. That…is an honor I could never have," he responded.
"Never only exists where there is no future. In that aspect, you are right Takeda. Unlike my son, you still have your future." Hanzo opened the door and beckoned the boy to follow. Takeda nodded and walked towards his room. "You do not need your things," he said. "You will be a simple observer to how conflict can be resolved without vengeance."
End of Chapter 4
With two chapters left, I won't be able to complete my goal of finishing this story before April. However, I've been hard at work with the final two chapters, and they should release at a much faster rate (as it was supposed to before). I was literally nearly done with this chapter when I got an emergency phone call that took me and my mind away from writing (no death, thank God). Between that time, I was not in the right mindset to finish this chapter, so I spent time writing the roughest of drafts for the next two chapters during that time until today when I was able to finish this chapter. So, when I say they SHOULD come faster now, I mean I plan to have them released Friday and Monday at the latest. Also, to the recent reviewer, I will take your criticism into consideration and no more flashback will be coming,
(Upcoming—Honor)