"You'll only realize that you truly love someone if they already caused you enormous pain. Your enemies can never hurt you the way your loved ones can. It's the people close to your heart that can give you the most piercing wound. Love is a double-edged sword, it can heal the wound faster or it can sink the blade even deeper."
Kenshin Himura
Hashirama sat cross-legged on a cushion in the central chamber of the Hokage Conference building. He was meditating as he had often done between the madness that had become his life since he could go onto the battlefield. Now that Konoha was founded, it was even more important to meditate and center himself during the turbulent times. It was even more important to contemplate what he had learned about the nature of the shinobi...
And the inevitable path it would lead him down.
By their very nature, shinobi invited rivalry and strife.
This was the greatest strength of the shinobi.
It ensured there was no weak link.
The constant battling of the shinobi since the beginning of their foundation served a necessary purpose. It kept the power in a constant state of shifting. Konoha, Kumo, and the shinobi villages had changed all that. His dream that had been shared by Madara-their vision for the future-was what caused this constant state of shifting to finally reach its end
There would soon be a hundred or more high level shinobi following the respective Kage of their village, but most of them would still end up weaker and inferior compared to their Kage. The shinobi numbers were greater than they had ever been, yet they were still killing themselves warring against each other, or offering their services in exchange for payment. The power they all craved couldn't be dispersed among the rank and file. That power had to be concentrated in the few who were worthy of the honor.
The strength of numbers could become a trap, and it was one that had snared all the great shinobi who had come before him. It snared him still. It snared his brother, Madara, Mikito, and everyone else alive for that matter. Each of them had drawn disciples in, were drawing them in, and were teaching them respectively. There was no doubt they had assembled an army of followers and were just frothing at the prospect of turning them on each other.
The shinobi would always be brought low by infighting and betrayals. The very traits that drove them to individual greatness and glory-the unrelenting ambition, the insatiable hunger for power-would ultimately doom them as a whole and individually before they could ever achieve that dream. This was the inescapable paradox of the shinobi.
Hashirama had tried to solve the problem by making everyone equal in Konoha. But his solution was flawed. It showed no understanding of the real problem. No understanding of the true nature of the shinobi. The shinobi needed to be commanded by a single leader who was the very embodiment of the strength and power. If all are equal, then none are strong. Yet whoever rises from the swollen and bloated ranks of the shinobi villages to claim the mantle of Kage would never be able to handle the position in just a few generations.
Eventually even he would wither and die, and all of his knowledge would be gone with him.. If the leader grows weak, another must rise to seize the mantle. One alone would never work. But if the shinobi numbered exactly two...One to embody the power and the other to crave power...That would be most favorable, it was the best solution to the problem, but Hashirama didn't adopt this mindset.
It would have involved purging all of the shinobi and possibly even Tobirama so that the old age died and a new age could be ushered in.
Hashirama wanted peace through cooperation, not domination.
But, his solution of diplomacy...
Could exacerbate an already tumultuous situation.
As soon as the starlight came forth out of the black velvet, Hashirama saw the moon beaming, exactly where it was every night.
"I don't like where any of this is going." He said to Tobirama, who only crossed his arms over his chest in response to the nervous statement.
"Madara, Izuna, Mikito, Syrus...Everyone who is with them or joins them..."
Mito hummed curiously, tilting her head. "What don't you like about it?"
Tobirama shook his head. "You're getting too sentimental again, big brother. We need to focus on Konoha and the coast, not on those criminals."
"They are not-"
Tobirama cut his eyes at Hashirama. "They are criminals, brother. They killed nobles, they are marked. You know what happens when someone goes that far."
Hashirama set his jaw, clenching it hard. "Maybe I can talk to someone..."
"Like who?" Mito asked.
"Haji. He's always been amicable, and he's gotten me out of more than a thousand close calls on war zones. If the Sarutobi and Hyuga really did attack their children, they will come here for revenge...It'll be better if I clear our slate and listen to what he has to say."
Tobirama narrowed his eyes sharply. "What makes you think he's even coming?"
Hashirama closed his eyes, letting out a heavy breath. "Can't you hear it brother?"
Tobirama looked increasingly annoyed. "Hear what?"
"Bells and sirens. There will be much bloodletting when winter passes. Excuse me, I must go and prepare to speak with Haji."
"You can't leave." Mito pointed out.
"I either leave and meet Haji, or we will be caught in the coming storm by principle and proxy. The Senju and Subatsu were allies at one point, I owe this to Haji...As much as he owes to me what he is doing right now..."
Outside snow continued to swoop down at the ground, clouding the skies and soaring over sleet-lashed curtains of rain.
"You could be killed brother. Not all of the Subatsu are like Haji. They are allies with the Mo clan and the Hagoromo clan. Diplomacy isn't on their list of priorities."
The words of Tobirama finally distracted Hashirama from his bemusing train of through.
"Killed?" Hashirama asked, doing little to hide his incredulity.
How could Tobirama expect Haji or any Subatsu with him to just kill him in cold blood?
"Of course! This just make me anxious. After all this time, you still don't know to tread lightly with the Subatsu or the clans with them right now. Now please, stop talking such nonsense and stay here where you belong as our Hokage."
Hashirama tried to play it cool, hiding the million questions buzzing about in his thoughts, and the millions of emotions surging through him.
After all this time?
They still couldn't find peace?
"As a matter of being pragmatic, Hashirama..." Mito started in a firm tone, but trailed off towards the end.
Hashirama locked eyes with her and gave one firm nod of his head to continue.
"You are the First Hokage of Konoha. You are the leader of a shinobi village. You can't make unilateral decisions or take things upon yourself...Not anymore. We have other clan leaders, and clans with us, as well as civilians in due time. That doesn't include the damiyo and his own territory. The days of you going over heads, even for the greater good are over now."
The room was nearly as dark as the night around them, but as his eyes adjusted to the soft candle light, Hashirama found the light strangely comfortable. Many people passed by them, and Hashirama could see others busy in side areas, men and women both working to move furniture that was covered at every edge by shining snow, as if the flakes themselves defined the architecture.
He was struck by how clean everything was, everything neat, situated, and where it needed to go, but never set aside haphazardly. He kept his thoughts to himself, though, as anxious to see Haji as Tobirama and Mito seemed to be in keeping him within the village, judging from the swift pace of their reasoning.
"If I don't speak with Haji it won't matter if Konoha is around or not. You know that better than even I do, brother."
Tobirama's brow creased as he fought annoyance and impatience. He didn't disagree with Hashirama's sentiment, he only disagreed with the method the man was going about it. Other than the propensity for him to be cleaved in two without a second thought-they had the damiyo, his council, the clans, the clan leaders, and their own council to deal with.
Pressing on the Subatsu wasn't something they could afford to do. It would put them in the bad graces of the damiyo, it would put them in the bad graces of the wary clan leaders, and it would put them in the bad grace of clans that could potentially join them years from now.
Knowing Hashirama wasn't going to budge, Tobirama took a deep breath, gathering his composure and formulating an answer, choosing his every word carefully, so Hashirama didn't get emotional or severely unreasonable.
"If you insist on this, brother...Wait until Haji comes here."
Hashirama turned towards Tobirama, then he looked away, out the window, into the great distance beyond covered in snow.
"I may not have a choice in the matter..." Hashirama admitted softly, closing his eyes.
He wondered if his plan for peace wasn't much of a plan as much as it was a disaster brewing. Would it just be a matter of thirty of fifty years before war breaks out again, or would it happen before he was in his seventies?
Tobirama stopped at one side door and sent it sliding open with his hand, then motioned for Hashirama to enter first. Another Senju, a bit taller than both of them and with a distinctive facial scar, greeted them. He looked down at the Senju brothers, blinking his eyes, and kept his expression stoic.
With a wave of his clenched hand, Hashirama brought a cushion for the man to rest on from the side, pulling three more for himself, Mito, and Tobirama.
"You know Yosuke already. He is a master of stealth and has taught us the skills we needed to survive." Tobirama said.
"Hashirama-sama." The older Senju finished, nodding his head deferentially.
Hashirama was silent, observing the scene before him, struggling to shake the quaking feeling that was rocking his core. "I trust you have been a great help."
"We were not happy about relocating during the harshest season, but we've been making leaps and bounds in our progress building with the damiyo's craftsmen and the other clans."
"I'm relieved that you are able to see the bigger picture."
Hashirama didn't need to add that he'd hate to see the worst of this harsh season of winter that had yet to pass.
"And now to business. You will be delighted to hear we are on schedule. A quarter of our western territory is almost fully built. We are also working on the interior around the mountain by the Hokage Conference Building, and I'd say about ten percent of the overall construction in the western territory is done."
Hashirama's tongue suddenly seemed to swell in his mouth, but he fought past the stutter and tucked his questions away.
"That is great news."
"I thought you would be pleased."
"Of course."
"You can tell damiyo-sama that we have every confidence our project will be met, on time and in full. The east and west of our territory will be complete. He is favoring our idea, and the idea of other clans joining Konoha...I hope."
"He's focusing on the Water damiyo." Tobirama supplied.
Yosuke was almost overwhelmed. "We seen smoke and fire near the coast of the Fire country and could hear screams, but we didn't think it was an actual attack...That's more than five hundred miles from our current location and the fire and smoke look as ominous as if they were right before our eyes."
"You are still the leader in stealth, are you not?"
The question, loaded as it was to Yosuke, elicited yet another surge of questions, but again, he put them out of mind and focused on Hashirama talking and giving out valuable information. "I'm afraid to say that the true master of stealth within the Senju Clan was killed almost one hundred and ten years ago."
Tobirama nodded. "I'm sure he would have been proud of the army we've built. I am also sure that he passed on the full extent of his knowledge, otherwise there'd be no such title as master of stealth."
"The army?" Yosuke asked before he could even think the direction through.
"The clans that have joined us. The damiyo's soldiers. I must say, this is one of the finest assemblies ever seen."
Hashirama didn't know how far he could press this. If it was indeed the Senju master of stealth roughly ninety years ago, who had brought up the idea of commissioning, then why hadn't his father, previous leaders, or any of the other elder Senju say anything about it?
The master of stealth had undoubtedly been a powerful shinobi and just as elusive before his untimely death, but would he have acted alone on an issue as important as this?
Would that leader of the Senju back then make such a foolish decision?
Hashirama studied his three companions, even reaching into the space around them, stretching his senses, all to gain a feeling about them. Everything seemed straightforward here, and open, and so he followed his instincts and kept the conversation rolling along.
"Tell me Yosuke-san, when was the idea to commission an army put into play? Who exactly was it for within our clan?"
"The idea to commission an army began before the master of stealth died, long before. The army was for the Senju Clan itself, with an elite unit designated for the leader of the Senju Clan."
Hashirama almost blurted something out that one could consider unintelligible, but his discipline allowed him to keep his surprise well buried, along with the tumult in his thoughts, a mounting storm as furious as the one that raged outside.
What in the Rikudo was going on here?
An army of...
What for the Senju?
It couldn't be men or anything living, that wouldn't make any sense.
It wouldn't be a commission then if that were the case.
Who or what had been that army?
Why had it been commissioned by a Senju leader?
Did the Council know of this?
"You understand the responsibility incurred by creating such an army? The Senju would have expected and would have wanted the very best. Even worse it could have fractured everything as we know it."
"Of course. We were never able to inspect the units for ourselves or know if the project even happened, we don't even know if ryo was funneled into a secret project."
"That's not why you are here, though. That is not the reason why Tobirama has brought you here to speak with me..."
Hashirama answered as firmly as ge could, but he could feel his voice waver the slightest. The quaking feeling in his gut magnified.
"What is going on?" Yosuke asked, trying to cover his confusion.
"We expect battle, and must have sufficient data, enough data that we will be able to handle ourselves when the time comes."
"You intend to spy on the Subatsu and Domou?" Hashirama asked, whirling to look at Tobirama while trying to keep the outrage out of his voice.
"Only to know who and what clans have joined them. There's some disturbing reports coming from the Tea country territory..." Mito said, seeming supremely disturbed.
"What reports?"
"No one is there. Even the damiyo is gone."
Yosuke answered only after a momenf silence passed.
Hashirama composed himself enough to answer, his voice even, bordering on the verge of trembling with uncertainty.
"Any sign of battle?"
"Not according to reports. We're still scanning the whole country for signs of something or someone...We have five units there as we speak..."
Tobirama trailed off, carefully gauging the energy of the room.
Hashirama didn't need to read minds to know the thoughts gathering in this room.
The Domou, Subatsu, or the clans with them were the cause of this. They caused it. They had something to do with it. They were going to spy on them, study their strength, and put into place counter measures to deal with them.
Just as Haji was coming here, being the sole person within his clan to keep a level head considering whatever was going on within those compound walls at this very moment, he was going to send Yosuke, and possibly other men to Haji's homeland.
It had to be done. It would be done.
If he resisted, it would cause some within the village to question him and his motives.
More than they already were.
At the same time he would incur the full stormy fury of Haji for double dealing and being janus faced...
Hashirama heaved a great sigh, closing his eyes. The times were truly changing, and it wasn't for the better in certain regards. As much as the times were changing, certain things were remaining the same as they've always been long before he was born.
"I will wait for Haji and whoever else he brings here...Where I belong. When you move, Yosuke, don't take any known paths or routes. You have to go through the long and treacherous ways, your tracks will be covered by doing this."
Tobirama nodded, feeling some assurance with his brother.
Hashirama looked at his brother, hardening his gaze for a few moments as he ran something through his mind. He couldn't look at the technicalities of his order given, nor the ground his men would be encroaching upon, but even more than that...
"Brother...Yosuke...Mito. Will you tell me something?"
Tobirama narrowed his eyes slightly, struggling to read Hashirama's emotions and intentions. "Of course. I will be as concise and blunt as possible."
Hashirama looked at Mito, awaiting an answer, but she only gave him a nod.
"How many countries and villages are there? How many clans? How many shinobi villages?"
Mito only raised her eyebrow in observation, only her discipline and training kept her from crossing her arms over her chest. Maybe Hashirama had something else in mind. Ever since the recent meetings, he was keeping most of his thoughts to himself. Hopefully he wasn't so keen on traveling anywhere like he had been before. She knew most, if not all of the things he had asked, but she still held her silence and looked towards Tobirama to interject into the conversation and steer it.
"Do you believe someone is controlling things from behind the scenes to that extent?" Mito asked, breaking the contemplative silence.
"Something about it just doesn't feel right." Tobirama said.
"Hajime Hageshii and Arata Uchiha...I wonder what those two were really up to in the Lightning country...Lies, deceit, cunning, wily, creating mistrust and enmity have always been their bread and butter." Hashirama added.
"Nevertheless, you feel we should keep a closer eye on the geographical and geo-political side of things." Mito put in, and Hashirama agreed.
After some more quiet contemplation, Tobirama turned a curious gaze upon Hashirama. "Where is your intention with this?"
"That depends." Hashirama answered. "It all depends."
Tobirama nodded, and Mito caught a glimmer of concern in his dark ruby eyes-concern that she shared about the current state of things. Everyone had been content to let the violence eclipse, though, because of that, there were always greater problems.
Mito broke the silence. "I have to admit, without the clans coming together like they did, it would not have been a victory."
"Victory?" Hashirama echoed with great skepticism. "Victory, you say?"
Mito and Tobirama both turned as one, catching the profound sadness in Hashirama's tone.
"It is far from a victory. I can hear bells and sirens. The shroud of hatred has fallen. The last days of the Warring States Era are now upon us. It will be war, revolution, and turmoil..." His words hung in the air about them, thick with emotion and concern.
It was as dire a prediction as anyone in the shinobi world had ever heard uttered.
Mito hummed softly, trying to follow Hashirama's train of thought, trying to peer into his anticipation to gleam something from his cryptic speech and strange question.
"Mikito..."
"Yes. I want to know what she is doing at this moment...It is very important." Hashirama said with a sigh of frustration.
"What you're doing here is more important." Tobirama advised.
"I will do my service. I must know what it was or is she was planning and anticipating. Whenever I had to face her in combat, I had to think at least five moves ahead or she'd pick me apart systematically. That doesn't just go go for physical combat...She is a dangerous and ruthless strategist by her own right, but when her, Souji, Izuna, and Madara could get on the same page there was little stopping them." Hashirama answered.
Tobirama turned to his brother with a hard gaze, but there was clear concern glinting in his stoic gaze. "That's why you asked that question..."
"A question you both have yet to answer." Hashirama reminded, tone not dropping any from before.
Mito nodded her understanding and her acceptance of Hashirama's impatience.
"There's too many to name, brother."
Hashirama nodded and shrugged easily.
"There is the Land of Fire. Land of Lightning. Land of Wind. Land of Hurricane. Land of Beaches. Land of Monsoon. Land of Thunder. Land of Earth. Land of Water. Land of Ponds. Land of Streams. Land of Bears. Land of Claws. Land of Bean Jam. Land of Birds. Land of Iron. Land of Medicines. Land of Sun. Land of the Moon. Land of Sand. Land of Red Sand. Land of Mountain Streams. Land of Mountains. Land of Neck. Land of Noodles. Land of Ocean. The Peninsula. Land of Forests. Land of Rivers. Land of Redaku. Roran. Land of the Sea."
"Land of Silence. Land of Snow. Land of Sound. Land of Stone. Land of Swamps. Land of Marshes. Land of Flowers. Land of Frost. Land of Hail. Land of Tea. Land of This. Land of That. Land of Haze. Land of Honey. Land of Hot Water. Land of Valleys."
"Land of Vegetables. Land of Keys. Land of Waves. Land of Woods. Land of Whirlpools. Land of Ice. Land of Glacier. Land of Focus. Land of the Sun. Land of Hope. Land of Bridges. Land of the Night. Land of Chaos. Land of Sunrise. Land of Rainbows. Land of Deep Waters. Land of Canals. Land of Glaciers. Land of Air. There's also Volcano Way, the Labyrinth of Islands, the Maze of Islands, Whirlpool Way, and hundreds if not thousands more."
Tobirama for his part remained stoic and at ease as he rifled through his own list, taking more than a few minutes to finish it. He had always been prudent and observant. Naming what he had, really came from memory and experience, as he had been to all of those places at some point in time, and supplemented that experiences with studying.
Still, the reason why Hashirama wanted them to get long winded escaped him.
Usually, there was a method to Hashirama's madness, as slight as it was most of the time.
"And there are much, much more...However, most of these Lands, they all have one major country, while some have smaller countries throughout. However, not all of these Lands have villages, mercenary clans, shinobi clans, or demon clans. The prominent shinobi clans, even those who have a little clout from these Lands would be..."
Hashirama let his statement linger.
Tobirama considered the whole thing.
He glanced at Hashirama, catching the meaning, and he nodded. He saw respect in his brother's eyes, gratitude, and unyielding trust, and Tobirama was glad for all of it. He could not deny the way Hashirama had looked at their family when they were growing up, the love that flowed from him whenever any of them had entered the room.
He was glad that he had come to the capital now as an adult, not only as Hashirama's adviser, but also as his brother and close confidant.
Just in front of him Hashirama and Mito were working together to clear the pieces of sawdust and overall wooden debris. He noted the tension in Mito's movements, in Hashirama's pauses during breathing, and he knew that these latest events, the Sarutobi and Hyuga, the wars over issues that could well lead to more wars, or surprising truces, were weighing heavily.
He looked to Mito, to see if she might find some clue as to how to help alleviate the tension, but all he found there was an obvious caution that set him off balance more than seeing his brother's brooding, but still obviously concerned expression.
"Why are you hesitating?" Hashirama questioned.
"What's there to persist about?" Tobirama replied as stoically as he could.
"One massive amalgamation." Mito said, tone filled with worry.
"An amalgamation? What do you mean by that?" Tobirama repeated, completely confused.
"Our world is changing." Mito said, tone slightly hard.
Tobirama sighed. "Always being vague..."
"Will you just answer instead of being so reticent brother?" Hashirama asked, almost exasperated.
"The Lightning country always had the Yotsuki clan. Since Kumogakure was founded, a sect of Uchiha led by Arata Uchiha, as well as the whole of the Hageshii and Shainingu clans have relocated to the Lightning country. The Chinoike clan no longer resides there as of this season. In our Land, it would be the Hyuga, Mitarashi,Tourai, Sasaki, Mishimotsu, Aburame, Niwashi, Kijirio, Akimichi, Sarutobi, Fuma, Iburu, Taketori, Chibana, Tachibana, Onikuma, Lee, and the Kagetsu Family."
"The Earth and Stone have the Kamizuru, Tsuchigumo, Higo, Mitobu, Mori, Shimazu, Suzumebachi, Hachi, Ari, Mukade, Shiroari, Hādi, Dadorī, Odoroku, and Hirado clans. The Land of Water and surrounding Lands have the Hozuki, Kaguya, Akebino, Inaba, Echizen, Hoshigaki, Hida, Yuki, Terumi, Kori, Noto, Karatachi, Shinano, Akusuna, hitsuyōna, Tsukamu, and Dewa clans."
Yosuke sighed only slightly as he picked up.
"There are smaller clans like the Kedoin, Tamba, Awaji, Kodon, Kumanoi, Rinha, Chiyu, Shiin, Ryu, Sendo, Tenro, Shirogane, Yota, Wasabi, Wagarashi, Kii, Sanuki, Onsoku, and then there are even smaller, minor clans as well."
"Now tell me...Counting Konoha and Kumogakure, how many villages would you say there are with a dense shinobi population?" Hashirama asked bluntly as the two neared the door that would take them back into a deeper chamber.
"Will you tell me why you are so fixated on this?" Tobirama didn't hesitate, realizing as he had when they were children, that Hashirama deserved nothing but honesty from him.
"There are two shinobi villages that have been founded. Chances are, there'll be more soon. I am not trying to make light of anything or minimize anything. Mikito, Madara, or possibly someone with them may have already sent letters to all of the places and clans we talked about. They also sent letters to the ones we didn't mention. I'm sure Yosuke and Disuke will find out what they are up to and will report to us. This situation of us being held down in checkmate won't last long."
"I wasn't aware we were in checkmate because of that witch..." Tobirama said with the same gravity.
"It just isn't her. Madara's insight only fortified that steel fortress mindset that woman has...I didn't know we've been in checkmate until now myself...That is why I need these questions answered." Hashirama assured him, with almost equal weight.
"I get it now. You want to know so you can put counter measures in place for whatever Mikito or Madara have planned for us." Mito admitted.
"I must say, I'm not sure if it'd be possible to perform a counter-strike now, even if we had a thousand contingency plans..." Hashirama rubbed his chin, thinking it over.
Mito rubbed at her brow, humming softly as she reflected Hashirama's words.
"There's the Bamboo Village. Ceramic Village. Curtain Village. Daidai Village. Genjutsu Tree Village. Howling Wolf Village. Hachou Village. Sugi Village. Takumi Village. Sugar Village. Spring Water Village. Tonika Village. Kakure Basho. Shangri-la."
Hashirama nodded slowly, his expression so steady that he appeared to be carved from stone.
"Yes, and it seems like it is not much, but because of Konoha and Kumo, there will be more villages like them...There will be more villages like Konoha and Kumo. The villages we've mentioned and the ones we have not all have the propensity to have a shinobi village like Konohagakure or Kumogakure...You may even have places like Bumutaun, Chisana Kakurega, and Bumubirejji popping up soon enough."
Tobirama snapped his eyes wide with realization. "We've been focusing on Konoha for so long we've lost sight of the bigger picture and what is going on around us in the Elemental Nations and surrounding world."
"Now we have an advantage. It just isn't Senju anymore." Mito reminded.
Hashirama smiled wearily, nodding. "She is right. Nevertheless, we have much work to do within Konoha as much as we need to focus on what is going on outside of it to ensure its prosperity. We need to thoroughly sweep the Tea country..."
"What for?" Tobirama asked.
"I must confirm something. If damiyo-sama was telling the truth, we should be able to find something there that'll prove the hunch correct."
"And, if there isn't?"
"We focus on building our village and leading the efforts in doing so until Yosuke and Disuke return from their mission." Hashirama replied, as if it were obvious.
Ever one to stay on course, Mito steered the conversation towards a goal. "Have you thought of possible talks with Fudai damiyo, shinpan, tozama damiyo, province lords, providence lords, and other such figures?"
Hashirama fixed her with a hard gaze. "When the time comes, we will cross that bridge."
Great shelves holding glass spheres stretched across the immense room to the end of his vision. Each sphere contained a pale grey arm, leg, part of a torso, or any required attachment for the body, should anything be lost.
The one thing they had in common was that all of them were suspended in fluid, and when Sakamoto reached out, he sensed strong waves of life energy.
"Everything seems to be going well." He stated.
"The first phase of the replacements for anyone who loses a limb in battle." Takeo replied.
"Obviously. It is very impressive. Our medics always outdo themselves."
"I knew you would be satisfied. Many of the medics in training were hoping you would be happy with the work." The older man said.
"I know Ahiko and a few others have been working on something, but she's gotten backlogged and sidetracked with other things pertaining to this tenuous alliance..."
"We have Mimori of the Nohara and Yumi of the Haruno. Both of them can think very creatively. You'll find that what is in these pods are immensely superior to prosthetics or things of that nature even beyond the shinobi lands. Our methods have been perfected over many centuries as you are aware."
"How many are there? In here I mean..."
"We have several throughout the complex. This, of course, is the most crucial phase, though with our techniques, we expect a success rate of ninety five percent. Every so often, an entire batch of these limbs will develop...An issue or two with the nerves. We expect the production to remain steady, and with our accelerated growth methods these before you will be fully grown in just over a month."
Takeo's previous statement echoed ominously in Sakamoto's thoughts. A production center, supremely efficient, producing a steady stream of superbly crafted and conditioned limb replacements.
The implications were staggering...
Sakamoto stared at the closest limbs, floating contentedly in their fluid, five fingered hands, five toes on each foot, some were complete with a shoulder, the legs were complete as well, but the hands and toes all remained half curled.
In just a month, that limb, that growing bundle of nerves, would be a replacement for a man or woman who were killing shinobi, and likely, soon enough killed themselves in battle.
It was a waste in his eyes.
He hardened his gaze and looked to Takeo.
"Come, young Sakamoto." Takeo bade him, walking along the corridor.
The next thing they seen were huge classrooms, with cushions in neat, orderly rows and with medical students in neat, orderly rows. They all looked to be between the ages of five and seventeen. All of them were dressed the same, but none had the same haircut, and none of them had exactly the same features and posture and expressions as the next.
Sakamoto looked at the clean wooden walls of the huge rooms, almost expecting to see mirrors there, playing a trick on his eyes to make one child and teenagers seem to be many. The students went about their studies without paying any more heed to the visitors than a quick glance, though some of the younger ones had to be reminded.
"The older ones have discipline. The children have it, but they still have their awkward learning process." Takeo said.
Another thought grabbed Sakamoto.
"You mentioned growth acceleration?"
"It's essential." Takeo replied.
"Why?"
"A mature limb replacement, and more so anything for fingers, legs, and torsos would take at least a year to grow. Now we can do it in less than half the time. The units you will soon see in the other rooms are the ones we started three year ago, when Ahiko first moved for the idea, and they're ready for use if need be."
"And these were started just three years ago?" Sakamoto ventured, slowly crossing his arms over his chest.
Takeo nodded slowly. "Would you care to inspect?"
Sakamoto could hear excitement in the old man's voice. Clearly he was proud of this accomplishment, and there was every reason to be proud of this.
Still, Sakamoto couldn't shake the tremor of fear that rushed through him.
"I would like your approval before we move forward in certain regards."
The tour took them through a large hall next, where hundreds of limb and organ replacements were floating in their liquid.
"Whoever must use these will find that there is no difference. We modified the structure just a little to make the nerves more responsive."
"What was the prototype like?"
"The ability was severely hampered. It took a long time to achieve this feat. We felt that a Senju's or Nara's DNA would be the perfect choice. Ahiko didn't wish to use such a sample."
The notion that a Senju's or Nara's DNA might have been used for this project nearly floored Sakamoto.
"Where is this Senju and Nara you had in mind? Are they alive right now?" Sakamoto asked.
"The Nara died two decades ago. the Senju used to live in the Senju compound, but he passed away during a battle in the desert region long ago." Takeo replied.
"Have I ever seen him?"
Takeo shook his head. "The man was never free to come and go as he pleased. He was never informed, some in the Domou just had eyes on this particular man because his healing factor was particularly high...Even among Senju and other shinobi clan standards."
"There's so many..." Sakamoto remarked.
"That is the key. Malleable enough, and yet with the ability to be sturdy, responsive, receptive, and flexible. It is a mighty combination. When Ahiko pushed this project forward in a way to mend the wounds of war that will come and have already been here with us...I don't believe she thought it would progress this much."
"Perhaps it is better the Senju's DNA wasn't used. Those Senju are known for their life force, it is possible those genes could have spanned out of control, but considering our own genetics it is more likely a very powerful...Too powerful, perhaps..." Sakamoto voiced his thoughts aloud.
He took a deep breath, wondering how Takeo, Ahiko, or any single person in the compound, almost could have so willingly and unilaterally crossed the line to use Senju or Nara DNA in order to create advanced limb replacements.
This couldn't be called prosthetic because it'd be a gross insult to call them by such a name.
Sakamoto suppressed his need for a direct answer to any of that right now, and decided to simply listen and observe, and gather as much information as he could so that he might sort it out.
"Would this Senju have made the choice to remain here instead of his own compound?"
"That choice was his alone. He never did get the chance to make it, not like other Senju who are here now and who have been here for a decade or longer. Apart from his pay, which would have been very considerable...The Senju demanded only one thing-an unaltered version of these limb and body replacements. Curious, isn't it?"
"Unaltered?"
"Pure replication. No tampering with the structure to make it more malleable or responsive. And there was also no growth acceleration."
Sakamoto scratched at his chin. "Why are you telling me? Why show me all of this?"
Takeo's eyes hardened. "You and I are one of the few that can still be reasonable and rational right now with current events, that doesn't include the marriages that are coming, the talks with clan leaders, nor sending out messages with Tozama damiyo, province lords, and providence lords. I would very much like to move forward with all of that in certain aspects, but certain things are going to have to be put on hold or completely discarded. We are not moving towards a diplomatic stance, we are moving towards a path of carnage when it comes to the shinobi and their villages in specific."
Sakamoto was intrigued.
Who was this man selected by some Domou as the perfect gene source for limb replacements?
Perhaps that was why they remained misanthropes, they were so good at killing that their consciences eventually got in the way.
Takeo stared at him with cold eyes, prompting a response.
Sakamoto offered a silent nod.
Yes, it was all great, and Sakamoto could only imagine the brutal efficiency this group would exhibit in battle when eliminating shinobi, in the war zones they were being trained for at this moment.
The limb replacements, whatever they were made out of, were amazing as well.
However, a shudder coursed down his spine. It wasn't the first time he appreciated Ahiko's crusade within the compound to stop the progression of battle, and the inevitable consequences that would come from that...
Wars...
And, ultimately more bloodshed.