In a world filled with nothing but endless cycles of hate, sin, and carnage, could there ever be such a thing as peace?
—
The village was under attack.
It was a scenario that had never crossed her mind, but one that forever tainted her perception of the ninja world.
To awaken in a dying village was a nightmare she couldn't wake up from.
Corpses crowded the path just in front of her home, and she finally understood the concept of death. It made her sick to her stomach to watch their empty eyes staring back at her through her dining room window. It felt surreal that the people she'd seen just hours earlier now lied in a pool of their own blood.
Her mother grabbed her arm and snatched her away from the window in an attempt to shield the truth, but it was much too late.
Her parents were explaining something to both her and her brothers, but she could hear nothing but the innocent cries of her brethren.
"Why is this happening?" She spoke up.
It didn't make sense. They were a peaceful little village. They didn't harm anyone. Half of them weren't even ninja.
"You're too young to understand." Her eldest brother, Kenji, answered for their parents. "You can go, mom and dad. I'll take care of them the best I can."
That's when she realized...they were dressed in uniform.
"No..."
They were going out to fight.
"No, no, no! Please!"
She couldn't bare to lose them too.
Kenji grabbed her waist and forced her to the ground as she tried to chase after their parents. She screamed and she kicked for her freedom, but he was much stronger.
"Shush, Tōtoi! You're going to get us killed!"
"But what if mom and dad die out there!" Tōtoi yelled. "We have to help them!"
"How are we supposed to help them, huh? Neither Koji or I have graduated as genin, and you aren't even in the academy!" Kenji snapped. "Don't you think I know that mom and dad could die out there?"
A hand placed itself onto Kenji's shoulder, and he reluctantly looked up to face his younger twin, Koji, who gave him a look of disapproval.
"What's happening out there is an issue with the adults, so it'd be better if we don't get involved." Koji intervened.
He sat in front of his little sister and held her hand in his.
"Mom and Dad are both ninja. Long ago they agreed to risk their life to protect what's theirs: their home, their friends, their family, and their village...they're doing it all for that...and most importantly for us. I know it's hard to understand and be okay with, but they're putting their life on the line so we will be able to live one of our own. Maybe they will come back, and maybe they won't...but either way it's important to know that they're doing this for the things they love."
Tears blurred Tōtoi's vision and she pulled her brother in for a hug and cried in his arms. "I just don't want anything bad to happen to them." She wept.
"I know. It's going to be okay. Regardless of what happens, remember that Kenji and I will always be here for and with you, okay?" She gave a soft nod and soon cried herself to sleep.
"I'm sorry for losing my temper. I know she's just as frustrated as I am." Said Kenji as his brother lied the little girl on the floor. "I wish I could be more like you."
"I could say the same." Koji chuckled. "You're the heir of our clan, top of our class, and superior to me in every way possible..." He slightly sighed. "Everyone loves you, especially mom and dad..."
Kenji could sense his brother's dejection, but didn't know how to make him feel better. He walked to him and pulled him into an embrace. "For what it counts, I love you. Tōtoi loves you." He lightly chuckled. "I'm pretty sure she loves you way more than me. And I know mom and dad love you, too, even if it doesn't seem like it."
Koji let out a weak laugh. "Well...anyway, let's get her to the inner chambers." He spoke up after moments of silence, then cradled his little sister and they were off.
As they reached the exit to their house, Kenji removed his glasses to effectively scope the area with his natural extreme farsighted ability.
Once the coast was clear, Kenji motioned for his brother to pass, and soon they were hopping in the shadows of the surrounding buildings.
"Look at what they're doing to our village!" Koji seethed at the agonized cries of the civilians. "Who the hell are these people anyway? Why are they here?"
"Focus on the task at hand. We need to get to the hideout. The village is mom and dad's task." Kenji ordered, and in return his brother lightly huffed but kept forward.
Suddenly, a kunai with an attached paper bomb flew past the three of them.
"Get back!" Kenji yelled, and they quickly scattered in a panic.
"Do you happen to know where your village's beloved princess is?" Asked an ominous voice from within the shadows. "Your lives depend on it."
"Princess?" Koji questioned. "What the hell are you on about?"
"There's no use in playing dumb, we know she's here. If you don't tell me...well, I might kill you."
"Dammit...we might have to fight." Kenji internally panicked.
Meanwhile his younger brother stood with a certain fire in his eyes and clenched his teeth in anger. "You're hurting innocent people for someone that doesn't even exist!" Koji yelled out. "This is my home...the only place I've ever known. Do you know how it feels to see everything you love destroyed right before your eyes!"
"Koji!" Yelled Kenji as he pulled a scroll from his side pants pocket. He opened it to reveal a red bow and a quiver of arrows. "Go to the chamber. I'll handle this."
"What, are you crazy?!" Screamed Koji. "You're not even a genin, you wouldn't be able to take this guy on any day of the week! Don't act all tough, you're gonna die if you face him alone!"
"I know..." The boy reassured. "You're exactly right. But with having Tōtoi to worry about, we'll all be nothing but a casualty. If protecting you means I might die...then I'm willing to take that chance. Even if I am only a few minutes older than you, it's still my duty as your big brother to protect you both. Now go, this is no time to be arguing with me."
The fear could be seen in his body language: he was trembling beyond control, and although hesitant to leave him to fight alone, Koji nodded and continued on his travel.
A tear welled into his eyes but he blinked them away and maintained focus. The seriousness of this situation had dawned in: it may or may not be the night that he loses his family.
After a while, he had finally made it to the chamber entrance. It was laced with mazes that lead to ultimate death, where the center could only be found by those with the knowledge of its passage.
During his journey towards the center, Koji couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong. Worry grew on the state of his brother, and he decided that after getting Tōtoi to her destination, she would be safe enough for him to be able to leave for a short while.
He continued to think about his parents and prayed that they were okay, and felt angry that he couldn't help them because of his ranking of not even genin. He was angry because his village was being attacked in the first place and many innocent lives were being lost.
"After a stupid princess that doesn't exist. All this for nothing." He muttered just as he finally reached his mark. With a sigh, Koji walked towards the farthest part of the room and lied Tōtoi on the small futon that rested somewhat near the corner.
In the corner of his eye, something caught his attention. It was a figure that resembled a little girl, but that was impossible. No one other than his clan knew about this place and it's solution.
Koji began to steadily make his way towards the figure, and as he steered closer, the room grew colder but for some reason it didn't phase him.
"Y-You're not Kyoshi. Who are you?" Sniffled a quiet, soft voice. The person, presumably a child, had hair as white as snow and long enough to drag behind her.
"I could ask you the same, kid." Koji stated with caution. "This is a sacred place to the Yanai Clan, and you're not supposed to be here."
"This is a place sacred to the Chisso clan, and you're not supposed to be here." Said the little girl with sternness in her voice.
Within the next moment, a swift attack was charged just before the nape of his neck as he fell to the ground paralyzed. He gasped in surprise. He didn't even see the child move a muscle.
The light began to fade from his eyes and the girl turned to reveal eyes as white as her hair. There was a sun symbol visible on the palm of her hand as she raised it to what seemed to be her defense.
She wasn't the one who hit him.
"Ah, I've found you..."
That voice...it was familiar.
'Is that...the ninja from before? Kenji...'
His vision blurred and his eyes grew heavy. He could feel himself losing consciousness.
"Wait, if that's him, then that means...she's...?"
"...Princess Takara."