The Letter
Three years had passed and I've more or less waited my whole life for this moment. For the moment we would receive The Letter. But first, two major things had happened in these past three years. Namely: the decreasing battles that lead to people speculating that the war was ending, and Kin's death.
It was hard to be happy about the end of the war when a father figure dies in front of you.
Two years after I had been freed from the Shimura, I was sent with a team to meet the Ruro clan. They were known for their quick wit, but also for their precious, adequate skills in weaponry. So Keno-sama had been absolutely delighted when I mentioned that the Ruro had reached a Yamanaka who reached the Kireha about a possible ally contract. So I had gathered a team of ninjas to a meeting point, a four days travel away from the clan compound. Kin was with me, as was Fupo and Roku. When we were approaching the area, we realized we dwelled in the area too deeply when I sensed an Uchiha two kilometers away from us. "We are being ambushed by the Uchiha's," I had said while putting a calm demeanor. I didn't have to panic, but this was less than ideal. If they've gotten this close to us without me noticing, it definitely meant this ambush was for us.
We'd only be told after the battle, when we met up with a Yamanaka, that they had an intruder within their clan and that a Ruro had killed a dozen of them. The Yamanaka and the Kireha had been duped, fair as square.
But four Kireha wasn't enough for six Uchiha with a Madara and a dozen of Roru. In all honestly, the Kireha squad should have died then. We were outnumbered, it was simple math. I had a small sick sense of humor when I had noticed Madara was there. How many times had I seen Madara…? More than I should have. But the fact that he would go so far to kill me off, because if there is a reason why he pulled this whole plan and whole ambush was purely to kill me, definitely. It was laughable at how desperate he was to kill me off.
That poor bastard.
And I had actually smirked. My comrades had given me some weird looks. I did let out a small chuckle. But it wasn't because I thought it was pathetic that Madara would do so much to kill me. No, it was because it ironic. There I was, thinking he was pathetic when he should have killed me and my comrades.
I had trained my gates for that moment, so I didn't waste any time and unlocked it until the fifth gate. The most I could do was five gates or all eight gates, no in between. I could tell it surprised Madara, since I had greatly outdone him with my speed. But it didn't last for very long. I had wiped out half of the Roru clan squad and one of the Uchiha until Madara slammed me, it was a lucky strike, with his gunbai to the ground. I knew it was his sharingan doing most of the work, not his actual skills, so my ego wasn't that hurt.
But it did crack a few bones in me and I started to become slower and slower. Before I knew it, I was standing next to a bloody Fupo who was missing an ear, a wheezing Roku who was missing his right forearm and eye, and lastly a tired and slightly scratched Kin. "We're not going to make it," I distinctly remember saying to them. Fupo stayed silent while Roku grunted. Kin was eyed the enemies, who retreated for a brief moment to take in what to do and the damage that was done. Kin had then stood up and looked at me. I was becoming weaker by the second, the Gates effect slowly wearing off me and it was becoming more painful to stand by the second.
"I'm going to unleash the red beast."
The three of us looked at him and we all didn't say a word. I could sense the sadness, guilt and remorse rolling out of Fupo's chakra. I could sense the guilt, the anger and the reluctance seeping out of Roku's chakra. And I could feel pure determination from Kin. Fupo, Roku and I didn't protest. We wouldn't dare to shame his bravery, pride and heroism. But my heart was cracking. I didn't care and I walked to Kin and hugged him as tightly as possible.
"Thank you Kin, you were like a father to me and you taught me all your ways. Please remember I am forever with you, be it in life or in death… thank you."
He smiled in my hair and hugged me back. It was the calm inside the battle. Everything seemed to still. Once we let go of each other, Roku bowed to Kin and pulled out a container. "Kin-sama, let us please remember you and make you rest with the other fallen Kireha," Roku said. Kin nodded and put his hand to the opening of the container and pulsed chakra out of his hand until the container was filled with blue chakra. Roku nodded and the two men both shared a look.
"It was an honor." Roku stayed by my side and Fupo then stepped in front of Kin. He went to one knee and bowed to the master swordsman. "Thank you for all Kin, we shall forever remember you and your teachings will never be erased." Fupo then stood up and stood to my left. I was in the middle and we all bowed to Kin who bowed back.
We then looked at each other, our masks void of emotion.
Finished with goodbyes, we all turned towards the enemy at the same time. "We shall distract them while you prepare, best of luck sensei," and those were my last words to him when I went to fight with the last of my energy to the Uchiha. It didn't take four minutes until I felt the huge spike of chakra from Kin. I quickly signed to Fupo and Roku and they both nodded. It was time to retreat. Kin and I had a parting look. It wasn't a goodbye, it never was. It was a mere sad parting, but we'd see each other again.
We retreated without looking back.
The clan was devastated with the news and we held a ceremony for him by the grand tree, Seishin. It was the grand tree of Kireha, where all the Kireha, all our ancestors put their chakra in to show we value their lives. Chakra is fused in the tree, making the tree quite strong. Chakra is fused with the tree at the earliest age a Kireha member can (it officially marked the start of ninja-hood in Kireha) and chakra is fused when the person is dying, when possible.
Keno-sama had taken the container that had Kin's chakra and he fused it with the tree. He stayed there for two days, meditating by the tree. The chakra, the last essence of his brother was now part of the tree. The tree was both loved and hated, but most than all, it was honored and it was our pride.
Who knew a damned tree would be so painful to look at.
X
It was ten months later when the rumors went around that the Senju and the Uchiha somehow formed a permanent truce and were now creating a village together. Kireha was mainly weirded out by the turns of events. The strongest clans that hated each other… were now, suddenly, friends? It was too good and too weird.
Two months later, the Akimichi, Yamanaka and Nara were invited and the three accepted. The Nara confirmed to the Kireha that we would be getting an invitation, but later, since we were powerful compared to other clans. I suppose we have rivaled against the Uchiha. In any case, the Kireha had bid the three clans good luck.
Four months after that and we received The Letter.
X
The birds were chirping happily. Soke had finished bothering me with his latest projects. Ever since we've moved to the mountains, there was a huge supply of metal and a good amount of the special chakra sucking metal. He was quite happy for two years until we've run out and had to search for more. I was called to see Keno-sama, hopefully for not what I thought it was.
Ever since I've returned from the Shimura ordeal, he's been dropping less than subtle hints that he wants me to be the next Kireha leader. It stopped for a month after Kin's death, but after that he has dropped the whole subtle phase and straight up asked me to be the next leader. It was an honor. And honor that I had to refuse because good lord, I can't be a leader. A squad leader, yes. An actual clan leader, the head of a whole clan? I can fight well, but I cannot talk for shit and everyone knows that. Yet, he is insistent.
"No- Keno-sama- no. No, I decline. Thank you, but no. Once again and always," I crossed my arms at the two men in front of me. Keno-sama, once again, tried to convince me of being something ridiculous. Roku stayed by Keno-sama sighed, dying in the inside by this. Yes, it's annoying. But he can't complain because Roku actually agreed with Keno-sama.
"My days are few Yasu, I do not have much time left. Kireha trusts you, without you, we'd be destroyed by the Uchihas and Shimura." It was bizarre, our clan seemed to attract the worst kind of people. "Then Roku should become the leader. He is strong and is great at talking and solving things," I responded bluntly.
I don't know how many times I've had this talk with the two of them and it was getting tedious. I was not interested in politics and economies. As weird as it sounds, I am perfectly happy being a pawn. I know what I am doing is for the best, so I was fine with that. "We both know that that is not feasible," Keno-sama said. I let out an annoyed sigh and started to lean on one leg. Roku did lose a hand and an eye, it made protecting and writing a lot harder.
Suddenly, I felt a foreign signature come in my sphere of chakra sensing… a bird… an owl. A messenger owl. Who in the world uses messenger owls? In broad daylight? I stayed quiet for a moment as Roku talked with Keno-sama, and I focused on the owl. It didn't seem to be holding any chakra scrolls, I can't detect any sort of chakra on it, except for the owl itself. But then again, it may be from the Uzumaki, and Uzumaki can hide chakra quite well when they use fuijustsu. And who knows what they do to coat their birds and paper with.
"One moment." I excuse myself promptly and immediately head towards this owl. It was about 5 km away from the clan compound, and I whistled at it once I was under it. It flew down. I held my arm out and internally praised myself for having worn bandages on my arms. It latched onto my bandaged arm and took the scroll from it and inspected it. No chakra… but, maybe a brief chakra signature? From what though, it's mostly gone because of the owl's chakra. "Shoulder," I commanded the bird to which it seemed to do so and it sat on my shoulder.
I opened the scroll.
My eyes widened.
Finally.
The Letter.
X
Keno read it out to the selected people around the room, which included me and Roku and a few others. I could tell everyone felt conflicted. If this was a trap, if it was real. But most importantly, if this idea is possible.
To the Kireha clan,
The Senju and Uchiha clan has founded a shinobi village named Konoha. To stop this war and finally gain some calm on the lands, we have decided that forming treaties with clans and villages would be extremely beneficial. Currently, the Nara, Sarutobi, Yamanaka, Akimichi, Hyuuga, Shimura and Uzumaki clans are under our surveillance and are living in our village. We are still in contact with other clans, such as the Aburame, Inuzaka, Hatake and Hoki clan.
Our plan is to join forces with as many clans, to show we can live together in peace and to give each other strength.
If you agree, please let us know. We will assume you have disagreed if there is no response.
Senju Hashirama
I can smell the wood of his from his letter.
"We shouldn't agree, they are crazy to be partnered up with the Uchihas!" one said, and suddenly, everyone joined in. I stayed quiet. They already have so many people with them. Kireha must have been a debated clan then. I put my hands to my chin, possibly Madara with his mindless blabbing. That man is a good leader, but he is too easily swayed.
"Silence!" Keno-sama snapped. He was a kind man, but sometimes had thin patience. Now that I think about it… his patience thinned ever since Kin passed…
"I know the pro's and con's… let us evaluate, if you please," he sighs. Quickly, Roku steps up. "I am against leader. While this may be a trap, this 'dream' of theirs is far too unrealistic. To have this many clans with them will just cause uproars around the world, people will get more powerful and more people will be killed. We are best off to stay here and to let them do them." He has a fair point, with the 1st, 2nd and 3rd shinobi war to come… I squeeze my eyes shut. Memories of my previous life were hazy, but I had written them down somewhere do I knew more or less what would happen if the timeline followed accordingly.
People added to Roku's point, and no one said anything for. So I stepped up.
"I am for, leader-sama." I blinked at him and sighed.
"While Roku has a fair point, I think the benefits outweigh the negative. With 'Konoha', not only would we be safer, but it will be peaceful. It may be a false sense of peace in the beginning, but I truly believe that if all the clans there agreed for peace, it can be obtained. But there will be no doubt future wars. And if that is the case, I'd rather be with them than stay alone on this mountain."
The silence returned and people considered my point. Keno-sama dismisses us all and told us to come back the next day. He leaned back on his chair and let out a sigh. He didn't need to think on what to do. He smiled softly to himself when he heard my voice as I talked to Roku outside Keno-sama office. He'll follow the true leader and savior of the Kireha clan.
I'm back lol
Quick summary:
Kin's dead, poor guy. Kireha received an invitation to live in Konoha!
Oh and Keno-sama really wants Yasu to be the clan leader. Wonder if that's gonna work out...
So I AM BACK, and THIS IS WHAT I'VE BEEN WAITING FOR AHHH
So many things are gonna be happening now and I can't wait! ^^
And yep, this is a shorter chapter. But this is a turning point, so eh
27 - July - 2018
Tsuki