"We will travel to Iga to assemble our forces" Hanzo began "But it will not be an easy trip, Nobunaga's forces already know of your existance and will try to eliminate you by any means necessary"
"And who will be escorting me to Iga?"
"It is a long and dangerous journey to Iga, I've assigned my four best to watch out for you, Princess" he gestured to them, the four ninja, I scanned over each of them and I had a pretty good clue on what they were like.
I stood in front of the four and pointed to each of them "So you've assigned me with the playboy, the kid, the mute and the jerk".
"Setsuna!" my father tugged my arm to acknowledge my rudeness. That was my curse, I was usually awful to people, I was always alone so interaction with others was not my forte.
Sasuke started laughing "Wow, she summed you all up perfectly!" Goemon elbowed him in the gut.
"Calling you a kid, hit the nail right on the head" he smirked.
"Princess, it would be in our best interest to leave now, while it is still night" Hanzo addressed me.
"Will I be going by carriage?"
"No, that would be too obvious, you will be travelling on foot," walking from Tsu to Iga was indeed a long journey, would I even be able to make it? I was unsure, Goemon stretched his hand out to me and smiled.
"We will protect you with our lives princess, you will come to no harm" he spoke so softly, I could see why he was so popular with women with his gentlemanly attitude.
"I... I" my voice stammered and I stood frozen.
"You are the only one who can perserve our tradition" Kotaro spoke up.
Slowly I reached for Goemon's hand and as my fingertips touched his palm he pulled me in.
"I will see you soon princess" said Hanzo. I bowed to my father and to Hanzo, this would buy my freedom, I had to, even if I don't understand the risk.
The castle disappeared the more we walked, now there was nothing but moonlight and trees. Being out this late at night, I was not used to, I was getting tired and my pace was decreasing. Saizo turned to me with a scowl on his face.
"Are you already tired?" he looked angry.
"I'm a bit tired but I will try to keep moving" I said it in such a small voice. He sighed and the others stopped walking as well. Suddenly Saizo pushed me down on the ground and covered my mouth. The others jumped into the trees. Voices could be heard, a small number of people were approaching closer. Saizo put a finger to his lips, telling me to stay quiet.
"It's been hours, how do we even know she's the Kusunoki princess?" a samurai complained to another.
"Nobukatsu received word from his father that the princess of Tsu has the Kusunoki blood"
"It's too dark to find her, she's probably already in town" the sound of their voices soon faded and Saizo uncovered my mouth.
"Nobukatsu.." Saizo repeated scornfully.
"That's the son of Nobunaga?" I have heard his name before, that we would do anything for his fathers approval.
"Well we made decent time and our pursuers are gone, shall we take a rest?" Gomeon suggested. I laid down on a tree, but it wasn't comfortable, I was shifted around for almost fifteen minutes until Kotaro descended from the tree. He sat down beside me, saying nothing for a bit, it was an awkward silence.
"Princess.." he cleared his throat "If it is uncomfortable for you to sleep you may use my shoulder to sleep on". Normally, I would say no but there was no other option, the closest town was still a few hours away. I nodded and place my head on his shoulder, he was very warm, even though I could sense his unease I closed my eyes.
"Thank you, Kotaro" I said in my sleepy voice.