Months later,

On a dark night, in a small town in Japan,

Everyone was sleeping soundly when they suddenly heard a big explosion outside. The people ran out, curious of what was going on and when they saw the town's Church on fire they all looked at each other fearfully while asking questions that no one knew the answer to.

"Who would do this?!"

"Are we being attacked!?"

When a mother came out of her house with her daughter in her arms to look at the Church as well, the little girl looked up and pointed. "Mama, look!" Everyone looked to where the little girl was pointing to see someone, dress in black and wearing some kind of dragon mask. Before anyone could shout out to him, he disappeared in a puff of smoke. Everyone began talking again much more loudly than before.

"Was that a ninja?!"

"It must be the Hamatos, they are the only ninjas around!"

"I bet you it was Yoshi! That brat!"

"No! He would not go this far, would he?!"

"We should go to the Hamato Clan's dojo and ask them ourselves!"

"Yeah!" Everyone said before they all started marching up the mountains, to the dojo.

...

At the dojo,

Yoshi, Saki, and Masato were sitting on the stairs as they listened to the adults talk in the training room. Everyone was shouting at Yuuta and Atsuko, demanding to know who that ninja was and why he burned down the town's Church until Atsuko had enough. She threw a knife at the wall, near a guy's head, making everyone go quiet. "ENOUGH!" She demanded and everyone went quiet, especially when she gave them a frightening glare.

Yuuta sighed in relief. "Thank you, my love." He said to Atsuko before looking at the town's people. "Now, are you certain that you all saw a ninja?"

"Yes!" A man yelled.

"He was wearing black and some kind of weird mask!" Another said. "He also disappeared in a cloud of smoke!" A woman said shakily, still frightened about what she witnessed.

Yuuta hummed. "None of my students wear masks or black clothing. None of my soldiers either."

"What about that son of yours, Hamato Yoshi?!" An old man in the crowd demanded and Atsuko glared piercing eyes at him which made him shudder. "My Yoshi would never burn down a Church! I know you all think he is a troubled child, but he would never go that far!"

On the stairs, Saki and Masato looked at Yoshi with a curious look which made him scowl. "It wasn't me! I was home all day and night!" He hissed. Masato shrugged. "You can not blame us for asking." Saki nodded in agreement as Yoshi rolled his eyes before they all turned their attention back in the training room.

Yuuta sighed. "...I think we might have a rogue ninja on our hands."

"A rogue ninja?" Someone questioned and Yuuta nodded. "Yes. A ninja that follows no clan or code. Rogue ninjas have no sense of honor, and they do whatever they please no matter who they hurt in the process."

"That sounds awful!" An old woman wailed.

"Do not worry. My clan will track down this rogue and put him behind bars."

"And what if that rogue turns out to be your son?!" At that, Atsuko lost her patience and went over to kick the man in the gut, sending him flying and falling on his back. The man landed hard on the ground, and everyone cautiously stepped back from Atsuko as she spoke. "My husband said he'll find the rogue, so if you all don't have any more issues to inform us then leave!"

The villagers didn't waste a second as they all darted out the door. Yuuta gave his wife a disapproving look. "Atsuko, that was unnecessary." Atsuko huffed. "I will destroy and harm anyone who threatens my babies. You know that, Yuuta." Yuuta sighed but did not argue, he was about to call upon his soldiers when Yoshi came in. "You are seriously going to go after a ninja who you know nothing about?!"

Yuuta sighed in annoyance. Yuuta was a patient man but with his son, he couldn't help but have little patience. It's like Yoshi is always on a mission to argue with every decision he makes. "Yoshi, this rogue is dangerous-"

"How do you know that? You never met them."

"They burned down a Church, Yoshi!" Yuuta said firmly but Yoshi rolled his eyes. "It could have been an accident or it might not have been them at all. I just think you are just assuming the worst without really investigating more into it. For all we know, it might not even be a ninja and just some stupid kid!" Atsuko stared at her son before looking at Yuuta. "He has a point, Yuuta."

Yuuta frowned angrily at both of them before whipping his cane on the floor, making them jump. "I am head of this clan and I make the decisions here! I will not risk letting a rogue ninja rom free and destroy everything!" Yoshi opened his mouth to argue further but Yuuta's angry stern face stopped him. "I do not want to hear another word of this, and you better not try to do anything behind my back! Am I clear, Yoshi?!"

Yoshi held his father's gaze for a few moments before lowering his head in submission. "Yes, father." Yoshi then quickly left the room and stomped upstairs to his room, passing his siblings on the way. They winced when they heard his door slam. "I don't get why father is mad. Yo, had a point. We don't know anything about this ninja."

"Do not be foolish, Masato!" Saki scolded quietly. "Father always says that rogues are dirty scums who have no sense of honor! They could care less about the people they hurt, just as long as they get what they want!"

"Have you ever met one yourself? Has Father even met one?" Masato asked and Saki paused. "...no."

"Then how can you know?" Saki scowled. "Well, a ninja who burns down a Church can not be any good."

"Like Yoshi said, it could have been an accident." Masato said with a flat look on his face. Saki rolled his eyes. "Whatever. I'm going to bed."

Masato just shrugged as he watched him go and once he was gone, he went out the front door and went to the guest house where Tang Shen stayed.

...

When Saki went into his and Yoshi's bedroom, he was not at all surprised when he saw Yoshi halfway out the window. Yoshi stared at him for a moment before giving him an innocent smile. "Hey."

"You are going out to look for that rogue, aren't you?"

"Um...maybe?"

Saki gave Yoshi a look and he sighed in defeat. "Please, don't tell Father." Saki crossed his arms. "Why shouldn't I?" Yoshi climbed back in and looked his brother straight in the eye. "Something isn't right, Saki. Why would a ninja burn down a Church? I know Father always says that they are just dishonorable scumbags but what reason could they possibly have for burning down the town's Church? There is more to this, I can feel it."

Saki looked to be debating. He really did want to tell his father just so he could get Yoshi in trouble, maybe it will be enough to convince him that Yoshi is just not worthy for the clan but he also did want to find this ninja. He would be lying if he said Masato's question from earlier didn't make him curious. If his father never saw a rogue himself then how can he know what they are really like? In the end, Saki gave in to his curiosity.

"Fine but I am going with you. I am curious to see what this rogue is like." Yoshi smirked. "You are growing quite a rebellious streak brother, I'm almost proud." Saki groaned. "Let's just go!"

They both then climbed out the window and to Saki's surprise a certain someone decided to join the party. "Pss! Yoshi!" Saki looked down to see Usagi waving at them, and he turned to Yoshi with a frown. "You are taking Usagi with us?! He has only had a few months of training!"

"He can hold his own well enough." Yoshi said, annoyed that his brother is questioning his methods before jumping down and with a roll of his eyes, Saki followed. "So, how do we find this rogue ninja?" Usagi asked and Yoshi smirked. "We go to the scene of the crime and look for any clues. Hopefully, we will find something before my father's soldiers show up."

"You guys are going after the rogue ninja?" A voice said and the boys looked to see Tang Shen showing up out of nowhere. Yoshi gave her a stubborn look. "Don't try to stop me, Shen. I have to do this."

"I know, I want to go with you." Shen said, taking Yoshi by surprise. "What?"

"Masato told me what you said to Yuuta. I want to help prove him wrong." Shen said with determination in her eyes. "Shen, this could be dangerous. I can't ask you to risk your life."

"Yoshi, I know I am not a ninja, but I can take care of myself. You do not have to worry about me." Shen assured. "Shen, no! You could get hurt!" Saki said. Shen frowned at him then looked back at Yoshi. "Let me help."

Yoshi stared at her for a moment and knew just by the look in her eye, there was no way she was going to listen to them. "Fine but stay close to us." Shen smiled before Yoshi crouched down and Shen hopped on his back.

"Yoshi! Usagi is one thing but Shen-!"

"Is smart and can help us track this guy down." Yoshi interrupted before he ran off with Shen and Usagi shrugged at Saki before following Yoshi. Saki growled in annoyance but followed them nonetheless.

...

Meanwhile,

Yuuta was in the dojo meditating when his wife came in. "You are trapped in your mind again, aren't you?" Yuuta opened his eyes to look at her and sighed as she sat next to him. "Sixteen, Atsuko. That is how old Yoshi is now, but he does not seem ready for the next step of his training. I was two years younger than he is now when my father made me leader. I keep waiting for him to mature Atsuko, but it does not seem like it is going to happen. Saki, however, seems more than ready and I am starting to think about making him my heir instead, but I still do not know. I am going to need to choose a successor soon so I can train them but...I do not know who to choose...I think Saki will be a nice leader, but Yoshi is the first born, it is his birthright and I just..."

'You don't want to further the draft between you and Yoshi.' Is what Atsuko picked up on. Atsuko has no idea what went wrong with her husband and son. After Yuuta recovered from the war and learned of Saki's curse, he became much too busy with the clan and Yoshi was growing to be quite the handful as he got older. Atsuko remembers every argument the two had over the dumbness of things for the past 13 years. Her husband and son are just so different that it's hard for them to understand one another. Yuuta acts more like sensei rather than a father and is too strict with his children. Yoshi is stubborn and determined to do what he wants no matter the danger and rarely ever thinks things through.

Atsuko knows that Yuuta loves his children and is only raising them the only way he knows how to but it just hurts Atsuko seeing her husband and son so far apart. Yoshi barely ever talks to his father unless it's to argue or during training hours and Yuuta is never there for Yoshi emotionally.

Right now, Atsuko wanted to yell at Yuuta and Yoshi both. She wants to make them hug and make up, but she knows, no matter how much she threatens, that they will never see eye to eye unless they do it on their own, on their own terms. So, instead Atsuko said, "An answer will come to you, in time but you have to be patient."

"I know...I just hope I make the right choice..." Atsuko gave him a side hug. "You will, my love but right now, it is time to rest." Yuuta nodded before Atsuko helped him on his feet and they both went into the bedroom, neither of them knowing that their two eldest sons were gone.

(Question! Please answer! For future stories Should I give Shinigami a sibling and if so, how many and what gender? Or should I just leave her as an only child? I have a few characters in mind who I think would make perfect sisters and brothers to Shinigami.)