Years later,

5 year old Saki was sitting on the swings reading his book with a slight content smile on his face. Saki doesn't have many friends, his only friends were his brother, Yoshi and Tang Shen. It's not that Saki doesn't want friends, it's just that he likes to keep to himself and do his own thing which many kids, for some reason, found strange.

"Hamato Saki!" Someone suddenly called and Saki looked up to see a boy with black hair and white eyes. He wore a white shirt and gray shorts. His name was Hattori Tatsu, born blind but has amazing other senses but many still mock him for it which he takes out on Saki because besides him, Saki was the weirdest kid in the village.

"Yes, Hattori Tatsu?" Saki asked with a bored expression. Tatsu took a minute, listening closely before smiling. "I don't sense your annoying brother anywhere. Did he finally find some other friend and abandon you?!"

Saki scowled. "Yoshi wouldn't do that to me."

"You sure? Because from what I heard, many kids can't even believe you two are brothers...makes me wonder if you are adopted." Saki sucked in a sharp breath at that, he wondered once or twice if he was adopted but...now everyone was saying it too?

Tatsu smirked. "Ah, so you think you are adopted as well? Makes sense. I mean, you are very different from your brother, not just in personality but appearance as well. A friend of mine described you two to me and when I heard what he said, I have to admit I wasn't that surprised. He said that you have brown hair while Yoshi and your parents have black. He also said that Yoshi has red eyes as well as your mother and your father has brown eyes while you have black."

Saki hugged his book to his chest. It was true. It was all true. He looked nothing like his parents or Yoshi for that matter. He didn't have anything in common with his family either. His mother and brother seem to have the same fiery personality while his father is a simple man. Saki isn't like either of them...

"Hey, Hattori!" An angry voice called and Saki looked to see his brother angrily running towards them. "What have I told you about messing with my brother!" Yoshi jumped up and tried to kick Tatsu but he moved out of the way, making Yoshi fall on his face.

"And how many times have I told you, Yoshi-san, I can hear you coming from a mile away. You can't touch me." Yoshi growled and got back up with his fists ready. "We'll see about that!" Yoshi then tried to punch him but Tatsu blocked it and punched Yoshi in the stomach, making him gag and fall on his knees. Tatsu then took off before he could recover but not before shouting out, "Good luck with your family, Saki-san!"

Yoshi slowly got up and tried to run after him but Saki grabbed his shoulder. "How many times do I have to tell you, Yoshi. I don't want your help! I had it under control!" Yoshi huffed and pulled away from him. "Well, excuse me for just trying to look out for my little brother. What was that dirty no-eye jerk saying to you?!"

Saki sighed. "Nothing. Let's just go home." He then began to walk away with Yoshi shouting, "Hey! Don't give me that crap! Tell me what he was saying!" He demanded as he ran up to his brother's side. Saki exhaled. "Why can't you just let it go."

Yoshi glared at him. "Because you looked like you were about to cry!" He shouted and Saki halted. "What? You think I didn't notice? Come on, Saki, just tell me!" Saki narrowed his eyes. "Why? So you can fight him? If you haven't noticed, Yoshi, you always fail to hit him and all it's going to do is get you in trouble."

Yoshi pouted at that but sighed. "I promise I won't hit him, just tell me!"

Saki knew Yoshi wasn't one to break promises, so he knew he could trust that Yoshi won't try to pick a fight with Tatsu but could he trust Yoshi to understand? When Saki asked his father if he was adopted, he shouted at Saki, saying how ashamed and disappointed he was of him for even thinking such a thing. His mother comforted him when he went to her crying, telling her what happened and she said that sometimes pain can cause such a reaction but she did not give him an answer and he knew that she wasn't planning to so he just gave up.

Yoshi put a hand on Saki's shoulder, snapping him out of his thoughts. "Saki, tell me, trust me." He slightly begged and Saki stared at him for a few moments before sighing. "...He said that we aren't brothers. He said that I'm adopted."

"WHAT?!" Yoshi yelled furiously but calmed when he saw the frown his brother was giving him. "That's stupid, Saki! You are not-"

"Yes I am! I know it!" Saki yelled and Yoshi scoffed. "Why? Because Tatsu told you?"

"No, I thought I was adopted before Tatsu told me!" Saki admitted and Yoshi raised a brow. "Why would you think that?" Saki rolled his eyes. "Look at us, Yoshi! I look nothing like you or mother or father! My hair is brown and my eyes are black! Plus, I'm not fun like you or smart like mother or strong like father! I'm just boring! Our parents aren't my parents, we aren't brothers, we aren't blood, we are just-"

Saki got interrupted when Yoshi slapped him. "Ow!"

"Shut up!" Yoshi yelled, glaring at his brother, completely irritated. "Look, Saki, we might not look alike but that doesn't mean you are adopted! Maybe you look like some old relative of ours or something! We also may act differently but that just means you have your own personality and you aren't boring, your training to be a ninja and we both love it! We have that in common, don't we?!"

"Yeah, I guess we do." Saki admitted and he looked at Yoshi with a bit of hope. "Do you really think I'm not adopted?" Yoshi then smiled. "Look, even if you were, you will still be my little brother. No matter what! Blood or no blood!"

Saki looked down, seeming to be considering. "You promise?" Yoshi spit in his palm and offered it to Saki. "Promise!" Saki cringed. "Ew! You're gross!"

"Shake it or else we won't be brothers anymore!" Yoshi said teasingly and Saki sighed before spitting in his own palm and shaking Yoshi's hand. "Now we will forever be brothers!"

...

In the dojo,

The two brothers smiled as they walked inside the dojo but frowned when they saw their father standing by the dojo with his arms crossed and a stern look on his face. "Where have you boys been?! You have missed training!"

Both boys' mouths fell. "TRAINING WAS TODAY?!"

"Yes, I told Yoshi last night and I told him to tell you, Saki!" Saki glared at his brother. "YOSHI!" Yoshi tensed. "WOops."

"WOops?!"

"I forgot!"

"Yoshi!" Yuuta scolded and Yoshi turned to him. "You are grounded for a week! Also, do 20 flips, now!" Yoshi's jaw dropped. "What?! That's not fair! It was an accident!"

"Accidents can not be afforded, not during battle, not during training, not during anything so that is no excuse." Yuuta said firmly and Yoshi scowled. "Well, why isn't Saki getting punished?!"

"Because of you, he was completely unaware that he had training today, you however, were! Now do as you are told! No more backtalk!" Yoshi grumbled as he went to the other side of the room and began to do 20 flips in the corner.

Suddenly, the doors opened again and the three looked to see the Tangs walk in. 5-year-old Shen beamed when she saw her friends and quickly ran over to Saki, hugging him. "Saki!" She laughed and Saki smiled. "Hello, Shen."

Shen looked at Yoshi and notice that he was angrily doing flips, purposely stomping the ground harder as he landed. "Yoshi, did you get in trouble?" Shen asked and Yoshi growled at her. "No!"

"Yes." Saki answered and Yoshi sent him a hateful glare before continuing with his flips. Amaya glanced at Yoshi then at Yuuta. "Did we come at a bad time?" Yuuta shook his head. "No, no, it is fine. I am happy to see you again but I am afraid Yoshi will not be allowed to play with Shen today."

"Oh, come on!" Yoshi whined as he went back to his father, finally finishing with his flips. "It's not even that big of a deal!" Yuuta opened his mouth to scold his son but before he could, his wife came in, rubbing her big pregnant belly. "What is going on?"

"Papa, won't let me play with Shen because I forgot we had training today!" Yoshi said while pointing at his father and Atsuko frowned at her husband. "Yuuta, don't be so strict. Today is supposed to be a nice day. I really don't want any drama."

"Yoshi, needs to learn to be responsible, Atsuko." Yuuta said while crossing his arms and Atsuko rolled her eyes. "He's a child, Yuuta, and you only get that once. Let him play." Yuuta looked at his wife and his pleading looking son and sighed. "Fine but then he is grounded afterwards!"

"YES!" Yoshi cheered before grabbing Shen's hand. "Come on, Shen!" He said before dragging her outside, Saki quickly following behind and the adults laughed at them.

"Those three really are inseparable." Amaya said smiling and the Hamatos nodded in agreement but Fu frowned. "Hm, I am not sure about her playing alone with those boys. They can get rough."

"Oh, Fu." Amaya mused while giving her husband a little nudge. "Do not mind him. He is just very protective over Shen; he was the same with our daughter Ren when she was Shen's age. Yuuta will probably act the same if the baby is a girl. Speaking of which, how is your pregnancy?" Atsuko groaned. "Kicking none-stop now."

Amaya chuckled. "I remember the feeling. I am happy to see you two are pregnant. You have been trying for a long time now since Saki's third birthday, right?"

"Yes. Same thing happened when we were trying to have our first baby. It took a good couple years before we finally had our little Yoshi." Atsuko said, smiling at her husband. "It was the complete opposite when I had Ren." Amaya said. "We were not even trying at all but though we did not plan it, we were very happy and excited when we heard the news, especially after learning we were going to have a little girl..." Amaya suddenly felt herself frowning and Fu frowned as well, wrapping his arm around her.

Atsuko noticed the need for a change of subject. "We were thinking about having more children but decided against it."

"Why is that? You two make such wonderful parents." Fu asked. "Thank you but managing two little ones is already difficult and with our duties to the clan and everything, we just can not be at all places at once. So, this little one will be our last."

"Do you have any idea what the gender is?" Amaya then asked.

"No but I have a strong sense that we are having another boy." Atsuko said with a smile. "If it is a boy, we are planning on naming him after Atsuko's father, Masato." Yuuta said.

"Not your father, Master Yuuta?" Fu said surprised, knowing how much Yuuta valued his father. "No. I have thought about it, but I already named Yoshi when he was born and Atsuko does not have anything to honor her father by, like I do, so it is only fair."

"Yes and I appreciate it, my love." Atsuko said, giving him a peck on the cheek. Yuuta smiled at her then at the couple. "So, how is the business in Fukuoka?"

"It was rough in the beginning. I have never been a business person but I think, I finally got it down." Amaya chuckled. "Shen, has also started helping a little but sometimes, she can make a couple mistakes. Like the other day."

"Oo, do tell." Atsuko said interested.

...

With Shen and the boys,

"Hey, wait up you guys!" Shen whined as she tried to keep up with her friends who were racing towards the river. "You're going to lose Shen!" Yoshi teased as he picked up the pace. Shen pouted and tried to run faster but ended up tripping on her knees.

Yoshi immediately noticed and stopped. "Shen!" He called before running back to her which made Saki stop as well. "Are you ok?" He asked while helping her to her feet. "I'm fine. I just tripped. Sorry."

Saki raised a brow. "What are you saying sorry for?"

"Yeah, it's not your fault you are such a clutz." Yoshi said with a teasing smile and Shen scowled at him before swatting his arm. "You're so mean, Yoyo!"

"Yoyo?" Another voice said before it burst out laughing. The three looked to see a boy with no hair and blue eyes. He wore a gray kimono. "Who is that?" Shen asked and Saki scowled before answering. "Hayashi Toru. A friend of Tatsu's."

Yoshi growled. "Get lost, Toru! These are private lands! You aren't allowed here!" Toru grinned. "Says who?"

"GET LOST!" Yoshi shouted and Toru laughed. "Careful, Yoyo. You wouldn't want to get in trouble with your daddy again, would you?" Yoshi tightened his fist and clenched his jaw. "You are nothing but a disappointment, aren't you? Everyone in the village says that if Hamato Yuuta ever let you lead the clan, that they would all be doomed."

"Stop it! Yoshi would be a good leader, you have no right to say things to him!" Shen yelled and Toru smiled at her. "Aw, you need a girl to defend you? How pathetic."

"Shut up." Yoshi said between his teeth. "Yoshi, let's just go." Saki said and grabbed his brother's arm. "You can't do anything for yourself, can you? You are just a pathetic whiny little baby! No wonder your father hates you!"

Suddenly, Yoshi's veins felt like they were on fire, his heart was beating fast and he started to see red. "I said...SHUT UP!" Yoshi shouted before he jumped on Toru, punching him, again and again.

"Yoshi, stop!" Saki called and tried to pull Yoshi off of Toru but Yoshi pushed him away and continued to punch him as he begged him to stop. "Pl-Please! I'm sorry! Stop it!" He cried as blood poured from his nose and right when he saw the blood, that's when Yoshi finally snapped out of it. He looked confused at first but when he looked at Toru, horror crossed his face.

Toru's face was already forming bruises and dark blood was pouring from his nose, meaning Yoshi had broken it.

"Mama!" Toru cried as he covered his nose and Yoshi slowly got off of him. "I'm going to go get Papa!" Saki said before running back to the dojo. Yoshi trampled as reality of what he did sank in and he looked at his blood covered hands.

"Yoyo?" Shen called worriedly but Yoshi didn't look at her, he just continued to shake before he started screaming, fear and anger taking control. He was scared about what he had done and angry that he couldn't control himself.

"Hamato Yoshi, what have you done?!" Yuuta's voice suddenly yelled, and Yoshi looked at him, still shaking like a leaf. The anger and disappointment on Yuuta's face was as clear as day which only made Yoshi angrier.

Amaya and Fu went over to the injured boy as Atsuko went to stand by Yuuta's side, looking at her son worriedly. "Yoyo, it's ok, just calm down." Angry tears started to pour from Yoshi's eyes. "I-It-wasn't my fault!! It was him!! He started it!! I didn't-"

"It is your fault! You are the one who attacked him!" Yuuta shouted harshly, making Yoshi flinch before he started screaming in rage again. "Yuuta, yelling at him isn't going to help!" Atsuko scolded.

"Shen!" Saki called and the adults looked to see Shen slowly walking towards Yoshi who was glaring at her. "Shen, stay away from him! He might hurt you!" Saki yelled but Shen ignored him before she quickly wrapped her arms around Yoshi, making him tense. "It's ok, Yoyo. It was an accident. You didn't mean it." She spoke gently and Yoshi's lip trembled before he fell on his knees, Shen falling with him, still keeping a tight hold on him. "I-I don't know what happened! I-I didn't mean it!" He sobbed and Shen rubbed his back. "I know. It is ok, Yoyo. It is ok."

Everyone watched the scene in silence, all were amazed that Shen was able to calm Yoshi down. Yuuta frowned and went over to his son. Yoshi lifted his eyes to look at him and he could tell just by the look on his father's face that he was in serious trouble.

...

Later,

"We are very sorry, Mrs. Hayashi." Yuuta said to a woman who was hugging her still crying son. Mrs Hayashi glared at him. "You should be! That child of yours is a menace! I don't want him anywhere near any of my children again, do you understand?!"

Atsuko growled and opened her mouth to say something, but Yuuta stopped her. "We understand, Mrs. Hayashi." Once they left, Yuuta took a heavy sigh. "This can not go on. I do not know what to do about him, Atsuko."

Atsuko frowned. "He's still a child, Yuuta, he will learn how to control himself. Have faith in him." Yuuta shook his head. "That boy does not need faith. He needs discipline and a strict talking to from his father."

"Yuuta, you already yelled and punished him! Just leave him alone for now!"

"No, Atsuko! He needs to understand what he has done!" Atsuko sighed. "Fine. Then let me talk to him."

"Atsuko-" Yuuta started but Atsuko cut him off. "I understand what Yoshi is going through. I might be able to get through to him more than you can." Yuuta stared at her for a moment before sighing. "Fine."

Atsuko smiled before going to Yoshi's room, to see him sulking on his bed. Atsuko sat next to him and Yoshi lifted his eyes to look at her. She sighed. "You are better than this, Yoshi. I understand why you got angry but that is no reason to hurt others."

Yoshi sniffed. "I try, mama! I really try but no matter what I do, I can't control it!" Atsuko grabbed her son's shoulders and looked at him firmly. "Yes, you can. If I could then I know that you can."

"Wh-What do you mean?" Yoshi asked and Atsuko sighed. "My mother always told me that I have a fiery temper, I would lash out constantly but when my parents died, my temper grew dangerous. I didn't just lash out anymore, I would hurt anyone who would upset me, even my own siblings who I swore I would protect. After breaking my little sister's arm after she called me 'a bitch' because I wouldn't give her a second bowl of soup, I realized what I was becoming. I ran into the woods and sat by the river. I then noticed a stone in the river. I stared at that stone, watching how the water would go over it and that's when I realized it. If I wanted to protect my siblings and not hurt anyone anymore then I needed to become that stone. So, I began to say a chant that helped control my temper. It took a few good years until I could control my temper fully but when I finally did, I didn't need the chant anymore."

Atsuko then looked at her son seriously. "Yoshi, that boy may have said hurtful things, but it was you who turned his words into weapons. If you want to control your temper, then you need to remind yourself to let the words wash over you. Your temper is a power that can be used for good, if you learn to control it but if you don't it could become dangerous."

"But how?" Atsuko then smiled. "I'm going to teach you the chant. Every time you feel like you are about to lose control, just say this, like a river, over stone."

"Like a river, over stone?" Yoshi echoed and Atsuko nodded. "You are the stone. You are stronger than any words. Remember that." Yoshi nodded. "Like a river over stone, like a river over stone." He kept repeating under his breath, making sure to memorize the words and Atsuko smiled at him the whole time.