Scarlet Justice - ep. 133
"Kindle"
[Golden Rust: Closing]

"If you need me, I'll be in the conference room as always."

Maria takes away our plates and utensils, stacking them onto a wooden tray. She nods towards Mifune before heading out, closing the door behind her.

After a delicious meal, the old general moves to pour us both tea. We sit across from each other in two comfortable chairs, his desk in the background with a large window behind it. Today's skies are just a bit grey.

"Before we begin, I must thank you for accepting my invitation. It certainly was sudden, and I would have understood if you had reservations about meeting with me so suddenly," Mifune says.

"It was no trouble at all. I do know that Lord Hokage doesn't do these things without reason. A moment of my time can be spared, especially for those of your status," I reply.

"Hm. You are quite eloquent for someone of your age."

"I have been told as much. That can be attributed to various influences...though I am capable of speaking plainly enough, depending on circumstances."

"I see. Very interesting to note." He takes a sip of tea from his cup. "Your father was an executive at Kobayashi Rice Corporation, as I recall."

"That is correct, yes. He passed on a few months prior to this. Our relationship was...slightly strained at the time of his departure," I say carefully. "Even so, his death left a sizable mark on me."

"I see. My condolences for your loss."

"I appreciate that. Thank you."

"So you have an understanding of society's upper stratum, as well as the insights of those called shinobi in this world. It is a rare and important perspective to have. With that all said, I would like to ask you a question."

"Of course. Ask whatever you might desire, General."

"Thank you. What is your understanding of the shinobi's measure of power?" he asks.

An interesting question to ask me. After testing my convictions, perhaps there is something more he seeks?

"Many times it has been said that the strength of a shinobi is the strength of the village, and the strength of the village is the strength of the nation. All said, each shinobi cultivates strength within themselves, then the strength of each shinobi is collectivized by way of military organization. More strong shinobi means more power in the hands of the state. A stronger state then has more leverage, and more of a means to impose their will. In like manner...inferior shinobi organized into a collective force are weaker than the desired average. It means they are overtaken for missions, they are vulnerable to attack, and they are forced to take what they can get in negotiations. National strength decides what territories are defended and acquired. It decides treaties, it tips the hands of operatives, it limits what heinous crimes one nation can commit against another. But the single most important thing is the power of one. One shinobi, honed and refined to reach their greatest potential."

"Mm."

"To contrast, you and the people of this nation hold to the ideal of 'wa'. A peaceful unity, and what one might call conformity within a larger group. That message of harmony over selfish interests. Each person coming together to create a greater whole. Far from a suppression of movement and expression, it is simply asked that everyone and everything is considered as a group, as a larger thing. Those who move too far out of line for the sake of their own ambitions are corrected, either by peers or elders who understand the way. This concept is how the samurai function as elite units. They come together with understanding, unified tactics, and the ability to cover for one another in an instant. The need for all powerful personal techniques is non-existent; with technical competence and supreme physical conditioning, most opponents can be countered and suppressed without resorting to extreme means."

"I see. It's little wonder Sarutobi wanted me to meet you," Mifune says as he strokes his beard. "Your ability to see into things so quickly is truly impressive."

"You flatter me so. I am but a humble student of this age, at least for now. But yes, this is my understanding of the differences between our two worlds."

"And what place do you see for those differing strengths?" he asks. I take another sip of my tea and think for a few seconds more.

"That is to say...if I find one superior to the other."

"If you see fit to answer in that form."

"Each has their place. But to give a proper response, there is no reason that those who gather up personal strength, in the way of the shinobi, should discard their tradition instead of evolving it. Those who chase for greater ideals, and choose to risk themselves, will be able to harness their personal power for a greater good. In time, the personal strength within us will no longer be something left only to soldiers. Each person will be able to find a power for themselves, and apply it to their ideals."

"Would you not want to combine the two ideals? That of great personal power and a harmonious world?"

"I would not," I say. "It is something that would lead to great disaster in the future, and rob future children of the opportunity to discover themselves. The destructive potential of the past can be changed into something that does good, and on a global scale. Much in the way of blood has been shed moving towards this point. We cannot extinguish the flame out of a misguided sense of fairness and harmony. To throw everything away for a false peace, lurching towards the end of history...bluntly, that sort of talk disgusts me." I take a long sip of my tea after finishing.

"I see. You are a complex person, Lili Kobayashi. The reason for this meeting was to gain an understanding of the person that Sarutobi so admired and wished for me to meet. There is also something else. A familiarity, you might say."

"Who might I remind you of?" I ask, curious.

"You know of Lord Hanzo, I presume."

"Hanzo of the Salamander. Yes...that man who was the terror of the five great shinobi nations. A legend, one called a force of nature. Have you come upon him in your time on this earth?"

"I have. In fact, he was the man who gave me my greatest wound," Mifune says, pointing to his bandaged head. "Far from debilitating...but I have grown so used to wearing the bandages that they became part of my routine."

"I see. Well, it is a distinctive look."

He chuckles. "I have heard as much from young people like yourself."

"What was that man like? From your wording...it seemed like he had the same understanding of the world that I do, and possibly the same sorts of ideals."

"Lord Hanzo has been feared for a long time. Many decades, at the least. When I fought him, I was a much younger man. He defeated me, and I was poisoned. I was sure that I was going to die, but would accept it as long as my comrades were spared. In response, Lord Hanzo decided he was going to test me."

"Test?" I ask.

"He gave me the antidote to his potent poison, one that I would have never overcome on my own. There was no guarantee of my survival, and I am sure that he assumed me dead once he left. He honoured my final request, to leave my comrades be. And beyond that, he asked me for my name."

"Names carry great power in this world. He was moved by your courage, and so he chose to venerate you as a hero. This was the way he brought fame to the Sannin as well."

"Yes."

"The conviction you showed him allowed you to become the general of this land. A hero of great renown, and a leader that has guided his people safely into the future. Hanzo saw your gifts within a single moment...that choice you made to stand and fight, when all others had fled." I pause a moment. "That was what you were searching for in our exchange earlier."

"Yes, that is true." He sets down his tea on the table in front of us. "Iaido is a method used to draw as quickly as possible, and dispatch opponents in single strokes. Though powerful, it takes much in the way of effort to truly master. But it is a useful tool against those versed in the shinobi arts. Most techniques require the use of handseals. You understand where I am going with this."

"I do, yes."

"Stopping your movements in order to block is the wisest and most prudent move against such that type of swordsmanship. To continue on fearlessly is impressive in and of itself. But what struck me in our exchange was the way you avoided my blade in order to complete your technique, Lili Kobayashi. Not just recklessly moving forward, but confidently leveraging your abilities in order to face me down and succeed. Your movements were graceful and measured, and your timing was impeccable. To avoid my blade in the way you did requires many things all at once: talent, training, wisdom, and conviction. You are a rare sort, the type of person that comes so infrequently it may be called miraculous."

"To say that much..." I put my head down and try to hide my blushing. I have a high estimation of myself, yes, but to hear this samurai praise me so...it might be too much to take, even now.

"Well, that much is only fair. It is the reason why I wanted to speak with you in this setting."

"I-I see. But then...Hanzo has changed in the time that has passed, hasn't he?"

"Yes. The man that I revered and respected started to become a shell of his former self. He has become obsessed with protecting himself and safeguarding the power that he holds now, as the leader of the Hidden Rain. He has become reclusive, reportedly surrounded by body guards. His actions are shrouded in darkness every hour of the day. Because of this, we have heard of none of the legendary feats of his heyday. Lord Hanzo...as a person, he has surely become dulled and blunted by now."

"Dull..."

Mifune takes a sip of his tea before continuing. "Part of the samurai way...the philosophy that people are much like swords. Does that resonate with you as well, Lili Kobayashi?"

"To say that people are like swords...hm. I can understand it with just that. Swords have many uses, many roles within culture. Vaunted heirlooms that gain strong names and are passed down from generation to generation. Tools of war that only function at their best when they are maintained properly. Cleaned of blood and dirt, sharpened, honed. Processes repeated over and over, to create the blades of legend that cut open paths to the future."

"Yes, you understand perfectly."

"So that legend Hanzo...allowed himself to dull and rust, and sits in disrepair even now. Atop his empire of dirt and stone."

"It is a tragic thing. I remember my battle with Lord Hanzo as if it were yesterday. I remember the things he told me, when he was filled with conviction and vigour. He wanted to test my convictions, but he also had his own. His true goal was to unite the shinobi world, and bring peace to it once and for all."

My eyes widen. "That...was Hanzo's goal?"

"Yes. I persevered, but...unfortunately, he did not. He abandoned his goals, and his conviction. He settled for the power he gained as the head of a shinobi village. Perhaps he became worn down by the endless struggle. Perhaps he saw a mountain too high to climb. Perhaps he was broken by some event we are not, nor will ever be, privy to. But the legend of Lord Hanzo...even if the man lives today, that legend has turned to dust."

"Is that the ultimate fate of those who try to turn the world?"

"I do not believe that. Do you remember what I said earlier? People are like swords."

"Yes..."

"Their feelings and convictions can be passed down from person to person, and down through the generations. Lord Hanzo passed his convictions on to me, and it is for that reason that I stand before you today. But you would know about things of this nature. Are you not known as a blade of justice yourself, Lili Kobayashi?"

Is this what he was getting at? I see now...the movement of the heavens truly is curious at times.

"Ane-ue saw strength in me, strength that I didn't know was there," I say with a hand over my heart. "And she chose to love me...from there, with her guidance and training, I became a beautiful weapon, one able to cut through the threads of fate and create my own destiny. From what she started, more strength poured in. I honed myself, becoming stronger and wiser each day. Overcoming challenge after challenge, rising above myself. As I sit here before you, the great General of samurai who has guided his people into prosperity, I hold many names. Those born from love, and those born from overwhelming power. General Mifune...you mean to say that Hanzo's spirit has been passed down to you, as a means of further tempering you, and thus still lives on today...even if the legend himself exists no longer."

"Yes, exactly."

"Hanzo had a great dream, but unlike you and I, he had nobody to fight for. All he had was himself, and his power. Because of that, when he eventually became worn down by all of the world's challenges, when the only strength he had to rely on was physical, he could not pull himself out of that spiral. He eventually fell downwards into despair, believing that nothing could be done. That shinobi, and indeed all humans, would simply fall towards their base desires. That peace would never come, no matter how much blood was spilled, and no matter how many sacrifices were made."

Mifune looks at me curiously.

"Hanzo may have fallen...but you and I know that he was not a failure. His dream lives on in you, and now that I know his story, it blossoms in me as well. And because I have a reach further than either of you, because I have been blessed as chosen of heaven, I will be able to see it through. Not just fate...I will cut apart reality itself, as the great blade of justice, and as mankind's greatest revolutionary."

"Lili..."

"I say these things with the utmost confidence, General Mifune." I look at him staunchly. "I believe in them, and I believe in myself. But I am not alone. I will never be alone. Because I was born an elegant blade, too. The name you speak was one passed down, by a woman who could see further than anyone ever could. She called me a heavenly blossom, and made sure that it was embedded in my spirit. I have things that I was given, and many more things that I intend to pass down."

"I see." He laughs heartily. "Truly, you have been raised well by the God of Shinobi!"

"Thank you..."

"I will praise you in my heart for accepting my dream, and that of Lord Hanzo's. For you to acknowledge him as a hero in his own right, that was something that I wished to hear."

"Of course," I say with a smile. "I wouldn't expect someone with less than admiration for him to refer to him so reverently, even now. If I should meet Hanzo on my journey, I will remind him of your battle. It's possible he knew, somewhere in his heart, that you lived on. I will learn from Hanzo of the Salamander...his triumphs, and his mistakes. And I will build on that with my loved ones. Our strength alone is sufficient to tear the world asunder as we please. But for true revolution, it will take more than that. Those hands that support us can also help us turn the world."

"Well said. I wish you luck in your journey, Lili Kobayashi. And look forward to your time as Hokage."

"You do have quite a bit of confidence in me, General."

"Perhaps so." He takes a sip of his tea. "But I know that I will not regret putting my faith in you."

"Thank you for that, sir." I finish my own tea and set the cup down. "And thank you for this tea, it was truly delicious. As a gift for your wisdom and hospitality...would you like to hear a story of mine?"

"A story? It sounds intriguing."

"It is a story about the great mother wolf, a mistress of the blade. She wielded a nodachi, one filled with divine strength."

Mifune sits up attentively, setting his cup down. "A divine warrior of the forest? Please, tell on."

"As you wish, General. I came to blows with this woman in a brilliant dance...her name was Fubuki Inugami."

"I'm taking it things went well in your meeting?"

Joshua and I are seated in the dining car of this private train, getting ready to enjoy a light meal as we return to the city proper.

"They went very well, yes. Though I cannot yet divulge to you the details of our conversation."

"Heh. That's only fair. I wouldn't pry either way."

"I see."

"Though...I have my own guesses about the details myself. Whatever's happening, good luck to you."

"Thank you, Joshua. If I might ask something of you?"

"Sure."

"Many hands will be needed to see our dreams through in the future," I say to him. "If I could ask you to support General Mifune as much as you possibly can, to that end..."

"No need to ask twice. I'm all in," he says with a smile. "I'm guessing you'll be in the big chair sooner than later, so...when we get there, of course."

"Yes. When we get there."

"Pretty exciting to think about, though. Can't wait."

I break apart my chopsticks as we settle into silence.

With the next morning comes the end of our visit. Between last night's dinner and today's breakfast, we shouldn't be at any risk of starving on our trip back home.

"It was really great hosting you! Y'all take care, and be safe on your way back!"

Cadence gives us each a smothering hug, along with a wooden lunch box to dig into during our journey. They definitely have a weight to them, which I expected of her. We should be just fine as far as food goes. Hina and Shino completed their tasks, recording information that will be sent to the Hokage and used to help bolster national security. The Iron has also gleaned new information that they will use to secure their own borders, and stifle the influence of outfits such as Akatsuki. Nothing out of the ordinary has gone on, aside from my little meeting with Mifune. I have to wonder if that was the real purpose behind this mission, and everything else was busywork. Even then, I couldn't ever call it a waste.

"We'll take you guys down to the train station. From there, it's all you," Joshua says to us.

"The last stop is where you want off, just like when we came in. Easy to make your way out from there," Yuna explains. "Either way, it's been a pleasant experience. Never thought I'd say that to shinobi and all."

"You have been very gracious hosts," I say to her. "It is very much appreciated, given your previous experiences. Hopefully we will cross paths again soon."

"Yeah. I feel the same way."

"Miss Lili...please be safe..."

I gently rub Aria's head. "I will, my darling. I hope to see you soon...I know that you're going to grow into a lovely woman who will do great things. Take care of your Mama and Papa, yes?"

"I will. Thank you..."

"Let's hit the road, y'all," Joshua says. "Sprout, wife. See you soon."

"Aye-aye, hubby!" Cadence says with a salute. Aria nods and follows suit.

The five of us take another rickshaw ride into Kurosawa Port, and stop at the train station where we entered a few days prior. The driver gets instructions to wait as Joshua and Yuna escort us to the platform. We can see the locomotive in the distance puffing out steam.

"Guess that's a wrap. It was great having you guys," Joshua says. "Thanks for stopping by, and make sure you're not strangers."

"We can make sure of that here and now," I say as I produce three cards. Two of them have my business information, the other is blank. "Here you are. Do you need a pen?"

"I got one," Joshua says. "Yuna, your work box is fine, right?"

"Sure is."

"Alright, just a second..." He quickly writes on the card and hands it back to me. Very neat writing, but that should be expected of a budding scholar. "That should let us send stuff back and forth if we need to. Snazzy cards, though. Maybe I should get a set of my own."

"They're quite convenient for situations like these. Networking is just as important to me as ninjutsu."

"I don't doubt it. The world really is in good hands, don't you think, Yuna?"

"Heh. Sounds like it. Well, you guys better get on the train before it tears off. See you around."

"Yeah. Take care, and keep doing big things," Joshua follows up.

"We shall, good sir."

After exchanging warm handshakes, Hina, Shino, and I enter the train with all of our items. We wave off Joshua and Yuna one more time as the train departs, then settle into our seats for the journey to the eastern edge of the country. Homeward bound once more.

"We can discuss the details of our mission on the way back to the Leaf," I say to my comrades. "For now, it should be a good time to relax and gather our thoughts until we can have a proper sit down."

"I agree," Hina says. "Lili, might I ask something?"

"Of course, my love. What is it?"

"Your meeting with General Mifune...it must have been something that reached beyond the purview of mortals such as ourselves."

"It was so, yes. He saw in me someone that could succeed where others had failed. Someone who could truly bring about revolution, and give this world the hope it deserves. That destructive title of World Serpent, given to me by Fubuki-senpai...it holds more meaning than most realize."

"I see."

"It will be a path stained with blood, Hina. Those who wish and pray for great change, but are not prepared to fight to their last breath for it, are those who will never see those dreams come to pass."

"It's as I said before. No matter what happens, or even if the world turns against me...I will be by your side, no matter what. That is my promise to you, Lili."

"Yes. Shino, what say you?" I ask him.

He adjusts his glasses. "I feel the same, Boss. Deciding to be your right hand was not something just for the good times. If the journey towards your justice leads into the darkness, then I'm prepared to handle all of that. I don't see anything else making sense."

"Thank you, Shino. I love you dearly for that."

"You're welcome, Lili."

"With those declarations...we are no longer just Team Eight of the Hidden Leaf. But our true form is yet to be known. We will continue to grow in wisdom and in strength."

"Yes," Hina and Shino say in unison.

I look through the window at the passing scenery. This is it. I know where I'm going, and I can start planning how I will get there.

"Our journey to the promised land begins at this moment. And with this divine strength, I claim victory. The only thing left...is to see it through."