The Past

Setsuna looked at Uchiha Zhuang's resolute face and began to tell him about her past. In the Land of Snow, temperatures of twenty degrees below zero and blizzards were the norm. Traveling north from the Land of Fire, there were two routes: one crossed the Land of Iron, then went overseas and around the Land of Earth to reach the Land of Snow; the other followed the sheer cliffs of the Land of Earth, a route that was extremely difficult to traverse. Because of its harsh natural climate and its distance from the political struggles at the heart of the continent, the Land of Snow was actually quite peaceful, and its people were relatively happy. But there were drawbacks. Its technology and culture lagged behind, and many bloody, ancient customs had survived. Its economy, social environment, and population were all far below those of the great nations—and even the mid-sized countries—at the continent's center. The Land of Snow still retained its ancient royal authority. Some young people who had traveled through the central lands wanted to change their backward country, but how could the old guard, with their vested interests, ever let go? And so began more than thirty years of domestic turmoil.

Power struggles, warlordism, and division followed. Towns and villages were destroyed and rebuilt, only to be destroyed again, while ordinary people suffered miserably. The young dragon slayers of the past had, in the end, become dragons themselves. Amid the endless fighting, the new rulers were no longer content to bring about a revolution for the country's prosperity. They simply continued slaughtering the former royal family and nobility, hoping to secure control of the Land of Snow for their own clans.

The Snow Ninja Village in the Land of Snow had originally been a place where the country's shrine apprentices studied ritual magic. It gradually grew into something more, incorporating secret techniques and moves from the country's warriors, wandering swordsmen, monks, outsiders, and other factions until it became the uniquely distinctive Snow Ninja Village. Its arts included Snow Release, Ice Release, and the ancient ability to control blood. Among Snow Release's most distinctive techniques were Snow Manipulation, Snow Mist, Snowman, Snow Giant, Avalanche, Snow Clone, Snow Dissolution, Snow Binding, and Snow Turn.

Such a treasure was bound to attract covetous eyes, from both outside and within. At first, the Snow Ninja Village stood united, repelling outside disturbances and even recruiting many commoners to expand its ranks. It survived the thirty years of war. But in the final days of the conflict, the village elders joined together in rebellion, killing the village leader and most of the senior ninja before handing the entire Snow Ninja Village over to the rulers. The elders gained the noble status they had long dreamed of, while the rulers gained a powerful source of strength. Even now, the turmoil had only reached the area around the capital. In the eyes of the distant counties and prefectures, the village was still branded with the name of traitor. The country remained in a wretched state, and though the fighting had eased a little, no one knew when another upheaval would sweep across the nation.

Uchiha Zhuang listened, lost in thought for a moment, then said, "You still haven't told me your own story, Setsuna." Looking at the little girls still huddled together and the three women kneeling motionless on the ground, Setsuna felt a familiar sensation well up inside her. Then she continued, "A few nights before the Snow Ninja Village ceased to exist in all but name, Lord Kazahana Ishi, its leader, summoned every Genin and student he could find, along with several ninja willing to die for him. In a dim secret chamber lit by oil lamps, he told me to take more than a dozen children and escape through a secret passage. We were to find a lord willing to shelter us, in the hope that one day we might reclaim the Snow Ninja Village's honor. But we all knew the Snow Ninja Village of old could never return. Lord Kazahana Ishi only wanted to save as many of us as he could and let us live." As she spoke, Setsuna's expression remained calm, without joy or sorrow.

Uchiha Zhuang knew that no words could truly describe what she had been through. All the resentment, anger, hope, despair, and bloodshed had ultimately faded into nothingness. The lives of an entire group of people, and the courage it took to die protecting what they cherished, sounded so small and insignificant as Setsuna recounted them. "The ninja escorted us all the way. We crossed through the blockades set up by the Land of Snow's army and slipped into towns and villages. But at the last checkpoint on the capital's border, we were stopped. The ninja were surrounded by cavalrymen and scouts who kept arriving in greater numbers. The dozen or so of us children scattered and ran. Just as we were about to be caught, another lord's army appeared and fought the capital's forces. The four or five of us who were left were captured by the lord's soldiers and taken to Lord Sasaki's castle. Sasaki was a copper fetishist. The children who had entered with me were all tortured to death. I thought I would die too, on the bed in that bloodstained cellar. But then the capital's army stormed Sasaki's castle, beheaded him, and hung his head on the castle walls. I was sold abroad as a servant, sailed across the sea to the Land of Fire, and was eventually bought by Delia."

"So you know ninjutsu, but I've never seen you use chakra." After a long silence, Setsuna replied, "Lord Kazahana Ishi placed Snow Binding on me and sealed my chakra." "A remarkable Snow Release technique! But why would you need Snow Binding at just five years old? I don't understand—unless you're..." Uchiha Zhuang stopped there, silently shaping the words "royal family" with his lips. Setsuna's eyes widened. In all her travels and hardships, she had never met a young man so perceptive. This person, who seemed about her age, was powerful and mature beyond his years. He was not to be underestimated.

Uchiha Zhuang said admiringly, "Setsuna, I'll help you get revenge. Tell me, do you want me to wipe out the rulers, the elders, or every traitor in the Land of Snow?!" He spoke as if he had no idea what he was capable of. It was the first time Setsuna had seen someone talk about overthrowing a country and crushing it as casually as if he were discussing a fight in the alley behind a school. She answered with grave seriousness, "I want peace in the Land of Snow, and I want its people to return to happy lives. I'm willing to give my life for that. Can you help me achieve it?" Uchiha Zhuang agreed, just as she had expected. "That little girl with the blood-controlling ability isn't your real sister, is she?" Uchiha Zhuang asked, looking at the exotic girl with bright yellow hair and emerald-green eyes. "I met her in the hands of human traffickers. When Delia bought me, I said I would take her with me. Otherwise, I'd smash my head against the cage and die." "Then I'll leave this little girl in your care. Take this group of children and train them. Teach them anything you learned before—anything at all, as long as it might be useful. I'll make sure you're treated better from now on, Setsuna." "Yes!" Setsuna replied, prostrating herself on the ground.

"Delia, I can overlook your betrayal for now, but I'll never forget it. From this moment on, don't stop the work I assigned you before—in fact, do more, and do it faster. The thought of so many poor children wandering through a country torn apart by war breaks my heart. You three will train with Setsuna, and every day you'll write a journal recording everything that happened, big or small. Keep it here in the secret chamber. I'll come back to read it. Don't do anything to harm your master again, or you'll die." "Yes!" The three women trembled in fear.

It was time to settle accounts with the old tortoise in Tanba.

Tonight felt especially long.