The Love of a Ninja

During this period, the Senju Clan and the Hagoromo Clan fell into conflict over a mission. With numerous factions fanning the flames, the friction between the two clans deepened. Coupled with long-standing grievances, what began as a minor skirmish finally escalated into full-scale war.

Many young ninjas from both the Senju and Hagoromo clans were forced onto the battlefield. Senju Kyogawa, not yet five years old, was not selected for the front lines.

However, as "mature" ninjas over the age of seven, all four of Senju Kyogawa's older brothers were required to fight.

Senju Kawarama was an excellent ninja. He possessed a masterful command of swordsmanship, was proficient in ninjutsu, and held a wealth of combat experience. He completed missions with distinction, obeyed orders without question, and always prioritized the interests of the Senju Clan. He was the very model of a Senju ninja.

Yet, this excellent and diligent ninja was sacrificed in the war against the Hagoromo Clan while acting as a lone decoy to draw away the enemy and protect his teammates.

Senju Kawarama had died in battle, falling under the blades of the Hagoromo Clan.

When he heard the tragic news, Senju Kyogawa was practicing his sword swings, following the methods his brother Kawarama had taught him.

Even as he stood before Senju Kawarama's casket, Senju Kyogawa felt a profound sense of unreality.

Inside the casket lay only Senju Kawarama's... remains.

They were what his teammates had managed to recover from the battlefield.

At the funeral, it was not just Senju Kawarama's casket; all the clansmen who had fallen on the battlefield against the Hagoromo were to be buried today.

Before Senju Kyogawa's eyes lay hundreds of caskets waiting to be lowered into the earth. Most contained only fragments of bodies, and many ninjas had left nothing behind at all—the caskets held only the clothes they had once worn.

The sky was very blue that day; it was a beautiful day, a long-awaited beautiful day.

It had rained here yesterday, an intermittent downpour that lasted for three days, only stopping this morning. The air was crisp, and if one inhaled deeply, one could still smell the fragrance of the soil.

Senju Kyogawa had always liked the scent of grass mixed with earth after the rain.

Large amounts of loose soil were shoveled up, then piled over the tops of the caskets.

In the overturned earth, an earthworm poked its head out.

Senju Kyogawa watched as the casket of his third brother, Kawarama, was completely buried.

He thought that, perhaps, he had come to hate this smell.

His gentle and considerate brother Kawarama was now buried in a pile of foul-smelling dirt, and soon, disgusting insects would be gnawing at his remains.

This was simply too absurd.

Brother Kawarama even said that when he returned, he would take me to buy Konpeito, Senju Kyogawa thought, the memory feeling entirely out of place.

Senju Kawarama was a genius.

"Waaaaah..." Senju Itama, his fourth brother, wept beside him. He had been closest to Kawarama, so he must be the most heartbroken of them all.

He gripped Senju Kyogawa's hand, his own trembling incessantly, whether from grief or terror, it was impossible to tell.

Senju Kyogawa's teeth began to chatter as well. Was it because of the cold?

He clamped his upper and lower teeth together with all his might.

Their father, Senju Butsuma, stood with a furrowed brow, watching the burial ceremony, though it was unclear if he was mourning these heroic souls.

"A ninja is not allowed to cry!" Senju Butsuma suddenly barked. "We ninjas are born to die on the battlefield!"

Ninjas are born to die on the battlefield? What kind of bullshit is that? Senju Kyogawa's thoughts drifted, unable to stop himself from retorting in his heart.

"You should be thankful that even a portion of his body was recovered! This time, it wasn't just the Hagoromo we fought, but the Uchiha as well..."

"They have always been cold-blooded and ruthless..."

The Uchiha?

Senju Kyogawa couldn't help but think of the boy named Izuna, who might have come from the Uchiha Clan. Had his clansmen also died in this war? Was he also drowning in the grief of losing his own siblings?

Senju Kyogawa recalled his brothers saying that the Uchiha were an evil clan. But why?

If the Uchiha's loved ones were killed and they sought revenge, what reason was there to call them an evil clan?

Senju Hashirama gritted his teeth and squeezed his eyes shut.

When he opened them again, he roared:

"But Kawarama was only seven years old!"

"When will this... when will this war ever end!"

Senju Hashirama shouted his question, desperate to vent all the dissatisfaction and resentment in his heart. He loathed this world filled with war, loathed the world that had stolen his brother's life.

If the war continued, who would be the next to die? Would it be himself, or Tobirama, Itama, or perhaps the youngest, Kyogawa?

The long shadow of his clansmen's deaths loomed over his heart. He did not want to see another brother die, especially not in such a ridiculous war.

Senju Butsuma answered, his tone firm and beyond reproach:

"Until all enemies are annihilated."

All enemies annihilated? But how could all enemies possibly be destroyed?!

If the Hagoromo Clan were gone, there might be the Kaguya Clan; if the Uchiha Clan were gone, there might be the Hyuga Clan...

Human disputes could never cease. Wherever there were people, there were interests, and where there were interests, there was conflict. This was caused by the inherent human nature of pursuing profit.

Furthermore, ninjas were nothing more than tools used by the feudal lords to wage war and expand their territories!

If one truly wanted to stop the fighting, then it would be better if only one person remained in this world, and everyone else were dead!

Senju Kyogawa could not help but sneer.

"...Creating a world without war requires a difficult process." Senju Butsuma continued to speak to himself, ignoring the reactions of the children.

Kyogawa saw Senju Hashirama lower his head, his expression unreadable as he asked:

"Even if it means sacrificing children?"

Upon hearing Hashirama's words, Senju Butsuma's eyes turned fierce instantly. The moment Hashirama finished speaking, Senju Butsuma suddenly raised his hand and punched him. He was so fast that Senju Kyogawa and the others could not react in time.

Hashirama was knocked straight to the ground.

"Brother Hashirama!" Senju Kyogawa cried out in alarm.

"Father, you..."

Senju Tobirama, who was closest, immediately stepped forward to shield Senju Hashirama, while Kyogawa and Senju Itama quickly moved in to check on his condition.

Blood trickled from the corner of Senju Hashirama's mouth, and his cheek was already swelling up.

Senju Butsuma had clearly put his strength into that punch; it left Senju Hashirama seeing stars, and he had to sit on the ground for a long while to recover.

Although Senju Butsuma had struck his sons before, it had always been in the form of affectionate taps or discipline. He had never used such force—this was a real, heavy blow.

Senju Butsuma looked truly enraged.

At this moment, Senju Kyogawa felt a deep sense of admiration for his eldest brother, Hashirama. He had always respected him, but seeing Hashirama speak up for the fallen children with such genuine humanity made him admire him even more.

Senju Hashirama was worthy of everyone's respect.

Whether it was because Senju Kyogawa and the others were surrounding Hashirama, making it difficult for Senju Butsuma to continue, or because he felt that one punch was enough to intimidate the children, he did not strike again. Instead, he shouted at Senju Hashirama:

"I will not allow you to insult Kawarama!"

"He died a glorious death as a ninja who could stand on his own! He was not just some child!"

Not a child?

But Brother Kawarama was only seven!

Senju Hashirama was still grieving for his fallen brother... Senju Butsuma was not even as compassionate as Senju Kyogawa.

Senju Kyogawa's heart was completely consumed by the death of Kawarama. It was true that dying as a ninja was glorious, but he was only a seven-year-old child...

He had been considered a genius by everyone...

If there were no war, Senju Kawarama would surely have grown into a truly excellent and mature ninja!

He did not know what his other brothers were thinking, but Senju Kyogawa was nearly exploding with rage at Senju Butsuma's words.

To him, seven-year-old Senju Kawarama was nothing more than a child.

In his previous life, Senju Kawarama would have just been starting elementary school! How could he possibly have died in some war?

To hell with being a glorious ninja!

Senju Kyogawa gritted his teeth, wishing he could take Hashirama's place and beat Senju Butsuma instead.

Unfortunately, he lacked the strength to do so.

Senju Hashirama clutched his swollen cheek, raising his eyes to glare at Senju Butsuma with resentment.

This time, without waiting for Senju Hashirama to say anything else, Senju Kyogawa could no longer hold back.

He stood up and shouted at Senju Butsuma:

"Brother Kawarama was a ninja... but he was a child first!"

"My brother, Senju Kawarama... he was just a child who had only just turned seven!"

Hearing these words, Senju Butsuma flew into a rage. He glared fiercely at Senju Kyogawa and raised his hand, making a move to strike.

Senju Kyogawa closed his eyes, bracing himself for the blow.

"Father!"

"Dad!"

Perhaps because his brothers were shielding Senju Kyogawa so tightly, Senju Butsuma did not land the blow. He lowered his hand and turned to leave.

Senju Kyogawa opened his eyes and watched his retreating back, unable to stop himself from shouting at the top of his lungs:

"A Ninja World like this—it is fundamentally wrong!"

Senju Butsuma's footsteps faltered, and Kyogawa saw his hands clench tightly, but he did not acknowledge him further.

"Brother Hashirama, are you alright?" Seeing that Senju Butsuma showed no sign of turning back, Senju Itama asked anxiously about Senju Hashirama's condition.

"Do you not yet understand the consequences of defying Father?" Senju Tobirama warned sternly, then turned to glare at Senju Kyogawa. "And you, Kyogawa! You were too impulsive!"

Senju Kyogawa's gaze drifted aimlessly around, clearly not taking Senju Tobirama's warning to heart.

However, Senju Hashirama's mood was clearly not good, his eyes filled with determination.

"I..."

"Itama... Tobirama... and Kyogawa..."

"I just don't want you all to throw your lives away for nothing."

"So much for the Senju Clan of love!"

"So much for being a capable ninja!"

"Is this not just the adults... working together to force a child to his death!"

"How is what we have done any different from the Uchiha Clan?"

Senju Hashirama stood up abruptly, questioning Senju Butsuma with dissatisfaction as he prepared to leave.

"This is respect for the enemy. Even if it is an infant, as long as they hold a weapon, they must be treated as an enemy... and raising a child into a capable ninja is the true love of a parent!" Senju Butsuma tilted his head, his tone firm.

Love?

What kind of love is this?

Senju Kyogawa could not understand such love—

Just as he could not understand this twisted Ninja World...