Dawn had barely broken, and the chill still lingered in the woods.
Sen rolled over on his heated bed and grabbed his old cloth bag.
He stuffed a change of clothes and his medicine box inside, then fastened it shut.
"All right, better slip away while it's still early."
Bag in hand, Sen tiptoed over to the window.
He had only cracked the wooden window open when cold wind poured inside.
Before he could lift a leg onto the sill, a noise came from outside the door.
Boom!
Half of his wooden courtyard gate was kicked clean off.
Then a shrill, piercing voice exploded through the yard.
"Young Sen Senju! Are you home?"
"Wonderful news! Wonderful news, young man!"
Sen shuddered in fright, nearly dropping his bag.
He hurriedly shut the window and crouched down to peek outside.
His yard was packed with middle-aged women in bright red padded jackets.
White powder coated their faces, and their perfume was overpowering.
Each woman carried several red silk scrolls.
"The Hyuga Branch Family's third daughter just turned eighteen!"
"Get lost! What's the Hyuga Clan doing here?"
A stout woman shoved another aside with her backside.
"Look at our Akimichi Clan's second daughter! Built for bearing children!"
"The Akimichi Clan? She'd snap the young man's thighs!"
"If you ask me, our Kuruma Clan's girls are the prettiest!"
The yard descended into chaos as the women shoved and jostled one another.
Two of them even had their hair pulled loose.
Watching from inside, Sen felt both temples throb.
Matchmakers. Every last one was a matchmaker sent by a major clan.
They would stop at nothing to win over this new god of war.
"If they catch me, they'll tear me to pieces."
Sen swallowed, feeling his legs go weak.
He dared not hesitate any