Jomei reluctantly advanced toward the Hagoromo settlement, following the steps of the young ninja who had taken him off the battlefield. The rain continued pouring heavily, mixing with the blood and mud that covered his clothes. As they entered the settlement, the atmosphere felt laden with despair.
He moved through the rain-soaked paths, observing the faces of civilians scattered among partially destroyed buildings. Though he maintained a firm and resolute expression, inside, a whirlwind of emotions tore at him.
The murmurs of the inhabitants were like a constant echo in his mind. Mothers huddled with their children, elders gazed at the horizon in resignation, and groups of families clung to each other as if trying to remain united amidst uncertainty. Jomei found it hard to look directly into their eyes. Reality was cruel, and though he accepted it, he couldn't help but wonder what would become of all these people.
"Jomei," Akihiro began, breaking the silence, "I understand what you're thinking. This... all of this, isn't fair. But we must make decisions that ensure the survival of our clan, even if those decisions are difficult."
Jomei nodded briefly without looking at him. His eyes were fixed on a nearby family, where a little girl cried as her mother tried to soothe her. "What happens to them?" he finally asked, his voice low, weighted with emotion.
Akihiro stopped and looked directly at him. "They have no choice. If the Hagoromo clan falls, they will be sent to other clans, and those clans will decide their fate. Some might survive together, but others will be separated. This place they call home will be erased, and their lives will never be the same."
Jomei clenched his fists but kept his stoic expression. "And we just leave? Let this happen?" he asked, though he already knew the answer.
"We are the only ones who can do something," Akihiro replied firmly. "There are 278 ninjas left. If we try to stay and fight, we will all die. But if we retreat through the tunnels, we can regroup and preserve the spirit of the Hagoromo clan. Maybe, someday, we can come back and rebuild everything. But if we die here, everything we stand for will vanish forever."
Jomei remained silent for a few moments. He understood the logic behind Akihiro's words, but he couldn't shake the feeling that he was abandoning those who needed him most. His gaze turned to the horizon, where columns of smoke mixed with lightning. Internally, he wondered if he would ever have enough power to change what seemed inevitable.
Akihiro, sensing his inner conflict, placed a hand on his shoulder. "Jomei, I understand your resistance. I also want to stay and fight, but there are things that transcend the battle. If we want to protect our clan, we must make sacrifices. My father understood that. And although I'm not ready to take his place, I must follow his teachings."
Jomei looked at Akihiro attentively for the first time. "Your father..." he began to say, before pausing. "You're the son of Patriarch Yoshimasa?... I saw him fall."
Akihiro nodded slightly, though the sadness in his gaze was evident. "He gave his life to protect what remains of our clan. It's a burden I carry with me, but also a responsibility. And part of that responsibility is convincing you to join us."
Jomei let out a long, heavy sigh. Although he accepted the reality of the situation, the pain of leaving the civilians behind still clung to his mind. "Fine," he finally said. "I'll follow you. But don't forget what we're leaving here. Don't forget what we've lost."
Akihiro gave him a faint, melancholic smile. "I will never forget. And neither will you. But we'll make it worth it."
With those words, the two began moving toward the entrance of the natural tunnels that stretched beneath the settlement. The remaining ninjas were already mobilizing, preparing for their retreat. Jomei continued walking, his body moving out of necessity, but his mind remained trapped between guilt and duty. As he took one last look at the settlement, he silently promised that one day he would return to repair all that had been destroyed.
While the crowd began to organize for departure, Jomei approached the little girl he had seen crying earlier. In his hands, he carried a small wooden figurine he had found among the remains of the settlement.
Jomei: "Take this, little one. It's a charm. My mother used to tell me it protects those who carry it."
The girl, still sobbing, looked at the figurine with eyes filled with curiosity and fear. Her tears started to cease as she timidly extended her hands to receive it.
Girl: "Will it really protect me?"
Jomei: "Of course it will. But you must take good care of it, alright?"
The girl's mother quickly approached, kneeling beside her daughter. Her eyes were filled with gratitude, though the shadow of worry lingered on her face.
Mother: "Thank you, young man. I have no words... but thank you for giving her some comfort in these moments."
Jomei nodded, his face serious but with a faint glimmer of humanity. Without saying more, he stood and returned to the group of ninjas preparing to leave. Inside, he couldn't help but wonder if he would ever truly have the power to protect that family and all the others left behind, as well as those closest to him.
The tunnels beneath the settlement were dark and winding—a natural labyrinth full of forks that could easily disorient anyone. Akihiro, leading the group, turned to Jomei while adjusting the position of his kunai.
Akihiro: "Listen, Jomei. These tunnels aren't easy to navigate. There are too many divergent routes. If you get separated from me, you could get trapped. Stay close, understood?"
Jomei: "Understood." His voice was firm, though his mind kept returning to the settlement and those left behind.
As they advanced, the sound of footsteps was the only thing breaking the oppressive silence. The remaining ninjas walked in single file, their expressions reflecting a mix of exhaustion, sorrow, and tension.
Jomei: "Akihiro, have you ever wondered if this is the right thing? Leaving everything behind, including the families..."
Akihiro paused briefly, glancing at him before continuing. "Every moment since I lost my father. But if we sacrifice more lives now, what will we have accomplished? This retreat isn't a defeat, Jomei. It's the only way to ensure that something of what we represent survives."
Jomei nodded slowly, though the weight of his thoughts continued to crush him. They continued for nearly an hour, following Akihiro's directions as the group moved cautiously through the tunnel's forks.
Finally, the tunnel exit led them to a high, rocky mountain ridge. The ninjas began to climb it one by one, the cold wind striking their faces as sunlight tried to pierce through the blackened clouds. Reaching the peak, the sight of the Hagoromo settlement took their breath away.
The place they once lived was completely consumed by flames. Columns of dark smoke rose skyward, and even from the distance, the smell of burnt flesh reached them—a chilling reminder of the massacre that had just taken place.
Akihiro: "This... this is so wrong. How could they do something so monstrous?"
Akihiro's voice trembled, his face reflecting a contained fury that soon began to spread among the remaining ninjas.
Hagoromo Clan Ninja: "We must go back! We must avenge them!"
The tension grew rapidly, but Jomei stepped forward. Raising his voice with conviction, he commanded the group to halt.
Jomei: "Silence!" All eyes turned toward him. Jomei: "This is not the time for vengeance. If we return now, we will all perish. You do not honor those who have fallen by joining them. Take your anger and use it as fuel to strengthen what remains of the Hagoromo clan. But for now... retreat is our only path."
The murmurs ceased, and though some still clenched their fists in frustration, they accepted Jomei's words. Akihiro looked at Jomei and nodded faintly, recognizing that even with emotions at their peak, Jomei had managed to calm them.
Akihiro: "Thank you for stopping us, Jomei. My father used to tell me that leading doesn't always mean fighting. Today, I understood that more than ever."
After a brief moment of silence, the remaining ninjas began to remove the emblems of their clan, letting them drop to the ground as an act of painful detachment. One by one, they looked at each other, knowing this decision marked the end of an era.
Akihiro: "It's time for us to part ways. Each of us must find a safe path and a purpose. This is not the end of the Hagoromo clan... but it will be different."
Jomei watched the group as they dispersed, taking with them the memories of what they once were. Though his heart weighed heavily with the burden of all they had lost, something inside him whispered that one day, this sacrifice would have meaning.