The morning sun broke over Nadeshiko Village, casting long shadows across the pine-lined paths.
For now, the village hummed with its usual rhythm. Women in crimson robes moved between houses, preparing for smaller festivals, hanging garlands of white lotus and pine branches.
The scent of incense and roasted fish lingered in the air, sharp and familiar. The sky was a crisp blue, streaked with thin clouds, as if the world was biding its time.
Kai stood in a guest house, staring at his reflection in a cracked mirror.
They'd given him a dark green robe for today's meeting, simple but heavy, embroidered with faint silver threads in swirling patterns.
It felt stiff, like armor he didn't choose. He flexed his fingers, a faint flicker of cursed energy sparking across his knuckles, restless.
A knock at the door. Tokiwa, the gray-haired mentor and leader of the village, stepped in, her face as unreadable as stone.
"The council waits, outsider," she said, her voice like steel. "Don't mock our ways. This pact is sacred, even if the day is years off."
Kai nodded. "Wouldn't dream of it."
The village square was quiet today, no grand ceremony, just a small gathering of kunoichi and elders around a wooden platform draped in red and white cloth.
Drums beat a low, steady rhythm, echoing off the trees. Kai stepped forward, feeling the weight of eyes on him—some curious, some hostile, all measuring.
Shizuka emerged from the opposite side, and Kai's breath hitched for a moment. Her red armor was gone, replaced by a simple crimson kimono, layered with white accents, her dark hair pinned up with jade combs.
Her green eyes burned with defiance, her hands steady but her posture rigid, like a blade ready to draw.
They met at the platform, standing face to face. Tokiwa stepped between them, holding a carved wooden staff. The drums paused.
"By Nadeshiko's tradition," Tokiwa began, her voice carrying, "a duel's victor may claim the bond of union, should the defeated stand as heir. Shizuka, candidate of leadership, you honor our ways. Kai, outsider, you have proven strength. In two years' time, or three, this bond will be sealed. Do you both acknowledge this pact?"
Shizuka's jaw tightened. She glanced at the gathered crowd, their eyes pressing against her resolve. "I acknowledge it," she said, her voice low, sharp, like a vow she'd rather break.
Kai tilted his head, a faint grin tugging at his lips. "I acknowledge it."
Tokiwa nodded. She handed them each a shallow cup of sake, the liquid clear and sharp. "Drink, and affirm the path ahead."
Kai raised his cup, meeting Shizuka's gaze. She hesitated, then lifted hers. They drank in unison, the sake's bitter burn hitting Kai's throat as the crowd murmured, sealing the moment.
A young kunoichi stepped forward, offering a woven cord of red and white silk. Tokiwa took it, looping it loosely around their wrists. "Strength to strength, will to will," she said. "You are bound in promise, in the eyes of Nadeshiko."
The crowd's chant rose, soft and rhythmic, then faded. The gathering dispersed .
Kai and Shizuka were led to a small wooden hall, its walls lined with paper screens and lanterns. A low table held steamed rice, grilled fish, and miso, a gesture of hospitality for the occasion. They sat across from each other, the cord long gone, but its weight still lingering.
Shizuka stared at the food, untouched. "This changes nothing," she said quietly. "You won a fight. You don't own me."
Kai leaned back. "We'll see."
Six months had changed Kai. He had become stronger.
Nadeshiko Village still moved at its calm pace—women in red robes walked along pine-covered paths, the air filled with the smell of incense and grilled fish.
Far into the forest, away from anyone watching, Kai stood in a clearing marked by his training.
The ground was full of holes, trees were broken into pieces, and large rocks had been sliced clean through.
His dark green robe was worn out and burned at the edges. His body was lean and strong from months of hard work.
Sweat ran down his face, falling into the dirt. His breathing was calm, but his eyes were sharp, and dark energy sparked around him like a storm ready to break free.
He lifted his hand, fingers spread wide. Red and black energy swirled, forming a jagged blade made of cursed power—his new move, Dismantle.
With a flick of his wrist, the invisible slash cut through the air and split a huge rock thirty feet away. It sounded like metal ripping apart.
The broken pieces flew outward, then suddenly froze in the air as Kai's cursed energy flared. A shield formed around him in an instant.
The pieces hung there for a moment, then fell to the ground as he lowered his hand.
"Not bad," he said, wiping his face. "But I've still got a long way to go."
The forest clearing was quiet. Only the sound of rustling leaves and a distant bird filled the air. Kai stood in the middle of the wrecked ground, breathing hard.
The cursed energy blade faded from his hand, leaving behind red and black wisps. A large boulder in front of him was split in two, still faintly smoking from the attack. He smirked, satisfied—but not completely.
He felt someone watching. Turning, he saw Shizuka standing at the edge of the clearing. She wore her red armor instead of a kimono, arms crossed, eyes sharp.
"You training out here alone?" she asked, her tone cool. "You're gonna destroy the whole forest."
Kai wiped sweat from his forehead and smiled. "Just staying in shape. Don't wanna disappoint the village's next leader."
She didn't react to the teasing. She walked into the clearing, stepping over broken twigs and scorched earth. "You don't have to prove anything to me," she said. "This pact between us… it's just tradition. Doesn't mean I trust you."