A/N:
Sorry for the long wait guys! I haven't been in the mood in writing for the past few days cuz I was too engrossed in playing video games lol. Anyways, here's the new chapter so I hope you enjoy!

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

"Oh maiden,
Burst into flames in the dawn"

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

ʕ•ﻌ•ʔʕ•ﻌ•ʔʕ•ﻌ•ʔʕ•ﻌ•ʔʕ•ﻌ•ʔʕ•ﻌ•ʔʕ•ﻌ•ʔ

Hell was probably the perfect definition of the current disastrous and heart-rending state of the Land of Iron, literally and idiomatically. Hiruda watched from the shattered windows helplessly as scorching flames danced along with the strong gust of wind like a fiendish inferno. Terrorized citizens ran out of their respective homes, petrified screams reverberating throughout the village as the firestorm engulfed several houses and buildings, resulting to a massive destruction of the infrastructures. Thick black clouds of smoke choked the air, levitating into the sky like nimbus clouds. A great famished beast devouring everything in its path and belching out black gases illustrated the dreadful scene, portraying the tragic downfall of the once pleasant and serene town.

The young girl stayed still, paralyzed as tears cascaded down her cheeks, its liquid cold against her skin. Her vibrant, lively eyes became dull and lifeless, full of despair and misery. Exhaustion took over her body as her sniffles came to a halt, paying no mind to the devastating destruction before her eyes as she was lost in her own thoughts. Even her home being engulfed by the fire wasn't enough to make her snap back to reality. 

It almost seemed like it all happened in a blink of an eye. One minute, her family was singing the happy birthday song as she sat in front of her favorite strawberry shortcake, then suddenly, bloodshed and the brutal murder of her parents became the aftermath of such a heartwarming celebration. Bright smiles and the joyous laughter drowned into the pit of darkness and despair, as spine-chilling cries and pleads of helplessness rose to the surface, displaying the conveyance of grief, fear, and terror.

When Hiruda's gaze landed on the dead bodies of her parents, she felt a painful throb in her chest, as if she were the one who had stained her hands with their blood. Crawling her way to her father's body lying lifelessly on the floor, her shaky hands cupped his blood stained cheeks, her teardrops dripping down to Ganta's skin.

"I... I'm sorry, d-dad..." She croaked out, biting down on her quivering bottom lip.

She glanced over her shoulder and rose on her feet, about to check on her mother when a loud crack occurred from above, startling the young girl. Before she could even look up, a large wooden fragment of the ceiling crashed into the ground, covered in hot flames, blocking her way towards the bed. It was only at that moment when she realized the sticky situation she's in.

"Oh no, mom!" She called in panic when another fragment of the ceiling fell from above, nearly squashing the woman's corpse as it crashed on the bed beside her.

 Hiruda coughed violently, doing a fanning motion with her arm in front of her face as thick acrid plumes of smoke exploded into the area. Her eyes wandered frantically, racking her brain for a moment in desperate hope to rescue her mother before her body gets caught up in flames. A loud gasp erupted from her throat as a harsh, banging noise occurred from the front door of the Rakurai clan's household, followed by quick, heavy footsteps and clanking sounds of metal. 

"Search the entire area, check for survivors!" A deep, raspy voice commanded, one that sounded vaguely familiar to her ears. 

Her heart picked up its speed as she spotted two silhouettes turning to a corner towards the hallway, a sharp sound of a sword being pulled out of its scabbard made her flinch in alarm. When they rounded to the hallway, Hiruda released the breath she didn't know she was holding as samurai soldiers came into view, sauntering cautiously as more cracking noises were heard from the ceiling. Hiruda coughed as she struggled to rise on her feet, waving her arms around in hopes of being noticed through all the smoke that clouded her vision.

"Over here!" She yelled before a series of harsh coughs escaped from her mouth, the smoke beginning the block her air supply as she finds herself gasping for oxygen.

Luckily, it was enough to catch the attention of the samurais as they went towards her as quickly as possible while avoiding unnecessary clumsiness. One of the samurais crouched down to carry her bridal style as he placed one arm under her knees and the other on her back before hoisting her up. Too weak and exhausted to decline such a kind gesture, Hiruda didn't fight back as she stayed still, panting audibly.

"Lady Hiruda, are you alright?" The soldier who was carrying her inquired politely.

She secretly hated to be addressed formally, as if the noble entitlement is undeserving for her. A daughter belonging to an elite family is supposed to possess the traits of fearlessness, valiance, and audacity.

However, none of those characteristics fit in her persona.

Rather, an outcast, a coward and being a namby-pamby are the words that defines her sheer disposition. Her vision went blurry as her trembling fingers clutched at the skirt of her lavender nightgown, her chest throbbing painfully once more as the extreme guilt attempted to devour her whole body relentlessly.

"If only I wasn't weak enough, I could've saved them." She thought, the image of her parents being murdered ruthlessly before her eyes burning into her memory.

Hiruda felt her lungs growing heavy at each second as she began breathing unsteadily and before she knew it, she was already hyperventilating and squirming violently in the soldier's arms.

Alarmed, the soldier carrying her turned to his partner. "We need to take her out now."

This seemed to alert the young girl as she grabbed onto the samurai's metallic arm, struggling to catch her breath. "P-Please... Save them..." She pleaded weakly.

Before the soldiers could utter out their reply, a startling noise from the ceiling made them flinch. Hiruda watched in horror as long, wooden planks crashed into her parents' bedroom, squashing the corpses of Eruda and Ganta as more smoke invaded into the already acidic-smelling area.

"No... It can't be..." She whimpered, searching through the deep piles of wooden planks with a panic-stricken gaze.

Hiruda was able to detect the sorrow of the samurais as they had their heads hung down, muttering their silent prayer as a tradition of paying their respects to those who had displayed heroic qualities in the midst of trials and sufferings. She wanted to cry her heart out, but she had already poured all her tears out until her eyes went dry and it caused her extreme exhaustion.

"We have to leave." One of the soldiers uttered abruptly after a somber silence, making Hiruda's heart drop to the pit of the stomach.

"B-But... My parents..."

A deep sigh occured from the samurai who was holding her up. He sent a look to his partner before nodding at each other, as if they are capable of telepathic communication skills.

"I'm sorry, Lady Hiruda." Before the young girl could process his words, she felt a painful sensation on the back of her neck, and the next thing she knew, her surroundings faded into blackness.

o==[]::::::::::::::::>

"I just don't understand. Why invade our land and assassinate the Rakurai clan? This doesn't make any sense, General."

"The ninjas acknowledged our agreement to not interfere with the Land of Iron. This unexpected invasion could only mean one thing."

A momentary silence followed by, an uncomfortable one. One that wordlessly says that they all had the same thought in mind.

"But what's their motive? We had little involvement with the ninja world and we had nothing to do with their economic issues, nor have a territorial dispute against them. Their secretive exploits are highly questionable."

Unable to drift away from her consciousness any longer, Hiruda sat up groggily, a soft yawn escaping from her lips. She had been awake not too long ago, the samurais' discussion over the tragic incident unable to soothe her back to sleep. The first thing that she noticed is the black sleeping bag wrapped around her lower body, preserving her body heat from the freezing weather. A white, oversized winter coat enveloped her small frame underneath her nightgown as the sleeves were too long for her short arms and the heavy clothing reached down to her knees, making the outfit seem like she was wearing a dress. She smiled, taking note to thank the person who offered the thoughtful gesture.

A painful sensation arose at her head that made her groan deep in her throat, images of blood, the dead bodies of her parents, and the faces of Danzo and Zenaku flashing in her mind. Her irises shrunk, overwhelmed as it occured to her that the petrifying events were indeed veridical rather than just a nightmare. She choked back a whimper as she began trembling uncontrollably. Hiruda tugged at the roots of her hair roughly, clutching at her head as she jerked it from side to side.

"It's my fault, it's all my fault. It's my cowardice that caused their death. I killed them, I killed them, I killed them."

Her other hand gripped at the collar of her nightgown, desperate to hold onto her sanity as she felt her throat getting tighter and tighter with each breath she took. She struggled to calm her breathing as she felt like a man drowning in the ocean, desperate for air. Her heart that palpitated loudly against her ribcage was quite disturbing that it made her feel like she had to vomit it out of her body. The suffocating madness was driving her insane, tempting to unleash her deranged side as her senses spun out of control.

"Silence!" A loud, booming voice from a man made her stop from going hysterical as her form went paralyzed. "Furthermore questions will only lead to more confusion. Have you forgotten who's supposed to conduct the discussion?" His voice was much softer this time, yet stern and demanding. The sounds of murmurs have settled down, only the gentle breeze of the wind was audible and the faint sound of a fire crackling.

It was only at this moment when the young girl realized she was inside a small white tent as the minimum space was filled with nothing but the sleeping bag and a scabbard beside it, a sword secured inside. The navy blue item is fairly long and thin, a shade of yellow found on its edges. A rectangular hand-guard peeked out from the scabbard and a long hilt was wrapped in bandages. Her hand reached out to stroke the item lightly, eyes widened in awe as realization soon hits her.

"It's the General's sword, the kurosawa." She mused.

She remembered being discussed about it briefly back then in the Samurai Academy during weaponry class. It is said to be one of the most powerful swords in samurai history, with its notable features of possessing the abilities of producing shockwaves and its powerful cutting power by channeling the chakra into the weapon. Ever since a child, she hoped to wield a weapon as cool and as formidable as the General's.

Hiruda rose on her feet, the movement proving to be a hassle as she nearly lost her footing upon the weariness of her body being triggered. She fumbled on the zipper of the tent, pulling it down slightly to create a small hole. An army of samurais in a tactical formation blocked her vision, their backs turned to her. They stood at the large clearing of the snow forest, hands behind their backs as the soldiers remained still like a bunch of mannequins.

Hiruda wondered how they could cope with such a taxing posture.

Catching a glimpse of a figure ambling leisurely in front of the army at a slightly far distance, her eyes squinted, determined to figure out the person's identity. The puzzle pieces seemed to connect once she was able to distinguish the army green samurai armor which composed of a breastplate, with four plates protecting his legs attached to it, identical shoulder pads, and matching arm and leg guards that he wore. He had long, grey hair, which almost reaches down to his waist, with bandages wrapped around his head. He has black eyes with distinct wrinkles underneath them, a grey goatee and moustache. It was the General by the name of Mifune.

Being a curious cat she is, she had personally inquired one of her teachers regarding the General's injury on his head. It was said that a ninja named Hanzo, the leader of the Hidden Rain Village confronted the samurais at some point, who retreated after realizing who were up against except for the leader of the samurai military. Hanzo battled against Mifune, whom he defeated and in the process, poisoned in their final clash by slashing his head. Although, he wasn't killed for some reason despite his current vulnerable state.

General Mifune cleared his throat. "Now, I know everything seemed like it all happened so fast, and I have to admit, I was shell-shocked as well. But what we should put in our mindset is that the ninjas didn't stay true to their word and they have committed not just an act of betrayal, but of murder into the bargain." He paused, lowering his head as a sigh escaped from his lips, his expression somber. Hiruda chewed on her bottom lip, deep in thought as she knew very well what his last words meant.  

"The assassination of the Rakurai clan is utterly unimaginable, I could only imagine how miserable their only daughter would be. After this discourse, I hope you all offer your consolation to her." 

The young girl clenched her teeth together, her eyesbrows furrowed in anger and immense guilt. "I was the one who killed them, I don't deserve their sympathy." 

The samurais didn't say anything, but it's easy to discern the mournful mood due to the thick atmosphere and from the way their shoulders are slumped down.

General Mifune fixed his posture and held his head up high. "The land that we've grown accustomed to isn't a place of neutrality anymore. Not after we had witnessed such bloodshed and destruction right in front of our eyes. The peaceful era of the samurais had come to an end, because starting today and onwards, we shall engage ourselves in a heated battle we haven't experienced for the longest time and stain our hands with blood. As warriors filled with unwavering pride, we must march towards the battlefield and give those ninjas a taste of their own medicine. As the dawn arises, we shall involve ourselves in the first ninja-samurai war!" He released a loud battle cry and raised his fist in the air, galvanizing the warriors as they mirrored the General's actions, hollering and howling to arouse their excitement. 

Pulling their swords out, they held their blades up high as several chants and cries echoed the surrounding area. If the enemy would've witnessed the scene, backing out from the fight would be their instant option due to the intimidating vibe they emit.

"Slay the ninjas!"

"Let's give them hell!"

"They'll regret messing with us!"

"We'll burn their villages like what they did to our land!"

War. It was something that Hiruda absolutely despised since young. She had always wondered why sacrificing the lives of others is necessary in order to obtain victory. All the young girl had ever wanted was for the villages to have peace instead of being hell-bent over an armed conflict. A world full of bloodbath and tragedy will never achieve peace due to countless unwinnable wars and an everlasting feud among villages. However, adrenaline rushed through her as her little hands balled into fists, itching grab a sword and join along with the army's series of battle cries. Her breath hitched as she recalled the face of Danzo who had ruthlessly demolished her home and stole the precious memories she had shared with her family in their sacred place. Her teeth clenched, her blood boiled and her body shook irrepressibly. An emotion so strong overtook her senses as an inner voice echoed in her mind like a broken record.

"Kill Danzo, kill Danzo, kill Danzo..."

Her head hung down as shadow casted over her eyes due to her dark bangs covering it. For some reason, the rage she felt gave her the courage and confidence she needed. She suddenly feel like beating the shit out of someone and make their screams rang the silent night. Something within her sparked, as if a flame had been ignited. Hiruda wondered why she had never felt this way before but whatever it is, it's making her feel like a whole different person.

"I'll be the one who will take you down, Danzo. I won't go back on my word."

o==[]::::::::::::::::>

A smirk tugged along the corners of Danzo's lips, finding satisfaction at the sight before him. He and Zenaku stood at the edge of the cave located in Mount Raijin, one of the highest and famous mountains in the Land Of Iron. It is where a powerful weapon resides, the lightning bolt, which is the Rakurai clan's most prized possession. From afar, they could distinguish the samurais raising their weapons in the air, cheering for victory at the large clearing of the forest.

"Well, well, well. Glad to know that the plan's working smoothly." Zenaku mused cockily.

The Sand Anbu looked rather exhausted. Apart from his severe injury from extracting Ganta's chakra, tons of burns garnished his skin, from his feet up to his neck and face. He was panting heavily compared to the nonchalant founder of Root. On his uninjured hand is the lightning bolt, a katana with a violet hilt, a black oval-shaped hand-guard adorning the item. The weapon was secured inside a black, shiny scabbard with a gold inscription of 'Rakurai' in kanji across it. A fancy violet silk ribbon was wrapped around it in a stylish manner.

A deep chuckle erupted from Danzo's throat. "At last, I can finally witness the destruction of the Leaf before my eyes. And I shall be the one who will rebuild the village and make myself appear as the hero to the residents. With that said, there's no doubt that I will be the chosen candidate for the Hokage."

Zenaku raised an eyebrow, amused. "That may be true. But let's not forget that we owe someone big time."

"Ah, of course. When the time comes, he will make his move as well." Danzo grinned sadistically as he watched the soldiers climbing on their horses, lighting up their respective torches to be able to discern through the dark.

His gaze landed in front of the long line of the army, General Mifune stood beside his own horse. He seemed like he was discussing battle strategies from the way the soldiers would give a slight nod occasionally.

Danzo couldn't wait until the Leaf would be vulnerable and destroyed. He had waited for so long for this day, and now that his wish had come true, the feeling of ecstasy made his mind filled with thoughts. He had pictured himself wearing the famous robe as the indicator of being one of the leader of the Great Five Nations and the red and white diamond shaped Hokage hat. The feeling of looking down at the fellow villagers regarding him with adoration was enough to lift up his pride. Oh, the satisfaction! As soon as he takes the role, he'll relish every second of it, even the words, 'Lord Sixth' that they utter for formality. He lets out another evil cackle, on the edge of falling from his sanity. With a devious smile, he spoke.

"Let the wars begin."

ʕ•ﻌ•ʔʕ•ﻌ•ʔʕ•ﻌ•ʔʕ•ﻌ•ʔʕ•ﻌ•ʔʕ•ﻌ•ʔʕ•ﻌ•ʔ

A/N:
That's all for this chapter! Feel free to comment down your thoughts about it!

Word Count: 3,387