The path ahead was the same as when Raizen and Amamiya Takashi had left, yet the sight that greeted them was unrecognizable—a battlefield masquerading as their once-vibrant home. The Amamiya residence, once alive with children's laughter, now lay in ruins.
Raizen's boots crunched over splintered wood and scorched earth. Takashi moved beside him, silent and tense, the weight of devastation pressing down with each step.
As they neared the main house, blackened wooden pillars smoldered like charcoal, and dark blood stains marred the walls. Smoke lingered in the air, carrying the bitter tang of death. Raizen's jaw tightened. Words felt useless here.
"The Amamiya clan…" he muttered. The quiet devastation spoke louder than any shout—raw, cruel, undeniable.
Takashi, unusually calm, drew his kunai from his ninja bag. His eyes scanned the ruined courtyard, precise and alert. "Something happened here," he said, voice low, steady, as they stepped cautiously forward.
The collapsed walls and cratered ground told their story: a fierce battle had raged here. Ashes and blackened timber replaced the warm, familiar house Raizen remembered. He trudged forward slowly, each step heavy, each breath tasting of loss.
"Is that… Raizen?"
A tentative voice broke the oppressive silence. Raizen froze, turning his head. Behind a low wall, a young man peeked out cautiously, eyes wide with disbelief.
"Nanami!!"
It was Takashi who called out. He strode forward, shouting the name with authority. The boy blinked, startled, and then dashed toward them.
"It's really you, Brother Raizen! You're back!"
"Tell me—what happened at home? How could the residence be like this?" Takashi demanded, anger barely restrained.
"Brother Takashi," Nanami hurriedly explained, "shortly after you left, the Ueshi Family declared war on the Amamiya clan. Fighting broke out immediately. Three days ago, the Ueshi attacked our clan residence directly, which caused… this."
Takashi's heart sank at the words, but he kept his composure.
"What about the patriarch? What about the other clan members?" he asked, voice tight.
"Don't worry, Brother Takashi," Nanami reassured. "We were prepared for the surprise attack. No serious casualties occurred. The clan members have been relocated to Yamanaka Forest in the back mountains. Since some ninjas didn't know about the attack, the patriarch ordered me to remain here as a lookout."
Takashi exhaled, tension easing from his shoulders for the first time in days.
Following Nanami's lead, they made their way to Yamanaka Forest—a rugged stone forest overgrown with massive trees. The roots and trunks twisted through the rock, creating natural fortifications. It was a place built for defense, nearly impossible to assault.
There, Amamiya Gen, patriarch of the clan, had already gathered the family ninjas at a simple wooden gate. Upon seeing Takashi and Raizen, he hurried forward, relief and concern warring across his face.
"Blessings upon your return," he said gravely. Then his eyes fell on Raizen's empty arms—evidence that only two of the three returning ninjas had survived. His heart sank at the unspoken truth: some had surely died in battle.
"Well," Amamiya Gen said, voice steady despite the weight of grief, "come inside. Tell me everything that happened."
Inside, the other clan members cheered for the returning ninjas, praising them as heroes. To them, Raizen and Takashi were the pride of the Amamiya clan. Takashi followed the patriarch to recount the events, while Raizen received the accolades with a detached, slightly amused expression.
Beneath the surface, though, Raizen's mind was sharper than ever. Home might be in ashes, but the fire in his chest—his will to survive, to protect, to grow stronger—burned brighter than ever.