The forces of the Hibuko clan thundered out of the palace, galloping straight toward the small wooden house where Rin Takeda had been staying.
Inside the House
Rin Takeda — a 70-year-old man — quietly sipped his cup of warm coffee.
Beside him sat the four remaining great samurai clan leaders:
Ashura Shin — Leader of the Shim Clan
Taren Touka — Leader of the Touka Clan
Eruma Sansa — Leader of the Sansa Clan
Yarum Taira — Leader of the Taira Clan, a woman of fierce presence
Ashura leaned forward.
"What are your plans, Mr. Takeda?"
Rin exhaled deeply.
"I'm going to clean up the mess… and serve the people. Serve the true meaning of Kurozuki."
Eruma narrowed his eyes.
"We will keep an eye on you."
Rin coughed harshly, his frail body trembling before he steadied himself.
"I don't have much time left. I want to do something great… like Yami Hibuko once did, centuries ago."
Ashura nodded, tone firm.
"We understand."
Approaching Chaos
The ground trembled.
Horses. Dozens of them.
The clashing of swords echoed through the streets — steel against steel, shouts rising, dust kicking into the air.
Ashura stood, gripping his sword with a frustrated sigh.
"He's here… Kaoru Hibuko — great-grandson of Hiroto Hibuko."
Kaoru's Arrival
The door slid open with a SLAM.
Kaoru stepped inside, tall and imposing, his hand wrapped around the hilt of his sword.
The red cloak once worn by Yami Hibuko rippled behind him like a violent flame.
Ashura stared into his eyes.
"Given how Yami Hibuko was… you're the spitting image of his evil version."
Kaoru smirked, voice dripping with venom.
"You're just a bunch of ungrateful rats."
The air between them crackled — the beginning of another storm.