The Land of Iron, Capital City.
The city was a world buried in ice and snow. White drifts piled high on rooftops, roads, and the canopy of every tree. Even the pedestrians moved with shoulders and heads dusted in white flakes.
Outside a grand palace, a group of five—three adults and two children—waited at the gate. Tatsuma raised a hand to brush the snow from his hair, then vigorously rubbed his palms together.
"It's freezing here," he muttered through a cloud of cold breath. "Why do we have to wear formal kimonos?"
The five of them were dressed in elaborate, heavy silk kimonos. While the material was high-quality and thick, it offered little protection against the biting, corrosive wind of the northern highlands. Beside him, Minato nodded in silent, shivering agreement.
The Sannin fared better, at least in appearance. Except for Orochimaru—who looked as deathly pale as if he might keel over at any moment—the three adults showed no signs of shivering or complaint.
Well, except for Jiraiya. Wearing a kimono a size too small, he was constantly reaching down to scratch his hip or awkwardly hitch up his trousers.
Hearing her student's complaint, Tsunade turned back and pointed to the crest on her sleeve—a double-crossed mark. "We're wearing these to put the Senju of the Forest on full display."
Senju of the Forest. It was the ancient title of the Senju clan, and their crest predated the Hidden Leaf by generations. Thanks to the legendary exploits of Hashirama Senju, the name carried a weight that echoed across the entire shinobi world.
Strictly speaking, the Senju clan no longer existed as a sovereign entity; they were a part of the Hidden Leaf. In formal diplomacy, they should have represented themselves as "The Land of Fire" or "Konohagakure."
However, in the nuances of diplomatic leverage, the weight of the "Senju" name was undeniable. For someone like Tsunade—the granddaughter of the First Hokage—putting on this crest meant that anyone, no matter their status, had to show her an extra measure of respect.
Before they departed, Hiruzen Sarutobi had insisted they bring these specific ceremonial robes. It was a calculated move to borrow the prestige of the First Hokage. After all, where else would they have found such high-end formal wear on short notice?
A samurai clad in full plate armor stepped through the palace gates. He handed a set of documents back to Tsunade and bowed respectfully. "Lady Tsunade, and honored guests, please enter."
Tsunade abandoned her usual brash demeanor, adopting a posture of refined dignity that mirrored Uzumaki Mito. With a slight nod—careful not to let her elaborate hair ornaments jingle—she followed the samurai into the palace.
Tatsuma watched Jiraiya hitch up his pants one more time, then glanced at the equally stiff and nervous Minato. He caught Minato's eye and jerked his head toward Orochimaru, who was gliding forward with effortless, serpentine grace.
Minato understood immediately. The two boys adjusted their strides, mimicking Orochimaru's calm, poised movements as they followed the group. In the department of "elegance," Orochimaru had Jiraiya beaten by a landslide.
By imitating the snake-Sannin, the boys managed to shed some of their "out-of-place" awkwardness. After a series of winding corridors, they were led into a grand hall. There were only six seats prepared.
A gray-haired, middle-aged man sat at the head of the room. The other five seats were for the Konoha delegation. Everyone else—whether armored samurai or unarmored attendants—remained standing.
Tsunade took her seat with practiced composure after a formal greeting. Tatsuma followed Orochimaru's lead, bowing before sitting down. He used his peripheral vision to scan the room. His primary critique of the palace was... terrible lighting.
It was broad daylight, yet they were using oil lamps for illumination. The Hidden Leaf had been electrified for decades, and most households were equipped with modern appliances. The Land of Iron, by comparison, felt... primitive.
"Lord Mifune, I trust you are aware that the Land of Rain has declared war on your nation?"
While Tatsuma was busy critiquing the infrastructure, Tsunade had already finished the pleasantries and cut to the chase.
Mifune, the General of the Land of Iron, gave a calm nod. "I have heard rumors to that effect."
Seeing Mifune's indifference—as if the declaration were a minor annoyance rather than a threat—the Konoha delegation frowned in unison. Mifune's lack of concern regarding Hanzo was far greater than they had anticipated.
Orochimaru spoke up, his voice smooth and cold. "Lord Mifune, if the Land of Rain insists on mobilizing, I fear the other smaller nations will be unable to stop them. Hanzo's actions are a direct threat to the stability of the shinobi world. We hope you do not underestimate the situation."
Mifune's brow furrowed at the slightly disrespectful tone. "The wars of ninjas... what do they have to do with my samurai? If he dares to actually strike the Land of Iron, I will stop him. But if he is merely posturing and has not set foot on our soil, then mobilizing my troops prematurely would mean losing our home-field advantage and risking the perception of invading others. That goes against everything the Land of Iron stands for."
At this time, the Land of Iron hadn't yet officially declared itself a "Neutral Nation" with a non-aggression pact, but they had a long-standing tradition of isolationism. They didn't like playing with ninjas. Since the Warring States period, they had focused solely on holding their own ground.
The greatest achievement of the Land of Iron wasn't how many ninjas they had killed, but the fact that they had kept ninjas from ever establishing a foothold in their country, preventing the decline of the samurai class seen elsewhere.
On the road, Orochimaru had explained the samurai perspective: to them, ninjas were the root of all chaos. For the last century, ninjas were either fighting wars or planning them. From clan-on-clan violence to world wars between nations, it was always the "shinobi" causing trouble. To a samurai, whose primary duty was the protection of the Daimyo and the status quo, ninjas were volatile opportunists.
In short, the samurai of Iron looked down on ninjas. In Tatsuma's mind, the samurai viewed themselves as "honest, hardworking folk" and saw ninjas as "shady speculators."
Orochimaru pursed his lips and shifted his approach. "Lord Mifune, with you and your samurai, the Land of Iron can certainly maintain its own peace. But if Hanzo is not stopped, and he annexes the neighboring small states, he will grow into a power comparable to the Five Great Nations. When that happens, and he desires a larger war, far more people will be dragged into the meat grinder."
"The Leaf acts for the sake of global peace. We hope the Land of Iron can mobilize alongside us to check Hanzo's expansionist ambitions. We hope you can see our sincerity."
"Sincerity?" Mifune scoffed. "Hiruzen Sarutobi sends three young ninjas and two brats to talk to me about war, and you call that sincerity?"
Jiraiya, who had been biting his tongue since they walked in, finally snapped. "Two brats? These aren't just any brats!"
He turned proudly toward Minato and Tatsuma, about to boast that they were his and Tsunade's students—the elite of Konoha's next generation—when Tsunade gave him a sharp, "shut up" nudge to the ribs.
She glared at Jiraiya, warning him to stay silent. We're talking about international war; why are you trying to drag the conversation into a "my student is better than yours" contest?
However, Jiraiya's aborted interruption piqued Mifune's interest. He began to actually study the two boys—something he hadn't deigned to do until now.
His brow tightened as he looked at them. He saw Minato's golden hair and warm, sun-like smile, and then his gaze moved to Tatsuma—the silver hair, the crimson eyes, and the look of deep, analytical calculation.
"Is that your brother? The other grandson of Lord Hashirama?" Mifune asked, pointing at Minato. He seemed to recall Tsunade having a younger brother. Then, his finger shifted to Tatsuma, his voice hesitant. "And this one... could he be the descendant of Lord Tobirama?"
Tsunade opened her mouth to correct the mistake, but Orochimaru gently raised a hand to stop her. He turned to Mifune and offered a thin, knowing smile that suggested Mifune was very observant.
Mifune's expression shifted to one of sudden realization. He began to reconsider the "sincerity" of the Leaf's mission.
Minato Namikaze:Wait, I'm a body double now? No, I'm Nawaki?
Sakamoto Tatsuma:And who am I to Tobirama?! Explain yourself, you old bastard!
Mifune might look down on ninjas, but he could not look down on Hashirama and Tobirama Senju. Those two brothers had transcended the title of "shinobi" to become the architects of the modern era.
If the Leaf sent three young jonin and two random kids, it was an insult. But if the delegation was led by three direct heirs of the Senju line, with Orochimaru and Jiraiya acting as their support... that was a different story entirely.
After a moment of silence, the irritation faded from Mifune's face, replaced by a composed smile. "It is rare for you all to visit our cold shores. Why not stay for a few days?"
"As it happens, tomorrow is our annual Swordsmanship Tournament's final round. With guests of your caliber in attendance, I'm sure our young samurai will fight with even more passion."
Tsunade frowned. Forget mobilizing immediately; the man wanted to host a party while war was brewing?
"Lord Mifune, we didn't come here to—"
Mifune raised a hand. "I know why you are here. There is no need to repeat it. But this is a grave matter of state; I cannot simply agree or refuse on a whim."
"Since you have traveled so far, the Land of Iron will not let you wait in vain. Our tournament is more important to us than your Chunin Exams are to you. By watching, you will gain a better understanding of the strength of our samurai. If our negotiations are successful and we form an alliance against the Rain, knowing our capabilities will only aid our cooperation, will it not?"
Seeing that Mifune had moved the needle from "no" to "maybe," Tsunade knew better than to push too hard. She nodded. "Then we thank you for your hospitality, Lord Mifune."
Mifune's smile broadened. He looked at Tatsuma and Minato. "The participants are also young swordsmen in their teens. If you are inclined, perhaps you could spar with them to foster a bit of international friendship?"
Tatsuma's brow quirked. Does Mifune not realize that Tobirama Senju was the last great light of 'samurai-style' swordsmanship? Tatsuma had already earned the title of "Little Tobirama" in some circles. Was Mifune suggesting he "foster friendship" with some local kids?
"Of course," Tatsuma said, his voice smooth. "We've heard much of the samurai's reputation. It would be an honor to see it firsthand. However... I hope Lord Mifune won't be offended if your young samurai find themselves unable to keep up with the 'ninjas' of the Leaf."
Mifune blinked, momentarily taken aback by the sheer, quiet confidence in the boy's voice. As expected of Lord Tobirama's...
Minato shot Tatsuma a look that clearly said: Classic Tatsuma. Declaring victory before the fight even starts.
Tsunade put her face in her hand. She couldn't even look at her student. The boy's competitive streak was truly a force of nature.
"And what is your name?" Mifune asked, regaining his composure.
Tatsuma straightened his back. He was about to answer when he caught a subtle signal from Orochimaru. His mind raced, and he pivoted.
"Ryoma," he said.
Tatsu meant Dragon. Ryoma was Dragon-Horse. It was a perfectly respectable samurai-sounding name. Tatsuma briefly considered adding the title of "Dragon-Slaying Samurai," but decided that might be laying it on a bit too thick for a ninja.
"Ryoma... good. I look forward to seeing how you intend to defeat our young samurai. If you truly manage to do so, I will grant you one request."
Mifune waved a hand grandly. He had watched the qualifiers and the semi-finals; the two boys left in the finals were incredible swordsmen, and both were older than this kid. He didn't believe they would lose.
As for granting a request to the winner... he did that every year. Some winners chose to become high-ranking officers; some became his personal disciples. He believed it encouraged the youth to strive for excellence.
Tatsuma didn't hesitate. "Then I ask that Lord Mifune personally lead the army to intercept Hanzo. How does that sound?"
The atmosphere in the room sharpened. Mifune's smile faltered, his eyes narrowing at the mention of the war again.
But Orochimaru's eyes gleamed. He knew Mifune—a pedantic, traditional samurai who valued his word and his honor above life itself.
Mifune looked at the boy, then at the Sannin. Despite his annoyance, he replied solemnly:
"If you truly possess the strength to back up your words... then what is a personal mobilization? If you win, I shall lead the army myself."
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________
+150 chapters on: patreon.com/Shinobi_Scrolls