Chapter 6: The Old Warrior’s Final Days

Tatsuya's first true connection in this new life was not with his powerful parents, but with his grandfather, Yuki Hiroshi. A once-great warrior and elder of the clan, Hiroshi had been the terror of battlefields in his prime, his Ice Release feared across nations. But time had taken its toll. A grave injury he had suffered on a mission years ago had left him bedridden, his once mighty body wasting away. Yet, his mind remained sharp, his spirit unbroken.

In the first two years of Tatsuya's life, his grandfather often held him in his arms, telling him stories of the Yuki Clan's history and their pride as shinobi. Hiroshi could sense something extraordinary in his grandson. Even though Tatsuya was barely more than a toddler, his eyes gleamed with understanding far beyond his years.

"You carry more than the Yuki blood," Hiroshi would say with a knowing look, his voice raspy from age. "There's something ancient in you, boy."

As the seasons passed, Hiroshi's strength dwindled. Tatsuya, still a child, often watched as his father, Yuki Kaito, sat quietly by his grandfather's bedside, sometimes exchanging a few words. When Tatsuya reached the age of two, Hiroshi succumbed to his old age and injuries, passing away peacefully in his sleep. His death marked a solemn turning point for the young boy. Quietly without the knowing of the Shinobi World, the Yuki clan and it's allies ( the Tagaya, Mizutani, Yamakawa, and Iwakami clans), all gathered to honor the passing of this old warrior. Tatsuya felt a deep pang of loss and with that came a growing resolve—he would not only honor his grandfather's legacy but surpass it.