Sakura, Apples, Pears

He knelt in front of the monk, while the blessings of the temple were being spoken. He bowed at the monk when he had finished. "Masanari. I'm surprised to see you in here, especially during the time of blessing. What has troubled you?"

He smiled at the smiling monk. "I can assume you already know why I'm here."

"A possible idea, just the result of you meeting with your father." He smiled. "You're correct. It seems my family name has a large burden that goes with it, and I must serve two masters."

"Why do you say that? Just because you're a Hattori, there's still only one master for you to follow and that's the young lord we have discussed over the past few years. Come stand up. Follow me to the garden." He stood up, following the smiling monk through the temple towards a small garden on it's side. "If you replace your father in the future, than the group you'll be leading is in service to the young lord. That doesn't mean you have two masters." He looked at the garden with a smile identifying the flowers and fruits while listening to the smiling monk. "That's correct. The one you serve, is the one your family serves. There isn't any other master."

"Honor for the Hattori name is earned through serving the young lord. For the young lord to be a legend, his forces need to be legendary." He nodded. "I understand that, but what I mean by having two masters is where do I belong? A shinobi of Iga, son of Hattori. Or a samurai in the service of the Matsudaira clan, bringing honor to the main house and my family."

"That's simple Masanari. Look at this sakura tree here." He looked at it admiring its beauty, feeling a sense of peace upon him. "Do you see apples or pears growing on it?" He shook his head. "Of course not, they grow on different types of trees."

"Exactly. Do you understand?" He looked at the tree in thought. "Not really."

"There're many things you still don't see. I hope that when you leave this place, your eyes will be opened to these things." He bowed at the smiling monk. "I apologize, it seems I still have lots to learn, before my trial of strength."

"That's not what I mean. I am trying to say, out there in the land below are many people, they're not just apples. They're all different. Some are flowers, fruit, vegetables, even rice and herbs. They bring something different to the table. This sakura tree brings beauty and peace to the table. People would be crazy, to eat it." He nodded. "Now I understand. You're telling me, that I should accept the fact that I'm both, and be different from the others around me?"

"No. That's not what I'm saying at all, but its close. Maybe I should say it in a way you can see. A battle perhaps. What is the best way to win a victory in a duel with someone who uses a sword?" He looked at the monk with a smile. "Simple use my farming tool, same with a spear."

"What about if they're using dual swords?" He touched the hilt of his sword. "I'd use my sword here, and the footwork I've been practicing." He stopped as he looked at the smiling monk, bowing. "I understand. You're saying I should use all my skills, and just be the sakura, don't try to be an apple or pear. Use everything I've learned. I'm not a samurai, nor a shinobi, but I'm Masanari. A master of both."

"A master of both. Hahahaha. I think that'll come in time, but you get what I mean. Be yourself, you think you're standing at a crossroads, but you aren't. There's only one path for a sakura to grow, and that's into a sakura." He smiled, feeling the knot in his heart unravel, his mind becoming clear. "This has been bothering me for a while, I didn't know what to do, and its something I couldn't discuss with my father about."

"Honor your lord, and honor your family, both lead the path to loyalty. That's your bushido, I felt it years ago when you came to us, and now I feel it pouring out of your body." He smiled, bowing again at the monk. "Thank you for your advice."

"Now your heart and mind is clear, what do you plan to do next?" He looked around at the silent garden, enjoying the wind rustling the leaves. "I've got training to do, and the yellow tengu. He has got me making a few little surprises for my future travels."

"I see. Go enjoy your training. It seems you're the only one student I've met that actually enjoys the hard work that you've been given."

He smiled. "That's just how I was taught, and what I learned from my father."

"Than, till next time, when we can sit and discuss the world some more. I'm interested in the lands beyond Japan, and what's outside." He smiled. "I'm sure Japan will be visited by outsiders soon, and we can talk about them as much as you desire."

"Excellent. I'll have some tea, and possibly some flower wine for us to discuss over." He looked at the monk in surprise. "I thought monks don't drink wine?"

"There're a lot of things monks can't do, yet they still do. The weakness of the human heart I guess. Keep your heart strong, and your Bushido stronger." He bowed, turning around and leaving the monk in the small garden. "I have to get stronger, and be a master of both, to become the strongest sakura there is, so my lord can find shelter under its branches during time of war." He left the temple and stood in the grounds looking at the sky above him. "Its going to storm tonight."

"How do you know that?" He turned looking at a nearby student. "The wind, water in the air, and the type of clouds in the sky. If you pay attention in your training you'll be able to read the weather as well." He started to walk towards the medicine garden where the yellow masked monk would be waiting for him. "You're Masanari, aren't you?" He nodded. "That's the name I was given as a child yes."

"I hear the masked monks like to spar with you, I'm looking forward to seeing your trial of strength in the future. Show the valley the power of Kurama." He nodded at the student. "I will. You must also show the strength of this place when you leave. Become a master of your skills, hone them, and make them your own."

He walked away from the student, his head held high, towards the medicine garden where he saw the yellow masked monk talking with the scarred pink masked monk. He bowed at them both. "Your student greets his teachers."

"About time Masanari. I saw you enter the temple, so I thought you'd be talking to the smiling monk all day. I was just having a discussion with our fellow tengu here, about making a certain type of explosive." He smiled. "Is this about the idea I suggested to you?"

"You mean the explosion that creates a large ball of smoke, and hides everything inside the area, or the one that releases the poison gas when it explodes?"

"Both."

"That's why this tengu is here, and not in his kitchen. I wanted to show you the creation of both of your ideas." He watched in silence as the scarred monk pulled out five small balls with a fuse attached to them. "Lite the fuse, on these, and different things will happen. The red one here will make a large explosion, the black one will make smoke, so everything is hidden in the area. Green is the poisonous smoke, and you need to make sure the wind is in your favor, or you'll be struck by your own attack."

"What about the other two?"

"These here, took the longest to make, but are the most fun. This grey one will cause a loud sound, and a bright light blinding and deafening anyone who's near its explosion."

He smiled. "Sounds like a flashbang the police use. That'll be very useful when attacking someone."

"And the last one?"

"This one here, doesn't cause any explosion, and burns like incense. It has a poison in it that causes the people in the area to hallucinate. The perfect tool for ambushing. It has no smell, so if used in a foggy area or with the others will cause your enemy to attack each other or be frightened off, running away from the battle. Also to block the poison from entering your own body is to wear a wet cloth over your nose and mouth. That's important to not forget."

"Masanari. What do you think?" He smiled. "That one mixed with an attack of fire arrows, would be very scary. Actually, that poison would be useful for me to put on my blades."

"Hahaha. My student wants to bring fear to those who meet him, that's one way for legends to grow quickly. If you give me the materials in the death garden, I might show you how to make the hallucinogenic poison." He bowed at them both. "Thank you for your guidance." He looked at the scarred tengu. "Is there a way for you to show me how to make one of those that doesn't explode, rather it starts a fire?"

"I have lots of them already. They're what gave me these scars. One of them set off in front of me, and the fire oil inside covered my body, causing these wonderful scars. If you want to learn I can show you how to make them, but as you can see they're quite dangerous to make." He bowed. "I'll be careful, and not allow a flame to come near while making them."

"Good. Well I must be off. Once you're done with the lessons from yellow. Come find me in my kitchen, and I can show you what you ask."

"I will. Thank you again teachers." He bowed, and waited for the scarred tengu to leave. He straightened and looked at the yellow masked monk. "Your student is here for my lesson."

"Over these past few years Masanari, you've learnt everything I gave you quickly and efficiently. You are able to collect samples from both the medicine garden and death garden better than myself. I have nothing more to teach you except for one thing." He felt his heart sink. "What do you suggest I do?"

"Experiment. You know the information I know, but in this world there's countless other ways to heal or poison someone. To use words to get what you want, or even cause a war. You need to experiment with the knowledge I've given you, and become stronger that way. I can advise you, and give tips when you mix things together, but in the end you need to experiment for yourself." He looked into the eyes behind the mask. "What about the hallucinogenic poison?"

"That's one I can teach you, but maybe its better for you to try it yourself. In the hall of learning, the scroll is there, with all the other formulas that have been thought of by other tengus who mended the gardens in the past. Learn them all, experiment, and if they don't work, try and think of a way to make them work. That is my lesson to you." He bowed. "Thank you teacher. You're guidance, and understanding of Bushido have helped me become who I am today."

"I think its that demon brain of yours, able to pick up on things quickly. Off you go. I'll be here or in the death garden. If you have questions about the formulas, you can ask me here. Off you go."

He bowed at the masked monk, turning and left the medicine garden with a heavy heart. "I've learnt all I can from him, now I'm on my own in a sense to continue my learning. For me to be a master, I need to experiment as he suggested."

He walked into the hall of learning, staring at all of the scrolls and pictures admiring the building itself. "Masanari. Its been a long time since you came in here last. What are you looking for?" He looked at the short monk librarian. "I'm looking for recipes of incense that give a hallucinogenic response."

"I see. Yellow tengu is teaching you something dark it seems, its near the back of the hall on the left side. There's a whole bunch of different formulas there, choose what you need." He bowed at the librarian. "Thank you."