8 8• Crimson to Scarlet
The land of Iga is starting to have more greens covering because the summer season is about to begin. Hanabi is currently contemplating, sitting on a huge rock and both hands flat on each side. The wind also mildly sways her hair while she is staring at the ground thinking about what happened.
"why they are hesitating?" Suddenly, a question that pops in her mind. She is occupied in her thoughts, overthinking about what is really the Scarlet Sect plan. She made a long sigh and closes her eyes.
"Hanabi" Suddenly, someone calls her with a familiar voice. She then quickly opens her eyes and turns her head to see it was the lady master.
"Master" her reaction by surprised.
The lady master smiles at her "I know you are feeling disappointed right now, but first, congratulations for taking the Scarlet title" The lady master congratulates her as she finally accepted the Scarlet title a while ago.
Hanabi slightly smiles and half-heartedly thankful about it then, she returns looking at the ground while the lady master just keeps her eyes on her.
"Master why my mission is different?" Suddenly she asks " I want the same mission as Hayabusa" Her requests.
The lady master then turns her eyes away from her and choose to scan the view before answering her question. She is thankful that Hanabi calms down now.
"Honestly Hanabi, we don't want to send you out the same as Hayabusa" Suddenly the lady master said "We don't know what will be the result for risking both of the two strongest ninjas of the Scarlet Shadow at the same time" She explains " The elder is just waiting for the result from the Shadow before we decided for your turn" She added.
"Is that how dangerous he is?" Her curiosity because she is not familiar with the traitor ninja.
"There are so many things you don't know, Hanabi"
Hanabi then stands up and walks a few steps forward while the lady master just follows a look at her behind.
"why don't you tell me" She insists. "to understand these things" She added.
"you have so many things yet to learn before we acknowledge you to undergo that mission"
"acknowledge me? you are all doubting me in the first place" She protest sounding like she is about to burst out anger. "What I have learned for many years are just for here" She protests " inside Iga"
"You're the first rightful Scarlet ninja," The lady master said, "Have you ever wonder why...The first?" Suddenly, the lady master asks.
Hanabi then notices that, widens her eyes and turns her back to look at the master
"Why?" Hanabi then asks with curiosity "You are the former rightful ninja ten years ago" She said.
The lady master then slightly smile "I told you, there are so many things you still don't know, Hanabi"
Hanabi remains her questioning face waiting for an answer "I will continue teaching you the techniques that only given to chosen ninjas like you" The lady master didn't answer her directly.
Hanabi then changes her expression from curiosity to calm "Thank you, master" She said as she also feeling grateful after.
"I want you to be a new kind of ninja that will represent the new generation of Scarlet" The lady master's wishful statement " So I hope that your heart and mind will give you peace in everything"
"My heart and mind?" Hanabi is confused while suddenly, she sees the lady master turns her back and leave "what do you mean?" she quickly follows up a question to the leaving master.
The lady master stops for a while to answer her "Just be yourself and don't let your emotion controls you" Her warning and then, she steps forward to continue and walks.
Hanabi left with so many confusing ideas and questions in her mind. She stares as she sees the lady master walks away. The wind continues swaying her hair while thinking that there are so many hidden things in the Scarlet Sect that she doesn't know.
As the lady master walks, she sees the elder master looking at her ahead. She keeps walking until she reaches the elder
"did you find her" The elder asks as she gets near while the lady master just stands up looking ahead.
"Yes" she simply answered without looking at the elder.
"Well how is it, I hope inheriting the title won't change her a bit"
"I hope so..." The lady master actually still has doubt for their rightful ninja. Suddenly, she steps forward to walk again "and I will try my best to guide her while learning those remaining things she needs to learn" She added while walking away and the elder just turns his back and walks too.
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Many days and nights...
After Hanabi took the title of the Scarlet, she is always left after the training to continue practicing the techniques alone. She even found practicing typical training at day and secret techniques at night. The lady ninja keeps observing her and sees how determined she is to finish and learn all the new techniques she got. As an exceptional ninja, they already gave her an introduction training related to these techniques unconsciously for the past years. Since she was young, her skill exceeds everyone so they all predicted she really is the ninja for the title. A few remaining steps in learning these techniques assume that she will learn as soon as she wants and as possible besides, she is no ordinary ninja.
One afternoon...
The typical day of training, she left Hanabi after she was done teaching her. The lady master is now inside her room and she is watching Hanabi outside. She can actually see Hanabi from the window of her room.
"She really amazes me, she easily learns the techniques I taught her" Suddenly, the lady master compliments. "I hope we are not wrong for choosing her" The lady master said while staring at the window. She is currently talking with the male master.
"Why? you still have doubts?" Suddenly the male master said.
"yes" She simply answered " In training, simply looking at her eyes, I feel like hidden emotions controlling her that makes her look so determined" She explains
"what's wrong with that?"
"I want to remove those bad emotions in her, that is the reason why sometimes she is reckless"
"how sure you are?"
The lady master then turns her back to look at the master "I am her trainer since she was a teenager, I see how high the competitive spirit she has" She made a quick glimpse outside and return to look at the master "I see how she pursue all the tasks competing with the young boy Hayabusa years ago" She explains " And her defeat" Suddenly she remembers the duel they used to hold every ten years for each Sect between two chosen ninjas "Her defeat against Hayabusa for their past duel and not officially taking the title of her Sect must be a big pain for her" She sounds so concern.
"It means Hanabi's eagerness to unofficially take the mission is actually for competing with Hayabusa?" the master is clearing it out.
"Exactly" She answered "I disapprove in the first place because I want her to polish herself first" The lady master confirms. "The elders don't want more conflicts between us so they assumed this decision will turn out well"
"I ain't against it anyway"
"What?" Suddenly she quickly turns her head to the master.
"We are still a good rival against the Shadow" He answers "Why do I stop a potential ninja like Hanabi for having a high spirit for competing"
"I am not saying we stop competing against them"
"I mean, why?" He is clearing it out "Why you keep on opposing?" He insists "Shadow Sect have no concerns if we still give the title to our rightful ninja" he explains
"my concern is Hanabi" The lady master answer
"Because you think after her defeat she's a failure?" Suddenly the master becomes curious "...or" suddenly he added making the lady master looks at him "You think she is not enough as she represents another lady ninja who loses against a Shadow...just like you" He simply clears it.
The lady master was shocked "Stop bringing up the past!" Her tone with disapproval as she turns her head back looking at the window to avoid eye contact. "The Shadow who defeated me twenty years ago is now a traitor" She added.
"To think you are ahead of years than him and the young Shadow twenty years ago defeated you" He added teasing. She returns her head to look at him and sees he is smiling.
"Okay, stop insulting me" She exclaimed "You sound like, you are actually insulting the whole Scarlet Sect"
"I am insulted for many years now witnessing the one who always excels in the Scarlet is a lady"
She doesn't know if that is a compliment or sarcasm but she ignores it anyway.
She sighs and closes her eyes and then she paused for a second to look at Hanabi outside "...and we are different" Suddenly she clears it while seeing Hanabi still busy doing repeated moves of her day training " I am the rightful ninja ten years ago, when we are still called Crimson Sect" She confirms "And by that time, I witnessed how exceptional his skill" Suddenly she said changing the situation to serious "And how he brutally used it" She added "He is the reason we alter everything all about the Crimson Sect" She explains while reminiscing the past following with a deep sigh.
"Well, Scarlet now is focused on teaching the unification of the heart and mind" Suddenly, the master said in a serious tone
"yes, less brutality...less of self-centered and selfishness" She said agreeing with it as she continues staring at the window and seeing Hanabi is done with her training, currently sitting on a small rock, resting "I hope she is not like him" She said referring to a ninja she is watching all this time outside; Hanabi.
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Lights are dim and the place looks so blurry!
The hallway of a big unknown place is currently where Hanabi is right now. The place is unfamiliar but she assumes it is like one of the sacred temples of the Scarlet Sect.
Out of blurry vision, a few steps away, she sees one wooden door with bright red-orange light glowing inside that passes through the edges. Even the surroundings are unclear, out of curiosity, she slowly goes near the door. She placed her palm and slowly trying to push it.
Before she even pushes the door, suddenly, "ha ha ha" she stops when she hears a deep demonic voice. She quickly turns her head to find the owner of the voice. And when she turns her look to her side, by surprise, she sees a silhouette of a man standing a few steps away. The eyes and the huge unclear thing he is holding is slightly glowing red continuously and it stands out in the dark.
Hanabi widens her eyes in shocked to see an unknown appearance and she started to feel her heart beats faster. She alerts herself and chose to face the Shadow first so she turns herself to face it. The Shadow moves and walks towards her. She feels uneasy so she takes one step backward.
"What do you want?" Suddenly she asks "who are you" her question trying to frighten the Shadow or making herself calm in a sudden situation.
She sees her brave approach makes the Shadow stops to go forward, but, suddenly she feels something painful on her side. After realizing it, her face turns grimace that there is really something painful. She put her right palm on the painful side of her body and surprise to feel something liquid and warm. Curious about what is this warm and sticky, she lifts her palm slowly and shocked at what she saw. Her eyes open widely to see blood in her hand. What...a blood, but Why? Why she has blood there? Is she has a wound, but how? She questions everything about what is going on.
"The blissful taste of fresh blood" Suddenly, the unknown Shadow said.
Hanabi then turns back her eyes to look at the Shadow and see it continues going towards her. She is nervous while her eyes locked openly wide staring at the shadow going towards her. She found herself being in a rough situation right now. And the Shadow, from slowly walking forward, suddenly, it lifts the huge thing he was holding and jumps quickly towards her in a snap!
"Ahh?" She was shocked to see a sudden attack and her blurry vision becomes a full image of the Shadow going towards her and fades to dark...
Hanabi quickly lifts her upper body while gasping for air. She feels that she holds her breath for too long from that unexpected encounter only to finds out it was a nightmare. She breathes heavily and continuously until she can finally notice that she woke up into reality. She scans the surrounding where she is and then realizes she is inside her room; safe. The morning is now starting as she hears the bird's noises and a little light coming from outside. Her heavy breathing turns to mild breathe until finally recovered and then she made a deep sigh.
"who is that?" She whispers trying to recall her dream
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One morning...
The lady master walks in the hallway and passes through an area rarely visited by them. She notices the area and stops for a while and then looks at the door's room. That door was kept closed and forbidden for many years and until now even the new generations, don't know what is inside.
"Done with your meditation?" Suddenly she is surprised when she hears a familiar voice. She then turns her head and sees the elder.
"Master" She said noticing the elder approaching towards her.
The elder then stops near her and takes a look at the door. "why?" Suddenly a curious question the elder asked.
"I wonder why it was kept secret for many years now, master" She said "Even that you taught me a forbidden technique about that you forbade me to use it" She added.
"because it is unnecessary" the elder answers calmly. "and I am thankful that the Scarlet Sect doesn't need that...at least...for now" the elder added. "it means we are still leaving in peace"
The lady master just keeps staring at it. " That is why I skipped mentioning this to Hanabi, but like what you taught me, I also taught her the technique"
"Just do," The elder commands
"yes master even though it will be useless," she said.
While outside, Hanabi still occupied to the nightmare she had a while ago. She didn't even get a complete and peaceful sleep because of that. She felt that it was the last day of her life seeing a threatening Shadow in front of her. She used to fight the strongest Shadow ninja but that one in her dream is a complete opposite. She feels a strong presence the way she defines the blood. And her wounds; she is still puzzling out what just happened and where did she get that wound.
She feels the dream is trying to tell her something. A few seconds of thinking when suddenly, she widens her eyes. There is an idea that pops in her mind.
"Why not check the Sacred temple then" She said and then she quickly walks to head there...
Outside a sacred temple...
The two masters; the lady and the elder both excited after their individual meditation. The sacred place is only allowed to elders and permitted higher rank masters. It is placed at the center surrounded by temples a few steps away. By their true oath and due respect, no one in the Scarlet Sect common ninjas ever enters the temple without permission. Breaking the rules is unforgivable and a lifetime humiliation for a true ninja who breaks a promise.
While Hanabi in a quite far approaching, she suddenly sees the two unexpectedly. She quickly moves to hide behind a trunk. Like a typical ninja, she tries to be stealth and careful. She slightly takes out her head to look at them and sees the two masters are busy chatting. She quickly moves forward, if she is careless, she can be noticed crossing through the sacred area. Accepting the consequences, she quickly made a few steps to reaches the side of the sacred temple gladly thankful the two are busy with their conversation. She is now behind the two masters and finally, she can hear them clearly.
"Just don't give Hanabi permission to enter this area" suddenly she hears the elder said.
Hanabi was shocked...why?
"I will try my best to guard her" The lady master agreed.
So why she is not allowed? Hanabi cannot understand a thing.
"Please do" The elder request.
"I'll be heading back now master" Suddenly the Lady master said. " I will prefer Hanabi for tonight's final test" She added.
She sees the two is finally leaving as they walk away from the area. Hanabi left with a shocked expression after hearing that she is not permitted to get in here, in the sacred temple. She then looks at it and sees this is a simple but huge temple. After a glance, she is decided to still get in, she really wants to confirm if this is the temple in her dream.
After a few seconds waiting for the right time, she quickly gets near the wide door, she opens and made a quick step to get in. She then closes the door and gazes at the surrounding of the wide meditation room. She wanders while scanning the area she has never been until her feet led her to a familiar hallway. Hanabi was shocked because the hallway is exactly the same area she saw in her dream. She steps forward to get in without hesitation. After a few steps, she stops, she looks at her left side and was shocked to see a familiar door. The door is exactly the same door in her blurry vision last night. She looks at her left side and shocked to see the exact corner where she saw an unknown Shadow trying to kill her. She returns her head facing the door, she is now curious about what is inside. She wants to confirm what is glowing inside this room like what she saw in her dream. Hanabi slowly put her right both arms in the wooden door.
"I hope there is no unexpected voice again" her joke and she smiles as she doesn't want to be intruded by a demonic voice again like in her dream.
And then she pushes the door slowly and finally reveals a lot of materials and unfamiliar weapons inside. She was shocked as she takes a quick look at the whole room while her eyes and mouth are wide open. The place is a typical large room but it looks tight because of a bunch of materials kept there like weapons, scrolls and other materials she thinks that ninja uses in combat.
"Why the Scarlet is hiding these things?" Suddenly, she whispers.
She walks in while looking at each material she sees until she reaches the center of the room where a weapon is placed alone. Hanabi stares at it, she is not familiar with it and she doesn't know what is it. It is large like half of the size of a human with sharp edges in both ends; like it was a customized boomerang and the handle is placed in the center. She is intrigued by how this unfamiliar weapon is used and why it is the only weapon at the center of the room like it was special or something.
While staring at it, suddenly, she notices a scroll rolled up beside it. She picks it up and sees the weapon glows in a blink of an eye. Hanabi notices that and takes a glance, this weapon is intriguing. She then looks at the scroll and unrolls it.
She quickly read what is written and suddenly widens her eyes out of shocked "This is a forbidden technique, the master taught me last night" She said after reading " but...but she never mentioned that it is about summoning this weapon" She added while glancing at the weapon and then back to the scroll. Out of shocked and curiosity, she continue reading and found the weapon's name at the end
"Forbidden Jutsu: Higanbana" She whispers saying the weapon's name seriously.
She doesn't know Scarlet Sect hides this kind of weapon that actually very useful. After finding it out, she narrowed her eyes back to staring at the weapon with eagerness.
