Chapter 16- Grandpa Ryu

Ryu leaned forward, his eyes intense with curiosity. "I want to understand where I come from. I want to know about my family history and about my family. Please tell me about her," he said, expressing a mix of eagerness and apprehension.

Ryu yearned for answers about his family history. He hoped that by learning more about his roots, he would gain a deeper sense of identity and connection to his past.

"Okay," Dan said quietly, "you ought to be aware of at least this much about your lineage."

Dan, his normally steady gaze flickering with a mix of sadness and apprehension, took a deep breath. He seemed to shrink under the weight of a burden he'd carried for far too long. Finally, he spoke, his voice raspy and low.

"Your grandmother was my elder sister," he began, searching for the right words. " She was a force of nature, the eldest among us, a whirlwind of mischief that often landed me, the youngest, in hot water." A flicker of a smile crossed his lips, a fleeting glimpse of a younger Dan, perhaps mirroring the spark of rebellion that simmered within young Ryu in front of him.

"I remember one time," Dan chuckled softly, his eyes distant with memory, "she convinced me to help her 'borrow' the clan leader's prized katana for a secret mission. We ended up accidentally chipping it and spent weeks trying to fix it before anyone noticed. Ryu's grandmother's quick thinking and ingenuity spared us from severe repercussions."

"But beyond the playful facade," Dan continued, his voice gaining strength, "lay a woman of extraordinary strength and unwavering courage. She was a master of her craft, beautiful, and kind. Yet, within her kindness burnt a fierce spirit, the spirit of a kunoichi. More than anything else, she had always desired freedom."

Ryu listened intently, his curiosity piqued by the cryptic words that painted a portrait of a woman shrouded in mystery. Dan's voice faltered, a tremor of uncertainty betraying his usually composed demeanour.

Then he looked at Ryu and said, "The resemblance between you and her is uncanny, apart from those strange eyes of yours."

Ryu's hand unconsciously touched his face, tracing features he'd never truly understood. "How so?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

Dan's eyes softened. "It's in the set of your jaw, the fire in your eyes. But more than that, it's the way you carry yourself, always ready to challenge the world. That was her through and through."

"You see, Ryu," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. "Since ancient times, our Hamura clan has been a subordinate clan of the great Senju clan of the forest, sworn to serve the mighty Senju clan of the forest, protecting their interests and aiding in their endeavours."

Surprise flickered across Ryu's face. The Senju clan? The name held a weight of history, a connection to the legendary First and Second Hokage. A question burnt on his tongue.

"Senju clan?" he echoed, his voice barely a whisper. "You mean..."

Dan, anticipating his question, interjected, "Yes, it's the same Senju clan. The Hamura clan served as their protectors and artisans. We were responsible for crafting their weapons and tools and even building their houses—this very house was constructed by my father."

Ryu's eyes darted around the room, seeing it in a new light. The sturdy beams, the intricate carvings on the doorframes—all of it suddenly spoke of a legacy he'd never known.

A sense of awe washed over Ryu. To be descended from such a lineage, one intertwined with the history of the Hidden Leaf Village, was a revelation beyond anything he could have imagined. He never knew there was such a rich history intertwined with his grandmother and the Senju clan.

Dan continued, his voice low and solemn. "The strongest among us, like your grandmother, also served as their guards. We used to stay back during the battles and watch over the Senju clan's residences while also offering logistical support. And the strong ones were also trained in ninjutsu and also used to assist the Senju clan in battle."

Ryu then thought, "There was nothing like this in the original story. Was there a clan like this in the original story, or is this a whole new timeline with a slightly different plot?"

Dan continued with his story: "For generations, the Hamura clan existed in a symbiotic relationship with the Senju clan of the forest. We protected their homes and children when their fighters were at war, and they provided us with a safe haven. There was a deep bond forged through mutual protection and a shared history woven into the very fabric of our existence." 

A shadow crossed Dan's face, and his voice dipped lower. "That bond, however, began to fray with the rise of the Hidden Leaf Village. New clans, more powerful and numerous, flocked to the village's banner. The delicate balance shifted, and our role as protectors diminished. The bond between our clan and the Senju clan was what protected us."

He paused, the weight of the past pressing down on him. "After this village was formed by Hashirama Senju and Madara Uchiha, many new clans joined and replaced ours."

A wave of sadness washed over Dan as he spoke. "In an attempt to forge a stronger alliance with one of these rising clans, your grandmother, against her will, was promised in marriage to their heir. It was a political move to secure our position in the village hierarchy, a sacrifice made out of necessity."

Ryu's anger flared on behalf of his grandmother. The notion of her being used as a pawn in a political scheme deeply troubled him.

"How could they do that to her?" Ryu burst out, his fists clenching.

Dan sighed heavily. "It was a different time, Ryu. The clan's survival was at stake. But your grandmother..." A small, proud smile touched his lips. "She wouldn't have it."

"Your grandmother," Dan continued, a hint of admiration colouring his voice, "was never one to be confined. She had a spirit as wild and free as the wind. Marriage to someone she didn't love was unthinkable."

He paused, taking a deep breath as if gathering his courage. "There was someone else who caught her eye—a young Senju named Ryu."

Ryu thought, "Ryu Senju. So I am named after him."

Dan continued with his story, "Unlike the powerful Senju of legend, this Ryu was ostracised for being the weakest in his generation. He lost a hand while on a mission during the First Shinobi World War. His physical limitations made him the target of more taunts from his clan, for which he was dubbed 'The Cripple of the Senju.'"

Ryu felt a surge of both anger and sympathy at the heartbreaking revelation, his emotions conflicting within him.

Dan nodded solemnly. "The Shinobi world can be cruel, especially to those perceived as weak. But your grandfather had a strength that went beyond the physical."

He continued and said, "He then joined the logistics division with our Hamura clan members, who offered logistics and back-end support during the war to the Senju clan forces behind the enemy lines. That's how he met my sister, who was then in charge of the logistics division."

Ryu listens to him with full attention. He has pretty much gushed that this Ryu Senju guy would later woo his grandmother in the story and become his grantfather. He never thought he belonged to such an esteemed clan. Never.

Dan proceeded, "During a logistics mission in the midst of conflict, he came across an injured Senju warrior."

"Fate intervened on a mission," Dan said, his voice dropping to a low murmur. "Your grandfather, Ryu Senju, encountered a fellow Senju, a young man grievously injured and unable to continue. He offered to complete the mission himself, knowing that leaving the injured man to finish it would mean certain death for him. Faced with an impossible choice between completing the mission vital to the village's survival or saving his comrade's life, Ryu had to make a difficult decision."

"Ryu chose compassion over duty," Dan said, his voice barely a whisper. "He stayed with the wounded Senju, ensuring his safety at the cost of the mission's success."

Ryu asked, "Wouldn't choosing compassion over duty be viewed as a betrayal of the village?"

Dan shook his head slowly. "While some viewed it as a betrayal, others, including your grandmother, recognised it as a display of profound character depth beyond mere obedience. This act of selflessness was what initially captivated her heart."

Ryu thought, "Hold on. Is this story taking a similar path to Sakumo Hatake's tale?"