Rising tides

It was a normal summer day, bird songs echoing through the sky and the blinding luminescent midday sunlight beaming down embracing the whole world with its warmth. All was calm; however, if one were to look at a lake in the middle of this idyllic forested paradise you would find a child on the water.

But what was truly odd was the high-pitched chirps of laughter that could be emanating from the child as the water surrounding his body was moving in a tumultuous whirlpool.

Anybody in their right mind would be downright terrified to be caught in such a perilous situation, but the peals of innocent delighted laughter coming from the boy in question were enough to make anybody doubt themselves. Was the boy really in a deadly whirlpool that could take his life in an instant or was this just a figment of their imagination. The jarring contrast expectation and reality was enough to make the sanest men question their very eyes, but in this very forest, it was unquestionably reality.

But even odder still was the excitable pleading that could be heard as if somebody was controlling the whirlpool. But the lack of response to any of his pleas made it clear that indeed nobody was making the whirlpool move, his pleas for more could be taken as nothing more than some childlike imagination and fantasy. But the increasing intensity of the whirlpool made it clear that this wasn't some childlike ignorance and imagination he was indeed communicating with something unheard and unseen.

The mystical almost magical scene continued for some time before it became clear the child was getting tired before falling asleep in the embrace of the lake as a deathly calm stillness returned back to the deep blue bottomless lake. With the change being so abrupt and drastic it was enough to make someone doubt if the incredulous scene earlier really happened at all.

The image of the child floating in the embrace of the lake in this forest was enough to make the greatest artists salivate as the scenery appeared like something out of a fairy tale. With the boy's azure hair and gentle delicate features blending seamlessly with the lake beneath in an almost perfectly synergistic manner as if the boy was in the warm embrace of a mother.

But the scene was short-lived as the boy was swept by the momentum of the lake onto the shore as the voice of a woman could be heard piercing the cacophony of the forest.

"Enkai!" The delicate voice yelled.

The voice gently stirred the boy awake from his peaceful rest.

"Mother?" A high-pitched confused voice sounded out in response.

After the boy's childish voice sounded out a ruffling could from behind the overgrowth. And from behind the grove of trees and overgrown bushes appeared the visage of a graceful woman with soft Asian features and a gentle smile resting calmly on her beautiful face.

The woman moved towards the boy with a poised and measured pace with her every movement oozing nobility, with her intricately designed kimono perfectly complementing her gentle temperament and elegantly sculpted oriental features.

The appearance of this woman caused a giddy and bright smile to appear on the boy's as he began running towards the woman in the distance.

"Mother!" Sounding out excitedly from the boy as he approached her.

Hearing the excited voice of the small child in front of her, the smile on the beautiful woman's face grew wider. Before the small child dived into her embrace and she moved her hands behind his back picking him and spinning the child around causing a peal of delighted laughter to ring out.

"So, you were here again Enkai." She chimed warmly as she held him gently in her embrace.

"Mn."

"What did I tell you about running off to the lake without telling me. I was worried you know."

"I'm sorry mother… But whenever I am playing, I always end up at the lake before I realise it, I didn't mean to I promise."

"I know don't worry I know my little Enkai is a good boy and he wouldn't make his mother upset on purpose would he."

"Umu, that's right."

"Well how about we head home it's time for lunch, you need your energy for your afternoon lessons. And don't think I don't know about you skipping your lessons to come to the lake, you're on your last warning young man as the clan heir it is unacceptable for you to be skipping lessons."

The boy flinched as he heard his mother chastise him.

"But mother~. I want to play at the lake. I don't want to stay inside listening to all the boring lessons."

"That is unacceptable young man, you are the next leader you need to set an example for all your peers and that means attending all your lessons diligently. And yes, that includes your etiquette lessons."

"No! I don't want to. Humph!"

"Ara ara~, aren't you getting a bit too rebellious. Has your dearest mother been taking it too easy on you? Don't you think defiant little boys, who make their mothers upset and refuse to listen need to be punished?"

"Humph!"

"You little devil already old enough to ignore your mother are we. Okay just see how punish and make you obedient."

"Hehe! Stop mother that tickles!"

"Hahaha! S-stop! Ha-ha!"

"I give! Ha-ha-ha-ha! Pleases stop m- Hahaha! Mummy, I promise I will be good just stop!"

"Umm, do you finally see the power of your mummy. Unless you think you can defeat the tickle monster then you're going to have to be a good boy and listen to mummy and attend your lessons like a good little boy."

"Okay mummy."

"Alright enough messing around young man, let's go home now."

"Umm"

---

*2 weeks later*

"The Shimizu clan is a clan with thousands of years of rich history. And while the Shimizu is currently nothing more than a hidden clan in the Land of Sea, in the clan records it was told that at one point the Shimizu clan was once the most dominant force in the Land of Fire. Becoming such a big threat in the Land of Fire that the Fire Daimyo feared the Shimizu clan may have enough power to destroy all other rival clans and usurp the Daimyos power."

"But despite the power, the Shimizu clan were first and foremost a neutral clan. Initially, the Shimizu clan was seen as an insignificant clan with the other powerhouse clans such as the Senju and the Uchiha. With the clan's lack of ambition and lack of interest in power, seen as a sign of weakness of other clans."

"But before the other clans knew it the Shimizu clan had escaped the Daimyo's sphere of influence. With the Shimizu clan slowly over the course of the many fire Daimyo conferences slowly manipulating the Daimyo giving the Shimizu clan independence and self-governance within their own territory. And by the time the Daimyo realised he had lost all control over the Shimizu clan it was already too late and there was nothing that could be done."

"However, with the decades passing and the Shimizu clans continued neutrality, independence and self-sufficiency the clans eventually realised that the Shimizu clans had ballooned in population becoming the largest clan by a huge margin with the Shimizu clan being three times larger than the next largest clan."

"The threat of the clan grew so great that the Daimyo grew fearful and began rallying the other ninja clans to cause internal strife inside the clan to try and make them destroy themselves from within. With all the clans jaded through war unfearful of the Shimizu clan, however, with all the clans failing to cause internal strife they realised that it wasn't just the size of the clan and lack of influence the clans have over the Shimizu that was frightening. It was their absolute unity within the clan any attempts of strife the clans tried to cause was often quashed before it started."

"But what caused tensions to come to a head was when the Nakano clan brutally murdered a group of Shimizu foragers who were foraging on the forests surrounding the Shimizu land."

"The killing of Shimizu clansmen was the straw that broke the camel's back, naturally, the Shimizu clan was aware of the aggression from other clans and the Daimyo and naturally dissatisfied with the way they were treated. So, the leader of the clan at the time Shimizu Ryujin naturally angered by this senseless and barbaric massacre and prepared to retaliate."

"The events of that night were known as the silent massacre. It didn't take long for other clans to realise that the something had happened to the Nakano clan, however, what they found shocked the Land of Fire to the core. The entire Nakano clan was massacred overnight with each and every member of the Nakano clan drowned while they slept. There were no signs of conflict, just hundreds of bodies lain drowned on their beds with their faces peaceful as if they were asleep."

"This incident shook all the clans in the Land of fire and naturally all the clans began pointing their fingers at the Shimizu clan. Fear wracked the nation as all the clans were especially afraid, they would be the next Nakano clan. Even more, so that they were completely clueless about the capabilities of the Shimizu clan and nothing is scarier than the unknown."

"The cold war after the silent massacre lasted for around two weeks before all-out war broke out with the smaller and medium-sized clans under the daimyo being the first to blatantly attack the Shimizu clan. The other larger clans were apprehensive to commit their members to fight such a huge clan with unknown abilities."

"The Daimyo was assured with himself that he could finally remove the tumour which had caused him so much trouble. But when the alliance of clans attacked the Shimizu the first day the alliance lost half their combatants with great tsunami waves, blizzards and burning steam ravaging the clan alliance."

"It didn't take long for the disaster to reach the Daimyo and he began to press all other clans in the Fire Nation to declare war on the Shimizu. And although they were apprehensive with the Shimizu clans' capabilities, nonetheless all the great clans understood the threat of the Shimizu and all banded together regardless of their differences."

"This was the opening to the greatest ninja war to have ever been recorded in history. Known as the Great nine-year war, the breeding ground for some of the greatest ninjas to have ever lived."

"Anyway, Enkai-Sama lets end the lesson here today. I'm glad you were so enthralled by today's lesson it is important to understand the history of the clan. Both to learn from the mistakes of the past and remember and honour your predecessors."

"Wow! Eichi-sensei did our clan really fight the Uchiha and Senju all on our own!" Said Enkai with passion and fervour in his voice.

"Well, Enkai-Sama, this is what is recorded in the clan records; however, these extracts are from over 800 years ago. So, there is no way to verify their authenticity, but these records have been preserved and rewritten many times so although I am unsure if these records are a hundred per cent based in truth. I believe our ancestor's writings are based on some element of truth." Said the Eichi in a calm measured voice.

"Wow! So cool! We were like super-ninjas who fought everybody and were super strong!" Squeaked Enkai excitedly.

"Yes, something like that Enkai-Sama. Although the bloodline that gave us such strength has been lost for over eight hundred years." Spoke Eichi calmly.

"Oh… So, will I not be able to be a super-strong ninja like our ancestors?" Whimpered Enkai dispiritedly.

"Well, I don't know about that Enkai-Sama. It depends on how hard you pay attention to your studies and train in the future. I am sure in the future you'll become even stronger than our ancestors if you do." Encouraged Eichi.

"Your right Eichi-sensei! I will become the strongest clan leader to ever live!" Said Enkai with his eyes almost glowing with passion and fervour.

"I'm sure you will Enkai Sama. Anyway, Enkai-Sama we need to stop here otherwise I'll get in trouble with Chinami-Sama," said Eichi with a forced smile on his face.

"Okay, Eichi sensei. Thank you for the lesson" Thanked Enkai, while bowing to his teacher and exiting the room.