The Inconvenient Truth

He picks me up by my collar, lifting me off the ground until I'm eye level with him.

"You think this is time for joking? I won't hesitate to kill you, spy. Regardless if you're a kid or not, our secrets must be kept safe."

The aura he's eluding is dangerous, letting me know he's serious enough that my life is at risk right now.

Through fearful breaths I continue, "No jokes, I actually can. How about I tell you something only you and Sojiro would know?"

"How would revealing more of our secrets help you here?"He asks pressing the knife into my stomach.

Watching how I breathe so I don't stab myself I respond, "It would be stupid if it wasn't something that only you two knew.

If neither of you can tell it, how could I know of it?"

He pauses as he thinks over my words for a bit.

"Go on, but you know what happens should it not be as you claim." He warns.

I gulp as I start to doubt whether or not this information is really something only they knew.

"Your tattoo is a power that only those with Shimada blood can control.

A dragon that will be passed down to Sojiro's firstborn son this year, Hanzo." I say slowly.

There's only silence as my words hang in the air.

The silence lasts too long as I fear what he might do next.

I feel the blade being removed from near my stomach and I'm placed gently on the ground.

I look up and see tears coming down Mamoru's face.

Confused I back up as he falls to the ground in a heap, silently weeping.

After a few brief seconds of watching him silently cry, he stands up, fixing his clothes and wiping away the tears.

I don't move as he turns to me and takes a deep breath.

"The Hashimoto started as just thugs that went left unchecked.

Two months ago, they became so bold that they brazenly harassed our people and openly attacked us.

It was unfortunate timing for us as Lady Shimada was with child.

Fearing trouble, Sojiro made an attempt to send Lady Shimada to a safer location until everything was situated.

We must have been too loose with the information for the Hashimoto's were waiting for us.

Fighting off the ambush, we gave our lives to protect the future of our clan but..."

He trails off as he turns to look out in the distance.

"Lady Shimada was struck and left in a critical condition.

As the Hashimoto's attacks were relentless, we did what we could and managed to escape with the wounded Lady Shimada.

We took her to a nearby isolated village where she remained.

Sojiro himself left the walls of Hanamura to be with his wife." He explains.

"What about you? Why are you here instead of protecting him?" I ask curiously.

"That day left me in a rage. There was only one way the Hashimoto knew about our plans, and that was because we had a traitor.

My brother ordered me to come with him to protect his wife but I wasnt listening.

While my brother left to be with his wife, I went for revenge.

Many Hashimoto's died in the following days, but the traitor covered their tracks well.

As I was interrogating a Hashimoto, a message came about someone seeking a martial artist teacher that was preferably Shimada.

Not wanting to risk my people on a potential suicide mission, I myself went to investigate."

I was more confused than ever.

"Why are you telling me this?" I ask carefully.

"I came here to kill you, had you figured for a Hashimoto spy. But when I saw you were a kid and an Omnic, I stopped and decided to gather a bit more information before killing you.

Last night I contacted Shimada Castle and found that the Hashimoto's attacked the village where Sojiro and his wife were.

She died that night and Sojiro was furious that I went against his orders and came here.

Those words you said last night, about what a Shimada does. He said that to me word for word right before he expressed his disappointment.

He banished me, and told me no Shimada would ever remember my name.

They would just be told the story of a brother who abandoned another when he needed him most and became a traitor.

He told me he would make sure I would never know his kids name.

You spoke the truth.

Only me and Sojiro know of that secret which proves that you do foresee the future.

I chose to believe you can see the future because if you're telling me the truth, you are also telling me my nephews name I do not deserve knowing.

For that... I thank you." He says dropping to his knees and head lowered with his palms flat on the ground.

"Uh, you're welcome." I reply awkwardly.

He jumps up, "I will honor our deal. But take note, these techniques are exclusive only to the Shimada clan. Protect their secrets with your life."

Excited to finally be learning how to fight like a ninja, I stupidly salute him, "Yes sir."

He sighs in disappointment when he sees what I just did.

"A Shimada is exceptional in the art of marksmanship, swordsmanship, and martial artist.

We are a ninja clan whose style is consistent with avoiding hits while dealing lethal blows.

We rely on speed, agility, and precision in our strikes, making our style one of the deadliest in the world.

Before you learn sword techniques, you must learn the Shimada-ryū.

The Shimada-ryū incorporates three different stances that are designed to quickly transition from defense to offense.

Pay attention and observe each foot placement and hand position.

The first is the horse stance where both feet are planted a shoulder width apart and toes pointed forward.

Knees are bent, with arms extended forward, back straight.

I want you to practice this everyday, and meditate in this stance.

The second is the Low Stance, where the legs are bent with the arms extended in front of the body. This is the primary offensive stance.

Finally, the Dragon Stance. One foot is slightly forward with the other back. The front knee is bent, while the back leg remains straight.

Tomorrow we'll work on other aspects so spend the rest of the day practicing.

I'm going to bed, I'm mentally exhausted."

I don't say anything as he heads to his room and I think about everything that just happened.

I don't remember anything like this happening in the Overwatch lore.

In fact, I don't even remember Mamoru being a character.

I do know however, that I was very lucky to be alive.

I needed to be more careful with what information I shared.

I was foolish in thinking that everyone knew of Sojiro, it would make sense that the Shimada would be secretive about many things.

As I practiced the different stances I was shown, I swear to be more careful on the information I know.