Nobunaga Oda's Isekai Cultivation Experience

*tak* *tak* *tak*Hearing a soft knocking outside, Nobu set aside his cup of coffee before calling out, "It's open." in a dull tone.While it wasn't exactly a typical response, the person outside the door understood Nobu's words to mean they could enter. The door promptly slid open to reveal a bald, monk-like man with strikingly feminine features. It was only after the 'man' lowered his head and spoke that Nobu realized he was actually a woman."There is an emergency situation that requires your presence. Lady Suzuki has sent me to retrieve you. Please, follow me.""Huh...?"As he was currently in the middle of eating, Nobu wasn't too enthused by the sudden summons. In spite of this, he ended up rising to his feet and brushing a few stray crumbs from his yukata, asking, "What happened?" in an audibly annoyed tone.Bowing even lower, the 'masculine' woman replied, "Forgive me, Young Master. I was not informed of the details."Clicking his tongue, Nobu pulled out his stone tablet to sneak a photo of the Sorcerer Supreme wannabe. He had figured out that he could analyze specific parts of a person's Status at a reduced cost, so, rather than revealing all of the woman's information, he purchased the data on her Status Conditions for 8,911AU.Noticing nothing amiss, Nobu slipped the stone tablet into the sleeve of his yukata before turning to Yui and Nohime, saying, "Let's go. Remember to stay on your toes."Nodding their heads in affirmation, Yui and Nohime rose to their feet at nearly the exact same time. Then, surprising the bald-headed woman, they promptly flanked him with serious and determined looks on their faces.As Nobu's identity wasn't exactly known as of yet, the bald-headed woman found herself at a loss for words when she saw Nohime standing so close to him.Fortunately, like the majority of servants within the Inner Sanctum, the woman was sensible enough not to stick her nose into the private affairs of Nobles. Unless her Lord or Lady specifically asked her to reveal something, she would never speak of Nohime's 'infidelity' to others........."Sen-chan! How could you do something like this!? Have you lost your mind...!?"Smiling wryly in response to his wife's words, Senken rubbed the visible knots atop his head as he explained, "It was an investment in the future. Besides, it's not like I need my right arm to wipe the floor with people. This just makes things more interesting."As he had always been ambidextrous, Senken wasn't concerned with the crippling of a single arm. He had also made the cut as clean as possible, so, as long as he didn't get some kind of infection, he should be able to regain about 70% of the limb's functionality. He would be weaker, sure, but it wasn't as if he was helpless. Even with no arms, he would still be able to barrel through his enemies like a train with its brakes cut.Though it was well known that Mithril possessed magical qualities that made it exponentially easier to manipulate than other metals, its most unique property was the fact it was virtually indestructible against non-magical weapons. Since it was also extremely resistant to magic, those at the Realm of Mithril Lord were regarding as Gods of the Battlefield.Hitting her husband for the umpteenth time, Nana appeared even more upset as she shouted, "I don't care about that! You can't just go around hurting yourself...!"Understanding his wife was just worried about him, Senken didn't complain about the growing number of bumps on his head. Instead, he pulled her closer to him, an apologetic expression on his face as he whispered, "You know I didn't do this to make you upset...tell me, what can I do to make it up to you...?"As she had always been weak to all forms of intimacy, the anger in Nana's expression promptly gave way for a far more bashful look. Unfortunately for Senken, her anger was far from abated, so, after a moment of silence, she whispered, "Let me accompany Nobu-chan to Yumegakure. I don't want to miss any more of his life and I want to be there when Yui-chan gives birth. I also feel there is a powerful connection between our son and Hime-chan. I want them to be able to spend more time together..."Surprising Nana quite a bit, Senken only hesitated for a brief moment before nodding his head and reluctantly replying, "Sure...just-"Unable to contain her excitement, a radiant smile blossomed across Nana's face before she gave Senken a kiss. Immediately thereafter, she separated him, casually performing a playful spin as she happily chimed, "Hime-chan is going to be so excited~!"Adopting yet another wry smile, Senken suppressed his urge to sigh by running his fingers through his hair. The truth of the matter was that he had already anticipated his wife's request the moment he saw Nobuhime's initial reaction to Nobu. He had even discussed the matter with his father and was currently awaiting a reply from Hitomi, so, while the thought of spending even a few days away from his wife was maddening, Senken had already resolved himself to do whatever it took to ensure the best possible future for his family...*tak* *tak* *tak*Hearing the soft tapping at the door, Nana promptly slid it open, shouting, "Nobu-chan~!" before practically pouncing on the latter. This left Nobu more than a little confused while the servant who had guided him there gawked with a look of wide-eyed, slightly mortified realization. After all, as far as the general populace of Nian was concerned, Nobu was long dead.Noticing the servant woman's presence, Nana quickly released Nobu from her hold before issuing a light cough and saying, "Thank you, Sanae. That will be all..."Coming to her senses the moment she heard Nana's words, Sanae folded her hands over her lap before bowing in a deep and respectful manner as she replied, "As you will, Lady Suzuki. It has been my pleasure to be of assistance."With a curt nod and a wave, Nana dismissed Sanae before ushering Nobu, Nohime, and Yui into the room. Then, just as Nobu was about to ask what the emergency was, Nana's enthusiasm reemerged as she exclaimed, "Nobu-chan, Yui-chan, No-chan, I have great news~!"Blinking in confusion, Nobu awkwardly accepted his mother's renewed embrace as he confusedly looked toward his father. In response, Senken just held up his heavily wrapped arm, a wry smile on his face as he mouthed, "Good luck."Though he was even more confused, Nobu gave Nana a light pat on the back, asking, "What's the great news?" before following up with, "We were kind of in the middle of breakfast..."Willfully ignoring that latter half of Nobu's words, Nana maintained a radiant smile as she released him from her embrace and explained, "Your father has given me permission to come and stay with you on the mountain. I'll be bringing Hime-chan with me so you can play with her while I teach Yui-chan and No-chan how to care for children.""Wait, what the f-you're coming with me?"Adopting an artificial yet effective pout, Nana weakly inquired, "Do you not want to spend time with us...?"Feeling an unexpected bloodlust, Nobu noticed his father glowering at him with his cool yet fucking scary golden eyes. Yui also noticed this, but, understanding she wouldn't even be able to buy time if Senken was serious about attacking, she didn't bother to put up her guard.Blinking a few times in an attempt to suppress the subtle yet distinguishable twitching of his right eye, Nobu forced a smile as he replied, "Don't be stu-silly. Of course I want to spend time with the two of you. You're my mom and my baby sis..."Ignoring the awkwardness in Nobu's behavior and tone, Nana's expression reverted to her normally bubbly self as she covered her mouth and issued a soft giggle."Don't worry. I'm not going there to pester you or get in the way. You see, the Suzuki Clan used to be famous for their swordsmanship. Since you have only recently started your training, now is the best and only time for me to pass on our hereditary techniques. I also want to watch over Yui-chan and make sure there are no issues with her pregnancy. Other than that, I would be happy if you just had tea with me every couple of days..."As this was the first time he was hearing about his mother's side of the family, Nobu's brows perked up as he parroted, "Suzuki Clan? Hereditary Techniques...?"Happy that Nobu was at least a little interested in his heritage, Nana squinted in satisfaction before raising her left hand to reveal a somewhat ancient-looking golden band. If someone were to look at it with a magnifying glass, they would find a runic inscription that resembled a sword carved along its surface.As the runes inscribed upon the bracelet lit up, a crimson light manifested in Nana's hand before quickly taking the form of a dated but strangely intimidating longsword. Its black hilt was covered in blotches that resembled rust, and, unlike the katanas typically wielded by Nianese Warriors, the blade was completely straight, bound in white cloth, and sealed with numerous talismans."The Suzuki Clan is not native to Nian. Our Ancestors immigrated to the Archipelago thousands of years ago after losing in a succession dispute. This sword, Chi Xiao, was one of the few possessions our Ancestors were able to escape with during the conflict. While not as mystifying as your ancient stone tablet, it is a heritage item on the level of a Heavenly Treasure. Once you are ready, I will pass this sword to you so that you might one day pass it to another..."Staring blankly at the sword cradled in his mother's arms, Nobu was half-tempted to reach out and touch it. Instead, he adopted an uncharacteristically solemn look as he nodded his head and said, "I understand..."While his words were the antithesis of how he really felt, Nobu got the impression that passing on her Clan's sword and techniques meant a lot to Nana. As for the history of the Suzuki Clan and the importance of the sword, he expected those would be revealed when she, or, more specifically, he was ready.Exhaling a subtle yet clearly relieved sigh, Nana's expression somehow became even more loving as she returned the sword to her bracelet and said, "I'm glad. You're going to be so busy starting next Spring. Now is really the only opportunity I have to teach you our Clan's ancestral techniques. If you had refused..."Resisting the urge to reach out and caress the remarkably beautiful woman's face, Nobu adopted what he hoped to be a sincere smile as he said, "Relax...I might have a preference for blunt weapons and fists but you can be damned sure I'm going to work my ass off trying to master everything you want to teach me. Just don't go all tiger mom on me..."Tilting her head to the side, Nana asked, "Tiger mom...?" with an innocent and genuinely curious expression on her face.Though it probably wasn't the best idea, Nobu went on to explain what a tiger mom was and how behaving like one had disastrous consequences. Unfortunately, the moment he was finished, Nana, very innocently, replied, "Isn't that just normal training...?"......(A/N: Anyone else getting the impression the sword is just a plot device to get Nobu to venture to the Heavenly Kingdom (O w O)...?)

Deciding to leave matters of the future to his future self, Nobu focused on the more important matter at hand, asking, "So? What the hell happened to you...?" in reference to the sling on his father's arm.Without missing a beat, Senken shrugged his shoulders dismissively, answering, "Don't worry about it. More importantly, there's someone I want you to meet. Hiro...!"As if he had been waiting for that exact moment, a young man entered the room from an adjacent bamboo door. His expression appeared impassive, but, if you were to look closely, it was possible to make out that his eyes were slightly swollen...Though his ruby-red eyes briefly lingered on Nana, Hiro, or, more accurately, Nobuhiro managed to appear composed as he cupped his hands together and said, "Words cannot describe how relieved I am to see my elder brother, once thought lost, returned safely to the Oda Clan's embrace..."Furrowing his brows, Nobu liberated himself from Nana's tenacious embrace before making his way over to the visibly tensing Nobuhiro. Then, before the surprisingly petite youth could even think to protest, Nobu gave his younger brother a bear hug, whispering, "Relax. I have no intention of taking anything away from you..."Confused by Nobu's words and actions, Hiro found himself unable to respond as his feet dangled a few centimeters off the ground.Releasing the remarkably thin youth from his embrace, Nobu gave Hiro a firm pat on the shoulder before turning to his father and asking, "Have you explained the situation? Does he know about my stone tablet?"Shaking his head, Senken answered, "That is a matter for the two of you to discuss. I'm just here to keep things in order until you're ready to take the reins. Try not to keep me waiting too long, brat. I'm long past retirement."Though he was young compared to some of the old monsters that had been clinging to power for generations, Senken was more than ready to pass over the reins to his children. His power had yet to begin stagnating, but, rather than horde resources for himself, he would rather invest them in the future. After all, at his level, the resources required to increase his Rank a single time could be used to rear more than a dozen Platinum Heroes. While this might not seem like a substantial number at first glance, it was pretty substantial when you considered there were only 37 Platinum Heroes in all of Owari.With Nobu's Heavenly Treasure, increasing a person's cultivation base was remarkably easy. In fact, even now, Senken couldn't quite believe such a heaven-defying artifact existed.One of the only things Nobu still lacked was resources. He may be able to provide a multitude of different cultivation methods, but, like people, not all cultivation methods were created equally. If that were the case, the Metal Infusion Technique wouldn't be so coveted by other countries.Understanding that Nobu was going to need a tremendous amount of resources in a very short period of time, Senken was already making preparations to liquidate many of the assets the Oda Clan had stockpiled since their inception more than six thousand years ago. The prophecy of the Goddess had made the stakes pretty clear, so, with the fate of the very world on the line, Senken was prepared to invest the very clothes on his back towards making the way forward as smooth as possible for his sons. After all, what was the point of wealth if it wasn't used to ensure the success of future generations...?......With Senken departing alongside a very reluctant Nana, Nobu found himself in the remarkably awkward position of being flanked by two stunningly beautiful women while his younger brother, appearing even more uncomfortable than he was, sat across from him.At times like this, Nobu really wished he had a normal table and chairs to sit at. Sitting cross-legged while everyone else sat in seiza made him feel like an asshat. To make matters worse, everyone was given their own, individual tables. This was apparently to prevent cross-contamination from poisons and such, but, at the same time, it created a sense of distance that made it stupidly difficult to break the ice...Fortunately, Nobuhiro wasn't unaccustomed to such awkwardness whilst dining, so, after several minutes had passed, he was the first to break the silence, remarking, "It pleases me to see how well you and Nohime-sama appear to be getting along..."Similar to when Nobuhiro had first spoken, Nobu couldn't help furrowing in response to the youth's overly polite speech, asking, "Do you always talk like this...?"With a genuinely confused look on his face, Hiro asked, "Beg your pardon? If I have said something to offend you, I apologize..."Shaking his head, Nobu surprised everyone by placing his tray-like table into his Storage App and saying, "I don't want your apology. I mean, we're supposed to be brothers, right? Speaking politely to one another just seems stupid. Now, out with it. I want to know how you really feel. You can't be too happy about me appearing out of thin air like this, right?"Without waiting for Hiro's response, Nobu clipped a pic of the effeminate youth using his Camera App. He was marginally surprised to learn how expensive the youth's information was. Fortunately, he just needed to be able to see his Status in order to know how the emo-looking teen really felt...("Fear? Sadness? Guilt...?")Noticing a distinct lack of hostile emotions, Nobu almost missed it when Hiro answered, "I really am happy...no, perhaps it would be more accurate to say I'm relieved to have you back with us. Mother has been sick for such a long time. Seeing her in such high spirits is something to be grateful for..."Hanging his head, Hiro avoided Nobu's gaze as various thoughts crossed his mind. Unfortunately, Nobu wasn't exactly the most sensitive person in the world, so, rather than affording the youth the time he needed to collect himself, he asked, "You really care about her, don't you...?"Instead of answering Nobu's question with words, Hiro simply nodded his head before closing his eyes in an effort to veil the seething emotions contained within. In truth, he wasn't at all happy to see their mother doting on the newly returned Nobu. She had never been particularly distant with him, but, ever since he came under the tutelage of his Uncle, Hiro had noticed the sadness in his mother's eyes whenever she gazed upon him...Taking a deep breath, Hiro willfully reminded himself that it was his decision to listen to his Uncle's advice. He could blame his older brother all he wanted, but, understanding how shameless it would be to blame someone who wasn't even around, Hiro calmed himself before opening his eyes to ask, "What did you mean when you said you had no intention of taking anything away from me...?"Having ascertained the reasons for his younger brother's fear, sadness, and guilt, Nobu's expression became serious as he said, "Though I'll need to hold the position for a bit, I intend to nominate you as the future Daimyo of Owari."With his eyes turning round as saucers, Hiro opened his mouth, but, even after several seconds had passed, he couldn't find the words to speak. Instead, it was Nohime who asked, "My Lord...?" with a mixture of confusion and audible trepidation in her tone.Turning to meet the raven-haired beauty's gaze, Nobu explained, "Hiro has been preparing for the position of Daimyo a lot longer than me. Besides, once I begin to expand my influence to the rest of the Archipelago, I'm not going to be able to stay in Owari. People don't respect leaders who just sit on their asses and delegate their responsibilities to others."Though he was planning to do a lot of sitting around in the future, one of the few lessons Nobu had internalized from his previous world's history classes was that Conquerors didn't sit back and leave others in charge of their campaigns. Those that did would quickly lose the faith of the people, and, in turn, the faith of the very Generals they entrusted their protection...With such thought on his mind, Nobu continued where he left off, adding, "I'm not going to fight my own brother over something as absurd as a title, and anyone who attempts to turn us against one another is clearly just looking out for themselves. We have the opportunity to work together to make Owari a better place. Tearing the Province apart just to seize a temporary position is fucking stupid..."Recalling how the original Nobuhiro had been manipulated to rebel against the original Nobunaga, Nobu wanted to nip the problem in the bud as soon as possible. The position of Daimyo was all but meaningless to him, so, if his brother wanted it, why should they fight over it? The most important thing at the present moment was accumulating allies and people he could trust. Starting things off by suppressing or killing his own siblings wasn't exactly the best way to convince people he was on the side of justice.........(A/N: Sorry for the short chapter. I've been in a lot of pain recently and have had my focus split on a number of different projects. I actually wanted to put NOICE on hiatus until November, but, as there are a few fans eager to see the story develop, I've decided to alternate between releasing chapters of the side story and chapters of NOICE. I'm not going to make any promises but there should be at least one chapter every other day until we reach chapter 200 or so.)

"Anyway, our priority for the moment is leaving the city and returning to the mountain. My parents might be able to protect us but it's too dangerous to stay here at our current power level. We need the others with us and I need to get a hell of a lot stronger before we even think about announcing my return."If the incident with Young Master Peng had taught Nobu anything, it was that he was still too weak and that his enemies were ruthless. More importantly, Yui was currently pregnant. He didn't want to risk anything happening to the baby, so, even if his mothers wanted him to stay put, Nobu wouldn't be able to live with himself if something happened...As Yui had no issues with returning to the mountain, it was Nohime who answered, "Though I will not protest to an early departure, I would prefer a few days to prepare. Lady Suzuki has helped me create an information network and expand several businesses. If I disappear into thin air, everything I built these past ten years will invariably fall into the hands of another."Though he was tempted to click his tongue, Nobu managed to restrain the urge as he nodded his head and said, "That's fine. My mother and little sister would probably be upset if we departed too soon. I also have some things to work out with my Father and Grandfather so we can probably stay a few days without...any issues..."Feeling an indescribable sense of uneasiness swelling in the back of his mind, Nobu's words trailed off as he began to seriously question whether or not he had some kind of plot sense..."Is something the matter...?"Having never witnessed one of Nobu's pensive moments, Nohime was slightly taken aback by the sudden change in his demeanor. As for Yui, she appeared calm yet serious as she asked, "Did you sense something? Is it another flag?"Shaking his head, Nobu briefly massaged his forehead and temples before answering, "I'm not sure. Either way, it would be better to stay on our toes and stick together until we leave the city. No more disappearing like before..."Though he knew it wasn't really her fault, Nobu directed his final few words to Yui. He knew she was just trying to be considerate of his mother but that wasn't the reason they had come to the city. She was his bodyguard, the mother of his unborn child, and his future wife. If anything was to happen, it would almost certainly happen to her.Noticing the concern in Nobu's eyes, a faint smile developed across Yui's face as she softly asserted, "It won't happen again..."Nodding his head in approval, Nobu's expression gradually relaxed. Then, noticing the shadow of a pout behind Nohime's veil of calm, he decided to explain what flags were and his presumed ability to sense them. This came as quite the surprise to the young Noblewoman, who, understanding the importance of such an ability, vowed to never reveal it.........While Nobu was enjoying breakfast alongside Yui and Nohime, Senken was seated across from an effeminate-looking youth with long black hair and crimson eyes. A frown had marred both of their expressions, as, despite being father and son, the two rarely conversed like this."Father...has something happened these past few days? I met with mother yesterday and she was behaving...strangely..."Suppressing a sigh, Senken uncrossed his arms before answering, "You're not the type of person to come to me with questions and concerns. Out with it, brat. Why did you request this meeting...?"With a sad look on his face, the young man, Nobuhiro, lowered his head before questioning, "Is our relationship so terrible we can't even eat together without tension and conflict...?"Clicking his tongue, Senken uncorked a ceramic flask before taking a large swig of the contents. He hated meeting with his Second Son like this, as, every time they conversed, Nobuhiro would readily take advantage of his feelings of guilt and failure. This was a skill he had learned from his Uncle, so, whenever they met like this, Senken couldn't help imagining his brother standing behind Nobuhiro like a puppeteer pulling his strings..."I wish..."Hearing his father's silent utterance, Nobuhiro raised his head, a hint of confusion on his face as he remarked, "I'm afraid I didn't hear you..."Meeting his son's gaze, Senken's expression became serious despite the pain visible in his eyes. He wanted nothing more than to get along with all of his children, but, due to the machinations of fate and his failings as a father, his eldest had been expelled from the family while the second eldest had been led astray and manipulated by people who regarded him as little more than a convenient tool."I wish I had been a better father to you. Now, even if I wanted to patch things between us, I'm not sure you would be willing to listen. Not now..."Furrowing his brows, Nobuhiro found himself at a loss for words. This wasn't the first time he had heard an apology from his father. What made this situation different was the insinuation that his father had all but given up on mending their relationship."Listen, Hiro. No matter what your Uncle has told you, I have always regarded you as my son. The reason I didn't prepare you for the position of Daimyo was because it was never your fate to govern Owari. Your Uncle, my brother took advantage of my failings and your insecurities to turn you into his pawn. Now, even if you were to become Lord of Owari, we both know you wouldn't be the one in control..."With a far more sincere expression of distress on his face, Nobuhiro balled his hands into fists as he weakly replied, "You're wrong..." in a voice that quivered with anger, indignation, and a fair amount of grief.In spite of his words, Nobuhiro understood the truth contained within his father's. His Uncle had demonstrated, time and again, that he was the most suited to govern Owari. He was the only one that could ensure the prosperity of the province during these trying times, so, once he ascended to the position of Daimyo, Nobuhiro had been intending to install his Uncle as his Chief Magistrate, Chamberlain, and Minister of Trade. These three positions were typically supposed to keep each other in check, so, the moment Senzo occupied all three, he would be Daimyo in everything but name.Shaking his head, Senken's brows furrowed as he closed his eyes and revealed, "Your eldest brother has returned..."Though this was the matter his Uncle had sent him to confirm, Nobuhiro was still surprised to hear his father reveal the truth. He felt as though a pit had been opened in his stomach, and, despite his efforts to appear calm, his brain was buzzing due to a sudden and instantaneous bout of lightheadedness."Impossible..."Shaking his head a second time, Senken assured, "It's not impossible. In fact, it's the primary reason your grandfather and I never attempted to groom you as my successor. We have been preparing for your brother's return since before he was expelled. Now that-""Why didn't you tell me...!?"Slamming the table before him with enough force to crack its surface, Nobuhiro's expression revealed desperation and panic as he stared back at his father. He had never felt so betrayed, so insignificant in his entire life.Opening his eyes, Senken's expression became a mask of calm as he explained, "If news of your brother's survival had been leaked to the outside, countless people would have done everything in their power to ensure his death. I was intending to tell you once you were old enough to keep a secret. By then, it was already too late. You allowed your insecurities to be taken advantage of by your Uncle and I was too preoccupied with my responsibilities to take notice..."Realizing his words could be misconstrued as him blaming his son, Senken's mask of calm gradually transitioned into an apologetic expression as he lowered his head and said, "I failed you, Hiro. If I had been a better father, none of this would have happened. Now, I dare not ask for your forgiveness. Instead, I implore you to be understanding. You're a good man and your brother is something this country desperately needs right now. Before you let your Uncle turn you against him, I want you to recall what it was like when Nobu was around. Imagine what it's like to be trapped within your body for eighteen years without being able to move so much as a single muscle. If that's not enough, imagine how saddened your mother would be if the two of you ended up fighting against one another..."Clenching his hands and teeth, Nobuhiro had to fight against an almost overwhelming urge to tear up. He knew his father was right, but, at the same time, he still felt betrayed. What was he supposed to do with all this anger and resentment? What was he supposed to do with his life now that he knew his brother was almost guaranteed to ascend to a position he had been preparing to occupy ever since he was eight years old?"I hate you..."Voicing the sentiment he had compartmentalized up for years, Nobuhiro was surprised by how painful it was to actually vocalize his hatred. The pained expression on his father's face didn't help any. Rather, it caused the sour feeling building in his nose to become even more potent as a knot promptly formed in his throat...With a visible layer of moisture spreading across his eyes, Senken surprised Nobuhiro by nodding his head and answering, "I understand..." in a heartwrenching tone. Then, with a forced smile on his face, he appended, "I probably deserve that. Just...please...promise me that you won't allow your hatred towards me to pollute your relationship with your brother. One of my biggest regrets was turning against my brothers and crippling one of the people who should have served alongside me as my greatest ally. If I had been a better man at the time, your Uncle and I would have made Owari a much better place. Don't repeat the same mistake...be better than I ever was..."Desperate to guide his son back to the correct path, Senken punctuated his words by forming a bluish-purple blade with his left hand. Immediately thereafter, he sliced through the tendons of his right hand even as Nobuhiro reached forward, exclaiming, "Father! No...!" in a panicked tone.Smiling in spite of the fact his right arm was now dangling by flesh and sinew, Senken reacted to Nobuhiro's panic by extending his left hand to embrace the befuddled youth. An arm was a small price to pay for his children's futures. If this could bring his sons together, he didn't care if his career as a warrior had come to an end. There were more important things in life and he had already made the mistake of being a terrible father once. There was no way in hell he was going to let his pride get in the way of setting things right...Not this time.........(A/N: Shanks vibes...)

Chapter 134: Subverting Expectations