Nobunaga Oda's Isekai Cultivation Experience

Just as Senken had formed his resolve, a feminine voice echoed throughout the vault, surprising everyone within as it mused, "How tragic...it's amazing how a single selfish decision can have such a drastic influence on the course of history..."With his son currently tending his wife and child, it was Senichi who manifested a gigantic katana formed from a deep blue metal, exclaiming, "Who goes there!?" in a booming voice that caused a neatly stacked pile of gold to capsize from the baritone vibrations.In response to Senichi's outburst, a golden crack appeared out of thin air as a phenomenal aura, unlike anything the room's occupants had ever felt, descended upon them. From within the crack, an indescribably beautiful woman with golden hair, glowing blue eyes, and pointed ears emerged, answering, "You may address me as Imina Ataraxy, Goddess of the Six Paths. I have come bearing a message. More specifically, a prophecy. Now, I would advise you to kneel..."Without waiting for the people present to abide, Imina gestured with her hand, and, as a result, everyone present within the vault, sans Senken and Nana, was forced to bend a knee. Those that attempted to resist, Senichi included, found their knees impacting the ground with enough force to crack the marbled flooring."Very good. Now, listen closely. I dislike having to repeat myself, and I am far too busy to answer questions..."Tapping the air with her right hand, Imina created a three-dimensional projection of Nobu from his previous life before proceeding to explain, "Due to a particular set of circumstances, the soul meant to dwell within your child has been delayed. The easiest way to explain this is that they are currently living in a tangential world, one with a similar yet decidedly different history to this one. Now, let's move on to the prophecy..."Manifesting an antiquated scroll veiled in golden light, a smile developed across Imina's face as she opened it and read, "The Beasts of Calamity will soon awaken, heralding the beginning of the end. If Nian is to survive, it will need to be unified under a single, solitary, banner. Though only the future knows what form it will take, the first son of the Oda Clan has been chosen as one of the candidates to guide the people from the current era into the next. Whether or not this new era is one of peace and prosperity...well, that will ultimately depend on the people guiding him..."Though the last part wasn't part of the prophecy, Imina decided to give Nobu a hand by mixing in a vague warning. Time didn't flow linearly from the perspective of the Gods so this event was actually taking place after her little text conversation with Nobu. His straightforward apology had influenced her to take a look into his previous life. When she learned he wasn't actually an Otaku, she even felt a little sorry for him, but, rather than admit she had made a rather severe mistake, Imina decided to pull a few strings to make sure he didn't experience any bad ends before he had a chance to grow.To this end, a golden light shot from the ancient-looking scroll and into Nobu's infant body as she said, "Well now. That takes care of that. Since I said I wouldn't be answering questions, I trust there aren't any? Good. Take care of yourselves. That brat should return to his body before his twentieth birthday. Till then, do your best."Finished with what she intended to say, Imina waved her hand towards the statuesque group of people before spontaneously collapsing into a golden mote of light that subsequently exploded outward in a vibrant pulse that restored their movements and healed their wounds. This included the sequelae suffered by Nana during her delivery, so, while the light had yet to fully return to her eyes, she appeared marginally more hopeful as she asked, "My baby...he's going to be okay...?"While he couldn't even begin to describe how lost and confused he felt at the present moment, Senken immediately regained his senses when he heard his wife's question. At the same time, the resolution he had previously formed came back in full force as he gently squeezed her hand and answered, "I'll make sure of it..."......Though she obviously left out the parts she wasn't aware of, Hitomi gave a general summary of the events leading up to and occurring after Nobu's birth. This included the agreement that allowed her to ascend to Mithril and retain the position of Matriarch to the present day. After that, she detailed everything Nobu had revealed to her, spinning it in such a way that guaranteed they would want to support him rather than impede him.As the most senior member of the Yoshitsune Clan, it was Inami who followed Hitomi's explanation by asking, "Are you suggesting we shift our allegiances to Oda Nobunaga rather than the Oda Clan as a whole? What if he decides not to become the next Daimyo? Or, even worse, what if the path he chooses leads to the destruction of Nian rather than its salvation?"Without flinching, even as ghostly purples flames began to manifest around Inami's tails, Hitomi answered, "That Goddess was able to violate the restriction prohibiting Gods from manifesting in this world without a Grand Ritual and a designated Altar. If we accept her words at face value, the destruction of Nian is the least of our concerns. If these Beasts of Calamity are the same as those who brought an end to the Age of Gods, the entire world will be endangered, not just our homely little Archipelago..."Frowning in response to Hitomi's words, Inami's tails began to flicker and undulate as she rose to her feet and said, "I will meet-"Before Inami could finish speaking, Hitomi's aura erupted outward as she coldly exclaimed, "You will not!"Though Inami was inarguably the most powerful person in the entire Yoshitsune Clan, her authority was still lower than the Matriarch. She was also a Kitsune and the physical vessel of Inari Okami, so, until the Spring season had come to an end, Hitomi would never allow her to meet with Nobu.Baring her teeth, a violent aura began to surge from Inami's body until every other Elder present promptly surrounded her. A few of them might not be particularly fond of Hitomi but she was still the acting Matriarch. Her word was law within the Yoshitsune Clan, so, if Inami attempted to force the issue, they would have no choice but to restrain and temporarily seal her.Realizing she was out of line, Inami forcibly suppressed her bestial urges before lowering herself into a dogeza, inordinately large vulpine ears touching the ground as she said, "Forgive me. I let my emotions get the better of me...it won't happen again..."Confident that Inami wouldn't actually attack her, Hitomi had remained seated despite her previous outburst. She also understood that Inami's interest in Nobu was unquestionably exacerbated by her contract with Inari Okami, so, rather than taking the matter to heart, she simply stated, "If he is still living among us, you may meet with Nobunaga-sama towards the end of Summer. As for everyone else, you will need to confer with Suzune-dono. I intend to place her in charge of watching over our Young Lord until his departure. I trust there are no complaints...?"Though they were more than a little interested in meeting with the man implied to have the ability to unify and lead the entire nation, none of the Elders spoke out against Hitomi's decision. Rather, now that they knew why she had been allowed to remain Matriarch, most of the resentment they had built towards her rapidly faded away. After all, they were discussing matters related to the fate of Nian, their clan, and the world as a whole. Now wasn't exactly the time for infighting.........After enjoying a delicious yet awkward meal, courtesy of Cho, Nobu looked around at the kunoichi present within his room before passing his gaze over the hungry-looking children that had recently come into his 'possession'. Cho had only brought enough food for him to eat, and, now that he was thinking about it, he hadn't actually thought about when the trio would eat or where they would be staying...Deciding to shift the burden to Yui, Nobu eyed the stoic beauty as he asked, "What should I do with these three? I don't really have the time or patience to watch over a bunch of brats, but I don't want them to grow up in the same way as you girls...no offense..."Appearing nervous the moment they heard their new Master's remarks, Sachiko, Nariko, and Midori immediately shifted their rounded eyes to Yui, varying degrees of fear visible in their gazes. Things had been going relatively well for them until now, but there was still a chance they would be forced to suffer should their Master suddenly lose interest in them.Feeling uncharacteristically disconcerted by the trio's gazes, Yui resisted the urge to fidget around in her seat as she looked towards Kumiko, Cho, and Kazue before saying, "The three of you will take them as disciples. You don't have to confer all your skills to them, just enough to make them useful to our Lord. They will serve as his personal Maids and Attendants in the future."Though she understood that Nobu wouldn't want the trio he saved to become standard kunoichi, it would cause all sorts of problems if they were allowed to benefit from his benevolence without cost or compensation. If they couldn't be of use to their Lord, they would either need to be disposed of or supplanted by people actually willing to work for the benefits they would receive.Nodding in response to Yui's proposal, Kumiko pointed towards Sachiko, smiling as she said, "If my Lord wills it, I'll take this little one under my wing. She appears to be the calmest and most collected among the three. At the very least, I can prepare her to be a courier."With Nobu, albeit reluctantly, nodding his head in response, Cho and Kazue each selected their new disciples in turn. Midori ended up being chosen by Cho, so, by process of elimination, Nariko would be learning the basics of medicine from Kazue.Upon learning their fates, Sachiko and Nariko appeared greatly relieved. Midori, however, paled the moment she heard she would be apprenticing under Cho. Nobu noticed this, but, before he could ask, Kumiko chimed in to say, "Well then, now that everything has been decided. Why don't the six of us get to know each other over a meal?"Raising his hand before the girls could motion to leave the room, Nobu's expression formed into a frown as he asked, "Is there something you're keeping from me? I don't mind you girls having a few secrets, but how am I supposed to trust you if you can't be straight with me?"Smiling wryly in response to Nobu's words, Kumiko shifted her gaze towards Cho only to find the latter smiling radiantly as she said, "Please, don't mind me. I've already achieved my dream, so I've no qualms about the truth being exposed."Frowning even deeper, Nobu asked, "What truth...?" in a stern tone of voice.Though the atmosphere immediately became tense, Cho maintained a radiant smile on her face as she casually explained, "The life expectancy of a poison taster and chef is generally between 23~25 years. Midori is afraid that her lifespan will be reduced by studying under me, but I can-""Wait, wait, wait. Hold the fuck up. You're telling me you only have, what, six or seven years left to live? What kind of bullshit is that...!?"Rather than diminishing in the slightest, Cho's smile became even more radiant as she pressed the tips of her fingers together and happily chimed, "My Lord is genuinely concerned about me. I just might be the happiest kunoichi in the world right now~."......(A/N: Oof...)

After forcing the girls to explain exactly what they meant, Nobu found himself sitting with his left hand cradling his head.Simply put, kunoichi were designed to have an 'expiration date' from the moment they started their training. The poisons they ingested helped to strengthen their body and provide resistance against other forms of poison, but, at the same time, it drastically reduced their lifespan.According to Kumiko, the life expectancy of most kunoichis was around thirty years. Most died long before that due to work-related hazards, but, even if they were extremely careful, most would begin to lose their cultivation in their late twenties.Unless they had a unique set of talents that the clan wanted to preserve, most kunoichi would die between three and five years after their cultivation began decaying. They could lengthen this period of time by working hard or consuming various treasured herbs, but, more often than not, those that reached the age of 'retirement' chose to spend their final few years guiding the younger generation and relaxing."That explains why everyone in the village looks so young...this..."Though he thought he had something to say, Nobu found that he was still at a loss for words. This type of thing would never be allowed back on Earth, yet, as if it was perfectly normal, all the girls around him appeared completely unperturbed by the notion they were already experiencing their twilight years. And what did they intend to spend those years on? Serving him to the best of their ability..."Fuck..."Feeling as though he might cry, Nobu covered his eyes with his left hand as he made a shooing gesture with his right, saying, "Leave...I need to think..."Though he felt a twinge of guilt telling the girls to leave, Nobu didn't want to appear weak in front of a group of people who had dedicated their entire lives to him. He knew this was a little contrary, but, feeling a range of emotions he had never experienced before, he didn't really know what else to do. He just wanted to be alone.A stark contrast to how Nobu was feeling, most of the girls present found it difficult to contain their smiles. It was rare to have a Lord that cared about their subordinates enough to genuinely grieve at their loss, much less the idea that they would eventually have to part. This drastically increased their desire to protect him, as, even in their wildest dreams, they never imagined that their Lord would be such a kind and compassionate man.If he knew what the girls were thinking, Nobu would have felt even guiltier. Fortunately, they quickly and silently filed out of the room. They had been so silent, in fact, that Nobu couldn't even begin to guess how long they had been gone by the time he looked up.Exhaling an emotionally fatigued sigh, Nobu crawled over to his futon before pulling out the stone tablet. The Units and Upgrades tab allowed him to change everything from the girls' size and shape to their various 'preferences', so he was hoping it would allow him to deal with the toxicity issue as well.With this in mind, Nobu pressed on the tiny (+) icon next to Midori's [Cursed] Status. She hadn't been his 'friend' the last time he looked at it so he was hoping there would be some kind of change now that she was listed in his Units and Upgrades tab. To his considerable relief, there was quite a bit of additional information compared to before. This included a section related to removing the curse, and, though he was far from being able to afford the 30,000,000 Aura price tag, the curse of a Goddess had to be more difficult to resolve than simple poison."Fuckin' a, man...I'm so glad to have a cheat right now..."Though he didn't rise from his futon, a smile developed across Nobu's face as he covered his eyes using his forearm. It hadn't even been two whole days since he met the kunoichi who had sworn to serve him, but, after everything that happened since his reincarnation, they were the closest thing he had to family and friends in this world. This might change once he met his actual family, but, for the time being, Yui and the rest were basically his people...he might be an incorrigible asshole, but he still looked after the people who looked out for him.........After lying in silence for the better part of half an hour, Nobu eventually rose to a seated position before pulling out his tablet for a second time. He was a little curious about the other (+) icons, so, now that he had calmed down a bit, he couldn't resist the urge to check them out.Clicking on the (+) next to Midori's [Fear] Status, a wry smile developed across Nobu's face as he saw the familiar, "She thinks you're going to eat her." line. Below that, however, was an option to 'erase' said Status for a mere 390 Aura. This filled his head with various thoughts, but, believing it was only a matter of time before her fear resolved itself, Nobu clicked on her [Natural Jade Body] next.Unsurprisingly, the description for Natural Jade Body remained the same. Now, however, a number of different options existed within the description. This included strengthening the effect, evolving it into something else entirely, or erasing it completely. Fortunately, the interface showed exactly what it would evolve into, specifically the Flawless Jade Body and Immortal Jade Physique."Nice..."Having confirmed his suspicions, Nobu decided to open Sachiko's and Nariko's Status in turn...------------------------------------Name: Yoshitsune SachikoAge: 8Gender: Female, H:129cm, W: 25.2kg, B: 61.1cm, W: 46.3cm, H: 63.2cmBlood Type: AB+Cultivation: N/AAura Units: 1301/1362Status: Cursed(+), Carmine Eyes(+), Confusion(+), Excitement(+)-Cursed by the Goddess Inari Okami: Probably of bearing daughters increased to 99.5%. Life expectancy drastically reduced. Removal Cost: 3,000,000AU-Carmine Eyes: A rare bloodline that drastically increases the user's affinity with Yin and other negative energies.-Upgrade Cost: 30,000AU-Evolution(s): Scarlet Demon Eyes: 6,000,000AU -&gt; Demon Goddess's Blazing Eyes of Destruction: 9,000,000,000AU-Removal Cost: 500,000AU-Confusion: Worried about the future.-Excitement: She is eager to learn how to cook.Main Hand: Right, AmbidextrousPreferred Weapon: Ninjato, Naginata, Morningstar, FistsStrengths: Innately Beautiful, Intelligent, Perceptive, Good listener, Can see in the darkWeaknesses: Doesn't like talking, Hates being alone, Frigthens easilyOrientation: HeterosexualPreferred Position: She has considered shoving things up her buttFavorite Food: Shellfish, Sweets......------------------------------------------------------------------------Name: Yoshitsune NarikoAge: 8Gender: Female, H:125.5cm, W: 25.3kg, B: 62.7cm, W: 45.9cm, H: 63.4cmBlood Type: A+Cultivation: N/AAura Units: 1293/1411Status: Cursed(+), Golden Boar's Blessing(+), Excited(+), Curious(+)-Cursed by the Goddess Inari Okami: Probably of bearing daughters increased to 99.5%. Life expectancy drastically reduced. Removal Cost: 3,000,000AU-Golden Boar's Blessing: Provides the user with an increased affinity towards plants, animals, and other natural things.-Upgrade Cost: 5,000AU-Evolution(s): Golden Boar's Divine Protection: 1,000,000AU -&gt; Golden Boar's Avatar: 960,000,000AU-Removal Cost: 90,000AU-Excited: She really likes the stone tablet.-Curious: She wants to know more about you.Main Hand: Left, AmbidextrousPreferred Weapon: FistsStrengths: Confident, Iron Stomach, Strong Body, High Pain ToleranceWeakness: Enjoys Bullying the Weak, Slightly Perverted, Being on the DefensiveOrientation: No Preference, Leaning BiPreferred Position: She has kissed other girlsFavorite Food: She likes eating......------------------------------------Though there were several pages of useless information, Nobu couldn't help feeling a little excited by the prospect of upgrading and evolving his 'units'. It might not be polite to think of the girls in this regard, but, so long as he wasn't a complete ass about it, he doubted they would mind."It looks like there is still a bit of hope for Yui. So long as I can make her my friend, she won't have to stay flat as a board for the rest of her life..."Since there were options to both increase and decrease variables such as height, weight, and bust, Nobu could literally increase Yui from an A-Cup to a D-Cup if he wanted to. Unfortunately, the only parameters he could affect in the present belonged to a bunch of brats. Sure, he could theoretically give them even better bodies than Shizune. He just wasn't a pedophile. Hell, just knowing the three girls' sizes was already enough to make him feel like a creeper...Shaking that thought from his mind, Nobu began navigating through the other tabs to see if there were options for additional bloodlines available. If he could take them away, it stood to reason that he would also be able to add them. Unfortunately, perhaps as a result of the trio already possessing bloodlines, he couldn't find any options that would allow them to possess another."Guess I need to get serious about increasing my strength. I'm going to need a shit ton of Aura if I want to treat all the girls' toxicity..."As that thought crossed his mind, so too did the notion of curing every kunoichi in the village. This would work if there were no limitations on the number of people he could add as a friend, but that didn't seem to be the case. His current Friends List seemed to be capped at 100, and, from what he could tell, there was no way to delete anyone. As a result, he was already down four slots due to the Transcendent Goddess of the Six Paths basically forcing him to add her as a friend.Unfortunately, even though she was clearly at the top of his Friends List, Nobu couldn't see any of the Goddess' stats or parameters. This implied there was a distinction between the people listed on his Friends List and those who appeared in his Units and Upgrades Tab. Either that or she had gone out of her way to make sure he couldn't see her Status or benefit from her clicks...Doing his best not to think any bad thoughts about the Goddess who had basically fucked over his reincarnation, Nobu occupied himself with clicking until he began feeling peckish. This was quickly followed by a feeling of ravenous hunger, not because he was suffering from the effects of extreme and prolonged malnourishment, but because Cho's food was that good.Suppressing the feelings of guilt that instantaneously reared their ugly head, Nobu set aside his stone tablet before calling out, "Is anyone listening? If you are, go ahead and reveal yourselves..."The moment Nobu finished speaking, Yui, Kiki, and Ayane appeared at the entrance to the room before entering like normal people. Their outfits made this a little strange, especially in the case of Kiku, but that just reminded Nobu of something he had been meaning to ask about ever since his arrival.Waiting until the girls had taken their seats, Nobu asked, "How long will it take to have the Iga Clan prepare a made-to-order mask? I'm planning to try and train my sense of smell in the future, but I'd rather have the option to block things out than suffer the consequences of not having one..."Though she was expecting Nobu to ask about dinner, Yui promptly replied, "The Iga Clan is located in the neighboring province. We're not on the best terms, but the merchant branch of the Oda Clan has been trading with them for the last three hundred years. So long as we issue the order through them, it should only take around two months for the mask to be completed. Until then, we can have our own craftsman begin experimenting with alternative solutions. If you're going to be passing on your unique Cultivation technique to members of our clan, we're going to need them..."Since he was intending to just that, specifically with Sachiko, Nobu nodded his head in affirmation, muttering, "Good...good..." before proceeding to ask, "How soon do you think Cho can prepare a meal...?"Smiling wryly in response, Yui didn't even have to say anything before a gentle tapping could be heard outside the room. Cho had been waiting outside with food and drinks ready to deliver, and, after everything that had happened earlier, she was more excited than ever to provide sustenance to her beloved Lord and Master..."I placed a bit of extra love into these dishes. Please let me know what you think~."......(A/N: Cho is a good girl...)

-Reverse the Pendulum: Approximately Nineteen Years Ago-In an effort to prevent the younger generation from machinating against the old, the Oda Clan had embraced a tradition that prohibited the descendants of the current Lord from producing offspring until they had proven themselves competent in regards to politics and provincial management.The number of Clans that had been destroyed due to intergenerational conflicts, even in recent history, numbered in the dozens. Thus, it wasn't until the twilight of his forty-forth year that Oda Senken, son of Oda Senichi, sired his first child...After waiting patiently for nine months, Senken, an inordinately tall man who resembled a bandit more than a Noble, could be seen impatiently pacing outside a sealed room. Everyone who saw this couldn't help feeling extremely nervous, as, prior to his promotion to Daimyo, Senken had made a name for himself as a vicious warrior rather than a scholar or a statesman. Many even assumed the position of Daimyo would be passed to his younger brother, but, surprising everyone, his father had designated the rather tyrannical youth to be his successor.At this point in time, Senken was still a brash individual who only really cared about himself and the people closest to him. It would be more than a decade before he exceeded everyone's expectations and earned recognition as a wise and benevolent Lord who cared deeply about his people. For now, he was the type of man who would unhesitantly draw his blade against anyone who dared to annoy him. Even his siblings were not exempt from this, as, some months prior, Senken had surprised all of Nian by severing the arm of his younger brother when the two of them were drinking in private.Simply put, even Senken's most trusted vassals feared the silver-haired man who had made a habit of walking around with his muscular chest and biceps exposed. They kept their heads lowered when he was near, and, unless called upon, they would do their best to blend into the background so as not to affect their Lord's mood."Dammit...it's already been twelve hours...I swear, if anything happens to Nana...I...I'll slaughter every physician in this god-forsaken manor...!"Hearing their Lord's remark, the kunoichi and warriors lining the hall couldn't help producing a cold sweat. The only person unaffected by Senken's anxiety-induced bloodlust was a burly middle-aged man wearing reddish-brown armor adorned with crimson and gold. His battle-hardened expression and mane-like brown hair made it clear he wasn't someone to be trifled with, but his most notable features, excluding his golden eyes, were the white haori and crimson scarf adorning his body. The latter might not matter to most people, but the former indicated that he was none other than Oda Senichi, the incumbent Lord of Owari until Senken could produce an heir."Calm down, boy. It's behavior like this that allows people to criticize you..."Glaring in response to his father's words, the only thing preventing Senken from drawing his sword was the knowledge that he was no match for his father. He might be one of the youngest people in recent history to reach the pinnacle of Platinum before the age of fifty but his father had reached a similar point before he was even born. As a result, the latter was currently sitting at Mithril 5, weaker than his prime but still several times stronger than anyone from Senken's generation.While others might wince under Senken's glare, Senichi just leaned forward slightly, a challenging look on his face as he waited to see what his foolish son would do. Fortunately, just as the tensions increased to the point that they could be cut with a knife, the door behind Senken opened to reveal a young woman with raven black hair and peculiar blue-red eyes.Before the woman could open her mouth to speak, Senken turned around on his heels, grasping her shoulders as he shouted, "Hitomi! What took so long!? Is Nana-chan okay...!?"Paling in the face of Senken's fervor, Hitomi's eyes briefly flickered towards Senichi, silently pleading for his intervention as she attempted to calmly explain, "Lady Suzuki is in good health. There were a few complications with the delivery, but she will recover with a bit of rest..."Though he was considerably relieved to learn that his wife was okay, Senken's expression hardened when Hitomi's words trailed off. His grip on her shoulders tightened to the point that those closest could hear bones creaking as he asked, "And my child...?" in a somber tone of voice.Before Hitomi could answer, Senichi placed his hand on Senken's shoulder, stating, "She is here to tell you exactly that. Stop threatening your subordinates when they will readily give you what you ask for..."Clicking his tongue in response to his father's words, Senken reluctantly released Hitomi's shoulders as the former urged her to continue with a serious nod. Under normal circumstances, Hitomi would have returned a smile and thanked him for his assistance, but, understanding better than most how temperamental Senken could be, she promptly yet stoically explained, "The child, a boy, appears to be in good health at approximately 4kgs. However, no matter what we try, the only stimuli he reacts to is nursing. Other than that, he is completely unresponsive. He doesn't cry out when pricked, and, no matter how many times we check his body, there isn't a trace of Aura present within..."Were it not for the fact his father was holding his shoulder with a vice-like grip, Senken might have attacked Hitomi in spite of their long history. He felt like she was actively toying with his emotions by mentioning his son's health only to immediately take the wind out of his sails by following it up with progressively worse news."I want to see them. Take me to my wife and child. Now."Looking towards Senichi, Hitomi waited until the former nodded his head in consent before bowing low and answering, "Very well. Please, follow me..."Since the birth of a mainline descendant of the Oda Clan was such a significant event, it often took place in the most secure location in the entire clan, the Vault of the Ancestors. This was the location of the Oda Clan's personal library, mausoleum, and armory. It was also where they stored all of their most precious minerals and resources, so, as could be expected, it was sanctified ground protected by countless traps, barriers, and, most importantly, spell formations that permitted access to only a select few members of the Oda and Yoshitsune Clans.With the declaration of Senken as the next Daimyo, Hitomi's position had recently been elevated from Information Elder to acting Matriarch. She was also the kunoichi who had been assigned to guard Nana when she first arrived at the Oda Clan, so, despite his antagonistic behavior towards her, Senken actually trusted Hitomi quite a bit. They had grown up together, and, though it wasn't particularly well known, she was actually his first woman due to his reluctance to sleep with any of the kunoichi that had been assigned to him. She had effectively taught him everything he needed to know about pleasing a woman, and, though they hadn't slept together ever since his marriage, she was still one of the few people he would sincerely trust with his life."Sorry..."Without taking her eyes off the path, a delicate smile adorned Hitomi's face as she answered, "It is understandable that my Lord would be perturbed by this situation. You've done nothing warranting an apology. Please, don't mind it..."Crossing his arms, Senken decided to remain silent in response to Hitomi's remark. This earned him a pat on the shoulder by Senichi, who, remembering his own anxiety prior to Senken's birth, stated, "The lass is right. If you didn't worry in situations like this, you wouldn't be fit to call yourself a man. However, as a father, you must learn to conceal that worry behind a mask of stoicism. Your children will come to view you as the roof that shields them from storms and the mountain atop which their foundation is established. No matter how difficult it gets, you must appear steady and unshakeable. Only when those who follow after you have succeeded can you consider your life well spent..."Looking towards his father, Senken's expression became uncharacteristically serious as he nodded his head and answered, "I understand..." in a somber tone. He understood better than most that he wouldn't even be here today if not for his father's support. There had been times when they literally butted heads, but, every time he got in over his head or wandered too far from the beaten path, his father had always been there to either support or knock some sense into him.........After more than half an hour of roaming through a complex network of tunnels, Hitomi, Senken, and Senichi finally reached the chamber containing the most precious treasures of the Oda Clan. It was here that Nana had given birth, as, despite substantial debate among Scholars, it was generally considered a blessing for children to be born next to precious materials such as Mithril, Orichalcum, and Adamantine. This was also where the most famous Lords and Heroes of the Oda Clan had been enshrined, so, even if they somehow managed to sneak their way past all the defenses, most people would find themselves cursed the moment they trespassed this sacred place.Located within the depths of this hallowed ground, an extraordinarily beautiful woman with peculiar black hair, tinged with crimson, could be seen shedding silent tears as she cradled an unresponsive infant in her arms. Her ruby-red eyes, usually vibrant and full of life, appeared to be completely dull as she gently prodded the baby's cheek, pleading, "Please cry...please..."Unfortunately, even after several hours had passed, the baby remained completely motionless. The only time he would react at all was when she attempted to breastfeed him. This filled her with hope in the beginning, but, with her baby becoming unresponsive immediately following the all too short session of feeding, despair and helplessness became the only emotions visible in the woman's eyes.Seeing his wife in such a state, Senken's heart and body immediately tensed as he resisted the urge to simply turn around and depart the room. He couldn't stand seeing the woman he loved like this. She was the light of his life, the very meaning of his existence. Now, however, she appeared just as dull and lifeless as the child in her arms. This terrified him far more than any enemy or beast he had ever encountered, but, recalling the words of his father, he forced himself to step forward.Feeling a warmth embrace her body, Nana raised her currently sightless eyes, unfathomable despair exuding from every fiber of her being as she meekly uttered, "I'm so sorry..." in a tone that pulled at the heartstrings of everyone present. It took every last bit of Senken's willpower to restrain the tears threatening the surge forward like an opportunistic army attempting to rout an enemy. Fortunately, despite feeling a painful twinge in his throat, threatening to choke the life out of him, he was able to sound calm and poised as he whispered, "You've done nothing wrong, Nana...you gave birth to a healthy baby boy...from here on, leave everything to me..."Though he had no idea what he was going to do, Senken resolved himself to do everything in his power to protect both Nana and their child. He didn't care what it took. He would return the smile to her face and make sure his son could stand proudly above his peers. It didn't matter if he had to experience great suffering or lay down his life in the process. So long as he could protect the things that matter most to him, there was nothing he wouldn't give.........(A/N: This chapter hit me right in the kokoro...)

Chapter 60: Prophecy