[Anomaly]

Chapter 3

[South of Owari, 1544]

Nagoya Castle

I was in Nobunaga-sama's room with my sister, Hana.

We were in seiza watching the interactions of Nobunaga-sama and his older brother, Nobuyuki.

I can only say that the appearances of the Oda brothers are the same, the only thing that differentiates them is personalities and gender (although Nobunaga-sama can easily appear like a child).

Oda Nobuyuki was quieter, while Nobunaga-sama...

"You're stupid Nobuyuki! That pacifist mentality will be the destruction of the Oda Clan! That's why you were kicked out of this house! Father had a feeling that the clan would be ruined if you were the one to take the lead! You're a vermin!"

That was Oda Nobunaga, aggressive and ambitious for her clan.

"Hmph." Nobuyuki frowned. "We're never going to agree, are we, sister?"

"No, and we never will be even after I die."

It seemed like they were having a staring competition until they gnashed their teeth and looked away.

"By the way?" Nobunaga-sama looked at his elder brother. "What family are they from?"

It's the first time he's asked about us and we've been here before Nobuyuki's arrival.

"Oh, them." Nobunaga-sama let out a sigh. "They are from the Muramasa Clan, because of things of our father who fought against Saito Dosan, they were brought here with many people as slaves and help with the crops and continue to enrich Owari."

"It's the first time I've met anyone from the Muramasa Clan."

Nobunaga-sama then pointed at us with his right hand.

"She is Himari Muramasa, and she is Hana Muramasa. He's the same age as you."

"Huh?" Noboyuki opened his eyes in surprise. "I don't think it's good for 12-year-olds to be treated like slaves."

"Whether you want it or not, that's life right now. In addition, they have better lives right now than other children who die of hunger every day."

Nobuyuki gave a long sigh. "That's why I hate war."

"You can't do anything with it, unless you have full control of Japan to do with it as you wish."

The Oda children ended up looking at me after saying that.

"Hmph. That way of thinking is just like you." Nobuyuki frowned as he looked at Nobunaga-sama.

"I have nothing to do with that, although I won't deny that it's the same thing I would have told you now."

Beside me, I heard Hana's low voice, full of uncertainty. "We have spent two years with Nobunaga-sama, and his thoughts have begun to change ours."

"What do you mean?" I whispered, not taking my eyes off the Oda brothers.

"I wonder if controlling all of Japan would be enough to end the suffering."

I pondered his words, letting his doubt seep into my mind. "Do you think anyone could pull it off?"

"I don't think so... There will always be someone with a different ideal, ready to rise up in rebellion, and another war will break out."

I closed my eyes, searching for an answer within myself, as if I could find a spark of hope there. "So, the answer will always be death and destruction?"

Hana looked down, her voice barely a whisper. "... I guess so."

The sliding door slid in, and a twelve-year-old boy entered the room. It was unmistakable: Senji Muramasa, Hana's cousin and mine, whose appearance was as unusual as the history of our clan. Her reddish hair glistened, and her eyes... they were a disturbing anomaly. The whites of his eyes were black as the night sky, while his pupils, pale white and deep as the moon, lacked irises to soften that look. Anyone outside the Muramasa could have shivered when they saw it.

Nobuyuki, seeing it, could not hide his surprise. She took a step back instinctively, sheltering behind her sister's figure, her expression reflecting a mixture of bewilderment and fear. He had never seen eyes like Senji's, and his discomfort grew at the perception of such an unusual presence in a child of his own age.

Nobunaga-sama, noticing his brother's reaction, smiled with a mixture of mockery and satisfaction. "What's wrong, Nobuyuki? Is the Muramasa Clan more disturbing than you imagined?" she asked in an amused tone, standing tall and confident before Senji's unflappable figure.

Nobuyuki tried to compose himself, though fear was still evident on his face. "That boy... is he really a Muramasa?" he asked, his voice barely a murmur as he looked at Senji and then looked back at Hana and me. In his eyes he was looking for relief, something that would soften the disturbance generated by our cousin's eyes. He realized that although our eyes were more ordinary, we shared the same strangeness of the Muramasa.

Nobunaga-sama, enjoying his brother's bewilderment, gave him a provocative look. "Oh yes, Nobuyuki. Hana and Himari are also Muramasa, though their eyes seem more human than Senji's," he said with an air of amusement. "Hana, Himari," he continued, pointing to us, "why don't you show my brother a little bit of that same 'heritage'?"

Hana and I exchanged a glance, understanding what Nobunaga-sama meant. With a slight tilt of the head, we closed our eyes, and when we opened them, naturally, our eyes had changed. We now shared the same unsettling eyes of our cousin: the sclera, as black as night, with pupils pale white and deep as the moon, and the iris completely absent. The transformation was subtle, but shocking enough for the essence of our lineage to manifest, surprising Nobuyuki with its unexpected revelation.

The tension in the air intensified as Nobuyuki watched, the lump in his throat becoming more and more present.

Nobunaga-sama, with a satisfied smile, turned to his brother. "So, Nobuyuki, what do you think of this 'singularity'?" he asked, maintaining his mocking tone.

Nobuyuki swallowed, trying not to take Nobunaga-sama's gaze away, though he avoided meeting our gaze directly. "It's... unique, without a doubt." But the discomfort in his voice and the tension in his posture showed that he was still trying to process what he had just witnessed.

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I was slightly confused as I entered Nobunaga-sama's room. For a moment, I thought that Nobunaga-sama had doubled down; however, I soon realized that this was not the case. This was another member of the Oda family: Nobuyuki Oda, Nobunaga-sama's second elder brother.

It seems that the older brothers have arrived at Nagoya Castle.

Nobunaga-sama looked at me with a raised eyebrow, intrigued. "Senji, what are you doing here? Weren't you busy with training?"

I bowed my head and replied calmly. "Actually, Nobunaga-sama, I came to find my cousins, Himari and Hana. I want to start coming up with the blueprint for the blacksmith shop I mentioned earlier. Now that we have their permission, I think it's time for our clan to make their mark on Owari, not only as warriors, but also as blacksmiths."

Nobunaga smiled, amused. "I see that you won't rest until you've left that blacksmith shop ready. Go ahead, then. Do what you have to do."

Hana and Himari, who had been watching the conversation from their position, exchanged a knowing look. With a low-key smile, they nodded, showing their support for the idea.

With a respectful gesture, I left the room with my cousins, Hana and Himari. As we walked down the corridor, leaving behind the tense atmosphere that had reigned moments before. The idea of building a blacksmith shop excited me, and I couldn't let that energy fade.

"Where do you think we should build the forge?" I asked, looking at my cousins. "We need a place that is accessible and safe, where we can work without interruption."

Himari, always reflective, stopped to think. "We could use a piece of land near the river. The water would facilitate the cooling process and I would have enough space to build something big."

"That sounds perfect," I nodded, feeling the excitement begin to bubble up in me. "In addition, the river could attract customers looking for good weapons. The Muramasa Clan needs to renew itself and make its mark on Owari."

"And with our skills in the forge, we can stand out from the crowd," Hana added with a smile. "Our parents always believed that we would take the Muramasa Clan to the next level and made us feel that it was our responsibility to do so. Being a noble family is a goal we should aspire to."

As we continued talking, we arrived at a small room where some servants had already begun to prepare food. I decided it was a good time to pause our thoughts and enjoy a meal together. "How about we eat something first? That way, we will be able to think more clearly about the plan of the forge."

Hana and Himari nodded, their faces lighting up at the thought of a good meal. "After all, there's no better way to plan than on a full stomach," Hana commented, laughing softly.

Let Nobunaga-sama and Nobuyuki continue talking in the room, we won't interrupt their conversations. With a light heart and full of renewed hope, I sat down with my cousins at the table, ready to discuss plans that could breathe new life into the Muramasa Clan.

Two days later, the sun was shining brightly as we walked to the land we had chosen for the forge. Excitement was growing in me, driven by the thought that we were about to take an important step into the future of the Muramasa Clan.

"I wonder if the place will be as good as we think," Hinari reflected, looking curiously at the landscape around him.

The river, which meandered nearby, provided a soothing sound as the water flowed gently. It was the perfect place to set up a forge. "Here we can have access to water for cooling, and the space is large enough to build something big," I replied, surveying the grounds.

Hana, who had been examining the place, smiled. "In addition, access to the river could attract customers. If we manage to make quality weapons, the Muramasa Clan will be recognized in Owari."

"Yes," I nodded, feeling the excitement begin to bubble up in me. "We just need to sketch out the plan of the forge and make sure that the men who will come to build it have a good idea of what we want."

As we moved around the grounds, we began to talk about what the forge should look like. We imagined the spaces we would need: an area to work metal, a place to store materials, and of course, a display area to display our weapons.

"We can draw a sketch of the layout," I proposed, and they both nodded enthusiastically. Although we didn't have the experience of masons, our imagination could guide us.

A few minutes later, we found a place to sit and draw. We took out some twigs and began to mark in the earth, outlining what the forge could be.

While we were drawing lines and drawing, we weren't just designing a building; We were dreaming of the future. This place would represent a new beginning for our family and a step toward the goal our parents always believed possible: to elevate the Muramasa Clan to nobility.

Suddenly, a sound behind us made us look back. It was Nobunaga-sama, accompanied by several men who had come to supervise the grounds.

"What are they doing here?" he asked with a mocking smile. "Planning to build a castle?"

"No, Nobunaga-sama," I replied, trying to maintain a serious expression. "We are drawing up the plans for the forge. We've already imagined what it could be like."

Nobunaga approached, watching our sketch in the dirt with interest. "Hmm, this is not bad. I can see that they have thought of many details. I will make sure that the construction men receive their directions."

"Thank you, Nobunaga-sama," Hana said, her tone filled with gratitude.

"Well," Nobunaga continued, "I look forward to one day forging an exceptional katana for me."

"We will," I promised, feeling determination creep in.

With a smile, Nobunaga instructed his men to begin preparing the construction. As the men dispersed, I looked back at my cousins, feeling a mixture of excitement.

[Joetsu City, Echigo Province]

Two weeks had passed since my departure, and the road seemed endless as I slowly rode north. The sound of the wind and the rhythmic swaying of the horse gave me some calm; They allowed me to reflect on all that we had accomplished in such a short time. I remembered the forge in process, the structure beginning to take the shape of what we had imagined together with my cousins, Himari and Hana. It was a dream slowly coming to life, the return of the Muramasa Clan.

Just a week ago, Nobunaga-sama had summoned me. I found her in her room, dimly lit by a lamp, surrounded by piles of papers and parchments that covered her small table. She was engrossed, reading each document with a serious expression, assessing each line with a look that seemed far more astute than one would expect from someone of her young age.

He looked up when he noticed my presence and, without much ceremony, motioned for me to come closer. As he spoke, his words were soft but charged with a determination that I have learned to respect.

"Senji," he said, handing me a piece of paper, "I have been investigating possible alliances to strengthen our position. Many of the clans close to Owari are already in the crosshairs, but I've found something... someone who could be especially helpful."

I read the name on the scroll he held out to me: Nagao Kagetora. According to the report, she was a warrior like no other, someone whose skill in combat was as feared as it was respected in the Echigo region. Despite his young age, just a few years older than me, he already had a formidable reputation. Her ability had so captivated her followers that even the veterans of her clan saw her as a potential leader, a figure with the potential to replace her older brother, Harukage, who was struggling to maintain dominance.

Nobunaga-sama, with a spark in his eyes, explained his plan to me. "The Uesugi clan is important, but Kagetora is more important. His talent is undeniable, and one day, he will take full control of Echigo. I want you to meet this warrior and make a connection with her. If we can get him to ally with us, the unification of Japan will not be a dream."

So here I am, traversing lonely roads in Echigo Province. In my mind, the name Nagao Kagetora keeps beating, fueled by curiosity. I wonder what kind of person she is, how someone my age could have already achieved such renown and how true is the fame of being an invincible fighter.

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[Joetsu City]

Cheers echoed around me, and admiring glances from the crowd followed me as I sheathed my sword, victorious once more. I had defeated each opponent with ease, confirming my place as undefeated. But I still expected more. Something inside me longed for a real challenge, one that would test everything I had learned and accomplished so far.

As I prepared to face the next contender, a murmur of surprise swept through the crowd. I looked up, expecting to see an imposing warrior, some well-known or renowned fighter. However, what I saw left me speechless.

Era... a child. He was only about twelve years old, small and thin, with an expressionless expression and an unsettling calm in his bearing. He bore no emblem of any known clan, and his clothing was simple, without any ostentation that spoke of nobility or lineage. It seemed to have come out of nowhere. No one in the arena, not even the most experienced warriors, seemed to recognize him.

But what really captured my attention was his gaze. His eyes were an anomaly, something he had never seen before. The whites of his eyes were black, deep as the night sky, while his pupils were pale white, as cold and distant as the moon. There were no irises, and the combination of these contrasts gave it a disturbing, almost ghostly appearance. A shiver ran down my spine. In all my years of training and combat, I had never seen anything like it.

He stared back at me, and in that calm, fearless expression, I felt a kind of silent defiance, as if he didn't care who I was or how many victories I had. The crowd watched in silence, caught between surprise and curiosity, waiting for the outcome of this strange confrontation.

My hand tightened around the hilt of my sword, and a smile came to my lips. It was a smile of anticipation, of someone who, at last, finds something new, unknown, and perhaps, dangerous. I didn't know who this boy was, or where he came from, but there was something in his eyes that told me not to underestimate him.

"Who are you...?" I muttered, almost unintentionally, but he didn't answer. He just stepped forward, getting into position, not losing sight of me.

Determined, I drew my sword and braced myself. This fight would be unlike any other. In front of me was someone who was unlike anyone I had faced before, a moon-eyed child of unfathomable mystery.

The clash of our swords was swift and precise. His every move was exact, without a single hesitation. Despite his youth, he wielded his sword with impressive skill and discipline, as if practice and combat were part of his very essence. The crowd erupted in cheers and murmurs of amazement, but I could barely hear them. At this moment, there was only him and me, in a duel that seemed woven by fate.

I was forced to use all my skill, every tactic I had learned and perfected over the years. But he anticipated my movements, as if he could see beyond my intentions. In each exchange, I felt the pressure growing; each blow demanded more and more from me. For the first time in a long time, a fight awakened in me an intense emotion, a spark that I thought had been dormant.

The minutes passed, and neither of them showed signs of faltering. Our movements were a reflection of will and determination, each seeking an opening that never came. He was young, yes, but he didn't seem to get tired, and his dexterity was incredibly precise. And I, though exhausted, could not afford to give in to someone so young, a nameless stranger.

Finally, after one last fierce exchange of blows, we both stepped back, breathing heavily. My arms were shaking slightly from the effort, and he was showing signs of exhaustion as well. We observe each other in silence, measuring each other, recognizing our abilities. The crowd, which had held its breath, burst into applause and cheers when they saw that neither had been able to overcome the other.

A draw.

A draw... And yet, I felt no disappointment. She had found something strange in him, a spark she had not seen in anyone else. I didn't know who he was, or where he came from, but something told me that it wasn't the last time I'd see those moon eyes.

With a slight nod of his head, he recognized me, and, without a word, turned and left the arena. The crowd continued to cheer, but I stood still, processing what had just happened. That combat had been a duel between equals, between warrior spirits.

From that day on, that boy with dark eyes and moon pupils became an enigma in my mind, a shadow that I knew would one day return to my life, and at that moment, perhaps the outcome would be different.

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I walked away from the sand, walking leisurely through the city streets as I explored with the curiosity of someone observing an unknown place. Around me, I noticed how some people looked at me out of the corner of their eyes and children my age moved away, frightened, as they met their eyes with mine. Their faces showed a mixture of surprise and fear, and although I was already used to it, a part of me sighed internally.

"Well," I thought, "was the reaction I expected, because of my eyes. I hope it doesn't become a problem for everyone."

Ignoring the awkward looks, I kept moving forward, feeling a faint roar in my stomach. I stopped in front of a stall where they sold fresh fruit. "For now, I'd better focus on something more important... I'm hungry."

Now that I know who Nagao Kagetora was, I can look for her calmly tomorrow in the temple where she lives.

I will continue to explore this town a little.