Fuma Clan

"This servant pays his respect to Ojo-sama!" Natsume's confusion only worsened.

"You know me?"

"Ah, forgive me Ojo-sama, this lowly one does not know your illustrious name. I was once called Fuma Daichi. Although I have left my clan, I have not forgotten my clan's teachings." His tone had taken a complete turn.

'No wonder he is called Daichi, this name is very appropriate…' This was definitely deserving of having "Great Wisdom" when he meets an opponent he cannot defeat.

"What were you planning to do to me?"

"This servant deserves a thousand deaths!" Daichi started sweating, but due to the cold the beads of sweat formed into little icicles on his face.

"Cut the nonsense, tell me what happened." Natsume kept her sharingan on him but loosened her offensive stance. If he planned to attack her, this would be the perfect moment. However, he only trembled as he tried to find the words.

"The weapons we use are loaned out for this mission. In order to get our own sword, we need to earn it. Me and the other four saw that you had a powerful chakra blade during the battle and planned to kill and rob you while making it look like an accident." He felt the killing intent increase from Natsume and his voice cracked on the last word.

"Why are you so scared of me? You are much older and more experienced…" Natsume had not shown her strength, all that he saw were her eyes before he immediately gave up resistance.

"When I came of age, my clan and the Uchiha clan fought together in a huge war… I saw firsthand what the sharingan can do… At Ojo-sama's age, I guessed you must be a very valuable member in the clan. Ojo-sama, forgive this lowly one for being presumptuous, but I would already be dead if I had not surrendered."

Natsume smiled at him. He was still facing the ground, his forehead firmly planted into the snow, but he felt a chill go down his spine. "How did you end up with the samurai?"

"I was left for dead on the battlefield, and after I finally came to, everyone had already retreated. I climbed out of a pile of bodies and was too scared to return home. I managed to reconnect with my sworn brother and decided not to return home.

"Ojo-sama, you may not know this, but the Fuma clan splintered after that battle. One branch wished to continue serving the Uchiha clan as their subordinate clan, while the other wished to establish their own clan. The branch is now the Fuma clan of the Land of Rice Fields… Ahh!" He felt his rib being kicked and he spun onto his back. Natsume had a vicious look on her face as she pressed her blade into Daichi's neck.

"Land of Rice Fields? The same one between the Land of Fire and Land of Lightning? Are they still there?"

"O-ojo-sama, p-please sp-spare me." He couldn't speak without stuttering due to fear. Natsume put him under genjutsu to calm him down and had him start speaking. "Yes, that is the same Land of Rice Fields. The Fuma clan branch has already settled their roots and is the main force for the Daimyo."

Natsume's mind raced as she thought back to the ninja she faced off against. She remembered all of their faces clearly. There were a few shinobi from different forces, but the majority were all wearing uniforms she did not recognize. Now she knew who they were. "Fuma clan? It seems we are irreconcilable!"

"Fuma Daichi, you said you still honor your teachings, does that hold true?" While he was still under genjutsu, she interrogated him.

"Yes, Ojo-sama! My mother was an adopted Uchiha member. Although I have betrayed my oath in my youth, I have always regretted leaving and wish to redeem myself!"

"Good! Your first task is to subdue the little bird that has been spying on us." Natsume glanced over at a nearby tree covered in snow. As soon as she said that, the tree shook and one of the other members of Daichi's clique attempted to flee. However, Daichi was originally overprepared to face Natsume. As soon as he received the order, he flicked his wrist and a clear steel wire that was practically invisible became taut.

The wires pulled up and around the fleeing samurai's ankles, dragging him to the ground. Daichi had not shown anyone his hidden weapons ability the whole time he stayed with the samurai, so it was a huge shock to him. As for Natsume, she recognized the technique as being one of the Fuma clan's unique kunai techniques. Using a steel string to control various kunai and hidden weapons took a lot of practice, so it could be seen that Daichi never gave up his family's teachings.

"Ojo-sama, it is done." Natsume had long since removed her genjutsu, but Daichi's attitude had not changed. She made a throat slitting gesture. Daichi looked down at his former companion with cold eyes.

"No, Daichi, stop! You are being controlled. We are brothers, we have known each other for almost a decade—"

"Ken-san, it is exactly this reason that I will give you a quick death." Daichi swung his sword and quickly silenced the samurai. Natsume didn't think it was a waste not to interrogate him first. Since he was willing to come here and spy on Daichi, he wasn't worth the effort. She would rather use him to test Daichi.

"Daichi-san, your next performance will determine your fate." She walked over to the dead samurai's body and took his sword. Then, she placed it in Daichi's hand. He looked down at the sword and then at Natsume. He gulped and gripped the sword tightly before stabbing at Natsume's shoulder. Due to his high skill in kenjutsu and shurikenjutsu, the wound wasn't too serious when inspected closely.

Daichi put the goat in his storage scroll, and wrapped Ken's coat over Natsume. Although the wound was intentional, the bitter cold made her condition look worse. Then, he carried her back to camp and hyped up his emotions. By the time he arrived, he was breathing heavily and in a panic. Yori saw them arrive and immediately recognized something was wrong.

"Daichi, what happened? Where is Ken?" Seeing the wounded Natsume and frantic Daichi, he broke out of his strange mood.

"Not good Yori-sama, Ken ambushed us while Natsume was fighting a Giant Goat. She noticed it before me and jumped in the way to block the strike. The tensions were high and I only realized who it was after already dealing a killing blow." When the other samurai heard this, they didn't know what to say. Yori frowned and looked down at Natsume. She was barely conscious, but he could see the large blood stain through the black training uniform.

"Ken asked to follow in case you encountered any dangerous beasts, but I didn't expect… sigh." Yori didn't say anymore, but anyone could tell that he was blaming himself again. His previous confident and unyielding character was challenged once again.