章 20: Chapter 19 - Alliance
Ernie set off with his small group to go back to the Sodachi clan, for Hina and Himari it would be their first time visiting this clan. Along the way to the clan, Hina was telling Himari about her manners and that she should not offend anyone.
They spoke softly, but since Ernie was ahead of them by a small amount, he could hear what they were saying.
As for Aito and Yui, he didn't think they cared much about the two girls conversation really.
When they arrived at the Sodachi clan Ernie was stunned to see so many wounded ninja. There were five ninja who were skilled in medicine trying to heal as many clansmen as they can.
Yui and Aito were equally surprised as they rushed into the clan asking what happened.
"Uncle!"
Aito rushed up to an older man whose black hair was starting to turn grey. The older man had a large cut going across his chest, as he laid on the ground coughing. It wasn't long before a medical ninja started to attend to him.
Yui reacted just as fast as she rushed to the man.
"Father!"
She shouted.
Yui's father coughed and grabbed Yui's hand as he smiled.
"What took you so long?"
He asked in a weakened tone.
"Nevermind that, what happened here?"
Yui questioned him.
"It's best he does not use too much energy right now, he should focus on recovering instead. Let him rest. He's in good hands."
The medical ninja said to Yui.
Aito put the sack full of herbs in front of the medical ninja.
"Take this and treat the wounded, it's what my father sent us after."
The medical ninja nodded and quickly opened up the sack, revealing the herbs inside.
"Just what we needed!"
"And my father?"
Aito asked.
The medical ninja didn't say anything, but just looked at the main clan hall.
Aito walked quickly to the main clan hall, while Yui stayed by her fathers side watching over him silently.
"What do you think happened?"
Himari asked in a hushed tone.
"Previously, the Sodachi clan was in a conflict with the Kamizuru clan. I guess they are on the losing end for now."
Ernie replied in a whisper.
After replying to Himari, he slowly followed behind Aito into the Sodachi clan's main hall.
Trailing behind him were both Hina and Himari.
No one was guarding the door to the main hall, so Ernie didn't have a hard time entering. When he entered, he saw the dreadful looks on the faces of the Sodachi clan members.
Meimu, the clan leader saw Ernie enter but only gave him a gaze.
"That will be all for now, dismissed."
Meimu said.
Shortly after the clan members started to leave the main hall, only leaving Ernie, the girls and Aito.
"What took you so long, it was supposed to be a quick journey."
Meimu looked at Aito.
Aito sighed and glanced over to Ernie.
Ernie coughed.
"There was a slight problem, when we arrived the Nakuhina clan was wiped out. I was lucky enough to find some traces of the ninja who were in the village, and followed them outside the village. There, I found the ninja who killed the entire village, but they did not have the medical herbs you were seeking. These two behind me were members of the Nakuhina clan, and we made a deal after we dealt with those ninja who wished to do them harm. After our deal was completed, they led me to the herbs and now here we are."
Ernie explained, leaving out a lot of details he'd rather not say.
"What sort of deal did you make that managed to take up more than two weeks of time? You do not know how much we needed those herbs, without them we have suffered a great deal."
Meimu said as he sighed.
"Father, was it the Kamizuru clan? I know they are powerful, but even if they hired some mercenaries from the Itaku clan we shouldn't have suffered this great of a loss."
Aito asked his father in a worried tone.
Meimu shook his head.
"If only it was that simple. We assumed that they were mercenaries, but that's no longer true. The Kamizuru clan and Itaku clan have allied with each other. We know that the Kamizuru clan has had close ties with the Itaku clan for some time, but I never thought the Itaku clan would bow to them. The Itaku clan married off their daughter to Ishikawa's son. Since we are at war with the Kamizuru clan, the Itaku clan has attacked us from various angles crippling us from behind."
Meimu shook his head.
He felt useless, he couldn't do much of anything.
The Sodachi clan was in the middle of both the Itaku and Kamizuru clan, he was getting attacked from both sides. He couldn't focus on one clan, when the other one would hit him from behind. It was an impossible fight, he couldn't win.
Aito hung his head.
"It seems that things are heating up here…"
Ernie said.
"What do you mean by that?"
Meimu asked.
"Ernie said he wants to trade information for animals or a skilled craftsman. However, that was before I knew the situation here."
Aito said.
Meimu fanned his hand.
"Whatever our situation may be, if it can help us then I will do what I can."
Ernie coughed.
"Well, it isn't the most helpful information if i'm being honest. North of here is the Kizamaru clan, have you heard of them?"
Meimu nodded.
"Yes, but they are relatively peaceful, and a great distance away from us so we don't have much interaction."
"They were a relatively peaceful clan."
Ernie corrected Meimu.
"I don't know when or how, but they've grown in numbers. When I first came here, you had quiet the number of ninja here, but they have at least twice the number you had. I feel that they plan on expanding their territory, and when they do you can expect you to have another enemy at your doorstep."
"What!?"
Meimu exclaimed.
"They also have seemed to hire some ninjas from the Uchiha clan as well, giving them even greater manpower."
Ernie added.
Meimu could only shake his head and sigh.
"This information is indeed worthy of your request, I shall try my best to fulfill it."
Meimu told Ernie with a gentle smile.
"Father, since we are getting attacked by both the Kamizuru clan and the Itaku clan, there is only one option here. We need to enter an alliance with the Maru clan. They will support our cause! If they do not, the balance in power will crumble, and they will surely become a target. I'm willing to sacrifice myself for the clan."
Aito said with his head held high.
"That would be hard, a few days after you left news traveled here that the sole daughter of the Maru clan fell in battle."
"What?! How can that be? The Maru clan are peaceful, who are they at war with?"
Aito couldn't believe his ears.
"It was said that she was travelling west with a group of ninja but they were ambushed and killed. No one knows who killed her."
Meimu paused for a moment before he looked at Ernie.
"I know you've just returned, but I would like to hire you once more if you are willing."
Meimu said to Ernie.
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