Chapter 16: Interlude 1: The Retainer.

My name is Hisakawa Sachiko. I was born into a family of ninja, retainers to a mid-ranked Uzumaki noble. Mother grew pregnant when on a mission, and died in birth; she lived long enough to name me Sachiko or “joyous child”, a name that would ensure I knew I was loved despite the outcome.

And so I was raised by Auntie and Uncle so that I might serve as they did. I worked hard, and excelled from a young age, showing the grace and intelligence necessary to be trained not as a brute, but as a subtle blade. Whether a hidden protector or invisible assassin, I learned to walk the halls of power and be of use not only as a weapon to my master, but as an assistant too.

My master used to be Master Uzumaki, the grandfather of my current master, Master Daichi. The first time I heard of Master Daichi, I must have been five years old, and Master Daichi had just been born. Master Uzumaki always appeared with the stoic visage he was so famous for; this visage, along with his martial skills and Noble Sea-Hawk summons (who selected only the most honorable of samurai, and had served as his eyes) had earned him the sobriquet of “Whirlpool's Sea-Hawk Samurai” when serving in the navy many, many years ago.

But, in secret, he was a very caring man; I think he simply felt it unsightly to show this. He would have us, his ninja retainers, check up on his children, especially Kohaku sama, Master Daichi's father, who was somewhat estranged. This duty fell to Uncle, a jovial and joking man with his family who was only too happy to report to us about the successful birth.

And so, I grew up with reports of Master Daichi. I learned when I was six how he was already walking, and speaking. I learned when I was seven, and he two, that he was already actively practicing calligraphy to manage seals in the future. When I was eight, I formally became Uncle's apprentice; I was in the room and saw Master Uzumaki's hidden joy when Uncle reported that Master Daichi was progressing well, and likely to turn into a fine man and a credit to Uzushiogakure and the family.

Uncle said that this was training; that even at their most emotional, men like Master Uzumaki are hard to discern, and that by studying his reactions, I would be able to understand the reactions of other stoic men. I think, however, that Uncle merely wished to share the details of the charge he watched from afar. Part of this storytelling from Uncle to me was that there is a universal rule: servants gossip about their masters. We may be more circumspect, call it Espionage/Counter-Intelligence training, keep things “in family”, but we ninja are subject to this rule too.

I learned of Master Uzumaki's relationship with his son this way, and when I did I remember being sad. It might have been amusing had I not cared, but the whole thing was, at least as it was described by Uncle, a misunderstanding. Master Uzumaki wanted his son to master a certain level of the sword and traditional arts before branching out. His son, headstrong and young and not suited to hearing the subtleties of his seemingly cool father, disobeyed. Then, to make matters worse, refused to apologize.

While Master Uzumaki would have likely allowed it, or forgiven his son, his honor would not let him let the disobedience lie. While the son married, and propriety was served, for years things were cold between them, though Master Uzumaki always kept my family, and the other ninja retainers, busy with updates in his son's situation.

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As time passed, Master Daichi's achievements grew, and my involvement, peripheral as it was, increased. I tested my stealth against his notice, and watched that first fireworks show he made. I was aware of many of his greatest successes and achievements, and, to be honest (something I may only be with myself and my master), both highly impressed and intimidated.

Master Daichi was beyond someone you could call a prodigy or a genius. He learned at a rate that astounded his teachers and drew mention of being a reincarnation of a Saint or Sage; while in most this would be at least somewhat sarcastic, the tone used when discussing Master Daichi had an underlying tone of semi-fearful belief. Some were worried, or afraid of Master Daichi, thinking him somewhat unnatural; others almost worshipful.

I, I was merely inspired. And Master Uzumaki could not have been prouder at his grandson's accomplishments, though again, it was impossible to see.

At the age of ten, I watched as Master Daichi worked on some secret project which clearly failed. He had poured effort into it, working harder than I ever had, and all self-driven. He had even managed to slightly worsen his health, truly a feat for one with the Uzumaki vitality. I knew such failure could break full grown men, let alone children, and I wanted against training to comfort him at the time, tell him not to give up. It proved unnecessary; he immediately bounced back, and after resting himself, was back to work.

When I was eleven, and “showing great promise as a kunoichi”, Master Daichi was collaborating with the Naval Weapons Research Group, and developed the Cyclone seals. His involvement and the entire project itself may have been secret, but I knew. I also knew how revolutionary these seals were; I heard from a cousin who watches the Navy that they necessitated entirely different naval strategy and tactics, and ensured Uzushio's dominance at sea for generations. And yet, I also knew that the boy showed less arrogance than I held in my heart for my comparatively meager skills. I thought then that Master Daichi would not be a bad person to serve.

Perhaps Uncle noticed this, and saw which way the wind blew when Master Daichi was working on those marvels of surveillance and destruction, the Pelicans; this may have been why he had Auntie train me to act as an assistant to a man, teaching more than the noble-lady’s attendant's arts I had learned before. Whatever the reason, I thank him. When Master Uzumaki made the announcement that he was searching for someone to become Master Daichi's retainer, I volunteered, and was immediately on the short list of candidates.

During the interview with Master Uzumaki and his senior ninja retainer, I listed my qualifications. I spoke of how I was trained to act within the bounds of noble society as hidden guard and invisible blade, how my skills with weapons, stealth, poisons and illusions would all be of use and complement Master Daichi's own, greater talents. I was asked many questions, but there was one which, I believe, was responsible for my being given this honor.

“If selected,” Master Uzumaki began in that slow, deliberate way of his, “how should I present you to my grandson?”

And so I told him, how Master Daichi's compassion would be the best way of him accepting happily.

Master Uzumaki did as I suggested.

Though I spent the four months before our departure in brutal training, endlessly learning combat skills from his father, and though his mother insisted in cramming some small knowledge of sealing into my mind when I too exhausted to move, and though I would be leaving my home and all I knew, I was happy.

I had a master I could be proud to serve for the rest of my life: Uzumaki Daichi.