A boy and girl run through fields of wheat. A younger Minato is chasing his younger sister with a stick. She screams and laughs as they make their way to their home.

“Ah you two came home early,” their mother said.

“Mom, Minato was chasing me with a stick,” she says pointing to the stick in Minato’s hand.

“We were just playing,” Minato tries to excuse himself.

His mother takes the stick and breaks it. “No more pretend swords,” she said.

“But mom,” Minato complains.

“ Minato, instead of making swords, let’s make a fire tonight. Collect some firewood for us would you?,” she asks him.

Minato doesn’t return a comment, but obeys his mother and sets out to the forest on the edge of the fields. There he collects dry branches and logs that he would be able to drag back home.

“That should be enough,” he says to himself.

Shiro walks back to his home as the night has come.

“Hello,” a shadow emerges from behind a tree. He hides in the shade away from the moon. Minato steps back afraid. “Don’t be afraid little one,” the shadow continues. “My name is Nishu, may I help you?,” he asks. His voice was soothing and safe sounded. On his own, Nishu begins picking up the branches that Minato unknowingly dropped. “Which way is your home,” he asked the calmed Minato. Minato points beyond the treeline to his house. The two begin walking and out into the clearing. The shadows body was now visible to the eye. Though dark the moon could show that the shadow was a middle aged man. He was clean shaving and had a friendly look. The couple approach the home with Nishu announcing their arrival. “Excuse me, does anyone live here,” he asks. Minato’s mother opens the door to the stranger and her son. I’m sorry to trouble you, but is this your son? I found him scavenging wood and I thought I should help deliver,” he says.

“Thank you, I appreciate it,” she replies.

“No worries, I had my share of collecting firewood for my mother,” he smiles. “I better be off,” Nishu says, tapping Minato’s head.

“Where are you headed?,” Minato’s mother asks him.

“Just down this winding road, I’ll find some inn that will take me for the night,” he says.

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“There isn’t another village for two days,” She tells him.

“I can manage,″ he replies.

The man begins to walk away when she stops him, “At least spend the night here.” He returns. “You can spend the night here, in return you’ll have to tell my children their night stories. Tell us something about your travels,” she says.

“Agreed,” the man and Minato enter the home.

“I’ll make you something warm,” she says leaving Nishu to the children. Then Minato begins making a fire for the family while his younger sibling questions the stranger.

“My name’s Hina, what’s yours, where are you from,” she asks him.

He laughs, “My name is Nishu, I’m from a land far away called Yido,” he tells her. “Yido, that’s a long way you’ve come,” Minato’s mother interrupts. “My Sabanto had tasked me to make contact with the Emperor,” he said. Minato returns excited and close to Nishu.

“Are you a Warden,” young Minato asks him, his eyes are wider than a fish.

“Yes,” Nishu replies.

“So cool,” Minato says in awe.

Nishu grabs a chair and sits in it at their table. Minato’s mother brings him a cup of tea. “Thank you,” he says. “I guess I should begin a story. Minato and Hina sit at the foot of the man eagerly awaiting a story. Their mother sits across the table watching and listening.

“This is a tale of Father and Son. Long ago Father had a son, a son with many brothers and sisters. The brothers and sisters got along very well. They would play in fields of wheat and corn while Father tended to work. Sometimes the brothers would fight and bicker, but the sisters always solved their problems. One day the siblings noticed their Father didn’t return home from work. Son, the eldest of the and wisest of his siblings went looking for Father. He searched far and wide traveling the world looking for his father. Finally he found Father. He walked up to his father and said “Father, where have you been, your children are worried”, but Father ignored him. Son looked and saw what Father had been working on. He had created a new family for himself. Son felt betrayed and in a feeling of being betrayed he left his father and returned home to his siblings. He explained to them what Father was doing. Son announced to his siblings that Father was wrong, that they were never loved by him. Son had convinced his siblings that Father was wrong. They hated and canceled their Father until one day Father returned. Father explained to his children that he was creating a new future, a new path, a new type of life. Even after hearing Father’s excuse, Son resented him and fought Father with the siblings that could not forgive Father. Father won and banished Son and his fallen siblings to the new world he had created. There they lived their lives forever watching Father’s new family unable and hurt. The End.” Minato and Hina had fallen asleep through the end of the story.

“That was quite a story, where did you hear it from”, Minato’s mother asked.

“In a land, far away,” he says standing from the chair and finishing his tea. “I should be going.”

“Why, I had already made your bed,” she questioned.

“It’s not safe for me to stay,” he points to Minato. “Your boy, what’s his name,” Nishu asks.

“Minato,” she says.

“Minato is strong and has the potential for great things, I hope he doesn’t stay in this small shack during his life,” the stranger moves close to the women's face. “You remind me of someone who I once loved,” the man leaves the family’s home. Minato’s mother watches as the man vanishes into the moonlight and into the forest.