Chapter 8: Ashes (Part 2)
The Yugami clan had no capacity to resist disasters. So, after gathering all surviving members, they moved deeper into the primeval forest along a stream.
For wandering ninja like them, it was better to rely on natural barriers and the segmented geography of the wilderness for safety than to believe in their combat strength.
Truthfully, in their current state, it would have been safer and more efficient for Yugami Genshin to act alone. He could move freely, adapt quickly, and blend into the shinobi world without attracting attention. But he never considered it.
Throughout this past year living in the clan, these ordinary people had supported him time and again. If not for them, he would have died long ago.
People may be cold, but they shouldn't be cruel. A person's bottom line can be lowered—but it must exist.
They called him "Clan Leader," and so, Genshin chose to carry that title seriously.
The deep mountain forest offered no real paths, and their journey was difficult—primitive and grueling, like pioneers carving a road through uncharted land.
Five days later, they crossed a mountain. After another two days of pushing forward, they finally stopped in a valley nestled among the foothills—an uneven stretch surrounded by dense forest.
It was near the heart of the woods, and the surrounding terrain offered natural concealment. With mountains and trees all around, even experienced scouting ninja would struggle to detect their presence.
There were only a dozen or so of them left. Even if they stayed here for a while, they wouldn't leave much of a trace.
Standing atop a massive root that twisted out of the earth like an ancient dragon's tendon, Genshin carefully surveyed their surroundings.
Then he patted the enormous tree beside him—its trunk as wide as a wall—and declared:
"This is the place."
This kind of environment obviously wasn't suitable for long-term settlement, but it didn't need to be. They only needed a place to rest and recover, not to put down roots.
Faced with the overwhelming green and the ever-present wildness of the forest, the Yugami ninja didn't complain.
On the contrary, the absence of human activity and the hostile terrain offered them a rare sense of security. As the tension of their long escape began to fade, they could finally breathe a little easier.
Once the site was chosen, they began constructing simple shelters.
They looked for raised roots, hollowed-out trees, or leaning deadwood to build around—clearing fallen leaves below and creating makeshift roofs above.
The method was simple: weave a mesh of vines, then layer it with leaves to keep out the wind and rain.
Soon, the forest floor was dotted with crude huts.
Well… "huts" was generous. They were really just lean-tos—better than sleeping in the open, at least.
Just as they finished, a moderate rain began to fall, but they couldn't afford rest.
Aside from the wounded, everyone split into two groups: one went hunting for animals and gathering fruit, the other fished from nearby streams.
They'd long been cut off from any supplies—only the forest's resources had kept them alive.
What allows a ninja to survive isn't overwhelming power or incredible endurance. It's skilled foraging.
Freshwater fish, wild game, berries—these were their lifeline.
Fortunately, autumn had just begun, and the temperature remained mild. They didn't have to worry about the cold—yet.
As clan leader, Yugami Genshin received a few small privileges, even in these dire conditions.
He didn't have to participate in the food gathering, and the others gave him a drier, elevated spot with a better view for his shelter.
Now he sat beneath his crude lean-to, watching the rain fall, deep in thought about what came next.
The truth was, with the handful of people they had left, the Yugami clan had no future.
They weren't strong enough to thrive in the shinobi world—not even close.
It wasn't just that they were ordinary or lacked numbers. Even if he had ten ninja on par with Kakashi…
Well, okay. Ten Kakashis could shake the shinobi world.
But seriously—small groups like theirs had two real options: submit to a greater power, or try to survive in the shadows.
And if they couldn't earn trust, submitting would only make them cannon fodder.
So then… it was better to live in the margins. At least they'd be the ones holding the pen to their own fate.
Genshin wasn't exactly optimistic about the future. He wasn't some unshakable idealist, nor did he know how things would turn out.
But he did know one thing: they had hit rock bottom. From here, any movement could only be upward.
Or put another way—he had nothing left to lose. What was there to be afraid of anymore?
After a long silence, he made a decision.
The rain faded just before dusk. The hunters returned with meat and fish. Fires were lit, food was prepared.
Genshin found a dry patch of ground and lit a fire of his own. When everyone had gathered and started eating, he called the last sixteen members of the clan to sit around his flame.
Though they'd survived, exhaustion clung to them. Grief for their fallen kin lingered, unspoken.
Genshin sat on a tree stump. Beside him, a crude wooden bowl held a bit of fish and broth.
He took a sip—thin and simple. The wood gave it a faint pine scent, stronger than the fish oil.
No one spoke. For a moment, there was only silence and survival.
But in these conditions, unity was vital. Genshin set the bowl down, cleared his throat, and began:
"Though we've shaken off our pursuers, the world we face now is still harsh."
"The wars between clans won't end anytime soon. The chaos will go on. And in that chaos, we—weak as we are—can be wiped out in the blink of an eye."
"But I'm not here to dwell on hardship or cry over our fate. I only want to say this: survival has rules. And if we follow them, our chances increase."
"We don't just want to live. We want to live with purpose."
"People need spirit. I don't mean prideful arrogance—but basic dignity. We are not meat that moves."
"The Yugami clan… in truth, I believe we no longer exist in any meaningful sense."
"To survive—to stay free and not become anyone's pawn—we need to grow. And to grow, we must bring in others, build something new."
"We'll be careful. We'll protect ourselves, but we won't draw the eyes of the great clans."
"At this point, the clan name doesn't matter anymore."
"We never had a long history, nor noble bloodlines, nor glorious traditions… but we did have our honor. Many died for it."
"But honor means little if it only leads to death."
"So let what's lost remain lost. Sometimes, to gain something new, we must let go of the old."
"I've decided—from today onward, we will no longer call ourselves the Yugami clan. I will go by Hajime, and you… you are no longer bound by blood, but by choice. We are simply a group of wandering ninja who happened to come together."
Then, Hajime rose suddenly.
"We do not seek victory—only survival.
We do not fear death—but strive to endure.
We do not fight for power—but flow with the times.
We do not revel in violence—but move when the moment calls.
We carry hope—in shadow.
And we bury our embers… in ashes."
"From this moment on—we are Ashes."
As he spoke, he took off his forehead protector and tossed it into the flames.
The insignia of the Yugami clan glowed briefly in the firelight—then slowly melted away.