They remained near the second source for supplies and training.

  Ku insisted on gathering provisions herself.

  “After all,” she said lightly, “I’m a woman.”

  Leborgne and Uzu stayed behind to continue Leborgne’s training.

  Ku reached the market square, where she learned of a tournament being held in the village.

  It was… unusual.

  The competitors were women.

  Some claimed they were strong enough to storm a fortress alone.

  Others whispered they were not women at all, but demons in human flesh.

  Ku returned with supplies, thoughtful and unusually quiet.

  That evening, she suggested they attend.

  Leborgne refused at first.

  “We gain nothing from watching women fight.”

  He relented only when Ku proposed that some of them might be fugitives from the Gisei clan.

  They entered the arena.

  It became clear quickly.

  These women were strong, yes.

  But they were not Gisei.

  Still, the fights were impressive.

  As dusk approached, an announcement ordered all children to leave for safety.

  Mothers withdrew with their infants.

  One child remained.

  He did not behave like one.

  Leborgne approached him.

  “Why are you still here?”

  The boy answered lazily, as if nothing in the world could touch him.

  “What is it you don’t find excessive?” he replied. “Name one.”

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  “Excuse me?”

  “I forgive you. Now be quiet. The match is starting.”

  Ku and Uzu laughed.

  The boy scratched at the edge of his mask with one fingernail.

  Then the announcer declared the arrival of “the Eternal Second.”

  A figure dropped heavily into the arena, roaring like a beast.

  Moments later, the champion entered.

  No grand display.

  Just a woman walking calmly, hood lowered, face partially hidden.

  Ku narrowed her eyes.

  “Doesn’t she resemble someone?”

  No answer.

  “If she hides her face, perhaps she’s a man,” the boy said dryly.

  “Can you see through matter?” Leborgne asked.

  “No. I just enjoy pretending.”

  The clash began.

  The ground split beneath the force of their impact.

  Lance against katana.

  Raw power.

  The challenger seized the champion’s throat.

  After a brutal exchange, the champion tore free and removed her mask.

  “Mama!” Ku screamed.

  The arena barely heard her.

  Uzu frowned.

  “Are you certain?”

  “I’d recognize her anywhere.”

  “But… you told us she drowned.”

  Leborgne nodded slowly.

  “The water swallowed her. As if it were alive.”

  Before they could say more, the masked boy shouted—

  “She’s over there!”

  Ku was already running.

  As she approached, doubt crept in.

  The woman seemed stronger. Harder.

  But when they stood face to face—

  “MOTHER!”

  The champion stared at her.

  Then laughed.

  “Who is this lunatic?”

  The crowd joined her.

  “Get lost.”

  The challenger tried to strike Ku aside.

  Ku shoved her back with unexpected force.

  “An infiltrator!” the champion shouted.

  The fight exploded into chaos.

  Ku raised her wave-shield.

  Each impact thundered through her ribs.

  “It’s my mother!” she cried.

  The champion’s voice cut through.

  “Me? Have a child? I don’t even possess the means.”

  The masked boy locked eyes with Leborgne.

  “You’re missing something,” he murmured. “Not a memory. Not an object. Something buried deeper. And your emotions… where did they go?”

  He was interrupted.

  The champion uttered words under her breath.

  The boy compressed into a sphere and was hurled across the arena.

  The challenger bound Uzu and Leborgne.

  Ku stood alone.

  Her shield faltered.

  She dropped to her knees.

  The champion raised her blade—

  Then froze.

  A faint whisper echoed.

  “Yours ever…”

  The champion trembled.

  “Where did you hear that?”

  Ku collapsed.

  ---

  When she awoke, Uzu gave her water.

  The Eternal Second entered the room.

  Ku recoiled until Uzu and Leborgne steadied her.

  “She won’t attack you,” Uzu assured.

  The woman spoke.

  “No. Kurenai is not your mother.”

  Ku’s breath caught.

  “Let me tell you the full story.”

  She explained the Gisei war.

  The powerful lord who corrupted some of them.

  The confusion between twins.

  She had taken the wrong child.

  A boy.

  Ku’s father.

  She spared him. Raised him in secret.

  He later met Ku’s mother.

  Their union defied the clan’s code.

  And the curse followed.

  The champion entered.

  Kurenai.

  She smirked.

  “I was always the prettier one.”

  Ku stared.

  “My aunt…?”

  “Yes. I’m Kurenai. Your name comes from me. And that old hag there is Suyu.”

  ---

  Later, Leborgne completed his training.

  He split Uzu’s shield in two.

  It restored instantly.

  “Well done,” Uzu grinned.

  They found Ku walking beside Kurenai.

  Kurenai requested to join them.

  “For my niece’s training.”

  Uzu agreed immediately.

  Leborgne hesitated.

  “Do we truly know her?”

  “How else would we?” Uzu replied.

  Ku walked beside Leborgne.

  Their glances met.

  “What?” he asked.

  “Nothing.”

  “You’ve been staring.”

  “So have you.”

  They reached camp.

  ---

  That night, Kurenai spoke privately with Uzu.

  She explained the curse.

  Before drinking from a source, a sacrifice was required.

  There were eighteen.

  The one they had visited granted immense strength to women.

  Men… reacted unpredictably.

  Ku’s father had drunk from it.

  He cursed his bloodline.

  If someone grew attached to Ku and remained within three meters of her for roughly three days—

  They would die.

  Unless immune.

  “I am,” Kurenai said casually. “The source protects me.”

  “And us?” Uzu asked.

  She shrugged.

  “Not my problem.”

  ---

  Later, Ku and Leborgne sat by the fire.

  Their eyes met often.

  Uzu observed from nearby.

  “May I join this staring contest?” he asked.

  “We aren’t playing,” Ku said.

  “It certainly looks like it.”

  They denied it.

  Uzu lay down first.

  Soon after, Ku and Leborgne followed.

  Sleep took them.