The dry land stretched on endlessly, cracked earth crunching beneath their sandals. The sun was high above, beating down with merciless heat, but still the group pressed forward. Six figures moved along the lonely path of Udon .
Each of them carried logs strapped to their backs, except for Onimaru, who padded along freely, his sharp eyes scanning the horizon.
Mamoru had insisted on helping the Tokito family carry their lumber. He had learned that they were lumbermen by trade, gathering wood to sell in Kibi. Their lives were modest, but they were proud of their work, passing the trade down through generations.
As they walked, Mamoru asked questions, curious about their lives. He discovered that the family of three was actually a family of four. The mother had stayed behind in the mountains of Kibi, where they made their home.
"Why the mountains?" Mamoru asked as he shifted the logs on his back.
Mizu Tokito, the father, gave a weary smile. "Because of the changes in Wano. I did not wish to break my back in the labor camps for peanuts. Lumber work may not make us rich, but it's honest, and it belongs to us. My father did it, and his father before him. Runs in the family"
Mamoru nodded, understanding his words .
Yuichiro looked at Mamoru's frame and exclaimed. "No way… you're only two years older than us, and you're already this strong?"
Muichiro's wide eyes sparkled with awe. "Wow! You're amazing, Mamoru!"
Their father chuckled, but there was a wistfulness in his tone when he added, "Truly amazing. I wish I was as strong as you. That way, I could protect the weak."
Mamoru smiled faintly, shaking his head. "Don't think too much about it. Where you can't, I will. And where I can't, someone else will. Together we'll fight for justice, and for the truth."
The words lingered in the air like the ring of a struck bell.
Mizu Tokito smiled, the kind of smile a father gives when his heart feels lighter. "Then I am at ease."
"I want to save lots of people as well!" Muichiro blurted out, his small hands gripping his bundle of wood tightly.
But Gyomei, walking steadily beside them, sensed something beneath the talk . Though blind, he could feel Yuichiro's silence pressing against them like a storm cloud. He tilted his head.
"What troubles you, young one?" Gyomei asked gently.
Yuichiro froze, eyes wide. "How can you even see me…?"
Mamoru looked at him curiously, waiting for his answer.
Finally, Yuichiro let out a breath. "Why be this kind? Why do you need to help everyone? Why not just… help yourself and leave it at that? It's unfair. You're carrying burdens that have nothing to do with you. Kindness is a weakness."
His words silenced the group. The only sound was the dry wind brushing through the brittle grass.
Gyomei frowned, his mind weighing the words. "Well… he isn't technically wrong. Kindness is a weakness. You give, but often receive nothing in return.."
But before he could finish, Mamoru's voice cut in, clear and unwavering.
"You're right, Yuichiro. Kindness can be a burden. But I believe with all my heart that it's the duty of the strong to protect the weak. It's not a burden,it's a duty. Would you, the strongest warrior alive, watch as people around you are slaughtered, just because you decided it had nothing to do with you? That's cowardice. Kindness is selfless"
His words rang out with conviction. Even Onimaru gave a soft growl, as if agreeing.
Silence followed once more, but this time it was heavy with thought. The twins had no reply. Even Gyomei bowed his head, turning Mamoru's words over in his mind.
Mamoru spoke again, softer this time, almost to himself. "Whether it's fair or not… that's an answer I'm still looking for. Is it fair some are born unfortunate, while others are blessed? Is it fair to condemn those who struggle… or those who succeed?"
The words hung over them like the sun, too large to ignore.
Finally, Mizu Tokito chuckled, breaking the tension. "Mamoru… I am sure you'll find the answers to your questions someday. Kindness is a selfless act. But life always rewards good deeds. When you help others, you are often helping yourself."
He said the line with quiet certainty, and though Muichiro and Yuichiro had heard it many times before, they didn't understand it yet. But Mamoru and Gyomei did.
Mamoru replayed every moment he had helped others, times when kindness had repaid him with food, shelter, or unexpected aid. Gyomei thought of his own life, of the times when his sacrifices had brought him strength or redemption.
Both of them felt the truth of Tokito's words settle deep into their hearts.
Gyomei touched the red beads around his neck. "Yes… what a profound saying."
"Thank you for your words and wisdom, Mr. Tokito," Mamoru added sincerely.
The lumberman only smiled.