The night was quiet only the soft creak of bamboo outside broke the silence.
Inside the small hut, the seven of them slept close together.
Ryu was snoring with one leg hanging off the bed; Benjiro's heavy arm lay across him, Kaede clutched a notebook to his chest, and the twins Haruki and Fuyuki curled up beside each other like kittens.
Kenta tossed and turned, his breath quick and uneasy.
In his dream, the world was fire.
He saw his home burning, the sky red with flames, the sound of soldiers shouting and steel clashing. His mother's voice echoed through the chaos trembling yet strong.
"Kenta ,, Kenta…"
She knelt before him, eyes full of fear but a smile forcing courage.
"Take care of your brothers," she whispered. "No matter what happens… promise me."
He reached for her hand, but before he could touch it, a sword flashed and her voice was gone.
"Mother!" he screamed,
And woke up.
Kenta sat upright, gasping, drenched in sweat.
The sudden cry startled everyone awake.
Benjiro groaned, "What's with the shouting, bro?"
Kaede rubbed his eyes. "The nightmare again?"
Kenta nodded weakly. "Mother… father… the same dream."
The room fell silent. None of them could look up; they all stared at the floor each remembering that night in their own way.
Then, Kenta spoke softly but firmly.
"We can't change what happened," he said. "But we can decide what we become. We'll be strong ,
for them."
All of them slowly stood together.
And in one voice, they said,
"We will be strong!"
Benjiro broke the silence first. "Where's Kuro? He was here, right?"
Ryu yawned, scratching his head. "Probably headed to bring dry wood .
He's not lazy like you."
Benjiro snorted. "Tch. No one can match your laziness, Ryu."
Ryu grinned, lying back. "That's called energy saving, not laziness."
Kaede rolled his eyes.
"If energy saving means sleeping till noon, you're the master of it."
Kenta sighed and stepped forward. "Enough. We all have our scars, and so does Kuro. Let's not leave him out make him feel we're with him too."
Then he smiled faintly. "And to be honest, none of us work harder than he does."
He glanced at the window where morning light was creeping in. "It's getting late. Let's move. Masanori-sensei will be waiting."
The boys reached Masanori's old wooden house. The morning air was crisp, the scent of damp soil and bamboo thick around them.
Masanori stood there, arms crossed. "You're late," he said flatly. "So, no breakfast until you learn something new."
The boys gulped.
"Today," Masanori began, "I'll introduce you all Jujutsu the art of grappling and unarmed combat.
It's a system that uses an opponent's strength against them."
He drew in the dirt with a stick as he spoke: "It has five core pillars - joint locks, throws, strikes, grappling, and takedowns.
You'll learn how to disarm or disable, even if the enemy is stronger."
Benjiro's grin spread. "So I just grab and throw?"
Masanori narrowed his eyes.
"You'll try and fail."
He pointed at Benjiro. "Attack me with Full strength."
Benjiro charged forward, saying you will regret this old man , but in one smooth motion, Masanori sidestepped, locked his wrist, pressed a nerve point in his shoulder and in less than a breath, Benjiro was flat on the ground.
"I am old," Masanori said calmly, "yet I made you kiss the dirt with one move. That's Jujutsu control, not power."
The boys stood stunned.
Even Ryu's jaw dropped. "That was… kinda cool."
Masanori smirked. "Then get ready. You're next."
Ryu flinched. "Huh? Me? No, no, I'm still digesting breakfast."
Masanori raised a brow. "You didn't have breakfast."
"…Exactly. Empty stomach, Sensei. Not safe to fight."
The others burst out laughing until Masanori's glare silenced them.
"Fine," the old man said, "pair up.
Kenta with Kuro.
Benjiro with Kaede.
Haruki and Fuyuki together.
And Ryu " Masanori's grin widened, "—you'll train with me."
Ryu froze. "Sensei, have mercy."
Masanori demonstrated the basics slowly, step by step.
"Balance first," he said, pushing Kenta gently until his stance faltered.
"If you can't stay on your feet, you can't fight."
He guided Haruki and Fuyuki. "Twins mirror each other's motion. You'll find rhythm faster than anyone else."
He turned to Kaede. "Use your brain, not your muscles. Predict your opponent's angle."
To Benjiro: "Don't rely on strength rely on timing."
Finally, to Ryu: "You, lazy one. Your reflexes are good when you want to move. So move before your opponent does don't make excuses."
Ryu sighed. "Guess even laziness needs strategy."
"Exactly," Masanori replied with a smirk. "Make your laziness efficient."
Hour after hour, they practiced. Masanori corrected their steps, posture, and breathing sometimes harsh, sometimes gentle.
Kuro moved silently, focused and disciplined; Kaede quickly analyzed every mistake; Benjiro improved after being thrown a dozen times; Ryu, despite all his complaining, learned faster than expected his natural adaptability shining through.
When the sun began to set, Masanori finally called out,
"Enough. You've all done well."
He looked at them proudly. "Remember Jujutsu isn't about domination.
It's survival. You turn your enemy's force and your own pain into strength."
They bowed deeply.
As they walked home, tired but smiling, Kenta looked at his brothers.
He whispered softly to himself,
"I'll take care of them, Mother. I promise."