The Land of Ancestors had undergone a massive transformation.
In just a few short decades, everything had changed.
With rapid growth in agriculture, trade, and infrastructure, people were living better lives than ever before. Villages had turned into towns, and towns into thriving cities. Food was no longer scarce, and stability had taken root across the land.
Because of this, crime had dropped sharply.
There were still criminals, of course—there always would be—but their numbers were small. Most of them were locked away in prisons, handled through a strict but organized system of law.
That was why the sight before them felt so strange.
Dozens of prison carts.
Lined up.
Moving slowly toward the most sacred place in the entire nation.
"So many prison carts…" Hamura muttered, narrowing his eyes. "Are they transporting dangerous criminals?"
Beside him, Hagoromo stood still, his gaze fixed forward, his expression turning serious.
"But… why here?"
This place wasn't ordinary land.
This was the sacred ground where the Divine Tree stood.
A place worshipped by the entire nation.
A place where even nobles needed special permission to enter.
And yet…
Criminals were being brought here?
The situation didn't make sense.
The brothers exchanged a silent glance.
Years of growing up together had given them a deep understanding of each other. No words were needed.
Something was wrong.
And they were going to find out what it was.
Without hesitation, they moved forward, keeping their presence hidden as they followed the procession.
---
As they advanced deeper into the sacred land, the surroundings began to change.
The air grew heavier.
More still.
More… oppressive.
Soon, a massive temple complex came into view.
Ancient.
Silent.
Filled with an unsettling aura.
Inside the temples stood towering statues—figures carved from stone, each radiating an overwhelming chakra presence.
It wasn't just strong.
It was suffocating.
Like something ancient was watching.
Waiting.
---
"The prisoners have arrived."
A cold voice broke the silence.
At the entrance of the temple, a samurai stepped forward, his armor gleaming faintly under the dim light.
"Prepare the sacrifices."
Sacrifices.
That word alone made the air feel colder.
One by one, the prisoners were dragged down from the carts.
Chains clinked.
Bodies trembled.
Fear filled the space.
"Please! Don't kill me!"
"I'll do anything—just let me go!"
"Have mercy!"
Their voices echoed through the temple, desperate and broken.
Some collapsed to their knees.
Some struggled violently.
Others simply cried.
And when Hagoromo looked closer…
His expression stiffened.
Most of them weren't even old.
Many were young men.
Some…
Were just children.
---
"Brother…" Hamura whispered, his voice heavy.
There was hesitation in his eyes.
Pain.
A deep discomfort at what he was seeing.
Hagoromo remained silent for a moment before speaking.
"They are criminals."
His tone was firm, but something beneath it wavered.
"They broke the law. This is their punishment."
The words sounded right.
Logical.
Justified.
That's what they had always been taught.
And yet…
Neither of them looked away.
They stayed.
Watching.
Because something about this didn't feel right.
---
Then—
Everything changed.
The leading samurai stepped forward.
He raised his hand.
Formed a seal.
And suddenly—
A surge of chakra burst into the air.
The ground trembled.
The Divine Tree responded.
Its massive trunk seemed to pulse… like it was alive.
Then—
A thick vine shot out from the tree.
Fast.
Unnatural.
Alive.
It wrapped around several prisoners in an instant.
"AAAAHHHH—!!!"
Screams filled the air.
Not ordinary screams.
Screams filled with pure, unbearable agony.
The prisoners struggled violently.
But it was useless.
Their bodies began to shrink.
Their skin tightened.
Their eyes sank.
In just seconds—
Their life force was completely drained.
What remained…
Were empty husks.
Dry corpses.
Falling lifelessly to the ground.
---
Silence.
Heavy.
Crushing silence.
The Hagoromo brothers froze.
Their minds went blank.
"…What… is this…?"
Hamura whispered, his voice trembling.
Hagoromo stared at the scene, his eyes wide with disbelief.
"This… this can't be real…"
The Divine Tree…
The sacred symbol of their land…
The source of blessings…
Was doing this?
Devouring human life?
Everything they believed…
Everything they were taught…
Was being shattered.
Right here.
Right now.
---
"How can this be…?"
Hagoromo's voice carried a rare crack.
"Isn't the Divine Tree… supposed to be sacred?"
No one answered.
Because there was no answer.
Only truth.
And that truth was horrifying.
---
The samurai raised his hand again.
Another group of prisoners was about to be dragged forward.
That was the moment.
The brothers moved.
---
"Stop!"
They appeared instantly.
Their presence overwhelming.
The samurai froze.
His instincts reacted immediately—
But the moment he saw their faces…
Everything changed.
"Lord… Hagoromo?!"
Shock filled his expression.
He lowered his weapon instantly.
All resistance vanished.
---
Hagoromo stepped forward.
His gaze sharp.
His voice cold.
"Explain this."
He pointed at the corpses on the ground.
"These people are citizens of the Land of Ancestors."
"What crime did they commit… to deserve this?"
The samurai lowered his head slightly.
"They are criminals."
His tone remained calm.
"They committed serious crimes. They were judged… and brought here."
He paused for a moment.
Then added—
"To be offered to the Divine Tree… is their honor."
---
Hagoromo's eyes narrowed.
"Honor?"
His voice dropped.
Dangerous.
Then—
He pointed toward another cart.
"Then what about them?"
Inside the cart…
Two small figures sat huddled together.
Children.
No older than ten.
Terrified.
Shaking.
Clinging to each other.
---
"Are they criminals too?"
The question hit hard.
But the samurai did not hesitate.
"They did not commit crimes themselves."
He looked at them briefly.
"However… their families did."
Silence.
"They are descendants of rebels."
"By law… the entire family is condemned."
---
The words fell like a hammer.
Hagoromo didn't speak.
Instead, the samurai handed over a scroll.
"These are their records."
---
The brothers read.
And what they saw…
Was true.
The Land of Ancestors had not always been peaceful.
Its unification had come through war.
Through blood.
Through conquest.
Many noble families had lost power.
Many rulers had fallen.
And not all of them accepted defeat.
Rebellions had risen again and again.
Threatening stability.
Threatening order.
So the solution had been simple.
Brutal.
Effective.
Eliminate them completely.
Not just the rebels.
But their entire bloodline.
---
From a ruler's perspective…
It made sense.
From a system's perspective…
It worked.
But—
When Hagoromo lowered the scroll…
And looked at those two children again—
Everything changed.
Their eyes met his.
Wide.
Terrified.
Begging.
Not with words.
But with something deeper.
Something human.
In that moment—
All logic…
All law…
All justification—
Felt meaningless.
Hagoromo's heart wavered.
And for the first time—
He began to question everything.
--------------------------------
"Free readers are still behind… but Patreon members are already ahead 😏
Catch up now [patreon.com/Samurai492 ]"
__________________________________