The training grounds were filled with the usual sounds of swords clashing and feet pounding against the earth. You stood at the edge, watching the Hashira spar, but your eyes were drawn to one in particular. His movements were fluid, almost too fast to follow, the way he wielded his blade with quiet precision and grace.

Your chest tightened as you remembered your father’s words from earlier that morning. "Don’t get too close," Ubuyashiki had said, his voice soft but carrying the weight of authority. "They are warriors, destined to fight a war where survival is uncertain. You can not afford to let your heart interfere with your duty."