The mist wrapped the night in silence as Kusanagi crossed the old wooden bridge, its timbers creaking beneath her. The faint smell of smoke hung in the air, and flickering torchlight cast eerie shadows ahead. Rui Kamishiro, her loyal samurai, trailed behind, hand resting on his katana, alert for danger.

Nene wasn’t just passing through. Her cold gaze and sharp tongue marked her as a woman of authority, one whose choices shaped destinies.

Up ahead, the councilor stood surrounded by guards, clutching a scroll—the key to a contract that could surrender a province to foreign hands. The document was destined to be intercepted.

“Stay close, Rui” Nene muttered.

What followed was chaos. Steel clashed and shadows flickered as Rui cut through the guards with precision. The men fell back one by one. The councilor sneered, underestimating her: “You think you can stop this? A mere woman…” His words faltered as Nene’s commanding voice froze him in place long enough for her to snatch the scroll from his hands.

Then everything went south. Flames roared, trapping them on the bridge.

“Jump!” Rui shouted, shoving Nene forward and pressing her against him as they leapt into the icy river, Nene clutching the fragile scroll to her chest.

They stumbled onto the rocky shore, drenched and gasping for air. Nene dropped to her knees, carefully unrolling the scroll, her face grim. Rui stood nearby, wringing out his clothes.

“You play the hero too often, Rui” Nene said, her voice sharp but weary.

“And you, my lady, love walking into lion’s dens” Rui shot back with a faint smile.

Nene’s gaze shifted to the lanterns in the distance. “No time to rest. They’re already waiting for us.”