Yazo is an ordinary ninja who belongs to the Tokugawa family's Iga Concentric Association. Pen & Fun & Pavilion www.biquge.info He was not born as a samurai, but as an ordinary peasant. He joined the Iga ninja with great anticipation when he was a child, and although there was some friction with the new leader, he basically lived a relatively peaceful life.

He has just turned 35 this year, and he and his wife have been married for more than 10 years, and they have four children between them.

However, at the time of this happiness, Yazo heard some gossip that worried him.

In the past few days, after returning home from the work of the Tongxin Association, Yazo always feels that the atmosphere at home is a little strange. The wives and children seemed a little overwhelmed, and they stopped talking to him, as if they were worried about something.

Yasan didn't care so much at first, thinking that his wife and children might just be hiding from him and using some extra money. Gradually, however, he discovered that even his workplace was pervasive with this atmosphere. Everyone looked strange.

On this day, after work, Yazo, as usual, went to the tavern he frequented on weekdays with a few colleagues who had a particularly good relationship, and hid in the corner among the dogs and horses and drank wine. Yazo suddenly remembered the changes in the past few days, so he asked several of his colleagues.

"Nana, Kunosuke, what's wrong with you these past few days, why do you feel that the atmosphere inside the Tongxin Society is a little weird? Is something wrong? ”

When his colleagues heard him say this, they looked at each other with some confusion, and then lowered their voices and asked:

“…… Hey, Yasan, don't you even know? ”

"No, I really don't know. What the hell is going on? ”

"We thought everyone already knew...... Yazo, you're so slow......"

A colleague named Kunosuke took a sip of the wine bowl, and his mood was a little low.

He looked inside the store, then gathered a few people in a corner and whispered something to Yazo that wasn't so good.

“…… Recently, there have been some rumors circulating within the Harmony Association and among our families. ”

"Rumors? Wouldn't it be nice to leave that unrealistic thing alone? ”

“…… You're too loud! Of course, we don't care so much about ordinary rumors, but this time it's not an ordinary rumor...... If it's true, then we're ......"

Kunosuke hugged several of his colleagues, including Yazo, and whispered:

“…… I heard that Hattori-sama Hanzo is going to kill all the people who usually oppose him...... Moreover, the Tokugawa clan is also preparing to purge those of us who are not members of the Samurai Society! ”

"What?!!! No way!!! ”

Yazo almost screamed in surprise, but Kunosuke hurriedly told him to shut up.

"This, this, this can't be! How could Lord Tokugawa do this! Also, Hattori-sama isn't that kind of person, is it? Even if we had a lot of friction in the past......"

Yasan, who is usually honest, doesn't know what to think about now. He stammered over the words, not wanting to accept the message.

"Humph! I think that Hattori guy can really do it! ”

Another colleague, Heigoro, took a sip of wine and slammed the bowl on the table, frowning.

"With that guy's broken character, it's not strange to do such a thing!"

Although Heigoro was born as a samurai, he usually gets close to Yazo and others, and is one of those people who hate Hattori Masasaku the most in the Kinkokai.

"You know what? This news is said to have come from inside Yoshiwara Town. I went to Yoshiwara Town to investigate as soon as I learned about this rumor, and sure enough! That guy from Hattori really went to Yoshiwara a few days ago in the rumors! Moreover, it seems that this sentence was really said!! ”

Heigoro gritted his teeth, his gaze gloomy.

Yazo and Kunosuke were also stunned.

"Ah, I thought it was just a rumor...... I didn't expect it to be real......"

Kunosuke reluctantly squeezed out an ugly smile. And Yasan is already at a loss.

"Master Xiuzhong is still young, and he is probably deceived by that guy in Hattori! Think about it, didn't Master Ieyasu personally send someone to deal with the problems in our concentric meeting? That guy from Hattori must have thought that Master Ieyasu was too fair, so he could only find a way to deal with us with the young Master Hidetada! ”

“…… Indeed. Ahh......hhhhhhhh Most of the people who oppose the righteous adults are those of us who come from peasant backgrounds, so I ask Master Hidetada to purge people who are not from samurai backgrounds......"

Kunosuke and Heigoro exchanged a look and sighed.

"Damn...... What to do...... It's all to blame on that bastard at Hattori! ”

"Ah, it's not good. This wasn't the case when Masung-sama was still alive. ”

Kunosuke sighed for a moment when the former leader of the Kinkokai, that is, the second generation of Hattori Hanzo Masanari, was still alive.

"Yes! Having said that, the second male of Zhengcheng is a major talent! Although Zhengda is very young, he is not proud at all, he takes things seriously, and treats us subordinates equally. ”

"Hmph, the righteous person is really better than the righteous adult who is the eldest man, I don't know how many times! How could Lord Jeongseong give birth to such a son! ”

"I heard that the Zhengcheng people still look like the Zhengcheng adults when they were young, and I heard from the old man Sakata in the Tongxin Association."

"Ahh I heard that Masung-sama was particularly handsome when he was young! ”

When Kunosuke and Heigoro were reminiscing about the past Hattori Masari, Yazo, who hadn't spoken for a long time, spoke weakly:

“…… Heigoro, Kunosuke, what the hell are we going to do...... If this is true, then wouldn't we...... Not only us, but my wife and children will be in danger as well......"

Yasan finally understands why his wife and children are emotionally unstable these days. Although Yazo, who loves his wife and child, is not worried about what will become of him, he cares about his wife and children very much and hopes that they will not be implicated by him.

Seeing Yasan's depressed appearance, Heigoro and Kunosuke comforted him:

"Don't worry, Yazo. I, Heigoro, bet on my family name, and I will never let you suffer from Hattori's poisonous hands! Kunosuke, let's hold a secret meeting within the Concentric Society tomorrow without hiding from Hanzo, and let's discuss what to do together! ”

"Uh-huh, I agree. Let's talk about it with everyone, think about it, see how everyone reacts to this rumor, and then decide what to do. So Yasan, you can rest easy, go back in the evening and comfort the lady and the child, and say that we will find a way to settle this matter. ”

"Hmmm......"

Comforted by his two colleagues, Yazo felt that his mood had finally recovered a little.

A few people talked freely late into the night before they got up and returned to their respective homes.