The cold winds bit at their skin as the trio pressed forward, snow crunching beneath their feet.
"I can sense the cold air up ahead… we must be getting close to Ringo," Gyomei said, his hands clasped together, red beads resting gently between his fingers.
"You are right. I can see the snowy mountains of Ringo now," Mamoru replied, his eyes lighting up.
Onimaru barked in excitement, his fluffy white tail wagging as he bounded ahead, leaving small paw prints in the snow. Relief washed over them.
But their stomachs growled in unison.
"I'll hunt us something quick," Mamoru offered, already loosening the sword at his hip.
Gyomei shook his head firmly. "No. Every time you hunt, you vanish into the woods for hours and we spend half the day chasing you."
Onimaru barked as if in agreement, tilting his head toward Mamoru with a look that could only be described as skeptical judgment.
Mamoru pouted, "I don't always get lost. "
The two of them looked at him blankly.
"…Fine," Mamoru sighed "We'll eat in Ringo."
The snowy peaks soon dominated the horizon, the wind carrying the sound of rushing water. A wide river blocked their path. There was no bridge stretching across it only the fierce, swirling current of melted snow barreling downstream.
Mamoru crouched low, studying the water. "Looks simple enough to cross."
One after another, they began making their way over the icy rocks. Gyomei's strength kept him balanced. Mamoru followed, light on his feet, while Onimaru carefully picked his way across.
Then—
Splash!
Onimaru's paw slipped. He yelped as he tumbled into the freezing water, the current pulling him away.
"Onimaru!" Mamoru shouted, instantly diving forward with a rope he had found earlier. He grabbed hold of the fox, the icy water soaking through his clothes. But in the struggle, Mamoru himself slipped from the rocks, the current dragging both boy and fox downstream.
"Mamoru! Onimaru!" Gyomei roared, his voice carrying above the river's roar.
Planting his feet, Gyomei reached out, his massive hands seizing the rope Mamoru had wrapped around his arm. With a heave of strength born from desperation, Gyomei pulled them both up, soaking wet but alive.
They lay gasping on the snowy bank, shivering from the cold but laughing breathlessly at their ridiculous predicament.
"Simple enough ou said ..." Gyomei muttered , though there was relief in his tone.
Mamoru coughed and grinned. "We… we made it."
Onimaru shook out his fur violently, spraying snow and water onto Mamoru's face.
"Yeah, yeah… I know," Mamoru said, wiping his face with a smile.
At last, their boots touched the soil of Ringo. The cold was harsher here than anywhere else in Wano sharp winds that cut through cloth and skin alike. Onimaru, protected by his thick fur, was unbothered, but both Mamoru and Gyomei felt the sting of the cold brush against them.
As they advanced through the snow-covered land, Mamoru slowed, eyes narrowing. Something was wrong. He recognized these grounds well, scars of conflict marred the land. Ashes scattered over the snow. Fallen weapons lay half-buried in frost.
When they neared the northern cemetery, Mamoru's suspicion was confirmed.
"This… this was a battlefield," Mamoru whispered, his voice heavy. He knelt and brushed snow off a broken spear.
Onimaru's ears flattened as he barked in agreement, his eyes sharp and troubled.
Gyomei, confused, tilted his head. "What is this place? What battle happened here?"
Mamoru looked up at him, expression grave. "This is the Eternal Graveyard of Ringo."
"The Eternal Graveyard?" Gyomei repeated.
Mamoru nodded. His voice carried a deep respect as he explained, "In Ringo, every child is given a blade when they are born. They carry it for life. And when they die, that blade is used to mark their grave."
Gyomei's eyes widened behind his blank gaze. "So… the entire cemetery is marked by countless swords?"
"Yes," Mamoru said. "Each one representing a samurai's life, their duty, their honor. It is sacred ground ,sacred to all of Ringo."
Onimaru barked sharply, his stance stiff and alert, as if reaffirming Mamoru's words.
Mamoru continued, his tone low, "That's why bandits raid this place. And recently… pirates. Many of the swords here are priceless. Some belonged to great warriors of Wano's past. But none greater than one."
"Who?" Gyomei asked.
Mamoru's gaze grew distant, heavy with pride. "The black blade Shusui. A sword resting upon the grave of its owner ,the legendary Sword God Ryuma. He was the one who once protected the capital from a dragon by slaying it. He is also my ancestor."
Gyomei stopped in his tracks, stunned. "A man who slew a dragon… and you descend from him?"
Mamoru agreed.
For a moment, Gyomei reflected on his own upbringing. A blind orphan who had known nothing of history, nothing of heroes ,yet here he was, walking beside a boy who carried the blood of legends. He clutched his beads, humbled by the difference between them.
Mamoru's tone hardened. "The Eternal Graveyard is more sacred than any shrine. Countless samurai who protected Wano now lie here. And it must be protected at all costs."
Onimaru let out a determined bark, eyes flashing with conviction. In that sound, there was no mistaking it , the fox already understood his role. One day, he would protect this place, even if he stood alone.