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Chapter 1: The Sword and Loneliness
The sun rose slowly over the mountains, painting the simple dojo where two children had been training since before dawn with gold.
The sound of wooden blades clashing echoed like miniature thunder, followed by quick steps and skillful turns.
Miyamoto Musashi, with his hair tied up awkwardly and a determined smile, advanced with impressive speed for someone so young.
But the opponent in front of him — his twin brother — did not retreat.
Sasuke.
Cold eyes, a tough expression too strong for an eight-year-old, his feet firm and his sword perfectly aligned.
He deflected his sister's blow with a dry and precise movement, showing no effort or emotion.
"You're getting faster," he said, his voice low and indifferent.
Musashi smiled, panting.
— And you're still stronger... but... you won't run away from me!
She advanced again, spinning her sword, trying to break her brother's perfect guard.
But Sasuke dodged it easily, pushing her back with a sharp blow to the shoulder.
Musashi fell to her feet on the wooden floor, looking at him in frustration.
— Why do you always do this? — she asked, biting her lip.
Sasuke turned, picking up his sword and walking towards the dojo exit.
— I train to be stronger... I don't need distractions.
She stood up quickly, running after him, holding her brother's arm.
— We're brothers! Why do you always try to get away from me?
Sasuke stood still for a second... and then released her arm with a sudden movement.
— Because bonds... weaken.
Her eyes closed for an instant, and in her mind, like lightning cutting through the night, the image appeared:
Itachi's face.
The massacre.
The blood.
> "Only those who cut their ties can be strong enough…"
When she opened her eyes, Musashi saw:
For a brief moment, in Sasuke's dark irises, a red reflection, with a single tomoe slowly rotating.
"W… what is this…?" she whispered, surprised.
But Sasuke turned his face away and kept walking, without answering.
The wind blew softly through the mountains, carrying with it the sound of Sasuke's solitary footsteps, and Musashi's sad gaze, standing in the middle of the dojo, still holding the wooden sword.
> "No matter how hard I try…" — she thought — "he is always further away."
And so, day after day, the twins trained together…
… but always apart.
While Musashi sought perfection for the love of the sword…
… Sasuke sought power to feed his hatred.
And, deep down, they both felt that one day, this path would put them on opposite sides of the blade.
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Do you want me to continue?