Hanabi

Leader of the Scarlet Sect, in the Scarlet Shadow in the Riverlands of Cadia. As the owner of the Higanbana, one of the Seven Great Armaments of the Scarlet Shadow Clan, Hanabi is the pride of the Scarlet Sect. To perpetuate her father's will, she has sought power since childhood. Because of her single-minded focus, she closed herself off from all feelings and emotions. Despite this, she was never truly accepted by Higanbana. One day, while pursuing an enemy spy and losing ground, she accidentally entered Higanbana's world and lingered between illusion and reality. Eventually, she understood that power without emotion was volatile and fleeting. She came to terms with herself and embraced her feelings and desires by becoming one with Higanbana. === The shore ===

"The Higanbana blooms on the shore, as if consumed by flames. Unable to let go of their obsessions, lost souls plunge into the abyss. They no longer remember their past lives and the future is a mystery. They are drawn to this place, which condemns them to hell." —Higanbana, Seven Armaments of the Scarlet Shadow

Hanabi knew the river well.

Dark and icy, but peaceful. She floated above the water as if suspended in mid-air. A thick, impenetrable mist swirled all around her. In the darkness, the only light was a group of Higanbana in the distance. They were a bright, piercing purple, red as hellfire, like fire burning on a distant shore she would never reach.

It was a recurring nightmare that Hanabi had been experiencing since she was 7 years old. This was the year when, due to her inherent talent for cultivation, she unintentionally activated the Scarlet's ancient weaponry, "Higanbana". All she remembered was being swallowed up by the weapon and falling into a vast, nightmarish abyss. When she woke up, her eyes were filled with tears, but despite this, the crowd that had gathered before her were cheering and congratulating her for becoming the one deemed worthy of being Scarlet's successor.

Even at her young age, Hanabi realized what this meant: within the Scarlet Shadow, there was the Scarlet Sect, which favored the use of weapons, and the Shadow Sect, with a predilection for Ninjutsu. For generations, each fought to dominate the other. And if the Scarlet Leader wins, the Scarlet Sect wins. All young Hanabi could do was place her trust in the sect and its plan. So she took on this solemn duty and did her best to hold her head high. Day after day she trained, rivulets of sweat running down her body from sunrise to sunset. In competition, Hanabi was undefeated. Over time, she grew accustomed to victory and the dark river that bloomed in her dreams. She knew that when she reached this shore, she would harness the power of Higanbana and then truly become the leader of the Scarlet Sect.

This all ended with the appearance of Hayabusa.

Of all the notable individuals in the Shadow Sect, Hayabusa was the most distinguished. Like an apparition, he appeared during competitions, quickly defeated his opponents and left without uttering a single word. It was like he wasn't even interested in competitions. Hanabi often stalked Hayabusa and challenged him to a fight. As they clashed, they both fled across mountain streams and over thatched roofs, their blades clashing and clanging more times than could be counted. However, in the end, Hanabi would still be defeated and the Black River would begin to swell, with water reaching its banks. With each defeat, Hanabi, filled with resignation, asked Hayabusa how he managed to surpass her, and each time he only shrugged his shoulders and said:

“Because… the moon is beautiful tonight.”

The unfettered arrogance and utter frivolity of his response made Hanabi blinded with rage. She couldn't lose, just like the Scarlet Sect. She threw herself even further into her training; she would do whatever it took to reach that distant shore.

Then, one day, disaster struck.

Hanzo, one of Scarlet Shadow's most powerful ninjas, fled with Ame no Habakiri, making himself an enemy of both Scarlet and Shadow. Together, the two sects sent their best warriors to hunt Hanzo. This was Hanabi's first time fighting with Hayabusa on the same side, and she wasn't going to miss this opportunity to redeem herself. She would find Hanzo alone, without any help from Hayabusa. However, after locating Hanzo, he proved more pernicious than Hanabi anticipated. Unable to withstand a frontal attack from the Ame no Habakiri, Hanabi struggled to continue escaping. She could feel herself slipping, and as the blade passed through her throat, she remembered the dark river.

She couldn't lose, just like the Scarlet Sect. She had to win.

Pledging her eternal allegiance to Higanbana, Hanabi offered her own body.

At the moment of his death, an immense power swept away Hanabi like a raging tsunami, and in that moment, she understood that Hanzo had pledged allegiance to Ame no Habakiri in exchange for this power. I didn't have time to think any further. Hanabi rushed towards Hanzo. Amidst a flurry of cuts, cuts, and stabs, Hanabi's vision began to blur, but she could make out her opponent stumbling backwards. She had won! However, the waters began to surge and she found herself submerged once again in that familiar dark river.

Far from calming down, the river raged with greater ferocity as monstrous waves crashed one after another, dragging Hanabi to the bottom of the riverbed. Such was the fate of countless souls who had been locked within this weapon. Every ounce of their pain and resentment turned into an insurmountable power that enslaved all who entered, keeping them trapped inside forever. It was the land of the dead, a land from which there was no escape.

Earn! Earn! Earn!

The crashing waves echoed in his ears, the sound almost like a chorus. She fought with all her strength, but Hanabi was unable to escape. This burning flower that was once so far away was now so close, but it still remained out of his reach. Little by little, she sank deeper...

Hanabi! Hanabi! Hanabi!

The sound of Hayabusa's voice pierced the void, bringing Hanabi back from the abyss. Ignoring the souls of the dead pressed against her throat, she raised her head.

The moonlight reflected off the surface of the river. It was magnificent.

What was once pure darkness was now exposed to light. The dead retreated and the raging waters calmed until all was calm again. The first Scarlet Chieftain was the first owner of the armaments. In his incessant quest for power, he was not there for his wife in her final moments. The world was his, but he had lost everything. Therefore, he went crazy. In his mania, he locked all his power and all his sorrow into Higanbana.

Hanabi could finally see that the shore was no longer far away. It was before his eyes. She had won. In the distance, she looked at the flowers that grew at the end of the river. Hidden among them, she could see the faint figure of the first scarlet chief and his wife, standing side by side in the moonlight. The Scarlet Shadow had sacrificed everything for victory. Now, at that moment, it was clear that their sacrifices had not been in vain.

As Hanabi gradually came to his senses, Hayabusa took her away, while Hanzo managed to escape. They were in no condition to pursue them, but it was just a simple setback, nothing more.

Higanbana rested gently in Hanabi's hand. She had unlocked its secrets and become its owner. Freed from her obsessions and inner demons, Hanabi was able to truly see Hayabusa, her former adversary, clearly for the first time. She finally understood what he had been telling her all along: there are things in this world more precious than winning.

Although she didn't know exactly how to proceed, she also knew that she no longer needed advice from others. Whichever direction she took, all paths led to her shore.

She raised her head and looked up at the night sky. The moon was beautiful this evening. »

===Higanbana ===