Chapter Text
Hanzo Shimada.
Born as the son of Sojiro Shimada, the leader of the Shimada clan, ever since he was born, he was taught to behave like every other Shimada: be blunt, be cold, and never in your life show your true feelings or fears.
Hanzo was never allowed to do things a lot of kids did, being isolated from any type of socializing and making him train to be the next leader of the clan. Hanzo wanted to play with the kids, but his father made sure that Hanzo never had the chance.
Hanzo would sometimes look out and see all the kids his age playing and laughing; he wished to experience that for himself, but he couldn’t.
He would ask his father why he couldn’t hang out with other kids; he hoped that his father would let him go out... just once.
"Dad, why can’t I go play with the other kids?"
"Because you have business to do."
"But-"
"NO BUTS, GET BACK TO TRAINING!"
Hanzo flinched at his father’s yelling as he quickly grabbed his sword and ran off. It wasn’t the first time his father raised his voice, but it still made Hanzo scared of him. He would still ask to go play, but he was always told no.
Hanzo just wanted to go outside and have fun like the other kids did; that’s all he wanted, but he seemed to start losing interest in trying.
One day, however, he managed to find himself outdoors, alone with no guards, and near a group of children his age. Hanzo smiled and started feeling like his dreams were coming true; he was finally around kids his age and was finally about to hang out with them.
Walking up to them, Hanzo’s happiness starts to fade into…awkwardness. He looks at everyone having fun, but he can’t seem to feel that happy. He looks around to see the kids smiling, but he can’t seem to smile like them; eventually, someone walks up to him and pushes him to the ground.
"Haha! おいガーリー！なんで鼻が悪いの?"
Hanzo looked up at the kid and just looked confused. Why did he do that? What is he saying?
" え、どうしたの？ 砂が口に入った？" The kid said as he ran away. Hanzo picked himself up and walked away from the other kids. He sat down on a nearby porch and looked at the kids.
They all look so happy, and Hanzo almost had it, but somehow he felt shy and nervous around them. He didn’t even understand what that kid said to him. He felt as if this wasn’t normal and didn’t fit in, so he went back home, where his father awaited him.
Hanzo felt as if he wasn’t meant to do anything with other kids, as though he wasn’t like them. So he stopped asking, he stopped asking why, and he stopped wanting to go outside. Poor little Hanzo. He was so young but so different.
While his father appreciated that he was starting to focus more on his training than spending his time playing around, his mother seemed a bit sad that her son wasn’t being as productive as the other kids were, so she started planning something special for Hanzo’s next birthday.
"Hanzo"
"Yes Mom?"
"I have a surprise for you; come with me." His mother said as she walked away. Hanzo followed behind her. His mom was always making sure he was okay and would never lose his childlike innocence. Hanzo liked having his mom around; she loved him and wanted the best for him.
After some walking, they arrived at a dojo where Hanzo would train. "Mom, why are we here?" He asked as he looked around. "You’ll see, my dear." She spoke, her voice calm and polite.
His mom slid the door open, and Hanzo saw what was inside. There were bows and arrows hung on the wall and targets in different areas of the room; everything looked professional and handmade.
Hanzo’s eyes lit up as he saw everything in the room. His mother just smiled as she saw her son run around and look at the things in the room. "Do you like it? I had to ask your father if it was okay," his mom questioned. Hanzo turned to her with a smile.
"I love it! , thank you mom"
Hanzo loved how everything looked and was so excited to use the bow for the first time. Plus, his father was part of this, so he had nothing to fear if he caught him.
Sojiro was impressed by his son’s performance; he was only a kid and yet he managed to handle the bow like a professional. Hanzo seemed to enjoy it since he had a reason to go outside; he couldn’t go and have fun like the other kids, but he still enjoyed it.
"Hanzo"
"Yes father?"
"You are doing well with that bow; you seem to have almost mastered it."
"Thank you, father," Hanzo smiled. His father’s words made him feel as if he was good enough for him, even though he seemed to treat him the same way he did when he was still younger.
But it’s his father; he expects Hanzo to do better so he can be head of the Shimada clan.
And Hanzo doesn’t want to make his father feel as if he was a waste.