The tumultuous journey
Ashura lazes about near a river contemplating how indras become more harsh. a friend approaches him and asks him if hes done training he replies since indras most likely going to take over ninshu he can afford to kick back a bit.
the friend asks him to remove some trees with ninshu so his mother has an easier path to the fields. Ashura does so clearing the trees easily.
Later on Ashura comes out to find his friend in restraints having been beaten by indra. Indra accuses the friend of having broken village law. The friend confesses that the path was so his mother could get medicine due to her being sick. Ashura asks why he didn't just say so in the first place as he would have used ninshu to heal her. the friend reveals that his mother hates ninshu and wants nothing to do with it.
Hagoromo thinks maybe indras going to far and says judging people required prudence which indra says he understands but als that punishment must be meted out if the law is to act as a deterrent.
later on Ashura goes to the prison cell and releases his friend telling him hell take responsibility for the whole thing. Indra confronts them his sharingan blazing. Ashura asks him to overlook the affair saying It wasn't malicious but indra insists that the law is the law and if Ashura wants to break the law he can take the punishment and attacks his brother who dodges.
indra attacks and knocks Ashura down he then asks him why they have laws and why ninshu exists in the first place and if he cant answer those questions he should just obey indra. Unbeknownst to both Hagoromo was watching the whole affair.
Ashura prays at his dog Shiros memorial, hes approached by hagoromo and he tells his father about the day shiro died protecting him and how if others hadn't been strong hed be dead.
Hagoromo comments he has a kind heart unlike indra and asks Ashura what he thinks of indras eyes. Ashura admits hes intimidated by them
hagoromo says indras eyes hold some darkness that reminds him of his mother kaguya. Ashura says that maybe indra can see something they cannot which hagoromo asks about. Ashura says maybe the future or the right way of ninshu or the like. he remembers indras kindness the day he saved him and says hes sure idnras heart hasn't changed from that day.
Hagoromo though explains to the kage that he now understood why heaven blessed him with 2 sons
later hagoromo announces he will choose his successor and gives Indra and Ashura each a scroll. he says that after battling his mother he and his brother went around the world repairing the damage save in 2 lands. he instructs indra and Ashura to each go to a land and solve the remaining problems and then hell make his decision.
Ashura argues that hes not fit but hagoromo dismisses this and says its his decision to make and sends them out,
Ashura asks why father did this but indra assures him not to worry and the pair set out on their journey. Near by Hagoromo stands near the toad and the toad says that ashuras become a kind heart but indras inherited the sharingan. he says Ashura may not return out of consideration for his odler brother but hagoromo says hell deal with that when the time comes.
the toad asks hagoromo what hes testing but he says he isn't testing anything really. that indra has skill and strength but lacks love, while Ashura lacks skill but overflows with love. ninshu will become very influential in the world but for it to take the proper path requires both strength and love and he wants his sons to grow on the path they take together.
on the road Ashura calls out to the person following him and rveals that its his friend that he helped. the friend says his mothers fine now and he heard that Ashura sleaving for a while. eh says he wants to go with Ashura. Ashura says that he wont be home for a while as hes contemplating that indra will most likely finish quickly and if he stays away indra will be named successor.
Ashura and his friend travel a long way through blizzards and deserts until they find the place indicated on the map. the village however appears peaceful with no problems as they walk Ashura senses that theyre surrounded and a bunch of farmers jump them. the farmers accuse them of beong part of a robber problem they've been having lately but Ashura say theyr not. the farmer attack anyways and one fo them accidently hurts a woman whose with them. Ashura rushes to heal her as a village elder approaches and asks whats going on.
the elder takes them in and gives them a big feast. Ashura says hes surprised to find the land so fertile in this barren area but the elder says the area is special but doesn't explain further. he says the village is quiet and boring but theyre welcome to stay awhile.
Ashura and his friend step outside the hutt and the friend comment son how peaceful the village is evne how beautiful the woman he saved is and says theyre don't seem to be prblems here. but Ashura says he senses the divine tree near by by it chakra and points to a tall hill near by. the tow go to investigate but some villagers say they cant as the elder has forbidden anyone approaching the hill. the pair back down for now
as they leave they both comment on how suspicious it is and are approached by Kanna the woman Ashura saved earlier. she asks if Ashura is a doctor and he says he isn't he can heal through ninshu though, she asks if he can cure diseases. she takes them to a medical clinic and ask Ashura to cure her mothers illness.
when he examines the woman he finds some odd root structure on her and feels an odd charka he tries to cure her but to no avail and says this is beyond his ablity.
tai his friend calls him out back where a lot of graves are and they realize the disease is responsible. Ashura makes his mind up to go to the hill. he confronts the guards and tries to put them to sleep but cant get the hand signs right. hwoever kanna and tai knock the guards out with clubs to the noggins and says its faster that way.
As they go further they find a cave under the divine trees roots and enter it. deep inside they find more roots and a pool that confirms this is the divine tree.
next episode Ashuras decision
