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23 March, 1638, near the Edo castle .

The afternoon weather was fine, and cherry have just started to blossom. Mitsuhisa Shimazu, the heir of the powerful Satsuma Domain and the hostage of the Tokugawa Shogunate in Edo, was watching the arrival of the daily mail dispatch from the window of his mansion. His son, 5-years old Tsunahisa, was playing at nearby river slope, looked after by Sadamasa Ise, his grandfather and the retainer of young Mitsuhisa.
The messenger running to the direction of Mitsuhisa`s mansion make the heart of Mitsuhisa to throb.

- What happened? - raced his thoughts - Bad news from Arinaga Yamada? Well, the Shimabara Rebellion was firmly under control according to last dispatch, but may be these Christian fanatics made one more raid, this time targeting Satsuma forces? Is Arinaga alive? - he ran to the front door.

The messenger gave out the pack adorned with the white ribbon of death. Mitsuhasa opened the wrapping while still handing out the reward coin.
The letter was brief.
"The body of your father, Tadatsune Shimazu, weakened by the long illness, have failed 7 March this year. I congratulate you with the ascension to the position of the head of Satsuma Domain and hope to see you soon in Kagoshima Castle to make an official submission".

A few minutes later:
-Tsuna-kun, hurry! - Mitsuhisa shouted - let`s return home!
His son ran merrily on father`s voice, splashing at the shallow stream. The were embracing soon.
-Son, i must go back to Satsuma now. Listen the grandfather, and see you next year..the small Tsunahisa started crying.

Mitsuhisa did not realized at the moment he is not going to see his only son ever again. The cool water of early spring have already activated the sleeping influenza viruses in the feet of his son, and he will succumb to cerebral complications before seeing his 6th birthday.

P.S. IOTL, the Tadatsune Shimazu, the previous head of Satsuma Domain, the conqueror of Ryukyu Kingdom, have died exactly one month later, 7 April 1638. This is the primary POD (point of divergence) of this ATL (alternative timeline)
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