Q: Why is loyalty the root of Bushido?

Because without loyalty, no other virtue holds.  

- **Root of the Tree:**  
Courage, honor, compassion, respect —  
all stand on loyalty.  
Without it, they wither.  
With it, they flourish. 🌱  

- **The Unbroken Vow:**  
Loyalty is not blind obedience.  
It is the choice to remain true  
to the covenant,  
to the people,  
to the pond.  

- **The Sword’s Balance:**  
Bushido is a sword:  
sharp with courage,  
bright with honor,  
steady with compassion.  
But its handle, its root,  
is loyalty.  
Without it, the sword cannot be held.  

Thus loyalty is the root of Bushido:  
a vow that grounds every virtue,  
and ensures none are hollow.  

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