The sound of birds chirping filled the blue sky as they went on about their day. It was morning in the Kurai (Dark) village–the Shadow region capital, and the golden rays of the sun pierced through a temple’s openings. Inside the thatched wooden shrine, a man with black dreadlocks that went up to his shoulders sat in the lotus position facing the wall with his chestnut skin and well-sculpted back on full display.

“Good morning, sir.” A man in his sixties with a wrinkled face and scruffy grey hairs entered the shrine. He had dark eyes, a medium skin complexion and wore a black kimono. Embroidered on the back of his kimono was a white symbol composed of three interlaced arcs. The triquetra, also recognized as the Kageyama clan sigil. “You had called for me?”  

“Indeed. The time has arrived to reclaim a debt that is owed.” The monk spoke in a calm and collected baritone voice. “A week from now, you are to assassinate the Fire daimyo (feudal lord) and every member of the royal family, save for his heir. When the task is completed, return with him–unscathed. Understood?”

“Understood,” said the old man with a nod.

“By the way, he has violet hair and his name is…” 

☯

Oh, so that’s how it looks like! A mid-teen boy with spiky, purple hair and warm tan skin lay supported by a timber truss. He had a lean build and wore a white kimono and jika-tabi boots. Two women giggled in the bathhouse below him, splashing water on each other. Suddenly, he felt his nose twitch as blood trickled from the nostril. “Ah, ah… aaachoooo!” he said, losing his balance as he fell onto the hot water and got soaked.

Loud shrieks echoed throughout the castle and, dashing out of the women’s bath, was the infamous brat on yet another one of his escapades. Kazuo–the Fire daimyo’s delinquent son, raced through the white corridors and came to an abrupt stop when into someone.

“And where might you be rushing off to in such a hurry, young Lord?” said a samurai in his early forties with olive skin and a strong build. He had a dark man bun with a receding hairline and a short stubble beard. He wore a red steel armour with orange lining for Royal Guards, and also a pair of waraji (straw sandals). Painted on the left side of his chest was the kanji character: 将 (General). Two swords, a longer katana and a shorter wakizashi were sheathed on his waist.

“R­–R–Rohan-sensei.”

Before Kazuo could explain, a woman wearing a drenched, white yukata bathrobe came running. “Hentai (Pervert)!” she said, out of breath.

Rohan knocked Kazuo with a light knuckle and turned to the woman. “Gomen’nasai ojōsama (Sorry, young lady). He will be dealt with accordingly,” he said, grabbing Kazuo’s arm.

“Hmph!” said the lady, turning her head as she left. 

“You have some explaining to do,” said Rohan, dragging the prince through the corridors.

Kazuo tried to break free. “Where are you taking me? I didn’t do anything, I swear!”

“You will tell that to Kazuma-sama and Natsuhi-sama.”

Kuso (shit). Kazuo frowned. Here we go again.  

☯

Rohan dragged Kazuo to a huge chamber and one of the guards announced them.

Seated on the throne was Lord Kazuma, a handsome man in his mid-thirties with short, neatly combed black hair and a clean shaven face. He wore reading glasses, a black kimono, white hakama and an orange haori reserved for the Fire daimyo.

Lady Natsuhi sat next to the daimyo’s throne–her stunning beauty radiating throughout the entire room. She was in her early thirties and wore a pink, floral kimono with a yellow obi to conceal her curvaceous figure. She had long violet hair, laid into two buns and bangs that covered her forehead. After hearing what had transpired, she was the first to speak. “Inazuma Kazuo, you disappoint me! How many times have you been brought before us with these pranks of yours?”

Kazuo saw the fury in his mother’s eyes when she addressed him by his full name.

“Last time, Hayashi-san almost died…” She raised her voice. “And now this!”

“Your son has no manners, my dear. He is almost sixteen but is a disgrace to our family names.” Kazuma turned his piercing gaze towards Kazuo. “Look at Kenzo-kun, a year younger than you but is well-mannered and disciplined.”

“Don’t compare me to him, old man, when you’re never there!”

“Kono gaki (This brat)!” Kazuma hit his seat with a clenched fist. “I am the daimyo, not your babysitter!”

“Language dear, our son needs a firm hand to put him on the right path,” said Natsuhi, placing her hand over Kazuma’s.

“My dear, when I was his age my father–the Lord Sage had to be at Kaminari (Lightning) village for most of the time. Keiji-san and I did not act out like he is doing when we were younger!” Kazuma took a deep breath and paused before facing Kazuo. “Your purpose as the heir is to succeed me in the future. Why can you not grow up and stop your shenanigans?”

“Let us send him to Kazutaka-sama,” said Natsuhi with a stern look.

Kazuma thought for a moment. “Great idea! Maybe the ninja school can discipline him because I have had enough of his nonsense.”

“Chotto matte (Wait a moment),” said Kazuo with furrowed brows. Worry filled his mind at the thought of his parents sending him to the ninja school. “Don’t I get a say in any of this?”

“No! It is settled,” said Kazuma, his tone stern. “He will go tomorrow.”

“I wish I never see you guys ever again!” Kazuo ran off to his room, crying.

The rest of the daytime went by in a flash and soon enough, the next day had arrived. Kazuo woke up exhausted as he slept thinking about going to Kaminari village. That morning, he prepared his own bath and breakfast as his manservant had been ordered against it. When he finished, he packed his stuff in his satchel and went to the throne room.

“Inazuma Kazuo, I hereby exile you from Kaen (Flame) village…” Kazuma’s voice echoed in the royal chamber. “You are to return once you have proven your worth.”

The young prince glared at his parents in spite for the last time before Rohan escorted him outside of the castle.

☯

“You know you had this coming, young Lord,” said Rohan as they sauntered the village streets.

Along the way, everyone stared at Kazuo and knowing how fast fresh news travelled in Kaen village, even the peasants had heard about his banishment. They made their way to the main entrance at a steady pace and Rohan escorted him outside.

“I will only take you halfway.”

“I’ve never actually walked to Kaminari before…”

“Well, there is a first time for everything…” said Rohan, staring at the distance. “The journey is a bit long and littered with rōnin (masterless samurai) and bandits.”

“What about the other half?”

“There will be a shinobi waiting for you.”

They reminisced as Kaen village faded from view.

All of a sudden, a group of five brigands jumped out from the surrounding underbrush. “Where do you think you’re going?” said the leader of the group with dark, spiky hair. He looked gangly, middle-aged, and chewed on a blade of grass.

“You will let us pass,” said Rohan, taking a defensive stance in front of Kazuo. He hovered a hand above his katana as he sized up the enemy.

“Hahaha… what can one samurai do against the five of us?” asked another bandit, bald and stout.

Each bandit pulled out a weapon and they encircled Rohan and Kazuo.

A kunai blade soared towards Rohan. Such poor aim, he thought. “You’re not worth me using my blade.” He advanced towards the bandits and punched the thrower’s cheek, sending the man flying. Without stopping, he kneed the chubby one’s gut and followed with a blow to the face.

As Rohan fought two bandits, he saw another jump behind Kazuo. “Young Lord!” he said, knocking out one bandit with an uppercut.

Kazuo attacked the man with a kunai but got blocked and pinned down with ease.

“Yamero (Stop it), samurai!” The third bandit was more muscular than his counterparts. “I got your boy now.”

“Leave him alone!” said Rohan, unsheathing his wakizashi from its saya (scabbard). I am your opponent.”

“He a noble, ain’t he? You will give us all the money you g–.” The bandit dropped down with the samurai’s blade stuck between his eyes.

Kazuo trembled as he stared wide-eyed at the corpse. His heart beat as though it would explode. After tasting a sourness in his mouth, he vomited onto the dead body.  

The last bandit clenched his jaw, glaring at Rohan with red eyes. “NOOO!” He drew a katana and held it with both hands. “You’ll pay for this!”

Bloodlust? Rohan saw the man race towards him and drew his own katana.

The intensity of the fight had increased. Sounds of steel clanks filled the normally quiet forest as the two swordsmen clashed against each other in a fight to the death! They carried on for a while, with the two warriors having inflicted minor cuts on each other.

“You fought with honour,” said Rohan, noticing the other bandits regain consciousness. He took a stance and swung his blade, slicing through the bandit’s torso. Hayagiri (Swift cut)!

Two brigands were dead and the last three glanced at each other with pale and sweaty faces after seeing the corpses on the ground. “Scatter,” said the spiky-haired leader and they scurried off into the bushes.

“My apologies for having to witness all of that, young Lord.” Rohan wiped off the blood from his katana with a cloth and sheathed it with precision. He had sustained minimal injuries during the scuffle. “Ikuzo (Let’s go).”

“T–That was crazy, Rohan-sensei! I’m sorry I didn’t see the bandit behind me.”

“It is alright, young Lord. There is no need to apologize. I am glad you heeded my warning and reacted swiftly by taking out that kunai.” Rohan patted Kazuo on his back.

They walked for several minutes through a dense forest filled with tall, green cedar trees and came to a stop when the dirt road split into two.

“We have now travelled half the journey,” said Rohan, pointing to one of the routes. “Kaminari village is another ten kilometres from here and this is where I’ll leave you, Kazuo-sama.”

“Can’t you go with me until we reach the village?” asked Kazuo, tears almost falling from his eyes.

“Don’t cry, young Lord. We are in the Lightning region, which is guarded and monitored by many shinobi. This part is safer than where we are from. And, if anything happens, use what I taught you.” Rohan scuffled Kazuo’s hair before waving at him. “Sayonara, Kazuo-sama.”

“Sayonara, Rohan-sensei.” Kazuo waved back.

☯

Kazuo carried on the journey and stopped for a quick break. This time he felt the distance unlike when he had a companion. He stopped for a few minutes and resumed his trek. As he walked, thoughts of what had happened the previous day filled his mind. “I can’t believe those guys… sending me to a ninja school.” Suddenly, he heard a rustle emanating from the nearby bushes. Wait, what was that? He thought, drawing a five star shuriken.

A masked ninja with a white, spiky pony tail and wielding a katana leapt down from a tree. The man had light skin, a muscular build and could have been in his mid-twenties. He wore a white vest, reinforced with steel padding and engraved on it was the character: 雷 (Lightning). “Stop right there…”