Natsumi and a young man around her age had been summoned to the Sage’s office. The guy had a black undercut, dark skin and a lean build. He wore a blue, hooded jacket, grey trousers and had a katana with a white saya sheathed on his waist. “Natsumi, Ken… good evening,” said Kazutaka, looking at them kneeling before him. “We have received word from villagers in Tochigi about a number of people going missing near Death Valley.” He paused, clasping his hands. “The locals believe a rōnin is responsible for the abductions so arm yourselves well and be careful. This is a level-A, search and rescue mission.”

“Yes, sir!” said Ken with a nod.

“And, if we encounter the rōnin,” asked Natsumi.

“You are to exercise full force.”

Natsumi and Ken left Kazutaka’s office and prepared for their trip. As they walked outside the school yard, she carried a wooden bow and a quiver full of arrows on her back.

“Hey, Natsumi,” said Ken, shifting his gaze sideways. “About the mission?”

“Uh, huh…” she said, turning to him.

Ken faced her, making eye contact. “I mean… it’s our first level-A.”

“Don’t worry, Kenny…” She grinned. “If it comes down to that, I can do it.”

“It’s not just the rōnin, but… what if there aren’t any survivors to rescue.”

“Then, like the Sage said.” Natsumi’s smile disappeared. “We take him out.”

They continued in silence until reaching a stable with a few horses in it.

“When we’re back,” said Ken, selecting a stallion. “How’s grilled beef at Karin’s?”

“Sure…” Natsumi chuckled as she climbed on her horse. “But it’s on you!” 

☯

“Halt!” said one of the five samurai guarding the main entrance to Kaen village. “Where do you think you’re going?”

The Shadow King raised a hand and his ninjas stopped. “If you wish to live…” he said, his voice deep. “You will let us pass.”

Swords were drawn and the samurai stood their ground, unflinching. As they advanced, two dropped down with shuriken stuck on their heads. The surviving three roared in a frenzy, swinging their blades at the king.

Steel clanks sounded as the fight got heated. The king blocked a double airstrike with two kunai and, as another guard approached from behind, he veered out of the way.

A stream of blood splattered as one samurai sliced his comrade in half. “Shit!”

“What the hell, man?” said another samurai, aghast.  “Watch where you swing that–”

The king swooped in between the last two guards, slitting their throats in a circular motion. Blood rained, staining his haori as he knelt before the corpses fell. “Good grief,” he said, getting up with a long sigh. “Is this the best they’ve got? Samurai have fallen from grace… they no longer dance as they used to.” He walked over to his shinobi who stood at attention. “We have to get to the castle quickly. If anyone stands in your way, cut them down. Everyone but Kagemaru… scatter!”

On command, the Shadows vanished save for one young man with spiky, jet-black hair. He wore a white, porcelain mask with a slash across the left eye. A dark ninja out and vest armour with a white Kageyama sigil covered his well-chiseled body.

“You know what we’re here for, right?” said the king.

“The Inazuma boy.”

“Ikuzo!”

[

Shadow ninjas used the darkness to maneuver the streets undetected. In record time, they rendezvoused at the rooftops close to the royal castle. The huge stone building had four storeys–with clay tiles at each level and was swarming with samurai.

“Right!” The king announced and his shinobi stood still. “While I look for an entrance, Kagemaru will target those archers on the roofs. The rest, take out the samurai below.”

Kagemaru used a hand to focus and scan ahead. “These guys seem strong…”

“They are Royal Guard Samurai,” said the king, raising a hand. “Show them hell!”

Smoke bombs rained on the ground surrounding the castle. As grey clouds exploded, the fighting started. Loud screams filled the air as terrified civilians scattered all over the streets. From above, they resembled ants and became casualties of stampedes and collisions with flying projectiles.

While the king dodged arrows, he searched for an opening to breach the palace. He hopped from roof to roof and noticed a royal samurai aiming at him from an open window. As he dodged the successive arrows, he took an enormous leap that propelled him inside. “Not bad… not bad at all,” he said, applauding the guard for blocking his kick.

“What business do you have here?” said the samurai, dropping his bow and raising his fists. His taijutsu skills were splendid, and it appeared as though the two of them were going evenly matched. After realizing unarmed combat was not enough to take out the king, he jumped backwards and unsheathed a katana. “You are have earned the opportunity to die by my blade.”

 “It seems...” said the king with excitement in his tone. “The real dance has begun.”

☯

Meanwhile, in the daimyo’s chamber, Kazuma and Natsuhi were asleep when they heard a knock at the door. She got up from the futon (mattress) in a linen yukata and went to answer it. “Rohan-san?”

“My apologies for the intrusion, Natsuhi-sama…” he said with a bow. “Shadow ninjas have infiltrated the village–”

“Come on in Rohan-san,” said Kazuma, getting up. “What is the current situation?”

“As we speak, the Royal Guards are holding them off. My Lord and Lady, I need to get you out of here.”

Kazuma wore his eyeglasses. “What about my brother and his family?”

“Not forgetting the workers, dear…”

“They are in their chambers…” said Rohan, grabbing the hilt of his katana. “You need to stay put somewhere safe while we deal with the enemy.”

“Send word to Kaminari,” said Kazuma with a concerned look. “We are in a state of emergency.”

“Affirmative, Kazuma-sama.” Rohan bowed once more. “Now please, follow me.”

On the way, the trio met a Royal Guard and Rohan instructed him to relay Kazuma’s message to Kaminari village. When they got to Keiji’s room, the group, now made of four proceeded through the corridors and down the stairs to another room.

“He’s not here!” said Keiji’s wife–petite and in her late twenties with long, dark brown hair.

Keiji appeared to be in his early thirties and had a short moustache and wavy, black hair that went up to his shoulders. “Oh no,” he said, his face turning pale. “Could he still be out there with all those savages?”

“After I get you somewhere safe, I will send someone to look for Kenzo-sama,” said Rohan, his tone calm and reassuring. He gathered the royals together with a few workers and took them to a hidden room in the third floor. “Alright, this place seems s–” He heard footsteps approaching in the corridor and grabbed his katana. “Shhh…”

A wooden creak sounded as the door slid open and the Shadow King emerged, drenched in blood and his haori torn. “I guess he didn’t have much fight in him.” A memory of him stabbing the window guard with a kunai flashed in his mind. “Oh, where are my manners? I am Kage–”

Rohan darted in flash, swinging his blade at the enemy.

Iaijutsu (Quick draw technique)? The king thought, veering to one side.

Rohan appeared behind the intruder, sword drawn and a slash sounded afterwards. Hayagiri!

“My, my…” said the king, grasping the minor cut on his torso. “Had it not been for this chain mail–” He noted the blood smeared on his palm and cackled. “I see it now. You’re the strongest one here!”

Rohan remained silent and took a fighting stance. He dodged Hayagiri?

“You are formidable indeed, General,” said the king, releasing two black rods from his arms and joining them together to make a staff. “As I was saying, I am Kagero and I would like to know your name before I send you to hell.”

That’s… the Ōkage (Shadow King)! Rohan raised his eyebrows and watched Kagero taking a Bōjutsu (staff technique) stance. This has just got serious. He took a deep breath as he felt the air getting tight.

There was a deafening silence while the two warriors glared at each other.

“Show him what we are made of!” said Kazuma, seeing people start to panic.

“Hai… Kazuma-sama,” said Rohan, his gaze and blade still on Kagero.

Almost in sync, they advanced and the intense battle began.