Shin brought the trio inside before they answered. He checked the coast outside and shut the door. "I thought I gave you strict orders not to return..." he said with a vein bulging on his temple.
Takumi cleared his throat. "We're here to help."
"Help?" Asuka walked in from the next room dressed in a white yukata. She yawned and wiped her eyes before facing the trio. "What can a bunch of undergrads do against a Shadow Master?"
That's... "A–Asuka-san," said Mikoto, bowing.
"No need for that..." Asuka offered her hand with a warm smile. "Mikoto-chan, right? It's a pleasure to finally meet you." She gave the young kunoichi a firm handshake. These three must've undergone some intense training. They're no ordinary kids or even undergrads at that. Especially Taka-sensei's boy!
Mikoto smile back. "The pleasure is all mine."
Shin turned to Kazuo–who kept a cold, stern gaze. "Those are some fine swords there, young man. I almost mistook them for the legendary sword gods." After Taka-sensei's Kajin, anything's possible...
Kazuo sighed and took a seat on a futon. "We're here to kill every last one of those Shadows."
The entire room went silent.
Asuka and Shin's eyes widened.
"Allow me to bring you up to speed with what happened while we were away," said Takumi.
"Hold that thought." Asuka raised a finger and thought for a moment. "Hideo has to be here for this."
Shin nodded. "I'll go and fetch him."
Asuka nodded in approval.
Shin left and returned minutes later with Hideo.
They exchanged pleasantries and once everyone got settled, Takumi brought their seniors up to speed on the past six months. "That sums up everything..."
"Even so," said Hideo, adjusting his eyeglasses. "We don't have the numbers. And how do we plan on beating the shadow projector–Kagemaru?"
Kazuo grabbed Raijin's hilt. "I can."
"Now, now, purple brat… don't be so hasty," said Shin with a condescending tone. "Just because you say you've gone through intense training doesn't mean you can defeat Kagero and Kagemaru. After the Lord Sage, we–the S-class were unable to do so. So, what makes you think you're special... huh?"
Hideo added. "I'm afraid I have to agree with–"
Kazuo drew Raijin and swung at Shin. Before the blade did any damage, Asuka stepped in–blocking it with a steel knuckle duster. Sparks lit up when the weapons clashed. Dead calm filled the room.
Shin stood wide-eyed and started sweating. In his mind, he swore to never call him 'purple brat' again.
"Kazuo," Asuka broke the loud silence. "Do you really intend on killing one of your comrades with that Mushin level attack?"
She knows bujutsu? Kazuo raised an eyebrow.
Asuka grinned. "Yes," she said, almost reading Kazuo's mind. "I'm familiar with Budō Seishin and I've mastered Mushin. But if you hope to defeat Kagero and Kagemaru, you'll have to be a lot faster."
"Hmm." Kazuo smirked.
"No way!"
Kazuo followed the first kata with a faster slash, stopping the tip before it touched Asuka's neck. "Yes…" he said, sheathing Raijin. "I'm Fudoshin."
Hideo had his jaw on the floor as well. He cleared his throat and spoke. "Restraint is just as important as strength, Kazuo-kun. If we want the coup to usurp the Shadow Sage, we have to plan a tight strategy."
"Exactly," said Shin. "They have the numbers."
Asuka cracked her knuckles before pointing at Mikoto and Takumi. "But we now have an added advantage. The next generation that will surpass ours." She turned to Kazuo. "If you think you're ready to face the Shadows, how about hand-to-hand combat? And let's see how strong you really are?"
Kazuo raised his fists. "Ready when you are."
Taijutsu is Asuka-san's specialty. I know we trained for six months but can Kazu-kun match her strength? Mikoto grabbed her chin as she pondered.
The fight started with rapid taijutsu. Kazuo relied on his speed, dodging most of Asuka's deadly attacks. He, however, failed to land a critical hit. For the few punches he connected, she looked unfazed. With each of her blows that landed, he felt a sharp pain. Hanzo was right. Mastering bujutsu puts you in another league. He dodged another near miss. We're both using Mushin but her experience shows.
To the spectators who could keep up, Asuka was the true embodiment of mind without mind. She fought without thought and read Kazuo's attacks. Her body acted and reacted on its own. "You're thinking too much, stop it!" she chuckled, gesturing with one hand for Kazuo to approach her. "Come!"
Kazuo created an opening, charging with clenched fists. He ducked a kick and countered with a punch before hitting Asuka's back. "Oooww!" he howled, holding a reddened hand. He leapt backwards. "Earth amplification, huh?"
"Yes." Asuka chuckled, revealing a Prithvi mudra. "My tekkō (knuckle dusters) aren't the only things I can use it on. With this, your punches are useless." She saw him making a mudra and advanced.
Kazuo confirmed using his Ajna. Asuka had a crimson aura surrounding her torso and vitals. On her bare fists, she distributed her prana evenly. Hanzo did something similar with Zanken! "Well, two can play that game..." As the fight resumed, he copied her–shrouding his body with earth prana.
"Bring it!"
Asuka's punches and kicks became more serious. Without amplifying his body, Kazuo would have broken several bones by then. As the fight dragged on, he started countering her attacks. For a while, the two seemed evenly matched.
This kid is amazing. Just one look at my earth–body amplification and he has already grasped it. "We could've gone on for hours but I think you might be ready. If you agree to follow our lead, of course."
Kazuo nodded. He looked at Mikoto and Takumi, who agreed. "Then it's settled. What's the plan?"
"Few people should know about this until the actual day. So, we keep it within us," said Asuka, glancing at Hideo. "You can take over." She turned back to Kazuo. "Can I have a moment with you?"
Kazuo furrowed his brow. "Um... okay."
While Asuka and Kazuo walked into the next room, Hideo and Takumi drew up a strategy for the team.
"Kazuo..." said Asuka, placing a hand on his shoulder. She explained how their fight with the Shadows went. "There's no easy way to say this... Kagero boasted about assaulting your mother. I wanted to inform you how he may bring it up. To try and taunt you the same way he did Taka-sensei."
Kazuo dropped to his knees and broke into tears. "M–Mom, no…" he muttered, seeing an image of his mother. That time back home... I told her I didn't–
Asuka hugged him. "I'm sorry, Kazuo..." She paused. "Do you still want to go through with this?"
"Yes!" Kazuo furrowed his eyebrows as he turned red with rage. "I am going to kill Kagero."
[
Before the crack of dawn, six Lightning ninjas led by Asuka sneaked through the streets of Kaminari using the darkness and snowfall for cover. Because of the freezing cold, the streets were empty. When they reached Kazutaka's school, Shadows patrolled outside the yard. They took out seven foot ninjas in silence and entered through the front door.
As the team made their way through the corridors, they came across two assassins. Shin and Mikoto offered to remain whilst the rest proceeded ahead. On reaching the second floor, Asuka and her comrades found it deserted. Suddenly, six assassins ambushed them–three in front and three behind.
Shadow assassins charged and a melee ensued. Asuka and Hideo countered with Kazuo and Takumi backing them, respectively. The movements from each side were swift and silent. Moments later, four enemy ninjas drew their last breaths.
Two remained.
"Asuka-san, you and Kazuo can go on." Hideo parried with a kunai. "We've got it covered here..."
"Right!"
Asuka and Kazuo dashed to the third floor. When they arrived, they crossed paths with two figures. Kagero wore a kasa and the Sage's haori. Kagemaru had a white vest armour on and wielded Kajin.
"We finally meet at last…" Kagero turned around, facing them. White bandages covered his torso and much of his face. "Murasaki-kun (Purple boy)."