Four days passed while Rani nursed Kazuo and Mikoto back to health. Physically, the Lightning ninjas had made a full recovery. All that remained were the mental scars from Rina's projections. The next day, they left Shiga for Kaminari village.
On their way home, Kazuo and Mikoto had more questions than answers. The trip felt longer as they travelled much of it with little to no words exchanged between them. After hours of silence, she spoke.
"My memory is a haze but the last thing I recall was Rina dragging you away. What did she want?"
"I don't know–" Kazuo shifted his gaze. "I can't remember what happened after I passed out." At least, what I think she did to me. I can't tell–
Mikoto grabbed his shoulder and he flinched.
"Are you alright?" she asked.
"Um, yeah... sorry about that."
"She was too powerful so it's okay to be scared."
Kazuo saw a vision of Rina pinning him down and everything faded to black. He cringed, turning pale.
"I'm here if you need to talk." Mikoto smiled.
He smiled back. "Thank you, Miko."
"That's it! We'll get her next time."
"You know what I think..."
"What?" she asked, raising her eyebrows.
Kazuo made a fist. "We should get stronger."
"I agree."
They continued most of the journey until Kaminari's walls appeared on the horizon. When they reported back to Sage Asuka, she surmised that the mission had been a failure. Their faces gave it away.
"It's not a problem. I'm glad you're both safe..."
"Rani had no part in this," said Mikoto. "It would appear Rina was the one working with Saki."
After she learnt what transpired, Asuka assigned them a couple of days off. Training would resume whenever they felt ready. "You're free to go..."
☯
It was a sunny afternoon without a cloud in sight. The sounds of seagulls in the sky filled Yamaguchi Port as ships arrived and others set their sails to depart. A busy day for local and foreign trade, as many merchants littered the area.
Hanzo was sitting outdoors when he sensed an ominous presence. A dark silhouette emerged from a sakura tree's shadow and his heart galloped. At that instant, he nearly dropped his hyōtan. "Hello Darkness," he said, speaking in Eigo (English).
"Old friend," Kagami answered with a grin.
Hanzo quickly got on his feet and bowed.
Kagami switched back to the common tongue. "There's no need for any of that. If you may tell me, Nakamura..." He pointed to an island beyond the shore. "Do you still have ties to that country?"
"Not anymore…" Hanzo placed the hyōtan down, letting out a light exhale. "Otherwise, I would still be their General." He returned Kagami's grin with a wide smile. "How can I be of service, Lord Kagami?"
"Straight to business, I see. I would expect nothing less from my Silver General," Kagami took a deep breath and enjoyed the scenery. "Zetsubo (Despair) was contracted for an assassination mission in Mizu (Water). The target is Miyazaki Namiko."
Hanzo's pupils dilated for a second. Namiko-chan!
"But before we get to that order of business, I must commend you on Murasaki's progression."
"Thank you Lord Kagami... you are too kind."
"You flatter me, Nakamura. I would understand any resentment for avenging my beloved Hiko. Before Lord Ao died, he and I made a wager on Murasaki's fate. I digress... I am still intrigued by how you have never sought vengeance? Nor have I sensed any malice from you. Is it not your wish to avenge him?"
"Not at all… Lord Kagami." Perspiration formed on Hanzo's temple, and he chuckled. "I have no reason to... also, I'd be dead before I even draw Zanken."
Kagami chuckled. "Fear is a good reason for advancement. I am quite sure that Murasaki wishes to become even more powerful after battling Rina."
Kazuo-kun! I hope he's fine.
"Murasaki is well. I gave my Queen strict orders not to kill him. So, back on the board, we have lost two pieces to our cause. First it was Hashimoto and recently Kagero. Both struck by Kaminari, hmm." He raised a hand and black sparks appeared around it. "What say you on this, Nakamura?"
"They were the weakest in the organisation. Both men–their methods were…"
"Crude?"
"Yes."
"Orderrequires chaos, does it not?"
Kagami gazed deep into Hanzo's soul and the latter stared right back at the abyss. Hanzo's will was immovable without malicious intent in his mind.
"Interesting, I notice you have mastered Senshin. That is impressive..." Kagami grinned his usual grin. "How much time do you require for Murasaki to attain enlightenment? As well as to learn that technique?"
It took me six years to reach Senshin and another three to learn and master Kōsoku (light-speed). Hanzo gave Kagami's questions much thought before responding. "I'll need three years."
"Understood..." Kagami nodded. "Then, three years from now, you are to embark on the Mizu mission under the guise of an Earth keisatsu. The two regions have had a long-standing feud and this incident is the catalyst we need." I shall also be able to assess whether Ao's prophecy about Murasaki is to be believed or not. "And finally, before Mizu rains on Tsuchi (Earth), notify Murasaki that the Shadows will also be on the battlefield. A war is brewing."
Hanzo's indifference wavered slightly before he reverted to his usual demeanor.
"Is there a problem, Nakamura?" Kagami raised an eyebrow and folded his arms. "I sense hesitation."
"No… not at all, Lord Kagami."
"Remember how your ancestors came to this land. We were dorei (slaves). That's what they called us," Kagami paused, reflecting on his past whilst Hanzo listened. A vision of a brown woman with dark locks lying in a pool of her blood flashed across his mind. "My mother and I were subject to it. The worst kind..."
"I will carry out the mission, Lord Kagami."
"Very well..." Kagami made a praying gesture–the Anjali mudra. His shadow rose, expanding into a black portal and he took a step in. "Until we meet again, old friend," he said, vanishing into the void.
When Kagami left, Hanzo froze for a few seconds. He snapped himself to reality and started planning. Soon afterwards, he wrote an urgent note to Kazuo requesting that they meet in Kaen village. He sent his letter by raven, started packing the few things and rushed off. Along the way, he realised he had forgotten his saké gourd.
A week later, when Hanzo arrived in Kaen village, Kenzo, Kazuo and Mikoto welcomed him. Kazuo was still not speaking much and Mikoto had insisted on accompanying him.
"Hmm, I see…no worries," said Hanzo, looking at the kunoichi with a smile. "You can join in as well. Though I must warn you, Mikoto-chan. The training will be more challenging than last time. Are you prepared for three years of absolute hell?"
"I thought as much when I asked to come along, sensei. So, I'm ready for anything!" Mikoto stated with great resolve. "I don't want a repeat of what happened in Shiga District again. This time around, I'll make sure that I don't stay behind."
"Alright then… I will break this training into three parts. The first year will be a more rigorous version of what we already did at Yamaguchi. The second year, we'll be focusing on secondary and tertiary elemental conduction. Finally, the third year will be enlightenment, whereby you'll fight against me using Senshin. By the end, Mikoto should have at least mastered Fudoshin and Kazuo mastered Senshin."
Mikoto beamed.
Kazuo got up, slamming a fist on the table. "Why didn't you teach us all that before? We wouldn't have to be here!" He left without saying another word.
Hanzo and Kenzo were stunned by the outburst.
Kazuo walked to his room and slid the door shut. He's the reason we're in all of this shit. He sat on his bed, eyebrows furrowed. Tears trickled down on his cheeks. There was no need to rush that training. If I had learnt Senshin before I could've–
There was a knock on his door.
"Go away!"
"It's me, Kazu..." said Mikoto.
"Oh, you can enter."
She slid the door open and left it that way. "What seems to be the problem? You've been like this since the fight with Rina."
"I don't want to talk about it, okay?"
"You've said that before... but just know that I'm always here whenever you need to talk. You don't have to shoulder everything alone." She placed her hand on his. "That's what friends are for..."
Kazuo sniffled, wiping his face. "I wasn't strong enough–" He struggled to find the words. "She almost killed you... and she–" At that point, he could not hold back the tears. His mind had tried to forget but his body remembered. "It's still a blur but the last thing I remember was being unable to move when I felt my trousers being pulled down."
"I'm so sorry you had to go through all that." Mikoto consoled him. She, too, was at a loss for words. He's already lost his family and now this...
"Thank you, Miko." He placed his other hand over hers. "For everything," he said, their eyes meeting.