A/N: Hi guys! This was originally a roleplay the two of us did that turned out way better than we expected. I understand if a lot of people run away screaming from just the premise (NEW NINJAS!one!), but along with some silliness has come a great deal of interesting story arcs, flawed characters, and world building in what has become quite the epic. I encourage people to give this a chance if they don't mind a bit of our wish fulfillment and meta humor. We hope you enjoy!

This story branches off from the end of season 2 of the series… almost. We might have tinkered with Jay and Nya's relationship a little… hehehe…

Kunoichi
Book 1: The Escapees

The Purple Assassin

Far from the metropolis of New Ninjago City, high in the most treacherous mountains, there lies a clan that takes pride in its highly trained assassins. Isolated from most of the world, these ninja use their lethal skillsets to take down threats to their community, be they inside or outside their walls.

No intruder can enter the clan's walls and live to tell the tale.

Likewise, no member of the clan can leave without suffering dire consequences...

"Focus."

Ali had been focusing. For months now. Every morning, she'd perform equal parts regular training and spinning in circles until she felt sick, feeling the watchful eyes of her more experienced teammates looming over her. "Right, I can do this…" she said, as much for herself as for Sensei Wu.

She tried to shake off some of the dizziness, dusting off her purple uniform before giving it another go. With an extra push, she managed to successfully use spinjitzu…. for a moment. After a brief flash of purple light, she crashed into a pile of training dummies.

"Nicely done," Wu said with a smile.

"Yaaaaay…" She was too dizzy to stand up. Zane walked over to Ali and offered his hand. This only served to make her face burn, not that the ice ninja noticed in the slightest. "Guess that extra time I put in paid off," she said, accepting Zane's help and brushing herself off.

"Indeed," Wu said, "but this is only the beginning. From here on, your training will be much more challenging so that you can be up to the level of your peers."

"Yeah… kinda figured…"

"And don't think we'll be taking it easy on you either!" Jay chimed in. Lloyd nodded silently, sympathetic to the grueling task of playing catch-up.

"Don't worry about me," Ali insisted. "You found out I could put up a good fight the day we met."

"Hello, stranger! Welcome to New Ninjago City! Or at least that's what we're hoping to call it."

Great. The hooded figure the construction worker was addressing had no interest in talking to him. She wanted to pass through Ninjago's metropolis as quietly as possible. After that… well, she wasn't entirely sure, but she'd think of something. Remembering the famous ninja might also be around, she pulled her hood further over her face and kept walking.

"You know where you're headed? It's rare to see someone walk into down all on their lonesome."

"…just travelling…" the hooded figure finally replied.

It was hard to blame the construction worker for his suspicious look; stories of the recent battle with the Overlord had even reached the clans. As Ninjago City became New Ninjago City, there were many concerns about another threat lurking just around the corner, putting everyone on edge. "…Alright then," the construction worker said after giving her a once over. "Watch your step. Lots of construction going on since the Gold Ninja took down the Overlord."

"Yeah…" she tugged at her hood again, "sure…"

Finally out from under the construction worker's tense gaze, the Ali of several months ago sighed and quickened her pace through New Ninjago City. Just as she was starting to think she'd be in the clear if she stuck to the back roads, she felt a familiar sensation; one she'd been carefully trained to be aware of.

Ali was being followed.