Chapter 0: The Demon King's Terror

Japan, 1573

Out in the forest, a young man in a shinobi uniform was cautiously walking through the forest. A gentle breeze occurred causing the leaves to begin stirring. The ninja pulled his sword out of its sheath hanging on his back and slowly began to turn around. Shurikens began flying past the trees towards the ninja in an instant. The ninja started knocking the shurikens away with his sword as he began backing up towards a tree. Other ninjas started dropping down from the branches above and landed silently on the ground. The five ninjas pulled out their swords and prepared for battle.

"Five on one?" The lone ninja said to the others. "I like these odds,"

The group of ninjas began running towards the lone ninja all at once. The lone ninja began snickering as he lowered his sword. A cloud of smoke popped up as one of the ninjas swung their sword at the lone ninja.

"He's gone!" One of the ninjas said in astonishment.

"Stay on your guard, he could show up at any moment," A ninja told the others as he snuck up to a tree.

All of a sudden, a chain wrapped around one of the ninja's ankles and pulled him up into the trees.

"What happened?" One of the ninjas said in confusion.

"He's trying to take us out one at a time," Another ninja said to his ally.

The lone ninja looked down at the remaining ninjas from the treetops.

"I don't need to take out one at a time," The ninja said to himself.

The lone ninja dropped down from the trees and kicked one of the ninjas into another. The two ninjas fell to the ground as their two remaining allies began throwing shurikens at the lone ninja. The lone ninja blocked the shurikens with his sword as he ran towards the attackers.

"Pathetic!" The lone ninja shouted as he slid between the two ninjas and tripped them by grabbing their ankles and pulling them down with him.

The lone ninja quickly jumped back to his feet and saw one of the ninjas rise back to their feet.

"Really?" The ninja said in disbelief.

The other ninja pulled out a kunai attached to a chain and began preparing to throw it at the lone ninja.

"Ha!" The ninja shouted as he threw the kunai towards the lone ninja.

The lone ninja corkscrew flipped to the side and dodged the kunai. The kunai jabbed into the tree that was behind the ninja. The lone ninja cut the chain with his sword as the other ninja began pulling on it. The end of the chain flew back and hit the ninja in the face. The ninja fell to the ground unconscious leaving only the lone ninja standing.

"This is too easy," The lone ninja said as he pulled his mask off.

Another ninja stepped out from behind a tree and pulled his mask off revealing that he was an old man.

"Grandfather, why can't you let me train with father and his men?" The young man asked his grandfather.

"Because you still have a lot to learn Jirou," The old man told his grandson.

Jirou's grandfather looked over at his grandson with a look of disappointment on his face.

"What?" Jirou said in confusion.

A ninja suddenly fell down from the tree above and hit the ground behind Jirou. Jirou looked over his shoulder and saw the ninja he chained to a branch earlier.

"You're supposed to learn the way our clan battles, not making up your own mess," Jirou's grandfather told him.

"I have learned how to fight with our style already!" Jirou told his grandfather. "I want to expand my knowledge and style with my own techniques,"

Jirou's grandfather sighed as he looked over towards the sun setting.

"Maybe one day I will let you train with our better men, but that won't be today," Jirou's grandfather told him. "It's getting late,"

Jirou's grandfather began walking away as the other ninjas started getting up.

"Grandfather just doesn't understand," Jirou said to himself. "I'm not a kid anymore,"

Jirou punched a tree in frustration.

"I'll never be ready for war at this rate," Jirou said to himself as he began walking in the same direction his grandfather went.

Later that night, Jirou was sitting outside on a rock next to a pond by himself. Jirou looked down at the water and saw the moon's reflection. Jirou sighed with a look of disappointment on his face.

"Grandfather, why can't you understand me?" Jirou asked himself. "I want to make our clan stronger,"

Jirou grabbed a rock lying on the ground and stepped off the large rock he was sitting on. Jirou screamed in anger and threw the rock in his hand into the pond.

"When I become the Grandmaster I will make our generation the greatest clan in the world," Jirou said as he sat back down.

A young woman walked up to the fence and saw Jirou staring at the night sky.

"Why're you still out here?" The woman asked Jirou.

Jirou turned around and saw the woman open the gate.

"Kiyomi!" Jirou said in astonishment.

"Did your grandfather anger you again?" Kiyomi asked Jirou.

"He just doesn't understand," Jirou said as he turned away.

Kiyomi picked up a rock off the ground.

"I think neither of you do," Kiyomi said as she tossed the rock at the pond.

The rock skipped across the pond and sank as it reached the middle of the pond.

"What do you mean?" Jirou asked Kiyomi.

"Your grandfather still treats you like a child, but he forgets that his grandson is about to start his own family," Kiyomi told Jirou.

Kiyomi walked over to Jirou and wrapped her arms around his left arm.

"And you want to change the tradition of the clan's style," Kiyomi told Jirou.

"What's wrong with that?" Jirou asked Kiyomi.

"One of these days, your grandfather will have to step down," Kiyomi said to Jirou. "Your father will then take over, correct?"

"Yeah, but what if he acts the same way?" Jirou asked Kiyomi.

"He needs someone strong to be next in line," Kiyomi said as she poked Jirou's nose.

"So I just need to be patient," Jirou said to Kiyomi.

"Come on, it's getting cold out here," Kiyomi told Jirou as she began pulling him away from the pond.

Jirou and Kiyomi walked passed the gate and headed back inside.

Early the next morning, Jirou was sitting on a tree branch watching the sun rise over the horizon in his uniform.

"It's beautiful isn't it?" Jirou's grandfather said to Jirou.

Jirou screamed in astonishment and slipped off the branch and fell to the ground. His grandfather landed on the ground chuckling.

"What was that for?" Jirou asked his grandfather.

"Come with me," Jirou's grandfather said as he walked by Jirou.

"Why?" Jirou said in confusion as he began following his grandfather.

"Be quiet, I don't want anyone else following us," Jirou's grandfather said to Jirou as he kept walking.

"What's so secret that you won't tell father about it?" Jirou asked his grandfather.

"I'm not going to tell you again," Jirou's grandfather said to Jirou.

Jirou and his grandfather came up to a rock wall covered in vines. Jirou's grandfather tore the vines down and revealed an indent in the wall. Jirou's grandfather took off his necklace and revealed a shuriken hanging on it.

"Your father gave that to you didn't he?" Jirou asked his grandfather.

"Yes, and you're about to see why," Jirou's grandfather said as he inserted the shuriken into the indent.

The wall began rumbling as Jirou and his grandfather stepped back away from it. Part of the wall slid to the side and revealed an opening in the wall.

"Come," Jirou's grandfather said to Jirou as he headed towards the opening.

Jirou followed his grandfather into the cave where torches lined up on the walls.

"What is this place?" Jirou asked his grandfather.

"A place that has been passed down our family for generations," Jirou's grandfather told him as they came to the end of the path.

Jirou's eyes widened in amazement when he saw a large room lit up with torches. Around the room were statues of past grandmasters of the clan. In the center of the room was a sheathed sword lying on a pedestal. Jirou's grandfather walked up to the center of the room as Jirou walked over to one of the statues.

"Who is this?" Jirou said in confusion.

Jirou's grandfather looked over and saw Jirou looking at a statue.

"That is my great grandfather," Jirou's grandfather told Jirou.

"Why isn't there a death date?" Jirou asked his grandfather.

"Because he's not dead," Jirou's grandfather told Jirou.

Jirou stepped away from the statue and walked over to his grandfather.

"How is he not dead?" Jirou said in confusion.

"He was cursed by a demon," Jirou's grandfather told him. "He was chosen to become the new King of Demons,"

"Then where is he?" Jirou asked his grandfather.

"Sealed away for eternity," Jirou's grandfather said as he turned away.

"The ancient sealing technique was what did it?" Jirou asked his grandfather.

His grandfather nodded.

"Now, come over here," Jirou's grandfather said to Jirou.

Jirou walked over to the pedestal and saw the sword lying on it. Jirou's grandfather picked up the sword and pulled it out of its sheath. He turned towards Jirou and held the sword out to him.

"This sword is legendary," Jirou's grandfather told Jirou.

"It looks normal to me," Jirou said as he shrugged his shoulders.

Jirou's grandfather slapped Jirou upside the head.

"Ow," Jirou said in pain as he rubbed the side of his head.

"It's made of ninja steel you idiot!" Jirou's grandfather said to Jirou in annoyance.

"Ninja steel?" Jirou said in confusion.

"The steel of this blade is strong enough to cut through anything, even other metal," Jirou's grandfather told Jirou.

Jirou's grandfather handed the sword to Jirou in its sheath.

"Your father never impressed me as much as you have," Jirou's grandfather told him. "That is why I'm giving it to you, and not him,"

"I don't know what to say," Jirou said in amazement.

"Don't worry, one day you will be in my position as grandmaster," Jirou's grandfather told Jirou. "Starting today, I will allow you to train with your father and his men,"

Jirou's eyes widened in disbelief.

"Are you serious?" Jirou asked his grandfather.

"Yes, now go get to training," Jirou's grandfather told Jirou.

Jirou jumped in excitement and quickly ran off out of the cave. Jirou's grandfather looked over at the statue of his great grandfather.

"Hopefully that seal will last long enough for the boy to grow up," Jirou's grandfather said to himself.

Out in the plains was a large rock with multiple shurikens stuck on it. One of the shurikens shattered into pieces and fell to the ground. A faint evil laugh could be heard coming from the rock.

Jirou came walking back up to the village with his new sword hanging on his back in its sheath. A little boy looked over and saw Jirou approaching. The boy jumped in excitement and took off running towards Jirou.

"Jirou!" The little boy shouted as he ran up to Jirou.

"Hey little brother," Jirou said as he ruffled up his brother's hair with his hand. "Do you know where dad and his men went to train?"

"I think they went towards the mountains north of the village," Jirou's little brother told Jirou.

"Thanks Seiji," Jirou said to his brother as he kept walking.

"See you later Jirou," Seiji said as he ran off with another boy that ran by.

Jirou walked past the garden where some of the women of the village were working. Kiyomi looked over and saw Jirou walk by the gate. Kiyomi sat her basket down and began walking towards Jirou.

"Where are you off to?" Kiyomi asked Jirou.

"I'm heading north to the mountains where father and his men are training," Jirou told Kiyomi. "Grandfather has allowed me to start training with them,"

"That's great!" Kiyomi said as she smiled.

"But I better get going or I won't get any training at all today," Jirou told Kiyomi. "I don't want to be stuck under a waterfall all day again,"

"Alright, I'll see you later," Kiyomi said as Jirou began walking away.

Jirou continued on down a path that led out of the village and kept going towards the mountains.

Out in the forest, Jirou's grandfather was sitting on a rock meditating. The wind suddenly began blowing harshly causing a branch to break off of a tree nearby. Jirou's grandfather opened his eyes and looked up at the mountain to the south of the village. Dark clouds began forming above the mountain. Lightning struck down from the dark clouds and hit the mountaintop.

"Impossible, it can't be today," Jirou's grandfather said to himself as he jumped off the rock.

"Master Takayama!" A ninja shouted as he ran up to Jirou's grandfather.

"What is it?" Master Takayama asked the ninja.

"That storm isn't coming towards the village is it?" The ninja asked him.

"That's not a storm," Master Takayama told the ninja.

"Then what is it?" The ninja said in confusion.

"An awakening," Master Takayama told the ninja as the clouds began spreading.

"What kind of awakening?" The ninja said in confusion.

"Don't worry about that," Master Takayama said as he walked by the ninja. "Just start getting the women and children to safety,"

"Yes master," The ninja said as he bowed.

The ninja took off towards the village as the clouds began making their way to the village. Master Takayama looked back at the clouds and sighed.

"We're not ready for this," He said to himself.

Out in the plains behind the mountain to the south, each of the shurikens stuck in the rock began crumbling to pieces. A large crack suddenly appeared on the rock. An evil laughter began occurring as the rock continued cracking. The rock suddenly exploded into pieces and revealed an armored demon where the rock was sitting.

"I Norio Takayama, the Demon King, have returned!" The demon shouted as he raised his hands in the air.

Dark clouds began forming in the sky and instantly started spreading out into the distance.

"Rise my soldiers!" Norio shouted as shadowy figures began rising from the ground around him. "It is time to take back what was mine!"

Norio began walking towards the village with his demon soldiers following behind him.

"Not even a dumb magic trick can stop me this time!" Norio shouted as he continued marching with his soldiers.

To the north of the village, Jirou was continuing down the path on his way to catch up to his father and his men. Thunder began rumbling in the sky causing Jirou to come to a halt. Jirou turned around and saw the dark clouds moving towards the village.

"Looks like the village is about to get a little wet," Jirou said as he chuckled.

"Jirou!" Someone shouted out loud.

Jirou looked down the path and saw Kiyomi running down the path.

"What're you doing out here?" Jirou asked Kiyomi.

"It's awful," Kiyomi told Jirou as she breathed heavily.

"What's going on?" Jirou asked Kiyomi as he grabbed her by the shoulders.

"The village is under attack," Kiyomi told Jirou. "Your grandfather and the other men are stalling the intruders to give everyone a chance to escape,"

"Oh no!" Jirou said in horror.

"Where are you going?" Kiyomi asked Jirou as Jirou began running away.

"Grandfather needs more help and Seiji is still at the village!" Jirou told Kiyomi. "Keep following the path towards the mountain and find my father!"

Jirou ran off towards the village leaving Kiyomi behind.

"Be careful," Kiyomi said with a worrisome look on her face.

Kiyomi turned towards the mountain and began running along the path to find Jirou's father.

Grandmaster Takayama was fighting off a horde of the demon soldiers alongside a group of ninjas. Grandmaster Takayama sliced through one of the soldiers with his sword and kicked the remains aside.

"They keep coming!" A ninja shouted as he backed away from the approaching demon soldiers.

"Don't fall back; we can't let these monsters hurt anyone!" Grandmaster Takayama shouted as he struck another demon soldier with his sword.

Grandmaster Takayama looked out in the distance and saw a group of the demon soldiers aiming bows into the air.

"Find cover!" Grandmaster Takayama shouted as the demon soldiers fired the arrows into the air.

Grandmaster Takayama grabbed a shield from one of the dead soldiers and held it above his head. Arrows began stabbing into the shield as they rained down on the edge of the village. The Grandmaster looked around and saw many of his men lying on the ground with arrows in their bodies.

"Your people are weak," Someone said to Grandmaster Takayama.

"I had a feeling you were behind this, great grandfather," Grandmaster Takayama said as he looked over and saw Norio.

"You have run this clan into the ground Yuudai," Norio said to the Grandmaster.

"You have no right to be back here," Yuudai told Norio.

"Oh, and who's going to make me leave?" Norio asked Yuudai as he pulled out a sword.

Yuudai tossed the shield aside and prepared for battle. Norio began approaching Yuudai snickering. Norio suddenly came to a halt and saw a little boy crying.

"Norio, don't!" Yuudai shouted as he saw Norio beginning to walk towards the boy. "That's my grandson!"

"That makes things better then," Norio said as he went to grab Seiji.

"Leave me alone!" Seiji shouted in horror as he began kicking at Norio.

An arrow struck Norio's helmet and bounced off.

"What was that?" Norio said in confusion as he looked over.

Jirou leapt over a fence and fired another arrow from a bow at Norio. Norio caught the arrow with ease and broke it in half.

"Who do you think you are boy?" Norio asked Jirou.

"I'm the one that will seal you away for good," Jirou said as he tossed the bow aside.

"Don't act foolish around him Jirou," Yuudai said to his grandson. "He is far stronger than any of us,"

Jirou snickered as he walked up to his grandfather.

"He's not stronger than all of us together," Jirou said as he pulled out his sword.

"That sword!" Norio said in astonishment.

"Jirou, do not let him take that sword," Yuudai told Jirou.

"Give it to me boy, or I will have to take it by force," Norio said to Jirou.

"Here you can have it!" Jirou shouted as he took off running towards Norio.

Jirou swung the sword at Norio as he ran up to him. Norio leaned to the side and dodged the attack.

"You will regret attacking me!" Norio shouted as he backhanded Jirou.

Jirou was sent flying past Yuudai from the hit. Jirou crashed into the side of a house and fell to the ground in pain.

"Jirou!" Yuudai shouted in concern.

"Now where was I?" Norio said to himself as he looked back over where Seiji was sitting.

Seiji took off running away in horror.

"You brat!" Norio shouted as his right hand began glowing.

Jirou looked up and saw Norio fire a blast from his hand.

"Seiji!" Jirou shouted as he saw the blast fly towards Seiji.

Yuudai jumped in front of the blast and was hit in the chest by the blast.

"No!" Jirou shouted as he struggled to get up.

Norio walked up to Yuudai and kicked him in the side.

"You foolish old man," Norio said as he picked Yuudai up by the arm.

"Stop, leave him alone!" Jirou shouted as he got to his feet.

Norio took his sword and stabbed it through Yuudai's chest. Jirou's eyes widened in horror as his grandfather began screaming in pain. Norio pulled his sword out of Yuudai and tossed him aside bleeding to death.

"Grandfather!" Jirou shouted as he began running towards Yuudai's body.

Jirou screamed in anger as he went to strike Norio with his sword. A demon soldier stepped out in front of Norio and took the hit for him.

"You pathetic brat!" Norio shouted as he kicked Jirou in the chest and sent him skidding across the ground.

Norio began making his way to Jirou to obtain the sword.

"It will finally be mine!" Norio said as he went to grab the sword.

A smoke cloud suddenly appeared near Jirou's body.

"That's not going to help you escape!" Norio shouted as he swung his sword and blew the smoke away.

Norio gasped in astonishment when he saw no one in front of him.

"Start searching for him!" Norio shouted to his minions. "I want that sword!"

Outside of the village a ninja was carrying an unconscious Jirou over his shoulder. The ninja looked back at the village and saw smoke floating into the air as the village continued burning. The ninja continued on down the path with Jirou.

The ninja carrying Jirou walked up to a cave being guarded by two ninjas. The ninja walked past the two ninjas and made his way into the cave with Jirou over his shoulder. He walked into a large room inside the cave where many people from the village were waiting for something.

"Is he okay?" Kiyomi asked the ninja as she walked up to him.

The ninja laid Jirou on the ground and knelt down beside him.

"He's still alive, don't worry," The ninja said as he took his mask off.

"Ichirou," A ninja said as he walked over to Kiyomi and the other ninja.

"What is it?" Ichirou asked the ninja as he looked over.

"Was he the only survivor?" The ninja asked Ichirou.

"I'm afraid so," Ichirou said as he looked down at his son lying on the ground unconscious.

People in the cave began gasping.

"Wait, the Grandmaster is dead?" A woman asked Ichirou.

"Is that true?" A ninja said as he stepped forward. "Then who is in charge now?"

Ichirou rose to his feet and clenched his right fist.

"It will be me who takes over as Grandmaster," Ichirou said as he placed his hand over his heart.

"Are you ready for this Ichirou?" A ninja asked Ichirou.

"Father has trained me for many years," Ichirou said to everyone. "I will make sure that demon falls after what he did to our homes,"

"But our numbers have dwindled to low numbers," A ninja told Ichirou.

"Remember, my ancestors made this clan to protect those in need," Ichirou told everyone in the cave. "We're not killers, we kill killers,"

Jirou slowly opened his eyes and saw Kiyomi leaning over him.

"Where am I?" Jirou said in confusion.

"Jirou!" Kiyomi said in relief as she hugged Jirou.

"What's going on?" Jirou said in confusion as he leaned up.

"Jirou, can you still fight?" Ichirou asked his son.

"I'm still alive aren't I?" Jirou said as he smirked.

Jirou was helped to his feet by Kiyomi.

"That demon Norio will pay after what he did to grandfather," Jirou said as he clenched his fist.

Ichirou turned back towards the crowd of people.

"Later tonight, we will strike back at those demons," Ichirou told everyone. "However, the women and children will remain here for safety,"

"So how're we going to stop Norio?" Jirou asked his father.

"The same way your grandfather's grandfather did," Ichirou said as he revealed a pouch in his hand.

Ichirou opened the bag and pulled out a shuriken with Japanese writing on it.

"This shuriken was forged for this very day," Ichirou told everyone. "It will seal Norio away once and for all!"

"Do you even know how to use that?" Jirou asked his father.

"Yes, your grandfather taught me when I was younger," Ichirou told Jirou as he turned towards him.

Ichirou put his hand on Jirou's shoulder.

"But I won't be able to battle since I will have to prepare the technique," Ichirou told Jirou. "That's why I want you to lead the last of our men into battle against those soldiers of Norio's,"

"Are you serious?" Jirou said in confusion.

"You will be fine, trust me," Ichirou told Jirou as he smiled. "I believe in you,"

Ichirou then turned back to the crowd.

"I want every man to gather up equipment and to be ready for battle," Ichirou said to everyone. "Because tonight, we will stand tall over the remains of these demons,"

The crowd began roaring in celebration and began clapping.

"Hey, did Seiji make it back?" Jirou asked Kiyomi.

"Yeah, he's over there," Kiyomi said as she pointed over at the corner of the cave.

Jirou looked over and saw Seiji cuddled up in the corner.

"I'm going to go talk to him," Jirou said to Kiyomi.

"Alright," Kiyomi said as Jirou walked over towards Seiji.

Jirou walked over to Seiji and sat down next to him.

"Are you okay?" Jirou asked Seiji.

"Leave me alone," Seiji said as he turned away.

"You're not hurt are you?" Jirou asked Seiji.

"No, but I don't want anyone to mess with me," Seiji told Jirou.

Jirou sighed and rose back to his feet.

"Seiji, I know you're blaming yourself about what happened to grandfather," Jirou said to Seiji.

"No I'm not," Seiji said as he hid his face.

"Stop lying, that's disrespectful," Jirou said to Seiji. "It wasn't your fault!"

"Yes it was!" Seiji shouted back at Jirou. "I should have left when I was first told to,"

Jirou slapped Seiji across the face. Seiji's eyes began watering as he started whimpering.

"Blaming yourself is only going to make the rest of your life a living hell," Jirou told Seiji. "You are a member of the Takayama family, and we fight strong until we breathe our last breath,"

Seiji slowly nodded and wiped the tears off his face.

"Now come on and talk with father before he and I leave," Jirou told Seiji as he held his hand out.

Seiji took Jirou's hand and was helped off the ground.

"I don't want to lose you and father too," Seiji said to Jirou.

"Don't worry, neither of us are going anywhere," Jirou told Seiji. "We'll be back, I promise,"

Jirou hugged Seiji as their father walked over to them.

"Jirou, we need to get prepared," Ichirou told Jirou.

"Stay with Kiyomi," Jirou told Seiji.

Seiji nodded as Jirou backed away from him. Ichirou and Jirou walked away from Seiji and went to prepare for battle.

"In order for me to execute the technique, Norio will need to be close by," Ichirou told Jirou.

"And what if he's not?" Jirou asked Ichirou.

"Then he'll have a huge opportunity to finish the remains of our clan off," Ichirou told Jirou.

"I'll get him near you, I promise," Jirou said as he picked up a bow leaning against the wall.

"Remember, stay calm," Ichirou told Jirou. "Your anger will only make your skills suffer,"

"Father, I'll be fine," Jirou said as he smirked.

Ichirou sighed as Jirou began walking away.

"Don't screw up," Ichirou said as he watched Jirou walk away.

Later that night, Ichirou and a group of the remaining ninjas were standing outside of the cave. Ichirou looked back inside the cave and saw Jirou approaching him and the others. Jirou joined the group and looked out in the distance at the destroyed village.

"Look what that demon did," Ichirou said to everyone. "He destroyed our homes and our gardens,"

Ichirou pulled his sword out of the sheath on his back and raised it into the air.

"We're not going to stand by and let this demon do this to anyone else!" Ichirou shouted.

Ichirou turned towards the village and pointed his sword towards it.

"I don't care if you're leg gets sliced off," Ichirou said to everyone. "If you're still breathing, you can still fight!"

The men standing behind Ichirou began cheering. Jirou pulled his mask over his head as the men continued yelling.

"Now let's go lock this asshole away again!" Ichirou shouted as he began walking towards the remains of the village.

The men began following Ichirou leaving Jirou behind. Jirou took in a deep breath and soon let it back out.

"I can do this," Jirou said to himself as he began walking. "Don't worry grandfather, we won't let that demon hurt anyone else,"

A few minutes later, Ichirou came to a halt letting the other men pass him. Ichirou saw Jirou walk by and grabbed him by the shoulder.

"What?" Jirou asked his father.

"Be careful out there," Ichirou said to Jirou.

"Father, we can't be too careful in this battle," Jirou said as he began walking away.

Ichirou stayed back with three other ninjas as Jirou and the others went on ahead.

"He's growing up," One of the ninjas said to Ichirou.

"I know," Ichirou said as he stepped off the path and went into hiding.

Down in the village, Norio's soldiers were walking around patrolling the area. One of the soldiers walked over towards a bush and took position in front of it. One of the ninjas wrapped a chain around the soldier's neck and quickly pulled it into the bushes. Another soldier looked over at the bushes and slowly began approaching towards them with a readied bow in his hand. As the soldier walked up to the bush an arrow struck him in the head. The soldier fell to the ground with an arrow sticking out of his head and caught the others attention. The soldiers suddenly began falling one after another as arrows began flying into the village striking them to the ground. An alarm bell began ringing causing more of the soldiers to run into the area.

"What's going on out here?" Norio asked his soldiers as he walked out of the remains of the grandmaster's house.

Norio looked over and saw multiple soldiers lying on the ground dead.

"So they've returned," Norio said as he snickered. "I knew they would,"

Jirou silently climbed on top of the remains of a house and pulled his sword out.

"Soldiers, prepare your weapons!" Norio shouted as he pulled out his sword.

The soldiers began pulling out rifles and started scouting the area.

"Firearms!" Jirou said in disbelief.

Norio looked out of the corner of his eye and saw Jirou peeking down from a rooftop.

"Fire!" Norio shouted as he pointed his sword at Jirou.

Jirou's eyes widened as he quickly slid off the roof. A soldier jumped out around the corner and startled Jirou

"Move out of the way!" Jirou shouted as he struck the demon with his sword.

The soldier fell to the ground and crumbled to dust.

"Whoa!" Jirou said in amazement.

Three soldiers walked around the corner behind Jirou and saw him standing at the opposite corner. The soldiers aimed their rifles at Jirou and prepared to fire at him. Jirou looked over his shoulder and saw the soldiers. He dove aside as the soldiers fired the rifles. The shots from the rifles hit the ground and missed Jirou. Jirou ran out in front of the soldiers and quickly threw a handful of shurikens at them. A shuriken struck one of the soldiers in the left hand and got stuck in a nearby wall.

"Your guns won't help you," Jirou said as he ran up and sliced the guns in half with his sword.

Jirou struck down two of the soldiers with his sword and destroyed. The last soldier began reaching for Jirou but was stuck to the wall. Jirou walked up to the soldier and stabbed it through the stomach with his sword.

"Find that damn ninja!" Norio shouted as the soldier just killed crumbled away.

Jirou took off running away from the area and went into hiding. A soldier ran around to the back of the house and saw the remains of the soldier Jirou fought. A dart instantly struck the soldier's neck and caused the soldier to begin stumbling around.

"What's going on back here?" Norio said in confusion as he walked around the corner.

The soldier fell to the ground unconscious in front of Norio.

"That's it; I'm sick of playing hide and seek!" Norio shouted as he fired a blast towards the trees.

The blast passed by the trees nearby and instantly incinerated them. Jirou fell to the ground in the ashes from the burnt trees in front of Norio.

"You ninjas are no match for my army," Norio said as a group of his soldiers ran up beside him.

The soldiers aimed their rifles at Jirou as Norio began snickering.

"Before you kill me, can I say something?" Jirou asked Norio.

"Fine, but you'll be dead as soon as you're done," Norio told Jirou.

Jirou put his sword back in its sheath.

"I hate firearms," Jirou said as he took a step back.

Arrows began flying past Jirou and took out the soldier standing next to Norio. A group of ninjas ran up next to Jirou and stood before Norio.

"I don't care how many of you there are," Norio said as he grunted. "You can't kill me,"

Jirou tossed a small ball at Norio's face. The ball exploded and covered the area around Norio in smoke.

"You brat!" Norio shouted in anger as the smoke cleared.

Norio looked over and saw that the ninjas were gone.

"You cannot hide from me!" Norio shouted as he stormed off.

Jirou looked down at Norio from the top of a house and saw that he was enraged.

"None of our weapons will work on him," One ninja said to Jirou.

"Yes, one will," Jirou said as he pulled his sword out.

"What're you doing?" A ninja asked Jirou.

"Setting up the bait," Jirou said as he jumped off the roof.

Jirou silently began running towards Norio with his sword in hand.

"That kid is going to get himself killed!" A ninja said to the others.

"He's the grandmaster's son," Another ninja said to the other. "I'm sure whatever he has planned will end up working,"

A ninja looked out in the distance and saw a horde of Norio's soldiers approaching the village.

"Well, if we don't do something about those guys, I don't think he'll have a chance," The ninja told the others.

"I'll go get Ichirou and tell him to bring the others closer," One of the ninjas told the others.

The ninja leapt off the roof and took off up the path. Jirou ran up behind Norio and went to stab him with his sword. Norio quickly turned around and shoved Jirou aside. Jirou fell into the mud on the ground and dropped his sword.

"Running up behind someone is very disrespectful," Norio said to Jirou. "I thought your grandfather would've taught you that,"

Jirou quickly rose up with a shuriken in his hand and went to throw it at Norio. One of the soldiers fired their rifle and shot Jirou in the shoulder. Jirou fell back to the ground grasping his shoulder and screaming in pain.

"You fool!" Norio shouted as he stomped on Jirou's wounded shoulder.

Jirou screamed even louder in pain as rain began pouring down from the sky.

"It's time for you to join your grandfather in hell," Norio said as he picked up Jirou by the arm.

Norio's remaining soldiers walked into the village and stood around Norio as he held Jirou up.

"What better way to kill you than with your own blade," Norio said as a soldier handed him Jirou's sword.

"You're not going to win," Jirou told Norio.

Norio began laughing.

"Really?" Norio said as he continued laughing. "Then who will stop me?"

"You will fall exactly how you did many years ago," Jirou said to Norio.

Norio screamed in anger and went to stab Jirou with his own sword. Arrows began raining down from the sky and began taking out the soldiers one after another. Norio looked around in astonishment at his soldiers falling to the ground.

"What is the meaning of this?" Norio said in confusion.

Jirou kicked the sword out of Norio's hand while he was caught off guard.

"Hey!" Norio shouted in anger as he watched the sword fall to the ground.

Shurikens began striking Norio one after another. Norio dropped Jirou and looked down at the shurikens sticking out of his armor.

"No, these markings!" Norio said in horror.

Jirou grabbed his sword off the ground as more shurikens struck Norio.

"I'm going to make sure you never come back!" Jirou shouted as he went to stab Norio.

Jirou's sword stabbed through Norio's armor and came out of his back. Norio screamed in pain as he quickly swatted Jirou aside. Jirou crashed into the wall of a house and fell to the ground.

"Don't let him get away!" Ichirou shouted as he ran up with the other ninjas.

Ichirou pulled out the sealing shuriken and revealed that it was glowing with a golden aura.

"I will not return to that hell hole!" Norio shouted as he began firing blasts at the ninjas.

Ichirou dove to the ground and avoided the blasts along with the other ninjas.

"Throw it at him now!" A ninja shouted at Ichirou.

"I can't yet," Ichirou said to the ninja. "Norio won't give me a chance,"

Jirou slowly rose to his feet and took off running towards Norio.

"Jirou, stop!" Ichirou shouted as he saw Jirou run by.

Jirou ran up to Norio and grabbed his sword. He quickly slid in between Norio's legs and pulled his sword out of Norio's body.

"You little brat!" Norio shouted as Jirou climbed on his back.

Jirou stabbed his sword through Norio's shoulder as he held onto Norio's back.

"Father, now's your chance!" Jirou shouted as he began twisting his sword.

Norio screamed in pain as his wounds began glowing.

"He's healing Ichirou!" A ninja shouted at Ichirou.

"You have to throw that shuriken now!" Jirou shouted to his father.

"I'm not going to lose you Jirou!" Ichirou shouted at his son.

"Please father, I don't want anyone else to die!" Jirou shouted at his father. "Keep the village safe!"

"I won't," Ichirou said as he lowered the shuriken.

"You moron, just throw it already!" A ninja shouted at Ichirou.

"You won't stop me," Norio said as he began reaching for Jirou.

Jirou pulled his sword out of Norio's shoulder and stabbed him again through the back. Norio screamed in pain as he fell to one knee.

"I can't hold him down forever!" Jirou shouted to his father.

"I won't let you be locked away with him!" Ichirou shouted to Jirou.

"Father, you're going to get us all killed if you don't do what's right," Seiji said to his father as he ran up behind him.

Ichirou looked back at Seiji and saw him walk up. Seiji grabbed his father's leg and began crying.

"Even if we lose Jirou, the village will still be safe from Norio," Seiji told his father.

Ichirou sighed and turned back towards Norio.

"Goodbye," Ichirou said to Jirou as he raised the shuriken back into the air.

"Kiyomi, I'm sorry," Jirou said as he began dozing off.

Ichirou threw the shuriken at Norio as it began glowing brightly.

"No!" Norio shouted as he saw the shuriken flying towards him.

The shuriken struck Norio in the chest and engulfed Norio and Jirou in a harsh bright light. As Norio continued screamed rocks began rising out of the ground and started covering Norio and Jirou.

"Jirou!" Ichirou shouted as tears began running down his face.

The rocks fully covered up Norio and Jirou sealing them away. The light faded and revealed a large boulder with shurikens stuck all around it. Ichirou fell to his knees as the rain slacked off. He began crying in agony as he punched the ground.

"You didn't have to do that Jirou," Ichirou said as he continued crying.

Seiji hugged his father as he began crying.

"He saved us all daddy," Seiji told his father.

"He would've been a great grandmaster," One of the ninjas said as he knelt down.

Ichirou continued crying as the night sky cleared up above the village.

"I'll miss you big brother," Seiji said as he looked over at the boulder sticking out of the ground.

444 years later(2017)

Out in the forest somewhere in Japan, an alien walked up to a large rock covered in vines. The alien tore the vines off the rock and revealed a shuriken sticking out of it. The alien then tore away more of the vines and found a plate with writing on it.

"Here lies the demon king who once ruled over all of Japan," The alien said to himself as he read the plate.

The alien suddenly began snickering.

"Oops," The alien said as he zapped one of the shurikens with a blast from his finger.

The shuriken shattered to pieces. The alien continued destroying the rest of the shurikens laughing in enjoyment. Soon the ground began rumbling. The alien stepped back from the boulder as it began cracking. The boulder crumbled to pieces and filled the area with a dust cloud.

"Ugh," The alien said as he wafted the dust away from his face.

The dust cleared and revealed Norio lying on the ground unconscious.

"Hmm, you will make a great champion to participate in my games," The alien said as he looked down at Norio.

A light shined down from the sky and caused the alien and Norio to instantly vanish. The alien and Norio then appeared in a strange room with bright lights shining down on them.

"What's this?" The alien said in confusion a she noticed something underneath Norio.

The alien rolled Norio over and revealed Jirou lying on the ground unconscious.

"Ugh, it's just a weak human," The alien said as he walked over to a control panel.

"I'll drop him off at the nearest piece of land," The alien said as he pressed a button.

Jirou's body began glowing and vanished within the blink of an eye. The alien looked over at Norio's body and began snickering.

"Let the games begin," He said as Norio opened his eyes.

Out on the beach, Jirou was lying in the sand unconscious with blood running from his wounded shoulder. Suddenly a girl came walking by and saw a sword sticking out of the ground.

"Whoa, this thing is ancient!" The girl said in amazement as she pulled the sword out of the ground.

She began looking around in confusion.

"But why would this just be sitting out here?" She asked herself.

The girl then looked over and saw Jirou lying in the sand. She gasped and quickly ran over to Jirou.

"Hey, are you okay?" She asked Jirou as she knelt down beside him.

Jirou didn't respond.

"He's hurt," The girl said as she noticed his shoulder.

The girl then took a closer look at his ninja uniform.

"And apparently, he's a ninja," The girl said as she backed away from Jirou. "Weird,"

The girl pulled out her phone and quickly dialed a number.

"Hey, Mr. Hitoshi, I need your help right now," The girl said to the person she called. "It's an emergency,"

The girl looked over at Jirou with a look of concern on her face.

"This guy is badly hurt and I don't think a hospital would take him," The girl said to the person.

The girl picked up the sword and looked closely at.

"Trust me, you won't believe what I found," The girl said to the person she called.