-1The moon shone brightly on the castle balcony as Tokugawa Ieyasu walked out onto it. He was waiting for his most faithful servant, the ninja who lives in darkness, Hattori Hanzo. He paced and paced, occasionally looking at the candle he had lit when he had started waiting. Suddenly and without a sound, Hanzo appeared behind Ieyasu and kneeled obediently. He was joined by a young kunoichi, dressed in shinobi clothing with colours matching Hanzo's clothing.
"Master, I am here as requested", Hanzo said in the voice which haunted many great men but made Ieyasu smile.
"Ah! Prompt as always", Ieyasu said with a smile. "I asked you to be here by the time half the candle was burned but barely a third is burned".
"I am your faithful servant, I can't allow myself to disappoint you", Hanzo said with a bow of his head.
"Who is this with you? Is she one of your own, or is she a prisoner of yours?", Ieyasu said.
"She is my new subordinate, another of the Iga ninja clan", Hanzo answered as he stood up.
The kunoichi bowed her head lower than Hanzo and stood up herself. She leaned her hands on the tsuba-less tanto on each hip. Her face was covered in a ninja mask like the one Hanzo wore, and a headband kept her hair out of her eyes. She raised her hand to her face and slowly pulled down the mask, revealing her beautiful face.
"My name is Kyou, master", she answered in a soft but serious voice. "I hope my skills will be up to my master's high standards of excellence".
Ieyasu laughed, "Don't worry too much Kyou, if you're anything like Hanzo you'll certainly be useful to me".
"Master, we are deviating from the original reason you called me here", Hanzo quickly said when he heard Ieyasu finish his sentence.
"Ahem, yes you are right", Ieyasu said as he took a deep breath. "Hanzo, I need you to spy on a few up-and-coming samurai. I want you to bring the ones who are worthy to me, and take Kyou with you."
"Yes master, as you wish", Hanzo answered with a bow.
"May I ask why you would need to a great ninja like master Hanzo for such a simple request?", Kyou interjected respectfully.
Hanzo spoke sternly, "Kyou, we do not ever question the master's orders".
Ieyasu laughed even louder than before, "Do not scold her Hanzo, her question is perfectly viable". "These few are very important and have great potential, but because of that they would not answer to a simple soldiers call-to-arms. By sending the two of you I tell show them that they are important."
"I understand master, pardon my interruption", Kyou answered as she bowed.
"Here are the names of those you are to find, as well as their residing region", Ieyasu said as he gave a scroll to Hanzo. "Now, both of you go".
Both ninjas disappeared in a black streak of light, moving quickly and stealthily thanks to their training. Ieyasu sat down on one of the mats in the room and he picked up the saké bottle a servant had brought in earlier. He poured some into a cup and drank it. His plan was slowly coming to fruition, and if his servant did well he would have at least one new elite officer under his command.