Chapter 2

The Mystery Force

"Sai watch your back!" A man in a white robe called out from atop a castle over looking the first of Orochi's forces attacks. Sai turned around and cut the enemy to pieces.

"Don't worry Aronzo! Thanks though!" He called out. He wore a black cloak that completely covered him from neck down. He had long, black hair that seemed a bit spiky at the end. His eyes were a brilliant gold. Aronzo threw off the white robe revealing pearl white armor, a katana, and two hand guns. He leapt off the castle and landed next to Sai who, by this point in time was surrounded by at least one hundred men. "Why did Orez leave us to help out the man he once served? We could use the help ourselves!" Sai dodged a few strikes and knocked several of the snakes into the air. Aronzo offered his katana to Sai who took it without hesitation. He leapt in the air following the troops as Aronzo took out his hand guns.

"Hahaha! What are you talking about? We're fine without him!" Aronzo rolled away from a strike and shot the snake in the head. Its hiss was ear shattering. Several more enemies came at him and he prepared for the assault. He dodged one of the strikes, rolled in between its legs, and stood up behind it as one of the other soldiers killed his ally trying to hit Aronzo. "Come now. Don't be foolish!" Sai cut the enemies in the air to pieces dodging every attack they threw in between. He dove down with both blades charged by lightning. Aronzo looked up and saw him coming down and leapt into the air as Sai hit the floor. Sai hit the floor with such force that the enemies around him were flung high into the air. "Oh boy, more of them." He shot three of the soldiers in front and quickly used their dead bodies to avoid a few other strikes. He dodged another strike and threw one of the corpses at the snake that tried to attack him. He shot five behind him and leapt off of the bodies to escape the enemy general's strike. He charged both guns with a light energy and blasted the general at point blank range. He then flash kicked the general higher into the air and followed up with a reverse flash kick sending him hurtling to the ground. Sai noticed what Aronzo was doing in the air in between dodging the enemy attacks. He leapt towards the enemies in front of him to avoid the general behind him. He chopped them to pieces and quickly turned around to parry the next attack. He blocked the enemy general's attacks and they both jumped back. Sai raised his blade as the body of the general in the sky fell onto the blade. A bolt of lightning was called down and charged the dead body. Sai flung the general off of his blade at the other one. The general fell to the floor shaking until the charge wore off a few seconds later. The general struck again and Sai blocked with both blades. He started to shake and threw the general off balance to kill the soldiers behind him. He turned around again and blocked but fell to his knees under the pressure.

"Oh no…" A gun shot broke through the sound of clashing blades. The general fell to the floor dead. Aronzo stood there and put his gun away.

"Nice one." Sai handed Aronzo his sword.

"Hey I tried. You fight over three hundred men with a sword and have the energy to keep fighting." They both smiled and laughed. "I'll be back, just have to check up on something." Sai ran off into the distance,

"Yep, I'll be here." Aronzo leapt onto the highest tower within the castle premises. Aronzo stood atop it after putting on his robe again. He suddenly felt a familiar presence by him. "Hey Orez"

"Heh, I see your senses are better then ever. How was the first of the Orochi attacks?" Aronzo hadn't turned to see Orez but already suspected he wasn't really there.

"Shouldn't I be asking you? Or are you here only in presence?"

"Hahaha." Orez laughed and Aronzo began to as well.

"Guess that answers my question. The Orochi forces are poorly coordinated this time. They show a complete lack of strategy and neither Orochi nor Da Ji were seen among the enemy ranks."

"Then what's the reasoning behind this assault?"

"I wish I knew."

"Heh," Orez laughed again. "Aronzo I'll be back. Nobunaga's calling. You know they can't do anything without me. I am me after all." Orez laughed as his presence faded away.

"So how's Orez doing?" Sai asked. Aronzo turned around to see Sai standing behind him atop the tower.

"Oh didn't hear you come up Sai. Orez is fine. Just doing what he always does. He's getting as much information as possible to make some kind of grand strategy. You know him, none of us will know until like… the day of the showdown." Aronzo began to smile again.

"Haha. Good old Orez." Sai laughed. "Just because this is a battle field doesn't mean we can't enjoy ourselves out there!" Those words echoed through Sai's head.

"Sai, do me a favor and send a request to the Saika mercenaries. Let Magoichi know we're looking to hire him."

"But isn't he with the Shu forces?"

"Not anymore. He left the Shu forces about an hour or two ago."

"How do you know this already?"

"I was the one that talked him into leaving. Haha I have some strategies of my own."

"Understood." Sai left in the village of the Saika brigade. Aronzo stood alone again. He had already understood the ramifications of what he had done. He may have caused the destruction of Shu but he had to protect his forces from Orochi because after all they were going to his forces first. He felt bad but there wasn't anything he could do now. "The Saika brigade's forces would be enough to survive the Orochi attacks. But… Shu can't be defeated because that will increase Orochi's strength exponentially. Haha I got it!" Aronzo disappeared in light energy.

"Damn it Aronzo wait!" Tashaku ran up to the tower. "And of course I missed him… again." Tashaku walked out of the gate of the castle. "What to do what to do? Damn it, I wanted to go with him this time. Man I'm gonna be bored as hell now!" Tashaku walked over towards a large hill outside of the castle. "There's never anything to do anymore. Orochi brought me back from the dead only for me to do nothing?! Damn it!" Tashaku climbed the hill that overlooked the grand territory of Komakigakute. "I Might as well set up traps for the inevitable attack." Tashaku scoped out the area and began his activities.

"DAD!! Where the hell are you?!" A girl in all black called out through the castle. "Ugh… why are you never here when I'm looking from you?" A woman in a blue kimono came through the door that the girl was looking at.

"Tenshi settle down. Why do you always have to be so hyped up?" Orez went out to Nobunaga's castle. Your father still holds respect for that man though I don't know why. I never met him." The woman's name was Venista and her nickname: Vivi. She is of average height and rather athletic. "I've been married to him for years and I still don't know what he thinks half of the time. But you know he's a good man."

"Yeah I do. I just don't know why dad would leave when we were attacked mom. Then Sai and Aronzo left after words. And now even Tashaku has disappeared. The men of this force sure do care about our survival." Tenshi and Vivi laughed and started to head out the door. "Oh well…"

"I guess the women will take over… again!" They both went their separate directions and got ready for battle. A few hours later the troops were assembled and Vivi stood in front of them with her Aqua blue armor on and her ready for battle. Soldiers of the Takashi clan, the enemy are approaching our capital. Be prepared for the worst! All the male officers for some reason have decided to leave, but hey, we don't need them! You all know what women can do! Prepare yourselves, the enemy will be upon us soon!"

"Be prepared." Tenshi stood atop the very tip of a large tower built into the capital walls. "The great ninja Tenshi will take your life!" She stood feet together and arms with Kunai ready. The Kunai had some incredibly sharp edges. "Be prepared Orochi!"