Another day, another chapter. I really can't help it! But don't worry, this story is fairly long. And don't let the single character tag fool you: there will be quite a few characters in the next chaps. Enjoy!

Raven awoke in an unfamiliar area. Groggy from immediately waking up, he quickly came to his senses and observed his surroundings. He was laying in a makeshift bed in what looked like a wooden hut. He peered out of the window right next to him; more wooden huts, but... inside trees?!

"Is this... a treehouse?" Raven quietly asked himself. He tried to sit up, but the pain of his broken ribs was still too great. He let out a wince and clutched his injured abdomen, but he felt something there and it wasn't his ninja garb. Quickly throwing aside the sheets, Raven then realized he was shirtless and his torso was bandaged.

"Someone must have rescued me... but who?"

"Good, you're awake." a voice said. Raven quickly turned to find the source of the voice.

"You... you're the last person I expected to rescue me." Raven said, surprised. His rescuer was none other than Yoshimitsu of the Manji Party.

"The Manji Party was formed to help those in need." Yoshimitsu said. "And for someone who took on Bryan Fury, you're quite lucky to still be alive TO help."

"How do you know... ah, forget it. How long have I been out?"

"48 hours" Yoshimitsu replied. "You seem to be healing at an extraordinary rate. The medicine we gave you is also speeding up the process."

Raven gave a scoff. "That's funny, I don't feel any better. Wait, did you say two days?! I have to... where's my earpiece?!"

"Relax" Yoshimitsu said, holding up Raven's communication device. "I will give it back to you, however I must ask that you do not inform anybody of our location."

"I won't. You have my word. Now, could I ask you to leave me for a moment?"

Yoshimitsu gave a nod and exited the hut. Raven turned around and activated his earpiece.

"This is Raven. Does anybody copy? Somebody, respond!" Luckily for Raven, his superiors were always quick to respond.

"Raven?! Thank God you're okay! We lost your signal for 48 hours! Tell me, where the hell are you?"

"My location... is unknown. Tell me, what's Central Japan's current status?"

"It's hell over there, that's the current status! The attackers of the Mishima Zaibatsu patrol and the G Corporation Facility were revealed to be an anarchist group of radicals looking to keep the war in Japan alive. They were all confirmed dead after a battle with G Corporation JACKs except for one Bryan Fury, who is now missing. There's a warrant out for his arrest after evidence was found at his apartment linking him to the group. It's highly probable that he was taking advantage of their dissolution to spread wanton chaos and destruction.

"Looks like Wulong pulled through for me..." Raven muttered with a small grin.

"If you're able, we need to you get back to Central Japan immediately!"

"Roger that. Fury may have got me once, but not this time."

"Negative, Bryan Fury is no longer your primary objective."

"What?! But the bastard killed our agent!"

"I hate to say it but, we have a bigger problem than that. At approximately 1300 hours yesterday...the Mishima Zaibatsu disbanded the cease fire and attacked the G Corporation."

Raven couldn't believe what he was hearing. All of that work, for nothing? The fight against Jin Kazama, Kazuya Mishima, Azazel... all of that was a wasted effort?

"You still there?"

Raven quickly composed himself. "Yes, I'm still here. What the hell happened? Don't they know by now who was responsible?"

"Yes, but it seems that the current leaders of the warring companies, Anna Williams and Nina Williams, have had bad blood between them since childbirth. Ever since Jin and Kazuya's disappearance, Eddy Gordo and Bruce Irvin have been keeping them in check, but the death of Eddy's Capoeira master has caused him to leave the Zaibatsu due to his emotional crisis. Almost simultaneously, Bruce Irvin of the G Corporation has disappeared. There is no further information on his disappearance at this time.

"So what you're trying to say is... the two sisters have taken control and they're using this war as an opportunity to end their lifelong feud?"

"Correct, and now that their subordinates are gone, there's nobody to stop them. Their hatred will divide the country and hundreds of thousands of lives will be lost in their personal conflict.

That was all Raven needed to hear. Willing his aching body out of bed, he slipped on his ninja garb and sunglasses.

"What are my orders?"

"You have to stop this conflict from reawakening any more than it already has! Go to the Mishima Zaibatsu and G Corporation Headquarters and convince the sisters to lay down their arms. If they refuse, you have permission to use lethal force. Eliminate them fast and get the hell out of there! We'll sort out the rest later. We're counting on you, Raven!"

Raven loved to hear those words.

"I won't let you down" he said, almost smiling. But before he could even take a step, he collapsed.

"Dammit!" he cried, clutching his afflicted area. "I'm still not strong enough..."

"You cannot go in your condition" Yoshimitsu said, reentering the room. He lifted Raven up and gently placed him back in the bed.

"You don't understand" Raven argued. "I have a duty to maintain peace and balance in the world. It's what I was trained to do. It's... what I was born to do."

"Then you will need to get well quickly." Yoshimitsu replied. "You will stay the night and continue to rehabilitate. I will prepare a meal for you that will help you regain your strength. If you are feeling well in the morning, then I will see what I can do to help you towards your goal."

"You.. would do that for me? I thought we were-"

"There is no animosity between us. I consider you to be a worthy opponent and maybe even an ally. Now stop talking and rest up for tonight. I have Manji subordinates nearby, so don't think about leaving."

Yoshimitsu exited the tent and left Raven to dwell on everything that has happened. All the ninja could do was stare at the ceiling, wondering what it's all for.

Why do I do what I do? In the long run... what has my job accomplished? The world is a miserable place full of madness and war, and that will never change. So why do I even bother?

That's when Raven started to remember the promise he made: to the most special person in his life.

FLASHBACK

"Listen to me, son. I want you to understand the reason for me teaching you the art of Ninjitsu. Throughout history, Ninjitsu has been known as an art of killing. That's true even to this day. But you must understand that the sacred art does not have to be used for evil. Sometimes, to make the world a better place, you must do things that are against human morals. But you mustn't allow it to corrupt you. Remember what you do it for... to protect and maintain the balance of the world. There will always be good and evil in the world, but never must evil be allowed to get out of control. I teach you this art now, so that you may devote your life to quelling the madness that exists in this twisted universe we live in. Promise me that you will be... a peacemaker."

END FLASHBACK

"I promised, father." Raven said, still staring at the ceiling. "As long as I draw breath, I'll see that promise through."

Sorry if things got a little cheesy, but the guy NEEDS some backstory. Even if it is fanfiction. Anyway, more chapters to come. R&R and I don't just mean you, FNAFFRENZYCAT! (Kudos to you, my friend ^_^)