The Ninja Challenge
Lake Biwa, Japan…
Round four was about to begin for the next challenge. This round would be specially hosted by the Manji Clan, a ninja clan who specialized in theft and espionage. The first trial of the challenge was to find a way to enter the Nakesendo trail. The second trail would involve passing through the traps set up by the clan just before nightfall. Only the two fastest teams will make it to the last trial, entering the old Fu-Ma clan base to locate a lost ninja dagger. Only Yoshimitsu knows where it is.
The five teams started in five different locations around Lake Biwa. Each team was given a brochure of clues which may lead the way to the old Nakesendo trail. Zack & Yoshimitsu was covering the northern-western side of Lake Biwa with teams one, three, and five. A drained Brad Burns and Helena covered the southern-eastern portion of Lake Biwa with teams two and four.
Zack: "Yes ladies and gentlemen! Once again it's ya boy Zack! I got a special guest here with me today. He is the modern day Robin Hood, and the #1 avenger of poor people of all nationalities around the world! My ninja bro! Yoshimitsu!"
Yoshimitsu: "Namu! Your genuine words are most kind sir Zack!"
Zack (Fist bump): "No doubt pimpin! Round 4 has begun, and we got coverage of teams one, three, and five started on the northern end of the lake. From here Yoshi, how can the ladies make it to Nakesendo?"
Yoshimitsu: "They can either follow the yellow flame lanterns going around the shores, or cross the entire lake heading eastward. Either way it's gonna take some time."
Zack: "Yea this is the longest and most boring part of the trial, but trial two is gonna real crazy from what I hear. Anyway let's check out what's shaking with teams two and four at the southern end of the lake. Helena! Baby can you hear me?"
Helena: "Bonjour Zack, my lovely! Are you doing ok?"
Zack: "Yes m'am! Tell us what's going on at the southern end of Lake Biwa."
Helena: "So far team two is making some progress moving eastbound on a boat. While team four is moving too slow because they're fighting again. Looks like its Pai Chan and Juri going at it. They could lose points for physical combat."
Zack: "Well that's messed up. Yo Brad can you hear me big dawg! I know you ain't feeling 100%, but tell me if you feeling better!"
Brad: "Hey Zack. I'm managing alright. At least I can just watch the competition in the limo instead of walking."
Zack: "Good to know my man. Keep us posted! Anyway let's check out the other three teams. Oh it looks like team one is sailing fast across the lake, they are closely being followed by team five. Team three is staying along the shores, but they're path will take longer to travel. At least they are making good ground. We'll check on these teams again in the next two hours."
2 hours later…
Team one was the first team to cross the east side of Lake Biwa driving towards the Nakesendo trail starting point. Sakura was driver while Hitomi sat across from her with Crimson Viper & Eileen were in the back. Hitomi notices team five still tagging behind them.
Hitomi: "Geez that team five has been following us this entire race."
Crimson Viper: "I knew one of them would pull that bullshit. No surprise its Poison's team."
Eileen: "What's the Nakesendo trail I wonder?"
Crimson Viper: "You need to learn to pay attention more often!"
Sakura: "Don't be a meanie Viper."
Hitomi: "The Nakesendo trail is an old trading route used by merchants and pedestrians for long distance travel back during the Sengoku period. Think of it has the highway before the highway."
Eileen: "Oh cool."
Zack and Yoshimitsu had already arrived at the starting point. They were awaiting for all teams to arrive until Yoshimitsu finally spotted one of the cars using his cybernetic eyes for zooming.
Yoshimitsu: "Looks like one of them is heading this way now."
Zack: "Which color is it?"
Yoshimitsu: "It's purple."
Zack: "That's team one's car. They will be rewarded 10 points for making it here first."
Team one did make it to the finish of the first trial parking the purple car next to Zack's limousine. Team five followed closely behind team one. About another 15 minutes all the other teams arrived. The time for the second trial was about to begin. Yoshimitsu congratulated all the women for making it this far.
Yoshimitsu: "Congralutions on making the second trial! Hope you're not too tired because this is only the beginning! My ninjas have set up plenty of ingenious traps throughout the forest! I wouldn't recommend traveling on the main road, I guarantee a big nasty surprise there! You must make it to the Fu Ma Temple by nightfall or no one will obtain the treasure. That was the deal correct Zack?"
Zack (nervously.): "Uh yeah! That's the deal."
Some of the women took notice of Zack's unusual response.
Ibuki: "Did you see that?"
Christie: "Yeah. Whatever Zack is planning, I don't like it one bit."
Poison: "Who'd be silly enough to take on Yoshi's advice anyways?"
Ayane: "I wouldn't however, Yoshimitsu is a widely respected ninja even amongst my clan. And if the treasure of this game is what I think is. Then my team can't afford to lose!"
Asuka: "I heard that Ayane! My squad will make it to the top once again! So get ready!"
Ayane: "I think you been drinking too much dirty lake water Kazama!"
Aoi: "Let's not get carried away ladies!"
Yoshimitsu: "Indeed! Like I said you have until nightfall. If you haven't had a meal since this morning I'd suggest you take it now. The second trial will begin in 1 hour!"
An hour later…
The start of the second trial is now underway. Each of the five teams set off into the woods under different times, but only two teams would have to reach the temple before nightfall. While the girls were involved in the game, Brad and Helena just showed up at the parking lot in front of the Nakesendo trail. Brad still looked out of sorts as Zack approached.
Zack: "Damn man. Why you draggin'? You look like shit! No offense."
Brad: "Gimmie a break. I'm just sleep deprived."
Helena (Places her hand on Brad's forehead.) "I think it's more than that. Your temperature is really high. My driver will take you back to Kyoto for some treatment by my doctors."
Zack: "Yea good idea Ms. Douglas. We can watch the event from here Brad, don't worry."
Brad: "Fine."
Little did his friends know, Brad's energy was still drained having being a victim of Juri's insane fellatio job.
Some 4 hours later…
Yoshimitsu went ahead of everyone and met up with his secret enforcer of the last trial deep inside the Fu Ma village.
Yoshimitsu: "There you are."
Kage: "Yoshimitsu. You better tell me what this is all about."
Yoshimitsu: "I like I promised. If you can successfully defeat all of your challengers, then the Rekki Maru dagger is yours for the taking."
Kage: "That's it? I just beat some people up and take the dagger without repercussion?"
Yoshimitsu: "What's the matter? Getting cold feet now Kage-maru?"
Kage: "Nonsense. My clan always talked about the legend of Taki. To get a hold of an artifact like that would be a dream come true."
Yoshimitsu: "Hmph. You better not lose then. Shaaa!" (Disappears.)
Kage: "I intend not too."
Team five in the woods…
Ayane: "Like I'm gonna fall for a silly trick like that!"
Ayane read through the entire spell in which her team was subdued by tentacle monsters. Thanks to her training however, Ayane located a special poison found in her pouch to inject inside the arms of one those tentacle monsters. One by one she used the needle to kill all four of the monsters.
Ibuki: "Dammit! I can't believe Yoshimitsu would use something so scary! I thought I was done for!"
Poison: "Yeah me too!"
Katarina: "Can't believe I'm saying this but we owe you one Ayane."
Ayane: "Yea yea. It was nothing really. How much further we got?"
Ibuki: "Were definitely on the right track. According to my teacher, just past the river is where the Fu-Ma village is well hidden. We will definitely make it there first!"
Katarina: "Alright then girl scout lead the way."
Team four…
Juri didn't pay any of the advice Yoshimitsu warned about by walking the Nakesendo trail itself. Elena and Asuka felt like this was a mistake, but Pai agreed to venture into the main road thinking this would be the surest way to find the village. At first, the walk was going smooth, until very loud footsteps could be heard moving closer and closer to the team's location.
Pai: "What in the world is that?"
Elena: "I don't like this at all!"
Asuka: "It's causing the ground to shake!"
Juri: "Oh please, like this is gonna phase us! Quit acting like some bitches!"
The shadow kept getting betting bigger and bigger until the remaining sunlight finally gave it away. It was none other than the Mishima Zaibatsu's secret weapon, NANCY-mi847j!
Asuka: "No way! That's one of Jin's special weapons!"
Pai: "This is all your fault Juri!"
Juri: "Me? You said to go this way too ya tramp!"
Elena: "Please let this be a dream!"
Team one…
Team one took the most difficult route in terms of travel, but only the traps they encountered was a spike drop and fighting off wild monkeys. Just below the valley they could see an abandoned village, however they needed to the cross the river in order to make it there.
Sakura: "Crap. Nobody told us we would have to swim!"
Hitomi: "Well what else can we do?"
Crimson Viper: "Aren't you girls forgetting something?"
Sakura, Hitomi, & Eileen all look at each other puzzled…
Crimson Viper: "I've been wearing my rocket booster shoes all this time. So there will be no swimming."
Eileen: "Really? You're the best Viper!"
Crimson Viper: "Since you're the smallest, you come first Eileen."
Eileen (happy): "Woo Hoo!"
Crimson Viper went back and forth over the river using her boots to fly above it while carrying her teammates. At last they were within reach of entering the village. Once they got out of the woods, they could see just how spooky and desolate the village was.
Hitomi: "Whoa! This place has seen better days."
Sakura: "Yoshimitsu said there would be a treasure or something here right?"
Crimson Viper: "Then let's not waste time girls."
Eileen: "Wait! I hear some people coming from that direction."
Crimson Viper: "What?"
Sure enough, Eileen did hear some commotion coming from the west as team five stepped inside the village from the main entrance. Ibuki immediately pointed out that team one had beaten them once again.
Ibuki: "Are you serious? Team one is here too?"
Katarina: "Damn! Just like the first time!"
Posion: "I think nobody else is here though except us."
Ayane: "That means we can face team one in the last trial. And its almost nightfall."
Poison: "Yeah! Now it's really getting scary!"
Crimson Viper: "So the followers are here to claim second place is that it?"
Ayane: "Who are you calling followers?"
Crimson Viper: "I am! And I can't wait to embarrass you in the last trial."
A man's laughter could be heard as various lanterns began lighting a fire surrounding the village.
Kagemaru (hiding.): "I applaud you ladies for making it this far!"
A projectile hit Eileen behind her back and she is sent flying in the air only to be caught by Poison.
Poison: "Holy shit! Are you ok little girl?"
Eileen: "It's hurts!" (cries.)
Sakura (Angry.): "Show your face coward! That's was uncalled for!"
A blue ninja lands in between the two teams and he finally reveals himself.
Kagemaru: "You girls are officially in the third trial! If you can get me to surrender, the dagger will belong to the winning team! If not, then the dagger is all mine!" (Evil laugh.)
Ibuki: "The Rekki Maru! That's the treasure!"
Kagemaru: "So you know of the legend too! Then I won't need to hold back!"
