AN: It's time for something a little different. Remember when the original Kung Fu Panda was released and it came with that "Secrets of the Furious Five" shorts? These next seven chapters will be similar to that, with each chapter highlighting a particular member of the Tao Go and what they've been up to since the end of Season 2.
Now then, on with the chapter!
It was a peaceful day at the Jade Palace, or at least it would be if there wasn't a bunch of rowdy kids running around. Karasu sighed as he stood on the steps of the palace, watching the chaos unfold in the courtyard. It was his turn to teach the kids of the Valley of Peace Kung Fu, and he hoped that he could do better than his other Tao Go members.
Xing was still too new to this world to teach anything. Fenghuang was banned from teaching children after parents complained about them stealing the kitchen knives for target practice. Fung literally let the kids walk all over him, Mei Ling spent more time cuddling them instead of teaching them, and Shen was stuck answering questions about the royal family the entire time.
"Alight, let's get started," Karasu said to himself. With a flick of his wrist, a ninja star hit the nearby gong, making the kids stop what they were doing and sit at attention. "Kon'nichiwa, young students. I am known as Karasu, and I hail from the country of Japan."
"What's Japan?" a bunny girl asked.
"Japan is an island nation, also known as 'The Land of the Rising Sun.' Our warriors are split into two main factions: the honorable and noble Samurai, and the mysterious and sneaky ninjas," the raven explained.
"Which are you?" a pig boy asked.
"I am a ninja, though other than how I fight I've left that life behind," Karasu replied. "We use stealth and surprise tactics to gain the advantage over our enemies, all encompassed in the ancient art of Ninjutsu." He then took a pose with his sword. "We use weapons, Chi, magic, and our environment to the fullest. In fact, let us start training in some of my people's skills."
As everyone stood up, Karasu sheathed his sword, putting his hands behind his back and walking in front of them. "To train, we will be going down and around the Valley. Pay attention to what I tell you and try to have fun!"
(Cue "Inner Ninja (feat. Olly Murs) [Remix]" by Classified)
A funky beat starts as Karasu sings the first chorus.
I read the rules before I broke 'em (I broke 'em)
I broke the chains before they choked me out
And I pay close attention
Really learn the code
I learned to read the map before I hit the road
As he sings, he leads the kids down into the Valley of Peace, giving each kid a belt to denote that they were his students.
Hey yo, I know you never heard this before
But I'd rather lose a fight than miss the war
Karasu sees of the kids fighting, and pushes them both away from each other.
And I ain't wishing competition or fishing for it
I'm just living in the system, conditions are poor
Seeing one of the kids is hungry, the raven gives some coins to a shop vendor and buys the kid an apple.
I've been lost in the rhythm and misinformed
Too many late nights hitting the liquor store
Too many bad decisions, half assed attempts
No sweat, no fear, no blood, no tears
Karasu then sees an adult that seems to have drunk a bit too much sake. He causally moves his kids away and effortlessly knocks the guy out, the kids all looking at his in awe.
I go hard, and I ain't making up no excuse
I'm overdue, I don't do what I'm 'sposed to do
"Cause if you think about it, man, we 'sposed to lose
It ain't all picture-perfect views
Karasu then stands on a table in Mr. Ping's noodle shop, doing a few sword moves for the kids, though he accidentally slices a painting of a seaside sunset that an artist was working on.
No, I was a first-class rookie,
Takin' out bullies in my all black hoodie
One of the kids (a bunny) takes his scarf and wraps it around his head, pretending to be a ninja. Karasu quickly takes the makeshift mask off.
Man of mystery, you know the history
Get it or forget it, cause poof, I'm outta here
The raven then pulls out a smoke bomb, making a smoke screen that he disappears into.
I read the rules before I broke 'em (I broke 'em)
I broke the chains before they choked me out
And I pay close attention
Really learn the code
I learned to read the map before I hit the road
We cut back to the palace, where Karasu is training the kids. They seem to be slowly learning his techniques.
(But we say)
Nobody's gonna see me comin'
Nobody's gonna hear a sound
No matter how hard they tryin'
No stoppin' me since I've found
The kids repeat the words, doing basic ninja poses as they follow Karasu's teachings.
My inner ninja
My inner ninja
My inner ninja
My inner ninja
Cut to Karasu doing some poses.
Hey yo, I've been high and I've been real low
I've been beaten and broken but I healed though
So many ups and downs, roughed up and clowned
We all got problems, but we deal though
Back in the village, Karasu takes the kids to a field where they mock spar each other. When a goose boy gets knocked down, the raven picks him up and gives him a bandage for his bruise.
I'm trying to do better now, find my inner peace
Learn my art form, and find my inner Chi
Karasu moves the kids through some yoga poses, and is happy when he sees that some of them have potential for Chi.
When my backs on the wall, I don't freeze up
Nah, I find my inner strength and I re-up
Back with the goose boy, he stands up and goes back to spar, not wanting to give up.
Here we go, I know I've never been the smartest or wisest
But I realize what it takes (takes)
Never dwell in the dark cause the sun always rises
But gotta make it to the next day (day)
We see a time lapse of Karasu doing some sword moves, with the kids trying with some success to copy him.
It's a feeling that you get in your lungs when you run
Like you're running outta air and your breath won't come
We see everyone jogging on a path, but then a pig girl trips and falls over.
And you (uh) wheezing', gotta keep it moving
Find that extra (uhn!) and push your way through it
Karasu backpedals and helps her up, giving her a sip of water from a flask and a pat on the back to continue going.
I've had bad habits but I dropped 'em, I dropped 'em
I've had opponents but I knocked them out
We see Karasu in front of a training dummy, doing a crane kick like in "The Karate Kid."
I've climbed the highest mountains
I swum the coldest seas
Indeed, we see the raven climbing a tall mountain and swimming in a frigid lake.
There ain't a thing I've faced that's been too much for me
(But we say)
Nobody's gonna see me coming
Nobody's gonna hear a sound
No matter how hard they trying
Nobody's gonna bring me down
The kids sing their part again, but now they've improved their skills a lot more since they were last seen.
Nobody's gonna see me coming
Nobody's gonna hear a sound
No matter how hard they trying
No stopping me since I've found
Four kids even show some signs of being ninja material, so Karasu presents each of them with a scarf that has the Japanese symbol for 'Ninja' on it
My inner ninja
My Inner ninja
My Inner ninja
My inner ninja
More fighting poses from Karasu, this time intercut with the kids.
I've had bad habits but I dropped 'em, I dropped 'em
I've had opponents but I knocked them out
I've climbed the highest mountains
I swum the coldest seas
There ain't a thing I've faced that's been too much for me
My inner ninja!
The song ends as the kids laugh, all of them having had a fun time training.
"Well, that was fun, but I think it's time for all of you to go home to your parents," the raven said, wiping some sweat from his brow.
"But Master Karasu, it's only been an hour since we started training," one of the kids said.
The raven froze. "Wow, time really does fly when you sing. Or, in this case, it slows down." He sits in front of the kids and, with a bit of ninja magic, makes a set of scrolls appear in front of him. "How about this. Since we already finished the training part, I'm going to tell you all some recent stories about myself and my team, the Tao Go." He opens one of the scrolls, having the symbol for 'Wolf' on the seal. "This first one is about Xing, the wolf warrior from another world…"
Author's Note
Time for the in-between for Seasons 2 and 3! Next time we'll learn what Xing had to do to prove his worth as an ally of Kung Fu after what Wolf Boss did in this world.