Chapter 35: A Rattled Snake

Katsuragi was surrounded by cold stone. A single lightbulb dangled from the ceiling with a cell door of hard steel the only outside window she had. "Secret Ninja Art! Cross Panzer!" Katsuragi kicked but her boots remained normal as she felt something suppressing her. Katsuragi kicked hard against the door, but only caused a sparking green bounce as the door resonated with a loud clang. Grabbing onto the bars of the vision panel, she looked out into an empty hallway. "HEEEYYYY! LET ME OUTTA HERE!"

Silence responded back as Katsuragi dropped her head just below the vision panel. I guess I was too impatient. Now I'm trapped in this anti-ninja cell. I shouldn't have been so impulsive. "Katsuragi?" a familiar, flat voice called out to her from around the corner. Kat's eyes scanned the outside hallways, when she saw her green-haired, snake-eyed, crimson friend approaching.

"Hikage! What are you doing here?" Katsuragi asked, grabbing the bars.

"I'd ask the same thing to you. A prison cell's not exactly the best place to take a nap. Though… it is quiet. I'll give you that." Hikage scratched her chin, her eyes wandering a little.

"This quietness is killing me! Especially when we're here to save Ikaruga!"

"Oh? You too? Well, let me get you out and we can talk as we fight." Hikage said.

"Think you can?!" Katsu replied hopefully. Hikage's knife glowed a dark purple, but when she slashed at the lock, it repelled her in a green spark, causing her to yelp.

"Whaat the heck was that?" Hikage asked slowly, shaking herself.

Katsu let out a sad sigh, "Figures. There's some kind of barrier preventing me from using my ninja arts. And even outside it seems to repel them entirely. I should have been more precise instead of getting so angry and blundering like that."

"Katsuragi… are you sad?" Hikage tilted her head at Kat.

"I… I'm more upset at myself. I feel regret, Hikage."

"That's the thing where you did something wrong and wish you could go back and change it, right?" Hikage asked.

Katsuragi nodded, "Yeah… And I got too hotheaded back there and ended up falling in here."

"I thought you being hot headed was a good thing. You know, passionately driving through the heat of battle." Hikage asked. Katsuragi replied saying it wasn't the same, trying to explain to her the difference. "Oh. Sorry. Guess it's just this emotions stuff I still can't get. Haruka and the others say I'm getting better, but I dunno."

"You're alright, Hikage." Katsu patted her friend on the shoulder through the bars of the vision panel before she sighed, "It doesn't matter now, though. I got myself into this mess and now I'm paying for it."

"I'm sorry Katsu. Sorry I can't get you out or help empathize with you cause I'm useless at emotional stuff." Hikage's eyes made a slight frown.

"Heh… Maybe Haruka isn't as wrong as you think." Kat smiled at her friend, to which Hikage asked what she meant. "You just said you felt sorry about it. You feel bad. You're showing more than when we first met all that time ago."

"But… I don't know if I ever regretted anything, Katsu. How can I sympathize when I haven't felt it?" Hikage shrugged.

"You're mixing up sympathy with empathy. But are you sure? You've never wished you could go back and change something?" Katsu asked.

"Well… the one time, I was super sad when mama died. I wished I could go back and see her again. Same with papa."

"You never mentioned them to me before." Kat said, taking more interest in Hikage's story.

"I don't remember too much of papa. I'm forgetful like that. But mama always called him by a name which started with Ke. I guess I remember mama better because of how I found her all those years ago. All cut up and naked in a dumpster." Hikage's eyes kept fixated on Kat, but the latter noticed her friend's tone drop ever so slightly.

"I-I-I'm sorry! I shouldn't have asked!" Katsu replied.

"Mm. Why? I'm not mad. I guess I don't like lingering on it cause it brings back sad stuff… But it happened and it's what I remember, so I don't mind telling you." Hikage said.

"I just never knew. I'm sorry to hear that, Hikage." Katsuragi.

"Heh. I'd like to feel sad or sympathetic if I could, but maybe in this case, it's better I not feel anything." Hikage said. "Homura once said that while your feelings can make you strong, they can also hold you back."

"She'd be right. If your emotions are positive, they can help keep your focus and strengthen them. But if your heart's full of negativity, it can be dangerous. Especially if you bottle them up and don't express them at all."

Hikage tilted her head, slightly raising an eyebrow. "But… then it's good to express the negative emotions?"

Katsu's lips furled, scouring her brain for answers. "Well… um… it's not so much that it's good to express them, but like… you can't keep them swelling inside or else you'll eventually explode."

"But… that doesn't make any sense, Katsu. If you don't wanna express those kinds of emotions, but also don't keep them to yourself… what do you do with them?"

"More like… they're best expressed in short bursts. Enough to let others know how you're feeling, but also not so much that it turns you into a pessimistic person." Katsu pointed one finger up as her inflection rose.

"Short bursts….. So, like my Frenzy Mode." Hikage said.

"Er… sorta." Katsuragi sweatdropped, "This stuff is complicated. You'll get the hang of it soon enough. Still, you shouldn't worry about me, Hikage. You're here for Ikaruga, right?"

"Well… partly." Kat then asked Hikage what she meant. "See when they gave us the letter, they said they wanted to see me some reason. But I never heard of this place before. Besides, I don't wanna leave you. It'd be like leaving one of my girls behind."

"Not like I'm going anywhere with this anti-ninja barrier." Kat sighed. The two began to have a back-and-forth exchange until they detected sudden energy wave dissipating in their vicinity. "You feel that?" Kat asked. Hikage nodded before Katsu told her to stand back. Winding up her leg with a green glow emitting from the foot, Katsuragi thrust herself at the iron door, smashing it off its hinges.

"You're out." Hikage said, her tone lightly brimming with glee.

"Aw yeah! Now let's go kick some Gokudō butt! What do you say, Hikage?" Katsuragi said, pumping her fist in the air.

"I got your back." Hikage replied.


Katsuragi and Hikage carefully made their way through the halls, running into groups of Gokudō gangsters from time to time. They were on the second floor, nearing a hallway intersection when a couple of terrified Gokudō boys ran past them.

"HEY! STOP! Where's Ikaruga?!" Kat yelled. The Gokudō grunts looked back for a second, only to ignore her and continue running.

"I wonder what they're running from?" Hikage scratched the back of her head.

"A couple o' pretty girls, no doubt!" Katsu laughed, but Hikage shook her head, looking in the opposite direction. "Oh, come on, I was just kidding."

Hikage shushed at Katsuragi, looking down the other end of the hallway as a strange clanking could be heard closer and closer. From around the corner, the giant, metal legs of a monstrous orange crab dug into the vinyl flooring, leaving small indents with each step of it's eight legs, which turned down towards the two girls. It's mechanical blue eyes locked onto them as it sauntered forward.

"AAAAUGH! WHAT IS THAT THING!?" Kat yelped.

"Not sure, but I intend to take it down." Hikage focused, readying her knife. The crab creature lunged forward, its claws sweeping small tables and flower vases from underneath it. The crab landed in the middle of the intersection, leaving Katsuragi and Hikage on opposite sides. "Katsu! We've got it in between us!" Hikage shouted. "Secret Ninja Art. It's Shanking time!"

As Hikage pulled out several knives, rapidly slashing at the creature, Katsuragi shouted 'Cross Panzer', her legs exerting serious force behind each kick. Roaring out upon being hit, the crab sent its large, metallic pincers outward, smacking both Hikage and Katsuragi against the wall.

After being thrown into a picture frame, Hikage barely had time to react, narrowly avoiding being crushed by the crab's massive pincer as it ripped small tears in her jeans, turning its attention towards her. Still a little dizzy, Hikage then felt her body painfully squeezing in the crab's metallic pincers.

Katsuragi cried out to her friend, attempting to attack the creature, but with one of its legs, the crab struck Katsuragi in the stomach, sending her back against the wall once more. Hikage tried to call out to Kat but let out a gasp as the metallic pincer slowly started to cut into her. A sudden blue light flashed by, releasing Hikage as both she and the dismembered pincer fell from the crab's metallic arm.

The crab recoiled, now backing away from Hikage as she went to check on Kat. Hikage's widened eyes let a bit of worry ooze through as she witnessed Katsuragi's head leaving blood stains on the corner of the wall. "Katsu. Are you alright?"

Kat groaned, rubbing the back of her head. "I guess I'm still a little impulsive. But what the hell was that, Hikage?"

"You hit your head." Hikage replied.

"Not that. That blue light move you did."

"Blue… light?" Hikage and Katsuragi's attention was grabbed as the crab let out a roar, backing away but growling at them like a cornered animal.

"You mean… you didn't dismember that thing?" Katsu asked, to which Hikage shook her head. The crab then shot an explosive laser into the ceiling, climbing up to the next floor to escape.

"Oh no you don't! You hurt Katsu and I don't wanna let you get away." Hikage made a serious glare, pursuing it despite Kat's cries saying they should stick together. Leaping up into the floor above, Hikage caught the crab scurrying down the hallway, climbing onto the walls as it turned corners and bulldozed its way through end tables, bookshelves, and coffee carts.

Though the monster was relatively fast, the agile Hikage dashed over and under any debris left in its wake, chasing the creature until she soon cornered it into a library with bookshelves lining the walls and doors on the northeast and northwest corners too small for it to fit through.

The crab shot another explosive laser, this time at Hikage. "Not even close. Secret Ninja Art: Gouging!" Hikage had barely dodged the laser before she leapt out of the dust cloud, swinging her blade in a wide, whipping manner, making slices all over the crab's armored body before finishing with a slice that cut off a dangling appendage from its underbelly. Hikage tilted her head at the appendage which resembled the claw of a UFO catcher. "Eeeh? What even are you? Guess I'll cut you a new slot to insert the coins then."

The crab brought down its other pincer like a hammer, but in a swift movement, Hikage leapt over its head before jumping off the wall, kicking it from behind, and jumping onto its back all in one movement. The crab began violently rampaging, tossing Hikage in every which way as she held on. Her head in a whirl, Hikage flew from the crab's body, landing on the ground.

Quickly shaking her dizziness off, Hikage leapt to the side as the crab sent strange energy waves where she once sat. With a quick dash, Hikage unleashed her first ninja art, cutting off the crab's metallic leg before jumping and plunging the final strike of her knife into the blue gem on its head. With a roar, the crab began to lose its color before vanishing in an array of purple pixels. With a slight moan, Hikage held her forehead, mumbling, "Ow, my head."


The sound of singular applause caught her attention as from one of the main doors emerged a man in a black suit, slowly clapping. Hikage guessed he was around Suzune's age or a tad older as he slowly strode towards her with steely, green eyes. "I'm glad to know that you haven't grown into a weak or mediocre shinobi or gave up the profession entirely."

"Aaaand… who might you be?" Hikage asked.

"You truly do not remember your own papa? I'd be hurt if there was anything left to be hurt." The man brushed his dirt-brown pompadour hair as he began pacing back and forward.

"I'm sorry, I tend to be forgetful so I-… Wait. What did you say?" Hikage's eyes widened.

"I guess some things never change; even when everything else does. Surely you remember after stealing an apple from one of our gang members when Hinata took you in. You started calling her mama… and her second in command, Kenshi. You called him-…"

"Papa… of course. You always had that fluffy duckbill head." Hikage's eyes began to shudder, her breath starting to heighten. What am I feeling? Is this what they call sadness, shock, happiness, longing? I don't know. All of them? I've never felt this before.

Kenshi chuckled. "So, the snake remembers the pit she first came out of."

Hikage found her brows furrowing in foggy conflict and confusion. "I… I don't know what to say. I feel like… I should be crying… running up and hugging you and asking you a thousand questions. But I don't know how to. I just don't."

"Yes… You wouldn't know the first thing about emotion if it hit you in the head. Did you know that Hinata's been dead for years now?" Hikage found herself struggling to utter a 'yes', a lump in her throat forming as Kenshi continued. "Do you remember why it happened in the first place?"

"Erm… no. I try not to remember it, cause it just brings back sad stuff, and I don't like those feelings." Hikage said, deadpanned.

"Perhaps the little snake isn't as emotionless as she thinks."

"How can you be sure?"

"Only one way to find out." Within a blink, Kenshi swung a blade at Hikage. Just barely catching his blade against hers, a rush of shocked adrenaline flushed her veins with his knife being mere inches from her face.

Brushing his blade aside, Hikage leapt backwards through the air towards the door of the room, an uneasy frown leaking through her monotone complexion. "What are you doing, papa?"

"Delivering retribution. Testing you. Seeing if you really are my little Hikki. I have done many things and continue to do many things." Kenshi said, flipping his knife to reveal it was also a submachine gun on the other side.

"Retribution? Testing? I don't understand." Hikage held a defensive, yet wary stance.

"Why Hikage. Don't you remember it was you who started that war between the Blood Snakes and the Gold Panthers? Hinata and the others are dead because of you." Kenshi's voice rang cold and serious, sending strangle chills up Hikage's spine.

"I… killed mama?" Hikage's heart began to slow, as though the information from Kenshi's mouth had all but smothered her of movement.

"You see, little Hikki… here in Gokudō Academy, when a client makes an order, we deliver. Long ago, judgement was my client, and one by one, I delivered to her the order she made. And now… there's only one order left until that judgement's complete." Kenshi held out the knife end of his gun-knife at Hikage, telling her to face him. But Hikage sat in a silent twister of confusion, her lips trembling as she stared at the ground.

"It's unwise to respond with silence when a Gokudō makes a request of you, girl. Even if they once were like family. Now either face me so I can take back what is rightfully mine or get on your knees and give back Hinata's knife." Kenshi then looked up as the library door unhinged and flew straight at him.

Kenshi swiftly dodged aside as the door flew past him into a bookshelf as Katsuragi kicked her way into the room. "What did I say about running off like that, Hikage?"

Kenshi raised an eyebrow at the blonde Hanzo girl. "You're going to pay for that, you know. Quite literally, like about 1,100,000-yen worth for a new door."

"And let you threaten my friend? I don't know who you are, fancy suit, but Hikage's with me!" Kat then turned to her friend, lightly shaking her shoulder. "Hikage. What's wrong? Why were you just standing there?"

"I… killed mama. Papa said I… caused the gang war." Hikage uttered.

"He's trying to set you off guard with lies, Hikage! Set you off so he can-… wait, did you say papa?!" Katsuragi's mouth gaped as she stared at Kenshi then back at Hikage.

"Yes. I remember him now. He and mama loved me back before the incident. I wish I could have reciprocated more… before the… thing happened." Hikage's tone barely seeped into sadness.

"I don't believe a word of it! Hikage would never kill someone close to her!" Kat yelled.

Kenshi began laughing, "Ah, blissful ignorance. A road I wish I could travel again all too often. How long have you known her, Hanzo girl? Do you know what little Hikki is capable of? I don't think you know her as well as you'd like to believe."

"How do I know you're even her adoptive papa?!" Katsu shouted.

"It's true though, Katsu. I remember him now… Kenshi… Kenshi Yamaguchi." Hikage said, looking straight towards Kenshi's eyes. "I feel strange, Katsu. It's like… sadness… and… confusion… but it's… also not." Hikage rubbed her upper arms, uncertainty filling her up with a deep and uncomfortable warmth.

"Even if what he says is true, it doesn't matter now. What matters is the Hikage here and now! The Hikage who broke from Hebijo with her best friends and is growing day by day! But I also know it's probably not easy fighting someone you once loved."

"Er, no, Katsu. If anything, fighting will take my mind off of it." Hikage slowly drew her knife with a trembling hand. At least I hope it will.

"Well… I certainly don't mind that little Hikki brought a friend over for playtime. But you should also know that as head of my house, I will defend my home from intruders at all costs." Kenshi glared, twirling his weapon in his hand.

"If Hikage's like a daughter to you, why do this?! And where's Ikaruga!?" Kat's tone grew more aggressive, glaring at Kenshi.

"The adult does not have to answer to children. All you need to know is that Hikage's in big trouble. And it's time for punishment." Kenshi stated.

"There's two of us and one of you. You think you have a chance?" Katsuragi said with a slight smirk, but Hikage felt nervousness riding on her words.

The crimson shinobi felt an aura of dread emitting from her old adoptive father as he was undeterred by Kat's supposed confidence. "Do a couple of baby birds stand a chance against the experienced hawk? A litter of puppies against the battle-scarred wild dog? It matters not how many of you there are. You cannot hope to win this. Now… Shinobi Transformation." Kenshi's normal black suit and tie transformed into a gleaming white suit with a golden, hanging tie that hung over his exposed abs from the now open jacket. Hikage hesitantly took a battle stance as Kenshi and Katsuragi did the same. "I am Kenshi of Gokudō. Help the weak and fight the strong."