Chapter 36: The Black Dragon of Gokudō

Hikage gulped, a strange lump clustered in her throat and would not leave, which seemed to be made up of what was possibly fear, hesitation, and conflict had merged into one ball of discomfort, sticking to her insides. "Be careful Hikage. Seems he was hiding his true strength from us until now. I can feel this one is powerful, so let's take him together." Came Katsuragi's voice, to which Hikage gave her a grunting nod.

"And here I thought Hikage's playmate was so eager to play with the big boys." Kenshi's tone shifted from mildly playful to near ominous. "You're in the advanced league now, girls. There's no turning back."

Hikage focused on Katsu in the moment, who gave her a nod. Both friends rushed at Kenshi, Hikage swinging wildly as Kat kicked rapidly. If Kenshi didn't dodge every strike, he matched them move for move by blocking with his knife-gun. "You're hesitating, little Hikki." Kenshi stated.

Hikage's eyes widened, a flash shock igniting in her veins, the kind of which she hadn't felt since first discovering Hinata's body. I… I am? In a swift movement, Hikage felt herself flying into Katsuragi as Kenshi flipped her by the arm. Hikage rubbed her head, hearing Katsu moan. "Ow, not my head again."

"Katsu. Are you okay?" Hikage asked with the tilt of her head.

Kat rubbed the back of her head, "Yeah, I just knocked by noggin again. But this guy's toying with us! We barely scratched him!" Hikage looked back, seeing Kenshi with folded arms as he stared down at them. The same look he once gave a new recruit whom had disappointed the gang one time.

"HIKAGE! COME ON!" Kat's voice shattered Hikage from her daze.

"Mm! Right!" Hikage focused once more, readying her knife. "Secret Ninja Art! Gouge Time!" a dark aura emitted from Hikage's blade as she swung it so fast it was like a whip that rushed at Kenshi. Kenshi kicked the small table at her, but Hikage sliced right through it, continuing towards her target. But his brown, pompadour hair brought back flashes of childhood memories, where a little Hikage kept trying to play with his hair as Hinata laughed at the scene.

The next thing Hikage knew, she was thrown off balance, her knife flying out of her hand as Kenshi disarmed her. Within that split second, Kenshi's shoulder flew into Hikage's torso, sending her back against an end table. A pained grunt emerged from the Crimson snake as she watched Kenshi effortlessly dodge a flying kick from Kat.

Katsuragi shot an energy bolt at Kenshi before transitioning into a Cross Panzer but Kenshi again moved to the side with grace, lightly pushing Katsuragi onto a couch. Hikage slowly got to her feet as Kenshi let out a frustrated sigh. "I would think the idea is to TRY and HIT ME! But your heart is clouded, Hikage. Is it all coming back? The way you sneaked into me and Hinata's lives? And then took everything from us? Or perhaps you hesitate, remembering they who accepted you." Hikage uttered a grunt, disturbed to her core but unable to express it. "You're not trying. So perhaps you need a little incentive!"

Kenshi rushed at Kat, slashing her across the upper leg before slamming his elbow hard into her shin. Katsuragi's lungs echoed across the small library room, her screams of pain ringing in Hikage's ear. Hikage's eyes trembled as a distinct crackling noise followed Kenshi's maneuver. "Katsu… KATSU!" Hikage growled, throwing a series of throwing knives at Kenshi.

Kenshi spun his gun-blade, deflecting most of the knives and avoiding the rest. "Better. Now come at me with all you've got, little Hikki."

Hikage's eyes filled with a new kind of rage, which sent her lunging at Kenshi, rapidly taking jabs at him with her blade. Kenshi continued dodging, taking occasional parries at her with his own blade. "Did Hebijo teach you nothing, Hikage?" Kenshi dodged to one side, kicking Hikage in the rear.

Regaining her balance, Hikage turned around with a serious face. "You… hurt Katsu!"

"Perhaps I didn't hurt her enough, because I know you've got more in you, Hikage! Now WHERE IS IT!?" Kenshi's tone caused Hikage to scream, unleashing her first ninja art upon him before transitioning into a series of rapid jabs once more. This time, some minor cuts tore apart Kenshi's outfit, revealing a tattoo of black scales. "Not bad, little Hikki, but STILL NOT ENOUGH!"

All of Hikage's breath shot from her lungs as Kenshi's fist knocked the wind out of her. Following this, her head began to spin as Kenshi performed a backbreaker maneuver, bending her. The next thing she knew, she flew through the air, slamming into a wooden shelf, where scores of books covered her as she hit the floor.

For a few seconds, she laid almost lifeless before struggling to get up. Her quivering arms collapsed under her, falling flat on her torso once again as confused emotions she couldn't comprehend slowly leaked from her eyes. Turning her head, she looked up at a man who once treated her like a daughter, teaching her dangerous techniques, and accepting her for her dead faced emotionless self, just as Hinata had. "Papa… why? Why?"

"Did you ever know what happened to Hinata? Surely you found her at some point since you stole her blade off her." Kenshi asked. Hikage had wiped a tear from her eye, curiously looking at it on her finger before saying that she found her slashed up in a dumpster. "You didn't see what I saw. No one did. I was forced to watch as the bastards slowly violated and murdered my beloved Hinata. Dear… 'mama'. After a good bruising, they tied me up in a barrel, damaged just enough with sharp points inside so as to make me suffer. But that was their undoing… those points cut my binds enough to escape. Bloodied and beaten near death, I swore vengeance on every one of them. But it wasn't enough."

By now, Hikage pushed herself to her knees, grabbing onto a nearby armchair. "What… wasn't enough?"

"So few of our remaining gang rallied behind me to avenge dear 'mama'. Some of them tried to quit the gang entirely. Had I just been running with traitors? Thugs with no sense of loyalty? They all had to go. Didn't matter if they were from the Blood Snakes, the Gold Panthers, if I didn't get them then and there; I continued the hunt until every last one who had been involved in the gang wars paid the price in full. Gokudō demands loyalty and strength. Not like those gangs, selfish and cowardly who kill the innocent." Hikage paid close attention as Kenshi continued. "Do you not remember? Murayachi's little sector of the gang instructing you to kill a Gold Panther member?"

"I… I was just doing like we were supposed to." Hikage hadn't realized the drop in her tone. "You know… as gang members."

"It was a clever kill for sure, who'd suspect a child? But it doesn't matter if you didn't know better. You were involved… and it contributed to our downfall."

"Then… why haven't you killed me yet?"

"I'd rather kill you when you're fighting at your fullest in order to take back what is rightfully mine. Seems the only way to get you to do so is to understand the pain I felt of losing my beloved in such a cruel and disgusting way!" Kenshi walked over towards a struggling Katsuragi, who attempted to punch him. Effortlessly grabbing her fist and bending it backwards, he then smashed Kat's head into an end table drawer. Hikage gasped, her breath beginning to heighten. "What I've done to your friend so far has been nothing compared to what befell Hinata, little Hikki. But perhaps I ought to give you a taste." Turning his weapon around to the gun side, with no warning, shot Katsuragi in the arm.

As Katsuragi began moaning out in pain, sobs squeezed past Hikage's usual emotionless filter. "Papa, no! I loved mama too! I cried when I found her dead! Don't do this, please!"

"Then either face me or give back Hinata's knife on your knees! Or I'll carve up your friend just like they did to her!" Kenshi slowly touched his blade against Katsuragi's open skin.

Hikage screamed out in protest, before her eyes alit red, the dark aura of her frenzy mode burning from her skin. "There it is. I knew you were holding back." Kenshi said. "Now we can begin for real."

With speed unlike before, Hikage dashed at Kenshi, slashing vigorously. Cutting pieces into his clothes, holes ripping in his pant legs and across his jacket. Kenshi finally began taking swings back with his blade, parrying Hikage several times over. Shots rang out from the SMG end of Kenshi's weapon as his bladed end clashed against Hikage's.

Though in a frenzy, Hikage carefully watched her opponent as Kenshi could flip the weapon around at any given time. Getting kicked back, Hikage regained composure in a flash and then dashed behind a chair as Kenshi lit up the room with bullet-fire. Kicking the chair at him, she waited for him to begin dodging before she leapt at him, forcing him into a blade lock once more. Kenshi glared into Hikage's red-lit eyes. "You say you loved her. Yet I'm not even sure you know what love is!"

"Maybe I didn't. But I'm learning. I'm LEARNIIIINNG!" Hikage's body exploded in dark aura energy, sending Kenshi backwards a short way. "My friends have taught me how! And while I'm still not good at this emotion stuff; They say I'm getting better! So… I'm doing something right!"

Kenshi grunted, holding his arm as he looked up at her, the ends of his jacket now revealing the tattoo of a snake-like body wrapping around his lower abs. "Then there's no need for ol' papa to hold back then, little Hikki. Secret Ninja Art…" Hikage watched as Kenshi's fist lit up with the head of a dragon forming on his knuckles in a golden-red light. "FIST OF RAIJU!"

Hikage leapt to the side as a giant, red energy dragon head rushed at her, letting out a ghastly roar as it tore through bookshelves and tables to create a giant hole in the wall, through another room, and out the side of the Gokudō building. No sooner had Kenshi released it than did he rush once more at Hikage with his knife end.

Steel clanged once more, the frenzied Hikage not giving her adoptive father an opening to use the gun end of his weapon. "Good! Now let's turn up the heat! Secret Ninja Art, Raiju's Breath!" a burning aura now surrounded Kenshi and his weapon, adding deadly flames to his strikes, which slowly burned away at Hikage's clothes, slightly revealing her usual snake-patterned undies. Despite Kenshi's heated attacks, Hikage slowly delivered small cut after small cut, eventually kicking Kenshi back hard before sending several throwing knives his direction. While managing to deflect some, the remaining throwing knives slashed Kenshi up, destroying his jacket to reveal his toned abs housing the face of a black dragon.

Kenshi's body slammed against a bookshelf, before crumpling onto the main desk in the room, where his natural canvas dripped red, painting the desk with small splotches.


Hibari sat back in her normal clothes in the middle of several dirt mounds. Holding her little brother on her lap, she tore a piece off from her midriff to cover him as he was still in little more than boxers. Suraku, still numb from the battle, smiled up at Hibari, talking slowly with her as the two reminisced on their past. "Sister… did they… really regret… when they thought… I died?"

Hibari nodded. "We all missed you, Suraku. Especially me. I know you may not want to, but at least come back and visit once. I'll go with you."

"Maybe… But… my family… is here now. I can't leave them… Hibari…"

"I get that, Suraku. But can't you at least visit us for a little while? Pleeeeaaase."

"Listen to you… Still… a little girl." Suraku let out a light chuckle before coughing.

"And you're still a little boy!" Hibari puffed her cheeks down at Suraku.

"Am n-…" too tired to argue, Suraku let out a sigh, closing his eyes. "Maybe… just this once." An explosion in the distance caused Hibari to yelp and Suraku looked over as he caught the distant glow of a dragon's head. His eyes widened, muttering the dragon's name. "Raiju?"

"What are you doing?!" Hibari exclaimed, as Suraku rolled off her lap, barely crawling through the dirt.

"Kenshi… might be in… trouble! I gotta… get to him." Suraku groaned.

"Mmm! Why can't you ask your sister for help?" Hibari huffed.

"I'm… a mature… adult! I can… take care… of myself." Suraku stuttered, barely crawling 3 ft (1 m).

"Hey, what happened to being a little boy for just this once? Jeez; Even after all this time, you're still so stubborn, Suraku." Hibari puckered her lips with her hands on her hips.

Suraku barely got another inch before his body gave in again. "I… suppose… if… sister is willing…"

"It's okay, little brother. Nobody else is here. You don't have to be embarrassed. And please, call me big sister Hibbi." Hibari gently rubbed Suraku's back as she knelt down beside him.

Suraku let out a few soft tears, "please help, Big sister Hibbi… I… need to get to… Kenshi." Hibari smiled sweetly, calling Ninto over, and picking Suraku up as she got onto Ninto's cloud.


Homura had since stopped in a dark, empty room, sitting and engrossing in her thoughts. How? Why? When? What happened back there? I wanted to kill him and yet… I felt pity. For him! I can't shrug this whole thing off. Come on, Homura. Think! Suddenly the door busted open, Homura turning to see a couple of girls she didn't recognize at first until the one with white twin-tails called out to her. "Wait. Homura? What are you doing here?"

"You know her, Yaggie?" the other girl asked, turning on the lights, revealing to Homura her peach-colored hair and comfy looking sweater.

"Yagyu? Me and some of the crimson girls are here to help you rescue Ikaruga. Which, I can assuredly say that she is safe and sound with Yomi." Yagyu and the other girl smiled in relief. "I don't think I know your friend, though. Is she from Hanzo?"

"She's… not from around here. Kind of a long story." Yagyu said.

"My name is Compa. Pleased to meet you miss Homura!" Compa shook Homura's hand with a wide grin on her face. "EEP!" Compa yelped, grabbing onto Yagyu's hand as a loud explosion above them could be heard.

"What was that?!" Homura then rushed out of the room, to which Yagyu and Compa swiftly followed her.


An awkward silence was left in the room as a bound Murasame sat beside a nearly stripped bare Komichi, with Ikaruga and Yomi standing nearby. "We failed. Miserably so." Komichi let out a defeated chuckle. "Think we'll be scolded?"

"At very best." Murasame said. "At very worst, he'll expel us. But either way, some of us are losing pinkies tonight."

"No, no, NO!" Yomi cried, "What kind of barbarian makes you chop off your own fingers!?"

"Yubitsume is part of the rules of Gokudō. Call it disciplinary action. Don't worry, Yomi. I'll still have enough finger to karaoke and cook curry sprouts." Murasame tried to smile, but Yomi grabbed his hand.

"NO! You need all your hand or it's not enough! I won't cook with a fingerless Murasame! No!" Yomi's worried glare made Murasame blush.

"That's sweet of you, Yomi. But I have to take responsibility for my failures." He smiled.

"You really have changed, Murasame." Ikaruga held her mouth against her chin, hearing her brother's words. The explosion above them shook the room, causing Yomi to yelp.

"What the hell was that!?" Murasame cried.

"It sounds like it came from the library!" Komichi got to his feet, walking as fast he could.

"Where are you going?" Ikaruga asked.

"To check out what that was. I feel our Oyabun might need help!" Komichi said.

"I'm going too! Yomi, untie me!" Murasame said frantically. Yomi hesitated for a moment but undid Murasame's when he insisted urgently. Murasame took off behind Komichi and after a brief moment, Ikaruga and Yomi exchanged glances before they nodded, following the boys.


Kenshi groaned, getting up from the table. "You know, kiddo, you really st-…" the bookshelf behind him slammed on top of Kenshi without warning, knocking him back onto the desk.

"Hehe. Nice job, Hikage." Katsuragi said with a grin, before wincing in pain. The Frenzied energy dissipated from Hikage, but her emotional burst had not.

"Katsu! KAT, where are you hurt!?" Hikage's eyes shook with anticipated fear.

"Heh… it's sweet seeing you worry. And it's just a little arm shot. Though the possibly broken leg might slow me down." Katsuragi coughed, breathing hard.

"Hold on, Kat! Hold on!" Hikage sobbed, trying to get a look at her friend's wounds when Homura came through the door followed by Yagyu and Compa. Hikage immediately grabbed Homura by the shoulders, her face wet with anguish. "KAT'S BEEN SHOT!"

Though taken aback at first, Homura and the others rushed over to Katsuragi, who let out a pained smile, "Can you believe it? She's worried. Hehe."

"I know, but you shouldn't move so much. We need to get you medical attention." Homura said.

"Allow me. I healed Yaggie just fine, I can take care of you too." Compa stepped forward, proceeding to inspect Kat's injuries.

"I've got you now!" came the voice of Suzuki, who was just in the doorway, his bat pointed at Homura when he looked over to see Kenshi sandwiched half in between a bookshelf and the desk. "What did you do to the Oyabun?!"

"Nothing. Found him that way." Homura replied. "What did you do to Asuka?!"

Suzuki gave a brief 'she's fine' before rushing over to Kenshi, trying to pull the bookshelf off of him. Around this time, Murasame and Komichi came through the smaller door to the west, followed by Yomi and Ikaruga. Suzuki frantically cried out to his Gokudō brethren for help. Immediately, Murasame and Komichi began helping Suzuki remove the bookshelf, their frantic voices quivering with worry for their Oyabun. Komichi shook Kenshi, hoping he'd come around.

Kat fell asleep after Compa bandaged her arm and gave her some spare Nep Bull she had to numb the pain of her leg. "She just needs a little time to rest and she'll be alright, Miss Hikage." Compa smiled at Hikage, who gave a slight smile back, thanking her in her usual monotone way.

"Good to know she's in good hands." Homura commented. Hearing Kenshi grunt, she turned back to Suzuki. "And since he's doing fine too, I'm going to ask again. Where's Asuka?"

Suzuki grunted, turning his head in a fearful embarrassment as he stuttered. Looking back at his fellow Gokudō, Suzuki clenched his fist, blurting it out. "She defeated me and ran off! But not… before letting my fellow shinobi heal me!"

"Is… is this true, Suzuki?" Kenshi grunted.

Suzuki's face scrunched up, his lips trembling fearfully, but then he turned bowing before Kenshi. "Yes, my brother. I tell no lie, it's true!" by now, Hibari had come in helping Suraku walk. The moment he saw Kenshi, Suraku stumbled over to him quickly.

"And what do the rest of you have to say? More… of the same?" Kenshi slowly began to rise.

Komichi got on his knees, "I take full responsibility for failing to protect our home!"

"And I too!" Murasame exclaimed, following suit with Kenshi. Suraku bit his lip, nearly to tears but said nothing as he also bowed before Kenshi, his bruised body speaking for itself.

"You are the elites of Gokudō Academy. And yet every one of you fails to deliver. Have you learned nothing from Gokudō? Have I not always told you to live and carry on?" Kenshi glared.

"With all due respect, sir… I think in failing, they have learned more and grew stronger from it." Yomi commented.

"They are the Gokudō Academy elites. The time for learning by failure is past!" Kenshi turned back to Murasame, Suzuki, Komichi, and Suraku. "Normally, I'd have all your fingers. However, I'd have to cut my own off too. Especially for going behind all your backs."

"What do you mean, boss!?" Suraku exclaimed, Murasame chiming in.

"You know why I'm on top? To help the weak and fight the strong. In order to do so, I had to become strong myself. Strong enough to get revenge on they who destroyed me years ago. Those non-Hanzo girls who you fought were drawn here by me… because she is my final target." Kenshi pointed his weapon at Hikage.

"I mean no disrespect, Oyabun! But I thought you hated hypocrisy! Always calling me out for my own ignorant vengefulness!" Murasame exclaimed.

"You've helped us overcome so much, brother! Yet… you would do this and never tell us?" Suzuki exclaimed.

"What kind of leader shows weakness!?" Kenshi growled. "Now if you all still have any heart left in you for Gokudō, you will stand and fight for it right now and bring me that girl's head AND her knife!" Kenshi said, glaring at Hikage.

The Crimson and Hanzo girls glanced looks over to the other Gokudo boys, anticipating their choice. Suraku then turned to Kenshi, "Oyabun… I would fight to my last breath for Gokudō. This place has given me purpose. But this isn't the Gokudō way. You're all my family, but Hibari is too. I'd rather die than choose one family over another."

"So be it." Kenshi's eyes glared, pointing his gun at Suraku, causing him to wince. Hibari's eyes widened. A shot rang out followed by a deafening silence. But Kenshi soon found his arm in the air with a bullet hole in the ceiling. Suraku looked up, seeing Komichi bending Kenshi's arm upwards.

Kenshi scolded Komichi, but the latter replied, "Forgive me, Oyabun… but you know I hate in-fighting. I can't let you go killing a brother whom we're all so close to!"

"Suraku's right, Kenshi! This isn't the Gokudō way!" Suzuki said, grabbing onto him.

Kenshi demanded they get off him, but Murasame jumped on him too. "Please sir, you aren't yourself! Let go of this blind hatred! I've been there, I know!"

Hikage's brow furrowed as she watched Suraku also grab onto him. "They love you, papa. Can't you see? I miss Hinata too, but this hatred does nothing but hurt you and those around you."

"Yes, listen to them and listen to Hikage-… wait… Papa!?" Yomi's eyes nearly popped.

"Papa!?" Homura raised an eyebrow.

"PAPA?!" the rest of the girls exclaimed almost simultaneously, except for Compa who said she didn't get it.

"Hikage was adopted for a time by a girl named Hinata. But… you never mentioned this guy!" Homura replied.

"What? I just forgot. You know I'm forgetful." Hikage shrugged.

Kenshi's voice growled deep. "I am this close to completing my contract with judgement and I will NOT be stopped here. If none of you will help me, I will finish this myself: Last Resort Ninja Art…"