Disclaimer: I don't own anything that doesn't belong to me.
…
Kenji frowned as the playback of Kyukogo's declaration of intent finished spooling out on the giant mystical scroll taking up the back wall of the conference chamber deep within the temple, a cavernous room more than big enough to hold all the Shinobiryu Masters and their star pupils. "So… Those are the Youkaliens."
Tricerajonin nodded, a pensive look on his face. "It would appear so, yes."
Akira scratched her head, perplexed. "So… Not gonna lie, a little confused here. From all the stories you told about them, mom, I was expecting someone a bit more… You know, evil? And maybe not as hot?"
Sora gave her a disapproving look. "Seriously?"
Akira raised an eyebrow. "Oh come on, I know you and Petra have a thing, but you can't tell me you weren't a little attracted to that?"
Sora spluttered. "You know about that?!"
A very tall, very buff girl who was almost bald save for a small queue in the back resembling an ankylosaurus tail burst into jovial laughter. "Sora, everyone knows about that."
"I'm pretty sure Bakano doesn't," Kenji pointed out.
Akira snorted and rolled her eyes. "Bakano doesn't know anything."
Kenji, Sora, and the giant girl, Jiro, newly minted top chuunin of the ankylosaurus tribe, nodded in agreement. Mozu wasn't paying attention, because she was too busy squeeing at just how cute the princesses and their best friend/playmate/pet/slave/fiancé had been.
"You are correct, Bakano doesn't know anything," Pterajonin agreed. "You're also correct in that the Youkaliens we battled in the past were indeed much more violent and cruel."
"And not as attractive, from a mammalian perspective," Raptorjonin added.
"How does she not have tremendous back pain from walking around with mammaries that size?" Wondered the perplexed Ankylojonin.
"Magic?" Kenji suggested.
"You think so? I mean, I've never had any problem with mine," Akira pointed out, glancing down at her own sizable bosom.
"You aren't exactly human," Sora reminded her. "You probably have a stronger spine than most women."
"Yeah, probably," Akira agreed.
Mozu desperately tried – and failed – not to stare at her crush's chest, turning the same color as her hair. Raptorjonin sighed and shook her head indulgently.
Bix rolled her eyes. "Yes, yes, you both have very large chest mounts which are very attractive to other mammals for some reason, could we please get back to the problem at hand? Even if they aren't behaving the same way as their predecessors, these are still our ancient enemies, the Youkaliens, which means we must do something to stop her before she makes good on her promise to take over the world! I, for one, don't want to be enslaved, even if our overlords will be absurdly cute, fluffy, and kind!"
"Do you think they are being serious about that?" Jiro wondered. "About being benign rulers, I mean."
"They must've been lying," Mozu spoke up, finally snapping out of her Akira-induced trance. "Everyone who's ever tried to take over the world has been wicked deep down, why should the Youkaliens be any different? After all, they tried to terrorize the planet once already!"
"… I am uncertain they are lying about their intentions, actually," Raptorjonin spoke up, surprising her student.
"Why do you say that?" Tricerajonin asked.
"That Empress seemed legitimately surprised that the people of Tokyo were terrified by her announcement, hence why she brought in her children. As if she could not comprehend why anyone would not want to be conquered by her," Raptorjonin explained. "So, either she is lying, or she is genuine in her intentions, but so deluded she doesn't realize that her actions could be construed of as evil by others."
"Both options are dangerous," Ankylojonin pointed out. "Which is worse, an enemy who will do horrible things for the fun of it, as the Youkaliens we battled against in the past did… Or someone who will do horrible things because they are convinced they are in the right?"
"A question for the philosophers," Pterajonin squawked. "Which, to be fair, most of your tribe are. We don't have time for that sort of debate, however, we must decide a course of action."
"We could go smash them up," Akira suggested. "Fighting Youkai and the Youkaliens are what our clan was founded to do, right?"
Tyrajonin nodded. "Indeed. However… Another possibility comes to mind-"
"Wait, we're picking up something else!" Bix barked as the giant wall scroll unfurled, a moving image quickly drawing itself on the oversize parchment, so detailed and photorealistic it could easily be mistaken for a live video feed.
It did not paint a pretty picture. (Actually, it was pretty, but the subject matter wasn't.) The Youkalien forces were attacking the city. Buildings were burning or collapsed, meteors were raining down from the sky and causing explosions to erupt across the skyline, and monsters resembling spacesuit-wearing namahage with metal masks, capes, and glowing laser knives were rampaging through the streets, chasing after terrified civilians. Whenever one of the small ogres caught up to a human, they lashed out with their knife, causing their unfortunate victim to vanish in a flash of light, inducing even more panic in the survivors.
The ninjas gasped in horror. "They're killing people!" Cried a horrified Jiro.
"I thought they said they were going to try to minimize casualties," Akira stammered, looking hurt. She really wanted to believe Kyukogo, and not just because she was ridiculously attractive and her daughters were soooo cute. (Though that did help.)
"Either they have a different definition of "minimizing casualties" than we do, or their leader was lying," a disgusted Sora spat.
"Or she has no idea of what her soldiers are doing in her name," Mozu offered. "Which… Doesn't actually make things that much better."
"Wait, it looks like they're saying something," Kenji observed.
The mystical scroll, naturally, didn't have sound, but was still able to provide speech balloons whenever any of the subjects it was depicting talked, giving it the feeling of an animated manga. One of the namahages was saying, "Wait! There is no need to run, humans! Our knives are nonlethal, your friends aren't being disintegrated, but transported back to our ship, where they will be educated in how to serve our glorious mistresses and make the best of their new lives as our slaves!"
"Said process won't involve any torture or brainwashing, and plenty of refreshments and cuddles will be provided!" Another one added.
Strangely, this did not seem to reassure the humans they were chasing after, who continued screaming and running away. The monsters actually seemed upset at this.
"I don't understand, why do they always run even after we explain ourselves?" The first one asked his friend. "Was I not clear? I thought I explained things very well, didn't I?"
His companion shook his head, equally perplexed. "I don't get it either. I specifically said they wouldn't be tortured or brainwashed, and that they would get snacks and cuddles! Who could turn down snacks and cuddles?"
"Maybe there's something wrong with our translator?" The first one suggested.
"Or maybe we smell bad," the second one offered.
They sniffed each other. "Nope, that can't be it," the first one concluded.
The second one nodded. "Yeah, you smell great. New shampoo?"
"Yeah, it's been doing wonders for my dandruff," his friend confirmed.
Human and Shinobiryu stared, dumbfounded. "So… They genuinely don't understand people think they're bad guys?" Kenji asked finally.
"It would appear so," his master confirmed, equally flabbergasted.
"Can we confirm that those knives are teleporters?" Sora asked. "They might actually be disintegrated, but have been told otherwise."
The scroll zoomed in on one of the knives. Several rings drew themselves around it, followed by dozens of strings of characters and numbers. "No, they were telling the truth. Those knives definitely have some sort of warp-inducing enchantment or technology in their blades that transport anyone struck with them somewhere else," Bix announced.
"So they really aren't killing people," Akira exclaimed in relief.
"Wait, what about the meteor strikes?" Mozu spoke up. "There's no way those are harmlessly teleporting people away too!"
As if in reply, the scroll rolled itself back up, then unfurled again, drawing a new picture of a powerful, heavyset monster standing atop a rooftop. The creature seemed to be a rock monster composed of numerous meteorites bound together by space-age cables which snaked around its limbs and thick, stony torso to converge on a square unit with several blinking lights and dials that would look right at home on a spacesuit. Gauntlets resembling mechanical graspers served as hands, with feet made of rocket engines. Its head was a lumpy, irregular mass of stone that looked as if it had been welded together from fragments of different busts, giving it a misshapen, almost grotesque visage.
"Wait! There is no need to run, humans!" The monster cried, raising its arms. The lights on its chest unit flashed, and more meteorites rained down from the sky. "My meteors are nonlethal, anyone who is caught up in the impact of one won't be killed, but transported back to our ship, where they will be educated in how to serve our glorious mistresses and make the best of their new lives as our slaves! Said process won't involve any torture or brainwashing, and plenty of refreshments and cuddles will be provided!"
Mozu blinked. "I stand corrected."
"Wait, but those meteors are striking buildings as well," Sora pointed out. "Surely they aren't teleporting everyone out of those as well. Lots of people would be injured from structural damage caused by the impact!"
"And don't worry about anyone trapped in buildings, my meteors instantly warp anyone caught inside of one safely away!" The monster added.
Sora blinked. "I stand corrected."
The monster frowned, looking displeased at something, then turned to address an even larger and burlier monster, a single-horned, one-eyed ogre wearing red power armor looking like a crossbreed of samurai armor and the sort of thing you'd expect a Space Marine from Warhammer 40K to wear. "My Lord, that doesn't seem to have calmed them down at all. If anything, they're trying even harder not to get hit by my meteors. Am I doing something wrong?"
The ogre shook his head. "No, you're doing everything perfectly, Asteroibotchi. I don't understand it, either. Indigenous people always are afraid of us whenever we first touchdown, for some reason. Don't worry, once they've been properly educated they'll thank you for enslaving them, they usually do."
Asteroibotchi sighed in relief. "Oh, that's good to hear, General. You know how self-conscious I get."
The ogre put a reassuring hand on the rock monster's shoulder. "I've told you before, soldier. You may not be the handsomest creature around, but you've got a heart of gold. Literally."
"I'm so hard, though," Asteroibotchi lamented. "Not fluffy like our mistresses. I'm not very high on the list of Youkaliens people like to cuddle."
"No, but you are very warm, and always give great hugs," the ogre said, spreading his arms wide. "Come on, bring it in."
Grateful, the rock monster hugged the ogre so hard both his body and his superior's armor cracked a little. "Thanks, General. You always know just what to say."
"It's what I'm here for," the ogre assured him, hugging him back.
The Shinobiryu and ninjas stared blankly.
"Do," Jiro said slowly. "Do we have to fight them?"
"They are trying to take over the world," Ankylojonin reminded her, though his heart didn't seem in it.
"But they're so wholesome!" Jiro protested.
"I'd fight them," Akira said slowly. "But I would feel pretty terrible about it afterwards."
The other ninja nodded in agreement.
Pterajonin sighed. "They certainly are not like the Youkaliens of the past. They were cruel, capricious, and certainly wouldn't reassure their victims or take time out of terrorizing people to hug one another."
"What could possibly have caused them to change so much?" Tricerajonin wondered.
"They genuinely seem to have no idea that their actions could be perceived as evil," the bewildered Raptorjonin commented. "They are either in deep denial, or just that oblivious."
Tyrajonin sighed, looking frustrated. "This new enemy is nothing like those we fought in the past. We need more information."
"An infiltration mission?" Raptorjonin suggested. "Sneak into their spaceship?"
Tyrajonin shook her head. "No, I have a different idea in mind. I think we should talk to them."
Everyone gave her started looks. "Talk to them?!" Tricerajonin demanded, incredulous.
"You wish to open discourse with our greatest enemies?!" Bix squawked.
Raptorjonin tapped her chin in thought. "That… may not be a bad idea, actually. These Youkaliens seem to be much more reasonable and compassionate than their predecessors, along with just about every other group of villains that has tried to dominate the Earth. They don't seem to be evil at all, just… Misguided."
"Their leader seemed rational, and clearly cares very much about her children," Tyrajonin added. "I will admit I may be biased, but… As a mother myself, I cannot believe anyone who loves their children that much can be wholly beyond saving."
Akira was touched. "Awww, thanks mom!"
As Tyrajonin smiled at her daughter, Pterajonin spoke up. "I believe you're right. It cannot hurt to at least attempt to make contact with them. It is possible, albeit unlikely, that we may be able to convince them to leave us alone, or at the very least explain more about their intentions for the people of Earth and ascertain the conditions of their prisoners. The more we learn about our enemy, and why they differ so much from their predecessors, the better."
Sora frowned. "And what if they don't want to back down?"
"Then we will fight," Tricerajonin said plainly. "As we have before."
"And the five of you shall help us," Raptorjonin said as some microraptors wheeled in a cart with five sheathed katanas lying atop a velvet cloth. Each of the scabbards was incredibly detailed with golden traceries depicting each of the Shinobiryu Masters, and had a disc resembling a gear at the top interlocking with a similar disc set into the hilt of each sword with a gold coin depicting the dinosaur species of the corresponding Shinobiryu. The teeth of each gear differed, resembling the teeth of the dinosaurs associated with them. In addition, all of them were in the color associated with their respective Shinobiryu.
"What are those?" Kenji inquired.
Sora's eyes widened, immediately recognizing them. "Wait… Those are-!"
"No way!" Akira exclaimed in delight, picking up the red blade with Tyrannosaurus motif. "These are the Transformation Blade Dinintana! They were used by the first human partners of the Shinobiryu to fight the Youkaliens centuries ago, and only the best ninjas of our clan have been able to wield them ever since!"
Sora gave her a cross look as he picked up the yellow blade with pterodactyl motif. "I was about to say that…" He muttered.
Jiro frowned as she picked up the green blade with Ankylosaurus motif. "Is it really okay for us to have these?"
"Trust us, you are more than worthy," Ankylojonin assured her.
"But…shouldn't older, more experienced ninja be using these?" Queried Mozu as she picked up the pink blade with raptor motif.
"The Dinintana blades can only be wielded by ninjas with incredibly high levels of dinpo," Raptorjonin explained. "While the older and more experienced members of the clan are indeed skilled and powerful fighters in their own right, none of them have a high enough level of dinpo to even draw the swords from their scabbards, let alone transform with them."
"But you believe we do?" Kenji asked, picking up the blue blade with Triceratops motif.
"We do indeed," Tricerajonin confirmed.
"Of course, it would probably be a good idea to actually test that theory before going out into the field," Bix spoke up. "It wouldn't be good for you to try to draw the sword in the middle of a fight, only to discover it won't work for you."
Akira nodded. "Yeah, that would be pretty embarrassing."
"And possibly fatal," Sora pointed out.
"That too."
"So, we just need to draw the swords?" Jiro inquired.
Ankylojonin nodded. "With your levels of dinpo, it should be easy. Go ahead. Give it a shot."
The five ninjas did just that. All of them powered up their dinpo, colorful auras swirling around them, gripped the hilt of the blades, and pulled with all their might.
As it turned out, Akira needn't have pulled so hard. Practically the instant she started pulling, the gear on her scabbard started turning, spinning the gear on the hilt and causing the gold coin to glow red, and she wrenched the blade from its sheath with such force she nearly decapitated one of the microraptors. "Sorry!" She apologized as the small dinosaur hissed at her angrily.
She examined her sword, which, to her delight, was currently burning with a brilliant crimson flame. "So cool," she gushed, admiring her reflection in the blade. "Kind of thought it would be harder, though."
"Well, you do have exceptionally high Tyrannosaurus dinpo," Tyrajonin pointed out proudly. "The others are having a slightly harder time."
Indeed, the other four had yet to draw their swords. This didn't last for much longer, however, as Sora took a deep breath, calmed himself, and slid his blade from its scabbard with enviable smoothness, examining the sword, which had yellow winds swirling around it, with interest. "Incredible…"
A moment later, Mozu managed to draw her sword as well, looking at the blade in awe as pink cherry blossoms billowed around it. "It's so beautiful…"
Kenji and Jiro, however, didn't seem to be having much luck drawing their swords. "I think… Mine's stuck…" Kenji hissed through gritted teeth, sweat rolling down his face.
"Just gotta put a little more… Elbow grease… into it…" Jiro grunted, muscles bulging, a vein throbbing on her forehead.
However, after another minute passed, and neither of them made any headway, Tricerajonin finally sighed and said, "Kenji, stop."
"But sensei," Kenji protested. "I've almost got-"
"No, you don't," Tricerajonin interrupted. "I'm sorry, Kenji. I was wrong. You aren't the one."
The crestfallen look on the ninja's face was heartbreaking. Dejected, he powered down and resignedly put the sword back on the cart. He stared at the blade, trembling, and stumbled, and would've fallen if Akira hadn't caught him. "Sorry, Kenji," she apologized softly.
"I thought it was going to be me," he whispered, on the brink of tears. "I thought… I thought this was my destiny…"
"So did I, Kenji," Tricerajonin said sadly. "so did I."
"Jiro. You stop as well," Ankylojonin reluctantly told the still-struggling ninja.
"Sensei, please, I can do this, I just need a little more time-" the musclebound girl begged.
"Jiro."
The ninja's mouth snapped shut. She closed her eyes, took a deep, shuddering breath, then nodded once, released her power, and set the sword back on the cart. She didn't bother trying to hide her tears.
Concerned, Mozu glanced at her mentor. "Not to sound callous or anything, but… Don't we need all five?"
Raptorjonin hissed in displeasure. "Three is doable, but… You are correct, a complete team would be ideal, given the circumstances."
"But where are we going to find a Triceratops and Ankylosaurus ninja with enough dinpo to wield the swords?" Pterajonin queried in alarm.
"Tetsu," Jiro said suddenly, not having taking her eyes off the weapon which had rejected her.
Ankylojonin started at this. "Tetsu?! But, Jiro he hasn't made chuunin! He's failed the exam, more than once!"
"That may be so, but he's got more Ankylosaurus dinpo then anyone else in the tribe," she reminded her master. "If anyone can draw the sword, it's him."
Akira frowned and tapped her teeth. "Tetsu… Tetsu… Do I know him?"
"He's the really big one who never talks," Sora reminded her.
Akira's eyes lit up in recognition. "Oh yeah, that guy! Vow of silence or something, right?"
"No, that's Kazu, Tetsu doesn't talk because the Youkai who murdered his family cut his tongue out," Tyrajonin corrected her daughter.
Akira winced at this. "Oh. Right. That Tetsu."
Kenji, who just finished downing several glass of water provided by microraptors, frowned. "Wait, doesn't he have some trouble with controlling his temper?"
"He… Does," Ankylojonin confessed. "While he excels in the physical parts of his training, he is rather… Lacking, spiritually speaking." He sighed. "Unfortunately, I don't think we have another option. Jiro is right, he has the strongest dinpo of the tribe."
"Okay, that's four," Mozu said in relief. "But what about the Triceratops ninja?"
Tricerajonin cringed. "Well. One person comes to mind, but… You're really not gonna like who…"
…
Bakano Triko scoffed as he examined the blue Dinintana. "Really, Kenji? You couldn't pull this thing out?" He scoffed and shook his head. "Well, hardly a surprise, really. You never were as good as me."
Kenji's eye twitched and he shot Tricerajonin a look of betrayal. The giant biomechanical Triceratops ninja gave him an awkward and apologetic shrug.
"So, all I need to do is draw the sword, and I get to be on the same team as Akira?" Bakano asked, leering at the Tyrannosaurus tribe ninja.
She glared at him. "Regrettably."
He laughed. "Really, Akira, if you wanted a date with me, all you had to do was ask, not come up with this convoluted scheme to spend time with me."
"Bakano, trust me when I say that I have no intention of spending any time with you beyond what is absolutely necessary for our duty to protect the world," Akira told him coldly.
Bakano chuckled. "There's no need for you to play hard to get with me, Akira, I already know you're madly in love with me. You should smile more, by the way, it would make you look less intimidating."
"I smile all the time," she told him through gritted teeth.
"Then why have you never smiled at me?" He complained.
"Because I completely and utterly despise you," she replied bluntly. "But hey, if you really want a smile…"
She grinned, very widely, showing off every one of her long, serrated fangs.
Mozu swooned. Bakano swallowed and turned back to the sword. "Right, let's see about removing the sword, shall we?"
He picked up the Dinintana, grabbed the hilt, and started pulling with all his might, which wasn't very much.
The sword didn't budge.
His face turned very red. He clenched his teeth, sweat rolled down his face, veins bulged out of his forehead, and they could hear his bones starting to crack.
The sword didn't budge.
"Come on you stupid-"
Sighing in relief, Tricerajonin said, "Enough, Bakano, it looks like you aren't-"
Suddenly, with a cry of agony, Bakano managed to wrench the sword from its scabbard, in the process losing his balance, nearly decapitating one of the microraptors, and falling on his ass. The sword left his hand, flipped through the air, and came down right between his legs, only millimeters away from castrating him.
Bakano blinked at the blade, glowing blue and surrounded by bubbles, and his pasty face lit up. "I did it, just like I always knew I would!"
Everyone groaned, disappointed on so many levels. "FUCKING DAMMIT," Tricerajonin howled.
"If the existence of the gods hadn't been scientifically proven, I think that would've made me into an atheist," Bix said morosely.
Kenji threw up his hands, outraged. "Really? It picked him over me?! HIM?!"
"I guess the sword knew who the better man was," Bakano laughed as he pulled himself to his feet and started trying and failing to prize the sword from the ground. "But hey, thanks for loosening it up for me!"
Livid, Kenji stormed out of the room. "Kenji, wait!" Tricerajonin cried, chasing after him.
Sora shot his master a pleading look. "Do we really have to work with him? Really?"
Mozu nodded. "He's going to spend the whole time making a fool of himself, getting in our way, and probably sexually harassing Akira and myself!"
"I'm flattered, but you're way too young for me, sorry," Bakano apologized, gritting his teeth as he continued to fail to pull the sword from the ground.
Mozu blinked in confusion. "Too… How young you think I am?"
"You're like 10, right?" Bakano guessed.
Mozu's jaw dropped. "10 – I'm a lot older than that!"
"Really?" He asked, genuinely surprised. "But you're so short!"
Mozu's eyes flashed in rage. "EXCUSE ME?!"
Akira shot her mother a pleading look. "Mom. This isn't going to work. Please don't let him on the team. This is way too important for someone like, like him to get involved."
"I appreciate your concern, my future wife, but I assure you, I can handle myself," Bakano declared, just before he managed to pull the sword out of the ground, smack himself in the head with the hilt, and fall on his ass again.
"You promised me I'd never have to deal with anything like this again," Akira begged. "Remember last year, when you took me up to that old guru in the mountains so he could teach me some super special Tyrannosaurus dinpo technique, but he spent the entire time trying to grope me or spy on me in the bath or sniffing my underwear?"
"Someone else got to see your body and fondle your undergarments before me?!" Bakano demanded, outraged. Mozu was also outraged, mainly for what Akira had to go through, but partially for the same reason as Bakano, which filled her with a deep sense of shame.
Tyrajonin grimaced at the reminder. That old bastard hadn't even tasted very good… "… You're right, I did promise that. I'm sorry, honey. You're right. Bakano is off the team."
"WHAT?!" Bakano protested, outraged, as everyone else sighed in relief. "No, wait, you can't have that! It's mine!" He protested as the microraptors wrestled the blade out of his hands. "Sensei, help! They're trying to deny me my destiny!"
Tricerajonin poked his head back into the room. "Did I hear you say you weren't letting Bakano on the team?"
"Yes," Tyrajonin confirmed.
Bakano grinned triumphantly, glancing expectantly at the triceratops, who seemed to be mulling this over.
"Yeah, that's probably the right call," Tricerajonin admitted, much to his horror. "Especially considering this is a diplomatic mission, the minute he opened his mouth he would probably screw everything up. Here, bring the blade over, maybe now that Bakano actually drew it we can find some way to make it work for Kenji."
"I'll help!" Bix volunteered, running over to the triceratops' side.
"But… but…" Bakano protested, stunned, as the microraptors finally ripped the sword from his grip. They looked at it in disgust, wiped the hilt down carefully, and carried it over to Tricerajonin. "Wait…WAIT!" He exclaimed. "This is… This is a test, right? You're trying to convince me I'm undeserving, so that I will better myself and prove myself worthy in your eyes!"
"No, this is absolutely not a test," Tricerajonin assured him.
"Which is exactly what you would say if this WERE a test!" Bakano cried.
Everyone groaned.
"You realize this is your fault, right?" Raptorjonin told Tricerajonin harshly.
He sighed. "Yeah, I know… Come on, Bakano, just go back to your dorm already before you make even more of a scene. This is embarrassing for everyone, especially yourself."
"Sensei!" Bakano cried as Tricerajonin left the room with Bix and the sword-carrying microraptors. "Sensei, wait!" Stumbling to his feet, he turned to Akira and winked and blew a kiss, causing her to recoil in revulsion. "Don't worry, darling, I'll be back by your side soon enough!"
He started to run out of the room, tripped, picked himself up, pretended he hadn't done that, and chased after his master.
"So, you aren't going to be that much of a pain, are you?" Sora asked Tetsu, who'd been standing silently by watching everything, uncertainly.
Tetsu grimaced and shook his head.
Jiro gave a brittle smile and clapped her tribesman on the back. "Take it from me, Tetsu is a bit rough around the edges, but you can trust him to have your back. And hey, at least he won't be as obnoxious to talk to as that guy, right?"
Mozu frowned. "I feel like I should agree with you, but I'm not sure whether or not that was offensive."
It's fine. She's my friend, so she gets a pass, Tetsu signed to them.
Well, I hope you will one day consider us close enough to make jokes like that as well, Sora signed back to the Ankylosaurus ninja, pleasantly surprising him.
You know how to sign? Tetsu signed back, clearly delighted.
Akira laughed and leaned on the pterodactyl ninja's shoulder. "Buddy, Sora knows everything. The pterodactyl tribe are the biggest scholars and record keepers in the entire clan, and Sora here is the biggest one of them all. I'm pretty sure there isn't a single book or scroll in the library he hasn't read."
"I haven't read all of them," Sora said defensively. "There's lots of texts in the restricted section I haven't been able to get permission to read yet."
"Nor will you, for the foreseeable future," Pterajonin told him.
"But there might be something in one of those ancient scrolls that can help Akira achieve her lifelong dream of becoming a Shinobiryu," Sora argued.
Pterajonin raised an eyebrow. "And the fact that such a technique would also make it easier for you to be with my daughter has nothing to do with it?"
Sora blushed. "Well… The thought did cross my mind."
"Go ahead, Tetsu," Ankylojonin addressed the silent ninja. "Take up the sword."
Tetsu picked up the sword… And hesitated. Sensei, are you… Certain I am worthy?
Ankylojonin smiled at him patiently. "You are concerned because of what happened during your exam."
"What happened during his exam?" Mozu whispered to Jiro.
"He failed," she whispered back. "Really badly."
Mozu cringed in sympathy.
"As badly as Bakano?" Akira whispered to her.
Jiro considered this. "Okay, maybe not that badly."
Tetsu gave them an irritated look. I can hear you. I'm mute, not deaf.
The three ninjas jumped. "Sorry," Akira apologized quickly. She glanced at Sora. "Sora, how do I sign 'sorry?'"
"You don't need to, he just heard you," Sora pointed out.
"Yes, but considering we're going to be on a team together for the foreseeable future, I think it would be a good idea for us all to learn how to sign properly," Akira countered. "Not only would it be respectful to Tetsu, but it would be very useful in the field."
"A fair point," Sora conceded. He demonstrated the appropriate gesture for them, and Akira and Mozu mimicked it at Tetsu, who nodded in acceptance.
"The only way to know if you're worthy is to see for yourself," Ankylojonin said, reminding them, once again, of the reason Tetsu was there. "Go on, Tetsu. Give it a try."
Tetsu still hesitated, and glanced at Jiro. Jiro… Are you sure-
She smiled at him, though there was more than a hint of sadness in it. "Go ahead, Tetsu. If it's not going to be me, I can't think of anyone else more deserving. Go on. You can do it."
Tetsu frowned, still uncertain, then nodded once, gripped the hilt of the Dinintana with his free hand, and concentrated, green dinpo blazing to life around his body.
A flash of memory. Red eyes, glowing in the dark. A face like a skull.
He tensed, clenching his teeth.
A cold, evil laugh. The sound of thunder. The feeling of rain. The scent of… Blood…
He started to tremble.
Screams. Cries for help. Shame. Regret. Pain. Fear. Fear. Fear.
His aura wavered-
"Tetsu."
The voice of the specter that had haunted him almost his entire life was banished by a single word.
"Tetsu," Jiro told him, eyes shining with unwavering trust and certainty. "You can do this."
And Tetsu drew the blade.
For a moment, he hadn't realized he had done it. It had happened so quickly, so easily, it took him several seconds for it to register. And then, staring in wonder at the blade in his hand, green crystals clustering around it, he realized that he had drawn the sword. Despite failing his exam, despite lacking the spirituality of his peers, despite his anger issues and inability to talk and frequent nightmares…
Despite all that, he had been able to draw the Dinintana.
(Granted, so had Bakano, but he chose not to dwell on that thought for too long. Besides, Kenji had probably loosened it for him.)
And then Jiro was hugging him. "You did it!" She cried in delight. "I knew you could do it!"
Blushing very hard, he awkwardly hugged her back, making sure to keep his new sword angled away from her.
"Are they dating?" Akira whispered to Sora.
He shook his head. "I don't think so, no."
Akira looked disappointed at this. "Shame, they'd make a cute couple."
"We would make a cute couple," Mozu murmured, giving Akira a besotted look.
Akira glanced at her. "Hmm?"
Panicking and turning as pink as her hair, Mozu stammered, "I-I mean, yes, they would absolutely make a cute couple! There's lots of other ninjas who would make cute couples! Any couple that had you in it would be super cute ahahahaha oh God Generals I've said too much."
Akira scratched her head in confusion as Mozu laughed shrilly, a manic expression on her face. "What's her deal?"
Raptorjonin faceclawed.
Ankylojonin smiled warmly, deciding to ignore the awkward lesbian mess. "Well done, Tetsu. I knew you had it in you."
"And with that, it would seem we have a complete team," Tyrajonin noted.
"What about-" Pterajonin started.
"A. Complete. Team," Tyrajonin repeated through gritted teeth.
Sora frowned. "Is it really all right with just four of us, though? Don't most Sentai teams start with three or a full roster of five?"
"The Abarangers had four," Pterajonin reminded him.
"Yes, but Asuka wasn't able to transform for a while after he came to our world," Sora countered.
"But he still fought alongside them, and was able to become AbareBlack before anyone else back on his own world," Akira pointed out.
Tetsu frowned and signed, Does that count?
"A better question is, does it really matter?" Mozu inquired deadpan.
"No, the really strange thing is we're starting off without a blue," Akira said decisively. "Red and blue are pretty much always among the first colors to be on a Sentai team."
"I'm sure Kenji or someone else will manage to draw the blue Dinintana and join us later," Sora suggested.
"I know, it's just weird, it is all," Akira commented.
"Well, if you want, we can call back Bakano-" Tyrajonin started.
"Don't even joke about that!" Akira snapped.
"A bit of an unorthodox start for a new generation of heroes, but this could be worse," Pterajonin reflected.
"Yes, we could be keeping Bakano on the team for real," Raptorjonin said dryly.
"Seriously, don't joke about that!" Akira shouted.
Ankylojonin sighed. "Hopefully, our meeting with the Youkaliens will go smoother."
(Spoiler alert: it didn't.)