Cluing in the Crimson Fiery Rival Friend
Yumi is seen walking through the street of the town of Asakusa doing a little errand run for her friends as she volunteered to go out, but that was just an excuse for her to go see someone who might know more about what Asuka is doing right now, such as her grandfather the legendary Shinobi, Hanzo.
"It should be around here." Yumi said to herself, reading the address of Hanzo's sushi shop she got form Asuka sometime ago.
However, when Yumi arrives at the shop it was already closed with the sign saying it'll be that way until further notice much to her disappointment.
"(So much for that.)" Yumi thought exclaimed.
"Did you come to see Asuka's grandfather too?" A familiar voice asked.
Yumi turns to the left seeing a person standing with her back against the wall of the sushi shop building as she is shocked know who that is.
"Homura!" Yumi surprised, also realizing she must have come here for the same reason too.
"I get it, it would make sense. You figured he'd know what's going on with Asuka." Homura said.
"Yes, you are right about that." Yumi admitted and decided to tell her what happened yesterday as well.
"Come with me, I'll tell you what I know about Asuka's current situation." Yumi said as she walks and Homura soon follow.
Yumi and Homura are now standing at the river bay close the metal fences as the leader Shinobi girl of Gessen have just finished explaining everything she could tell Homura about Asuka and this mysterious special guest for the Shinobi Master tournament.
"I see, I'm glad to hear that Asuka is okay and she's already planning on rescuing her friends, but I'm not sure if I can trust this mystery guy as much." Homura said as she tosses a pebble into the water.
"I'm having a little trouble trusting someone I don't even know, but I can sense truth in Asuka's words that he can help her save her friends. So, I have no worries for her safety." Yumi stated.
"Well, at least we know that Asuka can take care of herself fine." Homura said with her hands behind the back of her head.
"I'm also curious about this guy knowing you in the first place." Homura mentioned.
"Yet no matter how hard I think about it, I can't seem to recall meeting a boy throughout my life even during my childhood." Yumi exclaimed.
"Hey, don't beat yourself up for that, sometimes it's hard for something to remember their past when you're moving forward and all that." Homura said.
"You know, this reminds me of how my grandfather and Asuka's grandfather used to be friends, but they had a bit of a falling out because they disagreed on certain things like how my grandfather wanted to eliminate all Evil Shinobis." Yumi mentioned.
"I heard about that, guess even Good Shinobis can disagree on somethings." Homura said.
"I suppose, and I would fight Asuka on several occasions because of our disagreement, but something in one of our battles." Yumi remembered that day.
"You come to understand each other more." Homura smirked, knowing what Yumi is thinking right now.
"Yes." Yumi nodded with a smile.
"Asuka's a very peculiar girl. She's always going on about justice and the path of the Shinobi and all those other good ninjas cliches. But then when you cross swords with her, you can feel her passion." Homura said looking at her fist then the sky, remembering the times when they used to be enemies and even teamed up in their Super Shinobi forms.
"Her heart is absolutely burning with it." Homura smiled.
"Indeed, it does." Yumi agreed, remembering how they used to fight and their weapons clash including the earlier battle they had.
"Yumi, there's something I come to realize since I started working as a renegade Shinobi." Homura said.
"What's that?" Yumi asked curiously.
"Some people can come to understand each other regardless of whether they're a Good Ninja or an Evil Ninja." Homura shared her thoughts of what it means for others to understand each other.
"Those are some wise words, then I take it you are going to participate in the Shinobi Masters Tournament." Yumi guessed.
"Hell yeah, I don't want a bunch of strangers picking the strongest shinobi when I'm not around. Of course, I'm in." Homura tossed the pebble with great force making it bounces onto the water.
"Are you and your team gonna enter?" Homura asked the same question back.
"We are. There are a lot of things that seems suspicious about all this, but we have to rescue the Hanzo girls, no matter what." Yumi determined as she was about to throw a pebble, but her right arm flinch in pain.
"Are you okay?" Homura asked concern.
"Yes, it would seem Asuka and I fought each other harder than I thought." Yumi chuckled.
"Well, she did want to see your will through battle and now you need a hot spring. And luckily for you, I know the perfect spot." Homura suggested.
"A hot spring? That sounds great." Yumi smiled.
(Nighttime, with Fubuki)
Fubuki is walking through the streets in the dark with barely any light down the path and a Yoma appeared ready to for some bloodshed, it turns around seeing Fubuki thinking she could be her next victim and pounce at her.
However, Fubuki did nothing and hold out her hand which actually made the Yoma monster stops and actually bowing at her which the girl places her hand on the head.
She looks up at the sky with just one question in mind.
"I wonder what you're doing right now, Neppe?" Fubuki asked.
(With Neppe)
"You know, I could have enjoyed a nice evening stroll if you didn't show up." Neppe grinned.
Neppe is facing down with a Yoma that appears to be a monstrous form of a panda as it swings it claws down and Neppe easily dodges them and pull out his red katana with a few swings before landing behind the Yoma. Once he put the sword back on the stripe of his back, the Yoma screams only for a second before its head and both arms fell off the body.
"Damn, if only Fubuki was easy to deal with than the Yomas." Neppe said before looking up at the sky thinking about his twin sister and this plan of hers.
"Whatever it takes, I'll stop you." Neppe promised.
(The Next Day, Hot Spring Bathhouse)
Yumi and Homura are hanging out at the hot spring bathhouse to relax from the stress and for Yumi's body to heal too, but they aren't alone as their teammates are also here to enjoy the hot spring and Yumi's team wanted to go when she told them and Homura doesn't mind as she pointed out that it's best for everyone to be in top form for the Shinobi Master Tournament.
"I love this place. All of the baths here are really nice." Yomi complimented.
"I can't wait to try them all!" Shiki excited as Murakumo agrees.
"What's this? Why are you still wearing your mask we're bathing? Off with it." Haruka took Murakumo's mask revealing her face.
Murakumo has always believed that her face is ugly which explains why she always wear the mask at all times, she quickly covers up her face with a towel and screams a little.
"My, she's noisy." Haruka commented giving the mask to Shiki.
Mirai is scrubbing her body with a towel and some soap, she notices Haruka has been staring at her for a while now.
"What's up? Why are you staring at me?" Mirai asked.
"It looks like your bug bite have gotten bigger." Haruka said referring to Mirai's tiny breasts.
"You think so?" Mirai asked joyfully.
"I do. However, I think… I should do some exploratory research." Haruka grinned grope motioning her hands.
"Whoa, you can't be serious?" Mirai shocked covering her chest with her arms.
"After all, the only way to prove it is with hands-on testing." Haruka proclaimed.
"No thanks, I'll just take your word for it!" Mirai said as she backs away.
Some of the girls decided to go outside of the foot bath finding it to be long and awesome to enjoy the relaxation and the outdoor while the others stayed inside as Yumi is washing herself firmly and being gentle with her wound right shoulder.
"Oh, oh yes! Grip my boobs harder, Murakumo!" Haruka moaned as the masked girl of Gessen is fondling her breasts.
"Wow, your breasts are one cup bigger than mine! And they feel amazing, different too!" Murakumo amazed and already thought of some new materials for her comics.
"Sheesh, you two are weird with that strange common thing." Mirai deadpanned.
Hearing all of this has made Yumi twitching her eyebrows and her patients is starting to wear thin as the quiet and relaxation she has been hoping since arriving here has been disturbed by them.
"Will you two please knock it off! It's like you're trying to eat pizza in the bath which you're not supposed to!" Yumi yelled at the three.
"I'm sorry, but pizza in the bath?" Haruka confused as the other two are as well.
"Where did you get an idea like that, Yumi?" Murakumo asked.
"Well, it's… Wait, why was I thinking about pizza just now?" Yumi confused at herself too and then her mind went to Neppe.
"Huh, now I'm thinking of Neppe again." Yumi said.
"Oh, you mean that cutie from the pool resort. Having a crush on him?" Haruka teased.
"Don't be silly, of course not!" Yumi snapped with her whole face blushing red as she stands up.
(Mikagura Sisters' Shrine)
Three shrine maiden girls are seen weeping up some leaves from the ground of the shrine as the sun is setting as part of their duties, and all three of them are sisters.
"Hey, let's take a break." The oldest sister suggested.
The oldest sister has brown hair in a twin-tails with a cowlick in the shape of a lightning bolt and dark brown eyes. Breasts sizes: G-cup.
This girl is Renka.
"Sounds good, I can go for that." The youngest sister agreed.
The youngest sister is a young girl with fair skin and large, dark grey eyes normally depicted squinting or slanted, and purple eyes. Breasts sizes: C-cup.
Her name is Kafuru.
"Just when you think you're done, more leaves fall." Kafuru sighed as she sees more leaves coming down from the trees.
"Maybe we should blast it all flat instead." The middle sister suggested joking.
The middle sister has short dirty, pale orange hair with a thin yellow hairclip and blue eyes. Breasts sizes: H-cup.
She is Hanabi.
All three of them are known as the Mikagura Sisters as they are not only Shrine Maidens, but they are also Shinobis as well.
"Right, this festival won't be that much fun anyway." Renka said wondering if there are any people coming to the shrine for New Years.
Then they heard footsteps coming up the stairs and see a young woman looks to be around their age wearing a brown coat walking up to the shrine.
"Who is that?" Renka wondered.
"Don't know, never seen her before." Hanabi said.
"I've got a bad feeling." Kafuru glared at the stranger.
"Stop there! What do you want from us?" Renka asked as she can tell this girl isn't here to pray for anything.
"Renka. Hanabi. Kafuru. You're the three Mikagura Sisters, aren't you?" The girl asked as her face is shown to be none other than Fubuki.
"Who are you exactly, and how is it that you know our names?" Kafuru asked.
"If the three of you are here then I must be in the right place. Tell me where I can find Kagura." Fubuki revealed her intention with that question.
"We would never give out that information." Renka refused to tell this woman anything, especially about Kagura.
"If you don't want to tell me, that's fine. I'll just have to eliminate you first and then look for her on my own." Fubuki proclaimed as she doesn't want to waste time with those girls.
"Whatever. You're certainly welcome to try." Renka grinned, though she can sense that this woman is strong and this battle won't be easy to win.
"Stand down, girls. I was expecting her to come here." Kagura said revealing herself outside of the shrine temple with Naraku by her side as always.
"Kagura, do you know her?" Renka asked.
"Not personally, but I have heard lots about her from Neppe who is that girl's twin brother." Kagura answered.
"Wait, twins?" Hanabi shocked.
"I promise to tell you girls all about it after this little conversation." Kagura said.
"I see then let's talk." Fubuki said as she appeared in front of her in an instant.
"Because Kagura, this girl is very strong just as Neppe warned us about." Naraku alerted the little girl.
"I know." Kagura nodded before jumping down in front of Fubuki.
"Kagura, you were born for the express purpose of slaying yoma. So, I thought it would be wise to ask if you wanted to participate"
"In the Shinobi Masters Tournament, I heard about this from Neppe saying you have also invited the Homura's Crimson Squad and the Gessen Shinobi girls. He also told that you might be planning to invite me as well which you just about to do that." Kagura cut off Fubuki's sentence, already figuring out this girl's plan.
"It would seem my brother is being nosey as always, not to mention even making contact with you of all people which can also mean you already know what we are." Fubuki said.
"That's right, not only have we become best friends, but I was also the one who trained Neppe into the ways of the Shinobi as he developed his own fighting style along the way to kill dangerous yomas and stopping you too." Kagura revealed as Fubuki's eyes widen and her fist clutches.
"It would seem that is something I didn't know until now despite being his sister, now my anger for him has grown." Fubuki said in a gentle tone yet fill with rage.
(With Homura)
Homura is drinking a bottle of milk after getting out of the nice relaxing bath, then her Shinobi instinct alerted her of a strong presence nearby.
"Took her long enough." Homura said as she puts down the bottle and went upstairs to the rooftop.
"Come on out, Asuka. I know you're out here." Homura called out.
"I expected nothing less from you, Homura." Asuka said, standing at the water tower.
"Hey, I heard from Yumi about your little intent for the Shinobi Masters Tournament, and you know who this mystery guest is." Homura mentioned.
"Yes, he allowed me to say this that you and the rest of the girls have already met him. He also comments on how cute you were when you were squirted by some water." Asuka scratched a little of her cheek as she blushes a bit.
"Squirted by water?" Homura confused of that line, then realization hit her head hard like a meteorite crash landed on earth as a certain cool guy with black hair.
"No way, it's been Neppe this entire time." Homura laughed.
"So, does he have some sort of grudge against the mastermind behind the Shinobi Masters and those twins as well?" Homura asked.
"More so than you realize, and we'll need your help in order to rescue my friends and stopping the woman known as Fubuki." Asuka revealed.
"So, this mastermind is Fubuki and it looks like Neppe isn't an enemy after all. Alright, I'll think I can lend a helping hand." Homura said.
"I'm glad to hear that, but I also have a different plan in mind for you though it's gonna involve being absence from the tournament." Asuka pulled out her swords into a battle stance.
"Really?" Homura smirked as she can already tell what Asuka has in mind, she removed her bathrobe and took out her Shinobi scroll.
"Shinobi Transformation!" Homura changed inform her Shinobi form which is a short black dress that looks similar to her old Hebijo uniform, and covers it with a small, light grey jacket, with samurai leg armor on each side. Around her neck is a long black cape with white trim.
"Okay Asuka, bring it on!" Homura charged with her six swords ready for battle.
"Here I come!" Asuka charged as well.
KO a new chapter is done and hope you all enjoy it!
We're getting closer to the Shinobi Masters Tournament as everyone is getting themselves relax and ready in their own way, Fubuki has decided to pay Kagura to find out that Neppe was trained by the Ultimate yoma killer and it very upset. Asuka has come to ask Homura for help with only one way for the tanned girl to do that as you can already guess what that is.
KO comment, favorite, and follow through of how this story will go!