Chapter Three: Master and Student
In the mountains of autumn, a lone ninja of the Shadow Clan looked through the trees. As the wind howled, he had the feeling that something was happening. Something was here. Then he looked up and saw a blade descending for his head.
Ryu struck the man across the back of the neck with the dull end of his sword. The man fell forward, unconscious to land on the ground. Ryu landed on one knee and arose to look at his fallen enemy. "He would never have survived in this world anyway." said Ryu in echo of words once spoken.
Then he heard the falling of soft feet like those of a tiger in the shadows. Ryu whirled around to see two Shadow Ninjas came out of the trees. He ducked under a blade and moved aside from a stab as he took a stance, parrying, dodging and weaving.
Finally, there came a halt in the conflict. One of the Shadow Ninja Ryu had trained with kneeled by the body. He checked it with two fingers,
'He's still alive.' said the man. 'Ryu, you traitor! What is the meaning of this!'
Ryu did not respond. He fled into the trees. They followed after him soon, and he led them through the forests. Eventually, he scaled up to a cliff and slipped on to a ledge, waiting.
The Shadow Ninja came out of the trees, searching. 'Find him. We'll bring him to Master Murai for judgment." Even as they moved forward, Ryu leaped off the cliff and descended to land behind them.
They turned, but too late. Both fell unconscious to the ground.
No doubt they had sent a warning. It was time to dispense with stealth for good. Ryu turned and began to rush towards the summit of the mountain. As he ran through the trees, however, shurikens came whistling out of them. He parried them with his blade, and then the Shadow Ninjas landed around him, swords in hand. 'Ryu? You dare to strike down my men?'
'My training is complete.' replied Ryu, taking a stance.
They surged at him from all sides, but he leaped over their blades before striking down two. The others surged at him, and he was driven back across the clearing. Turning around he ran up a tree and kicked off it to pass the remaining Shadow Ninjas by. Landing on one knee he looked back as they stood very stood.
The Flying Swallow was such a wonderful technique.
They fell unconscious one by one. Ryu arose in satisfaction, before continuing to make his way up the autumn slopes. As he did so he took a moment to admire the scenery all around him. The trees were blowing in an errant breeze, and the smell of autumn was in the air. The falling leaves were quite beautiful. He might not see this place again for a long time.
A pang of regret hit him. This had been his home.
Now it was a place he once dwelled in. Such was the pursuit of power. Ryu made his way up the slopes slowly, feeling contemplative. Soon he came to a sheer rise. The ladder had been pulled up, but it mattered not.
He scaled the wall and reached the time. At last, he stood upon a ledge near the top of the plateau upon which the Shadow Ninja clan had its fortress. Here he halted, for he sensed something.
There was the dojo in all its glory — simple but elegant design. And within there were all manner of traps for the unwary. Two lit torches blazed on either side of the entrance, never ceasing, never running out of fuel.
Such as this one.
Dozens of Shadow Ninja descended. Their blades gleamed in the sunlight as they shot toward him. The world slowed to a crawl around him. Ryu felt in that moment more like a manifestation of power than a human. Mentally he knew they could kill him if he made one wrong move, but it didn't matter.
He did not make one wrong move. His blade seemed to sing as one after another he knocked them down. Ryu would defeat them all.
Soon not one was left unconscious. It had all taken seconds.
Sheathing his sword, Ryu looked to the entrance over the dozens of unconscious bodies. This was all of them. All but one.
Murai was left to account for.
Murai was meditating, and considering the matter of his own ambitions. As he did so, his Shadow Clan was decimated. He could have personally led the operation against him. But he felt he ought to humor the boy. He'd come all this way to prove himself. It would be a shame to not give him the chance.
In any case, Murai doubted Ryu would actually kill them, and they would learn from the beating. And if they were to be killed, then he had others who were not present at the Shadow Ninja Fortress.
He sensed the battle drawing nearer to the fortress. Very soon his Shadow Ninja would make their final stand. He did not open his eyes, however. Things were in motion now, and all must play their part. 'Ayane.' he said, looking at the shadow behind the screen.
'Yes, Master Murai?' asked Ayane.
'Something is very wrong,' he said, 'I sense a disturbance emanating from the Hayabusa Village. Go there and report back to me what you find.'
'Should I not inform Master Ryu?' asked Ayane.
'The boy seeks to prove himself.' said Murai. 'Let him have his chance.'
Ayane bowed and moved out into the terrace, before launching herself from the walkway. As she fell, she shot a cord which caught a tree limb and swung away. Ninjas could move very quickly when they wanted to, and Ayane, young though she was, was no exception. Murai had no doubt that she would play her part, as would the others in the plan.
The only uncertainty was Ryu. He had learned much, but what he strong enough to defeat Murai?
Was he strong enough for the challenges he would no doubt face?
Only time would tell.
The sounds of battle drew suddenly very near, almost to the door, and then halted entirely. The doors slid open and Ryu stepped into the room. Murai was facing the other way, but he could tell by the weight of the boy's footsteps. He had little talent for stealth and always stepped too heavily. Murai picked up his nunchucks in one hand and arose.
'I see you have made it this far.' he said.
Turning around, he saw that the boy was holding the Dragon Sword drawn in one hand. Yet there was no blood upon it. Murai was not surprised. He had not expected Ryu to possess the ruthlessness to kill simply to prove himself. Taking his nunchucks in two hands, he spun them around with practiced ease.
Then there was silence between them.
It was Ryu who moved first. He surged forward with the blade in hand and nearly took a nunchuck to the face for his trouble. Murai let him slip away to prolong the battle.
Ryu rolled aside in search of an opening As if Murai would simply wait for him to attack. A mistake.
Murai surged forward to unleash flurries of attacks. Ryu dodged and weaving as Murai pursued, but he was never allowed the initiative. Even so, the boy did well in his defense. They danced back and forth, seeking each others defeat, and perhaps demise.
Finally, Ryu gained some space. He slashed at Murai with his sword, but Murai stepped aside. He could kill him here. Instead, he caught him by the neck and slammed him down onto the floor. Bringing down one foot he aimed for Ryu's neck to pin him. Yet the boy rolled aside to his satisfaction. Murai pursued, turning to keep his eyes on his enemy at all times. He caught Ryu with a glancing blow and made a rush for him that the boy narrowly avoided.
Yet as he turned from that rush Ryu was on him. The young ninja attacked with a flurry of blows, only to withdraw before Murai could strike back. For a moment they were still as they faced each other.
Then the two warriors rushed at each other and met head-on — their weapons pressing against each other in a lock of brute force. For a moment Murai was shoving the boy back, but then Ryu set one foot against a wall and shoved him backward.
Despite his disadvantage, Murai recovered and parried the counterattack only moderate difficulty. Then he pressed back with assaults of his own and landed several hits. To his satisfaction, Ryu kept them from being anything more than glancing blows. The boy kept his feet.
Then the young ninja rolled around Murai and attacked from behind. The older man was forced to the defensive for a few moments. Then Murai backflipped backward to avoid his strike, before taking a defensive posture. For a moment their eyes met in silent challenge.
The boy knew he was outmatched. And yet he was determined not to give in. His resolve was admirable. Finally, both of them relaxed. They bowed to one another. Then they sat down cross-legged and putting away their weapons.
The victor was clear. Murai remained the master of the Shadow Ninja Clan.
Then the doors slid open. Dozens of Shadow Ninjas rushed into the rooms, blades drawn. They surrounded Ryu and put blades to him. "Master Murai! Give the order!"
Murai raised a hand. 'Calm yourself.' said Murai. 'Ryu has passed my test.'
'Test?' asked the Shadow Ninja.
"Of a sort." said Murai. "Have some tea made and brought to us. We must speak of the future."
It was a very pleasant time that passed. They spoke of events, the advancing of the ninja clans. Ryu, it seemed, had not reconciled with his father just yet. As they worked Murai eyed the weapon Ryu had brought. A marvelous blade indeed. Then he recognized it.
'Ah,' said Murai, 'the Dragon Sword. So your Father is still in the sacred wilderness.' As expected, Joe Hayabusa was far too concerned with direct power. And not enough with the events surrounding him. No man was an island. He had not been paying attention to home.
'Yes,' said Ryu, 'he has entrusted me with the sword while he continues his training.' There was a note of resentment in his tone. 'He never seems satisfied with the power he wields.'
Murai smiled, feeling a sense of affection for the boy. One that had to be controlled. 'Someday you will come to understand the pursuit of power. Perhaps, beginning with your training here.' He paused. 'And what of the sister blade, the Dark Dragon? Has he left you in charge of protecting it as well?'
At this Ryu remained silent. Did he suspect something? 'It remains in the village under the protection of my Father's clan. They will ensure that the sword remains untouched… its power sealed.'
'It is a shame that such a sword must go untouched,' mused Murai, speaking from the heart, 'such power unused. Alas, I am not of the Dragon Lineage. The sword is not of my concern.' He was related to Ryu only through his sister, though he and Joe had been as close as brothers once.
A coincidence of fate that had mocked him for a long time.
Suddenly he heard panting, gasps for breath as the door was thrown open and Ayane stumbled in. 'Master Murai! The Hayabusa village!' Ryu arose and turned slowly to Ayane, who opened her mouth. 'Master Ryu…'
Flames were arising in the distance where the Hayabusa village stood. The village was burning. Murai looked to the boy.
'Go now,' said Murai, 'defend your people. Ayane will assist you. I will follow with the Shadow Ninja Clan.'
Ryu and Ayane were gone in a flash, moving faster than he had thought both of them capable of. Murai looked out over the landscape before him and saw that night was falling over Mount Fuji. Soon enough the moon would replace the sun entirely. Events were in motion now, and could not be stopped. There was no going back for any of them.
Murai took his nunchucks and made his way down the steps to gather his clan.
Doku made his way along the corpse-strewn path, saluted by his many samurai as he did so. His warriors had persisted in life long after their flesh had decayed to dust. Now the very armor they bore in life was their body.
And they had done well today.
Men woman and children lay dead around him. It was a testament to the slaughter perpetrated in the opening acts of the attack. Around him, he could see his samurai fighting with a number of ninjas.
A samurai was cut in half, and another pierced with many shurikens. Yet a ninja was shot by arrows. Another was impaled with a sword. Spheres of fire rained down throughout the streets. Doku observed their efforts with satisfaction.
This, of course, was only the outer part of the village.
A new force of ninjas descended and attacked the samurai. She hacked through them and making directly for Doku. He motioned. A red-armored samurai writhed in flames appeared and impaled one with his spear.
The others dodged around his strokes, trying to bring him down. Yet one by one they were ridden down, and Doku walked past. As he did so, an arrow shot out of the darkness and lodged itself between Doku's armor. Removing it, Doku looked up to see a violet-haired girl descended. She shot arrow after arrow, killing several samurais. As Doku advanced, she hurled a flurry of daggers at him with bounced off his armor.
Before she could move, Doku surged forward and grabbed her by the throat. Lifting her, he hurled her against the window of a nearby tower. The window was smashed inwards, and then there was nothing more. Doku wondered if he had killed her, and then reflected that it mattered not.
The fight was over. He turned to the red armor flame samurai.
'Masakado, what news?' he asked.
'The woman, children, and noncombatants are fleeing as we speak.' said Masakado. 'They're making for the hills. Permit me to take my horsemen and slaughter them all. Their deaths might bring glory to the Vigoor Emperor.'
The wretches were broken. There was no sense in tormenting them further. Best to achieve their objective and leave them to rebuild their huts.
'No,' said Doku, 'our priority is the Dark Dragon Blade. The Shadow Ninja Clan may involve itself. I will retrieve the Dark Dragon Blade. You will stand guard and crush anyone who might interfere.'
'I understand, Lord Doku.' said Masakado. 'What of the village?'
Doku looked over it. It would not do to let these miserable cretins go unpunished. They had withheld Dark Dragon Blade. But if not extermination, what lesser punishment could he give?
One presented itself. 'Burn it all.'
Authors Note:
Okay, so that is the first mission done. Originally I had some trouble figuring out just how I meant to do the whole Ryu vs. the Shadow Ninja Clan subplot. But I ultimately decided to not have Ryu murder them all. When playing you can chalk it up to gameplay and story segregation, but in a book it would probably result in a profoundly awkward conversation.