The albino stood still with a tanegashima in his hand as he uses his right eye to aim the barrel towards the target sitting on the stack of straw. It stood silent for a delicate minute before he finally pulled back the trigger. Pale smoke escapes the barrel of the gun and a loud echo of the gunshot surrounds the fire zone. The man stood without a flinch before bringing in the gun close to his face; eyes still staring at the target.
"Impressive." A deep voice interrupts him, making him look back at his father. "I don't expect anything less from the greatest sharp shooter in the Fuma clan."
"Thank you father." Kotaro bows deeply at his father's praise.
"Aside from your training, you have received a letter." Kotaro's father looks down at his hand before revealing a tan letter with a red string keeping it closed.
"Do you know who wrote it?" Kotaro asks as he walks up to his father and takes the letter in his grip.
"Messenger didn't say. Seemed to be in a hurry." Kotaro looks down at the letter with a raised eyebrow before untying the red sting and unfolding it.
Reading the letter, Kotaro couldn't help but reread it a second time to finally understand what was going on in the Mikawa province.
~*~ yagyu criminal ~*~
Goemon laid in the clearing of a forest on a warm afternoon. The forest around him sat in silence, excluding the sounds of birds traveling and singing to each other.
Goemon had just gotten back from a mission down south and he requests a break. Even without the approval of the head ninja of the Iga clan, Goemon walked away free and is enjoying his freedom by napping in the middle of the forest. Yet he was used to walking, he felt worn by the trip and stretched his legs out in the plush grass.
"One more move and you will be lunch." Goemon suddenly says out of nowhere. But in the shade of the trees around him, a man was making his way towards him before his voice stops him and he freezes. "What do you want?" He asks the man.
"I have a message. From Hattori Hanzo." He tells the fire bearer.
Goemon opens his eyes and holds out one of his hands, signaling that the man could get close to him. Walking up to the ninja, the man hands him the letter before backing away again and trying to keep his distance.
Goemon reads the letter silently before a smirk appears on his lips and he burns the letter he held in his grip. Standing up from the ground, Goemon makes his way back to Iga to tell the head ninja before his departure in just a few hours.
~*~ yagyu criminal ~*~
"Saizo!" A shouting from outside a home suddenly appears before a head sticks through the sliding doors of the front door. "Saizo?"
"The hell you want, Sasuke?" Saizo asks bluntly as he sat in the living room, reading the letter that was sent out to him.
"Oh! You also got one?!" Sasuke asks loudly as he walks into the home and sits near his friend.
"Don't tell me a monkey like you got a request from Hattori Hanzo." Sasuke smiles and holds up the opened letter to show Saizo. "Tch."
~*~ yagyu criminal ~*~
Kotaro dismounts his horse as he arrives in front of the Hattori mansion before a servant takes his horse away to the stables. He stood silently, admiring the built of the mansion in front of him. Knowing they are a wealthy family and a strong force; tied with the Shogun. But the only son; Hanzo, is still unmarried and has no ties with any wealthy families that are looking for a husband for their daughter. And rumors of Hanzo with his "great" skill with women are all true.
Kotaro stood motionless until swiftly pulling out the matchlock tied in a holster and rotates his body to aim directly behind him. But in precision, the ninja's reflects was able to kick the gun out of Kotaro's hand before throwing a counter punch. The albino quickly deflects before grabbing his opponent's arm and throwing him over his shoulder. But he quickly counters Kotaro's move and kicks him off his feet, making Kotaro fall on the gravel. Before Kotaro could get up again, a body pins him down and holds a knife to his neck.
"Kotaro Fuma." Says the deep voice. "Greatest sharpshooter and gunsman in the Fuma clan. But, not very swift on your feet."
Kotaro looks up to the red head and glares at him. "Goemon Ishikawa. Such a great ninja with a disrespect for women." Goemon's smirk doesn't leave his lips as he tilts his head to the side slightly.
"Called by Hanzo Hattori?" He asks.
"I'm surprised you even showed up."
"Hm. I may be a lady killer, but I am still the great ninja you described me as."
Goemon sits up and sheathed his knife once again; not leaving from his spot on top of Kotaro.
"That's right. You're also a fire bearer. Meaning, you could burn all the evidence that we have." Kotaro says to him sarcastically, making Goemon frown.
"Well look at who we have here." Fire and ice look back and see two other ninja's walking towards them. "Kotaro Fuma and Goemon Ishikawa we're also called in."
"That's who these guys are!?" Sasuke asks loudly.
"Keep your voice down monkey." Saizo lectures before smacking the back of his head.
"Who else is joining this party?" Goemon asks with a sigh.
"So far, only you." Hanzo walks out onto the porch of the mansion and stood in front of the men with Kuma by his side. "Seems like all of you made in a short time notice."
"It was a sudden request, Master Hanzo." Kotaro comments as he stood from the gravel and bowed deeply with the others at his sides.
"But we're here to help in any way possible." Saizo finishes.
"I hope you all can help in a way. You are the youngests and best ninjas of the provinces; I hope you won't fail to catch this assassin."
"We won't, Master Hanzo." The four say in unison.
~*~ yagyu criminal ~*~
Rennoshin sat in his office, staring down at the lock of hair found on the last victim.
"Your killer may be a woman."
Musashi's words ran through his head in repeat. He didn't know what to think anymore. These killings have gone on for two months and he has not been able to rest easy. But now that there is a chance that the unsub is a woman; it changes the whole game of the assassinations.
Rennoshin sat in silence. It's been three days since the last murder, and he is becoming very anxious to find another clue.
"Doctor!" A man suddenly bursts into the clinic in a hurry, making Rennoshin sit up in alertness. "There is another dead body!"