Author's Notes: Sorry about the long wait. I've been having a bad case of writer's block for this particular chapter. I'm still a little clueless about what I wanted here, so try to bear with it. It'll get better after this. Hmm... what else do I want to talk about? Oh. Anyone else here play the Yu-Gi-Oh CCG? I was thinking about making a fic for the anime, but I'd really have to wrack my brain for some interesting and realistic duels before that can happen (I hate how the anime alters the rules). But I'm getting way off topic here. On with the fic!

CODENAME: Kids Next Door

"OPERATION: N.I.N.J.E.R.K."

Nearly Invincible Ninja Joins Enemies Rivaling Kids

Part 6: "Crossroads"

"Numbuh 1. Are you tryin' to tell us that this pajama-wearin' freak of nature is supposed to be a Kids Next Door memba'?!" said Numbuh 4 as he motioned his head up in Ginsu's direction. The Delightfuls stood up, their faces red with fury. "Explain yourself Ginsu!" they cried in outrage. Numbuh 1 took the data files from his back pocket and held them up high in the air as Ginsu leaned against the railing of the catwalk. "According to these files Ginsu, you became an operative of the Kids Next Door agency in Japan three years ago when you were eight years old." said Numbuh 1. "Your specialty was in stealth and espionage, and you were good. Really good. In fact, many thought you had the potential to be one of the best! However, you vanished from your team shortly after your ninth birthday and were never heard from again." "So that's what he meant when he said he forgot everything he cared about!" Numbuh 3 thought to herself in shock as she stared at the young shinobi, who began to speak.

"Yes... it's all true." he sighed as he picked up his paper sword. "Up until I was recruited, the only family I had was my mother and my grandfather, who taught me everything I know. My grandfather taught me the ways of ninjutsu since I was a baby. My mother got me interested in the art of origami when I was five. Combining the two arts, I was able to pull off some pretty amazing things." the ninja said with a small, yet sad laugh. "All the other kids were afraid of me because of my skills. They all thought I was some kind of monster. Then, one day during recess in the school I attended, a group of kids my age introduced themselves to me after they saw me save a younger kid from a bully. They asked me if I wanted to join their club. Well, I never had any friends before then, so I gladly accepted."

As the five Kids Next Door listened to Ginsu, the Delightfuls took their chance to sneak away into the shadows unnoticed. In the hands of the small blonde girl was a remote similar to the one smashed into pieces moments ago by Numbuh 4.

"When they showed me what the 'club' was really about, I couldn't believe it. It was as if an entirely new world had opened to me! Millions of kids from all around the world, supporting one another and fighting to protect themselves from strict adults! They were also the only ones besides my mother and grandfather who appreciated my skills and treated me with respect. They didn't fear me like all the other kids did. They treated me as if I was their equal, despite the depth of my skills. It was like... having a second family." Ginsu said as he looked down at the metal grating he and Numbuh 3 stood on. The Kids Next Door below and Numbuh 3 knew what the ninja meant when he said that the organization was like a family. As far back as they could remember, the five small agents have cared deeply about one another. They had been through a lot together whether it was saving the world from the latest group of adult supervillains, or hanging out at the annual carnival, or taking care of a sprained ankle. Regardless of their age and backrounds, the Kids Next Door were a family.

"But, why would ya' give all that up, 3-0? It sounds like you had a pretty good thing goin' on. Is it because of this grudge ya' got against Numbuh 3?" Numbuh 5 asked. Ginsu stood silent for a moment, curling his left hand into a fist from his frustration. "Yes. Because of her family I never got to see my father's face, or even know what he was like! I couldn't just sit back and allow the Sanban family to walk this earth without knowing guilt or sadness for what they did to my father before I was even born; locking him away and letting him expire like some animal! I had to do something. I had to avenge my father." Ginsu said with coldness in his voice as he looked at Numbuh 3. The raven-haired girl looked back at him with sadness in her eyes. "Well... I know I'm sorry about what happened to your family, Ginsu." she said. "If you can, please forgive me and my aunt. We never meant to hurt you." Ginsu looked at her again, but the anger in him had been replaced by uncertainty. Until now, everything he did was out of bitterness and in a state of mind where his actions were all for the memory of his father. But when he realized that Kuki Sanban knew his pain first- hand and felt remorse for his broken family, everything became unglued. What could he do now that his enemy, who wasn't even directly responsible for the deed, begged for his forgiveness? What could he do now when, deep down inside his soul, he forgave her?

Suddenly, the entire laboratory began to shake and rumble as something enormous began to emerge from the floor at the opposite end of the room where the six kids stood. A beam of blue energy erupted from the darkness and hit the four Kids Next Door operatives on the ground level, sending them careening into the wall behind them. Numbuh 3 yelped in shock and terror as her teammates smashed into the steel plated surface of the wall, not far from the door where they entered the lab. However, something was not quite right as the four agents recovered from the blur of everything that had just happened. Numbuh 2 was the first to notice when he began shivering and couldn't move his arms or legs. "... g-g-guys? I think we've been frozen to the wall!" he cried as he struggled. The others took his word as they began struggling as well. A large sheet of ice, covering them from the neck and down, pinned them against the wall. Then, devilish laughter could be heard from the source of the beam of frigid energy: an enormous robotic eskimo with a large tank-like gun extruding from a hatch in its chest. A pair of darkly tinted goggles on the otherwise featureless robot's face began to slowly lift up, revealing the source of the laughter contained in it's cockpit. "A touching story Ginsu, but we're afraid that we have more important matters to attend to." the Delightfuls chorused with smirks on their faces. "Kids Next Door, say hello to our newest friend, Mr. Eezy-Freeze!"

"Whoa! What the heck is THAT thing??" shouted Numbuh 4. Numbuh 1 growled. "That must be what they were saving to finish us off with after learning the location of the Kids Next Door home base!" he cried. Ginsu gritted his teeth as he looked at the Delightfuls, then down at the four Kids Next Door agents. He then heard Numbuh 3 behind him. "Ginsu! You gotta' help them!" she cried. "You were a Kid Next Door once, weren't you? You even said that they were like family to you! Help them, please! They're my family to!"

The Delightfuls noticed what Numbuh 3 was saying to Ginsu. "Don't listen to that little pip-squeek!" they shouted. "Don't forget that her family was responsible for the grief you and your family have been through all of these years! Finish her off, then help us take care of the rest of them!" Ginsu's mind was spinning. He gripped his sword tighter as he squeezed his eyes shut. "I... I don't know... if I can..." he murmured. The patience of the Delightfuls was wearing thin. The huge robotic eskimo slowly turned to face the catwalk that Ginsu and Numbuh 3 were on. The barrel of the ice beam was now pointed right at the young shinobi. "We don't have time for this Ginsu. Either help us destroy the Kids Next Door as planned, or join your little friends and be blown into the next ice age! Choose wisely."

Ginsu opened his eyes and looked down at his paper sword. Gripping the handle tightly, he turned to Numbuh 3 and raised the weapon above his head. Numbuh 3 yelped and struggled against the wires holding her firmly to the steel pipe. "... forgive me for what I must do." he murmured solemnly. Numbuh 3 stopped struggling at looked at Ginsu. She then closed her eyes and lowered her head, a tear rolling down her cheek. Then, with a shout that echoed throughout the laboratory, Ginsu struck downwards with his sword.

TO BE CONTINUED...