Note:
Phases in "..." means English
Phases in -...- means Japanese
The new group of friends which include Hunter, Kaze, Cam, Dustin and Kaoru travelled for the entire morning until the afternoon that they decide to take a rest stop. Actually it was more of Cam insisting for taking a break for Dustin's sake since he was still recovering from the poison. They were walking on a path through a thin forest and to pass by a waterfall, they stopped to rest and get a drink and so the group sat on the large rocks nearby.
"Here Dustin, thirsty?" Cam asked and pulled out a bamboo water canister from his pack and hand it to his boyfriend.
"Yeah thanks." taking the canister, uncorked it and took a gulp and then wiped the excess water with his sleeve.
Then handing the canister to Hunter who also took a drink from it, the earth ninja was a bit tired and laid his head onto Cam's shoulder. The crimson ninja handed the water canister to his boyfriend who also took a drink after he had one. Then the white ninja handed the canister to Kaoru who thanked him and took a drink as well. Then Kaze stood up and stretched a bit before turning to the others.
I'm going to go check if there's any fruit trees near by and get something for us to eat.-
Alright but be careful.- the samurai nodded to his friend.
I'll go with you.- Hunter offered and stood up as well.
Sure, we'll be back in awhile.- and the two ninjas went off in search for some food.
Somewhere else...
We see a horse galloping through a field with a figure sat upon it, the person was female wearing quite expensive robes; it was the princess Sakura. The princess started to slow down the horse hoping that no one was chasing her and eventually the horse came to a slow jog. As she moved down a small dirt path she suddenly heard a movement in the air. She looked up and sees a person in white robe jumping over her flipping through the air and landed a couple of yards in front of her with their back in front.
Going somewhere princess?- Mikayo turned around.
Before Sakura can get away the fan maiden quickly dashed forward and with a swish of her fan, a gust of wind shot out and knocked Sakura off her horse. The princess fell onto the grass and blacked out.
Back to the Kaze...
We see the white storm ninja walking through a forest not far from the others and Hunter who had split up from him to cover more ground. As he looks up around the trees surrounding him he finally spotted one with apples growing on it. With a grin the ninja quickly ran towards the tree and stepped onto the trunk and ran up it. With a quick push near a branch, the ninja launched himself towards one of the branches and landed on it softly. Then balancing himself, Kaze walked out to where the apples were growing and picked off a couple.
After getting five apples, one for each of them the white ninja jumped off and landed on the ground on both feet. With the apples in his arms he started to head back to the others when suddenly he heard the sound of a string instrument being strummed behind him. Stopping in his tracks the ninja glanced behind him and quickly turns around. In front of him was the woman that worked for Tageki with the Biwa and Bachi in her hands. She was just standing there with her eyes closed and was leaning against a tree, strumming her instrument.
May I help you?- Kaze asked politely but was on his guard.
The name's Miniko and yes you could. I've seen you travel with Kaoru, now tell me where's the prince.- the woman opened her eyes.
Kaze narrowed his eyes but stayed calm.
Sorry but I don't know who you are talking about.- deciding to play dumb.
Stop lying, if you're travelling with his head guard you're bound to know where he is.-
Look lady, I told you I don't know.-
Well then, it looks like I will have to force it out of you.- the woman grinned evilly.
After hearing the musician say that, Kaze quickly went on his guard. Before Miniko could act, the storm ninja quickly launched one of the apples he had with him through the air at the other. The musician just gracefully slides to the side in a dance like manner dodging the apple as it smashes against the tree behind her. Quickly the white ninja dashed forward at her after the distraction and started to attack her with a series of kicks.
With two apples in each hand, the ninja went into a slide onto the ground which he manages to go right into a sweep kick. The musician of course just did a cartwheel flip over his sweep and dodged the attack. Getting up Kaze quickly did a forward kick which the woman just did a back flip and the attack missed. The ninja then launched himself into the air at the musician twisting his body and did a quick roundhouse but the other just slid backwards making the ninja miss again. Doing a series of more high kicks and low kicks and twists of his body, Miniko just moved her body around quickly in a graceful dance dodging every one of them. At the end Kaze did another kick straight at her gut but she just jumped up dodging and landed on the ninjas foot with both feet balanced. Kaze just stood there in surprise that she just dodge all of his attacks like they were nothing.
Miniko just smirked at him and Kaze quickly dropped his leg but the woman went right into a back flip in mid air and kicked at him. The storm ninja quickly brought his arms up in a cross to block the kick but force of the attack knocked him back a bit and Kaze went sliding back. The ninja immediately stopped himself by quickly digging his heels into the ground and he slowed down to a stop. Miniko then landed back onto the ground slowly and then with her Bachi she strummed her instrument outwards towards Kaze, hard once.
Immediately the chords on her instrument shot out through the air right at Kaze, who saw this and quickly countered by launching all the apples he had right back. The apples collided with the strings as the chords just pierced right through the fruit breaking them into pieces. Unfortunately one of the chords got through and hit Kaze right through his ninja uniform and into his shoulder and immediately he screamed in pain. Kaze's scream echoed through the forest as he grabbed hold of his shoulder in pain. The ninja tried to get away but the musician stopped him.
I would stop moving if I were you unless you want to lose the use of your arm.- she smirked.
And Kaze immediately stop moving.
Now tell me where the prince is.-
I told you, I don't know.- grinding his teeth in pain.
Fine if that's the way you want it.-
Miniko was about to tug and rip the chord out of Kaze's shoulder when something shot through the air and severed the chord in a snap. Something hit and struck a nearby tree and it was a ninja star and Kaze was suddenly thrown back by the sudden separation. Miniko looking up and behind Kaze and she sees the others running towards them. The musician quickly turned around and ran further into the forest. Hunter ran up behind his boyfriend just in time to catch him in his arms as he fell back and set him down to the ground.
"Kaze!" Cam knelt down next to his friend along with Dustin.
"Dude, you okay?" the earth ninja asked worried.
The shogun just winced and nodded in a yes.
Look after him.- Kaoru stated to Hunter and he went after Miniko along with Cam and Dustin.
"Kaze, you okay? You know how worried I was when I heard you scream." as the crimson ninja held the other in his arms with them sitting on the ground.
"Okay, I'm going to pull the string out alright?" Hunter looked at the other's shoulder when he saw the blood and string.
Kaze looked at him and nodded and closed his eyes to get ready as Hunter wrapped the left over chord around his index finger. Once the chord was secure around his finger, the thunder ninja slowly started to pull the string out.
Over with the others...
Cam and Dustin had split up with Kaoru when they lost sight of Miniko and was now on their own at another part of the forest. As the two stayed together and looked around, birds and animals sounds could be heard in the far distance. Unknown to both of them, Miniko jumped out of the tree above them and soared down towards them. Before either of them could react, the musician manages to kick Dustin in the chest as she came at them, sending the ninja flying back and sliding onto the ground.
She then landed next to the samurai who immediately attacked her by swinging his arm around doing a back hand fist attack. The musician just brought her instrument up and blocked it and Cam went right into a backward out kick and Miniko jumped back away from it.
You look like the prince but you're not, so who are you.- the woman stated as she took a good look at Cam.
That's none of your business.- at that time Dustin was up and next to his boyfriend in an instant.
Immediately both ninjas ran at the musician and started to attack her with Dustin punching out with his left hand and Cam with his right. Miniko quickly moved to Dustin's side dodging their attack and tossed her instrument into the air and it latches itself to a tree branch above them. The musician then quickly thrust her right hand at the earth ninja's head in a claw like position but Dustin manages to move his head back as the hand passes him and missed him barely. At that time you could see her fingernails were long and sharpened like claws and quickly kick Dustin in the gut sending him sliding back and slammed hard against a tree. Upon hitting the tree with impact, the yellow ninja started to choke and cough really hard and slowly slid to the ground in pain being not fully recovered yet.
Cam quickly punches out right at her again but Miniko manages to cross both of her arms around Cam's and manages to stop his attack. The samurai then did a small forced push against her and manages to push her back a bit. Miniko recovered and dash forward and swing her arms at the samurai who in turn blocked them with his own arm. He then started to attack her back by swinging his own arm at her but was block by her own arms. Cam manages to force her against a tree and able to land a punch on her chest which sends her into a back flips and quickly wrapped her legs around the trunk.
Then lifting herself up with her legs with her stomach downwards, she started to attack Cam again with a series of whacks of her hands while he tried to block them. During that Miniko manages to land a hit by clawing down on the samurai's chest with her nails and force him back a little near another tree. Cam held his ground and look down on his chest and sees there were two hand claw marks on his uniform but didn't get slashed all the way through to the skin. He looked back up at the other and went into a fight stance again, as the other just flexed her clawed hands and smirked at him.
Miniko then unwrap her legs from the tree and pushed herself off and launch towards where Cam was flying through the air. The musician quickly swing her right hand down at the samurai once she reached him and Cam quickly moved away to dodge. Her right hand claws missed Cam and slashed the tree trunk instead leaving a gash mark. She then swing her left hand at the other sideways this time and Cam quickly ducked and the attack missed and gashed the tree again leaving another mark. Landing on her feet, Miniko went and swung for the legs but the green ninja manages to block them with his arms as well.
Cam started to counter attack and got the upper hand a bit and at one point both fighters crossed their arms against one another and the samurai manages to push her back. The musician went sliding back and slammed against a tree which happens to be where her Biwa was and Cam went after her and did a double hand punch. Miniko manages to grab hold of both of his arms and went right into an aerial back flip and kicks the samurai in the chest and sent him sliding back against the ground. She went flying up to the branch which held her instrument and grabbed it and fell back to the ground in a slow manner and landed softly.
Hearing someone running up behind her Miniko quickly turned around just in time to see Kaoru to jump into the air and threw a dozen of ninja stars at her. The musician brought her Biwa up above her with her left hand and held it at the base of the neck and immediately balanced it on her palm. With her right hand she hit the bottom end of her instrument and it immediately went into a rapid spin motion creating some sort of shield. The sounds of the ninja stars can be heard hitting the instrument and once the last star hit, Miniko stopped the spinning instrument. Somehow the projectiles had all missed her and her instrument had caught them instead.
Miniko then quickly slammed her right palm at the bottom back of her Biwa which forced the stars to come out and they shot through the air, right back at Kaoru. The guard ninja quickly moved out of the way of the incoming projectiles and all stars hits the trunks of trees that were near him. From behind her Cam quickly ran and jumped into the air and went right into a flying jump kick but somehow she noticed him and turned around.
While the samurai was still in the air, the musician quickly with her Bachi in hand strummed her Biwa outwards at Cam. Immediately the chords of her instrument flew right off and at the green ninja and the strings caught hold of the ninja's out extended leg and wrapped themselves around it. Once caught she immediately pulled back which stretched out the chord between the two and she starts to twirl her instrument in a circle downward. The action forced Cam to twirl in mid air sideways down towards the ground stopping his attack.
As the samurai was forced into a twirl, he quickly pulled out his sword and right before he hits the ground he stabbed it downward into it. That made him stops from slamming into the earth with his body off the ground sideway with only his sword as a support and strings that held his leg pulling him. Miniko started to run backwards pulled Cam along with her as he drags his sword along in the ground, cutting through the dirt.
In a quick move the samurai twist his body around and brought his sword up and with a quick swipe at the chord strings around his leg, he severed the chords. Cam immediately rolled onto the ground away from the other as the musician was thrown back a bit. As the green ninja stood up from the ground roll, Miniko quickly did another outward strummed on her instrument and launched out all the strings at her opponent. This time however the chords wrapped themselves around different parts of Cam's body making drop his sword. Two strings were wrapped around his thighs, another around his waist, two around his wrist, another two on his biceps and one around his neck. Miniko pulled her instrument back a bit tugging Cam forward and she smirked.
"Cam!" Dustin shouted worriedly from his spot on the ground.
Hold it right there if you value your friend's life.- Miniko stated when Kaoru was about to go at her and he stopped.
Cam started to struggle and get free but he couldn't.
I would stop moving if I were you. The more you struggle, the tighter the strings become.- Miniko stated and the samurai stopped moving.
The musician held her instrument high near her head and using her Bachi she plucked the string that was wrapped around Cam's right bicep. Immediately the chord tightened and it manages to cut through the green ninja's uniform and into the skin making Cam yelled in pain and blood started to drip out the arm wound.
"Cam!" Dustin exclaimed in worry.
Now I ask you once more, tell me where the prince is.- the musician glanced at them, especially at Kaoru.
We don't know alright!- the earth ninja answered concerned for his boyfriend's well being.
Everyone stayed silent and didn't know what to do since they really don't know where the prince is at the moment.
Fine if that's your answer, your friend will pay the price with his head!-
She reached up and this time plucking the string that was wrapped around Cam neck and the vibration shot through the chord and the ninja closed his eyes tightly for the final blow. Suddenly a white scarf quickly shot out and wrapped itself around all of the chord strings stopping the vibrating string at midway. Immediately looking over to where the scarf came from she sees Kaze and Hunter standing there with the white ninja holding the end of the scarf. With a quick whirling twist of his arm the chords immediately snapped and severed freeing Cam and the samurai fell back onto the ground. Dustin quickly stumbling and crawl to his boyfriend's side to see if he was okay while Hunter dashed at Miniko, jumped into the air in a flip and started to fight her.
The crimson ninja landed on his feet and ran forward doing a quick twist of his body, he does a hopping back kick at the Miniko who quickly brought her lute up and blocked it. She then pushed Hunter away from her, who in turn fell forward placing both hands on the ground and pushed himself back up onto his feet. He then goes right into a duck and sweep kick which the musician jumps over and then suddenly Kaze came dashing in with his fist. Miniko quickly brought her arms up in a cross and blocked the punch and that gave Hunter an opening and he quickly elbow punch her in the gut. She stumbled back and Kaze quickly launch out his scarf out again and she brought her lute up in front of her to block. The scarf it twisted itself into rope and the end slams itself right into the Biwa, smashing it into two. Dropping her destroyed instrument, she looked at them and glared.
This isn't over!- and with a quick dash and jump, she ran off into the forest and disappeared before they could go after her.
Once she was gone, Kaze and Hunter didn't follow seeing that their friend's well being was more important at that moment. The two of them sprinted over to the other couple where Dustin had Cam propped up against his body and was trying to get right of the strings from his body.
"Cam! You okay?" Kaze knelt down next to his friend.
"You okay buddy?" Hunter added who was next to his boyfriend.
The both of them started to help Dustin carefully pull the strings off the samurai and once they were done, Kaoru walked over to them with medicine for their wounds, he received from the healer earlier. Once Cam's arm wound was bandaged up his three friends helped him stand up and support him a bit.
We have to get going.- Kaoru stated and the others agreed and they started to walk.
Later...
We see Shane's group sitting on a couple of boulders somewhere near a plain field with Pochi missing from the group. They were just sitting there waiting and talking to one another a bit and tried to enjoy the scenery. At that time we Pochi sprinting back towards group coming back from someplace and stopped next to the prince.
I found some terrible news.- Pochi started.
What is it?- the prince asked curiously.
Princess Sakura was found by Tageki's people and now being escorted back to Byakuro.-
What!-
Its true, I heard some people talking about it in the nearby town and they had just gone through there.-
Then we have to save my sister, no matter what.- Kamori stated standing now.
Everyone stood as well and nodded their head in agreement, and the group immediately started to head towards the direction of Byukaro. As the group travelled for awhile in the direction of Byakuro they were now in an area of a mountain hill. As they walked on a path, the group spotted another group coming towards them to a crossroad which leads a path up the mountain side they were travelling on. As they walked further they saw who the other group was and immediately Blake shouted for joy.
"Hunter!" the navy ninja shouted happily, seeing that his brother and friend were alright.
The two groups sprinted towards one another except for the younger thunder brother who kind of ran and crashed into his brother with a hug.
"Good to see you too, little bro." Hunter smirked as he pulled away from his brother's hug.
"You know how worried I was of you and the others! I thought I wasn't going to see you again." Blake started to get teary eyed.
"Hey, its okay. Look I'm fine and so is everyone else, so no need to worry your head off."
The two groups joined up with the brothers being glad to see one another again, once everyone was calm a bit they introduced themselves to each other. After the introductions were made, they immediately went on to discuss the current situation with the princess and together the group agreed to rescue her. The group immediately head up the mountain path to where the princess should be at that moment and they took a short cut though a forest to catch up.
I didn't get to thank you for saving me back at the bridge.- the prince turned to Kaze as the group travelled.
No need to, it was nothing.- Kaze answered.
Moments later...
The group reached the edge of the forest that situated a bit upon a small cliff which looked down upon a wide path. Looking down they see a dozen soldiers walking in two straight lines that belong to Tageki, along with his fighters Hanzo, Mikayo and the twin brothers from before in the front. In the middle was a carriage cart as big as a float being pulled by a horse. The cart was made of all wood and situated in the center was tent like screen made of silk, more basically a giant umbrella with a silk screen attached to the rim making it look like a tent.
Prince you stay here.- Kaoru stated and the prince nodded.
Immediately the guys started to head down to the lower ground level and surprise the soldiers from the front. The parade of people were coming up to a cliff side and suddenly the rangers and the prince's guard came jumping out in flips, in front of Tageki's people surprising them. They ranger group stood there and pulled out their weapons and the group escorting the princess stopped in their tracks upon seeing the intruders. Hanzo seeing who it was immediately ordered the soldiers with them to attack.
Attack! And do not let the prince escape.- and both sides ran at each other and collided in a massive battle.
Immediately Pochi and Shizu went running through first, slashing, cutting and knocking soldiers away to make a path for the other to go through. The rangers also helped as soldiers came at them and using their own weapons to attack and Kaze used his scarf whipping it side to side as soldiers came at him and knocked them away. They tried their best to defend themselves and get to the princess's carriage but Tageki's fighters stopped in front of them blocking their way. The two sides of fighters went against each other with the wind ninjas decided to take on Mikayo, Cam and Kaze against Hanzo and the thunder brothers faced off with the twin brothers.
You ready Daiko?- the twin wearing white looked to his brother.
Lets play Daiho.- the black wearing twin smirked.
Immediately Daiko pulled out a Go board out of nowhere and placed it in between the two brothers with his left hand under it for support and his twin supported the other side with his left hand. Daiko quickly placed his right hand on a part of the board and lifted it and a white playing Go piece appeared. Daiho then quickly followed and did the same thing but playing a black piece instead. Both brothers kept on doing that, taking turns playing a piece at a very fast speed and soon over half the board was covered.
Hunter and Blake was just standing staring, wondering what were they doing; they were suppose to be fighting not playing board games and took the open chance to attack and they ran at the other brothers. Noticing the thunder ninjas coming at them, Daiko quickly placed his hand over a group of white pieces near the edge facing the thunder ninjas and swiped them off the board. The pieces flew off the board and shot out at the Bradley brothers like darts and seeing the incoming playing pieces, Hunter and Blake quickly went into a duck. The pieces flew over the thunder's head and hit the ground behind them with force causing tiny explosions of dust.
The thunder ninjas eyes widen in surprise as Daiho did the same thing as his twin with black pieces and Daiko placed more pieces on the board. Seeing the second set of pieces coming right at them, Hunter and Blake twist their bodies away to opposite sides and dodged the attack. The crimson and navy ninja started to run at them and both twins shot out their pieces at the same time and the thunder ninjas jumped right into a back flip and into the air as the pieces missed them again. As they started to fall and getting near the ground, the Go players released another barrage of pieces at them and Hunter and Blake slammed the end of their extended thunder staffs at the ground.
By doing that it rebounded the brothers off the ground going right into an aerial flip towards the twins, as the Go pieces hit the place where they suppose to land. The thunder ninjas went right into a flying jump kick and the twins threw their board up into the air and block the incoming kicks with their arms. Then Daiko and Daiho threw out a punch and Hunter and Blake quickly jumped back flipping backward and the Go board fell back down and the twins caught hold of it again. The Bradley brothers landed on their feet and faced the other brothers as they launch out another playing pieces attack. Hunter and Blake quickly swing their staffs about in front of them and knocked all the Go pieces away from them and then stood again in a fight stance with their weapons.
As the others took care of Tageki's men Kaoru went for the princess and quickly heads towards the carriage, jumped onto it. When Kaoru open up the screen tent it was empty and immediately realizing the entire thing was a trap.
The princess is not here! Its a trap!- the ninja guard turned and shouted to everyone.
At that time Hanzo got away from the green and white ninja and jumped through the air at the ninja with a shuriken in hand and launched it out at the guard who quickly went inside the tent and the star missed. The ninja master landed on the cart platform and went into the tent as well and started to fight with Kaoru. He started to swing his arms about at the ninja guard as Kaoru started his body around dodging and bringing his arms up to block too. At that time both Cam and Kaze got to the cart as well and jumped upon it and entered the tent as well and both joined in the fight.
Both Cam and Kaze started to attack with punches and kicks as Hanzo tried to dodge and block all of them but was out numbered. As the samurai did a sweep kick, the ninja master launched himself into the air twirling up and right through the top of the tent, leaving a hole in the roof. The storm ninja quickly pulled off his scarf and launched it through the hole and it shot out and caught hold of one of the ninja's leg and wrapped itself around it.
Come back here!- with one hard tug of his scarf, Kaze pulled Hanzo right back down to the cart crashing through the tent destroying it.
As Hanzo came crashing down he quickly slammed his palms against the cart floor and the force sent it rolling towards the cliff. As all four of them rolled along with the cart, Kaze quickly turn to Cam and Kaoru.
You guys get out of here!- but before Cam could protest, Kaze using his air power released a blast of wind strong enough to send the two flying off the cart and back to the others.
"Cam!" Dustin shouted as he sees the carriage or what's left of it roll towards the cliff and the earth ninja ran towards his boyfriend.
"Kaze!" Hunter who also saw the run away cart immediately run towards it.
Hanzo and Kaze who was still on the fast moving cart started to fight again with the white ninja doing a sweep kick and the other jumping right over it. Once Hanzo landed he threw out a quick punch with Kaze moving to the side and grabbing the incoming arm and twists his body around and kicks the older ninja in the gut. Hanzo quickly countered with a quick jump roundhouse which Kaze ducked and came back at the other with a swing of his scarf at his side. The ninja master ducked and with one of his hands he slams his palm against the storm ninja's chest which forced him stumbling back a bit.
Right at that moment the rolling cart went flying off the cliff taking the two ninjas down with it, as the others especially Hunter watched in horror. Quickly both ninja jumped off the falling platform with a bit of force pushed off with their feet and both landed on the side of the cliff with both feet. Lucky for them that the cliff side was a slanted hill with a rocky surface and the two of them immediately went into a sprint dashed and ran up the cliff side. Hanzo manage to get in front and when both of them reached the top, they went flying up into the air and into an aerial flip.
While in the air, Hanzo quickly threw out a bomb at the storm ninja and Kaze quickly did a reversed aerial flip. Kaze landed at the edge of the cliff and the bomb landed near him and exploded, throwing him into the air and over the cliff.
"Kaze! No!" Hunter shouted as he watched his love thrown off the cliff.
Before Hunter or the other could do anything, some kind of smoke bomb was released on them, it was knock out gas of some sort and they fell to the ground unconscious. Back over to where the prince was watching, he didn't know what to do right now and was about to move when a blade was placed at his neck from behind.
Going somewhere, prince?- the voice of Ninkana spoke out from behind and Shimazu laughed.
Back to where the others were, Hanzo stood there with the others surrounding the knocked out rangers and friends then spotting the prince with their new allies bringing him in, the ninja smirked behind his mask.
Take them all back to the castle!- he stated.
Well another chapter done, how do you like it so far? I want to thank you to all the reviewers reviewing this fic. One more chapter to go and that's the end of the Ninja History series I hope. Read and review please!