TheDarkestShinobi: Next chapter up! The name of the chapter means North Mountain which is the name of the place.

Chapter Start

He heard the door opening behind him and the sound of the person dropping to the floor respectfully even before the Shogun could acknowledge his presence.

"Shogun sama"
"Hai" The Shogun said as he turned from his spot to see one of his messengers, this messenger had long brown hair behind him in a braid and kneeled with his fist on the floor, it was the one he had sent to the Hajimon to deliver his message, they purposefully, he was sure, responded a day late, it irked him. The Mugen Tenshin was unlike any other clan; they were feisty and always followed the rules, but found ways to go around them.

The Hayabusa village was his favorite until its murder, they were smart and peaceful and always seemed to have wisdom far older than their age, and it was a Hayabusa trait that he found himself getting since he could only read and write in his "new life."

He looked back to the man in front of him who was on the floor kneeling and looking down, his hair now touching the floor. It was common practice to kneel like that in the presence of the Shogun; in fact he often could not tell what his servants' faces looked like. It was another thing that had irked him but it was one of the things he had to get used to.

"They are almost here, they will be here shortly Shogun Sama"
"I see, dismissed" The man stood before bowing respectively and leaving the room and leaving the Shogun by himself. He usually was by himself because no one deemed themselves worthy enough to be in his presence and therefore he spent most of his time meditating. He also read a lot and people admired the wisdom of the Shogun, when in reality if you locked anyone up and only allowed them to read they would soon posses the same knowledge.

He didn't like his job too much, but it was his duty, and he would do it for honor, he would waste his life away for honor. It was a common policy in Japan. The Shogun was deemed the highest law in the land in this part of Japan that stayed feudal. The other parts had begun to adapt to this new technology and leave feudalism behind. He hoped that soon the tradition of the Shogun would soon be left behind as well.

He had long black hair pulled back into a low ponytail as it was a custom not to cut hair, in fact everyone who lived in Kita Santi had long hair, he also had dark brown eyes and pale skin as if he didn't leave the house too much, which was true, the Shogun was doomed to live in the palace for their entire life.

He contemplated the way he was living his life as he heard the cackle of burning wood, he had never done anything worthy of his title and he wished they wouldn't call him Shogun Sama. He had only been called Shogun Sama since his father died, if fact his own mother now referred to him as Shogun Sama, the same way she had spoken to his father. There was a sense of formality in his family, like his mother and sister felt as if they did not belong to the family, that they were not worthy of being in the presence of the Shoguns.

His sister had not spoken to him since he was given his title, she had simply said

"I will miss you Oniisan" and then she was struck for not addressing him with the proper title. His mother and sister bowed to him and called him Shogun Sama, and then the rest of the village did as well. That was all he had been referred to ever since.

He had long ago forgotten his name.

Looking into the fire burning besides him for warmth he put his right hand into a fist putting his left hand over it and holding his hands up to his face, but a good two feet in front of him. He bowed to the fire and turned to the scene behind him.

He smoothed out his blue yukata and kneeled looking out into the forest. The entire wall was missing and he sat looking out into the world with determined eyes. Like his father, and all the Shogun before him he needed to bring peace before it was too late.

"There are two different Ninja tribes in the villages hidden in the mountains where no unwelcome party may reach them, the Koga of Tsube, and the Hajimon of the Mugen Tenshin."

(A/N: I imagined this as a movie scene, the quotes are what the Shogun says and you see what's going on.)

He was sitting in the top room of the temple, it was situated on the top of the tallest mountain in the area, the town around it was beautiful, however he had only seen it during festivals now, and only with armed guards.

"For hundreds of years they have trained people in these 'mysterious arts' to be ninja."

Ryu sprinted down the dirt road with Hayate, Ayane and Yuki on his heels. Yuki was in the back as they ran; none of the animals seemed to mind them and not even the leaves stirred in their presence.

"These two villages are sworn enemies."

Four ninja ran through a more barren part of the forest. Leading them was a blonde woman with short hair. The two in the middle were both older, one was bald and the other had long white hair, bringing up the rear was a young man with short dirty blond hair.

"Hundreds of years ago, to avoid a war that would destroy the land the first Shogun called the best ninja from each village and made them fight declaring the stronger village."

Ryu stopped running and the others behind him did as well, they looked up the steep mountain to the building on top which looked like a temple. The girls looked to each other with a smirk and Hayate stepped forward and put his hand on Ryu's shoulder. With a curt nod all four ninja jumped up.

"He set up land barriers between them and brought tranquility to the land after years of unease."

The other four ninja, from the other tribe, the Koga from Tsube started running up the other side of the mountain; it was longer and less steep, looking more like a road than a mountain. The girls were now in front as the two men brought up the rear.

"My father, the Shogun before me, did the same twenty-two years ago and was able to, once again, bring peace to the land."

Hayate and Ryu landed crouched on the mountain top at the same time, with Ayane and Yuki appearing next to them a second later. They stood and walked forward together in perfect unison and in silence. In front of them were three men, one in blue, one in red and one in green representing water, fire and Earth respectively.

"But these Shinobi, left to their own devices..."

The girls stopped running first and the men stopped as soon as they past them. In front of them stood three men, one was in white, one in brown and one in orange, their village's colors for sea, stone and warmth.

"...will cause war again, it is all they know and crave. It is all they know."

The three turned, walking inside the temple and Hayate nodded curtly again; motioning for his ninja to follow him. Ayane secretly rolled her eyes, where else would they go?

"I must stop them."

The Shogun looked up with coldness in his eyes as he stood swiftly, the fire went out behind him and he turned, his yukata gently flowing despite his harsh movements. He exited the room fully prepared to fulfill his duty.

--

Kasumi tied her hair up in the black ribbon she had as she watched the sun rising. It had been a while since she was able to watch it, she had been able to watch the sunset before but she had always liked the sunrise more, it was a promise, the promise of a new day, and now it was the promise of a new life, her new life. She felt for her small katana and frowned as she remembered it wasn't there, Ryu had it.

She had always kept it with her, it was a gift from her father, he bought it meaning to give it to her at the age of seven, when she would officially start her ninja training, though he died during the last visit to the Shogun her mother kept the katana and had given it to her when she started her training.

She had kept it hidden until she felt she was skilled enough to wield it and hadn't taken it off her persona since. She looked at the fully risen sun and put her hands on her hips. An image of Ryu flashed in her mind.

He had her katana, but she wasn't worried, she knew he'd keep it safe until she took it back. That meant she'd have to face him. She remembered when Sereo had taken the two of them to "her body". Hayate was please but Ryu seemed guarded.

She pursed her lips in thought, he had called Hayate Sama, and sarcastically at that, Ryu never referred to Hayate as Sama and never used sarcasm, it was two first for him, at least to her. He had wanted to keep her katana and had always helped her out. Her mother was right, she should at least see Ryu and talk to him, it would make her life a lot easier, she hoped.

She looked around the clearing as she drew a kunai and spun it on her middle finger before catching it in her hands by the hilt, she'd better practice. She had a lot of work ahead of her, and it wouldn't do to let up on her training and lose all her skill now, not when she was so close.

Everything she had been working for for years was finally within her reach, or at least that was what she wanted to believe, she firmly wanted to believe that. She wanted to believe it would all be over soon, that she could walk into her home and see her Okaasan and her Oniichan again. That they would all be a happy family again, and she'd make sure Ayane was included this time around.

She didn't have any delusions though, this would be hard, it would be one of her toughest battles, and she would be alone in this. Still she refused to give up; she always refused to give up.

She moved in the air and on the ground with the grace of the wind gently flowing by. She was dancing to the song that had only played in her mind, it was in harmony with nature, the birds' high pitched song being the alto and the low sounds of the river being the soprano, and together they were able to create the harmony that she danced to.

By the way she wielded it; her kunai became a katana, a long beautiful blade instead of just a throwing knife. It cut through the air and was Kasumi's partner in this dance, this work of art.

The art of the ninja.

It was a deadly dance, and it was beautiful.

--

"I wish to welcome you to the village of Kita Santi; I am the Shogun and if you should need anything during your stay, let me know"

He had practiced this speech many times before but still felt nervous in front of these eight ninja/shinobi, he really didn't know the difference, all he knew was that any of these people, even the aged man before him could take him out in mere seconds.

He also knew that in this crowd was the Female Tengu, the second strongest Kunochi, with the strongest being a nukenin, whatever that was. There was also the 'Super Ninja,' that title meant nothing to him until he found out that it meant he was the strongest man in the world.

He stood on a wood platform that stood five feet above where the eight ninja sat, still as the Earth and stone below their feet. They listened half heartedly as they tried to size up their soon to be enemies next to them.

The Tsube ninjas tried to prove the theories and legends untrue, to find a flaw in Hayate, of the Female Tengu, of the Super Ninja.

Ryu sat so still he could've been a statue as he listened to the Shogun speak, the aura of indifference about him made him seem more intimidating than all of the rumors and legends did. The Dragon sword strapped to his back spoke wonders though he did not utter a sound.

"There will be a celebration for the years of peace we have had for years tonight, I hope you can all join us in our festival."

He was so happy to have gotten that first speech over and done with and by the way they all looked at him he was able to tell the Super Ninja apart from the rest of them, he hadn't taken his eyes off of him during the entire speech, he hadn't moved a muscle and it didn't seem as if he blinked during the entire time he was talking. He scared him the most. He was the Super Ninja.

Ryu stood first, as soon as the Shogun turned and walked straight out of the temple, he could feel the gazes on his back and realized, even here, with the best ninja in the world, he was looked at like he was some sort of god, never mind the monster he was. Hayate and Ayane stood next and Yuki hesitantly followed behind them.

"I don't have a yukata with me" Yuki complained as she crossed her arms leaning on the wall of the room she shared with Ayane who rolled her eyes.

"Neither do I, I am going like this, it's not like they can make us leave or anything."

Ayane smirked.

"They invited us"

--

Ryu walked down the street seeing Hayate coerce a young girl into spending the night with him and Yuki trying to catch a fish using the thin plates. He stopped as he felt her presence; it was soothing, but not a soothing as another.

"Ryu kun, enjoy yourself, it is a festival" He turned to the purple haired nin and crossed his arms,
"It is a distraction, Hayate seems to be having enough fun, therefore I must remain alert"
"Let yourself be distracted…"

She paused as if considering her next words very carefully.

"…from everything"

Ryu caught the hidden meaning in her words, she was trying to be discreet but it didn't work, not for him

Let yourself be distracted, from her...

Ayane sensed his obvious discomfort and pulled him into a booth giving him a small paddle, he could hear the mocking tone in her voice wanting a competition with him, even if it was just to "distract" him.

He shouldn't need distracting, he should've let her go already, he shouldn't have her katana he shouldn't-

"Try to catch a fish before I can"

Flashback

"Ryu! Come try this" Ryu found himself dragged to a stand by none other than Kasumi
"Oh look at the happy couple"
"We're just friends obaachan," Kasumi teased playfully and Ryu looked at the other people playing the pointless game.

"But I wanna try this" Kasumi said as the woman handed her two paddles with a knowing smirk on her face.

Ryu looked down into the water and looked at the paddle as Kasumi cooed her caught fish.

"Do you know how to do it?"
"No, it is of no use though, I could use-"
"You're taking the fun out of it Ryu"

End Flashback

Ryu looked down and smiled, though the small smile was hidden by his mask, as he lifted his paddle up from the water slowly with a small fish on it. Ayane's eyes widened as she pulled hers up and the cheap net of hers broke. He put the fish back in the water and watched it as it started to swim away.

"Let's go Ayane" She followed him out and pouted.
"Is there anything you're not good at?"
Ryu laughed and Ayane was content to just walk next to him as they past by people as they stared.

"No! Kyaa!"

Ryu stopped and spun easily picking the falling girl up and holding her in his arms, he didn't know why he did it but the girl looked into his eyes and smiled. Her eyes were the same doe color as her. The color was common but it still made Ryu feel uneasy. The three boys chasing her seen Ryu and ran the other way. Apparently they knew who he was.

"I knew you would save me" Ryu set her down and Ayane raised an eyebrow. She had long brown hair tied into a ponytail with a white ribbon and she had on a blue yukata.
"How?"
"I just did."

"Kasumi get back here" The girl looked up to her mother.
"Okaasan" the mother hugged her daughter and turned to them.

"Thank you, she's such a troublemaker always running and hiding from everyone else"
"It's her name" Ayane responded with a laugh and the woman frowned
"Kasumi" Ryu said and she smiled looking down at her daughter.
"I named her after the Kunochi of Destiny"

"Don't always depend on someone to help you" Ryu said looking down into her innocent eyes. They were too alike, he turned and Ayane put a hand on his shoulder sympathetically and the woman bowed to their backs well aware of the fact that they could tell she did even if the couldn't see her.
"Thank you Ryu san and Ayane san"
"Thanks Ryu!" The little girl yelled as they walked away and Ayane smiled sadly

"What a coincidence" Ryu kept walking
"Too soon" he whispered but she heard him and agreed

It was too soon for reminders.

--

When Ryu and Ayane returned to their rooms they saw two different things. Ryu had a note from Hayate saying to expect him in the morning and to get a good rest. Ayane found Yuki sleeping on her mats snoring.

--

Ayane looked over to the four ninja sitting next to her team.

One was young, definitely their leader, she was about 5'6" and had light blonde hair that fell just past her shoulders that was held in a ribbon, she had sky blue eyes and the same firm but delicate build as herself and Yuki.

One was old, though he was not to be taken lightly, he was bald and about her height, which was 5'2". He had blue eyes that were faded; it wouldn't surprise her if he was blind.

There was another elder on their team, she had long silver hair, it would be gray but it shined to Ayane, and therefore was silver in her eyes. She was tall, standing at 5'7" and her pale blue green eyes took in the scene before her with caution.

The fourth was a young man, possibly in his teens; he towered over Ryu making him easily over six feet. He seemed too tall to be a ninja but looks could always be deceiving, Ayane knew that better than most people would. He had tanned skin and the same dirty blond hair as the first. His eyes were brown and he had the same build as Hayate, firm and muscular, but not as built as Ryu. Now that Ayane though about it, no one was as built as Ryu.

"I hope you all enjoyed the festival yesterday"

The Shogun started another one of his speeches and Ayane wondered just who listened, aside from Ryu, to the lies coming out of his mouth. He didn't hope they enjoyed the festival because he knew they couldn't, if the did they would be left weaker, without proper sleep. Little did he know that Ninja were smarter than that, well most of them were.

Ayane's eyes traveled to her half brother, Ryu told her that he had come in late reeking of women and sex. Ayane was appalled by him and his actions but she knew that she could not show it here, he was still their leader, and they had to show the Shogun just how powerful they were. They had to show everyone just how powerful their village was.

"Now, we have a more pressing matter to attend to."

Hayate looked to the Shogun and listened to his words half heartedly, he knew Ryu would have memorized everything he said and more because of the way he was trained. He had often envied Ryu and the way he had always been stronger, now that he was the leader of the village, a title he felt that he had rightfully disserved, he was able to "use" Ryu, as much as Ryu would allow him too.

Yuki wondered what was in store for them; usually it was a test of sorts then a battle between the groups. She had researched these gatherings of sorts when she learned the truth of her father's death. Her father had been killed along with Hayate's father during the last visit to the Shogun when the other village was crowned the stronger of the two, now she would fight and die to make sure that the Hajimon was declared stronger, like her father would've wanted. She narrowed her eyes.

She would bring honor back to her family.

Ryu listened intently to the Shogun speak while taking in his surroundings. There were six people in the room that were silently standing against the walls. There were three people in corresponding colors for Water Fire and Earth for their village by the right wall and three in white brown and orange, most likely for the other village's sea stone and warmth against the left wall.

The Shogun was nervous.

Ryu could tell because he spoke with the occasional twitching of his hands and the tone of his voice, it was lower yesterday. He also shook his head slightly with the finishing of every part of his rehearsed speech.

His hair moved like ripples in the water when he shook his head. None of the people here cut their hair, he noticed between yesterday and today, there was not a single person with short hair in the village.

The eight ninja sat in the Chokaku patiently waiting for the Shogun to stop the facade and tell them why he really called them here, it was war, they were to fight and they were all anxious.

"Now the main reason I brought you here..."

Ryu's face was still carefully blank, Hayate smiled in anticipation, Yuki frowned nervously and Ayane smirked awaiting the challenge.

Chapter End

TDS: Yay next chapter, so just so you know I voted for Jeanine on SYTYCD, I'm so happy she won and I'm sorry I can't see her dance anymore, though my fav guy was Jason, girl was Jannette and couple was Ade and Melissa.

Triple R!