A/N: Kagemusha means for all intents and purposes 'the impostor' in Japanese. I got the idea from the Super Sentai tv Show Shikenger.

A/N: I really do hope that everyone enjoys this story and what I plan to do with it.

Chapter 3- The Kagemusha

February 1999
Shiba House-Front Yard
Panorama City, CA

A young boy, aged four, with blonde hair and caramel colored streaks laced throughout, hopped down the stairs. He was dressed in the traditional gi like his dad and sister. He came to a stop, as he saw his older sister, who was eight, maneuver her weapon against their dad with ease. He watched them in awe. They were doing great, and he couldn't wait to learn more.

Jayden had been taught some karate here and there, and he even witnessed the intense training sessions his dad had with his teammates or when his sister was training. He really wanted to get into the action, and he hoped Mentor Yaki would take him under his wing one day.

The gates to the Shiba House opened, and there was Ike, the current Blue Samurai Ranger. Ike was tall, around 6'2". His hair was edged sharply, and he had deep, chocolate pigmentation. He walked in like he was a soldier for the army, and he approached Jayden's dad.

Curiosity struck Jayden, and he quickly went to where a meeting seemed to happen.

"Master Xandred is growing stronger and stronger by the day, we need to group and figure out a way to defeat him, or the world as we know it will perish," Ike urgently informed his leader—the 17th Head of the Shiba Clan.

"I have a plan," Mathew boldly stated, and he quickly went into the house. Jayden, Lauren, and Ike followed. He walked to the bookcase, and he took a book out. "Now, this might be tricky, but I believe it can work," he kept flipping through the pages, and he finally found it. "Here it is, the Sealing Symbol."

"Dad, what exactly will it do," Lauren asked while sitting on an available stool.

Mentor Yaki came to join the conversation. "The Sealing Symbol will prevent any Nighlock or evil being from the Netherwold from reentering our world. If done successfully, the threat to humanity will perish," he informed, and he looked at his student. "You might have to learn this one day."

"No," Mathew slammed the book so hard, it caused the other occupants to jump. "I will learn this now, and I will perfect the symbol myself. There will be no way my daughter, son, or anyone else in my family will get hurt by this creature."

"But, you are just learning this now, and with Master Xandred frequently attacking as he is, you might not have enough time to perfect it," Mentor Yaki reasoned, as he was familiar with the archives. "It wouldn't hurt for her to try."

Jayden remained quiet as he watched the adults and his sister speak of the issue at hand.

"My answer is still no," Mathew practically growled.

"There is nothing wrong with having a back up plan," Ike informed.

"If there is to be a back up plan, then I will make sure my teammate will learn it with me. Ike, you have your morpher with you? It's time we start," the Red Ranger didn't seem to read the information carefully.

Master Yaki shook his head knowingly. "Mathew, read about the Sealing Symbol in depth. You will note there is a slight problem with who you're choosing," he updated, and he escorted young Lauren out to the preparation yard.

And that's what Mathew did. He went back to the pages of the Sealing Symbol and his eyes got wide.

"Well, what is it, dad," Jayden curiously asked, and he could feel the anticipation within the pit of his stomach.

"Mathew, what's the matter," Ike questioned, concerned for his best friend's deer caught in headlights expression. He didn't like this one bit.

"The only person that could potentially master this symbol would be a descendent of the Shiba clan," Mathew informed, a little upset with this stipulation. And he looked towards the outside. There was his daughter practicing her kanji symbols. She was working hard at perfecting them.

Little Jayden became ecstatic, as he was to be the 19th Head of the Shiba clan. At least, he was positive of it. "Does that mean I get to learn it?"

Mathew and Ike quickly turned to the precocious boy, and they both smiled, though their eyes hid the truth. They knew it was genetically impossible for him to learn this. He wasn't a descendent of the Shiba bloodline. He was simply adopted into this family.

"Uh, Jayden, why don't you help your mother in the kitchen. I have to talk to Uncle Ike about something," he said.

"You got it," the young boy left to help his mom. He always loved being around her, and he could smell she was baking.

After his son left, Mathew turned to Ike. Because Ike was his best friend he asked for him to be Jayden's Godfather.

Ike knew Jayden wasn't their biological son. He could tell by his Godson's eyes.

"How do I tell Jayden he can never be a leader to a team of Samurai Rangers," Mathew's heart became heavy. He hated that they weren't furthering his son's training. Unlike Lauren, she began to train at the age of two.

"That''s something you have to figure out on your own," Ike responded truthfully, and he didn't know what to do in his position. "At this point though, I sort of wish Jayden was your son. It would be a great distraction tactic. Master Xandred or his allies would never suspect a thing."

And that's when the light bulb in the Red Ranger's head lit up brightly. "Ike, you're a genius," once more he went to the bookcase. He grabbed another book off one of the shelves.

"No, you are not doing what I think you're doing," the Blue Ranger quickly caught on. "I was just joking," he watched as his friend kept scanning through pages, "You will not do this to him. Mathew!"

"Kagemusha," Mathew read the Japanese term. "It's perfect. While Lauren is working hard on perfecting the symbol, then Jayden will stand in and lead the team of Power Rangers. Once she's ready, she will resume the head of the Shiba Clan and fight against Master Xandred. Jayden will be relieved, and he will no longer have to fight.

"He can get hurt, or worse, he could get killed," Ike argued. "My son Kevin has been practicing diligently for the past two years. He's been taught to never be better than the Red Ranger. Jayden's barely practiced, and that would cause dishonor to the future team if the Blue shined more than the Red."

"What if he can be trained to be the best of the best," Mathew proposed. "Jayden catches on quickly when it comes to aesthetic stuff. I wouldn't be surprised if he could take a Samuraizer and draw the kanjis. correctly and use a Spinsword like it's supposed to be used."

This was crazy, Ike thought. "And who will you get to train him? You can't take Yaki away from Lauren, the true 18th Shiba Head," Ike countered, and he sighed. "I suggest you start learning this symbol now. If you master it, then you might not have to make Lauren learn, and in return you won't have to put Jayden in battle. I don't believe this is what his actual parents would want."

With those words, Ike left to 'swimming practice' with his son. He had respect for his leader, but the thought of putting an innocent boy in the cross hairs of a raging lunatic with a sword was absolutely ludicrous. He surely hoped that would never be the plan. He looked back at the Shiba House, and he gave a slight nod to Mentor Yaki and Lauren. He left the property.

"Dad, Mom baked cookies," Jayden zoomed to the living room, and he handed his dad a delicious sugar cookie.

"Oh, and we love your mother's baking," Mathew eagerly took a bite. "She did it again."

"What'd she do again," the young boy quirked his eyebrow.

"She baked wonderful goodies of course," the father of two laughed, and he seriously looked at his son. "Do you want to learn what Mentor Yaki teaches Lauren?"

"Yes, it's cool," he nonchalantly replied. "Can we start now?"

Maybe Mathew had gone mad. Maybe he knew Master Xandred's attacks were getting too strong, and he was worried his team of rangers weren't going to defeat him. Maybe he knew there wasn't enough time to gain the right amount of power to make the symbol work, and it was time to put his daughter's advancement into overdrive. Or maybe, he just had that much confidence in Jayden. After all, his son was comprised of not one, but two Power Rangers' blood lines. His young son was very special.

This would be the right choice.

"Yeah, come on, let's go outside and see what your sister and Yaki are doing," he led his young son to the outside.

Xxxxx

April 1999
Shiba House-Kitchen
Panorama City, CA

As much as Nina loved her husband, and she understood their young daughter was to train to be the next Red, Samurai ranger, she couldn't help but be upset with his new idea. When her husband told her of his plans to start training Jayden, and for their adopted son to possibly become a stand in, so Lauren would solely invest her time into learning the Sealing Symbol in private, the wife found this absolutely crazy. With no thought of a consequence, she objected the thought, and she looked at her husband with disgust. She had her apprehensions about Lauren already, and Jayden, especially Jayden, wouldn't be any different.

Mathew entered the family's kitchen, and he went to brew some coffee. His wife was already in there, and she was preparing the breakfast.

The two occupied each other with silence.

Lately, their conversations were leading into arguments over what was right and wrong. Hating that he was fighting with his wife, he walked up to her. He grabbed his wife, so they made eye contact. He felt her resistance, but that just caused him to wrap his arms around her tighter than before.

"I love you," he declared strongly, and he watched as tears formed in her eyes. "Don't cry," he wished, as she fell limp in his protective arms. He really hoped his wife would understand what he was concocting would definitely save the world.

"How can I not cry," Nina wiped her eyes. "Lauren is so young, and she's working with swords, kendo sticks, bo staffs, and she has a phone-"

"Samuraizer, honey," he quickly corrected her.

She sighed. "A Samuraizer, that makes Japanese symbols come to life," she shook her head, "and she's only eight years old." She looked into her husband's blue eyes, and then she moved away from him. She went to look outside the kitchen's window. "How is she going to handle this? How will Jayden handle it? And most of all, how are we, me, going to handle either one on the battle lines?"

Mathew stood behind her, and with comfort, he placed a hand on her right shoulder. He kissed her neck softly. "She's a natural," he spoke of his daughter's talent. "Yaki really has done wonders with her, and she's surpassed all of her little tests; she's carrying the Shiba legacy so well. And I think, no, I know she'll do great."

"Mathew, alright, I'll go with her assimilating to the Samurai lifestyle, and I'll accept she's going to become advanced with all the different kind of weapons, but what about Jayden," she was concerned for her son.

From the moment Jayden arrived home, she fell in love with the little boy. She was there for the first time he ever turned from his stomach to his back, when he crawled for the first time, and when he began to take his first steps. She really did love Jayden unconditionally, so she didn't want him to be a part of this life.

"Jayden's going to do great," Mathew responded. with no apprehension.

"This is not apart of his bloodline though," she firmly reminded him, and her husband was slightly appalled. "Yes, he's our son. Yes, he's apart of our family. Yes, he has your surname. And yes, we'd take a bullet for him like any other parent would do for a child, but this isn't meant for him."

"His parents are Power Rangers!"

"Are, or were?"

The 17th head of the Shiba Family was stumped. He wasn't sure if the parents were still fighting the world. Besides the little note he was given from Alpha 5, he really didn't know too much about Jayden's birth parents. He's always wondered about them, but he admitted he never had time to find out more information about them.

And when Zordon passed, which upset Mathew greatly because the mythical being gave him his son, now there was no way to know their identities or at the very least find out what they were doing.

"I don''t know," he confessed.

"Is this something they wanted for him? Would they want him to be a Power Ranger," she asked the questions he would never ask. Mathew remained silent. "From what I see and been through, I would never put my child through this. There's training all day everyday, no time for a break or fun, the danger, and do you have any idea what you put me through?"

"What?!"

"I worry constantly about you," she very much stressed. "Sometimes, the worry attacks my body to the point I want to vomit, and to be honest, I'm very afraid that I'll get that knock on the door," she didn't want to finish her sentence because it would pain her to do so.

Mathew knew what she was saying. She'd be crushed if he died in battle. "Honey," he wanted her to face him. "I accept the danger; it comes with the title of being a Samurai ranger and leader. I understand your concern, and I love you so much. Please have faith in what I'm doing."

She shook her head furiously. "You, a Ranger, yes, Lauren, I'm warming up to the idea because she's going to carry on the family's purpose, but Jayden, no. Now, I have to sit at home worrying about the possibility of you, my daughter, and, now, my son getting hurt. That's too much for me to handle as a wife and mother."

"I will assure you, none of us will get hurt. Mentor has conditioned our daughter to be strong, understand what her duties are, and I know she will be able to fully master all of the symbols," he truly did have faith in Lauren. "And, trust me, I would hope she wouldn't have to seal Master Xandred away," he had been working with the symbol very hard, and he hoped there was time to fully acquire the power to make sure the symbol worked. "Then Lauren wouldn't have to be taught as frequently, and Jayden would never have to begin his heavy regiment," he somewhat assured her. "I want to protect my daughter and son, but I also have to think about the world and what would be the best plan of action."

And Nina knew that was the truth. As much as she feared for what was to happen to her family, she knew she would not have a family, if Master Xandred fully executed his plans to conquer Earth. "Okay," was all she said.

Mathew knew his wife's hesitations, but he couldn't stop what was to happen. "Mentor Yaki won't be able to give his attention to both Lauren and Jayden," he softly said, as he watched his wife plate the breakfast for five—him, her, their daughter, their son, and Mentor.

Upon hearing this, she knew the talk about teaching Jayden the Samurai lifestyle was slowly going to become an action. "So, what do you propose," she placed all the empty pans into the expanse sink.

"Another mentor to live in on the property and help him grow to become a Samurai," he honestly responded.

"Mathew, this was going to happen regardless of how much I objected. Wasn't it," she queried.

He nodded, knowing his answer would pain her. She might regard this as an act of betrayal, but this was preparation.

Emotionally exhausted, she had no more will to fight him about this. She simply nodded as form of compliance, and she left to wake everyone else for breakfast.

Xxxxx

June 1999
Tengen Gate
Undisclosed Location

The Elder Guardian of the Tengen Gate overlooked the pasture side. He smelled the fresh air, and he watched, in the distance, the sun was beginning to rise. Everyday was truly a blessing. He decided to head back inside, and as he passed by the little memorial of the first ever Samurai Rangers, he bowed as a form of respect.

The first set of Samurai Rangers battled the Nighlock army on this property. Since then, it's been a place for the Samurai Rangers to come and seek wisdom. In addition, there was a magical talisman—the Black Box, that could house all of the Rangers' symbol power. This unique box was housed and protected here.

Daisuke, Elder Guardian of the Tengen Gate, went to seek his top Senior Guardian, Ji.

The Tengen Gate was populated by the Elder Guardian, the one that would oversee the whole entire Tengen Gate, three Senior Guardians, who had been on the property for some time. Eventually one would step in when the Elder Guardian decided his time there was no longer needed or he passed, and the rest of the residents were Junior Guardians. Some of the Junior Guardians had been there for a year, while the rest had just decided this was the life for them.

Arriving to one of the rooms of the place, Daisuke gently rapped on the paper door. The door slowly opened, and there he was. A man of thirty with a slight mocha colored tint exhibiting a Polynesian ancestry, charcoal colored hair, strong, yet caring brown eyes, and a build that could make any Nighlock quiver.

As a form of respect, the two bowed.

"Daisuke, is there something wrong," he asked, worry evident in his voice.

"Oh, no," the Elder let a small chuckle out. "This must be a surprise then."

The Senior nodded as a matter of fact. "What can I help you with, or what do you need," he wondered out loud.

"Follow me," Dasiuke led the way to the main room of the Tengen Gate. This was where the communal breakfast, lunches, and dinners would happen. He stood at the head of the long table that would seat 30, and in the seat to the right of him, there was a man.

The Senior didn't understand the purpose of this meeting, and he went to the left of the Daisuke. Across from him was a man he had never seen before in person. Maybe, he saw him in a picture, but never in motion.

The man stood up, and they all reverently bowed to one another before sitting down at their seats.

"Ji, this is Mathew Shiba, 17th Head of the Shiba clan," Daisuke introduced. "And Mathew, this is Ji, my most trusted Senior Guardian."

"It's an honor to meet you," Ji gave a slight bow of his head.

"Thank you, and it's very nice to put a face to the person Daisuke has talked so highly about," Mathew said, and he looked at Daisuke, who gave an affirming nod. "I'm sure you're wondering what this meeting is about."

"Yes," Ji nervously croaked, as the Shiba Family was loyalty amongst these grounds. He hoped he wasn't going to be ousted or something.

"I have a young son," the leader of the Samurai Rangers began, "And he is to be the 18th Head of the Shiba Clan," and then he received a slight smack from the Elder.

The Elder was none too pleased with this fib. "Tell, the truth," he firmly ordered.

"My daughter, Lauren, is the true 18th Head of the Shiba Clan, and I want my son, Jayden, to step in her place until she has truly mastered the Sealing Symbol," Mathew partially admitted.

And Mathew's practiced the symbol day in and day out. He would start from the morning and his training would last until he collapsed to the ground. The battles him and his team would engage in didn't make the task of acquiring this symbol any better, as they would deter him from perfecting the damn thing. Not to mention, symbol Power does drain the person. If he wasn't careful, he would land himself in the hospital or worse. As much as his wife detested Jayden standing in, Mathew knew it was time to get their son a mentor.

"A Kagemusha," Ji gasped under his breath. He read the archives, and he believed that was a great plan, but very hurtful to the person, who decided to be the impostor.

"Yes," Daisuke intervened, since Mathew seemed to be dragging his feet in the sand. "Tell Ji the real reason why you are here. It is obviously to not have some tea and cookies, or to just tell him about this grand scheme of yours."

"Correct, Daisuke," the 17th Head bowed, and he knew he was taking his precious time. He hadn't taken long when it came to Mentor Yaki, so why was this different? He knew this was different because of the circumstances. He sighed. "I want you to be Jayden's Mentor."

Ji almost fell out of his chair at the request. "Me... you want me... to be his mentor," he thought that was absurd.

Mathew nodded. "I came to Daisuke because he aided with finding my daughter's mentor, and I knew he wouldn't fail me. When he spoke so highly of you, I knew you were the one."

"You trust me with this," Ji asked the Elder; the Elder nodded with no hesitation. "But what about my duties here?"

"Your duties will be handled by the rest of the Senior Guardians," Daisuke replied, and he looked at Ji. "You must take this opportunity."

"I don't know if I can," Ji confessed because he doubted his confidence.

"Please, I beg you," Mathew would've gotten down on his hands and knees; he wasn't sure what else to do. "I wouldn't be asking this of you if it wasn't very important, but I wish for you to help me, my son, my family, the world."

Ji thought about this some more, and though a bit hesitant, he wished to please Daisuke. After all, the Elder had so much faith in him. "I will accept," he only said.

The Red Ranger could've done a happy dance right then and there, but he maintained his composure. He shook hands with Ji. "You will leave today. Pack your things, as you will live on the Shiba grounds," he told, and he kept a smile on his face.

"Now," the new mentor was surprised. Once he saw the head bobs from Daisuke and Mathew, he left to get his things.

Daisuke turned to Mathew and shook his hand once more. "Mathew, you must tell Ji your secret," he informed, as he knew one more piece of information was missing.

"One thing at a time, Daisuke," Mathew responded. "One day, he'll find out Jayden is adopted, but right now we have more important things to do."

With that, the two men left to the front of the Tengen Gate, so they could wait for Ji. Mathew's plans to utilize Jayden as an impostor was in full force. His son was going to learn the ways of a Samurai, so his daughter could concentrate on sealing away Master Xandred. He couldn't be any more pleased.