In the skies of Yamakasai, a lone aircraft bearing the markings of the Shang Tu military crosses the city border. In the pilot's seat, General Gong slows down and looks upon the city below. "By the Ancients… Neera, you're gonna want to see this."

Neera Li enters the cockpit a few moments later. "Have you tracked down the fugitives?"

"From this altitude?" Gong answers.

"Then why did you call me up here?"

"Look out the window, at the city below."

Neera sighs in reluctance and does as requested. "By the Ancients…"

"Those two Scarves weren't kidding about there being a war here."

"That doesn't excuse their treachery."

"Do you have any moods other than judgemental?" Gong asks cheekily.

"You know how dangerous those Crystals are," Neera reminds.

The aircraft's radio beeps. "We're being hailed," Gong concludes.

"Who by?"

Gong checks the identity of the ping. "The General of the Yamakasai Army. He wants to know why we're here."

"Tell him then."

Gong informs the Yamakasai general of their purpose, then receives a reply. "We're being directed to the dojo."

"What happens if we ignore that instruction?"

"We get shot out of the sky."

"To the dojo."

On the ground, Sally suddenly skids to a halt, causing Maria and Danny to swerve and avoid her.

"What on Avalice did you stop for?" Danny asks.

"That's a Shang Tu aircraft," Sally explains, pointing to the sky.

Danny and Maria look up to see the aircraft.

"The Magister's sent someone to hunt us down," Sally concludes.

"We can't worry about that," Danny decides. "We have to get to the front and drive the invaders out."

"But‑" Sally begins.

"I don't want to pull rank, but I will if I have to," Danny interrupts.

"You wouldn't," Sally challenges.

"In a combat situation, SOP dictates command defaults to the most senior Scarf," Danny informs. "And that is me. Focus on the mission: we'll deal with the Shang Tu heavies later."

Sally wants to argue, but thinks better of it. "You're right," she admits. "Let's get back to work."

Sally sets off, Maria, Danny, and Xander following.

Five minutes later, Gong lands the Shang Tu aircraft at the Kasai‑dojo airfield. He and Neera disembark to be met by a squad of ninjas armed with assault rifles.

"We are to escort you to Grand Master Hideyoshi Takenaka," the squad leader informs.

"Is this going to take long?" Neera asks. "We have fugitives to arrest and Elemental Crystals to recover."

"Cool it, Neera," General Gong instructs. "We're in a foreign land: we have to be diplomatic."

"The more time we waste, the less likely it is we'll arrest the fugitives," Neera counters.

"Exactly," Gong agrees. "So, stop wasting time and obey the guards. And let me do the talking."

"Very well," Neera relents.

Deep within Kasai‑dojo, Tsubaki Moto finally finds the bunker protecting Hideyoshi Takenaka and Chika Ueno. This is going to be more difficult than I thought. No way I'm getting in there without assistance.

Suddenly, the door to the bunker opens. Tsubaki hides in the shadows, making sure she can see the door without being seen, and watches two people exit the bunker, the door closing behind them. They're still alive‽ What the fuck‽ Wait… their belt buckles… Akairo was right: they have the Crystals!

Knowing an attempt to fight will end in disaster, Tsubaki silently retreats.

Hanna's ears twitch. "Someone's watching us," she concludes, extending her claws, her hands wreathed in flame.

"I don't hear anything," Rob replies.

"You never do. Now shush." Hanna turns her excellent hearing to her surroundings, but cannot relocate the noise she heard. "They've gone."

"Or maybe they weren't here to begin with," Rob theorises.

Hanna ignores Rob and walks over to the shadow she thought she heard the noise coming from. "Maybe you're right, there's n‑" she begins, stopping when a familiar scent hits her nose. Sniffing around the shadow, she confirms the identity of the scent. "Tsubaki Moto," she growls angrily. "She's seen us with the Crystals."

"Which means she'll be in retreat," Rob concludes.

"Then we chase her down," Hanna decides, setting off down the corridor, following Tsubaki's scent trail.

Here we go again… Rob sets off in pursuit of his wife.

Twenty minutes later, General Gong and Neera Li are escorted into the bunker to meet Hideyoshi Takenaka.

"Greetings," Hideyoshi bows. "I was not expecting the two most senior aides to the Royal Magister to visit, especially since we're in the middle of a civil war that threatens the future of the whole Gotoshi."

"We're short on time, so I'll get straight to the point," Gong replies, bowing in return. "We're looking for the three fugitives that stole the Elemental Crystals from Shang Tu Palace this morning."

"I had guessed as much," Hideyoshi informs. "That's why, as soon as I was alerted you had entered Yamakasai airspace, I arranged to have you brought here."

"You know who stole the Crystals?" Gong asks.

"I do," Hideyoshi confirms. "Unfortunately, they are not here right now: they are on their way to the front‑lines to drive the invaders out."

"Then that's where we're heading," Gong decides.

"I'm afraid I cannot allow that," Hideyoshi forbids.

The door to the bunker slams shut.

"How dare you stand in the way of justice‽" Neera demands, pointing her staff at Hideyoshi.

"I recommend you lower the staff," Hideyoshi advises, drawing his naginata.

"Is that a threat?" Neera growls.

"I'd do as he says," Chika Ueno advises as she emerges from behind Hideyoshi, her sansetsukon in her hands.

"Stand down, Neera," Gong instructs.

"But‑" Neera begins to protest.

"That is a direct order," Gong asserts.

Reluctantly, Neera lowers her staff. "If we lose the Crystals, I'm holding you personally responsible," she informs Hideyoshi.

"Noted," Hideyoshi acknowledges.

Meanwhile, Kaede Himura is slowly making her way out of the dojo, having surrendered to the conclusion that she'll never get her incriminating notebook back. I should have known Hideyoshi would be too clever to just leave the notebook somewhere I could easily get it. The best I can hope for now is to just disappear. Maybe I'll move to the Origin Kingdoms. Maybe Danny could help‑ He won't help me, not after everything I've done to him and the kitten. Maria, that's her name.

Lost in her own thoughts, she fails to notice Tsubaki sprinting at top speed directly at her. Unable to stop, Tsubaki slams into Kaede, sending them both tumbling several feet down the corridor.

"Kitsune dammit Kaede!" Tsubaki snaps, shoving the dazed pika off her. "Watch where you're going!"

"You ran into me!" Kaede snaps back. "How the fuck is it my fault?"

Tsubaki is about to reply, but stops when she sees Hanna Skarlett is closing the distance. "We'll argue about this later. Run!"

Kaede follows Tsubaki's gaze and sees Hanna. "Shit!" she exclaims, sprinting after the fleeing tanuki.

"This day just keeps getting better!" Hanna smiles hungrily to herself as she continues the chase, her whole body sheathed in flame, violence burning in her eyes, and Rob just a few feet behind her.