Chapter 5

For 800 hundred years, Norrisville High has been protected by a ninja.

No one knows that every four years, a new warrior is chosen.

A freshman to fight the forces of evil.

I am the ninja!

I am…


Randy Cunningham had a crush, and he was eighty percent sure that his crush also had a thing for him. Although with how aggressive flashes of red that the Nomicon was releasing, it may actually be around ninety now. That thing always seemed to know more about him, despite being a book. "Okay, I get it, I get it!" Randy said with an annoyed tone, "What exactly do you want me to do about it?" The book opened itself up and brought his mind in for a talk.

The young ninja was brought into a classroom that was filled with ancient Japanese fixtures, "What the cheese is it going to be this time, Nomicon? Another lesson boooring," Randy yawned boorishly as the classroom door opened to reveal the teacher of this particular lesson, a figure that was garbed in a distinct red and black coloration with only their eyes and elbows showing. Randy gasped in surprise, "Oh sweet cheese, First Ninja in the room!"

The First Ninja sighed at Randy's enthusiasm, "Yes, it's me, we have a lot to talk about." Randy expressed confusion at his words, "What do we have to talk about?" The ninja rolled his eyes, "We have to talk about…" he paused uncomfortably before continuing on, "Your love life," cringing awkwardly as he finished his sentence. Randy's eyes widened in surprise, "Uh…what love life? You know me, best ninja, don't have any life outside of the one that I'm living right now," Randy laughed nervously, hoping to cover up any signs of his crush.

The ninja's gloved hand met his frustrated face and stated, "This is not the time for you to be catching feelings, not with the greatest threat to the realms coming your way!" He pulled Randy closer to him using his scarf, "The fate of all reality is in the balance, and you're the only hope that it has!" Randy pushed the First Ninja away, "Well what am I supposed to do?! I really like this girl, okay? Maybe you've never fallen in love before," he said as he poked the First Ninja's chest, "But I just have to trust my gut on this, would you please just let me think for myself?"

Randy's hand was swatted away as the First Ninja jumped in the air and suspended himself against the ceiling pulling Randy up by his collar, "I can't let you make a horrible decision!" Randy struggled as the First Ninja dodged every attempt that his arms made at reaching him. "You're a horrible decision!" Randy's nonsensical insult confused the First Ninja, "That doesn't make any sense, stop being an idiot!" Randy fired back, "I'll stop being an idiot when you stop being a shoob!"

Their bickering was cut short as a tired voice insulted the two ninjas, "You're both idiots!" Randy, recognizing the voice that entered the room, asked, "Is that you Plop-plop?" The blue regally clothed sire of the First Ninja joined in and affirmed his presence, "Yep, it's your good ol' buddy Plop-plop!" Randy waved his hand excitedly and greeted him, "Hey buddy! It's been a while!" Plop-plop crossed his arms, "I told you I'd come if you looked for me, it's hard going through eight hundred years' worth of text you know?" Plop-plop pulled out a bag of McChips from his robe that gained Randy's attention, "Where did you get that?" Plop-plop shrugged his shoulders, "Didn't get them from you that's for sure." Randy chuckled awkwardly, but turned his attention back to the matter at hand, "Plop-plop! Mind helping me deal with First Ninja over here?" Randy raised his finger pointing towards the First Ninja that still held him up near the ceiling. Plop-plop sighed, "Would you let him down so that we can all have a decent conversation about this?" The First Ninja grumbled his complaints but these were not heard by his sire, "I don't want to hear it, he's the ninja now and we're just eight-hundred-year-old memories! So, get your butt here and sit down." The First Ninja complied, dropping Randy, "Ow! At least set me down gently you shoo- "A finger met Randy's mouth, with Plop-plop shaking his head not wanting to let their argument start all over again.

Plop-plop put his hands together gleefully, "Okay, 'bout time. Now Randy…" Randy turned towards him in surprise, "I thought you were going to tell First Ninja off?" Plop-plop shushed Randy with his index finger raised, "I am going to, okay? But you have to understand, First Ninja over here has his reasons, reasons that he'll share now," Plop-plop nudged his friend in the stomach only to receive a grunt in response.

"You know you'll have to tell him, right?" Plop-plop's words continued to only meet grunts until he said, "You still owe me for that eight hundred year favor I did for you." The First Ninja exasperatedly let out a breath in surrender, "Fine," the ninja turned his attention towards Randy, "I…too…have fallen…" His voice slowly wanned until the other two couldn't hear what he was saying. "What'cha saying there First Ninja? You saying you a chicken?" Plop-plop clucked mockingly causing the First Ninja to yell out in frustration, "I've fallen in love before too!"

The revelation of such a fact caused Randy to gasp, "No way? This guy," pointing at the First Ninja then turning towards his chubby friend, "Fell in love? With someone? How? What? When? Who?" Randy excitedly asked, as Plop-plop nodded teasingly as the First Ninja began to get annoyed. "Quiet!" The ninja's booming voice yelled out, and took a breath as the room went silent, "I did fall in love, it doesn't matter who it was right now, but what you should know is that I hurt her." The First Ninja turned his attention to the young ninja, "This…job takes a lot out of you," the ninja paused as a pained expression seemed to paint his masked face, "It asks a lot of you, and my enemies they…'' he clenched his fist as though the memory of it had been harming him, causing Randy to reach out in concern, only to be stopped by Plop-plop who simply shook his head.

The First Ninja maintained his composure and straightened his position, "…They took something away from me, and it nearly broke me." The ninja took another breath, "It was only when I had taken the Ultimate Lesson that I managed to find some semblance of peace. I don't know if I ever found someone again," he said in a wistful tone. "My memories only go so far, but putting someone that I cared about in harm's way was the worst choice I ever made." The First Ninja with a saddened look stared at Randy's eyes, "You made me trust in my friends," as he nodded at Plop-plop's direction, "And that's a good thing for you too, but trust must have its limits." The First Ninja stood up and came closer to Randy's direction, "Can you protect her and save the nine realms?"

"I…uh…" Randy stammered unsure of himself, in his moment of hesitation, the First Ninja pulled him by the collar again to reiterate his question, "Can you ninja?" Randy remained speechless, the First Ninja with a look of disappointment dropped him to the floor, "That answers that." Randy looked downcast at the floor, before looking up in defiance at the ninja, "I'm sorry about what happened to you, I don't want to let that happen to her and me too," The First ninja nodded in approval however Randy continued, "But if a chance comes, then you have to let me try." The First Ninja scoffed, "You're naïve to think that I'll let you." Randy retorted, "I know I am, but at least I'm not a frightened coward, I'm not afraid." The ninja in his frustration answered back, "You should be!" Shocking Randy as the room fell silent at the older man's outburst, "You should be…" the ninja repeated in a sad tone.

Plop-plop sighed looking at the two, "Alright, time for me to step up," he got up from his seat and patted his suit, "First Ninja's just concerned about you, he just doesn't want you to make the same mistake that he did," Randy grunted in response to it, Plop-plop then put his hand on the First Ninja's shoulder, "And Ninja, you have to remember that Randy isn't you! And the girl that he's pining after isn't her, either." Plop-plop then pulled the two into a hug then continued his point, "You've both got a lot to learn from each other, but you have to let each other walk your own path, and do your own things!" Randy managing to break out of Plop-plop's hold, "Yeah, exactly, let me do my own thang!" The First Ninja sighed, "Very well, but promise me you'll give what I said some more thought, okay? And don't go telling her that you're the ninja unless you're absolutely certain." Randy nodded, "I promise that I won't do anything stupid."

Plop-plop gave a thumbs up, while the First Ninja pinched the bridge of nose, "I suppose that's good enough." Pushing Randy away from the classroom forcing him back into reality.

Plop-plop deep in thought, remembered to tell Randy one more thing, "Bring some more McChips when you get back!"


"So…uh…" Randy twiddled his fingers nervously, "That's pretty much been my entire day, you know aside from the fact that Theresa may or may not have…" Randy took a sharp breath and hurriedly said, "Kissed me on the cheek in the rain which could be the most romantic thing that has ever happened to me." Exhaling, Randy returned to a calmer tone, "How was yours?"

It was followed by silence, and a frozen image of his best friend on his computer. Randy said, "Hey buddy? You there- "before Randy could begin to check his connection status a scream emanated from his speakers, "Say what?!" causing Randy to cover his ears, "I've only been gone for a few days Cunningham! A few days! And all this happens without me laughing at you in real time!" Howard's complaints made Randy groan, "Look honestly I didn't see it coming either!" His pudgy best friend gave him a deadpan stare for his obliviousness, "Cunningham, Fowler has been all over you ever since we were freshmen!" Randy winced at his friend's harsh words, "Was it really that bad?"

Howard put his hands together and started to explain, "Let's just say if you were this here chicken," raising his chicken to the screen to show his best friend, "And I was Fowler," pointing to himself, "She'd be all," he cut himself off to gobble the chicken whole in a piggish manner. Randy proceeded to block his screen, "Oh, that's schnasty Howard! Schnasty! Even without the chicken metaphor!" A burp resounded from Randy's speakers, which was followed by a friendly correction, "I think it's more of a simile rather than a metaphor," Howard shrugged his shoulders and picked up another chicken.

"What am I going to do?" Randy whined, as he saw Howard chomp down on his meal. Howard sighed at the poor sight of his best friend, "I don't know, but what I do know is that before you do anything stupid," Howard's thoughts were cut off with a sudden burp that Randy swore he could smell from his screen, "You have to wait for me and my camera! I might get you on my sister's new 'Rejection Ejection' program."

The annoyed purple haired teen said, "How are you so sure I'll wonk it up?" Howard guffawed and nearly choked on his food, after coughing he spoke in a flat tone, "It's you, Cunningham. You'll find a way to shoob it up because you're not going to be able to tell her one important thing." Randy scoffed in mock offense, "And what's that?"

"You're the ninja, Cunningham!" Howard pointed out, "You could barely make enough time for your best bud, much less a date." Howard coughed and began to speak in a much higher tone, "I'm Randy Cunningham and I can't stop being a nice wad for a single second otherwise the world will blow up!" Randy did not take kindly to the mock impersonation that his best friend was pulling, "I do not sound like that!"

"I dO nOt sOuNd lIKe tHaT!" Howard mockingly repeated.

"Real mature," Randy, placing his hand on his face in frustration, asked again, "What am I going to do?!" His best friend shrugged and began to offer genuine advice, "Just don't do anything!"

"What?"

"Look Cunningham, if what the Nomi-wonk says comes true, and I'm not saying that it will, maybe it isn't the best time for romance," Howard paused thinking of something that'll be able to cheer his friend up, "Besides, in two more years you'll be able to ask her out…though it'll be a pain if she goes far away… or if you forget her name or you know what, Cunningham? Maybe now's the time to ask if you're actually good enough for her," Howard teased.

"You know what else you should ask if we're any good for Howard?" Randy asked in a deep threatening tone, "W-What?" Howard was frightened and now intimidated by Randy. Randy only had to say one word, "Shangri-Lunch."

"Y-You didn't…" The rounder of the two began to quiver, and he fell to the floor dropping the rest of his meal, "Cunningham, tell me that you didn't lose Shangri-Lunch to-!"

Howard's concerns were affirmed with a blunt response from Randy, "I did."

"Cunningham when I get back there, I'll- "Howard's threats lost all their power as Randy simply disconnected the call from his side. The teen let out a heavy breath, even knowing that his best friend was probably going to attempt to kill him, he'd at least take the victory in that conversation.


"This is the most incredible plan we've concocted yet!" McFist proclaimed gleefully, while the lab gown adorned scientist standing beside him groaned having seen this a multitude of times, "Do you even understand the plan?"

His boss merely laughed, "Viceroy, I'm a man of integrity," which elicited a cough of skepticism from Viceroy which was ignored, "And I know quality when I see quality, after all, I came up with this plan!" Viceroy was about to counter McFist's claims when a ball of fire almost hit the latter's head.

"You fool," the Sorceress bellowed, "This is my glorious plan!" McFist proceeded to correct himself as he nervously adjusted his tie, "Y-Yeah, Viceroy what in the ever-living cheese were you thinking trying to claim ownership over the Sorceress' wonderful plan."

Viceroy facepalmed while the Sorceress merely sighed and began to explain her intentions, "The ninja has been able to thwart every single opponent that we've thrown at him," the two men began to nod shamefully, "That ninja is wonk!"

"Yeah, my babies can attest to how strong he is," Viceroy winced, remembering the damage reports on some of his best creations. The Sorceress focused her energy on several of the beads on her neck and these began to float while showing images of the ninja's moments of weakness.

McFist was wowed by the sight, "Ooooh, a slideshow, Viceroy, why don't you ever make any of these?" Viceroy retorted, "Because I always get a front seat to your losses."

"Your losses!" McFist scram back attempting to save face. The Sorceress, tired of their constant bickering, immediately drew the beads closer to them in a threatening manner, "Silence!" As she saw her captive audience adjust themselves, she continued discussing the matter at hand, "See, the ninja's greatest weakness, are the very people that he protects." Showing moments wherein the ninja put himself in harm's way and whenever he interacted with Norrisville High's students and faculty.

The two men titled their heads in confusion, but allowed the Sorceress to speak, "The ninja cares for the people, and in turn, the people care for him." McFist scoffed, "If it hadn't been for that stupid ninja, I'd be the most beloved celebrity in this joint."

The Sorceress hummed deeply considering what McFist said, as McFist continued to brag about his reputation while Viceroy merely looked at him unapprovingly. "My plan hinges on all of us tearing the ninja apart piece by piece, and when he realizes what happens, it will be too late. I will acquire my beloved's power from the Eye of Eternities and then and only then will I become powerful enough to vanquish that pathetic whelp from the face of the earth." As she finished speaking, her words were met with applause from the Robo-Apes and McFist himself. The Sorceress smiled to herself, "Viceroy, begin the production of new weapons to destroy the ninja!"

"We call them WNDs, weapons of ninja destruction," Viceroy explained, "It rolls off the tongue much better." McFist annoyed by Viceroy correction, "Just get to work!"


A/N: Hey everyone, Somi here! This chapter mainly deals with a few confrontations and rising tensions. Because Chapter 6 onwards, we'll be dealing with the real meat and bones of the story. I won't spoil you but chapters 6 and 7 are essentially two parts that I split for better pacing.

For now, I'll address some of the reviews. Those concerned with the potential length of this story, worry not, to clarify this is story is just a prompt for what is essentially a first arc of a potential season 3. I will not be tackling anything regarding the nine realms concept, as coming up with ideas for nine realms is a bit tough given my status as a hack writer [I'm much better at character writing (or so I think) than world building]. But that just means that the story will have, what I assume to be, a solid conclusion to it. If for some reason I end up having too much on my plate to continue the story, then I'll just make one chapter that explains everything that I would've done for the story, but given how I'm pacing myself I don't think that's much of an issue [I'm writing the first draft of chapter 9 as I speak…er…type].

Those hoping for an assembly of a new Norisu Nine, temper your expectations, I'll be sprinkling hints at who may be members of it, but the nature of this story simply doesn't allow me to handle that many characters at a time, well at least not yet. But we'll see.

Thank you all so much for reading! P.S. This story is now available on AO3, here's the link: /works/49608385/chapters/125208037