Master Raven: Origins

by dunkingman

(Requested story). This tale follows the life and upbringing of Master Raven. She once had a family of her own before civil war destroyed her hometown. Lucky for Master Raven, she was saved by her new guardian and took up his discipline as a ninja spy. Soon Master Raven would take over the leadership position of her clan and role as a spy after her guardian's death.

34. The Jackals

The Jackals

Urenna (Currently known as Raven, Later known as Master Raven)

Age: 24 years old.

Height: 173 centimeters

Weight: 53 kilograms

Current Ninja Rank: Jonin

Santi (Later known as Raven)

Age: 14 years old

Height: 169 centimeters (Undergoing growth spurt.)

Weight: 51 kilograms

Current Ninja Rank: Soon to be Jonin

Hide Umezu (Also known as Crow)

Age: 55 years old

Height: 175 centimeters

Weight: 82 kilograms

Current Rank: Kage (Headmaster of his clan)

Omani Tsuboi

Age: 52 years old

Height: 167 centimeters

Weight: 61 kilograms

Current Rank: Jonin

Bryce

Age: 7 years old

Height: 129 centimeters

Weight: 30 kilograms

Current Rank: Chunin

Hanta

Age: 3 years old

Current Rank: Chunin

Shika Clan Campground, Morotsuka, Miyazaki Prefecture, Japan…

After the botched Kazuya Mishima remain mission, Urenna continued working as a spy with the United Nations, until Hide was ready to return to action. Although he admitted to his superiors that he would soon retire if things remained slow as it was. The Mishima Zaibatsu did indeed stopped their war ambitions, since Heihachi had to rebuild his stocks that were lost because of his son's decisions. So nothing of significance occurred after the last 5 years of the second King of Iron Fist Tournament.

However, one day, there was a call from the United Nations to Crow. There were two significant threats being made by a new terrorist group. They were known as the Jackals. Their leader was someone that both Urenna and Crow knew all too well. Without haste Crow interrupted the training of both Urenna, Santi, and Bryce. With Omani at the temple, he called his two oldest disciples to meet there. It was vital they understood the situation.

Crow: "There is something urgent that I must tell you all."

Silence crept in, until Urenna sensed it…

Urenna: "It is…him again."

Crow: "I believe so. And he has new allies it seems."

Urenna: "Tell me where he is master."

Crow: "We still cannot confirm completely. But it is clear that Cain has given his friends the funding to launch two different bomb attacks around the same time. One will be in San Francisco, California and the other in Melbourne, Australia. Both targets are national credit unions. For what reasons Cain's friends want to do this has not yet been revealed. We must make preparations and prevent these attacks from happening before it is too late."

Urenna: "How soon will these attacks happen master?"

Crow: "It could be days, maybe 2 weeks at the most. Omani has decided to help in this mission. You and Omani will go to Canada and prepare yourselves for the potential attack in San Francisco. I will have Santi come with me to Australia. Santi, consider this mission as part of your trial to be Jonin rank."

Santi: "Understood master."

Crow: "Both of you will gather your weapons now and then rest. Omani shall take the children to the Ishidas tonight. When she returns, I will have a special chopper come for her and Urenna. I shall get prepared as well. Both of you may go now."

Urenna and Santi: "Understood master." (Bowing.)

The disciples leave out of the temple…

Crow: "Omani."

Omani: "Yes Hide?"

Crow: "If Cain is in San Francisco, be sure to tell me firsthand. I just hope that Urenna does not get greedy and try to pursue him over her family's death."

Omani: "Yes, I understand. You should do the same for me if he is in Melbourne."

Crow: "I will. We better get ready too." (Standing up.)

Urenna and Santi, said very little about the missions. They were both silent, but serious about the missions for different reasons. Santi would be a rank up from his Genin position, and it would mean he can do ninja missions on his own a lot sooner than expected. Urenna, obviously was amped up that Cain was still out there in the world causing trouble. She would like nothing more than to rip off his throat for the pain he had given her over the lost lives of her family. With all of her supplies packed, Urenna darted straight to Omani's car. Omani was getting the children ready to take to the Ishida family house, until she noticed Urenna coming to the car with her things.

Omani: "Wait, Urenna you don't have to pack your things in the car. Let's wait until our chopper comes."

Urenna: "Sorry, I would rather have my things ready now than to come back and do it. Besides I want to see the children off with you."

Omani: "Oh…very well. I'm almost ready, just watch the children here. I will tell Hide and Santi that we will be leaving."

Urenna: "Understood."

Bryce (in the car speaks.): "Where are we going?"

Urenna: "To the Ishidas. We have a big mission to do Bryce. Will you look after Hanta and be a good boy to the Ishidas?"

Bryce: "Yes."

Urenna (Smiles): "Great. You have nothing to worry about, K?"

Bryce: "K." (Playing at his Rubik's cube again.)

In due time, the kunoichi's left the compound and traveled to the Ishida home where Bryce and Hanta would be safe. By the time they came back, the chopper to pick them up had arrived at the front of the compound. The sun was about to set as Omani pulled up off the dirt road and parked the car. Omani asked Urenna was she all set.

Omani: "The chopper is here, are you ready?"

Urenna: "Yes I am."
Omani: "Let me get my things and we can leave immediately."

Urenna: "Understood."

The next day, arriving at the new Shika Clan Cabin Compound in British Columbia Province, Canada…

Omani had never visited the new compound in Canada up until now. She was breath taken by the scenery. She and Omani would at least stay here for a day or two. They just had to monitor the situation of the upcoming summit happening in San Francisco which could be a target for the Jackals to cause terrorism. Omani could sense Urenna's anticipation of this event to unfold. Urenna would always monitor the television news channels for any updates. There was still no internet available in the cabin at that point in time.

The next day passed, and everything was still quiet, until the chopper from the United Nations came back in the early morning hours just before sunrise. The chopper noise wakes up both women. However, they knew it was likely time to head out for San Francisco. The kunoichis took the necessary supplies to do their mission and left the cabin without even eating a breakfast meal.

Arriving near San Francisco, California…

The chopper with Urenna and Omani on board landed at a private port at San Francisco's Harbor. The downtown area was just to the north of their location. The global summit would first take place at the historic library west of downtown. To keep away from car traffic, the kunoichi's opted to ride on top the train cabs and use them for easy travel. The summit will begin in one hour.

San Francisco Public Library…

Omani: "Looks like the summit is about to begin. See anything unusual?"

Urenna (Using binoculars.): "Not yet. The crowd seems normal. And the stage is clear so far."

Over the façade of the Public Library, Urenna saw some unusual movement within in the fog…

Urenna: "Hold on."

Omani: "What is it?"

Urenna: "Looks like there could be some people above the roof at the library. I saw them running back and forth. I think we should move in."

Omani: "Alright, but we should still move discreetly. Not too fast."

Urenna: "Right."

As the summit was underway, various global leaders were present to hear various speeches. After carefully moving within the streets, Urenna and Omani took a rope with a chain on top to carefully climb the walls without much suspicion. Once the two were above the library roof, they discovered at least three men dressed in military gear. They were carrying crates of ammunition. It looked as though they were preparing to target the innocent people at the summit. Plus, one of them had a detonation device!

Omani: "Oh my goodness!"

Urenna (At the men.): "Hold it! Stop what you are doing!"

Jackal Soldier 1: "What the…who are they?"

Jackal Soldier 2: "Don't get any closer or I will set off the bombs!"

Jackal Soldier 3: "Wait! It's not time yet!"

Jackal Soldier 2: "I'm serious! I'll do it!"

Urenna: "No! Stop!"

BOOM!

A series of bombs blew up one by one around the streets of the library. Even the platform where some leaders were speaking blew up, thought the damage was partial. Urenna proceeded to advance as she knocked out the second Jackal soldier with a punch to his solar flexes. He drops the detonation device as a result. The other soldiers try to attack Urenna, but Omani uses her shuriken to stop them both as they dropped down. The view from below the roof was not a good sight.

Urenna: "Damn! We were too late!"

Omani: "Gunshots! Get down!"

Omani made Urenna duck for cover even thought the bullets were not directed at them. The people in the vicinity were screaming as the Jackals started to shoot at them. The situation was deteriorating fast. Omani then spoke.

Omani: "We will have to split up and take out as many soldiers as possible. Agreed?"

Urenna: "Okay…I'll buzz you after I take out these guys and find out where Cain is hiding."

Omani: "Keep a clear mind Urenna, and help save the civilians first."

Urenna: "I will I will! Now let's go!" (Running off.)

At the street level…

Various Jackals were shooting at civilians at random. The police did arrive and acted as security for the global leaders who were alive, but even they were getting slaughtered by the Jackals firepower. Urenna fought most of the Jackals along the street south of the library. She would then work her way to the platform upfront, were there were several dead bodies laying about. Then more gunshots could be heard up ahead. How many of these guys were there?

Once Urenna made it to the adjacent street, she encountered someone who was indiscriminately torturing the police officers. He was using sais as a weapon as he stabbed another officer while holding his throat with one arm. Then the man noticed Urenna approaching him. Her fighting spirit was strong. The tall man turned around and gave an eerie smile in amusement.

The man: "Hoh! And who might you be?"

Urenna: "Are you their leader? Why would you kill these people? Answer me!"

The man: "I'm just here as a mercenary. Doing as I am paid to do. Nothing more."

Urenna: "Then you must know where Cain is, don't you? Tell me!"

The man: "He certainly isn't here, but I will tell you if we can play together." (Laughing.)

Urenna (In her head): "This guy can't be the only person here of this caliber. He has a very bloodlust presence. The light in his eyes is completely gone. He's like a demon in the flesh. He has long thrown away his humanity. I can't let him hurt any more innocence." (Unsheating her blade.) "I'm stopping you right now!"

The man (Laughing): "Go ahead and try!"

This eerie mercenary began to rush at Urenna at high speed. He surprised Urenna with an after-image technique as he nearly slashed her throat. Though Urenna could read the attack and ducked under at the right moment, though a few of her locks were unable to avoid the slash as they were cut. Urenna was on her knees for a second but then the mercenary turned around and leapt in the air for a downward slash with his sais. Urenna blocked them both as they were entangled blade for blade. The man kept that annoying smile on his face, as he spoke with glee.

The man: "Very good! You have sharp eyesight and reflexes! This is gonna be fun! Hehehehahahahaa!"

Urenna: "Shut…UP!"

Urenna gave the mercenary a swift knee to his torso. She backed off as he clutched his sides in pain. Urenna followed up with an attempt to slash the mercenary. She misses him by a slim margin. He did another after image technique. Urenna stopped herself before hitting a standing mailbox with her ninjatou. He was out of sight.

Urenna (In her mind.): "Focus Urenna. Where is he?"

SLASH!

Urenna: "Aaaaggghccckkk!"

Mercenary: "Got you!" (Laughing)

Urenna got cut across her backside by the mercenary as he disappeared once again. He was planning to torture her slowly since he knew that the girl was a step slower than him. Time after time, Urenna could read all of his surprise attack. She getting more and more injured. After the sixth cut to her body, Urenna decided to use the fire and debris as cover. The mercenary gleefully let her run to make his hunt more exciting. He was curious about her fight style and training. Urenna hid herself under a flipped over car as she tended to her wounds around the legs. Standing up Urenna had to control her emotions and clear her head.

Urenna (In her mind.): "Relax…focus my senses…hone them…the enemy will come forth…when he does…he won't suspect my next attack."

Slowly, Urenna walked forward, not even opening her eyes. From a distance, the mercenary was on top of a streetlight looking down at Urenna. He was surprised to see that she would leave her hiding spot. The girl was either stupid or was planning something. The mercenary didn't care, he was going to finally come forth and stab her completely with both sais in hand!

Urenna kept her slow pace up, never opening her eyes and just heightening her senses. No matter his speed, the mercenary's ki will present itself with deadly intent. Finally, that moment came.

The mercenary hopped down from the streetlight and after landing he dashed at Urenna once more to perform a thrusting attack aiming dead for Urenna's midsection. However, Urenna could sense his ki and she blocked it all on her own with her blade. This caught the mercenary by surprise. Next, using a teleport jutsu, Urenna appeared right behind the mercenary and slashed his backside clean! Now multiple clones of Urenna appeared one by one, cutting the mercenary from all angles! At least twenty times. Urenna then stopped herself about fifteen away from her enemy. Not even turning her back. He was finished.

The Mercenary: "Well done…young one. Gaaahhh!"

THUD…!

Urenna (Turning around.): "For a creep…you gave me some trouble." (Then thinks.) "Crap…I hope Omani is alright."

Though battered and tired, Urenna pressed on to find Omani. Going over dead bodies and fending off the remaining Jackal soldiers, Urenna finally sensed Omani's ki from an adjacent street near the west end of the public library. Looking and looking, Urenna found Omani between an alleyway near a clothing store, but she was down in a pool of blood. The sight shocked Urenna.

Urenna: "Omani!"

Urenna picked up Omani off the pavement very carefully. The movement woke the older woman up. She was still alive, but clearly not well. Urenna had to get her out of here. Just then after leaving the alleyway, Urenna sensed another strong ki lurking around. It was above her head. Turning left she saw a woman, wearing mercenary gear, standing on top of another building. Then a chopper came over to get her. Saying nothing, the woman just turned her back and climbed the hanging ladder the chopper gave her. Urenna had no time to figure her out, Omani needed tending too right away!