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Friday

The next day, they all walked to the monastery together after school. Jay had the parts they needed to fix Zane up, and Nya and him would start on that right away. Jay, Nya, and Kai had told Cole and Lloyd what they had done yesterday, and had explained why they had not brought them along. Lloyd wasn't sure how he felt about that. He trusted his friends (mostly), but he wasn't sure if he trusted them alone in the monastery.

At the top of the mountain, Kai opened the door and walked in confidently. Then jumped in surprise. Wu stood there with his bamboo staff, waiting for them.

"Uh, what are you doing here?" Kai asked a little nervously. He had not liked the idea of Wu knowing that Zane was a robot, afraid that he might turn him in.

"There is training today," Wu replied simply.

"Oh." Kai rubbed the back of his head, glancing around nervously.

"So, uh, what are we doing today, Master Wu?" Jay asked.

"You and Nya will fix up Zane. The rest of you will practice stealth," Wu told them. Lloyd had already told his uncle about Zane.

Lloyd's friends started in surprise.

"You know?" Cole asked.

"Of course! I'm not blind, you know. Especially not when there is someone on my couch."

They all exchanged uneasy, guilty looks, except for Lloyd.

"And Nya, would you like to become a ninja? I would have asked you on the day I recruited your brother, but it didn't quite go as planned…"

Nya's eyes lit up excitedly. "Of course!"

Wu nodded. "Then you will call me 'Master Wu' from now on. After you and Jay finish fixing Zane, I will teach you the basics."

Nya nodded enthusiastically, and Jay and her went inside.

"Now, for the rest of you, we will play a game of hide and seek. This will enhance your stealth."

They all exchanged surprised glances.

"But, uh, Master Wu, isn't that a game for kids?" Kai asked skeptically.

"Yes, technically. Doesn't mean we can't put it to good use. I assume you all know how to play?"

They all nodded.

"Good. You will all have to hide, while I search for you. You are allowed to move around, and not just stay in one spot. You can work together as well. In fact, I encourage you to. You also are allowed to bring along weapons."

"So… what happens if you find us?" Kai asked.

Wu smiled unnervingly. "You probably don't want to find out. You will have to stay out of my detection for two hours. Understood?"

They all glanced at each other again, then nodded.

"Good. You may hide anywhere around the monastery, including the mountain and the base of the mountain, and in the woods. Just, please, don't get lost."

They all nodded again.

"You will have ten minutes until I come to find you. Your time starts now."

"Wait, what?!" Kai exclaimed in surprise. Lloyd grabbed his arm, and then dragged him into the monastery. Cole followed them.

"Where are we going? Wouldn't it be better to go into the woods?" Cole asked.

"Yeah, but we need to grab weapons first," Lloyd told them. "If I know anything about Master Wu, if he finds us, then he'll probably make us defend ourselves."

"Defend ourselves? You mean he'll attack us?" Cole asked.

"Yeah, but not for real. He won't actually aim to hurt you. If an enemy found you, wouldn't you think they'd try to attack you?"

"Yeah, I guess so…"

"Here's the weapons," Lloyd said, opening up a closet. He pulled out three katanas, handing two to each of his friends, and keeping one for himself. "Let's go." They all hurried out of the monastery. The courtyard was empty.

"Uh, where did Master Wu go?" Kai asked.

Lloyd shrugged. "Who knows. Come on." They all followed him down the mountain. At the bottom, Lloyd led them into the woods. "Okay, our ten minutes is definitely up now. We'll have to be extra quiet."

"Let's split up," Kai suggested. "Then, if one of us is found, then only one of us will be caught."

"But Master Wu said to work together," Cole told him.

"No, he just suggested it."

Cole shrugged. "Whatever, then."

Kai walked off confidently. Cole took another way. Lloyd sighed in exasperation. He was pretty sure that they stood a better chance if they worked together. He went his own way, keeping low and to the shadows. At some point, he would probably take the high route—in the trees.

Kai crept quietly through the trees, looking around. It had been about fifteen minutes since he, Lloyd, and Cole had split up. He brushed a large leaf out of his face, and then grumbled as he tripped on a root. He was the least experienced of the ninja, besides Nya. He had only trained for about two days, which was probably only four hours or so. He was determined not to lose, though.

He had another reason for wanting to split up. He liked competition. And so, if he was the only one not caught, then he won, right? He assumed that that was how the game worked. Not that he wanted Cole and Lloyd to lose. It was just, as he said before, he liked to compete.

Suddenly, he heard a noise to his left. He glanced in that direction, but saw nothing. Mentally shrugging, he continued on, a bit more warily. Soon, he came upon a clearing. He went around it, not wanting to be caught in the open. A few minutes later, he heard a soft sound like leaves stirring. He looked back, seeing nothing. Now feeling very nervous, he picked up his pace. Maybe they shouldn't have split up… Well, too late now.

Suddenly, he heard a twig snap behind him. He glanced back, narrowing his eyes. He was positive someone was following him now. Probably Wu. He took out his sword, ready to defend himself if Wu did try to attack him, but he was too late. He was suddenly pounced upon, Kai giving a yelp of surprise, and then was promptly tied up. Everything had happened so fast that Kai had no idea what had happened. Wu stood before him, holding his bamboo staff and some more rope. Kai glared irritably at him.

"You lost," Wu told him.

"Fine, I lost. Now untie me!"

"Sorry, but the game is not yet over." Wu gave him a small smile, and then walked off. Kai growled in annoyance, trying to get out of his rope prison, but it was no use. Wu sure does know how to tie a knot, Kai thought glumly.

Cole hid in a small cave he had found in the side of the mountain. And when he said small, he meant it. He barely fit in it. But, he was out of sight, and he hadn't left any tracks. Which meant Wu probably would not be able to find him. Of course… in the next second, a rope had suddenly shot in and somehow got wrapped around his ankle. Cole gave a startled yelp of surprise, and then was dragged out. He hung on the side of the mountain, upside down.

"You all need more lessons on stealth," Wu told him, who was on a ledge above him.

Cole groaned, and then looking down, gulped. He was very high up. "Uh, can you pull me up?"

Wu pulled him up, and Cole was very grateful to be not hanging upside down by his ankle over a steep cliff anymore.

"Thanks," Cole said, unwrapping the rope around his ankle.

"You're welcome," Wu replied. "You and I will go and collect Kai, and then I will look for Lloyd."

Cole rose an eyebrow at that. "So, you caught Kai, then?"
Wu nodded, a twinkle in his eye. "It was not hard. Come." Wu turned, heading along the ledge. Cole followed him.

"Uh, so what did you do to him?" Cole asked.

"Tied him up. He didn't put up a fight. It was far too easy. It seems that I have to teach you all how to react to a surprise attack."

"Oh…"
Soon, they found Kai. He did not look happy. Cole stifled a laugh at his angry look.

"What are you laughing at?" Kai growled.

Wu walked over and untied him. Kai got up, stretching his sore muscles. "Sheesh, you tied me up, but not Cole?"

"I had him strung over a cliff," Wu replied.

Kai stared at him. This guy is crazy…

"Yeah, thankfully not for long…" Cole said, looking relieved.

"Head back for the monastery. I'll find Lloyd," Wu ordered.

They both nodded, heading for the monastery. Wu disappeared in two seconds.

Lloyd hid in a tree, looking down. It had been one hour now. He just had to stay hidden for one more hour. Suddenly, his instincts told him to move, now. He leaped from the tree, rolling to soften his fall, and then whipped around with his katana drawn. Wu stood there with his bamboo staff, looking half disappointed.

"A shame. I enjoyed tying up your friends," Wu told him.

Lloyd smiled. "Ha! Who went down first?"

"Kai," Wu replied nonchalantly.

"Doesn't surprise me…"
Wu got into a fighting stance, as did Lloyd. "Sadly, your friends didn't put up a fight. I had them captured before they could blink. I am glad that your instincts are working well, though."

"Thanks," Lloyd said, and then lunged at him. Wu barely moved out of the way in time. They sparred for a bit, but Lloyd could see that his uncle was winning. Soon, Wu had him tied up.

"Looks like I did get to tie you up after all," Wu told him, laughing.

"Oh, you're just enjoying this, aren't you?"

"Yes."

Lloyd sighed. "Fine, you win. Untie me."
Wu untied him, and then they both headed back to the monastery. "We will have to work on your stealth, including your friends."

"Yup, I know… Although, it's not my fault you're just too good at this."

"It takes practice."

When they arrived back, Cole and Kai were standing in the courtyard. Kai was complaining about losing. They both looked at them as they walked in.

"You got caught, too?" Kai grumbled.

"Yeah," Lloyd replied.

"I want you all to spar for a bit. Then you will be done for the day," Wu said.

The three of them nodded.

Saturday

The next day, Lloyd, Kai, and Cole trained all day at the monastery. Jay and Nya worked on Zane.

At lunch time, Kai, Cole, and Lloyd came inside. The three of them ate the lunch they had brought, including Nya and Jay. After lunch, Nya and Jay went back to the living room to work on Zane. Cole, Kai, and Lloyd followed them to see how they were doing. Wu also came.

"We're almost done," Nya told them. The holes left in Zane's chest and arm were now gone.

"Yup… almost done…" Jay mumbled, concentrating on sliding a wire into place. "There!" He stood up, surveying his and Nya's work.

"Okay. Are we ready to turn him on?" Nya asked. Jay nodded. Nya sucked in a breath. "Well, here goes…" She flipped a small switch that was located below Zane's power source. Nothing happened for a few seconds, and Lloyd had begun to think that they had done something wrong—but then Zane's eyes lit up. He jerked up into a sitting position, gasping, and looked around wildly.

"Hey, Zane," Nya said, giving him a reassuring smile. Zane looked at her, looking confused for a moment, and then a look of slight horror entered his face. "How are you feeling? Anything feel off?"

"I-I, what?" Zane glanced at the rest of them, and then at his surroundings.

"We fixed you up," Jay told him. "Everything working again?"

Zane swallowed nervously, then nodded. "How did I get here? What happened?"

"You were stabbed. We spent the night in the Outcast, and then brought you here. Then we fixed you up," Cole said.

"I see…" Zane shifted uneasily. "What are you going to do with me?"

"Uh, what do you mean?" Jay asked, looking confused.

Lloyd suddenly realized that Zane thought that they were going to turn him in or something. In a way… Zane was like him. He had been forced to keep a secret in order to survive. Nindroids were kept as slaves; half breeds were executed if caught.

"We're not going to turn you in," Lloyd told him.

Zane looked at him in surprise. "Why not?"

"Because you're our friend," Kai said sincerely, sounding a bit surprised. "We would never betray you."
Zane looked at them all in awe, gaping. "But-but, I'm a nindroid. It is against the law for me to roam free. And, you all could get in huge trouble for keeping my secret."

My secret is worse, trust me… Lloyd thought sadly. "We won't turn you in."

"Yeah," Cole agreed.

"Thank you," Zane replied quietly, glancing down.

"Now that you are repaired," Wu said, getting his students' attention, "I have something for all of you."

They all exchanged confused looks, having no idea what he was talking about.

Wu left the room, returning shortly afterwards with five small, flat boxes. He handed one to everyone, except for Lloyd, who already had one. They all opened the small boxes curiously.

"Wow…" Kai was the first to speak.

"This is so cool!" Jay gasped. "Ooh, it's even blue!"
"The material used is very efficient for our uses," Zane said.

"Can I try mine on?" Cole requested.

"Ooh, me too?" Jay asked, practically bouncing up and down in excitement.

Wu smiled, glad that they liked their new ninja outfits. "Of course."

Jay and Kai sped away to the bathroom, Cole right behind them. Nya rolled her eyes before following them.

Zane stood up unsteadily, looking at Wu. "Thank you, Master Wu."

"You are quite welcome. Now go, join your friends."

Zane looked to be about to go, then paused. "You are… sure… that you do not mind my being a nindroid?"

"Of course not," Wu replied, smiling reassuringly.

Zane studied him curiously. "You are not like most people…" He left before Wu could respond.

"He will make a fine ninja…" Wu said quietly to himself.

"Yeah," Lloyd agreed. Now that he knew Zane was a nindroid, he was a little disappointed. He had hoped that at least one human would not judge his kind, and when he discovered that Zane did not hate the half breeds like everyone else, he had been hopeful. But now… Lloyd sighed. Would half breeds ever be accepted?