Hello, welcome to chapter seven of Senran Kagura: Shinobi Chronicles.
Now, onto the story.
Enjoy
"Speaking"
'Thinking'
*Sounds*
[Shinobi Driver]
Special Attacks
At the Hebijo Academy…
Inside of the traditional Japanese tatami-room…
"Very well. I will follow your demands."
The armored woman Suzune tells the one currently facing her: The green frog robot 'Ao'.
Also present in the room were the other four Hebijo elite students: Haruka, Hikage, Yomi and Mirai.
At first, the evil shinobis were wary once the robot appeared before them, somehow managing to locate their hidden Shinobi Academy.
However, once they heard Ao's demands and his reasons to ask for their help, Suzune immediately decided to comply by ordering her four remaining best students to assist in Homura's rescue and, by extension, to also help Asuka and Kamen Rider Shinobi.
[I must say, I'm honestly quite surprised at how easy it was for you to agree 'helping' us save our respective acquaintances… I honestly didn't expect evil ninjas to look after each other like that.] The green frog robot spoke.
"Homura is a valuable asset for Hebijo Academy. We can't afford to lose someone talented like her." Suzune replies as she receives a map that Ao printed.
[I suppose so. Well, I guess there honestly isn't much difference between the good and evil shinobi factions once people try to see things from a different point of view, huh?]
'A different point of view...' The quartet of Hebijo elite girls thought in unison as the green robot's words sink into their hearts.
[Well then. I will be counting on your help as well once I finish taking care of things on my end, evil ninjas of the Hebijo Academy. Remember, you have to come to the place indicated on the map by midnight. Don't be late.]
And with that, Ao began to leave the room, jumping away like the frog it is supposed to be. Once he was finally gone from the assembled shinobis' sight, they looked towards each other as they planned what to do next.
"Is it really okay to let that frog go away like that, Suzune-sensei?" Mirai asks their teacher.
"It's not like capturing it would have any real benefit for us, Mirai. Besides, 'Ao' already knows about where our Academy's location is and he probably has countermeasures to not make it possible for us to track his signal back through his green device." Suzune points out as the girls had to agree to her reasoning that discovering who exactly Ao was would not be so easy.
'For a person that might not even be a shinobi, this Ao seems like someone that Hebijo should also keep their eyes on. Especially if he really is an ally to Kamen Rider Shinobi as he claims to be.' Suzune thought.
"Suzune-sensei. About what Ao said earlier in regards to working together with the Hanzo Academy shinobis, are you really sure about that as well?" Haruka asks her master as she thinks about a certain cute and clumsy pinkette girl, who immediately comes into her mind.
"I believe I already made myself clear about that, Haruka. This is a special exception, you four will work together with the Hanzo Academy's shinobis this time. That is an order that none of you can refuse. Have I made myself clear?" Suzune asks as she looks firmly into her four elite students, surprising them.
"But sensei!" Yomi and Mirai wanted to protest as both started to think about their respective targets/rivals: Ikagura and Yagyu.
And how these good shinobi girls have managed to get on their nerves...
"Do you wish to save Homura or not?" The armored woman asks in return, promptly silencing the outrage from the blonde and raventte girls.
"Yes." Both Yomi and Mirai finally say in acceptance, now acting more calmly as Suzune nods in approval at the two of them.
Their teacher was right, rescuing Homura from Yami Shibai was now their top priority.
Their fight against the good shinobi faction would have to be put on the hold for now…
'I may not be able to feel emotions, but… Something inside of me is telling me that I don't want to lose Homura-san… Not like Hinata...' Hikage thought somberly as the bangs of her green hair were shadowing her snake-like eyes for a brief moment.
Hikage's had issues with emotions even as a child. She never knew who her parents were, and grew up in an orphanage. There, the other kids would often poke fun at her expressionless face, calling her names such as "dead face".
Feeling uncomfortable, she eventually left the orphanage at the age of 8, taking to the streets alone and eventually running in with a gang of thugs thanks to the gang leader known as Hinata, whom Hikage clung to like a lost puppy. Hinata would always dote over her, becoming a great influence on her, practically becoming her surrogate mother. Hinata would always stick up for Hikage, saying that it's ok if she is expressionless, it's what makes her who she is.
After an incident involving members of their gang getting on a rival gang's bad side, countless members were being slaughtered. Hinata personally went to address the problem and see if she could get their forgiveness, but never returned. After days of waiting and searching, Hikage would eventually find her lifeless, mangled corpse lying in a dumpster in an alleyway. For the first time, Hikage had displayed emotion, a feeling she could only describe as a drip in her heart, rain inside her. Hikage was in tears. The knife she wields belonged to Hinata herself, Hikage keeping and holding it dearly as if Hinata's spirit still lived on in it.
Presumably, due to her criminal affiliations, Hikage was recruited into the Hebijo academy where she quickly became a member of the Elite Class in her 1st year. She was the second member to join the Elite Class. With Haruka being the first.
Eventually, the four Hebijo elite shinobis adopted a firm resolve to save their precious teammate/friend and group leader.
'Just wait for us, Homura. We're coming for you...' The four young girls thought simultaneously.
Narrator: Shinobi were once servants of the feudal lords that ruled Japan in the past, specializing in espionage, subversion, and assassination.
With the influx of western culture after the Meiji Restoration, the feudal system began to collapse, causing them to fade from public consciousness.
However, even in modern times the need for shinobi still exists. Their employers are primarily politicians and corporations. Most employ them merely as tools to satisfy their own greed.
As a result, shinobi are responsible for crimes throughout Japan, and the government moved to confront them. This spawned the creation of Good Shinobi schools to combat Evil Shinobi who break the law.
[In some sort of battlefield, we can see the Hanzo Ninja Academy students and the Hebijo Academy elite group preparing to fight each other, with Asuka and Homura leading their respective teams.]
Narrator: However, they are nothing compared to the forces of a greater danger on the loose in the form of the Serpent Society: an organization of dark ninjas that aim to take over the world with their ninjutsu.
[A battalion of Dustards appears from out of nowhere as it begins to attack both ninja teams, with Karasu leading them while Orochi is observing the fight from the distance, resting on a throne.
The dark forces quickly corner the shinobi girls, who now look injured and full of bruises.]
*Several shurikens being thrown*
*Boom!* *Boom!* *Boom!*
[When things were about to get worse, a new figure appears and uses many shurikens to destroy all the Dustards, leaving only Karasu, who avoids the attack at the last second.
Now everybody looks at the newcomer, who is standing on the top of a Japanese castle, with the light of the full moon illuminating him. It is revealed to be Kamen Rider Shinobi as he has his arms crossed and stares back at them.]
Insert Opening Theme: IZANAGI by Sakuramen and Hideya Tawada - Opening theme of Rider Time: Kamen Rider Shinobi
(Instrumental)
Narrator: The only one who can fight the Serpent Society on equal grounds is the legendary ninja… Kamen Rider Shinobi!
Higashi no sora wo
Akaku so mete
Kodo o hajimeta
Yumeutsutsu
(My heart began throbbing as the eastern sky grew red)
We see Yukio looking at the sky, clenching a fist as he adopts a serious expression.
Hikari ga shimesu
Shinjitsu e to
Haruka ayumitashite
(Walking on the path stretching out to the truth,
Revealed by the light shining between dream and reality)
The Rider walks through the busy streets of the city, passing through the Hanzo Ninja Academy students and the Hebijo Academy elite group. Asuka and Homura both stop to look back worriedly at him as he disappears.
ikuseiso wo o hete kawaranu
tayutau negai ni mi o kogashi
ima o motome tsudzukete
(Suffering as my wandering ideals persisted endlessly,
I desperately sought after the present.)
An injured six years old Yukio walks through an endless darkness, crying while also refusing to give up. He has the Twilight Ninja Scroll firmly in his hands.
The scene changes to show Junpei thinking sadly about his little brother, Touma, who seems to be in a hospital room while looking to be in a critical condition with several medical machines attached to him.
tokini kizutsuki tsukare hatete
utsumuita to shite mo hitomi ni wa
moyuru chishio ga tagiru
(Though at times I may fall with wounds or falter in my goals,
The boiling blood in my eyes will always rise up again.)
An army of Dustards is awaiting Yukio, all looking ready to kill him. Orochi and Karasu can be seen in the background, commanding them to attack the Rider.
At this, the two female ninja groups suddenly arrive to help him, with Asuka smiling at him while Homura sports a grin towards Yukio.
Hazeru!
(Blossom out!)
hitohira no omoi kakete
mugen ni saita chigiri wa kagayaku
(Even just the petals of your dreams
Can bring your dreams to fruition)
The wind blows strong for a moment as the petals of a cherry blossom fall around Yukio.
He then summons the Shinobi Driver on his waist and becomes Kamen Rider Shinobi!
He uses several combinations of fire, water, earth and wind techniques together with the shinobi girls as they easily keep destroying all the Dustards around them.
Asenu!
(Blossom out!)
chikai wa oozora o mai
yuukyuu no toki koete
(Those vows will soar across the sky for all eternity)
Karasu charges at them, creating a powerful energy slash against the group. This makes Shinobi, Asuka, and Homura combine their attacks to counter the attack of the dark shinobi.
Shinobi no michi e izanau~
(Calling for the way of the shinobi!)
The final scene shows Shinobi and Kasaru crossing blades with each other with a burning Japanese castle on the back while the rest of the scene is divided into two:
All ninja girls are on the left rooting for the Kamen Rider.
On the right, Orochi is imposing a dark aura while being accompanied by several Dustards.
An explosion of energy happens and the full title of the fanfic appears, with Kamen Rider Shinobi's Shuriken Starter behind the title:
[Senran Kagura: Shinobi Chronicles]
NinPow 7: Into the World of Darkness (II)
Meanwhile...
Yami Shibai - The Realm of Darkness
With Yukio, Asuka and Homura...
A few hours after their fight against Fujin Tornadus and the Dustards accompanying him, the trio of shinobis finally arrived at what seemed to be the entrance to a dark forest…
"Dusk Forest… Good. We have finally arrived here..." Yukio comments as the kunoichis looked at him in curiosity. Is this where he wanted to come? For what purpose?
"Dusk Forest… Is this the place you wished to come, Yukio-kun?" Asuka asks her friend(?), looking a bit frightened at the creepy aura the place was giving her.
"So… What exactly are we looking for in this forest, Kamui? Is it some sort of magic portal that will take us back to the Human World?" Homura asks the Kamen Rider next, hoping for that to be the case.
However, before Yukio could answer either of the girls' questions…
A terrible, ghostly mist arises around the area. It chilled Asuka and Homura to the bone while Yukio adopted a defensive stance, summoning his Shinobi Saber.
"Man's actions are pitiful… You there… Another of the lost ones who grope for the abyss." A Mysterious Voice speaks, making the shinobi girls flinch at the new sinister aura that was now flowing around the three young ninjas.
'What is this presence? I don't even have the strength to speak as my throat suddenly feels dry...' Homura thinks as she stares at Yukio's figure, surprised to see him somehow resisting the dark and dreadful aura around them.
'Why I can't shake off the feeling that the voice is talking specifically towards Yukio-kun?' Asuka thinks as she winces a little, with a bead of sweat falling from her head.
"Were I to ask what motivates you, why you continue to live… You would offer me naught but silence. Instead, my question is thus: Do you come here, to the abyss, to seek an audience with me?" The Mysterious Voice resumes talking as everybody eventually gets the feeling that this unknown entity was asking especially towards Yukio.
"Yes, that's right." The Kamen Rider immediately responds.
"I see. Nevertheless, if you wish to meet face-to-face, you must present certain credentials. It seems that you do possess them now, unlike last time." The unknown entity says.
'Last time?' Asuka and Homura feel intrigued by this.
"Come to the deepest part of the Dusk Forest when you're ready. Come and face me if you dare, humans." The Mysterious Voice finishes speaking and once it's finally done, the ghostly mist around the three shinobis has faded away…
Asuka and Homura take this as a sign to sigh in relief and relax their muscles while Yukio waves his Shinobi Saber around for a brief instant, as if ready to slash his enemies.
"*Phew*... What was that? I thought I was going to be crushed..." Asuka says aloud as she looks at her two current companions.
Homura looked visibly distressed while Yukio decided to check the contents of his bag one last time before finally readying himself.
"Alright. Let's go." He calmly tells Asuka and Homura as he was about to enter the Dusk Forest, earning looks of horror from the girls.
"Wait, what!? Are you serious!? You're just gonna enter this creepy forest like that!? What if we end up stumbling upon whatever was that voice from before?" Homura cries as she turns to face Yukio, looking incredulous at him.
"That's exactly what I plan to do, Homura. We need to find the voice's owner once we reach the deepest part of the Dusk Forest." The ninja Rider warns the pair of kunoichis before him, startling the girls even more.
"And then what? What do we do once we find the owner of the voice, Yukio-kun?" Asuka couldn't help but ask the ravenette, despite having an idea of what he was probably going to propose next.
"We fight it, Asuka. As simple as that. The creature we are about to face is a powerful Dark Seirei that guards the Dusk Forest." Yukio answers Asuka's question.
A terrible feeling surged within the girls once they heard that.
Until...
"Alright, that's enough, Kamui! I agreed to follow you because you indeed had better knowledge about this place… But to head straight towards danger just like that!? What if it's some sort of trap!? You can't be serious! I want answers, now!" Homura cries, glaring profoundly at the ninja Kmane Rider as she waited for him to finally give some well-deserved answers.
"Yukio-kun, please… We have to know what exactly we are about to face." Asuka says next as she looks determinedly at the ravenette as well.
Truth be told, she actually trusted the young man with her life. Just as much as she did with her precious friends, sensei and grandfather. It was a weird feeling and she honestly didn't know how or why exactly she felt like that. It was probably due to how she was trustful of her feelings, letting them guide her actions.
The same could be said about her opinion in regards to Homura as she was still trying to see the evil kunoichi from a good perspective.
'I don't really know why… But I suppose that it's because I actually got to truly start knowing Yukio-kun and Homura-chan… It has nothing to do with them actually being shinobis and hiding that fact from me… I just can't help but have this feeling in regards to them...' Asuka briefly ponders.
"Very well. I was already planning to inform my plan once we reached Dusk Forest. Homura. Asuka. For us, the only way to probably return to the Human World is by defeating and submitting a certain Dark Seirei that can open portals between Yami Shibai and our dimension. Our target is the master of the Dusk Forest, a being that resides in the deepest part of the forest. Any questions?" Yukio asks, crossing his arms as he waits for his female companions to speak.
"No way… You can't be seriously proposing something so simple like that, Kamui. I suppose that the hardest part will probably be because our opponent is maybe someone very strong, right? The presence that this Dark Seirei's aura left… I don't think that even a group of fully trained shinobis could easily take care of what we're about to face." Homura points out, looking baffled at her male 'ally'.
"Indeed. That is the case, Homura." Yukio affirms, nodding to the tanned girl.
But Homura was far from being done…
"And remember what I just said earlier? What if we're heading straight towards some sort of trap? Also, seeing Fujin Tornadus and the Dustards made me wonder about the idea that the Serpent Society and the Dark Seireis are working together. If we manage to defeat Dusk Forest's master, what would guarantee that it would even help us afterward? Wouldn't that be another mistake? What if the Dark Seirei simply decides to call the Serpent Society and they later decide to team up in order to kill all of us together?" Homura questions, looking skeptically at Yukio as she raises a valid point.
"*Gasp!* Homura-chan is right! Yukio-kun, what do you plan us to do now if what she said can happen later?" Asuka asks next, looking concerned at the black-haired Rider.
However, Yukio was not even the slightest bothered with Homura's doubtful attitude.
"I see you're certainly paying attention, Homura. Since your suspicion is indeed called, allow me to clarify some things to you:
Sometimes, walking into the trap is the best strategy. Even traps can be turned against their designers. As for the Serpent Society's issue, while they have some control over a vast quantity of the Dark Seireis residing in Yami Shibai, they cannot exert control over all of them. Especially not at the oldest and strongest ones in this world. The master of the Dusk Forest is an example of this case.
In this Dark Realm, there are Dark Seireis that won't attack you as long as you don't provoke them. As for the Serpent Society, while their headquarters exist here in Yami Shibai, that doesn't mean that they completely rule this place. With all said, I hope my answer managed to now dispel some of the doubts you or Asuka may have held over me, Homura." Yukio carefully explains.
None of the girls found a single hint of a lie in Yukio's words as they heard his reasoning.
'Well… I don't think Yukio-kun is lying… But his words aren't exactly reassuring now...' Asuka thinks somberly for a brief moment.
Homura eventually sighs in defeat as she begrudgingly accepts the ninja Kamen Rider's words as well.
"Fine. I will go along with your plan for a little longer, Kamui. But you better not make me regret that." The evil shinobi says as she frowns at Yukio, warning him.
The raventte boy merely nods in acknowledgment at the tanned girl before speaking:
"Very well. Now, before we enter Dusk Forest..." Yukio trailed off as he suddenly looks above, noticing that a large chunk of black spiky rock crystal was about to fall upon Homura.
Widening his eyes in realization, the ninja Rider immediately shoves the evil kunoichi out of the way, forcefully, as he ends up taking her place.
"Homura, move!" Yukio yells.
"Gwah!" Homura cries, startled.
*Crash!*
Once the tanned girl recovers, she and Asuka are greeted with the sight of Yukio being the one injured by the large black spiky rock crystal instead of her. He is the one whose body is now laying on the ground with a wound, caused by a large and heavy object falling upon him.
"K-Kamui! Y-You protected me!?" Homura asks in disbelief as she and Asuka help the young man get up.
The girls remove the black crystal fragments around Yukio as he groans in pain before clutching his left arm with a pained expression.
"Argh! Dammit!" The Rider says, gritting his teeth.
"Yukio-kun! Are you alright!?" Asuka asks in concern, offering some support to the ravenette.
"Fuck... I actually forgot that some of the black crystals can stop floating at any time… Hitting any unfortunate soul under them..." The Rider curses.
Homura got curious at this and wanted to suddenly grab a fragment of the black crystal to later examine it, but something back in her mind told her to not do that and help Yukio instead.
"Kamui… I think it would be smart if we hid for now before entering Dusk Forest." Homura says as she lets Yukio lean over her and use her body to support himself.
"There's a crack in that ridge over there. Come on." Asuka points in one direction, finding a nearby spot where the trio of shinobis could rest and allow Yukio to recover part of his strength. The hazel-eyed brunette then proceeds to help Homura walk with the injured ninja Kamen Rider.
Meanwhile…
Near midnight…
Back at the Human World/Earth Realm…
At a certain abandoned Shinto Temple…
"So this is the place that Ao wanted us to come at. An abandoned Shinto Shrine on the outskirts of Asakusa.." Ikaruga states as she, Katsuragi, Yagyu and Hibari enter the premises of the now ruined(and still abandoned) place.
Curiously, the girls also managed to find signs of a recent struggle around the area, unaware that Kamen Rider Shinobi, Homura, Haruka and Yomi have previously fought there against a Majin…
"What a scary place." Hibari comments as her body shivers.
"Don't worry, Hibari. I won't let anyone harm you. Once we save Asuka, we will leave this place." Yagyu tells her companion, putting a reassuring hand on the pinkette's shoulder.
"Hmm. You're right, Yagyu-chan. Thanks. I just hope that we manage to save Asuka-chan." The innocent girl replies to her eye-patch-wearing friend.
"Ikaruga, do you think that the Hebijo Academy will actually show up here?" Katsuragi asks the class representative while the long black-haired girl keeps examining the map that Ao gave them earlier.
"I honestly don't know, Katsuragi-san. And there's no sign of Ao either." Ikaruga replies as she turns to the blonde.
"Then it's a good thing that you don't need to wait any longer. We're here." A new voice suddenly says, getting the attention of the Hanzo Academy's shinobis.
The four good kunoichi girls watch as the four Hebijo Academy elite students arrive on the scene, wearing their black sailor student uniforms.
"Hi there~" Haruka says chirpily while waving her hand cutely at Hibari, prompting the pinkette to cling next to Yagyu for some support and help.
"It's you." Yagyu says, as a matter of fact, while addressing Mirai.
"You better not ignore me this time!" The long black-haired loli tells her fellow eye-patch user.
"So we'd run into each other again, huh?" Hikage addresses Katsuragi with a blank, bored expression on her face.
"I will settle things here, right now, against you!" Katsuragi says eagerly to the green-haired girl, looking ready to face her new rival again.
"To think we'd have to meet under such circumstances… I still don't like you, ojou-sama(princess)." Yomi tells Ikaruga with a cold smile.
"It's not like we have a better choice than that under the current circumstances," Ikaruga says back to Yomi, frowning at the blonde evil shinobi.
The air around the girls became tense as it seemed that these eight girls were probably ready to lash out towards each other at any moment.
Until…
*Poof!*
A puff of smoke appears before the shinobi students, getting their attention.
Once it disperses, three new individuals are now standing before the eight girls. All of them were wearing certain Japanese masks.
One was a certain old man using a green Oni mask(Mr. Chan).
The second was a certain Chinese girl wearing a red cheongsam-style shirt, she was using a white Kitsune mask with red markings(I-Pin).
The last person was a certain brunette man in his early twenties, he was using a blue demon mask similar to the Blue Spirit one from Avatar: The Last Airbender(Hanamura Junpei).
"What the… Who are you guys supposed to be?" Katsuragi is the first to demand, looking at the masked trio in curiosity alongside the others.
"Why, have you already forgotten who asked you, girls, to come here in the first place?" The blue masked individual asks. He was currently carrying a black bag, containing some peculiar items inside of it.
This piqued the shinobi girls' interest. What would he use them for?
"One of you must be Ao, I presume. And who are the other two?" Haruka inquiries next, crossing her arms.
"Well, yours truly would happen to be me. The elder wearing the green mask is our resident Chi Wizard, Midori, while our last companion here is his assistant, Shirogane." Blue mask, now identified as Ao, tells the assembled kunoichis.
"Nice to meet you." Fox mask, now known as Shirogane, says as she gives a courtesy bow to the shinobi students.
"Those masks… I see… You don't want others to discover your real identity. Just like in Kamen Rider Shinobi's case." Ikaruga comments as she looks suspiciously at the masked trio.
'Their 'names' must actually be their code names/aliases. We can probably guess this much. Damn, I really hate being left in the dark like this while these guys apparently seem to have intel over all of us.' Mirai mentally complains as she also observes the new individuals under watchful eyes.
"Enough chit-chat! You all realize why we are all gathered here tonight, right!? Then let's start working! We have a ritual to prepare!" Green mask, the one that is now known as Midori, exclaims as he startled the shinobi girls.
The kunoichis immediately remembered why they were reunited in the ruins of the abandoned Shinto Temple in the first place.
The Hanzo and Hebijo Academies' students became intrigued once Midori pulls out what appeared to be a pufferfish coated in green spiritual energy aura while Ao was taking some items from his bag, such as candles and paper talismans.
"Here, each of you takes one of these." The blue-masked man says as he hands a paper talisman to each of the shinobi students.
"Paper talismans?" Yomi wondered as she inspected the item that Ao gave her, soon finding out that it was imbued with strong spiritual energy. The same could be said for her friends and the Hanzo Academy's girls.
'What is she doing?' Yagyu ponders as she overserves Shirogane, who seemed to now be drawing some mystic symbols on the ground nearby with some chalk that the fox-masked girl brought along with herself.
None of the eight shinobi girls were sure of this or whatever plan these three masked individuals came up with would work…
But they didn't have any other options right now. They would have to place all of their hopes in rescuing their respective friends/comrades in these mysterious people.
'Tonight is a full moon. Very good. With that, the ritual can certainly work well in the end. I can feel strong spiritual energy around this place, perfect. Everything's set. Now we just have to hope that Yukio and the others are managing to hold on their own back at Yami Shibai until the time comes...' Midori(Mr. Chan) thinks as he looks upwards, being greeted with the sight of the full moon glowing strongly in the night sky.
Back with Yukio, Asuka and Homura...
Inside of a cave…
The trio of shinobis was resting and recovering their forces, mainly Yukio.
Asuka decided to stay on guard duty for a while, watching over the entrance while Homura sat next to the ninja Kamen Rider, making a small fire with some dry branches she gathered nearby.
"I think this place should be fine. Even if the Dustards come, they won't find us. Let's rest for a while." The hazel-eyed brunette says as she sat on Yukio's other side.
"Alright then. We'll head out again after a short time." The ravenette boy manages to say to the good shinobi girl in return.
'Kamui Yukio… He's… I've noticed his amazing judgment and leadership ability... We made it through a lot of tough situations here thanks to him… As much as I loathe to admit it… However… His strength and endurance… He has a strong will and doesn't believe in failure, I would not expect to find this sort of willpower out of Hebijo Academy… I wonder where all of that came from… The source of his strength…' Homura wonders as she observes Yukio in slight contempt.
Suddenly…
*Stomach growling~*
Asuka and Homura both became flustered at this, suddenly becoming hungry as they remembered that none of them had eaten anything ever since they came to Yami Shibai.
"So hungry… And there seems to be nothing nearby that we can eat..." Asuka comments, rubbing her stomach.
"Yeah… Now that you mention it..." Homura agrees with her rival/target, also doing the same.
Shooking his head, Yukio looks unamused at the two girls before sighing as he brings forth his bag. From it, he pulls out two emergency food ration bars and a pair of fresh bottles of water, handing them to the now starving girls.
"A shinobi must always be prepared for the worst… Remember that. Here, you two." He tells Asuka and Homura.
"Yukio-kun/Kamui..." Both girls look surprised at him, accepting his offer and taking his words into the heart.
"It's not something delicious at all, but these ration bars will sustain your bodies for a while longer. It's better than nothing." The Kamen Rider comments, earning nods from the kunoichis.
As they were eating the ration bars in a similar way Asuka tends to eat the futomaki rolls her grandpa prepared for her(earning a raised eyebrow from the Kamen Rider at this), the girls noticed how they were bland and tasteless.
But at least what matters is that they wouldn't be hungry for a while longer…
'I miss Jii-chan's futomaki rolls.' Asuka thinks reminiscing as the first thing she decides to do once she returns to the Human World with Yukio and Homura is to head to her grandfather's sushi shop and eat the food there. For her, the most delicious dish in the world was there.
"Yukio-kun, aren't you hungry? Shouldn't you eat something as well?" The brunette asks as she and Homura finish eating the ration bars before proceeding to drink water from their respective bottles, noticing that the boy still hasn't eaten anything yet.
"The food I gave you was all I had left. There's nothing left for me. Besides, I'm not hungry yet. I can even last a few days without eating or drinking anything thanks to my training." The young man calmly tells the girls, surprising them.
"What!?" Asuka and Homura both look shocked at him.
"No..." The red scarf girl looks down at this as she can't help but feel guilty for casually eating someone else's food like that, even if Yukio didn't seem to mind that.
Even the tanned evil shinobi girl couldn't help but look a bit uncomfortable at this. Again, not that Yukio cared about any of that, of course.
"Yukio-kun… I'm sorry..." Asuka tries to apologize.
"It doesn't matter. I can go on for a little longer like this, Asuka. Here, let me show you something interesting..." Yukio trailed off, closing his eyes and adopting a meditative stance.
The girls couldn't help but look in disbelief as a spiritual blue aura covered Yukio's body, eventually healing the injury that he previously received from the giant chunk of the black spiky rock crystal fragment.
'Is this some sort of ninja energy manipulation? I have never seen anything like that before.' Homura briefly ponders.
Once he was done, the aura around Yukio dispersed and he opened his eyes to face Asuka and Homura.
"Meditation of Serenity… A technique one can use to recover his strength, heal injuries and even deal with hunger. A powerful tool in the right hands." The young Kamen Rider explained to the girls, now feeling better with the pain gone from his body.
Serenity (Trance) was a brief meditative state that an individual could enter into to regain focus and power. Because it required patience, inner strength, and a deep connection to one's inner chi, this ability was only attainable by those that possess a great understanding of chi(aura/energy) manipulation.
"W-What exactly you did? H-How can you do something like that!?" Homura demands to know, her interest in the ninja Kamen Rider only growing as a result.
"And again, you do realize that a shinobi shouldn't reveal all of his secrets straight off the bat, right? Especially for his 'enemies'." The black-haired boy reminds the tanned girl.
Homura looks sourly at this while Asuka once again adopts a disheartened look. Both girls remember that Yukio only wanted to work together with them until they escaped from Yami Shibai.
Deciding to change of topics, the evil shinobi aks:
"By the way… That time… When that large piece of dark crystal started falling straight into my head… Don't tell me… You were actually trying to protect me?"
"Of course. But it's merely because our interests coincide, it's not like I did that from the goodness of my heart. Still, I decided to protect you. I believe I will need your strength right now… As you need my help as well. It's all for the sake of allowing the three of us to return to the Human World. That would be the best for all of us, right?" Yukio explains.
"I see." Homura nods in agreement.
"How are your wounds from before, Yukio-kun!? Did you really just heal yourself with meditation!?" Asuka decides to inquire.
"Yeah. There's nothing to worry about now. And compared to earlier, I appear to have regained much of my strength by now. This sort of damage can heal faster if I have the opportunity to meditate properly." The Rider tells the brunette.
"Humph. If you can come up with a load of complaints like that, then you really must be fine." Homura says, rolling her eyes.
Ignoring the comment, Yukio turns to the kunoichis:
"We'll head out in a little while. Are you two ready?" The ravenette asks his companions.
"Yeah." Asuka and Homura say, nodding their heads in agreement.
Dusk Forest - Deepest area…
Dusk Forest was exactly what a forest with such a name would look like, similar to dark and sinister spots that would come only from horror movies/video games.
Once the trio of shinobis was ready, they entered its premises, making their way through the ominous area as they had to face several Dark Seireis waiting to ambush Yukio, Asuka and Homura.
Thanks to their unusual yet somewhat effective teamwork, the three young ninjas managed to overcome and survive through all sorts of enemies and dangers sent towards them.
And finally, the unusual trio has managed to reach the deepest part of Dusk Forest after conquering their way through its sinister domains and inhabitants.
What awaited Yukio, Asuka and Homura was a large black tree in the center of the deepest area. Nobody else seemed to be present.
"We did it. We finally reached the deepest part of this forest. Now what?" Asuka asks her companions in relief before looking around for any signal of hostile beings nearby.
But before either Yukio or Homura could answer her…
As if on cue...
A terrible, ghostly mist arises around the area. It chilled Asuka and Homura to the bone while Yukio adopted a defensive stance, neither of them let their guard down.
"Man's actions are pitiful… You there… Another of the lost ones who grope for the abyss." A Mysterious Voice speaks, making the shinobi girls flinch at the new sinister aura that was now flowing around the three young ninjas once again.
'How will things work out this time?' A nervous Asuka wonders.
"Were I to ask what motivates you, why you continue to live… You would offer me naught but silence. Instead, my question is thus: Do you come here, to the abyss, to seek an audience with me?" The Mysterious Voice resumes talking as everybody once more eventually gets the feeling that this unknown entity was asking the question especially towards Yukio.
"Yes, that's right." The Kamen Rider immediately firmly responds.
'Here it comes… The moment of truth...' Homura ponders next.
"Very well. In the name of the spirits, I'll grant you an audience." The Mysterious Voice decides as the girls widen their eyes at this.
*Crack!*
A sound of glass shattering could be heard as a powerful Dark Seirei manifests before the shinobi trio, in front of the large black tree.
The Dark Seirei, at full power, is a huge, hulking oni-like spirit with dark green skin, large eyes, and pointed ears. He has long red hair and beard and a hunched, gorilla-like posture. He has stripes of colored tattoos on his arms and chest, three blue ones on his arms and two purple ones on his chest. He wears a tattered loincloth around his waist and a small black hat with '邪' (evil, wicked) written on it. There are bandages wrapped around his forearms and legs and overlarge golden hoops at his wrists as well as ankle bracelets.
"My name is Amanojaku, heavenly evil spirit! I admire the way you have crossed this Hell itself to meet me. However, what you have endured so far is nothing compared to the torment of the meeting itself. Stand in the flames, and be ye tested in the large fires of Hell!" The creature, now identified as Amanojaku, exclaims before summoning a large barrier of fire around the area to not let the three young shinobis attempt to flee from the inevitable battle.
"Be ready! Asuka! Homura! This guy's strong!" Yukio warns the girls as he brings forth his Shinobi Driver through the Shinobi Hyoutan, the silver bottle gourd in his possession.
Asuka and Homura each grab their respective shinobi scrolls.
"Henshin!" Yukio chants as he transforms into Kamen Rider Shinobi, inserting the Shuriken Starter in the Shinobi Driver and activating it.
[Dare ja?! Ore ja?! Ninja!]
*Poof!*
Kurogane Oogama assembles behind Yukio. It opens its mouth, bringing out pieces of armor that surrounded the teen's entire body, eventually slamming into him. The Seirei disappears after the process is done.
[Shinobi Kenzan!]
"Shinobi Tenshin!" The good and evil kunoichis chant at the same time, activating their scrolls as they transform next.
Now ready and fully transformed, the trio of young ninjas charge towards Amanojaku.
"Come at me, you insolent humans!" The Dark Seirei cries back as he tries using his enormous fists to crush his opponents.
Asuka and Homura both parried Amanojaku's attacks with their blades, managing to stop him in his tracks.
This gave Kamen Rider Shinobi the opening he needed as the purple lone ninja makes an acrobatic moon sault and ends on the back of the giant Dark Seirei's back.
"Take this!" The Kamen Rider exclaims as he stabs his Shinobi Saber on the demon's back, coating his weapon in a powerful purple energy aura.
"Gyaaah!" Amanojaku cries in pain as blood begins to gush out from the wound caused upon him.
However, that was far from enough to beat this powerful spiritual being.
"Graaauuurrr!" The red-haired monster screeches, releasing a powerful shock wave that blasts Asuka and Homura out of his way.
"Argh!" Both shinobi girls end up falling a few meters away from the Dark Seirei.
"Don't think that this will go as you wish, puny humans!" The evil spirit says as he next grabs Kamen Rider Shinobi's body by the waist and starts slamming the purple ninja around like a rag doll of sorts.
*Crash!* *Crack!*
"Arrgh!" Shinobi groans in pain as his body is thrown away by Amanojaku.
"Yukio-kun!/Kamui!" Asuka and Homura both call him before trying to fight the Dark Seirei once more.
Asuka coats the blades of her weapons in green spiritual energy as she attempts to slash Amanojaku several times in sequence.
Homura covers her six katanas in a fiery spiritual aura before also attacking the malicious spirit with a chain of relentless strikes.
"Fools!" Amanojaku manages to harden his body with the use of a dark aura as the two kunoichis' attacks now keep failing to pierce or slash through the monster's flesh.
"*Gasp!* What!?" Homura gasps in shock at this, gritting her teeth in frustration.
"No way!" Asuka cries in dismay.
"Is that all you've got, puny ones?" Amanojaku taunts the shinobi students with a mocking grin.
That is until…
*Slash!*
[Yaiba Charge!]
A powerful gray energy slash suddenly appears in front of the Dark Seirei, hitting him right in the face.
The one responsible for that was Kamen Rider Shinobi, who could be seen on the back, having equipped the Yaiba Ride Shuriken into his Shinobi Saber.
"Argh!" The Dark Seirei cries in pain as he stops hardening his body's skin. Asuka and Homura soon saw this as their opening...
"Now!" Both girls exclaim as they start slashing Amanokaju all over his body and causing blood to spill from the numerous wounds they inflicted upon him.
"Argh! Not… Yet!" Amanojaku scratches the two shinobi girls by covering his hands in a dark menacing aura, pushing both of them back and away from him.
As the two kunoichis' forms end falling back, a certain purple Kamen Rider quickly passes over Asuka and Homura in high speed, rushing towards his Dark Seirei opponent.
Quickly loading the Honou Ride Shuriken on his personal weapon's slot, Kamen Rider Shinobi prepares to execute another one of his special techniques.
[Shuriken On!]
[Honou Charge!]
"Katon: Flaming Fang!" Shinobi chants as he raises the Shinobi Saber above his head, forming a crimson spiritual aura around his body.
A large red fiery spiritual beast, resembling Hinoarashi, appears behind the Rider. Shinobi leaps forward with glowing red energy around his weapon's blade. At the same time, a set of large flaming fangs appear above, and below the ninja Kamen Rider.
The red fangs bite into Amanojaku as Shinobi strikes him down with the Shinobi Saber. The lone warrior then comes from up in the air to the ground, landing with their left hand on the ground.
"Argh!" The attack ends enveloping Amanojaku's entire body in flames as the Dark Seirei takes a few steps back, screaming in agony.
"Asuka! Homura! All-Out attack! Now!" Shinobi exclaims to his female companions as they all proceed to attack Amanojaku with a series of multiple slashes from all directions while the monster is unable to defend itself.
"Now!" Asuka cries as the shinobi trio combine their moves, attacking in perfect synchrony.
*Slash!*
"Ha!" Asuka makes an X-slash with her swords, cutting off the Dark Seirei's left leg.
*Slash!*
"Take that!" Shinobi twirls his Shinobi Saber as he manages to chop off Amanojaku's right arm.
"Argh! Damn you, humans!" The red-haired demonic spirit screamed in pain as the blood keeps pouring from his body non-stop.
And for the coup de grâce…
"It's over!" Homura cries as she delivers the finishing blow, piercing Amanojaku's forehead with one of her katanas.
Then…
"I-Impossible… It can't… Be… Arrgh!" Amanojaku mutters before he begins to cry in agony as his body starts to disintegrate, no longer being capable of sustaining all the injuries he received from the trio of young shinobis.
"Huff… Huff…" Asuka and Homura each sheath their respective weapons before dismissing them.
The pair of kunoichis then start to pant heavily as they relax all the muscles of their bodies.
'Damm… This fight actually took quite a toll on me… I can't believe it...' Homura thinks, feeling very exhausted as sweat falls from the top of her head as she watches Kamen Rider Shinobi sheathing his Shinobi Saber on the back.
'But with that said… I can't believe how Asuka also managed to get stronger in such a short time ever since we came to Yami Shibai… She seemed to be so weak and pitiful when we fought against each other at Hanzo Academy. But now? I guess she will later prove to be quite a challenge...' The evil tanned shinobi now observes Asuka, who seemed to be as much as tired as her.
And the brunette seemed to be unaware of what the other kunoichi was currently thinking as Asuka simply decides to smile in relief at her 'evil enemy'.
'Homura-chan and Yukio-kun are amazing… I could barely keep up with them… Coming here has opened my eyes… There's still so much I have to improve before I can truly walk the Path of the Shinobi… I have to step up my game as well!' Asuka thinks, reflecting profoundly as a newfound resolve starts to take over her.
"We did it, Homura-chan! Yukio-kun! So that means we can now go back to our world, right!?" The brunette asks her companions for confirmation.
The three shinobis then look over the remains of Amanojaku as they watched it transform into a floating red ball of spiritual energy.
"So, what do we do now, Kamui?" Homura asks the mysterious ninja, who had been quiet for some time now.
"We're going home, Homura. That's it." He replies to her before turning to the spiritual sphere. "You must have an idea of why we came here now, don't you? Amanojaku."
"How could a bunch of mere humans have bested me, the Great Lord Amanojaku? Inconceivable!" The orb growled, startling the girls.
"What the? That bastard is still alive?" Homura asks Shinobi, preparing to draw one of her katanas again.
However, the Kamen Rider ends up stopping the tanned kunoichi.
"No, Homura. Stop it. He can no longer fight. He has been defeated. That Seirei was 'purified'." The young man tells her.
'Purified?' The tanned girl repeats in her mind.
"It's inexcusable that I am defeated by a group so young!" The red spiritual orb resumes his ranting before going silent.
"..."
"Hey! We beat you fair and square! You know what that means, right!?" Asuka questions Amanojaku.
"Yes… The spirits have acknowledged your strength, humans. Very well, I will grant any request you have." The defeated red spirit says.
Relief washes over Asuka and Homura's faces once they hear this.
"Then open a portal that can take us to Earth Realm, the Human World. More specifically, Asakusa." Kamen Rider Shinobi orders the floating spiritual sphere.
Without replying to the purple ninja, Amanojaku does as he is told, opening a circular portal on the surface of the giant dark tree before everybody.
The shinobis could see a glimpse of the city of Asakusa on the other side of the portal, proving that the connection between the realms was successful.
"Ah, it's Asakusa! I can clearly see our town there!" Asuka exclaims as she happily observes her hometown through the magic portal.
Amanojaku suddenly speaks one last time:
"A warning for you, shinobis. When the appointed hour draws near, we may end up crossing paths again. For now, I bid you farewell, humans."
And with that, Amanojaku's spiritual orb dispersed into nothing…
"..." Shinobi only remained silent while Asuka and Homura became slightly disturbed as if the girls had just heard some sort of curse.
Deciding to change of topics, the hazel-eyed brunette decides to speak:
"Alright! I guess this means we can go home now, right?" She asks her companions.
"Right." Homura grins at the granddaughter of Hanzo. But unlike the other times, this wasn't a gesture of mockery but rather one of agreement with the red-scarf girl.
"Yeah. Come on, you two. Let's go." Shinobi tells his female allies as they all prepare to enter the portal and return to Asakusa, finally being able to leave the nightmare that Yami Shibai is behind…
But suddenly...
"And where do you three think you're going?" A new voice calls, grabbing the shinobi trio's attention.
Huh?
Black feathers as dark as the night suddenly began to fall over the young ninjas.
'Are these… Crow feathers?' Kamen Rider Shinobi wonders, inspecting one of them.
And as if on cue…
*Boom!*
"Argh!" The young shinobis cry in surprise as the feathers began to explode around them, blasting the three of them away from the magic portal that would take them back to the Human World.
But that wasn't the only thing…
*Slash!*
A powerful dark energy slash comes from out of nowhere and ends hitting the portal to Asakusa, destroying it in the process.
"No!" Asuka and Homura exclaim in despair.
'We were so close!' Kamen Rider Shinobi thinks.
"I must admit, I never would have expected you three to make it this far. It seems that allowing you, children, to live any longer might end later proving to be the Serpent Society's downfall." The new voice speaks.
A tornado appears in front of the shinobi trio as some of the black feathers also seemed to be flowing around it. Once the whirlwind ceases, a figure wearing a crow-themed armor reveals himself to Shinobi, Asuka and Homura.
'This guy… He's a Majin! But the aura his body is emitting… It is unlike any of the other ones I managed to defeat so far… This is bad!? Can I take him on here!?' The purple Kamen Rider thinks as he narrows his eyes, inside of his helmet, before gripping his Shinobi Saber tightly.
"My name is Karasu. I'm Orochi-sama's right-hand man." The dark Majin announces.
This got Shinobi's attention. The names he heard suddenly made the Kamen Rider's memories about his past resurface within his mind.
"I commend you novice shinobis for making it this far. But now that I'm here, that is as far as you three shall go. There is no escape. Any last words before I send you three to the other world?" Karasu asks the young ninjas as he summons an ominous-looking sword, made entirely of darkness.
"This Orochi you mentioned… Tell me, is that the name of the Leader of the Serpent Society?" Shinobi decides to ask the crow Majin as Asuka and Homura both notice how the Kamen Rider's voice now seemed to be filled with hate and anger.
His hands were also trembling.
"Hmm? Kamen Rider Shinobi… I finally get to meet you face to face… The one who has managed to obtain the legendary Twilight Ninja Art Scroll where everybody else failed… I have been wondering for a time who you really are… You also seem to have some sort of personal grudge towards the Serpent Society..." Karasu notices, paying close attention to the Kamen Rider's now tense behavior.
"I asked you a question, Majin! Answer it!" Shinobi growled in return.
'Yukio-kun...' Asuka looks in concern, wondering what's eating the young man on the inside. And unlike the lone ninja, she and Homura were very exhausted after facing Amanojaku.
'Dammit… My body feels so heavy now...' Homura grimaces as she barely has any forces left to keep herself from not passing out of exhaustion now.
"Oh? Yes, that's right. Orochi-sama is the leader of the Serpent Society. But what do you expect to accomplish after hearing my master's name? You will soon die anyway before you can even hope to meet him." Karasu tells Shinobi.
"I see… I have been waiting for this moment… 10 years ago… The Serpent Society tore my soul apart!" The evident anger and hatred only kept getting louder in Kamen Rider Shinobi's voice.
"10 years ago? Wait… *Gasp!* It can't be… You are a survivor from that incident of ten years ago!?" Karasu exclaims in genuine surprise at the purple masked ninja.
'10 years ago?' Asuka thinks, worried.
'An incident?' Homura wonders, narrowing her eyes at Kamen Rider Shinobi.
Clenching his fist in front of the Majin, Shinobi presses Karasu even further.
"I have only one objective in mind: To destroy the Serpent Society and uncover the truth!" Shinobi declares firmly as everybody listens to his words.
'Yukio-kun… What exactly happened to you?' Asuka looks concerned at the Kamen Rider, hoping that nothing bad happens with him.
"I see...To think someone of ten years ago would stand in the Serpent Society's way… This must be fate. In that case, you gave me another reason as to why I must kill you no matter what, Kamen Rider Shinobi. The Twilight Scroll and your head will certainly please Orochi-sama." Karasu says to his new target as he decides to summon a second sword of darkness to wield on his free hand.
But before the two could face each other…
"Asuka! Homura! Get out of here! I have to take care of this Majin!" Shinobi warns his female companions.
This quickly gets both of the girls' attention.
"What!? No! Yukio-kun, I'll fight at your side! Let me help!" Asuka protests.
"You said you needed my strength before, didn't you, Kamui!? Then let's kick this guy's ass together!" Homura argues as well, now trying to sport a defiant grin towards Karasu.
"Dammit, you idiots! This is not time to act brave! I can't protect you two while I'm fighting this guy! I'm serious, get out of here! You two will only get in my way!" Shinobi snaps back at the kunoichis, startling them with his outburst.
'Yukio-kun...' Asuka thinks sadly, concerned with him.
However…
"I have no interest in the small fry now. I will take care of you girls later." Majin Karasu speaks coldly as he sends a powerful gust of wind against the good and evil shinobi students, blasting them away.
*Blam!*
"Argh!" Asuka and Homura both groan in pain as the pair crash against the giant dark tree, now being too tired and injured to try helping Kamen Rider Shinobi.
"Asuka! Homura!" The purple masked ninja cries at the kunoichis by using their names.
"Now that the noisy ones are quiet, nobody shall disturb us. Come." Karasu challenges Kamen Rider Shinobi.
Readying his Shinobi Saber, the purple masked ninja gets into a combative stance before the two warriors move towards each other at a rapid speed.
*Whoosh!* *Clash!* *Clash!*
Both shinobis charge against each other, locking blades with one another as they try to overcome their respective opponent/target with their weapons' skills and ninjutsu techniques.
"Argh!" Shinobi gets kicked in the stomach as he is pushed against the trunk of a nearby tree.
Karasu doesn't waste time as he tries to use this opportunity to cut off the Kamen Rider with his dark blades. Thankfully, the ninja Rider manages to react in time, jumping high over the Majin at the last instant as the crow-themed warrior ends up slashing the tree behind Shinobi.
The Majin then attempts to corner the masked Rider one more time, only to receive a powerful palm-strike in the chest by Shinobi, sending Karasu bouncing away for a few meters.
The crow dark ninja decides to try another move as he now throws several tree logs at the purple Kamen Rider, trying to hit Shinobi with them.
*Slash!* *Slash!* *Slash!*
With precision and fine accuracy, the masked purple shinobi manages to easily cut off the tree trunks with his Shinobi Saber as if they were paper. However, at the last instant, a tree log catches Shinobi off by surprise, hitting him from the side.
The Kamen Rider ends up stumbling on the ground for a few instants before eventually regaining his balance.
Karasu now attempts to stab Shinobi with his dark blades, but the Kamen Rider reacts in time and manages to block all of the Majin's strikes before counterattacking with a powerful swing of Shinobi Saber, applying a combination of spiritual energy channeling, kinetic moves and his own brute strength.
*Crack!*
The result was an overwhelming blow, too powerful enough for Karasu's blades to handle the attack as they ended up shattering in the process.
'What!?' The Majin thinks in genuine surprise at this.
Karasu decides to perform a series of backflips between him and Shinobi to create some distance between the two of them. However, the purple Kamen Rider quickly reacts to that by using his scarf's Fabrikinesis to wrap it around the dark ninja crown's left leg.
'Got you!' Shinobi thinks as he starts slamming Karasu's body against the hard ground several times with his scarf before tossing the Majin away.
*Crack!* *Crack!* *Crack!*
"Oof!" The Majin's dark body crashed against a nearby rock, crushing it in the process.
*Crash!*
Despite now being the one on the offensive, pressing several assaults against Karasu, Shinobi wouldn't relax so soon. His instincts telling him that this fight was far from being over…
Emerging from the rubble of stone fragments, Karasu now looks furious at Kamen Rider Shinobi, now wanting to kill the young purple masked ninja more than anything else.
"Getting serious, huh? Same here!" The black Majin exclaims as a powerful and sinister dark aura suddenly envelops his entire body.
What happens next is that a pair of giant crow-like wings sprout from Karasu's back as he then takes off into the sky of endless darkness. The black Majin begins to gather dark energy around his hands, quickly accumulating power before preparing to release it.
"Yami Ninpo: Aku no Hadou(Dark Pulse)!" Karasu chants as he fires a powerful black and dark purple spiritual energy beam at Kamen Rider Shinobi, blasting the young masked ninja away in an explosion that his technique creates.
*Boom!*
"Argh!" The purple shinobi cries in pain as he is sent away, bouncing around for a few meters before finally stopping.
"Hahaha! As long as I stay in the sky, you will never be able to reach me, Kamen Rider Shinobi! It's useless now! No matter what trick you have under your sleeve to use against me, everything will be futile once I start to fight with all of my strength!" The Majin gloated, trying to provoke the Kamen Rider before preparing to kill Shinobi.
But instead of despairing over this, the ninja Rider...
"Is that so?" Came the calm voice of the purple masked ninja.
What?
"..." Karasu observed his opponent in confusion. How does Shinobi even plan to even the odds in this situation?
As if having an idea of what his adversary is thinking, the Kamen Rider says:
"You're not the only one capable of flying." Shinobi tells the Majin as he brings forth the latest Ride Shuriken that he acquired: The green Kaze Ride Shuriken depicting Fujin Tornadus in its Therian Forme.
"*Gasp!* That's…!" Karasu trails off as he now realizes what is about to happen next.
"Enshrouded by wind, the green gale!" Shinobi chants as he inserts the Kaze Ride Shuriken in the open slot of the Shinobi Driver.
[Kaze! NinPow: Wind!]
Green energy wind is generated around the Kamen Rider as it ends up taking the shape of Fujin Tornadus - Therian Forme, who was now flying over Shinobi.
"Come forth, Tornadus!" Shinobi chants as he spins the green Kaze Ride Shuriken.
"Kyaahhh!" The green bird Seirei screeches as it becomes a green tornado that envelops Shinobi's body, giving the purple masked ninja access to a new form once the whirlwind disperses itself.
The masked ninja's armor's color changes from his default purple into a green tone.
The Kunai figures in the legs and the shuriken emblem on the chest were gone, now replaced by wind symbols.
Lastly, there was a pair of mechanical wings called Scrambler on Kamen Rider Shinobi's back that allowed him to fly and launch feather-like energy projectiles.
(A/N: Imagine that it's like the same pair of wings that Kamen Rider Jin - Flying Falcon posses on his back.)
[Kaze no Ninja! Wind Shinobi!]
"The real battle begins now!" Shinobi declares, preparing to take off after Majin Karasu as a pair of green mechanical wings appear on his back.
The final scene of the chapter shows Kamen Rider Shinobi's Shuriken Starter and the Kaze Ride Shuriken side by side while the Twilight Scroll and the Shinobi Saber glow strongly behind these two items.
- Shinobi Chronicles -
NinPow 7: Into the World of Darkness (II)
- End -
Author Notes:
And this concludes chapter seven of Senran Kagura: Shinobi Chronicles
Thank you for reading!
Nothing much to comment on in regards to this chapter I guess.
Amanojaku is from the Ghost Stories(Gakkou no Kaidan) anime.
Got the inspiration for my Kamen Rider Shinobi's Wind/Kaze Form to be mainly based upon Kamen Rider Jin - Flying Falcon. That is my favorite form provided by the (Transformation Belt) MetsubouJinrai Forceriser.
If you guys have any ideas or suggestions that I could use for this story, you're free/welcome to share!
Now onto the Reviews:
Guest DCDGojira: Thanks!
No, I don't plan to make a villain based on Wuya from Xiaolin Showdown. At least not yet. I was planning to actually include some of that cartoon's Shen Gong Wu into this fanfic.
Alright, maybe I will try to later check that Star Wars fanfic you mentioned when I have some free time.
Could you elaborate on how exactly Kamen Rider Shinobi teaming up with Henshin Ninja Arashi would involve the origins of the Majin?
Well, your Rider Kick suggestions for each natural element sound interesting. Maybe I could use them later. Thanks!
Sure, I could give a role like that to Mr. Chan. But only for his warnings to have no effect as the worst ends up happening when the three Super Secret Ninja Art Scrolls are somehow brought together and their energy combined, leading to a yet to be revealed catastrophic event.
Even if I don't end directly using some of the sources/ideas you mentioned, all this sort of stuff ends up giving me some random inspirations that later help me develop my story. So thanks for the suggestions!
I will try to check that other stuff related to Star Wars and Darth Vader's redemption that you mentioned when I have some free time as well!
A new season is coming in the form of? Interesting. I should check that later.
ChimaTigon: Ok!
prayogatama52f5: Thanks!
Not interested in working on a new Kamen Rider crossover for now. I personally don't think that it's a good idea to make a fanfic about Kamen Rider Saber until the series is over so I can have a general idea about what sort of plot I want to work with.
Yes, Kamen Rider Shinobi can later go berserk. He will be unable to control himself. I already have a plan where he will end up taking his Another (Rider) Shinobi form due to a certain event. And Asuka will perhaps be the only one who can snap him back to reality. But I don't plan to make him shut himself down.
LimX23: You will have to wait and see. I hope it will surprise you when the time comes.
nahariyanash: Thanks!
Yeah. Well, I do plan to make Homura later learn about Yukio's past/background/backstory and eventually develop some sort of respect, understanding and admiration(crush) later for him. The same for Asuka, Yumi and Miyabi. But I'm still unsure of taking the harem route for him. And if I end up doing so, I can guarantee you that at least these four girls would certainly be in Yukio's harem. And maybe one more 'certain' character. I don't plan to make a harem with more than five girls.
Even if I don't end directly using some of the sources/ideas you mentioned, all this sort of stuff ends up giving me some random inspirations that later help me develop my story. So thank you as well!
Ok! Alright, I will try to take a look at your stories whenever I have some free time.
Dcraus: Still working on that. For now, only the MC/Kamen Rider Shinobi/OC(Kamui Yukio) x Asuka route.
MagatsuIza: Thanks! Even if I don't end directly using some of the sources/ideas you mentioned, all this sort of stuff ends up giving me some random inspirations that later help me develop my story.
See you later as well!
So, what do you guys think? Please give me some reviews if possible.
If you are interested, please go check my other stories.
Also, thanks to everybody that followed and favorited the story and gave reviews.
See You Next Time