"So wait, your Kiraya's son?!" Homura asked in shock as Riyo was walking with the Crimson Squad through town.

"I mean, yeah. He never really told me much about the Shinobi lifestyle but I had always dreamed of getting into it."

"Dammit, Homura-Oneechan! I knew we should have just left him! Now Asuka and the others will think we kidnapped him and be on our asses!" Mirai snapped.

Haruka giggled. "Mirai, would you rather someone more...'unsavory' found our dear Riyo first?"

Riyo shuddered upon hearing Haruka say that. In hindsight, he could consider himself grateful that the Crimson Squad found him first and not some less friendly Shinobi who was probably looking for the vase.

"Well, it's good that we're out in the city right now. Perhaps we'll be able to find the girls over at Hanzo and tell them we found you." Yomi said optimistically.

"Assuming they don't get the wrong idea when they see us..." Hikage dryly pointed out.

"Ah! Homura-Chan!"

Homura perked up, a little too excitedly from what Riyo could see when she heard that familiar voice. Looking up, the Crimson Squad saw the Hanzo Squad standing above them from the rooftop.

"Yo! Asuka! We found your boyfriend!" Homura called out. "We were gonna bring him back, honest!"

Asuka fought the blush that grew on her face as Riyo looked equally embarrassed at what Homura just said. The Hanzo Squad then jumped down with all the skill of trained Shinobi warriors as they faced up with their rivals.

"Well, thank goodness you were the ones who found him," Ikaruga said in relief.

Katsuragi smirked cheekily. "You didn't try anything funny with him, did ya? After all, he IS pretty cute."

"Uh, I don't think we've met..." Riyo said as he looked at the blonde.

Asuka sighed. "Please forgive Katsu-Nee...she has no filter."

"Ooh!" Hibari perked up as she saw Riyo's monkey tail. "Kiraya never said you had a tail, Riyo-Kun!"

Riyo yelped, realizing he forgot to better hide his newfound tail, trying his hardest to conceal it only to stumble over himself and fall flat on his face.

"I take it that's the important thing Kiraya told us you found?" Yagyuu noted calmly.

"Not really...it was this weird vase that was thrust into my hands and told to keep as far away as possible," Riyo explained. "Next thing I know, fancy shining light comes out of it and I pass out and wake up with a tail surrounded by a bunch of cute girls."

"Awwww, you're gonna make us blush~" Haruka giggled.

"I guess this means you're gonna take him off our hands now," Hikage said. "Shame, he was...interesting, to say the least."

"We'll meet up with you all later. We just need to let Kiraya-Sensei know that Riyo-Kun is alright." Ikaruga said.

Riyo was brought back to Hanzo Academy, the Hanzo Squad leading him through a secret entrance that led to some kind of dojo. As soon as they arrived, a smoke bomb went off and Kiraya appeared, running over to Riyo in relief.

"Riyo, are you alright?"

"I'm fine, Dad. Nothing bad happened...aside from the tail."

Kiraya took notice of Riyo's monkey tail and sighed as he knew what this meant. He turned to the girls as they all stood at attention.

"Girls, I feel like there's no choice but to tell you about what happened to Riyo...he opened the Jade Dragon Emperor Vase."

"The Jade Dragon Emperor Vase?" Katsuragi asked, scratching her head. "Never heard of it."

"I heard that the local art museum was procuring a new item to display," Ikaruga recalled. "Only that it was stolen not too long ago. Could that be it?"

Kiraya nodded. "You are correct, Ikaruga. The Jade Dragon Emperor Vase was actually a treasure from Ancient China that had recently been discovered and was being brought here...but what nobody realized was the power that it contained."

"Sun Wukong."

Everyone turned to see Riyo had been the one who spoke. Seeing all eyes on him, he grinned sheepishly.

"The Victorious Fighting Buddha, the Handsome Monkey Prince, the Great Sage Equal to Heaven, one of the main heroes of Journey to the West, the most iconic story in Chinese Literature."

"Whoa, you sure know a lot about this guy," Katsuragi noted.

"I've read that story in my father's library," Ikaruga said. "It's very fascinating."

"Well, the story has a modicum of truth to it," Kiraya said. "The spirit of Sun Wukong himself was sealed inside that vase. It has been said that whoever holds that vase who is worthy of the power will bond with the spirit of the Monkey King. Riyo...do you realize what this means?"

Riyo's eyes widened. "I'm Sun Wukong now..."

"In a way, yes. You have inherited all of his abilities."

"Whoa...then this means...I CAN BE A SHINOBI!"

This caused the girls and Kiraya to look at Riyo in surprise at how excited he was. They figured the revelation that he had the powers of a mighty deity inside him would weigh a bit more heavily on him.

"Hehehehe, I like him." Katsuragi snickered.

Kiraya sighed. "I had a feeling you'd take this as an opportunity. But Riyo, the life of a Shinobi is not a glamorous one. I thought the stories I told you would have implied that."

"Come on, Dad! This has always been my dream!" Riyo said. "I can finally prove myself that I can be more than just some lame loser!"

"Riyo, you were never-" Kiraya started to sigh before sighing, knowing he wouldn't be able to get through to his impulsive son. "Very well. If you are absolutely serious about this, then I am leaving you in the care of Asuka and the girls."

Riyo tensed up as the Hanzo Squad all looked surprised at this for varying reasons. Riyo awkwardly looked at them and then back at his father before nervously nodding his head.

"Y-You got it, Dad..."

"And remember this...NO FUNNY BUSINESS," Kiraya warned. "I know how much you appreciate the opposite sex but there is a time and place for your hormone-addled interests."

"Don't worry, Sensei. We'll make sure Riyo behaves himself." Ikaruga said, giving the boy a stern look. "Heaven above knows we don't need another Katsuragi."

"Hey!" The blonde in question whined.

Kiraya nodded before using a smoke bomb to make his exit. This left Riyo and the girls alone as the monkey-tailed boy awkwardly turned to them.

"So...who's up for Lunch?"

Riyo has discovered he now holds the powers of Sun Wukong the Monkey King inside him! This means he can now achieve his dream of becoming a Shinobi and now he's in the custody of some lovely ladies. How will things work out for him going forward and will he not make a total idiot of himself? Find out in the next chapter!