Kazuo tossed the shuriken, and the ninja dodged it. "Yo, if you don't want your guts spilt all over the ground… step aside." He rummaged in his pockets.
"Tch, how troublesome…" The man sighed and dropped a spherical object on the grass.
An explosion formed, and the second shuriken passed through a grey cloud. As the smoke dissipated, the ninja appeared behind Kazuo and knocked him out with a sidearm.
"Owww!" Kazuo awoke a few minutes later and rubbed his neck. Kuso... he's strong!
"Purple hair, ill-mannered and annoying," said the ninja in a mutter. He squatted beside the boy and looked at him. "Inazuma Kazuo, I am here to escort you to the village. Get up... we do not have all day."
They resumed the journey in a sprint. The ninja led the way, zigzagging from tree to tree with ease. As the forestry reduced, he leapt to the ground.
"H–hey! Wait up!" said Kazuo, wheezing as followed behind. He paused to catch his breath, "aren't we there yet?"
The ninja slowed to a stop. He pointed to the stone wall on the horizon. "There is the village."
Kazuo caught up and they walked the rest of the way until they reached the huge fort. The sun was high in the sky, without a cloud in sight. Before entering, the guard posted at the main gate greeted them.
"Welcome, Kazuo-sama..." said the man, handing over his identification papers. "Enjoy your stay!"
Kazuo saw the streets filled with people who, for once, did not recognise him. Kaminari shared several similarities with Kaen. Most clustered buildings were constructed with stone and had clay roof tiles. Stone-paved roads connected the village's many districts.
As they sauntered the streets, Kazuo's stomach grumbled. "Yo, ninja... can you get me some food?"
The man shot him a cold glance. "If you're hungry, move faster. I'm not your servant."
"R–Right..." Kazuo muttered, quickening his pace. For once, he had no comeback. He realised not many people in Kaminari cared who he was.
The man led Kazuo to the busiest part of the village. When they were a stone's throw from a restaurant, the sweet aromas lured them to an eatery with a sign outside that read: Karin's.
Inside, the place was packed with people eating. It had tiled floors and wooden furniture all around. Their menu offered the popular grilled beef tongue, ramen and other delectable foods.
"Shin-san, ohayō (morning)..." said a dark-haired woman, smiling at the ninja. She was slim and appeared to be in her late twenties. "What can I get for you today?"
"Karin-san, ohayō." Shin handed her some money. "One bowl of your special for him and kōcha (black tea) for me."
"Great! Isn't he a cutie?" said Karin, taking the money. Her face beamed at the Inazuma prince. "What's your name, bōya?"
"Kazuo," he said, returning her smile.
Karin studied his hair and bowed. "Inazuma-sama."
"No need for that..."
"Gomene (Sorry), it's nice to meet you, Kazuo..." said Karin, pointing to an empty table. "You may take a seat while we prepare your food."
In a short while, a waitress brought Kazuo and Shin their food. "Afternoon," she said with a vibrant smile. She placed a bowl of ramen and a cup of tea on the table. "Here is your order, sir. Enjoy."
Shin bowed and thanked her. "Arigatō gozaimasu."
"Itadakimasu (Let's eat)!" said Kazuo, raising his chopsticks as he blew steam off his ramen.
Shin uncovered his mouth and grabbed the porcelain cup with both hands. He blew on it and sniffed the rich aroma before taking a sip.
After finishing their meal, they were back on track.
"Arigatō, Shin."
"Kochirakoso (The pleasure is mine)… I see there are some manners up there."
Shin and Kazuo walked briefly until they reached the school. A tall stone structure was built at the centre of the schoolyard. Next to the main block were a few smaller buildings of similar design.
They stood outside the perimeter wall and Shin spoke first. "From here on... you can make your way to the Sage's office." He bid Kazuo farewell, and with the cover of smoke, disappeared into thin air.
Kazuo coughed, wafting the air before moving away from the grey cloud. Ninjas and smoke bombs! He made his way to the main building. A kanji sign painted above the door entrance read: 'Kazutaka's Ninja School.'
He climbed the staircase and entered the structure. Silence filled the white corridors as he walked across black and white floor tiles. Why is it empty?
"Kazuo," said a feminine voice. "Is that you?"
"How do you know m–" Kazuo turned behind, raising his eyebrows. Damn, she's hot!
The orange–haired kunoichi (female ninja) stood arms akimbo and looked to be in her late teens with visible musculature. She had a spiky haircut—shaved on the left temple and a mole underneath her left eye. Her vest armour was similar to Shin's. She also wore a white, double slit skirt and chain mail covered her exposed limbs. "I'm Natsumi Kasai," she said, offering her hand.
"Kasai?" Kazuo shook her hand. Which means?
Natsumi chuckled. "Yes… we're related."
She has the same hair colour as Grandma Natsue. But, why don't I remember her? "If you're a royal, why aren't you back in Kaen?"
"It's complicated," she said, her eyes glazing. "You were probably too young to remember. My mother was exiled for marrying out of nobility. When she passed away, Lord Taka took me in."
"Oh… I see." Kazuo thought of his banishment. He recalled earlier that day and shook himself to reality.
Natsumi wiped her face. "Enough about my sad childhood. What brings you here?"
"My f–the daimyo banished me…"
"That sucks," she said with open arms.
After she gave him a bear hug, they reminisced for a bit as she showed him the way to the Sage's office. They went upstairs to the third floor and she knocked on one of the first doors.
"Enter." A deep, raspy voice beckoned them and she slid the door open. "Natsumi-chan, good afternoon. I see you have already met Kazuo-chan."
-chan? Kazuo thought as he followed Natsumi.
The office had wooden shelves filled with books and scrolls. Mounted above the window was a majestic katana. The blade's saya had orange flames painted on it.
A grey-haired man in a black kimono and white haori sat behind the table. Embroidered on the back of his jacket was the character 聖 (Sage). Kazutaka seemed to be in his sixties with a receding hairline, wrinkled face and a long, chin beard. He had been working on some documents before the visitors came.
"Good afternoon, sir," said Natsumi, smiling. She bowed and looked at Kazuo. "I met him just now. He seems to be an interesting guy."
"Indeed." Kazutaka grinned, turning his grandson. "Long time no see, Kazuo-chan."
"I can't believe you still address me like that!" Kazuo blew steam off his nostrils. "I'm a grown up."
"Physically—maybe. However, you are still the same Kazuo-chan." Kazutaka chuckled and the kunoichi joined in. "Natsumi-chan, can you please escort him to Hideo-kun's class?"
"Right away, sir!" She bowed and took Kazuo to a classroom in the second floor. When they arrived, she introduced him to a tall man in his mid-twenties with short and curly turquoise hair. Hideo had blue eyes, wore reading glasses and a white kimono suit.
"Good afternoon, Kazuo." The man spoke with a deep baritone. "My name is Hideo Yamazaki–"
"Yo!" said Kazuo, raising a hand. "Where is everyone?"
Hideo raised an eyebrow and adjusted his glasses. This kid is going to be a handful. "Your classmates are on lunch break. They will be back shortly."
Kazuo nodded and waved at Natsumi. Afterwards, he went to sit at the back of the class.
"As I was saying..." Hideo broke the brief silence. "I mainly teach General Knowledge, Arithmetic and Introduction to Ninjutsu (ninja techniques)."
A few minutes passed and someone walked into the classroom, hands in their pockets. The boy was in his mid-teens with short, black hair and brown skin. He wore dark sunglasses, a white high-collar jacket and black tobi trousers. Hideo introduced him as Takumi and he sat at the front.
The next student was a blue-eyed boy with short, scruffy hair—the same shade as Hideo's. He sat next to Kazuo and introduced himself as Haru Yamazaki—the teacher's nephew. Kazuo and Haru immediately got along as they discovered they shared many interests.
When the entire class arrived, about thirty students in total, Hideo asked Kazuo to introduce himself.
"H–Hello, my name is Kazuo Inazuma," he said while seated and turned around. "Nice to meet you." Why are they still staring at me? His cheeks turned red when he crossed eyes with a blue-haired girl seated at the front.
"WELCOME, KAZUO!"
"Alright, class!" Hideo pointed at the blackboard. "Let us get back to that question we had before lunch. Ninja A is on a tree, ten metres from the ground. Ninja B is standing fourteen metres from the tree, give with a reason how B would take out A?" He gazed around, skipping the two girls raising their hands at the front. "Yes, Haru."
"Uh–uh," said Haru, scratching his head. "It's Mikoto-chan, sir."
Everyone gasped and one freckled girl with dark hair burst into laughter followed by a few students.
However, Mikoto—the blonde in a red vest and blue tobi, made a fist. Seated at the front, she turned backwards, her face crimson. "Tch," she said with clenched teeth.
"Alright everyone, settle down." Hideo gestured with both hands before facing Haru. "Can you please elaborate?"
"Uh, it's simple really..." Haru chuckled. "She can flash A so B sneaks behind the tree and kills him."
Kazuo laughed and the class joined in.
Hideo's jaw dropped as he turned pale. "Anyone else cl–"
Dead silence filled the air as a tight clap echoed.
"Oww!" Haru cried, holding his red cheek. She touched me! He thought, seeing stars after Mikoto slapped him.
"Hey! No fighting in my classroom!"
"Yes, Yamazaki-sensei." Mikoto apologised, walking to her seat.
Hideo cleared his throat. "As I was saying, anyone else to answer the question?"
"Any medium to long range projectile at a trajectory of approximately thirty three degrees from the horizontal will do," said Takumi, clasping his hands.
"That is correct Takumi, but please raise your hand next time."
"But Haku and I!" Mikoto frowned, turning to the blue-haired girl besides her. "Had raised ours first."
Hideo paused, adjusting his glasses. "You two always answer all of my questions," he said with a chuckle. "We have to give others a chance."
The lecture continued for a further thirty minutes and was followed by General Knowledge, which the front seat competed to answer each question. Before long, class was dismissed late in the afternoon. Those who stayed at the school went to their dorms while the rest left for their homes.
Mikoto shared a dorm with Kohaku Matsumoto, whilst Takumi shared a room with another student named Kenji Nakamura. Kazuo asked to share with Haru since he had a dorm to himself.
☯
"Yo aniki (brother), do you like that blonde girl?" said Kazuo, closing the door to their dorm.
Haru paused, scratching his head. "Uh... she doesn't like me back."
"Her friend..." Kazuo rubbed his chin. "The blue-haired one, um?"
"Kohaku…"
Kazuo snapped his fingers. "Yes! She's hotter!"
"How so?"
"She's big in all the right places, what more do you want?"
"I think Miko's pretty, strong and intelligent." Haru held his imprinted cheek, grinning.
Kazuo side eyed him. "Yeah… right."
"What?"
"If you like her so much you shouldn't say weird stuff about her. It'll get you killed…"
They laughed.
"Hey, I have an idea." Kazuo grinned with a wink. "Let's go peep in the girls' baths?"
"Whaaat!" Haru raised his eyebrows. "Won't we get caught? I mean, the punishments here are crazy." He grabbed his cheek with Mikoto's handprint. "This… is nothing."
"Come on man, live a little." Kazuo nudged Haru's shoulder. "We won't be caught. Not when I'm here." He started unpacking his stuff, and before Haru could respond, they heard a knock.
"N–Natsumi… s–senpai!" said Haru, opening the door.
"Hey… Haru, right? How are you?" Natsumi smiled at him and turned to Kazuo. "Little brother, your grandfather is calling for you. Let's go."
Haru blushed. She knows me!
"Don't call me that…" said Kazuo, folding his arms.
"What? Brother?" Natsumi chuckled.
"No… little."
Lord Taka was right, he acts like a child but doesn't want to be treated like one. "Well, if you don't want me addressing you as my little brother, you can challenge me to a fight and–"
"You better not hold back!" Kazuo's face beamed as he brought his hands together.
"Alright," said Natsumi, cracking her knuckles. "If you win, I'll stop calling you little."
As Kazuo got ready, Haru grabbed his shoulder. "Aniki, Natsumi is a graduate… she will destroy you!"
"No," said Kazuo, grinning. "I'll win."
The fight was over in less than a minute. Kazuo rushed in head first and Natsumi dodged all his punches. She snatched his arms, kneed him on the gut and he fell on the floor with a thud.
"Let's go little brother…" Natsumi chuckled, giving Kazuo a hand. "Grandpa is waiting."
Kazuo puffed air from his nostrils. He frowned before looking at Haru. "Don't say it–"
"I told you..." Haru laughed.
Natsumi and Kazuo left for the Sage's office.
"Kazuo-chan," said Kazutaka, seeing his door open. "How did you find your first day?"
"It was shit!" Kazuo shifted his gaze. "But better than Kaen." The memory of home still lingered.
"Don't let Kazuma-kun hear you say that." Kazutaka chuckled and Natsumi joined.
A view of Kazuo's royal chamber flashed in his mind. He wondered what he would be doing had he been back there. If his mother was still angry at him. "Old man," he said, snapping back to reality. "I have to get stronger." He pointed at Natsumi. "She embarrassed me in front of my friend."
Kazutaka and Natsumi burst into laughter and she said, "At least he knows his basics."
"Is that so," said Kazutaka, facing his grandson. "I am pleased you are making friends." He clasped his hands, nodding at Natsumi and she left. "If you wish to get stronger, I will train you."
Kazuo smiled.
"I mean, that is part of why you are here is it not?" Kazutaka got up and led his grandson outside.
They walked down the stairs to a dojo in the first floor. The spacious room had a few bokken(wooden swords), nunchaku and other weapons on display.
"Before we begin…" Kazutaka placed both hands behind his back. "The ninjutsu we teach here comprises of mostly taijutsu (body techniques) and kenjutsu (sword techniques). So, we will start with the former. If you manage to touch me, you win." He gestured towards Kazuo. "Come."
The young Inazuma charged, fists raised and threw punches everywhere. After a few attempts, he combined kicks to his attacks but his grandfather dodged them all.
He knows the basics but lacks form. Kazutaka veered to one side, still handicapped. They continued for more than an hour and stopped when Kazuo started wheezing. "That's enough for today, we will carry on tomorrow."
"Phew!" Kazuo sighed, hands on his knees. I didn't even land a single attack. He wiped sweat off his face and grinned. "I'll get you tomorrow, old man."
Kazutaka chuckled, bidding Kazuo goodbye.
As Kazuo exited the dojo, he walked outside the main building to the bathhouse behind the school dormitories. After taking a warm bath, he went to the boys' dorm and found Haru in their room. The boys readied themselves and strolled to the cafeteria building where they had dinner with other students.
Every day after class became a routine for Kazuo. He challenged Natsumi, got his ass whooped and went to practice taijutsu with Kazutaka afterwards. With each loss, his skills improved by a lot.
☯
A week later, trouble loomed on the outskirts of Kaen. About twenty ninjas in black cloaks lay hidden in the underbrush. Their leader wore a kasa (straw hat) and a white, porcelain mask that covered his entire face. The character: 王 (King) appeared on the back of his black haori. "My Shadows…" He broke the ominous silence with a deep voice. "We strike by nightfall."
"Hai, heika (Yes, your Majesty)!"
Sunset came and left. The Shadows stood in silence, awaiting further instruction from their leader.
"How marvelous," said the king, staring at the crescent moon. "Like a sharp talon ready to attack." He took in the spectacle in all its splendor. "As we rise into the night, let us show them despair… SCATTER!"