---
There was an old man lying in bed in his final moments, and a young man, around 18–20 years old, was kneeling beside him, crying. The young man's name was Po, and he was weeping for his master and adoptive father, Wing.
After seeing his adopted son and student crying, Wing said:
"Don't be sad, Po. Death comes for us all, and now my time has come."
"But master, how can I live my life without you? I will be all alone in this world."
"You will not be alone, my son. When you feel lonely, look at the stars and think that one of them is my soul."
"But what should I do next, master? I am lost. Please guide me with your wisdom."
"Listen to me, Po. I taught you Kung Fu so that you would stand up for what is right and stand against evil wherever it may be. Now, my son, it is your moment to create your own story—to become the person you are meant to be, to spread your wings and live without me. You must understand that Kung Fu lives within you, and that Kung Fu is not just a martial art, but also a way of life. You must find your destiny and defend the innocent in this world. Promise me… promise me, Po."
"I promise. I will stand against evil wherever it may be, father."
Po closed his eyes and held Wing's hand, tears streaming down his face like a waterfall.
"Good…"
With his last word, Wing left this world. This time, there would be no return.
"Master!!! Master!! Don't leave me alone!!! Master, please wake up!!! Father!!! AHHHHHH…!"
Po cried heavily over the body of his father and teacher for half an hour. Then he raised his head. His eyes were swollen from crying, but determination burned within them. He gathered his strength, gently lifted his master's body, and carried it to his favorite place—a hill beneath a plum tree.
There, Po dug a grave and buried him. He placed his teacher's staff and belt as a monument over the grave. Then he knelt before it for three days, mourning his late father.
After that, he rose and returned to the small house where he had been raised since childhood. He took his spear—the Mountain-Slash Spear—that his master had given him, saying it was one of the rare treasures of the Jade Palace, the stronghold of the greatest Kung Fu warriors in history.
He also took the scroll of secret Kung Fu arts that he had not yet mastered, a small bag containing basic supplies—food, drink, clothes, and some money—from his master's drawer, and a book to write his diary about his future adventures across the vast land of Ninjago.
He wore a straw hat and a black robe over his white clothes decorated with a golden dragon, then left the house.
As Po reached the edge of the small valley where he had lived most of his life, he turned back and looked at his home one last time. Then he turned forward again, wiped the tears from his eyes, and with burning determination and an unbreakable will, he set off to fulfill his father's final wish and create his own story.
---
Po entered a small tavern in a village, sat down, and ordered some food. When the hostess served him with a smile, he paid and began eating.
Soon, he overheard two villagers at a nearby table.
Villager 1: "Did you hear? The ninja defeated Lord Garmadon and forced him to flee Ninjago to an unknown place! They also defeated the Skeleton Army! From now on, Ninjago will no longer suffer from those living skeletons!"
Villager 2: "Impossible! That's wonderful! My daughter will finally be safe! I won't have to fear for her anymore!"
Villager 1: "I know, right?! After this day, no one in Ninjago will have to live in fear of Lord Garmadon, all thanks to the ninja and their legendary master, Wu!"
Po became interested. A master whose students defeated Lord Garmadon himself?
His own master had told him stories about Garmadon—how he once ruled Ninjago with tyranny and tried to steal the Golden Weapons of Spinjitzu, the most powerful weapons in the world, each guarded by a mighty dragon.
Po finished his meal, thanked the hostess, and was about to approach the villagers to ask about this legendary master.
Suddenly, ten strong men entered the tavern and approached the villagers.
Their leader stepped forward—a bald, muscular man with a purple dragon tattoo on his chest.
"Hey, Tai Li! Why didn't you pay your tax this month?"
Tai Li, sweating nervously, replied:
"I have no money. This month's crops were poor, and my farm is suffering from drought. Please, give me until next month—I promise I'll pay everything."
"Next month? Who do you think you are, you bastard?! No one delays payment to the Purple Dragons!"
The man grabbed Tai Li by his shirt, lifted him with one hand, smashed him onto a table, and punched him repeatedly until blood poured from his nose and mouth.
"Please! Show mercy! I have a family—my wife and son are waiting for me!"
"Wife?" Wang smirked cruelly. "How about this? Take us to your house… and let us have some fun with your wife. If we're satisfied, we might spare you."
The gang burst into laughter.
Tai Li trembled… then spat in Wang's face.
"In your dreams, you pigs! None of you will touch my wife!"
Wang froze. Then rage twisted his face.
"Good… very good. The coward found his courage. Then we'll kill you… and rape her in front of your son before killing him too."
He raised his blade to strike—
But suddenly… it stopped.
A young man stood in front of Tai Li.
Po.
He had blocked the massive sword with his bare hand.
A crack echoed.
The blade shattered into pieces.
Wang stepped back in fear.
"Who… who are you?"
Po replied coldly:
"Your death."
Then Po drew his Mountain-Slash Spear.
In an instant—he disappeared.
Before anyone could react, he reappeared behind Wang and his men. His spear gleamed with deadly precision.
A moment of silence…
Then—
Blood erupted.
Screams filled the tavern as Wang and his gang were cut into pieces. Their bodies fell apart, lifeless, as the floor was flooded with blood.
Po stood still.
Calm. Cold. Unmoved.
He felt no regret.
They were going to violate an innocent woman in front of her child, then kill them both. If he had spared them, they would have continued spreading terror. In his eyes, sparing them would have made him just as guilty.
Around him, the people in the tavern stared in horror. Some vomited. Others fainted. None could comprehend what they had just witnessed.
Po remembered his master's words:
"A strong heart knows when to spare a life, and a strong mind knows when to take one. As a master of Kung Fu, you must discipline not only your body, but your mind and your heart as well. There will be moments when you must eliminate threats so that others may live in peace."
Po did not hesitate.
This was not the first life he had taken. His master had taught him that sometimes, in a harsh world, killing was necessary for survival. During their travels across Ninjago, they had encountered monsters in human form—some who could be spared, and others who had to be eliminated.
Wang was one of those who had to die.
In remote villages like this, far from the reach of law and order, men like him thrived. Po knew that.
He turned to Tai Li, who stood frozen, pale with fear.
"Well done," Po said calmly. "You are a brave man. Most people would have sold their wives to survive… but you didn't. As for your friend—he abandoned you when you needed him most. I suggest you find better ones."
Po turned to leave.
Then he stopped.
"Follow me. I want to speak with you."
Tai Li hesitated… but after what he had just witnessed, he had no choice but to obey.
They walked into a narrow alley.
Po placed his straw hat back on his head, shadowing his face, then turned to Tai Li.
"That legendary master you mentioned… tell me about him. Who is he? And where can I find him?"
Tai Li swallowed nervously, then spoke:
"He is Master Wu… the Spinjitzu Master. The son of the First Spinjitzu Master, and the only one of his kind alive today."
"He has four students—the Ninja. Each one represents an element of nature. Kai controls fire, Cole controls earth, Jay controls lightning, and Zane controls ice."
"Each of them wields one of the Golden Weapons… and each has their own dragon."
"They are the protectors of Ninjago."
Tai Li sighed.
"But… there are only four of them. They can't protect every small village from gangs like the Purple Dragons."
Then he looked at Po and smiled faintly.
"Still… I owe them everything. Even if your methods are harsh… you saved me. I will be grateful for the rest of my life."
Po ignored the comment about his cruelty.
Inside… he was excited.
Elemental powers… Golden Weapons… dragons…
Even his master had never witnessed such power—only heard stories about it.
He remembered what his master had told him:
Elemental power is inherited. Not everyone can obtain it through training.
If you are not chosen… then you are simply not meant to have it.
And yet…
Spinjitzu.
That was different.
Something anyone could learn.
Something he could master.
Po's eyes sharpened.
This was his path.
He would find Master Wu… and learn Spinjitzu.
---
Po looked at Tai Li again.
"You still haven't told me where he is."
Tai Li blinked.
"Ah… yes. He lives in a monastery near Jamanakai Village."
Po's eyes widened slightly.
"Jamanakai Village… I know that place."
That was where it all began.
That was where his master had accidentally drunk the Traveler's Tea… and crossed into another world—the world where he learned Kung Fu and the power of Chi.
A faint smile appeared on Po's face.
"Five days… I can reach it in five days."
Five days…
And his real journey would begin.
---
Po looked at Tai Li again.
"How do you know all this?"
Tai Li smiled.
"Because… Master Wu saved me fourteen years ago."
"He saved me… and my pregnant wife."
"I owe him my life."
"I stayed in contact with him after that. I used to visit the monastery… bring him crops, fruits… and tea."
"There's a rare tea in this village. He liked it very much."
"So… he opened his door to me."
Tai Li's voice softened.
"He told me stories… about the past… about prophecies."
Po narrowed his eyes.
"Prophecies?"
Tai Li hesitated.
"When I visited Jamanakai Village two weeks ago… he wasn't there."
"That's when I heard about the Ninja… and how they defeated Lord Garmadon."
"And then… I knew."
"The prophecy had begun."
Po's heart tightened.
"The Green Ninja… will soon appear."
"And… Lord Garmadon will return."
Silence fell.
Po stood still.
So…
This world was heading toward chaos once again.
A new storm was coming.
Good.
He would be ready.
---
Po turned away slightly.
"…What do you mean by the Green Ninja?"
Tai Li shook his head.
"I'm sorry… I can't tell you. That was a secret Master Wu entrusted to me."
Po nodded.
"That's fair."
Then he looked at him one last time.
"Thank you, Tai Li. I won't forget this."
Tai Li bowed his head.
"And please… when you meet Master Wu… tell him that Tai Li sends his regards."
"I will."
Po turned to leave.
"Goodbye, Tai Li. Perhaps we will meet again."
"Wait!"
Tai Li called out.
"I don't even know your name…"
Po stopped.
Without turning fully, he said:
"Po."
Then, in a single leap—
He jumped onto the rooftop…
And vanished into the distance.