6• The Land of Iga

Kagura was left with shock on her face while falling from a high roof. She doesn't know what to do, all she does is a shout and assumes death will be next. There is no escape now! If there is one thing could happen is to wake up. Wake up in this sudden nightmare! She closes her eyes pretending like she is just dreaming. I don't want to die yet! That is all she wants right now.

As she keeps her eyes close, from the dark, two hands quickly grab her on her back. The feeling of gravity from falling, waiting for what will happen next, a sudden change occurs. The heavy feeling of pulling her down in the mid-air, a sudden soft air cushion levitates her and change her state, she feels like floating. She feels a soft cushion behind her assuming she landed already while actually someone catches her in mid-air and carry her down to a safe landing!

They landed in one of the roofs, still at the high ground. She opens her eyes and then she realized she is being saved.

"Huh!" She quickly gives a wide eye on someone who actually saves her "Haya!" She said with a surprise.

"What are you doing here?" A quick and serious tone he asks. Haya put her down and quickly turns his head to look up the higher roof where Kagura fell. He sees a silhouette standing at the roof that actually staring at them "huh!" it looks like a man holding a big sword and his eyes are glowing red. Hayabusa locked his eyes staring at that then, "ah?" his reactions when in a blink of an eye, the shadow quickly disappears.

"haya" suddenly Kagura calls him. He then turns his head to take his attention to Kagura behind.

"is there someone trying to kill you?" his serious tone.

"Haya, Meisa is still on the roof lets get back there" She insists then Hayabusa turns around to face her.

"That kid isn't there" He protests.

"what" Kagura shows a worried face. "what do you mean?"

"I saw a shadow of a man" He confirms. "You're being deceived" he assumes. Kagura gives a questioning face. She is puzzling out everything. "I saw that shadow actually pushed you on the edge" he continues, " I thought you were some random lady in this town that brought there" He explained. Her face shows enlightenment. Kagura now understands that she is being tricked that led her in danger.

Suddenly, Hayabusa stares at her. Kagura sees Hayabusa's eyes and shock to see he is in his serious state. She was not used to seeing him looking that way. Hayabusa seems so serious right now like he is about to burst out. "Why are you always making yourself involve in these kinds of situations?" Suddenly he asks in a serious tone.

"huh" The only word that comes out in her mouth. Kagura doesn't know what words to say. She is not used to seeing a serious Hayabusa in front of her.

"I have given plenty of small missions. Do not think that I am always here to save you"

"...ah?" Kagura is speechless. This is not the Hayabusa she knew. Is she being manipulated again?

Hayabusa turns his eyes away from Kagura and looks somewhere. "Good that fate led me here. I am heading back when I see the unusual scene up there." He explained.

She turns her head down "I am sor---"

"Is this intentional?" suddenly Haya speaks again without letting her finish hers. Kagura looks at him with a sad expression. "You brought yourself here, with nothing" He protests. " I thought your umbrella is your precious weapon" Suddenly Kagura remembers when the Seimei umbrella actually locked in and forbade her to use it.

"Haya the truth is..." Kagura is about to tell what really happens.

"what?" He asks when suddenly noises of people down on the ground. They both look down and see a lot of town people and guards. "...you actually made some noise a while ago, they're here to check what happen"

"what?" Kagura showing a worried face.

"Let's go before they find us" He insists and they escape before people find them there.

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Inside the temple one afternoon...

I can't believe this"

the reaction of the elder of the Shadow sect after Hayabusa reported two unusual things that witnessed this fast few days. He is inside an elevated part of the temple and currently looking at the wider view of the land. He is with three of the ninja masters of both sect and they are gathered to analyze the situation.

"We don't have any clear proof yet so we can't provide a conclusion for now" Said by one of the masters and the only woman in the group. She is tall with a well-defined body. Looking at her, she seems like she has a strong personality.

"Yes, and Hayabusa just delivered a word" The other one agreed. A master from Scarlet Sect with also has a serious and composed personality makes him look so manly as a ninja. He seems so strong that's why he is one of the younger masters.

"we should wait for more reason to take action" She said.

"We are not sure what these unusual things and why they appear all of a sudden" Said by the third ninja master in the group.

"The incidents happened near the people from Omyouji" She said " We are not sure yet if this is just a result of their own spell-casting techniques" She explained.

The elder from Shadow Sect is just listening to them

"Maybe we should wait for some more reports in the entire land" The third ninja master said.

"We already sent some elite ninjas in the Scarlet Sect to scan the town and other areas of the land" She said

"In Shadow Sect as well, we will monitor this and gather all the reports" He said.

The elder turns around to look at them

he looks at the three masters and they seem so confident about what they said.

"hmm...very well..." Suddenly the elder praises them. "...but, I hope this is not something else" suddenly he added.

"ahh?" both of them reacts to the elder. They all stare at him while the elder turns his back to them and look at the view of the beautiful part of the land from his place. "...like... warnings" he continues while scanning the view. Gazing outside, he sees a clear blue sky and some birds flying freely. Flying around this peaceful land where you can see some parts covered in greens made by a lot of trees, bushes, and bamboos, part with a touch of pink made by Sakura that blooms and still pretty at night, some part with lakes surrounding some small shrines. The land divided by lakes is crossed with small made bridges. By taking your eyes a bit farther, you will see the town. It contains houses where you can mostly see some people of the town, castles surrounded by guards and other build temples. This land is surrounded by higher mountains covering the land. Clouds slightly cover it but can still see the silhouette of mountains filled with greens. This is the peaceful and beautiful land of Iga. " You know, the reports are relatively about a Shadow" Suddenly after his gaze, he said. "I just remember the tragedy many years ago relating to a Shadow" he said.

The three masters suddenly make serious faces after that.

"We will not let that happen again" She promise.

"I trust the clan's improvement over the years" the other one said.

"I will only live in peace if Hayabusa completes his mission," The elder said.

While inside the temple behind closed door, that same time while Hayabusa is somewhere at the back of it listening to them. He heard the elder's expectations to him. He is standing while lying his back on the wooden wall, arms crossed under his chest. After hearing that, he really has a determination to complete the mission and to make sure he will win. He wants to avenge the formerly fallen ninjas and give back the pride to his clan. He narrowed his eyes and then he leaves after that...

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Noises and shouts of ninjas as they are gathered in one area for showing their skills.

Four ninjas facing one opponent and they're getting ready to attack. One higher rank ninja standing at the corner with lots of other ninjas watching. The four ninjas encircle the opponent and the one in the middle is getting ready for a defensive tactic against them.

"Hiyaaaah" Four ninjas shout while attacking in different directions. The ninja just dodges it one by one using agility and counter-attack. Until one ninja suddenly holds a strength against each other. They both cross the two swords opposing to both of them, suddenly the other one attack behind. The ninja pushes away the other one to dodge the incoming another attack. In a few second chances of making a distance to the four attacking opponents, she prepares an offensive attack. Seeing the attacker running towards, using ninjutsu, petal barrage, she throws it to the leading attacker and bounce to the next three opponents. The first attacker holds his attack as he is being hurt by that. The technique bounces back in each of them and led them down on the floor.

"Enough!" The master ninja stops them and walks towards them.

"You're so harsh" one of the fallen challenger protests and he sounds in pain.

"You went through that much Hanabi" the master said. It is Hanabi the Scarlet Sect strongest female ninja that they actually challenged to battle.

"I am sorry" She said while staring at the four ninjas in pain and trying to stand up.

"It is ok" The master said and then he looks at the four ninjas on the floor. " Hanabi is one of our unbeatable ninjas. If you can't surpass her, you can't be a better ninja just like her" The master explains "Hurry up, stand up!" the master commands. They hear noises of them resisting the pain. Hanabi narrowed her eyes while staring at them.

"They're just recently passed, they can be counted still as beginners, don't be so hard in them" Suddenly the master whispers beside her. She opens her eyes widely after hearing that. She questions if she really made that seriously because it feels like common to her. After that, she calms herself.

"If you excuse me master" Suddenly she said.

"Sure, Thank you Hanabi" He said and let Hanabi leaves the room.

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As she left the room, how the master describes her is stuck in her mind. Being a better ninja is far to her satisfaction when she cannot even beat the Shadow sect's Hayabusa. She will only consider herself the best when she can surpass that Shadow ninja. She must do something!

From the wind that blows peacefully outside their training area. She sees the wider view of their place and the falling sakura petals that spread on the ground. She notices and walks a little closer to the stone made stairs of the temple. From an elevated view, she scans the surroundings. She sees a few ninjas doing their own thing in their spare time. One ninja resting under the tree. Some spread out ninjas meditating near the lake while others are standing and chatting on the small bridge. She also sees a few younger ninjas running and maybe rushing for their training time. What a peaceful day in the land of her clan. All this time, she is so occupied with his personal aim in life and never gets this kind of time to appreciate the Scarlet sect's land.

In the middle of her contemplation, suddenly, she see the two higher masters approaching. These two masters are those in the meeting with the elder of the Shadow sect an hour ago. She stares at them for a few seconds. After that, she gets an idea in mind and she wants to insist it to the masters. After gazing the land, going back to being herself again, she closes her right fist tighter and full of determination in her face. A few seconds she walks and about to go somewhere...