"A few months ago a Special Force came to my office all injured." The Shogun continued. "We immediately took him to the hospital. However, before he lost conscious he said invader."
"So he got attacked?" Damiyo Kōshin spoke.
"We sent six Special Force ninjas to where he was stationed. They found that almost all Special Force ninjas that were stationed there have all been literally crushed."
All the Damiyos glanced at each other as if they knew what the Shogun was about to say.
"After several days of looking around they came to the conclusion that Zai was used. This information forced me to make this meeting in order to discuss how to handle this invader."
All the Damiyos glanced at each other waiting for someone to once again break the ice.
"Um…" My father spoke, "In which region did this region did this attack take place Shogun."
The Damiyos shifted their attention to the Shogun.
"Your region Ryūkishi. Did you know about this attack?" The Shogun asked.
"Unfortunately no Shogun." His eyes turning to Damiyo Kōshin for a split second.
"I bet you knew." With a cheeky smile. "Just forgot due to your old age." Damiyo Kōshin laughed.
I could not help but chuckle to Damiyo Kōshins remark.
"I pray I was like that." His eyes twitched. "It would make me forget your remarks."
"What? Is the old men angry? Hahaha!"
"Enough." The Shogun interjected. "I understand that you are disappointed in yourself for letting this bypass your security right under your nose."
"Council him all you want." Damiyo Higuma spoke and his voice was as deep as lion roaring to assert it's dominance. "But that will not help us find this invader before he leaks information about our State."
"That won't be a problem." The Shogun reassured. "The Special Force believe that this invader is heading towards Sora."
"Could he be out to kill you." Damiyo Kōshin asked.
"That's a possibility."
"If so, then why?"
"That's not the question we should be asking." Damiyo Higuma joins. "We first need to know where this intruder comes from. After that am confident we can stop him without any damage to our State in any type of way."
The Shogun turned his eyes to Damiyo Higuma.
"Are you concerned about something happening if the intruder might attack me."
"Concern? That's the last thing in my mind. All am suggesting is locating where he comes from and we can ask all the questions we want."
I could be wrong, but when Damiyo Kōshin gave his opinion to Damiyo Higuma his attitude seemed like it had changed.
"If a dog were to suddenly appear on your doorstep would you take it to it's owner?"
Silence fell over the room for a couple of seconds waiting for Damiyo Higuma to respond to Damiyo Kōshin's question.
"Yes. That is if I know the owner." Damiyo Higuma responded.
"Let's say you don't know the owner. Then how are you suppose to take that dog back to where it came from?"
"What are you trying to get from asking such questions?"
"Then let me answer for you." With a smirk. "To find the owner you need to know how that owner looks like, not go around proclaim you'll find the dog and take to it's owner without knowing clue of the former."
Every Damiyo in the room were all filled with a smile on their face - including my father which was truly a site to behold.
"Now Shogun, do you have information on how this intruder looks like?" Damiyo Kōshin asked.
The Shogun simply shrugged his shoulders.
"Then it would seem the "where" at the moment is not of importance."
"Tell us then Kōshin, the questions that are needed to be answered."
Damiyo Kōshin glared at him unbothered like he knew Damiyo Higuma might retaliate in this sort of manner.
"Sorry I have no answers to any questions. However I do have a piece of information to share."
The Shogun shifts his attention to Damiyo Kōshin with a look of intent to know what Damiyo Kōshin was about to say.
"A few months back some villagers in my region were all burnt to the ground. I investigated the reason why and I found out three people from the Senso State have entered our state and are residing here in Sora."
"I got two questions for you." The Shogun said, "One, how can you be positive the Senso State is involved? Second, why did you not inform me of this until now?"
"Let me answer those questions." My father interjected.
"Aw baldie" With a smug, "never thought you would confess."
"Shut up!" My father got up from his seat to kneel on the ground. "Shogun I apologize for allowing four invaders to enter our State and not tell you immediately."
"Then you knew about the first invader?"
"Yes. As a ninja before you act you should first observe and understand the situation you are in and I did exactly that."
The Shogun gestured him to go back to his sit which he did.
"Explain to me what you gathered from your observation."
"Yes Shogun." The whole room focused their attention on him. "Our first invader who I call Ghoul was encounted from several people while he was traveling. Those people mentioned him to be around 180cm tall, any other description could not be discern due to him being covered by a black coat that covered his body. Though they noticed that the coat had a crimson cross in the middle."
"The second people that Kōshin spoke about is confirmed to be from the Senso StaaWawll three of them are capable of using Zai."
"We captured one and is currently by this insufferable brat Kōshin's prison. I told my son to go torture more information out of him. I wanted to capture the other two, however I found out they had a match in today's tournament so I decided to let them go and observe them for a while."
And Lia, a message was sent in at that time to tell us about you having a Demonic Ability. Yet they decided to ignore it at that time.
"Why would the Senso State send ninjas here?" The Shogun asked. "Furthermore, is Ghoul connected to the three ninjas or is it two states we are dealing with?"
"What reason is there to even attack us." Damiyo Kōshin said.
"Now that you know which State is invading us." Damiyo Higuma joined the conversation. "What do you plan to do?"
"Ai, do we have any special events in the future." The Shogun asked Damiyo Shōshen.
The whole room turned to Ai, all awaiting to hear her voice since the meeting began.
"I believe so."
The wait was satisfying to hear for me. Her voice was of that of an innocent child.
"You better not have something stupid to say."
Damiyo Higuma had to destroy my constant reply of Damiyo Shōshen's voice with his deep voice.
"When is this event happening?"
"Next year Shogun." She added, "In our first annual event of the year. The Rank War."
"Then it shall be." With a smile. "Next year we shall host the Rank War against the Senso State."
The whole room was shocked at what the Shogun said, even the Konaris. The shock was understandable.
In a world of ninjas it is a well known fact that inviting another State to your home is like all you will be doing is giving a thief keys to your home.
Meaning you are allowing that State to come and launch an attack on your State without that State receiving any punishment from the other States for breaking the peace treaty.
So for the Shogun himself to allow the Senso State to come to the Shinwa State is absurd.
"I apologize Shogun, but I don't think that's a good idea." My father said.
"Yes, let's tell him how good of an idea that is. Not like it's going to change his mind. Once again we are forced to follow along his decision."
Damiyo Higuma stood up from his chair and walked to the door.
"Am warning you. This decision will only bring about tragedy to this State."
He left slamming the door right behind him as he left. Leaving the room in an awkward silence.
That is until Damiyo Kōshin bursted out in laughter.
"Well Shogun, I for one want to know the reason behind this decision of yours."
The Shogun glared at him with a smile on his face.
"I was about to get to that. I plan to see if the Senso State are serious in their attempt to invade us or is it another State controlling them." He added, "I am also positive that Ghoul will make his move during this confusion."
"All I ask from you all as the Shogun is that the security in the State is on high alert at all times and the citizens are not in any type of danger."
"For the other two spies I want their immediate arrest after their graduation."
***
Present
After Zennyo finished her story she left leaving Lia unable to control her excitement. All that happened while she was battling Tamia is insane to believe.
Even so parts of herself are not in the same ecstatic feel due to the fight she had with Tamia.
Though she won, Lia believes that was not enough and that she just won by luck and not her own skills.
It's not only Tamia she has to worry about, but Nero to. Which she understands it will be even harder for her to take him on.
After all this two killed Victus (who seemed like a nice guy to her) when all he wanted was to greet them.
Whatever the two boys are doing at this moment is not her concern - because Lia has set her mind on making it her job to get stronger in her training in order for her to beat Nero and Tamia before they can graduate.
TBC.
NEXT CHAPTER: PRELUDE 25