Chapter 24: Chapter 24: Report on Both Sides
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Japan, Ozunu Orphanage
"Go. Rest. I need to speak with Lord Ozunu first." Takashi said, disappearing into the main hall.
Lucian sat on the floor, watching the children train, his mind preoccupied. 'So basically, all my memories are worthless if this keeps happening.'
"Yes, we need to find a way to gather information once we get out of here." Cortana responded, appearing before him.
Meanwhile, Takeshi had already entered the main hall. He saw Ozunu, who was practicing calligraphy.
Bowing deeply, he knelt before his master.
"Lord Ozunu, the mission was successful, and Asura did it again." he reported.
Ozunu set down his brush and looked at Takeshi with a stoic expression.
"If he were a child, it would have been fine. But now he's simply a ninja of the Ozunu clan. Punish him after you complete this mission. Make sure this is the last time. Break his bones if you have to." Ozunu said,
pushing a stack of papers across the table. They contained information about their next target.
When Takeshi took it he notice the mission was not related from Korea, it was information of a black woman named,
Mika Coretti.
Ozunu seeing his reaction calmly explained,
"It's a urgent mission this woman already investigating us we don't need the public attention all over us"
"What about the mission in Korea?" Takeshi asked.
"This mission is more important" Ozunu said. Then He thought of something,
"Let asura go lead a team in Korea if he want too, let see how he handles unexpected situation" he knows the target in Korea the employer has given a wrong information, the target was more terrible, terrifying at most.
Takeshi nods in understanding but hesitated.
Ozunu frowned.
"Is there something else?"
"Lady Sen of the Arashikage Clan wants to meet with you."
Ozunu's frown deepened, his eyebrows furrowing. He sighed and whispered,
"So they noticed our actions. It seems we're already too late." pondering the reason behind Sen's request.
The Ozunu clan was the most formidable in combat and assassination, but they clung to old ways.
The Arashikage Clan embraced modern technology. The Ozunu clan, with its strength and focus, had never relied on weapons like guns.
However, the technological boom had changed everything. Weapons had become far more powerful.
It was too late to catch up with the other clans. Ozunu knew this. His clan was vulnerable, and they were being swallowed by the others.
Desperate to counter this, he had doubled down on recruiting orphans. He expanded the program, going beyond orphans of hunters to include those with potential and child prodigies. It was a nearly impossible feat. Many organizations kept their eyes on these young talents.
However, they'd gotten lucky in Beacon Hills. When They had picked up Lucian.
He then ordered the assassination of supernatural creatures, a risky move. It was essentially a declaration that the Ozunu clan would assassinate anyone for the right price.
More assassination meant greater reputation.
Even if the Ozunu clan was destroyed,
the world would remember them as the strongest. With the orphans, the Ozunu clan would never truly disappear.
Ozunu regarded Takeshi for a moment.
"Go finish the mission. We will meet with them afterward."
"Yes, Lord Ozunu." Takeshi said, bowing.
As Takeshi left, Ozunu thought about Lucian. He had potential and strength, but it was too late. He shook his head.'If he had come earlier, perhaps the Ozunu clan could have risen again' he sighed.
•-----•-----•-----•-----•
Arashikage clan
Hard Master, Blind Master, and Tomisaburo sat before a distinguished old woman,
Lady Sen, the Tōryō of the Arashikage Clan.
Two young women, Akiko and Jinx,
her cousin, sat beside her.
They were reporting their findings.
"What have you discovered?" Sen asked, fanning herself with a delicate fan.
"We didn't uncover much, Lady Sen. We used a decoy to hire them for an assassination of some local gangs."
Hard Master reported.
"We tried to follow them with my illusions, but they didn't work on one ninja."
Blind Master said.
He was an awakened human with the power of illusions and hallucinations, making him a formidable force in the Arishkage clan.
Tomisaburo (Storm Shadow) scoffed at Blind Master.
"Ninja? You were outsmarted by a kid,"
Storm Shadow said, recalling Lucian's small stature.
Sen raised an eyebrow, skeptical. Akiko, beside her, was surprised. She knew the Blind Master's power.
"A kid? Yes he is and I know. He'll always be better than you." Blind Master retorted, his tone relaxed. Hard Master smirked.
Tomi wanted to argue, but Sen stopped him with a look.
She considered their words, confirming their truth. Closing her eyes, she thought, 'It appears the Ozunu clan's demise is coming faster than I anticipated.' She felt a surge of excitement as she formulated a plan.
Sen turned her attention to her three ninjas. "Did you ask them about what Noshiko was searching for?"
Hard Master shook his head.
"No, Lady Sen. They were too agitated when we approached them. They might have attacked us if we asked more questions."
Sen nodded, understanding. She knew the Ozunu clan was notorious for their secrecy.
"The ninja kid, do you think it could be him?" she asked, her voice laced with intrigue.
"We only saw their eyes. Their faces were covered," the ninjas replied.
Sen nodded, confirming her suspicions. "Akiko, we still need to inform Lady Noshiko and her friends that we have a lead."
She turned her focus to Akiko, who was in charge of the clan's technology and information gathering.
Tomi frowned. "You're really going to help them?" he asked, unconvinced.
Sen shook her head in disappointment.
"You will lead the Arashikage, yet you still haven't learned anything." She sighed.
"First, we received information about the Ozunu attacking supernatural creatures. By helping them, we repaid that information."
Finding information about supernatural creatures was far more difficult than gathering information about normal people.
She watched Tomi to see if he was paying attention, and nodded as he turned his focus to her.
"Second, they're werewolves from the Lycaon lineage, and an alpha. By finding the kid, our clan will gain a new ally."
She looked at all three ninjas to ensure they were listening.
"Third, and most important, when we find the kid, he'll be theirs. But the other children in the Ozunu clan will join our clan. Do you understand? A stronger fighting force."
As the Tōryō of the Arashikage Clan, Sen always prioritized the clan above all else. That was her true reason for wanting to discover what was happening to the Ozunu clan. The weak might be strong for the Ozunu, but for the Arashikage Clan, they represented a golden opportunity.
"Did you learn anything?" Sen asked.
"Yes, Tōryō. Thank you for your teachings." the three ninjas replied, bowing respectfully, not as to their grandmother, but to the leader of the Arashikage Clan.
"But they're kids, though." Akiko whispered.
Only Blind Master and Sen heard her.
"That's why we should take them in," Sen stated, her voice a low murmur.
"The other clans won't let go of those who have learned the ways of the Ozunu. They're a terrifying force, and they'll do everything to take them back." she said.
She looked at the five individuals in the room.
"And that's why no one should utter a word about the Ozunu clan's near demise.
Do you understand?"
"Yes, Lady Sen." all of them responded, bowing in unison.
Tomi asked a question.
"What if Noshiko's friends spread the news?"
Sen didn't answer Tomi but looked at Akiko.
"After you inform Noshiko, offer them refuge here and monitor them secretly."
"Yes, Lady Sen." Akiko bowed before leaving the room.
•-----•-----•-----•-----•
One day later July 25 2009
The airport buzzed with activity as Noshiko Yukimura emerged, her daughter Kira holding onto one of her hands.
She was on the phone with Akiko, her voice calm despite the chaotic scene around her.
"Yeah, we just landed," she said, her brow furrowing as she heard voices behind her.
"Yeah, stay in Arashikage? We are a bit too many." she continued, a hint of hesitation in her voice.
[How many guests are coming with you, Ms. Noshiko?] Akiko asked through the phone.
"Just Satomi and friends," Noshiko replied, hearing Kira's voice asking permission.
[It's fine, Ms. Noshiko. The Arashikage Clan welcomes you all.]
"Is that so? Sorry to bother you then."
Noshiko ended the call, a frown creasing her forehead as she thought, 'The Arashikage Clan isn't exactly known for welcoming outsiders, yet they're opening their doors to us. It seems they want to keep us all together.'
She turned around and looked at her companions: Satomi, Talia, Deaton, and her husband.
"We're staying with the Arashikage Clan. Let's focus on our mission: rescue the kid and get back" she said, thinking to herself,
'I just hope this kid is worth more than spending my vacation with my family.'
Deaton nodded with a serious expression. He wanted to complete the Yggdrasil mission.
Talia and Satomi exchanged a look. They had both left their packs in Beacon Hills to avoid further casualties. Talia was no longer an alpha, but she could still transform into a full wolf.
Satomi was here to help Deaton, and she was tired of hiding. The ninjas might come back for revenge, and her friend was the only one with contacts at the Arashikage Clan.
Talia was here for revenge.
The assassination that night had led to a series of problems, including her loss of alpha status.
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Next Chapter 25: Getting Caught
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