DC: Ninja's Tale: Ten

Kazuya: * looks up from a stack of papers * Jinno?
Jinno: What's the problem my old friend?
Kazuya: Have a look at this. * hands Jinno the papers *
Jinno: Jin… Jinraido the Soul Eater?
Kazuya: Whoever this person is… they've been causing a ton of hell across the world. See… look at this. * flips the pages a few times * This was recorded only a few days ago.
Jinno: * ears perk up * Impossible. We just met with the Fuuma Clan a week ago! The entire clan? Gone?!
Kazuya: Read on…
Jinno: One survivor… went silent the night before questioning… dies in sleep. Body decomposes into ashes? What the hell…?
Kazuya: This… this… was yesterday's report.
Jinno: No… the Otokami Clan… was not only our greatest ally but one of the strongest clans in the world. How can all of them be dead? How can one man wipe out an entire village?! This…is… is fucking impossible! hmm? * flips the paper over * This guy has even taken down the infamous Demon Clan. Who the hell is this man? Why is he attacking target clans?
Kazuya: * folds arms and bows head. He closed his eyes and shook his head * I can't tell you why. But… We should be cautious on this matter.
Son: I think Jinno… I think he's looking for something.
Jinno: * looks at her as his ears fall back down again * Son?
Son: Fuuma… was home to Ororo… The Dragoness Guardian.
Kazuya: * sweat slides down the side of his face * That's right. Otokami housed the Boar Guardian Kago. No… but that doesn't explain why he took down the Gouken clan… and even still the Kotogama clan are still there.
Jinno: The Kotogama?
Moro: The Kotogama clan… The village that represented Akumo.

- Moro enters from the front door. Everyone humbly bowed before her and she returned their bow. She stood in front of them in her anthro form. Her glow dimmed down and she sat with them. –

Moro: I have strong reason to believe he is targeting me next… but more importantly… Targeting this village.
Jinno: You're right… We are the village that represents you.
Moro: Still… none of this makes sense. * places her hand to her cheek thinking * Why is he targeting the representing villages? Andoro already killed Akumo and Ororo… What does he gain by taking out the guardians… and on top of that Kotogama is still standing. The Gouken don't play a hand in this at all… their numbers are already dwindled down. They aren't even considered a true clan anymore.
Kazuya: * tightens his left hand into a fist and grinds his teeth. Sweat streams down his brow and off his chin * This isn't making since. What the hell does this guy want. Is he just out to destroy the world? We as a whole are already doing that with all the war that has been plaguing the Earth already! Is he looking for someone? Something? Why choose this path? And why now? This guy comes out of the blue and he's already wiped out over 350,000 people…

- Suddenly a wounded villager is brought into Jinno's chamber. –

Jinno: Who is this?
Moro: This one… he is from the Sudo Village…
Jinno: Yeah that's correct… Sudo…
Po: Master Jinno… he claims his village has been destroyed. Wiped out yesterday.
Son: Oh my God…
Jinno: * Gets up and walks over to the man * Tell me what happened friend.
Itsu: My… my name is Itsu… please you must listen to me!
Jinno: He's injured badly he needs medical attention.
Itsu: * Grabs Jinno's arm and clenches it tightly * He came out of nowhere. The soul devourer… killed everyone! My wife… The children! ALL DEAD! Please… Please you must stop him… You must stop him! He said he'll kill everyone until he finds him! Please… please… You… you… must… must… * His grip on Jinno's loosened and fell limb. He withdrew his last breath and died. *
Jinno: * Jinno shut the man's eyes and silently cursed under his breath * He turned to face the others * Po… see to it he gets a proper burial. * Sits back down and exhales *
Kazuya: He won't stop until he finds him?
Moro: So… it is a person.
Jinno: Still we know we are a target.
Son: Think about it Jinno! Fuuma, Otokami, Gouken, and now Sudo!
Jinno: What do you mean Son?
Kazuya: The only person to go in and out of Sudo from this clan was Andoro. Remember Jinno? You sent him there for livestock.
Son: Gouken attacked Andoro…
Moro: He went to Otokami because he had to kill Ororo when she became a demon. But that doesn't explain why Kago is gone.
Jinno: We met with them a mere week ago.
Son: You think…
Kazuya: It's a possibility.
Moro: We must careful from here on out. If Andoro is his target…
Son: Jinno…
Jinno: We'll protect him.

Deleted Chapters: A Ninja's Tale: Love and Betrayal

[ Elsewhere ]

- Felina enters her home and hears coughing coming from the bathroom. She shuts the door and sits down her keys. Hesitant at first, she slowly begins to make her way upstairs. When she reaches the bathroom door she slowly opens it. She watches her husband throw up blood and grimace in great pain. She nearly stumbled backwards. He looked up at her and said nothing. Andoro flushed the toilet and cleaned up his blood mess. –

Felina: Andoro I…
Andoro: Save it.
Felina: Why? Andoro You're dying!
Andoro: I'm not dying. I'm just not feeling well.
Felina: Why are you lying to me?
Andoro: …Yazuka.
Felina: She told me everything Andoro.
Andoro: She shouldn't have said anything.
Felina: She was right. I was wrong. Andoro. I was wrong.
Andoro: I said to save it. I don't want an apology. You acted because you thought I had betrayed you. You weren't blind to anything. You just misjudged the situation and looked at the negative outcome. I'm not mad. But I'm not happy either. Yazuka told you everything because she thought it was right.
Felina: Why didn't you tell me about your nightmares? About this?! Why didn't you tell me Akumo isn't dead but alive inside you?
Andoro: I didn't want you to worry.
Felina: I'm your wife!
Andoro: AND THAT'S THE REASON WHY FELINA!  You are my wife… and I want you to be happy.
Felina: Be honest with me! That will make me happy.
Andoro: Honest? I guess… we could both do that huh? Be honest with each other?
Felina: I..
Andoro: Don't want to hear it. * smiles *
Felina: ?!
Andoro: I'm being honest. I don't really care what the hell you did. If it was something super serious I would have seen the results of it already.
Felina: Andoro…
Andoro: * grips his arm and twitches in pain * Damn.

- Felina helps Andoro into the bedroom and she sits him on the bed. She came back with some herbal tea and food. She forced him to eat and drink the tea and tried to compose herself. She began to come to the realization that she was going to lose him again. –

Andoro: * coughs * You better be ready for tomorrow * coughs * Cuz I'm bringing my A- Game baby.
Felina: * wipes the blood from his face and smiles warmly as tears streamed down her face * You got it…

Chapter 27: Truth and Discovery: A New Threat Arises.